Pressed paperboard servingware with improved rigidity and rim stiffness

• US 9,833,088 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2017
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: GPCP IP Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Littlejohn, Mark B., Van Handel, Gerald J., Zelinski, Thomas W., Breining, Michael A., Johns, Albert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEMEREE, CHRISTOPHER R
• Application Number:
  US15/397,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20170112304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 336 Days
• Field of Search: 229406, 229 58, 229915, 220574, 220669, 220675
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/02 Plates, dishes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/03 for using only once, e.g. made of paper
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/34 Trays or like shallow containers B65D81/3813 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00092 circular
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00296 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00361 placed on a tray like container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00527 NO contact
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00537 on the outside, or a part turned to the outside of the mouth of the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00648 Flange or lip
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00685 Totality
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00731 Groove or hollow bead
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00805 Segments
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2543/00842 outside of the lid
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/0212 only on the outside, or a part turned to the outside, of the mouth B65D43/0206 takes precedence

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.

Claims

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

a bottom portion;

a sidewall portion extending upwardly and outwardly from the 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 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 0.003 D to 0.005 D.

2. The disposable servingware container of claim 1, wherein the evert portion has an eversion angle of 30 degrees to 160 degrees with respect to a horizontal that is substantially parallel to the bottom portion.

3. The disposable servingware container of claim 1, wherein the sidewall portion has an angle of inclination with respect to the bottom portion of 10°

to 50°

.

4. The disposable servingware container of claim 3, wherein the angle of inclination of the sidewall portion is 20°

to 30°

.

5. The disposable servingware container of claim 1, wherein a ratio of a length of the sidewall portion to the characteristic diameter is greater than 0.025.

6. The disposable servingware container of claim 1, wherein the servingware container is a bowl, wherein a ratio of a length of the sidewall portion to the characteristic diameter of the bowl is 0.1 to 0.3.

7. The disposable servingware container of claim 6, wherein the ratio of the length of the sidewall portion to the characteristic diameter of the bowl is 0.15 to 0.25.

8. The disposable servingware container of claim 6, wherein the characteristic diameter, D, is the outer diameter of the bowl.

9. The disposable servingware container of claim 1, wherein the container is generally circular and the characteristic diameter, D, is the outer diameter of the container.

10. The disposable servingware container of claim 1, wherein the container is elliptical and the characteristic diameter, D, is the arithmetic average of the major and minor axes of the container.

11. The disposable servingware container of claim 1, wherein the container is rectangular, and the characteristic diameter, D, is an average length of the sides of the container.

12. The disposable servingware container of claim 1, wherein a ratio of the length of the first generally straight section of the brim portion to the characteristic diameter is between 0 and 0.1.

13. The disposable servingware container of claim 1, wherein the second generally straight section of the brim portion extends downwardly and outwardly at an angle of 60 degrees to 75 degrees with respect to a horizontal that is substantially parallel to the bottom portion.

14. The disposable servingware container of claim 1, wherein the second generally straight section extends downwardly and outwardly at an angle of about 60 degrees to about 75 degrees with respect to a horizontal that is substantially parallel to the bottom portion.

15. The disposable servingware container of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of pleats formed about a periphery thereof.

16. The disposable servingware container of claim 15, wherein the pleats are located on the brim portion.

17. The disposable servingware container of claim 16, wherein the pleats are located on the evert portion.

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

a bottom portion;

a sidewall portion extending upwardly and outwardly from the 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 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 bottom portion; and

a characteristic diameter D, wherein a length of the first generally straight section of the brim portion is 0.03 D to 0.05 D, and a length of the second generally straight section of the brim portion is 0.003 D to 0.005 D.

19. The disposable servingware container of claim 18, wherein the sidewall portion has an angle of inclination with respect to the bottom portion of 10°

to 50°

.

20. The disposable servingware container of claim 18, further comprising a stabilizing projection formed on an underside of the container.

21. The disposable servingware container of claim 18, further comprising a spacer projection disposed between the first and second annular transition portions, wherein the spacer projection is sized to engage an adjacent container in a stack.

22. The disposable servingware container of claim 18, wherein the container is generally circular and the characteristic diameter, D, is the outer diameter of the container;

or wherein the container is elliptical and the characteristic diameter, D, is the arithmetic average of the major and minor axes of the container.

23. The disposable servingware container of claim 18, wherein the container is rectangular, and the characteristic diameter, D, is an average length of the sides of the container.

24. The disposable servingware container of claim 18, wherein the second generally straight section extends downwardly and outwardly at an angle of about 60 degrees to about 75 degrees with respect to a horizontal that is substantially parallel to the bottom portion.

25. The disposable servingware container of claim 18, further comprising a plurality of pleats formed about a periphery thereof.

26. The disposable servingware container of claim 25, wherein the pleats are located on the brim portion.

27. The disposable servingware container of claim 25, wherein the pleats are located on the evert portion.

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

a bottom portion;

a sidewall portion extending upwardly and outwardly from the 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 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; and

a characteristic diameter D, wherein a length of the second generally straight section of the brim portion is 0.003 D to 0.005 D.

29. The container of claim 28, wherein the container is generally circular and the characteristic diameter, D, is the outer diameter of the container.

30. The container of claim 28, wherein the container is elliptical and the characteristic diameter, D, is the arithmetic average of the major and minor axes of the container.

31. The container of claim 28, wherein the container is rectangular, and the characteristic diameter, D, is an average length of the sides of the container.

32. The container of claim 28, further comprising a flange stabilizing projection disposed on the brim portion, the flange stabilizing projection sized to engage an adjacent container in a stack of containers.

33. The container of claim 32, wherein the flange stabilizing projection comprises a plurality of nodules formed by a groove and the plurality of nodules are formed on the pleats.

34. The container of claim 33, wherein the plurality of nodules comprises about 25 to about 80 circumferentially spaced nodules.

35. The container of claim 33, wherein the groove is disposed in a die forming contour and has an inner wall that slopes outwardly.

36. The container of claim 28, wherein the first generally straight section of the brim portion extends downwardly and outwardly from a first end of the second annular transition portion.

37. The container of claim 28, wherein the second generally straight section extends downwardly and outwardly at an angle of about 60 degrees to about 75 degrees with respect to a horizontal that is substantially parallel to the bottom portion.

38. The container of claim 28, wherein the second generally straight section of the brim portion 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.

39. The container of claim 28, wherein the evert portion extends outwardly from the fourth annular transition portion at an angle of 25 degrees to 160 degrees with respect to a horizontal that is substantially parallel to the bottom portion.