Self-standing polyester containers for carbonated beverages

Claim 1

A self standing blow molded polyester container, defining a longitudinal axis, for carbonated beverages having a neck finish integral with and terminating in a neck portion which is integral with and terminates in a side wall portion which is integral with and terminates in a closed base portion; the neck portion, side wall portion and the base portion being biaxially oriented; and the base portion being of a petaloid form defining at least three feet disposed about the longitudinal axis whereby the container is self standing, characterized in that: circumferentially adjacent pairs of the feet define, support, and are separated by, relatively stiff valleys each extending substantially radially from a central region of the base portion, centered on the longitudinal axis, to a relatively deformable, compared to the relatively stiff valleys, open area of the base portion located radially outwardly of the feet and adjacent to a maximum diameter of said base portion; wherein the relative stiffness and deformability of the valleys and the open area are selected such that initial internal pressurization of the container will, due to the relative deformability of the open area, deform the open area radially outwardly away from the longitudinal axis, which in turn moves radially outer ends of the relatively stiff valleys radially outwardly away from the longitudinal axis, which in turn, due to the stiffness of the valleys relative to the open area, rocks the valleys about their support by the feet and moves radially inner ends of the valleys generally upwardly toward the neck finish, thereby moving the central region of the base portion along the longitudinal axis toward the neck finish.

Claim 14

A method of producing a self standing blow molded polyester container, defining a longitudinal axis, for carbonated beverages having a neck finish integral with and terminating in a neck portion which is integral with and terminates in a side wall portion integral with and terminates in a closed base; the neck portion, side wall portion and the base being biaxially oriented; and the base being of a petaloid form defining at least three feet disposed about the longitudinal axis to whereby the container is self standing, characterized by: a) providing radially extending relatively rigid valleys between and supported by adjacent pairs of the feet; b) providing relatively deformable areas adjacent radially outer ends of the valleys and adjacent to and radially inwardly of a maximum diameter of said base portion; c) providing a relatively rigid central region, of the base centered on the longitudinal axis, from which the valleys extend radially; and d) selecting the relative rigidity of the valleys and central region, the support provided by the feet and the relative deformability of the areas whereby upon initial internal pressurization of the container the areas deform outwardly to pivot the radially outer ends of the valleys radially outwardly about their support by the feet, move radially inner ends of the valleys generally upwardly toward the neck finish, and thereby to displace the central region against the internal pressure along the axis toward the neck finish.

Claim 15

A method of producing a self standing blow molded polyester container, defining a longitudinal axis, for carbonated beverages having a neck finish integral with and terminating in a neck portion which is integral with and terminates in a side wall portion integral with and terminates in a closed base; the neck portion, side wall portion and the base being biaxially oriented; and the base being of a petaloid form defining at least three feet disposed about the longitudinal axis to whereby the container is self standing, characterized by: a) providing radially extending relatively rigid valleys between and supported by adjacent pairs of the feet; b) providing relatively deformable areas adjacent radially outer ends of the valleys and adjacent to and radially inwardly of a maximum diameter of said base portion; c) providing a relatively rigid central region, of the base centered on the longitudinal axis, from which the valleys extend radially; and d) selecting the relative rigidity of the valleys and central region, the support provided by the feet and the relative deformability of the areas whereby upon initial internal pressurization of the container the areas deform outwardly to pivot the radially outer ends of the valleys radially outwardly about their support by the feet, move radially inner ends of the valleys generally upwardly toward the neck finish, and thereby to displace the central region against the internal pressure along the axis toward the neck finish.