Abstract: A plastic pouring spout including a container engaging body portion with a spout portion projecting therefrom and adapted for mounting in juxtaposition to the outer surface of a container within the end confines of the container in retracted position and slidable along the container to a position with the spout portion extended beyond the adjacent end of the container; and in which extended position, the opposite elongate edges of the spout portion may be brought together relative to one another by partial separation from the remnant container engaging body portion adjacent the container end surface to reduce the size of the spout portion for pouring of the container contents into a relatively smaller recipient orifice.

Abstract: A molding machine into which nested stacks of preforms or parisons at ambient temperatures are loaded, which denests and applies the preforms individually onto complementary shaped mandrels in the machine. The preforms are made of a thermoplastic material, such as polystyrene, and the mandrels of the molding machine are internally heated to heat each parison as the machine is intermittently rotated. The mandrels are circumferentially mounted about a carriage in the machine and the carriage rotates about a horizontal axis. When viewing the machine at the side at which the carriage rotates in a counterclockwise direction, the preforms are individually applied to the mandrels at the 3 o'clock position by a loading mechanism. From the 3 o'clock position around and to the 6 o'clock position each preform is being heated on its mandrel.

Abstract: A packaged linear array of bottles or like containers having reduced neck portions with applied caps, and including a carrier of sheet plastic material having side walls diverging downwardly from an apical fold line interrupted by longitudinally spaced openings receiving the inserted neck portions with edge portions of the openings in supporting engagement beneath outward annular shoulder means as provided by the closure caps or by outward rib means on the containers below the ends of the neck portions, and further including longitudinally spaced strap elements connecting the lower edges of the side walls substantially between adjacent openings and contoured to engage adjacent surface portions of containers inserted in the carrier for stable transport and handling of the package.

Abstract: Method of making multiple container carrier stock comprising strands of a resilient and deformable plastic material that has been extruded and fused in the molten or semi-molten state.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for thermoforming two or more plastics sheets simultaneously, to form in one operation a double-walled cup, or a composite walled cup, or a plurality of single-walled cups. The sheets are moved and heated simultaneously, the portion not being thermoformed being kept apart, permitting economy of scrap remelting. The thermoformed portions can be kept apart by pressure between the sheets, which can serve to hotform the sheets against respective mould surfaces, or air pressure can bond the sheets together. Existing machines need substantially only an additional clamping plate, heater, and compressed air passing through a radial port in a clamping plate, to incorporate the invention.

Abstract: A system for multipackaging at least three adjacent rows of containers with a resilient plastics-material multipackaging strip in a continuous procedure. The strip comprises a plurality of elongated bands of at least three in number transversely of the strip, and each band is capable of encircling one of the containers when properly stretched and projected over a container. The bands of the strip are so formed that stretching of all of the bands into shapes substantially complementary to the containers occurs when merely the side marginal edges of the strip are stretched apart. The machine and method comprises an endless series of single pairs of jaws or force applying means which successively enter the apertures of the side bands of the strip, and transversely stretch all of the bands across the strip into shapes substantially complementary to the container shapes. The machine receives at least three adjacent rows of containers continuously therethrough.

Abstract: A molding machine into which nested stacks of preforms or parisons at ambient temperatures are loaded, which denests and applies the preforms individually onto complementary shaped mandrels in the machine. The preforms are made of a thermoplastic material, such as polystyrene, and the mandrels of the molding machine are internally heated to heat each parison as the machine is intermittently rotated. The mandrels are circumferentially mounted about a carriage in the machine and the carriage rotates about a horizontal axis. When viewing the machine at the side at which the carriage rotates in a counterclockwise direction, the preforms are individually applied to the mandrels at the three o'clock position by a loading mechanism. From the three o'clock position around and to the six o'clock position each preform is being heated on its mandrel.

Abstract: Reshaping of a nestable plastic container of substantially uniform wall thickness into a non-nestable container of substantially uniform wall thickness by substantially uniform radial and axial enlargement thereof. The nestable plastic container is heated below its rim portion to a predetermined temperature where the nestable container is readily deformable, the thus heated nestable container then being fixedly supported in a mold cavity having a non-nestable inner wall configuration, and subsequently expanding the nestable container against the non-nestable inner wall configuration of the mold cavity by differential fluid pressure to form a non-nestable container product.

Abstract: A machine and method for applying an apertured carrier to containers to form a carrier pack are disclosed. The machine includes a lug wheel which draws a carrier web from a stock and positions the carrier web at a preliminary station. A plurality of angularly spaced pins are mounted on each side of a pinwheel, and these pins engage secondary carrier apertures formed at locations spaced apart from the primary apertures. As the pinwheel turns, a spreader cam forces the pins axially apart to transversely deform the carrier without substantially deforming it in a longitudinal direction. So oriented, the carrier is forced over a plurality of containers to form a pack. A plow then positively disengages the carrier and containers constituting the pack from the pins.

Abstract: An outer cap for association with a conventional externally knurled screw closure cap and serving as a safety overcap converting the same to a double cap safety closure for sealing threaded bottles and other containers with contents which might be harmful to children; with the outer cap constructed for trapped association with the inner cap for permissive free rotation relative thereto but provided with internal knurling and an adjacent relieved or slotted area permitting inward flexing of the adjacent knurled wall of the overcap into engagement with the external knurling of the inner cap upon selected pressure applied by an adult to effect rotation of both caps in unison, such as the unscrewing direction, for authorized access to the contents of the container.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to nestable type articles, and more particularly to nestable containers designed to counteract the jamming or wedging of telescopically associated or stacked containers. The invention is particularly useful for one-piece thin-walled plastic containers of the type used in vending machines and comprises a unique wall formation for urging or guiding adjacent identical containers in a nested stack into different rotational positions to insure a positive and substantial stacking abutment between adjacent containers. An embodiment of the present invention disclosed herein includes a one-piece, thin-walled plastic container having a sidewall diverging generally upwardly from the bottom, said container being equipped with novel stacking means comprising upper internal and lower external circumferential stacking sections formed by a series of axially spaced abutments and recesses. The abutments and recesses extend generally axially and radially.