US5066528A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Refillable polyester container and preform for forming the same
Assignee: Graham Packaging Pet Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1990-03-05
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Granted: 1991-11-19
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Expires: 2010-03-05
Abstract
Abstract This relates to a returnable/refillable container in the form of a blow molded polyester biaxially oriented bottle wherein the container includes a domed base construction wherein the wall thickness gradually and smoothly increases to a maximum at the center of the dome. This also relates to a specially configurated preform which is blow molded to form the container and a specially configurated blow mold cavity for receiving a preform having a lower axial projection in the form of an elongated gate without crushing.
Inventors
- 👤 Suppayan M. Krishnakumar
- 👤 Wayne N. Collette
- 👤 Thomas E. Nahill
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 05:20
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C49/00; B29C49/071; B65; B65D; B65D1/00; B65D1/02; B29C49/42; B29C49/78; B29C2049/7879; B29C2949/00; B29C2949/07; B29C2949/0715; B29C2949/072; B29C2949/0724; B29C2949/0725; B29C2949/073; B29C2949/0733; B29C2949/076; B29C2949/0768; B29C2949/0769; B29C2949/077; B29C2949/0772; B29C2949/0773; B29C2949/0777; B29C2949/078; B29C2949/0781; B29C2949/0861; B29C2949/0862; 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; B29C2949/303; B29C2949/3032; B29C2949/3034; B29C49/02; B29C49/06; B29C49/08; B29C49/087; B29K; B29K2995/00; B29K2995/0037; B29K2995/004; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/13; Y10T428/1352; Y10T428/1397
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
In a preform for use in blow molding a container having a concaved bottom and being 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 neck finish with said preform between said 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, said preform being improved by said bottom also having a generally hemispherical inner surface with the wall thickness of said bottom gradually increasing in thickness towards said preform body and forming means for forming said container concaved bottom with a wall thickness decreasing radially outwardly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
In a preform for use in blow molding a container having a concaved bottom and being 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 neck finish with said preform between said 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, said preform being improved by said bottom also having a generally hemispherical inner surface with the wall thickness of said bottom gradually increasing in thickness towards said preform body and forming means for forming said container concaved bottom with a wall thickness decreasing radially outwardly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A preform according to claim 1 wherein said bottom outer surface terminates in an axial projection with the form of an elongated gate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A preform according to claim 2 wherein said elongated gate is joined to said outer surface by a smoothly curving connection free of sharp curves.
Claim 5
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 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A preform according to claim 3 wherein said inner axially projecting projection and said inner surface are free of sharp corners.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A preform according to claim 1 wherein said cylindrical container base forming thickened portion is joined to said container body forming portion by a tapered portion of gradually increasing thickness.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A preform according to claim 1 wherein the thickness of said thickened portions is increased in the general range of 10 percent to 40 percent over the thickness of said preform body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A preform according to claim 1 wherein a lower part of said body above said container base forming thickened portion forms an upper part of said container base forming portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-11-18 | 1995-05-20 | 1995-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-11-18 | 1999-05-20 | 1999-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-11-18 | 2003-05-20 | 2003-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |