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 plastic container comprising:
 an upper portion including a finish defining an opening into the container;   a lower portion including a base defining a standing surface;   a sidewall extending between the upper portion and the lower portion, the sidewall defining a longitudinal axis;   at least one substantially transversely-oriented pressure panel located in the lower portion, the pressure panel being movable between an outwardly-inclined position and an inwardly-inclined position to compensate for a change of pressure inside the container;   a concave outer wall extending from the lower portion of the container to the standing surface, and an inner wall extending from the standing surface to the pressure panel;   a dimple ( 248 ) centrally located within the pressure panel; and   a plurality of radially spaced tapered ribs ( 250 ), each of said plurality of tapered ribs tapering between a narrowest part and a widest part of each said rib, the narrowest part being radially outward of said widest part, the widest part being arranged adjacent to the dimple,   wherein the standing surface defines a standing plane, and the entire pressure panel is located between the standing plane and the upper portion of the container when the pressure panel is in the outwardly-inclined position, and   wherein the pressure panel is adapted to compensate for internal vacuum created within the container after the container is hot-filled, capped, and cooled.   
     
     
         23 . The plastic container of  claim 22 , further comprising a hinge structure connecting the pressure panel to the base. 
     
     
         24 . The plastic container of  claim 22 , wherein at least part of the pressure panel is formed at an angle inclined upwardly and inwardly from the standing surface in the range of five to six degrees. 
     
     
         25 . The plastic container of  claim 22 , wherein the sidewall is adapted to neatly support a wrap-around label without unwanted voids beneath the label. 
     
     
         26 . The plastic container of  claim 22 , wherein, in as-formed condition, the base includes a flexible portion having an as-formed position inclined inwardly and upwardly in the range of five to six degrees with respect to a horizontal plane defined by the standing surface, the flexible portion adapted (a) to move down below the as-formed position in response to pressure created in the container after filling, and (b) to move up above the as-formed position in response to pressure created in the container after sealing, capping, and cooling. 
     
     
         27 . The plastic container of  claim 26 , wherein the flexible portion is substantially planar. 
     
     
         28 . The plastic container of  claim 22 , wherein the dimple is an anti-inverting dimple, the anti-inverting dimple being adapted to travel with the pressure panel and to maintain substantially a constant shape regardless of the internal pressures experienced within the container, preventing complete inversion and failure of the pressure panel. 
     
     
         29 . The plastic container of  claim 22 , wherein, for each said rib, the narrowest part and the widest part are at opposite ends of said rib. 
     
     
         30 . The plastic container of  claim 22 , wherein each said rib is indented into an interior of the plastic container. 
     
     
         31 . The plastic container of  claim 22 , wherein the tapering of the ribs is substantially constant along the entire length of the ribs. 
     
     
         32 . The plastic container of  claim 22 , wherein the number of said radially spaced tapered ribs is three. 
     
     
         33 . The plastic container of  claim 22 , wherein each said rib has a brace with substantially vertically extending sidewalls. 
     
     
         34 . A plastic container comprising:
 an upper portion including a finish defining an opening into the container;   a lower portion including a base defining a standing surface;   a sidewall extending between the upper portion and the lower portion, the sidewall defining a longitudinal axis; and   a pressure panel located in a bottom end portion of the lower portion, the pressure panel being movable inwardly to compensate for a change of pressure inside the container, the pressure panel including:
 a centrally located dimple; and 
 a plurality of radially spaced tapered ribs, each of said plurality of tapered ribs tapering between a narrowest part and a widest part, the narrowest part being radially outward of said widest part, 
   wherein the standing surface defines a standing plane, and the entire pressure panel is located between the standing plane and the upper portion of the container at all time,   wherein the pressure panel is adapted to compensate for internal vacuum created within the container after the container is hot-filled, capped, and cooled, and   wherein each said rib is indented into an interior of the plastic container.   
     
     
         35 . The plastic container of  claim 34 , wherein, in as-formed condition, the base includes a flexible portion having an as-formed position inclined inwardly and upwardly in the range of five to six degrees with respect to a horizontal plane defined by the standing surface, the flexible portion adapted (a) to move down below the as-formed position in response to pressure created in the container after filling, and (b) to move up above the as-formed position in response to pressure created in the container after sealing, capping, and cooling. 
     
     
         36 . The plastic container of  claim 34 , wherein the widest part of each said rib is adjacent to the dimple. 
     
     
         37 . The plastic container of  claim 34 , wherein, for each said rib, the narrowest part and the widest part are at opposite ends of said rib. 
     
     
         38 . The plastic container of  claim 34 , wherein the tapering of the ribs is substantially constant slope along the entire length of the ribs. 
     
     
         39 . The plastic container of  claim 34 , wherein the number of said radially spaced tapered ribs is three. 
     
     
         40 . A plastic container comprising:
 an upper portion including a finish defining an opening into the container;   a lower portion including a base with a standing surface defining a standing plane, the lower portion having a diameter D;   a sidewall extending between the upper portion and the lower portion, the sidewall defining a longitudinal axis and having a diameter less than diameter D, the sidewall adapted to neatly support a wrap-around label without unwanted voids beneath the label;   at least one substantially transversely-oriented pressure panel located in the lower portion, the pressure panel being movable between an outward position and an inward position above said outward position to compensate for a change of pressure inside the container;   an anti-inverting dome located centrally of the pressure panel, the anti-inverting dome adapted to travel with the pressure panel and to maintain substantially a constant shape regardless of the internal pressures experienced within the container, preventing complete inversion and failure of the pressure panel, the anti-inverting dome being configured to help prevent the pressure panel from moving outside a desired range of movement between two positions B and C; and   a plurality of radially spaced tapered ribs, each of said plurality of tapered ribs tapering between a narrowest part and a widest part of each said rib, the narrowest part being radially outward of said widest part,   wherein each said rib is indented into an interior of the plastic container.   
     
     
         41 . The plastic container of  claim 40 , wherein the widest part of each said rib is arranged adjacent the anti-inverting dome.