US 11,794,940 B2
Container having enhanced wall integrity and alignment element
Mike Liming, New Vienna, OH (US); Don Tomalia, Midland, MI (US); Joe Trombley, Auburn, MI (US); and Pete Brushaber, Beaverton, MI (US)
Assigned to HUHTAMAKI, INC., De Soto, KS (US)
Filed by Huhtamaki, Inc., De Soto, KS (US)
Filed on Oct. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/508,825.
Application 17/508,825 is a division of application No. 15/090,280, filed on Apr. 4, 2016, granted, now 11,167,874.
Application 15/090,280 is a continuation of application No. 13/162,307, filed on Jun. 16, 2011, granted, now 9,314,089, issued on Apr. 19, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2022/0041318 A1, Feb. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. B65D 21/02 (2006.01); A47G 19/23 (2006.01); B65D 1/44 (2006.01); A47G 19/03 (2006.01); A45F 3/20 (2006.01); B65D 1/00 (2006.01); B65D 1/42 (2006.01); B65D 1/26 (2006.01)
CPC B65D 1/44 (2013.01) [A45F 3/20 (2013.01); A47G 19/03 (2013.01); A47G 19/23 (2013.01); B65D 1/00 (2013.01); B65D 1/26 (2013.01); B65D 1/265 (2013.01); B65D 1/42 (2013.01); B65D 21/02 (2013.01); B65D 21/0233 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A container comprising:
a bottom wall;
an upwardly-extending frustoconical sidewall, said sidewall including a plurality of axially-extending alignment structures circumferentially spaced around said sidewall and extending at least a portion of a height of said sidewall, wherein each of said plurality of axially-extending alignment structures includes a lower edge spaced upwardly from said bottom wall;
an exterior surface of said sidewall; and
an interior surface of said sidewall, said interior surface radially and axially conforming to said exterior surface of said sidewall;
wherein each of said axially-extending alignment structures comprises first and second oppositely-sloping faces, said faces intersecting along a longitudinally-extending apex;
wherein said container is capable of being fully nested within a second identical container;
wherein said plurality of axially-extending alignment structures form a plurality of intermittent valleys in said exterior surface of said sidewall corresponding to a plurality of intermittent peaks on said interior surface of said sidewall;
wherein said sidewall comprises a plurality of sidewall panel sections, wherein each of said sidewall panel section at least partially includes one of said plurality of axially-extending alignment structures;
wherein said sidewall panel sections are oriented relative to one another so that said sidewall has a polygonal cross-sectional shape;
wherein said plurality of axially-extending alignment structures are configured to cause alignment of said container relative to said second container during nesting.