Abstract: A bottle base made of plastic material, particularly for beverages, of the type which has, on its bottom, reinforcement recesses. The reinforcement recesses comprise a recess which runs along a transverse reference dimension of the base; the recess forms a main rib inside the base.

Abstract: A base for a plastic container is disclosed. The base includes a central vertical axis; an outer supporting annular portion for supporting said container on a surface; a central portion of the base, the central portion provided about said central vertical axis; and a base portion. The base portion extends between the annular portion and the central support portion of the base. The base portion includes at least two lugs that extend radially from a position adjacent the annular portion towards the central portion, the lugs including at least two stepped segments.

Abstract: A container, in particular a bottle, made of thermoplastic material produced by blow molding or stretch-blow molding of a heated preform, the container designed to contain a liquid being flat and having a substantially domed base with outward-facing cavity defining a substantially planar peripheral annular seat for being set on a support, the base being provided with several grooves radiating from the base center. Each groove in its zone of intersection with the annular seat, has a portion of substantially increased width and the two edges of that portion of the groove are curved with relatively large radii of curvature and with respective concavities facing one another.

Abstract: A beverage bottle. The bottle may include a flattened upper lobe, a flattened lower lobe, and a substantially circular transitional section. The bottle may be made out of a plastic material.

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.

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.

Abstract: A plastic blow molded container (10) is disclosed as including a freestanding base structure (20) that is constructed with good stability against tipping provided by five alternating hollow legs (22) and five curved ribs (34) that alternate, and a hub (41) from which the legs and ribs extend radially with a construction that provides good stability against tipping as well as the capability of withstanding internal pressure. The legs (22) have lower flat feet (24) of truncated wedge shapes with an outer diameter Df, and the hub (41) has a periphery connected to the feet and ribs with a height Hp such that the ratio of the diameter Df over the height Hp is in the range of about 25 to 90 to maintain strength without the hub engaging the supporting surface on which the feet rest.

Abstract: A container made from plastic for holding beverages. The container comprises a mouth, a wall section which adjoins the mouth in a longitudinal direction (L) of the container, and a base section which is designed as a standing face. The wall section merges into the base section. The container is formed in one piece. The base section has an injection point located in the interior in a radial direction (R) with respect to the longitudinal direction (L), and a central region which surrounds this injection point, and also a transition section which extends from the central region to the wall section. The transition section has a curvature with a finite radius of curvature in at least one and preferably in every radial direction (R) of the container in every geometric sub-section.

Abstract: A one-piece plastic container includes a body defining a longitudinal axis and having an upper portion, a sidewall portion and a base portion. The base portion defines a plurality of feet extending therearound. The base portion defines a contact diameter ratio of approximately 70-74% and a contact length ratio of approximately 20-23% for a plastic container having a volume capacity of approximately one (1) liter (1000 cc). According to additional features, the one-piece plastic container can have a nub defined on the base portion. For a one-piece plastic container having a volume capacity of approximately one (1) liter (1000 cc), the nub has a diameter of approximately 3-7 mm (0.12-0.28 inch), the base portion defines a contact area ratio of approximately 23-25%, and each foot defines corner transition portions each having a fillet radius of approximately 4-10 mm (0.16-0.39 inch).

Abstract: A plastic blow molded container having at least six downwardly projecting legs and a plurality of curved ribs, with each rib located between two downwardly projecting legs. Each rib has an inner portion that extends outwardly from the central axis and an outer portion that extends upwardly from the inner portion, wherein the outer portion of each rib has a circumferential width equal to or greater than the circumferential width of the inner portion.

Abstract: A polyester container having an enhanced level of crystallinity in the sidewall while maintaining a low level of crystallinity in a thickened base portion. The container is particularly useful as a refillable container which can withstand higher caustic wash temperatures and exhibits reduced flavor carryover, or as a hot-fill container. The container, which can be monolayer or multilayer, is also useful as a carbonated beverage, O2 or CO2 barrier, or beer container.

Abstract: A plastic blow molded container (10) is disclosed as including a freestanding base structure (20) that is constructed with a plurality of alternating hollow legs (22) and curved ribs (34), and a hub (41) from which the legs and ribs extend radially with a construction that provides good stability against tipping as well as the capability of withstanding internal pressure. The legs (22) have lower flat feet (24) with an outer diameter Df, and the hub (41) has a periphery connected to the feet and ribs with a height Hp such that the ratio of the diameter Df over the height Hp is in the range of about 25 to 90 to maintain strength without the hub engaging the supporting surface on which the feet rest. The construction disclosed of the legs (22), ribs (34) and hub (41, 41? and 41?) enhances the capability of the base structure in providing good stability as well as the capability of withstanding internal pressure and stress cracking.

Abstract: A molded plastic container with a sidewall having a general hourglass configuration. The container structure includes an upper rim, a bottom and a sidewall that extends between the upper rim and the bottom. The sidewall includes a lower frustum section, a narrow mid-section and an upper frustum section. The lower frustum section connects the bottom to the narrow mid-section and decreases in width as it extends from the bottom to the narrow mid-section. The upper frustum section extends from the upper rim to the narrow mid-section and decreases in width as it extends from the upper rim to the mid-section. A method of making such a container, a method of hot-filling such a container and a method of retorting material enclosed in such a container are also disclosed.

Abstract: A thermoplastic container, such as a bottle, obtained by extrusion-blow or injection-blow molding and having a petaloid base (6, 7). The base includes a convex wall (7) hemispherical in shape; the wall (7) is linked to the wall (2) forming the container body by a marginal zone (8) with a curve (R1, R2). Members (6) originate from the hemispherical wall (7) and are separated in pairs by a part thereof; the top end of each member is directly linked to the wall (2) forming the body.

Abstract: A bottom structure of a biaxially-oriented blow-molded bottle-shaped container is made of a synthetic resin and includes a neck, a shoulder, a body and a bottom. The bottom has a connecting cylindrical wall, a tapered-cylindrical wall, a bottom wall and a grounding wall. A diameter of the tapered-cylindrical wall is decreased downwardly at a certain inclined angle. The bottom wall is domed to an inside of the container. The grounding wall is in a ring plate shape and arranged between a lower edge of the tapered-cylindrical wall and a lower edge of the bottom wall. Each of groove ribs is formed from an upper edge of the tapered-cylindrical wall through the grounding wall to the lower edge of the bottom wall. The groove ribs are arranged with isometric center angle, and extend radially.

Abstract: A thermoplastic container obtained by blow-molding of a preform, with a base including in its central part a multiple-branch cross-shaped impression provided with a central recess from which radial branches radiate; the base is of the petal-shaped type with at least three legs formed by protuberances located near the periphery; there are as many legs as branches mutually aligned radially; each leg includes a notch for absorbing stresses radially separated from the end of the respective branch.

Abstract: The improved plastic container and preform is light weight and includes a base, a cylindrical sidewall projecting upwardly from the base, and a neck finish projecting upwardly from the sidewall and having an opening to the inside of the container. The neck finish includes an inwardly oriented stepped area adjacent the opening.

Abstract: A blow molded plastic container having a circular base, a cylindrical sidewall extending upwardly from the base and a neck finish projecting upwardly from the sidewall. The sidewall includes a plurality of spaced apart, continuous, circumferential grooves extending around the sidewall. The grooves are separated by raised areas.

Abstract: A plastic blow molded container (10) is disclosed as including a freestanding base structure (20) that is constructed with a plurality of alternating hollow legs (22) and curved ribs (34), and a hub (41) from which the legs and ribs extend radially with a construction that provides good stability against tipping as well as the capability of withstanding internal pressure. The legs (22) have lower flat feet (24) with an outer diameter Df, and the hub (41) has a periphery connected to the feet and ribs with a height Hp such that the ratio of the diameter Df over the height Hp is in the range of about 25 to 90 to maintain strength without the hub engaging the supporting surface on which the feet rest. The construction disclosed of the legs (22), ribs (34) and hub (41, 41? and 41?) enhances the capability of the base structure in providing good stability as well as the capability of withstanding internal pressure and stress cracking.

