US2008099476A1PendingUtilityA1

Foldable ovenware container and method of production

52
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Oct 31, 2006Filed: Oct 31, 2006Published: May 1, 2008
Est. expiryOct 31, 2026(~0.2 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Duncan C. Fung
A47J 36/04B65D 21/08B65D 15/16B65D 15/18A47J 36/02
52
PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

A foldable or collapsible ovenware container that maintains a rigid shape while in use and can be folded into a smaller size for storage. The ovenware container includes rigid top and bottom portions separated by a flexible middle portion. The flexible middle portion includes thick and thin wall sections. Pressure applied to the top portion causes the flexible middle portion to collapse in an orderly manner toward the bottom portion, with the middle portion folding at each of the thin wall sections to create a plurality of folds or pleats in the middle portion in the collapsed configuration.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A container comprising:
 a bottom portion;   a middle portion extending from said bottom portion;   a top portion extending from said middle portion;   said bottom portion and said top portions having a first hardness;   said middle portion having a hardness lower than said first hardness of said bottom portion and said top portion; and   thin wall sections in said middle portion.   
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein
 said first hardness of said bottom portion and said top portion is greater than 85 Shore A hardness; and   said hardness of said middle portion is between 70 and 85 Shore A hardness.   
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said middle portion is constructed of an elastomeric polymer. 
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 3  wherein said elastomeric polymer is silicone rubber. 
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said top portion and said bottom portion are constructed of an elastomeric polymer. 
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 5  wherein said elastomeric polymer is silicone rubber. 
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said top portion and said bottom portion are constructed of metal. 
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 7  wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of copper, aluminum, and steel. 
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said top portion and said bottom portion are constructed of ceramic. 
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said top portion and said bottom portion are constructed of glass. 
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 10  wherein said glass is selected from the group consisting of tempered glass and borosilicate glass. 
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said top portion and said bottom portion are constructed of a mixture of silicone rubber and ceramic powder. 
   
   
       13 . A method of forming a container including the steps of:
 providing a bottom container portion constructed of cured silicone rubber, metal, ceramic, or borosilicate glass;   providing a top container portion constructed of cured silicone rubber, metal, ceramic, or borosilicate glass;   providing an uncured silicone rubber composition;   providing a mold having a cavity for accepting said bottom container portion, said uncured silicone rubber composition, and said top container portion;   placing in order in said mold said bottom container portion, said uncured silicone rubber composition, and said top container portion, said uncured rubber composition being in contact with said bottom container portion and with said top container portion;   curing said uncured silicone rubber in said mold in a curing cycle having a curing temperature, a curing pressure, and a curing cycle time to cure said uncured silicone rubber composition and form said container including a cured middle container portion bonded to said top and bottom container portions; and   removing said container from said mold, said container including said top and bottom container portions integrally bonded to said middle container portion.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said cured silicone rubber of said top container portion and said bottom container portion includes a Shore A hardness of greater than 85. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said curing cycle includes
 a curing temperature of between 140 and 200 degrees Celsius;   a curing pressure of between 120 and 180 kg force per cm 2 ; and   and a curing cycle time of between 5 and 13 minutes.

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