Appeal No. 1996-4071 Page 2
Application No. 08/292,692
oriented intermediate is blow formed into a forming tube
without plug assist, the intermediate is placed on a male
molding form and heat shrunk onto the surface thereof, and the
thus shaped container is subsequently removed from the male
form. According to appellant, the claimed process allows for
the formation of containers that may be used as food
containers or laboratory beakers with thin, flat bottoms
exhibiting good heat transfer capabilities (specification,
page 8, line 16 through page 9, line 17). Claim 1 is
reproduced below.
1. A method for producing a biaxially oriented, open-
ended container comprising:
forming a biaxially oriented intermediate by blow
forming, without plug assist, into a forming tube a sheet of
unoriented thermoplastic material that is maintained at or
near its orientation temperature, wherein the depth of draw of
said intermediate is sufficient for full orientation of the
sidewalls;
providing means for preventing said thermoplastic
material from sticking to the sides of said forming tube
during the blow forming;
placing said intermediate on a male form of a
predetermined size, shape and texture;
heating said intermediate above the orientation
temperature of said thermoplastic material to heat-shrink said
intermediate onto the surface of said form to create said
container; and
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