Abstract: A plastic container is provided having an elongated neck, a shoulder region, a body portion and a base. The shoulder region having a substantially square cross section. The base having a substantially circular cross section. The substantially square cross section of the shoulder region preserves the brand identification benefits associated with a square shaped container while the substantially circular cross section of the base preserves the handling and structural attributes associated with a circular shaped container.

Abstract: A container having an inverted active cage generally includes an enclosed base portion, a body portion extending upwardly from the base portion, and a top portion with a finish extending upwardly from the body portion. The body portion further includes a central longitudinal axis, a periphery, a plurality of active surfaces, and a network of pillars. Unlike the prior art, each of the plurality of active surfaces is outwardly displaced with respect to the longitudinal axis, while each of the network of pillars is inwardly displaced with respect to the longitudinal axis. The plurality of active surfaces, together with the network of pillars, are spaced about the periphery of the container in order to accommodate vacuum-induced volumetric shrinkage of the container resulting from a hot-filling, capping and cooling thereof.

Abstract: The invention concerns improvements to containers, in particular plastic bottles, having a body (2) with a circular non-cylindrical wall, so as to reinforce them and prevent cross-section variation when they are subjected to compression forces. Part at least of the wall is provided with a substantially planar relief. The wall is reinforced with peripheral grooves (26, 27, 28, 29 30) oriented in planes substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X) of the container, and the part comprising a substantially planar relief is run through with several grooves. The invention is characterized in that the width of each of the grooves is such that it is less wide (L2) where it emerges in said part of the wall than at the middle (L1) of its crossing. The invention is particularly useful for reinforcing large capacity bottles.

Abstract: A plastic blow molded bottle or wide mouth jar useful in containing hot-filled beverages or food products. The container has a multi-sided sidewall which is capable of accommodating vacuum associated with hot filling, capping and cooling of the container, which is reinforced to resist unwanted deformation, and which enables a label to be aesthetically displayed on the container sidewall. To this end, the sidewall comprises a plurality of panels which include outwardly bowed arcuate sections, as formed, which flatten to accommodate induced vacuum. Thus, a label can be supported on the sidewall with very few voids, or like sunken areas, behind the label to ensure that the label is prominently displayed on the aesthetically appealing novel container configuration.

Abstract: A heat-resistant hollow cylindrical container comprising a neck, a shoulder, an upper body, a middle body provided with pressure reduction absorbing panels, and a lower body including a bottom wall, wherein said pressure reduction absorbing panels are arranged symmetrically relative to a central axis of the container, each of said pressure reduction absorbing panels is located inside an imaginary outer periphery of the cylindrical shape of the container, and each of said pressure reduction absorbing panels is provided with at least a pair of protuberances to be hooked by a finger. The middle body is provided with two pressure reduction absorbing panels arranged symmetrically respective to the central axis of the container. Said protuberances form a gap therebetween, and have a width and a height so sized as to allow a finger tip to be placed into the gap.

Abstract: A combination flask for carrying a quantity of liquid and a quantity of pills which includes a housing that includes a fluid impervious first chamber. The first chamber has an opening. The housing is generally cross-shaped and the cross-shaped housing includes four generally elliptical sections of which first and second generally elliptical sections are generally coaxial and second and third elliptical sections are also generally coaxial. In a preferred form of the invention, the pill container is received within a neck of the housing, and the chamber includes substantially all of said second, third and fourth elliptical sections. A cap dimensioned and configured for engaging the housing encloses the pill container and the housing opening and selectively prevents liquid passing into said pill container.

Abstract: A container of variable volume includes an inner flexible member substantially enclosed in a number of interlocking outer sleeves. The volume of the container can be varied by moving at least one outer sleeve relative to another outer sleeve. The outer sleeves are moved to vary the volume of the container by rotating screw-threaded outer sleeves, moving an outer sleeve relative to another by a ratchet, or by using a multi-level bayonet type connection.

Abstract: A container with an improved container side wall is disclosed. The improved container side wall including a top end and a bottom end, an open top and a bottom wall. The top of the container merges with the top end of the side wall and the bottom wall merges with and closes the bottom end of the side wall. The side wall also includes a plurality of ribs which protrude radially outward from an inside surface of the side wall and which are integrally displaced upon the inside surface of the side wall. These ribs cause the inside surface of the container side wall to form a varying thickness. In this manner, an improved container side wall is provided that increases the resistance of the side wall to deformation caused by internal/external positive or negative pressures without significantly increasing the overall amount of material needed to manufacturer the container. The container side wall may assume a cylindrical, rectangle, oval, or square geometry.

Abstract: A blow-molded plastic container (10) providing enhanced top loading capability. The container (10) has an inner peripheral surface (24) on which a plurality of integral, solid, inwardly and longitudinally extending ribs (26) are formed. Preferably, the ribs (26) extend throughout the entire container inner surface (24) from the top edge of the finish (20) to a mold parting line (28) on the base (14). A method and apparatus for making the container (10) is also disclosed.

Abstract: A blow molded plastic beverage container, comprising neck, shoulder, body and base portions. A bulge is formed in one, or both, of the shoulder and base portions bulging to facilitate gripping and handling the container. Preferably, a respective bulge is formed in both the shoulder and base portions, forming a pair of bulges that bracket the container body. Also, preferably, grooves are formed in the shoulder and base portions of the container to facilitate formation of the bulges. The container is formed in a multi-step process from a preform that may have a conventional design. In this process, the preform is expanded into an initial container shape having a neck portion, a shoulder portion, a body portion, and a base portion. That container is filled with a beverage, and a bulge is formed in one, or both, of the shoulder and base portions of the container.

Abstract: A multi-layer container is constructed to include a transparent outer container body, the outer container body having a bottom center through hole and multiple peripheral through holes and an opaque design printed on an outer surface thereof, an inner container body mounted inside the outer container body, the inner container body having an opaque design printed on an outer surface thereof, and a transparent plastic lining filled up the gap in between the outer container body and the inner container body and the holes of the outer container body.

Abstract: A bottle (8) made of a plastic material used for dispensing liquid products, having three equal length edges (22) together composing three tips (24) forming an equilateral triangle with three separate base edges. A nozzle (10) located at one tip will be used for dispensing the contained product and will be comprised of a series of threads. A cap (12) made of a plastic material is to cover the nozzle so that it is tightly bound to the shape of an equilateral triangle.

Abstract: An ergonomically friendly container having hot-fill capabilities is disclosed. The container has a dome with grip surfaces that undergo controlled deformation for accommodating a portion of the volumetric shrinkage due to hot filling, capping and cooling. Preferably, a major portion of each grip surface is circumscribed by a brow rib which prevents unwanted dome distortion while permitting an amount of controlled vacuum absorption. In addition, the container body is provided with vacuum flex panels of at least two different sizes which enable the grip surfaces to be located close to the center of gravity of a filled container to provide balanced pouring of the contents from the container.

Abstract: A method of forming a wide mouth blow molded thermoplastic container comprising the steps of i) stretch blow molding from a preform, an intermediate article defining the container with the mouth being threaded and/or flanged, the mouth terminating in an accommodation element having a neck finish that supports the preform in the blow mold; ii) heat setting the intermediate article including the entire container while still in the mold, and iii) removing the intermediate article of manufacture from the mold and severing the accommodation element to produce the container, and an article when made by the method. The method also includes post forming of a rim portion of the container following separation of the container from the accommodation element.

Abstract: A method of forming a wide mouth blow molded thermoplastic container comprising the steps of i) stretch blow molding from a preform, an intermediate article defining the container with the mouth being threaded and/or flanged, the mouth terminating in an accommodation element having a neck finish that supports the preform in the blow mold; ii) heat setting the intermediate article including the entire container while still in the mold, and iii) removing the intermediate article of manufacture from the mold and severing the accommodation element to produce the container, and an article when made by the method.

Abstract: There is provided a cylindrical extrusion-blow molded container, or a cylindrical delaminatable blow-molded container in particular, having an inner layer made of a poorly fusion-bonded resin material such as nylon, in order to improve the fusion-bond of the bottom seal section of the container, to prevent the bottom from cracking.In a cylindrical extrusion-blow mold container, or a cylindrical delaminatable blow-molded container having an air inlet hole arranged at a neck of the container, a bottom seal section in a bottom wall of a bottom is formed with an elliptic thick and raised section arranged in and near the bottom seal section, said elliptic thick and raised section approximately showing an ellipsoid having an elliptic contour with its major axis running along a parting line.

Abstract: A hot-fillable plastic container having a panel section of a size suitable for gripping the container in one hand. The panel section includes two opposing vertically-elongated and radially-indented vacuum panels, and two opposing horizontally-disposed and radially-indented finger grips. Each vacuum panel preferably has an invertible central wall portion movable from a convex first position prior to hot-filling of the container, to a concave second position under vacuum pressure following hot-filling and sealing of the container.

Abstract: A liquid storage and dispensing device includes a bottle and a fluid flow control device which is mounted to the neck of the bottle. The bottle includes a planar surface upon which the bottle may rest in an inclined orientation, with the neck of the bottle pointed down. The planar surface is formed at an angle with respect to the rest of the bottle geometry so that the center of gravity of the bottle, when full of liquid and in the inclined orientation, is above the planar surface. Thus, the full bottle is able to be safely stored in the inclined orientation with any level of liquid contained in the bottle, without concern that the bottle will topple over, and the liquid contents may be dispensed through the fluid flow control device.

Abstract: A blank (2) is molded for the manufacture of a multi-layer preform (1). The blank possesses protrusions (5). After the protrusions (5) have been brought to a plasticised state under the action of heat, those surfaces that contain protrusions (5) are covered by a layer of plasticised material. The blank (2) becomes connected to the layer (6) in the area of the protrusions (5). After cooling of the preform created from the blank (2) and the layer (6), the blank (2) will be connected with the layer (6) by means of microweld positions (7) in the area of the said protrusions (5). With that, delamination of the preform (1) during further processing or use-will be effectively prevented.

Abstract: A container with improved crease-crack resistance and a method of making that type of container. The container utilizes a layer of a soft plastic on its exterior to control cracking at outward creases. When the container holds motor oil, the oil itself may plasticize the stiff material on the container's interior to preclude inward crease cracking. In this case, the stiff layer should have a sufficient thickness that an adequate amount of material remains unaffected by the oil and does not lose its rigidity or jeopardize the container's structural integrity. Where the contents do not provide the requisite improvement in inward crease cracking or would completely soften the stiff layer, then the container has a separate, soft, third layer of plastic on the interior of the container. The softness of this layer protects against inward crease cracking. It may also protect the stiff layer from softening by the bottle's contents.

Abstract: A packaged composition includes a vial having wall portions defining a chamber and a photocurable material in the chamber. The wall portions transmit less than about 1.0% of actinic radiation, and at least one of the wall portions transmits light having wavelengths in at least part of the visible spectrum. In certain embodiments of the invention, the wall portions are flexible and the photocurable material is dispensed from the chamber through an outlet when the wall portions are squeezed together. In other embodiments of the invention, an element is floating in the photocurable material in the chamber to facilitate determination of the amount of photocurable material remaining in the chamber.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pourable, hot wash, refillable container comprising a base, a cylindrical body having an average side wall thickness of at least 0.635 mm, a shoulder portion, and a neck portion, the pourable, hot wash, refillable container being composed of polyethylene napthalate or a copolymer thereof, the refillable container being capable of undergoing multiple trips through a washing, filling, shipping and consumer use cycle, and the base of the container having sufficient impact resistance so that the container will not break when dropped one meter onto a concrete surface when filled with water at both 4.4.degree. C. and 22.2.degree. C. The invention is further directed to a method for manufacturing a pourable, hot wash, refillable container, which comprises the steps of forming a preform of the container composed of polyethylene napthalate or a copolymer thereof, and molding said preform to form a pourable, hot wash, refillable container.

Abstract: An injection molding process for making a multiple layer, plastic structure. A plastic sleeve is placed and then enclosed in a mold cavity. A flowing heated plastic is conducted into the mold cavity, radially inside the sleeve, and forced radially outward against the sleeve. The flowing plastic forces the sleeve outward and forms, with the sleeve, an integrally bonded laminated structure. The mold is opened and the plastic structure is removed, and this structure may then be reformed to form a container particularly suitable for containing beverages, foods, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and chemicals.

Abstract: A container, especially a bottle, is made from a preform of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), where the preform has a mouth portion, a substantially conical upper portion extending from the mouth portion, and a cylindrical portion extending from the conical portion towards the bottom of the preform and having a substantially uniform wall thickness. When reshaping the preform, the shoulder of the container is formed substantially only of material which in the preform is located in the conical upper portion of the preform, while the cylindrical portion of the container is formed substantially only of material which in the preform is located in the cylindrical portion of the preform.

Abstract: A plastic container comprising hollow plastic body including a side wall, a base wall, a shoulder, an integral neck and an integral finish on the upper end of the neck. An integral laterally extending flexible handle is provided on the neck below the threads or the like that are positioned on the neck for receiving a closure. The handle may be of a number of configurations including a T-shape or annular bail-type shape. A method and apparatus for making the container comprises injecting, extruding and blowing wherein the finish and the integral handle are first injection molded and thereafter the neck and body are formed by extrusion of plastic integrally with the finish followed by blow molding of the hollow container.

Abstract: A plastic container made from a fusion blend of a post consumer resin and a high density polyethylene copolymer resin. The post consumer is primarily a high density homopolymer and may contain small amounts of colored plastic containers and propylene resin. The physical properties of the container including stress crack resistance are maintained as contrasted to the loss of such physical properties that have been heretofore resulted from the use of post consumer resins.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a blow molded plastic container whose thin wall shoulder portion has a plurality of rib-like protrusions. Each of said rib-like protrusions are configured with multiple radii of curvature having a specifically defined relationship. The protrusions so formed do not adversely affect the integrity of the shoulder portion wall structure and do not distort upon internal pressurization of the container.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bottle made of synthetic resin, for containing various liquids, that can be easily fractured for easier handling during disposal or recycling. The bottle comprises a plurality of fracturing walls, each formed in a longitudinal band shape extending substantially in a direction of a central axis of the bottle, and main walls each disposed between the fracturing walls. The fracturing walls are made of a first material and a second material, the first material being a synthetic resin that is the same as a synthetic resin forming the main walls and/or has good compatibility with the synthetic resin of the main walls, the second material being a synthetic resin that has poor compatibility with the synthetic resin of the main walls. The bonding strength between the fracturing walls and the main walls is controlled so as to make the bottle easily fractured. If necessary, an inner covering member can be assembled within the bottle.

Abstract: A multilayered polymeric preform or container is disclosed wherein the blow temperatures of each polymer in a preform is controlled by the addition of a predetermined selected amount of a fast heat up additive such that each polymer layer blows at the same relative period of time to prepare the container.