US4725464A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Refillable polyester beverage bottle and preform for forming same
Assignee: Graham Packaging Pet Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 1986-05-30
•
Granted: 1988-02-16
•
Expires: 2006-05-30
Abstract
Abstract A returnable/refillable container in the form of a blow molded polyester biaxially oriented bottle having a physical and structural relationship providing for the maintenance of aesthetic and functional viability over a minimum of twenty trips wherein each trip comprises (1) an empty state caustic wash followed by (2) contaminant inspection and product filling/capping, (3) warehouse storage, (4) distribution to wholesale and retail locations, and (5) purchase, use and empty storage by the consumer followed by return to a bottler. The container is obtained utilizing a specific preform configuration and reheat blow process wherein the sidewall of the resultant container has a percent crystallinity of 28-30 at a total preform draw ratio of 7-9/l. The container is formed utilizing recently developed process techniques to optimize strain induced sidewall crystallization.
Inventors
- 👤 Wayne N. Collette
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 05:07
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C49/00; B29C49/071; B65; B65D; B65D1/00; B65D1/02; B65D1/0223; B29C49/42; B29C49/78; B29C2049/7879; B29C2949/00; B29C2949/07; B29C2949/0715; B29C2949/072; B29C2949/0723; B29C2949/0724; B29C2949/0725; B29C2949/073; B29C2949/0732; B29C2949/0733; B29C2949/076; B29C2949/0768; B29C2949/077; B29C2949/0772; B29C2949/0773; B29C2949/0777; B29C2949/078; B29C2949/0781; B29C2949/081; B29C2949/0811; B29C2949/0817; B29C2949/082; B29C2949/0826; B29C2949/0829; B29C2949/0835; B29C2949/0861; B29C2949/0862; B29C2949/0872; B29C2949/20; B29C2949/22; B29C2949/24; B29C2949/26; B29C2949/28; B29C2949/30; B29C2949/3008; B29C2949/3012; B29C2949/3016; B29C2949/302; B29C2949/3024; B29C2949/3026; B29C2949/3028; B29C49/02; B29C49/06; B29C49/08; B29C49/087; B29K; B29K2995/00; B29K2995/0037; B29K2995/004; B29K2995/0041; B29K2995/0043; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/13; Y10T428/1352; Y10T428/1397
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A preform for use in blow molding a container suitable for refilling, said preform being an injection molded member formed of a polyester, said preform having an elongated body for forming a container body and being closed at one end and open at the opposite end, said preform open end having a threaded neck finish with said preform between said threaded neck finish and said elongated body having a portion tapering in wall thickness for forming a container shoulder portion, said closed one end being defined by a bottom having a generally hemispherical outer surface, and between said closed one end and said preform body there being a cylindrical container base forming thickened portion of an increased wall thickness as compared to the wall thickness of said preform body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
A preform for use in blow molding a container suitable for refilling, said preform being an injection molded member formed of a polyester, said preform having an elongated body for forming a container body and being closed at one end and open at the opposite end, said preform open end having a threaded neck finish with said preform between said threaded neck finish and said elongated body having a portion tapering in wall thickness for forming a container shoulder portion, said closed one end being defined by a bottom having a generally hemispherical outer surface, and between said closed one end and said preform body there being a cylindrical container base forming thickened portion of an increased wall thickness as compared to the wall thickness of said preform body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A preform according to claim 1 wherein said bottom includes an inner centrally located axially projecting projection defining centering means for engagement by a centering rod during blow molding of said preform.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A preform according to claim 1 wherein said preform bottom has a generally flat transversely extending interior surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A preform according to claim 1 wherein said preform body has a wall thickness 7 to 9 times the thickness of a resultant container body thickness.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A preform according to claim 1 wherein said preform body has a wall thickness 7 to 9 times the thickness of a resultant container body thickness, and an outside diameter of 34 to 37% of the outside diameter of a resultant container body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A preform according to claim 1 wherein said preform body has an outside diameter of 34 to 37% of the outside diameter of a resultant container body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A preform according to claim 1 wherein said thickened portion has a length including said preform bottom which is 0.35 to 0.45 times a resultant container body diameter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A preform according to claim 1 wherein said thickened portion has a length including said preform bottom which is 0.35 to 0.45 times a resultant container body diameter and a wall thickness of 1.1 to 1.25 times the wall thickness of said preform body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A preform according to claim 1 wherein said thickened portion has a wall thickness of 1.1 to 1.25 times the wall thickness of said preform body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A preform according to claim 1 wherein said preform is formed of 0.72 to 0.84 intrinsic viscosity PET homopolymer or copolymer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR1436468A
Cited
US3934743A
Cited
US4406854A
Cited
US4330579A
Cited
US4525401A
Cited
US4615925A
Cited
US4463056A
Cited
US4576843A
Cited
US4483891A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-02-15 | 1991-08-17 | 1992-02-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-02-15 | 1995-08-17 | 1996-02-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-02-15 | 1999-08-17 | 2000-02-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |