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US4056138A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Flexible plastic container

Assignee: Boracier SA
•
Filing: 1976-03-24
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Granted: 1977-11-01
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Expires: 1996-03-24
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Abstract

Abstract A flexible plastics container for loose products in bulk, e.g. 500 to 2000 liters, and having relatively thick walls, e.g. about 1 mm, is rendered flexible by providing the container with at least one plane of symmetry and forming preliminary fold lines, preferably of a W-shape cross-section, in the immediate vicinity of and along the line of intersection of the plane of symmetry with the walls. The two halves defined by the plane of symmetry can then be folded into each other. In a four-walled container a further folding of the two overlying sets of walls gives a flat article. The container is ideally formed by a blow moulding process in which the mould has an impression which forms the preliminary folds simultaneously with the walls. The mould may be provided with means for increasing and reducing pressure against different walls of the container while within the mould so that the folding operation can be carried out in the mould.

Inventors

  • 👤 Gaston Fagniart

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 11:45
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D1/00; B65D1/02; B65D1/0223; B65D1/0292; B29; B29C; B29C49/00; B29C49/42; B29C49/48; B29C49/54; B65D88/00; B65D88/16; B65D88/1612

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 190 words
A foldable container, comprising: walls of plastic material defining a homogeneous container of high mechanical strength generally shaped as a polyhedron, each wall defining a face of the polyhedron, the body having a mouth at one end of the walls and a base at another end thereof and having a plane of general symmetry extending between such walls diagonally of the polyhedron; and preliminary folds integral with such walls and with portions of the base, extending in the immediate vicinity of and along the plane of general symmetry, to interconnect such walls and base portions and to permit the container body to be folded about the preliminary folds, said folds having a general cross-sectional shape of a W extending into the interior of said container body, the W being offset relative to said body to a slight extent such that one pair of the walls, when the body is folded, practically adjoins another pair of the walls of the polyhedron, whereby said container body is slightly asymmetrical relative to said plane of general symmetry, and storage of the folded container body, as well as the folding thereof, is thus facilitated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 190 words
A foldable container, comprising: walls of plastic material defining a homogeneous container of high mechanical strength generally shaped as a polyhedron, each wall defining a face of the polyhedron, the body having a mouth at one end of the walls and a base at another end thereof and having a plane of general symmetry extending between such walls diagonally of the polyhedron; and preliminary folds integral with such walls and with portions of the base, extending in the immediate vicinity of and along the plane of general symmetry, to interconnect such walls and base portions and to permit the container body to be folded about the preliminary folds, said folds having a general cross-sectional shape of a W extending into the interior of said container body, the W being offset relative to said body to a slight extent such that one pair of the walls, when the body is folded, practically adjoins another pair of the walls of the polyhedron, whereby said container body is slightly asymmetrical relative to said plane of general symmetry, and storage of the folded container body, as well as the folding thereof, is thus facilitated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 44 words
A container according to claim 1, wherein the body also has a second plane of general symmetry perpendicular to the first-mentioned plane, for effecting the folding by subjecting the walls to be folded to forces the resultant of which acts in the second plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 14 words
A container according to claim 2, wherein the polyhedron has a rectangular parallelepiped form.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2685316A Cited
US2950029A Cited
US3354924A Cited
US3727803A Cited
US3638835A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1980-10-31 1981-05-02 1981-11-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1984-10-31 1985-05-02 1985-11-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1988-10-31 1989-05-02 1989-11-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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