Heated blow mold thread insert for forming threads of a container

Inventors: Michael Wurster (Chelsea, MI); Aaron Teitlebaum (Sylvania, OH); Gregory T. Hall (Adrian, MI); Steven Charles Dettling (Manchester, MI)

Assignee: AMCOR RIGID PACKAGING USA, LLC

B29C49/4823 B29C33/02 B29C33/42 B29C2033/023 B29C2049/4851 B29C2049/4887 B29K2067/003 B29L2001/00 B29L2031/7158

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12673457
App. No.: 18/609,053
Granted: Jul 7, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

The present disclosure includes a thread insert for a blow mold assembly configured to form a polymeric container. The thread insert includes: an inner mold surface defining threads, the inner mold surface configured to form a finish of the container; a first bore defined by the thread insert; and a first heating element seated within the first bore and configured to heat the inner mold surface.

Claims (37)

1 . A thread insert for a blow mold assembly configured to form a polymeric container, the thread insert comprising:

an inner mold surface defining threads, the inner mold surface configured to form a finish of the container;

a first bore defined by the thread insert;

at least one inner air gap between the threads and the first bore; and

a first heating element seated within the first bore and configured to heat the inner mold surface.

2 . The thread insert of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second bore defined by the thread insert; and

a second heating element seated within the second bore and configured to heat the inner mold surface.

3 . The thread insert of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first heating element and the second heating element is a variable wattage heater configured to be heated to different temperatures along a length thereof.

4 . The thread insert of claim 2 , wherein the first bore and the second bore both extend from the inner mold surface to an outer mold surface opposite to the inner mold surface.

5 . The thread insert of claim 4 , wherein the first bore and the second bore are non-parallel to each other.

6 . The thread insert of claim 4 , wherein the inner mold surface defining the threads is between the first bore and the second bore.

7 . The thread insert of claim 1 , wherein the inner air gap is curved to match a curvature of the inner mold surface.

8 . The thread insert of claim 1 , wherein the inner air gap includes at least one of a slot, a circle, an oval, and a polygonal shape.

9 . The thread insert of claim 1 , further comprising at least one outer air gap on a side of the first bore that is opposite to the inner air gap.

10 . The thread insert of claim 9 , wherein the outer air gap includes at least one of a slot, a circle, an oval, and a polygonal shape.

11 . The thread insert of claim 9 , wherein the outer air gap is curved or linear.

12 . The thread insert of claim 9 , wherein the outer air gap is a first outer air gap, the thread insert further including at least a second outer air gap that is aligned with and spaced apart from the first outer air gap.

13 . A thread insert for a blow mold assembly configured to form a polymeric container, the thread insert comprising:

an inner mold surface defining threads, the inner mold surface configured to form a finish of the container;

a first bore defined by the thread insert;

at least one of a first inner air gap between the threads and the first bore;

a first heating element seated within the first bore and configured to heat the inner mold surface and the threads;

a second bore defined by the thread insert, the second bore is non-parallel to the first bore;

a second heating element seated within the second bore and configured to heat the inner mold surface and the threads; and

an outer mold surface opposite to the inner mold surface, the outer mold surface defines a notch including a first opening of the first bore and a second opening of the second bore.

14 . The thread insert of claim 13 , wherein the first bore extends along a first line and the second bore extends along a second line, the first line and the second line intersect in the notch defined by the outer mold surface.

15 . The thread insert of claim 13 , wherein the first bore and the second bore extend non-parallel to each other.

16 . The thread insert of claim 13 , further comprising a first inner air gap defined by the thread insert between the first bore and the threads, and a second inner air gap defined by the thread insert between the second bore and the threads.

17 . The thread insert of claim 16 , wherein the first inner air gap and the second inner air gap are both curved to match a curvature of the inner mold surface.

18 . The thread insert of claim 16 , wherein the first inner air gap and the second inner air gap each include at least one of a slot, a circle, an oval, and a polygonal shape.

19 . The thread insert of claim 13 , further comprising:

a first outer air gap defined by the thread insert on a side of the first bore that is opposite to the first inner air gap; and

a second outer air gap defined by the thread insert on a side of the second bore that is opposite to a second inner air gap.

20 . The thread insert of claim 19 , wherein the first outer air gap and the second outer air gap extend linearly.

21 . The thread insert of claim 13 , further comprising a temperature sensor between the first heating element and the second heating element.

22 . The thread insert of claim 21 , wherein the temperature sensor is configured to change resistance as temperature of the thread insert changes.