US4361235A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Containers made of thin pliable synthetic material, and process of manufacturing it
Assignee: Societe Generale des Eaux Minerales de Vittel SA
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Filing: 1980-01-18
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Granted: 1982-11-30
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Expires: 2000-01-18
Abstract
Abstract A container made of synthetic material and comprising two compartments, one containing the liquid or other matter the container is to carry, and one, of smaller volume, containing a gas under pressure. The smaller pressurized container rigidifies the structure and may be shaped in such a way as to form a handle or grip for the container. A process and apparatus for manufacturing and filling rows of such containers is also disclosed, said process involving forming a strip of synthetic material into the shape of a letter W in transverse section and performing various welding operations on the strip to form individual containers and to divide off the two compartments.
Inventors
- 👤 Raoul L. A. Gautier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 21:13
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D33/00; B65D33/06; B65D33/065; B31; B31B; B31B70/00; B65B; B65B9/00; B65B9/06; B65B9/08; B65B9/093; B65D33/02; B65D75/00; B65D75/008; B31B2155/00; B31B2155/001; B31B2155/0014; B31B2160/00; B31B2160/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
A container comprising at least two side walls and a bottom comprising at least one sheet of thin pliable synthetic material and having juxtaposed edges welded together to provide first and second welded joints extended from said bottom and spaced apart a distance corresponding to the dimension of the container taken along said bottom to define the interior of the container between the inner surfaces of said side walls, said side walls also being welded together along a line to provide a third welded joint dividing the interior of the container into a main cavity between said first welded joint and said third welded joint, for containing a liquid, and a closed pocket of smaller volume between said second welded joint and said third welded joint filled with a gas under pressure to form a handle for gripping the container, said main cavity and said handle being in side-by-side relation between said first and second welded joints such that the outer surfaces of said side walls are externally exposed, said container bottom being constructed to cause said container to be self-supporting when placed with said bottom on a supporting surface, said handle stiffening the container thereby imparting stability to the container enabling the container to remain in a steady position when placed with said bottom on a supporting surface and to remain upright after opening thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
226 words
A container comprising at least two side walls and a bottom comprising at least one sheet of thin pliable synthetic material and having juxtaposed edges welded together to provide first and second welded joints extended from said bottom and spaced apart a distance corresponding to the dimension of the container taken along said bottom to define the interior of the container between the inner surfaces of said side walls, said side walls also being welded together along a line to provide a third welded joint dividing the interior of the container into a main cavity between said first welded joint and said third welded joint, for containing a liquid, and a closed pocket of smaller volume between said second welded joint and said third welded joint filled with a gas under pressure to form a handle for gripping the container, said main cavity and said handle being in side-by-side relation between said first and second welded joints such that the outer surfaces of said side walls are externally exposed, said container bottom being constructed to cause said container to be self-supporting when placed with said bottom on a supporting surface, said handle stiffening the container thereby imparting stability to the container enabling the container to remain in a steady position when placed with said bottom on a supporting surface and to remain upright after opening thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A container according to claim 1, wherein said side walls and bottom meet at folds and wherein liquid filling said main cavity substantially flattens out said folds to provide a substantially flat standing surface for the container along said container bottom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A container according to claim 1, wherein said handle extends along substantially the entire length of said second welded joint.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
214 words
A container comprising at least two side walls and a bottom comprising at least one sheet of thin pliable composite synthetic material, heat-weldable only on the faces presented to the interior of the container and having juxtaposed edges welded together to provide a pair of outer welded joints extending from said bottom in spaced-apart relation to define the interior of said container between the inner surfaces of said side walls, said side walls also being welded to each other along a line to provide another welded joint between said outer welded joints so positioned as to divide the interior of the container into a main cavity between said another welded joint and one of said outer welded joints for containing a liquid and a closed pocket of smaller volume between said another welded joint and the other of said outer welded joints and filled with a fluid for stiffening the container and to form a handle for gripping the container, said main cavity and said handle being in side-by-side relation between said outer welded joints such that the outer surfaces of said side walls are externally exposed, said bottom being formed by two V-shaped folds extending parallel to said side walls over their entire length, the ends of said folds being closed by welds.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
214 words
A container comprising at least two side walls and a bottom comprising at least one sheet of thin pliable composite synthetic material, heat-weldable only on the faces presented to the interior of the container and having juxtaposed edges welded together to provide a pair of outer welded joints extending from said bottom in spaced-apart relation to define the interior of said container between the inner surfaces of said side walls, said side walls also being welded to each other along a line to provide another welded joint between said outer welded joints so positioned as to divide the interior of the container into a main cavity between said another welded joint and one of said outer welded joints for containing a liquid and a closed pocket of smaller volume between said another welded joint and the other of said outer welded joints and filled with a fluid for stiffening the container and to form a handle for gripping the container, said main cavity and said handle being in side-by-side relation between said outer welded joints such that the outer surfaces of said side walls are externally exposed, said bottom being formed by two V-shaped folds extending parallel to said side walls over their entire length, the ends of said folds being closed by welds.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
A container according to claim 4, wherein the two V-shaped folds at the bottom have their ends cut away to form bevelled corners, which corners are closed by welds in such a way that the folds are separate from each other over their entire length, including welds.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A container according to claim 4, wherein the two V-shaped folds at the bottom are connected to each other by adhesive only at their corresponding welded ends.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A container according to claim 4, wherein the bottom of each of the two V-shaped folds is stiffened by a weld extending over the entire length of the corresponding fold.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
71 words
A row of containers according to claim 4, wherein the contiguous containers are interconnected over the length of the welded edges of their side walls by narrow joints consisting of frangible or cuttable synthetic material, and wherein at least one of the two end containers in the row is connected along a welded edge of its side walls to a substantially rigid end handle for enabling the row to be gripped.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A row according to claim 8, wherein each end handle comprises at least one closed pocket made of pliable synthetic material enclosing a stiffening means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
A row according to claim 9, wherein the stifening means is a rigid plate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
A row according to claim 9, wherein the stiffening means is a gas under pressure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A row according to claim 8, wherein each handle is connected to the end container by a narrow joint made of frangible or cuttable synthetic material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
A row according to claim 8, wherein all the containers and each end handle are formed from a single strip of pliable synthetic material folded longitudinally to the shape of a letter W, cut and welded.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A row according to claim 13, wherein each handle has a length equal to one-half of the length of each container.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
A row according to claim 8, wherein one of the welded edges of the side walls of each container forms, at the top, a pouring spout which, by means of a narrow notch formed in said narrow joint, is separated from the upper portion of the adjacent container or end handle.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-11-29 | 1986-05-31 | 1986-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-11-29 | 1990-05-31 | 1990-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-11-29 | 1994-05-31 | 1994-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |