Composite container having a hermetically sealed polymeric sleeve

Abstract

A container for protectively encapsulating a product, such as a perishable food product, during shipment and display. The container includes a tubular body 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 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 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 between the end closure and the body. A score line on the film sleeve facilitates opening of the container while extending only partially through the film sleeve to preserve its barrier properties.

That which is claimed:  
     
         1 . A container for protectively encapsulating a product during shipment, said container comprising: 
 a tubular body constructed of a composite sheet material and including an outer body surface, said body defining therein a receptacle, said outer surface of the body defining an edge surrounding an entrance of the receptacle, said receptacle and entrance sized and shaped to receive the product;    a end closure shaped to abut the edge of the body and extend over the entrance of the receptacle, said end closure including an outer end closure surface wherein adjacent portions of the outer end closure surface and outer body surface form a juncture;    a film sleeve covering the body and extending over the juncture between the body and outer end closure surfaces; and    an adhesive adhering the film sleeve to the outer surface of at least the end closure so as to seal the juncture between the end closure and the film.    
     
     
         2 . A container of  claim 1 , wherein the body has a tubular shape including a pair of opposed ends, at least one of the ends having a circular shaped edge defining the entrance to the receptacle.  
     
     
         3 . A container of  claim 2 , wherein the end closure has a circular shape and wherein the end closure abuts the circular shaped edge.  
     
     
         4 . A container of  claim 3 , further comprising a second end closure having a circular shape, wherein the second end closure abuts a circular shaped edge of the other end.  
     
     
         5 . A container of  claim 4 , wherein the second end closure has an outer end closure surface with a portion adjacent to a portion of the outer body surface so as to form a second juncture.  
     
     
         6 . A container of  claim 5 , wherein the film sleeve extends over the second juncture and wherein the adhesive adheres the film sleeve to the outer surface of the second end closure.  
     
     
         7 . A container of  claim 1 , wherein the composite material includes multiple plies.  
     
     
         8 . A container of  claim 7 , wherein the multiple plies include an inner liner ply and an outer paperboard ply.  
     
     
         9 . A container of  claim 8 , wherein the inner ply is at least partially impermeable to fluids.  
     
     
         10 . A container of  claim 8 , wherein the inner ply is at least partially constructed of a metal foil.  
     
     
         11 . A container of  claim 7 , wherein the inner ply is a metalized film.  
     
     
         12 . A container of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is an ethylene acrylic acid dispersion.  
     
     
         13 . A container of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is any one of a latex acrylic, an ionomer, a heat-activated urethane, a heat-activated PVDC and a heat-activated acrylic material.  
     
     
         14 . A container of  claim 1 , wherein the film sleeve includes at least one ply of a polyethylene terephthalate, oriented polypropylene, oriented PVC, oriented polystyrene and oriented polyethylene terephthalate glycol materials.  
     
     
         15 . A container of  claim 1 , wherein the film sleeve defines a score line extending between the ends of the body.  
     
     
         16 . A container of  claim 15 , wherein the score line penetrates only a portion of the thickness of the film sleeve.  
     
     
         17 . A container of  claim 16 , wherein the score line is in registration with a seam in the composite sheet material.  
     
     
         18 . A container of  claim 1 , wherein the film sleeve defines a pair of parallel score lines and further includes a peel tab between the pair of parallel score lines.  
     
     
         19 . A container of  claim 18 , wherein the score line penetrates only a portion of the thickness of the film sleeve.  
     
     
         20 . A container of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive also adheres the film sleeve to the outer body surface.  
     
     
         21 . A container of  claim 1 , wherein the film sleeve is shrink-fit onto the end closure and body.  
     
     
         22 . A container for protectively encapsulating a perishable food product during shipment and display, said container comprising: 
 a tubular body constructed of a composite sheet material including an body ply and an inner liner ply, said tubular body having an outer surface and defining a receptacle having a pair of opposing end entrances, said outer surface of the body defining an edge surrounding each entrance of the receptacle, wherein said receptacle and at least one of the entrances are sized and shaped to receive the product;    an end closure extending over one of the entrances of the receptacle and abutting the edge of the entrance, said end closure including an outer end closure surface wherein adjacent portions of the outer end closure surface and outer body surface form a juncture;    a second end closure extending over, and fixed to, the other one of the entrances of the receptacle and abutting the edge of the entrance, said second end closure including an outer closure surface wherein adjacent portions of the outer closure surface and outer body surface form a second juncture;    a film sleeve extending over the outer surface of the tubular body, the junctures and onto the outer surfaces of the end closures, said film sleeve adhered to at least the outer surfaces of the end closures.    
     
     
         23 . A container of  claim 22 , further comprising an adhesive adhering the film sleeve to the outer surfaces of the end closures.  
     
     
         24 . A container of  claim 23 , wherein the adhesive is an ethylene acrylic acid.  
     
     
         25 . A container of  claim 23 , wherein the adhesive is any one of a latex acrylic, an ionomer, a heat-sealing urethane and a heat-sealing acrylic materials.  
     
     
         26 . A container of  claim 22 , wherein the inner liner ply is fluid resistant and the body ply is constructed of a paperboard material.  
     
     
         27 . A container of  claim 22 , wherein the inner ply is at least partially constructed of a metal foil.  
     
     
         28 . A container of  claim 22 , wherein the inner ply is a metalized film.  
     
     
         29 . A container of  claim 22 , wherein the film sleeve includes at least one ply of a polyethylene terephthalate, oriented polypropylene, oriented PVC, oriented polystyrene and oriented polyethylene terephthalate glycol materials.  
     
     
         30 . A container of  claim 22 , wherein the film sleeve defines a seam extending between the ends of the body.  
     
     
         31 . A container of  claim 22 , wherein the film sleeve defines a score line extending between the ends of the body.  
     
     
         32 . A container of  claim 31 , wherein the score line penetrates only a portion of the thickness of the film sleeve.  
     
     
         33 . A container of  claim 31 , wherein the score line is in registration with a seam in the composite sheet material.  
     
     
         34 . A container of  claim 22 , wherein the film sleeve defines a pair of parallel score lines and further includes a peel tab between the pair of parallel score lines.  
     
     
         35 . A container of  claim 34 , wherein the score line penetrates only a portion of the thickness of the film sleeve.  
     
     
         36 . A method of manufacturing a container having a composite tubular body and an outer polymeric sleeve, said method comprising: 
 applying an end closure to one end of the composite tubular body;    applying an adhesive to at least one of an inner surface of the polymeric sleeve and an outer surface of the composite tubular body;    sleeving the polymeric sleeve about the composite tubular body and over the end closure; and    adhering the polymeric sleeve to the end closure of the composite tubular body so as to hermetically seal the container.    
     
     
         37 . A method of  claim 36 , further comprising applying a second end closure to another end of the composite tubular body after applying the end closure and wherein adhering the polymeric sleeve includes adhering the sleeve to the end closure.  
     
     
         38 . A method of  claim 36 , wherein adhering the polymeric sleeve includes heating the polymeric sleeve and shrinking the polymeric sleeve onto the composite tubular body, end closure and end closure and heating the adhesive until tacky.  
     
     
         39 . A method of  claim 36 , further comprising scoring the polymeric sleeve.  
     
     
         40 . A method of  claim 39 , wherein scoring includes laser scoring the polymeric sleeve to a depth that is only a portion of the thickness of the polymeric sleeve.  
     
     
         41 . A composite container for products, comprising: 
 a tubular body of wound sheet material including at least one structural paperboard ply, the body having an open end;    an end closure affixed to the body so as to close the open end, the end closure having an outer surface extending adjacent to an outer surface of the body; and    a sleeve of polymer film encircling the body so as to fully cover the outer surface thereof, the sleeve also extending onto the outer surface of the end closure so as to substantially seal a juncture between the end closure and the body against passage of fluid.