The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 16, 2002
Filed:
Aug. 31, 2000
Anthony J. Swiontek, Neenah, WI (US);
Mark B. Littlejohn, Appleton, WI (US);
Wayne W. Lamson, Beaverton, MI (US);
Fort James Corporation, Deerfield, IL (US);
Abstract
Compartmented food service articles with sharp angular junctions are thermoformed utilizing a plug-assisted thermoforming process. The plug is employed in connection with a thermoforming mold having a plurality of rib portions which project axially from a substantially planar mold surface of the thermoforming mold, and which rib portions define a plurality of angular junctions with the substantially planar mold surface. The plug includes a plurality of rib relief portions positioned and configured to fit about the rib portions of the mold in a forming operation at an axial clearance distance of about 0.125 inches or less from the angular junction of the rib portions of the mold with the substantially planar mold surface. The plug is also provided with a plurality of substantially vertical wall rib relief portions configured and dimensioned to be substantially vertically aligned with said angular junctions of the rib portions of the mold with the substantially planar mold surface, the vertical wall portions being adjacent a plurality of angular corner portions transitioning between the vertical wall rib relief portions of the plug and a bottom surface thereof.