Packaging container and blank for producing the same

Abstract

A packaging container that is made from a flat sheet of material or extruded material with score lines that fold into a plurality of side panels, 3 or more, forming a tubular member having a longitudinal axis. The bottom folds concave and the top folds convex forming triangular webs having apexes which join at the longitudinal axis with the side edges of the adjacent triangular webs sealed together providing structural rigidity. The webs fold inside or outside and the scores can be such that a plurality of variations can be created for different appearances of the container. Protrusions extend outward from the apex of at least some of the top and bottom web panels which provide a means for sealing. Flaps on the ends of the side panels fold and seal together either to the inside or outside. The container can be stacked and nested.

1 . A container comprising: 
 (a) a plurality of flat side panel portions each having a top and bottom and defining a tubular member having a longitudinal axis and a polygonal cross section;    (b) a top closure formed by a first plurality of triangular shaped panels each having a base, two sides and an apex and each of which is formed integrally with the top of one of said side panel portions, each of said triangular shaped panels being defined by score lines extending angularly downwardly from the apex at the top of said tubular member to a first transverse score line disposed displaced from said top and forming the base, each of said triangular shaped panels being folded inwardly so that their apexes join substantially at said axis and so that sides of adjacent panels of said first plurality of triangular shaped panels engage each other;    (c) means for sealing said sides of said adjacent triangular shaped panels of said first plurality of triangular shaped panels together;    (d) a bottom closure formed by a second plurality of triangular shaped panels each having a base, two sides and an apex and each of which is formed integrally with the bottom of one of said side panel portions, each of said triangular shaped panels being defined by score lines extending angularly upwardly from the apex at the bottom of said tubular member to a second transverse score line disposed displaced from said bottom and forming the base, each of said triangular shaped panels being folded inwardly so that their apexes join substantially at said axis and so that sides of adjacent panels of said second plurality of triangular shaped panels engage each other; and    (e) means for sealing said sides of said adjacent triangular shaped panels of said second plurality of triangular shaped panels together.    
   
   
       2 . A container as defined in  claim 1  wherein said second plurality of triangular shaped panels are disposed with their apexes located internally of said tubular member thereby providing a substantially concave bottom closure.  
   
   
       3 . A container as defined in  claim 1  which further includes an additional triangular shaped panel having two sides, a base and an apex disposed between adjacent ones of said first and second plurality of triangular shaped panels, one side of said additional triangular shaped panel being common with a side of an adjacent one of said plurality of triangular shaped panels.  
   
   
       4 . A container as defined in  claim 3  wherein each said additional triangular shaped panel includes a score line extending from its apex and extending to a right angle intersection with its base to allow said additional triangular shaped panel to fold against itself to provide a supporting web for said closure.  
   
   
       5 . A container as defined in  claim 4  wherein said supporting webs are disposed internally of said tubular member.  
   
   
       6 . A container as defined in  claim 4  wherein said supporting webs are disposed externally of said tubular member.  
   
   
       7 . A container as defined in  claim 1  which further includes a protrusion extending outwardly from the apex of at least some of said triangular shaped panels on said top closure and said bottom closure and means for sealing said protrusions together to form a fillet for sealing said top and bottom closures.  
   
   
       8 . A container as defined in  claim 7  wherein said second plurality of triangular shaped panels are disposed with their apexes located internally of said tubular member thereby providing a substantially concave bottom closure.  
   
   
       9 . A container as defined in  claim 7  which further includes an additional triangular shaped panel having two sides, a base and an apex disposed between adjacent ones of said first and second plurality of triangular shaped panels, one side of said additional triangular shaped panel being common with a side of an adjacent one of said plurality of triangular shaped panels.  
   
   
       10 . A container as defined in  claim 9  wherein each said additional triangular shaped panel includes a score line extending from its apex and extending to a right angle intersection with its base to allow said additional triangular shaped panel to fold against itself to provide a supporting web for said closure.  
   
   
       11 . A container as defined in  claim 1  which is formed from a flat sheet of material having score lines extending between at least said top and bottom closures to define said flat panels portions and to permit said flat sheet to be folded about said score lines to form said tubular member.  
   
   
       12 . A container as defined in  claim 11  wherein said flat sheet of material includes a flap extending substantially along each side edge thereof, said flaps being sealed together when said sheet is folded about said score lines to form said tubular member.  
   
   
       13 . A container as defined in  claim 12  wherein said flaps extend externally of said tubular member and provide a handle for manipulation of said container.  
   
   
       14 . A container as defined in  claim 4  wherein said first, second and additional plurality of triangular shaped panels are all equilateral triangles.  
   
   
       15 . A container as defined in  claim 4  wherein said first plurality of triangular shaped panels and said additional triangular shaped panels disposed therebetween are isoseles triangles.  
   
   
       16 . A container as defined in  claim 15  wherein said sides of said first additional plurality of triangular shaped panels are longer than the bases thereof so that said top closure extends upwardly to form a bottle type of container.  
   
   
       17 . A container as defined in  claim 16  wherein said supporting webs are disposed externally of said tubular member.  
   
   
       18 . A container as defined in  claim 16  wherein said supporting webs are designed internally of said tubular member.  
   
   
       19 . A container as defined in  claim 1  wherein said tubular member is formed from an extruded tube.  
   
   
       20 . A container as defined in  claim 11  wherein said flat sheet of material comprises a plurality of sheets of material laminated together.  
   
   
       21 . A container as defined in  claim 20  wherein said laminate includes an inner layer of food grade material, an outer layer and a stiffener layer sandwiched between said inner and outer layers.  
   
   
       22 . A container as defined in  claim 21  which further includes an additional triangular shaped panel having two sides, a base and an apex disposed between adjacent ones of said first and second plurality of triangular shaped panels, one side of said additional triangular shaped panel being common with a side of an adjacent one of said plurality of triangular shaped panels, said additional triangular shaped panel being formed only on said inner layer of material.  
   
   
       23 . A container as defined in  claim 22  wherein each said additional triangular shaped panel includes a score line extending from its apex and extending to a right angle intersection with its base to allow said additional triangular shaped panel to fold against itself to provide a supporting web for said closure.  
   
   
       24 . A container as defined in  claim 23  which further includes a protrusion extending outwardly from the apex of at least some of said triangular shaped panels on said top closure and said bottom closure and means for sealing said protrusions together to form a fillet for sealing said top and bottom closures, said protrusions being only on said inner layer of material.  
   
   
       25 . A container as defined in  claim 4  wherein one of said first plurality of triangular shaped panels is adopted for use as a dispensing spout and said additional triangular shaped panel on each side of said dispensing spout panel is disposed externally of said tubular member and is folded over said dispensing spout panel.  
   
   
       26 . A container as defined in  claim 25  wherein each of said additional triangular shaped panels on each side of said dispensing spout panel further includes a tab member extending therefrom for use in placing said dispensing spout panel in a position to dispense contents of said container.  
   
   
       27 . A container as defined in  claim 1  which is formed from an extruded tubular member having score lines defining said first and second plurality of triangular shaped panels.  
   
   
       28 . A container as defined in  claim 1  wherein one of said first plurality of triangular shaped panels defines a plurality of openings therethrough.  
   
   
       29 . A container as defined in  claim 28  wherein said additional triangular shaped panel on each side of said panel defining openings therethrough is disposed externally of said container and is folded over said panel defining openings therethrough.  
   
   
       30 . A container comprising: 
 (a) a plurality of flat side panel portions each having a top and bottom and defining a tubular member having a longitudinal axis;    (b) a top closure formed by a first plurality of generally triangular shaped panels each having a base, and each of which is formed integrally with the top of one of said side panel portions, the sides of each of said generally triangular shaped panels being defined by score lines extending angularly downwardly to a first transverse score line disposed displaced from said top and forming the base, each of said triangular shaped panels being folded inwardly so that sides of adjacent panels of said first plurality of triangular shaped panels engage each other;    (c) means for sealing said sides of said adjacent triangular shaped panels of said first plurality of triangular shaped panels together;    (d) a bottom closure formed by a second plurality of triangular shaped panels each having a base, two sides and an apex and each of which is formed integrally with the bottom of one of said side panel portions, each of said triangular shaped panels being defined by score lines extending angularly upwardly from the apex at the bottom of said tubular member to a second transverse score line disposed displaced from said bottom and forming the base, each of said triangular shaped panels being folded inwardly so that their apexes join substantially at said axis and so that sides of adjacent panels of said second plurality of triangular shaped panels engage each other; and    (e) means for sealing said sides of said adjacent triangular shaped panels of said second plurality of triangular shaped panels together.    
   
   
       31 . A container as defined in  claim 30  wherein said score lines forming said sides of each said generally triangular shaped panel extend in a substantially parallel spaced apart manner from a third transverse score line disposed between said first transverse score line and said top to said top.  
   
   
       32 . A container as defined in  claim 31  which further includes a web member disposed between adjacent ones of said generally triangular shaped panels and extending externally of said tubular member, each said web member being folded over to engage an adjacent panel member and being sealed thereto.  
   
   
       33 . A blank for packaging containers, said blank comprising a flat sheet of material having upper and lower transverse score lines corresponding substantially to the top and bottom of the container and having a plurality of side wall panels, the side wall panels being designed by pairs of parallel vertical score lines intersecting said first and second transverse score lines a first plurality of diagonally disposed score lines extending between said first transverse score line and the top of said sheet of material and a second plurality of diagonal score lines extending between said second transverse score line and the other end of said sheet of material, said blank being adapted to form a container.  
   
   
       34 . A blank as defined in  claim 33 , which further includes additional score lines displaced from said side edges of said sheet of material to form side flaps to be sealed together in forming said container.