Patent Publication Number: US-6986436-B2

Title: Storage container with removable sleeve

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     None. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     None. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to a storage container having a removable sleeve, and, more specifically, to a storage container having a removable sleeve that includes an outer overlapping portion which is secured to at least one separation section within an inner overlapped portion, the separation section being defined at least partially by a scored line. 
     The storage container of the present invention is suitable to store a variety of items from dry goods to dairy products. Generally, a storage container must be capable of withstanding the stress of loading, transportation, and use while being simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble. One manner of accomplishing these goals is to provide a receptacle surrounded by a positively closely positioned sleeve. There are several advantages to this type of storage container. First, the sleeve provides reinforcement to the receptacle so that the receptacle requires less material. Second the sleeve provides an area for a label or an advertisement that may be applied to the sleeve before it is positioned on the receptacle. Printing in this manner is often less complicated than printing on the receptacle itself. 
     Besides being sturdy and inexpensive, a storage container also should be capable of being disposed of after use in an efficient manner. Often, the most efficient way to dispose of a used storage container is to recycle the container. However, if the storage container has several components, then a user must separate those components before they can be recycled. Unfortunately, a user may forego the option to recycle if it is too difficult or time-consuming to separate a storage container into its component parts. Therefore, it is advantageous to provide a storage container that a person may quickly and easily break down into its component parts. Thus, for a storage container comprised of a receptacle surrounded by a sleeve, the sleeve must be quickly and easily removable. 
     One example of a packing container having a circumferential reinforcing sleeve is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,981, which discloses a plastic packing container with a positively closely held cardboard sleeve. The cardboard sleeve includes a predetermined separation strip, which is a portion of the sleeve that tears or is torn away from the sleeve to permit a complete severing of the sleeve, a gripping tab, and a weakening line. For separating the cardboard sleeve from the otherwise plastic packing container, the gripping tab is drawn radially outwards, so that the predetermined separation strip is separated from the cardboard sleeve along the weakening line, which is comprised of angular incisions, arranged in rows, that extend for substantially the from the upper edge to the lower edge of the cardboard sleeve, with the incisions penetrating the cardboard sleeve. Thus, to produce the sleeve disclosed in this invention, a manufacturer must make a relatively complicated cardboard sleeve part having a perforation line, two incisions and a top edge that is shaped at one end to form a gripping tab. A simpler sleeve would be easier to use and produce. Although sufficient, the packing container of this patent may be improved, particularly with respect to the complicated design and construction of the sleeve. 
     Accordingly, the purpose of this invention is to provide a storage container having a removable sleeve that is simple to manufacture, assemble and use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is generally directed to a storage container comprising a removable sleeve positively closely positioned around a receptacle. When positioned on the receptacle, the ends of the sleeve overlap, and the outer overlapping portion is bonded or secured to at least one separation section within an inner overlapped portion. The separation section is defined at least partially by a scored line, with the scored line being a cut that penetrates a top portion of the sleeve. The sleeve is removed by pulling the outer edge of the sleeve radially outward thereby separating the top portion of the sleeve at the separation section from the remaining portion of the sleeve. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       In the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a storage container with a removable sleeve according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention with the overlapped edge shown in dotted lines; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of a removable sleeve according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view taken along line  3 — 3  in  FIG. 1  before the separation of the removable sleeve; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of a storage container according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention following the partial separation of the removable sleeve; 
         FIG. 5  is top view taken along line  5 — 5  in  FIG. 4  following the partial separation of the removable sleeve; 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of a removable sleeve containing a finger notch according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is a side elevation view of a storage container with removable sleeve containing a finger notch according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings in more detail and initially to  FIG. 1  in particular, the numeral  10  generally designates a storage container that includes a receptacle  20  and an easily removable sleeve  30  according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     Receptacle  20  has a circular bottom segment  40  and a circumferential wall segment  50 . At the top of wall segment  50  is an outwardly projecting marginal flange  55 . At the bottom of wall segment  50  is an outwardly projecting rounded step  45 . Receptacle  20  preferably has a frusto-conical shape; that is, receptacle  20  has a circular cross-section, and the diameter of bottom segment  40  is less then the diameter of the top of wall segment  50 . It should be understood that different shapes may serve equally as well and may actually be required by a given application. For example, a receptacle in the shape of a cube may provide better stacking or space utilization characteristics. Receptacle  20  is preferably constructed of a thermoplastic material. 
     Sleeve  30 , which is positively closely positioned around wall segment  50  of receptacle  20  between flange  55  and step  45 , provides structural support to receptacle  20  and also provides an area for printing or advertising. Sleeve  30  is preferably constructed of paperboard or cardboard. As shown in  FIG. 2 , sleeve  30  is defined by a curved top edge  60 , a curved bottom edge  70 , an inner side edge  80 , and an outer side edge  90 . A generally rectangular overlapped portion  130  is located lateral to inner side edge  80 . A similarly generally rectangular overlapping portion  140  is located lateral to outer side edge  90 . 
