A preform configured to be blow-molded into a plastic bottle includes a neck section defining an opening, the neck section including a threaded portion configured to engage a closure, and a neck ring, a transition section having a first end positioned adjacent to the neck ring and a second end opposite the first end, a cylindrical body section extending from the second end of the transition section to a base, and a longitudinal axis extending from the opening through the base. The neck section, transition section, and the body section define a hollow channel positioned between the opening and the base. The transition section defines a tapered sidewall relative to the longitudinal axis, the tapered sidewall decreases a cross-sectional diameter of the hollow channel. The tapered sidewall of the transition section contains 20% to 30% of a total weight of the preform.

Disclosed are preforms which incorporate improvements in the region of the neck and upper segment of the body to allow the production of lightweight containers, such as bottles suitable for containing water or other beverages. In accordance with certain embodiments, the improvements include a thinner neck finish area than conventional bottles, where the thinner area is extended into the upper segment of the body portion below the support ring. Reducing the thickness in these areas of the bottle allows for less resin to be used in forming the preform and bottle.

A plastic preform includes a hollow body portion including a closed base portion and a lower portion and a lower portion extending upwardly from the closed bottom portion; and a neck portion extending upwardly from the lower portion. The neck portion includes a dispensing opening positioned at a top of the neck portion, threads positioned below the dispensing opening, a tamper-evident formation having a lower surface and positioned directly below the threads, and a support flange having an upper surface and a lower surface and positioned below the tamper-evident formation. In an embodiment, the plastic preform is formed of a material comprising polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and a vertical distance from the lower surface of the tamper-evident formation to the lower surface of the support flange is from 0.125 to 0.150 inches. Containers and methods for molding preforms and making containers are also disclosed.

Disclosed are preforms which incorporate improvements in the region of the neck and upper segment of the body to allow the production of lightweight containers, such as bottles suitable for containing water or other beverages. In accordance with certain embodiments, the improvements include a thinner neck finish area than conventional bottles, where the thinner area is extended into the upper segment of the body portion below the support ring. Reducing the thickness in these areas of the bottle allows for less resin to be used in forming the preform and bottle.

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 preform is provided for blow-molding to form a container. The preform includes a finish portion for rotatably engaging a closure to seal pressurized contents within an interior of the container. The finish portion comprises a cylindrical body that begins at an opening to the interior and extends to and includes a tamper evidence ledge. A bevel at a beginning of the opening receives a plug seal of the closure. Multiple mirror polished surfaces beyond the bevel are configured to cooperate with the plug seal to seal the container. Mirror polished transition surfaces are disposed between diameter changes within the finish portion. In some embodiments, wherein the plug seal includes a sidewall profile that mates with the transition surfaces, an interior surface of the preform has a diameter that tightly compresses an end of the plug seal to contain pressurized contents within the container.

Disclosed are preforms which incorporate improvements in the region of the neck and upper segment of the body to allow the production of lightweight containers, such as bottles suitable for containing water or other beverages. In accordance with certain embodiments, the improvements include a thinner neck finish area than conventional bottles, where the thinner area is extended into the upper segment of the body portion below the support ring. Reducing the thickness in these areas of the bottle allows for less resin to be used in forming the preform and bottle.

A container (1) and a screwable closure (2) comprising a hollow body (11) and a neck finish (10) terminated by a wide-mouth opening (100). Said neck finish comprises a neck support ring (102) and a neck portion (101) extending between the wide-mouth opening (100) and the neck support ring (102). The neck portion (101) comprises an upper portion (1010) and a reinforced lower portion (1011). The inner face (1011 b) of the reinforced lower portion (1011) is transitioning to the inner face (1010b) of the upper portion (1010) along a transition step (1011c) in such a way that said reinforced lower portion (1011) is thicker than the upper portion (1010) at least in a top part of the reinforced lower portion (1011). The neck support ring (102) is below the removable closure (2).

Disclosed are preforms which incorporate improvements in the region of the neck and upper segment of the body to allow the production of lightweight containers, such as bottles suitable for containing water or other beverages. In accordance with certain embodiments, the improvements include a thinner neck finish area than conventional bottles, where the thinner area is extended into the upper segment of the body portion below the support ring. Reducing the thickness in these areas of the bottle allows for less resin to be used in forming the preform and bottle.

An innovative neck (301) configuration is suggested in order to reduce the weight of a large container for beverage dispenser. The neck (301) comprises a neck finish (303) which extends in length (Ltot) starting from the wide mouth (302) of the container to an annular support ring (305) and a smooth surface cylindrical portion (306) which joins the annular support ring (305) to the body (309) of the container. For functional reasons, the total length (Ltot) of the innovative neck (301) remains the same as the usual traditional necks for this type of container, but due to the short length (Ltot) of the neck finish (303) and said cylindrical portion (306), the weight is reduced.