Embossed Container

Abstract

A container made of foam plastic and having improved strength and appearance includes a rim embossed to accept printing thereon, a sidewall integral with the inner edge of the rim at the uppermost portion of the sidewall, said sidewall tapering inwardly and bowing outwardly slightly, and a bottom integral with the lowermost portion of the sidewall, said bottom bowing inwardly slightly.

Description

BACKGROUND

Using conventional thermoforming processes, trays, cups, bowls, plates, and like containers can be made from foam plastic such as impact or crystal polystyrene. Because the foam plastic is a good insulator, these containers can hold hot food for a considerable time without undue cooling. In designing a container made from such foam plastic, it is desirable to maximize the structural strength of the container. However, it is equally desirable to provide an attractive appearing exterior. Decorating the rim of the container, for example, by printing a design thereon, is a sought after objective of the industry. These rims are symmetric about the center of the container. For example, they may be round, i.e., circular, elliptical; or they may be rectangular and square configuration. A printed rim design must be concentric with the rim and center of the container - otherwise, rim printing detracts from rather than enhances the appearance of the container.

THE INVENTION

I have invented a container made of foam plastic which has improved strength and, quite surprisingly, can be readily imprinted with a concentric rim design. Strength is imparted to the container by the manner in which the rim, sidewall and bottom are joined together and the configuration of these elements. The rim extends outwardly circumscribing and defining an open round mouth in the container. Preferably, the rim curves slightly downwardly. The sidewall is integral with the inner edge of the rim at the uppermost portion of the sidewall, and this sidewall tapers inwardly and bows outwardly slightly from the central section of the container. The round bottom is integral with the lowermost portion of the sidewall and the bottom bows inwardly slightly toward the central section of the container. The round bottom has, overall, a smaller diameter than the rim, but it is proportional to the rim. Preferably, a round line-junction is provided in the foam plastic On the inside of the container where the bottom and the sidewall merge. Also, a round line-junction is provided in the foam plastic on the outside of the container where the rim and the sidewall merge. These various structural features contribute to a greater or lesser degree to the strength of the container.

To enhance the appearance of the container, the rim is embossed. It has been found that embossing the rim provides an area adapted to receive ink. The embossed portion is disposed generally along a line which is concentric with the outer rim edge. Preferably, the embossed portion includes a plurality of spaced, raised elements. Circumscribing these elements between a pair of spaced, concentric creases makes them stand up. When the ink on a printing plate or roll contacts the embossed portion, ink is deposited thereon. When a plurality of raised elements are used, even though more ink may be deposited on some elements than on others, the overall impression to a viewer is that the printing is concentric with the outer rim. Minor deviations go unnoticed. This is especially true with the design shown in the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of my container looking down at the inside of the container.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bottom of my container.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, segmented view of the embossed portion of the rim shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 4.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As best shown in FIGS. 1-3, my container 10, for example in the form of a plate, includes an outwardly extending rim 12 which circumscribes and defines an open round mouth 14 in the container. Sidewall 16, integral with inner edge 18 of rim 12 at the uppermost portion 20 of the sidewall, connects the rim with the container's round bottom 22 which is integral with the lowermost portion 24 of the sidewall. Sidewall 16 tapers inwardly and bows outwardly slightly from the central section of container 10 and round bottom 22 bows inwardly slightly toward the central section of the container. To enhance strength, a round line-junction 26 is formed in the foam plastic on the inside of container 10 where bottom 22 and sidewall 16 merge, and a round line-junction 28 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is formed in the foam plastic on the outside of container 10 where the rim and sidewall merge.

The novel rim design of my invention is best shown in FIGS. 4 through 6. This rim 12 includes embossed portion 30 which provides an area adapted to receive ink. Embossed portion 30 is disposed generally along a line which is concentric with the outer rim edge 32 and the center of container 10. Also, it includes a plurality of spaced, raised elements 34 having a "lazy S" configuration. These elements are ranged in series along rim 12. Rim 12 and the series of raised elements 34 are symmetric about the center of container 10. To enhance the appearance of container 10 and also make elements 34 stand up, these elements are circumscribed by two spaced, concentric circular rim creases 36 and 38. Since container 10 is made of foam plastic, it can be easily creased. Ink deposited on elements 34 form a generally symmetrical pattern along the rim which is concentric to the rim edge and center of the container. Thus, concentricity of the printed pattern on rim 12 is facilitated.

In order to test the improved structural strength of this container, bending tests were run contrasting the resistance to bending of my design with that of a conventional container. My novel container, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, was compared to a 9-inch diameter plate which had a generous radii blending the plate rim into the plate sidewall and the plate sidewall into the plate bottom. There was no line-junction at the joints between the rim and sidewall and the bottom and sidewall. Virtually all conventional foam plastic plates have such a generous radii. Based on bending test results, it was found that my plate design had 28 percent more resistance to bending than such a representative conventional plate. Both plates used were equal in weight and density and the compositional matter from which the plates were made was essentially identical. Other tests were made but the materials and densities were not identical, and no conclusive information was available. However, it appeared that my design was nevertheless superior for equal weight samples. It is believed that the line junctions in my container design and the curvature of the sidewall and bottom contribute to its improved strength. Moreover, the outwardly bowing sidewalls increase the overall capacity of the container. Thus, it is conceivable that an 8-inch diameter plate of my design might be able to replace a 9-inch diameter plate of a conventional design.

Claims

I claim:

1. A container made of a foam plastic and comprising

an outwardly extending rim circumscribing and defining an open round mouth in the container, said rim having thereon an embossed design which is between a pair of spaced, concentric creases in said rim,

a sidewall integral with the inner edge of the rim at the uppermost portion of the sidewall, said sidewall tapering inwardly and bowing outwardly slightly from the central section of the container, and

a round bottom integral with the lowermost portion of the sidewall, said bottom bowing inwardly slightly toward the central section of the container.

2. The container of claim 1 including a round line-junction in the foam plastic on the inside of the container where the bottom and the sidewall merge.

3. The container of claim 1 wherein the rim is curved slightly downwardly.

4. The container of claim 3 including a round line-junction in the foam plastic on the outside of the container where the rim and sidewall merge.

5. An improved container made of a foam plastic wherein the improvement comprises a rim circumscribing and defining an open mouth in the container, said rim being symmetric about the center Of the container and having an embossed portion thereon which provides a site adapted to receive ink, said embossed portion including an element having a lazy S configuration and said portion being disposed generally along a line which is concentric with the outer rim edge and the center of the container.

6. The container of claim 5 wherein the embossed portion includes a plurality of spaced, raised elements.

7. The container of claim 5 including a sidewall integral with the inner edge of the rim at the uppermost portion of the sidewall and a bottom integral with the lowermost portion of the sidewall.

8. The container of claim 7 wherein the rim and the bottom have a generally round configuration, with the bottom being smaller but proportional to the rim, and the sidewall tapering inwardly to connect the rim and sidewall.

9. The container of claim 8 wherein the sidewall bows outwardly slightly from the center of the container and the bottom bows inwardly slightly toward the center of the container.

10. The container of claim 11 including a round line-junction in the foam plastic on the inside of the container where the bottom and the sidewall merge, and a round line-junction in the foam plastic on the outside of the container where the rim and the sidewall merge.

11. The container of claim 10 wherein the rim is curved slightly downwardly.