Self-forming container

Abstract

A self-forming container having a continuous side wall with opposing top and bottom edges connected by an interior side wall surface, said side wall preferably having less than 10% shrink at 90° C., and more preferably being nonshrinkable; and a heat shrinkable connecting wall connected to at least first and second opposing portions of the sidewall and forming therewith a adapted for heat activated self-forming into a stand up con figuration having a stable base connected to and supporting said side wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A self-forming container comprising:
 a side wall having an interior side wall surface; and   a connecting base wall comprising a heat shrinkable film; said connecting base wall connected to first and second opposing portions of said interior side wall surface thereby closing said side wall; whereby said container is adapted for heat activated self-forming into a stand up configuration having a stable base connected to and supporting said first and second opposing portions of said interior side wall surface.   
     
     
         2 . A self-forming container, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said heat shrinkable film has a machine direction shrink of at least 10% at 90° C. 
     
     
         3 . A self-forming container, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said heat shrinkable film has a machine direction shrink force of at least 50 g/mil at 90° C. 
     
     
         4 . A self-forming container, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of said side walls has a machine direction modulus of elasticity of at least 1000 MPa at 23° C. and 50% relative humidity. 
     
     
         5 . A self-forming container, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said heat shrinkable film has at least 40% shrink and less than 10% shrink at 90° C. in at least one direction. 
     
     
         6 . A self-forming container, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said side wall has top and bottom edge portions; and   
       said connecting base wall is connected to said side wall proximate said side wall bottom edge portion. 
     
     
         7 . A self-forming container, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said connecting base wall is attached to said side wall with a single gusset. 
     
     
         8 . A self-forming container, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said connecting base wall is attached to said side wall with a plurality of gussets. 
     
     
         9 . A self-forming container, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said connecting base wall has at least 10% greater shrink at 90° C. than said side wall in the same direction. 
     
     
         10 . A self-forming container, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said heat shrinkable film has a machine direction shrink value of at least 30% at 90° C. 
     
     
         11 . A self-forming container, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said side wall is semi-rigid, rigid, or tensiff. 
     
     
         12 . A self-forming container, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said side wall has less than 10% shrink at 90° C.; and   said connecting base wall has at least 10% greater shrink at 90° C. in at least one direction than the side wall in that same direction.   
     
     
         13 . A self-forming container, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said side wall is continuous having opposing top and bottom edges connected by said interior side wall surface, said side wall having less than 10% shrink at 90° C.; and   said connecting base wall having at least 10% shrink at 90° C. in at least one direction.   
     
     
         14 . A self-forming container, as defined in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said side wall has a percentage shrink, at temperature T° C., of from 0 to “A” in at least one axial direction; and   said connecting base wall has a percentage shrink, at said temperature T° C., of 10+“B” in at least one direction;   where “T” is from 80 to 150° C., “A” is from 0 to 30, and “B”≧“A”.   
     
     
         15 . A self-forming container, as defined in  claim 14 , wherein:
 “T” is 90° C.   
     
     
         16 . A self-forming container, as defined in  claim 14 , wherein:
 “T” is 120° C.   
     
     
         17 . A self-forming container comprising:
 a first side wall having a perimeter with opposing top and bottom edges connected by opposing first and second side edges;   a second side wall opposite said first side wall, said second side-wall having a perimeter with opposing top and bottom edges connected by opposing first and second side edges; and   a bottom wall comprising a heat shrinkable film;   
       wherein said first side edges of said first and second sidewalls are connected and said second side edges of said first and second sidewalls are connected to form a continuous inner side wall surface of said container and said bottom wall is connected to said first and second walls proximate their respective side wall bottom edges; and whereby said container is adapted for heat activated self-forming into a stand up configuration having a stable base connected to and supporting said first and second side walls. 
     
     
         18 . A self-forming container, as defined in  claim 17 , wherein said first and second side walls have less than 5% shrink at 90° C. in both machine and transverse directions. 
     
     
         19 . A self-forming container, as defined in  claim 17 , wherein said first and second side walls are semi-rigid, rigid, or tensiff. 
     
     
         20 . A container forming band comprising:
 a shrink force strip disposed between a first nonshrink strip and a second nonshrink strip said first and second nonshrink strips and said shrink force strip sealed together at first and second opposing ends.