Patents by Inventor Keith J. Barker
Keith J. Barker has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10773875Abstract: A method of forming a plastic aerosol container, including, providing a preform having a finish portion, blow molding a plastic container from the preform, and reforming the finish portion so that an inner surface thereof has an undercut defined therein proximate an upper rim fo the finish portion. The undercut includes a substantially horizontal orientation and reforming the finish portion is performed after providing a preform.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2017Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.Inventors: Ralph Armstrong, Thomas E. Nahill, Keith J. Barker, Brian A. Lynch
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Patent number: 10301102Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 31, 2012Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, LPInventors: Ralph Armstrong, Keith J. Barker, Tapan Y. Patel
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Patent number: 9993959Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 25, 2016Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.Inventors: Stephen R. Guerin, David P. Piccioli, Thomas E. Nahill, Keith J. Barker
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Publication number: 20180037399Abstract: A method of forming a plastic aerosol container, including, providing a preform having a finish portion, blow molding a plastic container from the preform, and reforming the finish portion so that an inner surface thereof has an undercut defined therein proximate an upper rim fo the finish portion. The undercut includes a substantially horizontal orientation and reforming the finish portion is performed after providing a preform.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2017Publication date: February 8, 2018Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.Inventors: Ralph Armstrong, Thomas E. Nahill, Keith J. Barker, Brian A. Lynch
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Publication number: 20160236397Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2016Publication date: August 18, 2016Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.Inventors: Stephen R. Guerin, David P. Piccioli, Thomas E. Nahill, Keith J. Barker
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Patent number: 9346212Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 4, 2015Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.Inventors: Stephen R. Guerin, David P. Piccioli, Thomas E. Nahill, Keith J. Barker
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Publication number: 20160136865Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2016Publication date: May 19, 2016Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.Inventors: Stephen R. Guerin, David R. Picciolo, Thomas E. Nahill, Keith J. Barker
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Patent number: 9254937Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: February 9, 2016Assignee: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.Inventors: Stephen R. Guerin, David R. Piccioli, Thomas E. Nahill, Keith J. Barker
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Publication number: 20150306829Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2015Publication date: October 29, 2015Inventors: STEPHEN R. GUERIN, DAVID P. PICCIOLI, THOMAS E. NAHILL, KEITH J. BARKER
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Patent number: 9022776Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventors: Stephen R. Guerin, David R. Piccioli, Thomas E. Nahill, Keith J. Barker
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Publication number: 20140263160Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Graham Packaging Company, L.P.Inventors: Stephen R. GUERIN, David R. PICCIOLI, Thomas E. NAHILL, Keith J. BARKER
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Publication number: 20140263161Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.Inventors: Stephen R. GUERIN, David R. PICCIOLI, Thomas E. NAHILL, Keith J. BARKER
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Publication number: 20130082074Abstract: A plastic aerosol container assembly includes a plastic container that has a main body portion defining an interior space and a finish portion that defines an opening. A pressurized aerosol mixture is maintained within the interior space. The finish portion has an inner surface that has an undercut defined therein. An aerosol valve assembly is mounted to the plastic container so that a portion thereof engages the inner surface of the finish portion so as to be retained by the undercut. The plastic container is preferably fabricated from material including polyethylene terephthalate. At least one location in the finish portion may be crystallized in order to provide enhanced resistance to stress cracking.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2011Publication date: April 4, 2013Applicant: GRAHAM PACKAGING COMPANY, L.P.Inventors: RALPH ARMSTRONG, THOMAS E. NAHILL, KEITH J. BARKER, BRIAN A. LYNCH
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Publication number: 20130037580Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2012Publication date: February 14, 2013Applicant: Graham Packaging Company, LPInventors: Ralph ARMSTRONG, Keith J. Barker, Tapan Y. Patel
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Patent number: 7604769Abstract: A method of making a plastic container having a body and a finish with at least one external thread includes injection or compression molding a plastic preform having a body and a finish with at least one external thread, blow molding the body of the preform to form the body of the container, and either prior to, subsequent to or both prior and subsequent to blow molding the container body, expanding the injection or compression molded preform finish to form a container finish having at least one injection or compression molded external thread. In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the finish is expanded after the container body is blow-molded. The invention can be implemented to expand a narrow-neck preform or container finish to a wide-mouth preform or container finish.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2005Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: Graham Packaging PET Technologies Inc.Inventors: Brian A. Lynch, Keith J. Barker, Thomas E. Nahill
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Patent number: 7303796Abstract: A finish on a hollow plastic preform or container includes a neck that is at least partially of crystallizable polymer construction and is at least partially crystallized, and a finish ring externally secured over the neck. The neck preferably is of molded plastic construction, and preferably is stretched subsequent to molding but prior to external securement of the finish ring. In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the preform or container has an integral body, and the neck is integrally molded with the body. The finish ring preferably has at least one external thread for securement of a closure to the container after molding.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2003Date of Patent: December 4, 2007Assignee: Graham Packaging PET Technologies Inc.Inventors: Thomas E. Nahill, Brian A. Lynch, Keith J. Barker
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Patent number: 7138082Abstract: A method of making a plastic container having a threaded wide-mouth finish includes providing a preform having at least an exterior surface of molded polyester construction. The preform is placed in a mold cavity having a first portion for forming a container body, a second portion adjacent to the first portion for forming a cylindrical finish wall without threads, and a third portion adjacent to the second portion for forming a trim dome or moil. The preform is expanded within the mold cavity to form a one-piece intermediate product that includes a body, a cylindrical wide-mouth finish wall and a moil. After removing the intermediate product from the cavity, the moil is severed from the end of the finish wall. At least one thread is then formed on the finish wall by engaging the finish wall with at least one thread-forming tool, which may be heated to facilitate the forming operation.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2002Date of Patent: November 21, 2006Assignee: Graham Packaging Pet Technologies Inc.Inventors: Thomas E. Nahill, Keith J. Barker, Brian A. Lynch, Bassam M. Kalmouni
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Patent number: 7033656Abstract: A container, a container preform and a method of making the container or preform in which the finish of the preform or container is at least partially of crystallizable polymer construction, and has an end portion remote from the body of the preform or container, a capping flange adjacent to the body of the preform or container, and a mid portion between the end portion and the capping flange. The end portion of the finish forms an end surface, and the end and mid portions of the finish form continuous inner and outer surfaces. The polymer material in at least one of the end, inner and outer surfaces is crystallized, and crystallization in the finish in a direction perpendicular to such surface is graded from crystallization at the surface to an essential absence of crystallization at a position within the finish spaced from the surface.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2002Date of Patent: April 25, 2006Assignee: Graham Packaging PET Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Thomas E. Nahill, Keith J. Barker, Brian A. Lynch
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Patent number: 6884382Abstract: A method of making a plastic container having a body and a finish with at least one external thread includes injection or compression molding a plastic preform having a body and a finish with at least one external thread, blow molding the body of the preform to form the body of the container, and either prior to, subsequent to or both prior and subsequent to blow molding the container body, expanding the injection or compression molded preform finish to form a container finish having at least one injection or compression molded external thread. In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the finish is expanded after the container body is blow-molded. The invention can be implemented to expand a narrow-neck preform or container finish to a wide-mouth preform or container finish.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2003Date of Patent: April 26, 2005Assignee: Graham Packaging PET Technologies Inc.Inventors: Brian A. Lynch, Keith J. Barker, Thomas E. Nahill
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Publication number: 20040166264Abstract: A method of making a plastic container having a body and a finish with at least one external thread includes providing a plastic preform having a body and a neck and blow molding the body of the preform to form the body of the container. Either prior to or subsequent to blow molding the container body, the preform neck is radially and circumferentially expanded. A finish ring having at least one external thread is secured to the external surface of the neck after expansion of the neck.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2003Publication date: August 26, 2004Inventors: Thomas E. Nahill, Keith J. Barker, Bassam M. Kalmouni, Brian A. Lynch, Kim D. Lufkin