Container having blown pour spout

Abstract

A one-piece plastic container includes a body defining a longitudinal axis. The body includes an upper portion, a sidewall portion and a base portion. The upper portion includes a spout defining an opening into the container. The sidewall portion is integrally formed with and extends from the upper portion to the base portion. The base portion closes off an end of the container. The spout extends at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis.

1 . A one-piece plastic container comprising: 
 a body defining a longitudinal axis and having an upper portion, a sidewall portion and a base portion, said upper portion having a spout defining an opening into said container, said sidewall portion integrally formed with and extending from said upper portion to said base portion, said base portion closing off an end of the container, wherein said spout extends at an angle relative to said longitudinal axis.    
     
     
         2 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 1  wherein said upper portion includes a finish defining a means for attaching a closure thereon.  
     
     
         3 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 2  wherein said means for attaching a closure includes at least one thread.  
     
     
         4 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 2  wherein said spout is radially stepped inward relative to said finish.  
     
     
         5 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 4  wherein said spout extends from a land formed at a transition between said finish and said spout.  
     
     
         6 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 5  wherein said spout extends radially from said land.  
     
     
         7 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 6  wherein said spout defines a continuous radial sidewall extending from said land in a direction toward a longitudinal plane of said body.  
     
     
         8 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 7  wherein said continuous radial sidewall defines a first pair of lateral walls at said longitudinal plane and said finish defines a second pair of lateral walls at said longitudinal plane wherein said first and second pair of lateral walls are parallel to each other.  
     
     
         9 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 6  wherein said spout is angled from a high end to a low end, said high end defining a dispensing end.  
     
     
         10 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 9  wherein said opening is generally narrower near said dispensing end.  
     
     
         11 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 2  wherein said spout extends from a radial trough formed at a transition between said finish and said spout.  
     
     
         12 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 11  wherein said trough defines a passage into the container.  
     
     
         13 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 2  wherein the container is composed of polyethylene terephthalate.  
     
     
         14 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 13  wherein each of said upper portion, said sidewall portion, and said base portion are biaxially oriented.  
     
     
         15 . A one-piece plastic container comprising: 
 an upper portion having a spout defining an opening into the container;    a shoulder region integrally formed with and extending from said upper portion; and    a sidewall portion extending from said shoulder region to a base portion, said base portion closing off an end of the container and defining a first plane;    wherein said opening defines a second plane extending at an angle relative to said first plane.    
     
     
         16 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 15  wherein said upper portion includes a finish defining a means for attaching a closure thereon.  
     
     
         17 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 16  wherein said spout is stepped in relative to said finish.  
     
     
         18 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 17  wherein said spout extends from a land formed at a transition between said finish and said spout.  
     
     
         19 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 18  wherein said spout extends radially from said land.  
     
     
         20 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 19  wherein said spout defines a continuous radial sidewall extending from said land in a direction toward a longitudinal plane of the container.  
     
     
         21 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 20  wherein said continuous radial sidewall defines a first pair of lateral walls at said longitudinal plane and said finish defines a second pair of lateral walls at said longitudinal plane wherein said first and second pair of lateral walls are parallel to each other.  
     
     
         22 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 19  wherein said spout is angled from a high end to a low end, said high end defining a dispensing end.  
     
     
         23 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 22  wherein said opening is generally narrower near said dispensing end.  
     
     
         24 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 16  wherein said spout extends from a radial trough formed at a transition between said finish and said spout.  
     
     
         25 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 24  wherein said trough defines a passage into the container.  
     
     
         26 . A method of making a blow-molded plastic container comprising: 
 disposing a preform into a mold cavity having a surface defining a body forming region, a moil forming region and a spout forming region interposed between said body forming region and said moil forming region;    blowing said preform against said mold surface to form an intermediate container having a body portion, a spout and a moil portion, wherein said body portion defines a longitudinal axis and wherein an intersection between said spout and said moil portion defines a cutting plane extending at an angle relative to said longitudinal axis; and    severing said moil portion from said spout at said intersection thereby defining an opening into the container at said spout.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein said moil portion defines at least two parallel radial rib forming portions.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein said rib forming portions are generally parallel to said cutting plane.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26  wherein severing said moil portion includes forming said spout having a high end and a low end, said high end defining a dispensing end.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein blowing said preform further includes forming a trough radially around a transition between said spout and a finish of the container.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  further comprising forming a passage in the container through said trough.