Abstract: A one-piece integral plastic container is disclosed which has an outer closure or overcap removable along a frangible line of weakness, and a separately-formed inner closure that is maintained in sterile condition by the outer closure until the container contents are dispensed. The inner closure comprises a tubular member inserted in fluid-tight relationship within the container neck after the container body and neck are molded, but prior to formation of the outer closure. The tubular member thus provides the dispensing outlet for the container and is maintained in sterile condition by the overcap which encloses it.

Abstract: Layered thermoplastic articles and a method for forming layered thermoplastic articles are provided. The method involves forming a layered, thermoplastic parison, followed by blow molding the parison in a mold cavity to form a desired configuration of hollow article. The blow molded articles can be of any configuration achievable with known blow molding technology. Every section of the article can be layered, or the article can have selectively intermittent layered sections. The containers typically are used for storing and dispensing liquids and are of one-piece construction. In accordance with this invention, the thermoplastic materials are of a type which are incompatible.

Abstract: In a process for making a filled and closed container of heat-sealable plastic hose, in one work operation, the hose is expanded to become a container body, the body is filled and the upper part of the container is shaped when the container is closed. After the filling process and before closing, the upper part of the container is closed by a rubber stopper. An apparatus to carry out the process includes a container-molding appliance having a lower and upper mold parts, with a mold holding fixture in each of the upper parts which can be displaced in the direction of movement of the upper mold part and be moved automatically opposite the upper mold part, and with a holding device inside the plastic hose which can be moved vertically. The holding device releasably holds the rubber stopper for insertion into the completed container body.

Abstract: A method for forming a unitary, hermetically sealed dispensing container wherein a first mandrel is provided to blow-mold the container and wherein a second mandrel is provided for subsequently filling the formed container.

Abstract: A plastic blow-molded container is disclosed having a penetrable wall portion or site which is sufficiently thin to permit piercing by a needle, spike or the like without coring or fragmenting, and a thicker recessed wall portion adjacent to the penetrable portion. The penetrable portion is formed during the blow-molding process by expanding the plastic parison over a projection in the mold cavity and into an adjacent recess in the cavity. The thin penetrable portion of the container is formed within the mold recess and the thicker recessed portion of the container is formed by the mold projection.

Abstract: An electrically heated sterilization chamber 9 for a hollow blow molding needle 15 is embodied in a half-mold 1A and exits directly into the mold cavity 3, 4. A three-way distributor core 11 enables the selective connection of the sterilization chamber to the mold cavity or to a circuit 21 comprising a vacuum source 35 and a source of sterile water vapor 37 coupled in parallel. The needle is initially sterilized by the hot water vapor, and thereafter maintained in a sterile state by the electrical heating and its confinement within the half-mold.

Abstract: A mold assembly is provided for making a thermoplastic container having a bottom, side and unitary closure or top wall means with a parting line along a plane of symmetry in the bottom and sidewall means but with the parting line offset on the top wall means to define a generally flat, pierceable membrane on a major portion of the exterior surface of the top wall means. The mold assembly molds and seals the container from a tube of thermoplastic material, which assembly includes mold parts having lower sections adapted to open and close relative to a center parting plane to shape the bottom and sidewall means of the container and having a pair of upper sections adapted to shape the unitary closure. One of the upper sections has a removable protuberance for forming a major portion of the container top closure surface with the mold parting line thereon offset relative to the center parting plane of the mold assembly.

Abstract: A container for liquids, preferably sterile liquids comprises a hollow body constructed of plastic material having a plurality of tubular ports integrally formed and extending therefrom. Each port has a quantity of plastic material integrally formed as a diaphragm within the port so as to seal the container. In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the ports has a resealable septum sealed within it. The diaphragm is positioned between the septum and the liquid within the container so as to prevent deterioration of the resealable septum caused by exposure to the liquid. Both the resealable septum and the diaphragm are constructed of a material which is penetrable by a hypodermic needle for use in administering sterile solutions.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for closing and sealing a molded plastic article formed by expanding a heated plastic parison within a chamber or cavity defined by a plurality of mold sections. The article is closed and sealed by at least one movable sealing member which has a protruding pinch surface to weaken or sever the parison and recess surface portions selectively above or below the protruding pinch surface which provide plastic-receiving reservoirs that aid in the formation of an unobtrusive seal adjacent the surface of the article. The sealing member may also include parison engaging seat or heel portions which further aid in the sealing operation. The temperature of the mold sections adjacent the sealing operation is controlled to selectively retard the cooling of the parison, which is in direct contact with the cavity surface, to maintain the parison at a sufficiently elevated temperature to permit closing and sealing by the sealing member.

Abstract: A unitary, hermetically-sealed dispensing container, having plural removable closures and suitable for containing and dispensing sterile solutions, is provided. The removable closures are unitary with the container. The dispensing container comprises a sealed, elongated shell of thermoplastic material provided with at least one access port at each end of the shell, a neck portion unitary with the shell and surrounding each access port, and removable cap means over the access ports and joined to the corresponding neck portions by means of frangible annular webs. The frangible annular webs are unitary with the cap means and with the neck portions. At least one of the neck portions is provided with a bore of predetermined controlled dimensions and is adapted to receive a draining spike or a similar means for withdrawing the contents of the container.

Abstract: Successive increments of a thermoplastic tube are extruded in vertical direction from an orifice, and a first partible mold is closed about the increment immediately downstream of the orifice whereupon the increment is expanded to the shape of a first semi-finished container, while simultaneously completing the expansion of the neck region of an already filled second semi-finished container accommodated in a second partible mold downstream of the first mold and communicating with the interior of the first container, is completed. The containers are then sealed and separated from one another and the first container in the first mold is filled. The second container is discharged from the second mold and the relative positions of the molds are reversed in preparation for repetition of the preceding steps.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for blow molding a thermoplastic container. The blow molded container is fabricated conventionally from a downwardly descending thermoplastic extruded parison tubing which passes between sets of separated mold halves. One of the sets of mold halves is adapted to accommodate an insert positioned on a retaining wand. In another embodiment the wand is supported by means located externally of said mold halves and in some cases axially with respect to the molds.When the molds close and the parison is conventionally blow molded the wand continues to support the insert while at the same time extends beyond the container so blow molded. The insert may be, for instance, a nozzle for a thermoplastic bottle having a cap molded thereabout having break away features whereby the cap may be removed.