Plastic blow molded freestanding container

• US 5,139,162 A
• Filed: 10/04/1991
• Issued: 08/18/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Plastipak Packaging Incorporated (Plastipak Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Plastipak Packaging Incorporated (Plastipak Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Young, William C., Darr, Richard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weaver, Sue A.
• Application Number:
  US07/771,636
• Time in Patent Office: 319 Days
• Field of Search: 215/1 C, 220/606, 220/607-609
• US Class Current: 215/375
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/0284 having a discontinuous contact surface, e.g. discrete feet

Abstract

A plastic blow molded container (10) is disclosed as including a freestanding base structure (20) that is constructed with a plurality of downwardly projecting hollow legs 22, a plurality of curved ribs (34) located between the legs, and a hub 41 from which the legs and ribs extend radially with a construction that provides good stability against tipping as well as the capability of withstanding internal pressure. Each leg (22) has a lower flat foot (24) coplanar with the other feet and the feet have an outer diameter D_f that is at least 0.75 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion. Each flat foot (24) also has a junction (28) with an associated outer wall (26) of the foot and this junction has a radius of curvature R_j less than 0.05 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion. A planar inner connecting portion (30) of each foot (22) is inclined and extends upwardly and inwardly to the hub (41) while side walls (32) of the legs are connected to the curved ribs (34) which each have a curved intermediate portion that extends between outer and inner ends (36,38) of the rib along a curved intermediate rib portion (40). On one embodiment the hub (41) has an upwardly extending shape; in another embodiment the hub (41'"'"') has a flat horizontally extending shape; and in a further embodiment the hub (41") has a downwardly extending shape. The specific construction disclosed of the legs (22), ribs (34) and hub (41, 41'"'"', 41") enhance the capability of the base structure in providing good stability as well as the capability of withstanding internal pressure.

Claims

1. In a plastic blow molded container having a central axis A and including a cylindrical body portion that extends vertically about the central axis A with a diameter D, an upper end closure unitary with the upper extremity of the cylindrical body portion and including a dispensing spout, and a freestanding base structure unitary with the cylindrical body portion to close the lower extremity thereof, said freestanding base structure comprising:

a plurality of downwardly projecting hollow legs spaced circumferentially from each other with respect to the body portion;

each leg having a lower flat foot coplanar with the feet of the other legs to cooperate therewith in supporting the container in an upright position;

the lower flat feet having an outer diameter D_f that is at least 0.75 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion to provide good stability against tipping;

each leg also having an outer wall that extends from the outer extremity of the flat foot thereof to the cylindrical body portion;

the flat foot and the outer wall of each leg having an abruptly curved junction with a radius of curvature R_j less than 0.05 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion;

each leg also having a planar inner connecting portion that is inclined and extends upwardly and inwardly from the inner extremity of the flat foot thereof; and

each leg also having a pair of side walls that cooperate with the flat foot, the outer wall and the inner planar connection portion to close the leg;

a plurality of curved ribs spaced circumferentially from each other between the downwardly projecting legs and connecting the adjacent side walls of the legs;

each rib having an outer upper end that extends upwardly and is connected to the cylindrical body portion of the container;

each rib also having an inner lower end located between the inner connecting portions of the legs on opposite sides thereof and extending downwardly and inwardly toward the central axis A of the container; and

each rib also having a curved intermediate portion that extends between the outer and inner ends thereof with an outwardly convex shape; and

a generally round hub that is located along the central axis A with the legs and curved ribs extending radially therefrom;

said hub having a diameter D_h in the range of about 0.15 to 0.25 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion; and

the hub having an upwardly extending shape including a lower periphery having connections to the upwardly extending planar inner connecting portions of the legs and the lower periphery of the hub also having connections to the downwardly extending inner ends of the curved ribs.

2. In a plastic blow molded container having a central axis A and including a cylindrical body portion that extends vertically about the central axis A with a diameter D, an upper end closure unitary with the upper extremity of the cylindrical body portion and including a dispensing spout, and a freestanding base structure unitary with the cylindrical body portion to close the lower extremity thereof, said freestanding base structure comprising:

a plurality of downwardly projecting hollow legs spaced circumferentially from each other with respect to the body portion;

each leg having a lower flat foot coplanar with the feet of the other legs to cooperate therewith in supporting the container in an upright position;

the lower flat feet having an outer diameter D_f that is at least 0.75 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion to provide good stability against tipping;

each leg also having an outer wall that extends from the outer extremity of the flat foot thereof to the cylindrical body portion;

the flat foot and the outer wall of each leg having an abruptly curved junction with a radius of curvature R_j less than 0.05 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion;

each leg also having a planar inner connecting portion that is inclined and extends upwardly and inwardly from the inner extremity of the flat foot thereof; and

each leg also having a pair of side walls that cooperate with the flat foot, the outer wall and the inner planar connection portion to close the leg;

a plurality of curved ribs spaced circumferentially from each other between the downwardly projecting legs and connecting the adjacent side walls of the legs;

each rib having an outer upper end that extends upwardly and is connected to the cylindrical body portion of the container;

each rib also having an inner lower end located between the inner connecting portions of the legs on opposite sides thereof and extending downwardly and inwardly toward the central axis A of the container; and

each rib also having a curved intermediate portion that extends between the outer and inner ends thereof with an outwardly convex shape; and

a generally round hub that is located along the central axis A with the legs and curved ribs extending radially therefrom;

said hub having a diameter D_h in the range of about 0.15 to 0.25 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion;

the hub having an upwardly extending shape including a round upper wall and an annular wall having an upper end connected to the upper wall thereof and a lower periphery having connections to the upwardly extending planar inner connecting portions of the legs and the lower periphery of the hub also having connections to the downwardly extending inner ends of the curved ribs;

the upper wall of the hub being spaced above the plane of the flat feet of the legs by a height H_h1 in the range of about 0.08 to 0.12 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion; and

the lower periphery of the annular wall of the hub being spaced above the plane of the flat feet of the legs by a height H_h2 in the range of about 0.035 to 0.065 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion.

3. In a plastic blow molded container having a central axis A and including a cylindrical body portion that extends vertically about the central axis A with a diameter D and has a nominal wall thickness t, an upper end closure unitary with the upper extremity of the cylindrical body portion and including a dispensing spout, and a freestanding base structure unitary with the cylindrical body portion to close the lower extremity thereof, said freestanding base structure comprising:

a plurality of downwardly projecting hollow legs spaced circumferentially from each other with respect to the body portion;

each leg having a lower flat foot coplanar with the feet of the other legs to cooperate therewith in supporting the container in an upright position;

the lower flat feet having a truncated wedge shape;

the lower flat feet having an outer diameter D_f that is at least 0.75 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion to provide good stability against tipping;

each leg also having an outer wall that extends from the outer extremity of the flat foot thereof to the cylindrical body portion;

the outer wall of each leg having a curved shape with a radius of curvature R_w greater than 0.75 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion and including an upper end that is tangent with the adjacent portion of the lower extremity of the cylindrical body portion;

the flat foot and the outer wall of each leg having an abruptly curved junction with a radius of curvature R_j less than 0.05 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion;

each leg also having a planar inner connecting portion that is inclined and extends upwardly and inwardly from the inner extremity of the flat foot thereof; and

each leg also having a pair of side walls that cooperate with the flat foot, the outer wall and the inner planar connection portion to close the leg;

a plurality of curved ribs spaced circumferentially from each other between the downwardly projecting legs and connecting the adjacent side walls of the legs;

each rib having an outer upper end that extends upwardly and is connected to the cylindrical body portion of the container;

each rib also having an inner lower end located between the inner connecting portions of the legs on opposite sides thereof and extending downwardly and inwardly toward the central axis A of the container; and

each rib also having a curved intermediate portion that extends between the outer and inner ends thereof with an outwardly convex shape and each rib having a radius of curvature R_r greater than about 0.6 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion and with a center of curvature on the opposite side of the central axis A from the rib;

a generally round hub that is located along the central axis A with the legs and curved ribs extending radially therefrom;

said hub having a diameter D_h in the range of about 0.15 to 0.25 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion;

the hub having an upwardly extending shape including a round upper wall and an annular wall having an upper end connected to the upper wall thereof and a lower periphery having connections to the upwardly extending planar inner connecting portions of the legs and the lower periphery of the hub also having connections to the downwardly extending inner ends of the curved ribs;

the upper wall of the hub being spaced above the plane of the flat feet of the legs by a height H_h1 in the range of about 0.08 to 0.12 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion; and

the lower periphery of the annular wall of the hub being spaced above the plane of the flat feet of the legs by a height H_h2 in the range of about 0.035 to 0.065 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion; and

the inner extremities of the flat feet, the planar inner connecting portions of the legs, the inner lower ends of the curved ribs, and the hub each having a wall thickness t'"'"' that is at least 1.7 times the nominal wall thickness t of the cylindrical body portion.

