FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
As amended by the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005
&
The Patents Rules, 2003
As amended by the Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2005
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (See section 10 and rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION A versatile preform
APPLICANT(S)
Bahubali Electronics Pvt Ltd, 745/2, Krishna Kutir,P. D. Hinduja Marg, Off. S. V. Road, Khar (West), Mumbai - 400052, Maharashtra, India, an Indian Company incorporated under Indian Companies Act, 1956.
INVENTOR(S)
Jain Sangeet Mohanlal residing at 9BC, 9th Floor, High Peak Appartments, 20-A, Swami Vivekanand Road, Bandra West, Mumbai-400050, Maharashtra, India; an Indian National.
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
This invention relates to the field of packaging articles.
Particularly, this invention relates to the field of food and beverage containers.
More particularly, this invention relates to the field of preforms for containers or packaging articles.
Specifically, this invention relates to a versatile pfgRsSfm? for containers or packaging articles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
A Preform is a mould used for the making of an object that has been subjected to preliminary, usually incomplete shaping or molding before undergoing complete or final processing.
Packaging articles for containers such as crown caps, closures, and pl^forms, find its applications in food, beverages and pharmaceutical industries. A Preform is used for their manufacture, in that, the cap or closure article is placed around a portion of the preform for achieving its final shape. The preform, for this invention and specification, is in relation to manufacturing of a closure article whose non-limiting examples include a bottle cap or bottle cover.

Plastic containers with caps or closure articles may be manufactured by the process of blow molding and injection molding. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is safe plastic used for such food and beverage containers. PET preforms are widely used for production of plastic bottles and jars, which are formed by using the blow moulding technology.
Preforms are available in a broad range of weights and designs. Various neck-finishes, weights and colours, modifications are available in preforms so that container manufacturers are enabled to manufacture a variety of products using the range of preforms. Preform users use them for their products for packaging soft drinks, mineral water, beer and beer containing mixes, liquor, aseptically filled drinks, bulk food products, edible oils, pharma, ketchup and other products, household and chemical products.
There is a need for a better, improved, versatile, and modular preform.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
An object of the invention is to provide a preform for a variety of caps or closure articles, of different materials.
Another object of the invention is to provide a threadless preform for a variety of threadless caps or threadless closure articles.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a modular preform.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a preform, with a threadless neck with substantially smaller height but which provides an airtight closure with respect to caps, thus effecting cost cuts due to material reduction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
According to this invention, there is provided a versatile preform comprising a body region and a pre-defined neck region wherein said preform being a substantially annular assembly having said neck region as an annular defining wall above said body region, characterised in that, said neck region comprises:
a. a neck wall which is a stepped wall with a step region connecting a base
wall with a laterally disposed top wall;
b. operative top end of said laterally disposed top wall including an
externally protruding annular flange region; and
c. a protruding bump annularly incorporated onto exterior wall of said top
wall;
such that a cap fits over said neck region of said preform.
Typically, said neck region is a neck region with relatively lesser height.
Typically, said preform is made of a material selected from a group of materials consisting of PET, LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE and any other plastic.
Typically, said neck is a threadless neck.
Typically, said neck is a threadless neck having pre-defined dimensions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:
Figure 1 illustrates a side view of a preform of the prior art.
The invention will now be described in relation to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 2 illustrates a side view of a preform with a neck region and a body region;
Figure 3a illustrates a schematic top view of the preform of Figure 2;
Figure 3b illustrates a schematic vertical cut-section view depicting the neck
region of the preform of Figure 2; and
Figure 4 illustrates a schematic cut-section wall of the neck region of the preform of Figure 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:
Figure 1 illustrates a side view of a preform (100) of the prior art. The preform is includes a body region (100a) which is a substantially U-shaped body. It includes a neck region (100b). This neck region can be seen to be a threaded neck region for the making of threaded caps or articles. The caps, closures and the like articles, as required, are fixed on the neck region when containers are manufactured.

According to this invention, there is provided a versatile preform for containers or packaging articles.
Figure 2 illustrates a schematic front view of the preform (200), of this invention, with a body region (200a) and a pre-defined neck region (200b). Figure 3a illustrates a schematic top view of the preform of Figure 2; Figure 3b illustrates a schematic vertical cut-section view depicting the neck region of the preform of Figure 2; and
Figure 4 illustrates a schematic cut-section wall of the neck region of the preform of Figure 2.
The body region is a substantially U-shaped assembly tapering towards its operating lowest point.
In accordance with an embodiment of this invention, the neck region is of substantially lesser height as compared to prior art. This results in effective material saving. With a smaller height neck, the size (height) of cap also gets reduced, again resulting into material saving.
In accordance with another embodiment of this invention, the neck design is a versatile neck. This versatility enables seaming of tin, Aluminum, or any other metal lid on it, or metallic and other foil seals, for providing air-tight and pilfer-proof packing. Similarly, the neck design is versatile enough to enable to fit LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE or any other plastic lid on it, for providing air-tight and pilfer-proof packing.

Material used for preform is PET, LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE or any other plastic.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of this invention, the neck is a threadless neck. This threadless neck preform is a particular type of preform with pre-defined dimensions. It has substantially reduced neck size or may be eliminated. It can be used to can seal preform with tin, Aluminum, or any other metal metallic or other foil seal, or plastic lid directly.
As seen from the top view (Figure 3a of the accompanying drawings), a preform is a substantially annular product. The neck region includes an annular defining wall above the body region. This neck wall (400) is a stepped wall with a step region (400a) connecting a base wall (400b) with a laterally disposed top wall (400c). The operative top end of the laterally disposed top wall includes an externally protruding annular flange region (400d). A protruding bump (400e) is also annularly incorporated onto the exterior wall of the top wall. A cap fits over this neck region of the preform. This assembly enables the fitting of the cap in a threadless manner and in a modular form. The closure achieved in the cap is a complete airtight closure.
While this detailed description has disclosed certain specific embodiments of the present invention for illustrative purposes, various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims, and it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.

We claim,
1. A versatile preform comprising a body region and a pre-defined neck region wherein said preform being a substantially annular assembly having said neck region as an annular defining wall above said body region, characterised in that, said neck region comprising:
a. a neck wall which is a stepped wall with a step region connecting a base
wall with a laterally disposed top wall;
b. operative top end of said laterally disposed top wall including an
externally protruding annular flange region; and
c. a protruding bump annularly incorporated onto exterior wall of said top
wall;
such that a cap fits over said neck region of said preform.
2. A preform as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said neck region is a neck region with relatively lesser height.
3. A preform as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said preform is made of a material selected from a group of materials consisting of PET, LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE and any other plastic.
4. A preform as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said neck is a threadless neck.

5. A preform as claimed in claim 1 wherein, said neck is a threadless neck having pre-defined dimensions.