US2125793A - Paper utensil - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 2, 1938. G. B. LINDERMAN. JR y 2,125,793

PAPER UTENSIL Filed June 26, 1937 Gum/maf Patented Aug. 2, 1938 UNITED STATES PAPER UTENSIL Garrett B. Linderman, Jr., Hagerstown, Md., as-

signor to Kimberly Stuart, Neenah. Wis.

Application June 26, 1937, Serial No. 150,447

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to paper reeeptacles or utensils and is particularly concerned with the production of inexpensive light weight but yet durable receptacles that will compare satisfactorily with metallic receptacles of similar size.

` Paper pie plates have been heretofore proposed wherein the plate is made of molded paper pulp.

These plates have not been satisfactory because in the first place they will not withstand baking temperatures unless they are specially chemically treated, and it is accordingly necessary to bake the pie in a metal pan and transfer it to the paper plate. Also, those paper plates have not possessed sufficient rigidity to be handled in the automatic pie plate handling machinery used in the modern bakeries. Moreover, the edges of the plates have been subject to considerable wear and tear and on the whole the paper plate has not presented a very attractive appearance from the so-called sales appeal standpoint.

It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide paper i utensils which are light in weight and of low cost and yet which are rigid and are durable in use.

It is a further object of my invention to provide paper baking utensils which willstand up under baking temperatures and which are durable and possess sufiicient rigidity to be handled in the automatic pie plate handling machines now in use in modern bakeries. I

It is a further object of the invention to apply to a pieplate or similar receptacle embodying pleated sides, a stifiening member which rein- 35 forces the article and also securely holds the pleats in closed condition.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds in connection with the annexed drawing and from the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pie plate embodying the present invention.

45 Figure 1a is a fragmental view of the edgeof the plate shown in Figure 1 before the metal rim is applied.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but shows a modified form of pie plate embodying the in- 50 vention. 4

Figure 2a is an edge view of Figure 2 showing the way the pleats appear before the metal rim is applied.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the plate shown 55 in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figures 3 and 4 .but shows a further modified form of rim.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 5 6--6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the plate shown in Figures 5 and 6.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the plate shown in Figure 2 and illustrates one method of joining l0 the free ends of the metal rim.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8, but shows a modified method of securing the free ends of the metal rim.

Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional view of the 15 laminated material preferably used in making the pie plates of the invention. i

With continued reference to the drawing wherein similar references are employed to designate like parts throughout the several view there- 20 of, I have illustrated a plate A, which may be made of paper or foil and paper laminated material or any other suitable flexible material and it has been illustrated as assuming the form of a pie plate having a bottom IIJ, a sloping side wall 25 II and a flange I2.

The plate is formed in a pair of dies and during this operation the excess material forms what is known as random pleats I3 in side wall II and when the dies assume the final position these pleats are crimped at so that the plate has a substantially smooth side wall and flange. The pleats are so termed because no provision is made to cause the material to fall about definite lines.

In other words the paper is placed flat in the dies and when pressure is applied the pleats form at random in the material. After the plate has been taken from the die, a metal rim I4, preferablyof light gauge metal is crimped about the flange and it performs three important functions.

First, it engages substantially `the full area of the flange and stiffens the entire plate, so that it may be handled as ordinary tin pie plates in shipment and also in the automatic pie plate handling machinery in bakeries. 4=

Secondly, it positively holds the pleatsformed in the flange inclosed position, and therefore maintains theplate in operative assembled condition at all times.

The metal rim also performs the function of preventing the edgesof the flange from being frayed, and itis particularly advantageous when a laminated material embodying metal foil is employed as it prevents the foil from aking off.

Rim I4 may be made of any suitable material 55 ,having runden: nnmtyte. perform un tunetions desired such as vmolded papier-mache. a synthetic resin, thenj aluminum or steel, but I preferably employ a metallic rim aait `is-eally to apply. is inexpensive and gives the Plate an atc ve a nce. tx.Inull'igureppeI have illustrated an edge view of -the nangeof the plate of Figure 1 as it appears before `the metal rim is applied, showing how random pleats I3 occur in the side wall and also the flange ofthe plate. When the metal rim is clamped in place, it is apparent that it prevents pleats I l from opening up, and thereby maintains the plate in rigid unitary condition. Metal rim or band I4 has been illustrated as having a plurality of corrugations therein for enhancing .the grip upon the flange and it will be more fully discussed hereinafter.

In Figures 2 and 2a I have shown a plate B whichisjsimilar to the plate of Figure l with the exception that it is provided with a definite number of pre-formed pleats Il'. The blank for which this plate is made has a definite number of folds provided therein preliminary to operating upon it in the dies. Pleats I5 are illustrated as eight in number and they are accordingly deeper or overlap further than the pleats of the plate of Figure l, and this fact is illustrated in Figure 2a which shows one of the pleats in the flange before the metal rim is applied. Metal rim I I with the exception of having a smooth surface is of a form similar to that of Figure l and performs .the same functions. However, it is more important in this form of the invention than in Figure 1 because pleats i5, being comparatively large, they exhibit more tendency to 'open up than the smaller pleats.

In Figure 3 I have illustrated a sectional view of the plate of Figure 2 and which illustrates how 4the metal rim Il cooperates with the ilange Il of plate B.

Referring to Figure 4, plate B is provided with a modified flange Ila which is turned under at the edge for the purpose of affording it greater rigidity. Meta-1 rim Ia is accordingly of slightly modified form to allow for the increased thickness of material at the edge of the plate.

