Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a container for holding a pourable food product, comprising a paper-based or paperboard-based laminate sheet material. In particular, the invention relates to such a container comprising a hinged opening panel section for dispensing and/or accessing the food product. The invention also relates to method for opening such a container.

Background

Within the art of paperboard-based packaging, it is known to produce a blank and fold and assemble the blank to produce a container. The container may then be utilised to hold a pourable food product, e.g. a liquid, e.g. dairy products, such as milk or yoghurt, or juices.

The blank is typically produced from a laminate packaging material, which typically comprises a multi-ply paperboard sheet on which is laminated one or a plurality of barrier layers for holding the food product and/or prevent migration of air and flavours through the paperboard. A barrier layer may typically comprise a polyethylene or an aluminium layer.

A method of producing the blank from the laminate packaging material typically comprises the steps of cutting the laminate packaging material to a predefined shape, and a method of producing the container from the blank typically comprises the step of folding the blank along predefined folding lines to produce the container.

The blank may be provided with crease lines in the laminate packaging material to aid folding of the blank along the folding lines. A crease line, or crease, may be defined as an embossed or impressed depression on one side of the laminate packaging material with a corresponding raised ridge or welt, also referred to as the bead, on the other side forming a line along which the laminate packaging material is structurally weakened and along which the laminate packaging material will bend or fold when pressure is applied.

Blanks may be produced in a converting process in which the blanks are cut from a web made from the laminate packaging material having substantially parallel and rectilinear lateral boundary edges. The converting process typically comprises feeding the web of laminate material through one or a plurality of nips formed between a pair of cutting and/or creasing rollers to produce the blanks cut from the web and formed with creases lines for subsequent folding and/or with cuts and/or with holes, e.g. for fitting a closure to the blank material when a container is produced therefrom.

The layout of the blank patter on the web is known as a "nesting pattern". A nesting pattern is not a physical pattern that is visible on the web but a pattern that illustrates how the blanks are intended to be cut from the web and/or how the blanks are impressed. In other words, the nesting pattern illustrates the layout of the blanks on the web and, consequently, how the available web material is utilised.

The container may be provided with an opening device or closure allowing a consumer to open the container to access the food product. The opening device may be reclosable allowing the consumer to reclose the container, sealingly or non-sealingly, once the container has been opened. Alternatively, the opening device may not be reclosed once opened. A commonly used opening devices comprise a patch defined by a small sheet of heat-seal plastic material which is heat sealed to the inside surface of a packaging material covering a hole in the packaging material; and a pull-off tab applied to the opposite side of the packaging material and heat sealed to the patch. The tab and patch adhere to each other, so that, when the tab is pulled off, the portion of the patch heat sealed to it is also removed to uncover the hole. This configuration is sometime referred to as a pre-laminated hole (PLH). Whereas this configuration may provide an acceptable opening device, there is a general need to improve upon known opening devices or closures, especially with the aim of providing a more enjoyable drinking experience when drinking directly from the container.

Within the art of paperboard-based containers, there is known to provide an extended top panel area of the container by folding down a top-fin onto the top panel at an off-centre position. The extended top panel area thus obtained can be used to provide the container with an enlarged opening device or closure. Such containers are known, for example, from EP2392517A1 and US20190106239A1. Although positioned of-centre, the folded-down top-fin extending across the top panel will still restrict usage of the top panel.

US6182887B1 shows a container having an extended top panel produced by sealing the top panel and a rear wall of the container to one another at a sealing region that is coextensive with a top fin. Consequently, the top fin extends from the top panel in the plane of the rear wall, thus making essentially the whole top panel available for usage, e.g. positioning of an opening device or closure. However, the extending top-fin may still restrict access to the top panel. For example, a top-fin extending from the top panel in the plane of the rear wall may make it difficult for a consumer to drink directly from the container.

Summary of the invention

With the abovementioned challenges and known solutions in mind, and according to a first example aspect, the present disclosure provides a paper-based or paperboard-based container for holding a pourable food product, comprising:

- a planar or substantially planar bottom portion;

- a top portion arranged opposite the bottom portion and comprising a top panel displying a top edge; and

- a wall portion extending between the bottom portion and the top portion and comprising a plurality of wall sections bordering the top panel. Further, the top panel of the inventive container comprises an opening panel section allowing the food product to be dispensed and/or accessed

The opening panel section is being defined by a perimeter comprising a weakened line to be broken during a first opening of the container and a hinge line retaining the opening panel section to the container after the first opening. The hinge line of the opening panel section is the section of the perimeter being arranged the most distant from the top edge/rear edge of the container.

The perimeter of the opening panel section can be defined as comprising two sections, a weakened line and a hinge line. The weakened line and the hinge line form a closed path enclosing the opening panel section.

The opening panel section is configured to be pushed down by a consumer breaking the weakened line such that the opening panel section is folded about the hinge line into the plane of the top panel, i.e. extending into the inside of the container.

A major section of the hinge line can preferably be arranged closer to the top edge/rear edge of the container than the weakened line.

Further, the section of the perimeter comprising the hinge line may be smaller than the section comprising the weakened line.

The opening panel section may have a shape and/or size similar to a tip of a thumb or thumbnail of an average consumer, or a shape and/or size of a semi-circle, a trapezium, triangle, oval semi-circle or the like allowing easy opening by the consumer.

The hinge line may be rectilinear.

The top edge may be rectilinear and the hinge line may be parallel to the top edge.

The hinge line may be arranged within a predefined distance D from the top edge and the predefined distance D may be equal to or less than any of 10 mm, 8 mm, 6 mm and 4 mm.

The opening panel section may be configured to be folded into the container during the first opening.

The opening panel section is configured to be pushed down by e.g. a finger of the consumer such that the weakened line is broken while the hinged line is still intact after the first opening. When pushing the opening panel section down into the container the opening panel section is folded into the container providing an opening for the consumer to access the food product inside the container. The opening panel section is retained to the container by the hinge line.

The container top portion comprising a top sealing region forming a top seal of the container, the wall portion comprising a longitudinal sealing band extending between the bottom portion and the top portion over at least one of the wall sections, the top sealing region being folded onto said at least one of the wall sections comprising the longitudinal sealing band and being attached thereto such that the top panel and the top sealing region share a common border forming said top edge of the container.

Consequently, instead of the top sealing region, or top-fin, being folded onto and attached to the top panel of the container, as is common in prior art containers, the top-fin, or top sealing region, is folded onto the wall portion comprising the longitudinal sealing band, i.e. the longitudinal seam running from the bottom to the top of the container. This leaves the top panel free or substantially free from sealing structures since the section of the longitudinal sealing band extending into the top sealing region will also be folded onto the wall portion and, consequently, will not extend onto the top panel. Such sealing structures may comprise permanently sealing structures such as welded, glued or otherwise permanently joined seams where panels of the laminate sheet material are permanently joined to each other. This allows the top panel to be utilised in an efficient manner.

Folding the top sealing region down onto the side wall portion comprising the longitudinal sealing band and attaching the sealing region thereto will give a consumer unrestricted access the opening panel section for accessing or dispensing the food product in an easy manner.

The container can be made of a laminated packaging material/sheet material such that the weakened line may comprise a so-called “half-cut”, i.e. at least one cut made partially through the said laminated sheet material from the outside surface of the leaving one or a plurality of inner layers of the laminated substrate intact to provide an uninterrupted barrier against the contained food product.

The weakened line may comprise a plurality of such half-cuts separated by uncut regions.

The hinge line may comprise a plurality of so-called half-cuts wherein the plurality of cuts are separated by uncut regions forming bridges. Such hinge line may further comprise a crease line for making the pivoting movement of the opening panel section about the hinge line easier.

Each half-cut of the hinge line may have a linear extent along the perimeter being half the linear extent of the at least one half-cut of the weakened line. Further, the uncut regions of the weakened line may be smaller than the uncut regions of the hinge line. The uncut region of the weakened line may have an extent along the perimeter of 0,5 mm and the uncut region of the hinge line may have an extent along the perimeter of 1 mm.

The hinge line may be defined by a crease line making the pivoting movement of the opening panel section about the hinge line easier.

The weakened line should be readily broken when subjected to an external force, such as a finger-push by a consumer, while the hinge line should readily allow pivoting movement of the opening panel section. At least a part of the hinge line may preferably be arranged in parallel with the top edge/rear edge of the container. Further, both the hinge line and the top edge/rear edge may be rectilinear or substantially rectilinear.

However, the hinge line and/or the top edge/rear edge may be any one of rectilinear or curvilinear.

Preferably the entire hinge line is arranged in parallel with the top edge/rear edge of the container.

The opening panel section may be arranged at an orthogonal distance of between 1 mm to 15 mm from the top edge/rear edge or preferably 1 mm to 10 mm from the top edge/rear edge providing an enjoyable drinking experience when drinking directly from the container, especially when drinking from the containers top edge (134) with the top edge (134) and the wall section (108c) facing towards the consumer.

Further, the opening panel section may be arranged equidistant the crease lines at the edges of the container. Hence, the opening panel section may be arranged centrally in the transversal direction of the top panel.

