Receptacles – Sectional – Container formed of only two similar sections
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-06
2001-02-27
Castellano, Stephen (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Sectional
Container formed of only two similar sections
C220S004210, C206S394000, C206S445000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193090
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to containers. More particularly, the present invention relates to reusable and recyclable storage and shipping containers.
BACKGROUND
It is a prevailing practice in industry to use containers for shipping and storing quantities of input materials and finished products. Containers are frequently made from corrugated cardboard, chipboard, and plastics. The container contents are commonly cushioned with dunnage materials such as bubble wrap, packaging peanuts, and foamed polymeric materials. Many such containers and cushions are intended to be discarded after a single use by the end user receiving the contents. The disposal of these packaging materials raises waste disposal and environmental concerns, and the nature of these packaging systems can render them difficult to dispose in an environmentally sound manner.
In the semiconductor industry, many types of silicon wafer containers have been utilized. These containers typically are supposed to protect brittle silicon wafers, minimize contamination from particulates, and minimize static electricity buildup.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,536 describes a packaging container formed from two substantially identical parts for a plurality of circular recording media. This container is formed from foamed plastic by pressing, casting, injection molding or deep drawing. The parts have a multitude of teeth that tightly interfit upon assembly of the container. However, integral means for holding the container parts together are not disclosed. A cylindrical central holder is used to support the recording media.
G.B. 2293816 A describes a carrier for wafers that includes a method of cushioning. The carrier assembly uses three different parts.
E.P. 0789393 A1 describes a semiconductor wafer container made with a main body and a lid body that are not of similar shapes. The two parts are detachably fixed together by turning the lid body to align protrusions of the main body with slots in the lid body.
U.S. Pat. 5,780,127 describes a dimensionally stable and static dissipative carrier for semiconductor wafers. Three different parts are used to enclose the wafers for shipping.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,082 describes a three-piece wafer container using a top portion, a bottom portion, and separately molded wafer support columns. A separate side handle secures the molded portions together.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,823 describes a parallelepipedal storage container formed from two substantially identical foldable rectangular halves. This container is formed by folding each half into the shape of a U, and sliding and securing the two halves together. The container may be blow-molded for a double-wall construction, or alternatively, injection molded.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is summarized as a container having top, bottom, and side walls that comprises
A) first and second substantially identical halves, each of which has a major surface that has a polygonal shape defined by at least six sides and at least one side wall, substantially orthogonal to the major surface, that forms a portion of the side walls of the container when the halves are assembled;
B) at least a double wall construction;
C) the two substantially identical halves matingly engage when the halves are assembled to form the container; and
D) means for securing the two halves together which is integral with each half.
In another aspect, the invention is summarized as a container having top, bottom, and side walls that comprises
A) first and second substantially identical halves, each of which has a major surface the periphery of which is curved and at least one side wall, substantially orthogonal to the major surface, that forms part of the side walls of the container when the halves are assembled;
B) at least a double wall construction;
C) the two substantially identical halves matingly engage when the halves are assembled into the container; and
D) means for securing the two halves together which is integral with each half
In this document:
“at least double wall construction” means a wall formed of at least two partitions separated by a space between the partitions which are joined at their peripheries to form the double wall. The space between the at least two partitions may optionally include one or more additional walls or layers, corrugated sheet, open or closed cell foam material, air or another gas. The space between the at least two walls may be optionally collapsed in some or all areas such that the inner surfaces of each wall meet.
“Substantially identical” means functionally equivalent such that two substantially identical halves are interchangeable with each other and that both halves are capable of being produced from a single mold.
“Matingly engage” means that the two container halves mate or interlock with each other when one half is turned upside down and rotated 180 degrees with respect to the other half, and when thus mated they form the assembled container.
“Substantially orthogonal” means an angle of approximately ninety degrees formed between adjacent parts.
“No linear gap” means there is no direct line of sight through the seam between the mating halves in the assembled container.
“Substantially planar” means the major surface and the one or more side walls of each half can be formed from one approximately planar half with the one or more side walls to be folded to a position orthogonal to the major surface to be ready for assembly into the container.
“Static dissipative” means the surface resistance is generally in the range of 10
3
to 10
12
Ohms per square.
It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a reusable and volume-efficient container. It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a container made from two substantially identical parts. These parts can be produced from a single mold. It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a container that is refillable, reusable, and recyclable.
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FR 2246458 French reference, inventor; Hefendehl, date: May 1975 drawings and Abstract (no spec. and no claims.
Alberghini et al., “Technology, Performance, Markets, Economics—The Complete Blow Molding Operation”,Blow Molding Handbook,pp. 15-52, 1988.
Kirkham et al., “Injection molding”,Modern Plastics,Mid-Oct. Encyclopedia Issue, pp. 286-296, 1989.
Whiteside, “Theromoforming”,Modern Plastics,Mid-Oct. encyclopedia Issue, pp. 318-322, 1989.
Connors Paul A.
Darst John M.
Niles Gerald J.
3M Innovative Properties Company
Castellano Stephen
Dennis II Charles L.
Harts Dean M.
Little Douglas B.
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