Pressure resistant vacuum absorbing base of container

Abstract

A plastic container includes a container body having a bottom portion, a sidewall portion, and an upper portion, with a chamber defined therein. The sidewall portion includes at least one circumferential indent. The bottom portion includes a support surface and a base portion including a first and second plurality of ribs and other structures that permit a region of the base portion to move in a dynamic and variable manner in response to certain forces and other conditions present during various fluid processing stages associated with filling, sealing, and cooling the container.

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 bottom portion and said upper portion, and a finish portion, said container body defining a chamber 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 a rim and an inner core aligned with a central axis of said container body, said inner core including (i) a plurality of first ribs, (ii) a hinge point, and (iii) a domed portion,   wherein said first plurality of ribs are arranged radially relative to said central axis form a plurality of first connection paths extending along a first distance of said inner core, and   wherein said bottom portion is configured such that movement of said base portion is permitted at an active region of said base portion in response to a pressure differential, said movement being facilitated at least in part by said plurality of first connection paths.   
     
     
         2 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , further comprising an angled wall of said inner core, wherein said first distance of said inner core is a first distance along said angled wall of said inner core, said second distance of said inner core is a second distance along said angled wall of said inner core, said second distance along said angled wall being different than said first distance along said angled wall. 
     
     
         3 . The plastic container of  claim 2 , wherein a length of each first connection path of said plurality of first connection paths is less than a length of each second connection path of said plurality of second connection paths. 
     
     
         4 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein a number of said first plurality of ribs equals a number of said second plurality of ribs. 
     
     
         5 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein said inner core is configured to move towards said finish under negative pressure caused by cooling of said hot filled container at least three times the amount of movement of said inner core away from said finish during positive pressure caused by hot filling said container. 
     
     
         6 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein an end of each second rib of said second plurality of ribs terminates at said domed portion. 
     
     
         7 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein said base portion includes a first angled wall and a second angled wall, said first angled wall and said second angled wall configured to move towards each other when there is a positive pressure in said container. 
     
     
         8 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , further comprising a support surface, wherein each second rib of said second plurality of ribs has a greater height than each first rib of said plurality of first ribs relative to a plane defined by said support surface. 
     
     
         9 . The plastic container of  claim 1 , wherein said inner core comprises a first angled wall, a second angled wall, a third angled wall, a first arcuate portion between said first angled wall and said second angled wall, a second arcuate portion between said second angled wall and said third angled wall, and a third arcuate portion between said third angled wall and said domed portion. 
     
     
         10 . The plastic container of  claim 9 , wherein said second arcuate portion at least in part defines said hinge point of said base portion. 
     
     
         11 . A plastic container comprising:
 a container body comprising a bottom portion, an upper portion, a sidewall portion extending between said bottom portion and said upper portion, and a finish portion, said container body having a chamber defined therein, and 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 a rim and an inner core aligned with a central axis of said container body, said inner core including (i) a plurality of ribs, (ii) a hinge point, and (iii) a domed portion,   wherein said plurality of ribs are arranged radially relative to said central axis in an alternating pattern and form a plurality of connection paths between said hinge point and said domed portion, and   wherein said bottom portion is configured such that movement of said base portion is permitted via said hinge point in response to a pressure differential, said movement being facilitated at least in part by said plurality of connection paths.   
     
     
         12 . The plastic container of  claim 11 , wherein said hinge point defines an active region of said base portion. 
     
     
         13 . The plastic container of  claim 11 , wherein said plurality of ribs includes a plurality of first ribs and a plurality of second ribs, each first rib of said plurality of first ribs having a different size and shape than each second rib of said plurality of second ribs. 
     
     
         14 . The plastic container of  claim 13 , wherein said plurality of connection paths include a plurality of first connection paths formed by said plurality of first ribs and a plurality of second connection paths formed by said plurality of second ribs. 
     
     
         15 . The plastic container of  claim 11 , wherein said inner core includes a plurality of pressurized strength points configured to accommodate forces from said pressure differential. 
     
     
         16 . The plastic container of  claim 11 , wherein said rim includes a support surface, said inner core includes a first arcuate portion, and a height of said first arcuate portion is less than a height of said domed portion relative to a plane defined by said support surface. 
     
     
         17 . The plastic container of  claim 11 , wherein said inner core is configured to move towards said finish under negative pressure caused by cooling of said hot filled container at least three times the amount of movement of said inner core away from said finish during positive pressure caused by hot filling said container. 
     
     
         18 . The plastic container of  claim 11 , wherein said base portion includes a first angled wall and a second angled wall, said first angled wall and said second angled wall configured to move towards each other when there is a positive pressure in said container. 
     
     
         19 . The plastic container of  claim 18 , wherein said first upper portion has a first upper portion diameter, said first sidewall portion has a first sidewall portion diameter, and said first sidewall portion diameter is less than said first upper portion diameter. 
     
     
         20 . The plastic container of  claim 19 , wherein a maximum diameter of said bottom portion is equal to said first upper portion diameter.