Seamless container

Abstract

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a seamless container comprising; a bottom, a wall structure extending in a first direction, said wall structure comprising protruding rim structure surrounding the wall structure, the rim structure comprising at least one groove and at least one protrusion; wherein said seamless container is stackable, and said rim structure of the seamless container is compatible with a similar or similarly shaped protruding rim structure of a second container in a second position.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to seamless containers that are stackable and capable of forming a closed volume with a second similar container.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Containers and matching lid structures are manufactured for packaging various products, such as food items. When assembled together, they protect the products during transport and display. Such structures are currently widely used in packaging technology.

[0003] It is known to use assemblable or stackable containers in order to save space when there is no product in the container. Containers that are to be assembled are often made of cardboard or paper, and the container may be assembled or folded into its final form only when the product is to be packed inside.

[0004] One known solution is to use stackable containers made of cardboard or plastic, which can be closed with a separate stackable lid. In many cases, the lid of such a container is made of plastic. Stackable containers made of cardboard or paper usually have a separate base and wall structure, which are joined to each other by gluing or pressing during the production of the container. In particular, containers made of cardboard and paper require folds to achieve sufficient rigidity.

[0005] Known assemblable or stackable containers have many disadvantages related to the seams, folds and discontinuities that occur on the surfaces of the assembled container when the container is assembled or folded. Discontinuities in the container may result in leaks, making it impossible to store liquid products in the container. Furthermore, the leaks do not allow the product to be sealed airtight.

[0006] A container comprising folds or seams leaves hard-to-reach areas that make it difficult to fully utilize certain foods packaged in the container, unnecessarily increasing the amount of food waste generated in the society. In addition, folded containers comprise overlapping areas that increase the amount of material needed to manufacture the container.

[0007] A separate lid required to close the containers further increases the consumption of material used to manufacture the container, and such containers and lids must be stored and transported in separate stacks, taking up additional space.

[0008] The aim of the present invention is to solve at least some of the problems encountered in the prior art.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The invention is defined by the features of the independent claims. Certain specific embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

[0010] The product according to a first aspect of the present invention is a seamless container comprising a bottom; a wall structure extending in a first direction, the wall structure comprising a protruding rim structure surrounding the wall, which includes at least one groove and at least one protrusion; wherein the seamless container is stackable; and the rim structure of the seamless container is compatible with a similar or similarly shaped protruding rim structure of a second container in a second orientation.

[0011] Various embodiments according to the first aspect may comprise at least one feature from the following bulleted list: Said container and said second container in the alternate orientation are capable of forming at least one closed volume. The second orientation is one in which the protruding rim structure surrounding the wall structure of said container and the protruding rim structure surrounding the wall structure of second the container are facing each other. The second orientation is one in which each groove and protrusion of the protruding rim structure surrounding the wall structure of said container is aligned with the corresponding protrusion and groove of the similar or similarly shaped protruding rim structure of the second container. Said container, said second container, and at least a third container comprising a similar or similarly shaped protruding rim structure as said container and said second container, are capable of forming at least two closed volumes, wherein said at least third container separates the at least two closed volumes from each other. The protruding rim structure of said container and the similar or similarly shaped protruding rim structure of the second container, when fitted together, are capable of closing the volume formed by the containers in an airtight and / or watertight manner. The wall structure of the seamless container extends in the first direction by 5-150 mm, preferably 10-100 mm, more preferably 20-60 mm. The wall structure of the seamless container extends in a direction transverse to the first direction such that the wall structure is inclined with respect to the first direction by 4°-45°, for example, 30°. The wall structure of the seamless container extends in a direction transverse to the first direction such that the wall structure is inclined with respect to the first direction by 15°-40°. The wall structure of the seamless container extends in a direction transverse to the first direction such that the wall structure is inclined with respect to the first direction by 20°-35°. The wall structure of the seamless container extends in a direction transverse to the first direction, at least in a second direction, such that the wall structure is inclined radially away from the axis extending perpendicularly through the center of the container bottom in the first direction, with the wall structure being inclined at an angle of 4° to 45°, for example 30°. The wall structure of the seamless container extends in at least a second direction transverse to a first direction, such that the wall structure is inclined radially away from an axis extending in the first direction and passing perpendicularly through the center of the container bottom, with the wall structure being inclined at an angle of 15° to 40°. The wall structure of the seamless container extends in at least a second direction transverse to a first direction, such that the wall structure is inclined radially away from an axis extending in the first direction and passing perpendicularly through the center of the container bottom, with the wall structure being inclined at an angle of 20°-35° At least one groove of the protruding rim structure surrounding the wall structure of the seamless container has a length of at least 15%, preferably at least 20%, of the circumference of the protruding rim structure. The grooves and protrusions of the protruding rim structure surrounding the wall structure of the seamless container are seamless and continuous throughout. Each groove of the protruding rim structure surrounding the wall structure of the seamless container, and each protrusion corresponding to the grooves, is compatible with a similar or similarly shaped protruding rim structure. The bottom of the seamless container is convex in the first direction, preferably such that the center of the bottom extends at least 1 mm, preferably 1.5-3 mm, in the first direction. The corner between the bottom of the seamless container and the wall structure of said seamless container extending in the first direction is rounded. The protruding rim structure surrounding the wall structure of the seamless container, preferably at a location where the wall structure forms two or more corners, comprises a cutout that enables the interlocking of two similar or similarly shaped rim structures. The protruding rim structure surrounding the wall structure of the seamless container, preferably at a location where the wall structure forms two or more corners, comprises a protrusion extending in a second direction transverse to the first direction and away from the container, the protrusion preferably including a cutout or a hook-shaped structure that enables the interlocking of two similar or similarly shaped rim structures. The similar or similarly shaped protruding rim structures of said container and said second container can be attached to each other by positioning the aligned protrusions of said container and second container into a locking position relative to each other, such that: the outer surface of the protrusion of said container is bent against the outer surface of the aligned protrusion of the second container, and the outer surface of the aligned protrusion of the second container is bent against the outer surface of the aligned protrusion of said container; or the hook-shaped structure of the aligned protrusion of said container is interlocked with the hook-shaped structure of the aligned protrusion of the second container. Said second container is a similarly shaped or similar container. The height of the wall structure of said second container in the first direction is smaller or larger than the height of the wall structure of said seamless container in the first direction. The total height of said second container in the first direction is smaller or larger than the height of the wall structure of said seamless container in the first direction. Said second container comprises or consists of a material selected from one of the following: fibrous material, preferably multilayer fibrous material, most preferably multilayer cellulosic fiber material; thermoplastic polymer material or thermosetting polymer material, preferably polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), polyethylene (PE), such as LDPE or HDPE, or copolymers or blends thereof, or recycled plastic material, such as recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET); and metal, preferably aluminum. Said seamless container comprises or consists of a material selected from one of the following: cast fiber-based material, preferably cast multilayer fibrous material, most preferably cast multilayer cellulosic fiber material; thermoplastic polymer material or thermosetting polymer material, preferably polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), polyethylene (PE), such as LDPE or HDPE, or their copolymers or blends, or recycled plastic material, such as recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET); and metal, preferably aluminum. The seamless container is coated with a fibrous material or a non-fibrous material, such as a coating comprising or consisting of a thermoplastic polymer material or a thermosetting polymer material, such as polyolefin, polyester, PET, polyhydroxyalkanoate, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polystyrene, or polylactic acid, or a blend or copolymer thereof.

[0012] According to a second aspect of the present invention, the use of the product according to the first aspect as a package or storage container for food, such as food portions and foodstuffs, or as a package for pharmaceuticals or cosmetics, or as a part thereof, is provided.

[0013] According to a third aspect of the present invention, the use of the container according to the first aspect for storing, handling, preparing, or cooking food is provided.

[0014] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for using the product according to the first aspect to form a closed volume.Advantages of the invention

[0015] The present invention can reduce the space requirement of packaging products or containers during transportation or storage.

[0016] The present invention can reduce the amount of waste material generated in the manufacture of a packaging product or container.

[0017] The present invention can reduce the number of parts required to close a packaged product or container.

[0018] The present invention can reduce the number of steps required to close a packaged product or container.

[0019] The present invention can provide a container that does not require folds, seams, or reinforcing structures separate from the container to achieve sufficient rigidity.

[0020] The present invention can facilitate full utilization of the food stored in the container.

[0021] The present invention can provide a simple method for forming a closed volume.

[0022] The present invention does not require a separate lid structure to close the package, but can function as both a lid and a container.

[0023] The present invention can provide an easily coated surface for coating the interior or exterior of a container.

[0024] The present invention can provide a container that is a disposable or recyclable product that meets the criteria of Directive (EU) 2019 / 904 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

[0025] The present product may provide one or more of the following: excellent shape tracking or dimensional stability, strength, and / or load-bearing capacity of a functional material.

[0026] The present containers can be used for packaging and transporting and storing and manufacturing any oil-containing and / or water-containing products, such as food or pharmaceuticals or cosmetics.

[0027] The absence of sharp corners in a seamless container can facilitate secondary packaging, for example in a plastic wrap or other thin packaging material.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0028] FIGURE 1A depicts a seamless container and second seamless container forming a closed volume, according to at least some embodiments of the present invention. FIGURE 1B is a cross-sectional view of the seamless container of figure 1A and the second seamless container. FIGURE 1C is a cross-sectional view of the seamless container of figure 1A and the second seamless container. FIGURE 2A depicts a seamless container and a second seamless container, according to at least some embodiments of the present invention, stacked together. FIGURE 2B is a cross-sectional view of the seamless container of figure 2A and the second seamless container. FIGURE 2C is a cross-sectional view of the seamless container of Figure 2A and the second seamless container. FIGURE 3 depicts a seamless container according to at least some embodiments of the present invention. FIGURE 4 depicts a seamless container according to at least some embodiments of the present invention. FIGURE 5 depicts a seamless container according to at least some embodiments of the present invention. FIGURE 6 depicts a seamless container according to at least some embodiments of the present invention. THE EMBODIMENTS

[0029] In the present context, "closed volume" means a volume formed by at least two containers according to the present invention.

[0030] In the present context, "stackability" means that seamless containers according to at least some embodiments of the invention can be stacked on top of each other in the same orientation. The stackability of a seamless container according to the invention allows the container to be transported and stored in a smaller space.

[0031] In the present context, "similarity" refers, in addition to same shape, to the fact that the other container or part thereof is made of the same material as said seamless vessel.

[0032] In the present context, the wall structure or sides of the wall structure of the seamless container are inclined relative to the bottom of the seamless container such that the seamless container is stackable.

[0033] In the present context, "resistant", such as water-resistant, means that the material or layer of the seamless container resists penetration by the substance in question. In a preferred embodiment, the material or layer of the container has a "repellency," such as water repellency, which means that the substance in question cannot readily penetrate through the material or layer. In a more preferred embodiment, the material or layer has a "tightness," such as water tightness, which means that the substance in question cannot penetrate the material or layer during typical use of a product comprising said material or layer. In other words, the resistance of the material in question to penetration by the substance increases in the order "resistant" < "repellent" < "tight." In the present context, any reference to "resistance" also means "at least resistant," i.e., the material or layer may also have repellency and even tightness.

[0034] In the present context, the "second orientation" of the container refers to a seamless container that is rotated such that the first direction of the first container and the first direction of the second container are opposite to each other, whereby the edge structures surrounding the wall structure of both containers are against each other.

[0035] In the present context, the second positioning to bring the first orientations of the containers against each other may comprise rotating the first or second container about an axis perpendicularly passing through the center of the bottom of the first or second container by 180°, 90° or 45°. Depending on the symmetry of the seamless container, other rotations may also be possible, or no rotation may be required.

[0036] In the present context, two or more closed volumes may be formed by a third or more containers which divide the closed volume formed by the two outermost containers into two or more closed volumes. As above, the containers dividing the closed volume are in an orientation which can be achieved by the above-mentioned means.

[0037] Each seamless container forming one or more closed volumes comprises a similar or similarly shaped edge structure.

[0038] The present invention provides a container comprising a rim structure which can form a closed volume with second container comprising a rim structure which is similar to or similarly shaped as the container. Second container with which the container forms a closed volume need not be identical in other dimensions. For example, the wall structure extending in the first direction of the second container may be lower or higher than that of said container, and / or the bottom of the second container may be different from that of said container. Preferably, both containers are similarly shaped or similar.

[0039] In certain embodiments, the second container is shaped similarly to said seamless container.

[0040] In certain embodiments, said container and second container are made of the same material.

[0041] In certain embodiments, said container and second container are made of different materials.

[0042] In one embodiment, the opposite sides of the wall structure of the seamless container are parallel and of equal length, and / or the opposite sides of the rim structure surrounding the wall structure of the seamless container are parallel and of equal length.

[0043] In one embodiment, all sides of the wall structure of the seamless container are of equal length, and / or all sides of the rim structure surrounding the wall structure are of equal length.

[0044] In one embodiment, the edge structure of the seamless container forms a circle.

[0045] When both containers are identical or similarly shaped, there is no need for separate lid structures to form a sealed volume. Consequently, the containers can be stacked in a single stack, and no separate packaging is required for the lid.

[0046] FIGURE 1A is a schematic illustration of seamless container 1 according to at least some embodiments of the present invention, which is fitted together with second container 8 (not shown), forming closed volume 9 (not shown) with seamless container 1.

[0047] FIGURES 1B and 1C are cross-sectional views of the seamless container 1 of figure 1A and second container 8 in a different orientation, second container comprising rim structure 4 similar to that of seamless container 1, and said seamless container 1 and container 8 form a closed volume 9. Seamless container 1 comprises a bottom 2, a wall structure 3 extending in a first direction from bottom 2, and a rim structure 4 surrounding the wall structure 3, said rim structure 4 comprising grooves 5 and protrusions 6 located at the corners of rim structure 4. When assembled, rim structure 4 of seamless container 1 and rim structure 4 of container 8 are aligned such that each groove 5 of the seamless container's rim structure 4 is aligned with a corresponding protrusion 6 of rim structure 4 of container 8, and correspondingly, each protrusion 6 of rim structure 4 of the seamless container is aligned with each groove 5 of rim structure 4 of container 8.

[0048] FIGURE 2A is a schematic illustration of a seamless container 1 according to at least some embodiments of the present invention, stacked on top of a second container 8 (not shown).

[0049] FIGURES 2B and 2C are cross-sectional views of the seamless container 1 of figure 2A and second container 8 of the same shape, stacked together. Seamless container 1 comprises a bottom 2, a wall structure 3 extending in a first direction from bottom 2, and a rim structure 4 surrounding wall structure 3, said rim structure 4 comprising grooves 5 at opposite corners of the rim structure and protrusions 6 at the other opposite corners. When stacked, each groove 5 of a container in the stack is aligned with each groove 5 of the containers above and / or below it in the stack, and correspondingly, each protrusion 6 of a container is aligned with each protrusion 6 of the containers above and / or below it.

[0050] FIGURE 3 is a schematic illustration of the seamless container 1 according to at least some embodiments of the present invention, comprising a bottom 2, a wall structure 3, and a rim structure 4 surrounding the wall structure, all sides of rim structure 4 being of equal length, grooves 5 at opposite corners and protrusions 6 at the other opposite corners.

[0051] FIGURE 4 is a schematic illustration of the seamless container 1 according to at least some embodiments of the present invention, comprising a bottom 2, a wall structure 3, and a rim structure 4 surrounding the wall structure, the sides of rim structure 4 being of equal length, grooves 5 at opposite corners and protrusions 6 at the other opposite corners.

[0052] FIGURE 5 is a schematic illustration of the seamless container 1 according to at least some embodiments of the present invention, comprising a bottom 2, a wall structure 3, and a rim structure 4 surrounding the wall structure, the opposite sides of rim structure 4 being of equal length, grooves 5 at opposite corners and protrusions 6 at the other opposite corners.

[0053] FIGURE 6 is a schematic illustration of a round seamless container 1 according to at least some embodiments of the present invention, comprising a bottom 2, a wall structure 3, and a rim structure 4 surrounding the wall structure, grooves 5 of the rim structure being located on opposite sides of the rim structure relative to each other, the protrusions 6 being also located on opposite sides of the rim structure relative to each other. Rim structures of two or more containers forming a closed volume are positioned against each other such that the grooves and protrusions of the rim structures of the containers are aligned. Alignment of the containers to form a closed volume is therefore a low-step procedure.

[0054] The present invention provides novel containers with rounded corners and a curved bottom that contribute to a rigid structure of the containers. The curvature of the bottom of the seamless container is sufficient to eliminate the need for separate parts or structures to reinforce the container. Similarly, the grooves and protrusions of the container's rim structure are seamless and continuous throughout, avoiding unnecessary sharp corners. The grooves and protrusions of the rim structure are curved and follow the contour of the rim structure, preferably covering at least 15% of the total perimeter length of the rim structure. More preferably, the rim structure comprises grooves and protrusions along nearly the entire perimeter, such as at least 20% of the total circumference, where the point between a groove and a protrusion in the rim structure is continuous in shape. Likewise, the curvature of the wall structure and / or the rim structure surrounding the wall structure may advantageously further stiffen the seamless container.

[0055] In one embodiment, the rim structure of the seamless container has two grooves and two protrusions, and the grooves of the rim structure of the seamless container are located at opposite corners of the rim structure, and correspondingly, the protrusions of the rim structure of the seamless container are located at the other opposite corners of the edge structure.

[0056] In one embodiment, the grooves and protrusions in the rim structure surrounding the wall structure of the seamless container are located on opposite sides of the rim structure. A groove may extend around two corners of the rim structure. Correspondingly, the protrusion must extend around the other two corners of the rim structure.

[0057] In one embodiment, the groove of the rim structure surrounding the wall structure of the seamless container extends in a direction opposite to the first direction from the rim structure.

[0058] In one embodiment, a protrusion of the rim structure surrounding the wall structure of the seamless container extends from the rim structure in the first direction.

[0059] The placement of the grooves and protrusions in the container is determined by the symmetry of the container. For example, a seamless container with a rim structure in which all sides are of equal length may include two grooves and two protrusions, with the grooves positioned at opposite corners of the rim structure and the protrusions at the other opposite corners. Alternatively, there may be one groove and one protrusion. In the case of a seamless container whose rim structure forms a rectangle with opposite sides of equal length, the symmetry may restrict certain groove and protrusion arrangements where alignment of the seamless container would require mating configurations achievable only by a 90° rotation.

[0060] In one embodiment, the seamless container is round, in this case, the rim structure surrounding the wall structure of the seamless container may comprise one or more grooves and one or more protrusions.

[0061] In one embodiment, the rim structure surrounding the wall structure of the round seamless container comprises one groove and one protrusion, such that the groove and the protrusion are located on opposite sides of the rim structure.

[0062] In one embodiment, the rim structure surrounding the wall structure of the round seamless container comprises two or more grooves and two or more protrusions, such that each groove in the rim structure is positioned opposite another groove, and each protrusion is positioned opposite another protrusion. A person skilled in the art will understand that the round seamless container may also include other configurations of grooves and protrusions that enable the round seamless container to be aligned with and / or form a closed volume together with second container having a similar rim structure.

[0063] In one embodiment, the bottom of the seamless container is convex in the first direction such that the central portion of the bottom extends at least 1 mm in the first direction, preferably 1.5-3 mm. The curvature of the bottom in this preferred embodiment provides sufficient rigidity for the container without significantly reducing the volume that the container with the curved bottom can enclose.

[0064] In some embodiments, the corner between the bottom and the wall structure of the seamless container is rounded, significantly increasing the rigidity of the container. In certain embodiments of the invention, the rounded corners between the bottom and the wall structure of the seamless container facilitate the utilization of food within the container. Food is easier to scrape from the rounded corners with eating utensils.

[0065] In one embodiment, the radius of curvature at the junction between the bottom and the wall structure of the seamless container is 5-40 mm, preferably 10-30 mm, for example 20 mm.

[0066] In one embodiment, the grooves and protrusions of the rim structure of the seamless container are curved, increasing at least the stiffness of the rim structure of the seamless container.

[0067] In one embodiment, the protrusions of the rim structure surrounding the wall structure of the seamless container extend in a first direction by 2-7 mm, for example 2.9 mm, and correspondingly, the grooves extend in the opposite direction by 2-5 mm, for example 2.9 mm.

[0068] In one embodiment, the protruding rim structure surrounding the wall structure of the seamless container has rounded corners. The radius of curvature of the corners of the rim structure surrounding the wall structure is 20-140 mm, preferably 60-120 mm, for example 100 mm.

[0069] The present invention provides novel seamless containers, the rim structure surrounding the wall structure of which comprising cutouts that allow interlocking of two similar or similarly shaped rim structures.

[0070] In some embodiments of the present invention, the rim structure surrounding the wall structure of the seamless container comprises a cutout or a hook-like structure that allows two similar or similarly shaped rim structures to be aligned and / or attached to each other.

[0071] In some embodiments of the invention, there are at least two cutouts or hook-like structures, preferably located at the corners of the rim structure. When the rim structures are placed against each other, the aligned cutouts can be interlocked in such a way that the containers comprising said rim structures become attached to one another. Similarly, in embodiments of the invention where the rim structure comprises hook-like structures, the aligned hook-like structures can be interlocked so that the containers with the respective rim structures become attached to each other. These attachment-related embodiments allow for a simple connection that can be easily released when needed.

[0072] In some embodiments of the invention, the rim structure of the seamless container comprises one or more protrusions. The protrusion can be used as a gripping point for opening a closed volume formed by two containers or for re-forming the closed volume. Preferably, the protrusions are located at the corners of the rim structure, thereby reducing the amount of waste material generated during the manufacturing of the seamless container.

[0073] In one embodiment of the invention, the rim structure surrounding the wall structure of the seamless container comprises a protrusion that extends in a second direction transverse to a first direction and away from the container.

[0074] In some embodiments of the invention, one or more protrusions comprise a cutout or a hook-like structure.

[0075] A seamless container, which forms one or more closed volumes with one or more containers, can be attached to said one or more containers by several other fastening means. These may include, for example, an adhesive surface in grooves and / or protrusions, or means by which the rim structures can be compressed together with an external structure, such as a band or strap wrapped around the containers, or a mechanism that compresses each rim structure of the containers forming the closed volume together.

[0076] Preferably, the cutouts or hook-like structures are located at the corners of the rim structure. The cutouts or hook-like structures positioned at the corners reduce the amount of waste material generated during the manufacturing process of the seamless container.

[0077] The present invention provides novel seamless containers having two surfaces: an inner and an outer surface. These surfaces are continuous throughout and do not comprise sharp fold lines. A seamless container according to the invention is therefore easily coatable, and there are no areas on the surfaces of the seamless container that are difficult to access or handle using coating methods suitable for said seamless containers.

[0078] The thoroughly continuous surface of the seamless container may comprise several points and structures curved in different directions, allowing for increased stiffness of the seamless container or the curved structures of the seamless container.

[0079] Embodiments in which the rim structure of the seamless container comprises cutout points, which can be made on either a coated or uncoated container, are designed so that the cutout does not significantly affect the container's stiffness properties or the properties achieved by the coating on the seamless container, preserving all the benefits related to stiffness and coatability that are associated with a thoroughly continuous container.

[0080] The present invention provides novel containers or packaging. The seamless container can be manufactured using a foam-based process. Foam forming enables a cost-effective production of molded multi-layer structures and customization of the properties of individual layers.

[0081] In one embodiment, the seamless container is made of plastic using injection molding.

[0082] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the seamless container comprises or consists of a material selected from the following: fibrous material, preferably multi-layered fibrous material, most preferably multi-layered cellulosic fiber material; thermoplastic polymer material or thermosetting polymer material, preferably polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), polyethylene (PE), such as LDPE or HDPE, or their copolymers or mixtures, or recycled plastic material, such as recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET); and metal, preferably aluminum.

[0083] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the seamless container comprises: a fibrous structure, which comprises cellulosic and / or lignocellulosic fiber material and has been obtained through a molding process.

[0084] The dry grammage of the seamless container may be in the range of 5-900 g / m 2< , for example in the range of 100-800 g / m 2< , such as in the range of 200-600 g / m 2< .

[0085] The structure of the fibrous material of the seamless container according to some embodiments will be addressed below.

[0086] The fibrous material may be a single-layer fibrous structure.

[0087] Alternatively, the fibrous structure of the seamless container may be a multi-layered fibrous structure. The multi-layered fibrous structure may comprise at least two fibrous layers, for example, a first fibrous layer and a second fibrous layer, each of which comprises cellulosic and / or lignocellulosic fiber material.

[0088] Cellulosic and / or lignocellulosic fiber material may contain one or more of the following: chemical pulp, semi-chemical pulp, mechanical pulp, thermo-mechanical pulp, chemo-thermo-mechanical pulp, bleached chemo-thermo-mechanical pulp, bleached semi-chemical pulp, wood pulp, pressure groundwood, stone groundwood, recycled cellulosic and / or lignocellulosic fibers, fibrillated cellulose, such as microfibrillated cellulose or nanofibrillated cellulose, nanocellulose, broke, cellulose by-products, regenerated cellulosic fibers, and / or other lignocellulosic materials containing cellulosic fibers or parts of cellulosic fibers.

[0089] The pulp may be bleached or unbleached, or a mixture of both.

[0090] The pulp may be ground or unground, or a mixture of both.

[0091] Chemical pulp may originate from any chemical pulping process, such as the kraft process, the sulfite process, or the organosolv process.

[0092] Mechanical pulp may originate from any mechanical pulping process, such as mechanical pulp, thermo-mechanical pulp (TMP), chemo-thermo-mechanical pulp (CTMP), bleached chemo-thermo-mechanical pulp (BCTMP), semi-chemical pulp, groundwood (GW), pressure groundwood (PGW), stone groundwood (SGW), and combinations thereof.

[0093] The broke may comprise edge trim broke.

[0094] The cellulosic and / or lignocellulosic fiber material may comprise pulp derived from sources other than wood.

[0095] In one embodiment, the pulp may be made from any hardwood, such as wood from the Betulaceae family, for example birch or aspen, from the Salicaceae family, eucalyptus, tropical hardwoods, or pines, or any combination of the foregoing. The pulp may also be made from any softwood, such as spruce or pine, or any combination thereof. The pulp may also be made from a combination of hardwoods and softwoods.

[0096] In one embodiment, the pulp may be made from any annual plant, such as straw, common reed, reed canary grass, bamboo, sugarcane, sugarcane bagasse, or any grass plant.

[0097] In some embodiments, the cellulosic and / or lignocellulosic fiber material comprises virgin wood pulp, such as bleached chemical virgin pulp that is essentially free of lignin, which may make the product particularly suitable for cooking, heating, and safe contact with food.

[0098] The advantage of virgin pulp is that it is free from ink residues and other undesirable chemicals. Recycled waste materials often contain chemical and microbiological impurities that may affect their safe use. Mixtures of chemical compounds and microbially derived products can leach from recycled materials and cause various adverse health or environmental effects. Not only the harmfulness of individual chemical compounds, but also their interactions with other chemical compounds and microbially derived products can increase the toxicity and emissions of recycled materials.

[0099] In one embodiment, the cellulosic and / or lignocellulosic fiber material, or a portion thereof, comprises or consists of bleached chemical softwood pulp.

[0100] In one embodiment, the cellulosic and / or lignocellulosic fiber material, or a portion thereof, comprises or consists of bleached chemical hardwood pulp.

[0101] Any suitable molding method may be applied to shape the molded fibrous container, such as injection molding, vacuum forming, compression molding, transfer molding, extrusion molding, blow molding, dip molding, rotational molding, foam molding, laminating, deep drawing, thermoforming, press forming, hydroforming, suction forming, closed-mold forming, open-mold forming, dry forming, or foam forming, or any combination thereof.

[0102] In the present context, the terms "molding" and "forming" may be used interchangeably.

[0103] In one preferred embodiment, one or more fibrous layers of the fibrous structure, or the entire fibrous structure, is obtained either by foam forming, water forming, or wet forming in a mold, preferably by foam forming in a mold.

[0104] The structure of the seamless container may be a three-dimensional molded, preferably fibrous structure, obtained using a mold comprising at least one three-dimensional, non-planar mold surface. In this case, the fibrous structure has a three-dimensional shape corresponding to the shape of said three-dimensional, non-planar mold surface.

[0105] The seamless container may have an overall shape adapted for holding a liquid or flowing material, such as the overall shape of a cup or bowl.

[0106] In one embodiment, the oil and grease resistance, OGR, of the product is measured according to ASTM F119 using olive oil at 60°C, and it is rated as "moderate" or better, such as over 10 minutes, typically between 10 minutes and 6 hours, in one example more than 3 hours.

[0107] In one embodiment, the moisture resistance of the product is measured according to ISO 2528 and ASTM E96 under standard conditions of 23°C and 50% RH, and it is rated as "moderate" or better, such as below 250 g / m 2< / d, typically between 100-250 g / m 2< / d, in one example less than 150 g / m 2< / d.

[0108] In one embodiment, the water absorption on the coated side or surface of the product is measured using the ISO 535 Cobb value after 5 minutes, and it is rated as "moderate" or better, such as below 100 g / m 2< , typically between 50-100 g / m 2< , in one example less than 75 g / m 2< .

[0109] The surface smoothness of the seamless container structure is preferably in the range of 50-3000 ml / min, such as 100-1000 ml / min, for example, 150-600 ml / min, as measured by the ISO 8791-2 Bendtsen method.

[0110] In one embodiment, the seamless container is made of plastic, and the surface smoothness of the seamless container is as low as below 50 ml / min.

[0111] For containers intended for food packaging applications, additives and chemicals may be selected from all additives approved for use in food packaging materials or containers. "Materials intended to come into contact with food" refers to all materials and articles intended to come into contact with food, such as packaging and containers.

[0112] In addition to or instead of food contact applications, many other areas of application may be envisaged for these seamless containers.

[0113] In one embodiment, the additives in the manufacturing material of the seamless container, such as pigments, binders, and adhesives, are suitable for oven-baked products.

[0114] In some embodiments, the seamless container may comprise only a single fibrous layer.

[0115] In some embodiments, the seamless container may comprise 1-20 fibrous layers, such as at least two fibrous layers, or at least three fibrous layers.

[0116] One or more intermediate layers may be formed prior to the hot pressing stage, for example, during the molding or casting stage of the seamless container.

[0117] The hot pressing stage, which may include at least two hot pressing steps, can produce a smooth outer surface for the final product. Preferably, all outer or exposed surfaces of the final seamless container may become smooth.

[0118] A multilayered fibrous structure is preferably obtained so that all the fibers included in the final structure, typically the fibrous structure to be coated, undergo a foam forming process.

[0119] The advantage of foam forming is that it allows the production of a lighter and bulkier product. Additionally, it can result in a more homogeneous formation. The use of foam enables the effortless fabrication of multilayered fibrous structures in a batch process, meaning that all fibrous layers can be molded in the same mold to form a multilayer stack, which is then hot pressed.

[0120] The seamless container may have, for example, the shape of a cup, plate, bowl, pan, or tray.

[0121] The seamless container may be a packaging or container for food or liquid, or a serving vessel for food or liquid, such as a cup for a beverage, a food tray, or a plate.

[0122] The seamless container can be used for packaging, transporting, storing, cooking, and / or heating food, liquid, or beverages. Examples include frozen food packages intended for heating, hot meal portions, yogurt containers, and trays for fresh meat or fish.

[0123] The seamless container can be used, for example, for packaging various industrial products, such as food products, packaging trays for cold meats, fish, cheese, and other sliced foods, as well as for the storage and transport of goods such as food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and materials sensitive to moisture and oxygen.

[0124] The seamless container can be used for the storage, transportation, and serving of food, such as ready meals and restaurant-ordered portions.

[0125] In some embodiments, the seamless container may be used as a heat-resistant cushioning material or heat-resistant protective material.

[0126] More generally, the seamless container can be used for the packaging, storage, transportation, and serving of all kinds of oil-containing and / or water-containing products.

[0127] In one example, the seamless container is a packaging intended for cosmetics.

[0128] In one example, the seamless container is a packaging intended for pharmaceuticals.

[0129] The seamless container can be used as packaging for food or liquid, or as a serving product for food or liquid or a baked product, or as a part thereof.

[0130] In the present context, "molding" (forming) refers to the process in which a foamed composition is given a shape, such as a three-dimensional shape, in a mold.

[0131] It should be noted that the embodiments of the invention presented are not limited to the specific structures or materials described herein, but are extended to their equivalents as understood by those skilled in the relevant fields. It should also be noted that the terminology used here is intended only to describe specific embodiments and is not meant to be limiting.

[0132] Any reference throughout this description to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, the appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this description are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

[0133] For clarity, multiple titles, structural elements, compositional elements, and / or materials may be presented in a common list as used herein. These lists should, however, be interpreted such that each member of the list is identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such a list should be interpreted as being de facto equivalent to any other member of the same list merely because they are grouped together, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Furthermore, various embodiments and examples of the present invention may be referenced together with alternative options for their components. It is understood that such embodiments, examples, and alternatives are not to be regarded as de facto equivalents, but rather as separate and independent representations of the present invention.

[0134] The described features, structures, or characteristics may also be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. The following description presents numerous specific details, such as examples of lengths, widths, shapes, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the invention. However, it will be understood by a person skilled in the art that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or using other methods, components, materials, etc. In some cases, well-known structures, materials, or functions are not shown or described in detail so as not to obscure aspects of the invention.

[0135] Although the foregoing examples are illustrative of the principles of the present invention in one or more specific applications, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications in form, use, and implementation details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without exercising inventive skill. Therefore, the invention is not intended to be limiting except as defined in the claims set forth below.

[0136] The verbs "comprise" and "include" are used in this document as open limitations that do not exclude or require the presence of unrecited features. The features presented in the dependent claims may be freely combined with one another unless explicitly stated otherwise. Furthermore, it should be understood that the use of the singular form throughout this document does not exclude the plural.INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0137] The present invention is industrially applicable.REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0138] 1seamless container 2bottom 3wall structure 4rim structure 5groove 6protrusion 8second container 9closed volume

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0029]In the present context, "closed volume" means a volume formed by at least two containers according to the present invention.

[0030]In the present context, "stackability" means that seamless containers according to at least some embodiments of the invention can be stacked on top of each other in the same orientation. The stackability of a seamless container according to the invention allows the container to be transported and stored in a smaller space.

[0031]In the present context, "similarity" refers, in addition to same shape, to the fact that the other container or part thereof is made of the same material as said seamless vessel.

[0032]In the present context, the wall structure or sides of the wall structure of the seamless container are inclined relative to the bottom of the seamless container such that the seamless container is stackable.

[0033]In the present context, "resistant", such as water-resistant, means that the material or layer of the seamless container resists pene...

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to seamless containers that are stackable and capable of forming a closed volume with a second similar container.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Containers and matching lid structures are manufactured for packaging various products, such as food items. When assembled together, they protect the products during transport and display. Such structures are currently widely used in packaging technology.

[0003] It is known to use assemblable or stackable containers in order to save space when there is no product in the container. Containers that are to be assembled are often made of cardboard or paper, and the container may be assembled or folded into its final form only when the product is to be packed inside.

[0004] One known solution is to use stackable containers made of cardboard or plastic, which can be closed with a separate stackable lid. In many cases, the lid of such a container is made of plastic. Stackable containers made of cardboard or paper usually have a separate base and wall structure, which are joined to each other by gluing or pressing during the production of the container. In particular, containers made of cardboard and paper require folds to achieve sufficient rigidity.

[0005] Known assemblable or stackable containers have many disadvantages related to the seams, folds and discontinuities that occur on the surfaces of the assembled container when the container is assembled or folded. Discontinuities in the container may result in leaks, making it impossible to store liquid products in the container. Furthermore, the leaks do not allow the product to be sealed airtight.

[0006] A container comprising folds or seams leaves hard-to-reach areas that make it difficult to fully utilize certain foods packaged in the container, unnecessarily increasing the amount of food waste generated in the society. In addition, folded containers comprise overlapping areas that increase the amount of material needed to manufacture the container.

[0007] A separate lid required to close the containers further increases the consumption of material used to manufacture the container, and such containers and lids must be stored and transported in separate stacks, taking up additional space.

[0008] The aim of the present invention is to solve at least some of the problems encountered in the prior art.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The invention is defined by the features of the independent claims. Certain specific embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

[0010] The product according to a first aspect of the present invention is a seamless container comprising a bottom; a wall structure extending in a first direction, the wall structure comprising a protruding rim structure surrounding the wall, which includes at least one groove and at least one protrusion; wherein the seamless container is stackable; and the rim structure of the seamless container is compatible with a similar or similarly shaped protruding rim structure of a second container in a second orientation.

[0011] Various embodiments according to the first aspect may comprise at least one feature from the following bulleted list: Said container and said second container in the alternate orientation are capable of forming at least one closed volume. The second orientation is one in which the protruding rim structure surrounding the wall structure of said container and the protruding rim structure surrounding the wall structure of second the container are facing each other. The second orientation is one in which each groove and protrusion of the protruding rim structure surrounding the wall structure of said container is aligned with the corresponding protrusion and groove of the similar or similarly shaped protruding rim structure of the second container. Said container, said second container, and at least a third container comprising a similar or similarly shaped protruding rim structure as said container and said second container, are capable of forming at least two closed volumes, wherein said at least third container separates the at least two closed volumes from each other. The protruding rim structure of said container and the similar or similarly shaped protruding rim structure of the second container, when fitted together, are capable of closing the volume formed by the containers in an airtight and / or watertight manner. The wall structure of the seamless container extends in the first direction by 5-150 mm, preferably 10-100 mm, more preferably 20-60 mm. The wall structure of the seamless container extends in a direction transverse to the first direction such that the wall structure is inclined with respect to the first direction by 4°-45°, for example, 30°. The wall structure of the seamless container extends in a direction transverse to the first direction such that the wall structure is inclined with respect to the first direction by 15°-40°. The wall structure of the seamless container extends in a direction transverse to the first direction such that the wall structure is inclined with respect to the first direction by 20°-35°. The wall structure of the seamless container extends in a direction transverse to the first direction, at least in a second direction, such that the wall structure is inclined radially away from the axis extending perpendicularly through the center of the container bottom in the first direction, with the wall structure being inclined at an angle of 4° to 45°, for example 30°. The wall structure of the seamless container extends in at least a second direction transverse to a first direction, such that the wall structure is inclined radially away from an axis extending in the first direction and passing perpendicularly through the center of the container bottom, with the wall structure being inclined at an angle of 15° to 40°. The wall structure of the seamless container extends in at least a second direction transverse to a first direction, such that the wall structure is inclined radially away from an axis extending in the first direction and passing perpendicularly through the center of the container bottom, with the wall structure being inclined at an angle of 20°-35° At least one groove of the protruding rim structure surrounding the wall structure of the seamless container has a length of at least 15%, preferably at least 20%, of the circumference of the protruding rim structure. The grooves and protrusions of the protruding rim structure surrounding the wall structure of the seamless container are seamless and continuous throughout. Each groove of the protruding rim structure surrounding the wall structure of the seamless container, and each protrusion corresponding to the grooves, is compatible with a similar or similarly shaped protruding rim structure. The bottom of the seamless container is convex in the first direction, preferably such that the center of the bottom extends at least 1 mm, preferably 1.5-3 mm, in the first direction. The corner between the bottom of the seamless container and the wall structure of said seamless container extending in the first direction is rounded. The protruding rim structure surrounding the wall structure of the seamless container, preferably at a location where the wall structure forms two or more corners, comprises a cutout that enables the interlocking of two similar or similarly shaped rim structures. The protruding rim structure surrounding the wall structure of the seamless container, preferably at a location where the wall structure forms two or more corners, comprises a protrusion extending in a second direction transverse to the first direction and away from the container, the protrusion preferably including a cutout or a hook-shaped structure that enables the interlocking of two similar or similarly shaped rim structures. The similar or similarly shaped protruding rim structures of said container and said second container can be attached to each other by positioning the aligned protrusions of said container and second container into a locking position relative to each other, such that: the outer surface of the protrusion of said container is bent against the outer surface of the aligned protrusion of the second container, and the outer surface of the aligned protrusion of the second container is bent against the outer surface of the aligned protrusion of said container; or the hook-shaped structure of the aligned protrusion of said container is interlocked with the hook-shaped structure of the aligned protrusion of the second container. Said second container is a similarly shaped or similar container. The height of the wall structure of said second container in the first direction is smaller or larger than the height of the wall structure of said seamless container in the first direction. The total height of said second container in the first direction is smaller or larger than the height of the wall structure of said seamless container in the first direction. Said second container comprises or consists of a material selected from one of the following: fibrous material, preferably multilayer fibrous material, most preferably multilayer cellulosic fiber material; thermoplastic polymer material or thermosetting polymer material, preferably polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), polyethylene (PE), such as LDPE or HDPE, or copolymers or blends thereof, or recycled plastic material, such as recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET); and metal, preferably aluminum. Said seamless container comprises or consists of a material selected from one of the following: cast fiber-based material, preferably cast multilayer fibrous material, most preferably cast multilayer cellulosic fiber material; thermoplastic polymer material or thermosetting polymer material, preferably polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), polyethylene (PE), such as LDPE or HDPE, or their copolymers or blends, or recycled plastic material, such as recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET); and metal, preferably aluminum. The seamless container is coated with a fibrous material or a non-fibrous material, such as a coating comprising or consisting of a thermoplastic polymer material or a thermosetting polymer material, such as polyolefin, polyester, PET, polyhydroxyalkanoate, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polystyrene, or polylactic acid, or a blend or copolymer thereof.

[0012] According to a second aspect of the present invention, the use of the product according to the first aspect as a package or storage container for food, such as food portions and foodstuffs, or as a package for pharmaceuticals or cosmetics, or as a part thereof, is provided.

[0013] According to a third aspect of the present invention, the use of the container according to the first aspect for storing, handling, preparing, or cooking food is provided.

[0014] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for using the product according to the first aspect to form a closed volume.Advantages of the invention

[0015] The present invention can reduce the space requirement of packaging products or containers during transportation or storage.

[0016] The present invention can reduce the amount of waste material generated in the manufacture of a packaging product or container.

[0017] The present invention can reduce the number of parts required to close a packaged product or container.

[0018] The present invention can reduce the number of steps required to close a packaged product or container.

[0019] The present invention can provide a container that does not require folds, seams, or reinforcing structures separate from the container to achieve sufficient rigidity.

[0020] The present invention can facilitate full utilization of the food stored in the container.

[0021] The present invention can provide a simple method for forming a closed volume.

[0022] The present invention does not require a separate lid structure to close the package, but can function as both a lid and a container.

[0023] The present invention can provide an easily coated surface for coating the interior or exterior of a container.

[0024] The present invention can provide a container that is a disposable or recyclable product that meets the criteria of Directive (EU) 2019 / 904 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

[0025] The present product may provide one or more of the following: excellent shape tracking or dimensional stability, strength, and / or load-bearing capacity of a functional material.

[0026] The present containers can be used for packaging and transporting and storing and manufacturing any oil-containing and / or water-containing products, such as food or pharmaceuticals or cosmetics.

[0027] The absence of sharp corners in a seamless container can facilitate secondary packaging, for example in a plastic wrap or other thin packaging material.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0028] FIGURE 1A depicts a seamless container and second seamless container forming a closed volume, according to at least some embodiments of the present invention. FIGURE 1B is a cross-sectional view of the seamless container of figure 1A and the second seamless container. FIGURE 1C is a cross-sectional view of the seamless container of figure 1A and the second seamless container. FIGURE 2A depicts a seamless container and a second seamless container, according to at least some embodiments of the present invention, stacked together. FIGURE 2B is a cross-sectional view of the seamless container of figure 2A and the second seamless container. FIGURE 2C is a cross-sectional view of the seamless container of Figure 2A and the second seamless container. FIGURE 3 depicts a seamless container according to at least some embodiments of the present invention. FIGURE 4 depicts a seamless container according to at least some embodiments of the present invention. FIGURE 5 depicts a seamless container according to at least some embodiments of the present invention. FIGURE 6 depicts a seamless container according to at least some embodiments of the present invention. THE EMBODIMENTS

[0029] In the present context, "closed volume" means a volume formed by at least two containers according to the present invention.

[0030] In the present context, "stackability" means that seamless containers according to at least some embodiments of the invention can be stacked on top of each other in the same orientation. The stackability of a seamless container according to the invention allows the container to be transported and stored in a smaller space.

[0031] In the present context, "similarity" refers, in addition to same shape, to the fact that the other container or part thereof is made of the same material as said seamless vessel.

[0032] In the present context, the wall structure or sides of the wall structure of the seamless container are inclined relative to the bottom of the seamless container such that the seamless container is stackable.

[0033] In the present context, "resistant", such as water-resistant, means that the material or layer of the seamless container resists penetration by the substance in question. In a preferred embodiment, the material or layer of the container has a "repellency," such as water repellency, which means that the substance in question cannot readily penetrate through the material or layer. In a more preferred embodiment, the material or layer has a "tightness," such as water tightness, which means that the substance in question cannot penetrate the material or layer during typical use of a product comprising said material or layer. In other words, the resistance of the material in question to penetration by the substance increases in the order "resistant" < "repellent" < "tight." In the present context, any reference to "resistance" also means "at least resistant," i.e., the material or layer may also have repellency and even tightness.

[0034] In the present context, the "second orientation" of the container refers to a seamless container that is rotated such that the first direction of the first container and the first direction of the second container are opposite to each other, whereby the edge structures surrounding the wall structure of both containers are against each other.

[0035] In the present context, the second positioning to bring the first orientations of the containers against each other may comprise rotating the first or second container about an axis perpendicularly passing through the center of the bottom of the first or second container by 180°, 90° or 45°. Depending on the symmetry of the seamless container, other rotations may also be possible, or no rotation may be required.

[0036] In the present context, two or more closed volumes may be formed by a third or more containers which divide the closed volume formed by the two outermost containers into two or more closed volumes. As above, the containers dividing the closed volume are in an orientation which can be achieved by the above-mentioned means.

[0037] Each seamless container forming one or more closed volumes comprises a similar or similarly shaped edge structure.

[0038] The present invention provides a container comprising a rim structure which can form a closed volume with second container comprising a rim structure which is similar to or similarly shaped as the container. Second container with which the container forms a closed volume need not be identical in other dimensions. For example, the wall structure extending in the first direction of the second container may be lower or higher than that of said container, and / or the bottom of the second container may be different from that of said container. Preferably, both containers are similarly shaped or similar.

[0039] In certain embodiments, the second container is shaped similarly to said seamless container.

[0040] In certain embodiments, said container and second container are made of the same material.

[0041] In certain embodiments, said container and second container are made of different materials.

[0042] In one embodiment, the opposite sides of the wall structure of the seamless container are parallel and of equal length, and / or the opposite sides of the rim structure surrounding the wall structure of the seamless container are parallel and of equal length.

[0043] In one embodiment, all sides of the wall structure of the seamless container are of equal length, and / or all sides of the rim structure surrounding the wall structure are of equal length.

[0044] In one embodiment, the edge structure of the seamless container forms a circle.

[0045] When both containers are identical or similarly shaped, there is no need for separate lid structures to form a sealed volume. Consequently, the containers can be stacked in a single stack, and no separate packaging is required for the lid.

[0046] FIGURE 1A is a schematic illustration of seamless container 1 according to at least some embodiments of the present invention, which is fitted together with second container 8 (not shown), forming closed volume 9 (not shown) with seamless container 1.

[0047] FIGURES 1B and 1C are cross-sectional views of the seamless container 1 of figure 1A and second container 8 in a different orientation, second container comprising rim structure 4 similar to that of seamless container 1, and said seamless container 1 and container 8 form a closed volume 9. Seamless container 1 comprises a bottom 2, a wall structure 3 extending in a first direction from bottom 2, and a rim structure 4 surrounding the wall structure 3, said rim structure 4 comprising grooves 5 and protrusions 6 located at the corners of rim structure 4. When assembled, rim structure 4 of seamless container 1 and rim structure 4 of container 8 are aligned such that each groove 5 of the seamless container's rim structure 4 is aligned with a corresponding protrusion 6 of rim structure 4 of container 8, and correspondingly, each protrusion 6 of rim structure 4 of the seamless container is aligned with each groove 5 of rim structure 4 of container 8.

[0048] FIGURE 2A is a schematic illustration of a seamless container 1 according to at least some embodiments of the present invention, stacked on top of a second container 8 (not shown).

[0049] FIGURES 2B and 2C are cross-sectional views of the seamless container 1 of figure 2A and second container 8 of the same shape, stacked together. Seamless container 1 comprises a bottom 2, a wall structure 3 extending in a first direction from bottom 2, and a rim structure 4 surrounding wall structure 3, said rim structure 4 comprising grooves 5 at opposite corners of the rim structure and protrusions 6 at the other opposite corners. When stacked, each groove 5 of a container in the stack is aligned with each groove 5 of the containers above and / or below it in the stack, and correspondingly, each protrusion 6 of a container is aligned with each protrusion 6 of the containers above and / or below it.

[0050] FIGURE 3 is a schematic illustration of the seamless container 1 according to at least some embodiments of the present invention, comprising a bottom 2, a wall structure 3, and a rim structure 4 surrounding the wall structure, all sides of rim structure 4 being of equal length, grooves 5 at opposite corners and protrusions 6 at the other opposite corners.

[0051] FIGURE 4 is a schematic illustration of the seamless container 1 according to at least some embodiments of the present invention, comprising a bottom 2, a wall structure 3, and a rim structure 4 surrounding the wall structure, the sides of rim structure 4 being of equal length, grooves 5 at opposite corners and protrusions 6 at the other opposite corners.

[0052] FIGURE 5 is a schematic illustration of the seamless container 1 according to at least some embodiments of the present invention, comprising a bottom 2, a wall structure 3, and a rim structure 4 surrounding the wall structure, the opposite sides of rim structure 4 being of equal length, grooves 5 at opposite corners and protrusions 6 at the other opposite corners.

[0053] FIGURE 6 is a schematic illustration of a round seamless container 1 according to at least some embodiments of the present invention, comprising a bottom 2, a wall structure 3, and a rim structure 4 surrounding the wall structure, grooves 5 of the rim structure being located on opposite sides of the rim structure relative to each other, the protrusions 6 being also located on opposite sides of the rim structure relative to each other. Rim structures of two or more containers forming a closed volume are positioned against each other such that the grooves and protrusions of the rim structures of the containers are aligned. Alignment of the containers to form a closed volume is therefore a low-step procedure.

[0054] The present invention provides novel containers with rounded corners and a curved bottom that contribute to a rigid structure of the containers. The curvature of the bottom of the seamless container is sufficient to eliminate the need for separate parts or structures to reinforce the container. Similarly, the grooves and protrusions of the container's rim structure are seamless and continuous throughout, avoiding unnecessary sharp corners. The grooves and protrusions of the rim structure are curved and follow the contour of the rim structure, preferably covering at least 15% of the total perimeter length of the rim structure. More preferably, the rim structure comprises grooves and protrusions along nearly the entire perimeter, such as at least 20% of the total circumference, where the point between a groove and a protrusion in the rim structure is continuous in shape. Likewise, the curvature of the wall structure and / or the rim structure surrounding the wall structure may advantageously further stiffen the seamless container.

[0055] In one embodiment, the rim structure of the seamless container has two grooves and two protrusions, and the grooves of the rim structure of the seamless container are located at opposite corners of the rim structure, and correspondingly, the protrusions of the rim structure of the seamless container are located at the other opposite corners of the edge structure.

[0056] In one embodiment, the grooves and protrusions in the rim structure surrounding the wall structure of the seamless container are located on opposite sides of the rim structure. A groove may extend around two corners of the rim structure. Correspondingly, the protrusion must extend around the other two corners of the rim structure.

[0057] In one embodiment, the groove of the rim structure surrounding the wall structure of the seamless container extends in a direction opposite to the first direction from the rim structure.

[0058] In one embodiment, a protrusion of the rim structure surrounding the wall structure of the seamless container extends from the rim structure in the first direction.

[0059] The placement of the grooves and protrusions in the container is determined by the symmetry of the container. For example, a seamless container with a rim structure in which all sides are of equal length may include two grooves and two protrusions, with the grooves positioned at opposite corners of the rim structure and the protrusions at the other opposite corners. Alternatively, there may be one groove and one protrusion. In the case of a seamless container whose rim structure forms a rectangle with opposite sides of equal length, the symmetry may restrict certain groove and protrusion arrangements where alignment of the seamless container would require mating configurations achievable only by a 90° rotation.

[0060] In one embodiment, the seamless container is round, in this case, the rim structure surrounding the wall structure of the seamless container may comprise one or more grooves and one or more protrusions.

[0061] In one embodiment, the rim structure surrounding the wall structure of the round seamless container comprises one groove and one protrusion, such that the groove and the protrusion are located on opposite sides of the rim structure.

[0062] In one embodiment, the rim structure surrounding the wall structure of the round seamless container comprises two or more grooves and two or more protrusions, such that each groove in the rim structure is positioned opposite another groove, and each protrusion is positioned opposite another protrusion. A person skilled in the art will understand that the round seamless container may also include other configurations of grooves and protrusions that enable the round seamless container to be aligned with and / or form a closed volume together with second container having a similar rim structure.

[0063] In one embodiment, the bottom of the seamless container is convex in the first direction such that the central portion of the bottom extends at least 1 mm in the first direction, preferably 1.5-3 mm. The curvature of the bottom in this preferred embodiment provides sufficient rigidity for the container without significantly reducing the volume that the container with the curved bottom can enclose.

[0064] In some embodiments, the corner between the bottom and the wall structure of the seamless container is rounded, significantly increasing the rigidity of the container. In certain embodiments of the invention, the rounded corners between the bottom and the wall structure of the seamless container facilitate the utilization of food within the container. Food is easier to scrape from the rounded corners with eating utensils.

[0065] In one embodiment, the radius of curvature at the junction between the bottom and the wall structure of the seamless container is 5-40 mm, preferably 10-30 mm, for example 20 mm.

[0066] In one embodiment, the grooves and protrusions of the rim structure of the seamless container are curved, increasing at least the stiffness of the rim structure of the seamless container.

[0067] In one embodiment, the protrusions of the rim structure surrounding the wall structure of the seamless container extend in a first direction by 2-7 mm, for example 2.9 mm, and correspondingly, the grooves extend in the opposite direction by 2-5 mm, for example 2.9 mm.

[0068] In one embodiment, the protruding rim structure surrounding the wall structure of the seamless container has rounded corners. The radius of curvature of the corners of the rim structure surrounding the wall structure is 20-140 mm, preferably 60-120 mm, for example 100 mm.

[0069] The present invention provides novel seamless containers, the rim structure surrounding the wall structure of which comprising cutouts that allow interlocking of two similar or similarly shaped rim structures.

[0070] In some embodiments of the present invention, the rim structure surrounding the wall structure of the seamless container comprises a cutout or a hook-like structure that allows two similar or similarly shaped rim structures to be aligned and / or attached to each other.

[0071] In some embodiments of the invention, there are at least two cutouts or hook-like structures, preferably located at the corners of the rim structure. When the rim structures are placed against each other, the aligned cutouts can be interlocked in such a way that the containers comprising said rim structures become attached to one another. Similarly, in embodiments of the invention where the rim structure comprises hook-like structures, the aligned hook-like structures can be interlocked so that the containers with the respective rim structures become attached to each other. These attachment-related embodiments allow for a simple connection that can be easily released when needed.

[0072] In some embodiments of the invention, the rim structure of the seamless container comprises one or more protrusions. The protrusion can be used as a gripping point for opening a closed volume formed by two containers or for re-forming the closed volume. Preferably, the protrusions are located at the corners of the rim structure, thereby reducing the amount of waste material generated during the manufacturing of the seamless container.

[0073] In one embodiment of the invention, the rim structure surrounding the wall structure of the seamless container comprises a protrusion that extends in a second direction transverse to a first direction and away from the container.

[0074] In some embodiments of the invention, one or more protrusions comprise a cutout or a hook-like structure.

[0075] A seamless container, which forms one or more closed volumes with one or more containers, can be attached to said one or more containers by several other fastening means. These may include, for example, an adhesive surface in grooves and / or protrusions, or means by which the rim structures can be compressed together with an external structure, such as a band or strap wrapped around the containers, or a mechanism that compresses each rim structure of the containers forming the closed volume together.

[0076] Preferably, the cutouts or hook-like structures are located at the corners of the rim structure. The cutouts or hook-like structures positioned at the corners reduce the amount of waste material generated during the manufacturing process of the seamless container.

[0077] The present invention provides novel seamless containers having two surfaces: an inner and an outer surface. These surfaces are continuous throughout and do not comprise sharp fold lines. A seamless container according to the invention is therefore easily coatable, and there are no areas on the surfaces of the seamless container that are difficult to access or handle using coating methods suitable for said seamless containers.

[0078] The thoroughly continuous surface of the seamless container may comprise several points and structures curved in different directions, allowing for increased stiffness of the seamless container or the curved structures of the seamless container.

[0079] Embodiments in which the rim structure of the seamless container comprises cutout points, which can be made on either a coated or uncoated container, are designed so that the cutout does not significantly affect the container's stiffness properties or the properties achieved by the coating on the seamless container, preserving all the benefits related to stiffness and coatability that are associated with a thoroughly continuous container.

[0080] The present invention provides novel containers or packaging. The seamless container can be manufactured using a foam-based process. Foam forming enables a cost-effective production of molded multi-layer structures and customization of the properties of individual layers.

[0081] In one embodiment, the seamless container is made of plastic using injection molding.

[0082] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the seamless container comprises or consists of a material selected from the following: fibrous material, preferably multi-layered fibrous material, most preferably multi-layered cellulosic fiber material; thermoplastic polymer material or thermosetting polymer material, preferably polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), polyethylene (PE), such as LDPE or HDPE, or their copolymers or mixtures, or recycled plastic material, such as recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET); and metal, preferably aluminum.

[0083] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the seamless container comprises: a fibrous structure, which comprises cellulosic and / or lignocellulosic fiber material and has been obtained through a molding process.

[0084] The dry grammage of the seamless container may be in the range of 5-900 g / m 2< , for example in the range of 100-800 g / m 2< , such as in the range of 200-600 g / m 2< .

[0085] The structure of the fibrous material of the seamless container according to some embodiments will be addressed below.

[0086] The fibrous material may be a single-layer fibrous structure.

[0087] Alternatively, the fibrous structure of the seamless container may be a multi-layered fibrous structure. The multi-layered fibrous structure may comprise at least two fibrous layers, for example, a first fibrous layer and a second fibrous layer, each of which comprises cellulosic and / or lignocellulosic fiber material.

[0088] Cellulosic and / or lignocellulosic fiber material may contain one or more of the following: chemical pulp, semi-chemical pulp, mechanical pulp, thermo-mechanical pulp, chemo-thermo-mechanical pulp, bleached chemo-thermo-mechanical pulp, bleached semi-chemical pulp, wood pulp, pressure groundwood, stone groundwood, recycled cellulosic and / or lignocellulosic fibers, fibrillated cellulose, such as microfibrillated cellulose or nanofibrillated cellulose, nanocellulose, broke, cellulose by-products, regenerated cellulosic fibers, and / or other lignocellulosic materials containing cellulosic fibers or parts of cellulosic fibers.

[0089] The pulp may be bleached or unbleached, or a mixture of both.

[0090] The pulp may be ground or unground, or a mixture of both.

[0091] Chemical pulp may originate from any chemical pulping process, such as the kraft process, the sulfite process, or the organosolv process.

[0092] Mechanical pulp may originate from any mechanical pulping process, such as mechanical pulp, thermo-mechanical pulp (TMP), chemo-thermo-mechanical pulp (CTMP), bleached chemo-thermo-mechanical pulp (BCTMP), semi-chemical pulp, groundwood (GW), pressure groundwood (PGW), stone groundwood (SGW), and combinations thereof.

[0093] The broke may comprise edge trim broke.

[0094] The cellulosic and / or lignocellulosic fiber material may comprise pulp derived from sources other than wood.

[0095] In one embodiment, the pulp may be made from any hardwood, such as wood from the Betulaceae family, for example birch or aspen, from the Salicaceae family, eucalyptus, tropical hardwoods, or pines, or any combination of the foregoing. The pulp may also be made from any softwood, such as spruce or pine, or any combination thereof. The pulp may also be made from a combination of hardwoods and softwoods.

[0096] In one embodiment, the pulp may be made from any annual plant, such as straw, common reed, reed canary grass, bamboo, sugarcane, sugarcane bagasse, or any grass plant.

[0097] In some embodiments, the cellulosic and / or lignocellulosic fiber material comprises virgin wood pulp, such as bleached chemical virgin pulp that is essentially free of lignin, which may make the product particularly suitable for cooking, heating, and safe contact with food.

[0098] The advantage of virgin pulp is that it is free from ink residues and other undesirable chemicals. Recycled waste materials often contain chemical and microbiological impurities that may affect their safe use. Mixtures of chemical compounds and microbially derived products can leach from recycled materials and cause various adverse health or environmental effects. Not only the harmfulness of individual chemical compounds, but also their interactions with other chemical compounds and microbially derived products can increase the toxicity and emissions of recycled materials.

[0099] In one embodiment, the cellulosic and / or lignocellulosic fiber material, or a portion thereof, comprises or consists of bleached chemical softwood pulp.

[0100] In one embodiment, the cellulosic and / or lignocellulosic fiber material, or a portion thereof, comprises or consists of bleached chemical hardwood pulp.

[0101] Any suitable molding method may be applied to shape the molded fibrous container, such as injection molding, vacuum forming, compression molding, transfer molding, extrusion molding, blow molding, dip molding, rotational molding, foam molding, laminating, deep drawing, thermoforming, press forming, hydroforming, suction forming, closed-mold forming, open-mold forming, dry forming, or foam forming, or any combination thereof.

[0102] In the present context, the terms "molding" and "forming" may be used interchangeably.

[0103] In one preferred embodiment, one or more fibrous layers of the fibrous structure, or the entire fibrous structure, is obtained either by foam forming, water forming, or wet forming in a mold, preferably by foam forming in a mold.

[0104] The structure of the seamless container may be a three-dimensional molded, preferably fibrous structure, obtained using a mold comprising at least one three-dimensional, non-planar mold surface. In this case, the fibrous structure has a three-dimensional shape corresponding to the shape of said three-dimensional, non-planar mold surface.

[0105] The seamless container may have an overall shape adapted for holding a liquid or flowing material, such as the overall shape of a cup or bowl.

[0106] In one embodiment, the oil and grease resistance, OGR, of the product is measured according to ASTM F119 using olive oil at 60°C, and it is rated as "moderate" or better, such as over 10 minutes, typically between 10 minutes and 6 hours, in one example more than 3 hours.

[0107] In one embodiment, the moisture resistance of the product is measured according to ISO 2528 and ASTM E96 under standard conditions of 23°C and 50% RH, and it is rated as "moderate" or better, such as below 250 g / m 2< / d, typically between 100-250 g / m 2< / d, in one example less than 150 g / m 2< / d.

[0108] In one embodiment, the water absorption on the coated side or surface of the product is measured using the ISO 535 Cobb value after 5 minutes, and it is rated as "moderate" or better, such as below 100 g / m 2< , typically between 50-100 g / m 2< , in one example less than 75 g / m 2< .

[0109] The surface smoothness of the seamless container structure is preferably in the range of 50-3000 ml / min, such as 100-1000 ml / min, for example, 150-600 ml / min, as measured by the ISO 8791-2 Bendtsen method.

[0110] In one embodiment, the seamless container is made of plastic, and the surface smoothness of the seamless container is as low as below 50 ml / min.

[0111] For containers intended for food packaging applications, additives and chemicals may be selected from all additives approved for use in food packaging materials or containers. "Materials intended to come into contact with food" refers to all materials and articles intended to come into contact with food, such as packaging and containers.

[0112] In addition to or instead of food contact applications, many other areas of application may be envisaged for these seamless containers.

[0113] In one embodiment, the additives in the manufacturing material of the seamless container, such as pigments, binders, and adhesives, are suitable for oven-baked products.

[0114] In some embodiments, the seamless container may comprise only a single fibrous layer.

[0115] In some embodiments, the seamless container may comprise 1-20 fibrous layers, such as at least two fibrous layers, or at least three fibrous layers.

[0116] One or more intermediate layers may be formed prior to the hot pressing stage, for example, during the molding or casting stage of the seamless container.

[0117] The hot pressing stage, which may include at least two hot pressing steps, can produce a smooth outer surface for the final product. Preferably, all outer or exposed surfaces of the final seamless container may become smooth.

[0118] A multilayered fibrous structure is preferably obtained so that all the fibers included in the final structure, typically the fibrous structure to be coated, undergo a foam forming process.

[0119] The advantage of foam forming is that it allows the production of a lighter and bulkier product. Additionally, it can result in a more homogeneous formation. The use of foam enables the effortless fabrication of multilayered fibrous structures in a batch process, meaning that all fibrous layers can be molded in the same mold to form a multilayer stack, which is then hot pressed.

[0120] The seamless container may have, for example, the shape of a cup, plate, bowl, pan, or tray.

[0121] The seamless container may be a packaging or container for food or liquid, or a serving vessel for food or liquid, such as a cup for a beverage, a food tray, or a plate.

[0122] The seamless container can be used for packaging, transporting, storing, cooking, and / or heating food, liquid, or beverages. Examples include frozen food packages intended for heating, hot meal portions, yogurt containers, and trays for fresh meat or fish.

[0123] The seamless container can be used, for example, for packaging various industrial products, such as food products, packaging trays for cold meats, fish, cheese, and other sliced foods, as well as for the storage and transport of goods such as food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and materials sensitive to moisture and oxygen.

[0124] The seamless container can be used for the storage, transportation, and serving of food, such as ready meals and restaurant-ordered portions.

[0125] In some embodiments, the seamless container may be used as a heat-resistant cushioning material or heat-resistant protective material.

[0126] More generally, the seamless container can be used for the packaging, storage, transportation, and serving of all kinds of oil-containing and / or water-containing products.

[0127] In one example, the seamless container is a packaging intended for cosmetics.

[0128] In one example, the seamless container is a packaging intended for pharmaceuticals.

[0129] The seamless container can be used as packaging for food or liquid, or as a serving product for food or liquid or a baked product, or as a part thereof.

[0130] In the present context, "molding" (forming) refers to the process in which a foamed composition is given a shape, such as a three-dimensional shape, in a mold.

[0131] It should be noted that the embodiments of the invention presented are not limited to the specific structures or materials described herein, but are extended to their equivalents as understood by those skilled in the relevant fields. It should also be noted that the terminology used here is intended only to describe specific embodiments and is not meant to be limiting.

[0132] Any reference throughout this description to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, the appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this description are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

[0133] For clarity, multiple titles, structural elements, compositional elements, and / or materials may be presented in a common list as used herein. These lists should, however, be interpreted such that each member of the list is identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such a list should be interpreted as being de facto equivalent to any other member of the same list merely because they are grouped together, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Furthermore, various embodiments and examples of the present invention may be referenced together with alternative options for their components. It is understood that such embodiments, examples, and alternatives are not to be regarded as de facto equivalents, but rather as separate and independent representations of the present invention.

[0134] The described features, structures, or characteristics may also be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. The following description presents numerous specific details, such as examples of lengths, widths, shapes, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the invention. However, it will be understood by a person skilled in the art that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or using other methods, components, materials, etc. In some cases, well-known structures, materials, or functions are not shown or described in detail so as not to obscure aspects of the invention.

[0135] Although the foregoing examples are illustrative of the principles of the present invention in one or more specific applications, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications in form, use, and implementation details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without exercising inventive skill. Therefore, the invention is not intended to be limiting except as defined in the claims set forth below.

[0136] The verbs "comprise" and "include" are used in this document as open limitations that do not exclude or require the presence of unrecited features. The features presented in the dependent claims may be freely combined with one another unless explicitly stated otherwise. Furthermore, it should be understood that the use of the singular form throughout this document does not exclude the plural.INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0137] The present invention is industrially applicable.REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0138] 1seamless container 2bottom 3wall structure 4rim structure 5groove 6protrusion 8second container 9closed volume

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0029]In the present context, "closed volume" means a volume formed by at least two containers according to the present invention.

[0030]In the present context, "stackability" means that seamless containers according to at least some embodiments of the invention can be stacked on top of each other in the same orientation. The stackability of a seamless container according to the invention allows the container to be transported and stored in a smaller space.

[0031]In the present context, "similarity" refers, in addition to same shape, to the fact that the other container or part thereof is made of the same material as said seamless vessel.

[0032]In the present context, the wall structure or sides of the wall structure of the seamless container are inclined relative to the bottom of the seamless container such that the seamless container is stackable.

[0033]In the present context, "resistant", such as water-resistant, means that the material or layer of the seamless container resists pene...

Claims

1. Seamless container (1), comprising: - a bottom (2), - a wall structure (3) extending in a first direction, said wall structure (3) comprising a protruding rim structure (4) surrounding the wall structure (3), the rim structure comprising at least one groove (5) and at least one protrusion (6), characterized in that: said seamless container (1) is stackable, and said rim structure (4) of the seamless container (1) is compatible with a similar or similarly shaped protruding rim structure (4) of a second container (8) in an alternate orientation.

2. The seamless container (1) according to claim 1, wherein said container (1) and said second container (8) in an alternate orientation are capable of forming at least one closed volume (9).

3. The seamless container (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the alternate orientation is an orientation in which the protruding rim structure (4) surrounding the wall structure (3) of said container (1) and the similar or similarly shaped protruding rim structure (4) surrounding the wall structure of the second container (8) are positioned facing each other.

4. The seamless container (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the alternate orientation is an orientation in which each groove (5) and protrusion (6) of the protruding rim structure (4) surrounding the wall structure (3) of said container (1) are aligned with the corresponding protrusion (6) and groove (5) of the similar or similarly shaped protruding rim structure (4) of the second container (8).

5. The seamless container (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said container (1), said second container (8), and at least a third container, which comprises a similar protruding rim structure (4) as in said container (1) and said second container (8), are capable of forming at least two enclosed volumes, wherein said at least third container separates at least two enclosed volumes from each other.

6. The seamless container (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the wall structure (3) extends in the first direction by 5-150 mm, preferably 10-100 mm, most preferably 20-60 mm.

7. The seamless container (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the wall structure (3) extends in at least a second direction transverse to the first direction such that the wall structure (3) is inclined relative to the first direction by 4°-45°, preferably 15°-40°, most preferably 20°-35°, for example, 30°; or radially outward from the axis extending perpendicularly through the center of the container bottom (2) in the first direction, such that the wall structure (3) is inclined by 4°-45°, preferably 15°-40°, most preferably 20°-35°, for example, 30°.

8. The seamless container (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one groove (5) of the protruding rim structure (4) of the wall structure (3) has a length of at least 15%, preferably at least 20% of the circumference of the protruding rim structure (4).

9. The seamless container according to claim 8, wherein the grooves (5) and the protrusions (6) of the protruding rim structure (4) surrounding the wall structure (3) are seamless and continuous throughout.

10. The seamless container (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each groove (5) of the protruding rim structure surrounding the wall structure (3) and each protrusion (6) corresponding to the grooves (5) are interconnectable with a similar or similarly shaped protruding rim structure (4).

11. The seamless container (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the bottom (2) is convex in the first direction, preferably such that the center of the bottom (2) extends in the first direction by at least 1 mm, preferably 1.5-3 mm.

12. The seamless container (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the corner between the bottom (2) and the wall structure (3) is rounded.

13. The seamless container (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the protruding rim structure (4) surrounding the wall structure (3) of the container (1), preferably at the locations where the wall structure (3) forms two or more corners, comprises a protrusion extending transversely in a direction opposite to the first direction, and away from the container (1), which preferably includes a cutout or hook-like structure that allows the alignment of two similar or similarly shaped rim structures (4).

14. The seamless container (1) according to claim 13, wherein said container (1) and second container (8), whose similar or similarly shaped protruding rim structures (4) can be attached to each other by placing the protrusions of the container (1) and the second container (8) in a locking position relative to each other such that: - the outer surface of the aligned protrusion of said container (1) is bent against the outer surface of the aligned protrusion of the second container (8), and the outer surface of the aligned protrusion of the second container (8) is bent against the outer surface of the aligned protrusion of said container (1); or - the hook-shaped structure of the aligned protrusion of said container (1) is interlocked with the hook-shaped structure of the aligned protrusion of the second container (8).

15. The seamless container (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second container (8) is a similarly shaped or similar container.

16. The seamless container (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said container (1) and / or the second container (8) comprises or consists of a material selected from one of the following; - cast fibrous material, preferably cast multilayer fibrous material, most preferably cast multilayer cellulosic fiber material; - thermoplastic polymer material or thermosetting polymer material, preferably polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), polyethylene (PE), such as LDPE or HDPE, or their copolymers or blends, or recycled plastic material, such as recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET); and - metal, preferably aluminum.

17. The seamless container (1) according to any of the preceding claims, which is coated with a fibrous material or a non-fibrous material, such as a coating comprising or consisting of a thermoplastic polymer material or a thermosetting polymer material, such as a polyolefin, polyester, PET, polyhydroxyalkanoate, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polystyrene, or polylactic acid, or a blend or copolymer thereof.

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