Plastic container having a deep-set invertible base and related methods

A plastic container comprising:

• an upper portion including a finish defining an opening into the container;
• a lower portion including a base defining a standing surface;
• a sidewall extending between the upper portion and the lower portion, the sidewall defining a longitudinal axis;
• and
• at least one substantially transversely-oriented pressure panel located in the lower portion and forming part of the base, the base including a centrally located inward projection and a recessed portion between the pressure panel and the standing surface, the pressure panel being movable between an outwardly-inclined position and an inwardly-inclined position to compensate for a change of pressure induced inside the container;
• wherein the recessed portion comprises an inner wall extending in an upward direction from the standing surface to a hinge structure;
• wherein the pressure panel extends in a downward direction from the hinge structure;
• and
• wherein the standing surface defines a standing plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, wherein the pressure panel includes a first portion that is outwardly inclined between about 10 and 45 degrees with respect to the standing plane when in the outwardly-inclined position, and wherein the pressure panel includes a second portion that is outwardly inclined to a lesser degree than the first portion, and wherein the inner wall has a length extending upwardly from the standing surface to locate the entire pressure panel between the standing plane and the upper portion of the container when the pressure panel is in the outwardly-inclined position, wherein the base is configured to be pushed by a force to move the pressure panel from the outwardly-inclined position to the inwardly-inclined position.