Container having a smooth finish

Abstract

A container defines a longitudinal axis, and comprises a neck, and a finish merging with the neck. The finish comprises a first lip, a second lip spaced apart from the first lip in a direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a curved portion connecting the first lip with the second lip.

1 . A container defining a longitudinal axis, the container comprising: 
 a neck;    a finish merging with said neck, said finish comprising: 
 a first lip;  
 a second lip spaced apart from said first lip in a direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; and  
 a curved portion connecting said first lip with said second lip.  
   
     
     
         2 . The container according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a sidewall merging with said neck; and    a base merging with said sidewall.    
     
     
         3 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said second lip comprises an edge, and said neck is positioned at a first radial distance from the longitudinal axis, and the edge of said second lip is positioned at a second radial distance from the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         4 . The container according to  claim 3 , wherein the second radial distance is greater than or equal to the first radial distance.  
     
     
         5 . The container according to  claim 3 , wherein the second radial distance is less than the first radial distance.  
     
     
         6 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said second lip collapses towards said first lip while thermosealing a lid to the container.  
     
     
         7 . The container according to  claim 6 , wherein said first and second lips each comprise an inner portion and wherein the inner portion of said second lip touches the inner portion of said first lip when said second lip collapses towards said first lip.  
     
     
         8 . The container according to  claim 6 , wherein said first lip comprises an inner portion and said second lip comprises an inner portion and wherein the edge of said second lip touches the inner portion of said first lip when said second lip collapses towards said first lip.  
     
     
         9 . A sealed container made by the method of: 
 providing a container according to  claim 1;  and    thermosealing a lid to said container.    
     
     
         10 . The container according to  claim 9 , wherein said first and second lips each comprise an inner portion and wherein the inner portion of said second lip touches the inner portion of said first lip when said second lip collapses towards said first lip during said thermosealing.  
     
     
         11 . The container according to  claim 9 , wherein said first lip comprises an inner portion and said second lip comprises an inner portion and wherein the edge of said second lip touches the inner portion of said first lip when said second lip collapses towards said first lip during said thermosealing.  
     
     
         12 . A method for sealing a container, comprising: 
 providing a container defining a longitudinal axis and having a neck, a finish merging with said neck, said finish comprising a first lip connected to said neck, a second lip spaced apart from said first lip in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a curved portion connecting said first lip with said second lip; and    thermosealing a lid to the container.    
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein said first and second lips each comprise an inner portion and wherein the inner portion of said second lip touches the inner portion of said first lip when said second lip collapses towards said first lip during said thermosealing.  
     
     
         14 . The container according to  claim 12 , wherein said first lip comprises an inner portion and said second lip comprises an inner portion and wherein the edge of said second lip touches the inner portion of said first lip when said second lip collapses towards said first lip during said thermosealing.  
     
     
         15 . A finish for a plastic container defining a longitudinal axis, said finish comprising: 
 a first lip;    a second lip spaced apart from said first lip in a direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; and    a curved portion connecting said first lip with said second lip.    
     
     
         16 . The finish according to  claim 15 , wherein said first and second lips each comprise an inner portion and wherein the inner portion of said second lip touches the inner portion of said first lip when said second lip collapses towards said first lip when a heat or pressure is applied to the container.  
     
     
         17 . The finish according to  claim 15 , wherein said first lip comprises an inner portion and said second lip comprises an inner portion and wherein the edge of said second lip touches the inner portion of said first lip when said second lip collapses towards said first lip when heat is applied to the container.  
     
     
         18 . A plastic container comprising: 
 a finish according to  claim 15;     a container sidewall merging with said finish; and    a base merging with said sidewall.    
     
     
         19 . The finish according to  claim 15 , wherein said second lip comprises an edge, and said neck is positioned at a first radial distance from the longitudinal axis, and the edge of said second lip is positioned at a second radial distance from the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         20 . The container according to  claim 19 , wherein the second radial distance is greater than or equal to the first radial distance.  
     
     
         21 . The container according to  claim 19 , wherein said second lip collapses towards said first lip while thermosealing a lid to the container.  
     
     
         22 . The container according to  claim 19 , wherein the second radial distance is less than the first radial distance.  
     
     
         23 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said second lip has a thickness of between 0.1 and 1.0 mm.  
     
     
         24 . The finish according to  claim 15 , wherein said second lip has a thickness of between 0.1 and 1.0.  
     
     
         25 . A container defining a longitudinal axis, the container comprising: 
 an upper portion including a finish, said finish comprising: 
 a first lip extending about the longitudinal axis and defining a first inner radial distance from the longitudinal axis; and  
 a second lip interconnected with said first lip, said second lip extending about the longitudinal axis and defining a second inner radial distance from the longitudinal axis, said second inner radial distance being larger than said first inner radial distance;  
 wherein said second lip is spaced apart from said first lip in a direction substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis.  
   
     
     
         26 . The container according to  claim 25 , wherein said second lip comprises an inner edge that defines said second inner radial distance.  
     
     
         27 . The container according to  claim 26 , wherein said inner edge is formed during a container trimming operation.  
     
     
         28 . The container according to  claim 25 , wherein said first lip comprises a curved wall portion of said finish, and said curved wall portion defines said first inner radial distance.  
     
     
         29 . The container according to  claim 28 , wherein said curved wall portion is formed during molding of the container.  
     
     
         30 . The container according to  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 a sidewall merging with said upper portion; and    a base merging with said sidewall.    
     
     
         31 . The container according to  claim 25 , wherein said second lip collapses toward said first lip while thermosealing a lid to the container.  
     
     
         32 . A sealed container made by the method of: 
 providing a container according to  claim 25;  and    thermosealing a lid to said second finish.