MXPA99004179A - My material triangular container - Google Patents

Abstract

A triangular container of mixed material having a mixed material bottom closure and an outwardly corrugated, rounded upper edge adapted to receive a membrane closure and a pressure overcap is described, the mixed material container having curved side walls buckled towards outside and curved corners that define six circular segments in symmetrically arranged cross section and of which at least some have different radii, preferably the container is a combination of triangular and circular in cross section

Description

TRIANGULAR CONTAINER OF MIXED MATERIAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a triangular container of mixed material having a bottom closure of mixed material and an open upper edge rounded and corrugated outwardly adapted to receive a membrane seal and a pressure overcap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Containers of mixed material constructed with desired layers of material that usually include a paper body layer, a liner layer and a label layer, have until now been used to pack food and other products that include detergents, cleaners, powders for bake, etc. These containers of mixed material have included a bottom closure of mixed material which can be made from the same materials as the container or a different combination of materials. These containers have been closed at the top by a variety of top closures including a membrane closure, which together with the bottom closure can preferably supply a hermetically sealed container and an overcap. A preferred structure includes an upper edge rounded and corrugated outwardly on the container of mixed material produced by conventional corrugating equipment to receive the membrane seal which is secured to the container by sealing with caior, glue or similar to seal the container . A pressure overcap is adapted to fit over the rounded and wavy upper edge out of the mixed material container. The patent of E.U. No. 3,892,351 to Johnson et al. (Hereinafter "the Johnson patent '351") is a container of representative cylindrical material of the prior art having an open, rounded and outwardly curved upper edge. The rounded edge receives a membrane seal and a pressure overcap. Cylindrical containers, such as those of the Johnson '351 patent, are effectively crimped by conventional crimping equipment since the crimping forces are distributed substantially uniformly around the circumference of the open top edge. However, conventional corrugating equipment has not been effective in corrugating a container having sharp corners and flat side walls. This is because the rippling forces are not uniformly distributed and the tear is present in the tangents of the container configuration, such as those adjacent to the corners. Even if the corrugation is effectively obtained, it can not be achieved repeatedly in high-speed production lines with reasonable acceptance limits.

Round containers, such as cylindrical containers, are desirable because of the volumetric capacity of the container relative to the packaging material needed to form the container, which results in savings in material costs. However, other forms provide "billboards" and are therefore desirable to expose additional areas of labeling on the outer walls of the containers when placed on a shelf or other retail display. In addition, forms other than cylindrical containers can allow more efficient placement for transportation in boxes and on retail shelves. However, as indicated above, it has been difficult, if not impossible, to provide containers of mixed material having sharp corners with the rounded upper edge outward desired, due to the structure of said edge and the equipment conventionally used for form said edge, since these containers have sharp corners. This difficulty is increased with containers of mixed materials that have a significant thickness of the body wall. Sharp corners do not allow uniform distribution of rippling forces, thus preventing the formation of proper crimping or tearing along the curved upper edge. This, in turn, prevents the formation of an airtight seal between the rounded edge and the membrane seal. In addition, containers with sharp corners do not lend themselves to rounded upper edges and corrugated outwards with conventional corrugating equipment. This problem is augmented with thicker walled containers and containers that have multiple layers. An attempt in the prior art to corrugate the open top edge of containers having sharp corners is described in the US patent. No. 5,752,646 to Sandstrom. The Sandstrom container '646 is a container representative of the prior art having a wavy open top edge and tapered side walls. The tapering of the sidewalls facilitates undulation due to the direction of the corrugation forces on the tapered side walls. However, the manufacture of such containers is more laborious and expensive because each container must be wrapped or stretched individually. By contrast, containers having non-tapered side walls are formed from a formed tube having a finite length which is cut into discrete lengths to form several containers.

OBJECTS AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide a triangular container of mixed non-tapered material having a bottom closure of mixed material and a rounded and wavy upper edge which is adapted to receive a membrane closure and an overcap under pressure.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a triangular container of mixed material having a ratio of volumetric capacity to desired material, simultaneously having an increased surface area for displaying text and / or graphics. It has been found by this invention that these and other objects can be achieved by providing a container of mixed material having three side walls arched outwardly and curved corners defining six circular segments in cross section cut symmetrically arranged and at least some of them have different radios. Preferably, the container of mixed material is generally of a combination of triangular shape and circular shape in section of cross section where the side walls have a predetermined common radius in cross section and the corners have a predetermined common radius in section cut cross. Preferably, the radius of the corner is an acute angle of a predetermined size that is tangent to the curved side walls. It is also preferable that the spokes of the side walls have predetermined sizes so that they do not form a tangential or negative intersection. The structure of the container of mixed triangular material allows the use of equipment to corrugate or round to form the rounded upper edge. Additionally, the combination of triangular and circular shape provides an easy grip that does not occur in round containers or square or rectangular containers. This easy fastening is provided by the curved or arched walls and the equine, which fit easily to the curved palm of a user's hand that is holding said container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Some of the objects and advantages of this invention have been mentioned, other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of this invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 1 is a perspective view of a triangular container of mixed material constructed in accordance with this invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the mixed material container of Figure 1 with separate areas and shown in section; Figure 3 is a sectional view, taken generally along lines 3-3 of Figure 2, and showing the various spokes used to form the walls and corners of the container; Figure 4 is a partial sectional view, exploded and taken generally along line 4-4 of Figure 1; and Figure 5 is an enlarged portion of Figure 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a preferred embodiment of a triangular container of mixed material, generally indicated at 10. This container of mixed material 10 is of the type having a bottom closure of mixed material 12 and a rounded open upper edge. and outwardly curved 14 adapted to receive a membrane closure 16 and a snap overcap 18. The container of mixed material 10 can be constructed of a variety of layers which usually include a lining layer 20, a body layer or a body layer. cardboard 22 and a layer for labels 24. The lining layer 20 can be made with a sheet of aluminum coated with polymer (for example polyethylene) on a paper substrate, a plastic film coated with polymer (for example polyethylene) or metallized film on a paper substrate, a metallized or plastic film on a paper substrate, a liner sealable by heat fusion adhesive, etc. The body layer 22 can include one or more layers of virgin or recycled paper. Preferably, two body folds 26, 28 form the body layer 22. The label layer 24 can be a paper layer, a layer of aluminum foil laminate paper, a layer of paper coated with polyethylene, a layer of plastic film , etc. The mixed material container 10 has a body wall thickness preferably between 0.25 mm and 1.3 mm, for example about 0.8 mm. The thickness varies depending on the desired use for the container and the dimensions of the container, for example, the radii of the corners. The mixed material container 10 can also be constructed from a single wrap layer (not shown) which can be a pre-laminated body or cardboard layer coated and printed with a polyethylene sealant layer thereon. This container of mixed material 10 can be wound in convolutions, wound in a spiral, or stretched linearly.

Preferably, the container of mixed material 10 is linearly stretched, wherein the layers are individually wrapped around a mandrel to create a tube having an axially extending seam. The tube formed can then be cut to the desired length, depending on the use intended for the container. The cut tubes are then corrugated by the method and apparatus as indicated in the US patent. No. 5,431, 619 to Bacon et al., Entitled Process and Apparatus for Forming an Outly Curved Lip on a Container Body, the description of which is incorporated herein by reference. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the seams of the individual layers are staggered. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the seam of the lining layer 36, the seam of the inner body fold 38, the seam of the outer body fold 40 and the seam of the label layer 42 extend axially each in parallel. However, there are no two seams that are aligned. Rather, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the seam of the lining layer 36 is positioned adjacent a portion of the center of one of the three curved side walls 30. Sewing of the seam in this location is desired. which does not interfere with the waviness operation of the rounded edge 14 of the mixed material container 10. The seam of the inner body layer 38 can then be placed in a radial direction away from the seam of the liner 36 and the seam of the outer layer The body 40 can then be placed in a radial direction spaced from the seam of the inner body layer 38. Although the seams can be aligned, it is preferred that they be staggered so as to prevent a particularly weakened area from extending axially to the body. along the container of mixed material 10. The seam of the label layer 42 can then be placed away from the second seam of the body layer 40 and, preferably, adjacent one of the curved corners 32. The seam of the label layer 42, placed in this manner, will not interfere with any text or graphic design on the label layer 24. If the container of mixed material 10 is rolled up Spirally wound or wound in convolutions, it will also be preferred that the seams be placed in a stepped relationship. The bottom closure of mixed material 12 can be constructed with the same mixed materials used for the container 10, or it can be constructed of other materials. The bottom closure 12 may be generally cup-shaped and secured to the container 10 by an inwardly corrugated portion at the bottom of the container 10 and utilizing heat sealing, adhesives or other desired means. The rounded upper edge 14 of the container 10 can be formed by the aid of conventional rounding or corrugating equipment, well known to those skilled in the art, to produce a rounded and outwardly curved upper edge. The membrane closure 16 can be constructed of any desired membrane material including a mixed material of a plastic film layer, an aluminum foil layer, an adhesive layer, a paper layer, etc., and can be secured to the rounded upper edge. by heat sealing, adhesive or other desired means. The pressure overcap 18 can be injection molded of low density polyethylene, linear low density or high density polyethylene, or can be thermoformed from a variety of plastic film materials and can be of conventional structure using a sleeve that extends downwardly having a configuration for snapping and being secured around the rounded upper edge 14 of the mixed material container 10. The resulting mixed material container 10 is suitable for packing food and other products, as described above, and it can be hermetically sealed. According to the present invention, the container of mixed material 10 has curved and outwardly curved walls 30 and curved corners 32 defining six circular segments in symmetrical orderly cross section. At least some of the circular segments have different radii. The side walls 30 have a predetermined common radius R1 in cross section and the corners 32 have a predetermined common radius R2 in cross section, as shown in Figure 3. Preferably, the container of mixed material 10 is generally made with a combination of circular and triangular shapes in cross section. A curve is a line that has no straight or bent parts or that is bent without angles. Accordingly, as can be seen in Figure 3, the triangular and circular combination form in cross section is provided by the six circular segments defining the cross section of the curved and outwardly curved side walls 30 and the curved corners 32 of the container of mixed material 10. Preferably, as can be seen in Figure 3, the radii R2 of the corners are acute angles of a predetermined size which are tangent to the curved side walls 30. It is further preferred that the spokes R1 of the side walls 30 are of a predetermined size such that they do not form a tangential or negative intersection. A container example of a standard interior volume could be constructed having a corner radius R1 of at least 18 mm and a side wall radius R2 of at least about 51 mm, for example, about 102 mm. Of course, the radius R2 of the side wall varies depending on the size of the container. The length of the interior of the container along the axes A could be approximately 241 mm and the width of the inner part of the container along the B axes could be around 73 mm. The height of the interior of the container 10 (from the top of the bottom closure 12 to the bottom of the membrane 16) would be approximately 244 mm. This example of triangular mixed material container 10 could have an interior volume of approximately 943 cubic cm, which could generally be the same as that of a round or cylindrical container having a volume of approximately 52.11 cubic cm. The container of mixed material 10 illustrated is an equilateral triangle but it is within the scope of this invention that the container exhibits other triangular configurations: For example, the side walls 30 may be of different lengths and have different radii and the curved corners 32 may have different radios. Therefore, this invention has provided a new structure and shape for a triangular container of mixed material 10 having a bottom closure of mixed material 12, which results in an easy hold for someone using the container, and provides a upper edge curved and outwardly curved 14 adapted to receive a membrane closure 16 and a pressure overcap 18 and wherein the rounded and wavy upper edge 14 can be repeatedly produced in high speed production lines with conventional equipment for rounded or corrugated. This invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to its preferred embodiment. However, variations and modifications may be made within the essence and scope of the invention as described in the above specifications and as defined in the following claims.

Claims (10)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A triangular container of mixed material having a combination of circular and triangular shape and a bottom closure of mixed material and an open upper edge rounded and curved outward, arcuate, adapted to receive a membrane closure and a pressure overcap; said container of mixed material has curved side walls bent outwards and curved corners defining six circular segments in cross section and of which at least some have different radii.

2. A triangular container of mixed material according to claim 1, further characterized in that said curved corners are acute angles.

3. A triangular container of mixed material according to claim 1, further characterized in that said side walls have a predetermined common radius in cross section and said corners have a predetermined common radius in cross section.

4. A triangular container of mixed material according to claim 3, further characterized in that said equine radius has a predetermined size that is tangent to said curved side walls.

5. A triangular container of mixed material according to claim 3, further characterized in that said radius of said side walls have predetermined sizes so as not to form a tangential intersection.

6. A triangular container of mixed material in accordance with claim 1, further characterized in that said upper edge rounded and outwardly corrugated is substantially continuous.

7. A triangular container of mixed material according to claim 1, further characterized in that said circular segments are arranged symmetrically.

8. A triangular container of mixed material according to claim 1, further characterized in that said container of mixed material includes a liner layer and a body layer, each having a seam that does not overlap one another.

9. A container of mixed material according to claim 8, further characterized in that said seam of the lining layer and the seam of the body layer extend axially along the length of said container of mixed material.

10. A container of mixed material according to claim 9, further characterized in that said seam of the lining layer is positioned adjacent to the middle portion of one of said curved side walls.