U.S. patent application number 11/551805 was filed with the patent office on 2007-04-26 for lid with tube reinforced skirt.
This patent application is currently assigned to Double "H" Plastics, Inc.. Invention is credited to Manfred Burkhardt, Robert W. Gibson, Joseph C. Harp, Thomas M. Whitlock.
Application Number | 20070090121 11/551805 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37984387 |
Filed Date | 2007-04-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070090121 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Harp; Joseph C. ; et
al. |
April 26, 2007 |
LID WITH TUBE REINFORCED SKIRT
Abstract
A lid for a container is disclosed. The lid has a paperboard
tube that surrounds a plastic resin skirt. The skirt is attached to
the perimeter of a central panel, which may also be formed of
paperboard. The tube may have a projecting portion that is deformed
toward the central panel. The tube provides an outwardly facing
surface for the display of high quality graphics. A method of
making the lid is also disclosed. The method includes placing the
tube within a mold and injecting plastic resin into the mold to
form the skirt. The central panel may also be placed in the mold
prior to molding. Engagement of the mold with the tube may be used
to deform the projecting portion of the tube.
Inventors: |
Harp; Joseph C.;
(Jenkintown, PA) ; Gibson; Robert W.; (Chalfont,
PA) ; Whitlock; Thomas M.; (Flemington, NJ) ;
Burkhardt; Manfred; (North Wales, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SYNNESTVEDT & LECHNER, LLP
2600 ARAMARK TOWER
1101 MARKET STREET
PHILADELPHIA
PA
191072950
US
|
Assignee: |
Double "H" Plastics, Inc.
Warminster
PA
18974
|
Family ID: |
37984387 |
Appl. No.: |
11/551805 |
Filed: |
October 23, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60730325 |
Oct 26, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/795 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B29C 45/14467 20130101;
B65D 2543/0024 20130101; B65D 2543/00314 20130101; B65D 2543/00527
20130101; B65D 2543/00092 20130101; B65D 2543/00611 20130101; B29C
2045/14918 20130101; B29C 45/14622 20130101; B65D 2543/0074
20130101; B65D 2543/00296 20130101; B65D 2543/00796 20130101; B65D
2543/00537 20130101; B65D 43/0212 20130101; B65D 2543/00685
20130101; B65D 2543/00268 20130101; B29L 2031/565 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/795 |
International
Class: |
B65D 41/16 20060101
B65D041/16 |
Claims
1. A lid for a container, said lid comprising: a panel; a skirt
surrounding said panel and extending transversely to the plane
thereof, said skirt being formed from a plastic resin and attached
to said panel; and a tube surrounding said skirt and attached
thereto, said tube being formed of paperboard.
2. A lid according to claim 1, wherein said panel is formed of
paperboard.
3. A lid according to claim 1, wherein said panel is formed of
plastic resin.
4. A lid according to claim 3, wherein said panel is
transparent.
5. A lid according to claim 1, wherein said tube comprises a spiral
wound tube.
6. A lid according to claim 1, wherein said tube is formed by
joining ends of a paperboard substrate using a butt joint.
7. A lid according to claim 1, wherein said tube is formed by
joining ends of a paperboard substrate using an overlap joint.
8. A lid according to claim 1, wherein said tube is formed by
joining ends of a paperboard substrate using a scarf joint.
9. A lid according to claim 1, wherein said tube comprises a first
portion attached to said skirt and a second portion that projects
beyond said skirt and is curved inwardly toward said panel.
10. A lid for a container, said lid comprising: a paperboard tube
having an inwardly facing surface; a plastic resin skirt attached
to said inwardly facing surface and extending around said tube; and
a panel having an outer perimeter attached to said skirt.
11. A lid according to claim 10, wherein said panel is formed of
paperboard.
12. A lid according to claim 10, wherein said tube comprises a
first portion attached to said skirt and a second portion that
projects beyond said skirt and is deformed inwardly toward said
panel.
13. A lid according to claim 10, wherein said tube has a round
cross-sectional shape.
14. In combination, a container and a lid, said container
comprising: a bottom; a sidewall surrounding said bottom; an
opening defined by a rim positioned on said sidewall opposite to
said bottom, wherein; said lid comprises: a paperboard tube having
an inwardly facing surface; a plastic resin skirt attached to said
inwardly facing surface and extending around said tube, said skirt
being adapted to receive said rim; and a panel having an outer
perimeter attached to said skirt.
15. A lid according to claim 14, wherein said panel is formed of
paperboard.
16. A lid according to claim 14, wherein said tube comprises a
first portion attached to said skirt and a second portion that
projects beyond said skirt and is deformed inwardly toward said
panel.
17. A method of making a lid for a container, said lid having a
panel attached to a skirt of plastic resin, said skirt being
surrounded by a paperboard tube, said method comprising: providing
a mold; opening said mold; positioning said tube within said mold;
closing said mold; and injecting a plastic resin into said mold to
form said skirt surrounding said panel, said skirt adhering to an
inwardly facing surface of said tube, said tube and said skirt
being oriented transverse to said panel.
