US4781880A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of forming plastic ribbed enclosure
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1987-04-20
•
Granted: 1988-11-01
•
Expires: 2007-04-20
Abstract
Abstract An enclosure having a self-supporting side wall formed of a plurality of laterally spaced ribs with non-self-supporting thin webs therebetween whereby the ribs and webs cooperate one with the other to provide an enclosure having shape-retaining characteristics. A bottom wall is provided constituting an integral extension of the side wall with the ribs being scored at the juncture of the side and bottom walls to permit the material to be folded such that the side wall and bottom wall lie generally normal one to the other. The enclosure has a closure portion including either a substantially rigid portion having a neck with an opening or a self-supporting rib and web closure terminating in the neck and opening. A cap is provided for sealing the enclosure. Blow molding and blown film techniques are used to form the enclosure.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward S. Robbins, III
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 18:27
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D1/00; B65D1/40; B65D1/42; B29; B29C; B29C48/00; B29C48/001; B29C48/0018; B29C48/0019; B29C48/03; B29C48/07; B29C48/08; B29C48/09; B29C48/10; B29K; B29K2105/00; B29K2105/06; B29K2995/00; B29K2995/0037; B29K2995/0072
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of forming a plastic enclosure having a flexible ribbed side wall portion and a substantially rigid closure therefor comprising the steps of: extruding a plastic material from a die head having an endless extrusion opening to form a parison including (a) extruding the plastic material to form the flexible ribbed side wall portion of the plastic enclosure and, during extruding according to step (a), forming ribs spaced one from the other about the entire circumference of the parison to form the side wall portion of the enclosure; and (b) sequentially with the formation of said ribs, forming the closure for the enclosure by, as part of the step of extruding the plastic material from the die head and as a continuous part of and integral with said parison forming such enclosure, extruding the substantially rigid portion of the closure as a part of the entire circumference of the parison, the steps (a) and (b) being accomplished with either step preceding the other step.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of forming a plastic enclosure having a flexible ribbed side wall portion and a substantially rigid closure therefor comprising the steps of: extruding a plastic material from a die head having an endless extrusion opening to form a parison including (a) extruding the plastic material to form the flexible ribbed side wall portion of the plastic enclosure and, during extruding according to step (a), forming ribs spaced one from the other about the entire circumference of the parison to form the side wall portion of the enclosure; and (b) sequentially with the formation of said ribs, forming the closure for the enclosure by, as part of the step of extruding the plastic material from the die head and as a continuous part of and integral with said parison forming such enclosure, extruding the substantially rigid portion of the closure as a part of the entire circumference of the parison, the steps (a) and (b) being accomplished with either step preceding the other step.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein a die head having opposed die parts defining a continuous slot is provided through which the plastic material is extruded, the step of forming the ribs including providing a plurality of grooves in one of the die parts whereby the enclosure has a side wall of alternating thick and thin plastic material and forming the substantially rigid portion by extruding the plastic material from the die head to obtain uniform thickness thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of extruding the plastic material to form the ribbed side wall portion of the enclosure precedes the step of forming the substantially rigid portion of the enclosure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 1 including the step of disposing the extruded ribbed side wall portion and said rigid portion in a blow mold having mold walls and urging the ribbed side wall portion and said rigid portion against said mold walls to form the enclosure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
82 words
A method according to claim 1 including forming the substantial rigid portion of substantially uniform thickness, wherein the step of forming ribs includes forming webs between the ribs having thicknesses wherein the webs are flexible, non-self-supporting and formed of thin film plastic material, the step of forming the ribs including forming the ribs to a thickness greater than the thickness of the material forming the webs such that the ribs and webs cooperate to form self-supporting side wall portions of the enclosure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 5 including the step of disposing the extruded ribbed side wall portion and said rigid portion in a blow mold having mold walls and urging the ribbed side wall portion and said rigid portion against said mold walls to form the enclosure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 6 including forming an opening in said rigid portion.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of forming a plastic enclosure having a ribbed side wall body portion and an integral closure therefor comprising the steps of: sequentially extruding during a continuous extrusion of plastic material from a die head, a side wall body portion having ribs and webs therebetween both extending longitudinally in the direction of the flow of plastic material from the die head and spaced laterally one from the other about the entire periphery of the enclosure and a substantially rigid closure portion of a thickness greater than the thickness of the webs and extending about the entire periphery of said enclosure.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of forming a plastic enclosure having a ribbed side wall body portion and an integral closure therefor comprising the steps of: sequentially extruding during a continuous extrusion of plastic material from a die head, a side wall body portion having ribs and webs therebetween both extending longitudinally in the direction of the flow of plastic material from the die head and spaced laterally one from the other about the entire periphery of the enclosure and a substantially rigid closure portion of a thickness greater than the thickness of the webs and extending about the entire periphery of said enclosure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 8 wherein the step of extruding the plastic material to form the ribbed side wall portion of the enclosure precedes the step of forming the substantially rigid portion of the enclosure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 8 including the step of disposing the extruded ribbed side wall portion and said rigid portion in a blow mold having mold walls and urging the ribbed side wall portion and said rigid portion against said mold walls to form the enclosure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
82 words
A method according to claim 8 including forming the substantial rigid portion of substantially uniform thickness, wherein the step of forming ribs includes forming webs between the ribs having thicknesses wherein the webs are flexible, non-self-supporting and formed of thin film plastic material, the step of forming the ribs including forming the ribs to a thickness greater than the thickness of the material forming the webs such that the ribs and webs cooperate to form self-supporting side wall portions of the enclosure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 11 including the step of disposing the extruded rib side wall portion and said rigid portion in a blow mold having mold walls and urging the ribbed side wall portion and said rigid portion against said mold walls to form the enclosure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 12 including forming an opening in said rigid portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US405068A
Cited
US515928A
Cited
US595685A
Cited
US733542A
Cited
US1207533A
Cited
US1988691A
Cited
US2212390A
Cited
US2575893A
Cited
US2750631A
Cited
US3233286A
Cited
US3229741A
Cited
GB1129609A
Cited
US3459625A
Cited
US3475767A
Cited
US3589958A
Cited
US3603366A
Cited
US3829007A
Cited
US3819788A
Cited
US3862868A
Cited
GB1402963A
Cited
US3896991A
Cited
US4064302A
Cited
US4076121A
Cited
US3902541A
Cited
DE2508919A1
Cited
US4253507A
Cited
US4315963A
Cited
US4315963B1
Cited
US4353497A
Cited
US4453648A
Cited
US4443400A
Cited
US4519860A
Cited
US4536362A
Cited
US4603432A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-11-01 | 1992-05-02 | 1992-11-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-11-01 | 1996-05-02 | 1996-11-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-11-01 | 2000-05-02 | 2000-11-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |