CIRCUMFERENTIAL RIB
A container has plural vacuum panels ( 21 ) located circumferentially around the body, an upper label area ( 23 ) located above the panels, and a lower label area ( 24 ) located below the panels. Each one of the upper label area and the lower label area have only one rib ( 25 ) that is circumferential but for only one discontinuity ( 26 ). The discontinuities are vertically located approximately between the outer boundaries of one of the panels. The upper and lower discontinuities may be vertically aligned with one another or offset from one another.
1 . A container capable of receiving a liquid at an elevated temperature and withstanding internal vacuum pressure upon sealing and cooling, the container comprising:
an enclosed base;
an upper portion that extends upwardly to a neck and a finish; and
a generally cylindrical body located between the base and the upper portion, the body including:
plural panels located circumferentially around the body, the panels being configured to inwardly deflect upon internal vacuum conditions;
an upper label area generally located above the panels, the upper label area having only one rib, the upper label area rib being circumferential but for only one discontinuity, the discontinuity of the upper label panel rib being circumferentially located above one of the panels approximately between the outer boundaries of the panel; and
a lower label area generally located below the panels, the lower label area having only one rib, the lower label panel rib being circumferential but for only one discontinuity, the discontinuity of the lower label panel rib being circumferentially located above one of the panels approximately between the outer boundaries of the panel.
2 . The container of claim 1 wherein the discontinuity of the upper label panel rib is approximately on a vertical centerline of one of the panels.
3 . The container of claim 1 wherein the discontinuity of the upper label panel rib is within 10 degrees of the vertical centerline of one of the panels and the discontinuity of the lower label panel rib is within 10 degrees of the vertical centerline of one of the panels.
4 . The container of claim 1 wherein the discontinuity of the upper label panel rib is within 5 degrees of the vertical centerline of one of the panels and the discontinuity of the lower label panel rib is within 5 degrees of the vertical centerline of one of the panels.
5 . The container of claim 1 wherein the discontinuity of the upper label panel rib and the discontinuity of the lower label panel rib are located approximately on the centerline of the same panel.
6 . The container of claim 1 wherein the discontinuity of the upper label panel rib and the discontinuity of the lower label panel rib are located proximate the centerlines of different panels, such that the upper discontinuity and lower discontinuity are circumferentially spaced apart.
7 . The container of claim 6 wherein, for containers having an even number of panels, the discontinuity of the upper label panel rib is circumferentially spaced apart from the discontinuity of the lower label panel rib by approximately 180 degrees.
8 . The container of claim 6 wherein, for containers having an odd number of panels, the discontinuity of the upper label panel rib is circumferentially spaced apart from the discontinuity of the lower label panel rib by approximately (180 degrees+(360 degrees)/(2n)) or by approximately (180 degrees−(360 degrees)/(2n)), where n is the number of panels.
9 . The container of claim 1 wherein the discontinuity of the upper label panel rib represents approximately between 1 and 15 degrees of the container circumference at the upper label area and the discontinuity of the lower label panel rib represents approximately between 1 and 15 degrees of the container circumference at the lower label area.
10 . The container of claim 1 wherein the discontinuity of the upper label panel rib represents approximately between 3 and 10 degrees of the container circumference at the upper label area and the discontinuity of the lower label panel rib represents approximately between 3 and 10 degrees of the container circumference at the lower label area.
11 . The container of claim 1 wherein the discontinuity of the upper label panel rib represents approximately between 5 and 8 degrees of the container circumference at the upper label area and the discontinuity of the lower label panel rib represents approximately between 5 and 8 degrees of the container circumference at the lower label area.
12 . The container of claim 1 wherein the discontinuity of the upper label panel rib represents approximately 6.7 degrees of the container circumference at the upper label area and the discontinuity of the lower label panel rib represents approximately between 6.7 degrees of the container circumference at the lower label area.
13 . The container of claim 1 wherein the discontinuity of the upper label panel rib represents between approximately 3 percent and approximately 40 percent of the panel width and the discontinuity of the lower label panel rib represents between approximately 3 percent and approximately 40 percent of the panel width.
14 . The container of claim 1 wherein the discontinuity of the upper label panel rib represents approximately 16.5 percent of the panel width and the discontinuity of the lower label panel rib represents approximately 16.5 percent of the panel width.
15 . The container of claim 1 wherein the discontinuity of the upper label panel rib represents between approximately 10 percent and approximately 25 percent of the panel width and the discontinuity of the lower label panel rib represents between approximately 10 percent and approximately 25 percent of the panel width.