Polygonal hot-fill container, package and method of making

Abstract

A plastic container includes a plastic body having a polygonal sidewall contour with rounded corners on a cylinder of revolution and flat panels extending between the corners chordally of the cylinder of revolution. In the preferred embodiments of the invention, a label is disposed on an exterior surface of at least one of the flat panels, and most preferably extends circumferentially around the exterior surface of the container sidewall. Upon filling the container with hot liquid and capping the container, the flat panels bow radially inwardly as the liquid cools. However, any labeling placed on the container, either before or after cooling, is secured to the panels as well as the rounded corners, and does not wrinkle or crinkle during storage or use.

1 . A method of making a package that includes the steps of: 
 (a) providing a container that includes a plastic body with a polygonal sidewall having rounded corners on a cylinder of revolution and flat panels extending between said corners chordally of said cylinder of revolution,    (b) filling said container with hot liquid,    (c) capping said container, and    (d) allowing the filled and capped container to cool so that said flat panels bow radially inwardly due to creation of a vacuum as said liquid cools within said container.    
     
     
         2 . The method set forth in  claim 1  comprising the additional step of: 
 (e) applying a sheet label to said container sidewall such that the label is adhered to an external surface of said corners and said panels.  
 
     
     
         3 . The method set forth in  claim 2  wherein said step (e) is carried out prior to said step (b).  
     
     
         4 . The method set forth in  claim 2  wherein said step (e) is carried out subsequent to said step (c) but prior to said step (d).  
     
     
         5 . The method set forth in  claim 2  wherein said step (e) is carried out subsequent to said step (d).  
     
     
         6 . A filled closure and container package that includes: 
 a plastic container having a body and a finish,    liquid product within an interior of said body,    a closure applied to said finish,    said body interior being under vacuum and sealed by said closure,    said body having a cross section that includes rounded corners and concave panels extending between said corners, and    a label adhered to an exterior surface of at least one of said panels, having the concave contour of said exterior surface.    
     
     
         7 . The package set forth in  claim 6  wherein said label extends entirely around an exterior surface of said body and being adhered to said corners and said concave panels.  
     
     
         8 . The package set forth in  claim 6  wherein said concave panels have a uniform radius of curvature.  
     
     
         9 . The package set forth in  claim 8  wherein said body cross section is polygonal, being selected from the group consisting of square and pentagonal.  
     
     
         10 . A labeled container for hot liquid filling applications, which includes: 
 a container body having a polygonal sidewall contour with rounded corners on a cylinder of revolution and flat panels extending between said corners chordally of said cylinder of revolution, and    a label extending circumferentially around an exterior surface of said sidewall, said label being adhered to said exterior surface of said corners and said flat panels,    such that, upon filling and capping of the container body with hot liquid, distortion of said flat panels during cooling of the liquid does not separate said panels from said sheet label creating air gaps between said label and said panels.    
     
     
         11 . A plastic container for hot-fill liquid applications, which includes a plastic container body having a polygonal sidewall contour with rounded corners on a first cylinder of revolution and flat panels extending chordally of said cylinder of revolution and being adapted, upon filling said container with hot liquid and capping said container, to bow radially inwardly as the liquid cools.  
     
     
         12 . The container set forth in  claim 11  further comprising a label adhered to at least one of said flat panels.  
     
     
         13 . The container set forth in  claim 12  wherein said label extends continuously circumferentially around an external surface of said container body, being adhered to said corners and said panels and remaining adhered to said corners and panels during bowing of said panels following liquid hot-fill.  
     
     
         14 . The container set forth in  claim 11  wherein said polygonal sidewall contour is selected from the group consisting of pentagonal and square.