Fin seal container and method

Abstract

A method for assembling a fin seal container including folding a container blank into a three-dimensional body that defines an internal volume and includes an end portion that defines an opening into the internal volume, the end portion including a first fin seal panel having inner and outer major surfaces and a second fin seal panel having inner and outer major surfaces, folding the end portion such that the inner major surface of the first fin seal panel is positioned adjacent to the inner major surface of the second fin seal panel, separating the first fin seal panel from the second fin seal panel, treating the inner major surface of the first fin seal panel and/or the inner major surface of the second fin seal panel, and pressing the first fin seal panel into engagement with the second fin seal panel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fin seal container made by the method comprising the steps of:
 folding a container blank into a three-dimensional body that defines an internal volume and includes an end portion that defines an opening into said internal volume, said end portion including a first fin seal panel having inner and outer major surfaces and a second fin seal panel having inner and outer major surfaces;   folding said end portion such that said inner major surface of said first fin seal panel is positioned adjacent to said inner major surface of said second fin seal panel;
 separating said first fin seal panel from said second fin seal panel; 
   with said first and said second fin seal panels separated, treating at least one of said inner major surface of said first fin seal panel and said inner major surface of said second fin seal panel; and   after said treating step, pressing said first fin seal panel into engagement with said second fin seal panel;   wherein said first fin seal panel comprises a pre-formed fold line;   wherein said separating step comprises pivoting a portion of said first fin seal panel about said pre-formed fold line; and   wherein the pre-formed fold line is sufficiently below the top edge of said second fin seal panel so that a sufficient amount of the inner surfaces of the first and second seal panels are exposed.   
     
     
         2 . The fin seal container of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said inner major surface of said first fin seal panel and said inner major surface of said second fin seal panel comprises a heat-sealable material. 
     
     
         3 . The fin seal container of  claim 2  wherein said heat-sealable material comprises polyethylene. 
     
     
         4 . The fin seal container of  claim 1  wherein said first fin seal panel includes an extension portion that extends a distance beyond said second fin seal panel. 
     
     
         5 . The fin seal container of  claim 4  wherein said separating step comprises engaging said extension portion. 
     
     
         6 . The fin seal container of  claim 4  wherein the method further comprises the step of folding said extension portion over said second fin seal panel. 
     
     
         7 . The fin seal container of  claim 1  wherein said treating step comprises heat treating at least one of said inner major surface of said first fin seal panel and said inner major surface of said second fin seal panel. 
     
     
         8 . The fin seal container of  claim 7  wherein, during said heat treating step, said inner major surface of said first fin seal panel reaches a target temperature prior to said outer major surface of said first fin seal panel reaching said target temperature. 
     
     
         9 . The fin seal container of  claim 1  wherein said treating step comprises the step of applying an adhesive to at least one of said inner major surface of said first fin seal panel and said inner major surface of said second fin seal panel. 
     
     
         10 . The fin seal container of  claim 1  wherein said pressing step is performed with compression rollers. 
     
     
         11 . The fin seal container of  claim 1  wherein said first fin seal panel has a first width and said second fin seal panel has a second width, said second width being at most 90 percent of said first width. 
     
     
         12 . A fin seal container made by the method comprising the steps of:
 folding a container blank into a three-dimensional body that defines an internal volume and includes an end portion that defines an opening into said internal volume, said end portion including a first fin seal panel having an extension portion, a pre-formed fold line, an inner major surface and an outer major surface and a second fin seal panel having inner and outer major surfaces, wherein said inner major surface of said first fin seal panel and said inner major surface of said second fin seal panel are coated with a heat-sealable material;   folding said end portion such that said inner major surface of said first fin seal panel is positioned adjacent to, and in generally parallel alignment with, said inner major surface of said second fin seal panel;   engaging said extension portion to pivot said extension portion about said pre-formed fold line away from said second fin seal panel;   after said engaging step, heat-treating at least one of said inner major surface of said first fin seal panel and said inner major surface of said second fin seal panel; and   after said heat-treating step, pressing said first fin seal panel into engagement with said second fin seal panel.   
     
     
         13 . A fin seal container made by the method comprising the steps of:
 folding a container blank into a three-dimensional body that defines an internal volume and includes an end portion that defines an opening into said internal volume, said end portion including a first fin seal panel having inner and outer major surfaces and a second fin seal panel having inner and outer major surfaces;   folding said end portion such that said inner major surface of said first fin seal panel is positioned adjacent to said inner major surface of said second fin seal panel;   separating said first fin seal panel from said second fin seal panel;   with said first and said second fin seal panels separated, treating at least one of said inner major surface of said first fin seal panel and said inner major surface of said second fin seal panel; and   after said treating step, pressing said first fin seal panel into engagement with said second fin seal panel;   wherein said first fin seal panel includes an extension portion that extends a distance beyond said second fin seal panel; and   wherein said separating step comprises engaging said extension portion without engaging said second fin seal panel.