Patent ID: 7637733

Claim:
An apparatus for reforming a portion of a plastic container, comprising: a previously formed and cooled plastic container having a smaller upper portion and a larger remainder; a heater for heating only the upper portion of the container to be reformed, while leaving the remainder of the container relatively unheated; first and second reforming tools spaced apart from the heater, defining a cavity between the first and second reforming tools receiving the upper portion of the container after the upper portion has been heated, compressing only the heated upper portion between the first and second reforming tools to eliminate manufacturing imperfections on the upper portion, and having a contact surface configured to contact and reform not more than the upper portion of the container after heating by the heater; and at least one imprinted or embossed characteristic or at least one transferable element located on the contact surface of the reforming tools, wherein the reforming tools are configured to transfer the at least one imprinted or embossed characteristic or at least one transferable element to the upper portion of the container when the reforming tools contact the upper portion of the container.