US 11,731,823 B2
Method of handling a plastic container having a moveable base
David Melrose, Auckland (NZ); John Denner, York, PA (US); Paul Kelley, Wrightsville, PA (US); and Gregory Trude, Seven Valleys, PA (US)
Assigned to CO2PAC Limited, Auckland (NZ)
Filed by CO2PAC Limited, Auckland (NZ)
Filed on Jun. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/852,584.
Application 16/557,457 is a division of application No. 15/074,791, filed on Mar. 18, 2016, granted, now 10,435,223, issued on Oct. 8, 2019.
Application 17/852,584 is a continuation of application No. 17/090,611, filed on Nov. 5, 2020, granted, now 11,377,287.
Application 17/090,611 is a continuation of application No. 16/557,457, filed on Aug. 30, 2019, granted, now 10,836,552, issued on Nov. 17, 2020.
Application 15/074,791 is a continuation of application No. 13/415,831, filed on Mar. 8, 2012, granted, now 9,731,884, issued on Aug. 15, 2017.
Application 13/415,831 is a continuation in part of application No. 13/412,572, filed on Mar. 5, 2012, granted, now 9,145,223, issued on Sep. 29, 2015.
Application 13/412,572 is a continuation of application No. 11/704,338, filed on Feb. 9, 2007, granted, now 8,127,955, issued on Mar. 6, 2012.
Application 13/415,831 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/704,318, filed on Feb. 9, 2007, abandoned.
Application 11/704,318 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/704,368, filed on Feb. 9, 2007, granted, now 8,584,879, issued on Nov. 19, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2022/0324630 A1, Oct. 13, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B67C 3/04 (2006.01); B65B 61/24 (2006.01); B67C 7/00 (2006.01); B67C 3/22 (2006.01); B65D 79/00 (2006.01); B29C 49/06 (2006.01); B29C 49/12 (2006.01); B29C 49/48 (2006.01); B29C 49/54 (2006.01); B65D 1/02 (2006.01); B29K 67/00 (2006.01); B29L 31/00 (2006.01)
CPC B65D 79/0081 (2020.05) [B29C 49/06 (2013.01); B29C 49/12 (2013.01); B29C 49/4802 (2013.01); B29C 49/541 (2013.01); B65B 61/24 (2013.01); B65D 1/023 (2013.01); B65D 1/0276 (2013.01); B65D 1/0284 (2013.01); B67C 3/045 (2013.01); B67C 3/223 (2013.01); B67C 7/0006 (2013.01); B29C 2049/4807 (2013.01); B29C 2049/4892 (2013.01); B29K 2067/003 (2013.01); B29L 2031/7158 (2013.01); B65D 2501/0036 (2013.01); B67C 2003/226 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for handling a hot-filled plastic container having a longitudinal axis, the container comprising:
a finish;
a sidewall portion extending from the finish and comprising a plurality of ribs;
a base portion extending from the sidewall portion such that the finish, the sidewall portion and the base portion define an interior volume therein for retaining a liquid commodity, the base portion having a plurality of footed or support portions having a downwardly inclined outer annular wall portion to form a discontinuous or footed contact surface for supporting the container; the base portion further including an inner annular wall, a central push-up portion configured to be engaged with a mechanical pusher or the like and moveable along the longitudinal axis toward the finish, and a plurality of webs extending radially along the base portion in the transverse direction or along a transverse axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, each one of the webs having a surface that is radially displaced between the footed or support portions and longitudinally displaced upwardly from the footed contact surface;
wherein prior to filling and sealing: the outer annular wall is configured to extend downwardly away from the finish to the footed contact surface, and the inner annular wall is configured to extend inwardly along the transverse axis away from the footed contact surface and comprises a recess or instep joining a substantially continuous conical area via a hinge structure, wherein the conical area has a steep downward angle of inclination with respect to a horizontal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis that is greater than about 30 degrees; and
wherein after sealing: the conical area is configured to move or invert upwardly closer to the finish to reduce the volume within the container in order to compensate fora vacuum pressure created following a cooling of a heated liquid within the sealed container;
the method comprising:
hot-filling the plastic container with the conical area and the push-up portion in a first position, wherein, in the first position, the conical area extends above the footed contact surface of the base portion of the plastic container;
sealing the hot-filled plastic container with the conical area and push-up portion in the first position;
conveying the hot-filled and sealed plastic container having the conical area and push-up portion in the first position; and
repositioning the conical area and the push-up portion of the hot-filled and sealed plastic container under a mechanical force from the first position to a second position, wherein the conical area moves or inverts upwardly toward the finish and one of the plurality of webs has an end adjacent to the sidewall portion, wherein the conical area and push-up portion are positioned longitudinally away from the finish in the first position, and longitudinally toward the finish in the second position, to reduce the container volume and increase pressure within the container, said repositioning being performed such that the conical area or push-up portion extends above the footed contact surface of the base portion of the hot-filled and sealed plastic container after repositioning.