US3437233A - Container - Google Patents

Container Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3437233A
US3437233A US677429A US3437233DA US3437233A US 3437233 A US3437233 A US 3437233A US 677429 A US677429 A US 677429A US 3437233D A US3437233D A US 3437233DA US 3437233 A US3437233 A US 3437233A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
container
containers
ledge
closure
sidewall
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US677429A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Willard J Rathbun
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Foster Grant Co Inc
Original Assignee
Foster Grant Co Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Foster Grant Co Inc filed Critical Foster Grant Co Inc
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3437233A publication Critical patent/US3437233A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D1/00—Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
    • B65D1/22—Boxes or like containers with side walls of substantial depth for enclosing contents
    • B65D1/26—Thin-walled containers, e.g. formed by deep-drawing operations

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to containers and more specifically to molded plastic containers of the type resembling generally a frustocnical configuration having an open top end and sides which taper to a bottom of lesser diameter than the top.
  • Such containers are commonly used in the packaging of foods such as cottage cheese, ice cream, etc., and may also conveniently be used for packaging certain other materials.
  • the container may conveniently be made of a plastic material such as high impact polystyrene.
  • Containers of this type have been widely accepted to todays market and are presently used in great volume.
  • Nestable containers having a variety of configurations and devices for holding the sidewalls of adjacent containers in spaced relation to prevent their wedging together have been developed.
  • the present invention is directed to a container having a novel combination lidreceiving and stacking portion which provides certain advantages which will be explained herein. It should be understood that although the container is referred to herein as having an open top end, it is adapted to receive a lid or closure after being filled, to close the top end.
  • One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a container having a simple and compact closure-receiving and stacking portion which positively supports adjacent containers in a manner such that their sidewalls are at least slightly spaced to prevent wedging. This allows a maximum amount of the outer surface of the container to be used for printing informative and decorative matter. It also provides a container which is pleasing in appearance.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a container in which the combination closure-receiving and stacking portion is free of sharp edges which inherently lead to stress concentration points which cause fracture or rupture of the container if it is deformed. Furthermore, such sharp edges are objectionable from a manufacturing standpoint because they are hard to mold, the molds are more costly, and the product is hard to remove from the mold.
  • a further object of this invention is to provide a container having a combination closure-receiving and stacking portion which utilizes a minimum amount of space, or axial length at the open top end of the container.
  • Containers manufactured in accordance with this invention nest very compactly. Substantial savings in storage space, packaging and shipping may be realized by utilization of the present invention.
  • Still another object of this invention is to provide a container having a combination closure-receiving and stacking portion which is very strong and resistant to compression forces, but which at the same time, provides a stack of nested containers with a surprising amount of resiliency due to relative sliding between adjacent containers along stacking surfaces or supporting ledges where the adjacent containers are in contact with each other. Due to a unique and novel configuration and arrangement of these supporting ledges, axial compressive forces tend to cause slight radial expansion of an outer, or lower, container allowing the inner, or upper container in a nested stack to temporarily slide into a slightly closer position in relation to the outer or lower container. Due to resiliency of the plastic container material, the respective containers quickly return to their original position when the compression forces are released. In a stack of a substantial number of these containers a considerable amount of resiliency is demonstrated. Such resiliency tends to prevent jamming or rupture of containers in a stack when subjected to axial compressive forces.
  • the container of the present invention is provided at its top end with a combination closure-receiving and stacking portion which comprises in general an annular protrusion or groove of greater diameter than the adjacent sidewall portion.
  • This groove has a lower side or wall which merges with the sidewall portion of the container and tapers inwardly at a predetermined angle relative to the longitudinal centerline or axis of the container to form a first supporting ledge.
  • a second supporting ledge is provided above, or closer to the open top end of the container, which flares outwardly and upwardly at approximately the same angle relative to the axis as the first supporting ledge.
  • the upper side of the groove or protrusion and the second supporting ledge are separated and spaced apart by a generally cylindrical ring.
  • the top of the container terminates in a rim portion.
  • the first and second supporting ledges are within diametrical ranges sufficient to cause overlapping at least on part of their respective surfaces when two like containers are nested.
  • FIGURE 1 is an elevation view of a container constructed in accordance with my invention.
  • FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the container shown in FIGURE 1.
  • FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary axial section view on an enlarged scale showing the top portion of a container constructed in accordance with my invention.
  • FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary axial section view similar to FIGURE 3, but showing a pair of containers constructed in accordance with my invention stacked in nested relation.
  • the container is divided into three portions-- a bottom portion, a sidewall portion, and a combination closure-receiving and stacking portion located at the top of the sidewall portion.
  • FIGURES 1 through 3 a container is illustrated having a bottom portion 10 connected to a sidewall portion 12 which flares upwardly and outwardly towards an open top end of the container, generally designated as 14.
  • the open top is adapted to receive a lid (not shown) for temporarily closing the container.
  • the containers are packaged for shipping and storage in nested condition prior to being filled.
  • the sidewall portion 12 is generally in the shape of a truncated cone and symmetrical about a longitudinal axis 16. Near the open top of the container and above the portion herein referred to or the sidewall portion 12 is a combination closure-receiving and stacking portion 18, which may continue in a generally upwardly and outwardly flaring direction.
  • This combination closure-receiving and stacking portion 18 contains several sections of various configurations which together make up the novel portion of my container.
  • the portion 18 is all integral, and is also preferably integral with sidewall portion 12. It is also generally symmetrical with the longitudinal axis 16 of the container and of appreciable axial length.
  • the lowermost section of portion 18, i.e., that adjacent the sidewall 12, is in the form of a peripheral, annular protrusion or groove which includes closure receiving portion 20, supporting ledge 22 and connecting means 24.
  • the protrusion is of greater diameter than that of the container sidewall 12 below it.
  • neither the protrusion nor any other part of the portion 18 contains sharp corners or crevices which would catch and hold any matter stored in the container. Furthermore, it is desirable from a strength standpoint that no sharp corners occur in the configuration of the portion 18 which might cause stress concentration points, and consequently cracking or rupturing should the open end of the container be deformed.
  • the bottom side 22 of the protrusion i.e., that connecting it with sidewall 12, tapers inwardly towards axis 16 and bottom portion 10.
  • This bottom side 22 is actually a cone frustum of small height relative to the height of sidewall 12 and conveniently forms a supporting ledge for an adjacent nested container.
  • the bottom side 22 is a substantially smooth surface, as viewed in the section of FIGURES 3 and 4, and is at an angle to sidewall 12.
  • the frustoconical side 22 is disposed at an angle 12 relative to the axis 16 of between 35 and 55.
  • the preferable range of angle b is between 40 and 50, and most desirably about 45, which will be explained hereinafter in greater detail.
  • Ring 26 is generally parallel to axis 16. By the term generally parallel, it is intended that the ring 26 be generally parallel to the axis 16, and minor deviations from a parallel disposition are within the scope of this meaning. It is preferable that, if ring 26 tapers or flares at all, that the taper be in an upward and outward direction toward the open end 14 rather than inwardly toward the open bottom portion 10. Ring 26 is of a diameter less than that of closure-receiving portion 20 and greater than the diameter of the largest part of sidewall 12. While the preferred embodiment of the invention is described herein which includes cylindrical ring 26, it is also contemplated that in some forms of the invention and under certain circumstances ring 26 may not be needed. In such cases, circumferential line 27 would coincide with circumferential line 25.
  • Ring 26 is bounded on its upper side, or in other words, the side closest the open top end 14, and by a supporting ledge 28 which flares outwardly towards open end 14.
  • This supporting ledge 28 is similar to supporting ledge 22 in that it is actually a cone frustum of small height relative to the height of sidewall 12. It is also a substantially smooth surface when viewed in the sections of FIGURES 3 and 4.
  • Ledge 28 is disposed at an angle a relative to the axis 16 of the container of between 35 and 55, the preferable range being 40 to 50 and 45 being most desirable. Angle a and angle b are approximately the same in like containers.
  • Supporting ledge 28 is bounded on its upper side, at
  • a rim 30 having a curled lip 32 integral therewith.
  • the lip 32 of rim 30 may overlap supporting ledge 28.
  • the diameter of rim 30 is greater than the diameter of the closure receiving portion 20, to allow such portion of an adjacent nested container to pass, allowing supporting ledge 22 of one container to rest in intimate contact with supporting ledge 28 of another container, as shown in FIGURE 4.
  • the diametrical extent of ledge 28 must overlap at least a portion of the diametrical extent of ledge 22 for adjacent containers to nest and be supported in relation to each other by the respective supporting ledges of each.
  • a plurality of circumferentially spaced, generally vertical protrusions or ribs 34 are provided in cylindrical ring 26. These protrusions serve a dual purpose in strengthening the closurereceiving and stacking portion 18, so that any vertical resiliency in a single container that might otherwise be present is greatly reduced, and also, providing for venting of the container during application of a closure and for allowing gases to escape if any are generated by the contents during storage.
  • FIGURE 4 upper container 36 is stacked inside lower container 38, and the respective sidewall portions 12 and 12 are supported such that there is a space 42 therebetween. Also, the bottom portions are held in spaced relationship. This is due to ledge 22 of container 36 resting upon supporting ledge 28 of lower container 38 along an area of intimate contact generally designated 40. This area is, of course, formed by frustoconical supporting ledges 28 and 22 due to the aforesaid overlapping of the diametrical extents thereof. FIGURE 4 illustrates this area 40 as a generally straight line in cross section, but of course, this area extends substantially circumferentially between the two containers 36 and 38.
  • Angles a and b of the supporting ledges 22 and 28 have been described herein in relation to the vertical or longitudinal axis 16 of the container. It should be understood that these angles are measured, as indicated in FIGURE 3, in a cross-sectional plane extending through axis 16, by extension lines through each ledge intersecting the axis of thecontainer.
  • a one piece, thin wall plastic container having a bottom portion, an upwardly and outwardly flaring sidewall portion connected with said bottom portion, and a combination closure-receiving and stacking portion of appreciable axial length at the open top end of said container and generally symmetrical about the longitudinal axis of the container, said closure-receiving and stacking portion comprising:
  • said first and second supporting ledges being within diametrical ranges sufiicient to cause overlapping at least on part of their respective surfaces whereby References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 795,437 7/ 1905 Gender. 3,094,240 6/ 1963 Wandere. 3,157,335 11/1964 Maier. 3,173,571 3/1965 Cserny 22044 3,347,411 10/1967 Kalata.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Stackable Containers (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
  • Apparatus Associated With Microorganisms And Enzymes (AREA)
US677429A 1967-10-23 1967-10-23 Container Expired - Lifetime US3437233A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US67742967A 1967-10-23 1967-10-23

