U.S. patent application number 14/116603 was filed with the patent office on 2014-10-16 for folding container.
This patent application is currently assigned to AMCOR LIMITED. The applicant listed for this patent is Vicki Catalina, Ivan F. Harris, Luke A. Mast, Ricardo Sandoval, Albert Shane. Invention is credited to Vicki Catalina, Ivan F. Harris, Luke A. Mast, Ricardo Sandoval, Albert Shane.
Application Number | 20140305952 14/116603 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47139938 |
Filed Date | 2014-10-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140305952 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Harris; Ivan F. ; et
al. |
October 16, 2014 |
FOLDING CONTAINER
Abstract
A folding container comprising a body portion defining a
receptacle chamber within the container into which product can be
filled and at least one rib extending along at least a portion of
the body portion. The at least one rib being collapsible to permit
the body portion to collapse to a generally flattened position in
the absence of the product contained therein.
Inventors: |
Harris; Ivan F.; (Ypsilanti,
MI) ; Sandoval; Ricardo; (Manchester, MI) ;
Shane; Albert; (Berkeley, CA) ; Mast; Luke A.;
(Brooklyn, MI) ; Catalina; Vicki; (Chelsea,
MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Harris; Ivan F.
Sandoval; Ricardo
Shane; Albert
Mast; Luke A.
Catalina; Vicki |
Ypsilanti
Manchester
Berkeley
Brooklyn
Chelsea |
MI
MI
CA
MI
MI |
US
US
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
AMCOR LIMITED
Hawthorn, Victoria
AU
|
Family ID: |
47139938 |
Appl. No.: |
14/116603 |
Filed: |
May 8, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
May 8, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US12/36881 |
371 Date: |
June 27, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61484396 |
May 10, 2011 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/666 ;
222/215 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 21/086 20130101;
B65D 1/0292 20130101; B65D 2501/0045 20130101; B65D 35/08
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/666 ;
222/215 |
International
Class: |
B65D 35/08 20060101
B65D035/08; B65D 21/08 20060101 B65D021/08 |
Claims
1. A folding container comprising: a body portion defining a
receptacle chamber within said container into which product can be
filled; and at least one rib extending along at least a portion of
said body portion, said at least one rib being collapsible to
permit said body portion to collapse to a generally flattened
position in the absence of the product contained therein.
2. The folding container according to claim 1 wherein said at least
one rib comprises a central peak portion, at least one inwardly
extending valley portion, and a transition surface extending
therebetween, at least one of said central peak portion and said at
least one inwardly extending valley portion being collapsible.
3. The folding container according to claim 2 wherein said
transition surface is generally convex.
4. The folding container according to claim 2 wherein said
transition surface is generally planar.
5. The folding container according to claim 1, further comprising:
a finish; a shoulder portion extending between said finish and said
body portion, said shoulder portion defining a transition between
said finish and said shoulder portion.
6. The folding container according to claim 5 wherein said at least
one rib extends along at least a portion of said shoulder
portion.
7. The folding container according to claim 8 wherein said at least
one rib is serrated.
8. The folding container according to claim 1, further comprising:
a base portion extending along a bottom of said body portion, said
base portion enclosing said receptacle chamber.
9. The folding container according to claim 8 wherein said at least
one rib extends along at least a portion of said base portion.
10. The folding container according to claim 8 wherein said base
portion is generally flat.
11. The folding container according to claim 8 wherein said base
portion comprises a collapsible opening.
12. The folding container according to claim 1 wherein said body
portion comprises at least one side panel portion and said at least
one rib comprises a central peak portion, said central peak portion
transitioning directly into said at least one side panel
portion.
13. The folding container according to claim 1 wherein said at
least one rib comprises a central spine section extending along at
least a central portion of said at least one rib.
14. The folding container according to claim 1 wherein said at
least one rib comprises a plurality of ribs, each of said plurality
of ribs being continuous and extending from said body portion to a
base portion and again to said body portion.
15. The folding container according to claim 1, further comprising:
a finish; a shoulder portion extending between said finish and said
body portion, said shoulder portion defining a transition between
said finish and said shoulder portion; and a base portion extending
along a bottom of said body portion, said base portion enclosing
said receptacle chamber, wherein said at least one rib extends
continuously from at least said shoulder portion along said body
portion to said base portion.
16. The folding container according to claim 1, further comprising:
a finish; a shoulder portion extending between said finish and said
body portion, said shoulder portion defining a transition between
said finish and said shoulder portion; and a base portion extending
along a bottom of said body portion, said base portion enclosing
said receptacle chamber, wherein said at least one rib extends
continuously from at least said shoulder portion along a first side
of said body portion to said base portion and again along a second
side of said body portion to said shoulder portion.
17. A folding container comprising: a finish; a body portion
defining a receptacle chamber within said container into which
product can be filled; a shoulder portion extending between said
finish and said body portion, said shoulder portion defining a
transition between said finish and said shoulder portion; and a
base portion extending along a bottom of said body portion, said
base portion enclosing said receptacle chamber, said body portion
being positionable in a first position where said body portion is
collapsed to define a first overall thickness and a second position
where said body portion is expanded to define a second overall
thickness to receive the product within said receptacle, said
second overall thickness being greater than the first overall
thickness.
18. The folding container according to claim 17, further
comprising: at least one rib extending along at least a portion of
said body portion, said at least one rib being collapsible to
permit said body portion to collapse to said first overall
thickness and be expanded to said second overall thickness, said at
least one rib acting as a hinge member during such movement.
19. The folding container according to claim 18 wherein said at
least one rib comprises a central peak portion, at least one
inwardly extending valley portion, and a transition surface
extending therebetween.
20. The folding container according to claim 18 wherein said body
portion comprises at least one side panel portion and said at least
one rib comprises a central peak portion, said central peak portion
transitioning directly into said at least one side panel portion.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/484,396, filed on May 10, 2011. The entire
disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by
reference.
FIELD
[0002] This disclosure generally relates to containers for
retaining a commodity, such as a solid or liquid commodity. More
specifically, this disclosure relates to a foldable container
and/or a container that is ultra flexible for squeezing.
BACKGROUND
[0003] This section provides background information related to the
present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
[0004] As a result of environmental and other concerns, plastic
containers, more specifically polyester and even more specifically
polyethylene terephthalate (PET) containers are now being used more
than ever to package numerous commodities previously supplied in
glass containers. Manufacturers and fillers, as well as consumers,
have recognized that PET containers are lightweight, inexpensive,
recyclable and manufacturable in large quantities.
[0005] Blow-molded plastic containers have become commonplace in
packaging numerous commodities. PET is a crystallizable polymer,
meaning that it is available in an amorphous form or a
semi-crystalline form. The ability of a PET container to maintain
its material integrity relates to the percentage of the PET
container in crystalline form, also known as the "crystallinity" of
the PET container. The following equation defines the percentage of
crystallinity as a volume fraction:
% Crystallinity = ( .rho. - .rho. a .rho. c - .rho. a ) .times. 100
##EQU00001##
where .rho. is the density of the PET material; .rho..sub.a is the
density of pure amorphous PET material (1.333 g/cc); and
.rho..sub.c is the density of pure crystalline material (1.455
g/cc).
[0006] Container manufacturers use mechanical processing and
thermal processing to increase the PET polymer crystallinity of a
container. Mechanical processing involves orienting the amorphous
material to achieve strain hardening. This processing commonly
involves stretching an injection molded PET preform along a
longitudinal axis and expanding the PET preform along a transverse
or radial axis to form a PET container. The combination promotes
what manufacturers define as biaxial orientation of the molecular
structure in the container. Manufacturers of PET containers
currently use mechanical processing to produce PET containers
having approximately 20% crystallinity in the container's
sidewall.
[0007] Thermal processing involves heating the material (either
amorphous or semi-crystalline) to promote crystal growth. On
amorphous material, thermal processing of PET material results in a
spherulitic morphology that interferes with the transmission of
light. In other words, the resulting crystalline material is
opaque, and thus, generally undesirable. Used after mechanical
processing, however, thermal processing results in higher
crystallinity and excellent clarity for those portions of the
container having biaxial molecular orientation. The thermal
processing of an oriented PET container, which is known as heat
setting, typically includes blow molding a PET preform against a
mold heated to a temperature of approximately 250.degree.
