Receptacles – Closures – Pivotable
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-09
2001-09-18
Shoap, Allan N. (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Closures
Pivotable,
C215S235000, C220S819000, C220S826000, C264S531000, C264S539000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290094
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a blow-molded plastic container useful in packaging fluent products, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a container having a fill port and a dispensing port sealable by an integral closure flap formed by flash compressed during blow molding of the container body.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many fluent commercial products of a liquid, gel or granular nature are sold and dispensed from plastic containers. For instance, shampoo is generally provided in a blow-molded plastic container. Such a container has a relatively wide mouth to enable high speed fill by automated filling machinery.
Closures are separately injection molded and are applied to the containers after the containers have been charged with product. A relatively small closeable port is formed within the closure structure for use by the consumer to dispense individual-sized portions of product.
The cost of manufacturing and installing the separately formed closures adds significantly to the overall cost of mass producing the container and closure package.
While the aforementioned blow-molded containers having separately fabricated injection-molded closures are satisfactory for their intended purposes, there is a need in the art for a blow-molded container which can be filled and sealed, and which enables product to be dispensed readily, without requiring a separately fabricated closure and its associated costs. The container should be capable of being charged with product at high speeds, and yet allow the consumer readily to dispense individual-sized portions of product.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
With the forgoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel blow-molded container and integral closure which is formed simultaneously with blow-molding of the container.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a blow-molded container having a relatively large fill port and a relatively small dispensing port which can both be sealed by an integrally formed closure.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost, consumer-friendly blow-molded container and closure useful with a variety of fluent consumer products.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
More specifically, the present invention provides a blow-molded container and closure combination for storing and dispensing a fluent product. The container has a body portion with a dispensing port and a closure flap of compressed flash formed integral with the body portion along a mold parting line during blow molding of the container body. The closure flap is hinged adjacent the body portion of the container and has a closure portion with a plug for releasably sealing the dispensing port.
Another aspect of the present invention involves a method of manufacturing the above referenced container and closure combination. In the method, a tube of plastic is blow molded within a pair of mold blocks. The mold blocks co-operate to form a primary mold cavity for the container body and a secondary cavity for the closure extending on a mold parting line. Simultaneous with the blow molding of the container body, a portion of the tube of plastic is compressed in the secondary cavity on the mold parting line to form a closure flap having hinges and closure plugs integral with the container body. Thereafter, the closure flap is trimmed of unwanted flash.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3059816 (1962-10-01), Goldstein
patent: 3380608 (1968-04-01), Morbeck
patent: 4082827 (1978-04-01), Chlystun
patent: 4331233 (1982-05-01), Braymer, Jr.
patent: 4337025 (1982-06-01), Pagels et al.
patent: 4344545 (1982-08-01), Aschberger et al.
patent: 4382058 (1983-05-01), Watson et al.
patent: 4453911 (1984-06-01), Watson et al.
patent: 4486164 (1984-12-01), Wilkie et al.
patent: 4486379 (1984-12-01), Wilkie et al.
patent: 4713219 (1987-12-01), Gerken et al.
patent: 4726091 (1988-02-01), Joyce
patent: 4832219 (1989-05-01), Nycz
patent: 5008066 (1991-04-01), Mueller
patent: 5038454 (1991-08-01), Thornock et al.
patent: 5044923 (1991-09-01), Przytulla
patent: 5106569 (1992-04-01), Rathman et al.
patent: 5213235 (1993-05-01), Miranda
patent: 5213753 (1993-05-01), Przytulla
patent: 5320235 (1994-06-01), Joyce
patent: 5322176 (1994-06-01), Dubach
patent: 5368176 (1994-11-01), Thanisch
patent: 5431292 (1995-07-01), Culter et al.
patent: 5482172 (1996-01-01), Braddock
patent: 5497906 (1996-03-01), Dubach
patent: 5601214 (1997-02-01), Hendrickson et al.
patent: 5662245 (1997-09-01), Grant
patent: 5885517 (1999-03-01), Hendrickson et al.
patent: 296938 (1954-02-01), None
patent: 296938 (1954-05-01), None
patent: 681797 (1993-05-01), None
patent: 57-2727 (1992-01-01), None
patent: WO 93/22201 (1993-11-01), None
Arnold Jay
Cargile David W.
Ogg Richard K.
Eloshway Niki M.
Graham Packaging Company L.P.
Howson and Howson
Shoap Allan N.
LandOfFree
Integrally blow-molded container and closure does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Integrally blow-molded container and closure, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Integrally blow-molded container and closure will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2466529