Methods and apparatus for manufacturing a microwavable food container include: forming a wire mesh over a mold comprising a mirror image of the microwavable food container; immersing the wire mesh in a fiber-based slurry bath; drawing a vacuum across the wire mesh to cause fiber particles to accumulate at the wire mesh surface; and removing the wire mesh including the accumulated fiber particles from the slurry bath; wherein the slurry comprises a moisture barrier, an oil barrier, and a vapor barrier.

A container having enhanced wall integrity is provided that includes a sidewall having a polygonal cross-sectional shape and an alignment structure formed therein. The alignment structure is adapted for orienting the container with respect to a second container such that the panel sections of the containers become parallel with one another and the containers may be fully nested one within the other. The alignment structure can be recessed into the sidewall to form peaks and valleys along an inner surface of the container. Alternatively, the alignment structure can protrude from the sidewall to form peaks and valleys along an inner surface of the container. The peaks include first and second faces sloping in opposite directions designed to direct corners of the first container's sidewall toward the valleys of the second container in order to orient the containers as they are stacked.

A container having enhanced wall integrity is provided that includes a sidewall having a polygonal cross-sectional shape and an alignment structure formed therein. The alignment structure is adapted for orienting the container with respect to a second container such that the panel sections of the containers become parallel with one another and the containers may be fully nested one within the other. The alignment structure can be recessed into the sidewall to form peaks and valleys along an inner surface of the container. Alternatively, the alignment structure can protrude from the sidewall to form peaks and valleys along an inner surface of the container. The peaks include first and second faces sloping in opposite directions designed to direct corners of the first container's sidewall toward the valleys of the second container in order to orient the containers as they are stacked.

Disclosed is a container made of plastics material, which is provided with a body and a bottom (6) that extends from a lower end of the body, the bottom (6) including: a peripheral base (7) that defines a setting-down plane (8); a concave vault (10) which extends from a central area (11), forming a peg that projects towards the inside of the container, to the base (7); a set of main reinforcing grooves (13) which extend radially from the central area (11) as far at least as the base (7), wherein, in the container, the vault (10) has a central region (15), a median region (16) and a peripheral region (17) that are each separated by an internal axial indentation (18) and an external axial indentation (19) which extend annularly in a continuous manner around the central area (11).

Disclosed is a container made of plastics material, which is provided with a body and a bottom (6) that extends from a lower end of the body, the bottom (6) including: a peripheral base (7) that defines a setting-down plane (8); a concave vault (10) which extends from a central area (11), forming a peg that projects towards the inside of the container, to the base (7); a set of main reinforcing grooves (13) which extend radially from the central area (11) as far at least as the base (7), wherein, in the container, the vault (10) has a central region (15), a median region (16) and a peripheral region (17) that are each separated by an internal axial indentation (18) and an external axial indentation (19) which extend annularly in a continuous manner around the central area (11).

Various embodiments are directed to a container spout secured relative to a hollow container body. The container spout includes a cap region configured to accept a container cap (e.g., a snap-on cap), and a support region positioned between the cap region and the hollow container body. The support region comprises one or more bumper rolls positioned around an exterior of the support region and one or more support protrusions extending between a bottom edge of the cap region and a bottom edge of the support region, wherein each of the one or more support protrusions defines a substantially horizontal convex curvature having a radius smaller than a radius of the container spout. The support protrusions are aligned with corners of the container, and thereby transfer axial crushing forces applied to the container spout onto the container corners to increase the axial crush resistance of the container.

Various embodiments are directed to a container spout secured relative to a hollow container body. The container spout includes a cap region configured to accept a container cap (e.g., a snap-on cap), and a support region positioned between the cap region and the hollow container body. The support region comprises one or more bumper rolls positioned around an exterior of the support region and one or more support protrusions extending between a bottom edge of the cap region and a bottom edge of the support region, wherein each of the one or more support protrusions defines a substantially horizontal convex curvature having a radius smaller than a radius of the container spout. The support protrusions are aligned with corners of the container, and thereby transfer axial crushing forces applied to the container spout onto the container corners to increase the axial crush resistance of the container.

A portable water bottle includes a water bottle body having water stored therein; and a sterilizing module for irradiating the inside of the water bottle body with sterilizing ultraviolet rays. The sterilizing module further includes a housing having an ultraviolet outlet through which the sterilizing ultraviolet rays pass; a light source module for emitting the sterilizing ultraviolet rays; and a power storage member for supplying power to the light source module.

A container system includes a container for holding a fluid. The container may be positioned within a box that provides structural support to the container while allowing the container system to be stacked. The container may include chamfered corners and a glug mitigation mechanism. The box may include corresponding chamfered corners and one or more access apertures for providing access to the container handle and container opening that are positioned within and below the top surface of the box.

A plastic container for flowable and pourable filling material. The plastic container has a container body, which is preferably provided with one or more emptying openings (3) and which has container walls (4) and a container bottom (5), and the container walls and the container bottom enclosing a cavity. The container body has at least one support structure (10). The support structure and/or the container body is produced, at least in parts, by way of a 3D printing method.