Patent ID: 6998091

Claim:
A method of blow-molding a bottle formed with an insert-type handle, a capacity of at least about 64 ounces, a height to width ratio of less than 2:1, and a height of less than 265 mm, the method comprising: providing a preform having a thickness of less than about 5 mm, a neck diameter of between 38 and 48 mm, a preform weight in grams that substantially conforms to the equation Y=0.878X+12.08 where Y is the weight and X is the volume of the bottle, and a predetermined axial length; providing the insert-type handle; placing the insert-type handle and the preform into a metal mold with an axial spacing between the preform and the handle; blowing the preform at a predetermined temperature and pressure to expand the preform by a vertical expansion ratio of about 2:1 and a horizontal expansion ratio of at least approximately 2:1 against the insert-type handle and metal mold to form the bottle having an insert-type handle, a capacity of at least about 64 ounces, a height to width ratio of less than 2:1, and a height of less than 265 mm; and removing the thus-formed bottle from the metal mold.