Semi-rigid shipping container with peel-reseal closure

Abstract

The present disclosure, in one embodiment, relates to a packaging assembly for holding liquids, viscous material, or particulate material. The packaging assembly includes a carton having side and bottom walls and an open top. A self-supporting plastic liner fits inside of the carton and is for containing liquids, viscous material, or particulate material. The liner has a side wall, a closed bottom end, and an open top end having an outwardly-projecting rim. The rim has a radially-extending flange portion, and a dependent skirt portion. When the self-supporting plastic liner is inside of the carton, the dependent skirt portion of the rim hangs over the side walls of the carton. A lidding material is removeably affixed to the rim of the plastic liner. A carton lid closes off the open top of the carton.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A packaging assembly, comprising:
 a self-supporting liner, the self-supporting liner comprising:
 a side wall; 
 a closed bottom end including a bottom wall integrally formed with the side wall; and 
 an open top end having an outwardly-projecting rim, the rim comprising a flange portion that terminates in a skirt portion, the rim being configured to receive a top edge of a carton; and 
   a peel-reseal lidding material sealed to the self-supporting liner, sealing a volume defined by the self-supporting liner and the peel-reseal lidding material, the peel-reseal lidding material comprising:
 a resealable outer layer including an outer layer edge; and 
 an interior second layer disposed between the resealable outer layer and the volume, the interior second layer having a center portion and a remaining portion, the center portion being at least partially separable from the remaining portion along a periphery of the center portion such that the center portion is movable to form an opening through the second layer, 
   wherein:
 in a closed position of the peel-reseal lidding material the resealable outer layer is sealed to the remaining portion and the center portion of the second layer across the periphery of the center portion in order to seal the volume; 
 in an open position of the peel-reseal lidding material the outer layer and the center portion of the second layer are moved to expose the volume; and 
 the outer layer is configured to be resealable to the remaining portion of the second layer, thereby allowing the peel-reseal lidding material to be moved from the closed position to the open position and back into the closed position. 
   
     
     
         26 . The packaging assembly of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 the carton including a top edge;   the bottom wall and the side wall of the self-supporting liner disposed in the carton; and   the top edge disposed in the rim.   
     
     
         27 . The packaging assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the skirt portion comprises a plurality of generally vertical ribs extending downward from the flange portion. 
     
     
         28 . The packaging assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the center portion is at least partially detached from the remaining portion along the periphery of the center portion. 
     
     
         29 . The packaging assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the periphery of the center portion comprises:
 a first side edge;   a second side edge; and   a front edge connecting the first side edge and the second side edge;   wherein the first side edge and the second side edge comprise substantially reflective geometries.   
     
     
         30 . The packaging assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the resealable outer layer comprises an unattached pull tab suitable to grasp to separate the resealable outer layer and interior second layer. 
     
     
         31 . The packaging assembly of  claim 25 , further comprising a tamper evident layer that is heat-sealed to the self-supporting liner and is configured to be opened by cutting through a center portion of the interior second layer. 
     
     
         32 . The packaging assembly of  claim 31 , wherein the flange portion rests on the top edge of the carton. 
     
     
         33 . A packaging assembly, comprising:
 a self-supporting liner having a closed bottom end and an open top end, the open top end defining an opening extending into a volume of the self-supporting liner, the self-supporting liner comprising:
 a flange portion positioned around a periphery of the opening, and 
 a skirt portion extending away from the flange portion and defining a reinforcing structure around the opening, wherein the flange portion and the skirt portion cooperate to define an outwardly projecting rim; and 
   a peel-reseal lidding material connected to the flange portion and sealing the volume defined by the self-supporting liner, the peel-reseal lidding material comprising:
 a resealable outer layer including an outer layer edge; and 
 an interior second layer disposed between the resealable outer layer and the volume, the interior second layer having a center portion and a remaining portion, the center portion being at least partially separable from the remaining portion along a periphery of the center portion such that the center portion is movable to form an opening through the second layer, wherein: 
   in a closed position of the peel-reseal lidding material the resealable outer layer is sealed to the remaining portion and the center portion of the second layer across the periphery of the center portion in order to seal the volume;   in an open position of the peel-reseal lidding material the outer layer and the center portion of the second layer are moved to expose the volume; and   the outer layer is configured to be resealable to the remaining portion of the second layer, thereby allowing the peel-reseal lidding material to be moved from the closed position to the open position and back into the closed position.   
     
     
         34 . The packaging assembly of  claim 33 , wherein the self-supporting liner comprises:
 a side wall, and   a bottom wall integrally formed with the side wall and cooperating with the side wall to define the volume of the self-supporting liner.   
     
     
         35 . The packaging assembly of  claim 33 , wherein the peel-reseal lidding material is sealed to self-supporting liner on the flange portion. 
     
     
         36 . The packaging assembly of  claim 33 , wherein the skirt portion extends along an entire periphery of the flange portion. 
     
     
         37 . The packaging assembly of  claim 33 , wherein the skirt portion extends at a downward angle from the flange portion. 
     
     
         38 . The packaging assembly of  claim 33 , wherein the outwardly projecting rim is configured to receive a top edge of a carton for securing the self-supporting liner to the carton. 
     
     
         39 . A packaging assembly, comprising:
 a self-supporting liner, the self-supporting line comprising:
 side walls defining an open area at an open top end of the self-supporting liner, 
 a bottom wall defining a closed bottom end of the self-supporting liner with the side walls, 
 an outwardly projecting rim connected to the side walls around the open area, the outwardly projecting rim comprising:
 a flange portion defining a surface around the open area, and 
 a skirt portion connected to the flange portion and including non-movement elements; and 
 
   a peel-reseal lidding material arranged over the surface and sealed to the self-supporting liner, sealing a volume defined by the self-supporting liner and the peel-reseal lidding material, the peel-reseal lidding material comprising:
 a resealable outer layer including an outer layer edge; and 
 an interior second layer disposed between the resealable outer layer and the volume, the interior second layer having a center portion and a remaining portion, the center portion being at least partially separable from the remaining portion along a periphery of the center portion such that the center portion is movable to form an opening through the second layer. 
   
     
     
         40 . The packaging assembly of  claim 39 , wherein the peel-reseal lidding material is hermetically heat-sealed to the rim of the self-supporting liner. 
     
     
         41 . The packaging assembly of  claim 39 , wherein the peel-reseal lidding material is laminated to the rim of the self-supporting liner. 
     
     
         42 . The packaging assembly of  claim 39 , wherein the peel-reseal lidding material is sufficiently flexible to be folded over itself or rolled-up while open. 
     
     
         43 . The packaging assembly of  claim 39 , wherein the non-movement elements comprises at least one of skirt ribs or wall protrusions. 
     
     
         44 . The packaging assembly of  claim 39 , wherein the skirt portion defines a pocket with the sidewalls adapted to receive a wall of a carton.