Preform and container having debossed support flange

A preform adapted to be molded into a plastic container, the preform comprising:

• an upper portion including a finish defining a longitudinal axis and an opening into the plastic container;
• a neck defining a cylindrical sidewall integrally formed with and extending between said finish and an upper end of a shoulder forming portion of the preform, the shoulder forming portion operable for forming a shoulder region of the plastic container, the shoulder region being integrally formed with and extending away from said upper portion, said shoulder region tapering only outward radially as said shoulder region extends away from said upper portion;
• a sidewall forming portion operable for forming a sidewall portion of the plastic container, the sidewall portion extending from said shoulder region to a base portion;
• a base forming portion operable for forming the base portion of the plastic container, said base portion closing off an end of the plastic container;
• a tamper evident (TE) band formed on said finish and defining an outermost surface of the preform above said shoulder forming portion, the TE band defining a first diameter at said outermost surface;
• and
• a debossed support flange defined on said upper portion and extending between said finish and said neck, said debossed support flange defining a second diameter, said first diameter being greater than said second diameter, wherein said debossed support flange tapers inward radially as said debossed support flange extends from said finish toward said neck.

A plastic container comprising:

• an upper portion including a finish defining a longitudinal axis and an opening into the container;
• a shoulder region integrally formed with and extending away from said upper portion, the shoulder region including an upper end, the shoulder region tapering only outward radially as said shoulder region extends away from said upper portion;
• a sidewall portion extending from said shoulder region to a base portion, said base portion closing off an end of the plastic container;
• a tamper evident (TE) band formed on said finish and defining an outermost surface of the plastic container above said shoulder region, the TE band defining a first diameter at said outermost surface;
• a neck defining a cylindrical sidewall integrally formed with and extending between said finish and said upper end of said shoulder region;
• and
• a debossed support flange defined on said upper portion and extending between said finish and said neck, said debossed support flange defining a second diameter, said first diameter being greater than said second diameter,
• wherein the finish includes a radial sidewall defining a threaded region with a plurality of threads and the TE band, and wherein the debossed support flange includes an upper end and a lower end, the radial sidewall transitioning into the upper end of the debossed support flange and the lower end of the debossed support flange transitioning into the neck.