Multi-component packaging system and method for manufacture

Abstract

A storage means provides sealed storage for contents. A closure means is fused to a container by application of an electromagnetic field providing a permanent and hermetic seal between the closure and the container. The closure further includes a removable panel to provide access to the contents of the container.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A sealable storage container, comprising: 
 a container having an upper edge, sides and a bottom;    a closure comprising: 
 a frame;  
 a cover panel which is at least partially removable; and  
 a means for bonding the closure to the upper top edge of the container.  
   
     
     
         2 . The storage container of  claim 1  wherein the frame includes a means for facilitating the placement of the closure on the container.  
     
     
         3 . The storage container of  claim 2  wherein the means for facilitating the placement of the closure on the container is a pair of downwardly extending legs which form a channel into which the upper edge is inserted.  
     
     
         4 . The storage container of  claim 1  wherein the frame includes a means for facilitating stacking a plurality of storage containers.  
     
     
         5 . The storage container of  claim 4  wherein the means for facilitating stacking a plurality of storage containers comprises an upwardly extending peripheral rim which accepts the bottom of one of the plurality of storage containers.  
     
     
         6 . The storage container of  claim 1  wherein the cover panel is a flexible membrane which is releasably bonded to the closure frame.  
     
     
         7 . The storage container of  claim 1  wherein the cover panel is made from a thermoplastic polymeric material.  
     
     
         8 . The storage container of  claim 1  wherein the cover panel includes a grip means for removing at least a portion of the cover panel.  
     
     
         9 . The storage container of  claim 8  wherein the grip means is a pull tab which extends from the cover panel.  
     
     
         10 . The storage container of  claim 8  wherein the grip means is a ring pull which is attached to the surface of the cover panel.  
     
     
         11 . The storage container of  claim 1  wherein the means for bonding the closure to the container comprises a fusion ring.  
     
     
         12 . The storage container of  claim 11  wherein the fusion ring is made from an electromagnetic, polymeric, fusible material.  
     
     
         13 . The storage container of  claim 11  wherein the fusion ring bonds the closure to the container by means of the non-contact application of an electromagnetic field.  
     
     
         14 . The storage container of  claim 1  wherein the means for bonding the closure to the container is the application of an electromagnetic field.  
     
     
         15 . The storage container of  claim 1  wherein the cover portion includes means for removing a portion of the cover panel.  
     
     
         16 . The storage container of  claim 15  wherein the means for removing a portion of the cover panel is selected from the group consisting of opposing pre-scored cuts in the cover panel; offset pre-scored cuts in the cover panel; and aligned, pre-scored cuts in the cover panel.  
     
     
         17 . A sealable storage container, comprising: 
 a container having an upper edge, sides and a bottom;    a closure comprising: 
 a frame including a pair of downwardly extending legs which form a channel into which the upper edge is inserted and an upwardly extending peripheral rim;  
 a cover panel which is at least partially removable; and  
 a fusion ring made from fusible material for bonding the closure to the upper top edge of the container by means of the non-contact application of an electromagnetic field.  
   
     
     
         18 . The storage container of  claim 17  wherein the cover portion includes means for removing a portion of the cover panel, wherein the means is selected from the group consisting of opposing pre-scored cuts in the cover panel; offset pre-scored cuts in the cover panel; and aligned, pre-scored cuts in the cover panel.  
     
     
         19 . A sealable storage container, comprising: 
 a container having an upper edge, sides and a lower edge;    at least one closure, each at least one closure comprising: 
 a frame;  
 a cover panel which is at least partially removable; and  
 a means for bonding the closure to the upper top edge of the container.  
   
     
     
         20 . The storage container of  claim 19  wherein the cover panel is a flexible membrane which is releasably bonded to the closure frame.  
     
     
         21 . The storage container of  claim 19  wherein the cover panel is made from a thermoplastic polymeric material.  
     
     
         22 . The storage container of  claim 19  wherein the cover panel includes a grip means for removing at least a portion of the cover panel.  
     
     
         23 . The storage container of  claim 19  wherein the means for bonding the closure to the container comprises a fusion ring.  
     
     
         24 . The storage container of  claim 23  wherein the fusion ring is made from an electro-magnetic, polymeric, fusible material.  
     
     
         25 . The storage container of  claim 24  wherein the fusion ring bonds the closure to the container by means of the non-contact application of an electromagnetic field.  
     
     
         26 . The storage container of  claim 19  wherein the means for bonding the closure to the container is the application of an electromagnetic field.  
     
     
         27 . The storage container of  claim 19  wherein the cover portion includes means for removing a portion of the cover panel, the means selected from the group consisting of opposing pre-scored cuts in the cover panel; offset pre-scored cuts in the cover panel; and aligned, pre-scored cuts in the cover panel.  
     
     
         28 . A method for manufacturing a sealable container closure, comprising: 
 providing a membrane with a peelable coating on one side;    inserting the membrane into a first mold section;    mating the first mold section containing the membrane with a second mold section to form a cavity area;    injecting a thermoplastic polymeric material into the cavity area to form a frame;    filling the cavity area with the thermoplastic polymeric material causing the peelable coating to bond to the frame;    replacing the second mold section with a third mold section; and    injecting a fusible polymeric material into the third mold section to form a fusible ring, wherein the membrane, frame and fusible ring form the closure.    
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28  wherein the fusible polymeric material is an electromagnetic material.  
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 28  wherein the fusible polymeric material is an oxygen scavenger.  
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 28  wherein the thermoplastic polymeric material includes one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of fumed silica, glass micro-spheres, talc, nano-clay, mica, calcium carbonate, iron powder, nylon, and EVOH.  
     
     
         32 . The storage container of  claim 28  wherein the membrane includes a grip means for removing at least a portion of the membrane.  
     
     
         33 . The storage container of  claim 32  wherein the grip means is a pull tab which extends from the membrane.  
     
     
         34 . The storage container of  claim 32  wherein the grip means is a ring pull which is attached to the surface of the membrane.  
     
     
         35 . A method for manufacturing a sealable container closure, comprising: 
 providing a first mold section and a second mold section;    mating the first mold section with the second mold section to form a first cavity area injecting a fusible polymeric material into the first cavity area to form a fusible ring having a shelf,    removing the second mold section;    placing a panel on the shelf of the fusible ring;    mating a third mold section with the first mold section to form a second cavity area; and    injecting a thermoplastic polymeric material into the second cavity area to form a frame, the panel, frame and fusible ring forming the closure.    
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 35  wherein the fusible polymeric material is an electromagnetic material.  
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 35  wherein the fusible polymeric material is an oxygen scavenger.  
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 35  wherein the thermoplastic polymeric material includes one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of fumed silica, glass micro-spheres, talc, nano-clay, mica, calcium carbonate, iron powder, nylon, and EVOH.  
     
     
         39 . The storage container of  claim 35  wherein the membrane includes a grip means for removing at least a portion of the membrane.  
     
     
         40 . The storage container of  claim 39  wherein the grip means is a pull tab which extends from the membrane.  
     
     
         41 . The storage container of  claim 39  wherein the grip means is a ring pull which is attached to the surface of the membrane.