Patent ID: 7191910

Claim:
A blow molded, biaxially oriented plastic container adapted for vacuum absorption, the container having an upper portion including a mouth defining an opening into the container, a shoulder portion forming a label surface and a pinched waist portion, a lower portion forming a base, a sidewall portion connected with and extending between said upper portion and said lower portion, and a central longitudinal axis; said upper portion, said lower portion and said sidewall portion cooperating to define a receptacle chamber within the container into which product can be filled; said sidewall portion including a pair of diametrically opposed flex panels and a pair of diametrically opposed columns, said columns being a first distance from said central longitudinal axis adjacent said lower portion and a second distance from said central longitudinal axis adjacent said upper portion, said first distance being greater than said second distance, said flex panels defined in at least part by a central portion and a perimeter wall portion adjacent to and generally surrounding said central portion, said flex panels being movable to accommodate internal changes in pressure and volume in the container resulting from heating and cooling of its contents.