4. In a plastic blow molded container having a central axis A and including a cylindrical body portion that extends vertically about the central axis A with a diameter D, an upper end closure unitary with the upper extremity of the cylindrical body portion and including a dispensing spout, and a freestanding base structure unitary with the cylindrical body portion to close the lower extremity thereof, said freestanding base structure comprising:

a plurality of downwardly projecting hollow legs spaced circumferentially from each other with respect to the body portion;

each leg having a lower flat foot coplanar with the feet of the other legs to cooperate therewith in supporting the container in an upright position;

the lower flat feet having an outer diameter D_f that is at least 0.75 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion to provide good stability against tipping;

each leg also having an outer wall that extends from the outer extremity of the flat foot thereof to the cylindrical body portion;

the flat foot and the outer wall of each leg having an abruptly curved junction with a radius of curvature R_j less than 0.05 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion;

each leg also having a planar inner connecting portion that is inclined and extends upwardly and inwardly from the inner extremity of the flat foot thereof; and

each leg also having a pair of side walls that cooperate with the flat foot, the outer wall and the inner planar connection portion to close the leg;

a plurality of curved ribs spaced circumferentially from each other between the downwardly projecting legs and connecting the adjacent side walls of the legs;

each rib having an outer upper end that extends upwardly and is connected to the cylindrical body portion of the container;

each rib also having an inner lower end located between the inner connecting portions of the legs on opposite sides thereof and extending downwardly and inwardly toward the central axis A of the container; and

each rib also having a curved intermediate portion that extends between the outer and inner ends thereof with an outwardly convex shape; and

a generally round hub that is located along the central axis A with the legs and curved ribs extending radially therefrom;

said hub having a diameter D_h in the range of about 0.15 to 0.25 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion; and

the hub having a generally flat shaped that extends horizontally and has a periphery including connections to the upwardly extending planar inner connecting portions of the legs and the hub also having connections to the downwardly extending inner ends of the curved ribs.

5. In a plastic blow molded container having a central axis A and including a cylindrical body portion that extends vertically about the central axis A with a diameter D, an upper end closure unitary with the upper extremity of the cylindrical body portion and including a dispensing spout, and a freestanding base structure unitary with the cylindrical body portion to close the lower extremity thereof, said freestanding base structure comprising:

a plurality of downwardly projecting hollow legs spaced circumferentially from each other with respect to the body portion;

each leg having a lower flat foot coplanar with the feet of the other legs to cooperate therewith in supporting the container in an upright position;

the lower flat feet having an outer diameter D_f that is at least 0.75 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion to provide good stability against tipping;

each leg also having an outer wall that extends from the outer extremity of the flat foot thereof to the cylindrical body portion;

the flat foot and the outer wall of each leg having an abruptly curved junction with a radius of curvature R_j less than 0.05 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion;

each leg also having a planar inner connecting portion that is inclined and extends upwardly and inwardly from the inner extremity of the flat foot thereof; and

each leg also having a pair of side walls that cooperate with the flat foot, the outer wall and the inner planar connection portion to close the leg;

a plurality of curved ribs spaced circumferentially from each other between the downwardly projecting legs and connecting the adjacent side walls of the legs;

each rib having an outer upper end that extends upwardly and is connected to the cylindrical body portion of the container;

each rib also having an inner lower end located between the inner connecting portions of the legs on opposite sides thereof and extending downwardly and inwardly toward the central axis A of the container; and

each rib also having a curved intermediate portion that extends between the outer and inner ends thereof with an outwardly convex shape; and

a generally round hub that is located along the central axis A with the legs and curved ribs extending radially therefrom;

said hub having a diameter D_h in the range of about 0.15 to 0.25 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion;

the hub having a generally flat shape that extends horizontally and has a periphery including connections to the upwardly extending planar inner connecting portions of the legs and the hub also having connections to the downwardly extending inner ends of the curved ribs; and

the flat hub being spaced above the plane of the flat feet by a height H_h that is in the range of about 0.035 to 0.065 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion.

6. In a plastic blow molded container having a central axis A and including a cylindrical body portion that extends vertically about the central axis A with a diameter D and has a nominal wall thickness t, an upper end closure unitary with the upper extremity of the cylindrical body portion and including a dispensing spout, and a freestanding base structure unitary with the cylindrical body portion to close the lower extremity thereof, said freestanding base structure comprising:

a plurality of downwardly projecting hollow legs spaced circumferentially from each other with respect to the body portion;

each leg having a lower flat foot coplanar with the feet of the other legs to cooperate therewith in supporting the container in an upright position;

the lower flat feet having a truncated wedge shape;

the lower flat feet having an outer diameter D_f that is at least 0.75 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion to provide good stability against tipping;

each leg also having an outer wall that extends from the outer extremity of the flat foot thereof to the cylindrical body portion;

the outer wall of each leg having a curved shaped with a radius of curvature R_w greater than 0.75 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion of the lower extremity of the cylindrical body portion;

the flat foot and the outer wall of each leg having an abruptly curved junction with a radius of curvature R_j less than 0.05 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion;

each leg also having a planar inner connecting portion that is inclined and extends upwardly and inwardly from the inner extremity of the flat foot thereof; and

each leg also having a pair of side walls that cooperate with the flat foot, the outer wall and the inner planar connection portion to close the leg;

a plurality of curved ribs spaced circumferentially from each other between the downwardly projecting legs and connecting the adjacent side walls of the legs;

each rib having an outer upper end that extends upwardly and is connected to the cylindrical body portion of the container;

each rib also having an inner lower end located between the inner connecting portions of the legs on opposite sides thereof and extending downwardly and inwardly toward the central axis A of the container; and

each rib also having a curved intermediate portion that extends between the outer and inner ends thereof with an outwardly convex shape and each rib having a radius of curvature R_r greater than about 0.6 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion and with a center of curvature on the opposite side of the central axis A from the rib;

a generally round hub that is located along the central axis A with the legs and curved ribs extending radially therefrom;

said hub having a diameter D_h in the range of about 0.15 to 0.25 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion;

the hub having a generally flat shape that extends horizontally and has a periphery including connections to the upwardly extending planar inner connecting portions of the legs and the hub also having connections to the downwardly extending inner ends of the curved ribs;

the flat hub being spaced above the plane of the flat feet by a height H_h that is in the range of about 0.035 to 0.065 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion; and

the inner extremities of the flat feet, the planar inner connecting portions of the legs, the inner lower ends of the curved ribs, and the hub each having a wall thickness t'"'"' that is at least 1.7 times the nominal wall thickness t of the cylindrical body portion.

7. In a plastic blow molded container having a central axis A and including a cylindrical body portion that extends vertically about the central axis A with a diameter D, an upper end closure unitary with the upper extremity of the cylindrical body portion and including a dispensing spout, and a freestanding base structure unitary with the cylindrical body portion to close the lower extremity thereof, said freestanding base structure comprising:

a plurality of downwardly projecting hollow legs spaced circumferentially from each other with respect to the body portion;

each leg having a lower flat foot coplanar with the feet of the other legs to cooperate therewith in supporting the container in an upright position;

the lower flat feet having an outer diameter D_f that is at least 0.75 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion to provide good stability against tipping;

each leg also having an outer wall that extends from the outer extremity of the flat foot thereof to the cylindrical body portion;

the flat foot and the outer wall of each leg having an abruptly curved junction with a radius of curvature R_j less than 0.05 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion;

each leg also having a planar inner connecting portion that is inclined and extends upwardly and inwardly from the inner extremity of the flat foot thereof; and

each leg also having a pair of side walls that cooperate with the flat foot, the outer wall and the inner planar connection portion to close the leg;

a plurality of curved ribs spaced circumferentially from each other between the downwardly projecting legs and connecting the adjacent side walls of the legs;

each rib having an outer upper end that extends upwardly and is connected to the cylindrical body portion of the container;

each rib also having an inner lower end located between the inner connecting portions of the legs on opposite sides thereof and extending downwardly and inwardly toward the central axis A of the container; and

each rib also having a curved intermediate portion that extends between the outer and inner ends thereof with an outwardly convex shape; and

a generally round hub that is located along the central axis A with the legs and curved ribs extending radially therefrom;

said hub having a diameter D_h in the range of about 0.15 to 0.25 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion;

the hub having an downwardly extending shape including a periphery having connections to the upwardly extending planar inner connections to the downwardly extending inner ends of the curved ribs.

8. In a plastic blow molded container having a central axis A and including a cylindrical body portion that extends vertically about the central axis A with a diameter D, an upper end closure unitary with the upper extremity of the cylindrical body portion and including a dispensing spout, and a freestanding base structure unitary with the cylindrical body portion to close the lower extremity thereof, said freestanding base structure comprising:

a plurality of downwardly projecting hollow legs spaced circumferentially from each other with respect to the body portion;

each leg having a lower flat foot coplanar with the feet of the other legs to cooperate therewith in supporting the container in an upright position;

the lower flat feet having an outer diameter D_f that is at least 0.75 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion to provide good stability against tipping;

each leg also having an outer wall that extends from the outer extremity of the flat foot thereof to the cylindrical body portion;

the flat foot and the outer wall of each leg having an abruptly curved junction with a radius of curvature R_j less than 0.05 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion;

each leg also having a planar inner connecting portion that is inclined and extends upwardly and inwardly from the inner extremity of the flat foot thereof; and

each leg also having a pair of side walls that cooperate with the flat foot, the outer wall and the inner planar connection portion to close the leg;

a plurality of curved ribs spaced circumferentially from each other between the downwardly projecting legs and connecting the adjacent side walls of the legs;

each rib having an outer upper end that extends upwardly and is connected to the cylindrical body portion of the container;

each rib also having an inner lower end located between the inner connecting portions of the legs on opposite sides thereof and extending downwardly and inwardly toward the central axis A of the container; and

each rib also having a curved intermediate portion that extends between the outer and inner ends thereof with an outwardly convex shape; and

a generally round hub that is located along the central axis A with the legs and curved ribs extending radially therefrom;

said hub having a diameter D_h in the range of about 0.15 to 0.25 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion;

the hub having a downwardly extending curved shape including a periphery having connections to the upwardly extending planar inner connecting portions of the legs and the hub also having connections to the downwardly extending inner ends of the curved ribs;

the curved shape of the downwardly extending hub having a radius of curvature that is less than one-half the radius of curvature of the curved intermediate portion of each rib; and

the downwardly extending hub having a curved lower extremity that is spaced above the plane of the flat feet of the legs by a height H_h that is in the range of about 0.025 to 0.035 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion.

9. In a plastic blow molded container having a central axis A and including a cylindrical body portion that extends vertically about the central axis A with a diameter D and has a nominal wall thickness t, an upper end closure unitary with the upper extremity of the cylindrical body portion and including a dispensing spout, and a freestanding base structure unitary with the cylindrical body portion to close the lower extremity thereof, said freestanding base structure comprising:

a plurality of downwardly projecting hollow legs spaced circumferentially from each other with respect to the body portion;

each leg having a lower flat foot coplanar with the feet of the other legs to cooperate therewith in supporting the container in an upright position;

the lower flat feet having a truncated wedge shape;

the lower flat feet having an outer diameter D_f that is at least 0.75 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion to provide good stability against tipping;

each leg also having an outer wall that extends from the outer extremity of the flat foot thereof to the cylindrical body portion;

the outer wall of each leg having a curved shaped with a radius of curvature R_w greater than 0.75 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion and including an upper end that is tangent with the adjacent portion of the lower extremity of the cylindrical body portion;

the flat foot and the outer wall of each leg having an abruptly curved junction with a radius of curvature R_j less than 0.05 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion;

each leg also having a planar inner connecting portion that is inclined and extends upwardly and inwardly from the inner extremity of the flat foot thereof; and

each leg also having a pair of side walls that cooperate with the flat foot, the outer wall and the inner planar connection portion to close the leg;

a plurality of curved ribs spaced circumferentially from each other between the downwardly projecting legs and connecting the adjacent side walls of the legs;

each rib having an outer upper end that extends upwardly and is connected to the cylindrical body portion of the container;

each rib also having an inner lower end located between the inner connecting portions of the legs on opposite sides thereof and extending downwardly and inwardly toward the central axis A of the container; and

each rib also having a curved intermediate portion that extends between the outer and inner ends thereof with an outwardly convex shape and each rib having a radius of curvature R_r greater than about 0.6 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion and with a center of curvature on the opposite side of the central axis A from the rib;

a generally round hub that is located along the central axis A with the legs and curved ribs extending radially therefrom;

said hub having a diameter D_h in the range of about 0.15 to 0.25 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion;

the hub having a downwardly extending curved shape including a periphery having connections to the upwardly extending planar inner connecting portions of the legs and the hub also having connections to the downwardly extending inner ends of the curved ribs;

the curved shape of the downwardly extending hub having a radius of curvature that is less than one-half the radius of curvature of the curved intermediate portion of each rib; and

the downwardly extending hub having a curved lower extremity that is spaced above the plane of the flat feet of the legs by a height H_h that is in the range of about 0.025 to 0.035 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion; and

the inner extremities of the flat feet, the planar inner connecting portions of the legs, the inner lower ends of the curved ribs, and the hub each having a wall thickness t'"'"' that is at least 1.7 times the nominal wall thickness t of the cylindrical body portion.