US20160177529A1

US20160177529A1 - Reconfigurable support base for a container

Info

Publication number: US20160177529A1
Application number: US14/579,556
Authority: US
Inventors: Tom Devine; Matt Frey
Original assignee: Benchmark Foam Inc
Current assignee: Benchmark Foam Inc
Priority date: 2014-12-22
Filing date: 2014-12-22
Publication date: 2016-06-23

Abstract

A support base for a container includes a plurality of support base portions. Each support base portion has an outer surface defining a plurality of alignment features to facilitate alignment of each support base portion with adjacent support base portions in a plurality of configurations. Each of the plurality of configurations may be for supporting a differently sized and/or shaped container.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates to the field of support bases for containers, and more particularly, to such support bases that are reconfigurable in size.

BACKGROUND

In certain industries, portable containers, or tanks, are used for storage. These containers are transported to a job site, such as an oil rig, and then installed and commissioned for use. Typically, the ground at the physical location at which a container is to be installed is prepared, and a layer of pea gravel is placed on top of the prepared ground. The container is then placed on the pea gravel, and installed and commissioned.
The laying of the pea gravel can be labor intensive, however, as it may involve the use of various pieces of construction equipment. Moreover, the pea gravel may not adequately protect the underlying ground from leaks or spills, raising potential environmental concerns.
So as to address these limitations, advances have been made in the technology involved in the installation of such containers. For example, portable support bases constructed from multiple interlocking pieces have been developed to take the place of pea gravel in supporting the container.
While these developments represent an advance over the use of pea gravel, containers are made in a variety of sizes, and these portable support bases are each proportioned for a given sizes of above and below ground container. Thus, different portable support bases are used for differently sized containers, which may create logistical and inventory problems in terms of manufacture and transport, as well as issues with re-use of a portable support base with different above and below ground containers. In addition, in some cases, it may be desirable to protect the ground (or environment) from liquid spills or leaks, and pea gravel may not be able to provide the desired degree of protection.
Consequently, further developments in technology involved in the installation and support of above and below ground tanks are desired.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.
A support base for a container includes a plurality of support base portions. Each support base portion has an outer surface defining a plurality of alignment features to facilitate alignment of each support base portion with adjacent support base portions in a plurality of configurations.
A further aspect is directed to a support base for a container that includes a plurality of support base portions. Each support base portion may include a shell having an interior portion, and may be constructed from a first material having a first degree of resistance to breakdown in the presence of hydrocarbons. The shell may have an outer surface defining at least one alignment feature to facilitate alignment of each support base with adjacent support bases in a plurality of configurations, with each configuration being sized to support a differently sized container. Filler may be disposed within the interior portion of the shell and may be constructed from a second material having a second degree of resistance to breakdown in the presence of hydrocarbons.
Another aspect is directed to a support for a container. The support may include a support base that has a plurality of adjacent support base portions, with each support base portion being equal in size and shape. Each support base portion may have a shell with an interior portion and may be constructed from a first material having a first degree of resistance to breakdown in the presence of hydrocarbons. The shell may have an outer surface defining a plurality of alignment features. Filler may be disposed within the interior portion of the shell and may be constructed from a second material having a second degree of resistance to breakdown in the presence of hydrocarbons. At least one alignment apparatus may cooperate with the plurality of alignment features to align each support base with adjacent support bases and to maintain each support base at a given distance from adjacent support bases.
A method aspect is directed to a method of assembling a support base for a container. The method may include arranging a plurality of support base portions into a configuration suitable for supporting the container. Each support base portion may include a shell having an interior portion and may be constructed from a first material having a first degree of resistance to breakdown in the presence of hydrocarbons. Filler may be disposed within the interior portion of the shell and may be constructed from a second material having a second degree of resistance to breakdown in the presence of hydrocarbons. The method may further include aligning each support base with adjacent support bases by inserting at least one alignment apparatus into respective alignment features defined in an exterior surface of each support base portion.
Another method aspect is directed to a method of making a support base for a container. The method may include forming a plurality of support base portions by forming a shell from a first material having a first degree of resistance to breakdown in the presence of hydrocarbons to have an outer surface defining a plurality of alignment features to facilitate alignment of each support base with adjacent support bases in a plurality of configurations, with each configuration being sized to support a differently sized container. The method may also include disposing filler within the interior portion of the shell, with the filler comprising a second material different than the first material and having second degree of resistance to breakdown in the presence of hydrocarbons.
The first and second materials may be the same, or may be different. In addition, the first degree of resistance to breakdown in the presence of hydrocarbons may be greater than the second degree of resistance to breakdown in the presence of hydrocarbons, or may be equal to the second degree of resistance to breakdown in the presence of hydrocarbons.
Another example described herein is a support base for a container that includes a plurality of support base portions. Each support base portion may include a shell having an interior portion, and may be constructed from a first material having a first property. The shell may have an outer surface defining at least one alignment feature to facilitate alignment of each support base with adjacent support bases in a plurality of configurations, with each configuration being sized to support a differently sized container. Filler may be disposed within the interior portion of the shell and may be constructed from a second material different than the first material and having a second property different than the first property.
Another aspect is directed to a support for a container. The support may include a support base that has a plurality of adjacent support base portions, with each support base portion being equal in size and shape. Each support base portion may have a shell with an interior portion and may be constructed from a first material having a first property. The shell may have an outer surface defining a plurality of alignment features. Filler may be disposed within the interior portion of the shell and may be constructed from a second material different than the first material, with the second material having a second property different than the first property. At least one alignment apparatus may cooperate with the plurality of alignment features to align each support base with adjacent support bases and to maintain each support base at a given distance from adjacent support bases.
A method aspect is directed to a method of assembling a support base for a container. The method may include arranging a plurality of support base portions into a configuration suitable for supporting the container. Each support base portion may include a shell having an interior portion and that is constructed from a first material having a first property. Filler may be disposed within the interior portion of the shell and being constructed from a second material different than the first material, with the second material having a second property different than the first property. The method may further include aligning each support base with adjacent support bases by inserting at least one alignment apparatus into respective alignment features defined in an exterior surface of each support base portion.
Another method aspect is directed to a method of making a support base for a container. The method may include forming a plurality of support base portions by forming a shell from a first material having a first property to have an outer surface defining a plurality of alignment features to facilitate alignment of each support base with adjacent support bases in a plurality of configurations, with each configuration being sized to support a differently sized container. The method may also include disposing filler within the interior portion of the shell, with the filler comprising a second material different than the first material and having a second property different than the first property.
A further method aspect is directed to a method of making the support base for the container. This method may include coating a section of filler for use as a support base portion from which to assemble the support base. The coating may be applied via dispensing, and may be poluria, polyisocyanurate, or any suitable coating. In addition, the coating may be applied via any suitable method of applying a coating.
Yet another method aspect is directed to a method of making the support base for the container. Here, the shell may be formed by dispensing a first material, such as a suitable polymer, polyuria, polyisocyanurate, etc., into a mold. The shell may then be allowed to cure. Filler may then be disposed within the interior portion of the shell.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a support base for a container, in accordance with this disclosure.

FIGS. 1A-1C show various alternative configurations of the support base of FIG. 1 to accommodate differently sized containers.

FIG. 2 is a cutaway view of a support base portion in accordance with this disclosure.

FIG. 2A is a cutaway view of an alternative embodiment of a support base portion in accordance with this disclosure.

FIG. 2B is a side view of an embodiment of a support base portion in accordance with this disclosure where the top portion is not parallel with the bottom portion.

FIG. 2C is a side view of an embodiment of the support base portion in accordance with this disclosure where the top portion is concave.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of another embodiment of a support base for a container, in accordance with this disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of an alignment apparatus for use with the support base of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a further embodiment of a support base for a container, in accordance with this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One or more embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below. These described embodiments are only examples of the presently disclosed techniques. Additionally, in an effort to provide a concise description, all features of an actual implementation may not be described in the specification.
When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present disclosure, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and like elements in different embodiments are separated in number by century.
With initial reference to FIG. 1, a support base 100 for a container (not shown) is now described. The container may be a fluid tank, for example, used to store fluids at the site of an oil rig. The support base 100 includes a plurality of support base portions 102. While the support base 100 illustratively includes twelve such support base portions 102, it should be understood that there may be from two to any number of such support base portions.
A sample support base portion 202 is shown in FIG. 2. The support base portion 202 includes an outer shell 250 that is constructed from a first material having a first degree of resistance to breakdown in the presence of hydrocarbons, and is integrally formed as a monolithic unit. Here, the outer shell 250 is trapezoidal in shape, and therefore has parallel top and bottom portions connected by sidewall portions. In some applications, for example as shown in FIG. 2B, the top portion and bottom portion may not be parallel, with the top portion being angled with respect to the ground when the support base portion 202 is assembled. Stated another way, the top portion in FIG. 2B is at an acute angle with respect to the bottom portion. In other applications, for example as shown in FIG. 2C, the top portion may be concave. These alternate configurations may be used to provide support for liquid containers that have convex or conical outer portions where they rest on the support base portions 202. A purpose, for example, for these convex or conically shaped liquid containers is to alter the pattern in which fluids inside freeze such that freezing expands the liquid upward and not radially outward, which could potentially damage the container.
Referring again to FIG. 2, the outer shell 250 has a hollow interior portion 252 that has a filler 254 disposed therein, and the outer shell 250 can serve to prevent ingress of environmental elements into the hollow interior portion. The filler 254 is constructed from a second material having a second degree of resistance to breakdown in the presence of hydrocarbons.
As stated, the first material may be resistant to breakdown in the presence of hydrocarbons, and may be a polymer (i.e. polyurethane, polyuria, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyisocyanurate, etc), wood, gypsum, cementious board, metal, or any other suitable material. The first material may be a homogenous material, or may be a heterogenous material. The first material may include multiple different constituent components, such as nested layers of different polymers. In addition, particles of other materials may be dispersed within the first material.
The second material may be a material that is less resistant to breakdown in the presence of hydrocarbons, and indeed may breakdown quickly in the presence of hydrocarbons. The second material may be a foam plastic such as expanded polystyrene or polyisocyanurate, or may be a recycled material, such as asphalt shingles, tire rubber, gypsum, polyurethane, wood, polymer, or any other suitable material. The second material may be homogenous, or may be heterogenous. The second material may include multiple different constituent components, such as foam plastic supplanted with recycled material.
Rather than the first and second materials having first and second degrees of resistance to breakdown in the presence of hydrocarbons, the first and second materials may have respective first and second properties. Thus, the first and second properties can be resistance to breakdown in the presence of hydrocarbons, and the first property can be a greater resistance to breakdown in the presence of hydrocarbons. Therefore, the first material may have a greater resistance to breakdown in the presence of hydrocarbons than the second material, and the outer shell 250 may protect the filler 254 from exposure to hydrocarbon containing fluids that may spill on the support base portion 202, or that may leak from the container.
The first and second properties may additionally or alternatively relate to resistance of the material to deformation. For example, the first material may also have a higher degree of resistance to deformation than the second material, so as to help resist deformation under the weight of the container. Thus, in some applications, the first material and second material may be equally resistant to breakdown in the presence of hydrocarbons, yet not equally resistant to deformation, and in such applications the shell serves to protect the filler from deformation, for example due to the weight of the container and its contents.
In some applications, the outer shell 250 may not fully encapsulate the filler 254, and may therefore lack a bottom portion, as shown in FIG. 2A. This may be done in situations where there is a lack of concern about the filler 254 coming into contact with hydrocarbons when the support base portion 202 is placed on the ground such that the filler 254 is in contact with the ground and the top portion of the outer shell 250 is exposed to receive the container. In such situations, the lack of a bottom portion of the outer shell 250 may be so as to reduce the cost of production, for example, as less of the first material would be used, and since the outer shell 250 might not be molded around the filler 254, as may be done when producing an outer shell 250 that fully encapsulates the filler. In some cases, the lack of a bottom portion of the outer shell 250 may be so as to facilitate removal and replacement of the filler 254.
In yet further applications, the outer shell 250 may fully encapsulate the filler 254, but may not be integrally formed as a monolithic unit. For example, the top portion, bottom portion, or a sidewall portion may be removable to facilitate ease of production, or to allow introduction, removal, and replacement of the filler 254. For the same reasons, in other applications, there may be an access feature, such as a door or a plug, defined in, defined by, or installed in the outer shell 254. In other applications, the filler 254 may be pre-sized for the support base portion 202, with encapsulation of the filler 254 being performed by spraying or otherwise applying coating or shell to the filler 254, where such coating or shell may comprise polyurethane, polyuria, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyisocyanurate, etc.
Although the support base portions 102 shown in FIGS. 1, and 1A-1C are illustratively wedge shaped, it should be understood that the support base portions 102 may be of any shape. For example, the support base portions 102 may be pie slice shaped such that the support base 100 appears as a pie with the circumferential end portions being polygonal in shape as shown in FIG. 1, or the support base portions 502 may be pie slice shaped such that the support base 500 appears as a pie with the circumferential end portions being circular in shape, as shown in FIG. 5. As another example, the support base portions 302 may have any type of polygonal shape, such as a trapezoid shape such that the support base 300 appears as an octagon, as shown in FIG. 3. Further examples of the limitless shapes that the support base portions 302 may take include square, rectangular, and triangular shaped.
The support base portions 302 may be shaped such that when they are aligned in a configuration where each support base portion 302 is in contact with adjacent base portions, the support base 300 represents a continuous surface with a central hole 310 about the center point, as shown in FIG. 3. Alternatively, the support base portions 302 may be shaped such that when they are aligned in a configuration where each support base portion 302 is in contact with adjacent support base portions, the support base 300 lacks a central hole about the central point. This central hole, if present, may facilitate the passing of a drainage pipe therethrough and to the container, or the drainage of liquids spilled from the container.
The outer surface of the outer shell 250 may define drainage passageways 255, as shown in FIG. 2. These drainage passageways 255 are defined by the outer surface of the outer shell 250, and these drainage passageways 255 are not in fluid communication with the hollow interior portion 252. That is, liquids passing through the drainage passageways 255 do not reach the hollow interior portion 252 of the shell 250 and thus the filler 254. These drainage passageways 255 may take any suitable shape.
The outer surface of the outer shell 250 may define at least one drainage groove 220, as also shown in FIG. 2. This drainage groove may run a portion of, or the entirety of, the length of the outer shell 250. The drainage groove 220 may have a floor that is sloped, such that liquid flowing into the drainage groove 220 flows out of the drainage groove 220 via the force of gravity. The drainage groove 220 may be shaped so as to dump fluids flowing therethrough at the outer perimeter of the outer shell 250, or at the inner perimeter of the outer shell 250 provided that the configuration of the support base 200 includes an inner perimeter (i.e. has an opening around the central point). The drainage groove 220 may also run perpendicular or at any angle to the length of the outer shell 250, to allow for drainage at the intersection of an adjacent base portion 102 or terminate at a drainage passageway 255.
Referring again to FIG. 1, the outer surface of the support base portions 102 (thus, the outer surface of the outer shell 250 shown in FIG. 2) defines a plurality of alignment features 104 that facilitate alignment of each support base 102 with adjacent support bases 102 in a plurality of configurations, with each configuration being sized to support a differently sized container. That is, by aligning the support base portions 102 at various distances from each other, differently sized containers can be supported.
For example, the configuration shown in FIG. 1 is a dodecagon, and the support base portions 102 are spaced apart to accommodate a container that is twelve feet in diameter. The configurations shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C are also dodecagons, however the support base portions 102 are spaced apart to accommodate containers that are thirteen feet in diameter, thirteen and a half feet in diameter, and fifteen and a half feet in diameter, respectively.
The alignment features 104, as shown in FIG. 1 may take a variety of shapes. As shown, the alignment features 104 include a series of recesses (or grooves) along the sides of the support base portions 102 such that the recesses of the various support base portions 102 are concentric when the support base 100 as a whole is viewed. Each recess of the alignment features 104, as shown, is comprised of a first recess with a second recess extending from the first recess, such that the alignment features appear as dog bone shapes, although it should be understood that the first and second recesses need not configure each, or any, recess in a dog bone shape.
In some applications, the alignment features 304 may be a semicircular grooves defined by the outer surface of the shell of the support base portions 302, as shown in FIG. 3. Indeed, as shown, the semicircular grooves of the alignment features 304 may be concentric, and are therefore shown as a series of concentric semicircular grooves.
Referring again to FIG. 1, although the alignment features 104 are shown and described as concentric, in some applications they need not be concentric. In addition, each alignment feature 104 need not be similar in size and/or shape, and applications where multiple alignment features 104 of different sizes and/or shapes may be used.
To maintain alignment between each support base 102, and to maintain a desired constant distance between each support base 102, an alignment apparatus or apparatuses 103 are inserted into selected ones of the alignment features 104 of adjacent support bases 102. As shown, since each support base 102 has a same size and shape, the alignment apparatuses 103 may be symmetrical, and are inserted into corresponding alignment features 104
Each alignment apparatus 103 may be a dog bone shaped member, such as a member having a first portion with a second portion extending therefrom. A sample dog bone shaped member 403 is shown in FIG. 4. The dog bone shaped member 403 has two convex end caps connected by a medial portion.
The dog bone shaped member 403 may be universal. In some cases, the dog bone shaped member 403 may be adjustable, for example via the medial portion being adjustable in length. For example the medial portion could be telescoping, or could be comprised of two threadingly connected members. Additionally or alternatively, the medial portion and end caps may be removable, such that different length medial portions may be used with the same end caps. Furthermore, in some applications, it may be useful for different sized end caps to be used.
The dog bone shaped member 403 or any such alignment apparatus may be constructed from suitable rigid materials, such as metal, plastic, or wood. It may be monolithically formed as an integral unit, or, as explained above, may be assembled from multiple subcomponents.
Referring again to FIG. 1, one alignment apparatus 103 may be used between each adjacent pair of support bases 102, or multiple such alignment apparatuses 103 may be used between each adjacent pair of support 102 bases so as to help further stabilize the alignment and constant distance.
Each alignment apparatus 103 may have a same size and shape, or, may not have a same size and shape. For example, different length dog bone shaped alignment apparatuses 103 may be used in certain alignment features 104 in some applications. The different length dog bone shaped alignment apparatuses 103 may be used in a same application, or may be used in mutually exclusive applications such that the choice of dog bone length selects the size of the support base 100 formed by the support base portions 102. For example, dog bone shaped alignment apparatuses 103 of a first length may be inserted into given alignment features 104 of the support base portions 102 so as to configure the support base portions 102 to form a support base 100 of a first size, while dog bone shaped alignment apparatuses 103 of a second length may be inserted into the given alignment features 104 of the support base portions 102 so as to configure the support base portions 102 to form a support base 100 of a second size.
Similarly, same size and shape alignment apparatuses 103 may be used to form a variety of configurations of the support base 100 by moving the alignment apparatuses 103 from one alignment feature 104 to another. This is perhaps best illustrated in FIG. 3, where the alignment features 304 are a series of concentric circles. Here, when the alignment apparatus 303, which is a ring in this case, is placed in the concentrically outermost alignment feature 304 the support base 300 is in its smallest possible configuration, and with each movement of the ring to a concentrically inward alignment feature 303, the configuration of the support base 300 changes to a larger configuration.
In some applications, particularly those where the support base 300 is in a large diameter configuration, the alignment apparatus 303 may also act as, or be, support members to help distribute the weight of the tank over the support base 300. In such application, it is advantageous for the alignment apparatus 303 to be flush with the top surface of the support base 300, as opposed to being recessed.
Although a ring shaped alignment apparatus 303 (FIG. 3) and a dog bone shaped alignment apparatuses 103 (FIG. 1) have been shown, it should be understood that the alignment apparatus or apparatuses 103 may take any suitable shape, such as curved members, T-shapes, L-shapes, etc.
Construction of the support base portions 102 will now be discussed. The outer shell of each support base portion 102 is formed from the first material via injection molding, rotary molding, blow molding, vacuum forming, and/or any other suitable technique. The filler is then disposed within the interior portion of the outer shell of each support base portion 102 by pouring the filler into the interior portion, dispensing the filler into the interior portion (i.e., by spraying, etc), and/or any other suitable technique.
In some applications, the outer shell of each support base portion 102 may be formed around the filler. In addition, it should be understood that the outer shell of each support base portion 102 may be formed, and then the filler disposed therein at a later point in time, so as to allow easy shipping and handling of each support base portion 102.
In other applications, the outer shell of each support base portion 102 is formed from the first material by dispensing the first material into a reusable mold, such as by spraying. The filler is then disposed within the interior portion of the outer shell of each base portion 102 by pouring the second material into the interior portion. Excess portions of the filler are removed by suitable processes, such as a modulated saw, abrasive wire, or hot wire, and the completed support base portion is then removed from the reusable mold.
While the disclosure has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be envisioned that do not depart from the scope of the disclosure as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the disclosure shall be limited only by the attached claims.

Claims

1. A support base for a container comprising:

a plurality of support base portions;

wherein each support base portion has an outer surface defining a plurality of alignment features to facilitate alignment of each support base portion with adjacent support base portions in a plurality of configurations.

2. The support base of claim 1, wherein the plurality of support base portions are equally sized and equally shaped.

3. The support base of claim 1, wherein the plurality of alignment features each comprises a curved groove defined by the outer surface of each support base portion.

4. The support base of claim 1, wherein the plurality of alignment features comprise a series of concentric curved grooves defined by the outer surface of each support base portion.

5. The support base of claim 1, wherein the plurality of alignment features comprise a first groove defined by the outer surface of each support base portion and a second groove extending from the first groove and defined by the outer surface of each support base portion.

6. The support base of claim 1, wherein the plurality of alignment features comprise a series of concentric groove systems, each of the series of concentric groove systems comprising a first groove defined by the outer surface of each support base portion and a second groove extending from the first groove and defined by the outer surface of each support base portion.

7. The support base of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of each support base portion defines at least one drainage groove.

8. The support base of claim 7, wherein the outer surface of each support base portion defines a floor of the at least one drainage groove to be sloped.

9. The support base of claim 1, wherein each support base portion is one of polygonal in shape and shaped as a pie slice.

10. The support base of claim 1, wherein each support base portion is shaped such that when the plurality of support base portions are aligned in a configuration where each support base portion is in contact with adjacent support base portions, a polygonal shaped support base with a central hole defined therein is formed.

11. The support base of claim 1, wherein each support base portion comprises a shell constructed from a first material having a first property and has an interior portion; wherein each configuration is sized to support a differently sized container; and further comprising filler disposed within the interior portion of the shell and being constructed from a second material different than the first material and having a property different than the first property.

12. The support base of claim 11, wherein the first property comprises a first degree of resistance to breakdown from contact with hydrocarbons; and wherein the second property comprises a second degree of resistance to breakdown from contact with hydrocarbons that is less than the first degree of resistance to breakdown from contact with hydrocarbons.

13. The support base of claim 11, wherein the first property comprises a first degree of resistance to deformation; and wherein the second property comprises a second degree of resistance to deformation than is less than the first degree of resistance to deformation.

14. The support base of claim 11, wherein the shell prevents ingress of environmental elements into the interior portion.

15. The support base of claim 11, wherein the shell comprises a top portion with sidewall portions extending outwardly therefrom.

16. The support base of claim 11, wherein the shell further comprises a bottom portion parallel to the top portion to receive at least some of the sidewall portions.

17. The support base of claim 11, wherein the shell further comprises a bottom portion not parallel to the top portion to receive at least some of the sidewall portions; and wherein the top portion is at an acute angle with respect to the bottom portion.

18. The support base of claim 11, wherein the top portion is concave in shape.

19. A support for a container comprising:

a support base;

the support base comprising a plurality of adjacent support base portions, each support base portion being equal in size and shape and comprising

a shell having an interior portion and being constructed from a first material having a first property,

the shell having an outer surface defining a plurality of alignment features, and

filler disposed within the interior portion of the shell and being constructed from a second material different than the first material, the second material having a second property different than the first property; and

at least one alignment apparatus cooperating with the plurality of alignment features to align each support base with adjacent support bases and to maintain each support base at a given distance from adjacent support bases.

20. The support of claim 19, wherein the at least one alignment apparatus comprises a ring.

21. The support of claim 19, wherein the at least one alignment apparatus comprises a dog bone shaped member.

22. The support of claim 19, wherein the at least one alignment apparatus comprises a plurality of members, each member of the plurality thereof comprising a first portion and a second portion extending from the first portion.

23. A method of assembling a support base for a container comprising:

arranging a plurality of support base portions into a configuration suitable for supporting the container, with each support base portion comprising

a shell having an interior portion and being constructed from a first material having a first property, and

aligning each support base with adjacent support bases by inserting at least one alignment apparatus into respective alignment features defined in an exterior surface of each support base portion.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising changing a distance between each support base and adjacent support bases by moving the at least one alignment apparatus from one alignment feature to another alignment feature.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein each support base portion, when in the configuration, is in contact with adjacent support bases.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the configuration is one of polygonal in shape and pie shaped.

27. A method of making a support base for a container comprising:

forming a plurality of support base portions by

forming a shell from a first material having a first property to have an outer surface defining a plurality of alignment features to facilitate alignment of each support base with adjacent support bases in a plurality of configurations, each configuration being sized to support a differently sized container, and

disposing filler within the interior portion of the shell, the filler comprising a second material different than the first material and having a second property different than the first property.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the shell is formed by one of injection molding, rotary molding, blow molding, and vacuum forming.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the shell is formed by dispensing the first material into a reusable mold.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the filler is disposed within the interior portion of the shell by one of pouring the filler into the interior portion and dispensing the filler into the interior portion.

31. A support base portion for assembly with other support base portions to support a container, the support base portion comprising:

a shell being constructed from a first material having a first property and having an interior portion,

the shell having an outer surface defining a plurality of alignment features to facilitate alignment of the support base portion with the other support base portions in a plurality of configurations, and

filler disposed within the interior portion of the shell and being constructed from a second material different than the first material and having a second property different than the first property.

32. The support base portion of claim 31, wherein the first property comprises a first degree of resistance to breakdown from contact with hydrocarbons; and wherein the second property comprises a second degree of resistance to breakdown from contact with hydrocarbons that is less than the first degree of resistance to breakdown from contact with hydrocarbons.

33. The support base of claim 31, wherein the first property comprises a first degree of resistance to deformation; and wherein the second property comprises a second degree of resistance to deformation than is less than the first degree of resistance to deformation.