Multi-layer container and method of manufacture

Abstract: A box-like hollow body, particularly a container of various shapes and size, comprising at least an inner hollow body 3 and an outer hollow body 2, interpenetrating with each other so as to create an integral structure with particular characteristics of mechanical resistance and ornamental, and provided with a continuous inner surface without gaps and an outer surface patterned according to zones or sections.

Description: The present invention relates to a box-like hollow body, particularly a container of various shapes and size, comprising at least an inner hollow body and an outer hollow body interpenetrating with each other so as to create a structure with particular characteristics of mechanical resistance and ornament, and provided with a continuous inner surface without gaps and an outer surface patterned according to zones or sections. The present invention further relates to a process for the manufacture of said hollow body. Containers or box-like bodies, in particular containers such as glasses, soup-tureens, jugs, boxes for alimentary products and the like are known that have a double wall and a decoration visible on the surface. Such box-like bodies generally comprise an inner body on whose outer surface a decoration or a pattern is obtained and by an outer body of transparent material which coats and covers the inner body and which is obtained by casting or injection on or about the inner body. As the external body is realized from transparent material, the decoration or the pattern obtained on the external wall of the inner body is visible in transparency through the thickness of the external body. To make such box-like hollow bodies, like plastic cups or the like, according to the known art, a first shell or hollow body is prepared, for instance by injection. Then, on such first shell a second shell is also formed by injection on the outside or in the inside of the first shell, said second shell being caused to adhere to the wall of the first shell; or, the two shells are prepared separately, so that one of them is exactly contained in the other one, and so molded as to cause the two shells to adhere to one another. Said known containers have the disadvantage that they substantially comprise two containers located one inside the other and that the more external container is made from a transparent material. Also, in case of a knock or fall of the container, the two bodies tend to detach from one another. FR-A-2340193, which forms the basis of the preamble of claim 1, discloses a box-like hollow body having an outer hollow body and an inner hollow body intepenetrating with each other to form an integral structure having a continuous internal surface and an external surface patterned according to zones constituted by portions of the inner hollow body emerging on the surface of the outer hollow body. Another example of a box-like hollow body according to the preamble of claim 1 is disclosed in GB-A-1503039, which further suggests a process where the inner hollow body is made in a mould by injecting a material into the inside of the outer hollow body already formed. Object of this invention is to provide a box-like hollow body, in particular a container of various shapes and size, provided with an outer surface with variously decorated or colored zones or sectors, perfectly matching with each other and affording an agreeable and original visual effect. A further object of the invention is to provide a box-like hollow body, made in particular from plastic material, comprising at least two hollow bodies intimately associated to each other, in such a way as not to be detachable from each other by knocks or other stresses. These and still other objects and the related advantages that will be made apparent from the following description are achieved by a box-like body according to claim 1. The edges of said apertures obtained in said first outer hollow body are formed at an acute angle, so as to ensure interpenetration and coupling stability between said apertures and said raised portions of said second inner hollow body. The box-like hollow body according to the present invention may be made from different materials such as, for instance, plastic materials or glass. In particular, any material may be used that is suitable to change its physical state from a flowing fluid during the working step to a solid in the finished product. Advantageously, a process for the realization of said box-like hollow body comprises the steps of claim 4. The invention is described hereafter with reference to the attached drawings, reported by way of non limiting illustration of the invention, wherein: Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of the first hollow body, Figure 2 schematically shows the box-like hollow body according to the invention, comprising the first hollow body and the second hollow body, Figure 3 schematically shows a section of the box-like hollow body of Figure 2, Figure 4 schematically shows a section of a variant of the box-like hollow body according to the present invention. With reference to such figures, the box-like hollow body 1 according to the invention comprises a first outer hollow body 2 and a second inner hollow body 3. The first hollow body 2 is provided with apertures constituted by windows 4 and 4a and by cutting 4b, within which apertures are respectively housed the raised portions 5, 5a and 5b of the second inner hollow body 3. The edges 11, 12, 13 of the apertures obtained in said first outer hollow body 2 are made at an acute angle. This configuration is possible thanks to the process according to the present invention, and is very advantageous as it ensures a perfect and indissoluble coupling between the first body and the second body. According to a variant of the present invention, said box-like hollow body, comprises a first outer hollow body 6, a second intermediate hollow body 7 and a third inner hollow body 8 In this way it is possible to make an outer surface of the box-like body constituted by zones divided by the emerging on the surface of the outer hollow body 6 of the raised portions 9 of the intermediate hollow body 7 and the raised portions 10 of the inner hollow body 8, obtaining in this way special aesthetic effects.

