Envelopes – wrappers – and paperboard boxes – Paperboard box – Including a polygonal – nonrectangular wall
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-26
2001-04-03
Derakshani, Philippe (Department: 3754)
Envelopes, wrappers, and paperboard boxes
Paperboard box
Including a polygonal, nonrectangular wall
C229S117180, C222S105000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209781
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to disposable containers. More particularly, the present invention relates to containers for storing and dispensing a liquid.
2 Description of Related Art
With the increased use of what can be characterized as up-scale coffee at meetings and the like, there is a need to provide an economical service of supplying such coffee from an off site location. Typically, the coffee is ordered from a shop specializing in what can be characterized as “up-scale” coffee. Most usually, the coffee is delivered in relatively large vacuum containers. A problem with such delivery is that the vacuum containers must be retrieved by the coffee shop sometime after the conclusion of the consumption of the coffee contained therein. Typically what this entails is that a person from the coffee shop must coordinate a return trip to retrieve the vacuum containers. This trip is sometimes difficult to coordinate and certainly entails the time of at least one person to make the return trip to retrieve the empty vacuum containers. Alternatively, a fiber beverage container may be used to transport the coffee. Such beverage container is detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,992. The beverage container disclosed in the '992 patent has a major disadvantage from an ergonomic standpoint. The spout out of which the coffee is poured is located proximate the top side of the beverage container. Accordingly, the beverage container must be tipped through an exaggerated rotation in order for the coffee contained therein to be discharged through the upwardly disposed spout. Such tipping can expose the hand of the user to hot vapors emanating from the heated coffee. Further, in order to fully discharge the coffee contained in the container, the container must be tipped to an orientation in which the side having the spout disposed therein is substantially downward and horizontal. The action of the operator to effect such disposition is a nearly unnatural pouring action.
A further disadvantage of the container disclosed in the '992 patent is that a spout
9
must be fixedly internally disposed in the front
13
of the container. In the production process, the spout must be separately formed and then must be fitted to the container. After insertion of the spout, the container is no longer flat when in the folded disposition, making packing and shipping more difficult.
There is a need in the industry for a disposable container to transport beverages. Clearly an advantage of such a container is the fact that the container is readily disposable after use, thereby making a return trip by the provider unnecessary. The container should be ergonomically designed in order to readily facilitate the discharge of beverage therefrom. Further, it is desirable that such container substantially shield the hand of the user from any hot vapors emanating from the hot coffee.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention substantially meets the aforementioned needs of the industry. Principally, by locating the spout from which the coffee is discharged proximate the bottom side section of the container, substantially all of the coffee contained therein may be discharged with virtually no tilting action on the part of the user of the container. Additionally, a shield is provided to substantially deflect hot vapors away from the hand of the user of the container.
The present invention is a disposable container that includes support structure that is shiftable between a disposable disposition and an erect disposition, the support structure defining an interior container space when in the erect disposition. The erect support structure has a bottom side section and a generally opposed and spaced apart top side section. A first end section extends between the bottom side section and the top side section and has an aperture defined therein, the aperture being disposed proximate the bottom side section. A second end section is spaced apart from the first end section and extends between the bottom side section and the top side section.
In a further embodiment, the present invention is a disposable container that includes support structure that is shiftable between a disposable disposition and an erect disposition, the support structure defining an interior container space when in the erect disposition. The erect support structure has a first end section, the first end section having an aperture defined therein, the aperture being disposed proximate a bottom side section. A bladder for holding a liquid is disposable in the interior container space.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3581974 (1971-06-01), Freeman
patent: 4376509 (1983-03-01), Schaffer
patent: 4520948 (1985-06-01), Hampel
patent: 4844327 (1989-07-01), Pausing
patent: 4887720 (1989-12-01), Farber
patent: 4915236 (1990-04-01), Kamin
patent: 5125566 (1992-06-01), Deiger
patent: 5377876 (1995-01-01), Smernoff
patent: 5715992 (1998-02-01), Andrew, Sr. et al.
patent: 5771777 (1998-06-01), Davis
patent: 5829637 (1998-11-01), Takemura et al.
Fiterman Michael
Sylvester Carol A.
Young Ted G.
Derakshani Philippe
Liberty Carton Co.
Patterson Thuente Skaar & Christensen P.A.
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