Patent US4725464A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4725464A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Refillable polyester beverage bottle and preform for forming same
Assignee: Graham Packaging Pet Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1986-05-30
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Granted: 1988-02-16
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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 09:45
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.
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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 |