# How Pringles Potato Chips Are Stacked and Packaged > A 1970 patent by Procter and Gamble describing the precise method for stacking uniform, saddle-shaped potato chips into a cylindrical container to prevent breakage. - **Patent:** US 3498798 - **Original title:** Packaging of chip-type snack food products - **Owner:** Procter and Gamble Co - **Granted:** 1970 - **Status:** Public domain (expired) - **Times cited:** 83 - **Field:** consumer_electronics ## What it does The patent describes a method for packaging snack chips that are uniform in shape, specifically the hyperbolic paraboloid or saddle shape. By creating chips that nest perfectly within one another, the invention allows them to be stacked in a column rather than poured loosely into a bag. This stacking mechanism is designed to minimize air space and prevent the chips from fracturing during shipping and storage, as the nested structure provides structural integrity to the entire stack. ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover standard potato chips that are irregular in shape or size. - Does not cover flexible packaging methods like traditional plastic or foil bags. - Does not cover the specific chemical recipe or dough composition used to create the chips. - Does not cover non-cylindrical container shapes that do not support the nested stack. ## The clever bit The innovation lies in engineering the chip's geometry to be a uniform saddle shape, which allows for perfect nesting and structural stability, effectively turning a fragile food item into a rigid, stackable column. ## Real-world examples 1. Pringles original potato crisps 2. Generic store-brand stackable potato crisps ## Why it matters This patent enabled the creation of the Pringles brand, which fundamentally changed the snack food industry by moving away from the traditional bagged chip model. It allowed for a shelf-stable, highly transportable product that could be stacked efficiently for retail display and shipping. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does How Pringles Potato Chips Are Stacked and Packaged cover? A 1970 patent by Procter and Gamble describing the precise method for stacking uniform, saddle-shaped potato chips into a cylindrical container to prevent breakage. ### Who owns patent US 3498798? Procter and Gamble Co owns this patent, granted in 1970. ### When does this patent expire? This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely. ### What is patent US 3498798 cited by? This patent has been cited by 83 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? This patent enabled the creation of the Pringles brand, which fundamentally changed the snack food industry by moving away from the traditional bagged chip model. It allowed for a shelf-stable, highly transportable product that could be stacked efficiently for retail display and shipping. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover standard potato chips that are irregular in shape or size. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3498798/pringles-stackable-chips **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US3498798 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How Cup Noodles Are Designed to Cook Perfectly](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3997676/cup-noodles-instant-ramen-ando) — A 1976 patent describing the specific shape, density, and placement of dehydrated noodles inside a cup to ensure they cook evenly and quickly when hot water is added. - [How Clarence Birdseye Invented Modern Frozen Food](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1773079/frozen-food-birdseye) — This 1930 patent describes the process of rapidly freezing food in small packages to prevent the formation of large ice crystals that ruin texture and flavor. - [How Earl Tupper Invented the Airtight Plastic Food Container](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2487400/tupperware-airtight-seal) — A 1947 patent for a flexible plastic container with a unique, airtight lid that seals by pressing down on the center, creating the foundation for Tupperware. - [How John Harvey Kellogg Invented Flaked Breakfast Cereals](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/558393/corn-flakes-kellogg) — A foundational 1896 patent describing the process of creating thin, toasted flakes from cooked grains, which launched the modern breakfast cereal industry. - [How a Spring-Loaded Pocket Dispenser Works](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2620061/pez-dispenser) — A 1949 mechanical design for a pocket-sized container that uses a spring to push items like pills or candies to the top for easy access.