US3512677A - Stackable container - Google Patents
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- US3512677A US3512677A US742338A US3512677DA US3512677A US 3512677 A US3512677 A US 3512677A US 742338 A US742338 A US 742338A US 3512677D A US3512677D A US 3512677DA US 3512677 A US3512677 A US 3512677A
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- 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
- B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
- B65D85/70—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for
- B65D85/804—Disposable containers or packages with contents which are mixed, infused or dissolved in situ, i.e. without having been previously removed from the package
- B65D85/816—Disposable containers or packages with contents which are mixed, infused or dissolved in situ, i.e. without having been previously removed from the package into which liquid is added and the resulting preparation is retained, e.g. cups preloaded with powder or dehydrated food
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- 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
- B65D1/265—Drinking cups
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- 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
- B65D21/00—Nestable, stackable or joinable containers; Containers of variable capacity
- B65D21/02—Containers specially shaped, or provided with fittings or attachments, to facilitate nesting, stacking, or joining together
Definitions
- a disposable thin wall plastic container having stacking means to provide stacking of similarly configured containers and means for releasably and axially locking stacked containers together thereby preventing inadvertent separation thereof for ease of transporting the containers and enabling a sealed relationship to be established between adjacent containers where it is desired to provide a food concentrate therebetween.
- Containers dispensed through a coin-operated vending machine are generally completely filled after coin insertion and product selection,
- containers either made of paper or plastic, are gravitationally dropped and/ or mechanically eparated from a container stack in response to activation and operation of the mechanical components of the machine which also dispenses and fills the separated container with ingredients, such as a hot or cold beverage, after such container is supported in an accessible area of the machine to permit subsequent grasping thereof by the consumer.
- paper containers possess a number of disadvantages, such as sogginess and the unfavorable papery taste which caused the development of and the increasing consumer preference for one-piece disposable thin wall plastic containers. Further, paper containers having a food concentrate trapped therebetween require an air impervious and moisture free overwrap which is positioned in tightly wound engagement relative to a stack of containers to prevent spoilage of the food concentrate and prevent spillage or separation of the concentrate from between the containers.
- Another object of the present invention is the provision of a disposable thin wall plastic container which, in addition to the afore-mentioned object, is configured to receive a food concentrate or the like therebetween and protect such concentrate from air or moisture while adjacent containers are in stacked relationship relative to one another.
- a container of the aforenoted type which can be economically and efiiciently manufactured by known techniques, easily filled, if desired, with a food concentrate or the like, rapidly assembled and disassembled relative to a similarly configured container, is pleasing in appearance and in use, and is otherwise well adapted for the purposes intended.
- a disposable thin wall plastic container which includes a bottom wall and a peripherally continuous side wall extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom, stacking means provided in the side wall of the container for stacking a similarly configured container in axially spaced relationship therewith, and means for releasably and axially locking adjacent containers together with the stacking means thereof in cooperative engagement.
- FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of a disposable thin wall plastic container constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view, partially in section, of a pair of similarly configured containers which are releasably locked in stacked relationship to one another;
- FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view, partially in section, on a scale slightly smaller than FIG. 2, and showing a modified form of container coming within the purview of the present invention.
- FIGS. 4-6 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views illustrating various modified forms of stacking and releasable locking means which are also within the scope of the present invention.
- the container 10 shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing is a disposable one-piece thin wall plastic container which is preferably made from a material such as polystyrene, polyethylene, polyvinylchloride or other similar and equivalent thermoplastic materials. It is well known to those skilled in the art of thermoforming containers that the above-described containers can be formed as finished products with a thickness generally in the range of .002 to .034 inch in thickness.
- the container 10 has a general frusto-conical shape which includes a bottom 'wall 12, which is axially concave upwards to prevent oil canning, and a peripherally continuous side wall 14 extending upwardly and outwardly from the bottom wall 12 and terminating in a thickened rim 16 of the rolled rim variety at the open upper end of the container.
- the container 10 may be provided with finger gripping means in the form of steps or fins as depicted in US. Pat. Nos. 2,905,350 and 3,223,305 or with any other desired configuration which will facilitate grasping of the container and reinforce its side wall.
- a stacking means 18 which may be provided adjacent the bottom Wall 12 of the container as illustrated in the drawing.
- Stacking means 18 includes an upper annular or circumferentially continuous shoulder 20 spaced axially upwardly from the bottom wall 12 of the container, a lower annular or circumferentially continuous shoulder 22 which comprises part of the bottom wall 12 of the container 10 along the outer peripheral portions thereof in the general vicinity of its juncture with the side wall 14 as an intermediate section 24 which connects the upper and lower shoulders 20, 22 respectively to each other as illustrated.
- a foot portion 26 is provided Immediately above the juncture of the bottom wall 12 and side wall '14.
- the foot portion 26 permits the upper shoulder 20 to have a smaller diameter than the lower shoulder 22 by more than twice the side wall thickness of the container to counteract jamming between like containers when stacked, and is set forth in detail in US. Pat. No. 3,139,213.
- FIG. 2 of the drawing herein for an illustration of the manner in which adjacent containers are stacked in nested relationship. It will be seen that the lower shoulder 22 of the uppermost container rests upon and is supported by the upper shoulder of the lowermost container. Since there is a difference between upper and lower shoulders of adjacent stacked containers by more than twice the material thickness as previously mentioned, the incidence of jamming between adjacent containers is very small and within commercially acceptable standards.
- the stacking means 18 is configured to take advantage of inherent resiliency of thin wall plastic material such that when a plurality of containers 10 are stacked together, the stacking means 18, primarily through the intermediate section 24, temporarily distorts when the stack is accidentally dropped or mishandled and then returned to normal, thereby providing a resilient action for a stack of containers as is disclosed in detail in US. Pat. No. 3,319,213.
- locking means 28 which is preferably formed immediately above the stacking means 18.
- the locking means 28 comprises an inwardly opening or extending groove which is complementary configured and dimensioned relative to the foot portion 26 provided in the stacking means 18 for receiving the foot portion 26 of an upper container as illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawing.
- the locking means 28 further includes a locking projection 32 which is radially inwardly ofi'set relative to the locking groove 30 by a dimension which is sufiicient to releasably retain the foot portion 26 of an upper container within the locking groove 30 associated therewith.
- this dimension is at least twice the thickness of the side wall at the point where the side wall diverges upwardly from the locking projection 32, but, of course, not so much greater than the thickness of the side wall that it would prevent assembly of the containers in the releasably and axially locked condition, which is desired.
- the locking groove 30 of the lower container is shown with the foot portion 26 of the upper container in interfitting relationship therewith with the locking projection 32 of the lower container releasably locking and holding the foot portion 26 of the upper container against inadvertent separation.
- the arrangement of the stacking means and locking means 18, 28 respectively is such that when adjacent containers are releasably and axially locked into assembled relationship as illustrated in FIG.
- the upper shoulder of a lower container contacts the lower shoulder of an upper container in sealed relationship while the outer side surface of the foot portion 26 and the inner side surface of the groove 30' on adjacent containers also contact each other and provide scaling to prevent spoilage or spilling of a food concentrate 34 or the like which may be positioned, if desired, between the bottom walls 12 of adjacent stacking containers.
- the stacking means and locking means 18, 28 respectively of each container 10 permits a plurality of containers to be stacked and releasably held together to facilitate shipping and handling of a stack of such container while also enabling a. food concentrate 34 or the like to be protected from spoilage or spilling from between adjacent containers due to the cooperation of elements as described.
- FIGS. 3-6 of the drawing for a description of various alternative embodiments which are within the purview of the present invention.
- similar reference numerals are employed to identify corresponding parts of the FIGS. 1-2 embodiment with the suffixes a through d being employed respectively in FIGS. 3-6 to identify the particular embodiment depicted in those figures.
- the fragmented container 10a illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawing is similar to the FIGS. 1-2 embodiment in all respects with the exception of the locking projection 32a.
- the locking projection 32a is peripherally or circumferentially interrupted to provide a plurality of locking nibs 36 which function to engage the foot portion 26 of an adjacent nesting container in the same manner as previously described.
- the locking nibs or protuberances 36 are separated from each other by smooth side wall portions of the side wall 14a, assembly and disassambely of adjacent containers in releasably locked relationship will be facilitated due to their greater diametrical flexibility that is provided with such a construction.
- stripping of containers from a mold with undercut formations of the locking nibs or protuberances 36 is made easier by virtue of the greater radial or diametrical flexibility of such a container.
- the container embodiment 10b is similar in all respects to the FIGS. 1-2 embodiment with the exception of the intermediate section 24b and the foot portion 26b.
- the intermediate section 24b and the foot portion 26b form a continuation of an upwardly and inwardly directed or back tapered section relative to the axis of the container.
- a back tapered construction is particularly useful in counteracting jamming of like stacked containers as well as preventing damage thereto, and thus it may be desired to employ such a construction in the commercial form of the container.
- the foot portion 26b while it does not follow the contour of the locking groove and projection 30b, 32b respectively, has the essential portions thereof complementary configured thereto so as to provide the releasable holding between adjacent stacked containers.
- FIG. 5 is similar in all respects to the FIGS. 1-2 and FIG. 3 embodiments with the exception of the locking projection 32c.
- the locking projection 320 is V-shaped to provide upper and lower camming faces 38 and 40, which aid in the radial expansion of the locking projection 320 during assembly or disassembly of adjacent nested containers.
- the lower shoulder 22c of an upper container will first initially engage the upper camming face provided on the locking projection 320 of a lower container for sliding contact therewith and subsequent expansion of the locking projection 320 to provide the interfitting relationship between the foot portion 260 of an upper container and the locking groove 30c of a lower container.
- the upwardly and inwardly directed portion 250 forming the juncture between the foot portion 260 and the intermediate section 240 on an upper container engages the lower camming face of the locking projection 320 provided on a lower container for radial expansion of the locking projection 320 of the lower container in permitting disassembly of the upper and lower containers relative to one another.
- the intermediate section 24d and the foot portion 26d form a continuation of a vertically oriented section relative to the axis of the container, and the locking groove 30d is also vertically oriented with there being no locking projection in this particular embodiment.
- the vertically oriented foot portion 26d of an upper container will be received within the locking groove 30d of a lower container; however, the relationship of the foot portion 26d and locking groove 30b of adjacent stacked containers is such that there will be frictional retention between these parts on containers to provide the releasable locking engagement with sealing along the outer side surface of foot portion 26d and inner side surface of groove 30d on adjacent containers. Since there is no locking projection in this embodiment, it may be desired to telescope adjacent containers as completely as possible to provide a sealed contact between the upper and lower stacking shoulders as well as between the side surfaces and stacking shoulders of adjacent containers.
- the present invention provides a new and improved dis posable thin wall plastic container which functions to stack adjacent containers together as well as releasably hold them together in desired relationship for shipping and handling purposes and, if desired, to protect food concentrates or the like positioned between adjacent containers from contamination, spoilage or spilling.
- the present invention contemplates a number of different embodiments having features which may be used singly or in combination with each other to achieve the purposes as may be desired for the maximum functioning of the container herein disclosed and illustrated.
- various other changes in structure will no doubt occur to those skilled in the art, and will be understood as forming a part of this invention insofar as they fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
- a disposable thin wall seamless plastic container of substantially uniform thickness including a bottom wall and a peripherally continuous side wall extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom and terminating in a rim portion at the open upper end thereof, stacking means provided in the side wall of the container and being configured to counteract jamming of a similarly configured container in axially spaced, stacked relationship therewith, the stacking means of adjacent containers being configured and arranged to provide a separation between at least part of the bottom walls of said adjacent stacked containers which defines a pocket for receiving a food concentrate or the like, and means including part of said stacking means for releasably and axially locking adjacent containers together with the stacking means thereof being arranged for cooperative engagement until adjacent containers are separated from one another, said means for feleasably and axially locking adjacent contain ers together including generally complementary male and female elements formed on adjacent containers which are configured to interfit with one another and a circumferentiall'y extending locking projection which is axially upwardly positioned relative to the interfitting male and female elements and radially
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Description
y 9, 1970 M. KOVAC 3,512,677
IS'I'ACKABLE CONTAINER Filed July 5. 1968 +1 WW HI; 20c 4O 20d 1| 1 I I INVENTOR. .8632 I 18111 I M/b/ 70e/ Kovoc His AffZy-s United States Patent Oflice 3,512,677 Patented May 19, 1970 3,512,677 STACKABLE CONTAINER Michael Kovac, Northbrook, Ill., assignor to Illinois Tool Works Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 3, 1968, Ser. No. 742,338 Int. Cl. B65d 21/02, 85/72 US. Cl. 220-97 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A disposable thin wall plastic container having stacking means to provide stacking of similarly configured containers and means for releasably and axially locking stacked containers together thereby preventing inadvertent separation thereof for ease of transporting the containers and enabling a sealed relationship to be established between adjacent containers where it is desired to provide a food concentrate therebetween.
Containers dispensed through a coin-operated vending machine are generally completely filled after coin insertion and product selection, In such a machine, containers, either made of paper or plastic, are gravitationally dropped and/ or mechanically eparated from a container stack in response to activation and operation of the mechanical components of the machine which also dispenses and fills the separated container with ingredients, such as a hot or cold beverage, after such container is supported in an accessible area of the machine to permit subsequent grasping thereof by the consumer.
' While many large establishments having sufiicient usage to support the above type of coin vending machine, there are a number of smaller establishments where a simplified system is desired. Such a system could provide either mechanical or hand separation of containers from a stack with subsequent manual filling thereof. With such a system, it is often desirable to expedite the manual filling of the containers through pre-filling of containers with a freeze-dried concentrate or the like. At least one such prefilling approach is commercially in use in the market place where false or indented bottom two-piece paper containers are filled with concentrate when inverted, the concentrate being trapped between adjacent containers when nested together and the entire package being overwrapped within a transparent plastic bag for shipment to consumers. As is well known, paper containers possess a number of disadvantages, such as sogginess and the unfavorable papery taste which caused the development of and the increasing consumer preference for one-piece disposable thin wall plastic containers. Further, paper containers having a food concentrate trapped therebetween require an air impervious and moisture free overwrap which is positioned in tightly wound engagement relative to a stack of containers to prevent spoilage of the food concentrate and prevent spillage or separation of the concentrate from between the containers.
It is one object of the present invention to provide a disposable thin wall plastic container which releasably hold similarly configured containers in stacked relationship until separation thereof is desired to prevent accidental container separation and also facilitate shipment and handling of the stack of such containers.
