Container and manufacture thereof

An intermediate article for assembly to form a container, the intermediate article comprising

• a base which is polygonal in plan and comprises an annular peripheral edge comprising a plurality of edge portions surrounding a base wall structure,
• a plurality of wall elements around the base, each wall element being adjacent to a respective edge portion of the polygonal base, wherein each wall element has a pair of opposite outwardly extending edges having a sidewall structure therebetween, each outwardly extending edge comprising at least one member of a respective fixing mechanism for affixing adjacent outwardly extending edges of adjacent wall elements, wherein the sidewall and the base are composed of an injection moulded thermoplastic polymer, and
• a flexible sheet which comprises a central part, which is bonded to the base wall structure by fusing the thermoplastic polymer to the flexible sheet, and a plurality of extending parts, each extending part being connected to, and extending away from, the central part, each extending part being bonded to the sidewall structure of a respective wall element by fusing the thermoplastic polymer to the flexible sheet,
• wherein the sidewall structure comprises a lattice structure of elongate ribs interconnecting upper and lower peripheral edges of the wall element,
• wherein the lattice structure is an open framework defining a plurality of sidewall openings,
• wherein the flexible sheet is bonded to the lattice structure to cover the sidewall openings and form a sealed sidewall surface of the wall element,
• wherein each extending part is connected to the central part by a respective hinge part of the flexible sheet, whereby each wall element is hingedly connected to the base by the respective hinge part,
• wherein the intermediate article is substantially planar and the wall elements can be hinged upwardly relative to the base to form a container having a sidewall which is polygonal in plan and defines a central concavity for packaging a product, wherein the sidewall comprises the plurality of wall elements which are connected in series to form an endless wall member extending upwardly from the base, each outwardly extending edge being affixed to an adjacent outwardly extending edge of an adjacent wall element by a respective fixing mechanism at a respective corner portion of the sidewall;
• wherein the intermediate article further comprises a lid which is composed of a thermoplastic polymer and is removably fittable to the sidewall of the assembled container, and
• wherein the flexible sheet comprises an integral extension part which is connected to a sidewall-covering portion of the flexible sheet which is bonded to one of the wall elements to form the sidewall and extends away therefrom to form a lid portion of the flexible sheet which is bonded to the lid.