WO2022020606A1 - Améliorations apportées à des récipients à double paroi d'un seul tenant - Google Patents

Améliorations apportées à des récipients à double paroi d'un seul tenant Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2022020606A1
WO2022020606A1 PCT/US2021/042798 US2021042798W WO2022020606A1 WO 2022020606 A1 WO2022020606 A1 WO 2022020606A1 US 2021042798 W US2021042798 W US 2021042798W WO 2022020606 A1 WO2022020606 A1 WO 2022020606A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
inverted
container
smaller container
inversion
protrusions
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2021/042798
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Alan Mark Crawley
Jonathan K. EICKHOFF
Braxton J. BRAGG
Jeffrey A. Mann
Original Assignee
Alan Mark Crawley
Eickhoff Jonathan K
Bragg Braxton J
Mann Jeffrey A
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 Alan Mark Crawley, Eickhoff Jonathan K, Bragg Braxton J, Mann Jeffrey A filed Critical Alan Mark Crawley
Publication of WO2022020606A1 publication Critical patent/WO2022020606A1/fr

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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
    • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/38—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents with thermal insulation
    • B65D81/3865—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents with thermal insulation drinking cups or like containers
    • B65D81/3869—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents with thermal insulation drinking cups or like containers formed with double walls, i.e. hollow
    • 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
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C49/02—Combined blow-moulding and manufacture of the preform or the parison
    • B29C49/04—Extrusion blow-moulding
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C49/42—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
    • B29C49/4273—Auxiliary operations after the blow-moulding operation not otherwise provided for
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C49/42—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
    • B29C49/4273—Auxiliary operations after the blow-moulding operation not otherwise provided for
    • B29C49/4283—Deforming the finished article
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
    • B29K2995/00—Properties of moulding materials, reinforcements, fillers, preformed parts or moulds
    • B29K2995/0012—Properties of moulding materials, reinforcements, fillers, preformed parts or moulds having particular thermal properties
    • B29K2995/0015—Insulating
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
    • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
    • B29L2031/712—Containers; Packaging elements or accessories, Packages
    • B29L2031/7132—Bowls, Cups, Glasses

Definitions

  • This invention relates to mass-producible integral double-walled containers, formed as single bodies from thermoformable material with the structure of two integrally connected and adjacent containers extending in the same direction with an air gap between them, and having at least one protrusion on at least one inverted portion of the integral double-walled container structure.
  • a container is "a hollow object, such as a box or a bottle that can be used for holding something, especially to carry or store it".
  • a container may be a beaker, bowl, carafe, clam-shell, cup, fast-food container, food container, glass, mug, pot or tumbler, or any other derivative of container denoting a partially or fully enclosed space capable of holding liquid and/or solid content.
  • protrusion denotes any structure inwardly and/or outwardly extending from a wall surface of an integral double-walled container, and may equally be substituted with projection, contour, shape, outline, arrangement, erection, construction, embodiment, fabrication, nodule, bump or protuberance, or any other derivative of protrusion denoting a shape or form extending in either direction, whether outwardly and/or inwardly, from a wall surface.
  • thermoformable material denotes any material suitable for heat-softening, and while in a heat-softened state, suitable for reforming under the application of pressure into alternate shapes/forms via any known heat-forming means, including but not limited to the processes of thermoforming and blow-forming.
  • thermoforming and blow-forming There are countless low-cost containers made globally each year which are suitable for mass-production. Issues relating to low-cost production include but are by no means limited to:
  • integral double-walled container denotes an integral double-walled container with the structure of two integrally connected and adjacent containers with an air gap between them and formed as a single body, with a methodology for construction that follows the steps of:
  • the smaller container to be at least partially inverted is taught to preferentially include simple large-radius walls, as such wall shapes are readily invertible, given that even when in a heat-softened state, the more complicated the geometric shape/form to be inverted, the greater the difficulty of inversion.
  • the incorporation of one or more protrusions on one or more wall surfaces of inverted smaller containers may provide additional benefits to a user, and therefore a solution is desirable for the provision of protrusions that may either themselves invert or may remain non-inverted during smaller container inversion, and once the smaller container has been at least partially inverted, do not substantially distort inverted smaller container shape/form. It may also be desirable to include one or more protrusions for the purpose of nesting two or more cups together while maintaining an air gap between the cups so that they may de-nest easier.
  • the protrusion may be a ring or other physical feature that follows the circumference of the surface. The one or more protrusions or the ring could either be on the inner surface of the inner smaller container or on the outer surface of the outer larger container.
  • U.S. Patent Number 9,339,979 teaches a double-walled thermal barrier cup thermoformed as a single piece out of thermoplastic material with at least one rib maintaining partial spacing between inner and outer walls, and with the as-formed cup having a sealed insulation space.
  • PCT/IB2017/056558 teaches a method for producing a double-walled container with the structure of two integrally connected and adjacent containers extending in the same direction with an air gap between them, and wherein the inversion of the second container is executed while fully enclosed inside of a mould having a dual-container shaped cavity configuration.
  • PCT/IB2019/050684 teaches a method for producing a double-walled container with the structure of two integrally connected and adjacent containers extending in the same direction with an air gap between them, and wherein the inversion of the second container is executed by means whereby the material elastic limit is not exceeded and thereby wall damage does not occur.
  • the object of the present invention is to overcome some of the disadvantages with integral double- walled containers, whereby protrusions integral to the smaller container may or may not invert during smaller container inversion and do not substantially distort the shape/form of the as-inverted smaller container.
  • an integral double-walled container apparatus with the structure of two integrally connected and adjacent containers extending in the same direction with an air gap between them, formed as a single body out of thermoformable material, of a thin-walled nature suitable for mass-production and of a structure where one of the containers is slightly larger and non-inverted and one of the containers is slightly smaller and at least partially inverted, and whereby there are at least one or more protrusions integral to inverted portions of the smaller container, whether they are themselves inverted or whether they remain non-inverted during smaller container inversion, and which do not substantially distort the shape/form of the at least partially inverted smaller container.
  • the preferred means of production is therefore by stretch blow moulding and at least partially inverting some of the as-blow formed structure as taught in prior art PCT/IB2019/050684, however any economically viable means of producing integral double-walled containers known to those versed in the art may equally be employed.
  • the intent is for the integral double-walled container to have highly uniform average wall thicknesses of less than 1 mm, and preferably between 0.10 and 0.5 mm.
  • thermoformable material Factoring in thermoformable material costs and ease of recyclability, the preferred material is polypropylene (PP), however depending on the integral double-walled container's specific market application, any thermoformable material may equally be used.
  • PP polypropylene
  • thermoformable material used may be oil based or bio-based, clear/transparent, semi-transparent or opaque, of its natural resin colour or of any colour or combination of colours to suit an application, a single resin type or a blend of resin types, a single layer of one resin or multiple layers of alternate resins, or any combination thereof.
  • a profiled inversion piston is used having a shape/form necessary to aid inversion, typically in the form of a fully profiled shape that conforms to the final interior inverted wall shape of the smaller container.
  • a substantially 360° rib feature extending outwardly on an as-blow formed smaller container would transpose into a substantially 360° non-inverted rib feature extending inwardly on an as-inverted smaller container, with the result that the originally larger-circumference rib feature would transpose into a smaller-circumference rib feature, thereby causing substantial distortion due to trying to force material from a larger into a smaller circumference rib feature shape/form.
  • a substantially 360° rib feature extending inwardly on an as-blow formed smaller container would transpose into a substantially 360° non-inverted rib feature extending outwardly on an as-inverted smaller container, with the result that the originally smaller-circumference rib feature would transpose into a larger-circumference rib feature, thereby causing substantial distortion due to trying to stretch to assume a smaller into a larger circumference rib feature shape/form.
  • any one or more protrusions on an as-blow formed smaller container are limited in size relative to smaller container circumference, such that once the smaller container has been inverted the size/shape/form of the one or more protrusions remain substantially unchanged, whether or not they invert at the same time as smaller container inversion, then the likelihood of distortion to any one or more protrusions, and more importantly, the likelihood of as-inverted smaller container distortion is minimised.
  • protrusions when incorporated into a wall or walls of a smaller container as part of the as-blow formed structure, they need to be of limited size relative to smaller container circumference, and of a shape/form such that they:
  • protrusion design requires a more rigid protrusion structure that could result in significant smaller container distortion once inverted, this can be resolved by adjusting the smaller container shape/form to be a combination of one or more curved surface sections without protrusions or only with highly flexible protrusion shapes/forms, integrally interconnected with one or more substantially flat surface sections upon which anyone or more rigid protrusion shapes/forms are located.
  • any one or more curved surface sections transpose into substantially mirror inverse-curved surface sections, whereas any one or more substantially flat surface sections transpose into substantially mirror inverse-flat surface sections. If the one or more substantially mirror inverse-curved surface sections incorporate protrusions with a highly flexible shape/form, then distortion of the inverted smaller container in such substantially mirror inverse-curved sections is minimised due to the flexibility of the protrusions at least substantially conforming to curvature transposition.
  • the one or more substantially mirror inverse-flat surface sections incorporate protrusions, whether of highly flexible shape/form and/or of high rigidity shape/form, then distortion of the inverted smaller continuer in such substantially mirror inverse-flat surface sections is equally minimised as the lack of any curvature of the one or more substantially mirror inverse-flat surfaced sections will not be substantially affected by integral protrusions, whatever their shape/form during inversion and whether or not they themselves invert during smaller container inversion, as the transposition is from “substantially flat” to "substantially mirror inverse-flat".
  • Such shape/form modifications to a profiled inversion piston may:
  • an integral double-walled container with the structure of two integrally connected and adjacent containers extending in the same direction with an air gap between them, formed as a single body out of thermoformable material, of a thin-walled nature suitable for mass-production, and where the at least partially inverted smaller container comprises one or more substantially mirror inverse-curved surface sections integrally connected with one or more substantially mirror inverse-flat surface sections, and whereby there are one or more substantially rigid small-sized protrusions integral to one or more substantially mirror inverse-flat surface sections that remain non- inverted during smaller container inversion and do not substantially distort the shape/form of the at least partially inverted smaller container.
  • curved wall portions of a smaller container that invert transpose from their original curved form into a substantially mirror inverse-curved form and substantially flat wall portions of a smaller container that invert transpose from their original substantially flat form into a substantially mirror inverse-flat form.
  • Any one or more protrusions of large size with respect to smaller container circumference that are integral to inverting portions of a smaller container will almost certainly substantially resist transposition from curved into substantially mirror inverse-curved and/or transposition from substantially flat into substantially mirror inverse-flat and thereby cause distortion of inverted smaller containers in proximity of any protrusions.
  • any one or more protrusions of small size relative to smaller container circumference and of highly rigid design that are integrally located on substantially flat inverting portions of a smaller container will provide little if any hindrance to transposition from substantially flat into substantially mirror inverse-flat and thereby will cause little if any distortion of inverted smaller containers in proximity of any protrusions, and will themselves at least substantially retain their original as-blow formed shape/form during and following smaller container inversion.
  • the one or more protrusions are highly rigid by design and of limited size with respect to smaller container circumference, it is preferred that they remain non-inverted during at least partial smaller container inversion, however inversion of highly rigid protrusions equally may occur either during or following smaller container inversion, whether as part of integral double-walled container formation or manually effected at any time by a user.
  • Such shape/form modifications to a profiled inversion piston may:
  • an integral double-walled container with the structure of two integrally connected and adjacent containers extending in the same direction with an air gap between them, formed as a single body out of thermoformable material, and of a thin-walled nature suitable for mass-production, and whereby there are at least one or more highly flexible small sized protrusions integral to the smaller container that may themselves invert during smaller container inversion, may remain non-inverted during smaller container inversion, or may alternately be manually inverted by a user at any time during or following smaller container inversion, and whether at any point inverted or non-inverted, do not substantially distort the shape/form of the at least partially inverted smaller container.
  • curved wall portions of a smaller container that invert transpose from their original curved form into a substantially mirror inverse-curved form and substantially flat wall portions of a smaller container that invert transpose from their original substantially flat form into a substantially mirror inverse-flat form.
  • any one or more protrusions of large size with respect to smaller container circumference that are integral to inverting portions of a smaller container will almost certainly substantially resist transposition from curved into substantially mirror inverse-curved and/or transposition from substantially flat into substantially mirror inverse-flat and thereby cause distortion of inverted smaller containers in proximity of any protrusions
  • any one or more protrusions of small size respect to smaller container circumference and of highly flexible design that are integral to inverting portions of a smaller container will almost certainly flex and/or conform their shape/form during transpose from curved into substantially mirror inverse-curved and/or substantially flat into substantially mirror inverse-flat and thereby cause little if any distortion of inverted smaller containers in proximity of any protrusions.
  • preferred protrusion designs are of a size that is small with respect to smaller container circumference and preferably comprise conical-shapes, cylindrical-shapes, high-radius curves and/or compound curves.
  • protrusions are highly flexible by design and of limited size with respect to smaller container circumference, they may:
  • Such shape/form modifications to a profiled inversion piston may:
  • Fig. 1 shows a three-dimensional cross-section view of an as-blow formed integral double-walled container with the structure of two integrally connected containers, with one container being slightly larger and the other container slightly smaller, and with the two containers extending in opposite directions, formed as a single body out of thermoformable material, and of a thin-walled nature suitable for mass-production according to any preferred embodiment of the present invention;
  • Fig. 2 shows a three-dimensional cross-section view of the same integral double-walled container of Figure One following at least partial inversion of the smaller container, with the structure of two integrally connected and adjacent containers extending in the same direction with an air gap between them according to any preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 3 shows a three-dimensional cross-section view of the same as-blow formed integral double-walled container of Figure One where the smaller container comprises one or more curved surface sections and one or more substantially flat surface sections, and whereby there are at least one or more substantially rigid small-sized protrusions integrally located on one or more substantially flat surface sections of the smaller container according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;
  • Fig. 4 shows a three-dimensional cross-section view of the same integral double-walled container of Figure Three following at least partial inversion of the smaller container according to the same first preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 4a shows a two-dimensional view of the same integral double-walled container of Figure Three prior to inversion, views of a substantially rigid small-sized protrusion progressively before, during and after the inversion process, and the integral double-walled container of Figure Four upon completion of the inversion process according to the same first preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 5 shows a three-dimensional cross-section view of the same integral double-walled container of Figure Four in a multiple stack configuration whereby substantially rigid small-sized protrusions may serve a design function according to the same first preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 6 shows a three-dimensional cross-section view of the same as-blow formed integral double-walled container of Figure One with at least one or more substantially flexible small-sized protrusions integral to the smaller container according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 7 shows a three-dimensional cross-section view of the same integral double-walled container of Figure Six following at least partial inversion of the smaller container and with all protrusions non- inverted according to the same second preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 8 shows a three-dimensional cross-section view of the same integral double-walled container of Figure Seven following at least partial inversion of the smaller container and with at least some protrusions inverted according to the same second preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 9 shows a three-dimensional cross-section view of the same integral double-walled container of Figure Eight in a multiple stack configuration whereby substantially flexible small-sized protrusions, whether inverted or non-inverted, may serve a design function according to the same second preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 10 shows a two-dimensional view of two of the same integral double-walled containers of Figure Seven in the process of being stacked together according to the same second preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 11 shows a two-dimensional view of the same two integral double-walled containers of Figure Ten once in a stacked configuration according to the same second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 12 shows a two-dimensional view of the two integral double-walled containers of Figure Eleven mechanically engaged by means of an inverted substantially flexible small-sized protrusion according to the same second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 a three-dimensional cross-section view of an as-blow formed integral double-walled container 1 with the structure of two integrally interconnected containers 2 and 3 is depicted with one container being slightly larger 2 and the other container slightly smaller 3 with both containers integrally conjoined 4, and with the two containers extending in opposite directions, formed as a single body out of thermoformable material, and of a thin-walled nature suitable for mass-production according to any preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • the smaller container 3 prior to inversion has wall surface 5 that is an outer wall and wall surface 6 that is an inner wall.
  • FIG. 2 a three-dimensional cross-section view of the same integral double-walled container 1 of Figure One is depicted following as least partial inversion of the smaller container 8, thereby forming an integral double-walled container 7 with the structure of two integrally connected and adjacent containers 2 and 8 extending in the same direction with an air gap 9 between them according to any preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • the now at least partially inverted smaller container 8 has been transposed such that the as-blow formed wall surface 5 of Figure 1 that was an outer wall has been transposed into wall surface 5a that is now an inner wall surface, and the as-blow formed wall surface 6 of Figure 1 that was an inner wall surface has transposed into wall surface 6a that is now an outer wall surface.
  • FIG. 3 a three-dimensional cross-section view of the same as-blow formed integral double- walled container 1 of Figure One is depicted as an as-blow formed integral double-walled container 10 where the smaller container 3 is a combination of one or more substantially curved surface sections 11 and one or more substantially flat surface sections 12, and whereby there are at least one or more substantially rigid small-sized protrusions 13 integrally located on one or more substantially flat surface sections 12 according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • the smaller container 3 may have at least one or more substantially rigid small-sized protrusions 13 extending outwardly from substantially flat surface sections 12 (as depicted), extending inwardly, or any combination thereof.
  • FIG. 4 a three-dimensional cross-section view of the same as-blow formed integral double- walled container 10 of Figure Three is depicted following at least partial inversion of the smaller container 15 thereby forming an integral double-walled container 14 with the structure of two integrally connected and adjacent containers 2 and 15 extending in the same direction with an air gap 9 between them according to the same first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • any one or more protrusions of small size relative to smaller container circumference and of highly rigid design 13 that are integrally located on substantially mirror inverse-flat surfaces 12a of an inverted smaller container 15 will have provided little if any hindrance during transposition from substantially flat 12 into substantially mirror inverse-flat 12a and thereby will cause little if any distortion of inverted smaller containers in proximity of any protrusions, and will, whether inverted themselves or remaining non-inverted, at least substantially retain their original as-blow formed shape/form during and following smaller container inversion.
  • the protrusion 13 is shown in its original state prior to inversion outwardly projecting from the smaller container 3 wall of the integral double-walled container 10 of Figure Three and is highlighted by view 13a, then shown progressively in orientation views 13b, 13c and 13d during the process of smaller container 3 inversion, until it reaches its final fully inverted state in view 13e whereby it is projecting inwards from the now inverted smaller container 15 wall of the integral double- walled container 14 of Figure Four.
  • the one or more protrusions 13 are highly rigid by design and of limited size with respect to smaller container circumference, they will typically remain non-inverted during at least partial smaller container 15 inversion (as depicted), however inversion of highly rigid protrusions equally may occur either during or following smaller container inversion, whether as part of integral double-walled container formation or manually effected at any time by a user.
  • Such shape/form modifications to a profiled inversion piston may:
  • FIG. 5 a three-dimensional cross-section view of the same integral double-walled container 14 of Figure Four is depicted in a multiple stack configuration 16 whereby substantially rigid small-sized protrusions 13 may serve a design function according to the same first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • some of the substantially rigid small-sized protrusions 13 on the substantially mirror inverse-flat surfaces 12a may be used as a stack feature, whereby as multiple integral double-walled containers 14 are nested, substantially rigid small-sized protrusions serving as stack features 13 restrict the stack height and thereby ensure that multiple integral double-walled containers 14 do not stick together and can thereby freely and individually be removed from the stack as and when required by a user.
  • substantially rigid small-sized protrusions 13 Any number of other usages of substantially rigid small-sized protrusions 13 will be obvious to those versed in the art, whether used jointly or severally.
  • FIG. 6 a three-dimensional cross-section view of the same as-blow formed integral double- walled container 1 of Figure One is depicted as an as-blow formed integral double-walled container 17 where the smaller container 3 has at least one or more substantially curved surface sections 18, and whereby there are at least one or more substantially flexible small-sized protrusions 19 integrally located on any one or more substantially curved surface sections 18 according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • the smaller container 3 may have at least one or more substantially flexible small-sized protrusions 19 extending outwardly from substantially curved surface sections 18 (as depicted), extending inwardly, or any combination thereof.
  • preferred protrusion designs are of a size that is small with respect to smaller container circumference and preferably comprise conical-shapes, cylindrical-shapes, high-radius curves and/or compound curves.
  • FIG. 7 a three-dimensional cross-section view of the same as-blow formed integral double- walled container 17 of Figure Six is depicted following at least partial inversion of the smaller container 21 thereby forming an integral double-walled container 20 with the structure of two integrally connected and adjacent containers 2 and 21 extending in the same direction with an air gap 9 between them according to the same second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • the now at least partially inverted smaller container 21 has been transposed such that the as-blow formed substantially curved surface 18 of Figure Six that was an outer wall has been transposed into a substantially mirror inverse-curved surface 18a that is now an inner wall surface.
  • any one or more protrusions of small size relative to smaller container circumference and of highly flexible design 19 that are integrally located on substantially mirror inverse-curved surfaces 18a of an inverted smaller container 21 will have provided little if any hindrance during transposition from substantially curved 18 into substantially mirror inverse-curved 18a and thereby will cause little if any distortion of inverted smaller containers in proximity of any protrusions, and will, whether inverted themselves or remaining non-inverted, at least substantially retain their original as-blow formed shape/form during and following smaller container inversion.
  • protrusions 19 are highly flexible by design and of limited size with respect to smaller container circumference, they will typically remain non-inverted during at least partial smaller container 21 inversion (as depicted), however inversion of highly flexible protrusions 19 equally may occur either during or following smaller container inversion, whether as part of integral double-walled container formation or manually effected at any time by a user.
  • any one or more protrusions 19 in order to minimise or remove any potential for undercuts forming during the inversion process that might cause an at least partially inverted smaller container 21 to become mechanically trapped on a profiled inversion piston (not depicted), modifications to the shape/form of the profiled inversion piston may be required in areas that conform to any protrusions 19 on an as-inverted smaller container 21.
  • Such shape/form modifications to a profiled inversion piston may:
  • inversion assist may be employed, including but not limited to:
  • a three-dimensional cross-section view of the same integral double-walled container 20 of Figure Seven is depicted in the form of an integral double-walled container 22 with at least one or more of the substantially flexible small-sized protrusions 19 inverted according to the same second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • Any protrusion, whether substantially rigid or substantially flexible, is capable of being inverted dependent on the degree of inversion force/pressure applied, whether pressure by means of a gas, or force by mechanical means.
  • substantially flexible small-sized protrusions 19 due to their inherent flexibility they are typically easy at any time to invert, and may be inverted:
  • the inversion by a user of a substantially flexible small-sized protrusion 19 into a substantially mirror- inverted flexible small-sized protrusions 24 may be for any reason, whether by design or choice.
  • a three-dimensional cross-section of an integral double-walled container 26 is depicted in a multiple stack configuration 25 whereby substantially flexible small-sized protrusions 19 and/or substantially mirror-inverted flexible small-sized protrusions 24 may serve a design function according to the same second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • the integral double-walled container 26 as depicted is the integral double-walled container 22 of Figure Eight with at least one or more substantially flexible small-sized protrusions 19 and at least one or more substantially mirror-inverted flexible small-sized protrusions 24 with the addition of at least one rib feature 27 in the non-inverting larger container 2.
  • protrusions integral to an inverted smaller container 21 may be used as mechanical means to keep a larger container 2 and an inverted smaller container 21 at least substantially separated in order to at all times during usage maximise and preserve the air gap 9.
  • protrusion and rib design function when multiple integral double-walled containers 26 are placed in a multiple stack configuration 25, substantially mirror-inverted flexible small sized protrusions 24 integral to an inverted smaller container 21 may align with at least one rib feature 27 in a larger container 2 thereby creating an interlock arrangement 28 which may serve any number of purposes, including:
  • FIG. 10 a two-dimensional view of two of the same integral double-walled containers 20 of Figure Seven are depicted in the process of being stacked together 30.
