Lightweight plastic container and preform
View Patent ↗A plastic container is provided that includes a hollow body portion including a lower supporting base portion; a sidewall portion extending upwardly from the base portion; and a neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall portion. The neck portion includes a support flange having an upper and lower surface, a tamper-evident formation, and a dispensing opening at the top of the neck portion. In embodiments, a closure may be provided to form an assembly. In embodiments, the container is comprised of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a volume of the container is at least 500 ml, and/or the weight of the neck portion is 2.3 grams or less. A preform and method for making a container are also disclosed.
1. A container assembly, comprising:
(i) a plastic blow molded container comprising:
a lower supporting base portion;
a sidewall portion extending upwardly from the base portion; and
a neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall portion, the neck portion including a dispensing opening positioned at a top of the neck portion, the dispensing opening having a top; threads positioned below the dispensing opening, a tamper-evident formation positioned below the threads, the tamper-evident formation having a lower surface, and a support flange positioned below the tamper-evident formation, the support flange having an upper surface and a lower surface; and
(ii) a closure configured to receive the threads;
wherein the container is formed of a material comprising polyethylene terephthalate (PET); a weight of the neck portion from the lower surface of the support flange to a top of the dispensing opening is 2.3 grams or less; an outside diameter of the support flange is greater than 22 mm and less than or equal to 39.2 mm; and a volume of the container is at least 500 ml.
2. The container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange is 0.580 inches or less.
3. The container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange is 0.500 inches or less.
4. The container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange is 0.450 inches or less.
5. The container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a vertical distance from a lower surface of the tamper-evident formation to the top of the dispensing opening is 0.30 inches or less.
6. The container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the upper surface of the support flange is 0.50 inches or less.
7. The container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the upper surface of the support flange is 0.40 inches or less.
8. The container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a vertical distance from a furthest outwardly radially-extending portion of a lower surface of the tamper-evident formation to the upper surface of the support flange at the same outward radial distance is 0.10 inches or less.
9. The container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein an inner diameter of the dispensing opening is between 22 mm and 29 mm.
10. The container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the tamper-evident formation comprises a bead.
11. The container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a vertical distance from a furthest outwardly radially-extending portion of a lower surface of the tamper-evident formation to the lower surface of the support flange at the same outward radial distance is 0.20 inches or less.
12. The container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a combined weight of the lower supporting base portion, the sidewall portion and the neck portion is 11 grams or less.
13. The container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a combined weight of the lower supporting base portion, the sidewall portion and the neck portion is 10 grams or less.
14. The container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the threads comprise multiple-lead threads.
15. The container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a vertical distance from a furthest outwardly radially-extending portion of a lower surface of the tamper-evident formation to the upper surface of the support flange at the same outward radial distance is 0.10 inches or less.
16. The container assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a radially extending length of the support flange is 0.17 inches or less.
17. A container assembly, comprising:
(i) a plastic blow molded container comprising:
a lower supporting base portion;
a sidewall portion extending upwardly from the base portion; and
a neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall portion, the neck portion including a dispensing opening positioned at a top of the neck portion, the dispensing opening having a top; threads positioned below the dispensing opening; a tamper-evident formation positioned below the threads, the tamper-evident formation having a lower surface; and a support flange positioned below the tamper-evident formation, the support flange having an upper surface and a lower surface; and
(ii) a closure configured to receive the threads;
wherein the container is formed of a material comprising polyethylene terephthalate (PET); a weight of the neck portion from the lower surface of the support flange to a top of the dispensing opening is 2.3 grams or less; a combined weight of the lower supporting base portion, the sidewall portion and the neck portion is 11 grams or less; and a volume of the container is at least 500 ml.
18. The container assembly according to claim 17 , wherein a vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange is 0.580 inches or less.
19. The container assembly according to claim 17 , wherein a vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange is 0.500 inches or less.
20. The container assembly according to claim 17 , wherein a vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange is 0.450 inches or less.
21. The container assembly according to claim 17 , wherein a vertical distance from a lower surface of the tamper-evident formation to the top of the dispensing opening is 0.30 inches or less.
22. The container assembly according to claim 17 , wherein a vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the upper surface of the support flange is 0.50 inches or less.
23. The container assembly according to claim 17 , wherein a vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the upper surface of the support flange is 0.40 inches or less.
24. The container assembly according to claim 17 , wherein a vertical distance from a furthest outwardly radially-extending portion of a lower surface of the tamper-evident formation to the upper surface of the support flange at the same outward radial distance is 0.10 inches or less.
25. The container assembly according to claim 17 , wherein an inner diameter of the dispensing opening is between 22 mm and 29 mm.
26. The container assembly according to claim 17 , wherein a vertical distance from a furthest outwardly radially-extending portion of a lower surface of the tamper-evident formation to the lower surface of the support flange at the same outward radial distance is 0.20 inches or less.
27. The container assembly according to claim 17 , wherein a combined weight of the lower supporting base portion, the sidewall portion and the neck portion is 10 grams or less.
28. The container assembly according to claim 17 , wherein a vertical distance from a furthest outwardly radially-extending portion of a lower surface of the tamper-evident formation to the upper surface of the support flange at the same outward radial distance is 0.10 inches or less.
29. The container assembly according to claim 17 , wherein a radially extending length of the support flange is 0.17 inches or less.
30. The container assembly according to claim 17 , wherein the container is filled with a beverage.