A reclosable container

Abstract

A reclosable container includes a container body made of a cellulosic material and at least one closing formation including a first closure element and a second closure element engageable with each other to keep the container in a closed configuration and disengageable from each other to open the container, wherein at least one of the first closure element and second closure element is made of a hydrosoluble thermoplastic material.

1 . A reclosable container, comprising
 a container body made of a cellulosic material and having an aperture,   a movable cover made of a cellulosic material removably applied to said aperture and movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, and   at least one closing formation including a first closure element and a second closure element provided on said container body and movable cover, respectively, and engageable with each other to keep the reclosable container in a closed configuration and disengageable from each other to open the reclosable container,   wherein at least one of said first and second closure elements is made of a hydrosoluble thermoplastic material.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second closure elements of a hydrosoluble thermoplastic material is provided as a separate element fixed by water-sealing or by glue to either said container body or movable cover. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container body comprises a body bottom wall, a pair of body front walls and a pair of body side walls,
 wherein the movable cover comprises a cover top wall hinged to the container body along a hinge line extending along a side of the cover top wall and along a top side of one of said pair of body front walls of the container body, and a pair of cover sides,   wherein the reclosable container comprises a pair of closing formations each including the first closure element made of hydrosoluble thermoplastic material and the second closure element consisting of a through hole formed on a respective body side wall of the pair of body side walls,   wherein said first closure element comprises an engagement button set at a distal end of an arm fixed to an inner surface of a respective cover side of the pair of cover sides, and   wherein in said closed configuration each of said engagement buttons snap engages into a respective through hole.   
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container body comprises a body bottom wall, a pair of body front walls and a pair of body side walls,
 wherein the movable cover is detachable from the container body and comprises a cover top wall, and at least one pair of cover sides, wherein the reclosable container comprises a pair of closing formations each including the first closure element made of hydrosoluble thermoplastic material and the second closure element consisting of a through slot formed on a respective body side wall of the pair of body side walls,   wherein said first closure element comprises an engagement tooth fixed to a respective cover side of the pair of cover sides, and   wherein in said closed configuration of the reclosable container each of said engagement teeth snap engages into a respective through slot.   
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container body comprises a body bottom wall, a pair of body front walls and a pair of body side walls,
 wherein the movable cover has a tubular shape elongated along a longitudinal direction, and comprises a cover top wall, a cover bottom wall and a pair of cover sides, and wherein the movable cover is detachable from the container body and is slidable on the container body along said longitudinal direction,   wherein the reclosable container comprises a pair of closing formations each including the first closure element formed by an engagement button made of hydrosoluble thermoplastic material and the second closure element consisting of a through hole formed on a respective cover side wall of the pair of cover sides, and   wherein each engagement button is fixed to an outer surface of a respective body side wall of the pair of body side walls, and   wherein in said closed configuration of the reclosable container each of said engagement buttons snap engages into a respective through hole.   
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container body comprises a body top wall in which said aperture is formed,
 wherein the movable cover is detachable from the container body and comprises a cover top wall,   wherein the reclosable container-comprises a pair of closing formations each including the first closure element formed by a flexible engagement tab of hydrosoluble thermoplastic material and the second closure element consisting of a through slot formed in said cover top wall,   wherein said flexible engagement tab is fixed to an outer surface of said body top wall and projects upwardly from said outer surface, and   wherein in said closed configuration of the reclosable container each of said flexible engagement tabs engages into a respective through slot.   
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the container body comprises a body lateral wall having an open top edge,
 wherein said body top wall has an annular flat surface in which said aperture is formed and a flank portion extending upwardly from said annular flat surface and fixed to an upper portion of said body lateral wall,   wherein said flexible engagement tabs are fixed to said annular flat surface, and   wherein said movable cover has a cover side wall having an outer edge and wherein said cover top wall is recessed with respect to said outer edge, and   wherein in said closed configuration said cover side wall is in contact with an inner surface of said flank portion of said body top wall and said cover top wall abuts on said annular flat surface.   
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container body comprises a body bottom wall, a pair of body front walls and a pair of body side walls,
 wherein the movable cover is hinged to the container body along a hinge line extending along a top side of one of said body front walls of the container body, and comprises a cover front side opposite to said hinge line,   wherein the reclosable container comprises a pair of closing formations each including the first closure element and the second closure element both made of hydrosoluble thermoplastic material,   wherein said first closure element is formed by an engagement tooth fixed to said cover front side and said second closure element is formed by a U-shaped bridge fixed to one of the body front walls opposite to the hinge line, and   wherein in said closed configuration each of said engagement teeth snap engages into a respective U-shaped bridge.   
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container body comprises a body top wall in which said aperture is formed,
 wherein the movable cover comprises a flat panel of cellulosic material slidable on said body top wall along a longitudinal direction,   wherein the first closure element of said closing formation is formed by a plate of hydrosoluble thermoplastic material fixed at an end of said flat panel and including two flexible engagement teeth,   wherein the second closure element of said closing formation comprises a pair of straight guide sections made of hydrosoluble thermoplastic material fixed to an outer surface of said body top wall, parallel to said longitudinal direction and extending outside of said aperture, and   wherein said flat panel is slidably movable in said longitudinal direction between said pair of straight guide sections, and   wherein in a closed position of said flat panel said flexible engagement teeth engage respective holes formed in end portions of said straight guide sections.   
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled)