Preform and a mold stack for producing the preform

Abstract

Disclosed herein are a preform ( 500 ) and a mold stack for producing the preform ( 500 ). The preform ( 500 ) is suitable for blow-molding into a final-shaped container. The preform ( 500 ) comprises a neck portion ( 502 ); a gate portion ( 506 ); and a body portion ( 504 ) extending between said neck portion ( 502 ) and said gate portion ( 506 ); the neck portion ( 502 ) including a support ledge ( 512 ), the support ledge ( 512 ) being associated with a metal contacting surface ( 520 ) and a weight, and wherein a ratio of the metal contacting surface ( 520 ) to the weight modulated for a base line support ledge thickness curve is selected in a range of between 0.1 and 1000.

1 . A preform ( 500 ) suitable for blow-molding into a final-shaped container, the preform ( 500 ) comprising:
 a neck portion ( 502 );   a gate portion ( 506 ); and   a body portion ( 504 ) extending between said neck portion ( 502 ) and said gate portion ( 506 );   the neck portion ( 502 ) including a support ledge ( 512 ), the support ledge ( 512 ) being associated with a metal contacting surface ( 520 ) and a weight, and wherein a ratio of the metal contacting surface ( 520 ) to the weight modulated for a base line support ledge thickness curve is selected in a range of between 0.1 and 1000.   
     
     
         2 . The preform ( 500 ) of  claim 1 , wherein said support ledge ( 512 ) comprises a crenated edge ( 514 ). 
     
     
         3 . The preform ( 500 ) of  claim 2 , wherein said crenated edge ( 514 ) comprises a plurality of protrusions ( 516 ) and a plurality of depressions ( 518 ). 
     
     
         4 . The preform ( 500 ) of  claim 3 , wherein a number of said plurality of protrusions ( 516 ) is an even number. 
     
     
         5 . The preform ( 500 ) of  claim 4 , wherein said support ledge ( 512 ) is divided by a split line ( 580 ) into a first virtual half and a second virtual half, and wherein each of said first virtual half and said second virtual half is associated with an outline which includes substantially the same pattern of the plurality of protrusions ( 516 ) and the plurality of depressions ( 518 ). 
     
     
         6 . The preform ( 500 ) of  claim 3 , wherein a number of said plurality of protrusions ( 516 ) is an odd number. 
     
     
         7 . The preform ( 500 ) of  claim 6 , wherein said support ledge ( 512 ) is modified. 
     
     
         8 . The preform ( 500 ) of  claim 7 , wherein said support ledge ( 512 ) is modified in such a manner that a split line ( 580 ) passes through a given one of the plurality of protrusions ( 516 ) and through a modified given one of the plurality of depressions ( 518 ) in an area ( 680   a ) between two modified ones of said plurality of protrusions ( 516 ). 
     
     
         9 . The preform ( 500 ) of  claim 3 , wherein a given one of the plurality of protrusions ( 616   b ) is implemented in a substantially the same manner as another one of the plurality of protrusions ( 616   b ). 
     
     
         10 . The preform ( 500 ) of  claim 3 , wherein a given one the plurality of protrusions ( 616   l ) is implemented in a first manner and another one of the plurality of protrusions ( 616   l ) is implemented a second manner. 
     
     
         11 . A split mold insert ( 404 ,  406 ) for defining at least a neck portion ( 502 ) of a preform ( 500 ), the split mold insert ( 404 ,  406 ) comprising:
 a body ( 408 ) having a molding surface defining portion ( 308 ) that includes a first sub-portion ( 420 ) for defining, in use, a portion of a support ledge ( 512 ) of the neck portion ( 502 ), the support ledge ( 512 ) being associated with a metal contacting surface ( 520 ), a weight and a thickness;   the first sub-portion ( 420 ) being associated with a generally scalloped geometry ( 422 ) so selected as to define the support ledge ( 512 ) to be associated with a ratio of the metal contacting surface ( 520 ) to the weight modulated for a base line support ledge thickness curve is selected in a range of between 0.1 and 1000.   
     
     
         12 . The split mold insert ( 404 ,  406 ) of  claim 11 , wherein said generally scalloped geometry ( 422 ) is further selected taking into account demolding considerations. 
     
     
         13 . A preform ( 500 ) suitable for blow-molding into a final-shaped container, the preform ( 500 ) comprising:
 a neck portion ( 502 );   a gate portion ( 506 ); and   a body portion ( 504 ) extending between said neck portion ( 502 ) and said gate portion ( 506 );   the neck portion ( 502 ) including a support ledge ( 512 ) having a crenated edge ( 514 ), the support ledge ( 512 ) being associated with a metal contacting surface ( 520 ) being contributed to partially by the crenated edge ( 514 ) and a weight, and wherein a ratio of the metal contacting surface ( 520 ) to the weight modulated for base line support ledge thickness curve is selected in a range of between 0.1 and 1000.   
     
     
         14 . The preform ( 500 ) of  claim 13 , wherein said crenated edge ( 514 ) comprises a plurality of protrusions ( 516 ) and a plurality of depressions ( 518 ). 
     
     
         15 . The preform ( 500 ) of  claim 14 , wherein a number of said plurality of protrusions ( 516 ) is an even number. 
     
     
         16 . The preform ( 500 ) of  claim 15 , wherein said support ledge ( 512 ) is divided by a split line ( 580 ) into a first virtual half and a second virtual half, and wherein each of said first virtual half and said second virtual half is associated with an outline which includes substantially the same pattern of the plurality of protrusions ( 516 ) and the plurality of depressions ( 518 ). 
     
     
         17 . The preform ( 500 ) of  claim 14 , wherein a number of said plurality of protrusions ( 516 ) is an odd number. 
     
     
         18 . The preform ( 500 ) of  claim 17 , wherein said support ledge ( 512 ) is modified. 
     
     
         19 . The preform ( 500 ) of  claim 18 , wherein said support ledge ( 512 ) is modified in such a manner that a split line ( 580 ) passes through a given one of the plurality of protrusions ( 516 ) and through a modified given one of the plurality of depressions ( 518 ) in an area ( 680   a ) between two modified ones of said plurality of protrusions ( 516 ). 
     
     
         20 . The preform ( 500 ) of  claim 14 , wherein a given one of the plurality of protrusions ( 616   b ) is implemented in a substantially the same manner as another one of the plurality of protrusions ( 616   b ). 
     
     
         21 . The preform ( 500 ) of  claim 14 , wherein a given one the plurality of protrusions ( 616   l ) is implemented in a first manner and another one of the plurality of protrusions ( 616   l ) is implemented a second manner. 
     
     
         22 . A preform ( 500 ) suitable for blow-molding into a final-shaped container, the preform ( 500 ) comprising:
 a neck portion ( 502 );   a gate portion ( 506 ); and   a body portion ( 504 ) extending between said neck portion ( 502 ) and said gate portion ( 506 );   the neck portion ( 502 ) including a support ledge ( 512 ), the support ledge ( 512 ) being associated with a metal contacting surface ( 520 ) and a weight, and wherein a ratio of the metal contacting surface ( 520 ) to the weight is at least 1004 mm 2 /g.   
     
     
         23 . The preform ( 500 ) of  claim 22 , wherein the ratio of the metal contacting surface ( 520 ) to the weight is in a range of between 1004 mm 2 /g and 1062.1 mm 2 /g. 
     
     
         24 . A split mold insert ( 404 ,  406 ) for defining at least a neck portion ( 502 ) of a preform ( 500 ), the split mold insert ( 404 ,  406 ) comprising:
 a body ( 408 ) having a molding surface defining portion ( 308 ) that includes a first sub-portion ( 420 ) for defining, in use, a portion of a support ledge ( 512 ) of the neck portion ( 502 ), the support ledge ( 512 ) being associated with a metal contacting surface ( 520 ), a weight and a thickness;   the first sub-portion ( 420 ) being associated with a generally scalloped geometry ( 422 ) so selected as to define the support ledge ( 512 ) to be associated with a ratio of the metal contacting surface ( 520 ) is at least 1004 mm 2 /g.   
     
     
         25 . The split mold insert ( 404 ,  406 ) of  claim 24 , wherein the ratio of the metal contacting surface ( 520 ) to the weight is in a range of between 1004 mm 2 /g and 1062.1 mm 2 /g.