Container with folded sidewall
A blow-molded container including a finish and a base portion. The finish defines an opening at a first end of the container that provides access to an internal volume defined by the container. The base portion is at a second end of the container opposite to the first end. The base portion includes a fold proximate to a sidewall of the container.
1. A blow-molded container comprising:
a finish defining an opening at a first end of the container that provides access to an internal volume defined by the container; and
a base portion at a second end of the container opposite to the first end, the base portion including a fold proximate to a sidewall of the container;
wherein as blown and prior to the container being filled, a diaphragm of the base is further from the first end of the container than the folded portion;
wherein after the container is filled, the diaphragm is not further from the first end of the container than the folded portion; and
wherein the diaphragm pivots about a first radius at a first curved portion of the fold, a second radius at a second curved portion of the fold, and a third radius between the diaphragm and the first radius.
2. The container of claim 1 , wherein the first curved portion is closer to a longitudinal axis of the container than the second curved portion.
3. The container of claim 2 , wherein the second curved portion extends to the sidewall.
4. The container of claim 2 , wherein the second curved portion includes a heel of the container.
5. The container of claim 2 , wherein the second curved portion provides a post-fill standing surface of the container.
6. The container of claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm provides a pre-fill standing surface of the container.
7. The container of claim 1 , wherein after the container is filled the diaphragm angles towards the finish between 0° and 15° at full activation.
8. The container of claim 7 , wherein upon application of a top load force to the container, the angle of the diaphragm returns to 0° relative to the upper end, and the first, second, and third radii adjust to compensate for such movement of the diaphragm.
9. The container of claim 1 , wherein after the container is filled the diaphragm angles towards the finish between 10° and 20° at full activation.
10. The container of claim 1 , wherein the first radius and the second radius are about the same dimension and the third radius is greater than each of the first radius and the second radius.
11. The container of claim 1 , wherein the third radius and the second radius both provide a post-fill standing surface of the container.
12. The container of claim 1 , wherein the container further comprises a plurality of ribs defined in the sidewall of the container.
13. The container of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of ribs and the base portion are configured to place the container in a state of hydraulic charge-up when top load is applied to the container after the container is filled.
14. The container of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of ribs collapse upon application of top load, and movement of the base portion is constrained by a standing surface, thereby causing fluid within the internal volume of the container to reach an incompressible state to maintain the container at its same basic shape.
15. A blow-molded container comprising:
a finish defining an opening at a first end of the container that provides access to an internal volume defined by the container;
a base portion at a second end of the container opposite to the first end, the base portion includes a fold having an outer fold portion at a sidewall of the container, and an inner fold portion that is inward of the outer fold portion, the inner fold portion is closer to the first end than the outer fold portion is; and
an intermediate portion of the fold between the outer fold portion and the inner fold portion, wherein the intermediate portion has a first length before the container is filled and a second length after the container is filled, the first length is shorter than the second length.
16. The blow-molded container of claim 15 , further comprising a connecting portion between the inner fold portion and a diaphragm of the container, the connecting portion includes a generally vertical portion that is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container and a curved portion between the generally vertical portion and the diaphragm.
17. The blow-molded container of claim 16 , wherein the generally vertical portion of the connecting portion and the intermediate portion between the outer fold portion and the inner fold portion are spaced apart at a pre-fill distance prior to the container being filled, and closer together than the pre-fill distance after the container is filled.
18. The blow-molded container of claim 15 , wherein the base includes a diaphragm that provides a pre-fill standing surface of the container, subsequent to the container being filled, the diaphragm is configured to move closer to the first end of the container and the outer curved portion provides a post-fill standing surface.
19. The blow-molded container of claim 15 , wherein the inner fold portion includes a first curved portion and the outer fold portion includes a second curved portion, the first curved portion is closer to the first end than the second curved portion.
20. A blow-molded container comprising:
a finish defining an opening at a first end of the container that provides access to an internal volume defined by the container;
a base portion at a second end of the container opposite to the first end, the base portion including:
a fold having an inner folded portion including a first curve and an outer folded portion at a sidewall of the container including a second curve, the inner folded portion is closer to the first end of the container than the outer folded portion, the outer folded portion provides a post-fill standing surface of the container;
a diaphragm extending between the fold and an axial center of the container, the diaphragm provides a pre-filled standing surface of the container; and
a connecting portion between the inner folded portion and the diaphragm including a third curve; and
an inset portion between the connecting portion and the diaphragm, the inset portion extends generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the container.
21. The container of claim 20 , wherein both the first curve and the second curve include a pre-fill radius of curvature that is greater than a post-fill radius of curvature.
22. The container of claim 20 , further comprising an intermediate portion between the inner folded portion and the outer folded portion;
wherein prior to the container being filled the connecting portion and the intermediate portion are a first distance apart, and subsequent to the container being filled the connecting portion and the intermediate portion are a second distance apart, the first distance is greater than the second distance.
23. The container of claim 20 , wherein the base portion includes a standing surface within a vacuum absorbing zone.
24. The container of claim 20 , wherein the fold is configured to resist side load deformation of up to about 21 lbs of force.