Packaging container

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to packaging containers. The packaging containers include a vessel and a cover, and may be used in the food and beverage industry. In one aspect, the invention relates to packaging containers in which beverage ingredients may be stored, and from which a beverage may be prepared by adding a liquid to the ingredients may be consumed. The invention provides, in one aspect, a packaging container including a vessel defining a vessel base wall and an upstanding vessel side wall structure extending upwardly from the vessel base wall, defining an inner zone capable of retaining liquid, a cover defining a cover base wall and a cover side wall structure extending upwardly from the cover base wall configured to rest within the vessel side wall structure, whereby a void is defined between the vessel and the cover, and a circumferential seal adapted to seal the cover to an outer surface of the vessel below the vessel rim formation.

1 . A packaging container including
 a vessel defining a vessel base wall and an upstanding vessel side wall structure extending upwardly from the vessel base wall, defining an inner zone capable of retaining liquid,   a cover defining a cover base wall and a cover side wall structure extending upwardly from the cover base wall configured to rest within the vessel side wall structure, whereby a void is defined between the vessel and the cover, and   a circumferential seal adapted to seal the cover to an outer surface of the vessel below the vessel rim formation.   
     
     
         2 . The packaging container according to  claim 1 , wherein an inner circumference of an upper region of the cover side wall structure is greater than an outer circumference of the vessel base wall. 
     
     
         3 . The packaging container according to  claim 1 , wherein the vessel includes a vessel rim formation at an upper free end of the vessel side wall structure, and the cover side wall structure has a cover rim formation positioned above the vessel rim formation. 
     
     
         4 . The packaging container according to  claim 3 , wherein the cover rim formation has a flange extending radially outwardly from an upper end of the cover side wall structure, the flange being circumferentially continuous. 
     
     
         5 . The packaging container according to  claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the cover rim formation extends downwardly at a radially outer portion to define an annular downwardly facing groove to, in use, contain the vessel rim formation. 
     
     
         6 . The packaging container according to  claim 4 , wherein the cover rim formation is formed as an annular clip to, in use, engage with and releasably hold the vessel rim formation. 
     
     
         7 . The packaging container according to  claim 1 , wherein the circumferential seal includes a circumferentially extending film having a lower edge zone adhesively secured to the outer surface of the vessel. 
     
     
         8 . The packaging container according to  claim 1 , wherein the circumferential seal includes a circumferentially extending film having an upper edge zone adhesively secured to a radially outwardly facing surface of the cover. 
     
     
         9 . The packaging container according to  claim 8 , wherein the circumferentially extending upper edge zone of the film is adhesively secured to an outer surface of the cover rim formation. 
     
     
         10 . The packaging container according to  claim 1 , wherein the circumferential seal is at least partly formed by a tubular film. 
     
     
         11 . The packaging container according to  claim 1 , further including an opening indication at least partially extending through the circumferential seal. 
     
     
         12 . The packaging container according to  claim 11 , wherein the opening indication comprises one or more perforation lines. 
     
     
         13 . The packaging container according to  claim 1 , wherein a food or beverage product is, or one or more ingredients for making a food or beverage product are, present in the void. 
     
     
         14 . The packaging container according to  claim 13 , wherein the one or more ingredients are dry and for making a beverage product. 
     
     
         15 . The packaging container of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel and the cover are dimensionally self-sustaining. 
     
     
         16 . The container according to  claim 15 , wherein the cover base wall is configured to receive at least a lower region of the vessel extending below an upper most portion of the cover base wall when multiple containers are stacked. 
     
     
         17 . The packaging container according to  claim 1 , wherein the vessel is suitable for holding a food or beverage product during consumption. 
     
     
         18 . Two or more packaging containers according to  claim 1 , wherein the two or more packaging containers are stacked. 
     
     
         19 . The two or more packaging containers according to  claim 18 , wherein a volume of the stack is less than the sum of a volume of the individual packaging containers. 
     
     
         20 . The packaging container according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover base wall is indented upwardly from a lowermost peripheral extremity to form a recessed cavity. 
     
     
         21 . The packaging container according to  claim 20 , wherein two or more of the containers are vertically stackable, and when stacked, the lower cover base wall of a lower container engages with the vessel base wall of an upper container.