US5443767A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for molding a multiple structure and a container made therein
Assignee: Pepsico Inc
•
Filing: 1993-10-15
•
Granted: 1995-08-22
•
Expires: 2013-10-15
Abstract
Abstract An injection molding process for making a multiple layer, plastic structure. A plastic sleeve is placed and then enclosed in a mold cavity. A flowing heated plastic is conducted into the mold cavity, radially inside the sleeve, and forced radially outward against the sleeve. The flowing plastic forces the sleeve outward and forms, with the sleeve, an integrally bonded laminated structure. The mold is opened and the plastic structure is removed, and this structure may then be reformed to form a container particularly suitable for containing beverages, foods, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and chemicals.
Inventors
- 👤 John W. Cahill
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 09:53
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C45/00; B29C45/14; B29C45/14598; B29C45/0053; B29C45/1418; B29C49/00; B29C49/071; B29C2949/00; B29C2949/07; B29C2949/072; B29C2949/0723; B29C2949/0724; B29C2949/073; B29C2949/0732; B29C2949/0733; B29C2949/076; B29C2949/0768; B29C2949/077; B29C2949/0772; B29C2949/0773; B29C2949/0777; B29C2949/20; B29C2949/22; B29C2949/24; B29C2949/28; B29C2949/30; B29C2949/3016; B29C2949/3018; B29C2949/3024; B29C2949/3026; B29C2949/3028; B29C2949/303; B29C2949/3032; B29C2949/3041; B29C2949/3042; B29C2949/3044; B29C2949/3046; B29C2949/3064; B29C2949/3066; B29C2949/3068; B29C2949/307; B29C2949/3086; B29C2949/3088; B29C2949/3092; B29C49/42; B29C49/64; B29C49/6604; B29C49/6605; B29K; B29K2067/00; B29K2077/00; B29K2105/00; B29K2105/25; B29K2105/253; B29K2105/258; B29K2105/26; B29K2995/00; B29K2995/0037; B29K2995/0065; B29K2995/0067; B29K2995/0068; B29K2995/0069; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S425/00; Y10S425/812; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/13; Y10T428/1352; Y10T428/139; Y10T428/1393
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
255 words
An injection molding process for forming a partially laminated preform for a beverage container comprising the steps of: (a) providing a plastic tube; (b) cutting off a portion of the plastic tube to form a hollow, plastic sleeve having an initial, generally hollow cylindrical shape and including a cylindrical side wall and first and second opposite, open axial ends; (c) providing a mold cavity having at least first, second and third cavity surfaces, said first cavity surface for forming a neck portion of said preform, said second cavity surface for forming a side wall portion of said preform and said third cavity surface for forming a bottom wall of said preform; (d) placing the plastic sleeve adjacent said second cavity surface such that at least a portion of the side wall of said sleeve is in firm contact with said second cavity surface for forming a preform having a laminated side wall portion; (e) closing the mold to enclose the sleeve in the mold cavity; (f) conducting a flowing, heated plastic into the mold cavity and through the first open axial end of the sleeve and into the interior thereof; (g) forcing the flowing plastic radially outward against the sleeve to force the sleeve outward from said initial shape and into a shape conforming with the shape of said cavity surface, and to form, with the sleeve, a preform having a neck portion, a bottom portion and an integrally bonded laminated sidewall portion; (h) opening the mold; and (i) removing the preform from the mold.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
255 words
An injection molding process for forming a partially laminated preform for a beverage container comprising the steps of: (a) providing a plastic tube; (b) cutting off a portion of the plastic tube to form a hollow, plastic sleeve having an initial, generally hollow cylindrical shape and including a cylindrical side wall and first and second opposite, open axial ends; (c) providing a mold cavity having at least first, second and third cavity surfaces, said first cavity surface for forming a neck portion of said preform, said second cavity surface for forming a side wall portion of said preform and said third cavity surface for forming a bottom wall of said preform; (d) placing the plastic sleeve adjacent said second cavity surface such that at least a portion of the side wall of said sleeve is in firm contact with said second cavity surface for forming a preform having a laminated side wall portion; (e) closing the mold to enclose the sleeve in the mold cavity; (f) conducting a flowing, heated plastic into the mold cavity and through the first open axial end of the sleeve and into the interior thereof; (g) forcing the flowing plastic radially outward against the sleeve to force the sleeve outward from said initial shape and into a shape conforming with the shape of said cavity surface, and to form, with the sleeve, a preform having a neck portion, a bottom portion and an integrally bonded laminated sidewall portion; (h) opening the mold; and (i) removing the preform from the mold.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the conducting step includes the step of conducting the flowing plastic through the second open axial end of the sleeve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the forcing step includes the step of forcing the sleeve into an outwardly tapered shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process according to claim 3 wherein the step of forcing the sleeve into the tapered shaped includes the step of forcing the sleeve outward against an outside surface of the mold cavity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claim 1 further comprising the step of holding the sleeve axially in place in the mold cavity during the forcing step.