| 摘要 |
<p>A resilient, yieldable, nestable, tapered, foamed thermoplastic container and cup, each cup or container having an endless groove and endless lug extending from the inside and outside surfaces of the container or cup wall, the groove penetrating the container or cup wall through either the inner or outer surface of the cup wall a predetermined distance from the bottom of the container or cup, the endless lug extending from the outer surface of the cup wall for locking in the groove of a like container or cup when nested with the other container or cup, the endless lug extending a distance from the cup wall greater than the distance the groove penetrates into the cup wall by about several thousandths of an inch (a few thousandths of a centimeter), the groove comprising a horizontally extending lower locating ledge for preventing a cup nesting therewith to be pushed in below the ledge, a substantially vertically extending intermediate sealing surface meeting an entry/retaining ramp which allows the lug to be gradually introduced into the groove and then inhibits axial separation, the ramp being angled to the vertical at an angle greater than 10 degrees, the lug being circular in cross-section and being radially compressible when it engages the intermediate sealing surface to seal the two together, the vertical height of the groove from the ledge and thus the height of the intermediate sealing surface being greater than the height of the lug to ensure there is no axial force on the lug when accommodated by the groove, to accommodate displaced compressed material whereby the creation of a radially extending seal between the lug and sealing surface is facilitated between two cups or containers (without undue distortion of the expanded thermoplastic material) and which cups or containers are easily separated without the breaking off of lug material.</p> |
