Plastic foam cup and method for producing it

Claim 1

A METHOD FOR PRODUCING PLASTIC FOAM CUPS, CONSISTING IN: SELECTING A MASS OF FOAMABLE PLASTIC BEADS WITH A FOAMING AGENT THEREIN, AND OF A SIZE SUCH THAT 75 PERCENT TO 85 PER INCH OF SAID MASS INCLUDES BEADS OF APPROXIMATELY 40 MESH PER INCH SIZE, AND 15 PERCENT TO 20 PERCENT OF SAID MASS INCLUDES BEADS OF APPROXIMATELY 45 MESH PER INCH SIZE, THEN SUBJECTING SAID MASS OF BEADS TO SUFFICIENT HEAT TO PARTIALLY EXPAND THEM TO A SIZE RANGING FROM 14 TO 30 MESH PER INCH SIZE AND A DENSITY

Claim 2

A METHOD FOR PRODUCING PLASTIC FOAM CUPS, CONSISTING IN: SELECTING A MASS OF FOAMABLE PLASTIC BEADS WITH A FOAMING AGENT THEREIN, AND OF A SIZE SUCH THAT 75 PERCENT TO 85 PER INCH OF SAID MASS INCLUDES BEADS OF APPROXIMATELY 40 MESH PER INCH SIZE, AND 15 PERCENT TO 20 PERCENT OF SAID MASS INCLUDES BEADS OF APPROXIMATELY 45 MESH PER INCH SIZE, THEN SUBJECTING SAID MASS OF BEADS TO SUFFICIENT HEAT TO PARTIALLY EXPAND THEM TO A SIZE RANGING FROM 14 TO 30 MESH PER INCH SIZE AND A DENSITY

Claim 3

A method for producing plastic foam cups, consisting in: selecting a mass of foamable plastic beads with a foaming agent therein, and of a size such that 75 percent to 85 percent of said mass includes beads of approximately 40 mesh per inch size and 15 percent to 20 percent of said mass includes beads of approximately 45 mesh per inch size, then subjecting said mass of beads to sufficient heat to partially expand them to a size ranging from 14 to 30 mesh size and a density ranging between 68 and 80 grams per liter, then introducing a quantity of said partially expanded beads into a cavity of a mold, wherein the walls thereof are spaced apart a distance ranging between 0.065 inches and 0.085 inches, said quantity being sufficient to fill said mold when said beads are expanded to an average diameter slightly greater than half the distance between said spaced apart walls of said cavity; then heating said mold to cause further expanding of said partially expanded beads in said cavity; and subjecting said expanding beads in said cavity to steam to substantially finish the expansion of said beads to a density ranging between 55 and 65 grams per liter; then shutting off said steam and cooling said mold; then removing a plastic cup from said mold.

Claim 4

A method for producing plastic foam cups, consisting in: selecting a mass of foamable plastic beads with a foaming agent therein, and of a size such that 75 percent to 85 percent of said mass includes beads of approximately 40 mesh per inch size and 15 percent to 20 percent of said mass includes beads of approximately 45 mesh per inch size, then subjecting said mass of beads to sufficient heat to partially expand them to a size ranging from 14 to 30 mesh size and a density ranging between 68 and 80 grams per liter, then introducing a quantity of said partially expanded beads into a cavity of a mold, wherein the walls thereof are spaced apart a distance ranging between 0.065 inches and 0.085 inches, said quantity being sufficient to fill said mold when said beads are expanded to an average diameter slightly greater than half the distance between said spaced apart walls of said cavity; then heating said mold to cause further expanding of said partially expanded beads in said cavity; and subjecting said expanding beads in said cavity to steam to substantially finish the expansion of said beads to a density ranging between 55 and 65 grams per liter; then shutting off said steam and cooling said mold; then removing a plastic cup from said mold.

