Systems and methods for containers with locking lug and recess
AssigneePactiv Corporation
InventorsWee Phan, James Gomoll, Toby Thomas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Thermoformed locking assembly comprising a first web portion including locking lug having lug undercut defining a cantilevered lug ledge having lug engaging surface, second web portion including locking recess having recess undercut defining an opposing recess ledge having recess engaging surface and a lug stop opposite the recess undercut. Locking recess configured to receive locking lug and lug stop configured to position locking lug in locking recess with the lug engaging surface in engagement with the recess engaging surface when first web portion is moved towards second web portion.
Claims7
A method of forming a thermoformed locking assembly including a locking lug having a lug undercut defining a cantilevered lug ledge having a lug engaging surface and a locking recess having a recess undercut defining an opposing recess ledge having a recess engaging surface and a lug stop opposite the recess undercut, the method comprising:
- providing a mold having a mold surface with a moveable locking lug mold portion and a moveable locking recess mold portion, each of the moveable locking lug mold portion and the moveable locking recess mold portion being moveable between a mold condition aligned with the mold surface and a retracted condition below the mold surface,
- the moveable locking lug mold portion having an upper surface with a cavity defined therein corresponding in shape to at least a portion of the locking lug, and a lug undercut mold member slidably mounted on an angled surface of the moveable locking lug mold portion with the lug undercut mold member having a flange corresponding to the lug undercut, and
- the moveable locking recess mold portion having a protrusion extending above the mold surface when the moveable locking recess mold portion is in the mold condition and corresponding in shape to at least a portion of the locking recess, and a recess undercut mold member slidably mounted on an angled surface of the moveable locking recess portion with the recess undercut mold member having a flange corresponding to the recess undercut;
- positioning at least one web of thermoformable material having a first web portion on the mold surface with the moveable locking lug mold portion and a second web portion on the mold surface with the moveable locking recess mold portion each in the mold condition;
- thermoforming the web to form an article including a locking lug having an undercut defining a cantilevered lug ledge having a lug engaging surface formed by the moveable locking lug mold portion and a locking recess having an undercut defining an opposing recess ledge having a recess engaging surface and a lug stop opposite the recess undercut formed by the moveable locking recess mold portion;
- and
- retracting the moveable locking lug mold portion and the moveable locking recess mold portion to the retracted condition, wherein while retracting the lug undercut mold member slides along the angled surface of the moveable locking lug mold portion to release the lug undercut and the recess undercut mold member slides along the angled surface of the moveable locking recess mold portion to release the recess undercut.
A method of forming a thermoformed locking assembly including a locking lug having a lug undercut defining a cantilevered lug ledge having a lug engaging surface and a locking recess having a recess undercut defining an opposing recess ledge having a recess engaging surface and a lug stop opposite the recess undercut, the method comprising:
- providing a mold having a mold surface with a moveable locking lug mold portion and a moveable locking recess mold portion, each of the moveable locking lug mold portion and the moveable locking recess mold portion being moveable between a mold condition aligned with the mold surface and a retracted condition below the mold surface,
- the moveable locking lug mold portion having an upper surface with a cavity defined therein corresponding in shape to at least a portion of the locking lug, and a lug undercut mold member slidably mounted on an angled surface of the moveable locking lug mold portion with the lug undercut mold member having a flange corresponding to the lug undercut, and
- the moveable locking recess mold portion having a protrusion extending above the mold surface when the moveable locking recess mold portion is in the mold condition and corresponding in shape to at least a portion of the locking recess, and a recess undercut mold member slidably mounted on an angled surface of the moveable locking recess portion with the recess undercut mold member having a flange corresponding to the recess undercut;
- positioning at least one web of thermoformable material having a first web portion on the mold surface with the moveable locking lug mold portion and a second web portion on the mold surface with the moveable locking recess mold portion each in the mold condition;
- and
- thermoforming the web to form an article including a locking lug having an undercut defining a cantilevered lug ledge having a lug engaging surface formed by the moveable locking lug mold portion and a locking recess having an undercut defining an opposing recess ledge having a recess engaging surface and a lug stop opposite the recess undercut formed by the moveable locking recess mold portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.