Graded crystallization of container finishes

Abstract

A container, a container preform and a method of making the container or preform in which the finish of the preform or container is at least partially of crystallizable polymer construction, and has an end portion remote from the body of the preform or container, a capping flange adjacent to the body of the preform or container, and a mid portion between the end portion and the capping flange. The end portion of the finish forms an end surface, and the end and mid portions of the finish form continuous inner and outer surfaces. The polymer material in at least one of the end, inner and outer surfaces is crystallized, and crystallization in the finish in a direction perpendicular to such surface is graded from crystallization at the surface to an essential absence of crystallization at a position within the finish spaced from the surface.

1 - 16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . A hollow plastic container that is at least partially of crystallizable polymer construction and includes: 
 a finish and a body integral with said finish,    said finish having an end portion remote from said body, a capping flange adjacent to said body, and a mid portion between said end portion and said capping flange,    said end and mid portions forming a continuous outer surface and a continuous inner surface,    one of said inner and outer surfaces being crystallized throughout its length and the other of said inner and outer surfaces including at least a portion that is essentially uncrystallized,    crystallization in at least said mid portion of said finish being graded between said crystallized surface and the uncrystallized portion of the other surface.    
   
   
       18 . The container set forth in  claim 17  wherein said outer surface is crystallized throughout its length and at least a portion of said inner surface is crystallized.  
   
   
       19 . The container set forth in  claim 18  wherein said end portion of said finish is crystallized throughout its thickness between said inner and outer surfaces.  
   
   
       20 . The container set forth in  claim 18  wherein crystallization in said end portion of said finish is graded between said outer and inner surfaces, being crystallized at said outer surface and essentially uncrystallized at said inner surface.  
   
   
       21 . The container set forth in  claim 17  wherein said inner surface is crystallized throughout its length and said outer surface is essentially uncrystallized.  
   
   
       22 . The container set forth in  claim 17  wherein said capping flange is essentially uncrystallized.  
   
   
       23 . A hollow plastic container that is at least partially of crystallizable polymer construction and includes: 
 a finish and a body integral with said finish,    said finish having an end portion remote from said body, a capping flange adjacent to said body, and a mid portion between said end portion and said capping flange,    said end and mid portions forming a continuous outer surface that is crystallized throughout its length, and a continuous inner surface at least a portion of which is essentially uncrystallized,    crystallization in at least said mid portion of said finish being graded between said outer and inner surfaces and between said mid portion and said capping flange.    
   
   
       24 . The container set forth in  claim 23  wherein said end portion of said finish is crystallized throughout its thickness between said inner and outer surfaces.  
   
   
       25 . The container set forth in  claim 23  wherein crystallization in said end portion of said finish is graded between said outer and inner surfaces, being crystallized at said outer surface and essentially uncrystallized at said inner surface.  
   
   
       26 . The container set forth in  claim 23  wherein said capping flange is essentially uncrystallized.  
   
   
       27 . A hollow plastic container that is at least partially of crystallizable polymer construction and includes: 
 a finish and a body integral with said finish,    said finish having an end portion remote from said body, a capping flange adjacent to said body, and a mid portion between said end portion and said capping flange,    at least said end portion of said finish being crystallized, and crystallization in said finish being graded from crystallization at said end portion.    
   
   
       28 . The container set forth in  claim 27  wherein said end portion of said finish is crystallized throughout its thickness between said inner and outer surfaces.  
   
   
       29 . The container set forth in  claim 28  wherein graded crystallization in said finish extends into said mid portion of said finish.  
   
   
       30 . The container set forth in  claim 27  wherein crystallization in said end portion of said finish is graded between said outer and inner surfaces, being crystallized at said outer surface and essentially uncrystallized at said inner surface.  
   
   
       31 . The container set forth in  claim 27  wherein said end and mid portions of said finish form a continuous outer surface and a continuous inner surface, one of said inner and outer surfaces being crystallized throughout its length and the other of said inner and outer surfaces including at least a portion that is essentially uncrystallized.  
   
   
       32 . The container set forth in  claim 31  wherein crystallization in at least said mid portion of said finish is graded between said surfaces.  
   
   
       33 . A hollow plastic container having a finish and an integral body, 
 said finish having an end portion with an end surface, a capping flange adjacent to said body, and a mid portion between said end portion and said capping flange,    said end and mid portions forming continuous inner and outer surfaces,    said finish being crystallized at at least one of said end, inner and outer surfaces, and crystallization in said finish in a direction perpendicular to said at least one surface being graded from crystallization at said at least one surface to an essential absence of crystallization at a position within said finish spaced from said at least one surface.    
   
   
       34 . A method of making a hollow plastic container, which comprises the steps of: 
 (a) molding a preform at least partially of crystallizable polymer construction including a finish and a body integral with said finish, said finish having an end portion remote from said body, a capping flange adjacent to said body, and a mid portion between said end portion and said capping flange, said end and mid portions forming continuous inner and outer surfaces,    (b) blow molding said preform to form a hollow plastic container, and    (c) either prior to or subsequent to said step (b), crystallizing said finish at one of said inner and outer surfaces in such a way that said one surface is crystallized throughout its length and the other of said inner and outer surfaces includes a portion that is essentially uncrystallized, and such that crystallization in at least said mid portion is graded between said surfaces.    
   
   
       35 . A method of making a hollow plastic container, which comprises the steps of: 
 (a) molding a preform at least partially of crystallizable polymer construction including a finish and a body integral with said finish, said finish having an end portion remote from said body, a capping flange adjacent to said body, and a mid portion between said end portion and said capping flange, said end and mid portions forming continuous inner and outer surfaces,    (b) blow molding said preform to form a hollow plastic container, and    (c) either prior to or subsequent to said step (b), crystallizing said finish in such a way that said outer surface is crystallized throughout its length and at least a portion of said inner surface is essentially uncrystallized, and such that crystallization in at least said mid portion of said finish is graded between said outer and inner surfaces and between said mid portion and said capping flange.    
   
   
       36 . A method of making a hollow plastic container, which comprises the steps of: 
 (a) molding a preform at least partially of crystallizable polymer construction including a finish and a body integral with said finish, said finish having an end portion remote from said body, a capping flange adjacent to said body, and a mid portion between said end portion and said capping flange, said end and mid portions forming continuous inner and outer surfaces,    (b) blow molding said preform to form a hollow plastic container, and    (c) either prior to or subsequent to said step (b), crystallizing said finish in such a way that at least said end portion of said finish is crystallized, and crystallization in said finish is graded from crystallization of said end portion.    
   
   
       37 . A hollow plastic container having a finish and an integral body, said finish having a first portion that is crystallized, a second portion that is substantially uncrystallized, and a third portion extending between said first and second portions in which crystallization is graded from crystallization in said first portion and substantial uncrystallization in said second portion.  
   
   
       38 . The container set forth in  claim 37  wherein said crystallized first portion of said finish is an outer surface portion of said finish.  
   
   
       39 . The container set forth in  claim 37  wherein said crystallized first portion of said finish is an inner surface portion of said finish.  
   
   
       40 . The container set forth in  claim 37  wherein said crystallized first portion of said finish is an end surface portion of said finish.  
   
   
       41 . The container set forth in  claim 37  wherein said finish has an end portion remote from said body and a mid portion contiguous with said end portion between said end portion and said body, and wherein said crystallized first portion of said finish comprises said end portion of said finish.  
   
   
       42 . The container set forth in  claim 41  wherein said end portion of said finish also includes at least part of said graded third portion of said finish.  
   
   
       43 . The container set forth in  claim 41  wherein said mid portion of said finish includes said graded third portion of said finish.  
   
   
       44 . The container set forth in  claim 37  wherein said finish has an end portion remote from said body, and a mid portion contiguous with said end portion between said end portion and said body, and wherein said crystallized first portion of said finish comprises said mid portion of said finish.  
   
   
       45 . The container set forth in  claim 44  wherein said crystallized first portion of said finish also includes said end portion of said finish.  
   
   
       46 . The container set forth in  claim 44  wherein said end portion of said finish includes said substantially uncrystallized second portion of said finish.  
   
   
       47 . The container set forth in  claim 46  wherein said finish includes a capping flange between said mid portion and said body, said crystallized first portion of said finish including said capping flange.  
   
   
       48 . A hollow plastic container that is at least partially of crystallizable polymer construction and includes: 
 a finish and a body integral with said finish,    said finish having a first end portion remote from said body, a second end portion adjacent to said body, and a mid portion between said end portions,    said first end and mid portions forming a continuous outer surface and a continuous inner surface,    one of said inner and outer surfaces being crystallized throughout its length and the other of said inner and outer surfaces including at least a portion that is essentially uncrystallized,    crystallization in at least said mid portion of said finish being graded between said crystallized surface and the uncrystallized portion of the other surface.    
   
   
       49 . A hollow plastic container that is at least partially of crystallizable polymer construction and includes: 
 a finish and a body integral with said finish,    said finish having a first end portion remote from said body, a second end portion adjacent to said body, and a mid portion between said end portions,    said first end and mid portions forming a continuous inner surface at least a portion of which is essentially uncrystallized,    crystallization in at least said mid portion of said finish being graded between said outer and inner surfaces and between said mid portion and said second end portion.    
   
   
       50 . A hollow plastic container that is at least partially of crystallizable polymer construction and includes: 
 a finish and a body integral with said finish,    said finish having a first end portion remote from said body, a second end portion adjacent to said body, and a mid portion between said end portions,    at least said first end portion of said finish being crystallized, and crystallization in said finish being graded from crystallization at said first end portion.    
   
   
       51 . A hollow plastic container having a finish and an integral body, 
 said finish having a first end portion with an end surface spaced from said body, a second end portion adjacent to said body, and a mid portion between said end portions,    said first end and mid portions forming continuous inner and outer surfaces,    said finish being crystallized at at least one of said end, inner and outer surfaces, and crystallization in said finish in a direction perpendicular to said at least one surface being graded from crystallization at said at least one surface to an essential absence of crystallization at a position within said finish spaced from said at least one surface.    
   
   
       52 . A method of making a hollow plastic container, which comprises the steps of: 
 (a) molding a preform at least partially of crystallizable polymer construction including a finish and a body integral with said finish, said finish having a first end portion remote from said body, a second end portion adjacent to said body, and a mid portion between said end portions, said first end and mid portions forming continuous inner and outer surfaces,    (b) blow molding said preform to form a hollow plastic container, and    (c) either prior to subsequent to said step (b), crystallizing said finish at one of said inner and outer surfaces in such a way that said one surface is crystallized throughout its length and the other of said inner and outer surfaces includes a portion that is essentially uncrystallized, and such that crystallization in at least said mid portion is graded between said surfaces.    
   
   
       53 . A method of making a hollow plastic container, which comprises the steps of: 
 (a) molding a preform at least partially of crystallizable polymer construction including a finish and a body integral with said finish, said finish having a first end portion remote from said body, a second end portion adjacent to said body, and a mid portion between said end portions, said first end and mid portions forming continuous inner and outer surfaces,    (b) blow molding said preform to form a hollow plastic container, and    (c) either prior to or subsequent to said step (b), crystallizing said finish in such a way that said outer surface is crystallized throughout its length and at least a portion of said inner surface is essentially uncrystallized, and such that crystallization in at least said mid portion of said finish is graded between said outer and inner surfaces and between said mid portion and said second end portion.    
   
   
       54 . A method of making a hollow plastic container, which comprises the steps of: 
 (a) molding a preform at least partially of crystallizable polymer construction including a finish and a body integral with said finish, said finish having a first end portion remote from said body, a second end portion adjacent to said body, and a mid portion between said end portions, said first end and mid portions forming continuous inner and outer surfaces,    (b) blow molding said preform to form a hollow plastic container, and    (c) either prior to or subsequent to said step (b), crystallizing said finish in such a way that at least said first end portion of said finish is crystallized, and crystallization in said finish is graded from crystallization of said first end portion.    
   
   
       55 . A hollow plastic container that is at leas partially of crystallizable polymer construction and including a finish and a body integral with said finish, 
 said finish having an end portion remote from said body, a capping flange adjacent to said body, and a mid portion between said end portion and said capping flange,    at least a portion of said end portion, said mid portion or both said end portion and said mid portion being crystallized, and said capping flange being essentially free of crystallization.    
   
   
       56 . The container set forth in  claim 55  wherein at least a portion of said crystallization is graded.