Abstract: A thermoplastic bottle has a generally cylindrical body, in turn having an upper portion, a lower portion, and opposite sides joining at a diametric plane. A plurality of adjacent finger recesses extend about one of the opposite sides in the lower portion of the body, and a thumb depression is provided in the lower portion on the other of the opposite sides. A continuous circumferential indentation is formed in the cylindrical body between the upper portion and the lower portion to decouple pressure response of the upper and lower portions and minimize lean transfer to the upper portion resulting from expansion of the lower portion on the one of the opposite sides. The bottle is also formed with at least one vertical reinforcing indentation, preferably at least one set of three such vertical reinforcing indentations in each of the finger grooves, and at least one, preferably three spaced vertical reinforcing indentations in the thumb depression.

Abstract: A multi-layer preform for forming multi-layer containers includes an extruded inner barrier layer, said inner layer having an upper portion adapted to be formed into an upper portion of a container, an intermediate portion adapted to be formed into an intermediate portion of a container, an extruded and a base portion adapted to form a base portion of a container. The preform includes an outer injection molded layer.

Abstract: The invention provides a light weight self-standing blow molded two liter carbonated beverage bottle having a unique petaloid base made from a monobase preform. The base comprises a petaloid design which has a plurality of at least three (preferably five) feet. The monobase preform has a thick reinforcing ring forming portion which remains unstretched during blowing. The reinforcing ring forming portion is thicker than both the sidewall forming portion and the gate area forming portion of the preform thereby resulting in increased stretching in both those areas. The reinforcing ring extends circumferentially around the base. By providing such a reinforcing ring, a bottle having a bigger foot radius and/or containing less material use can be realized. The resulting bottle has less stress whitening and greater stress crack resistance while at the same time using less material and/or having a larger radius than prior bottles.

Abstract: A plastic blow molded container (10) includes a hollow body portion (11), an upper dispensing end (14) having a dome (15) and spout (16), and a lower freestanding base (18). The container includes a main layer (19) of virgin polyethylene terephthalate that defines the upper dispensing end (14) and partially defines the hollow body portion (11) and the lower freestanding base (18), and the container also includes a gas barrier liner (20) that is located inside of the main layer (19) defining an inner container surface (20a) and that cooperates with the main layer (19) to define the freestanding base (18) and at least a portion of the body portion (11). The gas barrier liner (20) has an upper end (21) located below the dispensing end (14) and has a wall thickness that is less than 0.25 of the adjacent wall thickness of the polyethylene terephthalate main layer (19).

Abstract: A container is obtained by biaxially stretch-blow-molding a resin. Except the mouth-and-neck portion, vicinities thereof and the center of the bottom portion, the container as a whole is reduced in thickness under a highly drawing condition without being accompanied by whitening, and a portion constituting the bottom valley portions has an yielding load of not smaller than 25 kg/cm at 70.degree. C. The container exhibits excellent heat resistance, pressure resistance, shock resistance as well as self-standing ability.

Abstract: This relates to the packaging of a hot liquid product in a container having little resistance to internal vacuum wherein immediately after the container has been filled, the container is internally pressurized and closed. This particularly relates to an injection molded preform formed of a suitable polyester resin which is of a configuration related to an intended blow mold cavity whereby the desired biaxial orientation is obtained in the various portions of the resultant container and the wall thickness of the container base is increased so as to prevent undue stress enlargement and creep at high internal pressurization. Internal pressurization on the order of 40-45 psig is envisioned.

Abstract: This relates to a returnable/refillable container in the form of a blow molded polyester biaxially oriented bottle wherein the container includes a domed base construction wherein the wall thickness gradually and smoothly increases to a maximum at the center of the dome. This also relates to a specially configurated preform which is blow molded to form the container and a specially configurated blow mold cavity for receiving a preform having a lower axial projection in the fore of an elongated gate without crushing.

Abstract: A plastic blow molded container (10) is disclosed as including a freestanding base structure (20) that is constructed with a plurality of alternating hollow legs 22 and curved ribs (34), and a hub (41) from which the legs and ribs extend radially with a construction that provides good stability against tipping as well as the capability of withstanding internal pressure. Each rib (34) has an outer upper end (36) with a circumferential width W.sub.u and an inner lower end (38) with a circumferential width W.sub.I that is greater than the circumferential width W.sub.u of the upper rib end so the lower rib end is capable of resisting stress cracking. An intermediate rib portion (40) of a curved shape tapers between the ends with an included angle B in the range of about 1.degree. to 8.degree. and preferably about 20.degree..

Abstract: The invention provides a light weight self-standing blow molded two-liter carbonated beverage container base design having a unique petaloid base. The base comprises a petaloid design which has a plurality of at least three (preferably five) feet with an ever increasing radius of curvature joining the feet to the underlying base from the radially outer portion of the feet to the radially inner portion of the feet, a controlled radius from the axis of the container to that curvature and an area of material flow in feet ankles and straps therebetween to promote adequate material flow during blow molding, to the radially outer most areas of the feet and straps.

Abstract: A method of making a polyester container having an enhanced level of crystallinity in the sidewall while maintaining a low level of crystallinity in a thickened base portion. The container is particularly useful as a refillable container which can withstand higher caustic wash temperatures and exhibits reduced flavor carryover, or as a hot-fill container. According to the method, a sidewall-forming section of a preform is initially expanded, heated to contract and crystallize the same, and than reexpanded; a base-forming portion of the preform is shielded from the heat treatment and is expanded either before or after the heat treatment step.

Abstract: A biaxially oriented plastic blow molded bottle (10) has a domed upper dispensing end (12), a lower freestanding base (14) about whose central hub (24) legs (26) and ribs (28) alternate, and a round body portion (16) with an inwardly extending annular grip (32) constructed to facilitate manual grasping of the bottle. The body portion (16)has the same diameter D above and below the annular grip (32). The annular grip (32) includes upper and lower ends (34,36) that extend outwardly with curved shapes with the upper end having a more abrupt curvature than the lower end. An intermediate portion (38) of the annular grip extends between the upper and lower ends with an inwardly curved shape that is less abrupt than the upper end (34) but more abrupt than the lower end (38). In one embodiment, the bottle (10.sub.tag) has its annular grip (32.sub.tag) provided with a textured outer surface (33) that facilitates gripping of the bottle.

Abstract: A plastic container of the present invention comprises a neck portion defining an opening, a shoulder portion continuous with the neck portion, and an intermediate sidewall portion continuous with the shoulder portion. The intermediate sidewall portion defines a major portion of a volume for holding a content. A base portion is also provided which is continuous with the intermediate sidewall portion. The base portion has a structure for supporting the container on a support surface and a surface feature for enhancing the strength of the structure. In a preferred embodiment, the structure is preferably comprised of one of a circumferential support ring and a plurality of circumferentially positioned feet. The surface feature for enhancing strength is substantially centered with respect to the structure. The surface feature for enhancing strength preferably comprises an indentation having a strength enhancing surface texture.

Abstract: A plastic blow molded container (10) and method for making the container with a hollow body portion (11), an upper dispensing end (14), and a lower freestanding base (18). The container (10) is biaxially oriented and has an outer layer (19) and an inner liner (20). The inner liner (20), which is a virgin resin having a nominal wall thickness that is less than 0.25 of the total wall thickness of the container, and the outer layer (19) is post consumer recycled, green colored polyethylene terephthalate. The virgin resin of the inner liner (20), which is preferably polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate or blends thereof with each other or with other resins, is extruded and then blow molded to form an inner liner about which the post consumer recycled, green colored polyethylene terephthalate is injection molded to provide the outer layer.

Abstract: A process for forming a footed plastic container, comprising the steps of providing a preform having a neck portion with an open top end, an elongated cylindrical body portion with inner and outer walls and a lower end, wherein the lower end includes a plurality of thickened portions; providing a blow mold in the shape of a footed container having an elongated sidewall, wherein the blow mold includes a plurality of separate container foot forming cavities; inserting the preform into the blow mold; placing each of the thickened portions in a predetermined position relative to the foot forming cavities; and stretch blow molding the preform, and displacing material from each of the thickened portions into one of the foot forming cavities to form the plastic container.

Abstract: An improved plastic container of the type suitable for containing carbonated beverages. The container is provided with a central section, an upper section including a typically threaded neck portion, and a lower end or base section typically including radially arrayed concave foot portions to support the container in an upright position. The horizontal cross-section of the central section manifests the configuration thereof to include a plurality of juxtaposed generally flat panels which upon pressurization of the container tend to blend together to form a circular cross-sectional configuration.

Abstract: A plastic blow molded container (10) having an upper dispensing end (16), a lower base (18) and a body portion (20) extending therebetween is constructed with the body portion having a round upper drum section (36) and an inwardly extending lower annular grip section (38) having depressions (42) spaced about a central axis A of the container. Each depression (42) has a lower blunt end (44), an upper generally pointed end (46) and an intermediate portion (48) having sides (50) that taper toward each other in an upward direction. The lower location of the annular grip section (38) facilitates manual grasping of the bottle when initially grasped from a horizonal support surface while the tapering configuration of the depressions (42) facilitates manual fingertip gripping of the container by varying hand sizes. One embodiment has a lower base (18) with an annular support surface (62).

Abstract: The invention provides a light weight self-standing blow molded two liter carbonated beverage bottle having a unique petaloid base made from a monobase preform. The base comprises a petaloid design which has a plurality of at least three (preferably five) feet. The monobase preform has a thick reinforcing ring forming portion which remains relatively unstretched during blowing. The reinforcing ring forming portion is thicker than both the strap forming portion, sloping outer wall forming portion and the gate area forming portion of the preform thereby resulting in increased wall thickness reduction, stretching and orientation in those areas during blowing. The reinforcing ring extends circumferentially around the base. By providing such a reinforcing ring, a bottle having a bigger foot radius and/or containing less material usage than prior art containers can be realized.

Abstract: A plastic blow molded container (10) is disclosed as including a freestanding base structure (20) that is constructed with a plurality of alternating hollow legs 22 and curved ribs (34), and a hub (41) from which the legs and ribs extend radially with a construction that provides good stability against tipping as well as the capability of withstanding internal pressure. The specific construction disclosed of the legs (22), ribs (34) and hub (41, 41', 41") enhance the capability of the base structure in providing good stability as well as the capability of withstanding internal pressure and stress cracking.

Abstract: A plastic blow molded container (10) is disclosed as including a freestanding base structure (20) that is constructed with a plurality of alternating hollow legs 22 and curved ribs (34), and a hub (41) from which the legs and ribs extend radially with a construction that provides good stability against tipping as well as the capability of withstanding internal pressure. Each rib (34) has an outer upper end (36) with a circumferential width W.sub.u and an inner lower end (38) with a circumferential width W.sub.l that is greater than the circumferential width W.sub.u of the upper rib end so the lower rib end is capable of resisting stress cracking. An intermediate rib portion (40) of a curved shape tapers between the ends with an included angle B in the range of about 1.degree. to 8.degree. and preferably about 2.degree.. The legs (22) have lower flat feet (24) with an outer diameter D.sub.f, and the hub (41) has a periphery connected to the feet and ribs with a height H.sub.

Abstract: A plastic blow molded container (10) is disclosed as including a freestanding base structure (20) that is constructed with a plurality of alternating hollow legs 22 and curved ribs (34), and a hub (41) from which the legs and ribs extend radially with a construction that provides good stability against tipping as well as the capability of withstanding internal pressure. Each rib (34) has an outer upper end (36) with a circumferential width W.sub.u and an inner lower end (38) with a circumferential width W.sub.l that is greater than the circumferential width W.sub.u of the upper rib end so the lower rib end is capable of resisting stress cracking. An intermediate rib portion (40) of a curved shape tapers between the ends with an included angle B in the range of about 1.degree. to 8.degree. and preferably about 2.degree..

Abstract: The invention provides a light weight self-standing blow molded two liter carbonated beverage bottle having a unique petaloid base made from a monobase preform. The base comprises a petaloid design which has a plurality of at least three (preferably five) feet. The monobase preform has a thick reinforcing ring forming portion which remains unstretched during blowing. The reinforcing ring forming portion is thicker than both the sidewall forming portion and the gate area forming portion of the preform thereby resulting in increased stretching in both those areas. The reinforcing ring extends circumferentially around the base. By providing such a reinforcing ring, a bottle having a bigger foot radius and/or containing less material use can be realized. The resulting bottle has less stress whitening and greater stress crack resistance while at the same time using less material and/or having a larger radius than prior bottles.

Abstract: A plastic container comprises a lower base-forming portion that includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced, generally spherically-shaped segments and a plurality of intervening, circumferentially-spaced, totally convex, hollow foot-forming portions that extend radially from the central bottom portion and downwardly from the spherically-shaped segments to form a clearance for the central bottom portion. The clearance-forming portion of each foot-forming bottom portion includes a compound curved offset formed with opposing radii of curvature of a substantial fraction of an inch, the compound curved offset curving downwardly and outwardly about a center of curvature below the bottom-forming portion before curving about a center of curvature above the bottom-forming portion.

Abstract: Hollow plastic blow-molded containers have a tubular bodies and integral improved, self-supporting bases. The bases have distinctly shaped supporting feet disposed on legs at or near the periphery of the container bottom. The container legs extend outwardly and downwardly from the central region of the container on the inner side of the container bottom and extend downwardly from the container sidewalls on the outer side and are separated by ribs which coverage in a central region at the base of the container. At the terminal end of each of the container legs, there are horizontal contact surfaces or feet which are defined by foot edges which include an inner foot edge portion and an outer foot edge portion, the outer foot edge portion includes a pair of outer far corner foot edges and a far middle foot edge portion. The far middle foot edge portion extends radially to a point further than the outer far corner foot edges.

Abstract: A one piece plastic container for carbonated beverages has a footed base structure. The upper portion of the base structure includes hollow projections between which are formed relatively stiff strap formations. A deformable open region at the upper end of the strap formations is easily deformed and expands in a controlled fashion when the container is pressurized. Outward movement of the open region causes outward movement of the upper ends of the strap formations which then pivot about the feet causing the lower ends of the strap formations and the central region of the base structure to move upwardly.

Abstract: A plastics container includes a neck and an outlet opening, a container body and a base; the base comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced legs, each leg terminating in a foot portion on which the container is adapted to stand wherein each leg is provided with at least one longitudinally inwardly extending crease. Preferably each leg is provided with a single crease which extends downwardly and inwardly at least to the extent necessary so to substantially divide the foot portion of each leg into two separate support portions on which the container is adapted to stand.

Abstract: A base structure for a hot-fill plastic container provides the container with enhanced structural integrity. The base structure uses a series of vertically staggered circumferential ribs interrupted by radial lugs. The disclosed base structure enables the container to withstand the various forces encountered in filling, cooling, and handling.

Abstract: The invention provides a self-standing blow molded two liter carbonated beverage bottle 1 weighing under 50 grams and having a unique petaloid base 7. The base comprises a petaloid design which has a plurality of at least three (preferably five) feet 9. Between each adjacent pair of feet is a radially extending valley 12 the width of which decreases with increasing radial distance from the bottles longitudinal axis toward a point of convergence 14 radially outside the bottle's diameter. The valley floor generally follows the hemispherical base shape and opens to an extended portion 13 of that base shape lying radially outwardly of the feet. The valley and extended portion initial pressurization of the bottle, deformation of the extended portions outwardly with a resulting raising of the center of the base away from the support surface.

Abstract: An improved beverage bottle support base is disclosed having an upwardly directed conical inner wall, the apex of which is centrally of the base and a convex outer wall of annular shape surrounding the conical inner wall and merging therewith and with the side wall of the bottle. A plurality of reinforcing grooves extend radially outward from the apex and merging with the convex outer wall, dividing the conical inner wall and convex outer wall into a plurality of spaced apart hollow feet.