Blow-Molded Plastic Bottle and Method of Manufacture

Abstract

A plastic bottle includes an expanded blow-molding preform of plastic film. The expanded preform has a base configured to support the bottle in a free-standing upright position, a neck containing a fitment, and seams including only a single full-height seam extending from the base to the neck.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a fitment; and   an expanded blow-molding preform of plastic film having a base configured to support the expanded preform in a free-standing upright position, a neck containing the fitment, and seams including only a single full-height seam extending from the base to the neck.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein the single full-height seam includes bonded layers of plastic film that are folded inward to lie flat against an adjacent outer surface of the expanded preform. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein the expanded preform has front and back panels that face oppositely outward and are joined at the single full-height seam. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 3  wherein the expanded preform has a noncircular convex edge at which the single full-height seam defines a juncture between the front and back panels. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 4  wherein the expanded preform has an additional edge with an undulating contour defining a handgrip. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein the neck is off-center. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein the expanded preform has a cross-section with an oval periphery, and the single full-height seam is located at a vertex of the oval periphery. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 7  wherein the expanded preform further has a handgrip portion with an undulating contour at an opposite vertex of the oval periphery. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 1  further comprising a cap for closing the fitment and a laundry product contained in the expanded preform.