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US 6,715,630 B2Granted
Disposable food container with a linear sidewall profile and an arcuate outer flange
AssigneeFort James Corporation
InventorsMark B. Littlejohn, Gerald J. Van Handel, Thomas W. Zelinski, Jerome G. Dees
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is directed to rigid disposable food containers provided with a relatively steep sidewall with a generally linear profile and an outwardly flared arcuate flange portion. The containers are further characterized by a flange outer vertical drop wherein the ratio of the length of the vertical drop to the characteristic diameter of the container is greater than about 0.01. By virtue of unique geometry, the containers of the invention exhibit improved rigidity and/or rim stiffness yet have favorable runnability in pressware manufacturing systems characteristic of plates of lower strength.
Claims182
A disposable food container configured for rigidity and rim stiffness having a characteristic diameter comprising:
- a generally planar bottom portion;
- a first annular transition portion extending upwardly and outwardly from said generally planar bottom portion;
- a sidewall portion extending upwardly and outwardly from said first annular transition portion;
- a second annular transition portion extending outwardly from said sidewall portion;
- said sidewall portion defining a generally linear, inclined sidewall profile over a length between said first annular transition portion and said second annular transition portion having an angle of inclination with respect to the vertical from said generally planar bottom portion;
- and
- an arcuate outer flange portion having a convex upper surface extending outwardly with respect to said second annular transition portion, the radius of curvature of said arcuate outer flange portion being between about 0.0175 and about 0.1 times the characteristic diameter of said disposable food container;
- and an inner flange portion extending between said second annular transition portion and said arcuate outer flange portion having a ratio of a radial span to the characteristic diameter of from about 0 to about 0.1, said disposable food container being further characterized by a flange outer vertical drop wherein the ratio of the length of the flange outer vertical drop to the characteristic diameter of the container is greater than about 0.01.
5 more elements
A disposable food container configured for rigidity and rim stiffness having a characteristic diameter comprising:
- a generally planar bottom portion;
- a first annular transition portion extending upwardly and outwardly from said generally planar bottom portion;
- a sidewall portion extending upwardly and outwardly from said first annular transition portion;
- a second annular transition portion extending outwardly from said sidewall portion,
- said sidewall portion defining a generally linear, inclined sidewall profile over a length between said first annular transition portion and said second annular transition portion, and having an angle of inclination of from about 10 degrees to about 50 degrees with respect to the vertical from said generally planar bottom portion wherein the ratio of the length of the generally linear inclined profile to the characteristic diameter of the disposable food container is greater than about 0.025;
- and
- an arcuate outer flange portion having a convex upper surface extending outwardly with respect to said second annular transition portion, the radius of curvature of said arcuate outer flange portion being between about 0.035 and about 0.07 times the characteristic diameter of said disposable food container;
- and
- an inner flange portion extending between said second annular transition portion and said arcuate outer flange portion having a ratio of a radial span to the characteristic diameter of from about 0 to about 0.1, said disposable food container being further characterized by an flange outer vertical drop wherein the ratio of the length of the flange outer vertical drop to the characteristic diameter of the container is greater than about 0.013.
6 more elements
The disposable food container according to 12, wherein the ratio of the radius of curvature of said arcuate outer flange portion to the characteristic diameter of said disposable food container is from about 0.035 to about 0.06.
The disposable food container according to 16, wherein the ratio of the radius of curvature of said arcuate outer flange portion to the characteristic diameter of said disposable food container is from about 0.04 to about 0.055.
A disposable food container press-formed from a generally planar paperboard blank and being configured for rigidity and rim stiffness having a characteristic diameter comprising:
- a generally planar bottom portion;
- a first annular transition portion extending upwardly and outwardly from said generally planar bottom portion;
- a sidewall portion extending upwardly and outwardly from said first annular transition portion;
- a second annular transition portion extending outwardly from said sidewall portion,
- said sidewall portion defining a generally linear, inclined sidewall profile over a length between said first annular transition portion and said second annular transition portion, and having an angle of inclination with respect to the vertical from said generally planar bottom portion;
- and
- an arcuate outer flange portion having a convex upper surface extending outwardly with respect to said second annular transition portion, the radius of curvature of said arcuate outer flange portion being between about 0.0175 and about 0.1 times the characteristic diameter of said disposable food container;
- and an inner flange portion extending between said second annular transition portion and said arcuate outer flange portion having a ratio of a radial span to the characteristic diameter of from about 0 to about 0.1, said disposable food container being further characterized by a flange outer vertical drop wherein the ratio of the length of the flange outer vertical drop to the characteristic diameter of the container is greater than about 0.01;
- wherein at least one of the sidewall portion, the second annular transition portion, the arcuate outer flange portion and, if present, the optional inner flange portion is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extending regions formed from a plurality of paperboard lamellae rebonded into substantially integrated fibrous structures generally inseparable into their constituent lamellae.
6 more elements
A disposable food container press-formed from a generally planar paperboard blank and being configured for rigidity and rim stiffness having a characteristic diameter comprising:
- a generally planar bottom portion;
- a first annular transition portion extending upwardly and outwardly from said generally planar bottom portion;
- a sidewall portion extending upwardly and outwardly from said first annular transition portion;
- a second annular transition portion extending outwardly from said sidewall portion,
- said sidewall portion defining a generally linear, inclined sidewall profile over a length between said first annular transition portion and said second annular transition portion, and having an angle of inclination of from about 10 degrees to about 40 degrees with respect to the vertical from said generally planar bottom portion wherein the ratio of the length of the generally linear inclined profile to the characteristic diameter of the disposable food container is greater than about 0.025;
- and
- an arcuate outer flange portion having a convex upper surface extending outwardly with respect to said second annular transition portion, the radius of curvature of said arcuate outer flange portion being between about 0.035 and about 0.07 times the characteristic diameter of said disposable food container;
- and
- an inner flange portion extending between said second annular transition portion and said arcuate outer flange portion having a ratio of a radial span to the characteristic diameter of from about 0 to about 0.1, said disposable food container being further characterized by a flange outer vertical drop wherein the ratio of the length of the flange outer vertical drop to the characteristic diameter of the container is greater than about 0.013;
- wherein at least one of the sidewall portion, the second annular transition portion, the arcuate outer flange portion and, if present, the optional inner flange portion is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extending regions formed from a plurality of paperboard lamellae rebonded into substantially integrated fibrous structures generally inseparable into their constituent lamellae.
7 more elements
A disposable food container press-formed from a radially scored, generally planar paperboard blank, the container being configured for rigidity and rim stiffness having a characteristic diameter comprising:
- a generally planar-bottom portion;
- a first annular transition portion extending upwardly and outwardly from said generally planar bottom portion;
- a sidewall portion extending upwardly and outwardly from said first annular transition portion;
- a second annular transition portion extending outwardly from said sidewall portion,
- said sidewall portion defining a generally linear, inclined sidewall profile over a length between said first annular transition portion and said second annular transition portion, and having an angle of inclination with respect to the vertical from said generally planar bottom portion;
- and
- an arcuate outer flange portion having a convex upper surface extending outwardly with respect to said second annular transition portion, the radius of curvature of said arcuate outer flange portion being between about 0.0175 and about 0.1 times the characteristic diameter of said disposable food container;
- and an inner flange portion extending between said second annular transition portion and said arcuate outer flange portion having a ratio of a radial span to the characteristic diameter of from about 0 to about 0.1, said disposable food container being further characterized by a flange outer vertical drop wherein the ratio of the length of the flange outer vertical drop to the characteristic diameter of the container is greater than about 0.01;
- and
- wherein at least one of the sidewall portion, the second annular transition portion, the arcuate outer flange portion or, if present, the optional inner flange portion are provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending regions formed from a plurality of paperboard lamellae rebonded into substantially integrated fibrous structures generally inseparable into their constituent lamellae, said rebonded paperboard lamellae regions extending over a profile distance corresponding to at least a portion of the length of the scores of the paperboard blank from which said container is formed.
7 more elements
A disposable food container press-formed from a radially scored, generally planar paperboard blank the container being configured for rigidity and rim stiffness having a characteristic diameter comprising:
- a generally planar bottom portion;
- a first annular transition portion extending upwardly and outwardly from said generally planar bottom portion;
- a sidewall portion extending upwardly and outwardly from said first annular transition portion;
- a second annular transition portion extending outwardly from said sidewall portion,
- said sidewall portion defining a generally linear, inclined sidewall profile over a length between said first annular transition portion and said second annular transition portion, and having an angle of inclination of from about 10 degrees to about 50 degrees with respect to the vertical from said generally planar bottom portion wherein the ratio of the length of the generally linear inclined profile to the characteristic diameter of the disposable food container is greater than about 0.025;
- and
- an arcuate outer flange portion having a convex upper surface extending outwardly with respect to said second annular transition portion, the radius of curvature of said arcuate outer flange portion being between about 0.035 and about 0.07 times the characteristic diameter of said disposable food container;
- and
- an inner flange portion extending between said second annular transition portion and said arcuate outer flange portion having a ratio of a radial span to the characteristic diameter of from about 0 to about 0.1, said disposable food container being further characterized by a flange outer vertical drop wherein the ratio of the length of the flange outer vertical drop to the characteristic diameter of the container is greater than about 0.013;
- wherein at least one of the sidewall portion, the second annular transition portion, the arcuate outer flange portion or, if present, the optional inner flange portion are provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending regions formed from a plurality of paperboard lamellae rebonded into substantially integrated fibrous structures generally inseparable into their constituent lamellae, said rebonded paperboard lamellae regions extending over a profile distance corresponding to at least a portion of the length of the scores of the paperboard blank from which said container is formed.
7 more elements
A disposable food container configured for rigidity and rim stiffness having a characteristic diameter comprising:
- a generally planar bottom portion;
- a first annular transition portion extending upwardly and outwardly from said generally planar bottom portion;
- a sidewall portion extending upwardly and outwardly from said first annular transition portion;
- a second annular transition portion extending outwardly from said sidewall portion,
- said sidewall portion defining a generally linear, inclined profile over a length between said first annular transition portion and said second annular transition portion, and having an angle of inclination of from about 10 degrees to about 50 degrees with respect to the vertical from said generally planar bottom portion;
- and
- an arcuate outer flange portion having a convex upper surface extending outwardly with respect to said second annular transition portion, the product of the curvature of said arcuate outer flange portion and the characteristic diameter of said disposable food container being between about 10 and about 50;
- and an inner transition flange portion extending between said second annular transition portion and said arcuate outer flange portion having a ratio of a radial span to the characteristic diameter of from about 0 to about 0.1, said disposable food container being further characterized by a flange outer vertical drop wherein the ratio of the length of the flange outer vertical drop to the characteristic diameter of the container is greater than about 0.01.
5 more elements
A paperboard laminate configured as a food container exhibiting rigidity and rim stiffness having a characteristic diameter comprising:
- a generally planar bottom portion;
- a first annular transition portion extending upwardly and outwardly from said generally planar bottom portion;
- a sidewall portion extending upwardly and outwardly from said first annular transition portion;
- a second annular transition portion extending outwardly from said sidewall portion,
- said sidewall portion defining a generally linear, inclined sidewall profile over a length between said first annular transition portion and said second annular transition portion, and having an angle of inclination with respect to the vertical from said generally planar bottom portion;
- and
- an arcuate outer flange portion having a convex upper surface extending outwardly with respect to said second annular transition portion, the radius of curvature of said arcuate outer flange portion being between about 0.0175 and about 0.1 times the characteristic diameter of said disposable food container;
- and an inner flange portion extending between said second annular transition portion and said arcuate outer flange portion having a ratio of a radial span to the characteristic diameter of from about 0 to about 0.1, said disposable food container being further characterized by a flange outer vertical drop wherein the ratio of the length of the flange outer vertical drop to the characteristic diameter of the laminate container is greater than about 0.01.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.