Ribbed polymeric container

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to an insulative container. The insulative container may include a base and at least one sidewall which extends upwardly from the base and terminates in a rim. The at least one sidewall may include an interior surface and an exterior surface and a plurality of protrusions integrally formed within the interior surface and the exterior surface of the at least one sidewall and extend along the axial length of the at least one sidewall. The plurality of protrusions define a series of thermally insulative gaps formed between each of the plurality of protrusions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An insulative container, the insulative container comprising:
 a base; and   at least one sidewall which extends upwardly from the base and terminates in a rim, the at least one sidewall having an interior surface and an exterior surface and a plurality of protrusions integrally formed within the interior surface and the exterior surface of the at least one sidewall and extending along the axial length of the at least one sidewall,   wherein the plurality of protrusions define a series of thermally insulative gaps formed between each of the plurality of protrusions.   
     
     
         2 . The insulative container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is configured to retain food therein. 
     
     
         3 . The insulative container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of protrusions include a face. 
     
     
         4 . The insulative container of  claim 3 , wherein the face of each of the plurality of protrusions is square, rectangular, circular, ovular, triangular, or elliptical. 
     
     
         5 . The insulative container of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of protrusions are convex on the exterior surface of the at least one sidewall. 
     
     
         6 . The insulative container of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of protrusions protrude outwardly from the exterior surface of the at least one sidewall. 
     
     
         7 . The insulative container of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of protrusions are concave on the interior surface of the at least one sidewall. 
     
     
         8 . The insulative container of  claim 1 , wherein the interior surface of the at least one sidewall is not smooth. 
     
     
         9 . The insulative container of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of protrusions form a plurality of recesses on the interior surface of the at least one sidewall. 
     
     
         10 . The insulative container of  claim 7 , wherein the concave plurality of protrusions on the interior surface of the at least one sidewall allow heat radiating from food inside the container to remain within the container. 
     
     
         11 . The insulative container of  claim 5 , wherein the convex plurality of protrusions on the exterior surface of the at least one sidewall, along with the series of insulative gaps, allow a user to hold the insulative container without feeling a high heat sensation from inside of the container. 
     
     
         12 . The insulative container of  claim 1 , wherein the insulative container is disposable. 
     
     
         13 . The insulative container of  claim 1 , wherein the insulative container is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, high density polyethylene, high impact polystyrene and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The insulative container of  claim 1 , wherein the insulative container is arranged to be stackable with other at least one or more similar insulative containers. 
     
     
         15 . The insulative container of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of protrusions include a tapered distal end. 
     
     
         16 . The insulative container of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the at least one sidewall includes no protrusions. 
     
     
         17 . The insulative container of  claim 1 , wherein the insulative container further includes a foamed sleeve disposed around the at least one sidewall. 
     
     
         18 . The insulative container of  claim 1 , wherein the insulative container is made via a thermoforming process. 
     
     
         19 . The insulative container of  claim 1 , wherein the series of thermally insulative gaps are uniformly spaced along the at least one sidewall. 
     
     
         20 . An insulative container, the insulative container comprising:
 a base; and   at least one sidewall which extends upwardly from the base and terminates in a rim, the at least one sidewall having an interior surface and an exterior surface and a plurality of ribs integrally formed within the interior surface and the exterior surface of the at least one sidewall and extending along the axial length of the at least one sidewall,   wherein the plurality of ribs define a series of thermally insulative gaps formed between each of the plurality of ribs.   
     
     
         21 . The insulative container of  claim 20 , wherein the container is configured to retain food therein. 
     
     
         22 . The insulative container of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of ribs are convex on the exterior surface of the at least one sidewall. 
     
     
         23 . The insulative container of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of ribs protrude outwardly from the exterior surface of the at least one sidewall. 
     
     
         24 . The insulative container of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of ribs are concave on the interior surface of the at least one sidewall. 
     
     
         25 . The insulative container of  claim 20 , wherein the interior surface of the at least one sidewall is not smooth. 
     
     
         26 . The insulative container of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of ribs form a plurality of channels on the interior surface of the at least one sidewall. 
     
     
         27 . The insulative container of  claim 24 , wherein the concave plurality of ribs on the interior surface of the at least one sidewall allow heat radiating from food inside the container to remain within the container. 
     
     
         28 . The insulative container of  claim 22 , wherein the convex plurality of ribs on the exterior surface of the at least one sidewall, along with the series of insulative gaps, allow a user to hold the insulative container without feeling a high heat sensation from inside of the container. 
     
     
         29 . The insulative container of  claim 20 , wherein the insulative container is disposable. 
     
     
         30 . The insulative container of  claim 20 , wherein the insulative container is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, high density polyethylene, high impact polystyrene and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         31 . The insulative container of  claim 20 , wherein the insulative container is arranged to be stackable with other at least one or more similar insulative containers. 
     
     
         32 . The insulative container of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of ribs include a face, and wherein the face of the plurality of ribs is curved. 
     
     
         33 . The insulative container of  claim 32 , wherein the plurality of ribs include a tapered distal end. 
     
     
         34 . The insulative container of  claim 20 , wherein a portion of the at least one sidewall includes no ribs. 
     
     
         35 . The insulative container of  claim 20 , wherein the insulative container further includes a foamed sleeve disposed around the at least one sidewall. 
     
     
         36 . The insulative container of  claim 20 , wherein the insulative container is made via a thermoforming process. 
     
     
         37 . The insulative container of  claim 20 , wherein the series of thermally insulative gaps are uniformly spaced along the at least one sidewall. 
     
     
         38 . An insulative container, the insulative container comprising:
 a base;   at least one sidewall which extends upwardly from the base and terminates in a rim, the at least one sidewall having an interior surface and an exterior surface;   a plurality of channels integrally formed in the interior surface of the at least one sidewall, and extending at least partially along the axial length of the at least one sidewall; and   a plurality of ribs integrally formed in the exterior surface of the at least one sidewall, and extending at least partially along the axial length of the at least one sidewall,   wherein the plurality of channels and ribs define a series of thermally insulative gaps formed therebetween.   
     
     
         39 . The insulative container of  claim 38 , wherein the plurality of channels are aligned with the plurality of ribs. 
     
     
         40 . The insulative container of  claim 38 , wherein the interior surface of the at least one sidewall is not smooth. 
     
     
         41 . The insulative container of  claim 38 , wherein the channels allow heat radiating from food inside the container to remain within the container. 
     
     
         42 . The insulative container of  claim 38 , wherein a user can hold the insulative container without feeling a high heat sensation from inside of the container. 
     
     
         43 . The insulative container of  claim 38 , wherein the plurality of ribs include a face, and wherein the face of the plurality of ribs is curved. 
     
     
         44 . The insulative container of  claim 43 , wherein the plurality of ribs include a tapered distal end. 
     
     
         45 . The insulative container of  claim 38 , wherein a portion of the at least one sidewall includes no channels or ribs. 
     
     
         46 . The insulative container of  claim 38 , wherein the insulative container further includes a foamed sleeve disposed around the at least one sidewall.