In Figures 5, 6 and 7, I have illustrated a further modification of the invention wherein metal rim itb is embossed to more tightly grip the -fiang'es of the plate and to also more smoothly assume a circular form. In this form of the invention plate B is provided with a single out- -wardly extending flange I 'I and rim IIb is put in place around the plate and preferablysimultaneously operated on to provide embossed depressions I9 which, as seen inv Figure '1, assume the form of depressions in the rim which terminate short of the periphery thereof. As seen in Figure 6 the effect of the embossed depressions il, which are staggered with respect to each other, is to give the inner part of -the metalvrim a corrugated appearance. 'I'his form of the in'- vention provides an exceptionally rugged and durable plate as the embossed rim firmly grip the flange I1' of there is no possibility ofthe two detached.

the plate and parts becoming 111e free ends of the metal rim may be joined in any suitable manner as for instance by suit'- able cementing, welding, soldering,riveting or crimping operations. 'y In Figure 8 I have shown the simple step of overlapping the free ends 2| and 2.2 of rim Il.

By clamping the parts under sufficient pressure portions ofthe I' animos manner. For instance, the parts may be put in a press and embossed as at 21 under heavy pressure to `provide interlocking d^pressions in the parts.

The metal rims of the various forms of the invention may be applied to the ange of the receptacles in any suitable manner by any desired machine or mechanism. For instance, the plates may be placed between dies and the rims clamped upon the flange, or, if desired, rollers may be used to achieve this result. Also, the rollers or dies may be corrugated to produce the article shown in Figures 6 and 7, and also in this connection it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to a metal rim having flat upper and lower surfaces as it may be of rounded conilguration both above and below the ang'e so as to constitute a rounded bead.

'I'he invention is applicable to the formation of plates from flat paper stock and also laminated paper. As an example lof' laminated paper. I have illustrated in Figure 10 a sheet of cellulose paper 38 interposed between two sheets 39 and 40 of foil, for instance thin aluminum foil from 2 to 5 thousandths of an inch in thickness. The parts are intimately united in full surface engagement, preferably by a latex or casein-latex adhesive, and when the stock is worked up into the plates of the invention it closely resembles metal and the metal rims of the invention enables them to perform in all respects as metal plates and yet possess the extreme lightness of paper. When pie plates are the subject of the invention the adhesive used is preferably a latex or casein-adhesive which will withstand baking temperatures without breaking down and allowing the parts to separate. It has also been found that with a layer of foil 39 and 40 on either side of the paper layer 3l, it is unnecessary to fireproof the paper layer 3B.

Although by reason of their low cost the paper plates of the present invention are primarily designed for use but once, they nevertheless are durable and vmay be washed in the same way as metal plates. Also, in the form ofthe invention shown in Figure 2, pleats Il! are arranged in thirds,'quarters, sixths or eighths so v,as to form a cutting guide for the pie. l

Although I have chosen a pie plate as a speciic example for illustrating the invention, it is to be understood that other receptacles of many different forms and sizes may be produced in accordance therewith and are intended to be embraced by the appended claims.

The invention may be embodied in other speciflc forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope 1. A generally cup-shaped receptacle formed from flat sheet material and having a bottom, a side wall, and a flange extending outwardly from the periphery of said side wall, said side wall and flange having pleats therein resulting from drawing said flat sheet material into cupped form, the pleats of said side wall merging with the pleats of said flange, and a rigid, peripherally extending member encircling said receptacle and having rtions frictionally engaging all around the upper surface of the flange and the lower surface of the flange for positively maintaining the pleats of both said flange and said side wall in tightly closed condition, said member also being operable to stillen said receptacle and protect the edge of said flange.

2. A generally cup-shaped receptacle formed from flat sheet material and having a bottom, a side wall, and a flange extending outwardly from the periphery of said side wall, said side wall andv said flange having pleats therein resulting from drawing said sheet material into cupped form, the pleats of said side Wall merging with the pleats of said flange, and a rigid member encircling said receptacle and cooperating with said flange to stiften said receptacle, said member being generally U-shaped in cross-section and engaging both the upper and lower surfaces of said flange throughout the entire periphery thereof in tightly clamping relationship, for positively maintaining both the pleats of said flange and said side wall in tightly closed condition, to thereby provide a rigid unitary receptacle.

3. A generally cup-shaped receptacle formed from flat sheet material and having a bottom, a side wall, and a flange extending outwardly from the periphery of said side wall, said side wall and said flange having pleats therein resulting from drawing said sheet material into cupped form,

the pleats of said side wall merging with the pleats of said flange, and a rigid member encircling said receptacle and cooperating with said flange for protecting the edge of said flange and stiiening said receptacle, said member being U-shaped in cross-section and being corrugated around its inner periphery to make it conform to the shape of the flange and more rmly frictionally grip the latter, and said member firmly clamping said flange within it and being operable to maintain the pleats of both said side wall and flange in tightly closed condition.

4. A generally cup-shaped receptacle formed from flat sheet material and having a bottom, a side wall, and a flange extending outwardly from the periphery of the side wall, said side wall and flange having a plurality of substantially radially extending reversely bent gathering formations resulting from drawing said material into cup form, the gathering formations of said side wall merging with the gathering formations of said flange, said gathering formations continuously increasing in width from the bottom of said side wall to the periphery of said flange, said gathering formations assuming a predetermined relationship to each other and to the surfaces out of which they are formed when said receptacle assumes a cup-shaped configuration, and a rigid peripherally extending member encircling said receptacle and having portions frictionally engagirig all around the upper surface of said flange and the lower surface of said flange for positively maintaining the gathering formations of both said side wall and said flange in said predetermined relationship, -so as to rigidly maintain said receptacle in cup-shaped configuration, said member also being operable to stillen said receptacle and protect the edge of said flange.

GARRETI B. LINDERMAN, Jn.

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