Tubular container with side opening

Abstract

A paperboard container for releasably dispensing contents contained therein is convertible from a substantially sealed orientation to a substantially open, dispensing orientation and back to the substantially sealed orientation. The paperboard container comprises a tubular container member, a bottom member and a top member, with the top member being telescopically received within the container member to seal the top member to the container. The top member is pivotable about the hinge portion and is pivotable to the sealed orientation to substantially reseal the container member. The present invention is directed to a paperboard container with an opening on the side, including a tubular body, a first end panel and second end panel, and a tear-out panel initially contained within said tubular body. The tear-out panel is separated from the remainder of the tubular body by cuts or perforations, and may be partially or completely removed to allow access to the contents of the container. A means for sealably reclosing the tear-out panel is also provided to allow for reclosing of the container. An internal membrane may also be adhered to the inner surface of the body below the tear-out panel.

1 . A substantially paperboard container for allowing access to product within by means of a removable side panel, the paperboard container comprising: 
 a substantially tubular body, fabricated substantially from paperboard material, the tubular body having an outer surface, an inner surface, a first edge defining a first opening, and a second edge defining a second opening;    a first end panel substantially corresponding in shape to the shape of the first opening, the first end panel having an outer edge portion;    a second end panel substantially corresponding in shape to the shape of the second opening, the second end panel having an outer edge portion;    at least one of the first end panel and the second end panel being fabricated substantially from paperboard material;    the first end panel being telescopically received within the first opening of the body, with the first edge of the body being rolled up over the outer edge of the first end panel to seal the first end panel to the body; and    a tear-out panel initially contained at least partially within the body, said tear-out panel capable of being at least partially separated from the body by means of cuts or perforations.    
     
     
         2 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said tear-out panel is capable of frictionally engaging a portion of said body in order to sealably reclose said container after said tear out panel has been partially separated from said body.  
     
     
         3 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said tear-out panel further comprises a tab portion not initially integrated within said body, said tab portion capable of frictionally engaging a portion of said body in order to sealably reclose the container after said tear-out panel has been partially separated from said body.  
     
     
         4 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first end panel and said second end panel comprises a transparent portion for viewing of product within the container prior to separation of said tear-out panel from said body.  
     
     
         5 . The container according to  claim 1 , further comprising a membrane below said tear-out panel, said membrane adhered to the inner surface of the container body.  
     
     
         6 . The container according to  claim 5 , wherein the membrane is made of barrier protective materials.