Plastic container having a deep-set invertible base and related methods

Abstract

A plastic container comprises 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 at least one substantially transversely-oriented pressure panel located in the lower portion. The pressure panel is movable between an outwardly-inclined position and an inwardly-inclined position to compensate for a change of pressure inside the container. 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.

1 . A method of compensating for vacuum pressure changes within a container, comprising:
 hot filling the container with a product;   sealing the container with a closure;   cooling the hot filled container; and   repositioning a base wall adjoining a hinge from an outward extending position to an inward extending position, thereby reducing the internal pressure of the container,   wherein prior to repositioning, the container is adapted to stand upright on a flat surface.   
     
     
         2 - 120 . (canceled)