Patent ID: 8524143

Claim:
A method of making a hollow blow molded article from a preform of thermoplastic polymer, the preform having an interior cavity, an exterior wall, a neck portion and a handle attached to the exterior wall at two points and extending from the exterior wall in a coiled configuration, the method comprising: inserting the preform into a blow mold having a hollow article-defining blow mold cavity and movable mold segments; orienting the preform in a manner to provide sufficient heat behind the handle while not overheating the handle; reorienting the preform prior to blowing the container so that the handle is in a proper alignment with the blow mold; securing the neck portion; extending a modified stretch rod within the internal cavity, causing the preform to stretch such that a distance between the attachment points of the handle increases by an amount sufficient to uncoil the handle while leaving a sufficient gap between the preform and the handle and without stretching the handle; closing the mold causing the handle to be trapped by a movable handle pocket of the blow mold in an initial position; supplying blow air to the interior cavity, causing the preform to inflate and causing the movable handle pocket to move to a finished position of the hollow blow molded article; opening the blow mold; and removing the blow molded article, allowing the movable handle pocket to retract to the initial position.