Container Having A Rim Or Other Feature Encapsulated By Or Formed From Injection-Molded Material

• US 20140374953A1
• Filed: 09/12/2014
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC (Graphic Packaging International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Middleton, Scott W., Sinclair, Mark R., O'Hagan, Brian R., Wnek, Patrick H., Lafferty, Terrence P., Blaas, Peter W., Hjort, Kevin J., Smith, Patrick J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,757,886 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 264/275
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/0027 Gate or gate mark locations
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/14918 in-mould-labelling
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14065 Positioning or centering articles in the mould
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14336 Coating a portion of the article, e.g. the edge of the article B29C45/14573 and B29C45/14598 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14467 Joining articles or parts of a single article B29C45/14377, B29C45/14385, B29C45/14581, B29C45/14614 and B29C45/006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14508 Joining juxtaposed sheet-like articles, e.g. for making trim panels
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1671 with an insert
• CPC Class Codes: 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
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/592 using punches or dies
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/48 Reinforcements of dissimilar materials, e.g. metal frames in plastic walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/344 Geometry or shape factors influencing the microwave heating properties
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3498 attached to the base surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/162 the container, the lid and the hinge being made of one piece B65D43/161 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/169 the lid, the hinge and the element connecting them to the container being made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/209 the adjacent edges of folded-up portions being joined by moulding seams in situ
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/445 Reinforcements formed separately from the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/2016 the cover being maintained by projections or recesses on the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/2032 by peeling or tearing the cover from the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/208 the cover having a cap-like or plug-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/2088 attached to the cover
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/245 : Utensils for removing the contents from the package, e.g. spoons, forks, spatulas B65D77/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3453 : Rigid containers, e.g. trays, bottles, boxes, cups

Abstract

A method for forming a container having an injection-molded feature. The method includes obtaining a blank, forming the blank into a three-dimensional article having at least one sidewall, and forming the injection-molded feature extending around the perimeter of the article. The injection-molded feature comprises an anchor portion and a flange portion. The anchor portion is in contact with an interior surface of the at least one sidewall and the flange portion extends from the anchor portion outwardly from the at least one sidewall.

Claims

1. A method for forming a container having an injection-molded feature, comprising:

obtaining a blank;

obtaining a tool, the tool comprising a cavity having at least one sidewall for forming at least one sidewall of the container, a core operatively connected to the cavity, an injection cavity for receiving liquid resin and directing liquid resin around at least a portion of the perimeter of the cavity to form the injection molded feature of the container;

placing the blank in the tool;

then closing the tool while the blank is in the tool, the closing the tool comprises the core entering the cavity 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;

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 around the perimeter of the article and forms an anchor portion of the injection-molded feature and a flange portion of the injection-molded feature, the anchor portion is in contact with an interior surface of the at least one sidewall and the flange portion extends from the anchor portion outwardly from the at least one sidewall.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the flange portion comprises resin flowing across the top edge of the at least one sidewall.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the flange portion is in contact with the top edge of the at least one sidewall.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the flange portion extends beyond the top edge of the at least one sidewall.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the flange portion comprises forming a sealing surface for contacting a lid to seal the article.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the injection cavity comprises an advanced-flow section and a delayed-flow section, the injecting resin comprises forming a flow front comprising resin in the advanced-flow section flowing at a higher flow rate than resin in the delayed-flow section.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the injection cavity extends around the cavity so that resin flows around the perimeter of the article.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the resin flowing in the advanced-flow section forms the anchor portion that extends around the perimeter of the article and the resin flowing in the delayed-flow section forms the flange portion that extends around the perimeter of the article.

9. A method for forming a container having an injection-molded feature, comprising:

obtaining a blank;

forming the blank into a three-dimensional article having at least one sidewall;

forming the injection-molded feature extending around the perimeter of the article, the injection-molded feature comprises an anchor portion and a flange portion, the anchor portion is in contact with an interior surface of the at least one sidewall and the flange portion extends from the anchor portion outwardly from the at least one sidewall.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein forming the injection-molded feature comprises resin flowing across the top edge of the at least one sidewall.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the flange portion is in contact with the top edge of the at least one sidewall.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the flange portion extends beyond the top edge of the at least one sidewall.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein forming the flange portion comprises forming a sealing surface for contacting a lid to seal the article.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein forming the injection-molded feature comprises injecting resin in an injection cavity that comprises an advanced-flow section and a delayed-flow section, the injecting resin comprises forming a flow front comprising resin in the advanced-flow section flowing at a higher flow rate than resin in the delayed-flow section.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein resin flowing in the advanced-flow section forms the anchor portion and resin flowing in the delayed-flow section forms the flange portion.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the injection cavity extends around the article so that resin flows around the perimeter of the article.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the anchor portion extends around the perimeter of the article and the flange portion extends around the perimeter of the article.