Preform extended finish for processing light weight ecologically beneficial bottles

Abstract

An injection-molded preform for forming an 8 ounce PET container includes a neck portion configured to engage a closure and having a first wall thickness and an elongated body portion having an upper segment adjacent the neck portion and a lower segment adjacent an end cap. The upper segment has a second wall thickness substantially similar to the first wall thickness. The lower segment has a third wall thickness greater than the second wall thickness. The preform has a total weight less than 7 grams.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . An injection-molded preform for forming an 8 ounce PET container, the preform comprising:
 a neck portion configured to engage a closure, the neck portion having a first wall thickness; and   an elongated body portion having an upper segment adjacent the neck portion and a lower segment adjacent an end cap, the upper segment having a second wall thickness substantially similar to the first wall thickness, the lower segment having a third wall thickness greater than the second wall thickness,   wherein the preform has a total weight less than 7 grams.   
     
     
         23 . The injection-molded preform of  claim 22 , wherein the upper segment has an upper axial length and the lower segment has a lower axial length longer than the upper axial length. 
     
     
         24 . The injection-molded preform of  claim 22 , further including a tapered portion presenting a smooth transition from a diameter of the neck portion to a smaller diameter of the elongated body portion. 
     
     
         25 . The injection-molded preform of  claim 22 , further including one or more exterior columns disposed around the perimeter of the neck portion and aligned parallel to a longitudinal axis of the preform. 
     
     
         26 . The injection-molded preform of  claim 22 , further including one or more internal columns disposed within an opening of the neck portion and aligned parallel to a longitudinal axis of the preform. 
     
     
         27 . The injection-molded preform of  claim 22 , wherein the second wall thickness is about 10% to about 40% of the third wall thickness. 
     
     
         28 . The injection-molded preform of  claim 22 , wherein the first wall thickness is less than 0.7 mm, the second wall thickness is less than 0.8 mm, and the third wall thickness is less than 2 mm. 
     
     
         29 . An injection-molded preform for forming a  16 . 9  ounce PET container, the preform comprising:
 a neck portion configured to engage a closure, the neck portion having a first wall thickness; and 
 an elongated body portion having an upper segment adjacent the neck portion and a lower segment adjacent an end cap, the upper segment having a second wall thickness substantially similar to the first wall thickness, the lower segment having a third wall thickness greater than the second wall thickness, 
 wherein the preform has a total weight less than 8.5 grams. 
 
     
     
         30 . The injection-molded preform of  claim 29 , wherein the neck portion comprises one or more threads configured to rotatably engage with threads disposed within a cap. 
     
     
         31 . The injection-molded preform of  claim 30 , further including one or more exterior columns disposed around the perimeter of the neck portion and aligned parallel to a longitudinal axis of the preform. 
     
     
         32 . The injection molded-preform of  claim 31 , wherein the one or more exterior columns span between two threads of the one or more threads. 
     
     
         33 . The injection-molded preform of  claim 31 , wherein the one or more exterior columns comprise at least two columns forming a thicker portion of the neck portion. 
     
     
         34 . The injection-molded preform of  claim 29 , wherein the neck portion includes a bevel disposed at an opening of the neck portion and configured to enter into sliding contact with a sealing flange of a cap. 
     
     
         35 . The injection-molded preform of  claim 29 , wherein the first wall thickness is less than 0.7 mm, the second wall thickness is less than 1 mm, and the third wall thickness is less than 2.4 mm. 
     
     
         36 . An injection-molded preform suitable to form a 33.8 ounce container, the preform comprising:
 a neck portion configured to engage a closure, the neck portion having a first wall thickness; and   an elongated body portion having an upper segment adjacent the neck portion and a lower segment adjacent an end cap, the upper segment having a second wall thickness substantially similar to the first wall thickness, the lower segment having a third wall thickness greater than the second wall thickness,   wherein the preform has a total weight less than 18.3 grams.   
     
     
         37 . The injection-molded preform of  claim 36 , further including one or more internal columns disposed within an opening of the neck portion and aligned parallel to a longitudinal axis of the preform. 
     
     
         38 . The injection-molded preform of  claim 37 , further including one or more exterior columns disposed around the perimeter of the neck portion and aligned parallel to a longitudinal axis of the preform. 
     
     
         39 . The injection-molded preform of  claim 38 , wherein the one or more external columns are positioned around the perimeter of the neck portion to coincide with the position of the one or more internal columns. 
     
     
         40 . The injection-molded preform of  claim 38 , wherein the one or more internal columns are positioned circumferentially in an alternating arrangement with the one or more external columns. 
     
     
         41 . The injection-molded preform of  claim 36 , wherein the first wall thickness is less than 0.75 mm, the second wall thickness is less than 1 mm, and the third wall thickness is less than 2.6 mm.