US3338459A

US3338459A - Container

Info

Publication number: US3338459A
Application number: US518678A
Authority: US
Inventors: Malcolm H Smith
Original assignee: Olinkraft Inc
Current assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC
Priority date: 1966-01-04
Filing date: 1966-01-04
Publication date: 1967-08-29
Anticipated expiration: 1984-08-29

Description

Aug. 29, 1967 M. H. SMITH 3,333,459

CONTAINER Filed Jan. 4, 1966 V INVENTOR. MALCOLM hf SM/ T H ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,338,459 CONTAINER Malcolm H. Smith, Monroe, La., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Olinkraft, Inc., West Monroe, La., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 4, 1966, Ser. No. 518,678 8 Claims. (Cl. 220-66) ABSTRACT OF TIH'J DISCLOSURE The disclosure teaches a rigid container adapted to hold a product and characterized by having an opening on the lower portion of one of the side walls thereof, a trough on the inner surface of the base and a raised floor inclined towards said opening.

The present invention relates to a container adapted to hold a product. More particularly, the present invention relates to a rigid container particularly adapted to hold disposable receptacles of the type shown in US. Patent 3,206,105 by Malcolm H. Smith.

The rigid containers of the present invention are particularly adapted to hold disposable receptacles of the type having a square-bottom paper bag in combination with an internal bladder or skin of plastic material. These disposable receptacles are useful to package free flowing solids or liquids, such as milk (wet or dry), motor oil, antifreeze, liquid detergents and bleaches, non-carbonated beverages, distilled water and so forth.

The disposable receptacles are particularly useful in packaging milk for home delivery. These disposable receptacles have enjoyed considerable success in bulk volume milk packaging for home delivery, for example, in a ten quart square-bottom paper bag containing an internal bladder and having a saddle style paperboard carry handle.

The disposable receptacle is conventionally carried by the milk routeman to home delivery customers. The user inserts the disposable receptacle in a rigid container kept leakage in the disposable receptacle. This may be done by a plurality of holes on the bottom of the container. While these holes achieve the purpose, in the event of a leak the milk would seep through the holes and cause i been found that the foregoing objects and advantages of in a refrigerator. The disposable receptacle is equipped with a dispenser valve which is fitted in an opening on the bottom of the rigid container. When the milk has been deplete-d from the disposable receptacle, the disposable receptacle is simply discarded and a fresh one inserted. The new supply can be stored by stacking it on top of the partially depleted disposable receptacle.

This system possesses certain distinct advantages. The milk stays fresh for long periods in the home largely due to the fact that the milk is not continually removed and replaced in the refrigerator. In addition, the milk is permanently protected from the deleterious effects of light. Another important factor in preserving freshness is the absence of air with the plastic bag. The air is exhausted during filling and during gravity-flow dispensing the sealed bag collapses as its contents are depleted.

Other factors in the success of this system are its inexpensiveness and convenience.

One of the disadvantages of the system, however, has been found to be in the characteristics of the rigid container.

The rigid container should preferably be inclined towards the valve opening or be forward tilted in order to insure complete drainage of the contents of the disposable receptacle. conventionally, this is achieved by providing molded in, elongated re'ar legs on the rigid container. This effectively achieves the purpose, but results in a rigid container which is permanently on an incline or on an angle.

An additional disadvantage of conventional rigid containers is the following. Means should preferably be provided on the bottom of the container to allow for possible the present invention may be readily achieved. The'container of the present invention is a container adapted to hold a product, said container having a generally rectangular base and side walls, one of said side walls having an opening on the lower portion thereof, said base having a trough on the inner surface thereof, and a raised floor inclined towards said opening. The trough is preferably an annular groove which circumscribes the raised floor. In the preferred embodiment, the container comprises a pair of bowl-like, rigid sections adapted to be assembled with their open mouths in opposition and secured together to provide a closed container or to be detached and nested when empty.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from an examination of the succeeding specification when read in conjunction with the appended drawings in which: i

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the container of the present invention with certain portions thereof broken away for clarity;

FIGURE 2 is a partial sectional side view of the bottom portion of the container of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a front view of the container of the present invention with certain portions thereof broken away for clarity;

FIGURE 4 is a partial sectional front view of the bottom portion of thecontainer of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the container of the present invention is shown generally at 10 and comprises an upper or top bowl-like section 11 and a lower or bottom bowl-like section 12. The upper section has a generally rectangular base 13 and trapezoidal side walls 14 which diverge slightly from the base towards a somewhat larger open mouth. Rectangular base 13 is preferably fiat and has a recessed portion 26 for storage of materials on top of the container. Similarly, the lower section 12 has a generally rectangular base 15 and trapezoidal side walls16 which diverge slightly from the base toward a somewhat larger open mouth. Representative dimensions of a typical assembled container of the present invention are: 10

'as shown in FIGURES 1 and 3. Alternatively, the upper section 11 and lower section 12 may be detached and nested when empty.

In order to secure together the upper section 11 and the lower section 12, the upper section 11 has secured thereto a rim element 17 and the lower section 12 has secured thereto a rim element 18, said rim elements having complementary interfittable edge configurations for forming a tight joint between said sections in their assembled relationship. As can be seen, each rim has an uninterrupted endless peripheral surface 19 and 20 defining the major transverse dimension of each section.

The lower section 12 has an opening 21 on the lower portion of one of its side walls, preferably on one corner of the side wall as shown in FIGURE 3.

The base of the lower section has a trough or groove 22 on the inner surface there-of. In addition, the base 15 of the lower section 12 has a raised fioor 23 inclined towards opening 21. Preferably, the trough or groove 22 is an annular groove which circumscribes the raised floor 23. As shown in the drawings, the raised floor 23 is inclined so that all portions of said raised floor are inclined towards opening 21. This insures complete drainage of the contents of the disposable receptacle in container 10.

As clearly shown in FIGURE 1, container holds a disposable receptacle 24 having valve 25 which fits in opening 21.

As can be clearly seen from an examination of the drawings, the container of the present invention provides numerous advantages over conventional containers. The floor is inclined so that complete drainage of the contents are insured without the necessity for the entire container itself to be tilted. In addition, the trough 22 provides for leakage without the disadvantage of having holes on the bottom of the container. In addition, the fact that the floor is inclined in two directions, laterally and transversely, insures complete drainage of the contents of the disposable receptacle.

As can be readily appreciated, in use simply the bottom section 12 may be utilized or both the bottom section 12 and the top section 11 may be utilized.

This invention may be embodied in other forms or carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered as in all respects illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency are intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. A container adapted to hold a product comprising a pair of bowl-like, rigid sections, each having a generally rectangular base and trapezoidal side walls which diverge slightly from the base toward a somewhat larger open mouth, said sections being adapted to be assembled with their open mouths in opposition and secured together to provide a closed container or to be detached and nested when empty, an opening on the lower portion of one of said side Walls of said bottom section, an endless annular groove on the inner surface of the base of said bottom section, and a raised inclined floor circumscribed by said groove, said floor being inclined towards said opening.

2. A container according to claim 1 wherein each of said sections has secured thereto a rim element having complementary interfittable edge configurations for forming a tight joint between said sections in their assembled relationship.

3. A container according to claim 2 wherein each rim has an uninterrupted endless peripheral surface defining the major transverse dimension of said section.

4. A container according to claim 1 wherein said bowl-.

like sections comprises a pair of top and bottom bowllike container sections of approximately equal height.

5. A container according to claim 1 wherein the opening is on one corner of said side wall and wherein all portions of said raised floor are inclined towards said opening.

6. A container according to claim 1 wherein the base of said stop section has a recessed portion.

7. A container adapted to hold a product comprising a 'pair of bowl-like, rigid sections, each having a generally rectangular base and trapezoidal side walls which diverge slightly from the base towards a somewhat larger open mouth, said sections being adapted to be assembled with their open mouths in opposition and secured together to provide a closed container or to be detached and nested when empty, an opening on the lower portion of one of said side walls of said bottom section, a trough on the inner surface of the base of said bottom section, and a raised floor inclined towards said opening.

8. A container according to claim 7 wherein said trough is an annular groove.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,172,570 3/1965 Lipschutz 229-14 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

JAMES B. MARBERT, Examiner.