Locking Bottle Preform
A preform to be used to create a plastic bottle has a substantially cylindrical body and a rounded cap at a top portion of the body. The preform also has a neck extending from the body, the neck has threading around at least a portion of an outer surface of the neck. A lip separates the neck from the body, and the lip has a larger diameter than the neck.
1 . A preform structured to used for creating a plastic bottle, the preform comprising:
a substantially cylindrical body;
a cap at an end of the body;
a neck extending from another end of the body and having a diameter, the neck comprising at least a first thread situated on at least a portion of an outer surface of the neck; and
a lip disposed between the body and the neck, the lip having a diameter larger than the diameter of the neck.
2 . The preform of claim 1 , wherein the body and the neck have substantially the same diameter.
3 . The preform of claim 2 , wherein the preform is structured such that after a blowing process the diameter of the body is substantially larger than a diameter of the neck.
4 . The preform of claim 2 , wherein the preform is structured such that after the blowing process the neck and the lip retain substantially the same diameter.
5 . The preform of claim 1 , wherein the lip has a cutout formed therein, wherein the diameter of the lip at the cutout is smaller than at other regions of the lip.
6 . The preform of claim 1 , wherein the lip comprises a tab attached to an upper surface of the lip.
7 . The preform of claim 6 , wherein the tab is radially oriented and extends in a direction parallel with the longitudinal extent of the body.
8 . A method for creating a plastic container comprising:
molding a preform having a substantially cylindrical body, a cap at an end of the body, a neck extending from another end of the body, and a flange disposed between the body and the neck;
heating the preform;
securing the preform into a blow-mold machine, wherein the preform is substantially prevented from moving; and
expanding the preform.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the molding of the preform includes molding the neck to have at least a first thread on an outer surface of the neck.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the expanding of the preform comprises:
inserting a tube into the neck of the preform, wherein the tube extends into the preform at least partially past the neck; and
flowing fluid at an increased pressure into the body of the preform.
11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the securing of the preform comprises enclosing the preform within a blow-mold.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the securing of the preform comprises enclosing the preform within a blow-mold that is configured to allow the preform to substantially expand in size.
13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the molding of the preform comprising molding the preform to have the neck and the body being of substantially the same diameter.
14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the expanding of the preform comprises expanding the preform such that the neck has substantially the same dimensions as before the preform was expanded.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the expanding of the preform further comprises expanding the preform such that the body has a larger diameter than before the preform was expanded.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the expanding of the preform further comprises expanding the preform such that the body and the neck have different diameters.
17 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the expanding of the preform further comprises expanding the preform such that the flange is substantially the same dimensions as before the preform was expanded.