Patents Assigned to Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
  • STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF SEALING A CLOSURE ASSEMBLY ONTO THE NECK FINISH OF A PLASTIC PRESSURE CONTAINER
    Publication number: 20160288986
    Abstract: Plastic pressure container including a main body portion, a finish portion, and a closure assembly. The main body portion defines an interior space. The finish portion is unitary with the main body portion and defines a mouth in communication with the interior space. The finish portion has an inner surface, an outer surface and an upper rim proximate the mouth. The inner surface has an inner undercut defined therein proximate the upper rim. The outer surface has an outer undercut defined therein proximate the upper rim. The closure assembly is mounted to the finish portion in engagement with both the inner undercut and the outer undercut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Tapan Y. Patel, John E. Denner, Scott E. Bysick, Justin A. Howell
  • Oxygen scavenging compositions for plastic containers
    Patent number: 9447321
    Abstract: The present invention provides an oxygen scavenging composition for incorporation into a wall of a package. The composition comprises a polyester base polymer, at least one oligomeric, oxidizable poly(alkylene ether) glycol-?,?-diester having the formula and at least one transition metal in a positive oxidation state. The compositions of the present invention do not exhibit an induction period prior to the onset of oxygen scavenging upon formation into a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Murali K. Akkapeddi, Brian A. Lynch
  • DEEP GRIP MECHANISM WITHIN BLOW MOLD HANGER AND RELATED METHODS AND BOTTLES
    Publication number: 20160236397
    Abstract: Mold hanger for supporting a bottle mold in a molding station, the mold hanger comprising a piston and piston sleeve fully contained within the mold hanger configured to push a moveable insert into the mold. Also disclosed is a method of retrofitting an original rotatable blow molding module having multiple existing blow molding stations, each existing mold hanger defining an existing outer envelope. The disclosed method may include providing an improved mold hanger substantially contained within the respective existing outer envelope and including low-profile drive mechanisms configured opposably to drive moveable inserts into the mold. Further disclosed is a method of manufacturing a blow molded bottle with a deep pinch grip, the method including providing within a mold hanger a drive mechanism to drive a moveable insert into the mold. A bottle made by such methods is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen R. Guerin, David P. Piccioli, Thomas E. Nahill, Keith J. Barker
  • Bottle
    Patent number: 9403625
    Abstract: A bottle includes a neck portion having an opening configured to permit filling and emptying of the bottle, a shoulder portion connected to a lower end of the neck portion, a sidewall connected to a lower end of the shoulder portion and extending vertically downward from the shoulder portion, and a base connected to a lower end of the sidewall and forming a bottom surface of the bottle. The sidewall has a plurality of annular ribs extending around a periphery of the sidewall. Each of the annular ribs includes a plurality of sequential enlarged portions interconnected by bridges, with each of the enlarged portions having a vertical width that is greater than a vertical width of each of the bridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignees: Tropicana Products, Inc., Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Bryan J. Lembke, Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr., Matthew A. Russell
  • Deep grip mechanism within blow mold hanger and related methods and bottles
    Patent number: 9346212
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mold hanger for supporting a bottle mold in a blow molding station, the mold hanger comprising a piston and piston sleeve fully contained within the mold hanger configured to push a moveable insert into the mold. Also disclosed is a method of retrofitting an original rotatable blow molding module having multiple existing blow molding stations, each existing mold hanger defining an existing outer envelope. The disclosed method may include providing an improved mold hanger substantially contained within the respective existing outer envelope and including low-profile drive mechanisms configured opposably to drive moveable inserts into the mold. Further disclosed is a method of manufacturing a blow molded bottle with a deep pinch grip, the method including providing within a mold hanger a drive mechanism to drive a moveable insert into the mold. A bottle made by such methods is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen R. Guerin, David P. Piccioli, Thomas E. Nahill, Keith J. Barker
  • DEEP GRIP MECHANISM FOR BLOW MOLD AND RELATED METHODS AND BOTTLES
    Publication number: 20160136865
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mold for forming a deep grip container, the mold having drive mechanisms opposably to drive moveable inserts into the mold. The drive mechanisms may be located entirely within the mold and may include a slotted cam. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing a blow molded bottle with a deep pinch grip comprising: providing a mold hanger having an outer envelope and providing within the outer envelope a drive mechanism to drive moveable inserts into the mold after blowing molten plastic into contact with the mold. Further disclosed is a blow molded bottle with a deep pinch grip manufactured according to the disclosed methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen R. Guerin, David R. Picciolo, Thomas E. Nahill, Keith J. Barker
  • Method for purging polyethylene terephthalate from an extrusion blow molding apparatus
    Patent number: 9327443
    Abstract: A method for purging a molten thermoplastic material from a blow molding system. The method includes the steps of feeding the molten thermoplastic material into a flow head operably connected to a purge diverter valve including a channel and a closing member; opening the closing member, wherein the opening step diverts the thermoplastic material from the flow head into the channel and causes the thermoplastic material to flow through the channel; and collecting the thermoplastic material flowing through the channel. The method can be used to purge molten thermoplastic materials such as polyethylene terephthalate especially from an upward extruding blow mold system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin D. Himes, Larry M. Taylor
  • Volumetrically efficient hot-fill type container
    Patent number: 9302839
    Abstract: A volumetrically efficient plastic hot fill container at least one vacuum panel defined by a vacuum panel area of a sidewall that is constructed and arranged to flex inwardly in order to accommodate volumetric shrinkage that may occur within the container as a result of the conventionally known hot fill process. Advantageously, at least a portion of the vacuum panel area of the sidewall is formed as a plurality of undulations. The undulations preferably have a horizontal component and provide an increased surface area to the vacuum panel area relative to what a flat surface would provide. As a result, the amount of volumetric shrinkage that may be accommodated through inward deflection of said vacuum panel area of said sidewall is increased relative to a flat surface would provide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr.
  • Variable displacement container base
    Patent number: 9296539
    Abstract: Base includes an outer support wall, a support surface extending inwardly from the outer support wall and defining a reference plane, an inner support wall extending upwardly from the support surface, a first radiused portion extending radially inward from the inner support wall and concave relative to the reference plane, a second radiused portion extending radially inward from the first radiused portion and convex relative to the reference plane, an intermediate surface extending radially inward from the second radiused portion and substantially parallel to the reference plane, a third radiused portion extending radially inward from the intermediate surface and convex relative to the reference plane, and a central portion disposed proximate the third radiused portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Lee Wright, Justin A. Howell, Travis A. Hunter, Romauld M. Philippe, Michael T. Kelly, Robert Waltemyer
  • Bottle
    Patent number: D752444
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Schlies, Sheldon E. Yourist
  • Container
    Patent number: D757561
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: Sheldon E. Yourist
  • Container
    Patent number: D758194
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: Sheldon E. Yourist
  • Container
    Patent number: D758875
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: April M. Peacock
  • Container
    Patent number: D760086
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: David B. Heisner, Benton A. Lewis, Matthew Vogel
  • Container
    Patent number: D762480
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: Sheldon E. Yourist
  • Container
    Patent number: D764307
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: Alicia Evans
  • Container
    Patent number: D766722
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Anthony J. Schlies, Justin A. Howell
  • Container
    Patent number: D767401
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: Sheldon E. Yourist
  • Container having an apple-shaped grip
    Patent number: D767998
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: April M. Peacock, Justin A. Howell, Benton A. Lewis, Sheldon E. Yourist, Seung Hong
  • Apple-shaped grip for a container
    Patent number: D767999
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Sheldon E. Yourist, Seung Hong