Plastic Container Base With Stepped Radial Lugs For Pressure Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Plastic containers face challenges in maintaining dimensional stability and support under high internal pressures from contents like carbonated liquids or elevated temperatures, which existing base structures fail to adequately address.

Innovation Solution

A base structure for plastic containers featuring a central vertical axis, an outer supporting annular portion, and a base portion with radially extending lugs and interspersed land portions, providing enhanced support and stability through a combination of stepped segments and smooth surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If conventional base structures are used, then manufacturing is simple, but dimensional stability under high internal pressure deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedimensional stabilityVSAvoidbase structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base structure is divided into multiple functional segments: an outer supporting annular portion for pressure distribution, a central support portion for structural integrity, and a base portion with radially extending lugs featuring stepped segments. This segmentation allows each region to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall dimensional stability under high internal pressure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the base are given different structural qualities tailored to their specific functions. The outer annular portion provides broad support, the central portion maintains rigidity, and the lugs with stepped segments provide localized reinforcement. The smooth land portions between lugs provide gradual transitions. This local differentiation of structural properties enables the base to resist deformation under pressure while remaining manufacturable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If base structure with lugs and stepped segments is implemented, then support and dimensional stability improve, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport capabilityVSAvoidbase structure fabrication
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The stepped segments in the lugs create a progressive structural reinforcement that adapts to varying pressure loads. The stepped configuration allows the base to dynamically respond to internal pressure by distributing forces through multiple levels of the steps, enhancing support capability while the smooth land portions facilitate more straightforward molding processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The stepped segments extend the base structure into the vertical dimension, creating multiple levels of support within the lugs. This dimensional approach allows the base to achieve greater strength and support capability without proportionally increasing the horizontal footprint or overall complexity of the molding process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2155483B1Base for plastic container
Publication Date: 2012.12.12 PLASTIPAK PACKAGING INC
  • EP2155483B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2155483B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2155483B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A base (20) for a plastic container (10) is disclosed. The base (20) includes a central vertical axis (A); an outer supporting annular portion (30) for supporting said container (10) on a surface; a central portion (40) of the base (20), the central portion (40) provided about said central vertical axis (A); and a base portion (50). The base portion (50) extends between the annular portion (30) and the central support portion (40) of the base (20). The base portion (50) includes at least two lugs (60) that extend radially from a position adjacent the annular portion (30) towards the central portion (40), the lugs (60) including at least two stepped segments (90, 100).