Abstract: A plastic container has a base adapted for vacuum pressure absorption. The base portion includes a chime extending from a body portion to a contact ring which defines a surface upon which the container is supported. The base further includes a central portion defined in at least part by a pushup having a generally truncated cone shape in cross section located on a longitudinal axis of the container, and an inversion ring having a generally S shaped geometry in cross section and hinge means formed therein, and circumscribing the pushup. The truncated cone has an overall general diameter that is at most 30% of an overall general diameter of the base and a top surface generally parallel to a support surface.

Abstract: A mold device for forming a plastic container from a preform. The preform includes at least one exterior feature formed thereon. The mold device comprises a mold defining a mold cavity, and a central exterior rod being movable within the mold cavity. The central exterior rod includes a locating feature formed therewith that is engagable with the at least one exterior feature of the preform for maintaining a central orientation of the preform within the mold cavity during forming.

Abstract: A system for forming a container from a preform, wherein the preform has a finish and a support ring. The system includes a mold having a mold cavity defining an internal surface and adapted to accept the preform, a pressure system having an inlet and an outlet outputting fluid, a blow nozzle receiving the fluid from the pressure system and introducing the fluid at a pressure into the preform thereby expanding the preform toward the internal surface of the mold cavity and creating a resultant container. The system further includes a first seal engagement selectively engageable between the blow nozzle and the finish of the preform and a second seal engagement selectively engageable between the blow nozzle and an adjacent feature.

Abstract: A heat set container having a shoulder portion and a sidewall portion extending from the shoulder portion to a base. The base closes off an end of the container. The shoulder portion, the sidewall portion, and the base cooperate to define a receptacle chamber within the container into which product can be filled. The sidewall portion defines a major container diameter of the container. The sidewall portion includes an upper vacuum absorbing region joined to a lower vacuum absorbing region at a reduced waist section. The reduced waist section forms a minor container diameter which is less than the major container diameter. In some embodiments, such configuration forms an hourglass, heat-set container, wherein the upper vacuum absorbing region and the lower vacuum absorbing region are collectively shaped to provide flexible absorption of an internal vacuum within the receptacle chamber.

Abstract: A container defining a longitudinal axis and a transverse direction that is transverse with respect to the longitudinal axis is disclosed. The container includes a finish, a sidewall portion extending from the finish, and a base portion extending from the sidewall portion and enclosing the sidewall portion to form a volume therein for retaining a commodity. The base portion has a contact surface for supporting the container. The container also includes at least one strap extending along the base portion in the transverse direction. The strap defines a strap surface, and the strap surface is spaced offset in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis from the contact surface. The strap surface extends in the transverse direction to be adjacent the sidewall portion such that the at least one strap surface is visible from a side of the container.

Abstract: A heat-set container that defines a longitudinal axis is disclosed that includes a finish and a sidewall portion extending from the finish. The container also includes a base portion extending from the sidewall portion and enclosing said sidewall portion to form a volume therein for retaining a commodity. The base portion has a plurality of contact surfaces for supporting the container. The plurality of contact surfaces are spaced away from each other about the longitudinal axis. Also, the container includes a central pushup portion disposed in the base portion and extending generally toward the finish. The central pushup portion is substantially centered on the longitudinal axis, and the central pushup portion is moveable in response to internal vacuum pressure to decrease the volume.

Abstract: A system for simultaneously forming and filling a container comprising a mold having a mold cavity defining an internal surface and adapted to accept a preform, a pressure source urging a first liquid toward the preform, means for maintaining a desired saturation of gas in solution in the first liquid, and a blow nozzle adapted to receive the first liquid from the pressure source and transfer the first liquid at a pressure into the preform thereby urging the preform to expand toward the internal surface of the mold cavity and create a resultant container, wherein the first liquid remains within the container as an end product.

Abstract: A container has a finish, a sidewall portion, a shoulder portion extending between the finish and the sidewall portion, and a base portion extending from the sidewall portion and enclosing the sidewall portion to form a volume therein for retaining a commodity. The sidewall portion includes a label boundary panel and a vacuum panel. The label boundary panel is generally resistant to deflection in response to a vacuum force and defining a surface for receiving a pressure sensitive spot label. The vacuum panel is deflectable in response to the vacuum force. Moreover, the container includes one or more inwardly-directed ribs extending along the label boundary panel and bound thereby. The inwardly-directed rib(s) generally aid(s) the label boundary panel to resist the vacuum force.

Abstract: A container may employ an upper portion defining a mouth, a shoulder portion formed with the upper portion and extending away from the upper portion, a bottom portion forming a base, a sidewall extending between and joining the shoulder portion and the bottom portion, and a plurality of smooth surfaced vacuum panels formed in the sidewall, which may be separated by one or more strengthening grooves. The vacuum panels and/or the container in a profile view may form an hourglass shape. The container may also employ a sidewall utilizing three smooth, grooveless, vacuum panels, which may form a triangle in cross-section. The vacuum panels may be concave inward toward a central vertical axis of the container and have an hourglass shape when the container is viewed in a side view.

Abstract: A mold device for forming a plastic container from a preform. The mold device comprises a mold defining a mold cavity and a central exterior rod system moveably disposed within the mold cavity. The central exterior rod system is positionable between an extended position engagable with the preform and a retracted position spaced apart from the preform. The central exterior rod system maintains a central orientation of the preform during formation.

Abstract: A mold device for injecting a fluid into a container where the mold device comprises a first mold portion having a first mating surface and a second mold portion having a second mating surface. The second mating surface is shaped complementary to the first mating surface. A mold cavity is disposed within the first mold portion and the second mold portion. The mold device further comprises an interlocking mating surface system disposed between or made a part of the first mold portion and second mold portion to define a fluid seal therebetween and align the first mold portion to the second mold portion in at least a first direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a container comprising a housing and a rod apparatus disposed in the housing. The rod apparatus includes a rod for at least partially forming a container preform. The apparatus further includes a nozzle system disposed in the housing that is operably coupled with the rod apparatus. The nozzle system is positionable between a first position preventing pressurized fluid from being injected into the container preform and a second position permitting pressurized fluid to be injected into the container preform.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for simultaneously forming and filling a plastic container is provided. A mold cavity defines an internal surface and is adapted to accept a preform. A pressure source includes an inlet and a piston-like device. The piston-like device is moveable in a first direction wherein liquid is drawn into the pressure source through the inlet and in a second direction wherein the liquid is urged toward the preform. A blow nozzle may be adapted to receive the liquid from the pressure source and transfer the liquid at high pressure into the preform thereby urging the preform to expand toward the internal surface of the mold cavity and creating a resultant container. The liquid remains within the container as an end product.

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 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 compression ribs molded into the sidewall portion—a first of the plurality of compression ribs intersecting a second of the plurality of compression ribs to form a rib interface, at least the first and the second of the plurality of compression ribs changing from a first shape to a second shape in response to cooling of the liquid.

Abstract: An as-manufactured multi-wall sack that comprises an inner pouch 5 and an outer bag 7 is disclosed. The sack has a top end that (a) is open in the as-manufactured form of the sack so that the sack can be filled with product via the open end and (b) is formed so that it can be closed to form a top block end. The as-manufactured form of the sack comprises pressure adhesive that connects together the inner pouch and the outer bag at the open top end of the sack. The as-manufactured form of the sack also comprises heat-activated adhesive on sections of the outer bag that adhere to other sections of the outer bag as part of the sequence of steps to close the outer bag. An apparatus and a method for closing the as-manufactured sack are also disclosed.

Abstract: A container comprising a finish, a sidewall portion extending from the finish, a base portion extending from the sidewall portion and enclosing the sidewall portion to form a volume therein for retaining a commodity, and an outwardly directed rib member.