ARTICLES FORMED FROM A MULTI-LAYER SHEET STRUCTURE
A container includes a body that includes a sidewall and a heel extending from a bottom of the sidewall. The sidewall defines a cavity therein. The sidewall has a sidewall radius, and the heel has a heel radius that is less than the sidewall radius. A base is coupled to the heel. The container is molded from a multi-layer sheet structure including a polypropylene composition that enables the body to be substantially rigid while the base is being punctured by a puncturing device.
1 . A container comprising:
a body that comprises a sidewall and a heel extending from a bottom of said sidewall, said sidewall defining a cavity therein, wherein said sidewall has a sidewall radius and said heel has a heel radius that is less than the sidewall radius; and
a base coupled to said heel, said base comprising a rim and a step extending axially upward from said rim, wherein said rim has a rim radius that is less than the heel radius and said step has a step radius that is less than the rim radius, said container molded from a multi-layer sheet structure comprising a polypropylene composition that enables said body to be substantially rigid while said base is being punctured by a puncturing device.
2 . A container in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said step and said rim are substantially concentrically aligned.
3 . A container in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said base comprises a second step extending axially upward from said step, wherein said second step has a second step radius that is less than the step radius.
4 . A container in accordance with claim 3 , wherein said second step and said step are substantially concentrically aligned.
5 . A container in accordance with claim 3 , wherein the second step radius is greater than approximately 40% of the rim radius.
6 . A container in accordance with claim 3 , wherein a width of said step is less than approximately 50% of the step radius.
7 . A container in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a width of said rim is less than approximately 15% of the rim radius.
8 . A container in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said heel is chamfered.
9 . A container in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said heel has a generally arcuate outer surface.
10 . A container in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a flange extends generally radially outward from a top of said sidewall.
11 . A container in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said polypropylene composition enables at least one of said body and said base to be substantially rigid while a liquid that is at least 150° F. is disposed within the cavity.
12 . A container in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said polypropylene composition enables at least one of said body and said base to be substantially rigid while a liquid that is at least 190° F. is disposed within the cavity.
13 . A container in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said polypropylene composition enables at least one of said body and said base to be substantially rigid while a liquid that is at least 212° F. is disposed within the cavity.
14 . A container in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said body comprises a plurality of flutes disposed circumferentially about said body, said plurality of flutes extending generally axially along said sidewall.
15 . A container comprising:
a body that comprises a sidewall and a heel extending from a bottom of said sidewall, said sidewall defining a cavity therein, wherein said sidewall has a sidewall radius and said heel has a heel radius that is less than the sidewall radius; and
a base coupled to said heel, said base comprising a plurality of ribs that increase in height from said heel toward a center of said base, said container molded from a multi-layer sheet structure comprising a polypropylene composition that enables said body to be substantially rigid while said base is being punctured by a puncturing device.
16 . A container in accordance with claim 15 , wherein said plurality of ribs extending substantially concentrically about the center of said base.
17 . A container in accordance with claim 15 , wherein said heel is chamfered.
18 . A container in accordance with claim 15 , wherein said heel has a generally arcuate outer surface.
19 . A container in accordance with claim 15 , wherein a flange extends generally radially outward from a top of said sidewall.
20 . A container in accordance with claim 15 , wherein said polypropylene composition enables at least one of said body and said base to be substantially rigid while a liquid that is at least 150° F. is disposed within the cavity.
21 . A container in accordance with claim 15 , wherein said polypropylene composition enables at least one of said body and said base to be substantially rigid while a liquid that is at least 190° F. is disposed within the cavity.
22 . A container in accordance with claim 15 , wherein said polypropylene composition enables at least one of said body and said base to be substantially rigid while a liquid that is at least 212° F. is disposed within the cavity.
23 . A container in accordance with claim 15 , wherein said body comprises a plurality of flutes disposed circumferentially about said body, said plurality of flutes extending generally axially along said sidewall.
24 . A container comprising:
a body that comprises a sidewall, a plurality of flutes disposed circumferentially about said body, and a heel extending from a bottom of said sidewall, said sidewall defining a cavity therein, wherein said sidewall has a sidewall radius and said heel has a heel radius that is less than the sidewall radius, said plurality of flutes extending generally axially along said sidewall; and
a base coupled to said heel, said base comprising a rim and a step extending axially upward from said rim, wherein said rim has a rim radius that is less than the heel radius and said step has a step radius that is less than the rim radius, said container molded from a multi-layer sheet structure comprising a polypropylene composition that enables said body to be substantially rigid while said base is being punctured by a puncturing device.
25 . A container in accordance with claim 24 , wherein said step and said rim are substantially concentrically aligned.
26 . A container in accordance with claim 24 , wherein said base comprises a second step extending axially upward from said step, wherein said second step has a second step radius that is less than the step radius.
27 . A container in accordance with claim 26 , wherein said second step and said step are substantially concentrically aligned.
28 . A container in accordance with claim 26 , wherein the second step radius is greater than approximately 40% of the rim radius.
29 . A container in accordance with claim 26 , wherein a width of said step is less than approximately 50% of the step radius.
30 . A container in accordance with claim 24 , wherein a width of said rim is less than approximately 15% of the rim radius.
31 . A container in accordance with claim 24 , wherein said heel is chamfered.
32 . A container in accordance with claim 24 , wherein said heel has a generally arcuate outer surface.
33 . A container in accordance with claim 24 , wherein a flange extends generally radially outward from a top of said sidewall.
34 . A container in accordance with claim 24 , wherein said polypropylene composition enables at least one of said body and said base to be substantially rigid while a liquid that is at least 150° F. is disposed within the cavity.
35 . A container in accordance with claim 24 , wherein said polypropylene composition enables at least one of said body and said base to be substantially rigid while a liquid that is at least 190° F. is disposed within the cavity.
36 . A container in accordance with claim 24 , wherein said polypropylene composition enables at least one of said body and said base to be substantially rigid while a liquid that is at least 212° F. is disposed within the cavity.