# US 10,766,682 B2 · Packaging container with preformed sealing ring

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- Number: US 10,766,682 B2
- Document ID: US10766682B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/877,540
- Filed: 2018-01-23
- Published: 2019-07-25
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2018-01-23
- Assignees: Sonoco Development, Inc.
- Applicants: Sonoco Development, Inc.
- Inventors: Richard A Schwarz
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766682B2

## CPC

- B65D 77/2032: {by peeling or tearing the cover from the container}
- B29C 65/02: by heating, with or without pressure
- B29C 65/04: Dielectric heating, e.g. high-frequency welding {, i.e. radio frequency welding of plastic materials having dielectric properties, e.g. PVC}
- B29C 65/48: using adhesives {, i.e. using supplementary joining material; solvent bonding}
- B29C 65/4825: {Pressure sensitive adhesives}
- B29C 66/112: {Single lapped joints}
- B29C 66/1122: {Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints (B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence)}
- B29C 66/472: {said single elements being substantially flat}
- B29C 66/69: {General aspects of joining filaments (bundling articles B65B13/00; interconnecting successive lengths of material B65H69/00)}
- B29C 66/7392: {characterised by the material of at least one of the parts being a thermoplastic}
- B29C 66/73921: {characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics}
- B29C 66/8322: {Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis}
- B65B 7/16: Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons
- B65B 7/164: {Securing by heat-sealing}
- B65B 7/2878: {by heat-sealing}
- B65B 25/04: Packaging fruit or vegetables
- B65B 61/20: for adding cards, coupons or other inserts to package contents (adding unpacking elements B65B61/18)
- B65D 25/14: Linings or internal coatings (of containers made by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/56 {; linings for domestic water storage heaters F24H1/183})
- B65D 51/245: {provided with decoration, information or contents indicating devices, labels (B65D81/366 takes precedence)}
- B65D 53/02: Collars or rings
- B65D 77/2024: {the cover being welded or adhered to the container}
- B29C 65/08: using ultrasonic vibrations {(non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645)}
- B29C 65/18: using heated tools
- B29C 65/4815: {Hot melt adhesives, e.g. thermoplastic adhesives}
- B29C 65/486: {characterised by their physical form being non-liquid, e.g. in the form of granules or powders (B29C65/50 takes precedence)}
- B29C 65/5035: {being in thread form, i.e. in the form of a single filament, e.g. in the form of a single coated filament}
- B29C 65/5057: {positioned between the surfaces to be joined (B29C65/5035 takes precedence)}
- B29C 65/76: Making non-permanent or releasable joints
- B29C 66/1142: {Single butt to butt joints}
- B29C 66/131: {Single flanged joints, i.e. one of the parts to be joined being rigid and flanged in the joint area}
- B29C 66/242: {said joint lines being closed, i.e. forming closed contours}
- B29C 66/4324: {for making closed loops, e.g. belts}
- B29C 66/5344: {said single elements being substantially annular, i.e. of finite length, e.g. joining flanges to tube ends (B29C66/5346 takes precedence)}
- B29C 66/53461: {joining substantially flat covers and/or substantially flat bottoms to open ends of container bodies}
- B29L 2031/7164: {Blister packages}
- B32B 27/08: of synthetic resin
- B65B 25/001: {of foodstuffs, combined with their conservation (B65B25/041, B65B25/062, B65B25/067 take precedence)}
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00)
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM

## Abstract

A packaging container for holding contents such as fresh food. The container comprises a tray having a flange, a pre-formed sealing ring and a flexible film for sealing in the contents of the tray. The sealing ring is made from fiber, filament or tape (“FFT”) that is shaped into a shape that matches the shape of the tray flange. The sealing ring is adhered to the tray flange by heat welding or other means and the flexible film is adhered to the sealing ring.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of manufacturing a filled container, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) forming a rigid tray comprising a base and a flange, the base having a rim and defining a cavity configured to receive contents therein, the flange extending radially outward from the rim, the flange having an upper surface, the upper surface having a shape;
(b) providing a filament made of a heat sealable material;
(c) preforming a sealing ring by feeding the filament from a spool, grasping the filament with an orbiter that orbits about an applicator tool until the filament overlaps itself, cutting the filament to create two ends, and welding the two ends together;
(d) positioning the sealing ring onto the upper surface of the flange;
(e) adhering the sealing ring to the flange;
(f) filling at least part of the cavity with the contents;
(g) applying a flexible film onto the sealing ring to cover and enclose the cavity; and
(h) adhering the flexible film to the sealing ring by heat welding.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein:
the filament is a melt blend of an adhesive and a polyolefin selected from the group consisting of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and compositions thereof.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein:
the filament comprises a blend of an adhesive and a substrate in which the adhesive has an affinity for the flange.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein:
the filament comprises a blend of an adhesive and a substrate in which the adhesive has an affinity for the flexible film.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein:
at least a portion of the flexible film is adapted to be peeled away from the sealing ring to provide access to the contents.