IE52414B1

IE52414B1 - Interlocking container or cup

Info

Publication number: IE52414B1
Application number: IE983/81A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Roboserve Ltd
Priority date: 1980-05-02
Filing date: 1981-05-04
Publication date: 1987-10-28
Also published as: DE3165356D1; EP0039598B1; ATE8863T1; DK196881A; EP0039598A1; IE810983L

Abstract

The invention concerns thermoplastics material cups which nest to seal a chamber in the bottom of the lower cup. A thermoplastics material cup (12) for nesting in a like cup has an endless groove (28) on its interior wall spaced from the bottom (16) to interlock with a lug (36) adjacent the bottom (16) of a similar cup. The groove (28) and lug (36) have similarly sloped entry ramps (30, 38) leading to preferably vertical sealing surfaces (32, 40) and the lug (36) is about 10% larger than the groove (28) the dimensions being such that interengagement of the entry ramps (30, 38) causes longtitudinal compression of the lug (36) and consequential radial expansion giving intimate sealing between the sealing surfaces (32, 40) to seal the space (60) in the bottom of the lower cup, so as to keep fresh a comestible located therein.

Description

INTERLOCKING CONTAINER OR CUP This invention relates to foamed thermoplastic containers and cups capable of being nested one into the other to protect comestible stored in the containers and cups from the atmosphere.

There is a growing demand for vending machines which dispense both hot and cold beverages made from fresh ingredients.

Different approaches have been taken to protect the ingredients in the dispenser. One approach is the storage of bulk concentrate for discharge into a cup to which water is subsequently added. The drawbacks with this approach are, the constant atmos10 pheric contact with the concentrate, with consequent increase of moistness and loss of flavour, and the variance of the amount of concentrate discharged into each cup.

A different and newer approach has been to provide stacks of beverage concentrate containing plastic cups stored for dispensing by vending machines, each cup containing a premeasured amount, of beverage concentrate. The wedging of the upper cup into the lower cup is supposed to protect the comestible from the atmosphere. However, that is not the case.

In an attempt to protect the comestible from the atmosphere, attempts have been made to seal the space between the cups. One approach is that shown in U.S. Patent 4,156,483 which discloses a stack of expanded or foamed polystyrene vending cups each having a wall thickness typically in the range of 1.0 to 3.0 mm, containing a comestible between adjacent cups. To seal the comestible, the patent teaches that each cup provides a lug on the outer surface of the cup at the bottom, and a groove having an entry ramp on the inside of the cup terminating at a radially extending 1Θ upwardly facing sealing ledge or surface. In use, an upper cup is pushed into a lower cup so that when the lug enters the groove, the entry ramp allegedly engages the upper surface of the lug and forces the bottom of the lug to seat on the ledge to seal the space between the cups. In other words, the entry ramp of the groove is supposed to push against the sloped upper portion of the lug to cause the bottom of the lug to seal against the upper surface of the ledge when the lug is in the groove and seats on the ledge.

The difficulty with this approach is the material which the U.S. Specification 4156483 is working with. The expansion of the poly20 styrene beads is uneven. Additionally, the fused and expanded material is subject to cracking and chipping when overly stressed. Where the polystyrene foam is to be compressed to permit entry of the lug into the groove as proposed by Day, it must not only not be compressed beyond its memory so that it will be able to restore to its original shape to fit into the groove and provide the seal, but also it must· not contain sharp corners, otherwise they will break off when compressed and not seal satisfactorily. - 3 If the lug is smaller than the groove it is readily apparent that the lug and ledge will not seal. If the lug is larger than the groove, because of the structure of the lug, groove and sealing ledge, the lug will not enter the groove and seat on the ledge to create the seal.

Because of the structural characteristics of polystyrene foam material, it is presently impossible to consistently manufacture egually sized lugs and matching grooves -however, even if possible to consistently manufacture the _ same size lug and groove, it is impossible to have the same sized lug enter the same sized groove as proposed by Day without precompressing at least one of the lug, groove wall or sealing ledge. In part, this is because the lug cannot engage the sloped upper surface of the groove, while at the same time cause the bottom of the lug to seat on the ledge to create the seal without the top of the ledge being required to flex downwardly and restore fully and completely to its original position as the lug enters the groove. Therefore, while the upper and lower cups will lock, a seal cannot be assured. The result is that Day's proposals for sealing a space between the cups cannot assure a seal causing comestible in the cups to loose its freshness. - 4 German Specification DE - A 2639929 discloses a seal between rounded lugs and grooves on adjacent nested cups, which seal will be at least partially radial.

It is therefore, an object of this invention to provide foamed thermoplastic containers and cups capable of stacking with other containers and cups and seal the space between the adjacent containers and cups, respectively, to protect comestibles or beverage concentrates at the bottom of the container or cup, and which containers and cups are also easily dispensed from a dispenser.

The present invention provides a resilient, yieldable, tapered foamed thermoplastics container or cup nestable with like containers or cups in which: an endless groove associated with a sealing surface and an endless lug associated with another sealing surface extend one from the inside surface and one from the outside surface of the cup wall; the endless groove comprises a first entry ramp surface at an acute angle to the vertical, which ramp surface engages the endless lug when one cup is inserted in another, an intermediate, substantially vertical sealing surface and a second surface at an angle to the vertical, the endless lug has a - 5 first entry ramp surface, an intermediate substantially vertical sealing surface and a second surface, the lug surfaces being at about the same angles as the respective first, sealing and second surfaces of the endless groove and in which the endless lug extends a distance from the cup surface greater than the maximum distance by which the endless groove penetrates the cup wall so'that the sealing surface of the lug forms a radial compression seal with the intermediate sealing surface of the groove, when one cup is inserted in another.

On nesting the lug is gradually compressed by the containers or cup wall prior to entering the groove and the lug, on entering the groove, facilitated by the entry ramp of the groove is compressed radially forcing the sealing surface of the lug into intimate contact with the sealing surface of the groove so that any compressed lug material is either accommodated by the groove or permitted to overflow the groove.

If a ledge is provided under the groove or proximate bottom of the groove, the bottom of the lug does not necessarily seat on the ledge but is spaced therefrom to permit the radial expansion of the lug to cause the sealing of the substantially vertical sealing surfaces. - 6 Preferably the lug is about 10% larger than the groove. If much larger, the lug will not be accommodated by the groove and provide the Beal. If much smaller, the lug will not form the requisite seal with the groove.

However, the lug can be in the range 6 to 14% larger and preferably in the range 8 to 12% larger.

According to one form of the invention, when the groove penetrates the outside surface of the container or cup wall, the endless lug extends inwardly from the inside surface of the cup wall and is of an inner diameter at its maximum width slightly less than the diameter of the groove at its maximum penetration into the container or cup wall. Additionally, the entry and exit ramp of the groove is adjacent the bottom of the groove and that part of the groove wall extends upwardly and radially inwardly to the intermediate sealing surface of the groove and the entry ramp of the lug for engaging the entry and exit ramp of the groove is at the bottom of the lug.

According to another form of the invention, the groove penetrates the inside surface of the container or cup wall, the endless lug extends outwardly from the outside surface of the container or cup wall and is of an outer diameter at its maximum width slightly greater than - 7 the diameter of the groove at its maximum penetration into the container or cup wall. Additionally, the entry and exit ramp is at the top of the groove and that part of the groove extends downwardly and radially outwardly to the intermediate sealing surface, and the entry ramp of the lug for engaging the entry and exit ramp of the groove is at the top of the lug.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the entry ramp of the lug is at least about 10% greater in length than the entry ramp of the groove.

Preferably, when the containers or cups are nested, and the sealing surfaces radially compress together sealing the lug in the groove, the outer side wall of the inner container or cup is spaced from the inner wall of the outer container or cup.

According to another feature of the invention, a downwardly directed ledge may be provided on the outside wall of the container or cup, adjacent the mouth of the container or cup, for rigidity and which ledge preferably seats on the mouth rim of the lower container or cup, when the containers or cups are nested and the lug locked in the groove and the sealing surfaces radially compressed to seal the space therebetween. - 8 In one embodiment a ledge may be provided on the inside wall of the container or cup, below the groove or lug as the case may be, between the bottom of the container or cup as the case may be and the groove or lug preferably just below the lowest part of the groove or lug but not as to interfere in any way with the lug or the formation of the compression seal between the intermediate sealing surface of the groove and sealing surface of the lug.

Therefore, when two containers or cups are to be nested, the upper container or cup is pressed into the lower container or cup with the lug being slightly compressed by the inner tapered wall of the lower container or cup until it partially restores to its configuration as it enters the groove. As it enters the groove, the entry and exit ramp of the groove exerts a force on the lug (including the entry ramp of the lug) in a direction towards the bottom of the cup compressing the lug axially. At the same time, as the lug locks in the groove, and seals the space between the cups and the containers, the downwardly directed ledge (if employed), at the upper end of the cup or container preferably seats on the annular rim of the container or cup. -9Embodiment of cups in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a stack of cups nested one Into the other according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a cup according to the preferred embodiment of the invention of Figure 1, with a portion cup away to show the cross-section of the cup wall and bottom. FIGURE 3 is a cross-section taken through two nested cups according to the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 2.

FIGURE 4 is a close-up view of a portion of one of the cups shown in Figure 3 according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIGURES 5 to 7 inclusive, are cross-sectional close-up views of parts of two cups, each manufactured as shown in Figure 4, being nested together to seal the space therebetween.

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional close-up view of parts of two cups nested according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional close-up view of part of a cup according to still another embodiment of the invention.

With reference to Figures 1 and 3, there is shown a stack of cups 10, each cup 12 (shown best in Figures 2 and 4) being made of resilient, yieldable, foamed theremoplastic polystyrene material and having a side wall 14, bottom 16, and upper flange 18 forming rim 20 defining mouth 22. On the underside of flange 18 53414 -10is a thicker portion 24 for rigidity having downwardly directed shoulder or ledge 26.

Extending outwardly from the inner wall of cup 12 and spaced a predetermined distance from the bottom is endless groove 28 defined by groove wall 29 seen best in Figure 4 having radially outwardly sloped entry ramp 30, sloped at 15° (in the range 12° to 18°) to the vertical, and being .015 inches (.038 cms) long vertically oriented intermediate sealing surface 32, .048 inches (.122 cms) long, and radially inwardly directed lower portion 34 angled at 20° to the horizontal and being .014 inches („035 cms) long.

At the base of cup 12 forming an endless protuberance or lug extending from side wall 14 at the juncture with the bottom 16 is endless lug 36, having an upper entry ramp 38 being „017 inches (.043 cms) (.0002 inches ¢.005 cms) longer than entry ramp 30 of groove wall 29) and angled at the same angle as ramp 30, sealing surface 40 angled at the same angle as surface 32 and of the same length, and rainp 42, .015 inches (.038 cms) long angled in the same manner as portion 34 of groove wall 29„ Therefore, as can be seen from the dimensions of lug 36 and groove 28, lug 36 is about 10% larger than groove 28. The about 10% larger cross-sectional area of the lug can be achieved by other dimensional changes rather than increasing the length of the lug ramps.

The taper of the inner wall and outer wall of each cup 12 is 9° to the vertical. -111 The bottom 16 of cup 12 has transverse or horizontal portion 44 spaced from the bottom lug 36, and angled portion 46 angled 15° (in the range 12° to 18°) to the horizontal, connecting lug 36 to the horizontal portion 44. Each cup 12 has outer and inner diameters at its mouth of 2.915 inches (7.404 cms) and 2.780 inches (7.061 cms) respectively and outer and inner diameters at the bottom of 1.957 inches (4.971 cms) and 1.829 inches (4.646 cms) respectively.

In use, a comestible is deposited in the botton of cup 12. As another cup is pressed into the lower cup to seal the ingredients, lug 36 is compressed by the inner side wall of the outer cup (see Figures 5 and 6) until the lug enters groove 28 (see Figure 6 showing the lug in its distorted configuration). As it enters groove 28, entry and exit ramp 30 axially compresses lug 36 longtitudinally of the cup, causing lug 36 to expand radially outwardly forcing surface 40 into intimate contact with the surface 32 for sealing the space 60 between the cups (see Figure 7).

While in this embodiment, ramps 34 and 42 do not touch due to the distortion of the lug, in other embodiments, they may. As lug 36 enters groove 38, and sealed space 60, downwardly directed ledge 26 of the upper cup seats on rim 30 of the lower cup.

With reference to Figure 8, each of the cups 12 has been modified to incorporate a horizontally extending inwardly directed ledge 62 spaced from the bottom of groove 28 (groove 28 of the same dimensions as previously indicated), ledge 62 for acting only as a scavenging ledge for supporting a scavenging disc for scavenging comestibles found above the level of the ledge after -tfthe filling cycle of the cup has been completed, At no time does lug 36 (of the same dimensions as previously indicated) engage ledge 62 when lug 36 is locked in groove 28 to create a seal between surfaces 32 and 40.

With reference to Figure 9, part of cup 121 is shown having 1 1 endless groove 28 defined by groove wall 29 extending inwardly 11 from the outer surface of wall 14 adjacent bottom 16 , lug 36 extending inwardly from the inner surface of cup wall 141.

Each of groove 28 and lug 36 has a shape the reverse of the shape of groove 28 and lug 36 respectively. Particularly, entry and exit ramp 301 inwardly sloped at 15° to the vertical corresponds to equal length entry ramp 30, intermediate vertical 1 sealing surface 32 to intermediate vertical sealing surface 32 , and upper portion 34 angled at 20° to the horizontal corresponds to equal length lower portion 34. Similarly, lug 36 has 1 corresponding lower equal length entry ramp 38 to entry ramp 38 1 of Figure 4, intermediate vertical sealing surface 40 to sealing surface 40, and upper portion 421 to portion 42.

In use, an upper cup 12 is pressed into a lower cup compressing ι fche lug or lug 36 on the inner surface of fche outer cup until 1 1 lug 36 enters groove 28 of the inner cup. As it does so, 1 entry and exit ramp 30 axially compresses larger lug 36 longti1 tudinally of the cup, causing lug 36 to expand radially inwardly 1 1 and force surface 40 to seal with surface 32 for sealing the space between cups. -131 As in the previous embodiment, the downwardly directed ledge •1 (ledge 26 ) of the upper cup seato on the rim of the lower cup 1 1 when lug 36 enters groove 28 and seals the space between the nest cups.

For discharge from the stack of cups, the lowermost cup is easily moved away from the stack and particularly the cup there above, facilitated by entry and exit ramp 30 or 30^ as the case may be.

Claims

1. CLAIM

1. Λ resilient, yieldable, tapered foamed thermoplastics container or cup nestable with like containers or cups in which: an ondloc:·. groove associated with a sealing surface and an endless lug associated with another sealing surface extend one from the inside surface and one from the outside surface of the cup wall; the endless groove comprises a first entry ramp surface at an acute angle 10 to the vertical, which ramp surface engages the endless lug when one cup is inserted in another, an intermediate, substantially vertical sealing surface and a sf?cond surface at an angle to the vertical, the endless lug has a first entry ramp surface, an intermediate substantially 15 vertical sealing surface and a second surface, the lug surfaces being at about the same angles as the respective first, sealing and second surfaces of tho endless groove and in which the endless lug extends a distance from the cup surface greater than the maximum distance by which 20 the endless groove penetrates the cup wall so that the sealing surface of the lug forms a radial compression seal with tho intermediate sealing surface of the groove, when on cup .is inserted in another.

2. The container or cup of Claim 1 in which the lug 25 is 6% to 1)|J larger in size than the groove.

3. The container or cup of Claim 1 in which the lug is 8λ· to 125 larger in size than the groove. - 15 32414 /ψ. The container or cup of Claim 1 in which the ’ug is about 10?;' larger in size than th;· groove.

4. 5. The container or cup of any of Claims 1 to Ij. in which the entry ramp of the lug is 8?; to 12% larger 5 than the entry r a mp of the groove.

5. 6. The container or cup of any of Claims 1 to I; in which the entry ramp of the lug is about 10?. greater in length than the entry ramp of th;? groove.

6. 7. The container or cup of any of Claims 1 to 6 in

7. 10 which th;· entry ramp of the groove is angled at between

8. 12° and 18° to the vertical. 5. Th^ container or cup of any of Claims 1 to 6 in which the entry ramp of the groove is angled at about 15° to the vertical. 1? 9. The container or cup of any of Claims 1 to 8 in which the groove penetrates the outside surface of the container or cup wall, the endless lug extends inwardly from the inside surface of the cup wall and is of an inner diameter at its maximum width slightly less than 20 the diameter of the groove at its maximum penetration into the container or cup wall and the entry ramp of the groove is adjacent the bottom of the groove and extends upwardly and radially inwardly to the intermediate sealing surface of the groove and the entry ramp of the ramp is at the 25 bottom of the- lug for engaging the entry ramp of the groove. 10. The container or cup of any of Claims 1 to 8 in which the groove penetrates the inside surface of the container or cup wall, the endless lug extends outwardly 53414 -16 from the outside surface of the container or cup wall and is of an outer diameter at its maximum width slight.ly greater than the diameter of the groove at its maximum penetration into the container or cup wall and the entry 5 ramp of the groove is at the top of the groove and that part of the groove extends downwardly and radially outwardly tc the intermediate sealin t surface and the •miry ramp of the lug is at the top of the lug for engaging the entry ramp of the groove. 10 11. The container or cup of any of Claims 1 to 10 wherein the container or cup has an endless rim surrounding its mouth and a downwardly directed ledge thereunder for rigidifying the cup. 1.?. The contain· r or cup of Clai.m11 in which the ledge seats on thr mouth rim of a lower container or cup, when tne containers or cups are nested and the lug locked in the groove sealing the space therebetween.

9. 13. Tii' con!a in» r or cup and any of Claims 1 t>> 1? in which an upwardly directed scavenging lodge is provided 20 on the inside wail of th·'· container or cup spaced below t,h r groove or lug as the case may be, but so as not to interfere witii ihe locking of the lug into the groove and sealing of the sealing surfaces. 1ij.. The container or cup of any of Claims 1 to 13 the 25’ side walls of which ar dimensioned and tapered so that when similar containers or cups are nested and the sealing surfaces radially compress together the outer surface of the side . all of the inner container or cup is spaced from t:.e inner surface of tho side wall of the outer - 17 container or cup. 1i>. A container or cup substantially as described herein with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.