     Continuing with  FIG. 2 , two separation sections  100 ,  110  are positioned within overlapped portion  130 . Each of separation sections  100 , 110  is defined by inner side edge  80  and a scored line  120 , which is roughly in the shape of a reverse “C” in this Figure. It should be understood that the scored line might be a number of different shapes. For example, the separation section may take the shape of a triangle so that the scored line is two straight lines forming an acute angle. It also should be noted that it is not necessary for inner side edge  80  to define a portion of separation sections  100 ,  110 ; that is, the sections may be completely defined by a scored line. Using inner side edge  80  in this manner, however, decreases the length of scored line  120  necessary to fully define separation sections  100 , 110 . 
     It is known that scored line  120  may be produced by cutting or slicing through a fractional part of sleeve  30  with a sharp, thin instrument or blade. The effect of producing a scoring line is best seen in  FIG. 3 . Specifically, in  FIG. 3 , it may be discerned that scored line  120  extends only partway through portion  130 . It should be understood that the score line is not limited by depth or length except that it cannot totally penetrate portion  130 . 
       FIG. 3  shows sleeve  30  closely positioned around wall segment  50  of receptacle  20  with portion  140  overlapping and coupled to portion  130 . Importantly, portion  140  is joined or connected to portion  130  only at separation areas  100  (which is not shown in this figure) and  110 . One method of joining or connecting portion  140  to separation section  110  is to bond portion  140  to section  110 . First, a varnish is applied to the outer surface of portion  130 , i.e. the surface that faces portion  140 , except no varnish is applied to the outer surface of separation section  110 . Next, the inner surface of portion  140  is placed on top of and in contact with the outer surface of portion  130 , including the outer surface of separation section  110 , and then heat is applied. The heat causes the inner surface of portion  140  to adhere to the outer surface of separation section  110  while the varnish prevents the inner surface of portion  140  from adhering to the remaining outer surface of portion  130 . Another method for joining or connecting portion  140  to separation section  110  is to apply an adhesive to the outer surface of separation section  110 , and then place the inner surface of portion  140  on top of and in contact with the outer surface of portion  130  including separation sections  100 ,  110 . 
     Sleeve  30  is removed from receptacle  20  by pulling radially outward on outer side edge  90  of sleeve  30 .  FIG. 4  depicts lower corner  150  of sleeve  30  being pulled radially outward with top portion  160  of separation section  110  partially separated from remaining portion  170  of separation section  110 . As explained above, the inner surface of overlapping portion  140  is bonded or glued to overlapped portion  130  only at the outer surface of separation sections  100 ,  110 . The force required to break this bond is greater than the force required to separate the top portion of the sleeve from the remaining portion of the sleeve. Therefore, as outer side edge  90  is pulled away, top portion  160  of the separation section remains bonded or glued to the inner surface of portion  140  while tearing away or separating from remaining portion  170  of separation section  110 . Once the top portions of both separation sections  100 ,  110  are completely separated from the remaining portions of separation sections  100 ,  110 , sleeve  30  is no longer closely held to wall segment  50  of receptacle  20 . 
       FIG. 5  also shows outer side edge  90  being pulled radially outward as indicated by the arrow. As stated above, when outer side edge  90  is pulled radially outward, top portion  160  of separation section  110  remains bonded to the inner surface of portion  140  and separates from remaining portion  170 . It should be noted that the depth of top portion  160  is equal to the depth of scored line  120 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , sleeve  180  includes an additional feature. Specifically, sleeve  180  contains a finger notch  190 . As seen in  FIG. 2 , for sleeve  30 , inner side edge  80  extends the full length of sleeve  30  before it meets bottom edge  70 , and the intersection of inner side edge  80  and lower edge  70  forms a right angle corner. For sleeve  180 , however, inner side edge  80  does not extend the full length of sleeve  180 . Instead, inner side edge  80  ends at the bottom of separation area  110  or at a height equal to the length of first area  130 . Finger notch  190 , which begins where inner side edge  80  ends, is defined by a straight portion  200  and a curved portion  210 . Straight portion  200  extends in a generally parallel manner to top side edge  60  and bottom side edge  70  for a length equal to the length of portion  130 . Thereafter, curved portion  210  curves down to meet lower side edge  70 . The radius of curved portion  210  is at least the length of portion  130 . 
     It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather, all matter shown in the accompanying drawings or described hereinabove is to be interpreted as illustrative and not limiting. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description.