Abstract: A method and system for providing procurement services to customer companies. A user profile for each user, in a computer database, specifies: (i) each user is authorized by a first customer company of the customer companies to access procurement resources and the procurement services for purchasing items and (ii) the first customer company and a first company group of related customer companies. Access to volume discounts with respect to vendors is provided to all customer companies in the first company group. Companies are authorized to have access to and share each procurement resource, by providing a resource profile specifying for each procurement resource a set of customer companies authorized for accessing and sharing each procurement resource to be shared among the users. Access to the procurement resources is controlled resources based on: the first company group, the first customer company, and the resource profile for each procurement resource.

Abstract: A method and system for providing procurement services to customer companies. A user profile for each user, in a computer database, specifies: (i) each user is authorized by a first customer company of the customer companies to access procurement resources and the procurement services for purchasing items and (ii) the first customer company and a first company group of related customer companies. Access to volume discounts with respect to vendors is provided to all customer companies in the first company group. Companies are authorized to have access to and share each procurement resource, by providing a resource profile specifying for each procurement resource a set of customer companies authorized for accessing and sharing each procurement resource to be shared among the users. Access to the procurement resources is controlled resources based on: the first company group, the first customer company, and the resource profile for each procurement resource.

Abstract: A leveraged procurement network (LPN) system for leveraging purchasing across company and company groups includes a front-end requisition and catalog system accessible by users from a plurality of companies in different company groups. Access to procurement resources is controlled by user profiles and resource profiles specifying for each user and resource the applicable company group. Purchases against volume specific contracts are leveraged by requisitions for a plurality of company groups, while user access to procurement resources within the front-end system are controlled by company and/or company group.

Abstract: Under the present invention, milestones or points of closure are provided at predetermined locations within a workflow of an application. Typically, the milestones are provided at completion points of tasks in the workflow. To this extent, as the user proceeds through the workflow, he/she is associated with the milestones corresponding thereto. The associations are stored (optionally with any corresponding data) in a persistent storage. In the event of a failure, the milestone associations are used to transport the user back to the last milestone with which he/she was associated.

Abstract: Under the present invention, milestones or points of closure are provided at predetermined locations within a workflow of an application. Typically, the milestones are provided at completion points of tasks in the workflow. To this extent, as the user proceeds through the workflow, he/she is associated with the milestones corresponding thereto. The associations are stored (optionally with any corresponding data) in a persistent storage. In the event of a failure, the milestone associations are used to transport the user back to the last milestone with which he/she was associated.

Abstract: Under the present invention, milestones or points of closure are provided at predetermined locations within a workflow of an application. Typically, the milestones are provided at completion points of tasks in the workflow. To this extent, as the user proceeds through the workflow, he/she is associated with the milestones corresponding thereto. The associations are stored (optionally with any corresponding data) in a persistent storage. In the event of a failure, the milestone associations are used to transport the user back to the last milestone with which he/she was associated.

Abstract: A leveraged procurement network (LPN) system for leveraging purchasing across company and company groups includes a front-end requisition and catalog system accessible by users from a plurality of companies in different company groups. Access to procurement resources is controlled by user profiles and resource profiles specifying for each user and resource the applicable company group. Purchases against volume specific contracts are leveraged by requisitions for a plurality of company groups, while user access to procurement resources within the front-end system are controlled by company and/or company group.

Abstract: A leveraged procurement network (LPN) system for leveraging purchasing across company and company groups includes a front-end requisition and catalog system accessible by users from a plurality of companies in different company groups. Access to procurement resources is controlled by user profiles and resource profiles specifying for each user and resource the applicable company group. Purchases against volume specific contracts are leveraged by requisitions for a plurality of company groups, while user access to procurement resources within the front-end system are controlled by company and/or company group.

Abstract: A blow molded plastic container including a base including a bottom intended to rest upon a supporting surface. The base has a predetermined average thickness providing sufficient strength and rigidity to maintain its shape as molded. An integral body portion extends upwardly from the base. The body portion terminates in an open upper end. An integral handle extends from said shoulder portion. The integral handle is solid. The handle, at its line of juncture with the shoulder portion reduced thickness from other portions of the handle. The body portion has an average thickness less than the base predetermined average thickness. The average thickness is insufficient to permit the body portion to maintain its shape as molded during handling without supplementary support. The open upper end of the container is flexible such that the container can be filled and the upper end can be collapsed and sealed to define a package.

Abstract: A stackable plastic container including a body having a generally rectangular cross section including a base wall, sidewalls and end walls, the width of the sidewalls being greater than the width of the end walls. The body has a top wall with an integral neck defining a dispensing opening. The bottom wall has spaced longitudinally extending integral portions defining a longitudinal recess extending lengthwise of the bottom wall and generally parallel to the sidewall. The top wall of the body includes a centrally located longitudinally extending projection extending upwardly and defining spaced longitudinally extending generally horizontal portions lengthwise of the sidewalls such that when one container is stacked on another, the longitudinally extending portions of the top wall are engaged by the longitudinally extending spaced projections on the bottom wall of a container stacked thereon.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming a lightweight plastic bottle having a body and an integral handle includes pre-blowing a tubular parison positioned between partible blow mold sections, closing the blow mold sections to compression mold the handle and blowing the parison to form the body integral with the handle and a line of juncture between the body and the handle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a lightweight plastic bottle having a body and an integral handle includes pre-blowing a tubular parison positioned between partible blow mold sections, closing the blow mold sections to compression mold the handle and blowing the parison to form the body integral with the handle and a line of juncture between the body and the handle.

Abstract: A blow molded plastic bottle and method and apparatus for forming in which the bottle has a predetermined thickness providing sufficient strength and rigidity in its upper and lower areas to maintain their shapes as molded, a thinner film-like thickness in the center and a compression molded handle integrally formed with and extending from the upper area.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of gauging the "saddle" of a container finish in which a test rig supports a bottle or container at an elevated position so the container can be rotated about the axis of its finish. The container is threaded into a finish ring. The finish ring is accurately supported for rotation in a horizontal plane with the feeler of an indicator engaging the top rim of the container during rotation. 360.degree. rotation in both directions gives maximum and minimum readings that are registered and used to determine the differential or saddle of the container.

Abstract: A dispensing closure is equipped with child resistant means of securing same on a container and provides for concentric primary orifice for dispensing that is capable of enlarging its size to a secondary orifice for easy rinsing of the container package or complete product removal as desired. A pull ring is secured to the closure top wall surrounding the primary orifice and an annular line of weakening is formed in the top wall encircling the ring pull and defining an enlarged area. The ring pull may be used to manually remove the material of the enlarged area portion and provide the enlarged orifice. The removable material can provide for marketing promotions of the package. The preferred closure is illustrated as a snap hinged cover cap and child resistant dispensing closure in which the main closure includes a skirt wall and radially-spaced flexible outer wall that is deformable to open the cover cap which provides a further child resistant feature to the package.