Disposable Container

Abstract

A disposable container for consumable goods having a generally rigid or semi-rigid upper portion and a non-rigid thin wall bottom portion in the form, for example, of a sack. A reusable rigid or semi-rigid shell is also provided that receives the bottom portion and in use, attaches to the top portion. The bottom portion can also be provided in a double wall sack or pouch arrangement for insulation and/or rigidity purposes.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to containers, and more particularly, to an improved disposable container for use with consumable products.

In recent years, conservationists and ecologists have become particularly concerned with the world's mounting waste disposal problem and the valuable natural resources (petrochemicals, natural gas) which are utilized in the manufacture of disposable plastic containers in packaging and which are not replaceable.

While many types of plastic packaging in containers are capable of being recycled and re-used, the cost of collecting, sorting, and reprocessing plastic containers and packaging is commercially unfeasible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the general aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved disposable plastic container for consumable materials in which the amount of plastic material that is disposed of is held to a minimum, yet wherein the relative convenience and safety of the container is greater than has heretofore been possible. A related object of the invention is to provide an improved disposable plastic container for beverages, food products, household and commercial products and the like wherein the container is particularly well lent to high production packaging, shipping and storage, and display in marketing.

It is another object of the invention to provide a relatively low cost disposable container for carbonated beverages and other products packaged under pressure such as aerosol sprays, which possess a high factor of safety in handling, storage and disposal.

Still another aim of the present invention is to provide a disposable plastic container for consumer and commercial products of a consumable nature at a far lower cost than has heretofore been possible, yet which when placed in use in a dispensing operation, possesses far greater rigidity and strength than have similar containers and packages which have been heretofore available.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary disposable plastic container embodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, taken substantially along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the upper and lower portion of the container illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to that of FIG. 3 but here showing a modified disposable container embodying the features of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view depicting a packaging and carrying arrangement for a plurality of disposable containers embodying the features of the present invention.

While the present invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, illustrative embodiments are shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but, on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, an exemplary disposable plastic container, generally indicated at 10, is illustrated, the container including a top 11 and a bottom portion 12 integral with, and depending from the top 11. As here shown, the top 11 is provided with a closure 13 of the tear-off type and in the exemplary embodiment, the top 11 is of a shape whereby upon the removal of the closure 13, it would serve as a mouthpiece so that a beverage contained therein could be consumed much in the manner as when drinking from a glass rather than a narrow neck conventional glass bottle.

In accordance with one of the important aspects of the present invention, provision is made for utilizing a minimum of plastic material for a disposable container, yet wherein the container is of strong and rigid nature when utilized. This is accomplished by forming the disposable container with the top portion 11 having a wall thickness sufficiently great so as to render the top generally rigid or semi-rigid and forming the bottom portion 12 with a side-wall thickness far less than that of the top and of a thickness no greater than that sufficient to contain the material that the container is intended for without failing. In the exemplary container, the thickness of the bottom portion 12 for the purposes of illustration is depicted as approximately one-fourth that of the top 11 although as will be hereinafter pointed out, the side-wall thickness of the bottom portion 12 could be far less than that depicted.

In order to provide the disposable container 10 with the requisite strength and rigidity during use, a semi-rigid or rigid shell 14 is provided and adapted to be connectably received by the top 11 of the disposable container 10. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the shell 14 is connectably received by the top 11 by an internal threaded portion 16 of the top 11 engaging an external threaded portion of the shell 14. Other suitable connecting arrangements can also be utilized such as, for example, a mating groove and ridge arrangement 18 between the modified top 11A and modified shell 14A depicted in FIG. 4.

In the use of the exemplary disposable container 10, it is contemplated that the shell 14 would not be of a disposable nature but could be utilized repeatedly with additional containers 10. In the situation where a beverage is provided in container 10, the shell 14 can be provided an appearance consistent with serving pieces that would enable the beverage 18 to be served directly at the dining table in the container 11 rather than having to transfer it to another drinking receptacle.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the internal shape of the shell 14 is such that it will lend support to substantially the entire bottom portion 12 of the container 10, and accordingly the primary strength requirement of the bottom portion 12 would be in the shipping, handling and storage of same prior to its use when it is in conjunction with the shell 14.

While different types of plastics and production processes are well lent to the instant disposable container, it is contemplated that the exemplary container would be fabricated from any one or more of the well known plastic materials currently utilized for containers such as polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene and polyethylene. Furthermore, both the disposable container 10 and the reuseable shell 14 therefor can be readily formed utilizing conventional plastic production processes such as blow molding and injection molding.

In order to provide increased rigidity and strength to the bottom portion 12 when a liquid or other fluid under pressure is contained within the exemplary container 10, a double-walled construction 20 is employed as depicted in FIG. 3. By forming internal spacers (not shown) or maintaining the space between the double-walled construction 20 under pressure, significantly greater strength and rigidity can be obtained without resorting to constructing a heavy side-wall thickness which would result in the waste of substantial amounts of plastic. In this connection it should also be pointed out that in the event of excessive pressure being built up within the container due to incineration or excessive heat, the relative danger of a serious injury occuring if the container fails is far less with the exemplary container than the conventional metal containers.

While it is contemplated that the bottom portion 12 will be integral with the top 11 and formed simultaneously in a molding operation, it is also pointed out that the bottom portion 12 could also be joined to the top by any one of a number of well known methods such as sonic welding or a chemical bond obtained by utilizing the proper solvent.

Present production processes would also enable the double wall bottom portion to be integrally formed with the top portion 11 as shown in FIG. 3. An example of a method in apparatus which could be utilized is found in U. S. Pat. 3,103,036 to T. J. Nave, et al.

With reference to FIG. 5, a carrying container 22 for a plurality of the exemplary disposable containers 10 is illustrated. This container which can be readily formed from cardboard, plastic or the like and reused, is provided with a plurality of apertures sized to receive the bottom portion 12 of the exemplary container but support the top 11 of the container while the bottom portion 12 depends downwardly. It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that the carrying container 22 is well lent for marketing consumer goods of both an edible and non-edible nature. Furthermore, a plurality of carrying containers 22 could also be packaged in a larger container for shipping and storage. In applications where the shell 14 is not required, the exemplary container 10 can remain in the carrying container 22 or one similar to it with more or less unit capacity and the contents of said container can be dispensed directly therefrom. In order to facilitate shipping and the aforestated use, each aperture in the container 22 can be provided with threads or a groove (not shown) to allow the container 10 to be releasably secured to the container in the same manner as it is secured to the shell 14.

If desired, the top 11 of the container could be provided from a different plastic material than the bottom portion 12 or the top 11 could be provided in a non-plastic material such as metal or glass.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A container system for consumable goods comprising:

a. a disposable container including a top portion having a tubular wide mouth open bottom defining a through passage, said top portion having at least a semi-rigid degree of stability, and a tubular, closed bottom, generally non-self sustaining lower portion integral and contiguous with said top portion and depending therefrom, said lower portion having a wide mouth open top with a peripheral upper edge thereof secured to the wall defining the wide mouth through passage in said top portion at a point spaced from the lower edge of said top portion, said lower portion having a material thickness substantially less than that of said top portion;

b. a reusable wide mouth open-top shell adapted to insertably receive said lower portion of said disposable container, whereby said disposable container when filled is insertable into said shell and is in substantially contiguous contact therewith, said shell being generally self-sustaining and

c. means on said wall intermediate the lower edge of said top portion and the securement of said lower portion for releasably receiving said shell to said top portion of said disposable container when said lower portion thereof is inserted in said shell.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lower portion of said disposable container is plastic.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said top portion of said disposable container further includes closure means maintaining said opening therein in a sealed condition.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said closure means is self-opening without the use of a tool or utensil.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said top portion of said disposable container is plastic.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said lower portion is of a thin wall non-rigid sack configuration.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for releasably securing said shell to said top portion of said disposable container comprises threads on a portion of said shell and threads on a portion of said top portion, said threads engageable with each other.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for releasably securing said shell to said top portion of said disposable container comprises an interference fit between said shell and said top portion.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the wall of said lower portion of said disposable container comprises an outer wall and an inner wall, each said outer and inner wall of a material thickness substantially less than that of said top portion, said outer and inner wall maintained in a spaced apart relationship with each other.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the space between said outer and inner wall is maintained at a pressure substantially higher than atmosphere.

11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said top portion and said lower portion of said disposable container are integrally molded.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the interior of said shell is sized to be substantially filled by said lower portion of said disposable container upon the insertion of same therein.