US5328655A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for the manufacture of shaped products of biaxially oriented polymeric material
Assignee: Fortex Inc
•
Filing: 1992-03-25
•
Granted: 1994-07-12
•
Expires: 2012-03-25
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and methods for the formation of biaxially oriented thermoplastic articles having flat surfaces or sharp contours, and the articles so produced. Such apparatus and methods relate to the heat-shrinking of biaxially oriented intermediates onto male forms to produce articles of exacting dimensions and flat surfaces or sharply defined contours. Such thermoplastic articles include autoclavable, heat fillable, heat stable, transparent PET containers.
Inventors
- 👤 John K. Fortin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 00:53
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C61/00; B29C61/02; B29C51/00; B29C51/002; B29C51/04; B29C51/06; B29C51/08; B29C51/082; B29C51/26; B29C51/30; B29C51/306; B29C51/42; B29C51/426; B29C55/00; B29C55/22; B29C55/26; B29C61/025; B29C61/06; B29D; B29D22/00; B29D22/003; B29C2791/00; B29C2791/004; B29C2791/006; B29C2791/007; B29K; B29K2067/00; B29K2995/00; B29K2995/0012; B29K2995/0017; B29K2995/0018; B29K2995/0026; B29K2995/0029; B29K2995/0037; B29K2995/0049; B29K2995/005; B29K2995/0053; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/712; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S264/00; Y10S264/90; Y10S264/901; Y10S264/909
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for producing a biaxially oriented, thermoplastic, unitary, open-ended container shaped article having transparent sidewalls and a fully translucent rim, wherein there is a clear and distinct demarcation between said transparent sidewalls and said translucent rim, comprising: forming a biaxially oriented container-shaped intermediate having an unoriented crystallizable rim portion; and simultaneously crystallizing said rim portion and heat shrinking said intermediate onto a male form, wherein said unoriented rim thermoplastic is prevented from pulling into the sidewalls of said heat shrunk article.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for producing a biaxially oriented, thermoplastic, unitary, open-ended container shaped article having transparent sidewalls and a fully translucent rim, wherein there is a clear and distinct demarcation between said transparent sidewalls and said translucent rim, comprising: forming a biaxially oriented container-shaped intermediate having an unoriented crystallizable rim portion; and simultaneously crystallizing said rim portion and heat shrinking said intermediate onto a male form, wherein said unoriented rim thermoplastic is prevented from pulling into the sidewalls of said heat shrunk article.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said intermediate formation comprises blow molding a sheet of thermoplastic material substantially at its orientation temperature.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said intermediate formation comprises blow molding a sheet of thermoplastic material substantially at its orientation temperature.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for heat shrinking a biaxially oriented container-shaped article of thermoplastic crystallizable polymer, said article having an unoriented crystallizable rim, comprising: placing said article on a male form having a predetermined size, shape and texture; heating said rim to crystallize it, thereby making said rim heat stable; and heating said article above the orientation temperature of said polymer to heat-shrink said article onto the surface of said form to give said article a final shape, wherein said rim crystallization and heat shrinking occur simultaneously, and wherein said unoriented rim thermoplastic is prevented from pulling into the sidewalls of said heat shrunk article.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for heat shrinking a biaxially oriented container-shaped article of thermoplastic crystallizable polymer, said article having an unoriented crystallizable rim, comprising: placing said article on a male form having a predetermined size, shape and texture; heating said rim to crystallize it, thereby making said rim heat stable; and heating said article above the orientation temperature of said polymer to heat-shrink said article onto the surface of said form to give said article a final shape, wherein said rim crystallization and heat shrinking occur simultaneously, and wherein said unoriented rim thermoplastic is prevented from pulling into the sidewalls of said heat shrunk article.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for heat shrinking a biaxially oriented container-shaped article having an unoriented rim of thermoplastic crystallizable polymer to form a container-shaped article having transparent sidewalls and a fully translucent rim, wherein the transparent sidewalls are free from translucent areas, comprising: placing said intermediate on a male form having a predetermined size, shape and texture; heating said rim and said sidewalls simultaneously above the orientation temperature of the thermoplastic to heat shrink the sidewalls and crystallize the rim; and providing means for preventing said unoriented rim from pulling into said sidewalls.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
