Variable Displacement Container Base Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing plastic container designs for hot-filled liquids face challenges with deformation under thermal and pressure changes, limiting their shape, weight, and functionality, particularly due to the inefficiencies of vacuum panels in controlling deformation and maintaining structural integrity during cooling and distribution.

Innovation Solution

A base design for containers featuring a series of radiused portions and ribs that act as a diaphragm, allowing controlled deformation and distributing stress uniformly, thereby accommodating various pressures and thermal changes while maintaining shape and functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If vacuum panels are added to control deformation, then structural integrity is improved, but device complexity and visible deformation increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidcomplexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base is divided into multiple zones with different thicknesses (thickened portions and thin portions) to segment the structural response. This allows different regions to perform different functions: thickened portions provide structural support while thin portions allow controlled deformation, eliminating the need for separate vacuum panels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the base are given different local properties through varying thickness. The thickened portions are located where structural support is needed, while thin portions are positioned to allow controlled deformation. This local differentiation achieves both structural integrity and functional deformation control without additional components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If base area is increased to improve vacuum panel efficiency, then deformation control is improved, but container shape and weight limits are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeformation controlVSAvoidshape

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of increasing the overall base area, the invention uses local thickening of specific portions of the base. This allows the base to maintain its original shape and size while having localized areas that provide enhanced structural support and controlled deformation characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The base incorporates curved or rounded transitions between thickened and thin portions, creating a smooth geometric profile. This curvature allows for efficient stress distribution while maintaining the desired container shape and allowing for lighter weight compared to flat, rigid base designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Strength

If material thickness is increased to improve panel performance, then structural strength is improved, but container weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepanel strengthVSAvoidcontainer weight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The base uses localized thickening only where structural strength is needed, rather than uniformly increasing the entire base thickness. This allows the container to maintain strength in critical areas while keeping the overall weight low, as the thin portions reduce material usage in non-critical areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The base is segmented into thickened and thin portions, creating a non-uniform thickness distribution. This segmentation allows the structure to be lighter overall while maintaining strength where required, as the thin portions reduce total material usage while the thickened portions provide necessary structural support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The base design ensures consistent performance and structural integrity by uniformly distributing stress and accommodating pressure changes, enhancing the container's ability to withstand thermal expansion and cooling-induced vacuum, while maintaining a visually appealing and lightweight structure.

Implementation Method 1

a base for a container... an inner support wall extending upwardly from the support surface... a first radiused portion extending radially inward from the inner support wall and concave relative to the reference plane... allowing controlled deformation and distributing stress uniformly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

accommodating various pressures and thermal changes while maintaining shape and functionality... withstand thermal expansion and cooling-induced vacuum

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS10029817B2Variable displacement container base

Publication Date: 2018.07.24 CO2 PAC

AI summary

Base includes an outer support wall, a support surface extending inwardly from the outer support wall and defining a reference plane, an inner support wall extending upwardly from the support surface, a first radiused portion extending radially inward from the inner support wall and concave relative to the reference plane, a second radiused portion extending radially inward from the first radiused portion and convex relative to the reference plane, an intermediate surface extending radially inward from the second radiused portion, a third radiused portion extending radially inward from the intermediate surface and convex relative to the reference plane, and a central portion disposed proximate the third radiused portion.