Including Closure Patents (Class 229/404)
  • Patent number: 5938110
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a modular food package particularly suitable for use in the fast food industry, and more particularly to a modular package that can be used as a stand alone, open ended, scoop type, package suitable for containing food items, such as french fries, potato cakes, cookies, pies, and such, or two identical units may be combined to create a completely enclosed, and interlocking, package for a sandwich or other appropriate food items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventor: Linda A. Bernstein
  • Patent number: 5911360
    Abstract: A deep drawn plastic packaging cup which includes a wall having a bottom, a round cross section wall part being one of cylindrical and truncated-cone shaped, and a round radially protruding outward flanged top rim. A flat wall part extends through a chord of the round cross section of the deep drawn plastic packaging cup wall, and a circulate segment section is formed with the top rim and joined to the flat wall part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: Sandherr Packungen AG
    Inventor: Walter Schellenberg
  • Patent number: 5909842
    Abstract: A machine for container formation by folding a die-scored paperboard structure to close flaps shaped by the scoring that serve as the top and bottom of the container. A scored paperboard sheet is loaded onto a male pedestal inner pattern such that the foldable top and bottom container portions extend beyond the pattern, whereupon armature driven semicircular outer patterns, having upper and lower fingers adapted to be driven by corresponding fluid driven pin stabilizers, close upon the sheet. While closed over the sheet, the pins are activated to move the fingers inward on the inner pattern and force fold the container along the score lines, followed by automatic retraction of the pins and outer patterns. The container is thus pre-folded in preparation for shipping as a flat paper form that is ready for folding on the crease lines thus formed. One or both flaps of the container can be folded along the crease lines to form a closure at one or both ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Inventor: Gary Allmon
  • Patent number: 5676306
    Abstract: A closure for a container such as a paper cup. The container has an extended upper border having a series of crease lines extending downwardly from an upper edge, which when folded inwardly form a series of rectangles, each having a diagonal corner portion to form a closure panel. The panels may be displaced inwardly of the border in a mutually overlapping relation to close the container. By selecting a fold-over angle greater than neutral, the panels will converge in a mutual reactive relation to converge and lock in an inclined closure cone. The crease lines incorporate an adjoining reinforcing band to fold over within the upper border to form a reinforced band therearound. The containers are stackable when in an unfolded or partially unfolded condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Ros-Dan Improved Product Design Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin Lankin, Genny Spoenlein
  • Patent number: 5588552
    Abstract: A container and closure are described. The container has a circular sidewall with a bottom and an open end defining a volume for containing a liquid, the sidewall having (i) a reinforced rim at the open end, (ii) a lid seat integrally formed in the sidewall and offset from the open end, (iii) a comfort zone extending along the sidewall from the bottom to the open end and (iv) a rim tab located on the inside of the container sidewall at the comfort zone adjacent the open end. The rim tab extends beyond the open end of the container. The closure is a circular substrate having (a) a diameter to seat in the lid seat of the container, (b) a plurality of peripheral tabs extending beyond the diameter of the substrate and (c) a pull tab located near an outer edge of the substrate which when pulled provides an opening through which liquid can pass when the closure is seated in the lid seat of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Inventor: Timothy C. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5495982
    Abstract: A paper cup with a straw formed from a sheet of paper by folding and adhering, to have a cup body portion, a bottom portion and a cap portion. A straw is formed by two adhered side portions, each provided with a vertical semicircular groove. The straw has its lower end communicating with the interior of the cup body and an upper end serving as an outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Inventor: Mein-Aing Wang
  • Patent number: 5423476
    Abstract: A drinking cup of impregnated paper or similar material in which the side wall element includes additional material at one vertical edge thereof which is folded upon itself to form a drinking straw extending from the bottom of the interior of the cup to a level above the upper rim of the cup. The straw is foldable within a slot in the cup when not in use to enable the cup to be closed by a lid. The lid is provided with an opening which permits the straw to be erected to operative condition and the contents of the cup consumed without removing the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Inventor: Lilly Ferrer