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process according to claim 5 wherein the forcing step includes the step of venting air away from the mold cavity, from a space immediately below a bottom edge of the sleeve as the flowing plastic rises therepast.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process according to claim 6 wherein the forcing step further includes the step of venting air away from the mold cavity, from a space radially outside the sleeve as the flowing plastic rises therepast.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the plastic sleeve has a low gas permeability.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the plastic sleeve is comprised of recycled polyethylene terephthalate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the plastic tube is formed by an extrusion molding process.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the placing step includes the step of forcing a lower portion of the sleeve into a tight pressure fit against said cavity surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
66 words
A process according to claim 6 wherein the mold forms an interface in fluid communication with the mold cavity, and wherein: the placing step includes the step of securing the sleeve in the mold cavity with the first axial end of the sleeve located immediately above said interface; and the venting step includes the step of venting air from the molding cavity and through said interface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
125 words
The process according to claim 6 wherein the mold forms first and second interfaces in fluid communication with the mold cavity, and wherein: the placing step includes the step of securing the sleeve in the mold cavity with the first axial end of the sleeve located immediately above said first interface, and with the second axial end of the sleeve located immediately adjacent said second interface; the step of venting air from a space immediately below a bottom edge of the sleeve includes the step of venting air from the mold cavity and through said first interface; and the step of venting air from a space radially outside the sleeve includes the step of venting air from the mold cavity and through said second interface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
280 words
A combination extrusion, injection molding, and blow molding process for making a multiple layer, polyethylene terephthalate bottle for carbonated beverages, comprising the steps of: extruding a polyethylene terephthalate tube; cutting off a portion of said tube to form a hollow, plastic sleeve having an initial, generally hollow cylindrical shape and including first and second opposite, open axial ends; placing the plastic sleeve in a mold forming a mold cavity and including an axially extending cavity surface forming at least a portion of the mold cavity, said cavity surface having a substantially cylindrical shape tapering axially outwardly, said substantially cylindrical shape having an inner diameter at its smaller end no greater than the outer diameter of said plastic sleeve and an inner diameter at its larger end greater than the outer diameter of said plastic sleeve, said placing of said plastic sleeve in the mold being carried out so as to position an end portion of said sleeve firmly in contact with said cavity surface; closing the mold to enclose said sleeve in the mold cavity; injecting flowing polyethylene terephthalate heated to a temperature in the range from about 500° F. to about 575° F. into the mold cavity and through the first open axial end of the sleeve and into the interior thereof, and forcing the flowing polyethylene terephthalate radially outward against the sleeve to force the sleeve outward against said cavity surface, to impart to said sleeve an axially tapering shape conforming with the shape of said cavity surface, and to form, with the sleeve, an integrally bonded laminated bottle preform; opening the mold; removing said bottle preform from said mold; and blow molding said preform into a bottle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
280 words
A combination extrusion, injection molding, and blow molding process for making a multiple layer, polyethylene terephthalate bottle for carbonated beverages, comprising the steps of: extruding a polyethylene terephthalate tube; cutting off a portion of said tube to form a hollow, plastic sleeve having an initial, generally hollow cylindrical shape and including first and second opposite, open axial ends; placing the plastic sleeve in a mold forming a mold cavity and including an axially extending cavity surface forming at least a portion of the mold cavity, said cavity surface having a substantially cylindrical shape tapering axially outwardly, said substantially cylindrical shape having an inner diameter at its smaller end no greater than the outer diameter of said plastic sleeve and an inner diameter at its larger end greater than the outer diameter of said plastic sleeve, said placing of said plastic sleeve in the mold being carried out so as to position an end portion of said sleeve firmly in contact with said cavity surface; closing the mold to enclose said sleeve in the mold cavity; injecting flowing polyethylene terephthalate heated to a temperature in the range from about 500° F. to about 575° F. into the mold cavity and through the first open axial end of the sleeve and into the interior thereof, and forcing the flowing polyethylene terephthalate radially outward against the sleeve to force the sleeve outward against said cavity surface, to impart to said sleeve an axially tapering shape conforming with the shape of said cavity surface, and to form, with the sleeve, an integrally bonded laminated bottle preform; opening the mold; removing said bottle preform from said mold; and blow molding said preform into a bottle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process according to claim 14 wherein the conducting step includes the step of conducting the flowing plastic through the second open axial end of the sleeve.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 14 wherein the forcing step includes the step of forcing the sleeve into an outwardly tapered shape.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process according to claim 16 wherein the step of forcing the sleeve into the tapered shaped includes the step of forcing the sleeve outward against an outside surface of the mold cavity.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claim 14 further comprising the step of holding the sleeve axially in place in the mold cavity during the forcing step.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process according to claim 18 wherein the forcing step includes the step of venting air away from the mold cavity, from a space immediately below a bottom edge of the sleeve as the flowing plastic rises therepast.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process according to claim 18 wherein the forcing step further includes the step of venting air away from the mold cavity, from a space radially outside the sleeve as the flowing plastic rises therepast.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 14 wherein the plastic sleeve has a low gas permeability.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 14 wherein the plastic sleeve is comprised of recycled polyethylene terephthalate.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 14, wherein the plastic tube is formed by an extrusion molding process.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process according to claim 14, wherein the placing step includes the step of forcing a lower portion of the sleeve into a tight pressure fit against said cavity surface.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
66 words
A process according to claim 19 wherein the mold forms an interface in fluid communication with the mold cavity, and wherein: the placing step includes the step of securing the sleeve in the mold cavity with the first axial end of the sleeve located immediately above said interface; and the venting step includes the step of venting air from the molding cavity and through said interface.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
125 words
The process according to claim 20 wherein the mold forms first and second interfaces in fluid communication with the mold cavity, and wherein: the placing step includes the step of securing the sleeve in the mold cavity with the first axial end of the sleeve located immediately above said first interface, and with the second axial end of the sleeve located immediately adjacent said second interface; the step of venting air from a space immediately below a bottom edge of the sleeve includes the step of venting air from the mold cavity and through said first interface; and the step of venting air from a space radially outside the sleeve includes the step of venting air from the mold cavity and through said second interface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR1164855A
Cited
US2959812A
Cited
US3029468A
Cited
US3091000A
Cited
US3207822A
Cited
US3347965A
Cited
US3979421A
Cited
US3561629A
Cited
US3787157A
Cited
US4289817A
Cited
US3717544A
Cited
US3955697A
Cited
US3719735A
Cited
US4013748A
Cited
US3950483A
Cited
US3912100A
Cited
US4033929A
Cited
US4049147A
Cited
US4034131A
Cited
US4038446A
Cited
US4069934A
Cited
US3979000A
Cited
US4071597A
Cited
US3948404A
Cited
US4243712A
Cited
US4024009A
Cited
US4061705A
Cited
US4067949A
Cited
JPS5247860A
Cited
US4047873A
Cited
US4244914A
Cited
US4138026A
Cited
US4187276A
Cited
US4323411A
Cited
US4256231A
Cited
GB1600554A
Cited
US4587073A
Cited
US4140236A
Cited
US4122142A
Cited
US4288478A
Cited
US4335068A
Cited
US4267143A
Cited
US4254170A
Cited
US4320083A
Cited
US4172873A
Cited
US4281769A
Cited
US4215460A
Cited
US4189517A
Cited
US4190168A
Cited
US4205028B1
Cited
US4205028A
Cited
US4330579A
Cited
US4219124A
Cited
US4307138A
Cited
US4307137A
Cited
US4212910A
Cited
US4248030A
Cited
US4237675A
Cited
JPS5616052A
Cited
US4256789B1
Cited
US4256789A
Cited
US4373002A
Cited
US4405400A
Cited
US4276986A
Cited
US4281045A
Cited
US4390573A
Cited
US4357191A
Cited
US4405557A
Cited
DE3017891A1
Cited
US4311250A
Cited
US4391861A
Cited
US4356142A
Cited
US4342399A
Cited
US4421804A
Cited
DE3145808A1
Cited
US4606954A
Cited
US4420454A
Cited
EP0091275A2
Cited
US4796766A
Cited
US4394915A
Cited
US4495125A
Cited
US4444613A
Cited
US4426427A
Cited
JPS5939535A
Cited
US4797244A
Cited
JPS5991038A
Cited
US4436895A
Cited
EP0126575A2
Cited
US4426512A
Cited
US4573596A
Cited
GB2152424A
Cited
US4539463A
Cited
US4590028A
Cited
US4591066A
Cited
US4585679A
Cited
US4601926A
Cited
JPS61189913A
Cited
US4743479A
Cited
US4719069A
Cited
US4942008A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-08-21 | 1999-02-20 | 1999-08-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-08-21 | 2003-02-20 | 2003-08-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-08-21 | 2007-02-20 | 2007-08-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |