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US3703255A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Plastic container having expanded side wall

Assignee: Kimberly Clark Tissue Co
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Filing: 1970-02-12
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Granted: 1972-11-21
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Expires: 1990-02-12
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Abstract

Abstract A foamed, cellular thermoplastic container has a sidewall, at least a substantial portion of which is thicker and less dense than a bottom wall and lip region between which said sidewall is disposed. In a first embodiment of the invention the inner and outer surfaces defining the sidewall are uninterrupted, smooth surfaces, and in a second embodiment of the invention the inner surface of the sidewall is smooth and the outer surface is provided with alternate ridges and valleys. A process for thermoforming foamed, cellular thermoplastic containers from sheet material in which the sheet is positioned between mold members which are brought into a final forming position to define a cavity, portions of which conform to the configuration of the container to be formed, and a reduced pressure is applied to opposite sides of the sheet within the sidewall region of the mold to permit entrapped gases in the cellular structure of the sheet to expand to thereby increase the thickness and lower the density of the sidewall of the container.

Inventors

  • 👤 Gordon E Wade

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 20:46
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C51/00; B29C51/08; B29C51/082; B29C44/00; B29C44/02; B29C44/04; B29C44/0415; B65; B65D; B65D1/00; B65D1/22; B65D1/26; B65D1/265; B29K; B29K2105/00; B29K2105/04; B29K2105/043; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/712; B29L2031/7132; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S220/00; Y10S220/902

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 203 words
A single ply, thermoplastic container formed from an all foam plastic sheet having high density non-porous skin surfaces, and a low density inner cellular core with trapped gases therein, said container comprising: a lip region in which said sheet is compressed, said lip region defining an opening into said container; a bottom wall in which said sheet is compressed; a sidewall in which said cellular core is expanded to provide an insulating layer of a sufficient thickness and low density to maintain an outer skin surface of the sidewall at a comfortable hand holding temperature when boiling water is disposed within said container to establish an infinite holding time capacity, said sidewall being thicker and less dense than said lip region and bottom wall and extending upwardly and outwardly from said bottom wall; a nesting ledge extending outwardly from an upper end of said sidewall, said nesting ledge terminating in an outer edge; and a collar region extending upwardly from the outer edge of said nesting ledge and terminating in said lip region, whereby the nesting ledge of one container will rest upon the lip region of a like container when said one container is disposed in telescopic relationship within said like container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 203 words
A single ply, thermoplastic container formed from an all foam plastic sheet having high density non-porous skin surfaces, and a low density inner cellular core with trapped gases therein, said container comprising: a lip region in which said sheet is compressed, said lip region defining an opening into said container; a bottom wall in which said sheet is compressed; a sidewall in which said cellular core is expanded to provide an insulating layer of a sufficient thickness and low density to maintain an outer skin surface of the sidewall at a comfortable hand holding temperature when boiling water is disposed within said container to establish an infinite holding time capacity, said sidewall being thicker and less dense than said lip region and bottom wall and extending upwardly and outwardly from said bottom wall; a nesting ledge extending outwardly from an upper end of said sidewall, said nesting ledge terminating in an outer edge; and a collar region extending upwardly from the outer edge of said nesting ledge and terminating in said lip region, whereby the nesting ledge of one container will rest upon the lip region of a like container when said one container is disposed in telescopic relationship within said like container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 203 words
A single ply, thermoplastic container formed from an all foam plastic sheet having high density non-porous skin surfaces, and a low density inner cellular core with trapped gases therein, said container comprising: a lip region in which said sheet is compressed, said lip region defining an opening into said container; a bottom wall in which said sheet is compressed; a sidewall in which said cellular core is expanded to provide an insulating layer of a sufficient thickness and low density to maintain an outer skin surface of the sidewall at a comfortable hand holding temperature when boiling water is disposed within said container to establish an infinite holding time capacity, said sidewall being thicker and less dense than said lip region and bottom wall and extending upwardly and outwardly from said bottom wall; a nesting ledge extending outwardly from an upper end of said sidewall, said nesting ledge terminating in an outer edge; and a collar region extending upwardly from the outer edge of said nesting ledge and terminating in said lip region, whereby the nesting ledge of one container will rest upon the lip region of a like container when said one container is disposed in telescopic relationship within said like container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 203 words
A single ply, thermoplastic container formed from an all foam plastic sheet having high density non-porous skin surfaces, and a low density inner cellular core with trapped gases therein, said container comprising: a lip region in which said sheet is compressed, said lip region defining an opening into said container; a bottom wall in which said sheet is compressed; a sidewall in which said cellular core is expanded to provide an insulating layer of a sufficient thickness and low density to maintain an outer skin surface of the sidewall at a comfortable hand holding temperature when boiling water is disposed within said container to establish an infinite holding time capacity, said sidewall being thicker and less dense than said lip region and bottom wall and extending upwardly and outwardly from said bottom wall; a nesting ledge extending outwardly from an upper end of said sidewall, said nesting ledge terminating in an outer edge; and a collar region extending upwardly from the outer edge of said nesting ledge and terminating in said lip region, whereby the nesting ledge of one container will rest upon the lip region of a like container when said one container is disposed in telescopic relationship within said like container.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3128029A Cited
US3169688A Cited
US3013306A Cited
US3531555A Cited
US3374922A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1975-11-21 1976-05-22 1976-11-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1979-11-21 1980-05-22 1980-11-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1983-11-21 1984-05-22 1984-11-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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