CA3097336A1 - Container for storing a product - Google Patents

Abstract

There is described a container for storing a product. The container includes a sleeve having a base at a lower end of the sleeve, and one or more sidewalls extending from the base and defining an open upper end of the sleeve. The container further includes a pod partially inserted into the sleeve through the open upper end of the sleeve. The pod has a receptacle for holding the product, a neck defining an opening into the receptacle, a lid engageable with the neck for closing the opening, and a shoulder at least partially overlapping the one or more sidewalls.

Description

CONTAINER FOR STORING A PRODUCT
Field of the Disclosure The present disclosure relates to a container for storing a product such as a cannabis product.
Background to the Disclosure The gradual and ongoing legalization of cannabis has created a corresponding market for suitable packaging solutions for cannabis-related products. While there is increasing pressure from consumers of such products for more sustainable and ecological packaging solutions, local and national regulations regarding packaging and labelling for the cannabis product market tend to be strict.
Current proposed packaging solutions suffer from a number of drawbacks, however. For example, most existing cannabis containers use components with multiple layers of different materials, requiring manual separation of the various materials in order for the container to be effectively recycled.
Moreover, some containers are neither compostable nor recyclable. Further still, some existing containers do not provide a sufficiently adequate barrier between the contents of the container and the exterior environment, resulting in premature degradation of the stored cannabis product.
There is therefore an ongoing need for an improved container that may be used to store cannabis products.
Summary of the Disclosure According to a first embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided a container for storing a product, comprising: a sleeve comprising: a base at a lower end of the sleeve; and one or more sidewalls extending from the base and defining an open upper end of the sleeve; and a pod partially inserted into the sleeve through the open upper end of the sleeve and comprising: a receptacle for holding the product; a neck defining an opening into the receptacle; a lid engageable with the neck for closing the opening; and a shoulder at least partially overlapping the one or more sidewalls.
A width of the shoulder relative to a width of the one or more sidewalls may be configured to prevent further insertion of the pod into the sleeve through the open upper end of the sleeve.
The pod may be at least partially formed of one or more of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), aluminium, and glass.
The sleeve may be at least partially formed of one or more of cardboard, plastic, aluminium, and hemp.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-28 The lid may be threadably engageable with the neck.
The lid may comprise a Child-Resistant Closure (CRC).
The pod may be at least partially formed of a material having one or more anti-static properties.
The shoulder may wholly overlap the one or more sidewalls.
The shoulder may comprise an upper seat, and the lid may comprise a rim that at least partially overlaps the upper seat when the lid is engaged with the neck.
A base of the neck may meet the upper seat.
The shoulder may comprise a lower seat for preventing further insertion of the pod into the sleeve through the open upper end of the sleeve.
The shoulder may be flush with the one or more sidewalls.
The lid may be flush with the shoulder when the lid is engaged with the neck.
The pod may be secured to the sleeve by an interference fit between one or more outer surfaces of the receptacle and one or more inner surfaces of the one or more sidewalls.
The receptacle may comprise one or more features on one or more outer surfaces of the receptacle for engaging with one or more inner surfaces of the one or more sidewalls to resist rotation of the sleeve relative to the pod.
The one or more features may comprise one or more of a size, a shape, and a position on the receptacle such that rotation of the sleeve relative to the pod is resisted sufficiently to enable the lid, when engaged to the neck, to be disengaged from the neck through rotation from the lid relative to the neck.
The one or more feature may comprise elongated protrusions.
The elongated protrusions may be spaced one from another in a second direction different to the first direction.
The one or more features may be provided on an outer landing surface of the receptacle, and the landing surface may meet a lower seat of the shoulder.
The receptacle may comprise a rounded base.
The base may comprise an annular convex portion surrounding a central concave portion.
The lower end of the sleeve may be open.

2 Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-28 The sleeve may further comprise a base member extending from the one or more sidewalls toward a longitudinal axis defined by the sleeve, thereby closing the lower end of the sleeve.
The base of the sleeve may comprise one or more apertures formed therein for enabling air to flow from an interior of the sleeve to an exterior of the sleeve via the one or more apertures.
A ratio of a height of the sleeve to a height of the pod may be from 2:1 to 5:1.
One or more materials forming the pod may comprise one or more additives for reducing one or more of a moisture vapour transmission rate and an oxygen transmission rate into or out of the receptacle.
The pod may comprise one or more materials for providing an active barrier for increasing a shelf life of the product.
The pod may comprise one or more materials for providing a passive barrier so as to reduce one or more of a moisture vapour transmission rate and an oxygen transmission rate into or out of the receptacle.
The container may further comprise the product stored within the receptacle.
The product may comprise one or more cannabinoids.
One or more of: the pod; the pod without the lid; and the sleeve may be recyclable.
According to a further aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a method of manufacturing a container for storing a product, comprising: providing a sleeve comprising: a base at a lower end of the sleeve;
and one or more sidewalls extending from the base and defining an open upper end of the sleeve; and providing a pod comprising: a receptacle for holding the product; a neck defining an opening into the receptacle; and a shoulder; and partially inserting the pod within the sleeve through the open upper end of the sleeve such that the shoulder at least partially overlaps the one or more sidewalls.
The method may further comprise applying compression to the pod in a direction of insertion of the pod into the sleeve so as to secure the pod to the sleeve via an interference fit.
Applying compression may comprise applying compression sufficient to cause the shoulder to engage the one or more sidewalls.
According to a further aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a kit of parts for making a container for storing a product, comprising: a sleeve comprising: a base at a lower end of the sleeve; and one or more sidewalls extending from the base and defining an open upper end of the sleeve; and a pod comprising: a receptacle for holding the product; a neck defining an opening into the receptacle; and a

