AU2021284299A1

AU2021284299A1 - Container preform with tamper evidence finish portion

Info

Publication number: AU2021284299A1
Application number: AU2021284299A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jay Clarke Hanan; Ahmed Tasnub Takaddus
Original assignee: Niagara Bottling LLC
Current assignee: Niagara Bottling LLC
Priority date: 2020-06-05
Filing date: 2021-06-02
Publication date: 2023-02-09
Also published as: GB2611665A; MX2022015412A; GB202300032D0; WO2021247728A1; CA3181287A1

Abstract

A finish portion of a container preform for forming a plastic container includes an opening to an interior of the container preform and a stepped internal portion narrowing from the opening. One or more threads are disposed on an exterior of the finish portion for rotatably engaging a closure.

Description

CONTAINER PREFORM WITH TAMPER EVIDENCE FINISH PORTION

PRIORITY

[0001] This continuation-in-part application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Patent

Application 16/525,890 filed on July 30, 2019 and U.S. Provisional Application, entitled

“Container Preform With Threaded Tamper Evidence Finish,” filed July 30, 2018 and having application serial number 62/712,115, the entirety of said application being incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

[0002] Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of plastic bottles and preforms. More specifically, embodiments of the disclosure relate to a tamper evidence container preform that includes a stepped interior surface and is configured for being blow-molded to form a container to store liquid contents.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Plastic containers have been used as a replacement for glass or metal containers in the packaging of beverages for several decades. The most common plastic used in making beverage containers today is polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Containers made of PET are transparent, thin walled, and have the ability to maintain their shape by withstanding the force exerted on the walls of the container by their contents. Advantages of PET containers include fighter weight and decreased breakage as compared to glass, and lower costs overall when taking both production and transportation into account PET resins are also reasonably priced and easy to process. PET containers are generally made by a process that includes the blow-molding of plastic preforms which have been made by injection molding of the PET resin.

[0004] A PET container for storing liquid contents typically includes a base that extends up to a grip portion suitable for affixing a label, as well as providing a location for grasping the container. The grip portion generally transitions into a shoulder, which connects to a bell. The bell has a diameter that generally decreases as the bell extends upward from the shoulder to a neck and a finish portion. The finish portion is adapted to receive a closure, such as a bottle cap, to seal the contents within the interior of the plastic container. [0005] In many instances, the closure includes a tamper evidence band that is disposed around the perimeter of the finish portion. The tamper evidence band generally remains positioned on the finish portion when an end-user loosens the closure to access the contents within the container. As such, the tamper evidence band and the finish portion cooperate to indicate to the end-user whether or not the closure has been previously loosened after being installed by the manufacturer.

[0006] Advantages of plastic containers include lighter weight and decreased breakage as compared to glass, and lower costs overall when taking both production and transportation into account. As such, there is a continuous interest in creating the lightest possible plastic container so as to maximize cost savings in both transportation and manufacturing by making and using containers that contain less plastic. Embodiments disclosed herein provide articles, including preforms and containers, that utilize less plastic in their construction while maintaining the ease of processing and excellent structural properties associated with current commercial designs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The drawings refer to embodiments of the present disclosure in which:

[0008] Figure 1 illustrates a side view of an exemplary container suitable for storing liquid contents;

[0009] Figure 2 a side plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a preform suitable for being blow-molded to form a container in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0010] Figure 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the preform of Fig. 2, taken a long midline of the preform;

[0011] Figure 4 illustrates a close-up cross-sectional view of a sidewall portion of a finish portion comprising the preform illustrated in Fig. 2; and

[0012] Figure 5 illustrates a close-up plan view of a thread start disposed on the container preform of Fig. 2, showing that a thread start that is oriented towards a top of a finish portion comprising the container preform. [0013] While the present disclosure is subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. The invention should be understood to not be limited to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alteratives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention disclosed herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, specific numeric references such as “first container,” may be made. However, the specific numeric reference should not be interpreted as a literal sequential order but rather interpreted that the “first container” is different than a “second container.” Thus, the specific details set forth are merely exemplary. The specific details may be varied from and still be contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The term “coupled” is defined as meaning connected either directly to the component or indirectly to the component through another component. Further, as used herein, the terms “about,” “approximately,” or “substantially” for any numerical values or ranges indicate a suitable dimensional tolerance that allows the part or collection of components to function for its intended purpose as described herein.

[0015] In general, there is a continuous interest in creating the lightest possible plastic container so as to maximize cost savings in both transportation and manufacturing, as well as reducing the amount of plastic waste in the environment, by making and using containers that contain less plastic. Embodiments disclosed herein provide a tamper evidence container preforms and containers that include stepped interior surfaces and utilize less plastic in their construction while maintaining an ease of processing and excellent structural properties associated with current commercial designs.

[0016] Figure 1 illustrates a side view of an exemplary container 100 typically used for storing liquid contents, such as water, juice, and contents under pressure. The container 100 comprises a base 104 that extends up to a grip portion 108. In some embodiments, the base 104 may be of the petaloid variety, although other configurations of the base may be incorporated into the container 100, without limitation. The grip portion 108 comprises a plurality of grip portion ribs 112 (i.e., sidewall ribs). As illustrated in Fig. 1 , the plurality of grip portion ribs 112 generally vary in depth, and swirl or angulate around the grip portion 108. A label portion 116 is connected to the grip portion 108 and comprises one or more label panel ribs (not shown). The label panel portion 116 transitions into a shoulder 124, which connects to a bell 128.

[0017] In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, the bell 128 comprises a plurality of design features 132. In other embodiments, however, the bell 128 may include various other design features, or may be smooth and generally unornamented. The bell 128 connects to a neck 136, which connects to a finish portion 140. As shown in Fig. 1, the bell 128 comprises a diameter that generally decreases as the bell 128 extends upward from the shoulder 124 to the neck 136 and the finish portion 140. The finish portion 140 is adapted to receive a closure, such as by way of nonlimiting example, a container cap or closure 144, so as to seal contents within the container 100. The finish portion 140 generally defines an opening that leads to an interior of the container 100 for containing a beverage, or other contents, such as any of a variety of carbonated soft drinks. The finish portion 140 may be of a Carbonated Soft Drink (CSD) variety or may be configured to receive closures suitable for sealing noncarbonated contents within the interior of the container 100. Further, in some embodiments, the finish portion 140 may be configured to retain hot-filled contents with the container or may be configured to retain a gas, such as nitrogen gas (N2) within the interior of the container, without limitation.

[0018] As shown in Fig. 1, a tamper evidence closure 144, such as a bottle cap, may be threadably engaged with the finish portion 140. The closure 144 generally includes interior threads that are configured to engage with threads disposed on the finish portion 140, as described herein. During tightening of the closure 144 onto the finish portion 140, a plug seal of the closure 144 extends into the opening of the container 100 and enters into a pressed relationship with the finish portion 140 whereby contents may be sealed in the interior of the container 100.

[0019] With continuing reference to Fig. 1, the closure 144 includes a tamper evidence band 148 to provide an indication of whether or not the closure 144 has been loosened after being installed by a manufacturer. In some embodiments, the tamper evidence band 148 may be attached to the closure 144 by a multiplicity of thin connections. The tamper evidence band 148 may include a cam that is configured to fixedly engage with a tamper evidence ledge disposed on the finish portion 140 during loosening of the closure 144. Once the closure 144 is installed onto the finish portion 140 by a manufacturer and later an end-user loosens the closure 144, the cam engages the tamper evidence ledge, breaking the thin connections between tamper evidence band 148 and the closure 144. The tamper evidence band 148 remains positioned on the tamper evidence ledge after the closure 144 is removed from the container 100. As such, the tamper evidence band 148 cooperates with the tamper evidence ledge to indicate to the end-user whether or not the closure 144 has been previously loosened after being installed by the manufacturer.

[0020] Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a preform 160 suitable for being blow- molded to form a plastic bottle, such as the container 100, according to the present disclosure. The preform 160 preferably is made of material approved for contact with food and beverages such as virgin PET or recycled PET and can be of any of a wide variety of shapes and sizes. The preform 160 shown in Fig. 2 is of the type which will form a 12-16 oz. beverage bottle, but as will be understood by those skilled in the art, other preform configurations may be used depending upon the desired configuration, characteristics and use of the final article. The preform 160 may be made by injection molding methods, without limitation.

[0021] The preform 160 includes a finish portion 164 and a body portion 168, formed monolithically (i.e., as a single, or unitary, structure). Advantageously, the monolithic arrangement of the preform 160, when blow-molded into a bottle, provides greater dimensional stability and improved physical properties in comparison to a preform constructed of separate neck and body portions that are bonded together.

[0022] The finish portion 164 begins at an opening 172 to an interior of the preform 160 and extends to and includes a tamper evidence ledge 176. The finish portion 164 is further characterized by the presence of one or more threads 180 configured to provide a means to fasten a cap, such as the closure 144 of Fig. 1, to the bottle produced from the preform 160. As such, the threads 180 are configured to rotatably engage with similar threads disposed within the closure 144 to provide a way to seal contents within the bottle. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, each of the threads 180 generally extends along a section of the circumference of the finish portion 164 and approaches the tamper evidence ledge 176. Thus, when the threads of the closure 144 are engaged with the threads 180, and the closure 144 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the closure 144 advances toward the tamper evidence ledge 176.

[0023] With continuing reference to Fig. 2, each of the one or more threads 180 begins at a thread start 184 and extends along an angular section of the finish portion 164 to a thread end 188.

The thread start 184 is configured to guide a thread comprising the closure 144 into a space, or a valley 190, between adjacent threads 180 so as to threadably engage the closure 144 with the finish portion 164. Further, the threads 180 generally are disposed adjacently to one another, separated by valleys 190, and are spaced uniformly around the circumference of the finish portion 164. In some embodiments, wherein three threads 180 are disposed around the finish portion 164, the thread starts 184 of adjacent threads 180 are spaced at substantially 120-degree intervals around the perimeter of the finish portion 164. As will be appreciated, however, more or less than three threads 180 may be incorporated into the finish portion 164 without deviating beyond the scope of the present disclosure.

[0024] In some embodiments, a plurality of gaps (not shown) may be disposed in the threads 180 and positioned uniformly around the perimeter of the finish portion 164. Preferably, the gaps of adjacent threads 180 are vertically aligned so as to form channels extending longitudinally along the finish portion 164. The channels advantageously operate to relieve pressure within the container 100 when the closure 144 is loosened. As will be appreciated, the channels may provide a direct route for gases escaping the interior of the container 100, rather than the gases being forced to travel around the finish portion 164 between adjacent threads 180.

[0025] The body portion 168 includes a neck portion 192 that extends to a tapered portion 196 of the body portion 168. The tapered portion 196 comprises a smooth transition from a diameter of the neck portion 192 to a relatively smaller diameter of a cylindrical portion 200 of the preform 160. The cylindrical portion 200 is a generally elongate member that culminates in an end cap 204. In some embodiments the body portion 168 may be generally cylindrical, and the end cap 204 may be conical or frustoconical and may also be hemispherical, and the very terminus of the end cap 204 may be flattened or rounded.

[0026] In some embodiments, a wall thickness of the cylindrical portion 200 may be substantially uniform throughout the cylindrical portion 200 and the end cap 204. A wall thickness of the tapered portion 196, however, generally decreases from the wall thickness of the cylindrical portion 200 to a relatively thinner wall thickness of the neck portion 192. As will be appreciated, the wall thickness of the cylindrical portion 200 is relatively greater than the wall thickness of the neck portion 192 so as to provide a wall thickness at the desired dimensions of a finished product after the preform 160 is blow-molded into the shape and size of a bottle. As such, the wall thickness throughout most of the body portion 168 will depend upon the overall size of the preform 160 and the wall thickness and overall size of the resulting container.

[0027] Figure 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the preform 160 illustrated in Fig. 2, taken along a midline of the preform 160. As will be appreciated, the finish portion 164 comprises a cylindrical body that begins at the opening 172 to the interior of the container 100 and extends to and includes the tamper evidence ledge 176. The finish portion 164 includes a bevel 208 disposed at the beginning of the opening 172. The bevel 208 is configured to enter into sliding contact with a plug seal of the closure 144 so as to prevent contents from leaking out of the container 100 formed from the preform 160. In some embodiments, the bevel 208 operates to guide the plug seal onto a sealing surface 212 disposed on an interior of the finish portion 164. In general, the bevel 208 and the sealing surface 212 comprise portions of the interior of the finish portion 164 that extend circumferentially around the opening 172.

[0028] As will be appreciated, the sealing surface 212 must comprise a sufficiently smooth surface capable of cooperating with the plug seal to retain contents under pressure, such as carbonated contents, within the container 100. To this end, it is contemplated that the sealing surface 212 may be highly polished so as to be substantially free of surface defects and thus conditioned to form a tight seal with the plug seal of the closure 144. Preferably, the sealing surface 212 is to be polished to a degree of smoothness that is commonly associated with a mirror finish. As such, it is contemplated that the sealing surface 212 comprises a mirror polished region along the interior of the finish portion 164. Further, in some embodiments, the bevel 208 may also be conditioned to comprise a mirror polished region at the beginning of the opening 172. Any of various techniques may be used to mirror polish either or both of the sealing surface 212 and the bevel 208, without limitation. [0029] As shown in Fig. 3, the sealing surface 212 extends away from the bevel 208, deeper into the opening 172 to a transition surface 216. The transition surface 216 comprises a region within the interior of the finish portion 164 wherein the interior diameter of the opening 172 generally narrows from the diameter of the sealing surface 212 to a smaller diameter of a handing surface 220. As best shown in Fig. 4, the transition surface 216 comprises a reverse curve surface that includes a concave portion 224 that extends from the sealing surface 212 and joins with a convex portion 228 that extends to the handing surface 220. As will be recognized, the handling surface 220 includes a diameter of the opening 172 that is configured to receive various forms of equipment used to configure the preform 160 into the container 100.

[0030] It is contemplated that the transition surface 216 is to be capable of cooperating with the plug seal of the closure 144 to form a tight seal between the closure 144 and the container 100. In some embodiments, the concave portion 224 may be configured to forcibly receive an end of the plug seal so as to form a tight seal therebetween. Further, in some embodiments, the convex portion 228 may be configured to forcibly receive the end of the plug seal. As such, the transition surface 216 may include a smooth surface that is polished similarly to the sealing surface 212. It is envisioned that the transition surface 216 may be mirror polished, as described hereinabove with respect to the sealing surface 212.

[0031] Moreover, in some embodiments, the plug seal of the closure 144 may be configured to extend into the opening 172 such that the plug seal cooperates with the handling surface 220 to seal the container 100. In such embodiments, the plug seal may include a sidewall shape that mates with the concave and convex portions 224, 228. As will be appreciated, therefore, the handling surface 220 may be mirror polished similarly to the sealing surface 212 and the transition surface 216. It is contemplated that mirror polished surface may be achieved by way of any of various suitable polishing techniques, such as mechanical machining and buffing, chemical treatments, plasma treatments, and the like, without limitation.

[0032] In some embodiments, such as the illustrated embodiment of Figs. 3-4, a secondary transition surface 244 may be disposed between the handling surface 220 and an interior surface 248 of the body portion 168. In general, the secondary transition surface 244 comprises a region within the interior of the finish portion 164 wherein the interior diameter of the opening 172 narrows from the diameter of the handling surface 220 to a smaller diameter of the interior surface 248. As shown in Fig. 4, the secondary transition surface 244 comprises a reverse curve surface that includes a concave portion 252 that extends from the handling surface 220 to a convex portion 256 that extends to the interior surface 248.

[0033] In some embodiments, the secondary transition surface 244 may be configured to cooperate with the plug seal of the closure 144 to form a tight seal between the closure 144 and the container 100 suitable for storing pressurized contents, such as carbonated beverages, within the container 100. As such, the concave portion 252 may be configured to tightly receive an end of the plug seal to form a tight seal therebetween. In some embodiments, the convex portion 256 may be configured to forcibly receive and compress the end of the plug seal. To this end, the secondary transition surface 244 may include a smooth surface that is polished similarly to the sealing surface 212. It is envisioned that the secondary transition surface 244 may be mirror polished, as described hereinabove with respect to the sealing surface 212.

[0034] In some embodiments, the plug seal of the closure 144 may be configured to extend into the opening 172 such that the plug seal extends beyond the secondary transition surface 244 and thus cooperates with the portion of the interior surface 248 near the convex portion 256. In some embodiments, the interior surface 248 may have a diameter that tightly compresses the end of the plug seal to seal the pressurized contents within the container 100. It is contemplated that, in some embodiments, the plug seal may include a sidewall profile that mates with the concave and convex portions 252, 256. As such, the interior surface 248 preferably is mirror polished similarly to the mirror polish of the sealing surface 212. As disclosed hereinabove, the mirror polished surface may be achieved by way of any of various suitable polishing techniques, such as mechanical machining and buffing, chemical treatments, plasma treatments, and the like, without limitation.

[0035] In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, the surfaces 212, 220, 248 generally comprise a stepped interior of the finish portion 164. As such, the stepped interior comprises a graduated narrowing of the opening 172 that extends from the bevel 208, through the finish portion 164, to the tamper evidence ledge 176. It is contemplated that the stepped interior comprises multiple sidewall portions of the finish portion 164 that may be configured to advantageously minimize the quantity of resin comprising the finish portion 164, as compared to finish portions comprising a substantially uniform diameter.

[0036] In some embodiments, the stepped interior may be configured to compressibly receive a plug seal of the closure 144 that comprises graduated seals configured to tightly engage with the graduated narrowing of the opening 172. For example, the stepped interior can include one or more sealing surfaces that are each configured to tightly engage with one of the graduated seals of the plug seal to contribute to forming a tight seal between the closure 144 and the container 100. As will be appreciated, therefore, the graduated seals of the plug seal generally include diameters that are suitable for engaging with the graduated narrowing of the opening 172 so as to seal pressurized contents, such as carbonated beverages, within the container 100. It is contemplated that the one or more sealing surfaces comprise mirror-polished surfaces that are joined together by transition surfaces. Further, the transition surfaces 216, 244 are contemplated to comprise mirror- polished surfaces that cooperate with the one or more seals of the plug seal so as to contribute to forming the tight seal between the closure 144 and the container 100. It is contemplated that such a seal may also be formed by configuring an interference fit between the plug seal and the finish portion 164 such that the interference accommodates a range of environments in which the seal must perform. Those environments can include a range of internal pressures, a range of temperatures that can impact either or both pressure and dimensions of the closure 144 and container 100, or a range of tolerances arising due to injection molding and assembling the closure 144 and container 100.

[003η In the exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the sealing surface 212 is configured to compressibly receive a first seal comprising the plug seal, and the handing surface 220 is configured to compressibly receive a second seal of the plug seal. Further, the interior surface 248 may be configured to compressibly receive a third seal comprising the plug seal. According, the sealing surface 212 includes a first diameter configured to tightly compress the first seal of the plug seal, and the handling surface 220 includes a second diameter configured to tightly compress the second seal. The interior surface 248 includes a third diameter configured to tightly compress the third seal of the plug seal. As will be appreciated, the third diameter is equal to or less than the second diameter, and the second diameter is equal to or less than the first diameter. Further, the transition surface 216 comprises a change in diameter of the opening 172 that transitions from the first diameter of the sealing surface 212 to the second diameter of the handling surface 220. The secondary transition surface 244 comprises a change diameter of the opening 172 that transitions from second diameter of the handling surface 220 to the third diameter of the interior surface 248. As disclosed hereinabove, the transition surfaces 216, 244 comprise mirror-polished surfaces that may be formed by way of any of various suitable polishing techniques.

[0038] Turning again to Fig. 4, the tamper evidence ledge 176 comprises a rounded upper portion 232 and a substantially flat lower portion 236. In some embodiments, however, the upper portion 232 may be substantially flat, in lieu of being rounded as shown in Fig. 4. As will be appreciated, the rounded upper portion 232 facilitates passing the tamper evidence band 148 of the closure 144 over the tamper evidence ledge 176 during assembly of the closure 144 onto the container 100. In some embodiments, the tamper evidence band 148 may include one or more rounded portions configured to facilitate passing over the tamper evidence ledge 176 during assembly of the closure 144 onto the container 100.

[0039] The flat lower portion 236 may be configured to retain the tamper evidence band 148 positioned below the tamper evidence ledge 176 during loosening of the closure 144. For example, when the closure 144 is initially installed onto the container 100 by a manufacturer, the tamper evidence band 148 easily passes over the tamper evidence ledge 176 due to the rounded upper portion 232. When an end-user later loosens the closure 144, the flat lower portion 236 retains the tamper evidence band 148 below the tamper evidence ledge 176, causing the tamper evidence band 148 to break loose from the closure 144. Thus, the flat lower portion 236 of the tamper evidence ledge 176 and the tamper evidence band 148 of the closure 144 cooperate to indicate to the end- user that the closure 144 has not been previously loosened after being installed by the manufacturer. It should be understood, however, that the tamper evidence ledge 176 is not limited to being coupled with tamper evidence bands, as described above, but rather the tamper evidence ledge 176 may be configured to operate with any of various devices for indicating whether or not the container has been previously opened. For example, it is contemplated that including a flat upper portion, as mentioned above, facilitates incorporating a tamper evidence band that remains coupled with the tamper evidence ledge 176, thereby preventing the tamper evidence band from falling down the neck portion 192 onto the top of the bell 128 of the container 100. [0040] Disposed between the tamper evidence ledge 176 and the threads 180 is a handling valley 240 that extends circumferentially around the finish portion 164. The handling valley 240 comprises a portion of the finish portion 164 that has a wall thickness and a diameter that are substantially similar to the wall thickness and diameter of the neck portion 192, below the tamper evidence ledge 176. As such, the handling valley 240 and the neck portion 192 advantageously enable gripping fingers to engage with and support the container 100 when conveying the container 100 along a manufacturing assembly line. For example, a first pair of gripping fingers can extend into the handling valley 240 to support the container 100 at a first station of a manufacturing line. Then, upon being conveyed to a second station, a second pair of gripping fingers can extend around the neck portion 192, below the tamper evidence ledge 176, while the first pair of gripping fingers are removed from the handling valley 240. Similarly, upon arriving at a third station, a third pair of gripping fingers can engage with the handling valley 240 while the second pair of gripping fingers are removed from the neck portion 192. Thus, the container 100 can be transported along the manufacturing line by altematingly engaging gripping fingers with the handling valley 240 and the neck portion 192. As will be appreciated, the flat lower portion 236 comprises a surface area that is substantial enough for air-conveying the container 100 along the manufacturing line, although many modem manufacturing lines no longer require surfaces for air-conveyance.

[0041] As will be appreciated, the handling valley 240 provides a separation between the tamper evidence ledge 176 and the threads 180 suitable for receiving the pair of gripping fingers, as described above. In general, the separation must be large enough to allow the gripping fingers to easily pass between the tamper evidence ledge 176 and the threads 180. As such, any of various separations, greater than the width of the gripping fingers, may be disposed between the tamper evidence ledge 176 and the threads 180, without limitation and without deviating beyond the scope of the present disclosure.

[0042] Once the preform 160 has been blow-molded to form the container 100 and then the container 100 has been filled with liquid contents, the closure 144 is installed onto the finish portion 164, by way of suitable equipment, to seal the contents in the interior of the container 100. In general, the threads 180 disposed around the finish portion 164 are engaged with similar threads comprising the closure 144 and then the closure 144 is rotated in a clockwise direction to advance the closure 144 toward the tamper evidence ledge 176. The closure 144 preferably is tightened until the tamper evidence band 148 is pushed over the tamper evidence ledge 176 and a plug seal comprising the closure 144 extends into the opening 172 of the finish portion 164, thereby sealing the liquid contents within the container 100.

[0043] In an assembly-line environment, a multiplicity of containers 100 are filled with liquid contents and sealed by closures 144 as the containers 100 are conveyed along the assembly-line. Each closure 144 must be optimally threaded and tightened onto the finish portion 164 of the container 100. If the closure 144 is under-tightened, the container 100 may be left unsealed and the liquid contents may leak out of the container 100. Alternatively, if the closure 144 is over- tightened, the closure 144 and the finish portion 164 may be damaged, again allowing the liquid contents to leak out of the containers 100. Moreover, if the threads of the closure 144 are improperly engaged with the threads 180, cross-threading and/or damaging of the threads 180 and the threads of the closure 144 may result, leading again to unsealed containers that may leak. In general, closures 144 must be optimally threaded and tightened onto finish portions 164 of the containers 100 by way of suitable installation equipment.

[0044] The embodiment of the preform 160 illustrated in Fig. 2 includes thread starts 184 that are configured to guide the threads of the closure 144 into the valleys 190 between the threads 180 of the finish portion 164. As best shown in Fig. 5, each of the threads 180 generally includes a rounded crest 260 joined with the sidewall of the finish portion 164 by way of concave flanks 264. The flanks 264 include a relatively uniform width along a majority of the length of the threads 180. Along the thread start 184, however, the width of the flank 264 nearest the opening 172 may be narrower that the width of the flank 264 facing away from the opening 172. As such, the thread start 184 may be oriented, or biased, toward the opening 172 of the preform 160, such that a start pitch 268 disposed between the thread start 184 and the nearest neighboring thread 180 generally is greater than a thread pitch 272 disposed between adjacent threads 180. Further, a gap 276 may separate the thread start 184 from the rest of the thread 180, thereby separating the start pitch 268 of the thread start 184 from the thread pitch 272 of the thread 180. As will be appreciated, the start pitch 268 is configured to advantageously guide a thread of the closure 144 into the valley 190 with a reduced potential of damaging or cross-threading the threads 180. [0045] While the invention has been described in terms of particular variations and illustrative figures, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the variations or figures described. In addition, where methods and steps described above indicate certain events occurring in certain order, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the ordering of certain steps may be modified and that such modifications are in accordance with the variations of the invention. Additionally, certain of the steps may be performed concurrently in a parallel process when possible, as well as performed sequentially as described above. To the extent there are variations of the invention, which are within the spirit of the disclosure or equivalent to the inventions found in the claims, it is the intent that this patent will cover those variations as well. Therefore, the present disclosure is to be understood as not limited by the specific embodiments described herein, but only by scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A preform for forming a plastic container, the preform comprising: a stepped interior having a first sealing surface with a first diameter, a second sealing surface with a second diameter less than the first diameter, and a third sealing surface with a third diameter less than the second diameter; and one or more threads for rotatably engaging a closure.

2. The preform of claim 1 , wherein the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface are polished surfaces.

3. The preform of claim 2, wherein the third sealing surface is a polished surface.

4. The preform of claim 1, further including a transition surface joining the first sealing surface with the second sealing surface, wherein the transition surface includes a concave portion that extends from the first sealing surface and joins with a convex portion that extends to the second sealing surface.

5. The preform of claim 1, further including a transition surface joining the second sealing surface with the third sealing surface, wherein the transition surface includes a concave portion that extends from the second sealing surface and joins with a convex portion that extends to the third sealing surface.

6. A finish portion of a container preform for forming a plastic container, the finish portion comprising: an opening to an interior of the container preform; a stepped internal portion narrowing from the opening; and one or more threads disposed on an exterior of the finish portion for rotatably engaging a closure.

7. The finish portion of claim 6, wherein the stepped internal portion includes a sealing surface configured to cooperate with a plug seal of the closure.

8. The finish portion of claim 7, wherein the stepped internal portion includes a transition surface extending from the sealing surface to a handling surface having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the sealing surface.

9. The finish portion of claim 8, wherein the transition surface includes a concave portion that extends from the sealing surface and joins with a convex portion that extends to the handling surface.

10. The finish portion of claim 8, wherein the transition surface is configured to cooperate with a plug seal of the closure.

11. The finish portion of claim 8, wherein the handling surface is configured to cooperate with a plug seal of the closure.

12. The finish portion of claim 8, wherein the transition surface is a first transition surface, and wherein the stepped internal portion includes a second transition surface extending from the handling surface to an interior surface having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the handling surface.

13. The finish portion of claim 12, wherein the second transition surface includes a concave portion that extends from the handling surface and joins with a convex portion that extends to the interior surface.

14. The finish portion of claim 13, wherein the second transition surface is configured to cooperate with a plug seal of the closure.

15. The finish portion of claim 13, wherein the interior surface is configured to cooperate with a plug seal of the closure.

16. A container assembly comprising: a container having a finish portion with a graduated interior, the interior having a first sealing surface with a first diameter, a second sealing surface with a second diameter less than the first diameter, and a transition surface having a concave portion that extends from the first sealing surface and joins with a convex portion that extends to the second sealing surface; and a closure with a plug seal, the plug seal including a first seal configured to compressibly seal the first sealing surface and a second seal configured to compressibly seal the second sealing surface, the closure further configured to rotatably engage the finish portion.

17. The container assembly of claim 16, wherein the interior further includes a third sealing surface with a third diameter less than the second diameter, and wherein the plug seal includes a third seal configured to compressibly seal the third sealing surface.

18. The container assembly of claim 17, wherein transition surface is a first transition surface, and wherein the interior includes a second transition surface having a concave portion that extends from the second sealing surface and joins with a convex portion that extends to the third sealing surface.