Patents Assigned to Graham Packaging Company
  • Patent number: 10301102
    Abstract: Plastic aerosol container having a thermally crystallized neck finish configured to receive an aerosol valve assembly and an expanded strain oriented aerosol container body integral with the neck finish. A junction between the thermally crystallized neck finish and the strain oriented container body defines a pull point at which strain orientation begins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, LP
    Inventors: Ralph Armstrong, Keith J. Barker, Tapan Y. Patel
  • Publication number: 20190152683
    Abstract: An aerosol container includes a main body portion that is constructed and arranged to withstand aerosol pressurization within a range that is about 90-180 prig and a threaded finish portion that is unitary with the main body portion. The threaded finish portion has at least one helical thread, a support ledge beneath the helical thread and a secondary flange that is positioned beneath the support ledge. The secondary flange has an outer circumference that is noncircular in at least one location, whereby it may be engaged during a capping operation to prevent rotation of the container during capping. A method of making an aerosol container in which a preform is capped before the blow molding process is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Tapan Y. Patel, JR., Thomas E. Nahill, Stephen R. Guerin
  • Publication number: 20190144176
    Abstract: A child-resistant closure device for a rigid plastic container having a tapered neck section and method of manufacture. The device has a substantially circular neck and inner lid surface. The neck includes anchors which engage with nodes on the inner lid surface. The tapered section of the neck acts as a spring engaging the nodes with the anchors. The closure device may be engaged by rotating the lid in relation to the neck. To disengage the closure device a simultaneous downward and rotational force must be applied. The lid and the container, including the closure, can be blow molded at the same time or separately.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Applicant: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Sheldon Yourist, Brian Hagan, Ben Lewis, Anthony Schlies
  • Patent number: 10273033
    Abstract: An asymmetric pressurized plastic container includes a bottom, a shoulder portion and a finish portion that is unitary with an upper end of the shoulder portion. A generally cylindrical bumper portion having a first longitudinal axis is provided at a lower end of the shoulder portion. A generally cylindrical main body portion having a second longitudinal axis is positioned beneath the bumper portion and has at least a first sidewall feature defined therein. The first and second longitudinal axes are offset so as to compensate for any lateral deflection of the container that may occur as a result of pressurization acting upon the first sidewall feature. In addition, the main body portion may include a second sidewall feature to provide additional compensation against lateral deflection of the container causes a result of pressurization acting upon the first sidewall feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: David B. Heisner, Sheldon E. Yourist, J. Andrew Osgood, David P. Piccioli
  • Publication number: 20190111591
    Abstract: Methods and devices for manufacturing plastic preforms and plastic containers are provided. Methods of manufacturing a plastic preform having an inner undercut include forming a preform of plastic in amorphous state and inserting a plug within the mouth of the preform. The plug includes an upper plug member and an expandable element, the expandable element having an initial outer diameter in plan view with the plug in an initial condition and a deployed outer diameter in plan view with the plug in a deployed condition. Methods further include deploying the plug to the deployed condition with the expandable element positioned to engage a side wall proximate the inner undercut and crystallizing the plastic of the preform along the finish portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott E. Bysick, John E. Denner, Justin A. Howell
  • Patent number: 10259644
    Abstract: A plastic pressure container including a main body portion and a finish portion defining a mouth, 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, and the inner undercut has a curved shape in cross-section. The outer surface has an outer undercut defined therein proximate the upper rim, and the outer undercut has a polygonal shape in cross-section. The inner undercut defines a first depth relative to an inner diameter D2 proximate the mouth and the outer undercut defines a second depth relative to an outer diameter D3 proximate the mouth. The second depth is different than the first depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Tapan Y. Patel, John E. Denner, Scott E. Bysick, Justin A. Howell
  • Patent number: 10252834
    Abstract: Large format rigid structured polymer container includes a hollow main body portion. The hollow main body portion includes four corner column configurations. Each corner column configuration has a top end and a bottom end. The top end of each corner column configuration defines a top reference plane, and the bottom end of each corner column configuration defines a bottom reference plane. The hollow main body portion has first and second end walls, and first and second sidewalls. Each end wall extends between two adjacent corner column configurations along a transverse direction of the main body portion. Each sidewall extends between adjacent corner column configurations along a longitudinal direction of the main body portion. The container has a recessed top surface extending between the top ends of the four of corner column configurations, and a raised bottom surface extending between the bottom ends of the four corner column configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Sheldon E. Yourist
  • Publication number: 20190077064
    Abstract: A vertical additive processing system for use with a blow molding machine having a flow head from which a plastic parison is delivered to a mold and producing an article. The system has a servo-controlled accumulation technology (SCAT) unit including (a) an accumulator collecting plastic material when retracted and delivering plastic material when extended, and (b) an actuator directing the accumulator to retract and extend. The system further has a tooling unit including a bushing body adapted to engage the flow head, a distribution ring, a bushing cap, a central aperture defining a main parison flow path, and a distribution channel delivering additional plastic material received from the accumulator to the main parison flow path. The system still further has a material duct connecting the two units through which plastic material delivered by the SCAT unit is transported to and received by the tooling unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Martin R. Albers, Brent Heenan, Keith Folkenroth, Roman Justice, Brian Hagan
  • Publication number: 20190062026
    Abstract: Hot-fillable plastic bottle including a finished portion, a body portion with at least one circumferential rib configured to resist radial distortion, and a base portion. The base portion comprises a base sidewall, a bottom support surface extending radially inward from the base sidewall and defining a reference plane, an inner support wall extending upwardly from the bottom support surface, and a diaphragm extending radially inward from the inner support wall. The diaphragm comprises an inner wall having an arcuate shape with a radius r1 and a central conical structure, where the diaphragm is in an initial as-formed position with the conical structure above the reference place. The diaphragm is configured to move from an initial as-formed position toward a second position when an internal pressure relative an external pressure exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Raymond A. PRITCHETT, JR., Willie F. HATCHER, Michael T. KELLY
  • Patent number: 10214407
    Abstract: Systems and methods using container holders configured to provide a stable support for containers held therein in order to efficiently cool the containers after a hot-fill or elevated temperature operation. The container holders can allow a fluid to pass from an inner volume of the container holder to outside the container holder through side apertures and/or an open bottom end of the container holder. Groups of containers and container holders also may be cooled. Groups of containers in container holders can be processed through the cooling operation at a speed different from a speed for holderless containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: Paul V. Kelley
  • Patent number: 10208200
    Abstract: A composition comprising: a polyester base polymer; a blend of two distinct polyether-based oxygen scavenging additives, OS1 and OS2, wherein each of OS1 and OS2 is selected from the group consisting of a polyether diol, an ester end-capped derivative of a polyether diol, a polyether-polyester block copolymer, and an ether end-capped derivative of a polyetherdiol, wherein OS1 has a molecular weight of from 10,000 to 100,000 and OS2 has a molecular weight of from 200 to 5,000; and a transition metal catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Murali K. Akkapeddi, Brian A. Lynch
  • Patent number: 10202233
    Abstract: An aerosol container includes a main body portion that is constructed and arranged to withstand aerosol pressurization within a range that is about 90-180 psig and a threaded finish portion that is unitary with the main body portion. The threaded finish portion has at least one helical thread, a support ledge beneath the helical thread and a secondary flange that is positioned beneath the support ledge. The secondary flange has an outer circumference that is noncircular in at least one location, whereby it may be engaged during a capping operation to prevent rotation of the container during capping. A method of making an aerosol container in which a preform is capped before the blow molding process is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Tapan Y. Patel, Thomas E. Nahill, Stephen R. Guerin
  • Publication number: 20190039277
    Abstract: A plastic container has a main body portion, a neck portion and a molded feature such as an anti-rotation lug adjacent to the neck portion. The molded feature has a volume that is less than a volume that would be defined by the maximum external dimensions of the feature. This reduces the shrinkage differential between the molded feature and the neck portion, which could otherwise cause sealing problems with a closure as a result of deformation of the neck portion. A method of blow molding a plastic container with a reduced volume of the molded feature is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Eric B. Ungrady, III, Matthew A. Russell, Hope Lee Townsend, Michael L. James
  • Patent number: 10189596
    Abstract: Plastic containers, base configurations for plastic containers, and systems, methods, and base molds thereof. In particular, the disclosed subject matter involves container base configurations having particular up-stand geometries that can assist or facilitate elevated temperature processing and/or cooling processing of plastic containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Michael P. Wurster, Scott E. Bysick
  • Patent number: 10183779
    Abstract: A container for storing a fluid used in automotives is disclosed. The container has a solid filled side grip area located on a sidewall of the container. The container also uses a bail to facilitate holding of the container. A base grip area is located on the base of the container to also assist in gripping the container. The container is able to hold more oil while using less plastic, which makes the container more ecologically friendly and cost effective than existing containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventor: Sheldon E. Yourist
  • Publication number: 20180327133
    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, the intermediate surface including a linear portion and an intermediate radiused portion, 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: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Justin A. Howell, John E. Denner, Shannon K. Sprenkle, Robert Waltemyer
  • Patent number: 10118331
    Abstract: A container forming assembly and method includes receiving a parison within a cavity of a mold, enclosing the parison within the mold having a wall with a recess, inflating the parison in the mold to form a blow molded container where the blow molded container has a sidewall, a movable region formed at the recess, and a hinge circumscribing an interface between the sidewall and the movable region, and moving the movable region toward an interior of the blow molded container about the hinge before filling. Furthermore, a method for forming a container includes receiving a parison, enclosing the parison with a mold that includes a cavity, and inflating the parison in said mold to form a blow molded container with a moveable region at the cavity. The method further includes repositioning the moveable region before filling the blow molded container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.
    Inventors: Gregory Trude, Paul Kelley
  • Publication number: 20180281267
    Abstract: A multi-functional utility skid for use with an air compressor, a chiller, and a connection having a first end engaging the chiller and a second end to provide utilities to a blow-molding machine for blow-molding articles. The skid is located proximate the machine and includes a pump engaging the second end of the connection, receiving chilled water from the chiller, being located proximate the chiller to minimize the length of the connection, and providing chilled water to both the machine and a separate supply of chilled water. The skid further includes an integral unit combining a dehumidifier that controls the humidity of the environment surrounding the machine with a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning unit that receives the supply of chilled water from the pump, controls the temperature of the environment surrounding the machine, and supplies conditioned air to the dehumidifier thereby avoiding the need for a heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicant: Graham Packaging Company, LP.
    Inventors: John R. Reichler, Thomas Havekotte
  • Patent number: D847639
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr., Willie F. Hatcher
  • Patent number: D847640
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Raymond A. Pritchett, Jr., Willie F. Hatcher