# US 2014/0197127 A1 · Lightweight container base > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197127 A1 - Document ID: US20140197127A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/238,795 - Filed: 2012-08-31 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-31 - Assignees: Amcor Limited - Inventors: Michael T. Lane; Walt Paegel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197127A1 ## CPC - B65D 1/0284: {having a discontinuous contact surface, e.g. discrete feet} - B29C 49/0005: {characterised by the material} - B29C 49/12: Stretching rods - B29C 49/4823: {with incorporated heating or cooling means} - B29C 49/541: {having a recessed undersurface} - B29D 22/003: {Containers for packaging, storing or transporting, e.g. bottles, jars, cans, barrels, tanks} - B65D 1/0223: {characterised by shape} - B65D 1/0246: {Closure retaining means, e.g. beads, screw-threads} - B65D 1/0261: {Bottom construction (B65D1/06 takes precedence)} - B65D 1/46: Local reinforcements, e.g. adjacent closures - B65D 1/48: Reinforcements of dissimilar materials, e.g. metal frames in plastic walls - B65D 79/0081: {in the bottom part thereof} - B65D 85/70: {for materials not otherwise provided for} - B29C 49/06: Injection blow-moulding - B29C 49/121: {Stretching rod configuration, e.g. geometry; Stretching rod material} - B29C 2049/4807: {by movable mould parts in the mould halves} - B29C 2049/4848: {Bottom} - B29C 2049/4851: {Side walls} - B29C 2949/0715: the preform having one end closed - B29K 2067/003: {PET, i.e. poylethylene terephthalate} - B29L 2031/7158: {Bottles} - B65D 2501/0018: Ribs - B65D 2501/0027: Hollow longitudinal ribs - B65D 2501/0036: Hollow circonferential ribs - B65D 2501/0081: Bottles of non-circular cross-section - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract A container defining a longitudinal axis and a transverse direction that is transverse with respect to the longitudinal axis is disclosed. The container includes a finish, a sidewall portion extending from the finish, and a base portion extending from the sidewall portion and enclosing the sidewall portion to form a volume therein for retaining a commodity. The base portion has a contact surface for supporting the container. The container also includes at least one strap extending along the base portion in the transverse direction. The strap defines a strap surface, and the strap surface is spaced offset in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis from the contact surface. The strap surface extends in the transverse direction to be adjacent the sidewall portion such that the at least one strap surface is visible from a side of the container. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A container defining a longitudinal axis and a transverse direction that is transverse with respect to the longitudinal axis, the container comprising: a finish; a sidewall portion extending from said finish; a base portion extending from said sidewall portion and enclosing said sidewall portion to form a volume therein for retaining a commodity, said base portion having a contact surface for supporting the container; and at least one strap extending along said base portion in the transverse direction, said strap defining a strap surface, said strap surface being spaced offset in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis from said contact surface, said strap surface extending in the transverse direction to be adjacent said sidewall portion such that said at least one strap surface is visible from a side of the container. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The container according to claim 1 wherein said strap surface is at least partially parallel to said contact surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The container according to claim 1 wherein said strap surface is at least partially inclined at a positive angle relative to said contact surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The container according to claim 3 wherein said positive angle less than approximately 15 degrees. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The container according to claim 3 wherein said positive angle is greater than approximately 15 degrees. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The container according to claim 1 wherein said strap surface is spaced offset in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis from said contact surface between approximately 2 mm and approximately 25 mm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The container according to claim 1 wherein said strap surface includes a trapezoidal portion that is adjacent said sidewall portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The container according to claim 7 wherein said trapezoid portion is disposed at a draft angle relative to an imaginary reference line that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the draft angle being between approximately 0 degrees and approximately 45 degrees. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The container according to claim 1 wherein said strap surface includes a peak that is adjacent said sidewall portion that is disposed at a peak angle relative to the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The container according to claim 9 wherein said peak angle is between approximately 0 degrees and approximately 45 degrees. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The container according to claim 1 wherein said at least one strap comprises a plurality of straps, each of the plurality of straps extending from a central position of said base portion in the transverse direction toward the sidewall portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The container according to claim 11 wherein said sidewall portion has a plurality of sidewalls that are arranged to give the sidewall portion a generally polygonal cross section taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, each of the plurality of sidewalls being disposed between a first immediately adjacent sidewall and a second immediately adjacent sidewall, each of the plurality of sidewalls having a middle region that is spaced substantially equally away from the respective first and second immediately adjacent sidewalls, the plurality of straps each extending from the central portion of said base portion in the transverse direction to intersect the middle region of a respective one of the plurality of sidewalls. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The container according to claim 12 wherein the polygonal cross section is a generally rectangular cross section. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The container according to claim 1 wherein said at least one strap comprises a plurality of straps radiating from a central position of said base portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The container according to claim 1 wherein said sidewall portion is generally cylindrical and said at least one strap comprises a plurality of straps radiating from a central position of said base portion to said sidewall portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The container according to claim 1 wherein said sidewall portion is generally cylindrical and said at least one strap comprises at least three straps. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The container according to claim 1 wherein said sidewall portion has four sidewalls that are arranged to give the sidewall portion a generally rectangular cross section taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and wherein said at least one strap comprises an even-number of straps. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The container according to claim 1, further comprising a rib member disposed in said at least one strap. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The container according to claim 18 wherein said rib member is directed toward an interior of the container and contained solely within said at least one strap. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The container according to claim 1, wherein the strap surface curves concavely toward an interior of the container as the strap surface extends in the transverse direction. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The container according to claim 1, wherein the strap surface curves convexly away from an interior of the container as the strap surface extends in the transverse direction. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The container according to claim 1, wherein the strap surface is stepped along the longitudinal axis as the strap surface extends in the transverse direction. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The container according to claim 1, wherein the strap surface, in a plan view directed along the longitudinal axis, curves sinusoidally in the transverse direction. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The container according to claim 1, wherein the strap surface, in a plan view directed along the longitudinal axis, is stepped in the transverse direction. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The container according to claim 1, wherein the strap surface, in a plan view directed along the longitudinal axis, tapers in width in the transverse direction. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The container according to claim 1, wherein the at least one strap comprises a plurality of straps that radiate from the longitudinal axis, the strap surfaces of the plurality of straps each having a substantially common curvature extending in the transverse direction. ### Claim 27 A mold system for forming a container, the container defining a longitudinal axis and a transverse direction that extends transverse to the longitudinal axis, said mold system comprising: a sidewall system for molding the sidewall portion of the container; and a base system for molding the base portion of the container, said base system operable for forming the entire base portion of the container including a central pushup portion, a contact surface for supporting the container, and at least one strap extending along said base portion in the transverse direction, said strap defining a strap surface, said strap surface being spaced offset in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis from said contact surface, said strap surface extending in the transverse direction to be adjacent said sidewall portion such that said at least one strap surface is visible from a side of the container. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The mold system according to claim 27, wherein the base system includes a pushup member that is movable between an extended position and a retracted position, said pushup member stretching the central pushup portion of the container in said extended position, said pushup member being separated at a distance from the central pushup portion of the container in said retracted position. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The mold system according to claim 27 wherein said base system is operable to be at a first temperature and said sidewall system is operable to be at a second temperature during molding of the container, said first temperature being different than said second temperature. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The mold system according to claim 29 wherein said first temperature is higher than said second temperature. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The mold system according to claim 29 wherein said first temperature is lower than said second temperature.