AU699876B2 - Blow molded plastic container and method - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT (Original) APPLICATION NO:

LODGED:

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION LODGED:

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PUBLISHED:

RELATED ART: Sn.

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9* 9 9 9 4S SOS 4Q NAME OF APPLICANT: ACTUAL INVENTOR: ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: PEPSICO INC.

EMERY I VALYIps' EMERY IVALYI Ijnc' KELVIN LORD AND COMPANY, Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, of 4 Douro Place, West Perth, Western Australia, 6005, AUSTRALIA.

"BLOW MOLDED PLASTIC CONTAINER AND MZiHOD" INVENTION

TITLE:

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55 p The following Statement is performing it known to us: a full description of this invention including the best method of 4 1 \t.

SI Clr-JIR I- 7,) a, 93-413 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to plastic preforms for preparing plastic containers especially for retention of fluids, as for carbonated beverages or the like. These containers may be prepared from a preform which may be injection or extrusion molded, followed by blow molding the preform into a suitably shaped container using a blow mold having the desired shape. Typical thermoplastic materials are polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyolefins, etc., alt ough others can be used.

The container and preform from which it is prepared generally includes a neck portion with a cap retaining means, a shoulder portion depending therefrom, a side wall or main body portion depending from the shoulder portion and a bottom portion joined to the side wall and depending Stherefrom. In many of these containers the bottom portion desirably has a champagne bottle bottom configuration with an axially, inwardly directed generally conical part.

4 4 4 In addition, the public prefers large size containers especially for the convenience and economy they represent, as, for example, the two liter containers widely used for 0* carbonated beverages. Indeed, even larger containers would be desirable. However, these containers are awkward to handle, especially for small children. In addition, the u'I-~ 1: 93-413 So a 0s or a *r 0 *r a a 9rr 9 9s *r *r 0 0 090 V 000 a Co ppb 90006* V 4 V *6 walls of these containers tend to bulge, making them even more awkward to handle.

These bottles are made of different plastics, e.g., milk bottles are polyethylene still-water bottles often polyvinylchloride (PVC), and bottles for carbonated beverages are PET.

U.S. Patent 5,242,066 describes a blow molded plastic bottle having neck, a side wall and a base, and including an internal member termed a spider attached to the side wall of the bottle which is said to increase the strength of the bottle. The bottle is formed from an injection molded preform, an integral portion of which the said spider is a part. A blown bottle is then made containing several compartments separated by the spider, which may also 15 reinforce the side wall.

In order to facilitate handling large containers, handles or handgrips, are made in various ways, depending primarily on the material of the bottle and the process best suited to convert it into the desired shape. Thus, PE 20 bottles are made by extrusion blow molding, a process in which a hollow handle may be made by action of the same mold that shapes the extruded preform into the bottle itself, as is well known. The prerequisites for this technique are an extruded preform and a plastic, such as PE, that may be readily pressure welded. Bottles made of PET from injection 1 93-413

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a 4 a s* S, a a *a a a molded preforms do not have hollow, integral handles, because it is well-nigh impossible to weld PET into a closed handle by the above technique.

The art shows ways to provide handles for PET bottles, but none of them are integral with the body of the bottle, made from the preform used to blow the bottle itself.

Instead, separately made handles are mechanically attached, or molded onto the finished body in a separate molding step, as shown in U.S. Patent 4,727,997 to Y. Nakamura.

This is an expensive and often unreliable procedure that is commercially unsuccessful.

A handgrip may be used as a substitute for a handle, the difference between the two being that, in grasping a handle, at least one finger of the user's hand is inserted into a hole formed by a loop attached to the bottle, or integral therewith while the handgrip, or simply grip, is formed by indentations in the bottle wall designed to permit grasping the grip between the thumb and forefingers.

Such a grip may be readily produced as an integral part 20 of the bottle from an otherwise normal preform in a mold that has a corresponding cavity as part of the one forming the rest of the bottle wall. PET bottles with such a grip are used commercially, as for example to package spirits, wine and other liquids in large sizes, usually over 2 liters.

1 a I 93-413 The same design cannot be used for bottles subjected to internal pressure, as in the case of carbonated beverages.

It is well known that in a thin-walled, elastic, cylindrical body subject to internal pressure any indentation will bulge out and the body will assume a substantially circular crosssection in place of indentations that may have been present before pressure was applied.

One purpose of this invention is to provide an improved preform and an economical and aesthetically pleasing bottle made therefrom, which bottle may have a grip as part of its side-wall and which has an internal, integral reinforcing member to divide the container, to reinforce its walls, and to preclude everting under internal pressure, as the case 4 may be.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present 0.

invention to provide an improved plastic preform, an improved blow molded plastic container and an improved 4 4 method for preparing same.

a* 4 It is a further object of the present invention to 6 4 o. 20 provide improvements as aforesaid which are inexpensive to S. obtain and are expeditious to provide on a commercial. scale.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear hereinbelow.

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-j i, 93-413 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present inventinn, the foregoing objects and advantages may be readily obtained.

The present invention includes a plastic preform for forming blow molded plastic containers. The preform comprises: a molded plastic article having a neck portion defining an opening, a body portion depending therefrom, and an integral, closed bottom portion depending from the body portion; wherein the body portion defines a hollow space closed at the bottom portion and open at the neck portion; and at least one internal wall member separately formed from said entire article and inserted thereinto and extending completely across sa' i hollow space, wherein said internal wall member has edge portions thereof which engage the body 15 portion and are joined thereto as by welding, adhesive bonding, or by mechanical means.

The internal wall member may be joined to both the body and bottom portions to provide support and reinforcement for f those portions of the container that are blow molded from 6 20 these, or may be limited in extent so that it is welded only a, to the portion corresponding to locations in the container that require support and reinforcement. The preform is preferably tube-like, with an externally threaded neck portion.

r ~m 93-413 In a preferred embodiment, the internal wall member includes a solid portion extending completely across the hollow space and welded to the body portion, and a frame portion adjoining the solid portion extending to the bottom portion of the preform and welded to both the body and bottom portions, including a hollow internal space between the solid portion of the internal wall and the bottom portion of the preform.

The present invention also resides in the method of molding said preform and the blow molded container prepared from the aforesaid preform. The container generally includes a shoulder portion between the neck and body portions, wherein solid portion of the internal member may terminate in the body portion spaced from the shoulder 15 portion and/or the bottom portion.

In a preferred embodiment, the body portion defines regions that comprise at least two adjoining lobes, with p said lobes having two spaced depressions and a wall portion o oa.. extending from one spaced depression to the other to form a 20 handgrip, and with said internal member extending from one o spaced depression to the other.

The present invention forms a plastic preform suitable for forming blow molded plastic containers by forming an internal wall member independently and apart from said article, said member having edge portions thereof, and

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t 93-413 joining the said edge portions, as by welding, adhesive bonding or mechanical means to a molded plastic article having a neck portion defining an opening, a body portion depending therefrom, and an integral, closed bottom portion depending from the body portion, wherein the body portion defines a hollow space closed at the bottom and open at the neck portion, provided that the internal wall member is joined so that said member extends completely across said hollow space and is joined at least to said body portion.

i In a preferred embodiment, the internal wall member is placed in a slot in an injection core and the plastic article is injection molded therearound to form a plastic preform with an internal wall member welded therein. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the internal wall member is a frame-like member including a solid portion and a frame portion adjacent the solid portion defining an open space, wherein the frame-like member is placed in a slot in an injection core and the plastic article is injection molded therearound as aforesaid, whereby the internal wall member includes a solid portion extending completely across the 1 hollow space and joined to the body portion, and a frame .portion below the solid portion extending to the bottom portion and including an open internal space between the solid portion of the internal wall and the bottom portion of the preform, said frame-like member precluding penetration

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a 0 a 0 0 of molten plastic into said slot during injection. The internal wall member may be welded to both the bottom and body portions and preferably terminates in the body portion.

Alternatively, the internal wall member may be limited in extent to the body portion only.

In a further variation, the separately formed internal wall member may be placed in a previously molded plastic preform and the edge portions of the internal wall member joined to the body portion of the preform in the desired location thereof.

The process of the present invention advantageously forms a blow molded plastic container having an internal wall member therein by blow molding the thus formed preform into a desired configuration. In a particularly preferred 15 embodiment, the process includes the step of blow molding the preform into a configuration having a container body portion corresponding to said preform body portion, with at least two lobes in the container body portion separated by depressions, wherein the depressions are separated by the 20 internal wall member and supported thereby, and wherein the lobes serve as a handgrip.

It is a particular advantage of the present invention that the internal wall member may be of the same or different material as the remainder of the container in order to tailor desired final properties.

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I 93-413 The present invention also includes a process for producing a game to be played by means of a container and a game played by means of the container. The process includes the steps of providing a container having a wall defining a hollow space, wherein the wall has an inner and an outer surface; attaching at least one internal member to the surface of the wall, wherein thL internal member has edge which engage and are joined to the inner surface, the internal member having means for visually displaying a pattern, wherein the means for visually displaying a pattern is distinguishable from the wall; and filling the hollow space with a flowable substance which substantially blocks the means for visually displaying a pattern from view through the wall.

15 The invention also includes a container formed by the aforementioned process and a preform for forming the container. The container includes a wall having an inner and an outer surface, the wall defining a hollow space and at least one internal member extending across the hollow 20 space, the at least one internal member having edge portions thereof -'hich engage and are joined to the inner surface.

The internal member includes means for visually displaying a pattern, wherein the means for visually displaying a pattern is distinguishable from the wall.

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93-413 Further features of and advantages of the present invention will appear hereinbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be more readily S understandable from a consideration of the following I'lustrative drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preform of the present invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 2A is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 2 o o showing an alternate embodiment; 0I Figures 3-4 are alternate embodiments of the internal member; 15 Figures 5-6 are alternate embodiments similar to Figure S* o o 0 O 20 4 o a 2; Figure 7 is a side view of a core for forming a preform of the present invention; Figure 8 is a side view of an internal member for use with the core of Figure 7; Figures 9-10 are sectional views taken along lines 9-9 and 10-10, respectively, of Figure 8;

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so 0.0 0 93-413 Figure 11 is a sectional view of a core-injection mold assembly for forming a preform of the present invention using the core of Figure 7 And the internal member of Figure 8; Figure 12 is a partial sectional view of a preform of the present invention formed in the core-injection mold of Figure 11; Figure 13 is a partial sectional view similar to Figure 2A showing an alternate embodiment; Figure 14 is a partial sectional view through a blow mold for forming a container of the present invention from a preform similar to the preform of Figure 12; Figure 15 is an elevational view of a blow molded container formed in Figure 14; Figures 16-17 are cross-sectional views of alternate embodiments of containers of the present invention; Figure 18 Is a cross-sectional view of a bottom portion of a container of the present invention including an axially, inwardly directed bottom portion with an internal member as a support therefor; Figure 19 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of a container of the present invention; Figures 20-21 are alternate embodiments of the internal member; and *6 I conta indic ^fc IDa~ -"Mp I 14 x 93-413 Figure 22 is an elevational view of a blow molded liner with an internal wall having a marking thereon cating the results of a game.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 4.

i*4 Figure 1 shows a plastic preform 10 suitable for use in forming blow molded containers. Preform 10 may be prepared by any suitable method, as by injection molding or extrusion molding. Preform 10 may be previously prepared and stored for subsequent processing or may be prepared in-line with subsequent operations. The preform has a neck portion 12, which may or may not be threaded, with the neck portion defining an opening 13, a body portion 14 depending from the neck portion and an integral, closed bottom portion 16 depending from the body portion. The preform body portion defines a hollow space 18 closed at the bottom and open at the neck portion. As shown in Figure 1, preform 10 has a tube-like configuration, but it may of course take any desired or convenient shape.

An internal member 20, shown in phantom in Figure 1, is 20 separately formed from the preform and which may be of the same or different material as the preform, is inserted in hollow space 18 via opening 13, as by a robot (not shown).

The preform has edge regions 22 which are placed adjacent body portion 14 and which are welded to the body portion at i2< .4Y 4 *4 4* pr 4 4 4

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it :ia 44 4 93-413 sites 24 (see Figure 2) to form a preform containing a welded internal member. Internal member 20 may include a decoration 21 thereon which may be visible through the wall of the final container.

The wall member 20 may be fabricated by any desired or convenient method, as by injection molding or extrusion, stamping or any other conventional forming technique. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the wall member 20 has a solid configuration, but one may use other configurations, as that shown in Figure 3 wherein internal wall member 20' includes one or more struts 26 and spaces 28, or that shown in Figure 4 where internal wall member 20'' is a frame-like member fl's with an open central area 30. Both of these embodiments o U reduce the weight of the wall member while still providing 15 internal support for the final blow molded container against r, 0* eversion or other deformation under pressure.

The present invention thus provides a simple, convenient and economical method for preparing a preform with an internal supporting wall. The internal supporting wall may be limited in extent to the body portion of the container as shown in Figure 1, or may have any desired *5 length, as extending all the way to the bottom portion to provide support for the bottom portion, or extending all the way up to the neck portion to provide a multi-compartment i 1 93-413 preform; Thus, the present invention offers a versatile and convenient procedure for preparing a variety of embodiments.

The placement of the wall member is effected by suitable mechanical means, such as a robot preferably but not necessarily attached to the machine that produces the preform. For example, with an injection machine equipped with a take-out robot, the latter may serve to place the preform and wall member into a fixture for assembly. Once so placed, the wall member is joined to the inside wall of the preform by any convenient means, high-frequency, ultrasonic, or pressure welding or by means of an adhesive bond.

,oe ao "Alternatively, wall member 20 may be fixed within the C Ca preform by mechanical means, as shown in the enlargement of 15 Figure 2A wherein site 24 (enlarged) is an interlocking tongue-and-groove assembly designed to resist tension in the direction of arrow 24a while the preform is blow-molded into the bottle shape, and thereafter, as the bottle is C pressurized.

•ru 20 The embodiments of Figures 5 and 6 slhow a curved wall S"member 32 or a wavy wall member 34, both of which simply straighten out as the preform expands during blow molding, instead of being drawn and reduced in thickness. Each of members 32 or 34 has that length and cross-section which I j

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*4 93-413 will straighten into the distance between the corresponding side walls of the blown bottle.

Wall member 20 may be made of the same material, e.g., PET, as that of preform 10, or of a different material, such as another plastic or metal, aluminum. In addition, member 20 may be transparent, translucent, or colored to contrast with preform 10, and it may be provided with a decoration, as indicated by the marking in Figure 1.

Thus, in accordance with the embodiments of Figures 1-6 one can simply and conveniently form a preform with an internal wall member retained therein. The wall member may be exactly designed to suit needs, as it may extend to any a given level below the neck, it may or may not extend to the base as desired, and can have any desired thickness 15 distribution, shape or configuration unlimited by constraints of an injection mold.

In accordance with the embodiment of Figures 7-13 a separately formed internal wall member is placed in a blow core and the preform injection molded therearound to form a a preform with an internal wall member joined thereto.

Figure 7 shows the lower end of a blow core 36 which a.

a .4 includes a slot 38 extending from the base 40 of the core part way up into the core. A plastic insert 42, which is the internal wall member, is prepared by any suitable method, as by injection molding, stamping, or the like. At 16 I_ I 93-413 the region that is to extend completely across the hollow space of the preform, the insert includes a solid portion 44 as shown in Figure 9. Adjacent the solid portion 44, insert 42 has a frame-like configuration with two parallel bars 46 joined by curved portion 48 defining space 50, as shown in Figure 10. The insert 42 is placed in slot 38 of core 36 and follows the contour of the core. Thus, 'r;n.0-t 42 has a solid portion where it is to be formed into "i ~,ternal wall member extending completely across the hollow space of the i preform, and it is a frame with an empty middle below the bottom terminus of the solid wall portion 44.

In accordance with Figure 11, core 36 having insert 42 therein is placed in injection mold 50, molten plastic 9 injected therearound to form preform 52 welded to insert 42 15 by the molten plastic entering the mold during injection, while bars 46 and portion 48 keep the molten plastic from entering into space 50. The resultant preform 52 is shown in Figure 12. Edges 54 of insert 42 at least in the area of solid portion 44 may be wider than slot 38, so that said a 20 edges become surrounded by the molten plastic entering the a injection mold around core: 36. Edges 54 may be provided :with serations 56 as shown in Figure 13 in order to increase contact between the edge and the incoming hot plastic and to facilitate fusion between the edge and incoming plastic.

-kn, r It 93-413 p ppi o 9 a Ca. p *C *p Co p 6 Thus, in operation, insert 42 is placed by a robot tightly into slot 38, the injection mold closed, and the plastic injected. Edges 54 are surrounded by molten, or at the very least very hot plas;tic, to the effect that the edges and the plastic fuse. The frame portion of the insert serves the purpose of preventing the molten plastic from flowing into the slot, which remains empty below the solid portion of the insert. It is often necessary to keep bottom 48 of insert 42 from melting, as it faces the injection gate and thus the hottest entering plastic. To that end, bottom 48 is increased in thickness to keep the entering plastic from melting it entirely and thus breaking into slot 38.

The warm preform 52 is then placed in a blow mold 58 as shown in Figure 14 and a container of the present invention 15 formed therefrom by blow molding.

The thus formed preform is brought to a temperature at which blow molding can be accomplished which may be done by heating a previously formed preform or forming the hot preform in line with the injection molding operation and 20 suitably adjusting the temperature thereof, if necessary.

Heating the internal walls, if necessary, may be done by circulating warm air inside the hollow space 60 or by inserting heaters therein.

The warm preform is placed in a blow mold having the configuration of the desired container, as blow mold 58 in 9" p6 C o 6 6 6 6* 6 4' 93-413 4.r 54 .i S

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Figure 14, while blowing compressed air the.einto so that the preform expands into shape 62 shown in dashed lines in Figure 14, to effect biaxial orientation and axial elongation. Th.s procedure may be carried out with or without one or more stretch rods to effect axial elongation.

The insert or internal wall member 42 will also expand to the extent permitted by the blow mold. The particular blow mold shown in Figure 14 has an internal configuration which allows the formation of a plastic container 64 shown in Figure 15, although naturally other configurations may be selected. Naturally, if the desired final configuration includes at least two adjoining lobes connected together by depressions, the blow mold will have this configuration.

Similarly, if an axially, inwardly directed bottom part is 15 desired as shown in Figure 15, the blow mold will have this configuration. The preform will expand into the shape permitted by the blow mold, and the internal walls will also expand correspondingly.

Thus, blow molded, plastic container 64 is formed 20 having a neck portion 65 defining an opening 66, a bottom portion 67, a body portion 68 as a generally tubular body portion interconnecting the neck portion 65 and the bottom portion 67. Neck portion 65 is provided with external threads 69 corresponding to the threads on the preform if a threaded preform is used to serve as the site for attachment

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o @0 0e S.r i *I P of a closure on the container. Bottom portion 67 may have an axially, inwardly directed generally conical base Alternatively, the bottom portion may exhibit protrusions (not shown) upon which the bottle may rest, termed feet, as well known in the art. In such a bottom configuration, it is preferred to position the internal wall so as to intersect opposing feet symmetrically. Container 64 also includes shoulder portion 71 connecting neck portion 65 and tubular body portion 68.

Container 64 is provided with at least one internal wall 72 which corresponds to the internal wall 42 of preform 52 and which extends completely across hollow space 73 within container 64. As can be seen in Figure 15, internal wall is limited in extent to body portion 68, but if desired, can also extend down to axially inwardly directed part 70 as shown in Figure 18 by internal wall 72' to also support this portion of the container.

Internal wall 72 is securely attached and preferably bonded to the container, as in Figure 15 to the body portion 20 68, thus providing a firm support for the container walls.

As shown in Figure 16, container body portion 68 may define adjoinig arcuate lobes connected together by depressed regions or depressions 76, particularly suitable for a handgrip in a large sized container. Naturally, alternate shapes can be provided. Internal wall members 78, o Si

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S D 93-413 13s e 4 aa a A4 a a 6 a ftr in this embodiment are provided in hollow space 73 bonded to depressions 76 forming four arcuate lobes and providing support therefor. The supported handgrips thus provided will not evert as the bottle is pressurized.

In the embodiment of Figure 17, a single internal wall member 80 is shown with lobe 82 being smaller than lobe 84 and with the internal wall crossing hollow space 73 spaced from the center thereof. The internal wall 80 is bonded to depressions 83 and provides support therefor. In contrast, the embodiment of Figure 16 shows lobes 74 of approximately equal size and with the internal supporting walls crossing the center of hollow space 73. As can be appreciated, the present invention readily contemplates the use of one, two or more internal supporting walls.

15 Figure 19 shows a container 90 of the present invention including a threaded neck portion 91, shoulder portion 92, body portion 93 and bottom portion 94 similar to the embodiment of Figure 15, but in this case the bottom portion 94 includes a plurality of supporting fee 95 and the body 20 portion 93 includes a handgrip 96 with internal support member 97. In this embodiment, upper portion 98 of support member 97 is concavely curved. It has been found that the upper edge of the internal wall is the cause of excessive concentration of stress when the container is pressurized, which may -result in rupture of the container especially when a am a a 8 e r i o a 4a a a a o a 'f am 4' a. a *a i 21 M-77 R,

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93-413 0*0* 00 04 0 00r 0 *i 0 4* pressure rises in an overheated storage space. The embodiment of Figure 19 minimizes the stress concentration by extending the inner wall above the upper edge of handgrip 96. As shown in Figure 19, the inner wall 97 curves downward because in that way the greatest amount of thinning of the wall occurs away from the indentation where a thicker cross-section is desirable.

Internal member 20 includes a visual display for displaying a pattern or the like such as a marking 21 thereon, material void areas 23 in the form of the pattern or the member being shaped in a form 25 resembling the pattern, as shown in Figures i, 20 and 21, respectively, which may be visible through the wall of the final container in whatever form it may assume upon expansion of the preform into the molded container.

A visual display of a pattern such as via a marking 21 on internal member 20 is the key to playing the game with the container. Marking 21 will be in a form of a pattern which communicates to the player, i.e. typically the 20 beverage consumer, that he or she has lost or won the game.

For example, marking 21 may be in the form of the phrases "you win", "winner", "try again" or any other similarly informative phrase, as shown in Figure i. Also, marking 21 can be in the form of a symbol such as a smiling face or an unhappy face for indicating results, or it may be applied

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00 S O 04 SI i 1, 2MV3MI ~-4IlP bRIIf-(~~ rrarr~ ~h intt~ra~nrr~ 93-433 fl.r 4at *r 9*r r .r 9 according to a predetermined color code. In addition to games, the marking 21 can be used for purely decorative reasons such as a colored panel, a cartoon character or even a sports figure. Marking 21 may be formed on wall member via etching, stamping of any number of fluid safe printing methods. In addition, safe color films or the like can be used for forming the various designs.

Also, the internal member may have a rectangular or other shape having material void areas 2: to form the shape iC of the message to be communicated, wherein the material void areas 23, for example, may be in the shape of a an or the words "YOU WIN", etc., as shown in Figure 3. As an alternative, internal member 20 may be shaped in the form of a sign or signal communicating the results of the game.

That is, the internal member may be in the form 25 of the word "WIN" or "LOSE", as shown in Figure 4, or more succinctly, or In this version, internal member would include side supports 27a and 27b for attachment to the preforms or containers, as discussed below.

20 The wall member 20 having marking 21, cut outs 23, or form 25 may be fabricated by any desired or convenient method, as by injection molding or extrusion, stamping or any other conventional forming technique. For the versions of wall member 20 having material void areas 23 and forms 25, the material forming the internal wall may be cut via 9r i* 9* C9

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an, utting implement, manually or automatically such as by stamping or may be molded into the desired shape. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the wall member 20 has a solid -nfiguration. Such a solid configuration is desirable as the initial configuration from which the material void areas versions of the internal wall are formed, as shown in Figure 3. These embodiments of the internal wall member also provide internal support for the final blow molded container against eversion or other deformation under pressure.

The present iinvention thus provides a simple, convenient and economical method for preparing a preform with an internal wall having a marking 21, material void areas 23, or form 25 and for internal support. Internal wall 20 may be limited in extent to the body portion of the container as shown in Figure 1, or may have any desired length, as extending all the way to the bottom portion to provide support for the bottom portion, or extending all the way up to the neck portion. Thus, the present invention offers a versatile and convenient procedure for preparing a 20 variety of embodiments.

Internal wall 72 is securely attached and preferably bonded to the container, as in Figure 15 to the body portion 68. Similar to as discussed above, and referring to Figure 22, internal wall 72 includes visual displays such as the marking 76, or material void areas or is specifically shaped 9

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@4 r 5* t 7 i I C 'TIP MI. I I 93-413 into a form, similar to as described above for the preform (see Figures 1, 20 and 21), all of which communicate the resul' 4 s of a game to be played with the container. Thus the container is formed into a game piece while the internal wall also provides a firm support for the container walls.

To institute the game using the container as a game piece, the marking is hidden from the participants until they will have performed an action that is to be rewarded by winning, becoming entitled to a prize. For example, the container, which is transparent, is filled with a beverage whose color obscures the marking. The participant must acquire the container and at least partly consume its contents to reveal the winning marking. Alternatively, the S"marking may reveal itself by other changes in ambient conditions or location that is initiated only after the container is first opened or otherwise irreversibly 0* 0 transferred to the participant, as by non-returnable removal from a "hidden" storage, as from a vending machine.

It is to be understood that the invention is not S 20 limited to the illustrations described and shown herein, which are deemed to be merely illustrative of the best modes of carrying out the invention, and which are susceptible of modification of form, size, arrangement of parts and details i I 93 -413 of operation. The invention rather is intended to encompass all such modifications which are within its spirit and scope as defined by the claims.

~rrsu-ara~- i 93-413 11'. A container according to claim 8 wherein the internal member includes a solid portion and said container includes a shoulder portion between the neck and body portions, and wherein the solid portion of the internal member terminates in the body portion spaced from at least one of the shoulder portion and the bottom portion.

12. A container according to claim 8 wherein the body portion defines regions that comprise at least two adjoining lobes, with said lobes having two spaced depressions and a 46ep wall portion extending from one spaced depression to the other to form a handgrip, and with said internal member extending from one spaced depression to the other.

s L e 99 49 13. A container according to claim 8 wherein the internal member has an upper portion wherein the upper S 9 portion is concavely curved.

14. A container according to claim 8 wherein the wall member is welded or adhesively bonded to the body portion.

A container according to claim 8 wherein the internal member includes a decoration thereon which is visible through the plastic article.

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Claims (1)

1. 93-413 *0 9. 9 9 1r Ir C V it C The Claims_.defiing this invention are as follows: i. A plastic preform for forming blow molded plastic containers, which comprises: a molded plastic article having a neck portion defining an opening, a body portion depending therefrom and an integral, closed bottom portion depending from the body portion; wherein said body portion defines a hollow space closed at the bottom portion and open at the neck portion; at least one internal wall member separately formed from said molded plastic article and inserted thereinto and extending completely across said hollow space, wherein said internal wall member has edge portions thereof which engage the body portion and are joined thereto. 2. A preform according to claim 1 wherein the internal wall member is joined to both the body and bottom portions. 3. A preform according to claim 1 wherein the internal wall member is limited in extent sothat it is joined only to the body portion. I C -LBI1 re r p r-il 3~ i ~1 i F' r:1 II c 93-413 A preform according to claim 1 wherein the internal wall member includes a solid portion extending completely across said hollow space and welded to the body portion, and a frame portion adjoining the solid portion extending to the bottom portion and welded to both the body and bottom portions, including a hollow internal ,pace between the solid portion of the internal wall and the bottom portion of the preform. A preform according to claim 1 wherein the wall member is welded to the body portion, or adhesively joined to the body portion, or mechanically joined to the body o •portion. o: 6. A preform according to claim 1 wherein the wall i. member and the body portion are made of different materials. *1 •y 7. A preform according to claim 1 wherein the wall member is decorated or has a different color than the body portion. 8. A blow molded plastic container prepared from a molded plastic preform, which comprises: a molded and blown plastic article having a neck portion defining an opening, a bottom portion and a body "P"-~131r IZI~ 93-413 portion interconnecting the neck and bottom portions and integral therewith; wherein said neck, body and bottom portions define a hollow space closed at the bottom and open at the neck; and at least one internal member separately formed from I said molded plastic article, extending completely across said hollow space, wherein said internal wall member has edge portions thereof which engage the body portion and are joined thereto. o 9. A container according to claim 8 wherein the internal member is joined to both the body and bottom portions, or is limited in extent so that it is joined only to the body portion. A container according to claim 8 wherein the internal wall member includes a solid portion extending completely across said hollow space and welded to the body portion, and a frame portion adjoining the solid portion %extending to the bottom portion and welded to both the body and bottom portions, including a hollow open internal space between the solid portion of the internal wall and the bottom portion of the preform. I IP I I I elk, 93-413 16. A method for forming a plastic preform for forming blow molded plastic containers, which comprises: forming an internal wall member having edge portions thereof; and joining the said edge portions to a molded plastic article having a neck portion defining an opening, a body portion depending therefrom, and an integral, closed bottom portion depending from the body portion, wherein the body portion defines a hollow space closed at the bottom and open at the neck portion; including the step of joining the internal wall member so that said member extends completely across 44 Ssaid hollow space and is joined at least to said body .portion, and forming said internal wall member independently o and apart from molded plastic article. 0 17. A method according to claim 16 wherein said %6 joining is by a method selected from the group consisting of 4 4. "welding, adhesive bonding and mechanical means. 4*4404 •C A method according to claim 17 including the step a Q of forming a blow molded plastic container having an internal wall member welded therein by blow molding the preform including internal member welded therein. 31 i 7-7T I 93-413 19. A method according to claim 18 including the step of blow molding said preform into a configuration having a container body portion corresponding to said preform body portion, and forming at least two lobes in the container body portion separated by depressions, wherein the depressions are separated by the internal wall member and supported thereby, and wherein the lobes serve as a handgrip. A plastic preform for forming blow molded plastic containers, comprising: a molded plastic article having inner and outer walls, 0 wherein the inner wall defines a hollow space; and S• at least one internal member extending within the hollow space, the at least one internal member having t.0. portions thereof which engage and are joined to the inner wall; wherein the internal member includes means for fdisplaying a pattern, wherein the means for displaying a pattern is distinguishable from the wall. 21. The preform according to claim 20, wherein the means for displaying a pattern displays a visual pattern and indicates the results of a game. r 93-413 22. The preform according to claim 21, wherein the means for visually displaying a pattern comprises the internal member having material void areas therein resembling the pattern. 23. A blow molded plastic co'ntainer, comprising: a wall having an inner and an outer surface, the wall defining a hollow space; and at least one internal member extending across the hollow space, the at least one internal member having portions thereof which engage and are joined to the inner o- o' 0surface; 4 pattern is distinguishable from the wall. 5. 24. The container according to claim 23, wherein the 0 means for displaying a pattern displays a visual pattern which communicates the results of a game. The container according to claim 24, wherein the means for visually displaying a pattern comprises the internal member having material void areas therein resembling the pattern. 7~r 9 x.€ 93-413 26. The container according to claim 23, wherein the internal member has a color different than the wall. 27. A plastic preform for forming blow molded plastic containers sub- stantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings. 28. A blow molded plastic container prepared from a molded plastic preform substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings. 0 0.0 DATED THIS 27TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 1995. S- 0 0 1 0 o aZ o PEPSICOINC. p di c. SEC SBy their Patent Attorneys 1, 104 KELVIN LORD AND COMPANY S, PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA O S to o O o 0 2 A p statill ashr0bfr ecie ihrfrnet n n fteacmayn drawngs 28 Aplwmleplsi otie rpae rmamle lsi rfr sustnial ashribfr0ecie ihrfrnet n n fteacmayn 3- I iiii.l I ;i 93-413 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A plastic preform for forming blow molded containers including at least one internal wall member separately formed from the molded plastic article and extending completely across the hollow space therein, wherein the internal wall member has edge portions which engage the body portion and are joined thereto. Also discloses the blow molded plastic container and method for forming preform and Scontainer. c c i te o i ee.0 *'o6 •J 1