The container may comprise a protecting sheet for protecting the opening panel section prior to the first opening. Hence, the protecting sheet may be attached to an outside surface of the container and may, prior to the first opening, extend over at least a part section of the top panel which includes the opening panel section.

Further, the protecting sheet may protect an area of the container where the consumer will position their lips when drinking directly form the container. Hence, the protecting sheet may cover a drinking surface extending from the opening panel section a distance A from the opening panel section of any one of: at least at 20 mm; at least 25 mm; and at least 30 mm.

The protecting sheet may comprise a pliable material.

The protecting sheet may be elastic.

The protecting sheet may protect the consumer from coming into contact with the food product of the container when opening the container for the first time by pushing the opening panel section into the container. Hence, the consumer should push the protecting sheet at an area covering the opening panel section when opening the container for the first time. Hence, the protecting sheet may be liquid tight.

The protecting sheet may comprise a piercing means arranged for pushing the opening section panel into the container when the protecting sheet is brought from a first position to a second position. In the first position the protecting sheet covers the opening panel section and in the second position the protecting sheet is removed from the opening panel section. The protecting sheet may comprise a piercing means retainer for holding, attaching or fixing the piercing means to the protecting sheet.

The piercing means may comprise a first edge and a second edge wherein the piercing means retainer comprises an edge arranged towards the first edge and a second edge arranged towards the second edge of the piercing means, wherein the first edge is a hinge line which the protecting sheet may pivot about.

The protecting sheet may display a cut out that is aligned to the opening panel section. The cut out may facilitate that the piercing means contacts the opening panel.

The protecting sheet may, prior to a first opening of the container, be adhesively attached to the outside surface of the container covering at least the opening panel section when in the closed position. After the first opening the sheet may be hingedly attached to the outside surface of the container.

Preferably the protecting sheet is adhesively non-removably attached to the top panel of the container at a position more distant from the top edge/rear edge than the hinge line. Preferably the protecting sheet is adhesively attached to the top panel at a position between the hinge line and a front edge of the container. The front edge, formed by a crease line section, defines an intersection of the top panel and the front wall section of the container. When opening the container for the first time, the protecting sheet is pushed down by the consumer at an area covering the opening panel section. The push folds the opening panel section into the container and an opening is created at the initial position of the opening panel section. When pulling the protective sheet away from the opening, the opening is revealed allowing the consumer to access the food product inside the container.

The protecting sheet may, in addition to being adhesively attached to the top panel also be adhesively attached to the opening panel section of the container. Hence, when opening the for container for the first time by pushing the protecting sheet down towards the opening panel section (at the area covering the opening panel section), the weakened line at the perimeter of the opening panel section is broken and the opening panel section is partly folded into the container providing an opening. When the consumer thereafter pulls the protecting sheet away from the top panel at the area where the opening panel section was initially located the opening is revealed and the opening panel section is pulled together with the protecting sheet and folded out of the plane of the top panel allowing the consumer to access the food product within the container. The opening panel section is fixed to the hinge line also after being pulled.

The sheet may comprise a first sheet section that extends at least partly over the top panel covering the opening panel section and a second section that extends from the top edge/rear edge down towards the bottom portion of the container.

The protecting sheet may be generally rectangular and extend between two longitudinal edges and two transversal edges. The protecting sheet may further display a pushing area having substantially the same size and shape as the opening panel section. In other words, the opening panel section and the pushing area are congruent.

The pushing area may be defined by a perimeter comprising a weakened line with a plurality of through-cuts which are broken during a first opening of the container and a hinge line retaining the pushing area to the protecting sheet after the first opening, and wherein the hinge line being the section of the perimeter being the most distant from the top edge/rear edge. The through-cuts are separated by uncut regions forming bridges.

The protecting sheet may be removably attached to the outside surface of the laminate sheet material of the container so that the pushing area is aligned with the opening panel section.

The protecting sheet may be operable between a first, closed position in which the protecting sheet covers the opening panel section and a second, open position, in which the food product is free to be dispensed through the opening and hence the protecting sheet does not cover the opening initially closed by the opening panel section. In the second position the protecting sheet may be hingly non-removably attached to the container at a position more distant from the top edge/rear edge than the hinge line.

After the first opening, the protecting sheet may be manually operable from the open position to the closed position to reclose the opening.

The protecting sheet may comprise a first transversal edge positioned at or adjacent a lowermost border of the top panel.

The protecting sheet may comprise a second transversal edge which is positioned at or adjacent a lowermost border of the top sealing region.

The container may advantageously comprise gusset panels which are folded onto each other underneath the top panel when the container is formed, allowing the top sealing region, in its entirety, to be folded down onto and attached to the wall section(s) comprising the longitudinal sealing band. In other words, the entire top sealing region may advantageously be folded onto said at least one of the wall sections comprising the longitudinal sealing band and attached thereto. The top sealing region may typically be formed by a top sealing band, and the whole top sealing band may be folded down onto and attached to the wall section(s) comprising the longitudinal sealing band.

The container may be made from a paper-based or paperboard-based laminate sheet material comprising a multi-ply paperboard sheet on which is laminated one or a plurality of barrier layers for holding the food product and/or prevent migration of air and flavours through the paperboard sheet.

The top sealing region may be planar or substantially planar and arranged parallel or substantially parallel to said at least one of the wall sections comprising the longitudinal sealing band. The top edge/rear edge may be rectilinear or substantially rectilinear and arranged parallel or substantially parallel to the bottom portion.

The opening panel section may be arranged adjacent said top edge/rear edge.

The top panel may be planar or substantially planar. The wall section or wall sections comprising the longitudinal sealing band may also be planar or substantially planar and the top panel may form an angle to said wall section or wall sections that is of any one of: within the range of 10 degrees to 90 degrees; within the range of 30 degrees to 80 degrees, within the range of 45 degrees to 75 degrees; and 60 degrees.

The top sealing region may comprise a plurality of sealed sealing band panels, all of which may be arranged parallel or substantially parallel and/or coplanar or substantially coplanar in the container.

The sealing band panels may comprise a central sealing band panel extending over the wall section or the wall sections comprising the longitudinal sealing band and having a longitudinal extent being any one of: at least 15 mm, at least 20 mm and at least 30 mm.

According to a second example aspect, the present disclosure provides a paper-based or paperboard-based sleeve for producing the container according to the first example aspect.

According to a third example aspect, the present disclosure provides a paper-based or paperboard-based blank for producing the sleeve according to the second example aspect.

The blank may be mirror-symmetric about a longitudinal central axis of the blank.

The blank may comprise first and second rectilinear or substantially rectilinear and parallel or substantially parallel boundary edges forming lateral or longitudinal boundary edges of the blank. The blank may also comprise a third rectilinear or substantially rectilinear boundary edge extending orthogonally or substantially orthogonally between the lateral boundary edges and forming a bottom boundary edge of the blank. Further, the blank may comprise a fourth, non-rectilinear boundary edge extending between the lateral boundary edges and forming a top boundary edge of the blank.

The blank may comprise a top region having a top crease line pattern and being configured to form said top portion of the container. The top region may comprise a top panel and gusset panels configured to be folded onto each other underneath the top panel when a container is formed from the blank.

The top boundary edge may be mirror-symmetric about a longitudinal central axis of the blank.

The top boundary edge may comprise a plurality of individually rectilinear top boundary edge sections. A method of producing a paper-based or paperboard-based container for holding a pourable food product comprising the steps of:

- sealing a paper-based or paperboard-based laminate sheet material along a longitudinal sealing band forming a tubular proto-container;

- top-sealing the proto-container at a top sealing region; and

- folding the top sealing region onto at least one wall section of the proto-container comprising said longitudinal sealing band and attaching the top sealing region to said at least one wall section.

The method may comprise forming a top portion of the container by folding gusset panels of the laminate sheet material onto each other underneath a top panel of the laminate sheet material. The method may further comprise the step of arranging an opening panel section for dispensing or accessing the food product in the top portion.

The method may comprise the steps of:

- bottom-sealing the laminate sheet material to form a bottom-sealed and open-top protocontainer; and

- filling the bottom-sealed and open-top proto-container with the pourable food product, wherein said step of top-sealing the laminate sheet material is performed after said step of filling the bottom-sealed and open-top proto-container with the pourable food product. In other words, the method may comprise filling the proto-container from the top-side.

Alternatively, the step of top-sealing the proto-container at a top sealing region may produce a top-sealed but open-bottom proto-container, and the method may comprise the steps of:

- filling the top-sealed and open-bottom proto-container with the pourable food product; and

- bottom-sealing the laminate sheet material.

Consequently, instead of filling the proto-container from the top-side, the method may comprise filling the proto-container from the bottom-side.

The method may comprise a step of providing the top panel of the container free from sealing structures. Such sealing structures may comprise permanently sealing structures such as welded, glued or otherwise permanently joined seams where panels of the laminate sheet material are permanently joined to each other.

The method may comprise arranging the top sealing region planar or substantially planar and parallel or substantially parallel to said at least one of the wall sections comprising the longitudinal sealing band.

The method may comprise arranging the top panel and the top sealing region such that they share a common border forming a top edge/rear edge of the container. The method may comprise a step of arranging the top edge/rear edge rectilinear or substantially rectilinear and the step of arranging the top edge/rear edge parallel or substantially parallel to a planar or substantially planar bottom portion of the container.

The method may comprise a step of arranging the opening panel section for dispensing or accessing the food product in the top panel of the container.

The method may comprise a step of arranging the opening panel section adjacent said top edge/rear edge forming a border between the top panel and the top sealing region.

The method may comprise a step of arranging the opening panel section at an orthogonal distance of between 1 mm to 10 mm from the top edge/rear edge.

The method may comprise a step of arranging the top panel planar or substantially planar.

The method may also comprise a step of arranging the wall section or wall sections comprising the longitudinal sealing band planar or substantially planar, and a step of arranging the top panel at an angle to said wall section or wall sections that is of any one of: within the range of 10 degrees to 90 degrees; within the range of 30 degrees to 80 degrees, within the range of 45 degrees to 75 degrees; and 60 degrees.

The step of top-sealing the proto-container at the top sealing region may comprise a substep of sealing a plurality of sealing band panels to each other. This sub-step may comprise arranging the sealed sealing band panels parallel or substantially parallel and/or coplanar or substantially coplanar in the container. This sub-step may comprise arranging a central sealing band panel of said sealing band panels such that it extends over the wall section or the wall sections comprising the longitudinal sealing band and has a longitudinal extent being any one of: at least 15 mm, at least 20 mm and at least 30 mm.

In a fourth example aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of providing an opening in a container according to the first example aspect wherein the method involves pivoting the opening panel section away from the top edge/rear edge.

As mentioned above, the consumer pushes the opening panel section such that the weakened line breaks such that the container displays an opening in the top panel for the consumer to access the food product within the container.

The method may further involve pivoting the opening panel section to into the container, or alternatively pivoting the opening panel section out from the container.

Above-discussed preferred and/or optional features of each aspect of the invention may be used, alone or in appropriate combination, in the other aspects of the invention.

Description of the drawings

Following drawings are appended to facilitate the understanding of the invention: Fig. 1 show an embodiment of a blank.

Figs. 2 and 3A to 3D show the blank according to Fig. 1 folded and sealed to form a sleeve.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the sleeve according to Figs. 2 and 3 after having been erected to tubular form.

Fig. 5 shows a bottom-view of the sleeve according to Fig. 4 after having been bottom- sealed.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the sleeve according to Fig. 4 after having been bottom- sealed.

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate top-sealing of the sleeve according to Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a front view of a container produced from the blank according to Fig. 1.

Figs. 10 is a perspective view of the container produced from the blank according to Fig. 1.

Figs. 11 and 12 are side views of the container produced from the blank according to Fig. 1.

Fig. 13 is a front view of the container produced from the blank according to Fig. 1 in an open position.

Figs. 14a and 14b illustrate cross-sections of the container produced from the blank according to Fig. 1.

Fig. 15 is an alternative embodiment of a blank.

Figs. 16 and 17 show the blank according to Fig. 15 folded and sealed to form a sleeve.

Fig. 18 shows an embodiment of a blank.

Figs. 19-21 show a container formed from the blank according to Fig. 18.

Fig. 22 shows a part of the container from the blank according to Fig. 18.

Fig. 23 illustrate an inside view protecting sheet of the container according to Figs. 19 to 21 but can also be a protecting sheet of any one of the containers of Figs. 2, 3A to 3E, 9, 10, 13, 16 and 17.

Fig. 24 shows an embodiment of a blank.

Figs. 25 and 26 show a container produced from the blank according to Fig. 24. Figs. 27-31 show a container comprising the alternative protecting sheet of Fig. 31, Figs 29 and 30 shows the opening mechanism provided by the alternative protecting sheet of Fig. 31

Fig. 31 illustrates an outside view, i.e. the side intended to face away from a container of an alternative protecting sheet of the container according to Figs. 19 to 21 but can also be an alternative protecting sheet of any one of the containers of Figs. 2, 3 A to 3E, 9, 10, 13, 16 and 17.

Fig. 32 illustrates an inside view , i.e. the side intended to face towards a container, of an alternative protecting sheet of the container according to Figs. 19 to 21 but can also be an alternative protecting sheet of any one of the containers of Figs. 2, 3 A to 3E, 9, 10, 13, 16 and 17.

It should be understood that the drawings are not intended to limit the invention to the subject-matter depicted in the drawings.

In the drawings, like reference numerals have been used to indicate common parts, elements or features unless otherwise explicitly stated or implicitly understood by the context.

Detailed description

In the following, specific embodiments of a blank and a container produced therefrom will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. However, it is specifically intended that the invention as defined in the following claims is not limited to the embodiments and illustrations contained herein but includes modified forms of the embodiments including portions of the embodiments and combinations of elements of different embodiments as come within the scope of the claims.

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a blank 10 for producing a sleeve and, subsequently, a container for holding a pourable food product.

The blank 10 can comprise several layers of different materials, for example paper, paperboard, plastic or metal, in particular aluminium. Typically, the blank 10 may be made from a paper-based or paperboard-based laminate sheet material comprising a multi-ply paperboard sheet on which is laminated one or a plurality of barrier layers for holding the food product and/or prevent migration of air and flavours through the paperboard sheet.

The blank 10 has several crease or fold lines which are intended to facilitate the folding of the blank 10 when produced to form a container and which divide the blank 10 into several regions and sub-regions.

The blank 10 comprises rectilinear or substantially rectilinear first 12 and second 14 boundary edges which are parallel or substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction L of the blank 10. The boundary edges 12 and 14 are parallel or substantially parallel, of equal or substantially equal length and form lateral boundary edges of the blank 10.

A central axis C _a of the blank 10 extends parallel to the longitudinal direction L equidistant from the lateral boundary edges 12 and 14.

The blank 10 also comprises a rectilinear or substantially rectilinear third boundary edge 16 which is parallel or substantially parallel to a transversal direction T of the blank 10 extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L. The boundary edge 16 extends between first, bottom endpoints 18, 20 of the lateral boundary edges 12, 14 and forms a bottom boundary edge of the blank 10.

The blank 10 further comprises a fourth boundary edge 22 extending between second, top endpoints 24, 26 of the lateral boundary edges 12, 14 and forming a top boundary edge of the blank 10.

The bottom endpoints 18 and 20 form bottom comer points of the blank 10 and the top endpoints 24 and 26 form top corner points. Since the lateral boundary edges 12 and 14 are parallel or substantially parallel, and since the bottom boundary edge 16 is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the lateral boundary edges 12, 14, the corner points 18, 20, 24, 26 define a rectangular or substantially rectangular shape. In contrast to the bottom boundary edge 16, however, the top boundary edge 22 is non-rectilinear and extend beyond the rectangular shape defined by the corner points 18, 20, 24, 26.

The top boundary edge 22 comprises a plurality of individually rectilinear or substantially rectilinear sections 22a-22i.

The top boundary edge sections 22a and 22i are colinear or substantially colinear and extend, starting from the top comer points 24 and 26, respectively, parallel or substantially parallel to the transversal direction T, i.e. parallel or substantially parallel to the bottom boundary edge 16. The edge sections 22a and 22i are of equal or substantially equal length. The edge sections 22b and 22h extend from edges sections 22a and 22i, respectively, and angle away from the bottom boundary edge 16. The edge sections 22b and 22h form an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the transversal direction T. The edge sections 22c and 22g extend from edges sections 22b and 22i, respectively, and form an angle of approximately 20 degrees to the transversal direction T. The edge sections 22d and 22f extend from edges sections 22c and 22g, respectively, and form an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the transversal direction T. The edge section 22e, finally, extends between edge sections 22d and 22f parallel or substantially parallel to the transversal direction T, i.e. parallel or substantially parallel to the bottom boundary edge 16. However, due to the inclined orientations of edge sections 22b-22d and 22f-22h, edge section 22e is arranged further from the bottom boundary edge 16 than are the edge sections 22a and 22i.

The top boundary edge 22 is reflection-symmetric about the central axis C _a . In other words, using the central axis C _a as an axis of symmetry, the sections of the top boundary edge 22 located on one side of the central axis C _a is mirrored by the corresponding sections located on the other side. Consequently, edge sections 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d are mirrored by edge sections 22i, 22h, 22g and 22f, respectively, and the central axis C _a run centrally through the edge section 22e.

The blank 10 comprises first 28 and second 30 crease lines, each extending across the blank 10, i.e. between the lateral boundary edges 12, 14. The crease lines 28 and 30 divide the blank 10 into:

- a bottom region 32 having a bottom crease line pattern and being configured to form a bottom portion of the container formed from the blank 10;

- a top region 34 having a top crease line pattern and being configured to form a top portion of the container; and

- an intermediate region 36 contained between said first 28 and second 30 crease lines, interposed between the bottom region 32 and the top region 34 and being configured to form an intermediate, wall portion of the container.

The crease line 28 is rectilinear or substantially rectilinear and extends parallel or substantially parallel to the transversal direction T across the panel 10.

Partitioned from the intermediate region 36 by crease line 28, the bottom region 32 comprises a plurality of rectangular or substantially rectangular bottom panels 40a, 40f and 40k and a plurality of triangular or substantially triangular gusset panels 40b-40e and 40g- 40j. The gusset panels 40b-40e and 40g-40j are arranged in two rectangular or substantially rectangular sub-regions arranged in file with the bottom panels 40a, 40f and 40k. When a container is produced from the blank 10, the bottom and gusset panels 40a-40k are configured to be folded to form a substantially planar bottom of the container in a manner which is, as such, known in the art.

The bottom region 32 also comprises a plurality of rectangular or substantially rectangular bottom sealing band panels 38a-38g extending between the lateral boundary edges 12, 14. The sealing band panels 38a-38g are partitioned, in the transversal direction T, by longitudinal or substantially longitudinal crease lines. The sealing band panels 38a-38g form a bottom sealing band 38 that extends along the bottom boundary edge 16 and is partitioned from the bottom and gusset panels 40a-40k by a rectilinear or substantially rectilinear crease line 42 extending across the blank 10 parallel or substantially parallel to the transversal direction T. When a container is produced from the blank 10, the sealing band panels 38a-38g are configured to be sealed to each other to form a bottom seal of the container in a manner which is, as such, known in the art.

Turning now to the top region 34 of the blank 10, the crease line 30 comprises a plurality of crease line sections 30a-30e, of which crease line sections 30a, 30b, 20d and 30e are individually rectilinear or substantially rectilinear and crease line section 30c is curvilinear, but this line may also be rectilinear. The crease line sections 30a and 30e are colinear or substantially colinear and extend, starting from lateral boundary edges 12 and 14, respectively, parallel or substantially parallel to the transversal direction T, i.e. parallel or substantially parallel to the edge sections 22a and 22i. The crease line sections 30a and 30e are of equal or substantially equal length. The crease line sections 30b and 30d extend from crease line sections 30a and 30e, respectively, and angle towards the bottom boundary edge 16. The crease line sections 30b and 30d form an angle of approximately 30 degrees to the transversal direction T. Crease line sections 30b and 30d are of equal or substantially equal length. Finally, crease line section 30c extends between crease line sections 30b and 30d and has a convex side facing the intermediate region 36.

Similar to the top boundary edge 22, the crease line 30 is reflection-symmetric about the central axis C _a . In other words, using the central axis C _a as an axis of symmetry, the sections of the crease line 30 located on one side of the central axis C _a is mirrored by the corresponding sections located on the other side. Consequently, crease line sections 30a and 30b are mirrored by crease line sections 30e and 30d, respectively, and the central axis C _a run centrally through the crease line section 30c.

Partitioned from the intermediate region 36 by crease line 30, the top region 34 comprises triangular or substantially triangular gusset panels 44a and 44b arranged on one side of the central axis C _a and corresponding triangular or substantially triangular gusset panels 44c and 44d, partitioned by a rectilinear or substantially rectilinear crease line 48, arranged on the other side. The gusset panels 44a and 44b are partitioned by a rectilinear or substantially rectilinear crease line 46. The gusset panels 44c and 44d are partitioned by a rectilinear or substantially rectilinear crease line 48. Crease line 46 connects to crease line 30 at the intersection of crease line sections 30b and 30c, and crease line 48 connects to crease line 30 at the intersection of crease line sections 30d and 30e. Gusset panels 44a and 44b are equilateral and configured to be folded onto each other when the blank 10 is folded to form the container. Consequently, gusset panels 44a and 44b are reflection-symmetric with respect to crease line 46, i.e. using crease line 46 as an axis of symmetry. Likewise, gusset panels 44c and 44d are equilateral and reflection-symmetric with respect to crease line 48, thus allowing gusset panels 44c and 44d to be folded onto each other when the container is formed.

Gusset panels 44a and 44c are partitioned from the intermediate region 36 by crease line sections 30b and 30e, respectively.

The top region 34 also comprises a top panel 124 arranged between gusset panels 44b and 44d. Top panel 124 is partitioned from gusset panel 44b by a rectilinear or substantially rectilinear crease line 52 and from gusset panel 44d by a rectilinear or substantially rectilinear crease line 54. Crease line 52 connects to crease line 30 at the intersection of crease line sections 30b and 30c, and crease line 54 connects to crease line 30 at the intersection of crease line sections 30d and 30e. Crease lines 52 and 54 are not perfectly parallel to the central axis C _a but converge slightly when moving along the crease lines 52 and 54 towards the intermediate region 36. Crease lines 52 and 54 form an angle to the central axis C _a of approximately 3 degrees.

The top panel 124 is partitioned from the intermediate region 36 by crease line 30c. Consequently, the bottom boundary of the top panel 124, i.e. the boundary of the top panel 124 facing the intermediate region 36, is convex.

The gusset panels 44a-44d and the top panel 124 are arranged reflection-symmetric or substantially reflection-symmetric about the central axis C _a . In other words, using the central axis C _a as an axis of symmetry, gusset panels 44a and 44b are mirrored by gusset panels 44c and 44d, respectively, and the central axis C _a runs centrally through the top panel 124.

The top region 34 further comprises top sealing band panels 56a-56g forming a top sealing band 56 extending along the top boundary edge 22 of the blank 10. When a container is formed from the blank 10, the top sealing band panels 56a-56g are configured to be sealed to each other to form a top seal of the container, as will be discussed in more detail later in the disclosure.

Sealing band panel 56a extends from lateral boundary edge 12 and runs between crease line section 30a and boundary edge section 22a. In a corresponding manner, sealing band panel 56g extends from lateral boundary edge 14 and runs between crease line section 30e and boundary edge section 22i.

Sealing band panel 56b extends from sealing band panel 56a and runs between gusset panel 44a and boundary edge section 22b. In a corresponding manner, sealing band panel 56f extends from sealing band panel 56g and runs between gusset panel 44c and boundary edge section 22h. Sealing band panel 56b is partitioned from gusset panel 44a by a rectilinear or substantially rectilinear crease line section 58a and from the neighbouring sealing band panel 56a by a rectilinear or substantially rectilinear crease line 60. Crease line 60 extends between the intersection of boundary edge sections 22a and 22b and the intersection of crease line sections 30a and 30b. Crease line 60 forms an angle of approximately 15 degrees to the longitudinal direction L. Crease line section 58a forms an angle of approximately 30 degrees to the longitudinal direction L. Sealing band panel 56f is partitioned from gusset panel 44c by a rectilinear or substantially rectilinear crease line section 58e and from the neighbouring sealing band panel 56g by a rectilinear or substantially rectilinear crease line 70. Crease line 70 extends between the intersection of boundary edge sections 22i and 22h and the intersection of crease line sections 30e and 30d. As crease line 60, crease line 70 forms an angle of approximately 15 degrees to the longitudinal direction L but angled in the opposite direction as compared to crease line 60. Crease line section 58e forms an angle of approximately 30 degrees to the longitudinal direction L but angled in the opposite direction as compared to crease line section 58a. Sealing band panel 56c extends from sealing band panel 56b and runs between gusset panel 44b and the combined extent of boundary edge sections 22c and 22d. In a corresponding manner, sealing band panel 56e extends from sealing band panel 56f and runs between gusset panel 44d and the combined extent of boundary edge sections 22g and 22f. Sealing band panel 56c is partitioned from gusset panel 44b by a rectilinear or substantially rectilinear crease line section 58b and from the neighbouring sealing band panel 56b by a rectilinear or substantially rectilinear crease line 62. Crease line 62 extends between the intersection of boundary edge sections 22b and 22c and the intersection of crease line sections 58a and 58b. Crease lines 62 and 46 are collinear or substantially collinear and form an angle of approximately 25 degrees to the longitudinal direction L. Crease line section 58b forms an angle of approximately 85 degrees to the longitudinal direction L. Sealing band panel 56e is partitioned from gusset panel 44d by a rectilinear or substantially rectilinear crease line section 58d and from the neighbouring sealing band panel 56f by a rectilinear or substantially rectilinear crease line 68. Crease line 68 extends between the intersection of boundary edge sections 22h and 22g and the intersection of crease line sections 58e and 58d. Crease lines 68 and 48 are collinear or substantially collinear and form an angle of approximately 25 degrees to the longitudinal direction L but angled in the opposite direction as compared to crease lines 62 and 46. Crease line section 58d forms an angle of approximately 85 degrees to the longitudinal direction L but angled in the opposite direction as compared to crease line section 58b.

Finally, sealing band panel 56d extends between sealing band panels 56c and 56e and runs between top panel 124 and boundary edge section 22e. Sealing band panel 56d is partitioned from top panel 124 by a rectilinear or substantially rectilinear crease line section 58c and from the neighbouring sealing band panels 56c and 56e by rectilinear or substantially rectilinear crease lines 64 and 66, respectively. Crease line 64 is parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction L and extends between the intersection of boundary edge sections 22d and 22e and the intersection of crease line sections 58b and 58c. Crease line 66 is also parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction L but extends between the intersection of boundary edge sections 22f and 22e and the intersection of crease line sections 58d and 58c. Crease line section 58c and boundary edge section 22e are parallel or substantially parallel.

The sealing band 56 is reflection-symmetric about the central axis C _a . In other words, using the central axis C _a as an axis of symmetry, sealing band panels 56a, 56b, 56c are mirrored by sealing band panels 56g, 56f, 56e, respectively, and the central axis C _a runs centrally through sealing band panel 56d.

The top panel 124 comprises a opening panel section 72 delimited by a weakened line 74 and a hinge line 75 allowing opening panel section 72 to be hingedly moved/folded into the container formed from the blank 10 when the container is initially opened by pushing down the opening panel section 72 such that the weakened line 74 breaks and the hinge line 75 provides a pivoting movement of the opening panel section 72. This opening action will be discussed in more detail later in the disclosure. The loop of weakness 74 may, for example, be a so-called "half-cut", i.e. a cut made partially through the laminated substrate of the blank 10 from the outside surface thereof leaving one or a plurality of inner layers of the laminated substrate intact to provide, prior to a first opening of the container produced from the blank 10, an uninterrupted barrier against a food product to be contained in the container. The hinge line 75 is closer to crease line section 58c than the weakened line 74.

Turning now to the intermediate region 36 of the blank 10, this region comprises panels 76a-76e partitioned by crease lines 82a-82d.

Panel 76c is configured to form a front wall panel of a container produced from the blank 10. Neighbouring panel 76c, the intermediate region 36 comprises panels 76b and 76d which are configured to form side wall panels of the produced container. The panel 76c is partitioned from the panel 76d by a rectilinear or substantially rectilinear crease line 82c and from panel 76b by a rectilinear or substantially rectilinear crease line 82b.

The intermediate region 36 further comprises panel 76a neighbouring panel 76b and a fifth panel 76e neighbouring panel 76d. Panels 76a and 76e are configured to form rear wall panel sections of the produced container. Panel 76a is partitioned from panel 76b by a rectilinear or substantially rectilinear crease line 82a and panel 76e is partitioned from panel 76d by a rectilinear or substantially rectilinear crease line 82d.

Crease line 82c extends between crease line 28 and the intersection of crease line sections 30c and 30d. Crease line 82b extends between crease line 28 and the intersection of crease line sections 30b and 30c. Starting from the top region 34 and moving towards the bottom region 32, crease lines 82b and 83c converge. Consequently, the width of panel 76c, i.e. the distance between the crease lines 76c and 76d in the traversal direction T, continuously decreases when moving from the top region 34 to the bottom region 32. Using the central axis C _a as an axis of symmetry, crease line 82b is mirrored by crease line 82c and both crease lines 82b and 82c form an angle to the central axis C _a of approximately 2 degrees, although diverging from the central axis C _a in opposite directions.

Crease line 82a extends between crease line 28 and the intersection of crease line sections 30a and 30b. Starting from the top region 34 and moving towards the bottom region 32, crease lines 82a and 82b diverge. Consequently, the width of panel 76b increases continuously when moving from the top region 34 to the bottom region 32. Crease line 82d extends between crease line 28 and the intersection of crease line sections 30d and 30e. Starting from the top region 34 and moving towards the bottom region 32, crease lines 82d and 82c diverge. Consequently, similar to panel 76b, the width of panel 76d increases continuously when moving from the top region 34 to the bottom region 32. Crease lines 82a and 82d both form an angle to the central axis C _a of approximately 3 degrees, although diverging from the central axis C _a in opposite directions. Consequently, using the central axis C _a as an axis of symmetry, panel 76b is mirrored by panel 76d. The blank 10 also comprises two rectilinear or substantially rectilinear crease lines 92 and 94 extending over the whole length of the blank 10, i.e. between the bottom boundary edge 16 and the top boundary edge 22, parallel or substantially parallel to the central axis C _a . Crease lines 92 and 94 extend centrally or substantially centrally in panels 76b and 76d, respectively, and, consequently, divide panels 76b and 76d into two panel sections 76b-I, 76b-II and 76d-I, 76d-II, respectively. Also, in the bottom region 32, the crease lines 92 and 94 extend centrally or substantially centrally in the gusset panel sub-regions formed by gusset panels 40b-40e and 40g-40j, respectively.

Fig. 2 shows a sleeve 96 produced from the blank 10 of Fig. 1 in a rear view and Figs. 3 A to 3D shows the sleeve 96 in a front view. Features of the sleeve already described with reference to Fig. 1 are provided with corresponding reference numbers in Figs. 2 and 3 A to 3D.

The sleeve 63 is created from the blank 10 by folding the blank 10 along the two crease lines 92 and 94, bringing panel 76e to overlap panel 76a. In the overlapping region, panels 76a and 76e are then sealed to one another, e.g. welded together, to form a longitudinal sealing band 14 forming a planar or substantially planar rear wall section. The sleeve 96 thus obtains a circumferential structure, closed in the circumferential direction, with an opening in the region of the bottom boundary edge 16 and with an opening in the region of the top boundary edge 22. The lateral boundary edge ending up inside the sleeve, i.e. boundary edge 12 in this case, is covered, either prior to folding the blank 10 along the crease lines 92 and 94 or after the overlapping regions of panels 76a and 76e have been connected to one another. The covering of the open cut edge of the composite material has the purpose of preventing any contact between the contents of the container and this layer, in particular the paper or paperboard layer contained therein. As is known in the art, the covering of the cut edge can be achieved by stripping composite layers from the edge and folding a remaining, impermeable layer over the edge. Alternatively, as is also known in the art, a strip of sealing material (not shown) can be applied over the lateral boundary edge ending up inside the sleeve.

In the front view (Figs. 3A to 3D), panel 76c is visible as are panel sections 76b-II and 76d-I. The weakened line 74 together with the hinge line 75 encircling the opening panel section 72 of the top panel 124 is also visible in the front view. However, the weakened line and hinge line are not visible in the rear view (Fig. 2) since the inside layer of the laminated material of the top panel 124 is unbroken, providing said uninterrupted barrier. In the rear view (Fig. 2), panels 76a and 76e are visible as are panel sections 76b-I and 76d-II.

Figs 3 A to 3D shows different configurations of the opening panel section 72.

In Fig. 3A the opening panel section 72 is having a partly oval shape. The weakened line 74 is curved and hinged line 75 is rectilinear. The weakened line 74 is a so-called "halfcut" while the hinge line 75 is a crease line. In Fig. 3B the opening panel section 72 is also having a partly oval shape as shown in Fig. 3 A. The weakened line 74 is curved and hinged line 75 is rectilinear. The weakened line 74 and hinged line 75 are both a so-called "half-cut", but the half-cuts are different. The hinge line 75 has a plurality of half-cuts 78 (indicated by dotted lines) which are separated by uncut regions forming bridges 79. The weakened line 74 comprises half-cuts 77 which are at least twice the length the half-cuts 78 of the hinge line 75 and the uncut regions 80 of the weakened line 74 are also smaller than the bridges 79 of the hinge line 75. Further, the opening panel section 72 has a centrally arranged rectilinear centre line 81 extending in the transversal direction T allowing the opening panel section 72 to bend when being pushed by a consumer. The centre line 81 has the same configuration as the hinge line 75 and is hence not broken during the first opening.

In Fig. 3C the opening panel section 72 is also having a partly oval shape as shown in Figs. 3A and 3B. The weakened line 74 is curved and hinged line 75 is rectilinear. Both lines 74,75 are so-called "half-cuts", but the half-cuts are different. The hinge line 75 has a plurality of half-cuts (indicated by dotted lines) which are separated by uncut regions forming bridges which further comprise a crease line. The weakened line 74 comprises half-cuts 77 which are about twice the length the half-cuts 78 of the hinge line 75 and the uncut regions of the weakened line 74 are also smaller than the bridges of the hinge line 75. Further, the opening panel section 72 has a centrally arranged curvilinear centre line 81 extending in the transversal direction T allowing the opening panel section 72 to bend when being pushed by a consumer. The centre line 81 is a crease line and is hence not broken during the first opening.

In Fig. 3D the opening panel section 72 has a thumb shape where the weakened line is more curved than the hinge line 75, the two curves being in opposite directions. The hinge line 75 is curvilinear. The weakened line 74 and hinged line are both a so-called "half-cut", but the half-cuts are different as shown in Fig. 3B. The hinge line 75 has a plurality of halfcuts 78 (indicated by dotted lines) which are separated by uncut regions forming bridges. The weakened line 74 comprises half-cuts 77 which are at least twice the length the halfcuts 78 of the hinge line 75 and the uncut regions of the weakened line 74 are also smaller than the bridges of the hinge line 75.

Fig. 3E shows a similarly shaped opening panel section 72 as shown in Fig. 3D, the difference being that the hinge line 75 is rectilinear.

The embodiments of figs. 3A-3E shows the hinge line 75 closer to crease line section 58c than the weakened line 74.

Fig. 4 shows the sleeve 96 from Figs. 2 and 3 in an erected state. The erected state is arrived at by reversing the previous folding along the crease lines 92 and 94 and folding the sleeve 96 back along the crease lines 92 and 94 by approximately 180 degrees. The folding back along the crease line 92 has the consequence that the two panel sections 76b -I and 76b-II no longer lie on top of one another but become arranged in the same or substantially the same plane. In a corresponding manner, the folding back along the crease line 94 has the consequence that the two panel sections 76d-I and 76d-II no longer lie on top of one another but become arranged in the same or substantially the same plane. The folding back action also involves folding the sleeve 96 along crease lines 82a, 82b, 82c and 82d by approximately 90 degrees, thus forming side edges of the container-to-be.

Next, the bottom region of the erected sleeve is folded and sealed. This involves bringing the bottom sealing band panels 38f and 38b into sealing engagement with sealing band panels 38e and 38c, respectively, and bringing bottom sealing band panels 38g and 38s into sealing engagement with sealing band panel 38d. The sealing engagement may be effectuated by welding in a manner which is, as such, known in the art. Folding and sealing the bottom region also involves folding gusset panels 40j and 40g inwards onto gusset panels 40i and 40h, respectively, and folding corresponding gusset panels 40b and 40e inwards onto gusset panels 40d and 40c, respectively. It further involves folding down the now sealed sealing band onto bottom panel 40f and gusset panels 40e and 40g and connecting the sealing band thereto, e.g. by welding, and, finally, folding in lugs formed by the previously folded gusset panels, thus arriving at the sealed and substantially planar configuration illustrated in Fig. 5. It is to be understood, however, that other configurations of a sealed and planar bottom region are known in the art and may be used instead of the one described above.

Erecting and bottom sealing the sleeve may be effectuated in a packaging machine (not shown), where the sleeve 96 may be supplied from a magazine and erected on a mandrel. The bottom region may be formed and sealed on the mandrel and the proto-container, i.e. the partially-formed container as shown in Fig. 6, may then be discharged from the mandrel to a conveyor. The conveyor may transport the partially-formed container to a sterilization station and then to a filling station. In the filling station, a food product may be dispensed into the partially-formed container through the open top.

The filled and partially-formed container may then be conveyed to a top-folding and sealing station for folding and sealing the top region.

When folding the top region, the slanted top panels 44c and 44d are pushed inward at crease line 48 to fold panel 44d over panel 44c and to fold panel 56e over 56f (see Fig. 6). A similar operation is carried out on panels 44a, 44b and 56c, 56b (see also Fig. 1). At the end of this folding operation, the top panel 124 will have assumed a slanted orientation, as shown in Fig. 7. In this position, the gusset panels 44a-44d are folded onto each other underneath the top panel 124 and the panels of the sealing band 56 may be sealed to each other, e.g. in a welding operation, thereby sealing the top region. The folded and sealed sealing band 56 is then folded down onto and attached to the rear wall panels 76a and 76e, as is shown in Fig. 8.

Since the top sealing band panels 56b, 56c, 56e and 56f are pushed inwards when the top seal is formed, the top sealing band panels 56b, 56c, 56e and 56f will be contained between top sealing band panel 56d and the joined top sealing band panel 56g and 56a. Consequently, the folded and sealed sealing band 56 will have a lateral extent corresponding to the lateral extent of the top sealing band panel 56d, thus allowing the whole sealing band 56 to be folded down onto and attached to the rear wall panels 76a and 76e.

Consequently, the folded and sealed sealing band 56 forms a top sealing region that is folded onto and is attached to a rear wall section of the container formed from the rear wall panels 76a and 76e, i.e. the wall section containing the longitudinal sealing band 14. The consequence of this arrangement, as will be discussed in more detail later, is that a top panel of the container 124 (see Fig. 13), formed from panel 124 (see Figs. 3A to 3E), will be free from sealing structures, such as welded, glued or otherwise permanently joined seams where panels of the laminate sheet material are permanently joined to each other. This allows the top panel to be utilised in an efficient manner.

Figs. 9-12 show a container 100 produced from the blank 10 disclosed above. The container 100 comprises a substantially planar bottom portion 102, a top portion 104 and a wall portion 106. The wall portion 106 comprises a front wall section 108a formed from panel 76c and a rear wall section 108c formed from panels 76a and 76e. Further, the wall portion 106 comprises side wall sections 108b and 108d formed from panels 76d and 76b, respectively. An edge 116, formed by crease line 82b, defines an intersection of the front wall section 108a and the side wall section 108d, and an edge 118, formed by crease line 82c, defines an intersection of the front wall section 108a and the side wall section 108b. Further, an edge 120, formed by crease line 82a, defines an intersection of the rear wall section 108c and the side wall section 108d, and an edge 122, formed by crease line 82d, defines an intersection of the rear wall section 108c and the side wall section 108b.

The top portion 104 comprises a top panel 124 and a sealing region 126, formed from the sealed sealing band 56, i.e. the folded and sealed top sealing band panels 56a-56g, forming a top seal of the container 100 (see Fig. 1). A slanted side edge 128, formed by crease line 52 (see Fig. 1), defines an intersection of the top panel 124 and the side wall section 108d, and a slanted side edge 130, formed by crease line 54 (see Fig. 1), defines an intersection of the top panel 124 and the side wall section 108b. A front edge 132, formed by crease line section 30c (see Fig. 1), defines an intersection of the top panel 124 and the front wall section 108a. The container 100 also comprises a rear edge 134, formed by crease line section 58c (see Fig. 1), corresponding to the intersection of the top panel 124 and the sealing region 126. Consequently, the top panel 124 extends between the top edges 128, 130, 132 and 134.

As previously discussed, the sealing region 126 is folded down onto and attached to the rear wall section 108c, i.e. the wall section formed by the panels 76a and 76e and containing the longitudinal sealing band 14 (see Fig. 1). The panel 76c has a length LF along the central axis C _a (see Fig. 1). The panels 76a and 76e have a length LB in the direction of the central axis C _a that is less than LF. Consequently, the front wall section 108a has a length that is less than the length of the rear wall section 108c (when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the container 100). This difference in the lengths, i.e., LF < LB, creates an extended configuration of the top panel 124. Thus, the front edge 132 is lower than the rear edge 134 when the container 100 is in an upright position as shown. The top panel 124 is at a predetermined angle a to the rear wall section 108c (see Figs. 11 and 12). The angle a can be about 10 degrees to about 90 degrees, and preferably, about 30 degrees to about 80 degrees. Most preferably, the angle a is about 45 degrees to about 75 degrees. In the present embodiment, the angle is approximately 60 degrees, as is dictated by the angle between the crease line sections 30b and 30d and crease lines 82a and 82d, respectively (see Fig. 1).

Referring now to Figs. 14a and 14b, the planar bottom portion 102 is substantially squareshaped, i.e. it has a width and a breadth of substantially equal length, as is illustrated in Fig. 14a (see also Fig. 5). At the top portion 104, however, the cross-section of the container 100, when viewed in a plan parallel to the plane of the bottom portion 102, is rectangular. In other words, above the bottom portion 102 the width of the container 100 is larger than the breadth of the container 100, as is illustrated in Fig. 14b. This asymmetry increases when moving from the bottom portion 102 towards the top portion 104.

Referring now to Figs. 9, 10 and 13, the container 100 comprises an opening panel section 72 (see Fig. 1) having a protecting sheet 150, 150’ that covers the opening panel section 72. As previously discussed, opening panel section 72 is delimited by a weakened line 74 and a hinge line 75 allowing the opening panel section 72 to be pushed into the container in a hinged manner such that a portion of the opening panel section is retained to the container when the container is initially opened. Until this first opening, however, opening panel section 72 forms, together with the rest of the top panel 124, an uninterrupted barrier for the food product contained in the package. The line of weakness 74 may, for example, be a so-called "half-cut", i.e. a cut made partially through the laminated substrate of the blank from the outside surface thereof leaving one or a plurality of inner layers of the laminated substrate intact to provide an uninterrupted barrier against the contained food product. The hinge line 75 is closer to the rear edge 134 than the weakened line 74. When opening panel section 72 has been pushed down by the consumer and the protecting sheet 150, 150’ has been removed therefrom, an opening 140 (see Fig. 13) will be revealed in the top panel 124 through which the food product in the container 100 can be dispensed or accessed. The protecting sheet 150, 150’ may extend down onto the rear wall section 108c crossing the sealing region 126. The protecting sheet 150, 150’ can be attached to the container 100 after the container 100 has been filled and top-sealed. Alternatively, the protecting sheet 150, 150’ may be attached to the proto-container upstream of the filling station. The opening 140 is positioned close to the rear edge 134 substantially equidistant from slanted edges 128 and 130. The opening 140 may be arranged at an orthogonal distance D (see Fig. 1) of between 1 mm to 15 mm from the top rear edge 134. In other words, with reference to Fig. 1, the opening panel section 72 may be arranged at an orthogonal distance D of between 1 mm to 15 mm from the crease line section 58c. Since the sealing region 126 is folded down onto the rear wall containing the longitudinal sealing band 14 and is attached thereto, the top panel 124 will be free from sealing structures and there will be no obstructions extending above the surface of the top panel 124. In particular, the longitudinal sealing band 14 and the top sealing region 126 will be confined to the rear wall section 108c of the container. Therefore, after the first opening, when the protecting sheet 150, 150’ is removed and opening panel section 72 has been swung into or out of the container about the hinge line 75, the revealed opening 140 will become easily accessible, in particular from the rear wall section 108c side of the container 100, allowing a consumer to position his or her lower lips on the sealing region 126 and the upper lips over the opening 140. The longitudinal extent of the sealing band panel 56d, i.e. the distance B between the crease line section 58c and the top boarder section 22e (see Fig. 1), defining the length of the sealing region 126 in the longitudinal direction of the container 100, may be at least 15 mm, or more preferably at least 20 mm, or even more preferably at least 30 mm, to comfortably accommodate the lower lips of a consumer and thereby cater for an enjoyable drinking experience. By having the protecting sheet 150, 150’ extending down onto the rear wall section 108c crossing the sealing region 126, the outer surface of the sealing region 126 intended to come into contact with the mouth of a consumer will be protected until the container 100 is opened. The slanted top panel 124 and the position of the opening 140 close to the rear edge 134 allow for an ergonomically advantageous drinking position, thus making it easy for a consumer to drink directly from the container 100. Consequently, the disclosed container 100 may be suitable to be used as a so-called portion pack, i.e. a type of container configured to hold a liquid intended to be consumed on the go, without the container necessarily having to be reclosed after once having been opened.

Because to the gusset panels 44a, 44b, 44c, 44d are folded inwards during the top sealing of the container (see Fig. 6), the gusset panels 44a, 44b, 44c, 44d will end up underneath the top panel 124 (e.g. see Fig. 3) in the filled and sealed container. Consequently, when designing the opening, due account of the gusset panels 44a, 44b, 44c, 44d must be taken. In the present embodiment, the opening 140 is positioned such that the gusset panels 44a, 44b, 44c, 44d do not interfere with drinking or dispensing from the container.

Fig. 15 shows another embodiment of a blank 10' according to the invention. Figs. 16 and 17 show a sleeve 96' produced from the blank.

The blank 10' differs from the previously disclosed blank 10 in that the blank 10' comprises two rectilinear or substantially rectilinear crease line sections 30c' -I and 30c'-II instead of the curvilinear crease line 30c of blank 10. Furthermore, the blank 10' comprises a semi-circular weakened line 74 and the hinged portion 75' that is not visible as being a part of the container without a half-cut or crease line even if one or both may be present. Hence, the semi-circular weakened line 74 defines an opening panel section 72 arranged to be folded into or out from the plane of panel 124' during the first opening. Similar to the loop of weakness 74 of blank 10, the semi-circular line of weakness 74 may be a so-called "half-cut", i.e. a cut made partially through the laminated substrate of the blank from the outside surface thereof leaving one or a plurality of inner layers of the laminated substrate intact to provide an uninterrupted barrier against the contained food product.

The hinge line 75' is arranged closer to the crease line section 58c defining the top edge/rear edge than the weakened line 74.

The blank 10' differs from blank 10 also in that the intermediate region of the blank 10' comprises slanted crease lines 82a'-82g' instead of the substantially longitudinally extending crease lines 82a-82d of blank 10. The slanted crease lines 82a'-82h' partition slanted panels 76a'-76i'.

The blank 10' is otherwise identical to blank 10 and the sleeve 96' (see Figs. 16 and 17) is produced in substantially the same manner as sleeve 96. The container 100' is produced from sleeve 96' in substantially the same manner as container 100 from sleeve 96. However, when the sleeve 96' is erected and folded, the slanted panels 76a'-76i' will form a pattern of slanted and slightly warped wall sections 108a'-108h' in the wall portion 106' of the container 100'. Wall sections 108a', 108g', 108e' and 108c' extend diagonally across the front wall, the first side wall, the rear wall and the second side wall, respectively, of the container 100'. When the container 100' is produced, the sealing region 126' is folded down onto wall section 108d' and wall section 108e' (i.e. the wall section containing the longitudinal sealing band 14') and is attached to the same. Consequently, as the previously discussed container 100, the container 100' comprises a top panel 124' that is free from sealing structures.

The first time opening of the container by pushing the opening panel section 72 is identical to the first time opening disclosed for blank 10.

Fig. 18 shows a blank 10" which is substantially identical to the blank 10 shown in Fig. 1 except that the top boundary edge sections 22a", 22e" and 22i" are curvilinear and the top panel 124" is provided with a circular, pre-cut weakened line 74 in the paper-based or paperboard-based laminate sheet material of the blank 10". The opening panel section 72 is positioned adjacent the crease line section 58c" and may, similarly to the opening panel section 72 in Fig. 1, be arranged at an orthogonal distance D of between 1 mm to 10 mm from the crease line section 58c". Also, as compared to the blank 10 shown in Fig. 1, the panel 76a" is somewhat wider than the panel 76e" allowing the boundary edge 14" to become positioned substantially equidistant from the edges 120" and 122" in a container 100" produced from the blank 10". Figs. 19-22 show the container 100" produced from the blank 10". The container 100" is produced substantially in the same way as has been described above with reference to Figs. 2-8. Due to the curvilinear nature of the top boundary edge sections 22a", 22e" and 22i", the sealing region 126" displays a curvilinear edge 127" in this embodiment of the container.

The container 100" comprises an opening panel section 72 arranged below the protecting sheet 150, 150’. The opening panel section providing an opening after being pushed into the container as indicated for the containers 100 and 100' allowing a consumer to access the food product of the container.

The opening panel section 72 is covered by the protecting sheet 150, 150’. A portion of the protecting sheet 150, 150’ is permanently attached to the outside surface of the paper-based or paperboard-based laminate sheet material of the container 100". The protecting sheet 150, 150’ is arranged to be brought from a first position, in which the opening panel section 72 is covered by the protecting sheet 150, 150’ to a second position, in which the opening provided by the opening panel section 72 is revealed. In one embodiment, before the protecting sheet 150 is brought to the second position, the consumer must push the protecting sheet 150 down at an area covering the opening panel section 72 hence pushing the opening panel section 72 into the container 100" providing an opening. In another embodiment the consumer pushes the opening panel 72 section into the container 100” as the protection sheet 150, 150’ is brought from the first position to the second position.

The protecting sheet 150, 150’ is generally rectangular and extends between longitudinal edges 151,151’, 152, 152’ and transversal edges 153, 153’, 154,154’ (see Fig. 23 and Fig. 31, which shows the protecting sheet 150, 150’ prior to having been mounted to the laminate sheet material).

In one embodiment as shown in Fig. 23 the protecting sheet 150 displays a pushing area 155 having substantially the same size and shape as the opening panel section 72 (see Fig. 18). In other words, the opening 140" and the pushing area 155 are congruent. The protecting sheet 150 is attached to the outside surface of the laminate sheet material of the container 100" so that the pushing area 155 is aligned with the opening panel section 72. Consequently, in the present embodiment, in which the opening panel section 72 defined by the weakened line 74 (see Fig. 18) and the pushing area 155 are semi-circular, the opening panel section 72 and the pushing area 155 are coaxially arranged. Fig. 23 shows an inside view of the protecting sheet 150 i.e. shows the side intended to face the container 100, 100’, 100”.

The pushing area 155 can be defined by a perimeter comprising a weakened line with a plurality of through-cuts which are broken during a first opening of the container and a hinge line retaining the pushing area 155 to the protecting sheet 150 after the first opening, and wherein the hinge line being the section of the perimeter being the most distant from the top edge/rear edge (not shown). The through-cuts are separated by uncut regions forming bridges.

In another embodiment as shown in Fig. 31, showing an outside view i.e. a view of the side intended to face away from the container 100. 100’, 100” when attached, the protecting sheet 150’ displays a piercing means 157 with piercing means edge 157a arranged facing towards the transversal edge 153’ and piercing means edge 157b arranged facing towards the transversal edge 154’. The piercing means 157 has a size substantially equal to or smaller than the opening panel section 72 and is thus adapted for piercing through the opening panel section 72. The protecting sheet 150’ further displays a piercing means retainer 158 with a piercing means retainer edge 158a arranged facing towards the piercing means edge 157a and a piercing means retainer edge 158b arranged facing towards the piercing means edge 157b. The piercing means retainer 158 holds the piercing means 157 to the protecting sheet 150’ and is generally made of the same material as the protecting sheet 150’. The piercing means retainer 158 may be formed by two parallel cuts in the protecting sheet 150’ where the piercing means 157 is inserted therethrough.

The piercing means retainer 158 may also be formed as a bridge portion of the protecting sheet 150’ material arranged over at least a part of the piercing means 157 to hold it in place. The piercing means 157 may be fixed to the piercing means retainer 158, for example glued thereto. When the piercing means retainer 158 is formed as a bridge portion the piercing means 157 may be arranged without piercing through the protecting sheet 150 prior to use. The protection sheet 150’ may then be configured to be liquid tight.

The protecting sheet 150’ is attached to the outside surface of the laminate sheet material of the container 100" so that the piercing means 157 is aligned with the opening panel section 72. Consequently, in the embodiment, in which the opening panel section 72 is defined by the weakened line 74 (see Fig. 18), the opening panel section 72 and the piercing means 157 is arranged vertically and such that the piercing means is aligned to the weakened line 74.

The protecting sheet 150’ may display a cut out 159 that is substantially equal in size to the part of the piercing means 157 between the piercing means edge 157a and piercing means retainer edge 158a. The cut out 159 may be defined by a through-cut or by a weakened line 159a displaying partial cuts through the protecting sheet adapted to rupture when pressure is exerted thereto by the piercing means 157. The cut out 159 is aligned to the opening panel section 72 and allows contact between the piercing means 157 and the opening panel section 72. The weakened line 159a functions to facilitate opening of the cut out 159 when pressure is applied thereto, for example by the piercing means 157. Piercing means edge 157a is not visible in the inside view, see Fig. 32 which shows an inside view, i.e. the side intended to face the container 100, 100’, 100”, of the protecting sheet shown in Fig. 31).

The piercing means retainer edge 158a is or may be a hinge line that allows pivoting of the protecting sheet 150’ about this hinge line. It is understood that the piercing means 157 is adapted to have sufficient hardness to puncture, pierce or push through the opening panel section 72 and/or the protecting sheet 150’, with or without a weakening line being present. The piercing means 157 can have a rectangular shape (see Fig. 31) or any other suitable shapes such as oval, trapezoidal, triangular. The piercing means 157 may have a shape coinciding with the shape of the opening panel 72. The piercing means edge 157a may be jagged, sharp or otherwise shaped to aid piercing of the opening panel 72. The piercing means 157 may be made of paper, paper board, metal, wood, hardened pulp or plastic and may be adapted to be sufficiently stiff to puncture, pierce or push through the opening panel 72 while tolerating the force of the pivoting movement when the protective sheet 150’ is brought from the first position to the second position.

The protecting sheet 150, 150’ comprises a first sheet section 150a, 150a’ that extends over the top panel 124" between the top edge 134" of the container 100" and a region close to the edge 132" (see Fig. 20). In the disclosed embodiments, the protecting sheet 150, 150’ also comprises a second sheet section 150b, 150b’ that extends from the top edge 134" down onto the sealing region 126" to a region close to the edge 127" (see Fig. 25 and 26, 27 and 28). Consequently, due to the transversal edge 153, 153’ of protecting sheet 150, 150’ being arranged adjacent the edge 132" and the transversal edge 154, 154’ being arranged adjacent the edge 127", the protecting sheet 150, 150’ extends over the uppermost edge 134" of the container 100" and over substantially the whole length of the top panel 124" and the sealing region 126", respectively.

In the present embodiments, the width of the protecting sheet 150, 150’ is somewhat smaller than the width of the top panel 124". In alternative embodiments, the protecting sheet 150, 150’ may have a width that is substantially equal to the width of the top panel 124". The extent of the protecting sheet 150, 150’ must, however, be sufficient to encircle/ cover the opening panel section 72.

The first sheet section 150a’ comprises crease line 156a which the protecting sheet 150’ may pivot about. The second sheet section 150b’ comprises a crease line 156b which the protecting sheet 150’ may pivot about (see Fig. 27, Fig. 28, Fig. 29, Fig. 30, Fig. 31, Fig. 32.

The inside surface of the protecting sheet 150, 150’ may comprise an adhesive 160, 160’ (indicated by a dotted pattern in Fig. 23 and Fig. 32) for permanently attaching the protecting sheet 150, 150’ to the container.

Also, to ensure that the protecting sheet 150, 150’ is kept flush to the container 100" prior to the first opening, the protecting sheet 150, 150’ may be attached to the side wall section 108c".

In one embodiment, in order to perform the first opening, a consumer manually pushes the pushing area 155 of the protecting sheet 150 downwards breaking the weakened line 74 of the container thereby bending the opening panel section 72 into the container, creating an opening while being retained by the hinge portion 75. Thereafter the consumer grips the transversal edge 154 of the protecting sheet 150 and pulls the protecting sheet 150 upward over the top edge 134" and then downwards towards the edge 132", thereby bringing the protecting sheet 150 to the second position. The downward pulling action of the protecting sheet 150 will reveal the opening of the container. The consumer will then be able to dispense or access the food product through the opening 140.

In another embodiment, in order to perform the first opening, a consumer grips transversal edge 154’ of the protecting sheet 150’ and pulls the protecting sheet 150’ upward over the top edge 134" allowing the protecting sheet 150a’ to pivot about the piercing means retainer edge 158a, the protecting sheet 150a’ engaging the piercing means 157 close to the piercing means edge 157b facing towards transversal edge 154’ (see Fig, 29) causing the piercing means 157 to pivot together with the sheet section 150a’ about the piercing means retainer edge 158a and pushing the piercing means edge 157a through the cut out 159 and down onto the opening panel section 72, thereby breaking the weakened line 74 and pushing the opening panel section 72, which pivots about hinge line 75 into the container (see Fig 29), thereby creating opening 140” while the opening panel section is retained by the hinge portion 75. The consumer then proceeds to pull the protecting sheet 150’ downwards towards the edge 132", allowing the protecting sheet to pivot about the crease line 156b and thereby bringing the protecting sheet 150’ to the second position and thereby pulling the piercing means 157 out of the opening 140. In other words, the downward pulling action of the protection sheet 150’ will pull the piercing means 157 out of the opening 140 and reveal the opening 140 of the container through which the consumer will then be able to dispense or access the food product through the opening 140” (see Fig. 30).

Due to the protecting sheet 150, 150’ extending at least from the pushing area 155 or the piercing means 157, over the top edge 134" and down onto the sealing region 126" to the region close to the edge 127" (see Fig. 22 and 27), a drinking surface, which prior to the first opening was covered by the protecting sheet 150, 150’, will be available to the consumer should he or she chose to drink from the container 100" from the side of the wall section 108c". In order to prevent the mouth of the consumer from coming into contact with the outside surface of the container laminate sheet material during such a drinking operation, and thereby provide an enjoyable drinking experience, the protecting sheet 150, 150’ should preferably extend from the transversal edge 154, 154’ to the pushing area 155 or the piercing means 157 a distance A, A’ of at least at 20 mm and more preferably at least 25 mm, and even more preferably at least 30 mm (see Fig. 23 and 31).

According to one embodiment, the protecting sheet 150, 150’ may be configured to allow the consumer to reclose the opening after the first opening by arranging the protecting sheet 150, 150’ back to its initial position adhering the first sheet region 150a, 150a’ to the container. While this may not necessarily be sufficient to provide a liquid tight seal, it may be sufficient to prevent foreign object from entering the opening 140. At the region of the edge 153, 153’, the protecting sheet 150, 150’ may be permanently joined, e.g. heat sealed to the container, thereby ensuring that the protecting sheet 150, 150’ remains attached to the container also after the first opening.

Alternatively or additionally, the protecting sheet 150, 150’ may be permanently joined e.g. heat sealed to the container at the region of the container being between the hinge line and the edge 153, 153’ and preferably adjacent the hinge line.

The protecting sheet 150, 150’ may be heat-sealed to the outside surface of the container 100". Alternatively, the protecting sheet 150, 150’ may be permanently attached to the outside surface of the container 100" by other means, e.g. using a suitable adhesive.

The protecting sheet 150, 150’ may be a laminate sheet, e.g. comprising a plurality of polymer layers and/or a layer comprising cellulose fibres, e.g. a paper layer. In one embodiment, the protecting sheet 150, 150’ may comprise an aluminium layer.

As previously stated, blanks are produced in a converting process in which the blanks are cut from a web of laminate material having substantially parallel and rectilinear lateral boundary edges. The converting process typically comprises feeding the web of laminate material through one or a plurality of nips formed between a pair of cutting and/or creasing rollers to produce blanks cut from the web and formed with creases lines for subsequent folding and/or with cuts and/or with holes, e.g. for fitting a closure to the blank material when a container is produced therefrom.

Fig. 24 shows a blank 10" with a top boundary edge 22" comprises curvilinear edge sections 22a" and 22e" and 22i" having an extend and a curvature allowing the nesting patter to be laid out with the top boundary edges of the blanks adjoining each other without an intermediate gap. Once cut out from the laminate material web, the blank 10" can be folded as shown in Figs. 25 and 26, filled and sealed in a manner similar to the blank 10 disclosed in Fig. 1. Figs 25 and 26 show a container 100" produced from the blank 10" according to Fig. 24.

Figs. 27 and 28 shows a filled and sealed container similar to the ones showed in Figs. 25 and 26, but with the protection sheet 150’ attached.

Fig. 29 shows the container of Figs. 27 and 28 while the protection sheet 150’ is being brought from the first position to the second position. The piercing means 157 is shown while pushing into the opening panel 72 and the protection sheet 150’ is pivoted about the piercing means retaining edge 158a.

Fig. 30 shows the container of Figs. 27 and 28 when the protection sheet 150’ has been brought to the second position by pivoting the protection sheet 150’ about crease line 156b, where the opening panel section 72 has been pushed into the container revealing the opening 140”. A consumer is then able to dispense or access the food product through the opening 140”. It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which, for clarity, have been described above in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which, for brevity, have been described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

In the preceding description, various aspects of the blank and container according to the invention have been described with reference to the illustrative embodiment. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, systems and configurations were set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the apparatus and its workings. However, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications and variations of the illustrative embodiment, as well as other embodiments of the apparatus, which are apparent to person skilled in the art to which the disclosed subject-matter pertains, may lie within the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.