Pinch grip for hot-fillable container

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a one-piece plastic container having a body defining a generally rectangular horizontal cross section. The container includes a first pair of opposing sidewalls and a second pair of opposing sidewalls. The body includes an upper portion, a sidewall portion and a base. The sidewall portion is integrally formed with and extends from the upper portion to the base. The base closes off an end of the container. The sidewall portion defines a grip portion having a pair of first walls that converge with a pair of second walls. The pair of first walls extend inboard from the first pair of opposing sidewalls. The pair of second walls extend inboard from the second pair of opposing sidewalls.

1 . A one-piece plastic container comprising:
 a body defining a generally rectangular horizontal cross section including a first pair of opposing sidewalls and a second pair of opposing sidewalls, said body having an upper portion, a sidewall portion and a base, said sidewall portion integrally formed with and extending from said upper portion to said base, said base closing off an end of said container, said sidewall portion defining a grip portion having a pair of first walls that converge with a pair of second walls, said pair of first walls extending inboard from said first pair of opposing sidewalls, respectively and said pair of second walls extending inboard from said second pair of opposing sidewalls, respectively.   
   
   
       2 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 1  wherein said grip portion is further defined by two pairs of third walls, wherein each third wall converges with one wall of said pair of first walls and one wall of said pair of second walls, respectively. 
   
   
       3 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 2  wherein each of said pair of third walls defines an angle substantially between 15 and 35 degrees relative to said base. 
   
   
       4 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 3  wherein each of said pair of third walls defines an angle substantially equal to  25  degrees relative to said base. 
   
   
       5 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 1  wherein said pair of first walls converge with said pair of second walls at an angle substantially between 115 and 120 degrees. 
   
   
       6 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 5  wherein said pair of first walls converge with said pair of second walls at an angle substantially equal to 117 degrees. 
   
   
       7 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 5  wherein said pair of first walls define an angle of convergence of about 16 degrees. 
   
   
       8 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 5  wherein said pair of second walls define an angle of convergence of about 110 degrees. 
   
   
       9 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 5  wherein said first pair of opposing sidewalls are shorter than said second pair of opposing sidewalls. 
   
   
       10 . A grip portion of a one-piece plastic container having a generally rectangular horizontal cross section including a first pair of opposing sidewalls and a second pair of opposing sidewalls, said grip portion comprising:
 a pair of first walls that converge with a pair of second walls, said pair of first walls extending inboard from said first pair of opposing sidewalls, respectively and said pair of second walls extending inboard from said second pair of opposing sidewalls, respectively, said pair of first walls defining an acute angle of convergence and said pair of second walls defining an obtuse angle of convergence.   
   
   
       11 . The grip portion of  claim 10  wherein said pair of first walls define an angle of convergence of about 16 degrees. 
   
   
       12 . The grip portion of  claim 10  wherein said pair of second walls define an angle of convergence of about 110 degrees. 
   
   
       13 . The grip portion of  claim 10  wherein said grip portion is further defined by two pairs of third walls wherein both the first pair and the second pair of third walls define an angle of convergence of about 130 degrees. 
   
   
       14 . A grip portion of a one-piece plastic container having a generally rectangular horizontal cross section including a first pair of opposing sidewalls and a second pair of opposing sidewalls, and a base, said grip portion comprising:
 a pair of first walls that converge with a pair of second walls, said pair of first walls extending inboard from said first pair of opposing sidewalls and said pair of second walls extending inboard from said second pair of opposing sidewalls, and two pair of third walls, each third wall formed on one of said second pair of opposing sidewalls and extending to both of said first and second walls, said first, second and third walls collectively configured at relative geometrical relationships to provide structural strength in said grip portion and the container as a whole.   
   
   
       15 . The grip portion of  claim 14  wherein one pair of said third walls extends to an interface wall formed with each of said pairs of first and second walls. 
   
   
       16 . The grip portion of  claim 15  wherein the other pair of said third walls extends to an interface wall formed with each of said pairs of first and second walls. 
   
   
       17 . The grip portion of  claim 16  wherein said pair of first walls extend inboard from said first pair of opposing sidewalls at a first angle less than  20  degrees relative to said second pair of opposing sidewalls, respectively. 
   
   
       18 . The grip portion of  claim 17  wherein said pair of second walls extend inboard from said second pair of opposing sidewalls at a second angle between 25 and 45 degrees relative to said first pair of opposing sidewalls, respectively. 
   
   
       19 . The grip portion of  claim 18  wherein said two pair of third walls all define a third angle between 15 and 35 degrees relative to said base. 
   
   
       20 . The grip portion of  claim 19  wherein said first angle is substantially 8 degrees, said second angle is substantially 35 degrees, and said third angle is substantially 25 degrees.