Patent ID: 7377399

Claim:
A sidewall portion of a plastic container adapted for vacuum absorption, the container having an upper portion including a mouth defining an opening into the container, a lower portion forming a base, and the sidewall portion connected with and extending between the upper portion and the lower portion; the upper portion, the lower portion and the sidewall portion cooperating to define a receptacle chamber within the container into which product can be filled; said sidewall portion comprising a plurality of generally rectangular shaped vacuum panels formed therein, said vacuum panels defined in at least part by an upper portion, a central portion, and a lower portion, each such portion having an underlying surface with a series of equidistantly spaced indents formed therein arranged in horizontal rows and vertical columns wherein any two adjacent indents of said series of equidistantly spaced indents have a generally equidistant pitch, at least said central portion underlying surface having a generally convex shape in cross section, said vacuum panels being movable to accommodate vacuum forces generated within the container thereby decreasing the volume of the container.