Hoover Universal, Inc.

Dale H Behm

Theodore F Eberle

Thomas F Powers

George A Plummer

Dennis L Marshall

Randall S Brown

A plastic container having an improved base structure. The base structure generally includes an inwardly domed inner wall having panels formed therein. The panels are inclined relative to the remainder of the inner wall and, at the juncture, form inwardly directed corners that provide increased stiffness and structural integrity to the base structure allowing use of the container with low carbonation beverages. The panels are also integrally formed with a lower end of an outer wall which defines a line of contact extending continuous around the base structure. This simplified base structure makes the container more cost efficient to produce and also allows it to be used with non-carbonated beverages.

Plastic container with improved base structure

Container bottom

A plastic container comprising a blow-molded plastic bottle with a reinforcing ring encircling the bottle base to reinforce the base against undesirable deformation. The ring encircles the lower end of the bottle base. Pressure within the container expands the base structure outwardly against the ring and creates tension in the ring to maintain the ring in assembly relation with the bottle base in which the ring reinforces the base and acts to maintain the structural integrity of the base. The container is manufactured by inserting the ring into the base portion of the blow-mold such that the ring defines a portion of the blow-mold cavity. A plastic preform is blow-molded outward, into engagement with the ring to secure the ring to the base.

Plastic bottle with reinforcing ring encircling the bottle base

A plastic container having a reinforcing ring in its base to strengthen the base. The ring reinforces the base to prevent deformation of the base which would result in an unstable container and also reduces the potential for stress cracking found in one-piece containers having reinforcing ribs in the base structure. The reinforcing ring has a weight that is less than the weight of a typical base cup used to provide a supporting surface for a two-piece composite bottle. The ring is attached to the base portion of the container by one of three methods: molding the reinforcing ring into the base; providing a ring and a base which snap fit together, or adhesively bonding the ring to the base of the container. When the contianer is filled with a carbonated beverage, the pressure within the container acts to maintain the ring in an assembly relation with the container base in which the ring reinforces the base and acts to maintain the structural integrity of the base by resisting eversion of the base.

Plastic container with reinforcing ring in the base

A one-piece self supporting blow molded plastic container having a generally cylindrical side wall and a bottom wall which extends downwardly and inwardly from the side wall. A plurality of wall portions extend downwardly from the bottom wall forming hollow legs extending below the bottom wall having planar feet which are inclined upwardly and inwardly from the outer edges of the feet. When filled, the bottom wall deflects downwardly and the inclined feet are moved into substantially horizontal positions such that the feet define a substantially flat supporting surface engaging area for the container. In so doing, the diameter of the container engaging area is not reduced, thereby maintaining the same container stability when filled as when empty.

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Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Dale H Behm