Frustoconical container and blank therefor

Abstract

A blank for a generally frustoconical container is provided with at least one arcuate score line along the top or bottom margin thereof which diverges outwardly to the adjacent edge of the blank to form an enfoldable panel. The blank can be convoluted, and the overlapping margins bonded together to form a nestable frustoconical preform. Each enfoldable panel can be folded inwardly along the respective arcuate score line to at least partially close one opening of the preform to form a frustoconical container.

Description

This invention relates to a frustoconical container, and a blank and a preform therefor.

There are many instances, such as the sale of popcorn at sporting events, where an inexpensive container is required, but other factors such as shipping and storing characteristics, ease of assembly, and ease of disposal are also important. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and inexpensive blank which can be readily formed into a container with a minimum of operation. Another object of the invention is to provide a nestable frustoconical preform having at least one enfoldable panel which can be folded inwardly to at least partially close off one end of the preform. A further object of the invention is to provide a container which can be readily disposed of after the contents thereof is consumed. Other objects, aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a study of the specification, the drawing and the appended claims to the invention.

In the drawing, FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a frustoconical preform made from the blank of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a container made from the preform of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a vertical elevation in cross section taken along a plane including the elongated axis of the container of FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the blank 11 will usually be formed of paperboard with an adherent coating of wax or synthetic thermoplastic material, e.g., polyethylene, on at least one surface thereof, but other suitable materials known in the art may also be employed. Blank 11 has a top edge 12, a bottom edge 13 opposite the top edge 12, and first and second opposite side edges 14 and 15. The top edge 12 preferably at least generally corresponds to the arc of a circle 16 having a center at point 17 and a radius greater than the length of either of side edges 14 and 15. The bottom edge 13 can also be an arc of a circle having a center at point 17. First and second side edges 14 and 15 extend at least substantially along first and second radial rays 18 and 19 of circle 16. Side edge 15 has a marginal portion 20 extending along the length thereof lying outside the radial ray 19 to provide a seam margin along side edge 15 for overlapping and bonding to the margin along side edge 14 in the formation of the blank 11 into the generally frustoconical configuration of the preform 21 of FIG. 2. Although only one seam margin 20 is shown in FIG. 1, a similar second seam margin can be provided along the length of side edge 14 instead of or in addition to the seam margin 20 along side edge 15. The seam margin 20 has tapered end portions 22 and 23 to minimize the effect of the double thickness of the bonded seam on the configuration of the top and bottom edges of the preform 21.

Arcuate score lines 24 and 25 are formed in the bottom margin of the blank 11, with each arcuate score line diverging downwardly and outwardly to the bottom edge 13. Each arcuate score line 24 and 25 at least generally corresponds to the arc of a circle having a diameter greater than the maximum linear dimension of the segment 27 or 28 formed by the respective arcuate score line and bottom edge 13. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the two arcuate score lines 24 and 25 extends from the intersection of the bottom edge 13 and the respective one of the first and second radial rays 18 and 19 to a point 26 on bottom edge 13 midway between radial rays 18 and 19. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to employ a single arcuate score line or a plurality of arcuate score lines greater than two. While it is presently preferred that each pair of adjacent arcuate score lines intersect a point on the bottom edge 13, it is within the scope of the invention for the adjacent arcuate score lines to overlap, i.e., intersect at a point above bottom edge 13, or for the adjacent arcuate score lines to be non-intersecting within the bounds of blank 11. The use of the two arcuate score lines 24 and 25 as illustrated is presently preferred so the bottom opening can be at least substantially closed as shown in FIG. 3. With non-intersecting arcuate score lines and with more with more than two non-overlapping score lines, it is possible to close the bottom opening by the use of tabs extending beyond the illustrated arcuate bottom edge 13, but this requires additional paper in the formation of the blank and is more expensive than the illustrated embodiment. Similarly, the use of overlapping arcuate score lines increases the amount of paper required to achieve the desired degree of closure of the bottom opening. The use of three or more arcuate score lines which are non-intersecting or which intersect at bottom edge 13 permits the formation of legs upon which the container can be positioned.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the blank 11 has been convoluted, and the overlapping side margins have been bonded to form a frustoconical preform 21, having circular openings at the top and bottom ends thereof. These preforms 21 are particularly useful as a plurality of the preforms 21 can be nested within one another for shipping, thereby minimizing the shipping volume for a given number of preforms.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the segments 27, and 28, formed by arcuate score lines 24 and 25 and bottom edge 13 have been manually folded along the respective arcuate score line inwardly toward the elongated axis of the preform 21 so that the bottom edges of the segments are in at least substantially abutting relationship to each other, thereby at least substantially closing the bottom opening of the preform 21 to form a container 31 having an open top and an at least substantially closed bottom. Container 31 is particularly suited for dispensing discrete articles, such as popcorn, peanuts, etc., intended for consumption within a short period of time, as at the movies or sporting events. After the contents have been removed, the segments 27 and 28 can be returned to the original configuration of preform 21 and the used container can then be employed as a megaphone. Container 31 can also be utilized as temporary containers for plants.

The score lines 24 and 25 can be formed by embossing, by making a shallow cut in the paper, by making a series of interrupted cuts through the paper, or by any other technique known in the art, or any combination thereof.

The empty container can be nested or flattened, regardless of the position of enfoldable panels 27 and 28, thereby facilitating disposal of the used containers.

Reasonable variations and modifications are possible within the scope of the foregoing disclosure, the drawing and the appended claims to the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A blank for forming a generally frustoconical container, said blank having a top edge, a bottom edge opposite said top edge, and first and second opposite side edges; said first side edge extending at least substantially along a first radial ray of a first circle having a radius greater than the length of either of said first and second side edges; said second side edge extending at least substantially along a second radial ray of said first circle; said top edge at least generally corresponding to an arc of said first circle; said bottom edge at least generally corresponding to an arc of a second circle; at least one of said first and second side edges having a marginal portion extending along the length thereof lying outside the respective one of the first and second radial rays to provide a seam margin along the one of said side edges for overlapping and bonding to the margin along the other of said side edges in the formation of said blank into a preform having a generally frustoconical configuration with generally circular openings at the top and bottom ends thereof; at least one arcuate score line being formed in said blank along one of the top margin and the bottom margin thereof, each said arcuate score line diverging outwardly to the adjacent edge to form an enfoldable panel which can be folded inwardly along the respective arcuate score line to thereby at least substantially close one of said generally circular openings of said preform.

2. A blank in accordance with claim 12 wherein there are a plurality of said arcuate score lines formed in said bottom margin, each arcuate score line diverging outwardly and downwardly to said bottom edge to form a plurality of enfoldable panels which can be folded inwardly along the respective arcuate score lines to thereby at least substantially close said circular opening at the bottom end of said preform.

3. A blank in accordance with claim 2 wherein each pair of adjacent arcuate score lines intersects at a respective point on said bottom edge.

4. A blank in accordance with claim 3 wherein each of said arcuate score lines at least generally corresponds to the arc of a circle having a diameter greater than the maximum linear dimension of the segment formed by the respective arcuate score line and said bottom edge.

5. A blank in accordance with claim 4 wherein there are two of said arcuate score lines, each arcuate score line extending from the intersection of said bottom edge and a respective one of said first and second radial rays to the point on said bottom edge midway between said first and second radial rays.

6. A nestable preform comprising the blank of claim 5 formed into said generally frustoconical configuration with said seam margin and said margin along said other side edge being overlapped and bonded together.

7. A container formed from the preform of claim 6 with each of said enfoldable panels being folded along the respective arcuate score line inwardly toward the elongated axis of said preform.

8. A container in accordance with claim 7 wherein said enfoldable panels are folded into at least substantial abutment with each other.

9. A container in accordance with claim 8 wherein the top end of said preform is open.

10. A nestable preform comprising the blank of claim 1 formed into said generally frustoconical configuration with said seam margin and said margin along said other side edge being overlapped and bonded together.

11. A container formed from the preform of claim 10 wherein the enfoldable panel formed by each said arcuate score line and said adjacent edge is folded inwardly along the respective arcuate score line to at least substantially close one end of said preform.

12. A blank in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and second circles have a common center.