Multi-Functional Base for a Plastic, Wide-Mouth, Blow-Molded Container

Abstract

A container can have a body with an integrally formed base attached to the body. The base includes a concave annular wall extending from the container sidewall to a standing surface, and an inner wall extending from the standing surface to a substantially flat inner annular wall. The inner annular wall is recessed in the base and is substantially perpendicular to the container sidewall. The inner annular wall includes a centrally located dimple. The dimple includes a plurality of spaced apart and radially extending indented ribs. One or more of the ribs extend radially into a brace that tapers to meet the inner annular wall.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A container having a base portion adapted for vacuum absorption, the container comprising:
 an upper portion defining an opening of the container;   a body portion extending from said upper portion; and   a base portion,   wherein said base portion includes:
 a support portion which defines a surface upon which the container can be supported, 
 a central portion having an anti-inverting portion located on a longitudinal axis of the container and an annular wall circumscribing said anti-inverting portion, 
 wherein said annular wall is configured to form an inwardly-projecting portion when the container is filled and sealed, 
 wherein said inwardly-projecting portion is configured to have a surface which is inclined toward said longitudinal axis of the container at an angle in the range of five to six degrees, relative to a horizontal plane extending perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, and 
 wherein said anti-inverting portion and said annular wall are configured to be moveable downwardly and upwardly to accommodate pressure generated within the container. 
   
     
     
         23 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein said body portion includes a sidewall adapted to neatly support a wrap-around label without unwanted voids beneath the label. 
     
     
         24 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein said anti-inverting portion has a generally convex cross section. 
     
     
         25 . The container of  claim 22 ,
 wherein said annular wall has a first portion and a second portion, and   wherein a first distance from said first portion to said support surface is greater than a second distance from said second portion to said support surface.   
     
     
         26 . A container having a base portion adapted for vacuum absorption, the container comprising:
 an upper portion having a mouth; and   a body portion extending from said upper portion to a base portion, said base portion including:
 a support portion to support the container, 
 an inner wall portion, and 
 a central portion, 
 wherein said inner wall portion is adjacent to, and generally circumscribes said support portion, 
 wherein said central portion includes an anti-inverting portion located on a longitudinal axis of the container and an inner annular wall extending from said inner wall portion and circumscribing said anti-inverting portion, 
 wherein said inner annular wall is configured to have an inwardly-projecting portion when the container is filled and sealed, said inwardly-projecting portion having a surface which is inclined toward said longitudinal axis of the container at an angle greater than about five degrees, relative to a horizontal plane extending perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, and 
 wherein said anti-inverting portion and said inner annular wall are moveable upwardly to accommodate vacuum forces generated within the container. 
   
     
     
         27 . The container of  claim 26 , wherein said inner wall portion is configured immediately adjacent said support portion. 
     
     
         28 . The container of  claim 26 , wherein said inner wall portion transitions from said support portion at a substantially sharp corner. 
     
     
         29 . The container of  claim 26 , wherein said body portion includes a sidewall adapted to neatly support a wrap-around label without unwanted voids beneath the label. 
     
     
         30 . The container of  claim 26 ,
 wherein said inner annular wall has a first portion and a second portion, and   wherein a first distance from said first portion to said support surface is greater than a second distance from said second portion to said support surface.   
     
     
         31 . A container adapted for accommodating vacuum absorption, said container comprising:
 an upper portion defining an opening;   a sidewall portion; and   a base portion, said base portion having a central anti-inverting portion and a inner annular wall circumscribing said central anti-inverting portion,   wherein said inner annular wall is configured to form an inwardly-projecting portion when the container is filled and sealed, said inwardly-projecting portion having a surface which is inclined toward a longitudinal axis of the container at an angle in the range of five to six degrees, relative to a horizontal plane extending perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, and   wherein said central anti-inverting portion and said inner annular wall are configured to be upwardly moveable upwardly along said longitudinal axis, said upward movement being in response to changes in pressure in the container.   
     
     
         32 . The container of  claim 31 ,
 wherein said inner annular wall has a first portion and a second portion, and   wherein a first distance from said first portion to said support surface is greater than a second distance from said second portion to said support surface.   
     
     
         33 . A container comprising:
 an upper portion defining an opening;   a body portion; and   a base portion,   wherein said base portion includes:
 a support portion to support the container, 
 a central portion having an anti-inverting portion located on a longitudinal axis of the container and an annular wall portion with an upper portion, a lower portion, and a cross-section with at least a first curved portion and a second curved portion, the annular wall portion circumscribing said anti-inverting portion, 
 wherein said anti-inverting portion has a diameter less than about 34% of a diameter of said base portion, 
 wherein said lower portion of said annular wall portion has a wall thickness, and said support portion has a wall thickness, said support portion wall thickness being at least equal to said lower portion wall thickness, and 
 wherein at least a portion of the annular wall portion is moveable to accommodate vacuum-related forces generated within the container. 
   
     
     
         34 . The container of  claim 33 , wherein said anti-inverting portion includes a side surface having a plurality of ribs. 
     
     
         35 . The container of  claim 33 , wherein said base portion further includes an inner wall portion, said inner wall portion being positioned so as to be between said annular wall portion and said support portion, and so as to be at an angle relative to circumferential wall having an angle relative to the horizontal plane extending perpendicular to said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         36 . The container of  claim 33 , wherein a first distance between said upper portion of said annular wall portion and said support surface is greater than a second distance between said lower portion and said support surface. 
     
     
         37 . A container configured to contain a product at an elevated temperature, sealed with a closure, and cooled to create a vacuum within the container, the container comprising:
 an upper portion defining an opening into the container;   a body portion extending from said upper portion; and   a base portion extending from said body portion,   wherein said base portion is configured to absorb a vacuum created in the container, and   wherein said base portion includes:
 a support ring to support the container, and 
 a central portion having an anti-inverting portion on a longitudinal axis of the container and an annular wall portion circumscribing said anti-inverting portion, a diameter of said anti-inverting portion being less than about 34% of a diameter of said base portion, 
 wherein said anti-inverting portion and said annular wall portion are configured to be moveable to accommodate vacuum-related forces within the container, 
 wherein said annular wall portion is configured to protrude inward toward the interior of the container and so as to have at least a portion thereof formed at an angle in the range of five to six degrees, relative to a horizontal plane extending perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, and 
 wherein, when the container is empty, said annular wall portion has a cross-section having at least a first curved portion curved in a first direction and a second curved portion curved in a second direction, the first direction being opposed to the second direction. 
   
     
     
         38 . The container of  claim 37 , wherein said anti-inverting portion includes a plurality of ribs. 
     
     
         39 . A container comprising:
 a body including a base portion, the base portion having:
 a support portion configured to support the container, and 
 a central portion having an anti-inverting portion located on a longitudinal axis of the container and a wall portion circumscribing said anti-inverting portion, 
 wherein said central portion is configured to be upwardly and downwardly moveable to adapt to an internal pressure variation of the container, and 
 wherein said wall portion is configured to be at a first angle with respect to a horizontal plane extending perpendicular to said longitudinal axis before the container is filled, and to be at a second angle, different from said first angle, after being filled. 
   
     
     
         40 . The container of  claim 39 , wherein said movement of said central portion to adapt to an internal pressure variation of the container is upward for a first internal pressure characteristic and downward for a second internal pressure characteristic. 
     
     
         41 . The container of  claim 39 , wherein said wall portion is curved and includes a first portion and a second portion circumscribing said first portion, said first portion moving to adapt to the internal pressure variation of the container, and said second portion remaining substantially stationary in response to the adapting.