Abstract: A plastic container with a self-supporting base, a body portion extending above the base and a neck portion above the body portion. The neck portion includes a dispensing opening. The body portion includes a substantially rigid sidewall portion with structural reinforcement thereon.

Abstract: A wide-mouth blow-molded plastic container capable of accommodating, without undesirable distortion, super-baric pressures when filled with volatile food products and pasteurized, and sub-baric pressures after cooling to ambient temperatures. A method of packaging a food product in the container is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a thermoplastic container obtained by blow-moulding of a preform, with a base (3) comprising in its central part a multiple-branch cross-shaped impression provided with a central recess (6) from which radial branches (8) radiate; the base (3) is of the petal-shaped type with at least three legs (10) formed by protuberances located near the periphery; there are as many legs as branches mutually aligned radially; each leg includes a notch for absorbing stresses (13) radially separated from the end of the respective branch.

Abstract: A plastic blow molded container (10) is disclosed as including a freestanding base structure (20) that is constructed with a plurality of alternating hollow legs (22) and curved ribs (34), and a hub (41) from which the legs and ribs extend radially with a construction that provides good stability against tipping as well as the capability of withstanding internal pressure. The legs (22) have lower flat feet (24) with an outer diameter Df, and the hub (41) has a periphery connected to the feet and ribs with a height Hp such that the ratio of the diameter Df over the height Hp is in the range of about 25 to 90 to maintain strength without the hub engaging the supporting surface on which the feet rest. The construction disclosed of the legs (22), ribs (34) and hub (41, 41′ and 41″) enhances the capability of the base structure in providing good stability as well as the capability of withstanding internal pressure and stress cracking.

Abstract: A bottom structure of a biaxially-oriented blow-molded bottle-shaped container made of a synthetic resin, comprising a neck, a shoulder, a body and a bottom, characterized in that

Abstract: A plastic bottle is disclosed, which comprises a cylindrical sidewall having a predetermined thickness, an upper mouth-forming portion, a neck extending from this mouth-forming portion, a dome-shaped portion between the neck and one axial end of the cylindrical sidewall, a lower bottom-forming base extending from the other axial end of the cylindrical wall, all about a central axis. The bottle also has at least three substantially vertical exterior ribs that are substantially uniformly angularly spaced from each other about the axis on the neck, and these ribs have maximum cross-sectional radial dimensions along the axis generally greater than said predetermined thickness. The ribs reinforced the neck and distribute forces resulting from impact of a localized force to the mouth-forming portion towards the dome-shaped portion and cylindrical sidewall.

Abstract: A plastic bottle is disclosed, which comprises a cylindrical sidewall having a predetermined thickness, an upper mouth-forming portion, a neck extending from this mouth-forming portion, a dome-shaped portion between the neck and one axial end of the cylindrical sidewall, a lower bottom-forming base extending from the other axial end of thed cylindrical wall, all about a central axis. The bottle also has at least three substantially vertical exterior ribs that are substantially uniformly angularly spaced from each other about the axis on the neck, and these ribs have maximum cross-sectional radial dimensions along the axis generally greater than said predetermined thickness. The ribs reinforced the neck and distribute forces resulting from impact of a localized force to the mouth-forming portion towards the dome-shaped portion and cylindrical sidewall.

Abstract: A plastic blow molded container (10) is disclosed as including a freestanding base structure (20) that is constructed with a plurality of alternating hollow legs (22) and curved ribs (34), and a hub (41) from which the legs and ribs extend radially with a construction that provides good stability against tipping as well as the capability of withstanding internal pressure. Each rib (34) has an outer upper end (36) with a circumferential width Wu and an inner lower end (38) with a circumferential width Wl that is greater than the circumferential width Wu of the upper rib end so the lower rib end is capable of resisting stress cracking. An intermediate rib portion (40) of a curved shape tapers between the ends with an included angle B in the range of about 1° to 8° and preferably about 2°.

Abstract: A blow molded container having a multi-functional base which enables use of the container in both hot-fill operations and pasteurization/retort operations and enables efficient vertical stacking of like containers. To this end, a portion of the base is capable of flexing upwardly and/or downwardly in response to variations in pressures in a filled and sealed container. Structurally, the base has a discontinuous concave outer annular wall forming a discontinuous standing ring and an inner annular wall functioning as a flex panel. The inner annular wall connects outwardly to a plurality of radial webs extending at an elevation above the standing ring and connects inwardly to an anti-inverting, upwardly-projecting dome. Preferably, a shoulder extends radially inward on the inward facing side of the outer annular wall above a level of the standing ring to facilitate vertical stacking of containers having like bases.

Abstract: A molded polymeric container that is shaped to be easier to mold, have improved rigidity under pressure and improved strength includes a substantially cylindrical body portion having a longitudinal axis and a circumferential sidewall, and a bottom portion. The bottom portion includes a central pushup area that is substantially symmetrical about the longitudinal axis and that is substantially flat. The pushup area preferably has a radius that is within the range of 0.100 inches to 0.500 inches. The bottom portion further includes a plurality of support feet surrounding and protruding downwardly from the pushup area, each of which has a bottom support surface and a pair of sidewalls that help define a valley between the support feet. The sidewalls have a substantially straight portion that defines an angle with respect to a line that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and this angle is at least 25 degrees.

Abstract: A multilayer plastic container having enhanced strength for high temperature and pressure applications such as the pasteurization of carbonated juice drinks. The container is commercially cost-effective in comparison to prior art pasteurizable glass containers, and provides all of the advantages of plastic over glass, i.e., lightweight, shatter-resistant, etc. In a particular embodiment, the multilayer container includes inner and outer layers of a relatively high IV virgin PET, e.g., 0.85-0.90 dl/g, and a core layer of post-consumer PET having a substantially lower IV. The container has a relatively tall and slender profile, with high orientation levels in the panel and shoulder, and an oriented thick-walled base with feet. The base preferably has a high profile and angled foot pads which are allowed to move outwardly under creep.

Abstract: A blow molded plastic container including a neck finish, a shoulder portion, a sidewall, and a base integrally formed with one another. Two indentations in the sidewall create a handgrip and a web extends generally across the interior of the container between the two indentations. A plurality of generally downwardly extending support feet include short feet and long feet. Separating the support feet are a plurality of first and second strap formations. Support surface contact points of the long feet are in a planar relationship with respect to one another, thereby providing the container with stability when empty. After filling, capping and pressurizing, the support surface contact points of the short feet and the support surface contact points of the long feet are all in a planar relationship with respect to one another, thereby providing the container with stability when filled.

Abstract: A molded polymeric container that is shaped to exhibit superior characteristics of light weighting, stability against toppling and resistance to stress cracking includes a conventional cylindrical body portion having a longitudinal axis and a circumferential sidewall and a novel bottom portion. The bottom portion includes a central pushup area of uniformity that is substantially uniform within a spatial rotation about the longitudinal axis. The area of uniformity has a radius RG. The bottom also includes a plurality of support feet that surround and protrude downwardly from the pushup area. Each of the support feet have a bottom support surface with an inner point of contact and an outer point of contact. The outer points of contact together define an outer contact radius ROC. The bottom portion as a whole has a radius of maximum width RBASE. A plurality of ribs are positioned in valleys between the support feet. Each of these ribs is positioned between and helps define two of the support feet.

