One piece blow molded plastic squeeze tube with an integral twist off closure

• US 5,908,124 A
• Filed: 11/03/1997
• Issued: 06/01/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Graham Packaging Plastic Products Incorporated (Graeme Richard Hart, MBA)
• Original Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Incorporated (O-I Glass, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rios, Luz, Myers, Rolf C., Klauke, Christian W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin, Stephen K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NEWHOUSE, NATHAN JEFFREY
• Application Number:
  US08/963,074
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 215/14, 215/40, 215/42, 215/46, 215/47, 215/48, 215/49, 215/250, 215/252, 215/901, 222/541.9, 222/541.6, 222/107, 264/516, 264/512, 264/523, 264/524
• US Class Current: 215/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/067 Flexible ampoules, the contents of which are expelled by squeezing
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/0238 Integral frangible closures

Abstract

A plastic tube with an integral finish and a twist off tab are blow molded. The twist off tab is connected to the finish of the tube by an annular groove forming a line of weakness. The tab is formed by the closing of mold halves about an extruded parison to form a flat twist off tab connected by a thin membrane to the exterior of the finish. The tab is then blow molded to form the tube. After the mold halves are opened, the twist-off tab is trimmed to provide the finished tube. The tab is formed by a conventional blow molding process without the need of a secondary operation. A plurality of blow molded corrugations are provided between annular blow molded ribs on the finish and provide added strength to the finish to facilitate removal of the tab.

Claims

1. A hollow plastic container comprising

a blow molded squeezable body portion including a neck portion,

an integral finish,

a twist off tab including an integral closure formed integrally with the finish and connected thereto by an annular groove forming a line of weakness,

blow molded means on said finish rigidifying said finish, including a pair of blow molded axially spaced annular flanges and a plurality of circumferentially spaced blow molded axial corrugations extending between said flanges for strengthening the finish below the line of weakness against torsion applied to remove said tab.

2. The hollow plastic container set forth in claim 1 including a thin membrane connecting said twist off tab and said finish and extending to said annular groove.

3. The hollow plastic container set forth in claim 1 wherein said twist off tab is connected to said neck portion and said finish by a thin membrane.

4. The method of forming a plastic tube comprising

extruding a plastic parison,

closing mold halves about said parison,

blow molding said parison to form a plastic container, an integral finish on said container, an integral twist off tab including an integral plug connected to said finish and closing an opening in said finish connected thereto by an annular groove providing a line of weakness and integral blow molded strengthening means on said finish including a pair of axially spaced flanges and a circumferential array of corrugations that extend axially between said flanges.

5. The method set forth in claim 4 wherein said step of blow molding forms a thin membrane connecting said twist off tab and said finish and extending to said annular groove.

6. The method set forth in claim 4 wherein said step of blow molding forms a neck between said finish and the container and a thin membrane connecting said twist off tab with said finish and said neck.