Composite container having a hermetically sealed polymeric sleeve

(19)

(11)

EP 1 431 194 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	04.10.2006 Bulletin 2006/40

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	23.06.2004 Bulletin 2004/26

(21)	Application number: 03254781.2

(22)	Date of filing: 31.07.2003

(51)

International Patent Classification (IPC):

B65D 3/22^(2006.01)

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR
	Designated Extension States:
	AL LT LV MK

(30)

Priority:

19.12.2002 US 324225

(71)	Applicant: Sonoco Development, Inc.
	Hartsville, South Carolina 29550 (US)

(72)	Inventor:
	Versluys, Robert Thor Florence South Carolina 29501 (US)

(74)	Representative: MacDougall, Donald Carmichael et al
	Marks & Clerk Scotland 19 Royal Exchange Square Glasgow G1 3AE, Scotland Glasgow G1 3AE, Scotland (GB)

(54)	Composite container having a hermetically sealed polymeric sleeve

(57) A container (10) for protectively encapsulating a product, such as a perishable food product, during shipment and display. The container includes a tubular body (11) constructed of a composite sheet material and defining a receptacle for receiving the food product. An outer surface of the body defines an edge surrounding an entrance of the receptacle. An end closure (15,16) abuts the edge of the tubular body so as to extend over the entrance. Extending over the end closure and the outer surface of the body is a film sleeve (17) that serves to secure the end closure to the body. An adhesive can be used to seal the film sleeve to the end closure and body so as to hermetically seal a juncture (18) between the end closure and the body. A score line (124) on the film sleeve (17) facilitates opening of the container while extending only partially through the film sleeve to preserve its barrier properties.

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