Container with dynamic base

Abstract

A plastic container comprising a container body comprising a bottom portion, an upper portion, a sidewall portion extending between the upper portion and the bottom portion, and a finish portion. The container body having a chamber defined therein. The finish portion extends from the upper portion and defines a mouth in fluid communication with the chamber. The bottom portion including a base portion comprising (i) a support surface, (ii) a plurality of ribs, (iii) a plurality of voids, and (iv) an inner core aligned with a central axis of the container body. The inner core including a contoured wall portion, a first radiused wall portion adjacent the contoured wall portion, and a second radiused wall portion adjacent the first radiused wall portion. The bottom portion is configured to permit a region of said base portion to move in response to a pressure differential.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plastic container comprising:
 a container body comprising a bottom portion, an upper portion, a sidewall portion extending between said upper portion and said bottom portion, and a finish portion, said container body having a chamber defined therein, said finish portion extends from said upper portion and defines a mouth in fluid communication with said chamber;   said bottom portion including a base portion comprising (i) a support surface, (ii) a plurality of ribs, (iii) a plurality of voids, and (iv) an inner core aligned with a central axis of said container body, said inner core including a contoured wall portion, a first radiused wall portion adjacent said contoured wall portion, and a second radiused wall portion adjacent said first radiused wall portion,   wherein said plurality of ribs and said plurality of voids are arranged radially relative to said inner core, and   wherein said bottom portion is configured to permit a region of said base portion to move in response to a pressure differential.   
     
     
         2 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein said pressure differential comprises (i) a first pressure differential present during a first fluid processing stage of said container body, (ii) a second pressure differential present during a second fluid processing stage of said container body, said second pressure differential being different than said first pressure differential, and said second fluid processing stage being different than said first fluid processing stage, and (iii) a third pressure differential present during a third fluid processing stage of said container body, said third pressure differential being different than each of said first pressure differential and said second pressure differential, and said third fluid processing stage being different than each of said first fluid processing stage and said second fluid processing stage, and
 said contoured wall portion has a first height in response to said first pressure differential, a second height in response to said second pressure differential, said second height being less than said first height, and a third height in response to said third pressure differential, said third height being different than each of said first height and said second height.   
     
     
         3 . The plastic container of  claim 2 , wherein said third height is greater than each of said first height and said second height. 
     
     
         4 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein each rib of said plurality of ribs includes a bottom surface portion having a surface area, said support surface comprises a surface area defined by a cumulative surface area of each said surface area of each said bottom surface portion. 
     
     
         5 . The plastic container of  claim 4 , wherein a width of said contoured wall portion is greater than a width of any of each said bottom surface portion. 
     
     
         6 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein said support surface extends towards said upper portion as it extends away from said inner core. 
     
     
         7 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein a number of said plurality of ribs is equal to a number of said plurality of voids. 
     
     
         8 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of voids has a tapered configuration comprising an upper surface and a lower gap portion, wherein a width of said lower gap portion is greater than a width of said upper surface. 
     
     
         9 . The plastic container of  claim 8 , wherein each of said plurality of voids has a same height relative to said support surface. 
     
     
         10 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein said base portion further comprises a cylindrical base wall portion, said support surface is between said cylindrical base wall portion and said second radiused wall portion. 
     
     
         11 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein said first radiused wall portion has an angled configuration and said second radiused wall portion has an angled configuration, and wherein an angle of said first radiused wall portion angled configuration is greater than an angle of said second radiused wall portion angled configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The plastic container of  claim 11 , wherein said angle of said second radiused wall portion angled configuration has a value within a range of 1° to 25°. 
     
     
         13 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein said region of said base portion comprises an active region defined by a relationship between said contoured wall portion, said first radiused wall portion, and said second radiused wall portion. 
     
     
         14 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein said region of said base portion comprises an active region defined by a relationship between said contoured wall portion, said first radiused wall portion, said second radiused wall portion, said surface area and said curved corner. 
     
     
         15 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein said base portion further comprises a curved corner and a curve point, said curve point adjacent said curved corner, wherein said curved corner is configured to move relative to said curve point as said plastic container transitions from said first fluid processing stage to said third fluid processing stage. 
     
     
         16 . The plastic container of  claim 15 , wherein said curve point is configured to remain radially stationary as said plastic container transitions from said first fluid processing stage to said third fluid processing stage. 
     
     
         17 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein said base portion further comprises a hinge point, and said second radiused wall portion having an angled configuration adjacent said hinge point. 
     
     
         18 . The plastic container of  claim 17 , wherein said support surface is between said hinge point and said curve point. 
     
     
         19 . A plastic container comprising:
 a container body comprising a bottom portion, an upper portion, a sidewall portion extending between said upper portion and said bottom portion, and a finish portion, said container body having a chamber defined therein, said finish portion extending from said upper portion and defining a mouth in fluid communication with said chamber;   said bottom portion including a base portion comprising (i) a support surface, (ii) a plurality of ribs, (iii) a plurality of voids, and (iv) an inner core aligned with a central axis of said container body, said inner core including a contoured wall portion, a first radiused wall portion, and a second radiused wall portion adjacent said first radiused wall portion, said base portion further comprising a hinge point, and said second radiused wall portion having an angled configuration adjacent said hinge point,   wherein said plurality of ribs and said plurality of voids are arranged radially relative to said inner core, and   wherein said bottom portion is configured to permit a region of said base portion to move in response to a pressure differential.   
     
     
         20 . The plastic container of  claim 19 , wherein a height of said contoured wall portion is greater than a height of any void of said plurality of voids. 
     
     
         21 . The plastic container of  claim 19 , wherein said second radiused wall portion is closer to said support surface than said first radiused wall portion along a lateral direction of said container body. 
     
     
         22 . The plastic container of  claim 21 , wherein said first radiused wall portion has an angled configuration, and wherein an angle of said angled configuration of said first radiused wall portion is greater than an angle of said angled configuration of said second radiused wall portion. 
     
     
         23 . The plastic container of  claim 22 , wherein said angle of said angled configuration of said second radiused wall portion has a value within a range of 1° to 25°. 
     
     
         24 . The plastic container of  claim 19 , wherein said pressure differential comprises (i) a first pressure differential present during a first fluid processing stage of said container body, (ii) a second pressure differential present during a second fluid processing stage of said container body, said second pressure differential being different than said first pressure differential, and said second fluid processing stage being different than said first fluid processing stage, and (iii) a third pressure differential present during a third fluid processing stage of said container body, said third pressure differential being different than each of said first pressure differential and said second pressure differential, and
 said angled configuration of said second radiused wall portion has a first angle in response to said first pressure differential, a second angle in response to said second pressure differential, said second angle being less than said first angle, and a third angle in response to said third pressure differential, said third angle being greater than each of said first angle and said second angle.   
     
     
         25 . The plastic container of  claim 19 , wherein the support surface extends towards the upper portion as it extends away from the inner core. 
     
     
         26 . The plastic container of  claim 19 , wherein said region of said base portion comprises an active region defined by a relationship between said contoured wall portion, said first radiused wall portion, and said second radiused wall portion. 
     
     
         27 . The plastic container of  claim 19 , wherein said base portion further comprises a curved corner and a curve point, said curve point adjacent said curved corner, wherein said curved corner is configured to move relative to said curve point as said plastic container transitions from said first fluid processing stage to said third fluid processing stage. 
     
     
         28 . The plastic container of  claim 27 , wherein said curve point is configured to remain radially stationary as said plastic container transitions from said first fluid processing stage to said third fluid processing stage. 
     
     
         29 . The plastic container of  claim 19 , wherein said region of said base portion comprises an active region defined by a relationship between said contoured wall portion, said first radiused wall portion, said second radiused wall portion, said surface area and said curved corner. 
     
     
         30 . The plastic container of  claim 27 , wherein said support surface is between said hinge point and said curve point.