Container assembly

Abstract

A container assembly has a thermoformed plastic container with a base and a container wall terminating at a container flange, and a flexible container lid is attached to an upper surface of the container flange by a first heat sealing material The assembly also includes a support with a support wall surrounding the container wall and terminating at a support flange, wherein the support flange is configured and arranged to abut against a lower surface of the container flange, and is attached thereto by a second heat sealing material.

1 . A container assembly comprising:
 a plastic container comprising a base, and a container wall extending from and surrounding the base and terminating at a container flange extending around the container wall to define a mouth of the container;   a support comprising a support wall arranged to surround the container wall, said support wall terminating at a support flange; and   a flexible container lid attached to an upper surface of the container flange by a first heat sealing material,   wherein the support flange is configured and arranged to abut against a lower surface of the container flange, and   wherein the support flange is attached to the lower surface of the container flange by a second heat sealing material.   
     
     
         2 . The container assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the container flange comprises a downwardly projecting lip extending from a peripheral edge of the container flange in a direction towards the base, and wherein the lip opposes the container wall to define a channel therebetween receiving the support flange therein. 
     
     
         3 . The container assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the support flange is mechanically secured between the lip and the container wall. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The container assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the support comprises a tab projecting from a distal edge of the support flange so as to extend beyond a distal end of the lip. 
     
     
         6 . The container assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the container wall comprises a plurality of container wall panels defining corner regions at an intersection between adjacent container wall panels and the base, and wherein each corner region is tapered or chamfered. 
     
     
         7 . The container assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the container wall comprises eight wall panels. 
     
     
         8 . The container assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the container wall comprises a plurality of container wall panels including a first pair of opposing side wall panels, a second pair of opposing end wall panels, and four corner container wall panels, each corner container wall panel extending between a side wall panel and an adjacent end wall panel, optionally wherein container wall panels define a substantially octagonal container. 
     
     
         9 . The container assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the container flange defines a perimeter that is substantially rectangular; optionally, wherein the perimeter defines a rectangle with curved corners. 
     
     
         10 . The container assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the support wall comprises a plurality of support wall panels, and wherein the support flange comprises a support flange part extending from a distal edge of each support wall panel. 
     
     
         11 . The container assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the support flange parts are configured and arranged such that they form a continuous support flange around the support wall. 
     
     
         12 . The container assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the support wall comprises a plurality of support wall panels including a first pair of side support wall panels, a second pair of end support wall panels, and four corner support wall panels each corner support wall panels extending a support side wall panel and an adjacent support end wall panel; optionally wherein the support wall panels define a substantially octagonal support. 
     
     
         13 . The container assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the support wall comprises eight support wall panels. 
     
     
         14 . The container assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the support flange defines a perimeter that is substantially rectangular; optionally, wherein the perimeter defines a rectangle with curved corners. 
     
     
         15 . The container assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the container wall is substantially linear in a direction between the base and the container flange and tapers in a direction towards the base. 
     
     
         16 . The container assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the container wall tapers at an angle in the range 5° to 19°, in the range 10° to 18°, in the range 12° to 16°, for example approximately 14°. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The container assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the first heat sealing material is selected from a polymeric film such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and/or polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
         21 . The container assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the second heat sealing material is selected from: a non-plastic heat sealable material such as polylactic acid; an aqueous heat-sealing material; polyethylene; polypropylene; and/or polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
         22 . The container assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the support is formed from a fibrous material such as paper or card. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The container assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the support wall comprises a pair of support end wall panels and a pair of support side wall panels and a support corner panel between adjacent support side and end wall panels, and wherein the support flange parts extend from the support side and project beyond the respective end or side support wall panel so as to define a continuous flange around the support wall. 
     
     
         25 . The container assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the melting temperature of the second heat sealing material is less than the melting temperature of the first heat sealing material. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled)