IP Library Granted Patent US 7,631,775
Granted Patent B2
US 7,631,775 · App. 11/411,914 · Granted Dec 15, 2009

Plastic container having gripping portions

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,631,775
App. No.
11/411,914
Granted
Dec 15, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A plastic container comprises a sidewall including an upper end and a lower end, a base connected to the lower end of the sidewall, a dome connected to the upper end of the sidewall, the dome including a finish portion adapted to receive a closure, first and second primary grip panels recessed into the dome, first and second secondary grip panels recessed into the dome, and a plurality of support columns located on the dome, with a support column located between each adjacent pair of primary and secondary grip panels.

Claims (32)

1. A plastic container, comprising:

a sidewall including an upper end and a lower end; a base connected to the lower end of the sidewall;

a dome connected to the upper end of the sidewall, the dome including a finish portion adapted to receive a closure;

first and second primary grip panels recessed into the dome;

first and second secondary grip panels recessed into the dome; and

a plurality of support columns located on the dome, with a support column located between each adjacent pair of primary and secondary grip panels;

wherein the first and second primary grip panels are larger than the first and second secondary grip panels.

2. The plastic container of claim 1 , wherein each support column is defined by an adjacent pair of primary and secondary grip panels.

3. The plastic container of claim 1 , wherein the first and second primary grip panels are substantially opposed from one another.

4. The plastic container of claim 3 , wherein the first and second secondary grip panels are substantially opposed from one another.

5. The plastic container of claim 1 , wherein the dome comprises wall portions connected by corner portions, with the grip panels recessed into the wall portions, and the support columns located at the corner portions.

6. The plastic container of claim 5 , wherein the sidewall has a substantially rectangular cross-section.

7. The plastic container of claim 1 , wherein the container defines a longitudinal axis, and each of the primary grip panels is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis.

8. The plastic container of claim 7 , wherein each primary grip panel includes opposite left and right borders, with one of the borders at a higher elevation with respect to the longitudinal axis than the other of the borders.

9. The plastic container of claim 7 , wherein each primary grip panel includes opposite upper and lower borders, and at least one of the upper and lower borders is non-parallel to the base.

10. The plastic container of claim 1 , wherein the container defines a longitudinal axis, and at least one of the grip panels is substantially concave with respect to the longitudinal axis.

11. The plastic container of claim 1 , wherein the support columns increase the container's top load capacity.

12. A plastic container, comprising:

a sidewall comprising four sidewall portions and four corner portions defining a substantially rectangular cross-section, the sidewall including an upper end and a lower end;

a base connected to the lower end of the sidewall;

a dome connected to the upper end of the sidewall, the dome including a finish portion adapted to receive a closure;

first and second substantially opposed grip panels recessed into the dome;

third and fourth substantially opposed grip panels recessed into the dome; and

a plurality of support columns located on the dome, with a support column located between each adjacent pair of grip panels;

wherein the first and second grip panels are larger than the third and fourth grip panels.

13. The plastic container of claim 12 , wherein each support column is defined by an adjacent pair of the grip panels.

14. The plastic container of claim 12 , wherein each of the grip panels is substantially aligned with one of the sidewall portions, and each of the support columns is substantially aligned with one of the corner portions.

15. The plastic container of claim 12 , wherein the container defines a longitudinal axis, and the first and second grip panels are inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis.

16. The plastic container of claim 15 , wherein the first and second grip panels each include opposite left and right borders, with one of the borders at a higher elevation with respect to the longitudinal axis than the other of the borders.

17. The plastic container of claim 15 , wherein the first and second grip panels each include opposite upper and lower borders, and at least one of the upper and lower borders is non-parallel to the base.

18. The plastic container of claim 12 , wherein the container defines a longitudinal axis, and the third and fourth grip panels are substantially concave with respect to the longitudinal axis.

19. The plastic container of claim 12 , wherein the support columns increase the container's top load capacity.

Assignments (8)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2026
From: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.; GRAHAM PACKAGING PET TECHNOLOGIES INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 074479/0809 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2026
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.; GRAHAM PACKAGING PET TECHNOLOGIES INC.; GRAHAM PACKAGING PLASTIC PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 074480/0105 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN CERTAIN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Aug 4, 2020
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT AND TRUSTEE
To: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
Reel/Frame 053396/0531 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 4, 2020
From: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.; GRAHAM PACKAGING PET TECHNOLOGIES INC.; GRAHAM PACKAGING PLASTIC PRODUCTS LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 053398/0381 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 22, 2012
From: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
Reel/Frame 027910/0609 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Mar 20, 2012
From: REYNOLDS GROUP HOLDINGS INC.
To: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
Reel/Frame 027895/0738 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 26, 2011
From: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
To: REYNOLDS GROUP HOLDINGS INC.
Reel/Frame 026970/0699 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 27, 2006
From: HEISNER, DAVID B.; DEGROFF, JAMIE; SHEETS, PHILIP
To: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, LP
Reel/Frame 017838/0455 →