Hybrid container

Abstract

A container that has a paper, paperboard, or cardboard base receptacle and a plastic lid joined to the base receptacle by selectively releasable connection elements is provided. The base receptacle has a bottom wall and a lateral wall having an upper edge. The plastic lid has a lower frame resting on the upper edge and delimiting an opening for accessing an inside of the container, and an upper element configured to selectively close/open the opening. The selectively releasable connection elements are accessible only from the inside of the container.

1 . A container comprising a paper, paperboard, or cardboard base receptacle and a plastic lid, which is joined to the base receptacle by selectively releasable connection means,
 wherein said base receptacle has a bottom wall and a lateral wall comprising an upper edge,   wherein said plastic lid includes a lower frame resting on said upper edge and delimiting an opening for access to an inside of the container, and an upper element configured to selectively close/open said opening, and   wherein said selectively releasable connection means are accessible only from the inside of the container.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said selectively releasable connection means comprise at least one tab protruding from a rear side of said upper edge and at least one strip protruding from a front side of said upper edge, which are folded against an adjacent inner surface of the lateral wall and engaged by respective rear front protrusions protruding downwards from said lower frame, so as pushing said at least one tab against the adjacent inner surface of the lateral wall disengages the respective rear protrusion. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one tab has a proximal rectangular portion attached to said upper edge and a semicircular distal portion protruding from the proximal rectangular portion and said at least one strip is formed by a rectangular proximal body with rounded distal ends and a distal rectangular portion extending between said rounded distal ends. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein said rear protrusion is arch-shaped and has respective teeth transversally extending from ends of said arch, and said front protrusion is substantially trapezoidal and has a distal side provided of a transversally extending projection. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one strip has a pre-perforated attachment to the front side of the upper edge. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the upper edge of said lateral wall has a rectangular perimeter formed by rear and front opposite sides and two opposite lateral sides, and wherein said plastic lid includes a lower rectangular frame and an upper panel, and the lower rectangular frame has a perimeter formed by rear and front opposite sides and two opposite lateral sides, said upper panel being hinged to the rear side of the lower rectangular frame and having at least two distanced slots selectively engageable by a respective elastic hook protruding from the front side of the lower rectangular frame. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein said selectively releasable connection means comprise two distanced tabs protruding from the rear side of said upper edge and one strip protruding from the front side of said upper edge. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the rear and front opposite sides and the two opposite lateral sides of the lower rectangular frame constitute a rim extending in a horizontal plane, from which a vertically extending skirt protrudes downwards and surrounds an upper portion of an external surface of the lateral wall of the base receptacle. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein said lateral wall is formed by four trapezoidal side walls having a minor base attached to the bottom wall. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 2 ,
 wherein said lateral wall is formed by eight rectangular side walls and the upper edge of said lateral wall has an octagonal perimeter formed by three rear sides, two lateral sides and three front sides,   wherein said plastic lid includes a lower octagonal frame and a removable upper cover panel and the lower octagonal frame has a perimeter formed by three rear sides, two lateral sides and three front sides, and   wherein said selectively releasable connection means comprise two tabs protruding from respective rear sides of said upper edge and two strips protruding from respective front sides of said upper edge, which are folded against the adjacent inner surface of the lateral wall and engaged by respective rear and front protrusions protruding downwards from respective sides of said lower octagonal frame.   
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 2 ,
 wherein said lateral wall is formed by four rectangular side walls and the upper edge of said lateral wall has a rectangular perimeter formed by rear and front opposite sides and two opposite lateral sides,   wherein said plastic lid includes a screw cap and a lower rectangular frame having a perimeter formed by rear and front opposite sides and two opposite lateral sides, and a horizontally extending internal portion from which a threaded neck protrudes upwards, said threaded neck having a mouth constituting the opening for access to the inside of the container and being selectively closed/opened by said screw cap, and   wherein said selectively releasable connection means comprise one tab protruding from the rear side of said upper edge and one strip protruding from the front side of said upper edge, which are folded against the adjacent inner surface of the lateral wall and engaged by respective rear and front protrusions protruding downwards from respective sides of said lower rectangular frame.