Reconfigurable support base for a container

Abstract

A support base for a container includes a plurality of support base portions. Each support base portion has an outer surface defining a plurality of alignment features to facilitate alignment of each support base portion with adjacent support base portions in a plurality of configurations. Each of the plurality of configurations may be for supporting a differently sized and/or shaped container.

1 . A support base for a container comprising:
 a plurality of support base portions;   wherein each support base portion has an outer surface defining a plurality of alignment features to facilitate alignment of each support base portion with adjacent support base portions in a plurality of configurations.   
     
     
         2 . The support base of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of support base portions are equally sized and equally shaped. 
     
     
         3 . The support base of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of alignment features each comprises a curved groove defined by the outer surface of each support base portion. 
     
     
         4 . The support base of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of alignment features comprise a series of concentric curved grooves defined by the outer surface of each support base portion. 
     
     
         5 . The support base of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of alignment features comprise a first groove defined by the outer surface of each support base portion and a second groove extending from the first groove and defined by the outer surface of each support base portion. 
     
     
         6 . The support base of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of alignment features comprise a series of concentric groove systems, each of the series of concentric groove systems comprising a first groove defined by the outer surface of each support base portion and a second groove extending from the first groove and defined by the outer surface of each support base portion. 
     
     
         7 . The support base of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of each support base portion defines at least one drainage groove. 
     
     
         8 . The support base of  claim 7 , wherein the outer surface of each support base portion defines a floor of the at least one drainage groove to be sloped. 
     
     
         9 . The support base of  claim 1 , wherein each support base portion is one of polygonal in shape and shaped as a pie slice. 
     
     
         10 . The support base of  claim 1 , wherein each support base portion is shaped such that when the plurality of support base portions are aligned in a configuration where each support base portion is in contact with adjacent support base portions, a polygonal shaped support base with a central hole defined therein is formed. 
     
     
         11 . The support base of  claim 1 , wherein each support base portion comprises a shell constructed from a first material having a first property and has an interior portion; wherein each configuration is sized to support a differently sized container; and further comprising filler disposed within the interior portion of the shell and being constructed from a second material different than the first material and having a property different than the first property. 
     
     
         12 . The support base of  claim 11 , wherein the first property comprises a first degree of resistance to breakdown from contact with hydrocarbons; and wherein the second property comprises a second degree of resistance to breakdown from contact with hydrocarbons that is less than the first degree of resistance to breakdown from contact with hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         13 . The support base of  claim 11 , wherein the first property comprises a first degree of resistance to deformation; and wherein the second property comprises a second degree of resistance to deformation than is less than the first degree of resistance to deformation. 
     
     
         14 . The support base of  claim 11 , wherein the shell prevents ingress of environmental elements into the interior portion. 
     
     
         15 . The support base of  claim 11 , wherein the shell comprises a top portion with sidewall portions extending outwardly therefrom. 
     
     
         16 . The support base of  claim 11 , wherein the shell further comprises a bottom portion parallel to the top portion to receive at least some of the sidewall portions. 
     
     
         17 . The support base of  claim 11 , wherein the shell further comprises a bottom portion not parallel to the top portion to receive at least some of the sidewall portions; and wherein the top portion is at an acute angle with respect to the bottom portion. 
     
     
         18 . The support base of  claim 11 , wherein the top portion is concave in shape. 
     
     
         19 . A support for a container comprising:
 a support base;   the support base comprising a plurality of adjacent support base portions, each support base portion being equal in size and shape and comprising
 a shell having an interior portion and being constructed from a first material having a first property, 
 the shell having an outer surface defining a plurality of alignment features, and 
 filler disposed within the interior portion of the shell and being constructed from a second material different than the first material, the second material having a second property different than the first property; and 
   at least one alignment apparatus cooperating with the plurality of alignment features to align each support base with adjacent support bases and to maintain each support base at a given distance from adjacent support bases.   
     
     
         20 . The support of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one alignment apparatus comprises a ring. 
     
     
         21 . The support of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one alignment apparatus comprises a dog bone shaped member. 
     
     
         22 . The support of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one alignment apparatus comprises a plurality of members, each member of the plurality thereof comprising a first portion and a second portion extending from the first portion. 
     
     
         23 . A method of assembling a support base for a container comprising:
 arranging a plurality of support base portions into a configuration suitable for supporting the container, with each support base portion comprising
 a shell having an interior portion and being constructed from a first material having a first property, and 
 filler disposed within the interior portion of the shell and being constructed from a second material different than the first material, the second material having a second property different than the first property; and 
   aligning each support base with adjacent support bases by inserting at least one alignment apparatus into respective alignment features defined in an exterior surface of each support base portion.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising changing a distance between each support base and adjacent support bases by moving the at least one alignment apparatus from one alignment feature to another alignment feature. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein each support base portion, when in the configuration, is in contact with adjacent support bases. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the configuration is one of polygonal in shape and pie shaped. 
     
     
         27 . A method of making a support base for a container comprising:
 forming a plurality of support base portions by
 forming a shell from a first material having a first property to have an outer surface defining a plurality of alignment features to facilitate alignment of each support base with adjacent support bases in a plurality of configurations, each configuration being sized to support a differently sized container, and 
 disposing filler within the interior portion of the shell, the filler comprising a second material different than the first material and having a second property different than the first property. 
   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the shell is formed by one of injection molding, rotary molding, blow molding, and vacuum forming. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the shell is formed by dispensing the first material into a reusable mold. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the filler is disposed within the interior portion of the shell by one of pouring the filler into the interior portion and dispensing the filler into the interior portion. 
     
     
         31 . A support base portion for assembly with other support base portions to support a container, the support base portion comprising:
 a shell being constructed from a first material having a first property and having an interior portion,   the shell having an outer surface defining a plurality of alignment features to facilitate alignment of the support base portion with the other support base portions in a plurality of configurations, and   filler disposed within the interior portion of the shell and being constructed from a second material different than the first material and having a second property different than the first property.   
     
     
         32 . The support base portion of  claim 31 , wherein the first property comprises a first degree of resistance to breakdown from contact with hydrocarbons; and wherein the second property comprises a second degree of resistance to breakdown from contact with hydrocarbons that is less than the first degree of resistance to breakdown from contact with hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         33 . The support base of  claim 31 , wherein the first property comprises a first degree of resistance to deformation; and wherein the second property comprises a second degree of resistance to deformation than is less than the first degree of resistance to deformation.