Synthetic resin bottle having a vacuum-absorbing function

A synthetic resin bottle includes a body having an upper end and a lower end and a plane cross-sectional shape of a circle, the circle being out-of-round over substantially an entire height of the body. The body includes crests disposed at three or more points on a circumference of the circle at substantially a same interval, wherein a central angle (α) position of each crest fluctuates similarly vertically along the height of the body. The body also includes support ridges formed by the crests in sigmoid curves and disposed at least in three substantially parallel rows at a same interval and panels disposed between adjacent support ridges and provided with slightly swelled panel walls that are reversibly deformable into a dented shape, as seen in cross-sectional plan views.

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to a synthetic resin bottle, which is provided with plural panels used to absorb the changes in inner pressure created inside the bottle.

What is called the hot filling process is used to fill a polyethylene terephthalate resin (hereinafter referred to as PET resin) bottle with contents, such as fruit juices, teas, and the like, for which sterilization is required. It involves filling the bottle with the contents at a temperature of about 90 degrees Centigrade, sealing the bottle with a cap, and cooling the capped bottle. Inside of the bottle turns out to be under a considerably reduced pressure condition.

Therefore, the so-called depressurization-absorbing panels are formed on purpose on the body wall for those uses that involve the hot filling process described above. These panels occupy the areas in which the panel walls are easily deformable into a dented shape when bottle inside is under reduced pressure. Because only the panels are made to get dented under reduced pressure, the bottle itself retains good appearance, and the portions other than the panels have sufficient rigidity as a bottle. Therefore, the bottles have no trouble on the bottle transport lines, in the stacked bottle storage, and inside the automatic vending machines.

Patent Document 1, for example, has the descriptions of a bottle provided with depressurization-absorbing panels.FIG. 13shows a bottle illustrated in an embodiment of Patent Document 1. This bottle101is a cylindrical PET bottle with a capacity of 500 ml, and comprises a neck102, a shoulder103, a body104, a bottom105, and an encircling groove106at bout mid-height. Six depressurization-absorbing panels107are formed below this encircling groove106. The panels107are roughly flat in their shape, and are easily deformable into a dented shape when the inside of the bottle101is under reduced pressure. Because of these panels107, the bottle101in its appearance gives no impression of a distorted shape, and fulfills the function of absorbing or relieving inconspicuously depressurization (hereinafter referred to as the depressurization-absorbing function). Support pillars109are formed between adjacent depressurization-absorbing panels107to retain the rigidity of the bottle.

Vertical ribs108are shown in a dented shape inFIG. 13, but these ribs may have a projecting shape. However, in the case of dented ribs, thicker walls are obtained for each connecting part between a vertical rib108and a vacuum absorbing panel107than in the case of projecting ribs, and thus the dented ribs ensure that the support pillars109are prevented from deformation.

In recent years, synthetic resin bottles, such as the PET resin bottles described above, have been in much use for the foods requiring retort treatment in packaging. In such cases, the retort treatment is carried out by filling the bottle with a food at a temperature in the range of room temperature to 80 degrees C. and by utilizing pressurized hot water or heating steam to heat-sterilize the food at a temperature of 120-130 degrees C. for about 20 min in a retort kettle or autoclave in the state in which the neck has been sealed with a cap.

In summer, the above-described synthetic resin bottles, such as PET resin bottles, may also be put in the freezer to enjoy ice-cold drinks as the frozen contents are gradually melted up.

SUMMARY

In this way, the PET resin bottles and other synthetic resin bottles have been being used in various applications. In the case of the bottles to be used for retort foods, the bottles are sealed with the cap and sterilized in the retort kettle or autoclave at a temperature in the range of 120 to 130 degrees C. At that time, inner pressure of the bottle rises because of the expansion of air in the head space and the swelling of the contents. If heated and pressurized water is utilized, the deformation of the bottle into the swelled shape can be controlled by adjusting the pressure of hot water to balance between the inner pressure and the hot water pressure. However, in the case where steam heating is utilized, it is necessary to carry out heat treatment in the vicinity of saturated steam pressure obtained at the temperature employed, and thus, it is impossible to get a balance between the inner pressure and the steam pressure.

For this reason, thin-wall body is deformed into a swelled shape during the retort treatment if the steam-heating process is utilized. In the case of general-purpose resins, such as PET resin, the treatment temperature is higher than glass transition temperature. Unless the bottle has a function enough to absorb the swelling of the body without causing any local deformation (hereinafter referred to as the expansion-absorbing function), then permanent deformation would happen, and the bottle would not return to its original shape at normal pressure but would have some distorted appearance.

