Multi-component product container with reclosable top

• US 7,568,590 B1
• Filed: 11/23/2004
• Issued: 08/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arrow innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: Arrow innovations, LLC
• Inventors: Fox, Robert W., Lay, Dieter F., Gross, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): HYLTON, ROBIN ANNETTE
• Application Number:
  US10/996,012
• Time in Patent Office: 1,715 Days
• Field of Search: 220/254.3, 220/254.1, 220/269, 220/268, 220/359.1, 220/359.2, 220/839, 220/837, 220/906, 220/902, 220/670, 229/5.5, 229/4.5
• US Class Current: 220/254.1
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/1673 injecting the first layer, then feeding the insert, then injecting the second layer
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1671 with an insert
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/00 Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/08 using ultrasonic vibrations non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/3612 comprising fillers
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/362 comprising at least a single wire, e.g. in the form of a winding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/3644 being a ribbon, band or strip
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/3676 being metallic
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/3684 being non-metallic
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/5432 joining hollow covers and hollow bottoms to open ends of container bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/72343 for liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/06 PE, i.e. polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/12 PP, i.e. polypropylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2025/06 PS, i.e. polystyrene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2027/06 PVC, i.e. polyvinylchloride
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2033/08 Polymers of acrylic acid esters, e.g. PMA, i.e. polymethylacrylate
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2055/02 ABS polymers, i.e. acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/00 Use of polyesters or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2069/00 Use of PC, i.e. polycarbonates or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2077/00 : Use of PA, i.e. polyamides, e.g. polyesteramides or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2101/12 : Thermoplastic materials
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/16 : Fillers
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2305/00 : Use of metals, their alloys or their compounds, as reinforcement
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2307/00 : Use of elements other than metals as reinforcement
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/565 : for containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 11/02 : of curved cross-section thermally insulated B65D81/3813
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 17/12 : Closures secured by soldering, welding, or otherwise uniting opposed surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 17/28 : at lines or points of weakness
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 17/502 : applied to the external part of the container wall only
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 17/506 : Rigid or semi-rigid members, e.g. plugs
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/02 : Removable lids or covers with means for piercing, cutting, or tearing a frangible inner closure B65D51/22
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/08 : having articulated or hinged closures B65D55/16 takes precedence

Abstract

A container provides sealed storage for contents. The container includes a composite top member formed of a panel and a frame. The panel includes an opening for providing access to the contents of the package. The frame includes a closure member that is molded in an open position, and which can be moved to a closed position for closing the opening in the panel. The container is formed of a container body in the form of a tubular member formed to a desired shape. The container body is closed using the top member that closes a top opening of the container body, and a bottom member that closes a bottom opening of the container body.

Claims

1. A storage container, comprising:

a container body having one or more sides, an upper edge defining an upper opening, and a bottom; and

a top member secured to the upper edge and configured to enclose the upper opening, wherein the top member includes a frame defining a peripheral outer area for connection to the container, and an inner area located inwardly of the peripheral outer area, wherein the inner area defines an access opening;

an oxygen barrier interior panel secured to the frame, wherein the oxygen barrier interior panel has a panel opening, wherein the panel opening and the access opening at least partially overlap each other;

a removable oxygen barrier seal member secured to the inner area of the frame so as to enclose the panel opening, wherein the oxygen barrier panel and the removable oxygen barrier seal member are configured so as to enclose the entirety of the upper opening of the container when the top member is secured to the upper edge of the container body; and

a movable closure member carried by the frame, wherein the movable closure member is interconnected with the frame so as to provide movement of the closure member between an open position for exposing the access opening and the panel opening when the removable seal member is removed, and a closed position in which the movable closure member overlies and closes the access opening and the panel opening.

2. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the interior panel is bonded to the frame, and further comprising means for bonding the peripheral outer area of the frame to the upper edge of the container body.

3. The storage container of claim 2, wherein the interior panel defines a peripheral edge area, and wherein the interior panel is insert molded during formation of the frame, wherein the frame is configured to surround the peripheral edge area of the interior panel.

4. The storage container of claim 3, wherein the movable closure member is formed along with the frame.

5. The storage container of claim 4, wherein the movable closure member in the open position overlies an area of the interior panel adjacent the panel opening, and further comprising release means interposed between the interior panel and the movable closure member for preventing the movable closure member from adhering to the interior panel.

6. The storage container of claim 3, wherein the movable closure member includes a tab member adapted for manual engagement by a user to facilitate movement of the movable closure member between the open and closed positions, and wherein the inner area of the frame includes a recess, wherein the tab member at least partially overlies the recess to enable manual engagement of the tab member from within the recess.

7. The storage container of claim 2, wherein the means for bonding the frame to the upper edge of the container body comprises a fusion ring configured for use in bonding the top member to the upper edge of the container body.

8. The storage container of claim 1, wherein the movable closure member is interconnected with the top member via a hinge connection that provides pivoting movement of the movable closure member between the open and closed positions.

9. The storage container of claim 8, wherein the interior panel is bonded to the frame, and wherein the movable closure member is formed along with the frame, wherein the hinge connection comprises a hinge area of material located between the movable closure member and the panel opening that is formed along with the frame and the movable closure member.

10. The storage container of claim 9, wherein the inner area of the frame is formed so as to define a lip area that surrounds the access opening and the panel opening, wherein the hinge area of material is located between the lip area and the closure member.

11. The storage container of claim 9, wherein the hinge area of material is at least in part defined by an underlying protrusion defined by the interior panel during formation of the frame and the movable closure member.

12. A top member for use in closing an upper opening defined by a container having a body with a peripheral edge that surrounds the upper opening, comprising:

a frame defining a peripheral outer area for connection to the container, and an inner area located inwardly of the peripheral outer area, wherein the inner area defines an access opening;

an oxygen barrier panel secured to the frame, wherein the oxygen barrier panel is configured to be located over the upper opening of the container and defines a panel opening, wherein the panel opening and the access opening at least partially overlap each other;

a removable oxygen barrier seal member secured to the frame, wherein the removable oxygen barrier seal member is configured to enclose the panel opening, wherein the oxygen barrier panel and the removable oxygen barrier seal member are configured so as to enclose the entirety of the upper opening of the container when the top member is secured to the container; and

a movable closure member carried by the frame, wherein the movable closure member is interconnected with the frame so as to provide movement of the closure member between an open position for exposing the access opening and the platform opening, and a closed position in which the movable closure member overlies and closes the access opening and the platform opening.

13. The top member of claim 12, wherein the inner area of the frame includes a peripheral lip that surrounds an edge defined by the panel opening, and wherein the closure member includes a peripheral wall that is configured to be received inwardly of the peripheral lip to provide engagement of the closure member within the panel opening.

14. The top member of claim 12, wherein the closure member and the frame are formed integrally with each other.

15. The top member of claim 14, wherein the closure member and the frame are formed by molding the closure member and the frame onto the panel.

16. The top member of claim 15, wherein the frame further includes a fusion member for use in bonding the top member to the open upper end defined by the container, and wherein the fusion member is molded into the frame when the frame and the closure member are molded onto the panel.

17. The top member of claim 15, wherein the closure member overlies a portion of the panel spaced laterally from the panel opening, and further comprising release means located between the closure member and the panel for preventing adherence of the closure member to the panel during molding of the closure member and the frame onto the panel.

18. The top member of claim 14, wherein the frame and the closure member are interconnected via a hinge connection that provides movement of the closure member between the open and closed positions.

19. The top member of claim 18, wherein the closure member and the frame are formed by molding the closure member and the frame onto the panel, and wherein the hinge connection is defined by an area located between the frame and the closure member that overlies an upward protrusion defined by the panel, wherein the upward protrusion forms an area of reduced thickness between the frame and the closure member to form the hinge connection.

20. A container, comprising:

a container body having an interior and including an upper edge defining an upper opening and a lower edge defining a lower opening;

a top member bonded to the upper edge to enclose the upper opening, wherein the top member comprises a frame defining a peripheral outer area for connection to the container, and an inner area located inwardly of the peripheral outer area, wherein the inner area defines an access opening;

an oxygen barrier panel secured to the frame, wherein the oxygen barrier panel is configured to be located over the upper opening of the container and defines a panel opening, wherein the panel opening and the access opening at least partially overlap each other;

a removable oxygen barrier seal member secured to the frame, wherein the removable oxygen barrier seal member is configured to enclose the panel opening, wherein the oxygen barrier panel and the removable oxygen barrier seal member are configured so as to enclose the entirety of the upper opening of the container when the top member is secured to the container; and

a movable closure member carried by the frame, wherein the movable closure member is interconnected with the frame so as to provide movement of the closure member between an open position for exposing the access opening and the panel opening, and a closed position in which the movable closure member overlies and closes the access opening and the panel opening; and

a bottom member bonded to the lower edge to enclose the lower opening.

21. The container of claim 20, wherein the top member and the bottom member each include a fusion member for use in bonding the top member and the bottom member to the upper edge and the lower edge, respectively, of the container body.

22. The container of claim 21, wherein each fusion member is contained within a channel defined by one of the top and bottom members, wherein the channel defined by the top member is configured to receive the upper edge of the container body and wherein the channel defined by the bottom member is configured to receive the lower edge of the container body.

23. The container of claim 21, wherein the container body comprises a tubular member formed of deformable material.

24. The container of claim 21, wherein the tubular member defines a contoured wall that is shaped in a forming operation carried out prior to bonding the top member and the bottom member to the container body, wherein the forming operation includes sealing the top and bottom openings of the tubular member and subjecting the wall of the tubular member to an outward force, wherein the tubular member is contained within a mold having contoured surfaces that contact the wall of the tubular member to form the contoured wall when the wall of the tubular member is subjected to the outward force.

25. The container of claim 20, wherein the container body includes a side wall arrangement having one or more void areas to provide a thermal insulation feature to the container.

26. The container of claim 25, wherein the container body includes an inner wall, an outer wall spaced from the inner wall, and a series of ribs that extend between and interconnect the inner and outer walls, wherein the one or more void areas of the side wall arrangement are defined by the inner wall, the outer wall and the ribs.

27. The container of claim 26, wherein the container body comprises an extrusion member that is formed to include a side wall having an open top and an open bottom through which the void areas are exposed, and wherein the top and bottom of the extrusion member side wall are crimped and sealed to define an upper rim and a lower rim, respectively, that enclose the void areas.