Molded wood composites having non-blistering profile with uniform paintability and nesting

A decorative article of manufacture capable of nesting, one article above another, for transport without significant surface damage, said article comprising:

• an upper planar wall surrounding an integral depression, said depression having a lower planar wall, within the depression, and an inclined wall, within the depression and integral with both the upper and lower planar walls at spaced ends of said inclined wall;
• said inclined wall having an upper surface integral with an upper surface of said upper and lower planar walls, said inclined upper surface being contoured to include adjacent curved and planar portions and being inclined at an angle of 38.degree. or less from said lower planar wall, and having a thickness that varies 20% or less relative to a mean thickness of said inclined wall between said upper and lower planar walls.

A consolidated, man-made molded wood article having a molded surface portion containing at least about 80% by weight cellulosic material and sufficient binder to adhere the cellulosic material together into a structurally sound article comprising:

• a composite layer of said cellulosic material and said binder having contoured upper and lower major surfaces bound together into a consolidated, man-made molded wood article;
• said article including a planar wall having an upper surface adjacent to a molded depression, said depression including an inclined wall having a contoured upper surface integral with an upper surface of said planar wall, said inclined wall extending downwardly from said planar wall, toward a bottom of the depression, to a lower end of the inclined upper wall surface, said inclined wall having an angle of inclination in the range of about 25.degree. to about 38.degree., and wherein a plurality of said molded wood composite articles can nest, one above another for transport, without damage to said articles.

An article of manufacture having a molded surface portion containing at least about 80% by weight cellulosic material and sufficient binder to adhere the cellulosic material together into a structurally sound article comprising:

• a composite layer of said cellulosic material and said binder having contoured upper and lower major surfaces bound together into a molded wood article;
• said article including a planar wall having an upper surface adjacent to a molded depression, said molded depression including an inclined wall having a contoured upper surface integral with an upper surface of said planar wall, said inclined wall extending downwardly from said planar wall, toward a bottom of the depression, to a lower end of the inclined wall, said inclined wall including contoured upper surface portions, wherein a thickness of said inclined wall, over a span between upper and lower ends of said inclined wall, varies about 20% or less, in relation to a mean thickness of said inclined wall span, and the mean thickness over said inclined wall span is about 2% to about 15% thinner than a thickness of said adjacent planar wall;
• and wherein the thickness of the inclined wall at said upper and lower ends thereof is about 1% to about 12% thinner than said mean thickness of the span of said inclined wall.