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 may be integrally formed with and extend from the upper portion to the base portion. The base portion closes off an end of the container. The opening defines a first plurality of discontinuous radial pour surfaces.

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 said container, wherein said opening defines a first plurality of discontinuous radial pour surfaces.    
   
   
       2 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 1  wherein said opening further defines a second plurality of discontinuous radial pour surfaces, each of said second plurality of discontinuous radial pour surfaces being alternately arranged with each of said first plurality of discontinuous radial pour surfaces.  
   
   
       3 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 2  wherein said first and second plurality of discontinuous radial pour surfaces are co-planar.  
   
   
       4 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 3  wherein said first and second plurality of discontinuous radial pour surfaces are each substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       5 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 4  wherein each of said first plurality of discontinuous radial pour surfaces defines a smaller radius than each of said second plurality of discontinuous radial pour surfaces.  
   
   
       6 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 2  wherein a transition between one of said first plurality of discontinuous radial pour surfaces and an adjacent one of said second plurality of discontinuous radial pour surfaces defines a convex surface relative to said longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       7 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 6  wherein said first plurality of discontinuous radial pour surfaces consists of three discontinuous radial pour surfaces equidistantly spaced about said opening.  
   
   
       8 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 1  wherein said upper portion includes a finish defining a means for attaching a closure thereon.  
   
   
       9 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 1  wherein said upper portion defines a continuous radially tapering wall extending from said finish to said opening.  
   
   
       10 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 9  wherein said spout extends from a land formed at a transition between said finish and said spout.  
   
   
       11 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 10  wherein said spout extends radially from said land.  
   
   
       12 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 2  wherein said container is composed of polyethylene terephthlate.  
   
   
       13 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 12  wherein each of said upper portion, said sidewall portion, and said base portion are biaxially oriented.  
   
   
       14 . 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;    wherein said spout defines a first plurality of annular pouring grooves alternatively oriented between a second plurality of annular pouring grooves, wherein each of said first and second plurality of annular pouring grooves are adapted to channel product out of the container during pouring.    
   
   
       15 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 14  wherein each of said first and second plurality of annular pouring grooves define a concave surface relative to a longitudinal axis defined by the container.  
   
   
       16 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 15  wherein a transition between one of said first plurality of annular pouring grooves to an adjacent one of said second plurality of annular pouring grooves defines a convex surface relative to said longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       17 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 14  wherein said upper portion includes a finish defining a means for attaching a closure thereon.  
   
   
       18 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 16  wherein said upper portion defines a continuous radially tapering wall extending from said finish to said opening.  
   
   
       19 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 18  wherein said spout extends radially from a land formed at a transition between said finish and said spout.  
   
   
       20 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 19  wherein said first and second plurality of annular pouring grooves are co-planar.  
   
   
       21 . The one-piece plastic container of  claim 20  wherein said first and second plurality of annular pouring grooves define a plane substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       22 . 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 said container, wherein said opening defines a first plurality of radial pour surfaces having a first radius and a second plurality of radial pour surfaces having a second radius, said first radius being smaller than said second radius.