US 11,370,158 B2 · Method of molding a container incorporating surface indicia and the container

Abstract

A method of forming a container (1) and a container (1) formed thereby. A preform (2), having a generally cylindrical body (60, 8) extending between a closed end (12) and an open mouth, is placed within a mold (20, 22) having surfaces corresponding in shape to the desired container (1). An incompressible medium, which is the end product that remains in the molded container (1), is injected under pressure into the preform (2). Under the influence of the incompressible medium, the preform (2) is expanded into contact with the surfaces defining the cavity, simultaneously forming and filling the container (1). During expanding of the preform (2), portions of the plastic material are forced into a series of recesses (72) defined in the cavity surface (82, 85). With the incompressible medium contained therein, the container (1) is removed from the mold (20, 22) and including a series of raised dots corresponding to the series of recesses (72) defined in the cavity surface (82, 85). A method of forming a container (1) and a container (1) formed thereby. A preform (2), having a generally cylindrical body (60, 8) extending between a closed end (12) and an open mouth, is placed within a mold (20, 22) having a surfaces corresponding in shape to the desired container (1). An incompressible medium, which is the end product that remains in the molded container (1), is injected under pressure into the preform (2). Under the influence of the incompressible medium, the preform (2) is expanded into contact with the surfaces defining the cavity, simultaneously forming and filling the container (1). During expanding of the preform (2), portions of the plastic material are forced into a series of recesses (72) defined in the cavity surface (82, 85). With the incompressible medium contained therein, the container (1) is removed from the mold (20, 22) and including a series of raised dots corresponding to the series of recesses (72) defined in the cavity surface (82, 85).

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method of forming a container of plastic material, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a preform of the plastic material, the preform including an open end defined by a mouth, a closed end and a cylindrical body extending between the closed end and the mouth;
placing the preform within a mold having surfaces defining a cavity corresponding in shape to the container;
injecting an incompressible medium under pressure into the preform, the incompressible medium being an end product remaining in the molded container;
expanding the preform in the cavity under the influence of the incompressible medium into contact with the surfaces defining the cavity and simultaneously forming and filling the container;
during expanding of the preform, forcing portions of the plastic material into a series of domed recesses defined in the cavity surface, each of the domed recesses having a common depth;
removing the container with the incompressible medium contained therein from the mold, the container including a series of raised dots corresponding to the series of domed recesses defined in the cavity surface having at least one of a ratio of the depth of the domed recesses to the height of the raised dots of less than 9:1 and a relief factor (Rf) of greater than 0.11, wherein the relief factor (Rf) is defined by the formula Rf=Hr/Hm in which Hr is the height of the raised dots and Hm is the depth of the domed recesses used to form the raise ddots.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method of molding a container incorporating surface indicia and the container

Life of this patent

Method of molding a container incorporating surface indicia and the container

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18