Container

Abstract

A container comprising a sidewall and an endwall connected by a heat sealed joint. The endwall has, in an operable orientation, a major upper surface, an endless, upwardly opening, peripheral channel and a heat sealable, fluid barrier, surface layer adhered to the major upper surface of the endwall. The sidewall has a heat sealable, fluid barrier, surface layer adhered to its inner and outer surfaces. The end of the sidewall is engaged and crimped within the endwall channel with the surface layers of the sidewall heat sealed to the surface layer of the endwall to form a sealed, mechanically rigid joint.

1 . A container comprising: 
 a) an endwall having, in an operable orientation, a major upper surface, an endless, upwardly opening, peripheral channel and a heat sealable, fluid barrier, surface layer adhered to the major upper surface of the endwall; and    b) a sidewall, having an inner surface, an outer surface, a heat sealable, fluid barrier, surface layer adhered to at least one of said sidewall surfaces, an end of the sidewall being engaged within the channel with the surface layer of the sidewall heat sealed to the surface layer of the endwall.    
     
     
         2 . The container in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the cross sectional configuration of the sidewall and the peripheral configuration of the endwall are identical geometrical shapes selected from the group consisting of oval, square, rectangular, triangular and trapezoidal.  
     
     
         3 . The container in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the sidewall has a circular cross section and the endwall is circular.  
     
     
         4 . The container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the endwall is a paperboard sheet material.  
     
     
         5 . The container in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the sidewall is a paperboard sheet material.  
     
     
         6 . The container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the sidewall has a heat sealable surface layer.  
     
     
         7 . The container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the sidewall has a heat sealable surface layer.  
     
     
         8 . The container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein both the outer surface and the inner surface of the sidewall have a heat sealable surface layer heat sealed to the endwall surface layer.  
     
     
         9 . The container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the heat sealable surface layer is polyethylene.  
     
     
         10 . The container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the endwall channel is crimped to seat the heat sealable surface layer at the channel against the sidewall.  
     
     
         11 . The container in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the endwall and the sidewall are a paperboard sheet material, wherein both the outer surface and the inner surface of the sidewall have a heat sealable surface layer heat sealed to the endwall surface layer.  
     
     
         12 . The container in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the surface layers are polyethylene.  
     
     
         13 . The container in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the sidewall is cylindrical and the endwall is circular.  
     
     
         14 . A method for forming a container, the method comprising: 
 a) forming an endless, peripheral channel in an endwall constructed of a sheet material having, in an operable orientation, a major upper surface and a heat sealable, fluid barrier, surface layer adhered to the major upper surface and extending into the channel;    b) inserting a sidewall into engagement in the channel, the sidewall having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a heat sealable, fluid barrier, surface layer adhered to at least one of said surfaces;    c) crimping the endwall channel against the sidewall to form a joint; and    d) heating said joint to heat seal the heat sealable layers of the endwall and the sidewall at the joint.    
     
     
         15 . The method for forming a container in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the crimping and heating steps comprise: 
 (a) heating a pair of mating male and female dies, one die formed to engage an inwardly facing wall of the channel and the other die formed to engage an outwardly facing wall of the channel; and    (b) compressibly wedging the channel against the sidewall between the dies to effect crimping and to transfer heat to the joint.    
     
     
         16 . The method for forming a container in accordance with  claim 15  further comprising supporting the endwall on a mandrel when the channel is engaged with the sidewall.