Claims: A box-like hollow body, particularly a container of various shapes and size, such as a cup, jar, box, glass, jug or the like, comprising: an outer hollow body (2; 6) having an inner surface and an outer surface provided with variously located apertures (4, 4a, 4b) such as holes, windows, cuttings or the like; an inner hollow body (3; 8) formed inside said outer hollow body (2; 6), said inner hollow body (3; 8) being provided with a continuous internal surface without any gap and an external surface having raised portions (5, 5a, 5b; 10) peripherally exactly and intimately matching the edges of said apertures; wherein said hollow bodies (2, 3; 6, 8) interpenetrate with each other to form an external surface patterned according to zones or sections constituted by portions of said inner hollow body (3; 8) emerging on the surface of said outer hollow body (2; 6), characterised in that said apertures are variously shaped and sized and that the edge of each of said apertures (4a, 4b, 4) is at an acute angle with respect to either the outer or the inner surface of the outer hollow body (2, 6) so as to ensure interpenetration and coupling stability between said apertures (4, 4a, 4b) and said raised portions (5, 5a, 5b; 10) and so as to form an integral structure with a substantially continuous, variously decorated external surface. A box-like hollow body according to claim 1, characterised by comprising an intermediate hollow body (7) realised in the inside of said outer hollow body (6) and provided with an external surface having raised portions (9), the external surface of the box-like hollow body being constituted by zones divided by the emerging on the surface of the outer hollow body (6) of the raised portions (9) of the intermediate hollow body (7) and the raised portions (5, 5a, 5b; 10) of the inner hollow body (8) so as to form a substantially continuous, variously decorated external surface. A box-like hollow body according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that it is realised from any material that is suitable to change its physical state from a flowing fluid during the working step to a solid in the finished product, such as plastic material or glass. A process for the fabrication of a box-like hollow body, particularly a container of various shapes and size, such as a cup, jar, box, glass, jug or the like, comprising the following steps: formation of an outer hollow body (2; 6) having an inner surface and an outer surface provided with variously located apertures (4, 4a, 4b) such as holes, windows, cuttings or the like, by casting or injection of a first material into a suitable mould having the selected shape; casting or injection of a second material, compatible with said first material, into the inside of said outer hollow body (2; 6) placed in a suitable mould, so that said second material forms an inner hollow body (3; 8) provided with raised portions (5, 5a, 5b; 10) filling said apertures (4, 4a, 4b) and a continuous internal surface, so as to form an integral structure with said outer hollow body (2; 6), characterised in that said apertures are variously shaped and sized and that the edge of each of said apertures (4a, 4b, 4) is at an acute angle with respect to either the outer or the inner surface of the outer hollow body (2, 6) so as to ensure interpenetration and coupling stability between said apertures (4, 4a, 4b) and said raised portions (5, 5a, 5b; 10) of said inner hollow body (3; 8). A process according to claim 4, characterised by the further formation of an intermediate hollow body (7) having raised portions (9) in order to obtain an integral structure having an external surface of the box-like hollow body constituted by zones divided by the emerging on the surface of the outer hollow body (6) of the raised portions (9) of the intermediate hollow body (7) and the raised portions (10) of the inner hollow body (8).

Inventors: BASARA MICHAEL, BASARA, MICHAEL
Applicants: IMMANUEL IND CO LTD, IMMANUEL INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B65D8
IPC codes: B29C45, B65D8, B65D13, A47G19