An injection molded thermoplastic preform for blow moulding to form a container, the preform base of a central part having a first, downwardly and radially inwardly tapering portion therebetween which increases in thickness from a radially outer end of the first tapering portion adjacent to the hollow transition portion to a radially inner end of the first tapering portion adjacent to the gate part and the middle part opposite the gate part can allow the injected resin to be urged back through the gate at the end of the injection moulding cycle at a lower fluid pressure in the vicinity of the gate which is associated with high resin temperatures. The technical effect achieved by the first tapering portion is that crystallinity in the gate area is minimized or eliminated, which avoids or minimizes partial blocking of the gate which would otherwise restrict the injected resin from being urged back through the gate at the end of the injection moulding cycle.

A preform for a biodegradable container wherein the preform includes from about 40 to about 99 weight percent of a polymer derived from random monomeric repeating units having a structure of

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of CH.sub.3 and a C.sub.3 to C.sub.19 alkyl group, wherein the polymer comprises from about 20 to about 99 wt. % of the preform and wherein the monomeric units wherein R.sup.1═CH.sub.3 comprise 75 to 99 mol percent of the polymer and wherein the preform has a body having a uniform wall thickness throughout the body of the preform. A resin adapted for forming the preform is also disclosed.

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.

Preforms and methods of processing 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) polymers, such as poly(ethylene-2,5-furandicaboxylate (PEF), to produce preforms and articles, such as containers. The present invention also includes preforms with superior processing characteristics and containers, such as PEF beverage bottles, with superior performance properties.

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 container includes a body that at least partially defines a product storage region. The container further includes a neck that extends upwardly from the body and that has an opening that opens into the product storage region to allow filling of the product storage region with contents and discharge of those contents. The container further includes a floor and a heel. Some areas of the container have varying material distribution or wall thickness.

A preform for use in molding a bottle by blow molding includes a tubular sprout portion and a bottomed tubular preform body. The preform has a weight ranging from 82 to 90 g. The maximum wall thickness of the preform body ranges from 4.5 to 5.0 mm. The preform has a total length ranging from 165 to 175 mm.

Preform assembly for blow moulding a container, comprising at least a first and a second perform, wherein the first perform is positioned inside the second perform before blow moulding the performs into the container, wherein each perform has a body forming portion having a wall thickness of less than about 8 millimetres, preferably less than about 6 mm.

A food and/or beverage packaging container comprises a blow-molded body having a length, a diameter and side walls having a wall thickness. A wide mouth neck extends from the body and is trimmed to a finished configuration. The neck has a diameter and a wall thickness. The length, the diameters and the wall thickness' are pre-selected such that the container comprises one or more selected physical performance features. Systems and methods of use are disclosed.

Preform assembly for blow moulding a container, comprising at least a first and a second perform, wherein the first perform is positioned inside the second perform before blow moulding the performs into the container, wherein each perform has a body forming portion having a wall thickness of less than about 8 millimetres, preferably less than about 6 mm.