Self-standing container

Abstract

A petaloid base ( 14 ) for a self-standing container ( 10 ) is described. The base ( 14 ) has a central longitudinal axis ( 12 ), a spheroidal underlying base contour, and a plurality of spheroidal foot formations ( 16 ) that interrupt and project from the underlying base contour to define a corresponding plurality of feet ( 16 ). Each foot formation ( 16 ) has an elliptical intersection with the underlying base contour, the elliptical intersection defining a transition between the underlying base contour and a foot formation ( 16 ). A ratio of D 2 :D 1 is in the range of 1:1 to 1:1.38, wherein D 1 is a radial distance from the central longitudinal axis ( 12 ) to a junction between the base ( 14 ) and a side wall ( 48 ) of the self-standing container ( 10 ), and D 2 is a radial distance from the central longitudinal axis ( 12 ) to a radially outermost extremity of the transition.

1 . A petaloid base for a self-standing container, the base having a central longitudinal axis, a spheroidal underlying base contour, and a plurality of spheroidal foot formations that interrupt and project from the underlying base contour to define a corresponding plurality of feet, wherein:
 each foot formation has an elliptical intersection with the underlying base contour, the elliptical intersection defining a transition between the underlying base contour and a foot formation; and a ratio of D 2 :D 1  is in the range of 1:1 to 1:1.38; wherein:
 D 1  is a radial distance from the central longitudinal axis to a radially outermost extremity of the underlying base contour, corresponding to a junction between the base and a side wall of the self-standing container; and 
 D 2  is a radial distance from the central longitudinal axis to a radially outermost extremity of the transition. 
   
     
     
         2 . The base of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of D 2 :D 1  is between 1:1 and 1:1.1. 
     
     
         3 . The base of  claim 1 , wherein the base has a volume to weight ratio of at least 19.4 ml per gram of PET, and wherein the wall thickness of a foot formation at a contact point is 0.18 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The base of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of D 7 :D 1  is approximately 1:1.63, wherein D 7  is the radial distance between the central longitudinal axis and a contact point of a foot formation. 
     
     
         5 . The base of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of D 6 :D 1  is approximately 1:1.76, wherein D 6  is the widest distance between two points on the transition which are radially equidistant from the central longitudinal axis; wherein a ratio of D 5 :D 1  is approximately 1:2.62, wherein D 5  is the widest distance between two points on a foot formation which are radially equidistant from the central longitudinal axis and which do not form part of the transition; wherein a ratio of D 4 :D 1  is approximately 1:1.36, wherein D 4  is the radial distance between the radially inner end of a foot formation, and radially outermost extremity of the transition; and wherein a ratio of D 3 :D 1  is approximately 1:5.46, wherein D 3  is the radial distance between the central longitudinal axis and a radially inner end of a foot formation. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The base of  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of D 8 :D 1  is approximately 1:1.17, wherein Dg is the axial distance between a planar surface on which a foot formation rests when standing and the radially outermost, axially uppermost extremity of the underlying base contour, corresponding to a junction between the base and a side wall of the self-standing container; wherein a ratio of D 9 :D 1  is approximately 1:1.19, wherein D 9  is the axial distance between a planar surface on which a foot formation rests when standing and the radially outermost, axially uppermost extremity of the transition; wherein a ratio of D 10 :D 1  is approximately 1:2.43, wherein D 10  is the axial distance between a planar surface on which a foot formation rests when standing and a line, parallel to that planar surface that passes through the two points on the transition which are the furthest apart from one another, and also radially equidistant from the central longitudinal axis; and wherein a ratio of D 11 :D 1  is approximately 1:4.25, wherein D 11  is the axial distance between a planar surface on which a foot formation rests when standing and a line, parallel to that planar surface that passes through the two points on the foot formation which are the furthest apart from one another, and also radially equidistant from the central longitudinal axis, but do not form part of the transition. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The base of  claim 1 , wherein the underlying base contour is an oblate spheroid whose polar axis coincides with the central longitudinal axis of the base, and wherein the underlying base contour is substantially hemispherical. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The base of  claim 1 , wherein the foot formations are elongate ellipsoids and/or prolate spheroids, wherein the foot formations are ovoid, and wherein the widest part of the cross-section of each foot formation is offset inwardly toward an inner end of the foot formation. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The base of  claim 15 , wherein the foot formations have respective longitudinal axes, which axes lie in planes extending radially from a central longitudinal axis of the base, wherein the axes of the foot formations extend outwardly in conical relation from the central axis of the base, wherein the axes of the foot formations extend outwardly and upwardly from the central axis of the base, and wherein the axes of the foot formations meet at the central axis of the base at a position axially below the base. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The base of  claim 1 , wherein the elliptical intersection is ovate, and wherein the elliptical intersection is of concave cross section. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The base of  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises a stiffening formation disposed centrally between the feet. 
     
     
         25 . The base of  claim 24 , wherein the foot formations radiate from the stiffening formation. 
     
     
         26 . The base of  claim 24 , wherein the stiffening formation comprises concentrically arranged protrusions and depressions. 
     
     
         27 . The base of  claim 26 , wherein the concentrically arranged protrusions and depressions are joined via a sharply curving transition portion. 
     
     
         28 . The base of  claim 1 , wherein the foot formations are separated by valleys, wherein the valleys widen moving outwardly across the base, wherein each valley has an inner and an outer section and the walls of the valley diverge more sharply in the outer section than in the inner section, and wherein the walls of the valley diverge in both the inner and the outer sections of the valley. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The base of  claim 1 , wherein in plan view, each foot formation has an enlarged central region that tapers inwardly across an inner portion to an inner end of the foot formation, wherein the inner portions of the foot formations lie in segmented relation around the base, and wherein in plan view, each foot formation tapers from the enlarged central region outwardly across an outer portion to an outer end of the foot formation. 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A self-standing container having a base as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the container is stretch blow-moulded from a plastics preform, and wherein the base and a side wall are integrally moulded. 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . The container of  claim 35 , wherein the foot formations of the base define respective contact points that together are spaced around a contact circle whose diameter (x) relates to a side wall diameter (Dy) of the container as: 
       
         
           
             
               
                 Dy 
                 
                   0.5 
                    
                   
                       
                   
                    
                   x 
                 
               
               = 
               k 
             
           
         
         where k is between 3.0 and 4.6, or between 3.1 and 3.5, or approximately 3.275. 
       
     
     
         39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . The container of  claim 35 , wherein the wall thickness of the base is in the range of 0.15 to 0.25 mm, or approximately 0.18 mm. 
     
     
         42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . The container of  claim 35 , having an average burst pressure resistance to material usage ratio of greater than 3 MPa/kg, and a capacity to material usage ratio of greater than 40 litres/kg. 
     
     
         44 . (canceled)