Container
By designing recycled polypropylene thermoformed medical containers, the stepped layers and adjacent surfaces are used to solve the environmental impact and convenience of disposable plastic containers in the medical environment, achieving environmental protection and easy-to-use effects.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202290000662.7
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2021-07-15
- Filing Date
- 2022-07-14
- Publication Date
- 2025-06-24
- Estimated Expiration
- 2032-07-14
AI Technical Summary
In medical environments, existing disposable plastic containers have a great impact on the environment during manufacturing and use, and are easily wedged when stacked and stored, affecting convenience.
A container made of thermoforming of recycled polypropylene is designed, with the bottom and side walls forming a stepped layer that provides strength and stiffness and extends below the upper edge out of the adjoining surfaces to avoid wedges when stacking.
The environmental impact and convenience issues are solved by using recycled polypropylene materials, and the strength of the container and the ease of stacking are improved by the designed step-like layers and adjacent surfaces.
Smart Images
Figure CN223015199U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a container suitable for a medical environment. Background Art
[0002] The following references and descriptions of existing solutions or products are not intended and should not be construed as statements or acknowledgments of common general knowledge in the art. Specifically, the following discussion of the prior art is not related to what is known or well - known to those skilled in the art, but helps to understand the inventive step of the present invention, and the confirmation of relevant prior art solutions is only a part of it.
[0003] In a medical environment, containers such as dishes, trays, and bowls are widely used. Although the containers need to be sterile and suitable for use, due to cost requirements, mass - produced disposable plastic materials often become a popular choice. However, due to environmental considerations, consumers need a container that can reduce the environmental impact of the use of disposable plastics. Summary of the Invention
[0004] The present invention aims to provide a container suitable for a medical environment. Compared with disposable plastic materials, the present invention allows for a reduction in environmental impact during the manufacturing process and can improve the above - mentioned drawbacks and deficiencies, or at least provide a useful alternative.
[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container 10 having a bottom 12 and at least one wall 16 extending from and surrounding the bottom 12, the at least one wall 16 terminating at an upper edge 14, wherein the at least one wall 16 forms a stepped hierarchy 18 between the bottom 12 and the upper edge 14.
[0006] Preferably, an abutment surface 20 extends from the surface of the at least one wall 16 below the upper edge 14. When the container 10 is stacked with another container 10, the upper edge 14 of one container 10 abuts the abutment surface 20, thereby providing a gap between the walls 16 of the stacked containers 10 and preventing the stacked containers 10 from wedging together.
[0007] In an exemplary embodiment, the container 10 is thermoformed from recycled polypropylene. Brief Description of the Drawings
[0008] The present invention can be better understood from the following non - restrictive description of the preferred embodiments, wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a series of containers 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0010] Figure 2A and Figure 2B are diagrams of a pair of containers 10 before and after stacking according to an embodiment;
[0011] Figure 3 shows Figure 2B a cross-section of the stacked container 10, in which the adjacent device 20 is clearly shown; and
[0012] Figure 4 shows Figure 2B another cross-section of the stacked container 10. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] As Figures 1A - 1C shown, containers 10 of different shapes and sizes can be provided for embodiments of the present invention. The different shapes and sizes are suitable for different medical uses.
[0014] The common feature of each embodiment is the bottom, and the side wall 16 extends from the bottom 12 and surrounds the bottom 12, and terminates at the upper edge 14. Preferably, the upper edge 14 is formed as an arcuate lip to facilitate grasping and carrying the container 10. A container having, for example, a straight shape, such as Figure 1A the container shown, can form a wider lip on the short side to facilitate grasping at the wider lip portion.
[0015] As shown, the wall 16 of the container is formed with a stepped hierarchy 18. This overall configuration allows the use of a thermoforming process in manufacturing the container 10. The stepped hierarchy 18 provides strength and stiffness to the thermoformed structure. The container 10 can be made of recycled plastic material (e.g., polypropylene), thereby reducing the environmental impact of mass production. However, it should be understood that other suitable materials and manufacturing processes can also be employed.
[0016] The position of the stepped hierarchy 18 can be selected to serve as a visual measurement indication that coincides with a specific liquid volume of the container contents. For example, Figure 1A the 1-liter container of
[0017] As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the containers 10 can be stacked for convenient storage. However, in a medical environment, for example, it is important that the containers 10 can be easily removed from the stack. Therefore, preferably, the stacked containers do not wedge into each other. With this in mind, an abutment surface 20 extends from the surface of the wall 16 below the upper edge 14. When the containers 10 are stacked, the upper edge 14 of one container 10 abuts the abutment surface 20 of another container. As shown, this arrangement provides a gap between the walls 16 of the stacked containers 10, preventing the containers 10 from wedging together. The abutment surface 20 can conveniently be formed as part of a stepped level above. As further shown, the arrangement of the abutment surface 20 also provides a notch 22 within the arcuate lip of the upper edge 14 and above the abutment surface 20. This notch 22 also facilitates gripping by a person carrying the container. As shown, preferably, each container 10 is provided with a plurality of abutment surfaces 20. In the case of Figure 1A a straight-sided container, an abutment surface 20 is provided at each corner of the container 10.
[0018] As used herein, the term "comprising" and variations thereof, such as "including" or "containing", mean encompassing the one or more integers recited, but not excluding any other one or more integers, unless the term is given an exclusive interpretation in the context or usage.
[0019] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, apart from what is specifically described herein, the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications. All such variations and modifications are to be considered within the scope and spirit of the invention, the essence of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.
Claims
1. A container having a bottom and at least one wall extending from and surrounding the bottom, the at least one wall terminating at an upper edge, wherein, The at least one wall has a stepped level formed between the bottom and the upper edge; an abutment surface extends from the surface of the at least one wall below the upper edge, wherein when the container is stacked with another container, the upper edge of one container abuts the abutment surface, thereby providing a gap between the walls of the stacked containers and preventing the stacked containers from wedging together.
2. The container according to claim 1, wherein, The arrangement of the abutment surface also provides a notch within the arcuate lip of the upper edge and above the abutment surface.
3. The container according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein, The stepped level is selectively positioned to provide a liquid volume indication for the contents of the container.
4. The container according to claim 1, wherein, The abutment surface is formed as part of an upper one of the stepped levels.
5. The container according to claim 1 or 4, wherein The container is provided with a plurality of abutment surfaces.
6. The container according to claim 5, wherein, Each of the plurality of abutment surfaces is provided at a respective corner portion of the container.
7. The container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The container is made of recycled plastic material.
8. The container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The container is made of polypropylene material.
9. The container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The container is manufactured by thermoforming.