Abstract: An L-shaped roller chime is provided adjacent each end of a closed head drum. The drum is formed of a thermoplastic material and is blown into shape in an openable mold so that the drum has axially extending dividing seams. Each L-shaped chime has a first leg extending outwardly from the drum and a second leg extending generally perpendicularly to the first leg and in the axial direction of the drum. The depth of the groove formed by the first and second legs and the outer drum surface is uniform, however, the thickness of the first leg varies from a maximum at the dividing seams to a minimum intermediate the seams.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for modifying polyethylene terephthalate so that the polyethylene terephthalate may be processed into plastic containers using conventional extrusion blow molding equipment. The polyethylene terephthalate is modified by the incorporation into a polyethylene terephthalate prepolymer of a chain branching agent and a chain terminating agent. The prepolymer is subsequently solid-state polymerized to form a polyethylene terephthalate polymer having high zero shear rate melt viscosity and shear sensitivity. This modified polyethylene terephthalate polymer may be extrusion blow molded in intermittent and continuous processes.

Abstract: The method and apparatus are useful in forming a parison which has a varying wall thickness and an outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of the annular outlet orifice from which the parison is extruded. Such a parison is obtained by adding additional molten thermoplastic material to the parison while extruding the same to vary the thickness of portions of the parison. The additional molten material is directed radially outwardly from the axis of the parison to increase the wall thickness and to increase the swell of the parison which is defined as the ratio of the inner diameter of the parison to the outer diameter of the outlet orifice. Also the ratio of the outer diameter of the parison to the inner diameter of a mold in which the parison is blowmolded into a container is reduced permitting a larger container to be formed from the thicker portion of the parison while having a small entrance opening formed from a thin wall portion of the parison.

Abstract: An integral, unitary plastic tank and rim flush for a toilet are disclosed, along with the apparatus and method of manufacture. The tank includes a bottom wall and sidewalls, one of which is integral with an essentially tubular water passageway. The rim includes an oval-shaped, hollow duct which is integral with the passageway and includes a plurality of spaced openings in a bottom wall surface to distribute water around the periphery of a toilet bowl. In the method of making the product, an elongated thermoplastic parison is positioned between a pair of blow mold sections. Next, the sections are closed, enclosing respective parison portions within a tank cavity, a passageway cavity and a rim cavity. Blow fluid under pressure is introduced into the parison portion within the tank cavity, resulting in the various cavity-enclosed parison portions being blown to their final shape. After cooling, the article is removed from the mold, trimmed and drilled to form the final product.

Abstract: An all plastic tubular drum is blow molded into the selected configuration from an extruded parison. The parison is provided with at least two spaced circumferentially extending thickened sections. These thickened sections are captured in a compression mold cavity during the blow molding cycle. Thereafter the captured thickened sections are compression molded into outwardly extending projections, undercuts, reinforcing gussets, or the like.

Abstract: A plastic tube is provided which has a main lumen, an auxiliary lumen, and an integral connector at one end for connecting the main lumen in fluid communication with another device. The auxiliary lumen extends longitudinally within the side wall of the tube with the integral tube connector free of the auxiliary lumen. The tube can be made by extruding thermoplastic material through a die having a hollow main lumen die pin and a hollow auxiliary lumen die pin adjacent the die outlet orifice. Air under pressure is supplied to both die pins to produce tubing extrudate having main and auxiliary lumens. The pressure of the air supplied to the auxiliary lumen forming pin is reduced at programmed intervals during the extrusion of the tubing so that selected portions are free of an auxiliary lumen or have a lumen of limited size. The tubing can be severed so that it has a selected portion at one end that can serve as an end connector.