MODULAR CONTAINER WITH IMPROVED PERFORMANCE
A container includes: a pulp-formed shell configured to contain a material therein, the pulp-formed shell having an opening through which the material may pass, the pulp-formed shell being formed from a first material; and, a collar having one or more engagement features configured to engage at least a portion of the pulp-formed shell by pinching, indenting, deforming, or any combination of pinching, indenting and deforming, at least a portion of the pulp-formed shell, the collar being formed from a second material.
1 . A container comprising:
a pulp-formed shell configured to contain a material therein, the pulp-formed shell comprising an opening through which the material may pass, the pulp-formed shell being formed from a first material;
a collar comprising one or more engagement features configured to engage at least a portion of the pulp-formed shell by pinching, indenting, deforming, or any combination of pinching, indenting and deforming, at least a portion of the pulp-formed shell, the collar being formed from a second material.
2 . The container of claim 1 , wherein:
the second material is different from the first material.
3 . The container of claim 1 , wherein:
the second material is the same as the first material.
4 . The container of any one of claim 1 , wherein:
the pulp-formed shell is made from a corrugated material.
5 . The container of any one of claim 1 , wherein:
the pulp-formed shell is made from a revolute material.
6 . The container of any one of claim 1 , wherein:
the collar is attachable and removable from the pulp-formed shell to facilitate ease of separation for recycling.
7 . The container of claim 6 , wherein:
the collar, subsequent to be attached to the pulp-formed shell, is configured to be detachable from the pulp-formed shell by a user, or by recycling equipment configured to crush the container.
8 . (canceled)
9 . (canceled)
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11 . (canceled)
12 . The container of any one of claim 1 , wherein:
the one or more engagement features comprise a plurality of barbs having an inwardly tapered end configured to engage with the pulp-formed shell.
13 . The container of any one of claim 1 , wherein:
the collar further comprises one or more intruding, protruding, or both intruding and protruding, portions configured to mate with or complement an engagement feature of the pulp-formed shell that deters rotation, removal, or both rotation and removal, of the collar from the pulp-formed shell.
14 . The container of any one of claim 1 , further comprising:
a closure disposed on or engage with the collar;
wherein the collar further comprises an engagement feature configured to engage with the closure.
15 . (canceled)
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20 . The container of any one of claim 1 , wherein:
the collar comprises two nested collars, an outer collar and an inner collar, the inner collar being nested within an inner space of the outer collar, the inner collar comprising the one or more engagement features.
21 . (canceled)
22 . (canceled)
23 . The container of any one of claim 1 , further comprising:
a liner attached to the collar, a substantial portion of the liner being disposed within the pulp-formed shell and configured to contain the material therein.
24 . (canceled)
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31 . The container of any one of claim 1 , wherein:
the pulp-formed shell comprises a plurality of pulp-formed portions that telescopingly engage with each other such that the intrinsic length of the container is adjustable.
32 . The container of any one of claim 1 , wherein:
the pulp-formed shell is deformable to allow dispensing of the material therein by compressing an exterior surface of the pulp-formed shell.
33 . The container of any one of claim 1 , wherein:
as viewed in a plan view of the container, an overall outside dimension of the pulp-formed shell is larger than an overall outside dimension of the collar.
34 . The container of any one of claim 1 , wherein:
as viewed in a plan view of the container, an overall outside dimension of the pulp-formed shell is the same as an overall outside dimension of the collar.
35 . The container of any one of claim 1 , wherein:
as viewed in at least one cross-section plan view of the container, an overall outside surface of the pulp-formed shell has a cross-section in the form of; a circle, an oval, a rectangle, or a square.
36 . The container of any one of claim 1 , wherein:
as viewed in cross-section plan views of the container, an outside surface of the pulp-formed shell transitions, from top to bottom, from a rectangular cross-section to an oval cross-section.
37 . The container of any one of claim 1 , wherein:
as viewed in cross-section plan views of the container, an outside surface of the pulp-formed shell transitions, from top to bottom, from an oval cross-section to a rectangular cross-section.
38 . The container of any one of claim 1 , wherein:
as viewed in cross-section plan views of the container, an outside cross-sectional perimeter of the pulp-formed shell transitions, from top to bottom, from a plurality of linear perimeter cross-sections to a continuous curved perimeter cross-section.
39 . The container of any one of claim 1 , wherein:
as viewed in cross-section plan views of the container, an outside cross-sectional perimeter of the pulp-formed shell transitions, from top to bottom, from a continuous curved perimeter cross-section to a plurality of linear perimeter cross-sections.
40 . (canceled)