Foamed-wall container having a silvery appearance

• US 20070218231A1
• Filed: 03/20/2006
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Plastic Techniques, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Plastic Techniques, Inc.
• Inventors: Semersky, Frank
• Granted Patent: US 7,790,255 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/36.500
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/023 using inherent heat of the preform, i.e. 1 step blow moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/7862 characterised by temperature values or ranges
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/22 at neck portion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/24 at flange portion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/26 at body portion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/28 at bottom portion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3008 at neck portion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3012 at flange portion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3016 at body portion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/302 at bottom portion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3024 characterised by the number of components or by the manufacturing technique
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3026 having two or more components
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3032 having components being injected
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3034 having two or more components being injected
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3041 having components being extruded
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3042 having two or more components being extruded
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/0005 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/06 Injection blow-moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/12 PP, i.e. polypropylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2027/06 PVC, i.e. polyvinylchloride
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/00 : Use of polyesters or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2077/00 : Use of PA, i.e. polyamides, e.g. polyesteramides or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/046 : with closed cells
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/0207 : characterised by material, e.g. composition, physical features
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/00 : Decoration means, markings, information elements, contents indicators see also B65D5/4212, B65D33/004
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3804 : formed of foam material
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3816 : formed of foam material
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3839 : formed of foam material
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3867 : formed of foam material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1376 : Foam or porous material containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249978 : Voids specified as micro

Abstract

A container comprises a micro cellular foamed polymer, and a non-reactive gas contained within the micro cellular foam cells, wherein the container has a silvery appearance. The process for making the container comprises injection molding a polymer preform having a non-reactive gas entrapped within the walls thereof, cooling the preform to a temperature below the polymer softening temperature, reheating the preform to a temperature above the polymer softening temperature, and blow molding the preform, to prepare a container comprising a micro cellular foamed polymer having a non-reactive gas contained within the micro cellular foam cells.

Claims

1. A container, comprising:

a micro cellular foamed polymer; and

a non-reactive gas contained within the micro cellular foam cells;

wherein the container has a silvery appearance.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the polymer comprises one or more of a polyester, polypropylene, acrylonitrile acid ester, vinyl chloride, polyolefin, polyamide, or a derivative or copolymer thereof.

3. The container according to claim 1, wherein the polymer comprises polyethylene terephthalate.

4. The container according to claim 1, wherein the non-reactive gas comprises one or more of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, or argon.

5. The container according to claim 1, wherein the non-reactive gas comprises nitrogen.

6. The container according to claim 1, wherein the non-reactive gas comprises nitrogen at a concentration of at least 10% by weight.

7. The container according to claim 1, wherein the color of the container is about Pantone Color Formula Guide number 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 877, 8001, 8400, or 8420.

8. The container according to claim 1, wherein the color of the container is about Pantone Color Formula Guide number 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, or 425.

9. The container according to claim 1, wherein the color of the container is about Pantone Color Formula Guide number 877.

10. A container, comprising:

a micro cellular foamed polymer, comprising one or more of a polyester, polypropylene, acrylonitrile acid ester, vinyl chloride, polyolefin, polyamide, or a derivative or copolymer thereof; and

a non-reactive gas comprising one or more of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, or argon;

wherein the color of the container is about Pantone Color Formula Guide number 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 877, 8001, 8400, or 8420.

11. The container according to claim 10, wherein the polymer comprises polyethylene terephthalate.

12. The container according to claim 10, wherein the non-reactive gas comprises nitrogen.

13. The container according to claim 10, wherein the color of the container is about Pantone Color Formula Guide number 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, or 877.

14. A container, comprising:

a micro cellular foamed polyethylene terephthalate; and

a non-reactive gas comprising nitrogen contained within the micro cellular foam cells;

wherein the color of the container is about Pantone Color Formula Guide number 877.

15. A process for preparing a container, comprising the steps of:

injection molding a polymer preform having a non-reactive gas entrapped within the walls thereof;

cooling the preform to a temperature below the polymer softening temperature;

reheating the preform to a temperature greater than the polymer softening temperature; and

blow molding the preform, to prepare a container consisting essentially of a micro cellular foamed polymer having a non-reactive gas contained within the micro cellular foam cells;

wherein the container has a silvery appearance.

16. The process for preparing a container according to claim 15, wherein the polymer comprises one or more of a polyester, polypropylene, acrylonitrile acid ester, vinyl chloride, polyolefin, polyamide, or a derivative or copolymer thereof.

17. The process for preparing a container according to claim 15, wherein the polymer comprises polyethylene terephthalate.

18. The process for preparing a container according to claim 15, wherein the non-reactive gas comprises one or more of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, or argon.

19. The process for preparing a container according to claim 15, wherein the non-reactive gas comprises nitrogen.

20. The process for preparing a container according to claim 15, wherein the non-reactive gas comprises nitrogen at a concentration of at least 10% by weight.

21. The process for preparing a container according to claim 15, wherein the color of the container is about Pantone Color Formula Guide number 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 877, 8001, 8400, or 8420

22. A process for preparing a container, comprising the steps of:

injection molding a preform comprising one or more of a polyester, polypropylene, acrylonitrile acid ester, vinyl chloride, polyolefin, polyamide, or a derivative or copolymer thereof, the preform having a non-reactive gas comprising one or more of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, or argon entrapped within the walls thereof;

cooling the preform to a temperature below about 70 degrees Centigrade;

reheating the preform to a temperature above about 90 degrees Centigrade; and

blow molding the preform, to prepare a container comprising the micro cellular foamed polymer having the non-reactive gas contained within the micro cellular foam cells;

wherein the container has a silvery appearance.

23. The process for preparing a container according to claim 22, wherein the polymer comprises polyethylene terephthalate.

24. The process for preparing a container according to claim 22, wherein the non-reactive gas comprises nitrogen.

25. The process for preparing a container according to claim 22, wherein the non-reactive gas comprises nitrogen at a concentration of at least 10% by weight.

26. The process for preparing a container according to claim 22, wherein the color of the container is about Pantone Color Formula Guide number 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, or 877.

27. A process for preparing a micro cellular preform comprising the steps of:

injection molding a micro cellular polymer preform having a non-reactive gas entrapped within the walls thereof;

cooling the preform to a temperature below the polymer softening temperature; and

reheating the preform to a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the polymer and below the temperature at which the increasing pressure of the micro cellular gas bubbles exceeds that of the ability of the material properties to resist and the micro cellular bubbles expand to result in a distorted preform.

28. A container produced from a preform prepared by the process according to claim 27 including the steps of:

blow molding the heated preform to prepare a container consisting essentially of a micro cellular foamed polymer having a non-reactive gas container within the micro cellular foam cells;

wherein the container has a silvery appearance.

29. A container produced according to claim 28 wherein the insulating properties of the container are proportional to the percentage of micro cellular foam in the preform.

30. A plastic container having a foamed structure wherein the insulating characteristics of the container are proportional to the foam in the preform from which the container is produced.