Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C49/02—Combined blow-moulding and manufacture of the preform or the parison
  • B29C49/06—Injection blow-moulding
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C49/02—Combined blow-moulding and manufacture of the preform or the parison
  • B29C49/04—Extrusion blow-moulding
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D1/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material or by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
  • B65D1/02—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents
  • B65D1/0223—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents characterised by shape
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D1/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material or by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
  • B65D1/02—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents
  • B65D1/0223—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents characterised by shape
  • B65D1/023—Neck construction
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D1/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material or by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
  • B65D1/02—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents
  • B65D1/0223—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents characterised by shape
  • B65D1/023—Neck construction
  • B65D1/0246—Closure retaining means, e.g. beads, screw-threads
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C49/02—Combined blow-moulding and manufacture of the preform or the parison
  • B29C2049/023—Combined blow-moulding and manufacture of the preform or the parison using inherent heat of the preform, i.e. 1 step blow moulding
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
  • B29C2949/07—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration
  • B29C2949/0715—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration the preform having one end closed
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
  • B29K2001/00—Use of cellulose, modified cellulose or cellulose derivatives, e.g. viscose, as moulding material
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
  • B29K2003/00—Use of starch or derivatives as moulding material
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
  • B29K2023/00—Use of polyalkenes or derivatives thereof as moulding material
  • B29K2023/04—Polymers of ethylene
  • B29K2023/06—PE, i.e. polyethylene
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
  • B29K2023/00—Use of polyalkenes or derivatives thereof as moulding material
  • B29K2023/04—Polymers of ethylene
  • B29K2023/06—PE, i.e. polyethylene
  • B29K2023/0608—PE, i.e. polyethylene characterised by its density
  • B29K2023/065—HDPE, i.e. high density polyethylene
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
  • B29K2023/00—Use of polyalkenes or derivatives thereof as moulding material
  • B29K2023/10—Polymers of propylene
  • B29K2023/12—PP, i.e. polypropylene
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
  • B29K2025/00—Use of polymers of vinyl-aromatic compounds or derivatives thereof as moulding material
  • B29K2025/04—Polymers of styrene
  • B29K2025/06—PS, i.e. polystyrene
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
  • B29K2027/00—Use of polyvinylhalogenides or derivatives thereof as moulding material
  • B29K2027/06—PVC, i.e. polyvinylchloride
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
  • B29K2067/00—Use of polyesters or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
  • B29K2067/00—Use of polyesters or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
  • B29K2067/003—PET, i.e. poylethylene terephthalate
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
  • B29K2067/00—Use of polyesters or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
  • B29K2067/04—Polyesters derived from hydroxycarboxylic acids
  • B29K2067/046—PLA, i.e. polylactic acid or polylactide
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
  • B29K2995/00—Properties of moulding materials, reinforcements, fillers, preformed parts or moulds
  • B29K2995/0037—Other properties
  • B29K2995/0059—Degradable
  • B29K2995/006—Bio-degradable, e.g. bioabsorbable, bioresorbable or bioerodible
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
  • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
  • B29L2031/712—Containers; Packaging elements or accessories, Packages
  • B29L2031/7158—Bottles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D2501/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece
  • B65D2501/0009—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures designed for pouring contents
  • B65D2501/0081—Bottles of non-circular cross-section
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02W—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
  • Y02W30/00—Technologies for solid waste management
  • Y02W30/50—Reuse, recycling or recovery technologies
  • Y02W30/80—Packaging reuse or recycling, e.g. of multilayer packaging
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02W—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
  • Y02W90/00—Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation
  • Y02W90/10—Bio-packaging, e.g. packing containers made from renewable resources or bio-plastics

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a blow-molded container with a retention mechanism for attaching a closure to an opening or neck of said container and a portion of said container comprising a physical geometry that creates more than one undercut.
• Containers that have a pleasing aesthetic look to consumers have a closure design that is fully integrated with the design of the container. This conveys the message that the integration of the two components was well thought of. This is important to make closure functioning intuitive to consumers.
• An example of a well integrated container/closure system is one where the container's geometry wraps around the closure to create shoulders. This geometry can also be referred to as a container with a recessed neck. This recess geometry serves different purposes: overall integrated look to the container and closure, stability to container in inverted orientation, and makes functioning of closure more intuitive to consumers.
• Blowing this container geometry with today's traditional blow molding technology is not possible, as the container would have undercuts in the concave portion of the shoulder. This is because when the molding cavity tools are to be opened, the steel creating the concave part becomes trapped. If one were to shape the top part using the blow pin head tool, one would then encounter an undercut under the snap bead feature that is in proximity to the container's shoulder. This is because one would not be able to pull the blow pin tooling which creates the snap bead from underneath the formed bead feature.
• recess geometry design When looking at containers in the market that use a recess geometry design, it has been noticed that they usually have a straight shoulder vs. a concave design. The forming of that recess does not require any inventive step as there is at least one direction in which the mold can open with a straight-pull motion without yielding to any mold material becoming trapped within the container's geometry. Yet, recess geometries that can be unmolded with a straight-pull in a blow mold are highly restricted in design, limiting the integration of the closure with the blown container and therefore all the benefits stated above.
• a traditional striker plate and blow pin tool design can be used, where the blow pin cuts the parison when it comes in contact with the striker plate, creating a calibrated neck and therefore eliminating the need for secondary operations such as trimming and reaming.
• the size of the closure is minimized thereby providing several benefits.
• One of the benefits is reducing the weight of the closure to the minimum amount of resin needed to enable the required closure functionality. This is a benefit for the environment as industry currently does not have a well established polypropylene recycling stream. By having a closure that has a reduced weight from the overall package, this allows a container to have improved recyclability. It also reduces the overall costs of the closure including costs associated with resin, processing, tooling, injection mold (IM) press selection, and others.
• IM injection mold
• closure size Another benefit of minimizing closure size is that the closure becomes a less focal point of the design making it more inductive to use the same closure for different container designs within one brand and even enable the use of the same closure across different brands/shaped families. This drives optimization and efficiency and in return reduces further costs. This further enables the silhouette of the shape to be scaled proportionally without the use of additional features such as steps, larger radii or other geometric alterations and angles to accommodate the closure.
• Another benefit for minimizing the closure size is that it can be integrated in the container shape. When the container is in its inverted orientation, an integrated design allows the use of the container top surface to add stability vs. requiring a larger closure. It also aids in creating differentiation between the forms (such as shampoo and conditioner), helping consumers identify the product that they are looking for.
• a further advantage is that having a recessed closure provides a higher level of protection from damage due to the recessed closure being protected by the recess geometry. Another benefit of having a recessed neck where the container wraps around the closure is that it enables using the same closure across different sizes while still having an integrated look between the container and the closure. A further benefit of the present invention is the enablement of using the same closure across containers made by different molding technologies. Non-limiting examples of molding technologies include extrusion blow molding (EBM), injection blow molding (IBM), and injection stretch blow molding (ISBM). This drives scale and further reduces costs. It is an objective of the present invention to describe a blown container, wherein said container contains a recess in the container's geometry. Such a recess allows integration of a closure with the container such that when the closure is coupled with the blown container, it is substantially flush to the apex of the outmost surface of that blown container.
• the present invention is directed towards a blow molded container comprising a physical geometry that creates more than one undercut, preferably a recess, and a closure retention mechanism for attaching a closure to an opening or neck of said container.
• Figure 1 A is an isometric view of a final container shape with a recessed neck and a snap bead closure attachment mechanism
• Figure IB is an isometric view of a non-limiting example of a miniature closure
• Figure 1C is a container with a recessed neck and a miniature closure assembled and standing in an up-right and an upside-down orientations;
• Figure ID is a top view of a container illustrating the molding parting line and directions of mold action.
• Figure IE is a top view of a container with a recessed neck and a miniature closure assembled.
• suitable recesses are those that permit a portion of the article to wrap around at least part of a closure, when said closure is coupled with said article. Such recess may allow the closure, when coupled to said article, to remain substantially flush to the apex of the outermost surface of said article.
• at least part of a closure it is herein intended that said portion extends around the perimeter of the closure to form an angle of at least 45°, preferably at least 60°, more preferable between 60° and 360°, taken from the centre of the closure and in the x-y plane, when said closure is coupled to said article.
• integral intends that: (i) at least part of said closure remains substantially flush with at least one surface of the article, preferably the outer surface of said shoulder; and (ii) that at least one shoulder of said article wraps around at least part of said closure, preferably forming at least one concave surface.
• undercut means a physical geometry that hinders article removal from a mold when said mold is opened in a linear direction which intersects at least a portion of said geometry.
• without damage as used herein means that the article retains the end physical geometry generated at the end of the molding process.
• scale refers to an economic benefit obtained by reducing the design and development time and resources, as well as capital investment obtained by direct reapplication without negative implications on consumer acceptance, design aesthetics, etc.
• Blow molding is a well known manufacturing process for the fabrication of plastic articles such as containers, fuel tanks, handles etc.
• the blow molding process begins with melting plastic and forming it into a parison or preform.
• the parison is then clamped into a mold and a pressurized medium, usually air, is blown or pumped into it.
• the air pressure forces the plastic to match the peripheral geometry of the mold.
• the mold opens and the part is ejected.
• blow molding platforms There are three main types of blow molding platforms: extrusion blow molding (EBM), injection blow molding (IBM) and stretch blow molding (SBM).
• EBM extrusion blow molding
• IBM injection blow molding
• SBM stretch blow molding
• the combination of the abovementioned blow molding platforms may be more appropriate depending on the properties and complexity of the articles to be formed, such as injection stretch blow molding (ISBM).
• Plastic resin materials for use in the present invention can be polyolefins such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polylactic acid (PLA) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
• polyethylene encompasses high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), and ultra low density polyethylene (ULDPE).
• polypropylene encompasses homopolymer polypropylene, random copolymer polypropylene, and block copolymer polypropylene.
• a container (101) comprises a closure retention mechanism (103) for attaching a closure (106) to an opening or neck (102) of a container (101) that can be selected from the non-limiting group consisting of snap bead, thread, bayonet, and mixtures thereof.
• a container (101) also comprises a geometry shape that would traditionally be considered to create more than one undercut (107) and therefore removing the container from the mold after molding it would become challenging without temporarily or permanently altering or deforming the shape of the container. This is because the material of the mold used to create the shape of the container would become trapped within the container's geometry, not allowing for a straight pull opening action of the mold, as shown in Figure ID.
• a container (101) comprises a geometry where the interface (105) between the closure (106) and the container's geometry about the neck of the container can be selected from the non-limiting group consisting of concave, convex, linear, nonlinear, or mixtures thereof.
• the specific shape of the interface geometry (105) can be defined to match the shape of the closure (106), allowing therefore the creation of an integrated look between the closure (106) and the container (101).
• a container (101) comprises a nonlinear geometry about a neck of the container and closure interface of the container.
• the curvature of the interface (105) allows having the container wrap around the closure (106) to enable a fully integrated desired design aesthetic.
• the portion of the container (101) that wraps around the closure (106) can be referred to as the container's shoulder (104).
• a container (101) comprises a shoulder (104) geometry where the side of the shoulder wall having an interface (105) with the closure (106) has a positive draft angle of less than 10 degrees and in a further embodiment, there may be further reduction of the draft angle to less than 8 degrees and preferably even a further reduction of the draft angle to 5 degrees or less.
• This shoulder surface creates the interface (105) between the container (101) and the closure (106), once the closure (106) is assembled. Having a positive draft angle of less than 10 degrees is important for two main reasons: Consumer acceptance - the smaller the draft angle, the smaller the space or gap (108) that will exist between the closure (106) and container (101) after the closure (106) is assembled.
