Container with Finish Ring

Abstract

One embodiment of the invention relates to a container having a longitudinal axis and with a finish, shoulder, finish base, and a step. The shoulder has a wall thickness and is inclined away from the finish at a first angle with respect to a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container. The a finish base extends from the bottom of the finish towards the shoulder and has a wall thickness. The finish base is inclined away from the finish at a second angle with respect to a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container. The step extends from the finish base to the shoulder and is inclined away from the finish at a third angle with respect to a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container. The step also has longitudinal height that is approximately the same as the wall thickness of the finish base; and. The container further includes a tubular sidewall extending from the shoulder, in direction that is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container, and the step improves material distribution in the finish base and shoulder to contribute to uniform cooling thereof, thus achieving the perpendicularity of the finish with respect to the longitudinal axis of the container.

1 . A container having a longitudinal axis and comprising:
 a finish;   a shoulder having a wall thickness and being inclined away from the finish at a first angle with respect to a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container;   a finish base extending from the bottom of the finish towards the shoulder, the finish base having a wall thickness and being inclined away from the finish at a second angle with respect to a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container;   a circumferential step extending from the finish base to the shoulder and being inclined away from the finish at a third angle with respect to a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container, the step having a longitudinal height that is approximately the same as the wall thickness of the finish base; and   a tubular sidewall extending from the shoulder, in direction that is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container   
     wherein the step improves material distribution in the finish base and shoulder to contribute to uniform cooling thereof, thus achieving the perpendicularity of the finish with respect to the longitudinal axis of the container. 
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the step is approximately midway between the finish and the sidewall. 
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the second angle of the finish base is from about 7 degrees to about 20 degrees. 
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the third angle of the step is about 37 to about 50 degrees. 
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal height of the step is about 0.01 to about 0.10 inch. 
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first angle of the shoulder is from about 7 degrees to about 20 degrees. 
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the wall thickness of the shoulder is at least about 10-80% of the wall thickness of the finish base. 
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is an inverted-style container. 
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is adapted for use with a wide-diameter closure. 
   
   
       10 . A method of maintaining perpendicularity of a finish area of a blow molded container comprising:
 providing a container comprising:
 a finish; 
 a shoulder having a wall thickness and inclining away from the finish a first angle with respect to a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container; 
 a finish base having a wall thickness and inclining away from the finish at a second angle with respect to a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container, the finish base extending from the bottom of the finish towards the shoulder, 
 a circumferential step between the finish base and the shoulder, and inclining away from the finish at a third angle with respect to a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container, the step having a longitudinal height that is approximately equal to the wall thickness of the finish base, and, 
 a tubular sidewall extending from the shoulder in direction that is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container; and 
   forming the step   
     wherein the step improves material distribution in the finish base and shoulder to contribute to uniform cooling thereof, thus achieving the perpendicularity of the finish area with respect to a longitudinal axis of the container. 
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the step is approximately midway between the finish and the sidewall. 
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the angle of the finish base or the angle of the shoulder with respect to a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis is from about 6 degrees to about 18 degrees. 
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the angle of the step is about 25 to about 60 degrees with respect plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the wall thickness of the shoulder is at least about 60-70% of the wall thickness of the finish base. 
   
   
       15 . A finish area for a blow molded container comprising:
 a finish;   a finish base extending outwardly from the finish, the finish base having a wall thickness, and   a step adjacent to the finish base at an end opposite from where the finish base meets the finish, the step having a longitudinal height that is approximately equal to the wall thickness of the finish base   
     wherein the step improves material distribution in the finish base and shoulder to contribute to uniform cooling thereof, thus achieving the perpendicularity of the finish area with respect to a longitudinal axis of the container. 
   
   
       16 . The finish area of  claim 15 , further comprising a shoulder area having a wall thickness, wherein the wall thickness of the shoulder is at least about 60-70% of the wall thickness of the finish area. 
   
   
       17 . The finish area of  claim 15 , wherein the step further comprises an angle of about 43 degrees with respect to a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container. 
   
   
       18 . The finish area of  claim 15 , wherein the finish base further comprises an angle of about 11 degrees with respect to a plane that perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container. 
   
   
       19 . The finish area of  claim 15 , wherein the shoulder further comprises an angle of about 11 degrees with respect to a plane that perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container. 
   
   
       20 . The finish area of  claim 15 , wherein the height of the step is about 0.03 inch.