Patent Application
20070295741
Plastic containers with lids such as disposable plastic containers are well known. There is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,702,017 to Goncalves a combination of a row of containers and a strip of caps, each of the containers and caps being respectively joined by breakable links allowing the joined strip of caps to be placed on necks of the joined row of containers by a translational movement parallel to the axes of the containers. See also U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,349 of Wojcik et al.; French patents 2 763 314 of APRI and 1 278 149 of GOIFFON.
Disposable articles are used as food containers as is seen, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5.012,971 to Cozzi et al. In the '971 patent there is disclosed a compartmented container of the “clam shell” class suitable for containing food. The container or package in one embodiment includes a first or bottom compartment and a second or top compartment that is hinged to the first compartment. There is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,798,133 to Johnson a package and container for eggs. The container defines a plurality of compartments each of a configuration to hold an egg captive, each portion of the container defining a respective single compartment being connected with the remainder along lines of weakening, perforation or the like.
Containers arranged in arrays with breakable or tearable portions between them are seen in a number of references. In this respect, German Patent DE 100 12 364 of on der Worth discloses separable egg cartons arranged in a planar array.
There is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,000,535 to Berk et al. disposable mixing wells. Wells are formed as a unitary sheet of individual mixing wells arranged in rows and columns The boundary between each mixing well is scored, perforated or otherwise made to allow individual pieces to be removed from the sheet. Preferably the mixing wells may be pressure formed rather than being vacuum formed.
There is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,263 to St. Pierre et al. a multi-container package with individually removable containers. The package includes several individually sealed containers which are easily separable from one another by weakened zones between adjacent containers. Each container includes a tab portion over which the peel tab of the lid extends. Dimples in either the peel tab or tab portion facilitate their separation. Several multi-container packages are manufactured as a unit using a die and conventional heat sealing process and then are separated from one another by transverse cuts.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,127 to Stratford et al. is directed to a multi-pack container assembly. The multi-pack assembly includes a plurality of containers and webs joining the containers, each web configured to include an area of reduced structural integrity for tearing a plurality of frangible ribs interconnecting adjacent containers and traversing the tearing area.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,620 to tone, Sr. discloses a fluted product cup. The cup, suitable for food packaging is formed from a resilient material and has an integral body having a product reservoir and a lip. The product reservoir includes a flat bottom wall and a continuous sidewall integrally joined together about a smooth curve. The sidewall extends upwardly from the bottom wall to join the lip. The joint between the lip and the sidewall continuously surrounds and defines an opening through the lip to the interior of the reservoir. The lip extends in a plane outwardly from this opening completely around the periphery of this opening. The bottom wall is essentially circular in shape and the opening is essentially a square shape. First, second, third and fourth fluted areas are located in the sidewall at the corners of the squarish shaped opening at the top of the containers. Each of the fluted areas are shaped essentially as a conical surface generated from a cone which is truncated by a plane about a parabolic intersection of the plane with the cone. These containers may be formed in an array as can be seen in the patent.
With respect to containers which may be separated, the following references are also of interest: French Patent No. 1,392,947 to Skandinavisk; German Patent No. DE 26 53 906 to Gizeh-Werk and British Provisional Specification No. 649,541 to Stephenson.
It is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,553 to Hovatter an integral assembly of microcentrifuge strip tubes having independently tethered caps and angularly related seal caps.
Food containers having sealing features are likewise well known. In this respect, ridges and cooperating grooves are used in many such containers. See U.S. Pat. No. 5.377,860 to Littlejohn et at The above applications, publications and patents are incorporated herein by reference.
While the container art is plentiful, there remain largely unresolved issues with respect to lidded containers of low cost that can exhibit superior sealing characteristics, even at low product weight. This is especially so with respect to containers having straight brim segments. Simply making a “tighter” fit between the lid and its associated container or receptacle is ineffective since the increase in the required capping force will crush the container, leading to product failure in too many instances as well as associated spillage.
There is provided in accordance with a first aspect of the present invention a lidded container including a receptacle portion with a brim having a plurality of lateral, substantially straight brim lateral wall segments extending between corners, which corners link the brim lateral wall segments; a lid adapted to engage the brim is included, wherein the lid likewise includes a plurality of lateral, substantially straight lid wall segments extending between lid corners The improvement of the present invention provides a plurality of medial sealing beads disposed on the substantially straight lateral brim wall segments or the substantially straight lateral lid wall segments, the medial sealing beads being characterized in that (i) the medial sealing beads project away from their respective walls a maximum distance at a central portion thereof between and distal to the corners with lesser projections away from their lateral walls at their portions proximate to the corners and (ii) the medial sealing beads extend over the major portion of the length of the lateral wall segment upon which they are disposed. Preferably, the beads terminate at or prior to the corners at either end of the wall segment. By “major portion ” it is meant that the sealing beads extend over more than 50% of the length of the straight wall segment. The unique geometry of the present invention provides enhanced sealing, yet does not substantially increase the cap force required to close the container, such that it is especially useful for thermoformed, disposable containers.
There is thus provided in a preferred embodiment the addition of a male bead along the straight side of a square (with round corners) soufflé container (hereinafter referred to as the cup) brim. This product may be produced in a six-pack design as is shown herein to be separated by the end user. A six-pack design is especially suitable for 2-ounce containers, while the inventive product may likewise be produced in a four-pack design which is especially suitable for 4-ounce containers. The lid bead seal improvement achieved by way of the medial sealing bead is not limited to these configurations. The lid bead seal can be employed in connection with a wide variety of containers as described and claimed herein. The invention is perhaps most preferably incorporated into a bead of semi-circular cross section or profile as is shown in
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lidded container including a receptacle portion having (i) a bottom portion and (ii) a sidewall portion defining (iii) an upper aperture. The receptacle portion is further provided with a brim extending around the upper aperture the brim including (i) a plurality of rounded corner brim portions and (ii) a plurality of lateral brim walls extending between the rounded brim corner portions, the walls being configured such that their surfaces are substantially linear along a direction between adjacent brim corners interconnected thereby. A lid is adapted to engage the brim and together with the receptacle portion and its brim define a sealed container, the lid is suitably provided with (i) a plurality of lid rounded corner portions and (ii) a plurality of lateral lid walls extending between lid rounded corner portions wherein the lid rounded corner portions and the lateral lid walls are configured to engage the corresponding brim corner portions and lateral brim walls, the lateral lid walls likewise being configured such that their surfaces are substantially linear between adjacent lid corner portions interconnected thereby. There is further provided a plurality of medial sealing beads disposed on lateral walls selected from the lateral brim walls and the lateral lid walls, the medial sealing beads being characterized as noted above.
Most preferably, the lidded container according to the present invention is thermoformed from a plastic material. Such materials may include polystyrene polymer compositions, such as high impact polystyrenes or rubberized polystyrene. Further polystyrenes contemplated for use in connection with the present invention include oriented polystyrene. Alternatively, the inventive containers maybe made from a thermoplastic composition including a polyolefin polymer such as polypropylene or polyethylene. Still further suitable materials include polyester materials such as a thermoplastic composition including polyethylene terephthalate.
Instead of being made by way of thermoforming, the inventive containers may be made by injection molding if so desired. Typically, in a preferred embodiment the container has a fill volume of from about 1 to about 8 fluid ounces, such as from about 1 to about 4 fluid ounces. In the embodiments specifically illustrated hereinafter, the containers have a fill volume of about 2 fluid ounces and are particularly useful for condiments.
The lidded containers may include a U-shaped rim on the receptacle and a corresponding U-shaped channel in the lid The plurality of medial sealing beads most preferably extends over substantially the entire distance between rounded corners and defines an arched line therebetween. The medial sealing beads most preferably blend with the rounded corners such as in preferred embodiments where the medial sealing beads are tangent with the rounded corners at their end portions. In particularly preferred embodiments, the medial sealing beads have an arched profile away from the lateral walls upon which they are disposed and the lateral walls are generally planar. Likewise in a particularly preferred embodiment the lateral walls upon which the sealing beads are disposed have an upper portion and a lower portion and the medial sealing beads are located proximate to the upper portions of the lateral walls on which they are disposed such as where the sealing beads are disposed at substantially two-thirds the height of the lateral wall. In such cases the medial sealing beads may have a maximum projection away from its lateral wall at substantially the center line of the lateral wall.
A particularly preferred container is a thermoformed disposable lidded container comprising a substantially generally rectangular receptacle portion having (i) a bottom and (ii) a side wall defining (iii) an upper aperture, the receptacle portion being further provided with a rectangular brim extending around the upper aperture the brim including (i) a U-shaped profile portion defining (ii) a plurality of rounded corner brim portions and (iii) a plurality of outer lateral brim walls extending between the rounded brim corner portions. The outer brim walls are configured such that their surfaces are substantially linear along a direction between adjacent brim corner portions interconnected thereby. The container also has a lid having (i) a rectangular sealing channel with rounded corners adapted to fit over the brim thereby forming a sealed container with the receptacle portion. The outer lateral brim walls are provided with a plurality of medial sealing beads characterized in that (i) the medial sealing beads project away from the respective outer lateral brim walls the maximum distance at a center portion thereof between and distal to the corners, with lesser projections away from the outer lateral brim wall at its end portions proximate to the corners and (ii) the medial sealing beads extend over the major portion of the length of the outer brim wall upon which it is disposed been adjacent corners. Most preferably each lateral brim wall is provided with a medial sealing bead and the lids are hinged to the receptacle.
In preferred aspects of the invention, there are provided integrally formed ensembles of interconnected and separable containers each of which includes an associated lid as described and illustrated hereinafter. In these embodiments the lids are generally co-planar with the upper aperture of their associated cups and the containers are separably joined to one another by tearable portions which are scored and/or perforated. Preferably the lids are hinged to their associated cups by way of a perforate and/or scored hinged portion of the integrally formed ensemble and the containers are likewise separately joined by tearable portions that are scored. Most preferably the lids are generally planar while the cups are of substantial depth. For example, the cup may have a depth of an inch and a quarter or so while the lid would have an overall thickness of less than ¼ inch.
The invention is described in detail below with reference to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts and wherein:
The invention is described in detail below with reference to several embodiments. Modifications of those embodiments within the spirit and scope of the present invention, set forth in the appended claims, will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art.
Referring to
First array 12 of containers includes a receptacle or cup 22 having an upper aperture 24 as well as a rectangular brim 26. A lid 28 is hingedly coupled to cup 22 by way of scored hinge portion 30 which is preferably a perforate scored portion as well. Lid 28 also has a channel 32 with a rectangular profile which cooperates with brim 26 (which also has a rectangular profile) to form a closed container. That is to say, upon pivotal motion of lid 28 about hinge portion 30, the lidded container including cup 22 and lid 28 forms a sealed container when the lid is secured to the brim.
The profiles of lid 28 and brim 26 of cup 22 are likewise seen in
Referring again to
Second array 14 of sealable containers includes: (i) a cup 54 with an upper aperture 56 and brim 58, lid 60 with channel 62 and a hinge 63; (ii) a cup 64 with an upper aperture 66, brim 68, lid 70 with a channel 72 and a hinge 74; and (iii) cup 76 with an upper aperture 78 and a brim 80, lid 82 with a channel 84 attached to cup 76 by way of hinge 85.
Each of the cups and lids 34-82 has the features of cup 22 and lid 28, discussed in more detail below. For example, the channels 32, 41 and so on have the shape shown schematically in
As will be appreciated from
There is shown schematically in
The length of the maximum projection, P, away from the sidewall of the brim upon which the medial sealing bead is disposed has an impact on the seal improvement for the container. It is found in accordance with the present invention, that a seal with a maximum projection of 8 mils performed substantially better than a seal having a maximum of 0.005 inches or 5 mils. It is seen in the vinegar/oil leak test the percent pass for the 8 mil bead was 96 percent while only 46 percent of the 5 mil bead containers passed, suggesting that the projection distance impacts performance. Thus, if one looks at
The integrally formed, container/lid arrays of the present invention may be conveniently formed by way of any conventional molding technique from a plastic material such as by a thermoforming process from a suitable thermoplastic sheet. “Thermoforming”, “thermoformed” and like terminology is given its ordinary meaning. In the simplest form, thermoforming is the draping of a softened sheet over a shaped mold. In the more advanced form, thermoforming is the automatic high speed positioning of a sheet having an accurately controlled temperature into a pneumatically actuated forming station whereby the article's shape is defined by the mold, followed by trimming and regrind collection as is well known in the art. Still other alternative arrangements include the use of drape, vacuum, pressure, free blowing, matched die, billow drape, vacuum snap-back, billow vacuum, plug assist vacuum, reverse draw with plug assist pressure bubble immersion, trapped sheet, slip, diaphragm, twin-sheet cut sheet, twin-sheet roll-fed forming or any suitable combinations of the above. Details are provided in J. L. Throne's book, Thermoforming, published in 1987 by Coulthard. Pages 21 through 29 of that book are incorporated herein by reference. Suitable alternate arrangements also include a pillow forming technique which creates a positive air pressure between two heat softened sheets to inflate them against a clamped male/female mold system to produce a hollow product. Metal molds are etched with patterns ranging from fine to coarse in order to simulate a natural or grain like texturized look. Suitable formed articles are trimmed in line with a cutting die and regrind is optionally reused since the material is thermoplastic in nature. Other arrangements for productivity enhancements include the simultaneous forming of multiple articles with multiple dies in order to maximize throughput and minimize scrap. In some preferred embodiments, the melt-compounded composition from which the articles are made may include polypropylene and optionally further includes a polyethylene component and titanium dioxide. Suitable materials and techniques for fabricating the disposable containers of the present invention from thermoplastic materials appear in U.S. Pat. No. 6,211,501 to McCarthy et al. as well as U.S. Pat. No. 6.211,500 to Cochran II et al the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. When thermoformed, the containers are made from sheet having a caliper of from bout 5 to 30 mils; typically from about 10 to 20 mils.
Alternatively, the lid/container ensemble may be injection molded; however, thermoforming is generally preferred.
The present invention provides a unique combination of leak resistance and ease of capping. This latter feature is very important especially for thermoformed articles which tend to crush if the capping force required is too high. This will be appreciated from the discussion which follows.
Product Testing
Products were tested for water or vinegar/oil leakage as follows: (a) with the containers still inter-connected and with their lids still connected, they were filled with water or a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and vegetable oil; (b) the containers were then closed; (c) the containers were then separated from one another and placed on blotter paper; (d) each container was then placed on a side thereof, the side selected not having a hinge or tab; (e) the container was allowed to remain on its side for up to ten minutes; (f) if the container did not leak in 10 minutes, it was recorded as a pass; all others were recorded as failures; and (g) the test was repeated for another container ensemble, but the containers were placed on their sides opposite to those of the first trial.
The capping force test was conducted as follows: (a) with the container uncapped, they were separated from six-pack units, care was taken not to tear or damage the brim of the receptacle; (b) the test specimen, including receptacle and hinged cap, was placed in an automated capping tester with a preset gauge height sufficient to receive the container without interference; (c) the lid was folded into a capping position while a force gauge was zeroed and the speed set to 2½″/minute; (d) the tester drive was activated and the cross arm advanced until the cap was filly seated on the receptacle; (d) the container was inspected for damage; and (e) the capping force required was recorded.
Initially the containers shown in
In Table 1 there is seen a dramatic increase in leak resistance with the invention design, without the need for an increase capping force and associated crushing of the containers.
This non-provisional application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/751,786 entitled “Lidded Container with Linear Brim Segments and Medial Sealing Beads,” filed Jan. 5, 2004, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/456,207 entitled “Separable Containers Arranged in Arrays With Integrally Formed Lids,” filed on Jun. 6, 2003, the priority of which is claimed. This application also claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/389,533, filed Jun. 18, 2002.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60389533 | Jun 2002 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10751786 | Jan 2004 | US |
| Child | 11851810 | Sep 2007 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10456207 | Jun 2003 | US |
| Child | 10751786 | Jan 2004 | US |
