Method of molding a container with surface markings and container

Abstract

A method of forming a container (1) and a container (1) formed thereby. A preform (2) having a generally cylindrical body (60, 8) extending between a closed end (12) and an open mouth is placed in a mold (20, 22) having a surface corresponding in shape to the desired container (1). An incompressible medium (1) is injected under pressure into the preform (2), the incompressible medium being the end product that is to be retained in the molded container. The preform (2) is caused to expand under the influence of the incompressible medium to contact the surface defining the cavity and simultaneously form and fill the container (1). During expansion of the preform (2), portions of the plastic material are forced into a series of recesses (72) defined in the cavity surface (82, 85). The container (1) is removed from the mold (20, 22) with the incompressible medium contained therein and includes a series of protuberances corresponding to the series of recesses (72) defined in the cavity surface (82, 85). A method of forming a container (1) and a container (1) formed thereby. A preform (2) having a generally cylindrical body (60, 8) extending between a closed end (12) and an open mouth is placed in a mold (20, 22) having a surface corresponding in shape to the desired container (1). An incompressible medium (1) is injected under pressure into the preform (2), the incompressible medium being the end product that is to be retained in the molded container. The preform (2) is caused to expand under the influence of the incompressible medium to contact the surface defining the cavity and simultaneously form and fill the container (1). During expansion of the preform (2), portions of the plastic material are forced into a series of recesses (72) defined in the cavity surface (82, 85). The container (1) is removed from the mold (20, 22) with the incompressible medium contained therein and includes a series of protuberances corresponding to the series of recesses (72) defined in the cavity surface (82, 85).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a molded container, and more particularly to a molded container having haptic lettering or other indicia molded into various portions of the container. BACKGROUND

[0002] Plastic containers for liquids are manufactured by a variety of different methods. In most methods, a plastic preform is heated to an appropriate temperature for molding, placed within a mold, and then axially and radially expanded to form a container. In some processes, air is used as a blow medium to expand the preform.

[0003] The shoulder, sidewall, and base of such containers are typically molded to exhibit a design / indicia that can be visually perceived by an end user. In some cases, the design / indicia is an aesthetically pleasing pattern to provide uniqueness to the container. In other cases, the design / indicia can be a logo or trademark.

[0004] While the level of detail that can be molded into such a container is acceptable for exhibiting large, unique patterns and large logos, the level of detail is not acceptable for exhibiting smaller patterns and logos, and especially for exhibiting smaller, readable letters or haptic lettering (e.g., Braille) that can want to identify the contents of the container or provide other information to the end user. Currently, such information is provided in printed or embossed form on a label of the container, not on the container itself.

[0005] In the field known as hydraulic blow molding, or sometimes as liquid blow molding or hydraulic forming, it is known to inject a liquid under pressure into a preform that has been placed in a mold to shape the container according to the cavity shape of the mold and simultaneously fill the shaped container with the liquid. Advantageously, the liquid that is injected is the end product that is retained in the container, i.e., the product that is intended to be provided to the consumer using the container.

[0006] Hydraulic blow molding has several advantages over conventional air blow molding techniques. In the latter technique, a preform is formed into a container by first injecting a compressed gas, such as pressurized air, into the preform. The formed container is then filled with the end product, either directly by an adjacent filling machine and filling station or later after the empty container is transported to a filling facility. Obviously, one advantage of hydraulic blow molding is that the end product is filled at the same time that the container is obtained.

[0007] In hydraulic blow molding, since the forming step of the container is not separated from the filling step, it is possible to produce filled containers at a higher rate. Since there is no need to produce compressed gas used in air blow molding, the energy cost of hydraulic blow molding is reduced. In addition, the replacement of compressible air with an incompressible liquid can impart a higher pressure to the preform. This pressure allows to obtain containers with very satisfactory shapes, since the walls of the preform are pushed against the walls of the mold in an optimal manner. US 8,573,964 discloses a hydraulic blow molding technique, the whole content of which is incorporated herein by reference. SUMMARY

[0008] In one aspect of the application, there is provided a method of forming a container of plastic material, the method comprising the steps of: providing a preform of plastic material, the preform comprising an open end defined by a mouth, a closed end and a generally cylindrical body extending between the closed end and the mouth; placing the preform within a mold, the mold having a surface defining a cavity corresponding in shape to the container; injecting an incompressible medium into the preform under pressure, the incompressible medium being a retained product in the molded container; expanding the preform under the influence of the incompressible medium in the cavity to contact the surface defining the cavity and simultaneously forming and filling the container; forcing portions of the plastic material into a series of recesses defined in the surface of the cavity during the expansion of the preform, each of the recesses having a common depth; and removing the container containing the incompressible medium therein from the mold, the container comprising a series of protrusions corresponding to the series of recesses defined in the surface of the cavity.

[0009] In another aspect, the recesses are provided in a portion of one of the shoulder or the base of the container defined by the cavity.

[0010] In another aspect, the recesses are provided adjacent to a portion defining a sidewall of the container.

[0011] In another aspect, the recesses and protrusions define a ratio of depth to height of less than 9:1.

[0012] In another aspect, the recesses and protrusions define a ratio of depth to height of less than 3:1.

[0013] In another aspect, the recesses and protrusions define a relief factor of greater than 0.11.

[0014] In another aspect, the recesses and protrusions define a relief factor of greater than 0.3.

[0015] In another aspect, the incompressible medium can be injected at a pressure of less than 40 bar.

[0016] In another aspect, the incompressible medium can be injected at a pressure of less than 36 bar.

[0017] In another aspect, the non-compressible medium can be injected at a pressure in the range of 30 to 35 bar.

[0018] In another aspect, the non-compressible medium can be injected at a peak pressure of less than 40 bar.

[0019] In another aspect, the non-compressible medium can be injected at a peak pressure of less than 36 bar.

[0020] In another aspect, the non-compressible medium can be injected at a peak pressure in the range of 30 to 35 bar.

[0021] In another aspect, each of the bumps extends from a surface of the molded container to a nominal height of no less than 0.2 mm, more preferably greater than 0.25 mm, and most preferably greater than 0.258 mm.

[0022] In another aspect, the series of bumps define a haptic lettering feature.

[0023] In another aspect, the series of bumps define a haptic lettering feature, the haptic lettering feature comprising a plurality of equally spaced-apart cells, and each cell comprising a character formed by no more than six bumps.

[0024] In another aspect, each of the bumps has a nominal base diameter in the range of greater than 1.4 mm to less than 1.7 mm.

[0025] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a molded container of plastic material, the molded container comprising: a neck defining an opening into the molded container; a body extending from a finish, and comprising a shoulder proximate the finish, a base defining a closed end of the container, and a sidewall extending between the shoulder and the base; and a series of bumps defining a haptic lettering feature, the haptic lettering feature formed on a surface of the container and defined by the plastic material forming the container.

[0026] In another aspect, the haptic lettering feature is formed on at least one of the shoulder and the base.

[0027] In another aspect, the haptic lettering feature is formed proximate the sidewall on at least one of the shoulder and the base.

[0028] In another aspect, each of the bumps extends from a surface of the molded container to a nominal height of no less than 0.2 mm, more preferably greater than 0.25 mm, and most preferably greater than 0.258 mm.

[0029] In another aspect, each of the bumps extends from a surface of the molded container to a nominal height of between 0.25 mm and 0.6 mm.

[0030] In another aspect, the domes have a nominal base diameter of no more than 1.69 mm.

[0031] In another aspect, each of the domes has a nominal base diameter in a range of 1.4 mm to less than 1.7 mm and extends from a close surface of the molded container to a nominal height in a range of 0.25 mm to less than 0.9 mm.

[0032] In another aspect, the tactile script feature consists of a plurality of equally spaced-apart cells, and each cell includes a character formed by no more than six domes.

[0033] In another aspect, a method of forming a molded container of plastic material is provided, the method comprising the steps of: providing a preform of plastic material; placing the preform within a mold having a cavity surface that defines a cavity that corresponds in shape to a desired shape of the container; injecting an incompressible medium under pressure into the preform, the incompressible medium being a final product that is retained in the molded container; causing the preform to expand under the influence of the incompressible medium in the cavity to contact the cavity surface and simultaneously form and fill the molded container, the molded container having a shape that extends from a neck that defines an opening into the molded container to a base that defines a closed end of the molded container; during the expansion of the preform, forcing portions of the plastic material into recesses in the cavity surface, the recesses forming portions of an embossed texture on a surface of the container; and removing the container from the mold, wherein the embossed texture on the resulting container has a roughness average Sa that is at least 40% greater than a roughness average Sa of a corresponding embossed texture of a container molded in the same mold using pressurized air.

[0034] In another aspect, a molded container of plastic material is provided, the container comprising: a neck that defines an opening into the molded container; a body that extends from the neck and includes a base that defines a closed end of the molded container; an embossed texture formed on a surface of the plastic container and defined by the plastic material that forms the molded container, wherein the embossed texture has a roughness average Sa that is at least 40% greater than a roughness average Sa of a corresponding embossed texture of a container molded in the same mold using pressurized air.

[0035] In another aspect, the present invention provides a molded container of plastic material, the container having: a neck that defines an opening into the molded container; a body that extends from the neck and includes a base that defines a closed end of the molded container; a tactile script formed on a surface of the plastic container and defined by the plastic material that forms the molded container, the tactile script consisting of a plurality of equally spaced-apart cells, and each cell including a character formed by no more than six domes, wherein each of the domes has a nominal base diameter of no more than 0.063 inches and has a nominal height that extends from a close surface of the molded container to no more than 0.037 inches.

[0036] In another aspect, each of the bumps has a nominal base diameter no greater than 0.057 inches and extends from a close surface of the molded container to a nominal height no greater than 0.019 inches.

[0037] In another aspect of the application, there is provided a method of forming a molded container of plastic material, the method comprising the steps of: providing a preform of plastic material; placing the preform within a mold having a cavity surface defining a cavity corresponding in shape to a desired shape of the container; injecting an incompressible medium under pressure into the preform, the incompressible medium being a final product to be held in the molded container; expanding the preform under the influence of the incompressible medium in the cavity to contact the cavity surface and simultaneously forming and filling the molded container having a shape extending from a neck defining an opening into the molded container to a base defining a closed end of the molded container; during the expansion of the preform, forcing portions of the plastic material into recesses in the cavity surface and forming portions of a tactile lettering impression, the tactile lettering impression consisting of a plurality of equidistant cells, and each cell defining a character formed by six or fewer recesses, wherein each of the recesses has a nominal base diameter no more than 10% greater than 0.063 inches and a nominal depth recessed from a close surface of the cavity surface no more than 10% greater than 0.037 inches; and removing the molded container having the incompressible medium contained therein from the mold.

[0038] In another aspect, the method comprises expanding the preform, forcing the plastic material into the recesses, and each of the recesses has a nominal base diameter no more than 10% greater than 0.057 inches and a nominal depth recessed from a close surface of the cavity surface no more than 10% greater than 0.019 inches.

[0039] In another aspect of the application, there is provided a molded container of plastic material, the container having: a neck defining an opening into the molded container; a body extending from the neck and including a base defining a closed end of the molded container; an embossed feature (design / lettering) formed on a surface of the plastic container and defined by the plastic material forming the molded container, wherein an average surface height profile of the embossed feature is no less than 80%, preferably no less than 85% of a depth of a corresponding recessed feature defining the embossed feature and disposed in a mold in which the container is formed.

[0040] In another aspect of the application, there is provided a method of forming a molded container of plastic material, the method comprising the steps of: providing a preform of plastic material; placing the preform within a mold having a cavity surface defining a cavity corresponding in shape to a desired shape of the container; injecting an incompressible medium under pressure into the preform, the incompressible medium being a final product to be held in the molded container; expanding the preform under the influence of the incompressible medium in the cavity to contact the cavity surface and simultaneously forming and filling the molded container having a shape extending from a neck portion defining an opening into the molded piece to a base portion defining a closed end of the molded container; during the expansion of the preform, forcing portions of the plastic material into recesses in the cavity surface and forming portions of embossed features (designs / markings), the embossed features BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0041] Other aspects and advantages of the present application will appear from the following description, given by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0042] Figure 1 is a schematic view of a machine for producing containers from preforms according to the principles of the present application;

[0043] Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of a forming station at an initial stage of forming a container;

[0044] Figure 3 and Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of a forming station at a subsequent stage of forming a container;

[0045] Figure 5 and Figure 6 is a side view of a container formed according to the principles of the present application;

[0046] Figure 7 is a magnified cross-sectional view of a Braille dot on a container wall and a corresponding recess in the mold;

[0047] Figure 8A , Figure 8B and Figure 8C are front, left and right views of a container formed according to the principles of the present application, with various markings formed therein and shown at positions 1 to 6 analyzed herein;

[0048] Figure 9A and Figure 9B are two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) images taken at position 1 on an air blown container, respectively;

[0049] Figure 10A and Figure 10BTwo-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) images taken at position 1 on the liquid blown container, respectively;

[0050] Figure 11A and Figure 11B Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) images taken at position 2 on the air blown container, respectively;

[0051] Figure 12A and Figure 12B Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) images taken at position 2 on the liquid blown container, respectively;

[0052] Figure 13A and Figure 13B Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) images taken at position 3 on the air blown container, respectively;

[0053] Figure 14A and Figure 14B Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) images taken at position 2 on the liquid blown container, respectively;

[0054] Figure 15A and Figure 15B Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) images taken at position 4 on the air blown container, respectively;

[0055] Figure 16A and Figure 16B Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) images taken at position 4 on the liquid blown container, respectively;

[0056] Figure 17A and Figure 17B Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) images taken at position 5 on the air blown container, respectively;

[0057] Figure 18A and Figure 18B Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) images taken at position 5 on the liquid blown container, respectively;

[0058] Figure 19A and Figure 19B Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) images taken at position 6 on the air blown container, respectively;

[0059] Figure 20A and Figure 20B Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) images taken at position 6 on the liquid blown container, respectively;

[0060] Figure 21Ais a two-dimensional (2D) image of the air-blown container at position 4, and shows the position of the x and y profiles for cross-sectional analysis;

[0061] Figure 21B shows cross-sectional analysis of the x and y profiles at position 4 of the air-blown container;

[0062] Figure 22A is a two-dimensional (2D) image of the liquid-blown container at position 4, and shows the position of the x and y profiles for cross-sectional analysis;

[0063] Figure 22B shows cross-sectional analysis of the x and y profiles at position 4 of the liquid-blown container;

[0064] Figure 23A is a two-dimensional (2D) image of the air-blown container at position 5, and shows the position of the x and y profiles for cross-sectional analysis;

[0065] Figure 23B shows cross-sectional analysis of the x and y profiles at position 5 of the air-blown container;

[0066] Figure 24A is a two-dimensional (2D) image of the liquid-blown container at position 5, and shows the position of the x and y profiles for cross-sectional analysis;

[0067] Figure 24B shows cross-sectional analysis of the x and y profiles at position 5 of the liquid-blown container;

[0068] Figure 25A is a two-dimensional (2D) image of the air-blown container at position 6, and shows the position of the x and y profiles for cross-sectional analysis;

[0069] Figure 25B shows cross-sectional analysis of the x and y profiles at position 6 of the air-blown container;

[0070] Figure 26A is a two-dimensional (2D) image of the liquid-blown container at position 6, and shows the position of the x and y profiles for cross-sectional analysis; and

[0071] Figure 26B shows cross-sectional analysis of the x and y profiles at position 6 of the liquid-blown container. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0072] In the following description, the terms "upper" and "lower" are defined with respect to an axis A, which corresponds to the axis of the preform and of the container to be manufactured, and which extends generally vertically when the container is placed with its base. The terms "upstream" and "downstream" are relative to the preform and to the container in the direction of the axis A, respectively upstream and downstream. Figure 1The direction of circulation in the illustrated machine is defined. The term "liquid" has a physical meaning and includes any flowable incompressible medium.

[0073] Reference is now made to Figure 1 wherein a machine or apparatus for forming and filling containers 1 from preforms 2 is generally illustrated. In the machine, a forming and filling station 4 receives preforms 2 and outputs formed and filled containers 1. For simplicity and brevity, the term "forming and filling station 4" is hereinafter referred to simply as "forming station 4".

[0074] The machine is arranged so that it receives successive preforms 2, each made of a thermoplastic material. The thermoplastic material is for example selected from: polyesters, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyethylene imine (PEI), polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT), polylactic acid (PLA), polyethylene furanoate (PEF); or polyolefins, such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE) or high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP); or styrenic materials, such as polystyrene (PS); or other polymers, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC); or mixtures of these materials.

[0075] Each preform 2 has the general shape of a test tube. More specifically, each preform 2 comprises a main body 8 having a tubular or cylindrical shape extending along an axis A. The preform 2 is formed with an open end 10 at one end and with a closed end 12 at the other end. The open end 10 can be provided with the final shape of the neck or finish 14 of the container, meaning that the shape of the finish 14 is not changed during the container forming process. The finish 14 defines an internal opening 16 extending along the longitudinal axis A and is delimited by a wall provided externally with threads to allow the container 1 to receive a corresponding threaded cap (not shown). Alternatively, the threads can be omitted and the finish 14 closed and sealed by other known methods. The closed end 12 has for example a semi-spherical shape. The above-mentioned shapes are given as non-limiting examples and other shapes can be foreseen. In addition, the preforms can be provided in continuous extrusion form rather than in injection-moulded form as described above. When provided in extrusion form, the preforms are typically provided as continuous tubes or cylinders without threads.

[0076] When provided in injection-moulded form, the preforms 2 can be produced at a location remote from the forming machine. In this case, the preforms 2 are formed, stored and transported from the manufacturing location to the location of the forming machine 4.

[0077] In the following description, the term "preform" is used to refer to the preform in its initial shape as well as during the forming process and its transformation into a container. The term "container" is used to refer to the preform completely or substantially completely transformed and moulded. The "container" is thus the final product discharged from the machine.

[0078] As seen in Figure 1 the preforms 2 are sequentially loaded into the machine and transferred to a heating station 3. The heating station 3 is conventional and will not be described in further detail herein. The heating station 3 is arranged to heat each of the successive preforms 2 to a temperature between the glass transition temperature and the crystalline material temperature of the thermoplastic material of the preform 2. As a result, the preform 2 enters a ductile state in which the preform is able to deform under the influence of an increased pressure inside the heated preform 2. Alternatively, the preforms 2 can be injection molded in the same location as the forming machine, so that the injection molded preforms still absorb heat from the injection molding process and are directly transferred to the inlet of the forming machine. This allows to reduce the energy required to heat the preforms 2 prior to the forming step.

[0079] Each heated preform 2 is then transferred by a transfer wheel 18 to a forming station 4. The transfer wheel 18 comprises a placement mechanism arranged to receive a preform and then position the preform in the forming station 4. The transfer wheel 18 and the placement mechanism are conventional and will therefore not be discussed or described further herein.

[0080] The forming station 4 is preferably carried by a forming wheel 20 rotating about an axis B, which can be parallel to the axis A. The number of forming stations 4 on the transfer wheel 20 is for illustrative purposes only. The actual number of forming stations 4 on the forming wheel 20 will depend on the specific design of the forming wheel 20 and the machine. The forming and filling steps subsequently described are carried out in the forming stations 4 during rotation of the forming stations 4 with the forming wheel 20. By rotating in this way, the forming stations 4 allow to simultaneously form and fill a plurality of preforms 2.

[0081] Each forming station 4 comprises a mold 22 and an injection head 24. The mold 22 receives the preform 2 and the injection head 24 is arranged to inject a forming liquid into the heated preform 2 in the mold 22, as shown in Figures 2 to 4 . Such a forming station 4 is conventional for a hydraulic blow molding process.

[0082] As previously mentioned, hydraulic blow molding is a process that uses a pressurized liquid injected inside the preform 2 to deform the preform 2 into a container 1 and simultaneously fill the container 1, when the preform 2 is inside the mold 22. The shape of the container 1 is defined by the inner surface of a mold cavity 26 of the forming mold 22. Advantageously, the injected liquid or molding medium is the end product contained within the container 1, i.e. the end product intended to be provided to the consumer using the container 1.

[0083] Hydraulic blow molding technology has several advantages compared to conventional air blow molding technology, wherein the container 1 is first formed by injecting a compressed gas, for example pressurized air, in the preform 2. One of these advantages is that the container 1 is obtained while filling the end product. Another advantage is that, since the forming step of the container 1 is not separated from the filling step, the filled containers 1 can be produced at a higher rate. Since there is no need to produce the compressed gas used in air blow molding, the energy costs of hydraulic blow molding are reduced. With the formation of a liquid, it is also easy to impart a higher pressure to the preform. This pressure allows to obtain a container with a very satisfactory and determined shape, since the walls of the preform 2 are pushed against the walls of the mold 22 in an optimal manner. US-2014 / 0174034 discloses such a hydraulic blow molding technology.

[0084] As mentioned above, the mold 22 defines a mold cavity 26 in the shape of the container 1 to be produced. The mold 22 comprises at least two mold halves which are moved relative to each other between an open position and a closed position. The two mold halves are for example hinged together and are movable in rotational motion relative to each other about an axis substantially parallel to the axis A of the preform 2. Each mold half of the mold 22 comprises a body which defines a hollow recess in the shape of half of the container 1 to be formed. According to a non-limiting example, the hollow recess of one mold half is generally semi-cylindrical and is closed at its lower end by a bottom surface having a semi-circular shape. At the upper end of the hollow recess, the recess terminates in a conical shoulder defining portion followed by a semi-cylindrical which is substantially complementary to the shape of the main body 8 of the preform 2 to retain the preform 2 in the mold 22. The hollow recess of the other mold half of the mold 22 is symmetrical to the above-mentioned hollow recess. In the open position, the mold halves of the mold 22 are separated from each other so that the preform 2 can be introduced between the two mold halves. In the closed position, the two mold halves abut against each other to form a closed mold 22 so that the hollow recesses face each other and together define a mold cavity 26 having the shape of the container 1 to be formed. The mold 22 can have more than two parts. For example, a third part having the shape of the bottom of the container 1 can be provided to define the mold cavity 26, wherein the two mold halves only define the shape of the main body of the container 1.

[0085] The transfer wheel 18 is arranged to move each preform 2 into the mold 22 which is in the open position at the inlet position 27 of the forming wheel 20. Once the preform 2 is placed between the open mold halves of the mold 22, the mold 22 is moved to its closed position and rotates the preform 2 together with the forming wheel 20, the mold 22. The mold cavity 26 is hermetically closed by the preform 2 when the preform is placed in the mold 22. The terminal portion 14 of the preform 2 protrudes from the mold 22 so that its internal opening 16 remains accessible from the outside of the mold 22, as shown in Figure 2

[0086] ​An injection head 24 that injects pressurized incompressible liquid into the preform 2 will now be described. The injection head 24 described herein and shown in the figures is an example of an injection device that can be used in a hydraulic blow molding process, and it should be understood that other kinds of injection devices can be used with the processes described herein to form the container 1.

[0087] The injection head 24 includes an inlet 28, an outlet 30, and a chamber 32 between the inlet 28 and the outlet 30 that places the inlet 28 in fluid communication with the outlet 30. The inlet 28 is in fluid communication with a source 34 of incompressible molding liquid (e.g., a water tank) via appropriate conduits and a pressurizing mechanism 36 adapted to deliver the liquid from the source 34 to the inlet 28 at a controllable predetermined pressure. According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the pressurizing mechanism 36 is a pump. Alternatively, the pressurizing mechanism 36 can also be formed by a conventional piston or other appropriate device to allow control of the pressure of the liquid injected into the preform. According to one embodiment, the pressure applied by the pressurizing mechanism 36 is variable so that the liquid can be injected into the preform 2 at different pressures. Figure 2

[0088] The source 34 of molding liquid is a source of liquid 35 intended as the final product or as a component of the final product in the container 1. As used herein, the term "liquid" is intended to encompass non-gaseous flowable media. The liquid 35 can thus have a low viscosity (such as water or alcohol), a medium viscosity (such as cooking oil or soup), or a high viscosity (such as ketchup or yogurt). The liquid 35 can also be homogeneous or non-homogeneous, and is not limited to food products. Non-limiting illustrative examples of liquids that can be used with the present invention include cleaning products (for body, house, or car care), medical fluids, industrial fluids, automotive fluids, and agricultural fluids.

[0089] The outlet 30 of the injection head 24 is adapted to be in fluid communication with the opening 16 formed by the termination 14 of the preform 2 and thus with the interior volume of the preform 2 in a liquid-tight manner. By liquid-tight fluid communication, it is meant that the liquid 35 flows only in the interior volume of the preform 2 and not outside the preform 2 when the outlet 30 is in fluid communication with the interior volume of the preform 2.

