A plastic intermediate article including a container portion and a trim portion. The container portion includes a neck portion having a plurality of threads. In embodiments, each of the plurality of threads include a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is provided at a first angle relative to a centerline of the plastic blow molded intermediate article, the second portion is provided at a second angle relative to the centerline of the plastic blow molded intermediate article, and the first angle and second angle are different. A method for making a plastic container includes providing a plastic preform, blow molding the preform into an intermediate article that includes a neck portion with a plurality of blown threads, and removing an upper portion of the intermediate article.

Container having a body portion with sidewall defining outer perimeter and hollow interior. The body portion includes a plurality of continuous ribs extending about the outer perimeter of the sidewall, each rib having alternating horizontal segments and branched segments. Each branched segment includes a top branch and bottom branch joined at either end to define a bounded area therebetween. The plurality of continuous ribs includes at least a first continuous rib and second continuous rib spaced vertically from the first continuous rib. A midpoint of each branched segment of the first continuous rib is aligned along a vertical axis with a midpoint of a corresponding horizontal segment of the second continuous rib, and a midpoint of each horizontal segment of the first continuous rib is aligned along a vertical axis with a midpoint of a corresponding branched segment of the second continuous rib.

Container having a body portion with sidewall defining outer perimeter and hollow interior. The body portion includes a plurality of continuous ribs extending about the outer perimeter of the sidewall, each rib having alternating horizontal segments and branched segments. Each branched segment includes a top branch and bottom branch joined at either end to define a bounded area therebetween. The plurality of continuous ribs includes at least a first continuous rib and second continuous rib spaced vertically from the first continuous rib. A midpoint of each branched segment of the first continuous rib is aligned along a vertical axis with a midpoint of a corresponding horizontal segment of the second continuous rib, and a midpoint of each horizontal segment of the first continuous rib is aligned along a vertical axis with a midpoint of a corresponding branched segment of the second continuous rib.

A plastic container is provided that includes a hollow body portion including a lower supporting base portion; a sidewall portion extending upwardly from the base portion; and a neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall portion. The neck portion includes a support flange having an upper and lower surface, at least one thread, and a dispensing opening at the top of the neck portion. In embodiments, a closure may be provided to form an assembly. In embodiments, the container may be comprised of PET, the weight of the neck portion from the lower surface of the support flange to a top of the dispensing opening may be 3.0 grams or less, and/or the vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange may be 0.580 inches or less. A preform and method for making a container are also disclosed.

A plastic container is provided that includes a hollow body portion including a lower supporting base portion; a sidewall portion extending upwardly from the base portion; and a neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall portion. The neck portion includes a support flange having an upper and lower surface, at least one thread, and a dispensing opening at the top of the neck portion. In embodiments, a closure may be provided to form an assembly. In embodiments, the container may be comprised of PET, the weight of the neck portion from the lower surface of the support flange to a top of the dispensing opening may be 3.0 grams or less, and/or the vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange may be 0.580 inches or less. A preform and method for making a container are also disclosed.

An apparatus for dispensing a single box for containing foodstuffs includes a housing, a lift subassembly, and a transfer subassembly. The housing at least partially defines an inner area. The lift subassembly is coupled to the housing and disposed at least partially within the inner area. The lift subassembly includes a nest configured to support a plurality of boxes disposed in a stack and translate with respect to the housing in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction. The transfer subassembly is coupled to the housing and disposed at least partially within the inner area. The transfer subassembly includes a vacuum suction cup. The vacuum suction cup is configured to operatively engage a first box of the plurality of boxes to remove the first box from the stack and pivot the first box about a rotational axis to a surface outside of the inner area.

An apparatus for dispensing a single box for containing foodstuffs includes a housing, a lift subassembly, and a transfer subassembly. The housing at least partially defines an inner area. The lift subassembly is coupled to the housing and disposed at least partially within the inner area. The lift subassembly includes a nest configured to support a plurality of boxes disposed in a stack and translate with respect to the housing in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction. The transfer subassembly is coupled to the housing and disposed at least partially within the inner area. The transfer subassembly includes a vacuum suction cup. The vacuum suction cup is configured to operatively engage a first box of the plurality of boxes to remove the first box from the stack and pivot the first box about a rotational axis to a surface outside of the inner area.

A bottle may have varying depth ribs to achieve a balance of strength and rigidity while maintaining hoop strength. The varying depth ribs may smoothly transition around the circumference of the bottle from a flattened and/or shallow depth rib portion to a deep rib portion. A collection of flattened and/or shallow depth ribs act as recessed columns in the body of the bottle to resist bending, leaning, crumbling, and/or stretching. The deep rib portions provide hoop strength and make the bottle body more rigid and/or stiffer when gripped by a user. A balance may be achieved between of flattened and/or shallow depth ribs and deep ribs to attain a desired resistance to bending, leaning, and/or stretching while maintaining stiffness in a lightweight bottle.

A bottle may have varying depth ribs to achieve a balance of strength and rigidity while maintaining hoop strength. The varying depth ribs may smoothly transition around the circumference of the bottle from a flattened and/or shallow depth rib portion to a deep rib portion. A collection of flattened and/or shallow depth ribs act as recessed columns in the body of the bottle to resist bending, leaning, crumbling, and/or stretching. The deep rib portions provide hoop strength and make the bottle body more rigid and/or stiffer when gripped by a user. A balance may be achieved between of flattened and/or shallow depth ribs and deep ribs to attain a desired resistance to bending, leaning, and/or stretching while maintaining stiffness in a lightweight bottle.

A container may comprise a tubular body having a rounded sidewall extending between a closed end defining a base portion and an opposite open end surrounded by a rim portion, and one or more sets of grooves defined within the vertical portion of the rounded sidewall. The base portion is configured to support the container in an upright orientation relative to a support surface and wherein the base portion defines a support ring having an at least substantially rounded perimeter. The rounded sidewall comprises a curved base transition region and a vertical portion extending between the perimeter of the base portion and the rim portion along a central axis. Each of the grooves comprises a length and a width, wherein the length is longer than the width. The grooves extend between the base portion and the rim portion along the length.