# US 8,739,994 B1 · Container and base with deflectable dome > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,739,994 B1 - Document ID: US8739994B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 13/797,659 - Filed: 2013-03-12 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2013-03-12 - Assignees: Graham Packaging Company, L.P. - Applicants: Graham Packaging Company, L.P. - Inventors: Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr.; William W. Brecheisen; Mark P. Sprenkle; John P. Dinkel; Matthew T. Gill - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739994B1 ## CPC - B65D 1/40: Details of walls (other container details B65D23/00, B65D25/00) - B65D 1/0276: {having a continuous contact surface, e.g. Champagne-type bottom} - B65D 79/0081: {in the bottom part thereof} - 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 ## Abstract Base for a container, the base being made of polymeric material, including a support surface having an outer perimeter defining a first dimension along a major axis and a second dimension along a minor axis disposed approximately 90° from the major axis. An inner wall is coupled to the support surface opposite the outer perimeter. A dome projects upwardly from the inner wall and has an initial depth with respect to the support surface. The dome includes a major radius of curvature along the major axis and a minor radius of curvature along the minor axis. The dome is deflectable in response to a differential pressure across the base of at least 3.2 PSI without permanent deformation of the base. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A base for a container, the base being made of polymeric material, comprising: a support surface having an outer perimeter defining a first dimension along a major axis and a second dimension along a minor axis disposed approximately 90° from the major axis; an inner wall coupled to the support surface opposite the outer perimeter; and a dome projecting upwardly from the inner wall and having an initial depth with respect to the support surface, the dome is defined by a major radius of curvature along the major axis and a minor radius of curvature along the minor axis, wherein the dome is deflectable in response to a differential pressure across the base of at least 3.2 PSI without permanent deformation of the base. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The base according to claim 1, wherein the initial depth of the dome is between approximately 8 percent to approximately 15 percent of the first dimension. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The base according to claim 1, wherein the initial depth of the dome is between approximately 12 percent to approximately 24 percent of the second dimension. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The base according to claim 3, wherein the initial depth of the dome is between approximately 15 percent to approximately 22 percent of the second dimension. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The base according to claim 1, wherein the initial depth of the dome is between approximately 5 percent to approximately 10 percent of the major radius of curvature. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The base according to claim 1, wherein the initial depth of the dome is between approximately 14 percent to approximately 28 percent of the minor radius of curvature. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The base according to claim 1, wherein the initial depth of the dome is between approximately 8 percent to approximately 15 percent of the first dimension, wherein the initial depth of the dome is between approximately 12 percent to approximately 24 percent of the second dimension, wherein the initial depth of the dome is between approximately 5 percent to approximately 10 percent of the major radius of curvature, and wherein the initial depth of the dome is between approximately 14 percent to approximately 28 percent of the minor radius of curvature. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The base according to claim 1, wherein the initial depth of the dome is between approximately 0.30 inches to approximately 0.60 inches. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The base according to claim 8, wherein the initial depth of the dome is between approximately 0.40 inches to approximately 0.50 inches. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The base according to claim 1, wherein the dome is deflectable in response to a differential pressure across the base of at least 5.5 PSI without permanent deformation of the base. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The base according to claim 1, wherein the dome can deflect up to approximately 0.40 inches without permanent deflection. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The base according to claim 1, wherein the dome has a thickness of approximately 0.030 inches to approximately 0.100 inches. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The base according to claim 1, wherein the major radius of curvature is greater than the minor radius of curvature. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The base according to claim 13, wherein the major radius of curvature is approximately 2 to approximately 4 times greater than the minor radius of curvature. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The base according to claim 1, further comprising a parting line defined along the major axis. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The base according to claim 1, wherein the first dimension of the support surface is greater than the second dimension of the support surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The base according to claim 1, wherein the support surface further includes a width defined between the outer perimeter and an inner perimeter of the support surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The base according to claim 17, wherein the width of the support surface is between approximately 0.1 inches to approximately 0.8 inches. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The base according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of support surface is approximately 0.20 inches to 0.40 inches. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The base according to claim 1, wherein the support surface is discontinuous with at least one tunnel defined between a first portion and a second portion of the support surface. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The base according to claim 20, wherein the at least one tunnel is deflectable upwardly in response to the differential in pressure without permanent deformation. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The base according to claim 1, wherein the inner wall comprises a hinge joint. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The base according to claim 1, wherein the inner wall comprises an anti-inverting structure. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The base according to claim 1, further comprising a heel radius extending from the outer perimeter of the support surface, the heel radius centered with respect to a vertical axis of the base. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The base according to claim 24, further comprising a bumper extending from the heel radius. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The base according to claim 25, wherein the bumper comprises at least one of a square, rectangle, or round shape. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The base according to claim 24, wherein the support surface is coupled to the heel radius opposite the outer perimeter. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The base according to claim 1, wherein the polymeric material of the base includes HDPE. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The base according to claim 28, wherein the base is blow molded. ### Claim 30 A container made of polymeric material, comprising: a top portion defining a mouth; a sidewall portion coupled to the top portion; and a base coupled to the sidewall portion opposite the top portion, the base including a support surface having an outer perimeter defining a first dimension along a major axis and a second dimension along a minor axis disposed approximately 90° from the major axis, an inner wall coupled to the support surface opposite the outer perimeter, and a dome projecting upwardly from the inner wall and having an initial depth with respect to the support surface, the dome comprising a major radius of curvature along the major axis and a minor radius of curvature along the minor axis, wherein the dome is deflectable in response to a differential pressure across the base of at least 3.2 PSI without permanent deformation of the base. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The container according to claim 30, wherein the initial depth of the dome is between approximately 8 percent to approximately 15 percent of the first dimension, wherein the initial depth of the dome is between approximately 12 percent to approximately 24 percent of the second dimension, wherein the initial depth of the dome is between approximately 5 percent to approximately 10 percent of the major radius of curvature, and wherein the initial depth of the dome is between approximately 14 percent to approximately 28 percent of the minor radius of curvature.