Furthermore, when the product is brought to room temperature after the retort treatment, the inner pressure drops. Especially when the bottle is filled with the contents at a temperature in the range of 70 to 80 degrees C., the bottle inside is under reduced pressure at room temperature. Therefore, the bottle is required to be of a structure having also the depressurization-absorbing function. In other words, the bottle is required to have a structure in which the absorbing functions are fulfilled in response to both of pressurization and depressurization, while allowing the bottle to maintain good appearance, and in which smooth deformation takes place in response to a large pressure fluctuation from a pressurized state to a depressurized state.

Meanwhile, if the contents mainly consisting of water are frozen, the volume increases by 1.09 times. In the sealed bottle, inner pressure would rise due to the increase in the volume caused by the freeze, and the bottle could be in danger of burst. Even if the bottle does not burst, it is deformed into a swelled shape. Therefore, there is a need for an expansion-absorbing function enough to avoid distorted appearance and to give no damage to other bottle functions, such as the self-standing ability.

A technical problem addressed by the present disclosure is to create a panel structure capable of suitably fulfilling the function of absorbing depressurization or expansion, and of avoiding distorted appearance, in response to various pressure states, including depressurized state, pressurized state, and a state in which there exist both of pressure and reduced pressure in a bottle. An object of the present disclosure is to provide a synthetic resin bottle that can be utilized in various applications.

A synthetic resin bottle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure incluses a body having an upper end and a lower end and a plane cross-sectional shape of a circle, the circle being out-of-round over substantially an entire height of the body, the body including: crests disposed at three or more points on a circumference of the circle at substantially a same interval, wherein a central angle (α) position of each crest fluctuates similarly vertically along the height of the body; support ridges formed by the crests in sigmoid curves and disposed at least in three substantially parallel rows at a same interval; and panels disposed between adjacent support ridges and provided with slightly swelled panel walls that are reversibly deformable into a dented shape, as seen in cross-sectional plan views.

Two functions are basically fulfilled by a synthetic resin bottle according to the above-described embodiment of the present disclosure. The depressurization-absorbing function is carried out by deforming reversibly the slightly swelled panel walls into a dented shape. The expansion-absorbing function is carried out by deforming the plane cross-sectional shape of the body from an out-of-round circle into a round shape. The support ridges ensure to maintain the rigidity of the bottle and to function as the boundaries between adjacent panels. Since the support ridges are disposed in sigmoid curves in parallel, each panel can be smoothly deformed into a dented shape under reduced pressure.

Under reduced pressure condition, the slightly swelled wall of each panel is reversibly deformed into a dented shape to reduce the volume inside the bottle greatly, and thus the depressurization-absorbing function can be fulfilled. If the support ridges serving as the boundaries for the panels were disposed straight in the vertical direction, the slightly swelled panel walls would be prevented from deforming smoothly into a dented shape, and portions of the slightly swelled walls would be distorted. This is because, once the swelled wall of a panel starts deforming into the dented shape, there occurs the force squeezing together with the swelled walls of the next panels by way of the support ridges.

The support ridges serving as the boundaries between panels are disposed in the sigmoid curves in parallel. Such sigmoid support ridges can be utilized in such a way that the dented area of each panel forms an oblique zone under reduced pressure, with the oblique zone extending from the left upper part of each sigmoid panel to the right lower part of the same panel. On the other hand, the panel deformation into the dented shape is restricted outside of this oblique zone, i.e., in the left lower part and the right upper part of each panel.

Because the depressurization causes the dented area to be formed in the oblique zone of each panel as described above, it is possible for the dented areas to be kept away from one another and to avoid the force squeezing together between adjacent panels through the intermediary of the support ridges. Under such a configuration, each panel can be smoothly reversed and deformed into the dented shape under reduced pressure.

If the sigmoid curve of the support ridges had too large an extent, the oblique zone would not be able to have a wide area when the above-described panel deformation into the dented shape takes place, and the bottle would have low rigidity. On the contrary, if the sigmoid curve had too small an extent, the force squeezing together would work through the support ridges. Therefore, the sigmoid curve shape should be determined in details as a matter of design, while giving consideration to the extent of deformation into the dented shape, the rigidity of the bottle, and outer appearance.

Meanwhile, the body has the plane cross-sectional shape of an out-of-round circle over almost the entire height of the body. When this cross-sectional shape of the out-of-round circle is deformed into a perfect circle, the expansion-absorbing function is fulfilled under pressure by such deformation of the plane cross-sectional shape. This is because the cross-sectional area can be enlarged by relatively small force without drawing the body wall in the circumferential direction.

For the convenience of explanation, a ratio of Sc/Sa (hereinafter referred to as Rs value) is defined as an index to show the out-of-roundness of a circle, where Sa represents the area of a plane cross section at a given height of the body; and Sc represents the area of the perfect circle having the same peripheral length as this plane cross section. If this Rs has a large value, the cross-sectional area increases at a higher rate when the body deforms into the perfect circle. Thus, it is possible to increase the expansion-absorbing function.

There are various shapes of out-of-round circles. The less number of corners there is in regular polygons, for example, or the flatter the elliptical shape is, the larger this Rs value grows. The Rs value of regular square shape, for example, is 1.27. With this value and the body shape after the deformation into the swelled shape taken into consideration, the plane cross-sectional shape of an out-of-round circle can be determined for the body.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the crests are disposed at four points on the circumference at an interval corresponding to a substantially equal central angle over substantially the entire height of the body.

The number of the crests, and hence the number of the support ridges extending from the crests, are not specified in particular. However, well-balanced bottles can be obtained by disposing the crests at 4 points on the circumference at an interval corresponding to a roughly equal central angle and by disposing 4 support ridges in parallel. This balance should be acquired in terms of bottle capacity, the effective panel area that is associated with the depressurization-absorbing function, and the shape of the out-of-round circle in the plane cross sections of the body, which is associated with the expansion-absorbing function.

Further, each panel may be provided with a slightly hollowed panel wall that is reversibly deformable into a swelled shape and a slightly swelled panel wall that is reversibly deformable into a dented shape, the hollowed panel wall and the swelled panel wall being disposed next to each other, as can be seen in the cross-sectional plan views.

Each slightly hollowed panel wall has no large depressurization-absorbing function. However, the force that pulls the wall inward acts on this hollowed panel wall from the initial stage of depressurization, and at the same time, this force acts also on the swelled panel wall located adjacent to the hollowed panel wall, through the boundary between the hollowed wall and the swelled wall. This boundary can be used as a starting point for the swelled panel wall to be reversed and deformed into the dented shape. The hollowed panel walls are appropriately disposed, taking into consideration a preferred pattern of the deformation into the dented shape that occurs in the oblique zone. This pattern is determined by the shape of support ridges in the sigmoid curve. In this manner, the panel deformation into the dented shape can be smoothly promoted over the entire area of this oblique zone.

A large expansion-absorbing function can be fulfilled by deforming reversibly the slightly hollowed panel walls into the swelled shape under pressure. The area of the slightly hollowed panel walls may be widened, depending on the intended purpose, such as, e.g., the applications for which a large expansion-absorbing function is required. As the matters of designing there can be mentioned the proportion of areas, and the shape of the boundary, between the swelled panel wall and the hollowed panel wall that are adjacent to each other. These factors can be appropriately determined, taking into consideration the level of the required depressurization- or expansion-absorbing function and the preferred pattern of deformation.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein said body has a plane cross-sectional shape of a perfect circle at both of the upper and lower ends of the body and has a reduced diameter at or near mid-height, the diameter being gradually reduced from a diameter at the upper and lower ends.

The portion of the body having a reduced diameter at or near the mid-height serves as the starting point of the panel deformation into the dented shape under reduced pressure. Thus, the panel deformation into the dented shape can be allowed to spread smoothly over the entire oblique zone.

It is also possible to increase the out-of-roundness (Rs value) from the level at both upper and lower ends of the body to the level at or near the mid-height. The expansion-absorbing function is fully achieved because the expansion caused by swelling is fully absorbed by the deformation of the body at or near the mid-height where the diameter has been reduced. The body can be deformed into the swelled shape without giving damage to outer appearance or to the self-standing ability of the bottle.

The cylindrical body of the bottle according to claim4has partly a contour line that is curved inward, with the concave bottom at the mid-height, as can be seen in the side view of the bottle. In order for the bottle as a whole to be prevented from a decrease in rigidity, it is preferred not to reduce the diameter at central-angle positions near the crests or to minimize the reduction in the diameter.

According to embodiments of the present disclosure, circumferential ribs may be disposed at both the upper and lower ends of the body.

The circumferential ribs disposed at both the upper and lower ends of the body set the upper and lower limits to the area in which the body is deformable with the change in pressure. These ribs also prevent the shoulder or the bottom from being deformed, and ensure that the outer appearance or bottle functions, such as self-standing ability, can be maintained.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the synthetic resin bottle may be a biaxially drawn, blow-molded product made of a PET-related resin.

The biaxially drawn, blow-molded bottles made of a PET-related resin can be widely utilized as the bottles for drinks, have high mechanical properties at high and low temperatures, and can be used in a wide variety of applications.

PET is mainly used as the PET-related resin. In addition to a major part of ethylene terephthalate units, those copolymerized polyesters containing other polyester units can also be used unless the essential quality of the PET-related resin is spoiled. For example, a PET-related resin can be blended with a nylon-related resin or a polyethylene naphthalate resin to improve the gas barrier property or the heat-resisting property. The ingredients for use in copolymerized polyesters include dicarboxylic acids, such as isophthalic acid, naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid, and acidic acid; and glycol ingredients, such as propylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, tetramethylene glycol, neopentyl glycol, cyclohexane dimethanol, and diethylene glycol.

Furthermore, PET-related resin bottle may be provided with an intermediate layer of a nylon resin, as given by the layers consisting of a PET resin—a nylon resin—a PET resin, for the improvement of the heat-resisting property and/or gas barrier property.

This invention having the above-described configuration has the following effects:

According to an above-described embodiment of the present disclosure, the depressurization-absorbing function is fulfilled by deforming reversibly the slightly swelled panel walls into a dented shape. The expansion-absorbing function is fulfilled by giving the body the plane cross-sectional shape of an out-of-round circle. The support ridges ensure to maintain the rigidity of the bottle and to function as the boundaries between adjacent panels. Since the support ridges are disposed in sigmoid curves in parallel, each panel can be smoothly deformed into the dented shape under reduced pressure.

According to an above-described embodiment of the present disclosure, well-balanced bottles can be obtained by disposing four support ridges in parallel. This balance should be acquired in terms of bottle capacity, the effective panel area that is associated with the depressurization-absorbing function, and the shape of the out-of-round circle in plane cross sections of the body, which is associated with the expansion-absorbing function.

According to an above-described embodiment of the present disclosure, the slightly hollowed panel walls can be used as the starting point for the reversible deformation of the slightly swelled panel walls into the dented shape. The swelled panel walls can be smoothly deformed reversibly into the dented shape, and this deformation can be spread over the entire area of these swelled panel walls. In addition, a large expansion-absorbing function can be fulfilled by deforming reversibly the slightly hollowed panel walls into the swelled shape under pressure.

According to an above-described embodiment of the present disclosure, the panel deformation into the dented shape can be made to proceed smoothly, with the reduced-diameter portion at about the mid-height of the body being used as the starting point. The expansion-absorbing function can be extensively fulfilled in the reduced-diameter portion at about this mid-height. The panel deformation into the swelled shape can be carried out without giving damage to outer appearance or the bottle functions, including self-standing ability.

According to an above-described embodiment of the present disclosure, the circumferential ribs disposed at both the upper and lower ends of the body set the upper and lower limits to the area in which the change in pressure causes the body to deform. These ribs keep the shoulder and the bottom from any deformation, and ensure that outer appearance and such performance as self-standing ability are maintained.

According to an above-described embodiment of the present disclosure, the biaxially drawn, blow-molded bottle made of a PET-related resin can be utilized in a wide variety of applications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure is further described with respect to a preferred embodiment.FIGS. 1-11show the synthetic resin bottle in one embodiment of this invention, which is a biaxially drawn, blow-molded PET resin bottle with a capacity of 500 ml.FIG. 1is a front elevational view, andFIG. 2is a side elevational view, taken from a position corresponding to a later-described central angle of −45 degrees (SeeFIG. 3). On the whole, the bottle1is a cylindrical bottle consisting of four panels7disposed on the body4. The bottle1comprises shoulder3, the body4, and bottom5that has a dome in the center.

Three circumferential ribs6and two such ribs are disposed, respectively, at the upper end and the lower end of the body4. These ribs set the upper and lower limits to the deformation of the bottle1to be caused by the pressure change inside the bottle1. Four support ridges12in gentle sigmoid curves are disposed in parallel in the area of the body4ranging from the place right under the upper circumferential ribs6to the place right on the lower circumferential ribs6. Each support ridge12serves as a boundary between adjacent panels7.

Between the right and left sides of each panel7, there is a boundary14, which is disposed in parallel to the support ridge12in the sigmoid curve. To the left of this boundary14is a slightly hollowed panel wall7a, which is reversibly deformable into a swelled shape. To the right of this boundary14is a slightly swelled panel wall7b, which is reversibly deformable into a dented shape. Thus, the hollowed panel wall7alies side-by-side with the swelled panel wall7b.

When the body is observed in the longitudinal direction, the body wall contour13is gently curved inward in the body portion outside of the support ridges12(SeeFIG. 2). The curve ranges from the upper and lower ends of the body4to the mid-height portion.

FIGS. 3-8are cross-sectional plan views of the bottle1, taken at various heights ranging from line A-A to line G-G, respectively. The plane cross-sectional shape of the body4is a perfect circle at both the upper and lower ends (SeeFIG. 3). Crests11a,11b,11cand11dare disposed at four points on the circumference at an interval corresponding to an equal central angle (for example, an interval of 90 degrees in this embodiment) and are maintained at those points over the roughly entire height of the body4, except for the portions where circumferential ribs6are formed (SeeFIGS. 4-8). The round circle drawn by a doffed line inFIGS. 4-8corresponds to the plane cross-sectional shape of the body4shown inFIG. 3.

The angles inFIG. 3are indicated to clarify the central angle, α, positions of the crests11a,11b,11cand11d, in the description below.

The crest11a, taken as an example, has the gently swinging central angles, α, of 0 degree as a cross-sectional plan view is taken from line A-A right under the upper-end circumferential rib6; 7.2 degrees, as taken from line B-B; 8.6 degrees, as taken from line C-C; and 0 degree again, as taken from line D-D at mid-height of the body. Then, the central angle swings to −8.6 degrees, as taken from line E-E; to −7.2 degrees, as taken from line F-F; and back to 0 degrees, as taken from line G-G right on the lower-end circumferential rib6.

Other crests11b,11cand11d, too, have similar swinging central angles. In this manner, each support ridge has the same central angle, α, at both upper and lower ends and mid-height of the body (0 degree for the support ridge i2formed by the crest11a). Under this condition, four support ridges12in a gentle sigmoid curve are formed along the body wall in parallel by the respective crests11a,11b,11cand11d.

Four panels7in all are formed on the body wall, and each panel7is surrounded by two adjacent support ridges12and by the circumferential ribs6at the upper and lower ends. The boundary14runs down longitudinally in the center and equally divides the panel into the slightly hollowed panel wall7aon the left side, which is reversibly deformable into the swelled shape, and the slightly swelled panel wall7bon the right side, which is reversibly deformable into the dented shape.

In the wall portion of the body4where the support ridges12are disposed, the body4has a reduced diameter at or near mid-height, with the diameter being gradually reduced from the diameter at both ends. In this embodiment, the reduction in diameter is quite small at positions of the central angles, α, of 0, ±90, and 180 degrees (as observed from the body wall contour13inFIG. 1). On the other hand, at or near ±45 and ±135 degrees, the body has much larger reduction in diameter (See the body wall contour inFIG. 2). Such a design is intended to minimize the decrease in the rigidity of the bottle1.

The plane cross-sectional shape of the body4gradually changes from the shape of a perfect circle at both the upper and the lower end to the shape close to a rectangle at mid-height (SeeFIGS. 3-8). The Rs value, indicative of the extent of out-of-roundness for the plane cross section, is set high for the wall portions ranging from both the upper and lower ends to the mid-height position.

The bottle1of this embodiment is further described with respect to the pattern of panel deformation under reduced pressure and under pressure.FIG. 9is an explanatory diagram using the side elevational view ofFIG. 2and showing a pattern of panel deformation under reduced pressure. The panel deformation into the dented shape mainly occurs in the oblique zone17C as shown by the hatching, which ranges from the upper half area in contact with the left-hand support ridge12L to the lower half area in contact with the right-hand support ridge12R. The panel deformation into the dented shape seldom occurs in the portions of the panel other than this oblique zone17C, i.e., in the areas including a left lower portion18L and a right upper portion18R.

Similar panel deformation into the dented shape occurs in all the panels7, and generally gives the dented zones that are oblique as shown inFIG. 9. As obvious from this drawing, the oblique zone17C can be configured so as not to come in contact with adjacent oblique zones17L and17R, to which the support ridges12L and12R set the borders. Under this configuration, it is possible to avoid the force squeezing together from acting between the two adjacent panels because of a support ridge12bordering these two panels. Therefore, the deformation of each panel7into the dented shape, including the reversible deformation of the slightly swelled panel walls7b, can be achieved uniformly and smoothly.

