Container base with releaved corner geometry

Abstract

A plastic container having a longitudinal axis, a finish adapted to receive a closure for sealing the container, a neck situated below and supporting the finish, a shoulder portion situated below the neck, a body portion extending downward from the shoulder portion, and a base. The base has a central portion and a plurality of edges and corners defining a generally polygonal base perimeter. Downwardly extending contact portions are located along the edges of the base perimeter, a lowermost surface of the contact portions defining a common plane perpendicular to the container longitudinal axis. Each of the corners of the base includes a channel upwardly offset with respect to the common plane, each channel extending between the base central portion and the base perimeter.

1 . A plastic container for containing a beverage or food, the container having a longitudinal axis, a finish adapted to receive a closure for sealing the container, a neck situated below and supporting the finish, a shoulder portion situated below the neck, a body portion extending downward from the shoulder portion, and a base, the base comprising a plurality of substantially linear edges and corners defining a generally polygonal base perimeter, downwardly extending contact portions located substantially continuously along the substantially linear edges of the base perimeter, a lowermost surface of the contact portions defining a common plane perpendicular to the container longitudinal axis, each of the comers including a channel upwardly offset with respect to the common plane.  
   
   
       2 . The plastic container of  claim 1  wherein the channel in each corner is larger horizontally than vertically.  
   
   
       3 . The plastic container of  claim 1  wherein the polygonal base is generally rectangular.  
   
   
       4 . The plastic container of  claim 1  wherein the base includes a central portion that is upwardly offset further than the corner channels.  
   
   
       5 . The plastic container of  claim 1  wherein the contact portions are generally trapezoidal.  
   
   
       6 . The plastic container of  claim 5  wherein the lowermost surfaces are located on the outer edges of the contact portions.  
   
   
       7 . The plastic container of  claim 1  wherein the contact portions include laterally inwardly indented outside surfaces.  
   
   
       8 . A plastic container for containing a beverage or food, the container having a longitudinal axis, a finish adapted to receive a closure for sealing the container, a neck situated below and supporting the finish, a shoulder portion situated below the neck, a body portion extending downward from the shoulder portion, and a base, the base comprising a central portion and a plurality of edges and corners defining a generally polygonal base perimeter, downwardly extending contact portions located along the edges of the base perimeter, a lowermost surface of the contact portions defining a common plane perpendicular to the container longitudinal axis, each of the corners including a channel upwardly offset with respect to the common plane, each channel extending between the base central portion and the base perimeter.  
   
   
       9 . The plastic container of  claim 8  wherein the channel in each corner includes a generally planar upper surface lying parallel to said common plane.  
   
   
       10 . The plastic container of  claim 9  wherein the upper surface of each corner extends laterally by a distance that is greater than the vertical offset of the upper surface from said common plane.  
   
   
       11 . The plastic container of  claim 10  wherein the base includes a center portion that is upwardly offset further than the upper surfaces of the corner channels.  
   
   
       12 . The plastic container of  claim 11  wherein the polygonal base is generally rectangular and the contact portions are generally trapezoidal.  
   
   
       13 . The plastic container of  claim 12  wherein the lowermost surfaces are located on the outer edges of the contact portions and the contact portions include laterally inwardly indented outside surfaces.  
   
   
       14 . A plastic container for containing a beverage or food, the container having a longitudinal axis, a finish adapted to receive a closure for sealing the container, a neck situated below and supporting the finish, a shoulder portion situated below the neck, a body portion extending downward from the shoulder portion, and a base, the base comprising a central portion and a plurality of edges and corners defining a generally polygonal base perimeter, downwardly extending contact portions located along the edges of the base perimeter, a lowermost surface of the contact portions defining a common plane perpendicular to the container longitudinal axis, each of the corners including a channel extending between the base central portion and the base perimeter, each channel being of substantially constant width and having a planar upper surface upwardly offset with respect to the common plane.  
   
   
       15 . The plastic container of  claim 14  wherein the planar upper surfaces of the corners are joined together inside the contact portions to form a single surface perpendicular to the container longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       16 . The plastic container of  claim 15  wherein the corner channels have vertically tapered side edges joining the planar upper surface to the adjacent lowermost surfaces of the contact portions.  
   
   
       17 . The plastic container of  claim 15  wherein the single surface includes a center portion that is upwardly offset further than the upper surfaces of the corner channels, the center portion being centered on the longitudinal axis.