18. A method according to claim 17, further comprising positioning
a paperboard substrate within said mold, said paperboard substrate
comprising said panel, said skirt adhering to said panel.
19. A method according to claim 17, further comprising engaging a
portion of said tube with said mold upon said closing thereof to
deform a portion of said tube inwardly toward said panel.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/730,325, filed Oct. 26, 2006.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to lids for containers and especially
to composite type lids formed from a combination of paper and
plastic materials.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Containers used for packaging foodstuffs, as well as other
products for retail sale, must perform several functions. The
container must hold the product, must allow the product to be
transported effectively from the manufacturer to the point of sale,
and from the point of sale to the consumer, must often serve to
dispense and store the product after acquisition by the consumer,
and no less importantly, must identify the product and its source
and serve as an advertising medium and to promote further
sales.
[0004] It is desirable that the containers be inexpensive to
manufacture, yet durable so as to continue to perform their various
functions effectively despite abuse and harsh environments.
[0005] The container lid plays an important role in the proper
functioning of the container. It is desirable that the lid
effectively close the container, and when the container is used to
store and dispense the product, it is also desirable that the lid
be removable and reclosable many times over the life of the
container. Ice cream containers provide a good example of a
container used to store and dispense the product held in the
container. Ice cream containers are also subject to conditions of
freezing, thawing, moisture and repeated opening and closing of the
lid, all of which tend to cause deterioration and rapid failure of
the container unless it is properly designed and manufactured.
[0006] It has been found advantageous to make the lids for such
containers as a composite combination of both paper and plastic
materials. The designs currently in use comprise an injection
molded plastic skirt surrounding a paperboard center. The plastic
skirt fits over the end of the container engaging the end and/or
sides, thereby sealing the container and providing a means for
retaining the lid in the closed position. Plastic is used for the
skirt because it is inexpensive, easy to mold, resilient,
impervious to freezing, thawing and moisture and relatively rigid.
The skirt is the portion of the lid which sees the most abuse
during the life of the container, and the above noted qualities of
plastic allow the lid to maintain its shape and hold together to
continue to effectively close the container despite the adverse
environment and repeated handling.
[0007] It is not desirable, however, to make the entire lid from
plastic. Plastic does not provide a surface capable of receiving
the high-quality printed graphics needed for the container to
fulfill its function as identifier of the product and its source
and as an advertising medium for the product. Paper is the
preferred medium for displaying high-quality graphics regarded as
necessary to compete in the advertising environment of retail
sales. Thus, the paperboard center provides the means for
presenting complex, colorful and detailed graphics, such as
illustrations of product, company trademarks and trade dress
designs, while the plastic skirt provides a durable material
impervious to abuse and environmental conditions.
[0008] A problem with the composite lid design described above is
that the graphics are confined to the paperboard center portion of
the lid and do not extend continuously over the plastic skirt. The
absence of graphics over portion of the container is unacceptable
to many product manufacturers who want a container which can
receive printed media over the entire outer surface without
interruption. Such continuity is important for the proper
presentation of trademarks and trade dress, which are vital to
customer recognition of a particular product from among the many
competing products displayed side-by-side in a typical retail sales
environment. There is clearly a need for a composite lid design
combining the robustness and durability of the plastic skirt with
the ability to receive high-quality graphics continuously over the
entire surface of the lid without interruption.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The invention concerns a lid for a container. The lid
comprises a panel and a skirt surrounding the panel. The skirt
extends transversely to the plane of the panel and is formed from a
plastic resin. The skirt is attached to the panel. A tube surrounds
the skirt and is attached thereto. The tube is formed of
paperboard. Preferably, the panel is also formed of paperboard but
could also be formed of a polymer and may be opaque, translucent or
transparent.
[0010] Preferably, the tube comprises a spiral wound paperboard
tube. Other types of tubes are also feasible and include a tube
formed by joining ends of a paperboard substrate using a butt
joint, an overlap joint or a scarf or skived joint. The tube may be
a simple cylindrical tube or comprise a first portion attached to
the skirt and a second portion that projects beyond the skirt and
is deformed inwardly toward the panel.
[0011] The invention also concerns a method of making a lid for a
container having a panel attached to a skirt of plastic resin
surrounded by a paperboard tube. The method comprises:
[0012] (a) providing a mold;
[0013] (b) opening the mold;
[0014] (c) positioning the tube within the mold;
[0015] (d) closing the mold; and
[0016] (e) injecting a plastic resin into the mold to form the
skirt surrounding the panel, the skirt adhering to an inwardly
facing surface of the tube, the tube and the skirt being oriented
transverse to the panel.
[0017] The method may also include positioning a paperboard
substrate within the mold. The paperboard substrate comprises the
panel, and skirt adheres to the panel.
[0018] The method may further include engaging a portion of the
tube with the mold upon closing of the mold to deform a portion of
the tube inwardly toward the panel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a lid and
container embodiment according to the invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the lid shown in FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken on an enlarged
scale from FIG. 2;
[0022] FIGS. 4-7 are perspective views of paperboard tubes used
with the invention; and
[0023] FIG. 8 is a detailed partial top view taken at line 8-8 of
FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0024] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a lid 10 according to the
invention. Although a round lid is illustrated, it is by way of
example only, it being understood that the lid shape is not limited
to the round shape shown. Lid 10 comprises a central panel 12
surrounded by a skirt 14. Skirt 14 extends transversely to the
plane of the panel 12 and is adapted to receive the rim 13 of a
container 15 for closing and opening the container. Container 15
comprises a sidewall 17 and a bottom 19 positioned opposite to the
rim 13.
[0025] FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional view of lid 10. Central panel
12 is preferably formed of paperboard to provide a surface for
imprinting of high quality indicia and graphics. Alternately, the
panel 12 could be formed from a plastic resin, which could be the
same or different from the resin forming the skirt. The panel could
also be transparent, translucent or opaque as desired for the
particular packaging.
[0026] Skirt 14 is attached to the perimeter 16 of panel 12 and is
preferably formed from plastic resin. The skirt may have various
features molded in, such as the inwardly protruding lip 18 which
engages a rolled edge around the rim of a container (not shown) to
help secure the lid to the container while still allowing it to be
removable. Other features, such as ribs which stiffen the lid
and/or facilitate the distribution of resin during the molding
process may also be integrally formed with the skirt.
[0027] As best shown in detail in FIG. 3, the skirt 14 is
surrounded by a paperboard tube 20, the skirt being attached to the
inwardly facing surface 22 of the tube. Tube 20, being paperboard,
provides an outwardly facing surface 24 that readily accepts high
quality printed graphics which cannot be reproduced on the plastic
resin skirt 14. Tube 20 may extend only over the skirt 14, or as
illustrated, the tube may comprise a first portion 26 attached to
the skirt 12, and a second portion 28 which projects beyond the
skirt and is deformed inwardly toward the central panel 12. Curved
tube portion 28 provides an outwardly facing imprinting surface 30
for continuity over the top of lid 10 of any indicia or graphics
imprinted on the side surface 24 of tube 20. When deformed portion
28 is present, it may be formed in a tool before the tube is placed
in a mold for injection molding of the skirt, or it may be formed
upon closing of the mold after the tube is inserted but before
plastic resin is injected to form skirt 14.
[0028] FIGS. 4-7 illustrate various examples of tubes 20 useable to
form the lid 10 according to the invention. FIG. 4 shows a tube 20a
comprising a spiral wound paperboard tube 32. The spiral wound tube
is particularly advantageous because it has great hoop strength and
reinforces the skirt over its entire circumference substantially
uniformly. FIG. 5 shows a tube 20b comprising an elongated
paperboard substrate 34 having opposite ends positioned to form a
butt joint 36. FIG. 6 shows a tube 20c formed from an elongated
paperboard substrate 38 having ends attached in overlapping
relation to one another to form a lap joint 40. FIG. 7 illustrates
yet another tube 20d comprising an elongated paperboard substrate
42 wherein the ends of the strip are in overlapping relation but
are thinned to form a scarf or skived joint 44, illustrated in
detail in FIG. 8.
[0029] Lids 10 according to the invention may be produced in a
cavity and core mold. A process for their production includes
positioning a paperboard tube, such as any of tubes 20a-20d within
the mold, and positioning a paperboard or plastic central panel
within the mold as well. The mold is then closed and plastic resin
is injected. The resin adheres to the paperboard tube and the
plastic or paperboard central panel and provides structural
integrity to the lid thus formed. Adherence of the plastic to the
paperboard is ensured by choosing a plastic, such as polystyrene,
that naturally adheres to paper upon curing from a molten state, or
by coating the paperboard components with a resin or other coating
that is compatible with a molten plastic, such as polypropylene,
upon injection and curing within the mold. As noted above, the mold
may also be used as a tool to shape the paperboard tube, for
example, by engaging a portion of the mold with a portion of the
tube upon closing of the mold to deform the tube portion into a
curved shape, such as the curved portion 28 shown in FIGS. 1-3.
[0030] Plastic resins that are feasible for lids as described
herein include polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene to cite
several examples.
[0031] Lids according to the invention combine dissimilar materials
in the form of plastic resin and paperboard to each material's
inherent advantage to provide a composite lid that is economical to
produce, robust, impervious to harsh environments, and has an outer
surface substantially over the entire lid that is capable of
receiving a print media for the display of high-quality
graphics.
* * * * *