Lenticular container and method of making

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a lenticular display article, such as a container, and a method of making the article. The article includes a lenticular sidewall, which defines a cavity having a top end, and a bottom end, the sidewall having a seam; and an optional base attached to the bottom end of the sidewall. The method of making the article can includes forming a frustoconical sidewall having a seam joining the opposite ends and optionally affixing a base to the bottom end of a lenticular sidewall. Alternatively, the bottom end of the sidewall may be sealed to itself to form a baseless tube.

1 . A container comprising:
 a unitary sidewall consisting essentially of a sidewall sheet including a plurality of lenses defined on at least a portion thereof, the sidewall sheet being joined to itself to form a seam and thereby defining a cavity having a top end and a bottom end, the sidewall sheet including—
 a lens sheet presenting a first surface including the plurality of lenses defined on at least a portion thereof, and a second surface opposite the first surface, 
 an image layer positioned proximate the second surface and viewable through the lens sheet; and 
   a base attached at or near the bottom end of the cavity,   wherein a portion of the sidewall at the bottom end of the cavity is folded within the cavity, thereby defining a folded seam region.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the base is positioned within the cavity proximate the folded seam region, the base sealing the bottom end of the cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall sheet further includes a backing layer positioned over the image layer. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the image layer comprises an interlaced image printed on the second surface of the lenticular lens sheet, printed on the backing layer, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the sidewall at the top end of the cavity is rolled outwardly and at least partly back towards the sidewall, thereby defining a rolled lip. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lenses comprises a plurality of lenticular lenses. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a shape of the container comprises a cylinder, a tapered cylinder, a non-round tapered cylinder, or a non-round straight wall. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the seam comprises opposite ends of the sidewall sheet heat-sealed to one another. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the seam comprises an overlap of opposite ends of the sidewall sheet to one another. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the lens sheet comprises polyethylene or polypropylene. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the backing layer comprises a polymeric material. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the lens sheet and the backing layer comprise the same material. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the sidewall further includes an adhesive layer positioned between the image layer and the backing layer. 
     
     
         14 . A method of making a container, the method comprising:
 providing a sidewall sheet, the sidewall sheet including—
 a lens sheet having a first surface including a plurality of optical lenses defined on at least a portion thereof, and a second surface opposite the first surface, and 
 an image layer proximate the second surface of the lens sheet and viewable through the lens sheet; 
   forming a free-standing sidewall from the sidewall sheet by affixing opposite ends of the sidewall sheet to one another to form a seam, thereby defining a cavity having a top end and a bottom end;   folding a bottom end of the sidewall inwardly to form a folded seam region; and   affixing a base to the bottom end of the sidewall above the folded seam region.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 rolling a top end of the sidewall to form a rolled lip integral with the sidewall, wherein the rolled lip extends outwardly from the cavity and at least partly back towards the sidewall.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the image layer is free from distortion after the seam has been formed. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein forming the seam comprises joining overlapping opposite ends of the sidewall sheet with a heat seal to form the seam. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the method is accomplished on a high-speed cup making machine. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the sidewall sheet further includes a backing layer covering the image layer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the lens sheet and the backing layer comprise the same material. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the lens sheet and the backing layer comprise polypropylene or polyethylene. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the sidewall sheet further includes an adhesive between the image layer and the backing layer.