# US 9,517,600 B2 · Method for forming a container having an injection-molded feature > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,517,600 B2 - Document ID: US9517600B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/896,796 - Filed: 2013-05-17 - Published: 2013-09-26 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2007-12-28 - Assignees: Graphic Packaging International, Inc. - Applicants: Graphic Packaging International, Inc. - Inventors: Brian R. O'Hagan; Philip E. Netzer; Bruce Barnard; Peter W. Blaas; Kevin J. Hjort - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517600B2 ## CPC - B29C 45/14475: {Joining juxtaposed parts of a single article, e.g. edges of a folded container blank} - B29C 45/0046: {Details relating to the filling pattern or flow paths or flow characteristics of moulding material in the mould cavity} - B29C 45/2602: {Mould construction elements} - B29D 22/003: {Containers for packaging, storing or transporting, e.g. bottles, jars, cans, barrels, tanks} - B65D 5/209: {the adjacent edges of folded-up portions being joined by moulding seams in situ} - B29K 2105/20: Inserts - B29K 2711/12: Paper, e.g. cardboard - B29L 2031/712: {Containers; Packaging elements or accessories, Packages (closures therefor B29L2031/56; ink or toner cartridges B29L2031/7678; squeeze tubes B29L2023/20; suitcases B29L2031/7418)} - B29L 2031/7162: {Boxes, cartons, cases} - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract A structure is injection molded onto a group of panels to form a container. The container has a tray and an injection-molded feature. The tray has a plurality of side panels that extend at least partially around, and at least partially define, a cavity of the container. The tray has a plurality of multi-part flanges with at least one of the multi-part flanges including a lower flange portion and an upper flange portion. The injection-molded feature has band that is injected molded onto the lower flange portion and the upper flange portion. An injection-molded strip extends along and at least partially defines the corner of the container. The strip extends downward from the inner portion of the band in the elongate corner of the container. A tool is also disclosed for forming the container. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for forming a container having an injection-molded feature, the method comprising: obtaining a blank; placing the blank in a forming tool, the tool comprising an injection cavity having an advanced-flow section and a delayed-flow section, the advanced-flow section having a greater cross-sectional area that the delayed-flow section, the injection cavity extending around the perimeter of the blank with the advanced-flow section and the delayed-flow section extending around the perimeter of the blank; then closing the tool while the blank is in the tool, so that the blank is formed into a three-dimensional article that is in the closed tool, the three dimensional article having at least one sidewall, a flange that extends from the sidewall, and a corner; then forming the injection-molded feature on the article while the article is in the closed tool, the forming comprises injecting resin into the injection cavity so that resin flows in the advanced-flow section at a higher flow rate than resin in the delayed-flow section, the advanced-flow section being adjacent the at least one sidewall and the delayed-flow section extending outwardly from the advanced-flow section beyond the flange, the forming comprises forming an injection-molded strip by the flow of resin in the advanced-flow section of the injection cavity that at least partially defines the corner of the three-dimensional article, the injection cavity having a cutout for facilitating flow of resin in the advanced-flow section at the corner wherein the injection-molded strip is formed by the flow of resin in the cutout; and then removing the article with the injection-molded feature from the tool. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the advanced-flow section is configured to permit a higher flow rate of resin flow than the delayed-flow section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein forming the injection-molded feature comprises forming an injection-molded band on an upper surface of the flange, the delayed-flow section comprising an elongate portion that extends outwardly from an edge of the flange. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein the injection-molded strip extends from the injection-molded band and at least partially defines the corner of the three-dimensional article. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein the tool comprises an injection port for the flow of resin into the injection cavity, the corner is a first corner and the article further comprises a second corner, a third corner, and a fourth corner, the cutout is a first cutout, and the injection-molded strip is a first injection-molded strip, the cavity comprises a second cutout for facilitating flow of resin in the advanced-flow section at the second corner of the three dimensional article to form a second injection-molded strip of the injection-molded feature. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 wherein the first corner and the second corner are both located farther away from the injection port than the third corner and the fourth corner. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the injection-molded strip extends downwardly from an inner portion of the band, and wherein the flow of resin in the cutout forms a first upper inner corner of the injection-molded strip having a first radius of curvature, the injection-molded strip has a second upper inner corner having a second radius of curvature, the first radius of curvature being greater than the second radius of curvature.