IP Library Granted Patent US 12698124
Granted Patent B2
US 12698124 · App. 18/591,617 · Granted Aug 4, 2026

Systems, methods, and devices for beverage containers with a foamed base

Inventor: Paul Mikael Earl-Torniainen (Bonney Lake, WA)
Assignee: Starbucks Corporation
B65D1/265B29C44/586B29K2105/04B29L2031/7132
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12698124
App. No.
18/591,617
Granted
Aug 4, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A container may include a sidewall. A container may include a base with a first portion and a second portion. The second portion may include a plurality of lobes with a thickness greater than a thickness of the first portion. The plurality of lobes may be formed by impregnating plastic with a foaming agent that may cause the plastic to foam during manufacturing.

Claims (43)

1 . A unitary fluid container comprising:

a sidewall; and

a base comprising:

a first portion comprising a first thickness;

a second portion comprising a second thickness,

wherein the sidewall is molded to the base and extending from an edge of the base,

wherein the sidewall and the base comprise expanded plastic, and

wherein the expanded plastic at a location of the second portion of the base is expanded more than the expanded plastic at a location of the first portion of the base so the second thickness is greater than the first thickness.

2 . The unitary fluid container of claim 1 , wherein the expanded plastic is foamed plastic.

3 . The unitary fluid container of claim 1 , wherein the second portion comprises a plurality of lobes.

4 . The unitary fluid container of claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of lobes extend radially outward from a center of the base to the edge of the base.

5 . The unitary fluid container of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of lobes are equally spaced around the center of the base.

6 . The unitary fluid container of claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of lobes are surrounded by the first portion.

7 . The unitary fluid container of claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of lobes are connected.

8 . The unitary fluid container of claim 3 , wherein the second portion comprises between 3 lobes and 7 lobes.

9 . The unitary fluid container of claim 1 , wherein the second thickness near the edge of the base is greater than the second thickness at a center of the base.

10 . The unitary fluid container of claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the base is substantially planar.

11 . The unitary fluid container of claim 1 , wherein when the base of fluid container is placed on a surface, the second portion contacts the surface and the first portion does not contact the surface.

12 . The unitary fluid container of claim 4 , wherein when the base of the fluid container is placed on a surface the lobes contact the surface.

13 . The unitary fluid container of claim 4 , wherein when the base of the fluid container is placed on a surface only the lobes contact the surface.

14 . The unitary fluid container of claim 1 , wherein base comprises an inner surface and an outer surface that contacts a surface when the base of the fluid container is placed on the surface, wherein the first thickness and second thickness are measured between the inner surface and the outer surface.

15 . The unitary fluid container of claim 10 , wherein the first thickness and second thickness are measured between the inner surface of the base and an outer surface of the base that a surface when the base of the fluid container is placed on the surface.

16 . An expanded plastic fluid container comprising:

an expanded plastic sidewall; and

an expanded plastic base, the expanded plastic sidewall is molded to the expanded plastic base and extending from an edge of the expanded plastic base, the expanded plastic base comprising:

a first portion comprising a first thickness;

a second portion comprising a plurality of lobes having a second thickness,

wherein expanded plastic at the second portion of the expanded plastic base is expanded more than expanded plastic at the first portion of the base so the second thickness is greater than the first thickness such that when the expanded plastic base of the expanded plastic container is placed on a surface the plurality of lobes contact the surface.

17 . The expanded plastic fluid container of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of lobes extend radially outward from a center of the base to the edge of the base.

18 . The expanded plastic fluid container of claim 16 , wherein when the base of the fluid container is placed on the surface only the plurality of lobes contact the surface.

19 . The expanded plastic fluid container of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of lobes are equally spaced around a center of the base.

20 . The expanded plastic fluid container of claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of lobes are surrounded by the first portion.

21 . The expanded plastic fluid container of claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of lobes are connected.

22 . The expanded plastic fluid container of claim 16 , wherein the second portion comprises 3 or more lobes.

23 . The expanded plastic fluid container of claim 16 , wherein the second thickness near the edge of the base is greater than the second thickness at a center of the base.

24 . A unitary fluid container comprising:

a sidewall; and

a base extending between an inner surface and an outer surface, the sidewall is molded to the base and extending from an edge of the base, the base comprising:

a first portion comprising a first thickness between the inner surface and the outer surface;

a second portion comprising a plurality of lobes extending radially outward from a center of the base to the edge of the base, the plurality of lobes having a second thickness between the inner surface and the outer surface,

wherein the inner surface of the base is substantially planar, wherein the sidewall and the base comprise expanded plastic, and

wherein the expanded plastic at a location of the second portion is expanded more than the expanded plastic at a location of the first portion so the second thickness is greater than the first thickness such that when the base of the container is placed on a surface the plurality of lobes contact the surface and the first portion does not contact the surface.

25 . The unitary fluid container of claim 24 , wherein each of the plurality of lobes are connected.