According to the present invention there is provided a preform suitable for subsequent blow molding, and a mold stock for producing the preform. The preform comprises a base having an elliptical inner face with a first flat circular bottom portion, and an elliptical outer face with a second flat circular bottom portion. The first and second flat circular bottom portions each have a center on a vertical center axis of the preform and a radius of equal size.

A continuously rotating, non-symmetric preform feed, stretch-blow-moulding machine dedicated to the stretch-blow-moulding of containers from non-symmetric injection moulded preforms; the non-symmetric preforms including an integral handle extending from a first junction point to a second junction point on a body of the preform; the body of the preform and the integral handle constituted from the same material.

A preform for a container has a hollow cylindrical main body having a first thickness, a hollow cylindrical thick portion having a second thickness greater than the first thickness, and a curved end portion. Inner surfaces of the main body, the thick portion, and the end portion form a cavity.

A preform for a container has a hollow cylindrical main body having a first thickness, a hollow cylindrical thick portion having a second thickness greater than the first thickness, and a curved end portion. Inner surfaces of the main body, the thick portion, and the end portion form a cavity.

A preform for a container has a hollow cylindrical main body having a first thickness, a hollow cylindrical thick portion having a second thickness greater than the first thickness, and a curved end portion. Inner surfaces of the main body, the thick portion, and the end portion form a cavity.

Blow molded articles having a predetermined feature incorporated into the wall provided by variations in the thickness of the wall of the article corresponding to a predetermined pattern etched into the perform from which the article was formed. Also, etched performs for making blow molded articles and methods for making such performs and articles.

Method for making blow molded articles having a predetermined feature incorporated into the wall provided by variations in the thickness of the wall of the article corresponding to a predetermined pattern etched into the preform from which the article was formed.

Blow molded articles having a predetermined feature incorporated into the wall provided by variations in the thickness of the wall of the article corresponding to a predetermined pattern etched into the preform from which the article was formed. Also, etched preforms for making blow molded articles and methods for making such preforms and articles.

Method of making a blow molded article from a preform including: a) providing a preform of a thermoplastic material having a plurality of effect structures each having an effect surface having a normal with an orientation, the preform having a body with one or more walls and an opening, wherein at least a portion of the one or more walls of the preform has a three-dimensional pattern of cavities and/or protrusions thereon; and b) blow molding the preform to form a blow molded article, wherein the step of blow molding the preform changes the orientation of the normal of at least some of the effect surfaces of the effect structures to create a visual effect in at least one wall of the blow molded article.

Article having a visual effect created by selectively varying the orientation of effect structures, such as effect pigments, within the walls of the article.