Claim 5

A method for producing plastic foam cups, consisting in: selecting a mass of foamable plastic beads with a foaming agent therein, and of a size such that 75 percent to 85 percent of said mass includes beads of approximately 40 mesh per inch size and 15 percent to 20 percent of said mass includes beads of approximately 45 mesh per inch size; then subjecting said mass of beads to sufficient heat to partially expand them to a size ranging from 14 to 30 mesh size and to a density ranging between 68 and 80 grams per liter; then introducing said partially expanded beads into a cavity of a mold, wherein the walls thereof are spaced apart a distance ranging between 0.065 inches and 0.085 inches; then heating said mold to cause further expanding of said beads in said cavity; and subjecting said expanding beads in said cavity to steam to substantially finish the expansion of said beads to a density ranging between 55 and 65 grams per liter, while maintaining said steam in a range of pressures between 28 P.S.I. and 32 P.S.I.; then shutting off said steam and cooling said mold; and then removing a plastic cup from said mold.

Claim 6

A method for producing plastic foam cups, consisting in: selecting a mass of foamable plastic beads with a foaming agent therein, and of a size such that 75 percent to 85 percent of said mass includes beads of approximately 40 mesh per inch size and 15 percent to 20 percent of said mass includes beads of approximately 45 mesh per inch size; then subjecting said mass of beads to sufficient heat to partially expand them to a size ranging from 14 to 30 mesh size and to a density ranging between 68 and 80 grams per liter; then introducing said partially expanded beads into a cavity of a mold, wherein the walls thereof are spaced apart a distance ranging between 0.065 inches and 0.085 inches; then heating said mold to cause further expanding of said beads in said cavity; and subjecting said expanding beads in said cavity to steam to substantially finish the expansion of said beads to a density ranging between 55 and 65 grams per liter, while maintaining said steam in a range of pressures between 28 P.S.I. and 32 P.S.I.; then shutting off said steam and cooling said mold; and then removing a plastic cup from said mold.

Claim 7

A method for producing plastic foam cups, consisting in: selecting a mass of foamable plastic beads with a foaming agent therein, and of a size such that 75 percent to 85 percent of said mass includes beads of approximately 40 mesh per inch size and 15 percent to 20 percent of said mass includes beads of approximately 45 mesh per inch size; then subjecting said mass of beads to sufficient heat to partially expand them to a size ranging from 14 to 30 mesh per inch size; and a density ranging between 68 and 80 grams per liter; then introducing a quantity of said partially expanded beads into a cavity of a mold, wherein the walls thereof are spaced apart a distance ranging between 0.065 inches and 0.085 inches, said quantity being sufficient to fill said mold when said beads are expanded to an average diameter slightly greater than half the distance between said spaced apart walls of said cavity; then heating said mold to cause further expanding of said partially expanded beads in said cavity; and subjecting said expanding beads in said cavity to steam to substantially finish the expansion of said beads to a density ranging between 55 and 65 grams per liter, while maintaining the pressure of said steam in a range between 28 P.S.I. and 32 P.S.I.; then shutting off said steam and cooling said mold, and the removing a plastic cup from said mold.

Claim 8

A method for producing plastic foam cups, consisting in: selecting a mass of foamable plastic beads with a foaming agent therein, and of a size such that 75 percent to 85 percent of said mass includes beads of approximately 40 mesh per inch size and 15 percent to 20 percent of said mass includes beads of approximately 45 mesh per inch size; then subjecting said mass of beads to sufficient heat to partially expand them to a size ranging from 14 to 30 mesh per inch size; and a density ranging between 68 and 80 grams per liter; then introducing a quantity of said partially expanded beads into a cavity of a mold, wherein the walls thereof are spaced apart a distance ranging between 0.065 inches and 0.085 inches, said quantity being sufficient to fill said mold when said beads are expanded to an average diameter slightly greater than half the distance between said spaced apart walls of said cavity; then heating said mold to cause further expanding of said partially expanded beads in said cavity; and subjecting said expanding beads in said cavity to steam to substantially finish the expansion of said beads to a density ranging between 55 and 65 grams per liter, while maintaining the pressure of said steam in a range between 28 P.S.I. and 32 P.S.I.; then shutting off said steam and cooling said mold, and the removing a plastic cup from said mold.