GB2267076A - Sealable containers - Google Patents

Sealable containers Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2267076A
GB2267076A GB9209374A GB9209374A GB2267076A GB 2267076 A GB2267076 A GB 2267076A GB 9209374 A GB9209374 A GB 9209374A GB 9209374 A GB9209374 A GB 9209374A GB 2267076 A GB2267076 A GB 2267076A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
container
opening
forming
closure
neck
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB9209374A
Other versions
GB9209374D0 (en
GB2267076B (en
Inventor
Roger Milner King
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Beeson and Sons Ltd
Original Assignee
Beeson and Sons Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Beeson and Sons Ltd filed Critical Beeson and Sons Ltd
Priority to GB9209374A priority Critical patent/GB2267076B/en
Publication of GB9209374D0 publication Critical patent/GB9209374D0/en
Priority to JP5502113A priority patent/JPH06509307A/en
Priority to PCT/GB1992/001255 priority patent/WO1993001098A2/en
Priority to GB9400218A priority patent/GB2275048B/en
Priority to DE69223788T priority patent/DE69223788T2/en
Priority to AU23204/92A priority patent/AU670753B2/en
Priority to EP97201330A priority patent/EP0794128B1/en
Priority to AT97201330T priority patent/ATE209590T1/en
Priority to AT92915179T priority patent/ATE161501T1/en
Priority to EP92915179A priority patent/EP0592580B1/en
Priority to DK97201330T priority patent/DK0794128T3/en
Priority to CA 2113105 priority patent/CA2113105A1/en
Priority to ES92915179T priority patent/ES2111644T3/en
Priority to DE69232244T priority patent/DE69232244T2/en
Priority to ES97201330T priority patent/ES2164298T3/en
Priority to BR9206260A priority patent/BR9206260A/en
Priority to US07/956,033 priority patent/US5411157A/en
Publication of GB2267076A publication Critical patent/GB2267076A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2267076B publication Critical patent/GB2267076B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
    • B65D41/02—Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices
    • B65D41/04—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation
    • B65D41/0471—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation with means for positioning the cap on the container, or for limiting the movement of the cap, or for preventing accidental loosening of the cap
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D1/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
    • B65D1/02—Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D25/00—Details of other kinds or types of rigid or semi-rigid containers
    • B65D25/14—Linings or internal coatings
    • B65D25/16—Loose, or loosely-attached, linings
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
    • B65D41/02—Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices
    • B65D41/04—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation
    • B65D41/0407—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation with integral sealing means
    • B65D41/0414—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation with integral sealing means formed by a plug, collar, flange, rib or the like contacting the internal surface of a container neck
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
    • B65D41/02—Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices
    • B65D41/04—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation
    • B65D41/0407—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation with integral sealing means
    • B65D41/0428—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation with integral sealing means formed by a collar, flange, rib or the like contacting the top rim or the top edges or the external surface of a container neck
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
    • B65D41/02—Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices
    • B65D41/04—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation
    • B65D41/0485—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers secured by rotation with means specially adapted for facilitating the operation of opening or closing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
    • B65D41/32—Caps or cap-like covers with lines of weakness, tearing-strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices, e.g. to facilitate formation of pouring openings
    • B65D41/34—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt
    • B65D41/3442—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt with rigid bead or projections formed on the tamper element and coacting with bead or projections on the container
    • B65D41/3447—Threaded or like caps or cap-like covers provided with tamper elements formed in, or attached to, the closure skirt with rigid bead or projections formed on the tamper element and coacting with bead or projections on the container the tamper element being integrally connected to the closure by means of bridges
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D41/00—Caps, e.g. crown caps or crown seals, i.e. members having parts arranged for engagement with the external periphery of a neck or wall defining a pouring opening or discharge aperture; Protective cap-like covers for closure members, e.g. decorative covers of metal foil or paper
    • B65D41/32—Caps or cap-like covers with lines of weakness, tearing-strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices, e.g. to facilitate formation of pouring openings
    • B65D41/46—Snap-on caps or cap-like covers
    • B65D41/48—Snap-on caps or cap-like covers non-metallic, e.g. made of paper or plastics
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D50/00—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures
    • B65D50/02—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions
    • B65D50/04—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions requiring the combination of simultaneous actions, e.g. depressing and turning, lifting and turning, maintaining a part and turning another one
    • B65D50/041—Closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal thereof, with or without indicating means, e.g. child-proof closures openable or removable by the combination of plural actions requiring the combination of simultaneous actions, e.g. depressing and turning, lifting and turning, maintaining a part and turning another one the closure comprising nested inner and outer caps or an inner cap and an outer coaxial annular member, which can be brought into engagement to enable removal by rotation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D51/00—Closures not otherwise provided for
    • B65D51/18—Arrangements of closures with protective outer cap-like covers or of two or more co-operating closures
    • B65D51/20—Caps, lids, or covers co-operating with an inner closure arranged to be opened by piercing, cutting, or tearing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D55/00—Accessories for container closures not otherwise provided for
    • B65D55/02—Locking devices; Means for discouraging or indicating unauthorised opening or removal of closure
    • B65D55/06—Deformable or tearable wires, strings, or strips; Use of seals, e.g. destructible locking pins
    • B65D55/066—Foil covers combined with outer closures and comprising interacting or interposed tamper indicating means visible through the outer closure, e.g. releasable coloured dyes, changeable patterns, pierceable membranes, visible through a transparent closure or through a window
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2251/00—Details relating to container closures
    • B65D2251/0003—Two or more closures
    • B65D2251/0006—Upper closure
    • B65D2251/0015—Upper closure of the 41-type
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2251/00—Details relating to container closures
    • B65D2251/0003—Two or more closures
    • B65D2251/0068—Lower closure
    • B65D2251/0093—Membrane
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2401/00—Tamper-indicating means
    • B65D2401/15—Tearable part of the closure

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)

Abstract

A container is formed with a seamless first portion 10a, which in use seals against a closure, and a second portion 10b, 12. Preferably, the container is a plastics bottle, the first portion 10a forming an upper portion of a neck and the second portion forming a lower portion 10b of the neck and a body 12. The first portion 10a is formed by a first process, such as injection moulding around a floating mandrel 26, which provides a seamless construction. The second portion 10b, 12 is formed by a second process which forms a seam line, such as blow moulding by blowing gas through the floating mandrel 26. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO SEALABLE CONTAINERS This invention relates to a sealable container, and to a method for forming such a container. In particular, the invention relates to a container having an opening which is intended to be sealed by a closure releasably retainable over the opening.
Such containers are commonly made of plastics material which is blow-moulded, since this is the most cost-efficient method of production. The mould is made in two separable halves to enable the mould parts to be removed easily from the container once it has been formed.
On the other hand, the closures for the containers are normally injection moulded, to obtain the necessary shape detail on the inner surfaces of the closures. This interior detail cannot be achieved easily with blow moulding.
We have appreciated that a problem sometimes exists with such blow-moulded containers, which hinders the formation of a reliable seal when the closure is fitted over the opening. The problem is caused by the formation on the exterior of the container of a seam running along a line corresponding to the join line of the mould halves. The seam results from the imperfect fitting together of the mould halves when the plastics material is blown forcibly against the mould surfaces. The seam commonly comprises a slightly projecting ridge, or a slight step in the surface of the plastics material.
The seam hinders the formation of a reliable seal preventing the closure from fitting intimately against the surface of the container immediately either side of the seam. This problem can be particularly important for containers for foods, drinks or medicaments, which should be sealed in a liquid-tight or an air-tight fashion by the closure to prevent the container contents from being contaminated by, for example, dirt or moisture. The problem lies in the production of the container, since the injection moulding process for forming the closure does not cause the production of a seam on the closure.
In a first aspect, the invention provides a method for forming a container having an opening which is intended to be sealable by means of a closure releasably retainable over the opening, the method comprising forming a seamless first portion of the container by a first process, which first portion includes a sealing surface extending around the opening, the sealing surface being intended to seal in use against a said closure, and forming a second portion of the container by a second process, which second portion may include a seam or seams.
With the invention, a seamless sealing surface around the opening is formed, which can match the normally seamfree surface on the inner surface of the closure. The seal is thereby improved by using two seam-free sealing surfaces.
The container is preferably formed of plastics material. The first and second portions are preferably integrally formed.
The invention appreciates that the requirements for forming the first portion of the container generally conflict with the requirements for forming the second portion. For example, blow-moulding is not ideal as the first process (for forming the first portion) as this causes seams as in the prior art. The first process preferably comprises injection moulding as this technique avoids seams being produced.
On the other hand, injection moulding is not ideal as the second process (for forming the second portion of the container) since this requires mould parts to define both the interior and exterior surfaces of the container. In the case of a container having a relatively narrow neck joined to a relatively wide body, a very complicated and expensive injection mould would be required.
Preferably the second process comprises blow-moulding as this enables relatively elaborate exterior profiles and shapes to be formed usually with only a two-part mould. The blow-mould could be formed in more parts if desired. The resulting formation of seams on the second portion does not affect the improved sealing characteristics achieved by the seamless first portion of the container.
The first portion of the container may include the opening. The second portion of the container preferably includes the majority, if not all, of the body of the container.
The first portion of the container may comprise generally a neck, or at least the upper portion of a neck, of the container. In the preferred embodiment, the first portion consists of the portion of the neck from the container opening to the sealing surface. The second portion consists of the remainder of the neck and the body of the container.
The neck may include means for releasably retaining a closure on the neck to cover the opening. Such means may comprise a screw thread, or snap fit means. In the preferred embodiment, the portion of the neck carrying the retaining means is blow moulded.
The method may comprise injection moulding the first portion of the container around a hollow floating mandrel, and blow-moulding the second portion of the container by blowing gas through the hollow floating mandrel.
In a second aspect, the invention provides a container having an opening intended to be sealable by means of a closure releasably retainable over the opening, the container comprising a seamless first portion including a sealing surface extending around the opening, the sealing surface being intended to seal in use against a said closure, and a second portion which may include a seam or seams.
The first portion may include the opening. The first portion may have been formed by injection moulding. The second portion may have been formed by blow-moulding.
The container is preferably formed of plastics material, the first and second portions being integrally formed.
In a third aspect, the invention provides means for forming a container as aforesaid by a process of injection moulding and blow moulding, the means comprising a floating mandrel about which a seamless first portion of the container can be injection moulded, the first portion of the container including an opening and a sealing surface extending around the opening, the sealing surface being intended in use to seal against a releasably retainable closure for sealing the opening, and the floating mandrel being hollow to enable gas to be blown through the mandrel for blow-moulding a second portion of the container.
An embodiment of the invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the upper half of a container; Fig. 2 is a side view of the neck of the container; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a first processing stage for forming the container; and Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of a second processing stage for forming the container.
Figs. 1 and 2 show a plastics container which comprises a neck 10 integrally joined to a body 12. The neck is of generally circular section, and includes an upper region 10a comprising an opening 14 over which a secondary sealing web (not shown) may be secured, an upper shoulder 15, and a slightly tapered sealing surface 16 extending around the neck below the shoulder 15.
The neck also includes a lower region 10b which includes a screw thread 18, a projecting collar 19 and a waist region 21 under the collar 19 which is adapted to retain a tamper-evident ring (not shown). The neck is intended to receive a closure (not shown) which can be threadedly retained by the screw thread 18. The sealing surface 16 is intended to form an interference fit seal with a corresponding sealing surface (not shown) within the closure. The upper region on 10a of the neck 10 forms a first portion of the container which is of seamless construction, and in particular the sealing surface 16 is seamless. The lower region lOb of the neck 10 includes a seam 20 running axially down two opposite sides of the neck.
As described below, the seam 20 is a result of the blowmoulding process used to form the body 12 and the lower region 10b of the neck. In Fig. 1, the position of the seam 20 is also denoted by the broken line visible through the openign 14.
The body 12 is of generally rectangular section, and includes the seam 20, running down diagonally opposite corners of the body 12 and across the base of the body (not shown). The lower region 10b of the neck 10 and the body 12 together form a second portion of the container which, in this exemplary embodiment, is produced with a seam 20.
Referring to Fig. 2, the upper region 10a of the neck 10 of the container is formed by injection moulding plastics material around a hollow floating mandrel 22. (For clarity, the outer mould part used in the injection moulding process is not shown in Fig. 2). The floating mandrel 22 defines the opening 14 of the neck 10. Adjacent the end of the mandrel 22 a "bung" 23 of plastics material is formed extending across the wall of the neck 10. It is from this bung 23 of material that remainder of the neck 10 and the body 12 will be formed.
Referring to Fig. 3, the remainder of the neck 10 and the body 12 of the container are formed by inserting the floating mandrel into the mouth of a blow-mould 24a, 24b and blowing hot air through the centre of the floating mandrel (as depicted by the arrow 26) to blow the material of the button 23 outwardly against the surfaces of the mould 24a, 24b. The mould is made in two separable halves 24a and 24b to facilitate removal of the mould once the body 12 has been formed.
The seam 20 is formed as a consequence of the imperfect fitting together of the mould halves 24a and 24b which inevitably occurs when the plastics material is blown forcibly against the surfaces of the mould. The seam 20 may be in the form of a slightly projecting ridge corresponding to the join line of the mould halves 24a and 24b, or it may be a slight step in the surface of the plastics material at the join line.
It will be appreciated that with the construction of the container as described in this embodiment, the upper region of the neck 10 and in particular the sealing surface 16 are produced without a seam which might otherwise interfere with the sealability of the container when the closure is screwed onto the neck 10. On the other hand, the remainder of the container is produced by a process which is more suitable to forming an elaborate external profile.
In the present exemplary embodyment, the closure (not shown) is intended to be attachable to the thread 18 of the neck by limited rotation through about 900 or less, between a fully open and a fully closed position. With such an embodyment, it is important that a reliable seal be formed after the closure has been rotated through only about 900.
The present invention enables perfectly fitting sealing surfaces (16) to be provided to accomplish this despite the limited available movement of the closure.
Although in the preferred embodiment, the container is formed of plastics material, it will be appreciated that the other mouldable materials could be used instead.
In the preferred embodiment as shown in the drawings, the inner surface of the neck 10 diverges away from the opening 14. The floating mandrel 22 has a flared "cone" shape to define such an inner surface of the neck 10. The mandrel can be extracted from the neck 10 through the opening 14 by relying on the expandability and resilience of the plastics material to return the neck 10 to its intended moulded shape.
It will be appreciated that the invention has been described above merely by way of example and that modifications of detail may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (15)

1. A method for forming a container having an opening which is intended to be sealable by means of a closure releasably retainable over the opening, the method comprising forming a seamless first portion of the container by a first process, which first portion includes a sealing surface extending around the opening, the sealing surface being intended to seal in use against a said closure, and forming a second portion of the container by a second process, which second portion may include a seam or seams.
2. A method according to Claim 1, wherein the first process for forming the first portion comprises injection moulding.
3. A method according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the second process for forming the second portion of the container comprises blow moulding.
4. A method according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the first and second portions are integrally formed.
5. A method according to Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the container is formed of plastics material.
6. A method according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the first process comprises injection moulding the first portion of the container around a hollow floating mandrel, and the second process comprises blow moulding the second portion of the container by blowing gas through the hollow floating mandrel.
7. A container having an opening intended to be sealable by means of a closure releasably retainable over the opening, the container comprising a seamless first portion including a sealing surface extending around the opening, the sealing surface being intended to seal in use against a third closure, and a second portion which may include a seam or seams.
8. A container according to claim 7, wherein the first portion has been formed by injection moulding.
9. A container according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the second portion has been formed by blow moulding.
10. A container according to claim 7, 8 or 9 wherein the first portion comprises at least the upper portion of a neck of the container.
11. A container according to claim 7, 8, 9 or 10, wherein the second portion comprises at least the majority of the body of the container.
12. Apparatus for forming a container by a process of injection moulding and blow moulding, the apparatus comprising a floating mandrel about which a seamless first portion of the container can be injection moulded, the first portion of the container including an opening and a sealing surface extending around the opening, the sealing surface being intended in use to seal against a releasably retainable closure for sealing the opening, and the floating mandrel being hollow to enable gas to be blown through the mandrel for blow moulding a second portion of the container.
13. A method for forming a container, the method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
14. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
15. Apparatus for forming a container, the apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB9209374A 1990-05-30 1992-04-30 Method and apparatus for forming sealable containers Expired - Fee Related GB2267076B (en)

Priority Applications (17)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9209374A GB2267076B (en) 1992-04-30 1992-04-30 Method and apparatus for forming sealable containers
DK97201330T DK0794128T3 (en) 1991-07-10 1992-07-10 Child-proof container closure construction
ES92915179T ES2111644T3 (en) 1991-07-10 1992-07-10 CONTAINER WITH CLOSURE.
GB9400218A GB2275048B (en) 1991-07-10 1992-07-10 Sealing arrangement for a container
DE69223788T DE69223788T2 (en) 1991-07-10 1992-07-10 CONTAINER WITH LOCK
AU23204/92A AU670753B2 (en) 1991-07-10 1992-07-10 Improvements relating to a container, to a container neck, to a closure therefor, and to the manufacture thereof
EP97201330A EP0794128B1 (en) 1991-07-10 1992-07-10 Child-resistant container closure assembly
AT97201330T ATE209590T1 (en) 1991-07-10 1992-07-10 CHILD-PROOF ORIGINAL CLOSURE
AT92915179T ATE161501T1 (en) 1991-07-10 1992-07-10 CONTAINER WITH CLOSURE
EP92915179A EP0592580B1 (en) 1991-07-10 1992-07-10 Container-closure assembly
JP5502113A JPH06509307A (en) 1991-07-10 1992-07-10 Containers, necks of containers, lids thereof and methods of manufacturing them
CA 2113105 CA2113105A1 (en) 1991-07-10 1992-07-10 Improvements relating to a container, to a container neck, to a closure therefor, and to the maufacture thereof
PCT/GB1992/001255 WO1993001098A2 (en) 1991-07-10 1992-07-10 Improvements relating to a container, to a container neck, to a closure therefor, and to the manufacture thereof
DE69232244T DE69232244T2 (en) 1991-07-10 1992-07-10 Childproof tamper-evident closure
ES97201330T ES2164298T3 (en) 1991-07-10 1992-07-10 CHILD PROOF SAFETY CONTAINER CLOSURE ASSEMBLY.
BR9206260A BR9206260A (en) 1991-07-10 1992-07-10 Lid and container set Sealing set for the neck of a container Lid suitable for fitting to the neck of a container Lid resistant to the action of children Container and lid neck for the same lid fitted with a tamper evident ring and process and apparatus for form a container
US07/956,033 US5411157A (en) 1990-05-30 1992-10-02 Container and the manufacture thereof

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9209374A GB2267076B (en) 1992-04-30 1992-04-30 Method and apparatus for forming sealable containers

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9209374D0 GB9209374D0 (en) 1992-06-17
GB2267076A true GB2267076A (en) 1993-11-24
GB2267076B GB2267076B (en) 1996-06-19

Family

ID=10714807

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9209374A Expired - Fee Related GB2267076B (en) 1990-05-30 1992-04-30 Method and apparatus for forming sealable containers

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2267076B (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5819965A (en) * 1992-11-13 1998-10-13 Beeson And Sons Limited Tamper evident ring for a container closure
US5836465A (en) * 1995-04-18 1998-11-17 Beeson And Sons Limited Child-resistant closure assemblies
US6015054A (en) * 1995-12-08 2000-01-18 Beeson And Sons Limited Container closure assembly with profiled screw threads
US6227391B1 (en) 1997-10-10 2001-05-08 Beeson And Sons Limited Closure assembly for pressurized containers
EP3279115A1 (en) * 2016-08-05 2018-02-07 Gaplast Gmbh Container closure system

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0061511A1 (en) * 1981-03-29 1982-10-06 HOOVER UNIVERSAL, INC (a Michigan corporation) Handled containers, process and apparatus therefor
GB2131344A (en) * 1982-12-08 1984-06-20 Metal Box Plc Blow moulding bottles
WO1988006088A1 (en) * 1987-02-11 1988-08-25 Hutchinson S.A. Manufacture of a bellows by means of injection blowing
GB2235897A (en) * 1989-09-15 1991-03-20 Plaspharm Plastics dispenser body having injection and blow moulded parts.

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0677958B2 (en) * 1990-10-12 1994-10-05 日精エー・エス・ビー機械株式会社 Injection blow molding method for synthetic resin containers

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0061511A1 (en) * 1981-03-29 1982-10-06 HOOVER UNIVERSAL, INC (a Michigan corporation) Handled containers, process and apparatus therefor
GB2131344A (en) * 1982-12-08 1984-06-20 Metal Box Plc Blow moulding bottles
WO1988006088A1 (en) * 1987-02-11 1988-08-25 Hutchinson S.A. Manufacture of a bellows by means of injection blowing
GB2235897A (en) * 1989-09-15 1991-03-20 Plaspharm Plastics dispenser body having injection and blow moulded parts.

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5819965A (en) * 1992-11-13 1998-10-13 Beeson And Sons Limited Tamper evident ring for a container closure
US5836465A (en) * 1995-04-18 1998-11-17 Beeson And Sons Limited Child-resistant closure assemblies
US6015054A (en) * 1995-12-08 2000-01-18 Beeson And Sons Limited Container closure assembly with profiled screw threads
US6227391B1 (en) 1997-10-10 2001-05-08 Beeson And Sons Limited Closure assembly for pressurized containers
EP3279115A1 (en) * 2016-08-05 2018-02-07 Gaplast Gmbh Container closure system
US10494159B2 (en) 2016-08-05 2019-12-03 Gaplast Gmbh Container closure system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9209374D0 (en) 1992-06-17
GB2267076B (en) 1996-06-19

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