Abstract: A finish portion for a plastic container includes a threaded portion having at least one helical thread and a substantially flat thread positioned beneath the helical thread. The helical thread is merged into the flat thread. A transfer bead is positioned beneath the threaded portion and a gripping indentation is defined between the threaded portion and the transfer bead for facilitating automated conveyance. The gripping indentation may be shaped so that no separate ledge is defined between the threaded portion and the transfer bead. The gripping indentation may have a height that is at least about 0.085 inch. The finish portion has a maximum thread diameter and a maximum height, and a ratio of the maximum thread diameter to the maximum height may be at least about 2.3.

Abstract: A container assembly includes a container having an unthreaded finish portion and a closure having a downwardly depending sidewall and blocking structure provided at a lower end of the sidewall for securing the closure on to the unthreaded finish portion. The sidewall is provided with a predetermined area of weakness so that in the event that an attempt is made to remove the closure from the container the predetermined area of weakness will rupture, leaving the closure with insufficient structural integrity to be successfully reapplied to the container. The container assembly has particular utility for use in packaging brand-name comestibles such as ketchup for restaurant use. It will frustrate efforts by the restaurant to replenish the brand-name comestible with a cheaper replacement within a dispensing container that is still labeled with the brand of the original product.

Abstract: A finish portion for a plastic container includes a threaded portion having at least one helical thread and a substantially flat thread positioned beneath the helical thread. The helical thread is merged into the flat thread. A transfer bead is positioned beneath the threaded portion and a gripping indentation is defined between the threaded portion and the transfer bead for facilitating automated conveyance. The gripping indentation may be shaped so that no separate ledge is defined between the threaded portion and the transfer bead. The gripping indentation may have a height that is at least about 0.085 inch. The finish portion has a maximum thread diameter and a maximum height, and a ratio of the maximum thread diameter to the maximum height may be at least about 2.3.

Abstract: Non-removable finish and closure finish system that resists rotational movement so as to be rendered substantially non-removable by the consumer. The closure and finish have complementary thread segments with ratchet-type engaging portions or lugs extending below thread segments on the finish and closure, the closure lugs being disposed on an inner skirt spaced radially inwardly from an outer skirt to inhibit access to the interlocking lugs.

Abstract: Non-removable finish and closure finish system that resists rotational movement so as to be rendered substantially non-removable by the consumer. The closure and finish have complementary thread segments with ratchet-type engaging portions or lugs extending below thread segments on the finish and closure, the closure lugs being disposed on an inner skirt spaced radially inwardly from an outer skirt to inhibit access to the interlocking lugs.

Abstract: A preform for making a plastic container includes a main body portion and a threaded finish portion that has an outer surface and an inner surface. The threaded finish portion has a proximal and that is unitary with the main body portion of the preform and a distal end that is opposite from the proximal end. At least one external thread is defined on the outer surface of the finish portion. A gripping indentation is advantageously defined in the outer surface and is longitudinally positioned between the external thread and the distal end of the finish portion. A container having such a finish portion and a method of making a container is also disclosed.

Abstract: A container assembly includes a container having an unthreaded finish portion and a closure having a downwardly depending sidewall and blocking structure provided at a lower end of the sidewall for securing the closure on to the unthreaded finish portion. The sidewall is provided with a predetermined area of weakness so that in the event that an attempt is made to remove the closure from the container the predetermined area of weakness will rupture, leaving the closure with insufficient structural integrity to be successfully reapplied to the container. The container assembly has particular utility for use in packaging brand-name comestibles such as ketchup for restaurant use. It will frustrate efforts by the restaurant to replenish the brand-name comestible with a cheaper replacement within a dispensing container that is still labeled with the brand of the original product.

Abstract: Non-removable finish and closure finish system that resists rotational movement so as to be rendered substantially non-removable by the consumer. The closure and finish have complementary thread segments with ratchet-type engaging portions or lugs extending below thread segments on the finish and closure, the closure lugs being disposed on an inner skirt spaced radially inwardly from an outer skirt to inhibit access to the interlocking lugs.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a dual-chamber plastic container in an injection/extrusion/blow-molding operation, in which a container finish is first injection molded. The finish mold tooling is then moved axially upwardly as plastic continues to be extruded through extrusion tooling in which an orifice bushing surrounds a mandrel tip. The mandrel tip has a passage through which plastic is extruded to form a wall that divides the extruded tube into separate chambers. Blow molds are brought in from both sides to capture the extruded tube, and air is blown through a passage in the finish mold tooling to blow the tube chambers to the confines of the mold.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a dual-chamber plastic container in an injection/extrusion/blow-molding operation, in which a container finish is first injection molded. The finish mold tooling is then moved axially upwardly as plastic continues to be extruded through extrusion tooling in which an orifice bushing surrounds a mandrel tip. The mandrel tip has a passage through which plastic is extruded to form a wall that divides the extruded tube into separate chambers. Blow molds are brought in from both sides to capture the extruded tube, and air is blown through a passage in the finish mold tooling to blow the tube chambers to the confines of the mold.

Abstract: A dispensing package for fluent products includes a container of one-piece integrally molded plastic construction having a hollow flexible body, and a rigid integral finish defined by a deck that spans one end of the body, a package dispensing opening in the deck and a wall upstanding from a perimeter of the deck surrounding the deck and the opening. An actuator disk is mounted within the peripheral wall overlying the deck and the dispensing opening, and is pivotal between a closed position closing the opening and an open position for dispensing product from the opening through the actuator disk.

Abstract: A pump dispenser package that includes a container having a cylindrical neck with an axial edge that surrounds a container outlet opening. The neck has an internal circumferential channel that extends around the neck in a plane adjacent to but spaced from the axial edge of the neck. A pump assembly has a cylindrical housing with an integrally formed radially outwardly extending flange. A flat annular adapter ring has an inner edge secured to the pump housing in abutment with the flange and an outer edge received in the internal channel in the container neck to mount the pump assembly to the container. In the preferred construction, the pump housing has a radial ledge spaced from the flange, and the inner edge of the adapter ring is captured between the ledge and the flange. The outer edge of the adapter ring preferably has an annular peripheral bead that is received by snap-fit within the channel in the container neck. The adapter ring has a flat upper surface that is coplanar with the axial edge of the neck.

Abstract: Improved blow-molding prototype molding system, method and apparatus wherein a plastic container is first designed using computer-aided design (CAD) software to produce a geometric computer software model of a hollow plastic container of desired contour. This model is then used to generate a geometric computer software model of a corresponding mold cavity. This data file in turn provides the control signal for a cutting tool of a CNC three axis mold machining tool operating on a starting blank for each mold half of metal material having predetermined and constant length, width and thickness outside dimensions. A mold cavity is thereby automatically machined in a front face of this blank that constitutes one of the two major and parallel face planes of the mold half block. The other half of the mold cavity is similarly formed in the front face of a second mold half block that cooperates with the first mold block to form the two mold halves of a complete blow mold.