Lightweight plastic container and preform
AssigneePlastipak Packaging, Inc.
InventorsRichard C. Darr, Edward V. Morgan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plastic preform is provided that includes a hollow body portion including a closed bottom portion, a lower portion extending upwardly from the bottom portion, and a neck portion extending upwardly from the lower portion. The neck portion includes a support flange having an upper and lower surface, a tamper-evident formation, threads, and a dispensing opening positioned at a top of the neck portion. In an embodiment, the weight of the neck portion is 2.3 grams or less; and/or the vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange, including the threads and the tamper-evident formation, is 0.500 inches or less. Containers and methods for molding preforms and making containers are also disclosed.
Claims30
A plastic preform, comprising:
- a hollow body portion including:
- a closed bottom portion;
- and
- a lower portion extending upwardly from the bottom portion;
- and
- a neck portion extending upwardly from the lower portion, the neck portion including:
- a dispensing opening positioned at a top of the neck portion;
- threads positioned below the dispensing opening;
- a tamper-evident formation positioned below the threads;
- and
- a support flange positioned below the tamper-evident formation, the support flange having an upper surface and a lower surface;
- wherein the preform is formed of a material comprising polyethylene terephthalate (PET);
- a weight of the neck portion from the lower surface of the support flange to a top of the dispensing opening is 2.3 grams or less;
- and a vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange is 0.500 inches or less.
A method, comprising:
- injection molding a plastic preform having a hollow body portion and a neck portion, the neck portion including:
- a dispensing opening positioned at a top of the neck portion;
- threads positioned below the dispensing opening;
- a tamper-evident formation positioned below the threads;
- and
- a support flange positioned below the tamper-evident formation, the support flange having an upper and lower surface;
- wherein the preform is formed of a material comprising polyethylene terephthalate (PET);
- a weight of the neck portion from the lower surface of the support flange to a top of the dispensing opening is 2.3 grams or less;
- and a vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange is 0.450 inches or less.
A plastic preform, comprising:
- a hollow body portion including:
- a closed bottom portion;
- and
- a lower portion extending upwardly from the bottom portion;
- and
- a neck portion extending upwardly from the lower portion, the neck portion including:
- a dispensing opening positioned at a top of the neck portion;
- threads positioned below the dispensing opening;
- a tamper-evident formation positioned below the threads;
- and
- a support flange positioned below the tamper-evident formation, the support flange having an upper surface and a lower surface;
- wherein the preform is formed of a material comprising polyethylene terephthalate (PET);
- the threads comprise multiple-lead threads;
- a weight of the neck portion from the lower surface of the support flange to a top of the dispensing opening is 2.3 grams or less;
- an outside diameter of the support flange is greater than 22 mm and less than or equal to 39.2 mm;
- and a vertical distance from a lower surface of the tamper-evident formation to a top of the dispensing opening is 0.30 inches or less.
A plastic preform, comprising:
- a hollow body portion including:
- a closed bottom portion;
- and
- a lower portion extending upwardly from the bottom portion;
- and
- a neck portion extending upwardly from the lower portion, the neck portion including:
- a dispensing opening positioned at a top of the neck portion;
- threads positioned below the dispensing opening;
- a tamper-evident formation positioned below the threads;
- and
- a support flange positioned below the tamper-evident formation, the support flange having an upper surface and a lower surface;
- wherein the preform is formed of a material comprising polyethylene terephthalate (PET);
- a weight of the neck portion from the lower surface of the support flange to a top of the dispensing opening is 2.3 grams or less;
- a combined weight of the neck portion, the closed bottom portion, and the lower portion is 11 grams or less;
- and a vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange, including the threads and the tamper-evident formation, is 0.500 inches or less.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.