Single Piece Tubular Container

Abstract

A can-shaped package is constructed from a single fibrous material, such as cardboard or paper, that is rolled into a cylinder or tube and is sealed at its end by cutting an open end of the tube into flaps and folding the flaps over one another to form an air tight bottom. By utilizing such a configuration, the can-shaped package can be constructed completely from biodegradable materials in a simple and efficient manner.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fibrous package, comprising:
 a tubular body forming an outer fibrous wall and a fibrous bottom, wherein the fibrous bottom comprises a first set of inwardly-folded flaps, wherein the tubular body consists of a single piece of fibrous material, and wherein the fibrous bottom comprises an outer rim surrounding an inner depression; and   a first adhesive sealing the first set of inwardly-folded flaps to form a first substantially air-tight closure.   
     
     
         2 . The fibrous package of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular body forms a fibrous top comprising a pull-tab that opens the fibrous top. 
     
     
         3 . The fibrous package of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap disposed to receive an open fibrous top of the tubular body. 
     
     
         4 . The fibrous package of  claim 1 , wherein the fibrous material is biodegradable. 
     
     
         5 . The fibrous package of  claim 1 , wherein the first adhesive is biodegradable. 
     
     
         6 . The fibrous package of  claim 1 , wherein the first adhesive is substantially impermeable to oil. 
     
     
         7 . The fibrous package of  claim 1 , wherein the first adhesive is substantially impermeable to water. 
     
     
         8 . The fibrous package of  claim 1 , wherein the first adhesive coats an inner wall of the tubular body. 
     
     
         9 . A method of constructing a fibrous package, comprising:
 providing an open-ended tube of fibrous material to form a wall of the package;   cutting the open-ended tube at a first end to form a first set of flaps; and   folding the first set of flaps towards a central axis of the tube to form a fibrous bottom.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising sealing the first set of flaps against one another to form an air-tight seal, 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of sealing comprises using a biodegradable adhesive to seal the first set of flaps against one another. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the biodegradable adhesive comprises water, milk powder, vinegar, and baking soda. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of folding the first set of flaps comprises pushing the first set of flaps towards a middle of the tube to form an inner depression of the fibrous bottom. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of providing the open-ended tube of fibrous material comprises rolling a flat fibrous material into a tube and adding adhesive to the flat fibrous material to hold a first side of the flat fibrous material against a second side of the flat fibrous material.