Patent ID: 8323555

Claim:
A method of making a blow-molded plastic container having a base portion that supports the container, the method comprising: disposing a preform in a mold having a base forming assembly to form a portion of the base portion of the container, the base forming assembly including a base forming portion and a movable insert portion that is movable relative to the base forming portion; blowing the preform against the base forming assembly of the mold to form a container body having the base portion, the base portion including a thinned wall portion, a first portion disposed radially outward of the thinned wall portion, and a second portion disposed radially inward of the thinned wall portion, the thinned wall portion defining a hinge portion and having a wall thickness that is thinner than immediately surrounding portions on both sides thereof, the hinge portion being constructed and operative to facilitate movement of the second portion in a direction toward an inner volume of the container; and moving the movable insert portion of the base forming assembly relative to the base forming portion of the base forming assembly while the base portion of the container remains in the mold so as to advance the movable insert portion in the direction toward the inner volume of the container, wherein, for said moving the movable insert portion of the base forming assembly, the moveable insert portion moves to a second position above a bearing surface of the plastic container.