3 Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-28 shoulder, wherein the pod is insertable into the sleeve through the open upper end of the sleeve such that the shoulder at least partially overlaps the one or more sidewalls.
The kit may further comprise a lid engageable with the neck for closing the opening.
Brief Description of the Drawings Embodiments of the disclosure will now be described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
FIGS. 1A and 1B are, respectively, side-on and perspective views of a container comprising a pod and an outer sleeve, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;
FIG. 2 is a side-on view of the pod of FIG. 1A, without a lid, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the pod of FIG. 2, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the pod of FIG. 2, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the sleeve of FIG. 1A, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. 1A, according to an embodiment of the disclosure; and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a sleeve secured to a pod without a lid, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
Detailed Description The present disclosure seeks to provide an improved container for storing a product, such as a cannabis product. While various embodiments of the disclosure are described below, the disclosure is not limited to these embodiments, and variations of these embodiments may well fall within the scope of the disclosure which is to be limited only by the appended claims.
Generally, there is described a container for storing a product such as a cannabis product. According to certain embodiments of the disclosure, the container comprises an inner vessel or holder, which may be referred to as a "pod" throughout, for storing the cannabis product. The container further comprises an outer sleeve for securing to the pod. The pod includes a receptacle for holding the product, a flange or shoulder that may extend from an exterior surface of the receptacle, a neck defining an opening into the receptacle, and a lid engageable with the neck for closing the opening.
For example, the neck and lid may be threaded, and the lid may threadably engage with the neck in order to close the opening.

