Patents Assigned to Continental PET Technologies, Inc.
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Publication number: 20050252881Abstract: A container for the packaging of a still beverage or other unpressurized liquid, the container being formed from a thermoplastic material and having a body portion with a closed bottom, a neck portion, tapering inwardly as it extends upwardly from the body portion and a closure, receiving finish portion spaced from the body portion and extending from the neck portion. The container has an integral gripping feature that does not require an opening that extends laterally through the container, the gripping feature being formed by spaced, opposed gripping panels that extend laterally into the container from an edge thereof. In a first embodiment, the container body portion has a generally oval cross-section with a larger, part-circular end, and a smaller part-circular opposed end, with the gripping panels extending into the container in the body portion from the opposed end.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2005Publication date: November 17, 2005Applicant: Graham Packaging PET Technologies Inc. (formerly Continental PET Technologies, Inc.)Inventors: Q. Zhang, Stephen Guerin
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Patent number: 6811845Abstract: A preform assembly for blow molding a container includes a molded plastic preform having a body and a neck with an external surface. The neck includes a plurality of spaced lands molded integrally with the neck and the body and defining the external surface of the neck, and a plurality of open spaces between the lands. A plastic finish ring is molded separately from the preform and is externally secured over the lands. The open spaces between the lands reduce heat transfer between the preform neck and the finish ring. In two exemplary embodiments of the invention, the lands include either spaced axial ribs or spaced circumferential ribs on the preform neck, and the open spaces include either spaced axial channels or spaced circumferential channels between the ribs.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2003Date of Patent: November 2, 2004Assignee: Continental Pet Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Thomas E. Nahill, W. Bruce Larsen
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Patent number: 6787094Abstract: Sleeve molding apparatus and methods for making multi-layer injection molded plastic articles in successive mold cavities. In a first molding step, an inner sleeve is molded on a core in a first mold cavity, which may comprise a full body length sleeve or only a partial sleeve, such as an upper neck finish portion. The sleeve and core are withdrawn from the first mold cavity while the sleeve is still warm, and transferred without substantial delay to a second mold cavity for injection molding an outer layer which bonds to the inner sleeve. By transferring the sleeve at an elevated temperature into the second mold cavity, an improved bond is formed between the inner sleeve and outer layer which resists separation during a later reheat stretch blow molding step, and/or in use of the resulting article. In a preferred embodiment, a pasteurizable beer container is provided having a finish-only sleeve of a PEN polymer.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2002Date of Patent: September 7, 2004Assignee: Continental PET Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Wayne N. Collette, Suppayan M. Krishnakumar
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Publication number: 20040043172Abstract: Oxygen-scavenging polymers and packaging for holding oxygen-sensitive products. A heat treatment process has been found to significantly increase the oxygen-scavenging performance of the polymer. The enhanced scavenging polymer can be effectively incorporated into various packaging, including transparent multilayer containers for beer and juice. In one embodiment, a multilayer package made from the scavenger provides an actual reduction in oxygen content of a contents of the package, over a long period of time (e.g., 24 weeks). The package can be stored unfilled for an extended period (without significant loss of scavenging capability) and will scavenge substantially immediately upon filling with a liquid product. The package may incorporate a relatively low weight percentage of the scavenger, thus providing enhanced scavenging in a cost-effective manner.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2003Publication date: March 4, 2004Applicant: Continental PET Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Steven L. Schmidt, Brian Lynch, Keith Barker, Ronald Adams,, Amit S. Agrawal
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Multilayer container resistant to elevated temperatures and pressures, and method of making the same
Publication number: 20030186006Abstract: A multilayer plastic container having enhanced strength for high temperature and pressure applications such as the pasteurization of carbonated juice drinks. The container is commercially cost-effective in comparison to prior art pasteurizable glass containers, and provides all of the advantages of plastic over glass, i.e., lightweight, shatter-resistant, etc. In a particular embodiment, the multilayer container includes inner and outer layers of a relatively high IV virgin PET, e.g., 0.85-0.90 dl/g, and a core layer of post-consumer PET having a substantially lower IV. The container has a relatively tall and slender profile, with high orientation levels in the panel and shoulder, and an oriented thick-walled base with feet. The base preferably has a high profile and angled foot pads which are allowed to move outwardly under creep.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2003Publication date: October 2, 2003Applicant: Continental PET Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Steven L. Schmidt, Suppayan M. Krishnakumar, Wayne N. Collette -
Publication number: 20030138578Abstract: Oxygen-scavenging polymers and packaging for holding oxygen-sensitive products. A heat treatment process has been found to significantly increase the oxygen-scavenging performance of the polymer. The enhanced scavenging polymer can be effectively incorporated into various packaging, including transparent multilayer containers for beer and juice. In one embodiment, a multilayer package made from the scavenger provides an actual reduction in oxygen content of a contents of the package, over a long period of time (e.g., 24 weeks). The package can be stored unfilled for an extended period (without significant loss of scavenging capability) and will scavenge substantially immediately upon filling with a liquid product. The package may incorporate a relatively low weight percentage of the scavenger, thus providing enhanced scavenging in a cost-effective manner.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2002Publication date: July 24, 2003Applicant: Continental PET Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Steven L. Schmidt, Brian Lynch, Keith Barker, Ronald Adams, Amit S. Agrawal
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Patent number: 6586558Abstract: Process for controlling the change of intrinsic viscosity and transesterification during solid stating of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) blend, with an effective amount of an ethylene glycol compound. The process enables the production of a copolymer based on predefined initial and final IV's and final transesterification level, by varying the solid-stating time and/or effective amount of ethylene glycol. In one embodiment, a relatively greater amount of post-consumer PET (e.g., 70%) having an IV of on the order of 0.72-0.73, is incorporated in the blend to provide a final IV on the order of 0.80-0.85, and a moderate, controlled level of transesterification; the blend is used to injection mold a sleeve layer of a preform. In another embodiment, a substantially transparent neck finish for a preform is made from a PEN/PET blend having an amount of ethylene glycol which enables substantial transesterification, without excessive increase in IV.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2002Date of Patent: July 1, 2003Assignee: Continental PET Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Steven L. Schmidt, Brian Lynch, Amit S. Agrawal
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Patent number: 6572812Abstract: A preform and container each having a crystallized neck finish and method of making the same, wherein the method involves introducing a first thermoplastic material into a first mold section to form a substantially crystallized neck portion of a preform, and introducing a second thermoplastic material into a second mold section to form a substantially amorphous body-forming portion of a preform. The first material may have a substantially higher crystallization rate than the second material, and/or the first mold section may be at a higher temperature than the second mold section. In one embodiment, an indexer carrying two core sets is movable between first and second cavity sets for sequentially molding the neck portions on the first core set in the first cavity set, and then transferring the cores and neck portions to the second cavity set for molding the body-forming portions.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2001Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Continental PET Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Wayne N. Collette, Suppayan M. Krishnakumar
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Multilayer container resistant to elevated temperatures and pressures, and method of making the same
Patent number: 6548133Abstract: A multilayer plastic container having enhanced strength for high temperature and pressure applications such as the pasteurization of carbonated juice drinks. The container is commercially cost-effective in comparison to prior art pasteurizable glass containers, and provides all of the advantages of plastic over glass, i.e., lightweight, shatter-resistant, etc. In a particular embodiment, the multilayer container includes inner and outer layers of a relatively high IV virgin PET, e.g., 0.85-0.90 dl/g, and a core layer of post-consumer PET having a substantially lower IV. The container has a relatively tall and slender profile, with high orientation levels in the panel and shoulder, and an oriented thick-walled base with feet. The base preferably has a high profile and angled foot pads which are allowed to move outwardly under creep.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 1998Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: Continental PET Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Steven L. Schmidt, Suppayan M. Krishnakumar, Wayne N. Collette -
Publication number: 20030001311Abstract: Sleeve molding apparatus and methods for making multi-layer injection molded plastic articles in successive mold cavities. In a first molding step, an inner sleeve is molded on a core in a first mold cavity, which may comprise a full body length sleeve or only a partial sleeve, such as an upper neck finish portion. The sleeve and core are withdrawn from the first mold cavity while the sleeve is still warm, and transferred without substantial delay to a second mold cavity for injection molding an outer layer which bonds to the inner sleeve. By transferring the sleeve at an elevated temperature into the second mold cavity, an improved bond is formed between the inner sleeve and outer layer which resists separation during a later reheat stretch blow molding step, and/or in use of the resulting article. In a preferred embodiment, a pasteurizable beer container is provided having a finish-only sleeve of a PEN polymer.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2002Publication date: January 2, 2003Applicant: Continental PET Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Wayne N. Collette, Suppayan M. Krishnakumar
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Publication number: 20020177686Abstract: Process for controlling the change of intrinsic viscosity and transesterification during solid stating of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) blend, with an effective amount of an ethylene glycol compound. The process enables the production of a copolymer based on predefined initial and final IV's and final transesterification level, by varying the solid-stating time and/or effective amount of ethylene glycol. In one embodiment, a relatively greater amount of post-consumer PET (e.g., 70%) having an IV of on the order of 0.72-0.73, is incorporated in the blend to provide a final IV on the order of 0.80-0.85, and a moderate, controlled level of transesterification; the blend is used to injection mold a sleeve layer of a preform. In another embodiment, a substantially transparent neck finish for a preform is made from a PEN/PET blend having an amount of ethylene glycol which enables substantial transesterification, without excessive increase in IV.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2002Publication date: November 28, 2002Applicant: Continental PET Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Steven L. Schmidt, Brian Lynch, Amit S. Agrawal
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Publication number: 20020150703Abstract: A method of making a polyester container having an enhanced level of crystallinity in the sidewall while maintaining a low level of crystallinity in a thickened base portion. The container is particularly useful as a refillable container which can withstand higher caustic wash temperatures and exhibits reduced flavor carryover, or as a hot-fill container. According to the method, a sidewall-forming section of a preform is initially expanded, heated to contract and crystallize the same, and than reexpanded; a base-forming portion of the preform is shielded from the heat treatment and is expanded either before or after the heat treatment step.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2002Publication date: October 17, 2002Applicant: Continental PET Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Wayne N. Collette, Suppayan M. Krishnakumar, Chi Ching Lin
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Patent number: 6444158Abstract: Method of securing a separate handle (18) to a plastic blow-molded container, the container having a molded external flange which is not subject to stretching during the blow-molding process. The flange has a substantially flat underside face and serves as a rigid support for the handle (18) when a substantially flat upper abutment surface of the handle (18) is positioned against the flange. Preferably, the upper end of the handle (18) has a downwardly extending lug (15) which is surrounded by the blow-molded sidewall of the container. The preform and handle (18) can be brought together into position where the upper end of the handle is adjacent to the underside of the external flange by relative movement of the preform and handle (18) towards each other along a first path which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the preform.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 1999Date of Patent: September 3, 2002Assignee: Continental PET Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Rolf Grob, Suppayan M. Krishnakumar, Harry L. Ieuan, Thomas E. Nahill
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Patent number: D526569Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2003Date of Patent: August 15, 2006Assignee: Continental PET Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michael P. Wurster, Richard R. Johnston
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Patent number: D472815Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2001Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Assignee: Continental PET Technologies Inc.Inventors: Q. Peter Zhang, Robert P. Grant, Keith J. Eshback, Nicholas T. Stavropoulos
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Patent number: D480006Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2002Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Continental PET Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Q. Peter Zhang, Stephen R. Guerin
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Patent number: D485762Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2002Date of Patent: January 27, 2004Assignee: Continental PET Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Eric B. Ungrady
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Patent number: D488385Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2003Date of Patent: April 13, 2004Assignee: Continental PET Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Eric B. Ungrady
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Patent number: D495609Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2003Date of Patent: September 7, 2004Assignee: Continental PET Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Michael P. Wurster
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Patent number: D497552Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2002Date of Patent: October 26, 2004Assignee: Continental Pet Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Q. Peter Zhang, Stephen R. Guerin