Oval container

Abstract

An oval plastic container. A cross-section of the container, taken perpendicular to the height of the container shows an oval or elliptical shape. Such a container has front and back sides. The container also has a left side and a right side. Given the oval shape of the body, the width of the container as measured from the left side to the right side, is less than the depth of the container, measured from front to back. The front and back of the container therefore have a relatively small radius of curvature, compared to the left and right sides. The front and/or the back of the container includes a relatively featureless panel. Such a panel is flat, apart from the curvature that results from the oval shape of the body. Such an area can be used for the application of a pressure-sensitive label. The oval shape of the body prevents the labeled surface from buckling during the cooling process. The left and right sides of the container may include structure such as ribbing, to prevent buckling or excessive deformation during cooling. Alternatively, the left and right sides of the container may include vacuum panels that may be drawn inward during cooling, without excessive deformation or buckling.

1 . A hot-fillable blow-molded container, comprising: 
 a neck having a finish at one end;    a shoulder having a top end and a lower end, such that the top end of the shoulder is adjacent to the neck at an end of the neck opposite the finish;    a body adjacent to the lower end of the shoulder, the body having an essentially oval shaped cross section, where the cross section is taken perpendicular to the height of the container, the body having a front, a back, a left side and a right side wherein the width of the body, as measured from the left side to the right side, is less than the depth of the body as measured from the front to the back;    a base adjacent to the body and located at an end of the body opposite the shoulder;    a vacuum relief panel located in at least one of the left and right sides of the body,    wherein at least one of the front and back of the body is essentially devoid of surface geometry other than curvature due to the oval shape of the body.    
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the oval shape of the cross section applies to substantially the entire body.  
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the front and back sides of the body that is essentially devoid of surface geometry other than curvature due to the oval shape of the body provides a label placement surface, and 
 the label placement surface provides a surface for supporting a label such that substantially all of the label is in contact with the label placement surface.    
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein both the front and back sides of the body are essentially devoid of surface geometry other than curvature due to the oval shape of the cross section.  
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum relief panel is recessed into the at least one of the left and right sides of the body.  
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the neck is approximately half the height of the body.  
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the plastic material comprises polyethylene terephthelate.  
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum relief panel is devoid of surface geometry other than curvature due to the oval shape of the cross section.  
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a top end of the shoulder has a round cross section and a lower end of the shoulder has an oval cross section.