One-piece, continuoulsy blow molded container with rigid fitment

Abstract

A one-piece, blow molded fluoropolymer container, having a thin-walled, flexible bag portion and one or more rigid, thick-walled fitment, wherein the bag and the one or more rigid fitment are formed during the same blow molding process, from a continuous source of fluoropolymer material, to form a complete, one-piece, fully integrated container.

1 . A one-piece blow molded container, comprising:
 a continuously blow molded, thin-walled bag portion formed from a single parison; and   one or more rigid, thick-walled fitment, said one or more fitment being continuously blow molded together with said thin-walled bag portion from the single parison, said one or more fitment being formed during the same blow molding process with which said thin-walled bag portion is formed.   
   
   
       2 . The one-piece blow molded container as described in  claim 1 , wherein the bag portion includes a wall comprised of a flexible fluoropolymer film. 
   
   
       3 . The one-piece blow molded container as described in  claim 2 , wherein the fitment further comprises a neck portion and an orifice. 
   
   
       4 . The one-piece blow molded container as described in  claim 3 , wherein the orifice further comprises an inner diameter surface and an outer diameter surface. 
   
   
       5 . The one-piece blow molded container as described in  claim 4 , wherein the single parison comprises a fluoropolymer. 
   
   
       6 . The one-piece blow molded container as described in  claim 5 , wherein one or more closure portion is formed over each orifice of the one or more rigid, thick-walled fitment during the continuous blow molding process, wherein the one or more closure portion effectively seals each orifice of the one or more rigid, thick-walled fitment during the continuous blow-molding process to generally prevent the introduction of contaminants within the one-piece blow molded container. 
   
   
       7 . The one-piece blow molded container as described in  claim 6 , wherein the closure portion comprises flexible fluoropolymer film from the parison. 
   
   
       8 . The one-piece blow molded container as described in  claim 7 , wherein the closure portion is selectively removed to allow for the filling of the one-piece blow molded container wherein a quantity of selected material is deposited within the orifice and is transmitted to, and retained within, the thin-walled bag portion. 
   
   
       9 . The one-piece blow molded container as described in  claim 8 , wherein the container is formed in the absence of any post-molded welds. 
   
   
       10 . The one-piece blow molded container as described in  claim 9 , wherein the fluoropolymer comprises ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene (E-CTFE). 
   
   
       11 . The one-piece blow molded container as described in  claim 9 , wherein the fluoropolymer comprises perfluoroalkoxy (PFA). 
   
   
       12 . A one-piece blow molded container, comprising:
 a continuously blow molded, thin-walled bag portion formed from a single fluoropolymer parison; and   one or more rigid, thick-walled fitment, said one or more fitment being continuously blow molded together with said thin-walled bag portion from the single parison, said one or more fitment being formed during the same blow molding process with which said thin-walled bag portion is formed, wherein the single fluoropolymer parison is extruded from a blow molding machine wherein a die of a head tooling of the blow molding machine is constructed from a low iron, high nickel content metallic material.   
   
   
       13 . The one-piece blow molded container as described in  claim 12 , wherein the low iron, high nickel content metallic material is selected from the group consisting of Inconel, Hastelloy, Monel and Duranickel and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       14 . The one-piece blow molded container as described in  claim 13 , wherein the fitment further comprises a neck portion and an orifice. 
   
   
       15 . The one-piece blow molded container as described in  claim 14 , wherein the orifice further comprises an inner diameter surface and an outer diameter surface. 
   
   
       16 . The one-piece blow molded container as described in  claim 15 , wherein the single parison comprises a fluoropolymer. 
   
   
       17 . The one-piece blow molded container as described in  claim 16 , wherein one or more closure portion is formed over each orifice of the one or more rigid, thick-walled fitment during the continuous blow molding process, wherein the one or more closure portion effectively seals each orifice of the one or more rigid, thick-walled fitment during the continuous blow molding process to generally prevent the introduction of contaminants within the one-piece blow molded container. 
   
   
       18 . The one-piece blow molded container as described in  claim 17 , wherein the orifice and the neck of the fitment are designed to be adapted with a dispensing device for selectively dispensing a quantity of material stored in the container. 
   
   
       19 . The one-piece blow molded container as described in  claim 18 , wherein the closure portion is selectively removed to allow for the filling of the one-piece blow molded container with a selected material and the dispensing device is thereafter affixed to the fitment. 
   
   
       20 . The one-piece blow molded container as described in  claim 19 , wherein the container is formed in the absence of any post-molded welds. 
   
   
       21 . The one-piece blow molded container as described in  claim 20 , wherein the fluoropolymer comprises ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene (E-CTFE) and the low iron, high nickel content metallic material is Inconel. 
   
   
       22 . The one-piece blow molded container as described in  claim 20 , wherein the fluoropolymer comprises perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) and the low iron, high nickel content metallic material is Inconel. 
   
   
       23 . A fully-integrated, one-piece blow molded container formed from a single fluoropolymer parison, comprising:
 a continuously blow molded, thin-walled bag portion;   one or more rigid, thick-walled fitment, wherein said one or more thick-walled fitment includes a neck and an orifice and said one or more fitment is continuously blow molded from the single fluoropolymer parison together with said thin-walled bag portion, said one or more fitment being formed during the same blow molding process with which said thin-walled bag portion is formed, wherein the single fluoropolymer parison is extruded from a blow molding machine wherein a die of a head tooling of the blow molding machine is constructed from a low iron, high nickel content metallic material: and   one or more closure portion, said one or more closure portion being formed over each orifice of the one or more rigid, thick-walled fitment during the continuous blow molding process, wherein the one or more closure portion effectively seals each orifice of the one or more rigid, thick-walled fitment during the continuous blow-molding process to generally prevent the introduction of contaminants within the one or more fitment and the thin-walled bag.   
   
   
       24 . The fully-integrated, one-piece blow molded container formed from a single fluoropolymer parison as described in  claim 23 , wherein the bag further includes a wall comprised of a flexible fluoropolymer film. 
   
   
       25 . The fully-integrated, one-piece blow molded container formed from a single fluoropolymer parison as described in  claim 24 , wherein the one or more rigid, thick-walled fitment further comprises a thick, rigid fluoropolymer resin. 
   
   
       26 . The fully-integrated, one-piece blow molded container formed from a single fluoropolymer parison as described in  claim 25 , wherein the orifice further comprises an inner diameter surface and an outer diameter surface. 
   
   
       27 . The one-piece blow molded container formed from a single parison as described in  claim 26 , wherein the container is created in the absence of any post-molded welds. 
   
   
       28 . The one-piece blow molded container formed from a single parison as described in  claim 27 , wherein the low iron, high nickel content metallic material is selected from the group consisting of Inconel, Hastelloy, Monel and Duranickel and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       29 . The fully-integrated, one-piece blow molded container formed from a single fluoropolymer parison as described in  claim 28 , wherein the fluoropolymer comprises ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene (E-CTFE). 
   
   
       30 . The fully-integrated, one-piece blow molded container formed from a single fluoropolymer parison as described in  claim 28 , wherein the fluoropolymer comprises perfluoroalkoxy (PFA). 
   
   
       31 . A one-piece blow molded container formed from a single parison in the absence of any post-molded welds, comprising:
 a continuously blow molded, thin-walled bag portion, said thin-walled bag portion further comprising a wall and a bottom portion, wherein said wall comprises a flexible fluoropolymer film and said bottom portion is sealed during the blow molding process wherein a bottom opening of the molten parison is pinch welded closed during the blow molding process;   one or more rigid, thick-walled fitment, wherein said one or more fitment further comprises a rigid fluoropolymer resin, wherein said one or more thick-walled fitment includes a neck and an orifice, wherein said orifice further having an inner diameter surface and an outer diameter surface;   one or more closure portion, said one or more closure portion being formed over the orifice of each of the one or more rigid, thick-walled fitment during the continuous blow molding process, wherein the one or more closure portion effectively seals each orifice of the one or more rigid, thick-walled fitment during the continuous blow molding process to generally prevent the introduction of contaminants within the one or more fitment and the thin-walled bag portion; and   a transition area existing between the thin-walled bag portion and the one or more thick-walled fitment.   
   
   
       32 . The one-piece blow molded container formed from a single parison as described in  claim 31 , wherein the fluoropolymer comprises ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene (E-CTFE). 
   
   
       33 . The one-piece blow molded container as described in  claim 31 , wherein the fluoropolymer comprises perfluoroalkoxy (PFA). 
   
   
       34 . A one-piece blow molded container formed from a single fluoropolymer parison extruded from a blow molding machine wherein a die of a head tooling of the blow molding machine is constructed from a low iron, high nickel metallic material, comprising:
 a continuously blow molded, thin-walled bag portion, said thin-walled bag portion further comprising a wall and a bottom portion, wherein said wall comprises a flexible fluoropolymer film and said bottom portion is sealed during the blow molding process wherein a bottom opening of the molten parison is pinch welded closed during the blow molding process;   one or more rigid, thick-walled fitment, wherein said one or more fitment further comprises a rigid fluoropolymer resin, wherein said one or more thick-walled fitment includes a neck and an orifice, said orifice further having an inner diameter surface and an outer diameter surface;   one or more closure portion, said one or more closure portion being formed over the orifice of each of the one or more rigid, thick-walled fitment during the continuous blow molding process, wherein the one or more closure portion effectively seals each orifice of the one or more rigid, thick-walled fitment during the continuous blow-molding process to generally prevent the introduction of contaminants within the one or more fitment and the thin-walled bag portion; and   a transition area existing between the thin-walled bag portion and the one or more thick-walled fitment.   
   
   
       35 . The one-piece blow molded container formed from a single parison as described in  claim 34 , wherein the low iron, high nickel content metallic material is selected from the group consisting of Inconel, Hastelloy, Monel and Duranickel and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       36 . The one-piece blow molded container formed from a single parison as described in  claim 35 , wherein the fluoropolymer comprises ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene (E-CTFE). 
   
   
       37 . The one-piece blow molded container as described in  claim 35 , wherein the fluoropolymer comprises perfluoroalkoxy (PFA). 
   
   
       38 . A one-piece blow molded container formed from a single parison, comprising:
 a continuously blow molded, thin-walled bag portion, said thin-walled bag portion further comprising a wall and a bottom portion, wherein said wall comprises a flexible fluoropolymer film and said bottom portion is sealed during the blow molding process wherein a bottom opening of the molten parison is pinch welded closed during the blow molding process;   one or more rigid, thick-walled fitment, wherein said one or more fitment further comprises a rigid fluoropolymer resin, wherein said one or more thick-walled fitment includes a neck and an orifice, wherein said orifice further having an inner diameter surface and an outer diameter surface;   one or more closure portion, said one or more closure portion being formed over the orifice of each of the one or more rigid, thick-walled fitment during the continuous blow molding process, wherein the one or more closure portion effectively seals each orifice of the one or more rigid, thick-walled fitment during the continuous blow-molding process to generally prevent the introduction of contaminants within the one or more fitment and the thin-walled bag portion; and   a transition area existing between the thin-walled bag portion and the one or more thick-walled fitment, wherein the single fluoropolymer parison is extruded from a blow molding machine wherein a die of a head tooling of the blow molding machine and all of the metallic wetted pathway of the blow molding machine, through which a molten resin passes, comprises a low iron, high nickel content metallic material.   
   
   
       39 . The one-piece blow molded container formed from a single parison as described in  claim 38 , wherein the low iron, high nickel content metallic material is selected from the group consisting of Inconel, Hastelloy, Monel and Duranickel and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       40 . The one-piece blow molded container formed from a single parison as described in  claim 39 , wherein the fluoropolymer comprises ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene (E-CTFE). 
   
   
       41 . The one-piece blow molded container as described in  claim 39 , wherein the fluoropolymer comprises perfluoroalkoxy (PFA). 
   
   
       42 . A one-piece blow molded container formed from a single parison, comprising:
 a continuously blow molded, thin-walled bag portion, said thin-walled bag portion further comprising a wall and a bottom portion, wherein said wall comprises a flexible fluoropolymer film and said bottom portion is sealed during the blow molding process wherein a bottom opening of the molten parison is pinch welded closed during the blow molding process;   one or more rigid, thick-walled fitment, wherein said one or more fitment further comprises a rigid fluoropolymer resin, wherein said one or more thick-walled fitment includes a neck and an orifice, said orifice further having an inner diameter surface and an outer diameter surface;   one or more closure portion, said one or more closure portion being formed over the orifice of each of the one or more rigid, thick-walled fitment during the continuous blow molding process, wherein the one or more closure portion effectively seals each orifice of the one or more rigid, thick-walled fitment during the continuous blow-molding process to generally prevent the introduction of contaminants within the one or more fitment and the thin-walled bag portion; and   a transition area existing between the thin-walled bag portion and the one or more thick-walled fitment, wherein the single fluoropolymer parison comprises ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene (E-CTFE) and is extruded from a blow molding machine wherein a die of a head tooling of the blow molding machine is constructed from a low iron, high nickel content metallic material and all wetted metallic pathway of the blow molding machine through which a molten resin passes comprises a low iron, high nickel content metallic material.   
   
   
       43 . The one-piece blow molded container formed from a single parison, as described in  claim 42 , wherein the low iron, high nickel content metallic material is selected from the group consisting of Inconel, Hastelloy, Monel and Duranickel and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       44 . The one-piece blow molded container formed from a single parison, as described in  claim 42 , wherein the low iron, high nickel content metallic material is Inconel. 
   
   
       45 . The one-piece blow molded container formed from a single parison, as described in  claim 42 , wherein the low iron content metallic material is Hastelloy. 
   
   
       46 . The one-piece blow molded container formed from a single parison, as described in  claim 42 , wherein the low iron content metallic material is Monel. 
   
   
       47 . The one-piece blow molded container formed from a single parison, as described in  claim 42 , wherein the low iron content metallic material is Duranickel. 
   
   
       48 . A one-piece blow molded container formed from a single parison, comprising:
 a continuously blow molded, thin-walled bag portion, said thin-walled bag portion further comprising a wall and a bottom portion, wherein said wall comprises a flexible fluoropolymer film and said bottom portion is sealed during the blow molding process wherein a bottom opening of the molten parison is pinch welded closed during the blow molding process;   one or more rigid, thick-walled fitment, wherein said one or more fitment further comprises a rigid fluoropolymer resin, wherein said one or more thick-walled fitment includes a neck and an orifice, said orifice further having an inner diameter surface and an outer diameter surface;   one or more closure portion, said one or more closure portion being formed over the orifice of each of the one or more rigid, thick-walled fitment during the continuous blow molding process, wherein the one or more closure portion effectively seals each orifice of the one or more rigid, thick-walled fitment during the continuous blow-molding process to generally prevent the introduction of contaminants within the one or more fitment and the thin-walled bag portion; and   a transition area existing between the thin-walled bag portion and the one or more thick-walled fitment, wherein the single fluoropolymer parison comprises perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) and is extruded from a blow molding machine wherein a die of a head tooling of the blow molding machine and an all metallic wetted pathway through the blow molding machine which a molten resin passes comprises a low iron, high nickel content metallic material.   
   
   
       49 . The one-piece blow molded container formed from a single parison, as described in  claim 48 , wherein the low iron, high nickel content metallic material is selected from the group consisting of Inconel, Hastelloy, Monel and Duranickel and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       50 . The one-piece blow molded container formed from a single parison, as described in  claim 49 , wherein the low iron, high nickel content metallic material is Inconel. 
   
   
       51 . The one-piece blow molded container formed from a single parison, as described in  claim 49 , wherein the low iron, high nickel content metallic material is Hastelloy. 
   
   
       52 . The one-piece blow molded container formed from a single parison, as described in  claim 49 , wherein the low iron, high nickel content metallic material is Monel. 
   
   
       53 . The one-piece blow molded container formed from a single parison, as described in  claim 49 , wherein the low iron, high nickel content metallic material is Duranickel. 
   
   
       54 . A one-piece blow molded container formed from a single parison, comprising:
 a continuously blow molded, thin-walled bag portion, said thin-walled bag portion further comprising a wall and a bottom portion, wherein said wall comprises a flexible fluoropolymer film and said bottom portion is sealed during the blow molding process wherein a bottom opening of the molten parison is pinch welded closed by a pair of mold halves of a blow molding machine during the blow molding process;   one or more rigid, thick-walled fitment, wherein said one or more fitment further comprises a rigid fluoropolymer resin, wherein said one or more thick-walled fitment includes a neck and an orifice, said orifice further having an inner diameter surface and an outer diameter surface;   one or more closure portion, said one or more closure portion being formed over the orifice of each of the one or more rigid, thick-walled fitment during the continuous blow molding process, wherein the one or more closure portion effectively seals each orifice of the one or more rigid, thick-walled fitment during the continuous blow-molding process to generally prevent the introduction of contaminants within the one or more fitment and the thin-walled bag portion; and   a transition area existing between the thin-walled bag portion and the one or more thick-walled fitment, wherein the single fluoropolymer parison is extruded from a blow molding machine wherein a die of a head tooling of the blow molding machine and an all wetted metallic pathway through the blow molding machine which a molten resin passes comprises a low iron, high nickel content metallic material.   
   
   
       55 . The one-piece blow molded container formed from a single parison, as described in  claim 54 , wherein the pair of mold halves are constructed from a material which is selected from the group consisting of Inconel, Hastelloy, Monel and Duranickel and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       56 . The one-piece blow molded container formed from a single parison, as described in  claim 54 , wherein the pair of mold halves are coated with a low iron, high nickel content metallic material. 
   
   
       57 . The one-piece blow molded container formed from a single parison, as described in  claim 54 , wherein the low iron, high nickel content metallic material is Inconel. 
   
   
       58 . The one-piece blow molded container formed from a single parison, as described in  claim 54 , wherein the low iron, high nickel content metallic material is Hastelloy. 
   
   
       59 . The one-piece blow molded container formed from a single parison, as described in  claim 54 , wherein the low iron, high nickel content metallic material is Monel. 
   
   
       60 . The one-piece blow molded container formed from a single parison, as described in  claim 54 , wherein the low iron, high nickel content metallic material is Duranickel. 
   
   
       61 . The one-piece blow molded container formed from a single parison, as described in  claim 56 , wherein the pair of mold halves are coated with the low iron, high nickel content metallic material which is selected from the group consisting of Inconel, Hastelloy, Monel and Duranickel and combinations thereof