91 words
A method for heat shrinking a biaxially oriented container-shaped article having an unoriented rim of thermoplastic crystallizable polymer to form a container-shaped article having transparent sidewalls and a fully translucent rim, wherein the transparent sidewalls are free from translucent areas, comprising: placing said intermediate on a male form having a predetermined size, shape and texture; heating said rim and said sidewalls simultaneously above the orientation temperature of the thermoplastic to heat shrink the sidewalls and crystallize the rim; and providing means for preventing said unoriented rim from pulling into said sidewalls.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
103 words
An apparatus for producing a biaxially oriented, transparent, thermoplastic, unitary, open-ended container-shaped article having a contiguous, fully translucent and crystallized rim, comprising: intermediate forming means for forming a biaxially oriented intermediate having an unoriented crystallizable rim; and rim crystallizing and heat shrinking means for simultaneously raising the temperature of said crystallizable rim to heat set and crystallize said rim and heating said intermediate above the orientation temperature of said thermoplastic to heat-shrink the intermediate onto the exterior of a male form, and clamping means in contact with said sidewall for preventing said oriented rim thermoplastic from pulling into the sidewalls of said article.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
103 words
An apparatus for producing a biaxially oriented, transparent, thermoplastic, unitary, open-ended container-shaped article having a contiguous, fully translucent and crystallized rim, comprising: intermediate forming means for forming a biaxially oriented intermediate having an unoriented crystallizable rim; and rim crystallizing and heat shrinking means for simultaneously raising the temperature of said crystallizable rim to heat set and crystallize said rim and heating said intermediate above the orientation temperature of said thermoplastic to heat-shrink the intermediate onto the exterior of a male form, and clamping means in contact with said sidewall for preventing said oriented rim thermoplastic from pulling into the sidewalls of said article.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said intermediate forming means is comprised of blow forming means for blowing a sheet of thermoplastic material that is maintained at or near its orientation temperature.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said heat setting and heat shrinking means is comprised of: a heated male form; and means for forcing air out of said male form.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said rim heat setting and heat shrinking means is comprised of: means for preventing said crystallizable rim from pulling into the sidewalls of said container-shaped article.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
96 words
An apparatus for heat stabilizing a biaxially oriented, transparent, container-shaped article of thermoplastic crystallizable polymer, said article having a fully unoriented crystallizable rim, comprising: rim crystallizing and heat shrinking means for simultaneously raising the temperature of said crystallizable rim to heat set and crystallize said rim and heating said article above the orientation temperature of said thermoplastic to heat shrink the intermediate onto the exterior of a male form; and means for preventing said crystallizable rim from pulling into the sidewalls of said container-shaped article comprising clamping means which clamp said sidewall against said male form.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
96 words
An apparatus for heat stabilizing a biaxially oriented, transparent, container-shaped article of thermoplastic crystallizable polymer, said article having a fully unoriented crystallizable rim, comprising: rim crystallizing and heat shrinking means for simultaneously raising the temperature of said crystallizable rim to heat set and crystallize said rim and heating said article above the orientation temperature of said thermoplastic to heat shrink the intermediate onto the exterior of a male form; and means for preventing said crystallizable rim from pulling into the sidewalls of said container-shaped article comprising clamping means which clamp said sidewall against said male form.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said heat setting and heat shrinking means is comprised of: a heated male form; and means for forcing air out of said male form.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3662049A
Cited
US3746497A
Cited
US4233022A
Cited
JPS56164817A
Cited
US4469270A
Cited
US4388356A
Cited
JPS5978824A
Cited
EP0155763A2
Cited
US4943406A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-07-11 | 1998-01-10 | 1998-07-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-07-11 | 2002-01-10 | 2002-07-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-07-11 | 2006-01-10 | 2006-07-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |