Paper-based or paperboard-based container and related methods

Abstract

A paper-based or paperboard-based container ( 100 ) for holding a pourable food product is described, the container comprising: a substantially planar bottom portion; a top portion arranged opposite the bottom portion and comprising a top panel and a top sealing region ( 126 ) forming a top seal of the container; and a wall portion extending between the bottom portion and the top portion and comprising a plurality of wall sections ( 108 b, 108 c ) bordering the top panel and a longitudinal sealing band ( 14 ) extending between the bottom portion and the top portion and over at least one of the wall sections, wherein the top sealing region is folded onto said at least one of the wall sections comprising the longitudinal sealing band ( 14 ) and being attached thereto. A blank and a sleeve for producing the container is also described, as is a method for producing the container.

1 . A container for holding a pourable food product, comprising a paper-based or paperboard-based laminate sheet material forming:
 a substantially planar bottom portion;   a top portion arranged opposite the bottom portion and comprising a top panel and a top sealing region forming a top seal of the container; and   a wall portion extending between the bottom portion and the top portion and comprising a plurality of wall sections bordering the top panel and a longitudinal sealing band extending between the bottom portion and the top portion over at least one of the wall sections;   
       the container comprising a barrier arranged in the top panel for providing a seal in an opening in the top panel, and an opening device or closure being arranged for breaking the seal during a first opening of the container and dispensing and/or accessing the food product, wherein the top sealing region is folded onto at least one of the wall sections and being attached thereto, and wherein the opening device or closure comprises:
 a first sheet extending over at least a part section of the top panel and being attached thereto, the first sheet comprising a through-opening being aligned with barrier; and; 
 a second sheet being releasably attached to at least a part section of the first sheet at an outside surface thereof, the second sheet being attached to barrier via the through-opening prior to the first opening, and the second sheet being configured to tear open the barrier during the first opening; 
 
       the second sheet being manually operable from a closed position, in which the second sheet covers the through-opening, to an open position, in which the second sheet exposes the through-opening and allows the pourable food product to be dispensed through or accessed via the through-opening. 
     
     
         2 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the second sheet, after the first opening, is manually operable from the open position to the closed position to reclose the through-opening. 
     
     
         3 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the first sheet extends over at least a part section of the top sealing region and being attached thereto. 
     
     
         4 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the first sheet comprises a drinking surface extending from the through-opening to a distance from the through-opening of any one of at least at 20 mm; at least 25 mm; and at least 30 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The container according to  claim 4 , wherein the drinking surface extends into the top sealing region. 
     
     
         6 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the top panel and the top sealing region shares a common border forming an uppermost border of the top panel and a top edge of the container, and wherein the first sheet extends over said top edge. 
     
     
         7 . The container according to  claim 6 , wherein the through-opening is positioned within 2-10 mm from said uppermost border of the top panel. 
     
     
         8 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the first sheet and the second sheet each comprises a first transversal edge being positioned at or adjacent a lowermost border of the top panel. 
     
     
         9 . The container according to  claim 8 , wherein the first sheet comprises a second transversal edge being positioned at or adjacent a lowermost border of the top sealing region. 
     
     
         10 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein an outside surface of the first sheet and/or an inside surface of the second sheet comprises an adhesive. 
     
     
         11 . The container according to  claim 10 , wherein the inside surface of the second sheet comprises, in a region facing the through-opening when the second sheet is in the closed position, a region of reduced adhesiveness. 
     
     
         12 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein said barrier comprises any one of
 a pre-laminated hole; and   a removable section of the laminate sheet material of the top panel being delimited by a cut made partially through the top panel from an outside surface thereof.   
     
     
         13 . A method of producing paper or paperboard-based blanks for producing a container for holding a pourable food product, each blank comprising:
 first and second substantially rectilinear boundary edges, each extending substantially parallel to a first, longitudinal direction of the blank between first and second endpoints;   a third boundary edge extending substantially parallel to a second, transversal direction of the blank between the first endpoint of the first boundary edge and the first endpoint of the second boundary edge;   a fourth, non-rectilinear boundary edge extending between the second endpoint of the first boundary edge and the second endpoint of the second boundary edge;   
       the method comprising the steps of:
 laying out, on a web of laminate material, a first row and a second row of blank patterns, each row comprising a plurality of blank patterns arranged side by side with the first boundary edge of one blank pattern adjoining the second boundary edge of a neighbouring blank pattern, and the fourth boundary edge of the blank patterns of the first row adjoining the fourth boundary edge of the blank patterns of the second row; and 
 cutting the web along the laid out first, second, third and fourth boundary edges to form said blanks. 
 
     
     
         14 . A nesting pattern for producing paper or paperboard-based blanks from a web of laminate material, each blank comprising:
 first and second substantially rectilinear boundary edges, each extending substantially parallel to a first, longitudinal direction of the blank between first and second endpoints;   a third boundary edge extending substantially parallel to a second, transversal direction of the blank between the first endpoint of the first boundary edge and the first endpoint of the second boundary edge;   a fourth, non-rectilinear boundary edge extending between the second endpoint of the first boundary edge and the second endpoint of the second boundary edge;   
       wherein the nesting pattern comprises a first row and a second row of blank patterns arranged side by side with the first boundary edge of one blank pattern adjoining the second boundary edge of a neighbouring blank pattern, and the fourth boundary edge of the blank patterns of the first row adjoining the fourth boundary edge of the blank patterns of the second row. 
     
     
         15 . The nesting pattern according to  claim 14 , wherein the fourth boundary edges form a non-rectilinear line displaying a two-fold rotational symmetry with respect to a centre located on said line.