Mold gap seal
AssigneeGraham Packaging Company, L.P.
InventorKent Goss
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A container is disclosed. The container may be a hot-fill container having an improved geometry. The container may comprise a base, a body portion attached to the base and a concave waist attached to the body portion and having a surface. The surface including a plurality of axial apexes and troughs alternately arranged around the waist. A dome may be attached to the waist. A finish may be attached to the dome, the finish having an opening.
Claims17
A blow molding apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of mold shells having first and second ends, disposed adjacent to each other and having interior surfaces that define a mold cavity having an opening for receiving a perform at the first end and a gap between adjacent ones of the mold shells;
- and
- a barrier arranged in the gap adjacent to the first end to at least partially block air from flowing via the gap into the mold cavity.
A blow mold, comprising:
- a first mold shell having an interior surface defining a partial mold cavity and a border surface on the interior surface outside of the cavity;
- a second mold shell having an interior surface defining a partial mold cavity and a border surface on the interior surface outside of the cavity, the first and second mold shells forming a mold cavity and defining an opening at a first end of the mold shells for receiving a perform into the cavity when their respective partial mold cavities and the border surfaces are arranged opposite and interface with each other;
- a gap at the interface between the border surfaces of first and second mold shells adjacent to the opening at the first end;
- and
- a barrier formed in the gap to form a seal at least partially preventing air flow through the gap into the mold cavity.
A mold comprising two mold halves defining a mold cavity therein, the mold having a first end with an opening formed by the mold halves communicating with the mold cavity and adapted to receive a preform, a parting line between the mold halves at the first end, a seal arranged in the parting line.
A method of molding a container, comprising:
- bringing a plurality of mold shells together to define a cavity corresponding to the container therein;
- inserting a preform into the cavity;
- blowing air into the preform in order to expand the preform within the cavity;
- and
- substantially preventing the blow air from entering the cavity via a gap between the mold shells adjacent to where the preform is inserted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.