Multi-piece flat top container

A multi-piece flat top container including a thermoplastic coated paperboard body of a predetermined cross-sectional configuration, a thermoplastic adapter ring having an annular recess formed therein for mounting over the top edge of the body and fusion sealed thereto, and a tamper-evident flat membrane or any suitable material sealed adjacent its peripheral edge to the top edge of the adapter ring. An optional over-cap may be mounted over the membrane and adapter ring without being sealed thereto.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
This invention relates generally to containers and more particularly, to 
sealed multi-piece flat top containers for spoonable food products. 
BACKGROUND ART 
Heretofore, there have been a multiplicity of multi-piece flat top 
containers. For example: 
Scanga et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,094,460 discloses the broad idea of placing a 
sealing ring about the top of a container, with a foil membrane secured to 
the top surface of the ring by a peelable coating and permanently secured 
to the undersurface of an overcap. The sealing ring is heat sealed to an 
inner foil layer of the container. 
Rutkowski U.S. Pat. No. 2,257,919 includes a sheet metal ring having an 
inner wall portion, an outer wall portion, with an intermediate pocket for 
mounting on the top edge of a container. A sheet metal closure or cover is 
adapted to mount on the upper edge seat of the ring, confining an optional 
packing disk therebetween. 
Whitney U.S. Pat. No. 3,445,024 discloses a flexible sealing ring or gasket 
adapted to engage the top beaded edge of a glass container to seal same 
when covered by a cover member. 
Strouse et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,396,899 includes a liner comprising a panel 
spanning the mouth of a container, with an annular flange having an inner 
wall, an outer wall, and an upper hot melt engaging section. A closure 
flange mounts on the latter section with a suitable adhesive therebetween. 
Johnson et al U.S. Pat. No. 3,892,351 has a membrane type closure sealed by 
a seam to the top rolled-over edge of a round container. This, in turn is 
covered by an overcap with inner heat deforming ribs. 
Edwards U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,530 discloses a container having a 
tamper-evident lid connected thereto by an inner airtight bead 
arrangement, with downward projections around the outer periphery of the 
container, and a continuous ring affixed to the downward projections. 
A review of these prior art references discloses that none of them would be 
functional without their respective overcaps. 
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
A general object of the invention is to provide an improved multi-piece 
flat top container for spoonable food products, which satisfies the 
requirements of the manufacturer, the producer, the consumer, and the 
realities of the market place. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a multi-piece container 
including a thermoplastic coated paperboard body, a thermoplastic adapter 
ring mounted around and secured to the top edge thereof, and a tamper 
evident membrane sealed to the top surface of said adapter ring. 
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more 
apparent when reference is made to the following drawings and accompanying 
description.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG. 1 illustrates a 
thermoplastic coated, square cross-section paperboard container body 10, 
with a side seam 12, which may be either a corner seam (FIG. 1), or a 
center seam (FIG. 1A). 
A thermo-formed or injection molded adapter ring 14 is formed to include an 
annular recess 16 (FIG. 3) adapted to mount over and sit upon the top edge 
of the body 10. The adapter ring is fusion sealed by a seal 18 at a mid 
height therearound to the confined outer and inner surfaces of the top 
edge. The recess 16 is wider at the location of the side seam 12, as is 
evident from FIGS. 1 and 1A. 
A tamper evident membrane 20, comprising one of a suitable transparent film 
or paper, shaped to fit the area encompassed by the adapter ring 14, is 
mounted on the top edge 22 of the adapter ring and heat sealed thereto by 
a seal 24 (FIG. 3) by any suitable means, such as thermal, radio 
frequency, ultrasonic, electromagnetic, or microwave technologies. 
A cover member or overcap 26 (FIG. 2) is optional, and may be formed of 
recycled material since it does not include a product contact surface. The 
overcap may include an inturned free edge 28 for cooperation with the 
peripheral area of the fusion seal 18. The overcap 26 may be used to 
provide mechanical protection for the membrane 20 during transportation, 
and to serve as a reclosure cover for the consumer. The overcap may be 
eliminated entirely in a multi-pack application where an overwrap provides 
a secondary protection. 
As shown in FIG. 4, the container components 30 may incorporate a 
rectangular cross-section. 
FIG. 5 illustrates a further container shape, namely a square bottom 32, 
with suitable fold lines 34 adapted to produce a round top 36, thereby 
requiring a round adapter ring 38, and a round membrane 40. 
After being filled and sealed, the membrane 20 must be punctured or peeled 
off by the consumer in order to provide access to the spoonable food 
product within the container. 
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
It should be apparent that the invention provides an improved flat top 
container for spoonable food products which should satisfy the critical 
and perceived needs of the manufacturer, the producer, the consumer, and 
the realities of the market place. Along with being completely 
satisfactory with respect to the just-recited needs, inasmuch as aluminum 
foil and hot melt adhesives are not required in the structure, it is more 
environmentally attractive. 
While but three general embodiments of the invention have been shown and 
described, other modifications are possible within the scope of the 
following claims.