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3437233A true US3437233A (en) 1969-04-08

Family

ID=24718665

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US677429A Expired - Lifetime US3437233A (en) 1967-10-23 1967-10-23 Container

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3437233A (de)
DE (1) DE1803992B2 (de)
FR (1) FR1588023A (de)
GB (1) GB1241048A (de)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3612346A (en) * 1968-03-08 1971-10-12 Jack M Schneider Plastics containers
US3643830A (en) * 1970-02-05 1972-02-22 Phillips Petroleum Co Packaging container and closure therefor
US3967731A (en) * 1975-02-03 1976-07-06 Dart Industries Inc. Stackable lid and container
US5123461A (en) * 1991-04-04 1992-06-23 Belokin Jr Paul Nestable container for dispensing and draining liquid therefrom
US5146957A (en) * 1991-04-04 1992-09-15 Belokin Jr Paul Nestable container and method for dispensing and draining liquid therefrom
US6557720B2 (en) * 1999-04-01 2003-05-06 The Vollrath Company, L.L.C. Food pan configured for nested stacking

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1395026A (en) * 1972-03-16 1975-05-21 Itw Ltd Cups for holding ingredients for drinks
CA972520A (en) * 1973-01-22 1975-08-12 Bryant Edwards Method and apparatus for converting nestable plastic containers into non-nestable container products
CA1007182A (en) * 1973-02-07 1977-03-22 Robert H. Day Cups for holding ingredients for drinks
DE3121022C2 (de) * 1981-05-27 1986-10-23 Hacoba Textilmaschinen Gmbh & Co Kg, 5600 Wuppertal Konische Spulenhülse

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US795437A (en) * 1900-12-28 1905-07-25 Geuder & Paeschke Mfg Company Sheet-metal vessel.
US3094240A (en) * 1962-03-22 1963-06-18 Illinois Tool Works Molded nestable container having indicia protection means
US3157335A (en) * 1962-04-18 1964-11-17 Continental Can Co Plastic cup with spaced and tapered radial hollow projections of 90 degrees or less in the finger contact area thereof
US3173571A (en) * 1963-06-10 1965-03-16 Foster Grant Co Inc Package
US3347411A (en) * 1965-03-24 1967-10-17 Daniel R Kalata Nestable containers

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US795437A (en) * 1900-12-28 1905-07-25 Geuder & Paeschke Mfg Company Sheet-metal vessel.
US3094240A (en) * 1962-03-22 1963-06-18 Illinois Tool Works Molded nestable container having indicia protection means
US3157335A (en) * 1962-04-18 1964-11-17 Continental Can Co Plastic cup with spaced and tapered radial hollow projections of 90 degrees or less in the finger contact area thereof
US3173571A (en) * 1963-06-10 1965-03-16 Foster Grant Co Inc Package
US3347411A (en) * 1965-03-24 1967-10-17 Daniel R Kalata Nestable containers

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3612346A (en) * 1968-03-08 1971-10-12 Jack M Schneider Plastics containers
US3643830A (en) * 1970-02-05 1972-02-22 Phillips Petroleum Co Packaging container and closure therefor
US3967731A (en) * 1975-02-03 1976-07-06 Dart Industries Inc. Stackable lid and container
US5123461A (en) * 1991-04-04 1992-06-23 Belokin Jr Paul Nestable container for dispensing and draining liquid therefrom
US5146957A (en) * 1991-04-04 1992-09-15 Belokin Jr Paul Nestable container and method for dispensing and draining liquid therefrom
US6557720B2 (en) * 1999-04-01 2003-05-06 The Vollrath Company, L.L.C. Food pan configured for nested stacking

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1241048A (en) 1971-07-28
DE1803992B2 (de) 1973-09-20
DE1803992A1 (de) 1969-05-29
FR1588023A (de) 1970-04-03

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3131845A (en) Containers
US3353707A (en) Nestable container
US3349941A (en) Compartmented container package
US3784052A (en) Stackable container
US3288340A (en) Nestable container
US3347411A (en) Nestable containers
US3342370A (en) Nestable cup construction
US3927766A (en) Cups for holding ingredients for drinks
US4446969A (en) Reinforced nestable containers
US3580468A (en) Nestable double-walled disposable container
US3349950A (en) Container with segmented lid seat
US3061139A (en) Self-venting package
US4040537A (en) Double-walled cup construction for interlocking in nested stacks to seal a food concentrate between adjacent cups
US2575770A (en) Nesting kitchen canister set
US4275815A (en) Lid
US3471075A (en) Container wall structure
US3519165A (en) Cup stacking means
US3079027A (en) Double walled nestable plastic container
US3373896A (en) Container lid
US3516572A (en) Closure having double fastening means
US3326421A (en) Retractable plastic bottle spout
US3512677A (en) Stackable container
US4296871A (en) Receptacle with a cover of plastics material
US3557995A (en) Upwardly expansible plastic vented lid
US3931890A (en) Stackable lid