US8365980B2
Active / In Force
US
⏱️ 3.3 years remaining
Food container
Assignee: PCO Group GmbH
•
Filing: 2010-02-10
•
Granted: 2013-02-05
•
Expires: 2030-02-10
Abstract
Abstract The invention is directed to a container for non-liquid food, such as for popcorn, potato chips or french fries, and has a bottom and an upright peripheral wall which together delineate a cavity for holding the food, as well as a pocket, which is formed from parts of the peripheral wall for holding an object that accompanies the food. In order to prevent an escape of the food located in the cavity and/or a contact of the object in the pocket with the food in the cavity, the invention provides that a lower end of the pocket is formed from a movable peripheral wall part which is delineated by two fold lines diverging upwards in a V shape and a punch line or cut joining the upper ends of the fold lines at a distance from an upper edge of the peripheral wall.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernhard Wettlaufer
- 👤 Stefan Lemke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 07:09
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D5/00; B65D5/02; B65D25/00; B65D25/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
236 words
A container for non-liquid food, especially for popcorn, potato chips or french fries, the container comprising: a bottom and an upright peripheral wall which together delineate a cavity for holding the food; and a pocket formed or formable from parts of the peripheral wall for holding an object accompanying the food, wherein a lower end of the pocket is formed from a movable peripheral wall part which is delineated by two fold lines diverging upwards in a V shape and a punch line or cut joining the upper ends of the two fold lines at a distance from an upper edge of the peripheral wall, wherein the movable peripheral wall part can be moved from a first position, in which its surfaces are flush with surfaces of neighboring wall parts on the other side of the fold lines and of the punch line or cut, into a second position, in which the movable peripheral wall part projects into the inside of the cavity and forms a support for the object in the pocket, and wherein a further movable peripheral wall part is arranged between the punch line or cut and the upper edge of the peripheral wall, which, to form the pocket, can be moved from a first position in which its surfaces are flush with the surfaces of neighboring wall parts into a second position in which it projects into the inside of the cavity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
236 words
A container for non-liquid food, especially for popcorn, potato chips or french fries, the container comprising: a bottom and an upright peripheral wall which together delineate a cavity for holding the food; and a pocket formed or formable from parts of the peripheral wall for holding an object accompanying the food, wherein a lower end of the pocket is formed from a movable peripheral wall part which is delineated by two fold lines diverging upwards in a V shape and a punch line or cut joining the upper ends of the two fold lines at a distance from an upper edge of the peripheral wall, wherein the movable peripheral wall part can be moved from a first position, in which its surfaces are flush with surfaces of neighboring wall parts on the other side of the fold lines and of the punch line or cut, into a second position, in which the movable peripheral wall part projects into the inside of the cavity and forms a support for the object in the pocket, and wherein a further movable peripheral wall part is arranged between the punch line or cut and the upper edge of the peripheral wall, which, to form the pocket, can be moved from a first position in which its surfaces are flush with the surfaces of neighboring wall parts into a second position in which it projects into the inside of the cavity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A container according to claim 1 , wherein the movable peripheral wall part is bi-stable, so that it moves automatically into the first or second position when it is located between the two positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A container according to claim 1 , wherein the two fold lines diverge upward in a V shape at an angle of more than 45 degrees and less than 90 degrees.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
A container according to claim 1 , wherein an immovable peripheral wall part is arranged between the punch line or cut and the upper edge of the peripheral wall, the inner and outer surfaces of which are flush with the surfaces of neighboring wall parts when the movable peripheral wall part has been moved into the second position to form the pocket.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A container according to claim 4 , wherein the peripheral wall part is in the form of a strip.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A container according to claim 1 , wherein the peripheral wall part is in the form of a strip.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A container according to claim 1 , wherein a protruding peripheral wall part adjoins the further movable peripheral wall part and can be flipped into the inside of the cavity such that a free end of the protruding peripheral wall part overlaps an upper boundary edge of the movable peripheral wall part.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
A container according to claim 5 , wherein a protruding peripheral wall part adjoins the further movable peripheral wall part and can be flipped into the inside of the cavity such that a free end of the protruding peripheral wall part overlaps an upper boundary edge of the movable peripheral wall part.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
A container according to claim 6 , wherein a protruding peripheral wall part adjoins the further movable peripheral wall part and can be flipped into the inside of the cavity such that a free end of the protruding peripheral wall part overlaps an upper boundary edge of the movable peripheral wall part.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A container according to claim 7 , wherein the protruding peripheral wall part overlaps the upper boundary edge of the peripheral wall part on the outside of the peripheral wall part.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A container according to claim 8 , wherein the protruding peripheral wall part overlaps the upper boundary edge of the peripheral wall part on the outside of the peripheral wall part.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A container according to claim 7 , wherein the protruding peripheral wall part is joined to the peripheral wall part along a fold line which is aligned with the upper edge of the peripheral wall.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A container according to claim 8 , wherein the protruding peripheral wall part is joined to the peripheral wall part along a fold line which is aligned with the upper edge of the peripheral wall.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A container according to claim 1 , wherein a further fold line is arranged between the two diverging fold lines.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
A container according to claim 1 , wherein the peripheral wall has a polygonal cross-section and at least three corners, one of which divides the movable peripheral wall part between the punch line or cut and the starting point of the fold lines into two parts.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A container according to claim 1 , wherein the bottom and the peripheral wall consist of a single folded and glued blank.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
A container according to claim 1 , wherein the peripheral wall has a circular or oval cross-section.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
55 words
A container according to claim 1 , wherein the peripheral wall widens toward the top in the shape of a truncated cone or pyramid and wherein an upper boundary edge of the movable peripheral wall part and/or of the further movable peripheral wall part is generally parallel to the upper edge of the peripheral wall.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
192 words
A container for non-liquid food, especially for popcorn, potato chips or french fries, the container comprising: a bottom and an upright peripheral wall which together delineate a cavity for holding the food; and a pocket formed or formable from parts of the peripheral wall for holding an object accompanying the food, wherein a lower end of the pocket is formed from a movable peripheral wall part which is delineated by two fold lines diverging upwards in a V shape and a punch line or cut joining the upper ends of the two fold lines at a distance from an upper edge of the peripheral wall, wherein the two fold lines diverge upward in a V shape at an angle of more than 45 degrees and less than 90 degrees, and wherein a further movable peripheral wall part is arranged between the punch line or cut and the upper edge of the peripheral wall, which, to form the pocket, can be moved from a first position in which its surfaces are flush with the surfaces of neighboring wall parts into a second position in which it projects into the inside of the cavity.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
192 words
A container for non-liquid food, especially for popcorn, potato chips or french fries, the container comprising: a bottom and an upright peripheral wall which together delineate a cavity for holding the food; and a pocket formed or formable from parts of the peripheral wall for holding an object accompanying the food, wherein a lower end of the pocket is formed from a movable peripheral wall part which is delineated by two fold lines diverging upwards in a V shape and a punch line or cut joining the upper ends of the two fold lines at a distance from an upper edge of the peripheral wall, wherein the two fold lines diverge upward in a V shape at an angle of more than 45 degrees and less than 90 degrees, and wherein a further movable peripheral wall part is arranged between the punch line or cut and the upper edge of the peripheral wall, which, to form the pocket, can be moved from a first position in which its surfaces are flush with the surfaces of neighboring wall parts into a second position in which it projects into the inside of the cavity.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
62 words
A container according to claim 19 , wherein an immovable peripheral wall part is arranged between the punch line or cut and the upper edge of the peripheral wall, the inner and outer surfaces of which are flush with the surfaces of neighboring wall parts when the movable peripheral wall part has been moved into the second position to form the pocket.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
A container according to claim 20 , wherein the peripheral wall part is in the form of a strip.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
A container according to claim 19 , wherein the peripheral wall part is in the form of a strip.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
52 words
A container according to claim 19 , wherein a protruding peripheral wall part adjoins the further movable peripheral wall part and can be flipped into the inside of the cavity such that a free end of the protruding peripheral wall part overlaps an upper boundary edge of the movable peripheral wall part.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
52 words
A container according to claim 21 , wherein a protruding peripheral wall part adjoins the further movable peripheral wall part and can be flipped into the inside of the cavity such that a free end of the protruding peripheral wall part overlaps an upper boundary edge of the movable peripheral wall part.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
52 words
A container according to claim 22 , wherein a protruding peripheral wall part adjoins the further movable peripheral wall part and can be flipped into the inside of the cavity such that a free end of the protruding peripheral wall part overlaps an upper boundary edge of the movable peripheral wall part.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
A container according to claim 23 , wherein the protruding peripheral wall part overlaps the upper boundary edge of the peripheral wall part on the outside of the peripheral wall part.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
A container according to claim 24 , wherein the protruding peripheral wall part overlaps the upper boundary edge of the peripheral wall part on the outside of the peripheral wall part.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
35 words
A container according to claim 23 , wherein the protruding peripheral wall part is joined to the peripheral wall part along a fold line which is aligned with the upper edge of the peripheral wall.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
35 words
A container according to claim 24 , wherein the protruding peripheral wall part is joined to the peripheral wall part along a fold line which is aligned with the upper edge of the peripheral wall.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
A container according to claim 19 , wherein the movable peripheral wall part is bi-stable, so that it moves automatically into the first or second position when it is located between the two positions.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
A container according to claim 19 , wherein a further fold line is arranged between the two diverging fold lines.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
46 words
A container according to claim 19 , wherein the peripheral wall has a polygonal cross-section and at least three corners, one of which divides the movable peripheral wall part between the punch line or cut and the starting point of the fold lines into two parts.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
A container according to claim 19 , wherein the bottom and the peripheral wall consist of a single folded and glued blank.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
A container according to claim 19 , wherein the peripheral wall has a circular or oval cross-section.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
55 words
A container according to claim 19 , wherein the peripheral wall widens toward the top in the shape of a truncated cone or pyramid and wherein an upper boundary edge of the movable peripheral wall part and/or of the further movable peripheral wall part is generally parallel to the upper edge of the peripheral wall.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2016-02-05 | 2016-08-06 | 2017-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2020-02-05 | 2020-08-06 | 2021-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2024-02-05 | 2024-08-06 | 2025-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |