Disposable servingware containers with flange tabs

A disposable servingware container press-formed from a generally planar paperboard blank comprising:

• a generally planar bottom portion;
• a first annular transition portion extending upwardly and outwardly from the generally planar bottom portion;
• an optional sidewall portion extending upwardly and outwardly from the first annular transition portion;
• a second annular transition portion flaring outwardly with respect to the first annular transition portion;
• an outer flange portion extending outwardly with respect to the second annular transition portion defining a container perimeter having a characteristic diameter, D;
• and
• at least first and second generally planar peripheral tabs extending outwardly from the flange portion of the container generally beyond the container perimeter, the peripheral tabs being configured so as to define a cross-tab dimension between their outer edges of generally parallel to and of like extent with a corresponding transverse dimension across the perimeter of the container.

A disposable servingware container comprising:

• a generally planar bottom portion;
• a first annular transition portion extending upwardly and outwardly from the generally planar bottom portion;
• an optional sidewall portion extending upwardly and outwardly from the first annular transition portion;
• a second annular transition portion flaring outwardly with respect to the first annular transition portion;
• an outer flange portion extending outwardly with respect to the second annular transition;
• wherein the container is characterized by a container height, H;
• the outer flange portion being characterized by a vertical drop wherein the ratio of the flange outer vertical drop to the characteristic diameter of the container is greater than about 0.01 such that the outer edge of the container terminates below the height, H, of the containers, generally at a brim height, Hb;
• and
• a generally planar peripheral tab extending outwardly from the flange portion of the container over a distance of at least about 0.02 times the characteristic diameter of the container at a height, HT, below the height, H, of the container.

A generally planar paperboard blank suitable for press-forming into a disposable pressware container comprising:

• a central portion defining generally a perimeter thereof having a characteristic diameter;
• first and second peripheral tabs extending outwardly from the central portion beyond the perimeter of the central portion, the first and second peripheral tabs being configured so as to define a first cross-tab dimension between their outer edges generally parallel to and of greater length than a corresponding transverse dimension across the perimeter of the blank;
• third and fourth peripheral tabs extending outwardly from the central portion beyond the perimeter of the central portion, the third and fourth peripheral tabs being configured so as to define a second cross-tab dimension between their outer edges generally parallel to and of greater length than the corresponding transverse dimension across the perimeter of the blank;
• and wherein the first and second cross-tab dimensions are generally equal in length.

A method of press-forming a paperboard blank into a disposable servingware container comprising:

• (a) providing a generally planar paperboard blank which includes a central portion defining generally a perimeter thereof as well as at least a first and second peripheral tabs extending outwardly from the central portion beyond the perimeter of the central portion, the peripheral tabs being configured so as to define a first cross-tab dimension between their outer edges generally parallel to and of like extent with a corresponding transverse dimension across the paperboard blank perimeter;
• (b) transferring said paperboard blank to a die set while controlling its orientation utilizing said first and second peripheral tabs such that the paperboard blank is disposed in the die set in a predetermined orientation with respect thereto;
• and
• (c) press-forming said paperboard blank into a disposable container having a generally planar bottom portion;
• a first annular transition portion extending upwardly and outwardly from the generally planar bottom portion;
• an optional sidewall portion extending upwardly and outwardly from the first annular transition portion;
• a second annular transition portion flaring outwardly with respect to the first annular transition portion;
• an outer flange portion extending outwardly with respect to the second annular transition portion defining generally the container perimeter;
• and at least first and second generally planar peripheral tabs corresponding to the tabs of the paperboard blank extending outwardly from the flange portion of the container generally beyond the container perimeter.

A disposable servingware container comprising:

• a generally planar bottom portion;
• a first annular transition portion extending upwardly and outwardly from the generally planar bottom portion;
• an optional sidewall portion extending upwardly and outwardly from the first annular transition portion;
• a second annular transition portion flaring outwardly with respect to the first annular transition portion;
• an outer flange portion extending outwardly with respect to the second annular transition portion defining generally the container perimeter having a characteristic diameter;
• and
• first and second generally planar peripheral tabs extending outwardly from the flange portion of the container generally beyond the container perimeter, the first and second peripheral tabs being configured so as to define a first cross-tab dimension between their outer edges generally parallel to and of greater length than with a corresponding transverse dimension across the perimeter of the container.

A disposable servingware container comprising:

• a generally planar bottom portion;
• a first annular transition portion extending upwardly and outwardly from the generally planar bottom portion;
• an optional sidewall portion extending upwardly and outwardly from the first annular transition portion;
• a second annular transition portion flaring outwardly with respect to the first annular transition portion;
• an outer flange portion extending outwardly with respect to the second annular transition portion defining generally the container perimeter A having a characteristic diameter;
• first and second generally planar peripheral tabs extending outwardly from the flange portion of the container generally beyond the container perimeter, the first and second peripheral tabs being configured so as to define a first cross-tab dimension between their outer edges generally parallel to and of greater length than with a corresponding transverse dimension across the perimeter of the container;
• and
• third and fourth generally planar peripheral tabs extending outwardly from the flange portion of the container generally beyond the container perimeter, the third and fourth peripheral tabs being configured so as to define a second cross-tab dimension between their outer edges generally parallel to and of greater length than with a corresponding transverse dimension across the perimeter of the container.