Process for forming a single-walled blow molded hinged container

Claim 1

A process for forming a single-walled blow molded container comprising a top portion and a bottom portion connected by a compression molded hinge portion, comprising the steps of: initiating closing of a blow mold comprising means defining a restricted hinge forming minor cavity connecting major cavities and communicating with hinge bar introducing means and hinge bar receiving means about a parison; inserting a hinge bar through said hinge bar introducing means so as to pierce said parison, pass through said restricted hinge forming minor cavity and into said hinge bar receiving means; completing said closing of said blow mold about said parison to compression mold a portion of said parison located between said hinge bar and a surface of said restricted hinge forming minor cavity; inflating said parison to form an article by conforming said parison to the geometry of said cavities; removing the article from the blow mold; and severing the article to form two of said containers.