Another object of the present invention is the provision of a disposable thin wall plastic container which, in addition to the afore-mentioned object, is configured to receive a food concentrate or the like therebetween and protect such concentrate from air or moisture while adjacent containers are in stacked relationship relative to one another.
Other objects of the present invention include the provision of a container of the aforenoted type which can be economically and efiiciently manufactured by known techniques, easily filled, if desired, with a food concentrate or the like, rapidly assembled and disassembled relative to a similarly configured container, is pleasing in appearance and in use, and is otherwise well adapted for the purposes intended.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are attained by the provision of a disposable thin wall plastic container which includes a bottom wall and a peripherally continuous side wall extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom, stacking means provided in the side wall of the container for stacking a similarly configured container in axially spaced relationship therewith, and means for releasably and axially locking adjacent containers together with the stacking means thereof in cooperative engagement.
Reference is now made to the drawing wherein:
FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of a disposable thin wall plastic container constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view, partially in section, of a pair of similarly configured containers which are releasably locked in stacked relationship to one another;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view, partially in section, on a scale slightly smaller than FIG. 2, and showing a modified form of container coming within the purview of the present invention; and
FIGS. 4-6 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views illustrating various modified forms of stacking and releasable locking means which are also within the scope of the present invention.
The container 10 shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing is a disposable one-piece thin wall plastic container which is preferably made from a material such as polystyrene, polyethylene, polyvinylchloride or other similar and equivalent thermoplastic materials. It is well known to those skilled in the art of thermoforming containers that the above-described containers can be formed as finished products with a thickness generally in the range of .002 to .034 inch in thickness.
The container 10 has a general frusto-conical shape which includes a bottom 'wall 12, which is axially concave upwards to prevent oil canning, and a peripherally continuous side wall 14 extending upwardly and outwardly from the bottom wall 12 and terminating in a thickened rim 16 of the rolled rim variety at the open upper end of the container. -If desired, the container 10 may be provided with finger gripping means in the form of steps or fins as depicted in US. Pat. Nos. 2,905,350 and 3,223,305 or with any other desired configuration which will facilitate grasping of the container and reinforce its side wall.
To support a plurality of simiarly configured containers in stacked relationship, there is provided a stacking means 18 which may be provided adjacent the bottom Wall 12 of the container as illustrated in the drawing. Stacking means 18 includes an upper annular or circumferentially continuous shoulder 20 spaced axially upwardly from the bottom wall 12 of the container, a lower annular or circumferentially continuous shoulder 22 which comprises part of the bottom wall 12 of the container 10 along the outer peripheral portions thereof in the general vicinity of its juncture with the side wall 14 as an intermediate section 24 which connects the upper and lower shoulders 20, 22 respectively to each other as illustrated. Immediately above the juncture of the bottom wall 12 and side wall '14, a foot portion 26 is provided. The foot portion 26 permits the upper shoulder 20 to have a smaller diameter than the lower shoulder 22 by more than twice the side wall thickness of the container to counteract jamming between like containers when stacked, and is set forth in detail in US. Pat. No. 3,139,213. In this respect, reference is made to FIG. 2 of the drawing herein for an illustration of the manner in which adjacent containers are stacked in nested relationship. It will be seen that the lower shoulder 22 of the uppermost container rests upon and is supported by the upper shoulder of the lowermost container. Since there is a difference between upper and lower shoulders of adjacent stacked containers by more than twice the material thickness as previously mentioned, the incidence of jamming between adjacent containers is very small and within commercially acceptable standards. The stacking means 18 is configured to take advantage of inherent resiliency of thin wall plastic material such that when a plurality of containers 10 are stacked together, the stacking means 18, primarily through the intermediate section 24, temporarily distorts when the stack is accidentally dropped or mishandled and then returned to normal, thereby providing a resilient action for a stack of containers as is disclosed in detail in US. Pat. No. 3,319,213.
As an important feature of the present invention, there is provided, in conjunction with the stacking means 18 in each container 10, locking means 28 which is preferably formed immediately above the stacking means 18. The locking means 28 comprises an inwardly opening or extending groove which is complementary configured and dimensioned relative to the foot portion 26 provided in the stacking means 18 for receiving the foot portion 26 of an upper container as illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawing. The locking means 28 further includes a locking projection 32 which is radially inwardly ofi'set relative to the locking groove 30 by a dimension which is sufiicient to releasably retain the foot portion 26 of an upper container within the locking groove 30 associated therewith. As illustrated in the drawing, this dimension is at least twice the thickness of the side wall at the point where the side wall diverges upwardly from the locking projection 32, but, of course, not so much greater than the thickness of the side wall that it would prevent assembly of the containers in the releasably and axially locked condition, which is desired.
As best seen in FIG. 2 of the drawing, the locking groove 30 of the lower container is shown with the foot portion 26 of the upper container in interfitting relationship therewith with the locking projection 32 of the lower container releasably locking and holding the foot portion 26 of the upper container against inadvertent separation. Further, in the arrangement of the stacking means and locking means 18, 28 respectively, is such that when adjacent containers are releasably and axially locked into assembled relationship as illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawing, the upper shoulder of a lower container contacts the lower shoulder of an upper container in sealed relationship while the outer side surface of the foot portion 26 and the inner side surface of the groove 30' on adjacent containers also contact each other and provide scaling to prevent spoilage or spilling of a food concentrate 34 or the like which may be positioned, if desired, between the bottom walls 12 of adjacent stacking containers. Thus, the stacking means and locking means 18, 28 respectively of each container 10 permits a plurality of containers to be stacked and releasably held together to facilitate shipping and handling of a stack of such container while also enabling a. food concentrate 34 or the like to be protected from spoilage or spilling from between adjacent containers due to the cooperation of elements as described.
Reference is now made to FIGS. 3-6 of the drawing for a description of various alternative embodiments which are within the purview of the present invention. In each of FIGS. 3-6, similar reference numerals are employed to identify corresponding parts of the FIGS. 1-2 embodiment with the suffixes a through d being employed respectively in FIGS. 3-6 to identify the particular embodiment depicted in those figures.
The fragmented container 10a illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawing is similar to the FIGS. 1-2 embodiment in all respects with the exception of the locking projection 32a. In the FIG. 3 embodiment, it will be noted that the locking projection 32a is peripherally or circumferentially interrupted to provide a plurality of locking nibs 36 which function to engage the foot portion 26 of an adjacent nesting container in the same manner as previously described. However, since the locking nibs or protuberances 36 are separated from each other by smooth side wall portions of the side wall 14a, assembly and disassambely of adjacent containers in releasably locked relationship will be facilitated due to their greater diametrical flexibility that is provided with such a construction. Also, stripping of containers from a mold with undercut formations of the locking nibs or protuberances 36 is made easier by virtue of the greater radial or diametrical flexibility of such a container.
In FIG. 4 of the drawing, the container embodiment 10b is similar in all respects to the FIGS. 1-2 embodiment with the exception of the intermediate section 24b and the foot portion 26b. In this particular instance, the intermediate section 24b and the foot portion 26b form a continuation of an upwardly and inwardly directed or back tapered section relative to the axis of the container. As is described in US. Pat. No. 3,139,213, such a back tapered construction is particularly useful in counteracting jamming of like stacked containers as well as preventing damage thereto, and thus it may be desired to employ such a construction in the commercial form of the container. The foot portion 26b, while it does not follow the contour of the locking groove and projection 30b, 32b respectively, has the essential portions thereof complementary configured thereto so as to provide the releasable holding between adjacent stacked containers.
The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 is similar in all respects to the FIGS. 1-2 and FIG. 3 embodiments with the exception of the locking projection 32c. As depicted in FIG. 5, the locking projection 320 is V-shaped to provide upper and lower camming faces 38 and 40, which aid in the radial expansion of the locking projection 320 during assembly or disassembly of adjacent nested containers. As will be apparent, the lower shoulder 22c of an upper container will first initially engage the upper camming face provided on the locking projection 320 of a lower container for sliding contact therewith and subsequent expansion of the locking projection 320 to provide the interfitting relationship between the foot portion 260 of an upper container and the locking groove 30c of a lower container. During disassembly of adjacent containers, the upwardly and inwardly directed portion 250 forming the juncture between the foot portion 260 and the intermediate section 240 on an upper container engages the lower camming face of the locking projection 320 provided on a lower container for radial expansion of the locking projection 320 of the lower container in permitting disassembly of the upper and lower containers relative to one another.
In FIG. 6 of the drawing, the intermediate section 24d and the foot portion 26d form a continuation of a vertically oriented section relative to the axis of the container, and the locking groove 30d is also vertically oriented with there being no locking projection in this particular embodiment. Thus, when adjacent containers are stacked together, the vertically oriented foot portion 26d of an upper container will be received within the locking groove 30d of a lower container; however, the relationship of the foot portion 26d and locking groove 30b of adjacent stacked containers is such that there will be frictional retention between these parts on containers to provide the releasable locking engagement with sealing along the outer side surface of foot portion 26d and inner side surface of groove 30d on adjacent containers. Since there is no locking projection in this embodiment, it may be desired to telescope adjacent containers as completely as possible to provide a sealed contact between the upper and lower stacking shoulders as well as between the side surfaces and stacking shoulders of adjacent containers.
From the foregoing, it will now be apparent that the present invention provides a new and improved dis posable thin wall plastic container which functions to stack adjacent containers together as well as releasably hold them together in desired relationship for shipping and handling purposes and, if desired, to protect food concentrates or the like positioned between adjacent containers from contamination, spoilage or spilling. The present invention contemplates a number of different embodiments having features which may be used singly or in combination with each other to achieve the purposes as may be desired for the maximum functioning of the container herein disclosed and illustrated. In addition to the various embodiments disclosed, various other changes in structure will no doubt occur to those skilled in the art, and will be understood as forming a part of this invention insofar as they fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
I claim:
1. A disposable thin wall seamless plastic container of substantially uniform thickness including a bottom wall and a peripherally continuous side wall extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom and terminating in a rim portion at the open upper end thereof, stacking means provided in the side wall of the container and being configured to counteract jamming of a similarly configured container in axially spaced, stacked relationship therewith, the stacking means of adjacent containers being configured and arranged to provide a separation between at least part of the bottom walls of said adjacent stacked containers which defines a pocket for receiving a food concentrate or the like, and means including part of said stacking means for releasably and axially locking adjacent containers together with the stacking means thereof being arranged for cooperative engagement until adjacent containers are separated from one another, said means for feleasably and axially locking adjacent contain ers together including generally complementary male and female elements formed on adjacent containers which are configured to interfit with one another and a circumferentiall'y extending locking projection which is axially upwardly positioned relative to the interfitting male and female elements and radially inwardly disposed relative to the container side wall diverging upwardly from the circumferentially extending locking projection by at least twice the thickness of the side wall, but less than a dimension which would prevent assembly of said containers, for releasably locking the complementary configured interfitting male and female elements on adjacent containers, the side walls of adjacent containers being configured to permit locking engagement only of said means for releasably and axially locking adjacent containers together during telescoping and separation thereof.
2. The container as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of said complementary male and female elements is peripherally interrupted to facilitate assembly and disassembly of adjacent containers.
3. The container as defined in claim 1 wherein said complementary male and female elements are provided with sliding contact surfaces to facilitate assembly and disassembly of adjacent containers.
4. The container as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for releasably and axially locking said containers together also causes interengagement between surfaces thereof to establish a sealed relationship between adjacent containers.
5. The container as defined in claim 4 wherein the interengagement between the surfaces of adjacent containers consists of enaggement between the side surfaces of adjacent containers in the vicinity of the means for releasably and axially locking adjacent containers together.
6. The container as defined in claim 4 wherein the interengagement between the surfaces of adjacent containers consists of engagement of radially extending surfaces of adjacent containers in the vicinity of the means for releasably and axially locking adjacent containers together.
7. The container as defined in claim 4 wherein the interengagement between the surfaces. of adjacent containers consists of engagement of both side and radially extending surfaces of adjacent containers in the vicinity of the means for releasably and axially locking adjacent containers together.
8. The container as defined in claim 4 wherein the stacking means of adjacent containers are in continuous contact with each other when held in releasable engagement with each other.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,899,111 11/1932 Serr 206-47 2,667,423 1/1954' Simpson.
2,971,304 2/1961 ONeil 22097X 3,091,360 5/1963 Edwards 2291.5X 3,349,950 10/1967 Wanderer 229l.5X
GEORGE E. LOWRANCE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US74233868A | 1968-07-03 | 1968-07-03 |
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US3512677A true US3512677A (en) | 1970-05-19 |
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Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US742338A Expired - Lifetime US3512677A (en) | 1968-07-03 | 1968-07-03 | Stackable container |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3512677A (en) |
BR (1) | BR6910333D0 (en) |
DE (2) | DE1932942A1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB1239093A (en) |
NL (1) | NL144541B (en) |
Cited By (25)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3739939A (en) * | 1971-03-10 | 1973-06-19 | Sherwood Medical Ind Inc | Locking stackable container |
JPS49144566U (en) * | 1972-05-26 | 1974-12-13 | ||
US3927766A (en) * | 1973-02-07 | 1975-12-23 | Illinois Tool Works | Cups for holding ingredients for drinks |
DE2554907A1 (en) * | 1974-12-27 | 1976-07-08 | Illinois Tool Works | DOUBLE WALL CUP CONSTRUCTION FOR LOCKING IN NEST-LIKE STACKS AND SEALING A FOOD CONCENTRATE BETWEEN NEIGHBORING CUPS |
DE2620534A1 (en) * | 1975-05-12 | 1976-11-25 | Compact Ind | PACKAGING UNIT MADE OF MUGS FOR A SOLUBLE OR HYGROSCOPE GUT |
US4040537A (en) * | 1974-12-27 | 1977-08-09 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Double-walled cup construction for interlocking in nested stacks to seal a food concentrate between adjacent cups |
FR2349502A1 (en) * | 1976-04-28 | 1977-11-25 | Itw Ltd | THIN WALL CUP |
US4111303A (en) * | 1975-08-01 | 1978-09-05 | Mars Limited | Plastics containers |
FR2389542A1 (en) * | 1977-05-03 | 1978-12-01 | Itw Ltd | |
FR2445135A1 (en) * | 1978-12-29 | 1980-07-25 | Delgrande Jean Pierre | Stackable plastics cup for dental surgery - has cylindrical or annular depression in base holding soluble antiseptic tablet which is sealed when cups are stacked |
EP0039598A1 (en) * | 1980-05-02 | 1981-11-11 | Roboserve Limited | Interlocking container or cup |
US4610351A (en) * | 1979-05-25 | 1986-09-09 | General Foods Ltd. | Insulated drinking cups |
DK153284B (en) * | 1976-07-02 | 1988-07-04 | Mars Ltd | STABLE CONTAINER |
US5108768A (en) * | 1988-11-25 | 1992-04-28 | So Peter K L | Cartridge for beverage making |
US20090001090A1 (en) * | 2007-06-29 | 2009-01-01 | Carl-Louis Pty Ltd. | Disposable beverage container |
US20120104004A1 (en) * | 2009-07-06 | 2012-05-03 | Neil Marshall | Process for the Production of a Cup and a Plurality of Cups |
US20120111877A1 (en) * | 2009-07-06 | 2012-05-10 | Neil Marshall | Cardboard container |
US20120152865A1 (en) * | 2010-12-16 | 2012-06-21 | Lin Zhenwu | Stackable filter cup apparatus and method |
US20120241511A1 (en) * | 2009-12-04 | 2012-09-27 | Neil Marshall | Container and its production process |
JP2014162527A (en) * | 2013-02-26 | 2014-09-08 | Km Planning Co Ltd | Container body |
CN106043880A (en) * | 2016-06-20 | 2016-10-26 | 李彦东 | Tea cup and production method thereof |
US20170251852A1 (en) * | 2016-03-01 | 2017-09-07 | Berry Plastics Corporation | Drink cup |
US20180257818A1 (en) * | 2017-03-09 | 2018-09-13 | Nagatanien Holdings Co., Ltd. | Packaged food material, stack, and packaged stack |
USD994033S1 (en) * | 2020-04-17 | 2023-08-01 | Ward Jr Ii Alexander H | Set of stackable chess pieces |
USD1005845S1 (en) * | 2021-08-19 | 2023-11-28 | Alchemy Jars Llc | Canister insert |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1395026A (en) * | 1972-03-16 | 1975-05-21 | Itw Ltd | Cups for holding ingredients for drinks |
GB2128469B (en) * | 1982-10-14 | 1986-08-28 | Gen Foods Ltd | Interlocking containers |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1899111A (en) * | 1932-06-10 | 1933-02-28 | Fredrich J Rode | Sheet metal drawing press |
US2667423A (en) * | 1951-10-05 | 1954-01-26 | Henry A Simpson | Packaging, storing, and vending frozen concentrates and the like |
US2971304A (en) * | 1958-10-17 | 1961-02-14 | John G O'neil | Interlocking container structure and method |
US3091360A (en) * | 1957-11-29 | 1963-05-28 | Illinois Tool Works | Nestable cup |
US3349950A (en) * | 1965-10-24 | 1967-10-31 | Illinois Tool Works | Container with segmented lid seat |
-
1968
- 1968-07-03 US US742338A patent/US3512677A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1969
- 1969-06-28 DE DE19691932942 patent/DE1932942A1/en active Pending
- 1969-06-28 DE DE6925705U patent/DE6925705U/en not_active Expired
- 1969-06-30 GB GB1239093D patent/GB1239093A/en not_active Expired
- 1969-07-01 BR BR210333/69A patent/BR6910333D0/en unknown
- 1969-07-02 NL NL696910151A patent/NL144541B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1899111A (en) * | 1932-06-10 | 1933-02-28 | Fredrich J Rode | Sheet metal drawing press |
US2667423A (en) * | 1951-10-05 | 1954-01-26 | Henry A Simpson | Packaging, storing, and vending frozen concentrates and the like |
US3091360A (en) * | 1957-11-29 | 1963-05-28 | Illinois Tool Works | Nestable cup |
US2971304A (en) * | 1958-10-17 | 1961-02-14 | John G O'neil | Interlocking container structure and method |
US3349950A (en) * | 1965-10-24 | 1967-10-31 | Illinois Tool Works | Container with segmented lid seat |
Cited By (38)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3739939A (en) * | 1971-03-10 | 1973-06-19 | Sherwood Medical Ind Inc | Locking stackable container |
JPS49144566U (en) * | 1972-05-26 | 1974-12-13 | ||
US4052037A (en) * | 1972-05-26 | 1977-10-04 | Mars Limited | Drinking cup structured to enhance beverage blending |
JPS5318864Y2 (en) * | 1972-05-26 | 1978-05-19 | ||
US3927766A (en) * | 1973-02-07 | 1975-12-23 | Illinois Tool Works | Cups for holding ingredients for drinks |
DE2554907A1 (en) * | 1974-12-27 | 1976-07-08 | Illinois Tool Works | DOUBLE WALL CUP CONSTRUCTION FOR LOCKING IN NEST-LIKE STACKS AND SEALING A FOOD CONCENTRATE BETWEEN NEIGHBORING CUPS |
US4040537A (en) * | 1974-12-27 | 1977-08-09 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Double-walled cup construction for interlocking in nested stacks to seal a food concentrate between adjacent cups |
DE2620534A1 (en) * | 1975-05-12 | 1976-11-25 | Compact Ind | PACKAGING UNIT MADE OF MUGS FOR A SOLUBLE OR HYGROSCOPE GUT |
FR2310733A1 (en) * | 1975-05-12 | 1976-12-10 | Compact Ind | PACKAGING OF FOOD PRODUCTS IN STACKED CUPS, ESPECIALLY FOR BEVERAGE DISPENSERS |
US4111303A (en) * | 1975-08-01 | 1978-09-05 | Mars Limited | Plastics containers |
FR2349502A1 (en) * | 1976-04-28 | 1977-11-25 | Itw Ltd | THIN WALL CUP |
US4124120A (en) * | 1976-04-28 | 1978-11-07 | Itw Limited | Thin-walled cups capable of nesting |
DK153284B (en) * | 1976-07-02 | 1988-07-04 | Mars Ltd | STABLE CONTAINER |
FR2389542A1 (en) * | 1977-05-03 | 1978-12-01 | Itw Ltd | |
US4156483A (en) * | 1977-05-03 | 1979-05-29 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Cups capable of nesting |
FR2445135A1 (en) * | 1978-12-29 | 1980-07-25 | Delgrande Jean Pierre | Stackable plastics cup for dental surgery - has cylindrical or annular depression in base holding soluble antiseptic tablet which is sealed when cups are stacked |
US4610351A (en) * | 1979-05-25 | 1986-09-09 | General Foods Ltd. | Insulated drinking cups |
EP0039598A1 (en) * | 1980-05-02 | 1981-11-11 | Roboserve Limited | Interlocking container or cup |
US5108768A (en) * | 1988-11-25 | 1992-04-28 | So Peter K L | Cartridge for beverage making |
US9351596B2 (en) | 2007-06-29 | 2016-05-31 | Tma Capital Australia Pty Ltd | Disposable beverage container |
US20090001090A1 (en) * | 2007-06-29 | 2009-01-01 | Carl-Louis Pty Ltd. | Disposable beverage container |
US9771206B2 (en) * | 2009-07-06 | 2017-09-26 | Huhtamaki Oyj | Container having sidewall with ring-shaped shaping |
US20120104004A1 (en) * | 2009-07-06 | 2012-05-03 | Neil Marshall | Process for the Production of a Cup and a Plurality of Cups |
US20120111877A1 (en) * | 2009-07-06 | 2012-05-10 | Neil Marshall | Cardboard container |
US9440410B2 (en) * | 2009-07-06 | 2016-09-13 | Huhtamaki Oyj | Cardboard container |
US10294008B2 (en) | 2009-07-06 | 2019-05-21 | Huhtamäki Oyj | Container having sidewall with ring-shaped shaping |
US20120241511A1 (en) * | 2009-12-04 | 2012-09-27 | Neil Marshall | Container and its production process |
US9539786B2 (en) * | 2009-12-04 | 2017-01-10 | Huhtamäki Oyj | Container having a stacking support shaping |
US8808552B2 (en) * | 2010-12-16 | 2014-08-19 | Zenpure (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd. | Stackable filter cup apparatus and method |
US20120152865A1 (en) * | 2010-12-16 | 2012-06-21 | Lin Zhenwu | Stackable filter cup apparatus and method |
JP2014162527A (en) * | 2013-02-26 | 2014-09-08 | Km Planning Co Ltd | Container body |
US20170251852A1 (en) * | 2016-03-01 | 2017-09-07 | Berry Plastics Corporation | Drink cup |
US10477998B2 (en) * | 2016-03-01 | 2019-11-19 | Berry Plastics Corporation | Drink cup |
US11647857B2 (en) | 2016-03-01 | 2023-05-16 | Berry Plastics Corporation | Drink cup |
CN106043880A (en) * | 2016-06-20 | 2016-10-26 | 李彦东 | Tea cup and production method thereof |
US20180257818A1 (en) * | 2017-03-09 | 2018-09-13 | Nagatanien Holdings Co., Ltd. | Packaged food material, stack, and packaged stack |
USD994033S1 (en) * | 2020-04-17 | 2023-08-01 | Ward Jr Ii Alexander H | Set of stackable chess pieces |
USD1005845S1 (en) * | 2021-08-19 | 2023-11-28 | Alchemy Jars Llc | Canister insert |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
NL144541B (en) | 1975-01-15 |
DE6925705U (en) | 1974-03-14 |
GB1239093A (en) | 1971-07-14 |
NL6910151A (en) | 1970-01-06 |
DE1932942A1 (en) | 1970-02-05 |
BR6910333D0 (en) | 1973-02-01 |
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