US5433337A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Large drink container to fit vehicle cup holders
Assignee: Berry Sterling Corp
•
Filing: 1994-01-28
•
Granted: 1995-07-18
•
Expires: 2014-01-28
Abstract
Abstract A container, such as a cup, adapted to fit securely in most vehicle container receptacles, with a lower body portion of a diameter to fit standard vehicle container receptacles. The lower body portion is comprised of fluted sides that provide strength and support to the lower body portion and facilitate material flow in manufacture so that the container can be made of an ultra thin material and yet hold a large volume of liquid.
Inventors
- 👤 George A. Willbrandt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:16
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D1/00; B65D1/22; B65D1/26; B65D1/265
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
A container for a vehicle cup holder comprising: a base; a lower body portion extending substantially upward from said base, said lower body portion comprising a plurality of fluted sides; a shoulder extending radially outward from said lower body portion; each of said fluted sides comprising a substantially one-dimensional surface, said fluted sides increasing in thickness in an upward direction from about 0.008-about 0.025 inch at said base to about 0.040 inch-about 0.055 inch at a point where said lower body portion meets said shoulder, said lower body portion having a length of about 17/8 to about 21/2 inches; and an upper body portion extending substantially upward from said shoulder to create an opening, the upper body portion having a substantially constant thickness of about 0.020 to about 0.040 inches, said upper body portion increasing in diameter as it extends upward, said upper body portion having a length of about 4.500 to about 5.250 inches, said upper body portion having an overall greater diameter than said lower body portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
A container for a vehicle cup holder comprising: a base; a lower body portion extending substantially upward from said base, said lower body portion comprising a plurality of fluted sides; a shoulder extending radially outward from said lower body portion; each of said fluted sides comprising a substantially one-dimensional surface, said fluted sides increasing in thickness in an upward direction from about 0.008-about 0.025 inch at said base to about 0.040 inch-about 0.055 inch at a point where said lower body portion meets said shoulder, said lower body portion having a length of about 17/8 to about 21/2 inches; and an upper body portion extending substantially upward from said shoulder to create an opening, the upper body portion having a substantially constant thickness of about 0.020 to about 0.040 inches, said upper body portion increasing in diameter as it extends upward, said upper body portion having a length of about 4.500 to about 5.250 inches, said upper body portion having an overall greater diameter than said lower body portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A container according to claim 1, wherein said lower body portion comprises at least eight fluted sides.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A container according to claim 1, wherein said lower body portion comprises at least twelve fluted sides.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A container according to claim 1, wherein said lower body portion comprises at least sixteen fluted sides.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A container according to claim 1, wherein said lower body portion comprises sixteen fluted sides.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A container according to claim 1, wherein each of said fluted sides increases in thickness from about 0.008 inch at said base to about 0.055 inch at said shoulder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A container according to claim 1, wherein each of said fluted sides increases in thickness from about 0.020 inch at said base to about 0.044 inch at said shoulder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A container according to claim 1, wherein said lower body portion is about two inches in length.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A container according to claim 1, wherein diameter of said lower body portion increases from about 21/2 inches at said base to about 27/8 inches at said shoulder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A container according to claim 1, wherein diameter of said lower body portion increases from about 21/2 inches at said base to about 23/4 inches at said shoulder.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A container according claim 1, wherein said upper body portion is about 4.9375 inches in length.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A container according claim 1, wherein diameter of said upper body portion increases from about 2.750 inches at said shoulder to about 4.650 inches at said opening.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A container according claim 1, wherein diameter of said upper body portion increases from about 2.875 inches at said shoulder to about 4.100 inches at said opening.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A container according to claim 1, wherein said opening comprises a rim measuring about 1/16 inch to about 1/2 inch in height.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A container according to claim 1, wherein said opening comprises a rim measuring about 1/10 inch in height.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A container of claim 1, wherein said lower body portion has a length of about 2 to about 21/8 inches.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A container of claim 1, wherein said upper body portion has a length of about 4.750 to about 5.125 inches.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A container of claim 1, wherein said fluted sides have a thickness of about 0.010 to about 0.022 inch at said base.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A container of claim 1, wherein said fluted sides have a thickness about 0.042 to about 0.048 inch at a point where said lower body portion meets said shoulder.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A container of claim 1, wherein diameter of said lower body portion is about 21/4 to about 25/8 inches at said base.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A container of claim 1, wherein diameter of said lower body portion is about 21/2 to about 25/8 inches at said base.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
A container of claim 1, wherein diameter of said lower body portion is about 21/2 to about 27/8 inches at said shoulder.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
A container of claim 1, wherein diameter of said lower body portion is about 21/2 to about 3.0 inches at said shoulder.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
189 words
A method of increasing strength of a container, comprising: including in said container a base, a lower body portion extending substantially upward from said base and having a length of about 17/8 to about 21/2 inches; a shoulder attached to and extending radially outward from the lower body portion; an upper body portion extending upwardly from the lower body portion, said upper body portion having a length of about 4.500 to about 5.250 inches, said upper body portion having an overall greater diameter than said lower body portion, said upper body portion increasing in diameter as it extends upwards; and further including in said lower body portion a plurality of vertically fluted sides, each of said fluted sides comprising a substantially one-dimensional surface, and said fluted sides increasing in thickness in an upward direction from about 0.008--about 0.025 inch at said base to about 0.040 inch--about 0.055 inch at a point where said lower body portion meets said shoulder, said lower body portion having a length of about 17/8 to about 21/2 inches, the upper body portion having a substantially constant thickness of about 0.020 to about 0.040 inches.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
189 words
A method of increasing strength of a container, comprising: including in said container a base, a lower body portion extending substantially upward from said base and having a length of about 17/8 to about 21/2 inches; a shoulder attached to and extending radially outward from the lower body portion; an upper body portion extending upwardly from the lower body portion, said upper body portion having a length of about 4.500 to about 5.250 inches, said upper body portion having an overall greater diameter than said lower body portion, said upper body portion increasing in diameter as it extends upwards; and further including in said lower body portion a plurality of vertically fluted sides, each of said fluted sides comprising a substantially one-dimensional surface, and said fluted sides increasing in thickness in an upward direction from about 0.008--about 0.025 inch at said base to about 0.040 inch--about 0.055 inch at a point where said lower body portion meets said shoulder, said lower body portion having a length of about 17/8 to about 21/2 inches, the upper body portion having a substantially constant thickness of about 0.020 to about 0.040 inches.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 24, wherein each of said fluted sides increases in thickness from about 0.008 inch at said base to about 0.055 inch at said shoulder.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 24, wherein each of said fluted sides increases in thickness from about 0.020 inch at said base to about 0.044 inch at said shoulder.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of claim 24, wherein diameter of said lower body portion increases from about 21/2 inches at said base to about 27/8 inches at said shoulder.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 24, wherein said lower body portion is about two inches in length.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according claim 24, wherein diameter of said upper body portion increases from about 2.750 inches at said shoulder to about 4.650 inches at said opening.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 24, wherein said upper body portion is about 4.9375 inches in length.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of claim 24, wherein said lower body portion has a length of about 2 to about 21/8 inches.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of claim 24, wherein said upper body portion has a length of about 4.750 to about 5.125 inches.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
20 words
A method of claim.21, wherein said-fluted sides have a thickness of about 0.010 to about 0.022 inch at said base.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of claim 24, wherein said fluted sides have a thickness about 0.042 to about 0.048 inch at a point where said lower body portion meets said shoulder.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of claim 24, wherein diameter of said lower body portion is about 21/4 to about 25/8 inches at said base.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of claim 24, wherein diameter of said lower body portion is about 21/2 ≧to about 25/8 inches at said base.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of claim 24, wherein diameter of said lower body portion is about 21/2 to about 27/8 inches at said shoulder.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of claim 24, wherein diameter of said lower body portion is about 21/2 to about 25/8 inches at said shoulder.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US604514A
Cited
US3128029A
Cited
US2963256A
Cited
US3079027A
Cited
US3342370A
Cited
US3484018A
Cited
US3934725A
Cited
US4052037A
Cited
US4061782A
Cited
US4039435A
Cited
USD248916S
Cited
USD247601S
Cited
USD258483S
Cited
US4193494A
Cited
US4231476A
Cited
USD274695S
Cited
US4551366A
Cited
USD285032S
Cited
USD285999S
Cited
US4618066A
Cited
US4832202A
Cited
US4854468A
Cited
USD331684S
Cited
US5088673A
Cited
USD346932S
Cited
USD346933S
Cited
US5305911A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-07-17 | 1999-01-16 | 1999-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-17 | 2003-01-16 | 2003-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-17 | 2007-01-16 | 2007-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |