Container base structure responsive to vacuum related forces

A plastic container filled with a liquid at an elevated temperature, sealed with a closure, and cooled thereby establishing a vacuum within said container, said container comprising:

• an upper portion having a mouth defining an opening into said container and a finish for attaching the closure, a neck extending from said upper portion, a body portion extending from said neck to a base, said base closing off an end of said container;
• said upper portion, said neck, said body portion and said base cooperating to define a receptacle chamber within said container into which the liquid can be filed at the elevated temperature;
• said base adapted for vacuum absorption and including a chime extending from said body portion to a contact ring which defines a surface upon which said container is supported, said base further including a central portion defined in at least part by a pushup having a generally truncated cone shape in cross section located on a longitudinal axis of said container, and an inversion ring circumscribing said pushup;
• said truncated cone having an overall general diameter that is at most 30% of an overall general diameter of said base and a top surface generally parallel to a support surface;
• said pushup and said inversion ring being moveable to accommodate vacuum related forces generated within said container;
• said inversion ring defining an inwardly domed shaped portion having a surface that is at least in part generally sloped toward said longitudinal axis of said container at an angle in a range of approximately 16° to approximately 23° relative to said support surface;
• said inversion ring having a generally S shaped geometry in cross section after removal of the liquid from said container.

A stretch-molded heat-set plastic container formed in a mold cavity having a temperature of approximately 250° F. to 350° F. (approximately 121° C. to 177° C.), said container comprising:

• an upper portion having a mouth defining an opening into said container, a neck extending from said upper portion, a body portion extending from said neck to a base, said base closing off an end of said container;
• said upper portion, said neck, said body portion and said base cooperating to define a receptacle chamber within said container into which product can be filled;
• said base including a chime extending from said body portion to a contact ring which defines a surface upon which said container is supported, said base further including central portion defined in at least part by a pushup having a generally truncated cone shape in cross section located on a longitudinal axis of said container, and an inversion ring having an upper portion, a lower portion and a generally S shaped geometry in cross section and circumscribing said pushup;
• said truncated cone having an overall general diameter that is at most 30% of an overall general diameter of said base and a top surface generally parallel to a support surface;
• said container generally having a biaxially oriented molecular structure;
• said body portion has an average wall thickness and said lower portion of said inversion ring has an average wall thickness, said body portion average wall thickness being at least two (2) times greater than said lower portion average wall thickness.

A plastic container comprising:

• an upper portion having a mouth defining an opening into said container, a neck extending from said upper portion, a body portion extending from said neck to a base, said base closing off an end of said container;
• said upper portion, said neck, said body portion and said base cooperating to define a receptacle chamber within said container into which product can be filled;
• said base including a chime extending from said body portion to a contact ring which defines a surface upon which said container is supported, said base further including a central portion defined in at least part by a pushup having a generally truncated cone shape in cross section located on a longitudinal axis of said container, and an inversion ring having an upper portion, a lower portion and a generally S shaped geometry in cross section, and circumscribing said pushup;
• said truncated cone having an overall general diameter that is at most 30% of an overall general diameter of said base and a top surface generally parallel to a support surface;
• said inversion ring upper portion includes in part a curve in cross section having a first radius and said inversion ring lower portion includes in part a second curve in cross section having a second radius;
• said first radius has a value that is at most 35% of a value of said second radius.