Patent US4755404A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4755404A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Refillable polyester beverage bottle and preform for forming same
Assignee: Graham Packaging Pet Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1987-02-10
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Granted: 1988-07-05
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Expires: 2007-02-10
Abstract
Abstract A returnable/refillable container in the form of a blow molded polyester biaxially oriented bottle having a physical and structural relationship providing for the maintenance of aesthetic and functional viability over a minimum of five trips wherein each trip comprises (1) an empty state caustic wash followed by (2) contaminant inspection and product filling/capping, (3) warehouse storage, (4) distribution to wholesale and retail locations, and (5) purchase, use and empty storage by the consumer followed by return to a bottler. The container is obtained utilizing a specific preform configuration and reheat blow process wherein the sidewall of the resultant container has a percent crystallinity of 24-30 at a total preform draw ratio of 7-9/1. The container is formed utilizing recently developed process techniques to optimize strain induced sidewall crystallization.
Inventors
- 👤 Wayne N. Collette
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:11
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D1/00; B65D1/02; B65D1/0223; B65D1/0261; B65D1/0276; B29; B29C; B29C49/00; B29C49/071; B29C49/08; B29C49/085; B29C49/42; B29C49/64; B29C49/6409; B29C49/6418; B29C49/78; B29C2049/7879; B29C2949/00; B29C2949/07; B29C2949/0715; B29C2949/072; B29C2949/0723; B29C2949/0724; B29C2949/0725; B29C2949/073; B29C2949/0732; B29C2949/0733; B29C2949/076; B29C2949/0768; B29C2949/077; B29C2949/0772; B29C2949/0773; B29C2949/0777; B29C2949/078; B29C2949/0781; B29C2949/081; B29C2949/0811; B29C2949/0817; B29C2949/082; B29C2949/0826; B29C2949/0829; B29C2949/0835; B29C2949/0861; B29C2949/0862; B29C2949/0872; 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; B29C2949/3032; B29C2949/3034; B29C2949/3036; B29C49/02; B29C49/06; B29C49/087; B29C49/42394; B29K; B29K2067/00; B29K2667/00; B29K2995/00; B29K2995/0037; B29K2995/004; B29K2995/0041; B29K2995/0043; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/13; Y10T428/1352; Y10T428/1397
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A returnable/refillable container comprising a blow molded polyester biaxially oriented container having a physical and structural relationship defining means for maintaining commercial aesthetic and functional viability (including a maximum permissible volume deviation of ±1.5%, an absence of crack failure, and no discoloration or other aesthetic changes) over a minimum of at least 5 loops wherein each loop comprises: (1) an empty state hot commercially equivalent caustic wash at a temperature of at least on the order of 140° F. followed by (2) contaminant inspection and product filling/capping under pressure conditions on the order of 4 atmospheres or higher, (3) warehouse storage, (4) distribution to wholesale and retail locations, and (5) purchase, use and empty storage by the consumer followed by return to a bottler.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
A returnable/refillable container comprising a blow molded polyester biaxially oriented container having a physical and structural relationship defining means for maintaining commercial aesthetic and functional viability (including a maximum permissible volume deviation of ±1.5%, an absence of crack failure, and no discoloration or other aesthetic changes) over a minimum of at least 5 loops wherein each loop comprises: (1) an empty state hot commercially equivalent caustic wash at a temperature of at least on the order of 140° F. followed by (2) contaminant inspection and product filling/capping under pressure conditions on the order of 4 atmospheres or higher, (3) warehouse storage, (4) distribution to wholesale and retail locations, and (5) purchase, use and empty storage by the consumer followed by return to a bottler.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein said product filling/capping includes filling with a carbonated liquid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein said container is a bottle having a neck finish for receiving a screw threaded closure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein said polyester is PET.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein said polyester is PET having a sidewall crystallization of 24-30%.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A container according to claim 5 wherein said container has a sidewall defining a container portion of minimum thickness, and said crystallization being measured in said sidewall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein said container includes a primarily cylindrical body having a diameter and a sidewall thickness of 0.7 to 0.9% of said diameter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein said container has a champagne type base including a peripheral contact radius and an unoriented recessed central portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein said container has a champagne type base including a peripheral contact radius and an unoriented recessed central portion, said unoriented central portion being of increased thickness as compared to like container bases.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein said container has a champagne type base including a peripheral contact radius and an unoriented recessed central portion, said peripheral contact radius being on the order of 0.150 inch and greater.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein volume change in said container is shrinkage.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein said container has an injection molded threaded neck finish and said container has orientation to within 0.250 inch of said neck finish.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein the average perpendicularity of said container after 5 loops is 0.150 inch or less.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein said container has the physical and structural relationship to maintain said commercial aesthetic and functional viability for as many as 10 loops.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein said container has the physical and structural relationship to maintain said commercial aesthetic and functional viability for as many as 20 loops.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein said container was rinsed following said hot caustic wash.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-07-05 | 1992-01-04 | 1992-07-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-07-05 | 1996-01-04 | 1996-07-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-07-05 | 2000-01-04 | 2000-07-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |