Footed container base

1. A one-piece plastic container comprising:

an upper portion defining an opening at an upper end of the container;

a cylindrical sidewall extending from the upper portion and defining a storage volume accessible through the opening; and

a base portion extending from the cylindrical sidewall to a base end of the container that is opposite to the upper end of the container, the base portion including:

a gate area at an axial center of the base portion;

a plurality of feet radially spaced apart about the axial center;

a plurality of straps, each one of the plurality of straps arranged between neighboring ones of the plurality of feet; and

a plurality of fillet areas, each one of the plurality of fillet areas arranged between one of the plurality of feet and straps on opposite sides thereof;

wherein the base portion includes a cumulative strap surface area defined by a total surface area of the plurality of straps, the gate area, and half a total surface area of the plurality of fillet areas, and a cumulative foot surface area defined by a total surface area of the plurality of feet and half the total surface area of the plurality of fillet areas;

wherein the base portion has a ratio of cumulative foot surface area to cumulative strap surface area in the range of 2.4-2.8:1;

wherein the base portion has a ratio of overall surface area to the cumulative strap surface area in the range of 3.4-3.8:1;

wherein the base portion has a ratio of overall surface area to the cumulative foot surface area of 1.2-1.6:1;

wherein about 67%-77% of an overall surface area of the base portion is the cumulative foot surface area; and

wherein about 23%-33% of the overall surface area of the base portion is the cumulative strap surface area.

2. The one-piece plastic container of claim 1 , wherein the base portion has about a 2.6:1 ratio of cumulative foot surface area to cumulative strap surface area.

3. The one-piece plastic container of claim 1 , wherein the base portion has about a 3.6:1 ratio of overall surface area to the cumulative strap surface area.

4. The one-piece plastic container of claim 1 , wherein the base portion has about a 1.4:1 ratio of overall surface area to the cumulative foot surface area.

5. The one-piece plastic container of claim 1 , wherein about 72% of an overall surface area of the base portion is the cumulative foot surface area; and wherein about 28% of the overall surface area of the base portion is the cumulative strap surface area.

6. The one-piece plastic container of claim 1 , wherein the base portion includes only five straps and only five feet; wherein each one of the plurality of straps extend continuously between the gate area and about an outer diameter of the base portion; and wherein each one of the plurality of straps includes a hemisphere portion that is generally smooth and curved along an entire length thereof.

7. The one-piece plastic container of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of straps and the gate area have a combined surface area that is about 9% of an overall surface area of the base portion.

8. The one-piece plastic container of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of straps and the gate area have a combined surface area that is about 8%-10% of an overall surface area of the base portion.

9. The one-piece plastic container of claim 1 , wherein each one of the plurality of straps have a hemisphere radius that is about 1.17 times larger than an overall radius of the base portion.

10. The one-piece plastic container of claim 1 , wherein each one of the plurality of straps have a hemisphere radius that is about 1.1-1.3 times larger than an overall radius of the base portion.

11. The one-piece plastic container of claim 1 , wherein each one of the plurality of straps tapers inward along a length thereof proximate to the gate area.

12. The one-piece plastic container of claim 1 , wherein each one of the plurality of feet include an outer foot surface at an outer diameter of the base portion that tapers inward at a first angle along a length thereof extending towards the base end of the container;

wherein each one of the fillet areas include a first fillet portion and a second fillet portion, the first fillet portion extending along a first side of each one of the plurality of straps and the second fillet portion extending along a second side of each one of the plurality of straps, the first and the second fillet portions arranged to taper towards one another at a second angle along respective lengths thereof extending towards the axial center of the base portion; and

wherein the first angle is generally similar to the second angle.

13. The one-piece plastic container of claim 12 , wherein the first angle and the second angle are both about 36°.

14. The one-piece plastic container of claim 12 , wherein the first angle and the second angle are each within the range of 25° to 40°.

15. The one-piece plastic container of claim 12 , wherein the first angle is within about 10° of the second angle.

16. The one-piece plastic container of claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of contact pads configured to support the container upright on a support surface, each one of the plurality of feet including one of the plurality of contact pads, each one of the plurality of contact pads includes a pad length extending radially away from a longitudinal axis of the container and a pad width extending generally perpendicular to the pad length;

wherein the pad length is substantially similar to the pad width;

wherein the plurality of contact pads are in the range of 1% to 1.6% of a total surface area of the base portion, and are in the range of 1.4% to 2.2% of a total surface area of the plurality of feet;

wherein each one of the plurality of feet has a foot length extending radially away from a longitudinal axis of the container, a foot width extending generally perpendicular to the foot length, and a foot radius extending along at least a portion of the foot width; and

wherein the foot width is about twice as large as the foot radius.