# US 12,179,410 B2 · Nozzle for blow-molding stepped finish preform > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,410 B2 - Document ID: US12179410B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/503,081 - Filed: 2023-11-06 - Published: 2024-03-07 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2019-02-26 - Assignees: Niagara Bottling, LLC - Applicants: Niagara Bottling, LLC - Inventors: Jay Clarke Hanan; Abhishek Shukla - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179410B2 ## CPC - B29C 49/58: Blowing means - B29C 49/12: Stretching rods - B29C 49/28: Blow-moulding apparatus - B29C 2049/024: {not using inherent heat of the preform, i.e. 2 step blow moulding} - B29C 2049/4294: {Sealing means} - B29C 2949/077: characterised by the neck - 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: 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) ## Abstract A nozzle for forming a container preform into a plastic container includes a first cylindrical portion having a first diameter and including a first seal, a second cylindrical portion having a second diameter less than the first diameter and including a second seal, and a transition portion between the first and second cylindrical portions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A nozzle for forming a container preform into a plastic container, the nozzle comprising: a first cylindrical portion having a first diameter and including a first seal; a second cylindrical portion having a second diameter less than the first diameter and including a second seal; and a transition portion between the first and second cylindrical portions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the second cylindrical portion further includes a tip comprising a narrowing of the second diameter forward of the second seal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The nozzle of claim 2, wherein the tip is a non-linearly tapering tip. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The nozzle of claim 1, further comprising an opening whereby stretching and/or blow-molding instruments may be inserted into the container preform. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the first seal and the second seal comprise O-rings. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The nozzle of claim 1, wherein only the second seal comprises an O-ring. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the first seal is in the form of a circular edge. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The nozzle of claim 7, wherein the circular edge is a blunt circular edge. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The nozzle of claim 7, wherein the circular edge is a sharp circular edge. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the transition portion presents a linear transition from the first diameter to the second diameter. ### Claim 11 A nozzle for a blow-molding process, the nozzle comprising: a nozzle body; a first sealing portion; and a second sealing portion, wherein the nozzle is configured to engage a stepped interior of a container preform such that no portion of the nozzle body contacts the stepped interior. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The nozzle of claim 11, wherein the nozzle is configured such that upon engagement of the second sealing portion with a stepped interior of a container preform having a longitudinal axis, the second sealing portion is positioned along the longitudinal axis at a different location than the first sealing portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The nozzle of claim 11, wherein the first and second sealing portions are cylindrical, and wherein the second sealing portion has a larger outer diameter than the first sealing portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The nozzle of claim 11, wherein the first sealing portion includes a first seal and the second sealing portion includes a second seal, and wherein the first seal and the second seal comprise O-rings. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The nozzle of claim 11, wherein the first sealing portion includes a first seal and the second sealing portion includes a second seal, and wherein only the second seal comprises an O-ring. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The nozzle of claim 11, wherein the first sealing portion includes a first seal and the second sealing portion includes a second seal, and wherein the first seal is in the form of a circular edge. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The nozzle of claim 16, wherein the circular edge is a blunt circular edge. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The nozzle of claim 16, wherein the circular edge is a sharp circular edge. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The nozzle of claim 11, further including a tapering portion between the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion.