General Mills, Inc.

Gordon H Meier

Patrick J Sumpmann

Sarah J Moberg

Curtis J Deering

A canister for containing a particulate-type product such as a ready-to-eat cereal. The canister includes a side wall, a bottom closure and a plastic lid. The side wall defines at least a portion of a tubular body having an upper opening, a lower opening and an internal storage region for containing the particulate-type product. In this regard, the side wall includes a first, paper-based layer and a second, plastic-based layer. The first, paper-based layer has an inner surface and an outer surface. The second, plastic-based layer is bonded to the inner surface of the first, paper-based layer. The bottom closure is connected to the side wall so as to encompass the bottom opening. The plastic lid is openably secure to the tubular body at the upper opening. In this regard, the plastic lid provides selective access to the internal storage region. With this configuration, the plastic lid facilitates rapid fabrication of the canister, as well as providing for increased canister durability.

Canister with paper and plastic layers and a plastic lid for containing a particulate-type product, such as a ready-to-eat cereal

A canister for storing a particulate-type product. The canister includes a tubular body, a bottom panel, a top panel and a plurality of tabs. The tubular body defines an upper opening, a lower opening, and an internal storage region. The bottom panel is connected to the tubular body so as to encompass the lower opening. The top panel is similarly connected to the tubular body so as to encompass the upper opening and includes a lid. The lid is selectively secured to the tubular body at the upper opening such that the lid is moveable from an initial, closed state to an opened state, and from the opened state to a reclosed state. In the initial, closed state, the lid is secured to the tubular body. In the opened state, the lid is displaced from the tubular body to define a pour opening through which the internal storage region is accessible. In the reclosed state, the lid substantially encompasses the pour opening. Finally, the plurality of tabs are associated with the lid in at least the reclosed state. In one preferred embodiment, tab formation is completed as the lid is forced from the initial, closed state, and the tabs assist in frictionally securing the lid to the tubular body in the reclosed state.

Canister for a particulate-type product

Canister

A canister for containing a particulate-type product. The canister includes at least one side wall, a top closure and a bottom closure. The side wall defines at least a portion of an internal storage region having an upper opening and a lower opening. The side wall includes a first paper-based layer, a second layer and an adhesive. The first layer includes a main body portion and a premium. The body portion and the premium are integrally formed such that the premium is selectively detachable from the body portion. The body portion and the premium each define an inner surface and an outer surface. The second layer has an inner surface and an outer surface. The adhesive bonds the inner surface of the body portion to the outer surface of the second layer, but does not impede detachment of the premium from the body portion. The top closure is connected to the side wall to encompass the upper opening. The bottom closure is connected to the side wall so as to encompass the lower opening. With this configuration, the second layer maintains a structural integrity of the canister upon detachment of the premium.

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Brooklyn Park, MN, United States of America

Gordon H Meier