Rigid compartmented pressware plate with tall dividers

Abstract

A compartmented pressware paper plate is characterized by one or more tall dividers each having a pair of divider sidewall surfaces and adjoining the plate bottom which transitions to the divider sidewall surfaces, wherein the one or more tall dividers are characterized by a divider height, DH, greater than 9/32″, with a flange characterized by a height, H, at its apex and an outward flange downturn extending downwardly a distance, V, with respect to the apex of the flange, wherein the ratio of V:H is from about 0.1 to about 0.75, and preferably with transitions between adjoining surfaces of the bottom surface and the divider sidewall surfaces characterized by variable radii of curvature wherein the variable radii of curvature vary from a first value proximate to transitions between two surfaces to a second value higher than the first value at transitions proximate to the intersection of three surfaces.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A compartmented pressware paper plate with tall dividers formed from a paperboard blank comprising a plate bottom adjoining a plate sidewall extending around the plate bottom and projecting outwardly and upwardly therefrom to a flange flaring outwardly from the sidewall, one or more tall dividers adjoining the plate bottom characterized by a divider height, DH, from the bottom of the plate greater than 9/32″, said one or more tall dividers extending from the sidewall to a central portion of the plate bottom and being configured to segment the plate bottom into a plurality of serving compartments, the flange being characterized by a height, H, at its apex from the plate bottom and an outward flange downturn extending downwardly a distance, V, with respect to the apex of the flange, wherein the ratio of V:H is from about 0.1 to about 0.75. 
     
     
         2 . The compartmented pressware plate with tall dividers formed from a paperboard blank according to  claim 1 , wherein the tall dividers have a divider height, DH, of from about 0.3″ to 0.75″. 
     
     
         3 . The compartmented pressware plate with tall dividers formed from a paperboard blank according to  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of V:H is from 0.3 to 0.65. 
     
     
         4 . The compartmented pressware paper plate with tall dividers formed from a paperboard blank according to  claim 1 , comprising a plate bottom defining a bottom surface adjoining and transitioning to a plate sidewall extending around the plate bottom and projecting outwardly and upwardly therefrom, the plate sidewall defining a plate sidewall surface and adjoining a flange flaring outwardly from the sidewall, wherein transitions between adjoining surfaces of the bottom surface and the divider sidewall surfaces are characterized by variable radii of curvature wherein the variable radii of curvature vary from a first value proximate to transitions between two surfaces to a second value higher than the first value at transitions proximate to the intersection of three surfaces. 
     
     
         5 . The compartmented pressware plate with tall dividers formed from a paperboard blank according to  claim 4  wherein the ratio of the second value of variable radii of curvature proximate to the intersection of 3 surfaces to the first value of transitions proximate to transitions between 2 surfaces is from 1.25 to 2.5. 
     
     
         6 . The compartmented pressware plate with tall dividers formed from a paperboard blank according to  claim 4 , wherein the ratio of the second value of variable radii of curvature proximate to the intersection of 3 surfaces to the first value of transitions proximate to transitions between 2 surfaces is from 1.35 to 2.1. 
     
     
         7 . The compartmented pressware plate with tall dividers formed from a paperboard blank according to  claim 4 , wherein one or more regions of the plate proximate to the intersection of 3 surfaces are characterized by a filleted structure having a second value of radius of curvature of from 0.25″ to 0.5″ between the plate bottom and divider sidewall(s). 
     
     
         8 . The compartmented pressware paper plate with tall dividers formed from a paperboard blank according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more tall dividers have an outer terminal portion proximate the sidewall and a medial portion between the terminal portion of the one or more tall dividers and the central portion of the plate, the sidewall surfaces of the one or more tall dividers transitioning from the bottom surface of the plate at a constant medial transition radius of curvature over its medial portion, the outer terminal portion of the one or more tall dividers having a filleted structure with variable radii of curvature, including a fillet characteristic radius of curvature between the divider sidewalls and plate bottom larger than the medial radius of curvature of the medial portion of the one or more tall dividers. 
     
     
         9 . The compartmented pressware plate with tall dividers formed from a paperboard blank according to  claim 8 , wherein the medial transition radius of curvature is from 0.15″ to 0.40″. 
     
     
         10 . The compartmented pressware plate with tall dividers formed from a paperboard blank according to  claim 8 , wherein the filleted structure of the outer terminal portion of the tall divider includes a first pair of fillets aligned with the medial portion of the one or more tall dividers along the tall divider sidewall surfaces. 
     
     
         11 . The compartmented pressware plate with tall dividers formed from a paperboard blank according to  claim 10 , wherein the filleted structure of the outer terminal portion of the tall divider includes a second pair of fillets aligned with the outer terminal portion of the one or more tall dividers along the tall divider sidewall surfaces. 
     
     
         12 . The compartmented pressware paper plate with tall dividers formed from a paperboard blank according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more dividers adjoining the sidewall of the plate at a height, SDH, less than DH, wherein the flange is optionally provided with an enhanced downturn in the vicinity of a junction of the one or more dividers with the sidewall, the enhanced downturn having lobes extending downwardly more than adjacent portions of the flange. 
     
     
         13 . The compartmented pressware plate with tall dividers formed from a paperboard blank according to  claim 12 , wherein the ratio of SDH to DH is from 0.15 to 0.75. 
     
     
         14 . The compartmented pressware plate with tall dividers formed from a paperboard blank according to  claim 13 , wherein the ratio of SDH to DH is from 0.25 to 0.65. 
     
     
         15 . The compartmented pressware plate with tall dividers formed from a paperboard blank according to  claim 12 , wherein the lobes extend downwardly a distance of from 0.1″ to 0.35″ more than adjacent portions of the flange. 
     
     
         16 . The compartmented pressware paper plate with tall dividers formed from a paperboard blank according to  claim 1 , wherein transitions between adjoining surfaces of the bottom surface and the divider sidewall surfaces are characterized by variable radii of curvature wherein the variable radii of curvature vary from a first value proximate to transitions between two surfaces to a second value higher than the first value at transitions proximate to the intersection of three surfaces, said one or more dividers also adjoining the sidewall of the plate at a height, SDH, less than DH, wherein the flange is optionally provided with an enhanced downturn in the vicinity of a junction of the one or more dividers with the sidewall, the enhanced downturn having lobes extending downwardly more than adjacent portions of the flange. 
     
     
         17 . The compartmented pressware plate with tall dividers formed from a paperboard blank according to  claim 1 , wherein the plate has 3 tall dividers in a Y configuration at a central junction on the plate. 
     
     
         18 . The compartmented pressware plate with tall dividers formed from a paperboard blank according to  claim 17 , wherein the central junction transitions between dividers with a radius of curvature of from 0.75″ to 1.5″. 
     
     
         19 . The compartmented pressware plate with tall dividers formed from a paperboard blank according to  claim 17 , wherein the plate has 3 tall dividers in a Y configuration at a central junction on the plate, two of which are longer than the third and extend outwardly in an arcuate trajectory from the central junction. 
     
     
         20 . The compartmented pressware plate with tall dividers formed from a paperboard blank according to  claim 19 , wherein the dividers projecting outwardly in an arcuate trajectory define a radius of curvature as they project to sidewall of from 0.5 to 1.5 times the characteristic plate diameter. 
     
     
         21 . The compartmented pressware plate with tall dividers formed from a paperboard blank according to  claim 19 , wherein the dividers projecting outwardly in an arcuate trajectory define a radius of curvature as they project to sidewall of from 0.75 to 1.25 times the characteristic plate diameter. 
     
     
         22 . The compartmented pressware plate with tall dividers formed from a paperboard blank according to  claim 1 , formed from a polygonal paperboard blank. 
     
     
         23 . The compartmented pressware plate with tall dividers formed from a paperboard blank according to  claim 1 , formed from a polygonal paperboard blank provided with scores spaced away from the periphery in a central portion of the blank and positioned to facilitate divider formation in the plate. 
     
     
         24 . A compartmented pressware paper plate with dividers formed from a paperboard blank comprising a plate bottom defining a bottom surface adjoining and transitioning to a plate sidewall extending around the plate bottom and projecting outwardly and upwardly therefrom, the plate sidewall defining a plate sidewall surface and adjoining a flange flaring outwardly from the sidewall, the plate further comprising one or more dividers each having a pair of divider sidewall surfaces and adjoining the plate bottom which transitions to the divider sidewall surfaces, wherein the one or more dividers are characterized by a divider height, DH, from the bottom of the plate, said one or more dividers extending from the sidewall toward a central portion of the plate bottom and being configured to segment the plate bottom into a plurality of serving compartments, wherein transitions between adjoining surfaces of the bottom surface and the divider sidewall surfaces are characterized by variable radii of curvature wherein the variable radii of curvature vary from a first value proximate to transitions between two surfaces to a second value higher than the first value at transitions proximate to the intersection of three surfaces. 
     
     
         25 . A compartmented pressware paper plate with dividers formed from a paperboard blank comprising a plate bottom adjoining a plate sidewall extending around the plate bottom and projecting outwardly and upwardly therefrom to a flange flaring outwardly from the sidewall, one or more dividers adjoining the plate bottom characterized by a divider height, DH, from the bottom of the plate, said one or more dividers extending from the sidewall to a central portion of the plate bottom and being configured to segment the plate bottom into a plurality of serving compartments, said one or more dividers adjoining the sidewall of the plate at a height, SDH, less than DH, wherein the flange is optionally provided with an enhanced downturn in the vicinity of a junction of the one or more dividers with the sidewall, the enhanced downturn having lobes extending downwardly more than adjacent portions of the flange.