Method and apparatus for manufacturing blow molded containers

1. A base assembly for forming a container with a base having a moveable region and a bearing surface, comprising:

a base pedestal;

a base plug coupled to said base pedestal, said base plug having a base mold adapted to form the moveable region and the bearing surface of the container base so that a first portion of the moveable region protrudes outward from the base beyond the bearing surface in a first position of said base mold before activation thereof to move the moveable region inwardly, and so that a second portion of the moveable region does not project beyond the bearing surface in the first position of said base mold before activation thereof,

said base mold having:

a bearing surface forming portion to form a portion of the bearing surface of the container base;

a cavity portion to form the first portion of the moveable region protruding outward from the base beyond the bearing surface, said cavity portion being below said bearing surface forming portion in cross section view and circumscribed by said bearing surface forming portion in plan view; and

a moveable portion to form the second portion of the moveable region which does not project beyond the bearing surface in the first position, said moveable portion being arranged at a central longitudinal axis of said base mold and being above said bearing surface forming portion in cross section view,

wherein, during activation said moveable portion is constructed and operative to move relative to said bearing surface forming portion and said cavity portion.

2. The base assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said moveable portion is an uppermost end portion of a push rod that is coupled to said base pedestal, said push rod being adapted to move so as to reposition the moveable region inwardly before the container is filled such that the moveable region is entirely above the bearing surface.

3. The base assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the uppermost end portion of said push rod comprises a convex forming section at the central longitudinal axis of said base mold.

4. The base assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said cavity portion completely surrounds said moveable portion in plan view.

5. The base assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said cavity portion and said moveable portion form generally a ‘W’ in cross section view.

6. The base assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said moveable portion is constructed and operative to be activated so as to move and thereby act on the second portion of the moveable region to move the entire moveable region above said bearing surface forming portion.

7. The base assembly according to claim 6 , wherein said moveable portion is constructed and operative to be activated so as to move and thereby act only on the second portion of the moveable region to move the entire moveable region above said bearing surface forming portion.

8. The base assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said base plug is constructed and operative as part of a multi-piece mold comprised of said base plug and at least one side mold, said base plug and said at least one side mold each being moveable to substantially enclose the container.

9. The base assembly according to claim 3 , wherein said cavity portion is asymmetrical in plan view.

10. A base assembly for forming an end portion of a container, said base assembly comprising:

a base mold having a recess to form a first portion of a region to be moved of the end portion of the container and a standing surface forming portion to form a non-moveable standing surface of the end portion; and

a moveable portion to form a second portion of the region to be moved of the end portion of the container, said moveable portion being arranged at a central longitudinal axis of the base assembly and being surrounded in plan view by said base mold, said moveable portion being constructed and operative to be moveable relative to said base mold, with said base mold remaining stationary,

wherein said recess is arranged inside of and below said standing surface forming portion in cross section view, and

wherein said moveable portion has an uppermost portion thereof that is arranged at all times above said standing surface forming portion in cross section view.

11. The base assembly according to claim 10 , wherein said moveable portion is constructed and operative to move upward such that the uppermost portion is moved from a first position above said standing surface forming portion to a second position above said standing surface forming portion.

12. The base assembly according to claim 11 , wherein said moveable portion is constructed and operative to move upward such that the uppermost portion is moved from the second position above said standing surface forming portion to a third position above said standing surface forming portion.

13. The base assembly according to claim 10 , wherein said moveable portion is an uppermost end portion of a push rod, said push rod being adapted to move so as to reposition the region to be moved before the container is filled such that the region to be moved is entirely above the standing surface of the container.

14. The base assembly according to claim 10 , wherein said base assembly is constructed and operative as part of a multi-piece mold comprised of said base assembly and two side molds, said base assembly and said two side molds each being moveable to substantially enclose the container.

15. The base assembly according to claim 10 , wherein said recess is symmetrical in plan view.

16. The base assembly according to claim 10 , wherein said recess completely surrounds said moveable portion in plan view.

17. The base assembly according to claim 10 , wherein said moveable portion is constructed and operative to move so as to act only on the second portion of the region to be moved, but to move the entire moveable region above said standing surface forming portion.

18. The base assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the uppermost portion of said moveable portion comprises a portion at the central longitudinal axis that is convex and extends upward.