Hot-fill container base structure
View Patent ↗The invention provides a base structure of a container. The base structure includes a support heel that defines any number of touch points for contact with a horizontal surface. The support heel includes inner and outer portions that merge with the container's corrugated support flute and sidewall, respectively. The base structure also includes a fin that forms the zipper pinch and extends transverse to and intersects corrugations of the corrugated support flute.
1. A base structure for a container having a sidewall, the base structure comprising:
a support heel defining a touch point for contact with a horizontal surface, the support heel having an outer portion and an inner portion, the outer portion merging with the container sidewall;
a corrugated support flute having corrugations surrounded by the support heel and merging with the inner portion of the support heel; and
a fin extending transverse to and intersecting at least one of the corrugations of the corrugated support flute the fin comprising:
a beam having first and second sides, the second side being opposite and substantially parallel to the first side; and
a plurality of protrusions alternatively positioned on the first and second sides of the beam;
wherein the corrugations extend in a first direction and a center of each corrugation defines a midpoint of the base structure in the first direction, and the fin extends in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and substantially through the center of each corrugation.
2. The base structure according to claim 1 , wherein at least one pair of adjacent alternatively positioned protrusions overlap.
3. A base structure for a container having a sidewall, the base structure comprising:
a support heel defining a touch point for contact with a horizontal surface, the support heel having an outer portion and an inner portion, the outer portion merging with the container sidewall;
a corrugated support flute having corrugations surrounded by the support heel and merging with the inner portion of the support heel; and
a fin extending transverse to and intersecting at least one of the corrugations of the corrugated support flute, the fin comprising:
a zigzag curve extending in a longitudinal direction; and
a beam extending in the longitudinal direction and intersecting the zigzag curve;
wherein the corrugations extend in a first direction and a center of each corrugation defines a midpoint of the base structure in the first direction, and the fin extends in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and substantially through the center of each corrugation.
4. The base structure according to claim 3 , wherein the inner portion of the support heel is an upwardly inclined surface.
5. The base structure according to claim 3 , wherein the support heel provides a circumferential line of support.
6. The base structure according to claim 3 , wherein the support heel provides an annular line of support.
7. The base structure according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a flat surface that merges with the corrugations and the inner portion of the support heel.
8. The base structure according to claim 3 , wherein the support heel defines four touch points.
9. The base structure according to claim 3 , wherein
the beam has first and second sides, the second side being opposite and substantially parallel to the first side; and
a plurality of protrusions are alternatively positioned on the first and second sides of the beam.
10. The base structure according to claim 9 , wherein at least one pair of adjacent alternatively positioned protrusions overlap.
11. The base structure according to claim 1 , wherein the fin further comprises a zigzag curve extending in a longitudinal direction; and the beam intersects the zigzag curve.
12. The base structure according to claim 3 , wherein the corrugations extend in a latitudinal direction and the center of each corrugation defines the midpoint of the base structure in the latitudinal direction, and the fin extends in a longitudinal direction substantially perpendicular to the latitudinal direction and substantially through the center of each corrugation.
13. The base structure according to claim 3 , wherein the inner portion of the support heel is an upwardly inclined surface.
14. A base structure according to claim 3 , wherein the support heel is substantially rectangular.
15. The base structure according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a flat surface that merges with the corrugations and the inner portion of the support heel.
16. A base structure for a container having a sidewall, the base structure comprising:
a support heel defining a touch point for contact with a horizontal surface, the support heel merging with the container sidewall;
a plurality of ribs, each rib having two ends that merge with the support heel; and
a fin extending transverse to and intersecting at least one of the ribs, the fin comprising:
a beam having first and second sides, the second side being opposite and substantially parallel to the first side; and
a plurality of protrusions alternatively positioned on the first and second sides of the beam;
wherein the ribs extend in a first direction and a center of each rib defines a midpoint of the base structure in the first direction, and the fin extends in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and substantially through the center of each rib.
17. The base structure according to claim 16 , wherein at least one pair of adjacent alternatively positioned protrusions overlap.
18. A base structure for a container having a sidewall, the base structure comprising:
a support heel defining a touch point for contact with a horizontal surface, the support heel merging with the container sidewall;
a plurality of ribs, each rib having two ends that merge with the support heel; and
a fin extending transverse to and intersecting at least one of the ribs, the fin comprising:
a zigzag curve extending in a longitudinal direction; and
a beam extending in the longitudinal direction and intersecting the zigzag curve;
wherein the ribs extend in a first direction and a center of each rib defines a midpoint of the base structure in the first direction, and the fin extends in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and substantially through the center of each rib.
19. The base structure according to claim 18 , wherein the support heel defines four touch points.
20. The base structure according to claim 18 , further comprising:
a flat surface that merges with the corrugations and the inner portion of the support heel.
21. A container comprising:
a neck portion defining an opening;
a base structure; and
a sidewall that merges with the base structure and the neck portion at opposite ends of the container,
wherein the base structure has:
a support heel defining a touch point for contact with a horizontal surface, the support heel having an outer portion and an inner portion, the outer portion merging with the container sidewall;
a corrugated support flute having corrugations surrounded by the support heel and merging with the inner portion of the support heel; and
a fin extending transverse to and intersecting at least one of the corrugations of the support flute, the fin comprising:
a zigzag curve extending in a longitudinal direction; and
a beam extending in the longitudinal direction and intersecting the zigzag curve;
wherein the corrugations extend in a first direction and a center of each corrugation defines a midpoint of the base structure in the first direction, and the fin extends in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and substantially through the center of each corrugation.
22. The base structure according to claim 3 , wherein the corrugated support flute remains vertically higher than the support heel.
23. The base structure according to claim 3 , wherein the fin remains vertically higher than the support heel.
24. The base structure according to claim 18 , wherein the rib remains vertically higher than the support heel.
25. The base structure according to claim 18 , wherein the fin remains vertically higher than the support heel.
26. The base structure according to claim 21 , wherein the corrugated support flute remains vertically higher than the support heel.
27. The base structure according to claim 21 , wherein the fin remains vertically higher than the support heel.
28. The base structure according to claim 3 , wherein the fin is solid.
29. The base structure according to claim 18 , wherein the fin is solid.
30. The base structure according to claim 21 , wherein the fin is solid.