F.-350.degree. F. (approximately 121.degree. C.-177.degree. C.),
and holding the blown container against the heated mold for
approximately two (2) to five (5) seconds. Manufacturers of PET
juice bottles, which must be hot-filled at approximately
185.degree. F. (85.degree. C.), currently use heat setting to
produce PET bottles having an overall crystallinity in the range of
approximately 25%-35%.
SUMMARY
[0008] This section provides a general summary of the disclosure,
and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of
its features.
[0009] According to the principles of the present teachings, a
folding container is provided comprising a body portion defining a
receptacle chamber within the container into which product can be
filled and at least one rib extending along at least a portion of
the body portion. The at least one rib being articulatable to
permit the body portion to collapse to a generally flattened
position in the absence of the product contained therein.
[0010] Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the
description provided herein. The description and specific examples
in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and
are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
DRAWINGS
[0011] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes
only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations,
and are not intended to limit the scope of the present
disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 1A is a front view illustrating a plastic container
according to some embodiments of the present teachings;
[0013] FIG. 1B is a side view of the plastic container of FIG.
1A;
[0014] FIG. 1C is a top view of the plastic container of FIG.
1A;
[0015] FIG. 1D is a bottom view of the plastic container of FIG.
1A;
[0016] FIG. 2A is a front view illustrating a plastic container
according to some embodiments of the present teachings;
[0017] FIG. 2B is a side view of the plastic container of FIG.
2A;
[0018] FIG. 2C is a top view of the plastic container of FIG.
2A;
[0019] FIG. 2D is a bottom view of the plastic container of FIG.
2A;
[0020] FIG. 3A is a front view illustrating a plastic container
according to some embodiments of the present teachings;
[0021] FIG. 3B is a side view of the plastic container of FIG.
3A;
[0022] FIG. 3C is a top view of the plastic container of FIG.
3A;
[0023] FIG. 3D is a bottom view of the plastic container of FIG.
3A;
[0024] FIG. 4A is a front perspective view illustrating a plastic
container according to some embodiments of the present
teachings;
[0025] FIG. 4B is a front view of the plastic container of FIG.
4A;
[0026] FIG. 4C is a side view of the plastic container of FIG.
4A;
[0027] FIG. 5A is a front view illustrating a plastic container
according to some embodiments of the present teachings;
[0028] FIG. 5B is a side view of the plastic container of FIG.
5A;
[0029] FIG. 5C is a side view of the plastic container of FIG. 5A
in an opened configuration;
[0030] FIG. 5D is a bottom view of the plastic container of FIG.
5A;
[0031] FIG. 6A is a front perspective view illustrating a plastic
container according to some embodiments of the present
teachings;
[0032] FIG. 6B is a side view of the plastic container of FIG.
6A;
[0033] FIG. 6C is a side view of the plastic container of FIG. 6A
without a body sleeve portion;
[0034] FIG. 6D is a top perspective view of the body sleeve portion
of FIG. 6C;
[0035] FIG. 7A is a front view illustrating a plastic container
according to some embodiments of the present teachings;
[0036] FIG. 7B is a side view of the plastic container of FIG.
7A;
[0037] FIG. 7C is another side view of the plastic container of
FIG. 7A;
[0038] FIG. 8A is a front view illustrating a plastic container
according to some embodiments of the present teachings;
[0039] FIG. 8B is a side view of the plastic container of FIG.
8A;
[0040] FIG. 8C is a top view of the plastic container of FIG.
8A;
[0041] FIG. 8D is a bottom view of the plastic container of FIG.
8A;
[0042] FIG. 9A is a front view illustrating a plastic container
according to some embodiments of the present teachings;
[0043] FIG. 9B is a side view of the plastic container of FIG.
9A;
[0044] FIG. 9C is a top view of the plastic container of FIG.
9A;
[0045] FIG. 9D is a bottom view of the plastic container of FIG.
9A;
[0046] FIG. 10A is a front view illustrating a plastic container
according to some embodiments of the present teachings;
[0047] FIG. 10B is a side view of the plastic container of FIG.
10A;
[0048] FIG. 11A is a front view illustrating a plastic container
according to some embodiments of the present teachings;
[0049] FIG. 11B is a side view of the plastic container of FIG.
11A;
[0050] FIG. 11C is a top view of the plastic container of FIG. 11A;
and
[0051] FIG. 11D is a bottom view of the plastic container of FIG.
11A.
[0052] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding
parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0053] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with
reference to the accompanying drawings. Example embodiments are
provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully
convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous
specific details are set forth such as examples of specific
components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough
understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be
apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not
be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many
different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the
scope of the disclosure.
[0054] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be
limiting. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the"
may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms "comprises,"
"comprising," "including," and "having," are inclusive and
therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps,
operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the
presence or addition of one or more other features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The
method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to
be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the
particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically
identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood
that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
[0055] When an element or layer is referred to as being "on",
"engaged to", "connected to" or "coupled to" another element or
layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the
other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be
present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being
"directly on," "directly engaged to", "directly connected to" or
"directly coupled to" another element or layer, there may be no
intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to
describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in
a like fashion (e.g., "between" versus "directly between,"
"adjacent" versus "directly adjacent," etc.). As used herein, the
term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of
the associated listed items.
[0056] Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used
herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers
and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or
sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be
only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or
section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as
"first," "second," and other numerical terms when used herein do
not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the
context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section
discussed below could be termed a second element, component,
region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of
the example embodiments.
[0057] Spatially relative terms, such as "inner," "outer,"
"beneath", "below", "lower", "above", "upper" and the like, may be
used herein for ease of description to describe one element or
feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as
illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be
intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use
or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the
figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over,
elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or
features would then be oriented "above" the other elements or
features. Thus, the example term "below" can encompass both an
orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise
oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the
spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted
accordingly.
[0058] This disclosure provides for a container that is
sufficiently flexible or collapsible to permit flattening after
molding for reduced shipping volume prior to filling. That is, in
some embodiments of the present teachings, a container is provided
that can be flattened after molding to facilitate simplified
shipping to a filling location. In some embodiments, this flexible
or collapsible function can further assist in the dispensing and/or
evacuation of product from the container by a user. Still further,
in some embodiments, this flexible or collapsible function can
further aid in recycling and/or disposal of the container by
reducing the container volume. Finally, in addition to other
benefits, the container of the present teachings provides for
lighter weight containers, thereby reducing material and shipping
costs.
[0059] It should be appreciated that the size and the number of
panels, creases, and/or columns are dependent on the size of the
container and the required collapsibility. Therefore, it should be
recognized that variations can exist in the present
embodiments.
[0060] As illustrated in FIGS. 1-11, the present teachings provide
a one-piece plastic, e.g. polyethylene terephthalate (PET),
container generally indicated at 10. The container 10 is
substantially elongated when viewed from a side. Those of ordinary
skill in the art would appreciate that the following teachings of
the present disclosure are applicable to other containers, such as
rectangular, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal,
polygonal, or square shaped containers, which may have different
dimensions and volume capacities. It is also contemplated that
other modifications can be made depending on the specific
application and environmental requirements.
[0061] As shown in FIGS. 1-11, the one-piece plastic container 10
according to the present teachings defines, in some embodiments, a
body 12, and includes an upper portion 14 having a sidewall forming
a finish 20. Integrally formed with the finish 20 and extending
downward therefrom is a shoulder portion 22. The shoulder portion
22 merges into and provides a transition between the finish 20 and
a sidewall portion 24. The sidewall portion 24 extends downward
from the shoulder portion 22 to a base portion 28 having a base 30.
In some embodiments, sidewall portion 24 can extend down and nearly
abut base 30, thereby minimizing the overall area of base portion
28 such that there is not a discernable base portion 28 when
container 10 is uprightly-placed on a surface.
[0062] The exemplary container 10 may also have a neck 23. The neck
23 may have an extremely short height, that is, becoming a short
extension from the finish 20, or an elongated height, extending
between the finish 20 and the shoulder portion 22. The upper
portion 14 can define an opening for filling and dispensing of a
commodity stored therein. Although the container is shown as a
commodity container, it should be appreciated that containers
having different shapes, such as sidewalls and openings, can be
made according to the principles of the present teachings.
[0063] Although not shown, the finish 20 of the plastic container
10 may include a threaded region having threads, a lower sealing
ridge, and a support ring. The threaded region provides a means for
attachment of a similarly threaded closure or cap. Alternatives may
include other suitable devices that engage the finish 20 of the
plastic container 10, such as a press-fit or snap-fit cap for
example. Accordingly, the closure or cap engages the finish 20 to
preferably provide a hermetical seal of the plastic container 10.
The closure or cap is preferably of a plastic or metal material
conventional to the closure industry and suitable for subsequent
thermal processing.
[0064] Referring now to FIGS. 1-11, shoulder portion 22, sidewall
portion 24, and base portion 28 of the present teachings will now
be described in greater detail. As discussed herein, shoulder
portion 22, sidewall portion 24, and/or base portion 28 can each
separately, collectively, or in various combinations comprise
internal and/or external folding features 100 extending at least a
length thereof that effectively permits flexing and/or collapsing
of the container in a direction conducive to reduce packaging size
requirements. That is, in some embodiments, this flexing and/or
collapsing of the container can be in a non-longitudinal direction
(e.g. flattening and the like). Shoulder portion 22, sidewall
portion 24, and base portion 28 can be arranged such that folding
features 100 are equidistantly arranged about at least a portion of
container 10. Such symmetrical arrangement provides aesthetic
qualities and improves collapsing and/or grip performance.
[0065] With continued reference to FIGS. 1-11, in some embodiments
folding features 100 of shoulder portion 22, sidewall portion 24,
and/or base portion 28 can each comprise an inwardly and/or
outwardly directed rib 102. Ribs 102 can define a smooth surface
and/or edge that in some embodiments can extend uninterrupted from
and including shoulder portion 22 to and including base portion 28.
In some embodiments, ribs 102 can each define a smooth surface that
extends uninterrupted and/or continuously along sidewall portion
24. In some embodiments, ribs 102 can serve to encourage and/or
facilitate flattening, collapsing, or otherwise compressing of
sidewall portion 24, base portion, and/or other portions of
container 10. In some embodiments, ribs 102 can act as a hinge
member to promote such collapsing and subsequent expanding of
container 10.
[0066] Although ribs 102 can be considered as being inwardly
directed or outwardly direction and, thus, define similar
construction, such features will be described in greater detail. In
some embodiments, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1D, rib 102 can be
described as having an outwardly directed central peak portion 104
having one or more inwardly directed valley portions 106 (also
referred to as inwardly directed rib 102 above). Valley portions
106 can descend generally in mirrored orientation from a central
peak portion 104 along a transition surface 105 or can descend from
only one side of central peak portion 104, such is the case for
central peak portions 104 disposed adjacent to a face or side
portion 108 of container 10. In some embodiments, transition
surface 105 can be arcuately shaped and in some embodiments can be
convex (FIG. 2), planar (FIG. 3), and the like. In some
embodiments, an upstanding spine section 110 can extend above a
surface of central peak portion 104. Upstanding spine section 110
can extend from finish 20 to base portion 28. Similarly, ribs 102
(and central peak portion 104 and valley portions 106) can extend
generally from finish 20 or shoulder portion 22 to base portion
28.
[0067] In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2D,
upstanding spine section 110 can be used in conjunction with a
single rib 102, such that a rib 102 is configured to descend from a
central peak portion 104 directly to side portions 108 of container
10. In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3D, rib 102 can
comprise central peak portion 104 descending along a pair of
transition surfaces 105 directly to side portions 108. In some
embodiments, as illustrated in FIGS. 4A-5D, spine section 110 can
be used on connection with a squeeze dispense container and can, in
some embodiments, further comprised a serrated portion 112
therealong having a plurality of notches. A cap section 114 can be
used to seal an end and/or add a resilient compression system.
[0068] In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6D,
container 10 can comprise a removable sleeve member 120 that can
extend about a sidewall portion 24. During shipping, sleeve member
120 can be removed from container 10 to permit container 10 to be
collapsed.
[0069] In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIGS. 7A-7C and FIGS.
10A-10B, container 10 can comprises a rib 102 having an arcuate
and/or flowing shape such that it defines a generally wave pattern.
This wave pattern can result in generally wave panels 130 disposed
about container 10. However, wave panels 130 can still be arranged
such that they permit the collapse of container 10 for storage
and/or transportation along a side seam that results in a generally
flat orientation of container 10.
[0070] Still further, in some embodiments as illustrated in FIGS.
11A-11D, rib 102 can comprise a plurality of ribs 102 that can
extend from shoulder portion 22 (or finish 20) along a first side
of sidewall portion 24, along base portion 28 and then, in some
embodiments, extend along an opposing side of sidewall portion 24
and return to shoulder portion 22 (or finish 20). In some
embodiments, ribs 102 can be continuous along such paths.
[0071] The plastic container 10 has been designed to retain a
commodity. The commodity may be in any form such as a solid or
semi-solid product. In one example, a commodity may be introduced
into the container during a thermal process, typically a hot-fill
process. For hot-fill bottling applications, bottlers generally
fill the container 10 with a product at an elevated temperature
between approximately 155.degree. F. to 205.degree. F.
(approximately 68.degree. C. to 96.degree. C.) and seal the
container 10 with a closure (not illustrated) before cooling. In
addition, the plastic container 10 may be suitable for other
high-temperature pasteurization or retort filling processes or
other thermal processes as well. In another example, the commodity
may be introduced into the container under ambient
temperatures.
[0072] The plastic container 10 of the present disclosure is a blow
molded, biaxially oriented container with a unitary construction
from a single or multi-layer material. A well-known
stretch-molding, heat-setting process for making the one-piece
plastic container 10 generally involves the manufacture of a
preform (not shown) of a polyester material, such as polyethylene
terephthalate (PET), having a shape well known to those skilled in
the art similar to a test-tube with a generally cylindrical cross
section. An exemplary method of manufacturing the plastic container
10 will be described in greater detail later.
[0073] An exemplary method of forming the container 10 will be
described. A preform version of container 10 includes a support
ring, which may be used to carry or orient the preform through and
at various stages of manufacture. For example, the preform may be
carried by the support ring, the support ring may be used to aid in
positioning the preform in a mold cavity, or the support ring may
be used to carry an intermediate container once molded. At the
outset, the preform may be placed into the mold cavity such that
the support ring is captured at an upper end of the mold cavity. In
general, the mold cavity has an interior surface corresponding to a
desired outer profile of the blown container. More specifically,
the mold cavity according to the present teachings defines a body
forming region, an optional moil forming region and an optional
opening forming region. Once the resultant structure, hereinafter
referred to as an intermediate container, has been formed, any moil
created by the moil forming region may be severed and discarded. It
should be appreciated that the use of a moil forming region and/or
opening forming region are not necessarily in all forming
methods.
[0074] In one example, a machine (not illustrated) places the
preform heated to a temperature between approximately 190.degree.
F. to 250.degree. F. (approximately 88.degree. C. to 121.degree.
C.) into the mold cavity. The mold cavity may be heated to a
temperature between approximately 250.degree. F. to 350.degree. F.
(approximately 121.degree. C. to 177.degree. C.). A stretch rod
apparatus (not illustrated) stretches or extends the heated preform
within the mold cavity to a length approximately that of the
intermediate container thereby molecularly orienting the polyester
material in an axial direction generally corresponding with the
central longitudinal axis of the container 10. While the stretch
rod extends the preform, air having a pressure between 300 PSI to
600 PSI (2.07 MPa to 4.14 MPa) assists in extending the preform in
the axial direction and in expanding the preform in a
circumferential or hoop direction thereby substantially conforming
the polyester material to the shape of the mold cavity and further
molecularly orienting the polyester material in a direction
generally perpendicular to the axial direction, thus establishing
the biaxial molecular orientation of the polyester material in most
of the intermediate container. The pressurized air holds the mostly
biaxial molecularly oriented polyester material against the mold
cavity for a period of approximately two (2) to five (5) seconds
before removal of the intermediate container from the mold cavity.
This process is known as heat setting and results in a
heat-resistant container suitable for filling with a product at
high temperatures.
[0075] Alternatively, other manufacturing methods, such as for
example, extrusion blow molding, one step injection stretch blow
molding and injection blow molding, using other conventional
materials including, for example, high density polyethylene,
polypropylene, polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), a PET/PEN blend or
copolymer, and various multilayer structures may be suitable for
the manufacture of plastic container 10. Those having ordinary
skill in the art will readily know and understand plastic container
manufacturing method alternatives.
[0076] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been
provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not
intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention. Individual
elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not
limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are
interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if
not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in
many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure
from the invention, and all such modifications are intended to be
included within the scope of the invention.
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