• closure (106) Potential re-application of closure (106) across multiple container sizes - having a low draft angle on the container's vertical shoulder interface (105) wall enables using a closure (106) with a straight or low vertical draft angle. If the closure (106) has a low vertical draft angle, it can then be used not only with containers that have a shoulder (104) that cover this side of the closure, but also with containers that have a different shoulder design or even those that do not have a shoulder at all, where the closure's periphery is partially or fully exposed. Having the flexibility to use the same closure across different container designs creates scale, which typically reduces costs and logistic complexity.
• a container (101) comprises a shoulder (104) geometry wherein the shape of the shoulder can be modified to mold containers of different volumetric sizes, while still being able to couple them with the same closure (106). Modifying the shape of the shoulder (104) to match with the same closure (106) creates scale which typically reduces costs, while allowing the overall assembly to maintain its fully integrated aesthetic look.
• a portion of a container body may have a physical geometry that creates at least one non-linear or more than one linear undercut.
• a linear undercut may have a portion of the surface geometry such that the surface is within the same plane.
• a non-linear undercut can be defined by a portion of the surface geometry such that the surface exists in multiple planes.
• a container (101) is made by a process selected from the non- limiting group consisting of extrusion blow molding (EBM), injection blow molding (IBM), injection stretch blow molding (ISBM) or mixtures thereof.
• a container (101) comprises a shoulder (104) geometry that is integrated with a closure (106) and preferably the integration of this shoulder (104) geometry with this closure (106) completes a container silhouette.
• a container (100) wherein the neck of the container may be at least partially encompassed by a portion of a container body.
• a container (101) comprises a closure retention feature (103) wherein the container's retention feature (103) can be referred to as a "male component”, as it protrudes from the container's outer neck finish, whilst the closure (106) comprises the “female component”, as it has a recessed area into which the container (101) will fit once assembled.
• a container (101) comprises a closure retention feature (103) wherein the container's retention feature (103) can be referred to as a "male component”, as it protrudes from the container's outer neck finish, whilst the closure (106) comprises the “female component”, as it has a recessed area into which the container (101) will fit once assembled.
• a container (101) comprises a closure retention feature (103) wherein the container's retention feature (103) can be referred to as a "male component”, as it protrudes from the container's outer neck finish, whilst the closure (106) comprises the “female component”, as it has a recessed area into which the container (101) will fit once assembled.
• a container (101) comprises a closure retention feature (103) wherein the container's retention feature (103) has a depth of less than about 1.5mm from a tip of a bead to a base or outer diameter of a neck. Having this depth is important as it ensures that there will be enough engagement between the closure (106) and the container (101) to prevent the unintentional detachment of the closure from the container.
• a container comprises a closure retention feature wherein the container's retention feature can be referred to as a "female component", as it has a recession from the container's outer neck finish.
• a container comprises a closure retention feature wherein the container's retention feature has a depth of less than about 1.5mm from an outer diameter of a neck to the base of the female retention feature. Having this depth is important as it ensures that there will be enough engagement between the closure and the container to prevent the unintentional detachment of the closure from the container.
• a container (101) is comprised of a material selected from the non-limiting group consisting of polyolefins such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polylactic acid (PLA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or mixtures thereof. These are typical resins used in the manufacturing of blow molded containers.
• the plastic resin material is the polyolefin high density polyethylene (HDPE).
• the plastic materials may be made from petrochemical-sourced monomers or bio-sourced monomers.
• a container (101) comprises two standing surfaces (109) in container geometry.
• the molded article can be placed in multiple orientations, such as upright or inverted orientation.
• This geometry further provides for a non-protruding closure (106) for the molded article.
• a container (101) is removed from the molding cavity without permanently or temporarily deforming the molded container features. This is important because any type of deformation, being permanent or temporary, can lead to affecting the feature's integrity.
• a container (101) is comprised of a biodegradable polymer or mixture of biodegradable polymers.
• a container (101) is comprised of a biodegradable polymer material selected from the non-limiting group consisting of polylactic acid (PLA), polyglycolic acid (PGA), polybutylene succinate (PBS), an aliphatic-aromatic copolyester based on terephthalic acid, an aromatic copolyester with a high terephthalic acid content, polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), thermoplastic starch (TPS), cellulose, or a mixture thereof.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (7)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=46940656

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