WASTE CONTAINER AND RELATED METHOD OF MANUFACTURE

• US 20100276839A1
• Filed: 05/01/2009
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cascade Engineering Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cascade Engineering Incorporated
• Inventors: Rugg, Paul J., Parker, Brian G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,173,057 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 264/299
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/4407 by flexible movement of undercut portions of the articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7126 large, e.g. for bulk storage
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1484 relating to the adaptation of receptacles to carry identification means

Abstract

A method of forming a container includes providing a mold including at least one bulbous protrusion. The mold is closed to form a mold cavity corresponding to the shape of the container, with the bulbous protrusion being positioned in the mold cavity. Material is injected into the mold cavity to form the container, and the material envelopes the bulbous protrusion to create an undercut slot. The container is removed from the mold and the bulbous protrusion is withdrawn from the slot.

Claims

1. A method of forming a container, the method comprising:

providing a mold including at least one bulbous protrusion;

closing the mold to form a mold cavity corresponding to the shape of the container, wherein the at least one bulbous protrusion is in the mold cavity;

injecting a material into the mold cavity to form the container, wherein the material envelopes the at least one bulbous protrusion to create a slot having an undercut portion; and

removing the container from the mold, including withdrawing the at least one bulbous protrusion from the slot.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising allowing the material to harden in the mold to form the container, wherein the material tightens against the bulbous protrusion as it hardens and creates a gap in the mold.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the bulbous protrusion and the slot each include a head portion, a narrow neck portion and a body portion, wherein separating the at least one bulbous protrusion from the container includes drawing the head of the bulbous protrusion through the neck portion of the slot.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the drawing step results in flexing the neck portion of the slot.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising snapping an object into the slot in the container.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the object is a case adapted to receive an RFID tag, wherein the method includes placing an RFID chip in the case and snapping the case into the slot.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the mold is adapted to form a plurality of ribs on the container, wherein withdrawing the at least one bulbous protrusion from the slot includes leaving the slot in at least one of the ribs.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the undercut portion of the slot is in the range of approximately 0.020 to 0.080 inches.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the undercut portion of the slot is approximately 0.020 inches.

10. A method of forming a waste container adapted to have an RFID tag attached thereto, the method comprising:

providing a mold having an upper mold half and a lower mold half, wherein at least one of the upper and lower mold halves includes a bulbous protrusion;

closing the upper and lower mold halves to form a mold cavity corresponding to the shape of the container and with the bulbous protrusion in the mold cavity;

injecting material into the mold cavity to form the container, wherein the material envelopes the protrusion to create a slot having a relatively narrow neck;

removing the container from the mold including withdrawing the bulbous protrusion from the slot; and

snapping a case including an RFID tag into the slot.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the bulbous protrusion and the slot each include a head portion, a narrow neck portion and a body portion, wherein separating the at least one bulbous protrusion from the container includes the neck portion of the slot flexing to accommodate the head of the bulbous protrusion.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the mold is adapted to form a plurality of ribs on the container, wherein withdrawing the bulbous protrusion from the slot includes leaving the slot in at least one of the ribs.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the neck portion of the slot is in the range of approximately 0.040 to 0.160 inches narrower than the width of the bulbous protrusion.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the neck portion of the slot is approximately 0.040 inches narrower than the width of the bulbous protrusion.