Flattened Container Base Structure for Stability and Blowability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flat containers made of plastic, such as PET, face instability due to their flattened shape, which compromises ergonomics and stability, and are prone to shape defects from poor blowability, while increasing energy consumption and cycle time constraints.
Innovation Solution
A plastic container design with a base featuring a peripheral annular laying plane, a concave vault, and an internal annular cheek, dimensioned to provide stability and airflow, with specific dimensions for the width and height of the base components to minimize material stretching and enhance rigidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the container is flattened to improve ergonomics and grip, then ease of handling is improved, but stability deteriorates due to increased tipping risk
Solution Approach 1:
The base is segmented into multiple functional zones: a laying plane for stability, a concave vault for structural rigidity, and an internal annular cheek with variable width to reinforce the minor axis direction. This segmentation allows each zone to address specific stability requirements while maintaining the flattened ergonomic shape.
Solution Approach 2:
The internal annular cheek has asymmetric dimensions with width C along the major axis and width C' along the minor axis, where C' < C. This asymmetric design provides targeted reinforcement in the minor axis direction where tipping risk is highest, while maintaining the overall flattened ergonomic profile for good grip.
2Manufacturing precision
If blowing pressure is increased to improve mold impression and reduce shape defects, then manufacturing precision is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base geometry parameters are optimized to facilitate blow molding: the concave vault shape and variable width cheek design allow material to flow and conform to the mold more efficiently at lower pressures, reducing the blowing pressure needed while maintaining good mold impression quality.
3Manufacturing precision
If blowing time is increased to improve mold impression, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to increased cycle time
Solution Approach 1:
The base geometry is designed with optimized thickness distribution and flow paths that enable rapid material conforming to the mold at reduced blowing times. The concave vault and cheek structure facilitate efficient material flow, achieving good mold impression quality with shorter cycle times for increased productivity.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the base width is increased to improve stability, then stability is improved, but rigidity in the minor axis direction deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The internal annular cheek has different widths in different directions: width C along the major axis and width C' along the minor axis, with C' < C. This asymmetric reinforcement provides targeted structural support in the minor axis direction where rigidity is most needed, while the overall larger base width maintains stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The concave vault shape distributes structural stresses more effectively than a flat base, providing enhanced rigidity in the minor axis direction without requiring excessive base width. The curved geometry creates natural structural reinforcement that improves both stability and rigidity simultaneously.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
Plastic container (1), having a flattened body (2) and a base (3) extending from the body (2) at one lower end thereof, the base (3) comprising: - a peripheral base (7) defining an annular seating plane (8) whose contour has, along a major axis, a major dimension A and, along a minor axis perpendicular to the major axis, a minor dimension A' strictly less than the major dimension, this base having: o along the major axis, a width C such that: 0.03≤CA≤0.1 o along the minor axis, a width C' such that: 0.05≤C′A′≤0.15 - a concave vault (13) extending from the base (7) towards a central zone (14); - the base (7) has, between the laying plane (8) and the vault (13), an internal annular cheek (10) substantially perpendicular to the laying plane (8); - the base (7) includes a step (11') forming a step at the junction between the laying plane (8) and the cheek (10).