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 tamper-indicating container-closure package assembly is composed of a container including a base, a sidewall portion extending upward from the base, and a finish portion connected to an upper region of the sidewall portion defining a mouth of the container. The finish portion includes a threaded portion located inside the mouth which can include at least one interruption for allowing venting of the container as a closure is removed. A seal seat is recessed inside the mouth, yet is situated above the threaded portion, while a radially outwardly bulbous portion protrudes outside of the mouth.

Abstract: A non-destructive, direct method and apparatus for producing stretch blow molded articles having at least one physical dimension within a preselected range. The apparatus includes an injection mold defining an injection mold interior surface having a first differentially dimensioned portion disposed at a preselected location thereon and capable of producing a parison having a parison exterior surface including a first marker formed by contact with the first differentially dimensioned portion, and a stretch blow mold defining a stretch blow mold interior surface having a second differentially dimensioned portion disposed at a predetermined location thereon and capable of producing the article from the parison including a second marker formed by contact with the second differentially dimensioned portion. Relative position of the first marker with respect to the second marker indicates whether a dimension is within a preselected range.

Abstract: A plastic container comprises a lower base-forming portion that includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced, generally spherically-shaped segments and a plurality of intervening, circumferentially-spaced, totally convex, hollow foot-forming portions that extend radially from the central bottom portion and downwardly from the spherically-shaped segments to form a clearance for the central bottom portion. The clearance-forming portion of each foot-forming bottom portion includes a compound curved offset formed with opposing radii of curvature of a substantial fraction of an inch, the compound curved offset curving downwardly and outwardly about a center of curvature below the bottom-forming portion before curving about a center of curvature above the bottom-forming portion.

Abstract: A blow-molded container of thermoplastic resin has a hollow body with a generally cylindrical side wall portion rotationally symmetric about a longitudinal axis of the container. A shoulder portion integrally joins the side wall portion to a finish. An integral base merging with the side wall portion is defined by an outer surface comprising a plurality of downward projections separated from each other by generally arcuate segments extending essentially from the cylindrical side wall to the longitudinal axis of the container. The bottom of the container includes a web extending between a central portion adjacent the longitudinal axis of the container and a generally perpendicular ring segment in each of the downward projections for providing enhanced stability against deflection during entry of the filling liquid into the container which aids in the prevention of bottom failure from stress cracking associated with the rigors of the filling procedure.

Abstract: A blow-molded container of thermoplastic resin has a hollow body with a generally cylindrical side wall portion rotationally symmetric about a longitudinal axis of the container. A shoulder portion integrally joins the side wall portion to a finish. An integral base merging with the side wall is defined by an outer surface comprising a plurality of downward projections separated from each other by generally arcuate segments extending essentially from the cylindrical side wall to the longitudinal axis of the container. The shoulder and sidewall portions are tempered during formation of the container to withstand hot filling at a temperature of at least about 170.degree. F. and subsequent introduction of a cryogenic liquid gas to provide an initial pressurization of at least 20 psi at the fill temperature.

Abstract: A blow-molded and tempered PET container specially adapted for hot filling includes a plurality of panels situated in circumferentially spaced locations around the periphery of the container, the panels bulging outwardly with respect to the body portion immediately contiguous thereto. The panels are mechanically reconfigurable to an inwardly collapsed position with respect to the immediately contiguous body portion for providing controlled volumetric reduction of the container to compensate for the development of a partial vacuum within the container.

Abstract: A container made of thermoplastic material such as PET includes a bottom portion, a neck portion, and an intermediate body portion including at least two circumferential rows of panels for providing controlled volumetric reduction of the container. A land separates each adjacent pair of panels in each row. The rows of panels are staggered with respect to each other such that the lands of one row are vertically aligned with the panels of any adjacent row. The design distributes circumferentially the vertical and horizontal support for any label applied to the label panel of the container while still providing the desired panel movement in response to the existence of a partial vacuum within the container due to hot filling.

Abstract: A blow-molded bottle of thermoplastic resin has a hollow body with a generally cylindrical side wall rotationally symmetric about a longitudinal axis of the bottle and an integral base merging with the side wall. The base is defined by an outer surface having a plurality of arcuately extending downward projections separated from each other by hemispherical segments extending from the cylindrical side wall to the longitudinal axis of the bottle. Each of the arcuately extending downward projections has a first inclined portion contiguous to the longitudinal axis, a second inclined portion situated radially outside of, and axially displaced downwardly from, the first inclined portion, a generally perpendicular ring segment having an upper edge united with the first inclined portion by a curved portion having a radius of between about 0.015 in. and 0.060 in., and a lower edge united with the second inclined portion.

Abstract: A thin-walled plastic bottle has hand-grip indentations each of which are formed by a pair of vertical surfaces unitarily joined together along a common edge and inclined with respect to each other at an obtuse angle, generally greater than about 145.degree.. A plurality of horizontal reinforcing ribs protrude outward over major portions of the first and second surfaces including the common edge, the reinforcing ribs inhibiting the everting of the hand-grip indentations.