Abstract: A blow molded container having a multi-functional base which enables use of the container in both hot-fill operations and pasteurization/retort operations and enables efficient vertical stacking of like containers. To this end, a portion of the base is capable of flexing upwardly and/or downwardly in response to variations in pressures in a filled and sealed container. Structurally, the base has a discontinuous concave outer annular wall forming a discontinuous standing ring and an inner annular wall functioning as a flex panel. The inner annular wall connects outwardly to a plurality of radial webs extending at an elevation above the standing ring and connects inwardly to an anti-inverting, upwardly-projecting dome. Preferably, a shoulder extends radially inward on the inward facing side of the outer annular wall above a level of the standing ring to facilitate vertical stacking of containers having like bases.

Abstract: A method of making a polyester container having an enhanced level of crystallinity in the sidewall while maintaining a low level of crystallinity in a thickened base portion. The container is particularly useful as a refillable container which can withstand higher caustic wash temperatures and exhibits reduced flavor carryover, or as a hot-fill container. According to the method, a sidewall-forming section of a preform is initially expanded, heated to contract and crystallize the same, and than reexpanded; a base-forming portion of the preform is shielded from the heat treatment and is expanded either before or after the heat treatment step.

Abstract: A blow molded plastic container including a neck finish, a shoulder portion, a sidewall, and a base integrally formed with one another. Two indentations in the sidewall create a handgrip and a web extends generally across the interior of the container between the two indentations. A plurality of generally downwardly extending support feet include short feet and long feet. Separating the support feet are a plurality of first and second strap formations. Support surface contact points of the long feet are in a planar relationship with respect to one another, thereby providing the container with stability when empty. After filling, capping and pressurizing, the support surface contact points of the short feet and the support surface contact points of the long feet are all in a planar relationship with respect to one another, thereby providing the container with stability when filled.

Abstract: A plastic blow molded container (10) is disclosed as including a freestanding base structure (20) that is constructed with a plurality of alternating hollow legs 22 and curved ribs (34), and a hub (41) from which the legs and ribs extend radially with a construction that provides good stability against tipping as well as the capability of withstanding internal pressure. Each rib (34) has an outer upper end (36) with a circumferential width Wu and an inner lower end (38) with a circumferential width Wl that is greater than the circumferential width Wu of the upper rib end so the lower rib end is capable of resisting stress cracking. An intermediate rib portion (40) of a curved shape tapers between the ends with an included angle B in the range of about 1° to 8° and preferably about 2°.

Abstract: A plastic container comprises a lower base forming portion that includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced downwardly convex segments (126) and a plurality of intervening, circumferentially spaced, totally convex, hollow foot forming portions (121) that extend radially from the central bottom portion (120) and downwardly from the downwardly convex segments to form a clearance (124) for the central bottom portion. The downwardly convex segments have smoothly curved cross sections, in radially extending planes through their central regions and coplanar with the container's longitudinal axis (120a).

Abstract: A molded polymeric container that is shaped to exhibit superior characteristics of light weighting, stability against toppling and resistance to stress cracking includes a conventional cylindrical body portion having a longitudinal axis and a circumferential sidewall and a novel bottom portion. The bottom portion includes a central pushup area of uniformity that is substantially uniform within a spatial rotation about the longitudinal axis. The area of uniformity has a radius RG. The bottom also includes a plurality of support feet that surround and protrude downwardly from the pushup area. Each of the support feet have a bottom support surface with an inner point of contact and an outer point of contact. The outer points of contact together define an outer contact radius ROC. The bottom portion as a whole has a radius of maximum width RBASE A plurality of ribs are positioned in valleys between the support feet. Each of these ribs is positioned between and helps define two of the support feet.

Abstract: A plastic blow molded container (10) is disclosed as including a freestanding base structure (20) that is constructed with a plurality of alternating hollow legs 22 and curved ribs (34), and a hub (41) from which the legs and ribs extend radially with a construction that provides good stability against tipping as well as the capability of withstanding internal pressure. Each rib (34) has an outer upper end (36) with a circumferential width Wu and an inner lower end (38) with a circumferential width Wl that is greater than the circumferential width Wu of the upper rib end so the lower rib end is capable of resisting stress cracking. An intermediate rib portion (40) of a curved shape tapers between the ends with an included angle B in the range of about 1° to 8° and preferably about 2°.

Abstract: A plastic bottle comprises a base having a chime, a dome and an annular wall extending between the chime and the dome. The annular wall extends generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the bottle to support the dome against inverting due to internal pressure and increases the bi-axial stretching of the base during blow molding to strengthen the material of the same.

Abstract: A molded polymeric container that is shaped to be easier to mold, have improved rigidity under pressure and improved strength includes a substantially cylindrical body portion having a longitudinal axis and a circumferential sidewall, and a bottom portion. The bottom portion includes a central pushup area that is substantially symmetrical about the longitudinal axis and that is substantially flat. The pushup area preferably has a radius that is within the range of 0.100 inches to 0.500 inches. The bottom portion further includes a plurality of support feet surrounding and protruding downwardly from the pushup area, each of which has a bottom support surface and a pair of sidewalls that help define a valley between the support feet. The sidewalls have a substantially straight portion that defines an angle with respect to a line that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and this angle is at least 25 degrees.

Abstract: A molded polymeric container that is shaped to exhibit superior characteristics of light weighting, stability against toppling and resistance to stress cracking includes a conventional cylindrical body portion having a longitudinal axis and a circumferential sidewall and a novel bottom portion. The bottom portion includes a central pushup area of uniformity that is substantially uniform within a spatial rotation about the longitudinal axis. The area of uniformity has a radius RG. The bottom also includes a plurality of support feet that surround and protrude downwardly from the pushup area. Each of the support feet have a bottom support surface with an inner point of contact and an outer point of contact. The outer points of contact together define an outer contact radius ROC. The bottom portion as a whole has a radius of maximum width RBASE. A plurality of ribs are positioned in valleys between the support feet. Each of these ribs is positioned between and helps define two of the support feet.

Abstract: A plastic bottle having a substantially uniform side wall thickness yet having a sculptured appearance is formed generally symmetrically about a vertical axis. The bottle includes a base portion, a side wall portion extending upward from a lower margin united to the base portion to an upper margin, a shoulder portion extending from the upper margin of the side wall portion to a neck portion, and a finish portion united to the neck portion and adapted to receive a closure. At least one of the side wall and shoulder portions includes a plurality of generally vertical ribs spaced uniformly around a circumference of the bottle, each generally vertical rib having an upper and lower end and, in cross-section, a central portion situated at a first radius from the bottle axis and a pair of generally symmetric side portions leading to the bottle surface at a second radius from the bottle axis, at least one set of the upper and lower ends of the ribs terminating at a common height on the container.

Abstract: A blow-molded container has a central axis, a neck and a cylindrical sidewall connected with the neck, generally centered about the central axis and having an end. A generally hemispherical base wall encloses the end of the sidewall. A plurality of legs extend from and are circumferentially spaced about the base wall. Each leg has a radially outermost portion offset inwardly from the sidewall and toward the central axis. An upper portion of each leg connects the leg with the base wall and has a radially outermost edge offset toward the central axis with respect to the sidewall. Preferably, each leg includes a leg sidewall having a generally cylindrical portion, a first, open end integrally formed with the base wall and a second end. An end wall encloses the second end of the leg sidewall and has a generally flat section providing a foot surface configured to support the container on a surface. Preferably, the leg sidewall has a closed perimeter extending proximal the open end.

Abstract: A blow molded plastic container for carbonated beverages includes an upper mouth-forming portion, a cylindrical sidewall portion and a lower base-forming portion, all of the portions being generally symmetrically situated about a central longitudinal axis. The lower base-forming portion includes a central portion contiguously surrounding the central longitudinal axis and a plurality of circumferentially-spaced, downwardly convex rib segments, each rib segment extending upwardly from the central portion following a hyperbolic profile and expanding circumferentially outwardly to merge with the sidewall. The lower base-forming portion additionally has a plurality of intervening and circumferentially-spaced, convex, hollow foot-forming portions extending downwardly from the circumferentially-spaced, rib segments. Each of the foot-forming portions has a bottom clearance-forming portion adjacent the central portion and a lower outer portion defined by the rotation of a heel radius greater than 0.

Abstract: A functional configuration for the bottom of containers and other objects needing the characteristic of being able to stand upright on a horizontal surface that facilitates their submersion into ice and other particles. This invention is comprised of a number of arc shaped arms (10) that start at the center of the bottom of a container or other object and extend outward to the edge. The arms (10) have a top surface that is parallel to a horizontal plane. There is a cutaway portion for particle dispersal (16) that is formed by the meeting of the surfaces that extend from the concave (12) and convex sides (14) of adjacent arms. The surface extending from the convex side of an arm (14) is set at an angle to the horizontal plane that is greater than the surface extending from the concave side (12) of the adjacent arm.

Abstract: A plastic blow molded container (10) is disclosed as including a freestanding base structure (20) that is constructed with a plurality of alternating hollow legs (22) and curved ribs (34), and a hub (41) from which the legs and ribs extend radially with a construction that provides good stability against tipping as well as the capability of withstanding internal pressure. The hollow leg (22) has lower flat feet (24) with curved outer extremities that extend circumferentially for 45 to 65 percent of the extent about a central axis A of the container to provide good stability against tipping. Best results are achieved when the lower flat feet have curved outer extremities that extend circumferentially for 50 to 60 percent, and most preferably about 55 percent of the extent about the central axis A to provide the good stability against tipping.

Abstract: A molded polymeric container that is shaped to exhibit superior characteristics of light weighting, stability against toppling and resistance to stress cracking includes a conventional cylindrical body portion having a longitudinal axis and a circumferential sidewall and a novel bottom portion. The bottom portion includes a central pushup area of uniformity that is substantially uniform within a spatial rotation about the longitudinal axis. The area of uniformity has a radius R.sub.G. The bottom also includes a plurality of support feet that surround and protrude downwardly from the pushup area. Each of the support feet have a bottom support surface with an inner point of contact and an outer point of contact. The outer points of contact together define an outer contact radius R.sub.OC. The bottom portion as a whole has a radius of maximum width R.sub.BASE. A plurality of ribs are positioned in valleys between the support feet. Each of these ribs is positioned between and helps define two of the support feet.

Abstract: A thermoplastic bottle has a generally cylindrical body, in turn having an upper portion, a lower portion, and opposite sides joining at a diametric plane. A plurality of adjacent finger recesses extend about one of the opposite sides in the lower portion of the body, and a thumb depression is provided in the lower portion on the other of the opposite sides. A continuous circumferential indentation is formed in the cylindrical body between the upper portion and the lower portion to decouple pressure response of the upper and lower portions and minimize lean transfer to the upper portion resulting from expansion of the lower portion on the one of the opposite sides. The bottle is also formed with at least one vertical reinforcing indentation, preferably at least one set of three such vertical reinforcing indentations in each of the finger grooves, and at least one, preferably three spaced vertical reinforcing indentations in the thumb depression.

Abstract: A container of blow-moulded oriented thermoplastic material includes a base structure comprising a convex annular surface (which may be divided into a plurality of feet (118) by radial webs (112) and a central re-entrant portion (116). In blow-moulding the container, a moulded preform is enclosed within a mould heated, and stretched such that its bottom surface impinges upon a projecting surface of the mould bottom corresponding to the topmost surface (158) of the re-entrant portion. After blow-moulding, the material of the re-entrant portion (116) remains unoriented and relatively thick in comparison to the material of the remainder of the base. The unoriented material in the base is substantially confined to the re-entrant portion (116) which itself is strengthened by its relatively thick walls and the base thus exhibits improved creep and stress cracking properties.