Dry goods container

Abstract

A dry goods container has a container body, a top portion constructed of injection molded plastic, and a cap portion. The container body includes a container base and a container sidewall, the container base having a base perimeter, and the container sidewall extending upwardly from the base perimeter to form a top perimeter that defines a top opening of the container body. The container body is constructed of paperboard and sealed with a barrier layer. The top portion is adapted to engage the top perimeter and close the top opening of the container body. The top portion has a generally planar box top surface and an indented portion, the indented portion having a pouring aperture surrounded by a pour spout. The cap portion is shaped to removably engage the pour spout to seal the pouring aperture.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A dry goods container comprising: 
 a container body having a container base and a container sidewall, the container base having a base perimeter, and the container sidewall extending upwardly from the base perimeter to form a top perimeter that defines a top opening of the container body, the container body being constructed of a paperboard layer that is sealed with a barrier layer;    a top portion adapted to engage the top perimeter and close the top opening of the container body, the top portion having a generally planar box top surface and an indented portion, the indented portion having a pouring aperture surrounded by a pour spout; and    a cap portion shaped to removably engage the pour spout to seal the pouring aperture.    
     
     
         2 . The dry goods container of  claim 1  wherein the top portion includes a generally planar box top surface and the cap portion includes a generally planar cap top surface, the generally planar box top surface and the generally planar cap top surface being coplanar and generally parallel to the container base.  
     
     
         3 . The dry goods container of  claim 1  wherein the barrier layer is provided by a wax coating on an interior surface of the container body.  
     
     
         4 . The dry goods container of  claim 1  wherein the top portion is formed of injection molded plastic and includes a downwardly extending flange that is shaped to engage with the top perimeter of the container body such that the top portion is positioned to close the top opening of the container body.  
     
     
         5 . The dry goods container of  claim 1  wherein the pour spout has a diameter of at least 1.5 inches.  
     
     
         6 . The dry goods container of  claim 1  wherein the pour spout has a diameter of at least 2 inches.  
     
     
         7 . The dry goods container of  claim 1  wherein the pour spout has a diameter of at least 2.5 inches.  
     
     
         8 . A dry goods container comprising: 
 a container body having a container base and a container sidewall, the container base having a base perimeter, and the container sidewall extending upwardly from the base perimeter to form a top perimeter that defines a top opening of the container body,    the container body being constructed of a paperboard layer that is sealed with a barrier layer;    a means for closing the top opening, the means for closing providing a generally planar box top surface and an indented portion, the indented portion having a pouring aperture surrounded by a pour spout; and    a cap portion shaped to removably engage the pour spout to seal the pouring aperture, the cap portion providing a generally planar cap top surface,    the generally planar box top surface and the generally planar cap top surface being generally coplanar.    
     
     
         9 . The dry goods container of  claim 8  wherein the generally planar box top surface and the generally planar cap top surface together lie on a plane that is generally parallel to the container base.  
     
     
         10 . The dry goods container of  claim 8  wherein the means for closing includes a pour spout having a spout base with an annular flange, wherein the generally planar box top surface and the indented portion of the means for closing are integral with the container body; and wherein the annular flange of the pour spout is bonded to the indented portion around the pouring aperture.  
     
     
         11 . The dry goods container of  claim 8  wherein the base is generally rectangular in shape and the base perimeter includes a front edge, a back edge, and a pair of opposing side edges, 
 wherein the sidewall includes a front sidewall, an opposing back sidewall, a pair of opposing side sidewalls, and  
 wherein the front sidewall extends upwardly from the front edge, the back sidewall extends upwardly from the back, and each of the pair of opposing side sidewalls extends upwardly from one of the pair of opposing side edges,  
 the front sidewall being joined to one edge of each of the pair of opposing side sidewalls, the back sidewall being joined to the other edge of each of the pair of opposing side sidewalls.  
 
     
     
         12 . The dry goods container of  claim 11  wherein the front, back, and side sidewalls together form a top perimeter that defines a top opening of the container body; and 
 wherein the means for closing is a top portion having a downwardly extending flange that is adapted to engage the top perimeter, the downwardly extending flange being adapted to be bonded to the top perimeter.  
 
     
     
         13 . The dry goods container of  claim 11  wherein the front, back, and side sidewalls together form a top perimeter that defines a top opening of the container body; 
 wherein the means for closing includes a top sidewall integral with the container body and shaped to cover a portion of the top opening; and  
 wherein the means for closing further includes an alternative top portion having a partial downwardly extending flange and a rearwardly extending flange that together are adapted to engage the top perimeter and a top portion leading edge to close the top opening, the partial downwardly extending flange being bonded to the top perimeter, and the rearwardly extending flange being bonded to the top portion leading edge.  
 
     
     
         14 . A method for packaging dry goods, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a paperboard blank that has been covered with or bonded to a barrier layer and die cut into a plurality of integral panels;    folding the plurality of integral panels, and bonding the plurality of integral panels to each other, to form a container body having a container base and a container sidewall, the container base having a base perimeter, and the container sidewall extending upwardly from the base perimeter, the container sidewall extending upwardly from the base perimeter to form a top perimeter that defines a top opening of the container body;    providing a top portion that has been formed through plastic injection molding, the top portion having a pouring aperture surrounded by a pour spout, the top portion further having a downwardly extending flange; and    providing a cap portion that has been formed through plastic injection molding, the cap portion being shaped to removably engage the pour spout to seal the pouring aperture.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the steps of: 
 filling the container body with the dry goods;  
 positioning the top portion to cover the top opening such that the downwardly extending flange engages the top perimeter; and  
 bonding the downwardly extending flange to the top perimeter.