Receptacles – End wall structure – Support structure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-03
2001-11-13
Pollard, Steven (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
End wall structure
Support structure
C220S608000, C220S659000, C220S675000, C229S400000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315150
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a bowl-shaped container made of a thermoplastic resin.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When a bowl-shaped container having a rim of a bottom is made of a thermoplastic resin sheet, the melted resin sheet is conventionally folded at the rim of the bottom.
FIG. 21
shows a section of the rim made in this conventional method. Also, when a body of the container is rendered rugged, the thermoplastic resin sheet is folded into folds.
FIG. 22
shows a section of the rugged body.
In the aforesaid conventional method, an annular opening is formed in the bottom of the folded container so as to correspond to the rim. Accordingly, when poured into the container, soup or the like enters the annular opening. This results in no problem when the container is non-returnable. However, when the container is cleaned for re-use, it is difficult to wash away the soup or the like remaining in the annular opening. It is also difficult to wash away the soup or the like remaining in openings of the folds formed in the body of the container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a bowl-shaped container which is formed by folding a part of the resin sheet and yet which can prevent soup or the like from entering the opening formed in the bottom or the body thereof.
To accomplish the object, the present invention provides a bowl-shaped container having a rim of a bottom, said rim being hollow. The rim of the bottom serves as a mount preventing the container from rolling and prevents fingers from coming into direct contact with the outer surface of the container. Concerning the latter, when hot soup is poured into the container, heat is transmitted to the wall surface such that the container is prevented from being unholdable. Accordingly, the rim of the bottom preferably has a low heat conductivity. When the rim is rendered hollow as described above, the heat conductivity of the rim can be reduced. Consequently, an amount of heat transferred to the fingers can be reduced even when hot soup is poured into the bowl.
In a preferred form, the container is made of a thermoplastic resin sheet, and the hollow rim is formed by folding the thermoplastic resin sheet including a side wall surface and a bottom wall surface continuous with each other into the shape of a bag and by welding the sheet at the wall surface sides. When a rim forming recess is used which broadens the container toward one end thereof and then reduces the inner diameter, the rim is rendered substantially triangular such that a cavity is formed. In this construction, the thermoplastic resin sheet having a substantially uniform thickness is folded into the bag shape such that the rim is formed. Consequently, the cavity can be prevented from being one-sided. Further, when the cavity is actually present, an appearance volume is increased as compared with an actual amount of thermoplastic resin sheet.
The hollow rim has an outer circumferential surface formed into such an inclined face that the outer circumferential surface expands outward as it goes downward. When the sheet is folded into the bag shape so that the cavity is formed, the container is voluminous when it is expanded outward. Further, it is easy to vertically form an inner wall surface which is formed using a bottom plate.
When ribs are formed on an outer face of the bowl body, a good heat-insulating structure is obtained. Accordingly, it is effective to fold the thermoplastic resin sheet so that the ribs are formed. However, when a gap is formed between folded portions, soup containing fat component enters the gap. In this case, it is difficult to wash soup away.
In view of the above-described problem, the invention also provides a bowl-shaped container made of a thermoplastic resin sheet, the container including a body having a plurality of ribs expanding outward and no slit-like recess in an inner circumferential face thereof. Since the ribs reduce the heat conductivity, the circumferential face of each rib is not heated even when hot soup is poured, and the soup can be prevented from entering the gap.
The ribs are preferably formed by thrusting the thermoplastic resin sheet into a plurality of grooves formed in a forming female die. Since the sheet is thrust into the groove of the forming female die, the gap can easily be closed.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3169689 (1965-02-01), Schwartz
patent: 3291361 (1966-12-01), Commeyras
patent: 3606262 (1971-09-01), Hoff
patent: 4010867 (1977-03-01), Jones
patent: 4577775 (1986-03-01), Kresin
patent: 5062568 (1991-11-01), Hill et al.
patent: 6003720 (1999-12-01), Morimoto et al.
patent: 4-327129 (1992-11-01), None
patent: 10-155625 (1998-06-01), None
Kikkawa Takashi
Mizoguchi Kenichi
Takai Toshihiro
Yoshikoshi Akio
Armstrong Westerman Hattori McLeland & Naughton LLP
Kabushiki Kaisha Asano Kenkyusho
Pollard Steven
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