Container with peelable seal, and method for making the same

A container comprising a body with a rim of which at least the upper surface is of a first plastics material, and a flexible closure of which at least the under surface is of a second plastics material different from the first, the body and closure being attached together by a heat seal formed between the said surfaces thereof, wherein the heat seal includes radially inner and radially outer ears formed during the heat sealing operation by heat and pressure applied by a heat sealing band, each ear having a core which is formed of the first plastics material and is joined integrally to the rim by a thin root, and an envelope which is formed of the second plastics material integrally with the closure and which envelops the core and tapers in beneath the core to a position adjacent to the thin root of the core, the outer ear lying on the top of the rim, and the inner ear being located in the internal corner of the container formed between the radially inner edge of the rim and the closure, the closure having a free portion located outside the heat seal for grasping by the user, and the closure and both ears being manually peelable together away from the rim by use of the free portion.

A method of forming a peelable seal between a first plastics material of the upper surface of a container rim and a second and different plastics material of the under surface of a flexible closure the method comprising superimposing the closure on the container with the said surfaces in contact, and applying heat and pressure to the closure by means of a heat sealing head which is shaped and dimensioned to depress the closure into the container rim, the temperature and dimensions of the heat sealing head and the duration and pressure of its application to the closure being such that the seal has radially spaced inner and outer ears each having a core which is formed of the first plastics material and is joined integrally to the rim by a thin root, and an envelope which is formed of the second plastics material integrally with the closure and which envelops the core and tapers in beneath the core to a position adjacent to the thin root of the core, both ears lying on the top of the rim around at least a substantial part of the container periphery, and the closure and both ears being manually peelable together away from the rim starting from the outer edge of the closure.