# US 8,540,928 B2 · Process for the manufacture of containers which have an integral handle, and containers manufactured thereby

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- Number: US 8,540,928 B2
- Document ID: US8540928B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/346,959
- Filed: 2006-02-03
- Published: 2006-08-24
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2005-02-04
- Assignees: The Procter & Gamble Company
- Applicants: Patrick Jean-Francois Etesse; William John Cleveland Connolly
- Inventors: Patrick Jean-Francois Etesse; William John Cleveland Connolly
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540928B2

## CPC

- B29D 22/003: {Containers for packaging, storing or transporting, e.g. bottles, jars, cans, barrels, tanks}
- B29C 49/4802: {with means for locally compressing part(s) of the parison in the main blowing cavity}
- B65D 23/0842: {Sheets or tubes applied around the bottle with or without subsequent folding operations}
- B65D 51/00: Closures not otherwise provided for
- B29C 2949/079: Auxiliary parts or inserts
- B29L 2031/463: {Grips, handles (handgrips as part of the body finishing of the vehicles B29L2031/3029)}
- B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00)
- 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)
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES

## Abstract

A process for blow-molding a container, the container comprising a handle, whereby the process comprises the steps of: (i) introducing a preform (2) into a mold cavity and stretching the preform (2) with a stretch rod; (ii) increasing the pressure within the preform (2) so that the preform (2) expands within the mold cavity in a first blowing step, the pressure in the first blowing step is from 1 to 10 bar; (iii) inwardly moving jaws (3, 4) within the mold cavity so that the expanding preform (2) is partially gripped between the jaws in the handle region; (iv) subsequently increasing the pressure within the preform (2) wherein the maximum pressure in the second blowing step is greater than 10 bar, so that the preform (2) expands to the limits of the mold cavity in a second blowing step to form a container; and wherein the inward movement of the jaws (3, 4) is completed within the first blowing step.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for blow-molding a container, the container comprising a handle, whereby the process comprises the steps of:
(i) introducing a preform into a mold cavity, closing the mold cavity, and stretching the preform with a stretch rod;
(ii) increasing the pressure within the preform so that the preform expands within the mold cavity in a first blowing step;
(iii) inwardly moving jaws within the mold cavity to make a handle;
(iv) increasing the pressure within the preform so that the preform expands to the limits of the mold cavity in a second blowing step to form a container;
wherein the inward movement of the jaws is completed within the first blowing step prior to full contact between the preform and the mold cavity and prior to the second blowing step, the pressure in the first blowing step is from about 1 to about 10 bar, and the maximum pressure in the second blowing step is greater than about 10 bar and wherein the container is transparent.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1, wherein the pressure within the preform during the time in which the inwardly moving jaws are closed is from about 3 to about 8 bar.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1, wherein the maximum pressure in the second blowing step is from about 12 to about 20 bar.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1 wherein the preform is made from polypropylene and the container is made from bi-oriented polypropylene.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1 wherein the container comprises a one piece or two piece self draining enclosure.

### Claim 6

A process for blow-molding a container, the container comprising a handle, whereby the process comprises the steps of:
(i) introducing a preform into a mold cavity, closing the mold cavity, and stretching the preform with a stretch rod;
(ii) increasing the pressure within the preform so that the preform expands within the mold cavity in a first blowing step;
(iii) inwardly moving jaws within the mold cavity so that the preform is partially gripped and fused between the jaws in the handle region prior to full contact between the preform and the mold cavity and prior to a second blowing step;
(iv) subsequently increasing the pressure within the preform so that the preform expands to the limits of the mold cavity in the second blowing step to form a container;
wherein the inward movement of the jaws is complete within the first blowing step, the pressure in the first blowing step is from about 1 to about 10 bar, and the maximum pressure in the second blowing step is greater than about 10 bar wherein the container is transparent.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A process according to claim 6, wherein the pressure within the preform during the time in which the inwardly moving jaws are closed is from about 3 to about 8 bar.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

A process according to claim 6, wherein the maximum pressure in the second blowing step is from about 12 to about 20 bar.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

A process according to claim 6, wherein the preform is made from polypropylene and the container is made from bi-oriented polypropylene.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

A process according to claim 6 wherein the container comprises a one piece or two piece self draining enclosure.