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 method of processing a plastic container, comprising:
 (a) providing a plastic container having an upper portion including a finish, a sidewall, a lower portion including a base defining a standing surface, and a substantially transversely-oriented pressure panel located in the base, the pressure panel having a truncated cone portion located at a central longitudinal axis of the container, the truncated cone portion being constructed and operative in the pressure panel such that a base portion of the truncated cone portion is always below a top portion of the truncated cone portion;   (b) introducing heated liquid contents into the plastic container with the pressure panel located in an inwardly-inclined position entirely between the standing surface and the upper portion;   (c) capping the plastic container; and   after said step (c), (d) moving the pressure panel to an outwardly-inclined position entirely between the standing surface and the upper portion,   wherein the truncated cone portion substantially maintains a constant shape for said step (d).   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of blow molding the plastic container with the pressure panel in the inwardly-inclined position. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of cooling the plastic container and liquid contents after the step (d), said cooling causing the pressure panel to move inwardly,
 wherein the truncated cone portion substantially maintains the constant shape for said moving inwardly.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the step (d) occurs as a result of increasing internal pressure within the plastic container. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the truncated cone portion is operative to prevent inversion of the pressure panel and includes ribs radially extending therefrom, each said rib linearly tapering in plan view at a substantially constant rate over substantially its entire length. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said step (d) includes moving the pressure panel outwardly to the outwardly-inclined position. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said step (d) includes moving the pressure panel from the inwardly-inclined position to the outwardly-inclined position. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the pressure panel includes a wall, the wall being between a hinge and the base portion of the truncated cone portion, the wall being circumscribed by a hinge and circumscribing the base portion of the truncated cone portion. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the wall is substantially flat. 
     
     
         31 . A method of processing a plastic container, comprising:
 providing a blow molded plastic container having an upper portion including a finish, a sidewall, a lower portion including a base defining a standing surface, and a substantially transversely-oriented pressure panel located in the base, the pressure panel including a frustum-shaped portion at a central longitudinal axis of the container, the pressure panel being blow molded in a first inwardly-inclined position entirely between the standing surface and the upper portion;   introducing heated liquid contents into the plastic container having the pressure panel initially positioned in the first inwardly-inclined position;   capping the plastic container;   flexing the pressure panel downwardly to an outwardly-inclined position entirely between the standing surface and the upper portion when the container is filled, capped, and subjected to an increase in pressure inside the container;   cooling the plastic container and liquid contents; and   after said cooling, moving the pressure panel from the outwardly inclined position to a second inwardly-inclined position entirely between the standing surface and the upper portion to relieve vacuum when the contents of the filled and capped container are cooled,   wherein said moving the pressure panel occurs as a result of an internal vacuum formed within the plastic container.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the first inwardly-inclined position is different from the second inwardly-inclined position. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 ,
 wherein the frustum-shaped portion is operative as an anti-inversion portion to prevent complete inversion of the pressure panel, and   wherein, for each of said flexing and said moving, the frustum-shaped portion maintains substantially a constant shape.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the frustum-shaped portion is in the form of a truncated cone. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the truncated cone includes a plurality of ribs formed therein, each of the ribs originating from a base of the truncated cone and running toward a top portion of the truncated cone. 
     
     
         36 . A method of processing a plastic container, comprising:
 (a) providing a plastic container having an upper portion including a finish, a sidewall, a lower portion including a base defining a standing surface, and a substantially transversely-oriented pressure panel located in the base, and an anti-inverting central portion surrounded by the pressure panel and opening downwardly in the base, the anti-inverting central portion being frustum shaped;   (b) introducing heated liquid contents into the plastic container having the pressure panel;   (c) capping the plastic container;   (d) cooling the plastic container and liquid contents; and   (e) prior to said cooling, moving the pressure panel between an outwardly-inclined position entirely between the standing surface and the upper portion and an inwardly-inclined position entirely between the standing surface and the upper portion, the anti-inverting central portion traveling up and down with the surrounding pressure panel while remaining in the downwardly-open position and maintaining a substantially constant shape,   wherein said moving the pressure panel occurs as a result of an internal vacuum formed within the plastic container.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising the step of blow molding the plastic container with the pressure panel in the inwardly-inclined position. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the outwardly-inclined position and the inwardly-inclined position are maximum desired limits within which the pressure panel can move. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the pressure panel further includes a plurality of tapering ribs adjacent the anti-inverting portion. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the anti-inverting central portion is in the shape of a truncated cone.