Patent ID: 8181804

Claim:
A blow-molded plastic container having a longitudinal axis comprising: an upper portion; a base portion having a lower portion with an interior surface and an underside surface, the interior surface and the underside surface being opposite each other, the lower portion also including a center pushup that extends upward and inward from a surrounding area of the interior surface, the longitudinal axis extending through the center pushup; a body portion extending from said upper portion to said base portion, said upper portion, said body portion, and said interior surface of the lower portion cooperating to define a receptacle chamber within said container into which product can be filled; and a flexible standing ring extending downward from the underside surface of the lower portion, the flexible standing ring separated at a radial distance from said longitudinal axis, the flexible standing ring being articulated relative to the lower portion in response to internal vacuum forces or external loading forces, said flexible standing ring comprising: a leg portion downwardly extending from said underside surface of the lower portion of said base portion; and a foot portion radially outwardly extending from said leg portion, said foot portion comprising a distal end, said distal end radially extending to a distance generally aligned with said body portion, and wherein said distal end contacts said underside surface of the lower portion in response to at least one of said internal vacuum forces and a top load force.