Abstract: In the manufacture of extra thin walled plastic containers the tail flash formed during the molding operation is spaced from the container proper by molding one or more standoff projections into the flash. This maintains the tail flash in an appropriate relationship relative to the container until it can be severed by a shearing mechanism. The projections are formed in the tail flash by providing male and female projection elements in the mold. In the absence of such standoffs, the tail flash will come in contact with the container while still sufficiently hot enough to adhere thereto.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for forming a laminated plastic article, especially a container. In one formation sequence, a flattened preform of desired perimeter configuration is formed, which preferably is multilayered, directly from thermoplastic materials. In another formation sequence, a preform is positioned in a thermoforming apparatus wherein, with edge portions of the preform is clamped and the midportions are mandrel-formed into a body having continuous integral side and bottom wall portions. This body is then trimmed and blow-molded to produce a desired product article. Residual portions of the starting preform can be trimmed away from the lip portions of the product article if desired.