Expandable paperboard cup and blank therefor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A unitary paperboard blank adapted to form a container comprising:
- a rectangular main panel having first, second, third and fourth corners;
first, second, third and fourth side panels hingedly coupled, respectively, to a side of said main panel along first, second, third and fourth fold lines;
a first corner panel hingedly coupled along two fold lines to an end of said first side panel and an end of said second side panel;
a second corner panel hingedly coupled along two fold lines to another end of said second side panel and an end of said third side panel;
a third corner panel hingedly coupled along two fold lines to another end of said third side panel and an end of said fourth side panel;
a fourth corner panel hingedly coupled along two fold lines to another end of said fourth side panel and another end of said first side panel;
each of said corner panels having a diagonal fold line therein intersecting one of said corners of said main panel and extending inwardly into said main panel; and
said main panel having four inner fold lines, each interconnecting two adjacent diagonal fold lines.
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Abstract
An expandable container in the form of a cup made from a unitary blank of paperboard. The container has a bottom panel and four side panels and the paperboard is coated so the container can receive a liquid, such as soup, therein. A sidewise pressure exerted on the side panels downwardly expands the bottom panel to increase the depth of the container for the reception of the liquid. In one embodiment, the bottom panel has a plurality of curvilinear fold lines to allow the downward expansion. In a second embodiment, the bottom panel has a plurality of straight fold lines for this purpose.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A unitary paperboard blank adapted to form a container comprising:
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a rectangular main panel having first, second, third and fourth corners; first, second, third and fourth side panels hingedly coupled, respectively, to a side of said main panel along first, second, third and fourth fold lines; a first corner panel hingedly coupled along two fold lines to an end of said first side panel and an end of said second side panel; a second corner panel hingedly coupled along two fold lines to another end of said second side panel and an end of said third side panel; a third corner panel hingedly coupled along two fold lines to another end of said third side panel and an end of said fourth side panel; a fourth corner panel hingedly coupled along two fold lines to another end of said fourth side panel and another end of said first side panel; each of said corner panels having a diagonal fold line therein intersecting one of said corners of said main panel and extending inwardly into said main panel; and said main panel having four inner fold lines, each interconnecting two adjacent diagonal fold lines. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An expandable container formed from a unitary blank or paperboard and adapted to hold a liquid therein comprising:
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a rectangular bottom panel having four corners; first, second, third and fourth side panels hingedly coupled to the sides of said main panel along fold lines and oriented perpendicularly thereto; means for interconnecting adjacent pairs of said side panels; and means, comprising interconnected fold lines formed in said main panel, for expanding said main panel downwardly in response to inward pressure exerted perpendicularly to said side panels. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification