Method for compacting recyclable plastic containers
OwnerWilliam G. Burroughsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for permanently compacting a hollow resilient structure such as a recyclable plastic container to facilitate recycling thereof. As the structure is compressed cutting blades provided on the compressing surface perforate the walls of the container thereby cutting interlocking tabs into the surface. At the same time the interlocking tabs are forced outward and through the cavity left in the walls of the container by displacement of the tabs. The tabs straddle the cavity and become locked against the walls of the container by the separating force of the resilient plastic.
Claims32
A method for securely compacting a hollow resilient structure and for anchoring a wall of said structure to another wall such that said structure remains compacted despite a tendency to regain an original shape, said method comprising the steps of:
- compressing a first wall of said structure against a second wall of said structure;
- piercing the compressed walls of said structure in such a way that a first tab is cut into said first wall and a second underlying tab is cut into said second wall, and said first tab is pressed through a perforation left in said second wall at said second tab;
- whereby when said walls of said structure are released said first tab will remain anchored within the perforated second wall such that said structure remains compacted despite a tendency to regain its original shape.
A method for securely compacting a hollow resilient structure and facilitating the recycling thereof by anchoring a wall of said structure to another wall such that said structure remains compacted despite a tendency to regain an original shape, said method comprising the steps of:
- compressing a first wall of said structure against a second wall of said structure;
- incising the compressed walls of said structure to form a first tab in said first wall overlying a second tab in said second wall;
- penetrating said compressed walls at said tabs to force said first tab through a perforation left in said second wall at said second tab;
- releasing said walls of said structure such that said first tab remains anchored within the perforated second wall and said structure remains compacted despite a tendency to regain its original shape.
A method for securely compacting a hollow resilient container and for anchoring a plurality of walls of said container together such that said container remains compacted despite a tendency to regain an original shape, said method comprising the steps of:
- compressing a plurality of walls of said container together;
- piercing the compressed walls of said structure, cutting a corresponding plurality of tabs in each wall such that the tabs are superposed and said plurality of tabs are pressed through a perforation formed through said walls by displacement of said tabs;
- whereby when said walls of said structure are released said plurality of tabs remain anchored within the perforation such that said structure remains compacted despite a tendency to regain its original shape.
A method for securely compacting a hollow resilient structure and facilitating the recycling thereof by anchoring a wall of said structure to another wall such that said structure remains compacted despite a tendency to regain an original shape, said method comprising the steps of:
- compressing a first wall of said structure against a second wall of said structure;
- incising the compressed walls, of said structure to form a first tab in said first wall overlying a second tab in said second wall and to form a third tab in said second wall overlying a fourth tab in said first wall;
- penetrating said compressed walls at said tabs to force said first tab through a perforation let in said second wall at said second tab and to force said third tab through a perforation left in said first wall at said fourth tab, wherein said third and fourth tabs ar oriented oppositely to said first and second tabs, releasing said walls of said structure such that said first tab remains anchored within the perforated second wall, said third tab remains anchored within the perforated first wall and said structure remains compacted despite a tendency to regain its original shape.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.