Process for producing hollow containers comprising a visible disigned pattern on their surface

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for producing a hollow plastic preform suitable for blow molding a plastic container comprising a visible designed pattern on its surface, and to a plastic container produced thereof. The process of the present invention allows achieving different aesthetics effects on the finished container and may additionally impart those containers with anti-slippery properties and/or pleasant tactile sensation.

1 . A process for producing a hollow plastic preform suitable for being blow molded into a plastic container comprising at least one visible designed pattern on a surface of said container, said process comprising the steps of: 
 a) injection molding a hollow plastic preform having an exterior surface and an interior surface, and    b) forming at least one designed pattern on one or more of said surfaces of said preform,    wherein said at least one designed pattern is formed by a treatment selected from the group consisting of mechanical treatment, chemical treatment, and combinations thereof.    
     
     
         2 . A process according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one designed pattern is formed by mechanically treating said exterior and/or interior surface of said preform.  
     
     
         3 . A process according to  claim 2  wherein said mechanical treatment is selected from the group consisting of carving, milling, grinding, threading, drilling, screw-cutting, pressure-induced imprinting, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         4 . A process according to  claim 3  wherein said mechanical treatment is carving.  
     
     
         5 . A process according to  claim 1  wherein said treatment is performed on at least part of said exterior and/or interior surface of said preform.  
     
     
         6 . A process according to  claim 1  wherein said preform comprises a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyethylene, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         7 . A process according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one designed pattern is selected from the group consisting of parallel lines, crossed-lines, image, commercial logos, geometrical figures, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         8 . A process according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of performing an operation on said perform selected from the group consisting of printing, painting, applying a film patch, coating, labelling, wrapping, sleeving, thermally induced imprinting, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         9 . A hollow plastic preform comprising at least one designed pattern on said exterior and/or said interior surface, said preform being produced by the process according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         10 . A process for producing a plastic container comprising at least one visible designed pattern on the exterior and/or interior surface of said container, said process comprising the steps of: 
 a) injection molding a hollow plastic preform having an exterior surface and an interior surface,    b) forming at least one designed pattern on one or more of said surfaces of said perform, and    c) blow molding said preform into a plastic container having an exterior surface and an interior surface comprising at least one visible designed pattern on said exterior and/or interior surface of said container,    wherein said at least one designed pattern of said perform and/or container is formed by a treatment selected from the group consisting of mechanical treatment, chemical treatment, and combinations thereof.    
     
     
         11 . A process according to  claim 10  wherein said at least one designed pattern is formed by mechanically treating said exterior and/or interior surface of said perform and/or said container.  
     
     
         12 . A process according to  claim 11  wherein said mechanical treatment is selected from the group consisting of carving, milling, grinding, threading, drilling, screw-cutting, pressure-induced imprinting, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         13 . A process according to  claim 12  wherein said mechanical treatment is carving.  
     
     
         14 . A process according to  claim 10  wherein said treatment is performed on at least part of said exterior and/or interior surface of said perform and/or said container.  
     
     
         15 . A process according to  claim 10  wherein said preform comprises a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polypropylene, polyethylene, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         16 . A process according to  claim 10  wherein said at least one designed pattern of said perform and/or said container is selected from the group consisting of parallel lines, crossed-lines, image, commercial logos, geometrical figures, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         17 . A process according to  claim 10 , further comprising the step of performing an operation on said container selected from the group consisting of printing, painting, applying a film patch, coating, labelling, wrapping, sleeving, thermally induced imprinting, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         18 . A plastic container comprising at least one visible designed pattern on its exterior and/or interior surface, said container being produced by the process according to  claim 10.