(19)
(11) EP 1 411 001 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
16.06.2004 Bulletin 2004/25

(43) Date of publication A2:
21.04.2004 Bulletin 2004/17

(21) Application number: 03029913.5

(22) Date of filing: 28.08.2001
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: B65D 75/00, B65D 75/56, B65D 33/02, B65D 33/10
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR

(30) Priority: 29.08.2000 US 228581 P

(62) Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
01962979.9 / 1315658

(71) Applicant: Société des Produits Nestlé S.A.
1800 Vevey (CH)

(72) Inventors:
  • Buchanan, Jerry E.
    Douglasville Georgia 30134 (US)
  • Buchanan, Rodney A.
    Marietta Georgia 30066 (US)
  • Baner, Albert Lorence (Larry)
    St. Joseph Missouri 64505 (US)
  • Bennett, Harold
    St Joseph Missouri 64506 (US)
  • Miles, Todd A.
    Chicago Illinois 60611 (US)
  • Ratcliff, John
    St-Joseph MO 64506 (US)

(74) Representative: Borne, Patrice Daniel 
Avenue Nestlé 55
1800 Vevey
1800 Vevey (CH)

   


(54) Container for housing product and method for making same


(57) A flexible container (10) has a base that includes a bottom (20), side walls (22,24,26,28) and an interior (30), the bottom defining a substantially flat planar surface when the container houses product and the container rests thereon, an upper panel portion (14), that is adapted to be received within the interior of the base portion and includes side panels that define a closure member (60,62). The upper panel is constructed and arranged to define a substantially flat surface (72) when the closure member is closed and portions of the upper panel are folded over. The upper panel includes a portion that is sealed to the base portion. A pair of handles (16,18) may be secured to the base portion. The flat top and flat bottom allow for vertical stacking of the filled containers. The container may be manufactured from a flat sheet of plastic material having a width substantially equal to a length of the base portion, by indexing the flat sheet in intervals equal to a width or more of the base portion; bonding handles at one end to the sheet; applying closure means to a free end of each of the pair of panels; and forming the flat sheet, panels and pair of handles into the flexible container.






Search report