# US 10,118,724 B2 · Preform extended finish for processing light weight ecologically beneficial bottles

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- Number: US 10,118,724 B2
- Document ID: US10118724B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/013,141
- Filed: 2016-02-02
- Published: 2016-06-23
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2010-11-12
- Assignees: Niagara Bottling, LLC
- Applicants: Niagara Bottling, LLC
- Inventors: Jay Clarke Hanan
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118724B2

## CPC

- B65D 1/0246: {Closure retaining means, e.g. beads, screw-threads}
- B29B 11/14: characterised by structure or composition
- B29C 49/071: {Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration, e.g. geometry, dimensions or physical properties}
- B65D 1/0215: {multilayered (B65D81/3837 takes precedence)}
- B65D 1/023: {Neck construction}
- B29B 11/08: Injection moulding
- B29C 2049/7862: {characterised by temperature values or ranges}
- B29C 2949/0715: the preform having one end closed
- B29C 2949/072: having variable wall thickness
- B29C 2949/073: having variable diameter
- B29C 2949/0773: Threads
- B29C 2949/0777: Tamper-evident band retaining ring
- B29C 2949/0779: characterised by the body
- B29C 2949/078: characterised by the bottom
- B29C 2949/0817: of the body
- B29C 2949/0831: of the neck
- B29C 2949/0872: Weight
- B29C 2949/22: at neck portion
- B29C 2949/24: at flange portion
- B29C 2949/26: at body portion
- B29C 2949/28: at bottom portion
- B29C 2949/3024: characterised by the number of components or by the manufacturing technique
- B29C 2949/3032: having components being injected
- B29K 2023/06: {PE, i.e. polyethylene}
- B29K 2023/0625: {LLDPE, i.e. linear low density polyethylene}
- B29K 2023/083: {EVA, i.e. ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer}
- B29K 2023/086: {EVOH, i.e. ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer}
- B29K 2023/12: {PP, i.e. polypropylene}
- B29K 2025/00: Use of polymers of vinyl-aromatic compounds {or derivatives thereof} as moulding material
- B29K 2027/06: PVC, i.e. polyvinylchloride
- B29K 2027/08: {PVDC, i.e. polyvinylidene chloride}
- B29K 2027/18: PTFE, i.e. polytetrafluoroethylene {, e.g. ePTFE, i.e. expanded polytetrafluoroethylene}
- B29K 2055/02: ABS polymers, i.e. acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymers
- B29K 2067/00: Use of polyesters {or derivatives thereof}, as moulding material
- B29K 2067/006: {PBT, i.e. polybutylene terephthalate}
- B29K 2069/00: Use of PC, i.e. polycarbonates {or derivatives thereof}, as moulding material
- B29K 2077/00: Use of {PA, i.e.} polyamides, e.g. polyesteramides {or derivatives thereof}, as moulding material
- B29K 2081/06: {PSU, i.e. polysulfones; PES, i.e. polyethersulfones or derivatives thereof}
- B29K 2101/12: Thermoplastic materials
- B29L 2031/7158: {Bottles}
- B65D 2501/0081: Bottles of non-circular cross-section
- Y10T 428/1352: Polymer or resin containing [i.e., natural or synthetic]
- Y10T 428/1379: Contains vapor or gas barrier, polymer derived from vinyl chloride or vinylidene chloride, or polymer containing a vinyl alcohol unit
- Y10T 428/1397: Single layer [continuous layer]
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B29B: PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Disclosed are preforms which incorporate improvements in the region of the neck and upper segment of the body to allow the production of lightweight containers, such as bottles suitable for containing water or other beverages. In accordance with certain embodiments, the improvements include a thinner neck finish area than conventional bottles, where the thinner area is extended into the upper segment of the body portion below the support ring. Reducing the thickness in these areas of the bottle allows for less resin to be used in forming the preform and bottle.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A preform suitable for being blow-molded to form a container, the preform comprising:
a neck portion comprising an opening to an interior of the preform;
a tapered portion comprising a smooth transition from a diameter of the neck portion to a smaller diameter of a cylindrical portion comprising an elongate member that extends to an end cap; and
a finish disposed on the neck portion and configured to threadably receive a cap wherein the neck portion comprises a plurality of internal columns disposed within the opening and configured to impart a degree of structural integrity to the neck portion and reduce an amount of material comprising the preform.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The preform of claim 1, wherein the plurality of internal columns comprises three internal columns that are positioned at substantially 120-degree intervals around the circumference of the neck portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The preform of claim 1, wherein the neck portion comprises a bevel disposed at a beginning of the opening and configured to enter into sliding contact with a sealing flange of the cap, the bevel being configured to compress the sealing flange to a predetermined degree, thereby forming a tight seal suitable to retain pressurized contents within the container.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The preform of claim 1, wherein the neck portion comprises one or more exterior columns configured to maintain a necessary degree of structural integrity of the preform and reduce an amount of material comprising the preform.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The preform of claim 4, wherein the one or more exterior columns are disposed uniformly around the perimeter of the neck portion, each of the exterior columns comprising a vertically aligned thicker region of the neck portion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The preform of claim 5, wherein the one or more exterior columns are positioned in locations around the perimeter of the neck portion that coincide with the locations of internal columns within the opening of the neck portion.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The preform of claim 5, wherein the one or more exterior columns are positioned at specific intervals between the locations of internal columns within the opening of the neck portion.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The preform of claim 7, wherein adjacent exterior and interior columns are separated by 60-degree intervals around the circumference of the neck portion.

### Claim 9

A preform suitable for being blow-molded to form a container, the preform comprising:
a neck portion comprising an opening to an interior of the preform;
a body portion comprising a tapered portion that smoothly transitions from the neck portion to a cylindrical portion and an end cap, the body portion comprising a wall thickness suitable for being blow-molded into a desired shape and size of the container;
a finish disposed on the neck portion and configured to threadably receive a cap;
a plurality of internal columns disposed within the opening;
one or more exterior columns disposed around the perimeter of the neck portion; and
a bevel disposed at a beginning of the opening and configured to receive a sealing flange of the cap.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The preform of claim 9, wherein the plurality of internal columns and the one or more exterior columns are configured to maintain a degree of structural integrity of the neck portion and reduce the amount of material required to form the preform.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The preform of claim 9, wherein the tapered portion comprises a smooth transition from a diameter and a wall thickness of the neck portion to a relatively smaller diameter and a greater wall thickness of the cylindrical portion.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The preform of claim 9, wherein the finish comprises at least three threads configured to rotatably engage with threads disposed within the cap, and wherein an intervening valley is disposed between adjacent of the at least three threads and configured to allow passage of a thread disposed in the cap.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The preform of claim 12, wherein each of the at least three threads extends along a section of the circumference of the neck portion.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The preform of claim 13, wherein the section comprises substantially 144-degrees of the circumference.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The preform of claim 12, wherein the at least three threads are spaced uniformly around the circumference of the neck portion.