Patent ID: 7004342

Claim:
A hot-fillable plastic container, comprising: a body portion having a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion including a grip portion inwardly recessed at least 5 mm into the body portion and a grip edge provided along at least an upper side of the grip portion due to inward recessing of the grip portion, wherein the grip edge forms a transition between the recessed grip portion and a non-recessed wall portion of the top portion of the body portion adjacent the grip portion, the grip portion being designed to accommodate at least a portion of internal forces tending to collapse the container inwardly due to filling of the container with a liquid at an elevated temperature and subsequent cooling of the liquid, the bottom portion including a base portion and a plurality of vacuum panels designed to accommodate at least a portion of said internal forces, said plurality of vacuum panels having a deformation capability that is different than a deformation capability of the grip portions.