A container incorporating post-consumer recycled ("PCR") plastic and a method of making that type of container. The container utilizes a layer of polypropylene or EVOH or a film of fluorinated polyethylene toward the interior from the recycled plastic to prevent contaminants from the latter entering the container's contents. When utilizing EVOH, the container usually has an additional layer of polyethylene or polypropylene covering the EVOH to prevent its deterioration by moisture. Making the container involves first composing a resin including the recycled plastic. Forming the various layers listed above produces a container that includes recycled plastic and a barrier to limit the migration of contaminants f from the recycled material to the container's contents. This permits the use of the resulting containers for food. For a fluorinated polyethylene film, fluorination can occur either during or after the container's formation.
A preform and a blow molded container formed therefrom and having plural cavities or compartments for providing enhanced properties including vacuum containers for hot and cold product, or barrier materials including gases or layered material, improved creep resistance, use of lower cost and/or recycled materials, increased wall strength and aerosol properties.
A plastic lined metallic liquid soap dispenser (20) is formed consisting of a hollow metallic bottle (22) having a threaded neck, (24) and a plurality of separate metallic parts such as a bottom (26). A discrete plastic insert (38) is disposed within the hollow of the bottle (22), for isolating the metallic bottle from liquid soap stored within the dispenser to preclude a chemical reaction and/or contamination thereof if the metallic bottle is in intimate contact with liquid soap or the like. Connection means, in the form of threads or the like, join the bottle separate parts together around the plastic insert. Bottle access and closure means, including a hand pump (44), are attached to the threaded neck permitting the liquid within the plastic insert to be easily dispensed and to enclose the liquid for storage when not required for use.
A high strength polymeric injection molded running board for an automotive vehicle is provided including a longitudinal base portion with an upper first surface and a lower second surface opposite the first surface, the upper surface supporting a foot of a vehicle occupant entering or exiting the vehicle. The running board also includes grip ridges integrally molded with the base portion on the first surface to increase the frictional interface between the first surface and the foot of the vehicle occupant entering or exiting the vehicle. The grip ridges have a crown region and an incline portion connecting the crown region with the first surface. The running board also includes reinforcing ribs for strengthening the base portion, the ribs extend from the base portion second surface and are joined to the second surface generally opposite the incline portion of the grip ridges.
A blow molded multi-layer container is provided having an upper wall portion, including an opening; an intermediate sidewall portion positioned beneath the upper wall portion; and a base portion positioned beneath the intermediate sidewall portion, the base portion being adapted to dependently or independently support the container. The container includes (i) a molded inner layer formed from a plastic material, the inner layer having a vertical length and a carbon-treated inner surface; and (ii) a molded outer layer formed from recycled plastic that is substantially coextensive with the inner layer. The recycled outer layer comprises at least 40% by weight of the overall weight of the container, but can comprise more than 90% by weight, depending upon the needs of the application. In a preferred embodiment, the thickness of the inner and/or outer layers is controllably adjusted along their respective vertical lengths. If functionally desirable, the inner layer and/or outer layer may also include additional barrier materials and/or oxygen scavenging/reacting materials.
Preferred embodiments relate to methods and apparatus for making articles made of polyester, preferably virgin polyethylene terephthalate (PET), having coated directly to at least one of the surfaces thereof one or more layers of recycled or post-consumer PET and one or more layers of a material with good gas-barrier characteristics, preferably silicon oxide. Preferably, the recycled PET layer comprises about 25% to about 50% of the entire material content. Preferably the articles take the form of preforms and the containers are blow-molded therefrom and the barrier layer is subsequently applied. The preferred barrier materials have a lower permeability to oxygen and carbon dioxide than PET. In addition, the neck of the preforms and bottles is at least partially in the crystalline state and the body is primarily in the amorphous or semi-crystalline state. This structure in a preform enables the preform to be easily blow molded by virtue of the amorphous material in the body, while being able to have dimensional stability in hot-fill applications.
