US 9,538,870 B2Granted

Pressed paperboard servingware with improved rigidity and rim stiffness

AssigneeDixie Consumer Products LLC

InventorsMark B. Littlejohn, Gerald J. Van Handel, Thomas W. Zelinski, Michael A. Breining, Albert D. Johns

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Products and methods of increasing the Rigidity and Rim Stiffness of disposable containers are provided. The containers have an outer flange portion extending outwardly with a brim portion sloping downwardly defining a declivity angle α with respect to a horizontal generally parallel to the bottom portion and generally include an outward turn at the periphery of the container. A preferred method of improving rigidity includes press-forming: (i) a brim transition portion adjoining the downwardly sloping brim portion of the container and (ii) an outwardly extending annular evert portion adjoining the brim transition portion extending outwardly at an eversion angle β of at least about 25 degrees with respect to the downwardly sloping brim portion of the flange.

Claims30

Dependent claims

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

a generally planar bottom portion;
a sidewall portion extending upwardly and outwardly from the generally planar bottom portion;
a brim portion extending outwardly from the sidewall portion;
an evert portion extending outwardly from the brim portion;
a first annular transition portion located between the generally planar bottom portion and a first end of the sidewall portion, the first annular transition portion having a radius of curvature R1;
a second annular transition portion located between a second end of the sidewall portion and a first end of the brim portion, the second annular transition portion having a radius of curvature R2;
the brim portion having a first generally straight section, a second generally straight section, and a third annular transition portion between the first and second generally straight sections, wherein the third annular transition portion has a radius of curvature R3, wherein the first generally straight section extends downwardly and outwardly from a first end of the second annular transition portion at an angle of 6 degrees to 12 degrees with respect to a horizontal that is substantially parallel to the bottom portion, and wherein the second generally straight section extends downwardly and outwardly at an angle of about 45 degrees to about 75 degrees with respect to a horizontal that is substantially parallel to the bottom portion;
a fourth annular transition portion located between the second generally straight section of the brim portion and the evert portion, the fourth annular transition portion having a radius of curvature R4;
and
a characteristic diameter D, wherein a length of the second generally straight section of the brim portion is 0.003D to 0.005D.

7 more elements

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

a generally planar bottom portion;
a sidewall portion extending upwardly and outwardly from the generally planar bottom portion;
a brim portion extending outwardly from the sidewall portion;
an evert portion extending outwardly from the brim portion;
a first annular transition portion located between the generally planar bottom portion and a first end of the sidewall portion, the first annular transition portion having a radius of curvature R1;
a second annular transition portion located between a second end of the sidewall portion and a first end of the brim portion, the second annular transition portion having a radius of curvature R2;
the brim portion having a first generally straight section, a second generally straight section, and a third annular transition portion between the first and second generally straight sections, wherein the third annular transition portion has a radius of curvature R3, wherein the first generally straight section extends downwardly and outwardly from a first end of the second annular transition portion at an angle of 6 degrees to 12 degrees with respect to a horizontal that is substantially parallel to the bottom portion, and wherein the second generally straight section extends downwardly and outwardly at an angle of 45 degrees to 75 degrees with respect to a horizontal that is substantially parallel to the bottom portion;
a fourth annular transition portion located between the second generally straight section of the brim portion and the evert portion, the fourth annular transition portion having a radius of curvature R4, and the evert portion is substantially parallel to the generally planar bottom portion;
and
a characteristic diameter D, wherein a length of the first generally straight section of the brim portion is 0.03D to 0.05D, and a length of the second generally straight section of the brim portion is 0.003D to 0.005D.

7 more elements

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

a generally planar bottom portion;
a sidewall portion extending upwardly and outwardly from the generally planar bottom portion;
a brim portion extending outwardly from the sidewall portion;
an evert portion extending outwardly from the brim portion;
a first annular transition portion located between the generally planar bottom portion and a first end of the sidewall portion, the first annular transition portion having a radius of curvature R1;
a second annular transition portion located between a second end of the sidewall portion and a first end of the brim portion, the second annular transition portion having a radius of curvature R2;
the brim portion having a first generally straight section, a plurality of circumferentially spaced pleats, a second generally straight section, and a third annular transition portion between the first and second generally straight sections, wherein the third annular transition portion has a radius of curvature R3, and the second generally straight section extends downwardly and outwardly at an angle of about 45 degrees to about 75 degrees with respect to a horizontal that is substantially parallel to the bottom portion;
a fourth annular transition portion located between the second generally straight section of the brim portion and the evert portion, the fourth annular transition portion having a radius of curvature R4, wherein the evert portion extends outwardly from the fourth annular transition portion at an angle of about 25 degrees to about 160 degrees with respect to a horizontal that is substantially parallel to the bottom portion;
a characteristic diameter D, wherein a length of the second generally straight section of the brim portion is 0.003D to 0.005D;
and
a flange stabilizing projection disposed on the brim portion, the flange stabilizing projection sized to engage an adjacent container in a stack of containers.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/083,216Filed 18 Nov 2013 · continuation
Priority: 20 Oct 2003
Published: US 2014/0076905 A120 Mar 2014
Granted: 10 Jan 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

A47G 19/03
Plates, dishes or the like: for using only once, e.g. made of paper
A47G 19/02
Table service: plates, dishes or the like
B65D 1/34
Rigid or semi-rigid containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous…:…
B65D 43/0212
Secured by snapping over beads or projections: only on the outside, or a part turned to the outside, of the mouth

Family

Application60/512,811Us provisional application · filed 20 Oct 2003
Application10/963,686Parent of this continuation · filed 13 Oct 2004
US 2014/0076905 A1Pre-grant publication · published 20 Mar 2014
US 8,584,929 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2006/0208054 A1Published application
US 9,538,870 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.