Container apparatus and related methods

Abstract

A container includes: a base; one or more sidewalls integrally formed with and extending upwardly from the base, wherein the sidewalls surround an internal cavity and wherein one or more of the sidewalls include a reinforcing web of increased wall thickness; and an upper edge on the sidewalls defining a top opening.

1 . A container, comprising:
 a substantially solid base and at least three sidewalls integrally formed with and extending upwardly from the base and having corners portions therebetween,   an internal cavity formed by the sidewalls and the corner portions, the internal cavity having with an opening opposite the base;   wherein the sidewalls and corner portions include a continuous integral reinforcing web extending from the sidewalls and corner portions into the internal cavity;   wherein the corner portions have a curved cross-section of predetermined radius of curvature wherein the predetermined radius of curvature is substantially constant through the height of the corner portions; and   wherein the integral reinforcing web has a repeating geometric pattern having a pattern frequency, wherein the pattern frequency is the substantially the same in the corner portions and the sidewalls.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewalls taper outward from the base to the opening. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising flow leaders in the base extending from a gate site in the base to the reinforcing web. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , the sidewall having a predetermined thickness and the reinforcing web having a thickness greater than the sidewall. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the reinforcing web has a plurality of channels, the channels having a cross section in which a mid-point has a greater thickness than an edge point of the channel. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the repeating geometric pattern is a diamond pattern formed of a plurality of crossing channels, the channels extending from the sidewall a predetermined depth into the internal cavity. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the channels have curved surfaces from a cross-sectional perspective. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the channels have a substantially constant width. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the channels have a depth as measured from the sidewall that is thicker at a mid-point of the width of the channels than at an edge portion of the channel. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing web extends along substantially full height of the sidewalls. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing web in the corner portion is substantially balanced along a vertical centerline of each corner. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the wall thickness of the corner portions is greater than the wall thickness of the sidewalls. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the corner portions have a single concave corner shape, a double concave corner shape or an angled corner shape. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more integral vertical separating ribs. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one external horizontal reinforcing rib extending from the sidewall. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is made of injection-molded plastic. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 1  in combination with a lid. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 18 , wherein the container is made of injection-molded plastic.