[0090] The outlet 30 is defined by an end of an injection nozzle 38 and is in fluid communication with the chamber 32. The injection nozzle 38 is movable within a housing 40 of the injection head 24 along an axis A between a retracted position (see FIG. 2) and an extended or active position (see FIG. 3). Figure 2 Figure 3 4 ​​​) between a retracted position and an extended position. In the retracted position, the injection nozzle 38 is sufficiently spaced apart from the mold 22 to allow positioning of the preform 2 in the mold 22 or for retrieval of a formed container 1 from the mold 22. In the extended position, the end of the injection nozzle 38 is preferably in fluid-tight engagement with a top sealing surface defining an end face of the finish 4 of the preform 2.

[0091] The chamber 32 of the injection nozzle 38 defines a hollow space having, in one example, a regular cylindrical portion and a conical portion extending between the regular cylindrical portion and the outlet 30 of the injection nozzle 38. The diameter of the conical portion gradually decreases from the diameter of the regular cylindrical portion to the diameter of the outlet 30, which is located at the end of the conical portion.

[0092] The housing 40 further comprises a first upper compartment 42 arranged to receive actuation means 44 for moving the injection nozzle 38. In one example, the actuation means 44 are pneumatic actuation means comprising a piston attached to the injection nozzle 38 and dividing the first upper compartment 42 into an upper portion and a lower portion in a fluid-tight manner. To move the injection nozzle 38 between its retracted position and its extended position, pressurized air is injected in the upper portion of the first upper compartment 42 to increase the pressure in the upper portion and cause the piston and the injection nozzle 38 to move downward, thereby decreasing the volume of the lower portion. Conversely, to move the injection nozzle 38 between its extended position and its retracted position, pressurized air is injected in the lower portion of the first upper compartment 42 to increase the pressure in the lower portion and cause the piston and the injection nozzle 38 to move upward. To regulate these movements, the respective decrease of the pressure / volume of the lower portion and the upper portion of the first upper compartment 42 is controlled, rather than simply being left open to the atmosphere.

[0093] A hollow control rod 46 also extends in the chamber 34 along the axis A. The control rod 46 is provided, at its lower end, with a sealing ring or head 48 located in the chamber 32. The sealing ring 48 has a shape complementary to that of a portion of the conical portion of the injection nozzle 38 forming a sealing seat, such that when the sealing ring 48 abuts against the sealing seat, the sealing ring 48 and the sealing seat fluid-tightly close the chamber 32 and prevent the liquid 35 from flowing through the outlet 30.

[0094] The control rod 46 is translatable along the axis A between an injection position, in which the sealing ring 48 is spaced apart from the sealing seat putting the outlet 30 in fluid communication with the inlet 28 via the chamber 32, and a sealing position, in which the sealing ring 48 abuts against the sealing seat of the conical portion of the injection nozzle 34. Figure 3 The control rod 46 is translatable along the axis A between an injection position, in which the sealing ring 48 is spaced apart from the sealing seat putting the outlet 30 in fluid communication with the inlet 28 via the chamber 32, and a sealing position, in which the sealing ring 48 abuts against the sealing seat of the conical portion of the injection nozzle 34. Figure 2 and Figure 4 The control rod 46 is translatable along the axis A between an injection position, in which the sealing ring 48 is spaced apart from the sealing seat putting the outlet 30 in fluid communication with the inlet 28 via the chamber 32, and a sealing position, in which the sealing ring 48 abuts against the sealing seat of the conical portion of the injection nozzle 34.

[0095] The housing 40 further comprises a second upper compartment 50 arranged to receive an actuating device 45 for moving the control rod 46. The actuating device 45 is preferably a pneumatic actuating device, similar to the device discussed above in connection with the first upper compartment 42, and is for example a piston attached to the control rod 46. The actuating device 45 thus operates in the same way as described above, and will therefore not be further described here.

[0096] According to Figures 2 to 4 In the illustrated embodiment, a stretch rod 52 extends through the hollow control rod 46, through the outlet 30 and into the preform 2. The stretch rod 52 contributes to the axial deformation of the preform 2. The stretch rod 52 is translatable along the axis A in the hollow control rod 46 and is actuated by a suitable actuating device 54, for example a servo motor or a magnetic actuating device. The function of the stretch rod 52 is known and will not be described in detail here.

[0097] In order to form and fill the container 1 from the preform 2, once the preform 2 is placed in the mold 22 and the mold is closed, the injection nozzle 38 is moved in its extended position, and the control rod 46 is moved to its injection position. The liquid 35 from the liquid source 34 then flows through the outlet 30 and into the interior volume of the preform 2 at a predetermined pressure which can be about 5 bar. At this pressure, the liquid 35 causes the preform 2, which is in a ductile state, to expand towards the various walls of the mold cavity 26, as illustrated in Figure 3 As is known, this expansion can be assisted in the axial direction by extending the stretch rod 52. In order to completely push the walls of the preform against the walls of the mold cavity 26, a pressure peak is exerted on the liquid 35 within the now formed container 2, such that the pressure within the preform increases to for example about 35 bar, is maintained for about 0.010 seconds, and then decreases to about 15 bar. Such a pressure peak allows designs, letters and logos to be imprinted on the outer surface of the container wall, and according to the present invention, allows haptic writing, for example Braille (a touch-reading system for the blind) to be imprinted. So far, it has not been possible to form Braille dots in plastic containers which comply with the Braille standard.

[0098] In Braille, the dots are evenly spaced in a quadrilateral character / letter space, which also has a fixed width. Each character space is called a cell, and can contain a maximum of six dots in an array of two dots wide and three dots high. By various arrangements of the dots in the cell, 63 different characters can be formed. The characters are provided in such a way that the dots are distinguishable from the background, and can be perceived by touching with the fingertips.

[0099] According to the present invention, a container 1 is provided having Braille dots 58 that conform to Braille standards. The Braille dots 58 are disposed on and formed by the surface of the container 1, rather than being disposed on a label attached to the container. In a preferred embodiment, the Braille dots 58 conform to the standards set forth in American National Standards Institute (ANSI), International Building Code, ANSI 703.4. Thus, the Braille dots 58 disposed on and formed by the surface of the container 1 meet the requirements of Table 1.

[0100] Table 1

[0101]

[0102] More preferably, the Braille dots 58 conform to the standards set forth in the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, in Specification 800, Section 3.2, "Braille Books and Manuals." Thus, the Braille dots 58 disposed on and formed by the surface of the container 1 meet the requirements of Table 2.

[0103] Table 2

[0104]

[0105] As shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6 , the container 1 is generally formed with the previously mentioned termination 14 from which a body 60 of the container 1 extends. The body 60 can be further delineated as including a shoulder 62, a sidewall 64, and a base 66 beginning at the termination 14. Between these portions, the body 60 can include various transitions, such as concave portions, ribbed portions, or tapered stages. Each of these portions can also have a shape or features other than those shown in the figures. For example, the shoulder 62 is shown as a convex dome, but can be concave, conical, or a combination of shapes. The sidewall, shown as a smooth cylinder, can be formed in other ways and / or can include vacuum panels, ribs, and other features. The base 66 can include a smooth cylindrical heel 68 having a flat profile as shown or presenting a curved profile.

[0106] In positioning the Braille dots 58 relative to the container 1, as shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6 , the Braille dots 58 are disposed on the lower portion of the shoulder 62 and on the heel 68 of the container 1. In this manner, the Braille dots 58 are disposed in locations that do not interfere with or are not interfered with by labels attached to the container 1 around the cylindrical sidewall of the container 1. Disposing the Braille dots 58 in these locations also allows the container to be held in one hand while allowing the fingers of the user's other hand to read the Braille dots 58. As shown, twelve Braille cells are disposed on each container, six on the shoulder 62 and six on the heel 68. Fewer or more cells can be disposed depending on the text desired. The individual cells are indicated by dashed lines, and the locations of the cells are indicated by the dashed circles.Figure 6 The number of units 70 is typically designated as 70.

[0107] The Braille dots 58 are intended to provide information to an end consumer who can be blind or visually impaired. The information provided can identify the contents of the container, such as "water" or "soap", can identify characteristics of the contents, such as "hazardous", "flammable" or "corrosive", or can provide other information to the consumer, such as quantity, like "128 ounces", or a desired characteristic, like "organic". The information to be provided is limited only by the number of units 70 that can be provided on the container 1.

[0108] As shown in Figure 7 In forming the Braille dots 58, the mold 22 is provided with recesses 72 in the cavity surface 82 that form part of a tactile lettering stamp 84. The tactile lettering stamp 84 is comprised of a plurality of equally spaced units, and each unit defines a respective character formed by six or fewer recesses. Preferably, the recesses 72 in the cavity surface 85 of the mold 22 are the same size and shape as specified above for the Braille dots 58, and more preferably are larger than the size of the desired Braille dots 58 to be formed on the container 1. When the recesses 72 are larger than the Braille dots 58, the recesses 72 preferably have a nominal base diameter (d) and depth (h) (distance to the surrounding cavity surface 86) that is no more than 10% larger than the nominal base diameter (d) and height (h) of the desired Braille dots 58, more preferably 5% larger, and even more preferably about 2% to 4% larger.

[0109] Optionally, the Braille dots 58 can be formed with a vacuum assisted process. More particularly, the recesses 72 can be directly coupled to a vacuum source 74 via a vacuum line 76 that is at least partially provided in the mold 22. As used herein, directly coupled means that the vacuum line 76 provided in the mold 22 terminates in the recess 72 itself, rather than in a surface of the mold 20 that defines the mold cavity 26.

[0110] Once the container 1 is formed and filled with the liquid 35 at the end of the forming step, the lever 46 is moved back to its closed position, as shown in Figure 4 and the injection nozzle 38 is moved back to its retracted position. The mold 22 is then opened, and the formed and filled container 1 is retrieved from the mold 22 at the exit 78 of the forming wheel 20, such as by the second transfer mechanism of the second transfer wheel 80, as shown in Figure 1 The forming station 4 then moves to the entrance 27 of the forming wheel 20, completes one molding cycle, and receives a new preform 2 and produces another container 1.

[0111] As previously mentioned, by providing a plurality of forming and filling stations 4 distributed around the periphery of the forming wheel 20, a continuous container 1 can be produced continuously and simultaneously. As Figure 1As shown in the middle, for illustrative purposes, only eight forming and filling stations 4 are shown. The number of forming and filling stations 4 provided on the forming wheel 20 can be significantly greater than eight and is limited only by the size of the forming wheel 20 and the size of the forming and filling stations 4.

[0112] Comparative samples

[0113] Optical Profilometry (OP) images were analyzed at six different locations on two embossed bottles to characterize the roughness of the features defined at each location. Generally, enhanced roughness indicates features defined with more detail. Two samples were made using the same 58.2 gram preform and mold to produce a container from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) having a 40 ounce target fill capacity (not including overflow capacity) and a 58.2 gram target container weight. In producing the containers, one sample was formed using pressurized air as the blow molding medium and the other sample was formed using an incompressible fluid, i.e., water, as the molding medium. The pressurized air molding process was conducted on a production machine and used the conventional parameters currently used in the production process for making containers of similar size and shape from PET preforms. The peak air blow pressure for this process was 40 bar. The molding process using water as the incompressible molding medium was conducted on a laboratory machine and used parameters that simulated those used in actual production processes for making containers from PET preforms. The peak liquid molding (blow) pressure was 35 bar. As a result, the main difference between the resulting samples was that one used pressurized air as the molding medium (peak pressure of 40 bar) and the other used water as the molding medium (peak pressure of 35 bar). The resulting samples were identified as "air blown" or "liquid blown".

[0114] As described above, the mold 22 used to form the sample has various engravings to simulate various different embossing on the resulting container 1. Blocks 1 through 6 in FIG. 8 identify six locations at which OP images were taken. Locations 1 through 3 are disposed in the sidewall 64 of the container 1, while locations 4 through 6 are disposed in the shoulder 62. Location 1 has a surface texture pattern, etch pattern number 800-003 (Custom Etch, Inc., New Castle, PA), and includes 0.33 mm / 0.013" recesses in the mold to produce a raised pattern on the container. Location 2 has a surface texture pattern, etch pattern number 800-013 (Custom Etch, Inc.), and includes 0.06 mm / 0.0025" recesses in the mold to produce a raised pattern on the container. Location 3 also includes a surface texture pattern, etch pattern number 800-014 (Custom Etch, Inc.), and includes 0.09 mm / 0.0035" recesses in the mold to produce a raised pattern on the container. Locations 4 through 6 include 0.75 mm / 0.03" hemi-spherical recesses in the mold to produce a raised two-dot, three-dot, and three-dot pattern on the container, respectively.

[0115] The OP images were collected using a Contour GT-X8 optical surface profilometer (Bruker Corporation, Tucson, AZ). An image processing procedure involving tilt removal, cylindrical removal, low-pass statistical filtering, and data restoration was employed. In analyzing locations 1 through 3, a 4.0 mm x 4.0 mm area was imaged by automatically stitching together multiple 0.6 mm x 0.4 mm images. In analyzing location 4, a 2.0 mm x 4.3 mm area was imaged, and in analyzing locations 5 and 6, a 4.3 mm x 4.3 mm area was imaged, both also by automatically stitching together multiple 0.6 mm x 0.4 mm images. Top (2D) views of these areas are shown in the figures labeled "A" in FIGS. 9-20, and stereoscopic (3D) views of these areas are shown in the figures labeled "B" in FIGS. 9-20. The topographical differences in these images are given in FIGS. 9-20 (A and B), where purple or dark blue indicates the lowest height regions near the sidewall surface, and red indicates the highest regions relative to the sidewall of the container 1.

[0116] Roughness analysis was performed and the roughness was expressed as: (1) root mean square roughness, S q ; (2) average roughness, S a ; (3) maximum peak height, S p ; (4) maximum valley depth, S v ; (5) maximum height, S z ; (6) skewness of roughness, S sk(7) roughness kurtosis, S ku These roughness analysis parameters are defined as follows:

[0117] Mean (Z avg ): the average of all Z values in the imaged area;

[0118] Root mean square roughness (S q ): the standard deviation of the Z values in the image. It is calculated according to the formula: S q = V{∑(Z i - Z avg ) 2 / N}, where Z avg is the average of the Z values within the image; Z i is the current value of Z; and N is the number of points in the image;

[0119] Roughness average (S a ): the average of the surface relative to the central plane, and is calculated using the formula: S a = (1 / N)∑|Z i |;

[0120] Maximum peak height (S p ): the highest height in the profile relative to the average plane;

[0121] Maximum valley depth (S v ): the lowest height in the profile relative to the average plane;

[0122] Maximum height of profile (S z ): the difference in height between the highest point and the lowest point of the surface relative to the average plane. S z = S p - S v ;

[0123] Roughness skewness (S sk ): a measure of the asymmetry of the probability distribution of the Z values. S sk = [1 / (NS q 3 )]∑(Z i 3 );

[0124] Roughness kurtosis (S ku ): a measure of the peakedness of the probability distribution of the Z values. S ku = [1 / (NS q 4 )]∑(Z i 4 );

[0125] Fastest decaying autocorrelation function (S al) : This optional spatial parameter is defined as the length of the fastest decay of the autocorrelation function at 20% correlation in any direction. S al A high value of this parameter indicates that the surface is dominated by low frequency components;

[0126] Surface texture direction (S td ) : This optional spatial parameter is the angle of the dominant layer of the surface relative to the Y axis. This parameter is determined from the angular power spectral density function; and

[0127] Surface texture aspect ratio (S tr ) : This optional spatial parameter is defined as the ratio of the fastest decay to the slowest decay of the autocorrelation function at 20% correlation. For surfaces with a strong layer, S tr will be close to 0; for surfaces with a uniform texture, S tr will be close to 1.

[0128] Regarding roughness analysis, note that data was acquired using a 20x objective lens. When analysis was performed using a 5x objective lens, rough surfaces resulted in significant missing data when analyzed using the 5x objective lens, as that objective lens has a more limited angular acceptance. The 20x objective lens provided better data quality, but required that approximately 100 images rather than 6 images be stitched together, and the analysis time was much longer than initially expected.

[0129] The estimate uncertainty provided for the roughness values is within ±3% (at approximately 95% confidence using a coverage factor k = 2). Roughness data below 6 nm should be considered “semi-quantitative” unless a separate z-height calibration is performed within this range. “Semi-quantitative” data still allows for comparisons between samples, as the measurement precision is approximately ±10%. (The uncertainty of absolute roughness values is not determined, however.) It should also be noted that the uncertainty estimate provided assumes no variation in roughness between different locations sampled.

[0130] The Contour GT-X8 acquires three-dimensional height information from a surface and stores the data in a digital format. The instrument software can use this height information to perform various statistical analyses from the entire imaged area (e.g., S q , S a , S p , S v , and S z ). Additional roughness statistics, spatial statistics, and volumetric statistics can be calculated for the entire image or a selected portion of the image.

[0131] The results of the roughness analysis are presented in Table 3 below. As noted above, images from the analysis locations of the air blown bottles are provided in FIGS. 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, and 19, while images from the analysis locations of the liquid blown bottles are provided in FIGS. 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20. As summarized and shown by the consistently higher values in Table 3, the locations on the analyzed liquid blown bottles were consistently rougher than the similar locations on the air blown bottles, and thus better formed surface texture.

[0132] Table 3. Roughness Results - Height Parameter

[0133]

[0134] Table 4. Cross Section Analysis Results

[0135]

[0136]

[0137] Cross section analysis was performed to measure the size of the Braille dots / characters in locations 4-6. A profile was created by measuring the height values of the lateral regions (x and y positions shown in the 2D images) of FIGS. 21-26 (“A” labels). The height of these features was determined from the profile by measuring the difference in z height between the two cursors. Similarly, the lateral dimensions were determined by measuring the difference in x or y position. The green and red cursors indicate the measurement and reference positions, respectively. The width (“ΔX”) and height (“ΔZ”) are listed above the graphs. The height and diameter of the Braille dots as measured by the cross section analysis above are summarized in Table 4. As seen in the table, the liquid blown containers have higher dots, which is consistent with the liquid blown containers having higher S z values as shown in Table 3.

[0138] As noted above, in locations 4, 5, and 6, the Braille dots were formed by providing 0.75 mm hemispherical depressions in the mold at the relative locations. Thus, the average height of the Braille dots resulting from the air blown process was 80.06 pm. For the Braille dots formed by the liquid blown process, the average height was 266.34 pm. From these average values, it can be seen that even when utilizing a lower peak pressure (35 bar vs. 40 bar), the resulting liquid blown containers provided Braille dots with an average height that was 3.3 times the average height of the air blown containers.

[0139] The ratio of the depth of the recess to the height of the resulting Braille dot, relative to the recess provided in the mold used to form the Braille dot, is greater than 9:1 for air-blown containers and less than 3:1 for liquid-blown containers. Based on these results, the recess in the mold must be at least three times the depth in order to form Braille dot features of similar height using air as the blow molding medium. It is worth noting that the resulting width of the feature will negate its use in Braille tactile writing systems.

[0140] It can also be done through formula R f =H r / H m Define the embossing factor (R) for the obtained Braille dot features. f ), where H r It is the height of the feature, and H m This is the depth of the relief in the mold used to form the feature. In air-blown containers, the relief factor Rf = 0.11; in liquid-blown containers, the relief factor Rf = 0.35.

[0141] As those skilled in the art will truly understand, the above description is intended as an illustration of at least one embodiment of the principles of the invention. This specification is not intended to limit the scope or application of the invention, as modifications, variations, and alterations can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method of forming a container (1) of plastic material, the method comprising the steps of: providing a preform (2) of the plastic material, the preform (2) comprising an open end (10) defined by a mouth, a closed end (12) and a generally cylindrical body (8) extending between the closed end (12) and the mouth; placing the preform (2) within a mould (22), the mould (22) having a surface defining a cavity (26) in a shape corresponding to the container (1); injecting an incompressible medium into the preform (2) under pressure, the incompressible medium being a final product to be held in the moulded container (1); under the influence of the incompressible medium, causing the preform (2) to expand in the cavity (26) to contact the surface defining the cavity (26) and simultaneously form and fill the container (1); during the expansion of the preform (2), forcing portions of the plastic material into a series of recesses (72) defined in the cavity surface, each of the recesses (72) having the same depth; removing the container (1) having the incompressible medium contained therein from the mold (22), the container (1) comprising a series of protrusions (58) corresponding to the series of recesses (72) defined in the cavity surface, the cavity surface having at least one of a ratio of the depth of the recesses (72) to the height of the protrusions (58) less than 9:1 and a relief factor (Rf) greater than 0.11, wherein the relief factor (Rf) is defined by the formula R f = H r / H m , where H r is the height of the protrusions (58) and H m is the depth of the recesses (72) used to form the recesses (72), wherein each of the protrusions (58) has a nominal base diameter in the range of greater than 1.4 mm to less than 1.7 mm.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the recesses (72) are provided in a portion of the cavity (26) defining one of a shoulder (62) or a base (66) of the container (1).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the recesses are provided adjacent to a portion defining a sidewall (64) of the container (1).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a ratio of the depth of the recesses (72) and the height of the protrusions (58) is less than 3:

1.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the recesses (72) and the bumps (58) define a relief factor (Rf) greater than 0.3, wherein, The relief factor (Rf) is defined by the formula R f = H r / H m , where H r is the height of the bump (58) and H m is the depth of the recess (72) used to form the recess (72).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the incompressible medium is injected at a pressure of less than 40 bar.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the incompressible medium is injected at a pressure of less than 36 bar.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the incompressible medium is injected at a pressure in the range of 30 to 35 bar.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the incompressible medium is injected at a peak pressure of less than 40 bar.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the incompressible medium is injected at a peak pressure of less than 36 bar.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the incompressible medium is injected at a peak pressure in the range of 30 to 35 bar.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the protrusions (58) extends from a surface of the moulded container (1) to a nominal height of no less than 0.2 mm.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the series of protrusions (58) define a tactile lettering feature.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the series of protuberances (58) define a tactile script feature, the tactile script feature consisting of a plurality of equally spaced units, and each unit comprising a character formed by no more than six of the protuberances (58).

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the steps of forcing portions of the plastic material into a series of recesses (72) defined in the cavity surface and removing the container (1) having the incompressible medium contained therein from the mold (22) cumulatively result in the step of generating an embossed texture on the container (1) having a roughness average S a of at least 40% greater than the average roughness S of a corresponding embossed texture of a container molded in the same mold using pressurized air a .

16. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the protuberances (58) extends from a surface of the molded container (1) to a nominal height of greater than 0.25 mm.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the protuberances (58) extends from a surface of the molded container (1) to a nominal height of greater than 0.258 mm.

18. A molded container (1) manufactured by the method of any one of claims 1 to 17, the molded container (1) comprising: a finish (14) defining an opening into the molded container (1); a body (8) extending from the finish (14) and comprising a shoulder (62) proximate the finish (14), a base (66) defining a closed end of the molded container (1), and a sidewall (64) extending between the shoulder (62) and the base (66); and a series of protuberances (58) defining a tactile script feature formed on a surface of the molded container (1) under influence of an incompressible medium and defined by the plastic material forming the molded container (1), wherein each of the protuberances (58) has a nominal base diameter in a range of greater than 1.4 mm to less than 1.7 mm.

19. The molded container (1) of claim 18, wherein the tactile script feature is formed on at least one of the shoulder (62) and the base (66).

20. The molded container (1) of claim 18, wherein the tactile script feature is formed proximate the sidewall (64) on at least one of the shoulder (62) and the base (66).

21. The molded container (1) of claim 18, wherein each of the protuberances (58) extends from a surface of the molded container (1) to a nominal height of no less than 0.2 mm.

22. The molded container (1) of claim 18, wherein each of the protuberances (58) extends from a surface of the molded container (1) to a nominal height of between 0.25 mm and 0.6 mm.

23. The molded container (1) of claim 18, wherein each of the protuberances (58) has a nominal base diameter of no greater than 1.69 mm.

24. The molded container (1) of claim 18, wherein each of the protuberances (58) has a nominal height extending from a surface of the molded container (1) in a range of 0.25 mm to less than 0.9 mm.

25. The molded container (1) of claim 18, wherein the tactile lettering feature comprises a plurality of equally spaced-apart cells, and each cell comprises a character formed by no more than six of the nubs (58).

26. The molded container (1) according to claim 18, wherein an embossed texture is formed on a surface of the molded container (1), the embossed texture having a roughness average S a of at least 40% greater than a corresponding embossed texture of a container molded in the same mold using pressurized air a .

Images