IP Library Granted Patent US 6,960,748
Granted Patent B2
US 6,960,748 · App. 10/682,139 · Granted Nov 1, 2005

Collapsible microwave popcorn box

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,960,748
App. No.
10/682,139
Granted
Nov 1, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A collapsible cooking container formed from a generally, rectangularly shaped paperboard blank folded along crease lines so as to have a bottom portion, a first side portion, a top portion, and a second side portion wherein the top portion and the first side portion are adapted to be attached to form a cube having opposed, open sides. The opposed, open sides are substantially covered when the collapsible cooking container is in an expanded condition by segments provided to the bottom portion, first and second side portions, and top portion that cooperate to form first and second collapsible sides.

Claims (29)

1. A collapsible microwave cooking container, comprising:

a generally, rectangularly shaped paperboard blank folded along crease lines to form a bottom portion, a first side portion, a top portion, and a second side portion wherein said top portion and said first side portion are adapted to be attached so as to form a cube having opposed, open sides; and

a first collapsible side and a second collapsible side each adapted to substantially cover one of said opposed, open sides of said cube when said collapsible microwave cooking container is in an expanded configuration;

wherein each of said first collapsible side and said second collapsible side comprise a first generally rectangularly shaped segment laterally extending from said bottom portion and having a first radiused locking tab adjoining said first segment, a second generally rectangularly shaped segment laterally extending from said top portion and having a second radiused locking tab adjoining said second segment, and a locking tab slot disposed at the intersection of at least one of the first and second radiused locking tabs and the corresponding one of the first and second generally rectangularly shaped segments, respectively, such that when said collapsible microwave cooking container is in said expanded configuration, said collapsible microwave container is generally maintained in said expanded configuration as an exterior surface of said first locking tab engages an interior surface of said second generally rectangularly shaped segment and an exterior surface of said second locking tab engages an interior surface of said first generally rectangularly shaped segment and said top portion and one of said first and second generally rectangularly shaped segments is disposed within a the locking tab slot formed in the other of said first and second generally rectangularly shaped segments.

2. The collapsible microwave cooking container as recited in claim 1 , wherein said second generally rectangularly shaped segment has said locking tab slot.

3. The collapsible microwave cooking container as recited in claim 2 , wherein said locking tab slot is positioned adjacent said second locking tab.

4. The collapsible microwave cooking container as recited in claim 3 , wherein said second radiused locking tab has an arcuate end portion and said arcuate end portion forms an acute angle between said second locking tab and said second generally rectangularly shaped segment.

5. The collapsible microwave cooking container as recited in claim 3 , wherein said first and second radiused locking tabs of said first and second generally rectangularly shaped segments extend to a height that is at least sixty-seven percent of a height provided to the first and second side portions.

6. The collapsible microwave cooking container as recited in claim 1 , wherein a charge pouch is attached to the bottom portion.

7. The collapsible microwave cooking container as recited in claim 6 , wherein the charge pouch includes un-popped popcorn.

8. A collapsible microwave cooking container;

a generally, rectangularly shaped paperboard blank folded along crease Lines to form a bottom portion, a first side portion, a top portion, and a second side portion wherein said top portion and said first side portion are adapted to be attached so as to form a cube having opposed, open sides; and

a first collapsible side and a second collapsible side each adapted to substantially cover one of said opposed, open sides of said cube when said collapsible microwave cooking container is in an expanded condition;

wherein each of said first collapsible side and said second collapsible side comprise an outwardly extendable tab for use in removing said collapsible microwave cooking container from a microwave oven after heating.

9. The collapsible microwave cooking container as recited in claim 8 , wherein said first and second collapsible sides are formed by cooperating, bendable segments provided to opposed sides of each of said top portion, bottom portion, and first and second side portions and wherein said segments provided to the top portion comprise said outwardly extendable tab.

