Abstract: A molding system for molding a container includes a first blow mold operable for blow molding a first form of the container and a second blow mold operable for blow molding a second form of the container. The system further includes a counter stretch rod and/or a base pushup operable for reducing a height of the first form of the container before blow molding the second form of the container. A corresponding method of forming a container is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for forming a plastic container in which a heated end product is introduced into a heated preform to expand the preform into at least partial conform with the cavity surfaces of a mold, thereby forming a resultant container, of a first size, with a heated end product. The resultant container is then capped and shrunk to a second size, which is less than the first size. The shrinkage of the reluctant container is greater than the shrinkage of the end product thereby creating a positive pressure within the capped container.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a container from a container preform. The apparatus includes a housing, a mold cavity, and a nozzle system disposed in the housing and operably connectable to the mold cavity. The nozzle system is positionable between a first position engaging the housing along an interface of contact preventing pressurized liquid from being injected into the container preform and a second position spaced apart from the housing permitting pressurized liquid to be injected into the container preform. The nozzle system further includes in some embodiments a seal portion having a first surface—the first surface engaging a second surface extending from the housing in the first position.

Abstract: A plastic container including an upper portion, a base, a plurality of surface features, and a substantially cylindrical portion. The upper portion has a mouth defining an opening into the container. The base is movable to accommodate vacuum forces generated within the container thereby decreasing the volume of the container. The plurality of surface features are included with the base and are configured to accommodate vacuum forces. The substantially cylindrical portion extends between the upper portion and the base.

Abstract: A container body and base being lightweight structures designed to accommodate vacuum forces either simultaneously or in sequence. The container body and base each absorb a significant percentage of the vacuum. By utilizing a lightweight base design to absorb a portion of the vacuum forces enables an overall light-weighting, design flexibility, and effective utilization of alternative vacuum absorbing capabilities on the container body.

Abstract: A polyethylene terephthalate container having a hydrogen generator and catalyst disposed or otherwise incorporated in components of the container, including the closure, closure insert, label, label glue, and/or any other portions of the final container assembly. In addition, the catalyst and the hydrogen generator can both be located in the same component. Methods for dispersing the hydrogen generator and catalyst in the container wall without affecting clarity are provided.

Abstract: A polyethylene terephthalate container having a hydrogen generator and catalyst disposed or otherwise incorporated in components of the container, including the closure, closure insert, label, label glue, and/or any other portions of the final container assembly. In addition, the catalyst and the hydrogen generator can both be located in the same component. Methods for dispersing the hydrogen generator and catalyst in the container wall without affecting clarity are provided.

Abstract: Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a container and method of making a container. In one example, a preform is disposed into a mold cavity having a base forming assembly. The base forming assembly includes a base insert and a movable ring insert. The preform is blown against the mold cavity to form a body defining a base portion. The movable ring insert is advanced into the base portion to form a thinned flex point in the base portion while keeping the base insert fixed. The container is hot-filled with a commodity. The commodity is allowed to cool causing a vacuum in the container that results in the upward movement or inversion of a central inset portion defined at the thinned flex point.

Abstract: A one-piece plastic hot-fill container may employ a shoulder portion, a base portion and a sidewall portion, which may be integrally formed with and extend from the shoulder portion to the base portion. The container may further employ a plurality of contour ribs molded into the sidewall portion—each of the plurality of contour ribs operable to change from a first shape to a second shape in response to cooling of the liquid and further extending outwardly from the container.

Abstract: A hot-fill container may have a shoulder portion, body portion, bottom portion, and numerous strengthening grooves and a thin-walled, flexible, bag-like, collapsible portion in the body portion. The collapsible portion may be located between the strengthening ribs. The container structure may also employ one or more vacuum panels in the body portion that may lie between the collapsible portion and the bottom portion. The vacuum panels and the collapsible body portion may move toward a central vertical axis when the container is subjected to an internal vacuum pressure. Strengthening grooves may border the collapsible body portion, which may be circular in pre-vacuum cross-section but polygonal in post-vacuum cross-section. Part of the collapsible portion may be concave inward toward a central vertical axis of the container while part of the collapsible portion may move away from the central vertical axis. Vertical columns may support the collapsible portion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a plastic container is provided. The method includes disposing a preform into a primary mold cavity and applying pressurized air to urge the preform to conform to the shape of the primary mold cavity to form a primary article. The primary article is then permitted to shrink to a predetermined volume. The method can further include exposing the primary article to an internal vacuum to facilitate shrinking to a predetermined volume. The method further includes disposing the primary article into a second mold cavity and applying pressurized air to urge the primary article to conform to the second mold cavity to form an intermediate article. Finally, at least a portion of the intermediate article is trimmed off to form a final container.

Abstract: A container comprises a shoulder portion terminating at an opening and a sidewall portion extending from the shoulder portion to a base portion. The base portion closes off an end of the container. The shoulder portion, the sidewall portion and the base portion cooperate to define a receptacle chamber within the container into which product can be filled. A barrier layer extends continuously along the base portion, the sidewall portion, and the shoulder portion to the opening and is made of a polymer based material.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a container from a container preform. The apparatus includes a housing, a mold cavity, and a nozzle system disposed in the housing and operably connectable to the mold cavity. The nozzle system is positionable between a first position engaging the housing along an interface of contact preventing pressurized liquid from being injected into the container preform and a second position spaced apart from the housing permitting pressurized liquid to be injected into the container preform. The nozzle system further includes in some embodiments a seal portion having a first surface—the first surface engaging a second surface extending from the housing in the first position.

Abstract: A blow molded container has a neck portion defining a mouth. The neck portion leads into a shoulder portion and a bottom portion forms a container base. A sidewall portion connects the shoulder portion and the bottom portion and employs a first pair of opposing convex vacuum panels and a second pair of opposing convex vacuum panels. The first pair of opposing convex vacuum panels is larger in surface area than the second pair of opposing convex vacuum panels. A vertical column at each corner of the container joins the first pair of opposing vacuum panels to the second pair of opposing vacuum panels. A structural convex arch resides above and below each convex vacuum panel. Each of the vertical columns are molded into the structural convex arches. Vacuum initiator grooves may be molded into the first and second pair of opposing vacuum panels to control vacuum panel movement.

Abstract: A container having a hydrogen generator and catalyst disposed or otherwise incorporated in components of the container. The container further comprises a system for providing at least a portion of the hydrogen generator and/or catalyst in an area defined within the closure of the container for improved performance.

Abstract: A handled container and method of manufacturing the same using radiation energy, such as ultraviolet light, visible light, electron beam and the like, to cure a corresponding adhesive for attaching plastic handles or other functional and/or decorative items to plastic containers. The container of the present teachings, unlike conventional containers, provided an improved and reliable handle arrangement, thereby permitting more complex handle shapes without substantially effecting manufacturing costs and complexity.

Abstract: A polyethylene terephthalate container having a hydrogen generator and catalyst disposed or otherwise incorporated in components of the container, including the closure, closure insert, label, label glue, and/or any other portions of the final container assembly. In addition, the catalyst and the hydrogen generator can both be located in the same component. Methods for dispersing the hydrogen generator and catalyst in the container wall without affecting clarity are provided.

Abstract: A one-piece plastic container includes a body defining a longitudinal axis and having an upper portion, a sidewall portion and a base portion. The upper portion has a spout defining an opening into the container and a finish offset radially outwardly from the spout. A trough defines a passage into the body. The trough slopes toward the passage and defines a non-orthogonal angle relative to the longitudinal axis. According to other features, the sidewall portion is integrally formed with and extends from the upper portion to the base portion. The base portion closes off an end of the container. The finish defines a means, such as at least one thread, for attaching a closure thereon.

Abstract: A container body and base being lightweight structures designed to accommodate vacuum forces either simultaneously or in sequence. The container body and base each absorb a significant percentage of the vacuum. By utilizing a lightweight base design to absorb a portion of the vacuum forces enables an overall light-weighting, design flexibility, and effective utilization of alternative vacuum absorbing capabilities on the container body.

Abstract: A one-piece plastic hot-fill container may employ a shoulder portion, a base portion and a sidewall portion, which may be integrally formed with and extend from the shoulder portion to the base portion. The container may further employ a plurality of contour ribs molded into the sidewall portion—each of the plurality of contour ribs operable to change from a first shape to a second shape in response to cooling of the liquid and further extending outwardly from the container.