A preform molding system is disclosed that includes a cavity half that is mountable to a stationary platen of an injection molding machine and a core half that is mountable to a moving platen of the injection molding machine. The preform molding system includes a mold stack assembly having a cavity portion and a core portion. The cavity portion is coupled to the cavity half and includes a cavity insert, and the core portion is coupled to the core half and includes a core insert, a pair of neck rings, and a stripper ring. The core insert has an undercut that defines an annular protrusion on an internal surface of a preform that is created in the mold stack assembly. The preform molding system is configured to permit in sequence, retraction of the pair of neck rings away from the core insert and ejection of the preform from the core insert via the stripper ring.

An aerosol dispenser, an outer container for an aerosol dispenser, and a preform for an outer container. The aerosol dispenser, outer container, and preform each have a neck including a crimp ring. The crimp ring may be configured to receive a valve cup, which is clinched thereto. The crimp ring includes one or more vents. The vents may be used to control overpressurization within the dispenser. The vents may be exposed to pressurized propellant and product due to deformation of the neck during undue overpressurization. The vents allow propellant and/or product to be released therethrough in the event of overpressurization.

A polymeric container including a base, a body, a finish, finish threads, and a tamper lip. The finish threads are at an outer surface of the finish, and are configured to cooperate with closure threads of a closure to secure the closure to the finish. The tamper lip extends from the outer surface of the finish, and is configured to replace the support flange during handling, and to cooperate with a tamper band of the closure. A recess is below the tamper lip. The recess retains the tamper band below the tamper lip when the closure is removed from cooperation with the finish. A gripper pad is between the finish threads and the tamper lip. The gripper pad is configured to cooperate with a gripper for grasping the finish.

The present invention provides a fluid medium dispensing system (1) for dispensing a fluid medium stored under pressure. The system (1) comprises a container (3) for storing the fluid medium under pressure, the container (3) comprising a neck (5) defining an opening (6). A valve cup (2) supporting a valve (4) closes the opening (6) of the container (3). Contiguous portions (14, 5) of the valve cup (2) and the neck (5) are comprised of plastics materials. The plastics materials of these contiguous portions (14, 5) are fused to form a molten weld seam (15a; 15b) by laser welding thereby sealing the container (3). Preferably, the plastics material of the neck (5) of the container (3) is laser-transparent and the plastics material of the valve cup (2) is laser-absorbing. Advantageously, the plastics material of the valve cup (2) is a semi-crystalline polymer. The invention also provides a method of assembling a dispensing system (1) for a fluid medium. In the method a valve cup (2) is provided that has at least a peripheral portion thereof that is comprised of a plastics material and that includes a valve (4). A container (3) is provided that is suitable for storing the fluid medium under pressure and that comprises a neck (5) comprised of a plastics material. The neck (5) defines an opening (6) and the valve cup (2) is positioned at the opening (5). The internal volume of the container (3) is then charged before the valve cup (2) is pressed into the neck (5|) of the container (3). The plastics materials of the valve cup (2) and the neck (5) are then fused together to form the molten weld seam (15a; 15b) by laser welding thereby sealing the container (3).

An aerosol dispenser, an outer container for an aerosol dispenser and a preform for an outer container. The aerosol dispenser, outer container and preform each have a neck, which in turn has a crimp ring, to receive a valve cup clinched thereto. The crimp ring has slots which act as vents therethrough. The vents may be exposed to pressurized propellant and product due to deformation of the neck during undue internal pressurization. The vents to relieve propellant and product therethrough in the event of overpressurization.

An aerosol container suitable for use as an aerosol dispenser. The aerosol container includes at least a valve and product delivery device joined to an outer container. The valve and product delivery device have respective annular welds or other seals joining the valve and product delivery to the outer container. The welds, or other seals may be concentric, with one circumscribing the other, in the same plane or different planes. Suitable product delivery devices include bags and dip tubes.

A preform for being blow-molded to than a container is provided herein. The preform comprises a finish portion that includes an opening to an interior of the preform and includes a tamper evidence ledge. The tamper evidence ledge cooperates with a tamper-evident ring portion of a cap to indicate that the cap has not been previously loosened after being installed by the manufacturer. A neck portion is disposed adjacent to the tamper evidence ledge. A tapered portion transitions from a diameter of the neck portion to a smaller diameter of a cylindrical portion. The cylindrical portion comprises an elongate member that culminates in an end cap. Threads disposed on the finish portion are configured to threadably receive the cap. A handling valley is disposed between the tamper evidence ledge and the threads. The handling valley enables gripping fingers to engage with and air-convey the container along a manufacturing assembly.

A blank preform for being blow-molded to form a container is provided herein. The blank preform comprises a cylindrical portion that includes a tapered portion that extends to a finish portion. The finish portion includes an opening to an interior of the preform. The finish portion comprises one or more wall thickness portions for blow-molding any of a tamper evidence ledge, one or more threads, a neck portion, and a handling valley. The handling valley facilitates air-conveying the container along a manufacturing line. The cylindrical portion comprises at least one wall thickness suitable for blow-molding any of a base, a portion of a bell, a sidewall, and a shoulder between the sidewall and the bell. The tapered portion comprises one or more wall thickness portions that are suitable for blow-molding any of a portion of the bell, a blown neck, and a blown support ledge.

An aerosol dispenser, an outer container for an aerosol dispenser and a preform for an outer container. The aerosol dispenser, outer container and preform each have a neck, which in turn has a crimp ring, to receive a valve cup clinched thereto and a lower neck potion upon which the crimp ring is mounted. The lower neck portion extends between the bottom of the crimp ring and a shoulder which transitions into the sidewalls. The crimp ring preferably has a greater axial length than the lower neck portion. This geometry allows flexibility in the thickness throughout the thickness of the entire neck. The geometry advantageously minimizes distortion of the neck in the event of overpressurization.

A mold stack comprises: a split mold insert split into parts, each having a mating face with an inner face region, an offset, and an outer face region, the insert further having a male projecting portion with a shutoff face and an outer surface, at least a part of the inner face region terminating at the shutoff face, the offset terminating at the outer surface; and an adjacent mold stack component having an associated a female receptacle, the insert having a cleaning configuration wherein: the shutoff face acts as a molding surface; the male projecting portion cooperates with the female receptacle to define a melt barrier; the complementary inner face regions are spaced apart to form an extension of the mold cavity terminating, at least in part, at the shutoff face; and the complementary offsets cooperate to prevent melt from passing therebetween and to guide melt towards the melt barrier.