10. A collapsible microwave cooking container, comprising:

a generally, rectangularly shaped paperboard blank folded along crease lines to form a bottom portion, a first side portion, a top portion, and a second side portion wherein said top portion and said first side portion are adapted to be attached so as to form a cube having opposed, open sides; and

a first collapsible side and a second collapsible side each adapted to substantially cover one of said opposed, open sides of said cube when said collapsible microwave cooking container is in an expanded condition;

wherein said first and second collapsible sides are formed by cooperating, bendable segments provided to opposed sides of each of said top portion, bottom portion, and first and second side portions and wherein said bendable segments provided to said first and second side portions cooperate with said bendable segments provided to said bottom portion to contiguously integrate upwardly extending sections of said first and second side portions and said collapsible sides about a perimeter of said bottom portion for reducing leakage from said collapsible microwave cooking container when said collapsible microwave cooking container is in said expanded condition, and wherein at least one of said bendable segments provided to said first and second side portions cooperates with at least one of said bendable segments provided to said bottom portion to form an arcuate corner.

11. The collapsible microwave cooking container as recited in claim 10 , wherein a length of each of said segments provided to said first side portion are adjoined to a length of a corresponding one of said segments provided to said bottom portion.

12. The collapsible microwave cooking container as recited in claim 10 , wherein a length of each of said segments provided to said second side portion is adjoined to a length of a corresponding one of said segments provided to said bottom portion.

13. The collapsible microwave cooking container as recited in claim 11 , wherein each of said segments provided to said first side portion and said corresponding one of said segments provided to said bottom portion are arranged to form an arcuate corner.

14. The collapsible microwave cooking container as recited in claim 12 , wherein each of said segments provided to said second side portion and said corresponding one of said segments provided to said bottom portion are arranged to form an arcuate corner.

15. A collapsible microwave cooking container comprising:

a generally rectangular shaped paperboard blank folded along crease lines to form a bottom portion, a first side portion, a top portion, and a second side portion, wherein said top portion and said first side portion are adapted to be attached so as to form a cube having opposed, open sides; and

a first collapsible side and a second collapsible side each adapted to substantially cover one of said opposed, open sides of said cube when said collapsible microwave cooking container is in an expanded configuration, wherein at least one of said first collapsible side and said second collapsible side comprises:

a generally rectangularly shaped segment laterally extending from one of said bottom portion and said top portion;

a radiused locking tab adjoining said generally rectangularly shaped segment; and

a locking tab slot disposed at the intersection of said radiused locking tab and said generally rectangularly shaped segment.

Assignments (22)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2026
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS SUCCESSOR‑IN‑INTEREST TO U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 075415/0575 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2021
From: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 055811/0676 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2021
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, LLC; FIELD CONTAINER QUERETARO (USA), L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 055545/0204 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 8, 2021
From: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, LLC
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 055520/0204 →
CERTIFICATE OF CONVERSION Recorded Jan 29, 2018
From: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 045177/0577 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 8, 2018
From: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 045020/0746 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2018
From: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, LLC (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, INC.); FIELD CONTAINER QUERETARO (USA), L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 045009/0001 →
NOTICE AND CONFIRMATION OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Dec 22, 2014
From: GRAPHIC PACKAGING HOLDING COMPANY; GRAPHIC PACKAGING CORPORATION; GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BLUEGRASS LABELS COMPANY, LLC; FIELD CONTAINER QUERETARO (USA), L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 034689/0185 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2009
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS FIRST-DIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BLUEGRASS CONTAINER HOLDINGS, LLC; BLUEGRASS CONTAINER COMPANY, LLC; FIELD CONTAINER MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LLC; PEKIN PAPERBOARD MANAGEMENT, LLC; PEKIN PAPERBOARD COMPANY, L.P.; MCP MANAGEMENT, LLC; MICHIGAN PAPERBOARD, L.P.; FCC REAL ESTATE, LLC; FIELD CONTAINER QUERETARO (USA), LLC; FIELD CONTAINER COMPANY, L.P.; FHI PROPERTIES, LLC; BATTLE CREEK PROPERTIES, LLC; WEST MONROE PROPERTIES, LLC; PEKIN PROPERTIES, LLC; MARSEILLES PROPERTIES, LLC; MARION PROPERTIES, LLC; TUSCALOOSA PROPERTIES, LLC; HANDSCHY HOLDINGS, LLC; HANDSCHY INDUSTRIES, LLC; RIVERDALE INDUSTRIES, LLC; FIELD CONTAINER MANAGEMENT, LLC
Reel/Frame 022634/0646 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 17, 2008
From: ALTIVITY PACKAGING, LLC
To: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 021531/0513 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 17, 2008
From: BLUEGRASS CONTAINER HOLDINGS, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 020723/0748 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2008
From: LEHMAN COMMERCIAL PAPER, INC., AS SECOND-LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BLUEGRASS CONTAINER HOLDINGS, LLC, BLUEGRASS CONTAINER COMPANY, LLC, AND EACH OTHER SUBSIDIARY LISTED ON SCHEDULE I ATTACHED HERETO; BLUEGRASS FLEXIBLE PACKAGING COMPANY, LLC; BLUEGRASS MULTIWALL BAG COMPANY, LLC; BLUEGRASS MILLS HOLDINGS COMPANY, LLC; BLUEGRASS LABELS COMPANY, LLC; BLUEGRASS FOLDING CARTON COMPANY, LLC; BLUEGRASS CONTAINER CANADA HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 020710/0209 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 30, 2007
From: BLUEGRASS CONTAINER COMPANY, LLC
To: ALTIVITY PACKAGING, LLC
Reel/Frame 018816/0617 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 25, 2007
From: SMURFIT-STONE CONTAINER ENTERPRISES, INC.
To: BLUEGRASS CONTAINER COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 018797/0981 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 26, 2006
From: BLUEGRASS CONTAINER HOLDINGS, LLC.; BLUEGRASS CONTAINER COMPANY, LLC.; BLUEGRASS MILLS HOLDINGS COMPANY, LLC; BLUEGRASS FLEXIBLE PACKAGING COMPANY, LLC.; BLUEGRASS MULTIWALL BAG COMPANY, LLC.; BLUEGRASS LABELS COMPANY, LLC; BLUEGRASS FOLDING CARTON COMPANY, LLC.; BLUEGRASS CONTAINER CANADA HOLDINGS, LLC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 017996/0174 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 26, 2006
From: BLUEGRASS CONTAINER HOLDINGS, LLC.; BLUEGRASS CONTAINER COMPANY, LLC.; BLUEGRASS MILLS HOLDINGS COMPANY, LLC; BLUEGRASS FLEXIBLE PACKAGING COMPANY, LLC.; BLUEGRASS MULTIWALL BAG COMPANY, LLC.; BLUEGRASS LABELS COMPANY, LLC; BLUEGRASS FOLDING CARTON COMPANY, LLC.; BLUEGRASS CONTAINER CANADA HOLDINGS, LLC.
To: LEHMAN COMMERCIAL PAPER INC., AS SECOND LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 017996/0197 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 24, 2006
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: SMURFIT-STONE CONTAINER CORPORATION; SMURFIT-STONE CONTAINER ENTERPRISES, INC.
Reel/Frame 017971/0837 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 1, 2005
From: SMURFIT-STONE CONTAINER CORPORATION
To: SMURFIT-STONE CONTAINER ENTERPRISES, INC.
Reel/Frame 016083/0775 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 4, 2005
From: SMURFIT-STONE CONTAINER CORPORATION
To: SMURFIT-STONE CONTAINER ENTERPRISES, INC.
Reel/Frame 015983/0806 →
MERGER Recorded Apr 15, 2005
From: STONE CONTAINER CORPORATION
To: SMURFIT-STONE CONTAINER ENTERPRISES, INC.
Reel/Frame 015904/0911 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 29, 2004
From: SMURFIT-STONE CONTAINER ENTERPRISES, INC.; SMURFIT-STONE CONTAINER CORPORATION
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 016145/0201 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2004
From: BAKER, MARK
To: SMURFIT-STONE CONTAINER CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 015066/0195 →