Abstract: A container closure and methods are disclosed for providing visible evidence of removal of the closure from a container after installation by a manufacturer. The closure includes tamper evidence bridges comprising small tabs of material that extend from a bottom-most edge of the closure to a tamper evidence ledge of the container. The bridges break when the closure is rotated relative to the tamper evidence ledge, thereby providing readily visible evidence that the closure has been removed after installation by the manufacturer. In some embodiments, a tamper evidence closure engages with threads of a finish of the container. Cam locks around the perimeter of the tamper evidence closure are permanently flared by cams on the finish during loosening of the closure. Outward flaring of the cam locks provides a visual indication that the tamper evidence closure has been loosened after installation by a manufacturer.

Abstract: A closure for sealing contents within an interior of a container. The closure includes a closure portion having interior threads configured to rotatably engage and disengage from threads of a finish portion, a tamper evidence band, a multiplicity of thin connections attaching the tamper evidence band to the closure portion, and an anchor extending from the closure portion to the tamper evidence band. The anchor is configured to keep the closure portion attached to the tamper evidence band in response to a force applied to the closure portion below a second predetermined threshold that is greater than the first predetermined threshold. The interior threads have a thread pitch of less than 2 millimeters. Whereby the thread pitch reduces a distance the closure portion travels during disengagement with the threads of the finish portion and the amount of stress imparted on the anchor.

Abstract: A nozzle for forming a container preform into a plastic container includes a first cylindrical portion having a first diameter and including a first seal, a second cylindrical portion having a second diameter less than the first diameter and including a second seal, and a transition portion between the first and second cylindrical portions.

Abstract: A finish portion of a preform for rotatably engaging with a closure to seal contents within an interior of a container includes a body that begins at an opening to the interior, a sealing surface adjacent to the opening and including a first polished buffer zone configured to cooperate with a plug seal, and a transition surface extending from the sealing surface to a narrower handling surface. The first buffer zone is polished by way of a machine polishing technique.

Abstract: A finish portion of a preform for rotatably engaging with a closure to seal pressurized contents within an interior of a container formed from the preform. The finish portion includes a cylindrical body that begins at an opening to the interior. The cylindrical body has a base surface, threads extending from the base surface, a tamper evidence ledge, and a handling surface disposed between the threads and the tamper evidence ledge. A stepped interior includes a graduated narrowing of the cylindrical body between the base surface and the handling surface.

Abstract: A tamper evidence closure is provided for rotatably engaging with a finish of a container to seal contents within the interior of the container. A multiplicity of thin connections attach a tamper evidence band to a circumference of the tamper evidence closure. A segmented cam extends around the circumference of the tamper evidence band. An angled lower surface of the cam facilitates passing the tamper evidence band over a tamper evidence ledge of the finish during assembly of the tamper evidence closure onto the container. An upper surface of the cam engages with the tamper evidence ledge to break the thin connections and retain the tamper evidence band positioned on the finish during loosening of the tamper evidence closure. Multiple overhang portions above the cam press against an upper portion of the tamper evidence ledge to ensure that the tamper evidence band remains engaged with the tamper evidence ledge.

Abstract: A container closure and methods are disclosed for providing visible evidence of removal of the closure from a container after installation by a manufacturer. The closure includes tamper evidence bridges comprising small tabs of material that extend from a bottom-most edge of the closure to a tamper evidence ledge of the container. The bridges break when the closure is rotated relative to the tamper evidence ledge, thereby providing readily visible evidence that the closure has been removed after installation by the manufacturer. In some embodiments, a tamper evidence closure engages with threads of a finish of the container. Cam locks around the perimeter of the tamper evidence closure are permanently flared by cams on the finish during loosening of the closure. Outward flaring of the cam locks provides a visual indication that the tamper evidence closure has been loosened after installation by a manufacturer.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for a container comprising a base, a bell, a sidewall between the base and the bell, a neck and a finish which define an opening to an interior of the container, and a shoulder between the sidewall and the bell. Strap ribs extend from a central portion of the base and terminate at the sidewall. The strap ribs cooperate with vertically aligned recessed columns of the sidewall to resist bending, leaning, crumbling, or stretching along the sidewall and the base. An inwardly offset portion of the sidewall is disposed between each pair of adjacent recessed columns. The inwardly offset portions of the sidewall are configured to resist outward bowing of the sidewall due to internal pressure of contents within the container.

Abstract: A plastic preform apparatus is disclosed that is suitable for forming a bottle. The plastic preform apparatus features a neck portion adapted to engage a closure and includes a support ring at its lowermost point. The neck portion features a first wall thickness, and an elongated body portion including a cylindrical wall portion and an end cap. An upper segment of the body portion adjacent to the support ring features a second wall thickness substantially similar to the first wall thickness and less than a third wall thickness in a lower segment of the body portion.

Abstract: A nozzle for a blow-molding process includes a first sealing portion, a second sealing portion, and a seal disposed around a circumference of the first sealing portion in the form of circular edge. A transition portion is positioned between the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion. The nozzle is configured such that upon engagement of the second sealing portion with the interior of a container preform having a longitudinal axis, the second sealing portion is positioned along the longitudinal axis at a different location than the first sealing portion.

Abstract: A preform is provided for blow-molding to form a container. The preform includes a finish portion for rotatably engaging a closure to seal contents within an interior of the container. The finish portion comprises a cylindrical body that begins at an opening to the interior and extends to and includes a tamper evidence ledge. A bevel at a beginning of the opening receives a plug seal of the closure. A sealing surface adjacent to the bevel is disposed along an interior of the finish portion and includes a polished buffer zone to cooperate with the plug seal to seal the container. A transition surface extends from the sealing surface to a handling surface that receives equipment to form the preform into the container. In some embodiments, the transition surface includes a polished buffer zone to cooperate with an end of the plug seal to seal the contents in the container.

Abstract: A preform is provided for blow-molding to form a container. The preform includes a finish portion for rotatably engaging a closure to seal pressurized contents within an interior of the container. The finish portion comprises a cylindrical body that begins at an opening to the interior and extends to and includes a tamper evidence ledge. A bevel at a beginning of the opening receives a plug seal of the closure. Multiple mirror polished surfaces beyond the bevel are configured to cooperate with the plug seal to seal the container. Mirror polished transition surfaces are disposed between diameter changes within the finish portion. In some embodiments, wherein the plug seal includes a sidewall profile that mates with the transition surfaces, an interior surface of the preform has a diameter that tightly compresses an end of the plug seal to contain pressurized contents within the container.

Abstract: A nozzle for forming a container preform into a plastic container includes a nozzle body and a sealing portion proximate an end of the nozzle body. The sealing portion is configured to engage with a stepped interior of a finish portion of a preform having a longitudinal axis to seal without the use of an O-ring and to preclude any portion of the nozzle body from contacting the sealing surface.

Abstract: A user-wearable breathing apparatus is disclosed. Air may be passed through an air irradiating chamber coupled to an ultraviolet light source and configured to irradiate the air irradiating chamber with ultraviolet light. An ultraviolet-opaque cover substantially surrounding the user-wearable breathing apparatus may be provided. A hose may be passed through an opening in the ultraviolet-opaque cover to direct processed air to the user. The hose may be configured to attach to an optional head-wearable breathing assembly. In some embodiments, the air may be passed through the apparatus in response to the user’s breathing, while in other embodiments, fans are used. In other embodiments, the oxygen content of the processed air may be increased by techniques such as nitrogen scrubbing and injecting oxygen into the air while it is being processed.

Abstract: A tamper evidence closure is provided for rotatably engaging with a finish of a container to seal contents within the interior of the container. A multiplicity of thin connections attach a tamper evidence band to a circumference of the tamper evidence closure. A segmented cam extends around the circumference of the tamper evidence band. An angled lower surface of the cam facilitates passing the tamper evidence band over a tamper evidence ledge of the finish during assembly of the tamper evidence closure onto the container. An upper surface of the cam engages with the tamper evidence ledge to break the thin connections and retain the tamper evidence band positioned on the finish during loosening of the tamper evidence closure. Multiple overhang portions above the cam press against an upper portion of the tamper evidence ledge to ensure that the tamper evidence band remains engaged with the tamper evidence ledge.

Abstract: A sidewall of a container for storing liquid contents includes a grip portion extending from a base of the container and presenting a grip portion periphery about an axis. A plurality of axially angulating ribs are within the grip portion, each of which includes a first portion having a first radial depth relative to the periphery that transitions to a second portion having a second radial depth relative to the periphery less than the first radial depth. A flat portion having a zero radial depth relative to the periphery is positioned circumferentially between a second portion of one angulating rib of the plurality of axially angulating ribs and an axially offset second portion of another angulating rib of the plurality of axially angulating ribs.

Abstract: Please delete the current abstract and insert the following new abstract: A container includes a flat foot base having a gate centered on a central axis of the container and a sidewall connected to the base and defining a portion of an interior of the container. A plurality of strap ribs are positioned in the base, each one of which extends radially outward toward the sidewall. A plurality of recessed columns are positioned in the sidewall and formed from varying depth sidewall ribs extending along a periphery of the sidewall. Each varying depth rib includes shallow sections and deep sections, the shallow sections having a rib depth less than a rib depth of the deep sections. The shallow sections of the varying depth ribs are aligned to form the recessed columns. At least one strap rib is aligned with at least one recessed column.