  • the direction of stacking 31 shows one upper integral double-walled container 20 moving in a downwards direction into a second lower integral double-walled container 20. Any one or more protrusions of small size relative to smaller container circumference and of highly flexible design 19 integral to either or both integral double-walled containers 20 remain in their as-formed orientation.
  • At least one of the integral double-walled containers 20 has at least one rib feature 27 on an exterior surface.
  • the rib feature 27 may be of any shape or form and may be:
  • FIG. 11 a two-dimensional view of the same two integral double-walled containers 20 of Figure Ten are depicted once in their final stacked orientation 32.
  • FIG. 12 a two-dimensional view of the same two integral double-walled containers 20 of Figure Eleven are depicted with the lower integral double-walled container 20 remaining as depicted in Figure Eleven and with the upper integral double-walled container 20 of Figure Eleven having been manual adjusted by a user to be an integral double-walled container 22 of Figure Eight.
  • a user may manually apply a force 23 to at least one of the highly flexible protrusions 19 in the upper integral double-walled container in the stack, thereby inverting the at least one highly flexible protrusion 19 into a substantially mirror-inverted flexible small-sized protrusions 24 to thereby create a mechanical engagement 28 with the rib feature 27 of the lower integral double-walled container 20, this creating a mechanically engaged integral double-walled container stack 33.
  • the mechanical engagement may be for any known form, or combination of forms, including:
  • Any two or more integral double-walled containers can thus be progressively stacked, by any combination of mechanical engagement means (not depicted).
  • substantially flexible small-sized protrusions 19 Any number of other usages of substantially flexible small-sized protrusions 19 will be obvious to those versed in the art, whether used jointly or severally.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un appareil récipient à double paroi d'un seul tenant (14) présentant la structure de deux récipients adjacents (2 et 15) reliés solidaires et s'étendant dans la même direction avec un entrefer (9) entre eux, constitué sous la forme d'un corps unique à partir d'un matériau thermoformable, d'une nature à paroi mince appropriée pour la production de masse et d'une structure dans laquelle l'un des récipients (2) est légèrement plus grand et non inversé et l'un des récipients (15) est légèrement plus petit et au moins partiellement dans un état inversé, au moins un élément saillant (13) étant solidaire des parties inversées (11a et/ou 12a) du plus petit récipient, qu'il soit lui-même inversé ou qu'il reste non inversé pendant l'inversion du plus petit récipient, et ne déformant sensiblement pas la forme/morphologie du plus petit récipient (15) au moins partiellement inversé.
PCT/US2021/042798 2020-07-23 2021-07-22 Améliorations apportées à des récipients à double paroi d'un seul tenant WO2022020606A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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NZ76647520 2020-07-23
NZ766475 2020-07-23

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WO2022020606A1 true WO2022020606A1 (fr) 2022-01-27

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Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5852896A (en) * 1997-11-10 1998-12-29 Flasch, Jr.; Robert J. Container and method of growing a plant
US6065300A (en) * 1999-02-08 2000-05-23 Anthony; Michael M. Self-cooling container with internal beverage vessel having a vessel wall with reversible wall bulges
US6663926B1 (en) * 1997-08-28 2003-12-16 Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. Heat-insulating container and apparatus for producing the same
US9339979B2 (en) * 2005-11-18 2016-05-17 Alan Mark Crawley Profiling of tubes
WO2019145924A2 (fr) * 2018-01-29 2019-08-01 Alan Mark Crawley Améliorations apportées à un procédé et à un appareil pour des structures de récipients à double paroi intégrées

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6663926B1 (en) * 1997-08-28 2003-12-16 Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. Heat-insulating container and apparatus for producing the same
US5852896A (en) * 1997-11-10 1998-12-29 Flasch, Jr.; Robert J. Container and method of growing a plant
US6065300A (en) * 1999-02-08 2000-05-23 Anthony; Michael M. Self-cooling container with internal beverage vessel having a vessel wall with reversible wall bulges
US9339979B2 (en) * 2005-11-18 2016-05-17 Alan Mark Crawley Profiling of tubes
WO2019145924A2 (fr) * 2018-01-29 2019-08-01 Alan Mark Crawley Améliorations apportées à un procédé et à un appareil pour des structures de récipients à double paroi intégrées

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