FIG. 10is an explanatory diagram showing a pattern of deformation observed under reduced pressure in the plane cross section ofFIG. 6, taken from line D-D at the mid-height position. If the bottle is filled with the contents at a high temperature in the range of 80-90 degrees C., then with the progress of cooling, the panel walls are deformed into the dented shape15, as shown in chain double-dashed lines. Thus, the dented panels7achieve the depressurization-absorbing function.

If relatively large areas of slightly swelled panel walls7bare formed, as is the case in this embodiment, it is preferred that slightly hollowed panel walls7aare appropriately disposed so that the hollowed panels7alie side-by-side with the swelled panel walls7b, as designed in this embodiment. This is because at the time of panel deformation into the dented shape, the entire area of each swelled panel wall7bmay not be deformed uniformly into the dented shape, but because only part of each swelled panel is dented locally.

When the depressurization starts, the force squeezing from outside acts on the panels7(in the directions of outline arrows inFIG. 10). At first, the hollowed wall7aof each panel is deformed into the dented shape. Then, this deformation spreads to the adjacent swelled panel wall7bbeyond the boundary14. With this boundary14serving as the starting point, the swelled panel wall7bcan be smoothly deformed into the dented shape.

FIG. 11is an explanatory diagram showing the deformation of the panels7observed at the mid-height position in the plane cross section taken from line D-D, when the inside of the bottle1is changed from normal pressure to a pressurized state. For example, if the contents are frozen, or if the retort treatment by means of steam heating process is used, the cross section of the bottle is deformed into a swelled shape close to a perfect circle16, as shown by the chain double-dashed line, and thus, the expansion-absorbing function is at work.

The panel deformation into the swelled shape caused by above-described pressurization increases in scale especially in the reduced-diameter portion of the body4at or near the mid-height, as compared to other portions of the entire body height. Since there is little deformation in the shoulder3and the bottom5due to the action and effect of the circumferential ribs6disposed at both the upper and lower ends, this panel deformation into the swelled shape can be maintained without giving much damage to outer appearance of the body1or to such features as self-standing ability and storage life

As described above, the plane cross section of the body4has a shape close to a rectangle at or near mid-height (SeeFIG. 6). The body4in such a shape, coupled with the hollowed panel wall7athat reversibly deforms into the swelled shape, serves to bring out a fully large expansion-absorbing function. When each hollowed panel wall7adeforms reversibly into the swelled shape, the adjacent swelled panel wall7bfirst deforms into a further expanded shape, in the order opposite to the time when the panels deform under reduced pressure. This panel deformation into the swelled shape spreads to the adjacent hollowed panel wall7abeyond the boundary14. With this boundary14serving as the starting point, the hollowed panel wall7abegins the reversed deformation into the swelled shape. Finally, the panels7are in the swelled state16over the entire areas.

The action and effect of this invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The number of the crests11in a plane cross-sectional shape of the body4, and hence the number of the support ridges12, are not limited to four. Thus, the number may also be three or six, and can be determined, depending on the purpose of use and taking the factors of outer appearance into consideration.

In addition, the panels7can be formed solely by the swelled panel walls7b. Even if the panels7comprise the slightly swelled panel walls7band the slightly hollowed panel walls7athat are adjacent to each other, as in this embodiment, the area proportion between both panel walls, the shape of the boundary14, and the like are still the matters of design, which can be determined appropriately, taking into consideration the depressurization- or expansion-absorbing function to be required, the patterns of deformation, etc.

FIG. 12shows some variations in the pattern of the sigmoid support ridges12disposed in parallel, where (a) is the pattern used in this embodiment; (b), a pattern of counter-sigmoid curve that is opposite of the pattern of (a); (c), a pattern with the support ridge starting from the left side at the upper end and reaching the right side at the lower end; and (d), a pattern similar to (c), above, but in which the upper sigmoid curve is shortened, while the lower counter-sigmoid curve is elongated. Thus, the sigmoid support ridges12can have various patterns, and can be appropriately determined, taking into consideration the pattern of the oblique zones17that are formed under reduced pressure, the deformation properties of the swelled panel walls7bthat are reversed into the dented shape, and outer appearance.

The shape of the bottle is also not limited to the shape used in this embodiment. The type of the synthetic resin to be used is not limited to the PET-related resins.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The synthetic resin bottle of this invention can be utilized in various applications in which the inside of the bottle is put under reduced pressure, under pressure, or under both conditions of depressurization and pressurization. It is expected that such a bottle will be utilized in a wide range of applications.