Lightweight plastic container and preform

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9850019-B2
Application number	US-201615383179-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2016
Priority date	Mar 6, 2006
Publication date	Dec 26, 2017
Grant date	Dec 26, 2017

Abstract

A plastic preform is provided that includes a closed bottom portion; a lower portion extending upwardly from the bottom portion; and a neck portion extending upwardly from the lower portion. The neck portion includes a support flange having an upper and lower surface, threads, a tamper-evident formation, and a dispensing opening at the top of the neck portion. In an embodiment, the weight of the neck portion is 3.0 grams or less; and the vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange, including the threads and the tamper-evident formation, is 0.580 inches or less. A container and method for making a container are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A plastic preform for making a blow molded container, comprising:
a closed bottom portion;
a lower portion extending upwardly from the bottom portion; and
a neck portion extending upwardly from the lower portion, the neck portion including a support flange having an upper and lower surface; threads; a tamper-evident formation; and a dispensing opening at an upper end of the neck portion, the dispensing opening having a top;
wherein a weight of the neck portion is 3.0 grams or less; and a vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange, including the threads and the tamper-evident formation, is 0.58 inches or less.

2. The preform according to claim 1 , wherein the vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange is 0.50 inches or less.

3. The preform according to claim 1 , wherein the vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange is 0.45 inches or less.

4. The preform according to claim 1 , wherein an outside diameter of the support flange is greater than 22 mm and less than or equal to 39.2 mm.

5. The preform according to claim 1 , wherein the tamper-evident formation comprises a bead.

6. The preform of claim 1 , wherein the tamper-evident formation is discontinuous.

7. The preform according to claim 1 , wherein a radially extending length of the support flange is 0.20 inches or less.

8. The preform according to claim 1 , wherein the weight of the neck portion is 2.3 grams or less.

9. The preform according to claim 1 , wherein a ratio of a height of a center of gravity to container height is less than 0.57.

10. The preform according to claim 1 , wherein the preform is comprised of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

11. The preform according to claim 1 , wherein the threads comprise multiple-lead threads.

12. The preform according to claim 1 , wherein a combined weight of the neck portion, the lower portion, and the bottom portion is 11 grams or less.

13. The preform according to claim 1 , wherein an inner diameter of the dispensing opening is at least 22 mm.

14. The preform according to claim 1 , wherein the tamper-evident formation is vertically spaced from the threads.

15. A plastic preform for making a blow molded container, comprising:
a closed bottom portion;
a lower portion extending upwardly from the bottom portion; and
a neck portion extending upwardly from the lower portion, the neck portion including a support flange having an upper and lower surface; threads; a tamper-evident formation; and a dispensing opening at an upper end of the neck portion, the dispensing opening having a top;
wherein the preform is comprised of polyethylene terephthalate (PET); a weight of the neck portion is 3.0 grams or less; an outside diameter of the support flange is greater than 22 mm and less than or equal to 39.2 mm; and a vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange, including the threads and the tamper-evident formation, is 0.58 inches or less.

16. The preform according to claim 15 , wherein the vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange is 0.50 inches or less.

17. The preform according to claim 15 , wherein the vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange is 0.45 inches or less.

18. The preform according to claim 15 , wherein the tamper-evident formation comprises a bead.

19. The preform of claim 15 , wherein the tamper-evident formation is discontinuous.

20. The preform according to claim 15 , wherein a radially extending length of the support flange is 0.20 inches or less.

21. The preform according to claim 15 , wherein the weight of the neck portion is 2.3 grams or less.

22. The preform according to claim 15 , wherein a ratio of a height of a center of gravity to container height is less than 0.57.

23. The preform according to claim 15 , wherein the threads comprise multiple-lead threads.

24. The preform according to claim 15 , wherein a combined weight of the neck portion, the lower portion, and the bottom portion is 11 grams or less.

25. The preform according to claim 15 , wherein a vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the upper surface of the support flange is 0.40 inches or less.

26. The preform according to claim 15 , wherein the tamper-evident formation is vertically spaced from the threads.

27. The preform according to claim 15 , wherein an inner diameter of the dispensing opening is at least 22 mm.

28. A plastic preform for making a blow molded container, comprising:
a closed bottom portion;
a lower portion extending upwardly from the bottom portion; and
a neck portion extending upwardly from the lower portion, the neck portion including a support flange having an upper and lower surface; threads; a tamper-evident formation; and a dispensing opening at an upper end of the neck portion, the dispensing opening having a top;
wherein the preform is comprised of polyethylene terephthalate (PET); the threads comprise multiple-lead threads; a combined weight of the neck portion, the lower portion, and the bottom portion is 11 grams or less; a weight of the neck portion is 3.0 grams or less; and a vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange, including the threads and the tamper-evident formation, is 0.58 inches or less.

29. The preform according to claim 28 , wherein the vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange is 0.50 inches or less.

30. The preform according to claim 28 , wherein the weight of the neck portion is 2.3 grams or less.

Assignees

• Plastipak Packaging Inc

Inventors

• Darr Richard C
• Morgan Edward V

Classifications

• B29C2949/0715

  the preform having one end closed · CPC title

• B29B11/14

  characterised by structure or composition · CPC title

• B29K2105/26

  Scrap {or recycled material} · CPC title

• B29K2067/003

  PET, i.e. poylethylene terephthalate · CPC title

• B29B2911/1498

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic