Patent US4930644A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4930644A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Thin film container with removable lid and related process
Assignee: Union Planters Bank NA
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Filing: 1988-12-22
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Granted: 1990-06-05
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Expires: 2008-12-22
Abstract
Abstract A collapsible thin film plastic container assembly is provided which includes a unitary extrusion blow molded container body having a main peripheral side wall portion, a closed lower end and an open upper end. The side wall has thickened upper and lower minor portions, the upper minor portion provided with means for receiving a removable lid. The thickened upper and lower portions permit the container to remain in a substantially upright, self-supporting position, but permit the main peripheral side wall portion to collapse upon exertion of an axially directed compressive force. The process includes extruding a parison and blow molding the parison within a mold to form the container.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward S. Robbins, III
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:27
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D1/00; B65D1/02; B65D1/40; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S215/00; Y10S215/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A reuseable and collapsible, one-piece blow-molded, stand-alone container having an upper open end provided with closure receiving means, a lower end, and a peripheral sidewall of predetermined axial length, the lower end being closed by an integral bottom wall, and wherein said peripheral sidewall has a substantially uniform cross-sectional area from said upper open end to said lower end and has a thickness in an upper, minor portion thereof of from about 0.020 to 0.030 inch, and a thickness in an intermediate, major portion of from about 0.002 to 0.003 inch, wherein said peripheral sidewall is self-supporting, but the major portion of which is collapsible to a relatively stable collapsed position upon exertion of an axial force applied at the upper or lower end thereof, such that, in said stable collapsed position, the major collapsed portion lies radially within the periphery of at least the lower end of the container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A reuseable and collapsible, one-piece blow-molded, stand-alone container having an upper open end provided with closure receiving means, a lower end, and a peripheral sidewall of predetermined axial length, the lower end being closed by an integral bottom wall, and wherein said peripheral sidewall has a substantially uniform cross-sectional area from said upper open end to said lower end and has a thickness in an upper, minor portion thereof of from about 0.020 to 0.030 inch, and a thickness in an intermediate, major portion of from about 0.002 to 0.003 inch, wherein said peripheral sidewall is self-supporting, but the major portion of which is collapsible to a relatively stable collapsed position upon exertion of an axial force applied at the upper or lower end thereof, such that, in said stable collapsed position, the major collapsed portion lies radially within the periphery of at least the lower end of the container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein said upper minor portion and said lower minor portion are provided with means for releasable interlocking engagement upon collapse of said peripheral sidewall to thereby form a relatively rigid compact container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein a lower minor portion of said peripheral sidewall is provided with a thickness of about 0.010 inch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein the bottom wall has a thickness of about 0.010 inch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A container according to claim 4 wherein a lower portion of said peripheral sidewall is provided with a thickness of about 0.010 inch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein the container has a cross-sectional shape that is substantially circular.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein the container has a cross-sectional shape that is substantially oval.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein said container is constructed of thermoplastic material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A container according to claim 1 wherein said upper open end is provided with a removable lid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
123 words
A collapsible and reusable, stand-alone plastic container comprising a unitary body including a bottom wall, a peripheral side wall having a substantially uniform cross-sectional area between said bottom wall and an open upper end provided with closure receiving means, said peripheral side wall having a first thickness along a major length portion thereof which permits said major length portion to axial collapse upon exertion of an axial compressive force at either end of said container to a relatively stable a collapsed condition wherein said major length portion lies radially inwardly of a lower non-collapsed portion of said peripheral side wall and wherein an upper portion of said peripheral side wall and at least said bottom wall have thicknesses greater than said first thickness.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
123 words
A collapsible and reusable, stand-alone plastic container comprising a unitary body including a bottom wall, a peripheral side wall having a substantially uniform cross-sectional area between said bottom wall and an open upper end provided with closure receiving means, said peripheral side wall having a first thickness along a major length portion thereof which permits said major length portion to axial collapse upon exertion of an axial compressive force at either end of said container to a relatively stable a collapsed condition wherein said major length portion lies radially inwardly of a lower non-collapsed portion of said peripheral side wall and wherein an upper portion of said peripheral side wall and at least said bottom wall have thicknesses greater than said first thickness.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A container assembly according to claim 10 wherein said container comprises an blow molded body of thermoplastic material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A container assembly according to claim 10 wherein said unitary body is substantially circular in cross-section along substantially its entire length.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A container assembly according to claim 10 wherein said unitary body is substantially oval in cross-section along substantially its entire length.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A container assembly according to claim 10 wherein said closure receiving means includes annular bead means for receiving a snap-on lid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A container assembly according to claim 10 wherein the upper portion of the peripheral sidewall has a thickness at least about twice as great as said bottom wall.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A container assembly according to claim 15 wherein the upper portion of the peripheral sidewall has a thickness about three times a great as said bottom wall.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A container assembly according to claim 15 wherein the upper portion of the peripheral side wall has a thickness about ten times greater than said first thickness.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
A container assembly according to claim 17 wherein said bottom wall has a thickness of about 0.010 inch.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
A plastic container assembly according to claim 10 and wherein said peripheral sidewall has a lower portion having a thickness greater than said first thickness.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
A plastic container assembly according to claim 19 wherein said upper portion and said lower portion are provided with means for releasable interlocking engagement upon collapse of said peripheral sidewall.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
A container assembly according to claim 12 wherein said substantially circular unitary body has a diameter at its upper open end of about 100 mm.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
A container assembly according to claim 10 wherein said open upper end is provided with a removeable lid.
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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) | 1993-06-04 | 1993-12-04 | 1994-06-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-06-04 | 1997-12-04 | 1998-06-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-06-04 | 2001-12-04 | 2002-06-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |