LIGHTWEIGHT PLASTIC CONTAINER AND PREFORM

• US 20170225820A1
• Filed: 04/24/2017
• Published: 08/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Plastipak Packaging Incorporated (Plastipak Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Plastipak Packaging Incorporated (Plastipak Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Darr, Richard C., Morgan, Edward V.
• Granted Patent: US 10,023,345 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 11/08 Injection moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 11/14 characterised by structure or composition
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/023 using inherent heat of the preform, i.e. 1 step blow moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/4664 staying in the final article
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/7879 Stretching, e.g. stretch rod
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/0715 the preform having one end closed
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/072 having variable wall thickness
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/073 having variable diameter
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/0732 at flange portion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/0733 at body portion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/074 having ribs or protrusions
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/0773 Threads
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/0774 Interrupted threads
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/0777 Tamper-evident band retaining ring
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/0812 of the lip, i.e. the very top of the preform neck
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/0816 of the flange
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/0821 of the lip, i.e. the very top of the preform neck
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/0822 of the neck
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/0825 of the flange
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/0829 Height, length
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/0831 : of the neck
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/0832 : of the threads
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/0833 : of the tamper-evident band retaining ring
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/0834 : of the flange
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/0872 : Weight
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/141 : extruding in a clean room
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/06 : Injection blow-moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/071 : Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration, e.g. geometry, dimensions or physical properties
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/08 : Biaxial stretching during blow-moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/087 : Means for providing controlled or limited stretch ratio
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/42808 : Filling the article
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/46 : characterised by using particular environment or blow fluids other than air
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/00 : Use of polyesters or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/003 : PET, i.e. poylethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/258 : Tubular
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/26 : Scrap or recycled material
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7158 : Bottles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/0207 : characterised by material, e.g. composition, physical features
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/023 : Neck construction
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/0246 : Closure retaining means, e.g. beads, screw-threads
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/0284 : having a discontinuous contact surface, e.g. discrete feet
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/40 : Details of walls other container details B65D23/00, B65D25/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/44 : Corrugations
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/46 : Local reinforcements, e.g. adjacent closures
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/0235 : with integral tamper element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1352 : Polymer or resin containing [i.e., natural or synthetic]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1397 : Single layer [continuous layer]

Abstract

A plastic container is provided that includes a lower supporting base portion; a sidewall portion extending upwardly from the base portion; a neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall portion; and a closure. The neck portion includes a support flange having an upper and lower surface, threads, a tamper-evident formation, and a dispensing opening at the top of the neck portion. In an embodiment, the weight of the neck portion is 3.0 grams or less; and the vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange, including the threads and the tamper-evident formation, is 0.580 inches or less. A preform and method for making a container are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A container assembly comprising:

(i) a plastic blow molded container comprising;

a lower supporting base portion;

a sidewall portion extending upwardly from the base portion; and

a neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall portion, the neck portion including a dispensing opening positioned at the top of the neck portion, threads positioned below the dispensing opening, a tamper-evident formation positioned below the threads, and a support flange positioned below the tamper-evident formation, the support flange having an upper surface and a lower surface;

(ii) a closure configured to receive the threads;

wherein the container is formed of a material comprising polyethylene terephthalate (PET);

the weight of the neck portion is 3.0 grams or less;

the vertical distance from the lower surface of the support flange to a top of the dispensing opening, including the threads and the tamper-evident formation, is 0.450 inches or less;

the vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the upper surface of the support flange is 0.40 inches or less;

the vertical distance from a furthest radially-extending portion of the lower surface of the tamper-evident formation to the upper surface of the support flange is 0.10 inches or less;

the vertical distance between a furthest outwardly radially-extending portion of the lower surface of the tamper-evident formation to the lower surface of the support flange at the same outward radial distance is 0.15 inches or less; and

the tamper-evident formation is vertically spaced from the threads.