Method of hot-filling a plastic, wide-mouth, blow-molded container having a multi-functional base
AssigneeGraham Packaging Company, L.P.
InventorsGreg Trude, John W. Tobias, Richard K. Ogg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims17
A method of processing a plastic container, comprising:
- (a) providing a plastic container having an upper portion including a finish, a sidewall, a lower portion including a base defining a standing surface, and a substantially transversely-oriented pressure panel located in the base;
- (b) introducing heated liquid contents into the plastic container with the pressure panel located in an inwardly-inclined position entirely between the standing surface and the upper portion, with the incline of the pressure panel being defined from a direction from the standing surface toward the central longitudinal axis of the plastic container;
- (c) capping the plastic container;
- and
- after said step (c), (d) moving the pressure panel to an outwardly-inclined position entirely between the standing surface and the upper portion.
A method of processing a plastic container, comprising:
- providing a blow molded plastic container having an upper portion including a finish, a sidewalk, a lower portion including a base defining a standing surface, and a substantially transversely-oriented pressure panel located in the base, the pressure panel being blow molded in a first inwardly-inclined position entirely between the standing surface and the upper portion;
- introducing heated liquid contents into the plastic container having the pressure panel initially positioned in the first inwardly-inclined position;
- capping the plastic container;
- flexing the pressure panel downwardly to an outwardly-inclined position entirely between the standing surface and the upper portion when the container is filled, capped, and subjected to an increase in pressure inside the container;
- cooling the plastic container and liquid contents;
- and
- after said cooling, moving the pressure panel from the outwardly inclined position to a second inwardly-inclined position entirely between the standing surface and the upper portion to relieve vacuum when the contents of the tilled and capped container are cooled,
- wherein said moving the pressure panel occurs as a result of an internal vacuum formed within the plastic container.
A method of processing a plastic container, comprising:
- (a) providing a plastic container having an upper portion including a finish, a sidewall, a lower portion including a base defining a standing surface, and a substantially transversely-oriented pressure panel located in the base, and an anti-inverting central portion surrounded by the pressure panel and opening downwardly in the base;
- (b) introducing heated liquid contents into the plastic container having the pressure panel;
- (c) capping the plastic container;
- (d) cooling the plastic container and liquid contents;
- and
- (e) prior to said cooling, moving the pressure panel between an outwardly-inclined position entirely between the standing surface and the upper portion and an inwardly-inclined position entirely between the standing surface and the upper portion, the anti-inverting central portion traveling up and down with the surrounding pressure panel while remaining in the downwardly-open position and maintaining a substantially constant shape,
- wherein said moving the pressure panel occurs as a result of an internal vacuum formed within the plastic container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.