4 Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-28 The pod may be manufactured from partially or fully recyclable material such as, but not limited to, any thermoplastic, bio polymer, or polymer compound. For example, the pod may be manufactured from polyethylene terephthalate (PET)), hemp, glass, or aluminium.
The outer sleeve includes a base at a lower end of the sleeve, and one or more sidewalls extending from the base and defining an open upper end of the sleeve. The base of the sleeve may be either open (similarly to the top of the sleeve) or closed. The sleeve may be manufactured from partially or fully recyclable material such as, but not limited to, cardboard, one or more hemp-based materials, one or more recyclable paper-based products, or aluminium.
The pod is partially inserted into the sleeve via the open upper end of the sleeve such that the shoulder at least partially overlaps the one or more sidewalls. Thus, the shoulder may provide a suitable seat against which the one or more sidewalls may engage in order to properly position the sleeve relative to the pod. Moreover, the shoulder may prevent the pod from being fully inserted into the sleeve, by acting as a stop against which the one or more sidewalls of the sleeve may engage.
Further still, the pod and the sleeve may be sized such that an interference fit is formed between one or more inner surfaces of the one or more sidewalls and one or more outer surfaces of the pod, such that no adhesive is required in order for the pod to be secured to the sleeve.
Advantageously, a height of the sleeve may be relatively large compared to a height of the pod. For example, according to some embodiments, a ratio of a height of the sleeve to a height of the pod may be from 1:1 to 10:1, and more particularly may be from 2:1 to 5:1.
Accordingly, one or more exterior surfaces of the sleeve may be used as a suitable space for displaying marketing or other relevant information in order, for example, for the container to comply with applicable labelling regulations. In addition, the amount of material (e.g. recyclable plastic) that is used for the pod may be kept to a relative minimum, in order to decrease the overall amount of plastic or other material that is used to store the product. This may enable the amount of ullage within the pod to be reduced.
Existing containers for cannabis products tend to include more material (such as plastic) than is necessary for actual storage of the product. Reduced ullage may contribute to improving the longevity or freshness of the product stored within the pod, since a lower volume of air may be contained within the pod relative to the amount of product that is stored.
Turning to FIGS. 1A and 1B, there is now shown in greater detail a container 100 for storing a product, such as a cannabis product, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
Container 100 comprises an outer cardboard sleeve 30 secured via an interference fit to a plastic vessel or pod 10. Sleeve 30 may be partially or fully formed of recyclable cardboard, or one or more other materials as described in Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-28 further detail below. Pod 10 includes a lid 40 for sealing an interior of pod 10. Pod 10 may be partially or fully formed of recyclable plastic, or one or more other materials as described in further detail below.
Pod 10 is described in further detail below in connection with FIGS. 2-4, and outer sleeve 30 is described in further detail below in connection with FIG. 5.
Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 3, pod 10 comprises a generally curved receptacle 11 for holding therein the cannabis product (not shown) which may typically take the form of one or more cannabis plant buds.
According to some embodiments, the cannabis product may take other forms, such as an edible or a cream. A landing surface or area 12 extends upwardly from an upper end of receptacle 11. Landing area 12 includes a number of elongated protrusions, protuberances, or knolls 16 along its surface.
Knolls 16 are elongated in a first direction running from a bottom of pod 10 to a top of pod 10. Knolls 16 are spaced one from another in a second direction extending in a circumferential direction around landing area 12. As will be appreciated by the skilled person, FIG. 2 shows a particular example of the size, shape, and orientation that knolls 16 can take, and other types or forms of protrusions, protuberances, or knolls may be provided without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
Above landing area 12 is provided a flange or shoulder 13 extending radially outwardly from a central longitudinal axis defined by pod 10. Shoulder 13 includes a lower seat 14 facing a bottom of pod 10 and meeting landing area 12, and an upper seat 15 facing a top of pod 10. Pod 10 further includes a neck 17 having a base that meets upper seat 15. Neck 17 extends from shoulder 13 toward the top of pod 10. As can be seen in FIG. 3, neck 17 defines at its upper end an opening 19 providing access to the interior pod 10 and in particular the interior of receptacle 11. Neck 17 includes one or more threads 18 for engaging with one or more corresponding threads provided on lid 40 (not shown in FIGS. 2-4) for closing pod 10 and sealing the product within receptacle 11.
Turning to FIG. 4, there is shown a cross-sectional view through a center of pod 10. A central portion of receptacle 11 is rounded or domed. In particular, the base of receptacle 11 comprises an annular convex portion 21 surrounding a central concave portion 22. Central concave portion 22 includes a further convex portion 23 provided at a center thereof. Annular convex portion 21 allows solid product stored within receptacle 11 to nest within an annular volume 24 defined by annular convex portion 21.
This may minimize unnecessary movement or other shaking of the product when pod 10 is in motion.
According to other embodiments, the shape of the base of receptacle 11 may take other forms. For example, the base of receptacle 11 may be flat to facilitate manufacturing.
Pod 10 is formed of a partially or fully recyclable material, such as but not limited to PET, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), aluminium, or glass. Glass, while Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-28 denser than plastic, may provide an improved barrier to the transmission of odour, moisture vapour, oxygen, and other gases out of container 100, while also enabling a user to view the interior of receptacle 11. Pod 10 may be formed using any of various suitable methods known in the art, such as blow molding, injection molding, and spin trimming.
One or more components of pod 10 may be formed of a transparent material to enable the user to view the interior of receptacle 11. Alternatively, one or more components of pod 10 may be pigmented or otherwise formed of an optically opaque material in order to provide a more effective barrier to light transmission into and out of receptacle 11. Providing such a light barrier may assist in reducing degradation of the cannabis product over prolonged periods of storage.
According to some embodiments, pod 10 may be manufactured to have a thickness in the range of from 0.010 inches to 0.075 inches. The thickness of pod 10 may vary from one location to another. In order for pod 10 to provide an effective means of storing the cannabis product and retaining the freshness or longevity of the cannabis product, one or more of the materials forming pod 10 may include one or more additives for enabling pod 10 to act as an effective barrier to the transmission of odour, moisture vapour, oxygen, and other gases out of and/or into container 100. For example, one or more of the materials forming pod 10 may be selected such that pod 10 provide an active barrier for increasing a shelf life of the cannabis product. For example, a heavy-duty scavenging formulation may be used to provide one or more active barrier properties to pod 10. Alternatively, or in addition, one or more of the materials forming pod 10 may be selected such that pod 10 provide a passive barrier which may act as a shield to prevent the transmission of odour, moisture vapour, oxygen, and other gases out of container 100.
Unlike an active barrier, a passive barrier will not modify the internal atmosphere sealed within pod 10.
Other additives and/or formulations known to those of skill in the art may be used in the manufacture of pod 10 in order to reduce one or more the moisture vapour transmission rate and the oxygen transmission rate into and out of pod 10.
Moreover, one or more of the materials forming pod 10 may exhibit anti-static properties, in order inhibit fine particles within receptacle 11 from adhering to the interior surfaces of receptacle 11. For example, an anti-static additive (such as an anti-static organic additive) may be incorporated into the material forming pod 10. For example, one or more of fatty acid esters, ethoxylated amines, quaternary ammonium compounds, alkylsulfonates, and alkylphosphates may be incorporated into the material forming pod 10.
In order to settle on a suitable material and dimension for pod 10, pod 10 underwent extensive testing.
Initial trials consisted of comparing the barrier properties of similar pods made from different polymer Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-28 materials: HDPE, polypropylene PP, and PET. The results showed that pods formed of PET performed generally better than pods formed of PP, and that pods formed of HDPE
performed the least well in terms of barrier properties. Subsequently, barrier properties of PET and PP
pods were tested for different wall thicknesses. The results showed the superior performance of PET
pods having thinner walls and being 65% lighter than PP pods. PET pods with a thickness of 0.40 mm showed the cannabis product losing its aroma and changing colour after two months of storage.
Experimentation then continued with PET resins and additives in order to further decrease the weight of the pod while improving the shelf life of the product.
Turning to FIG. 5, there is shown a perspective view of outer sleeve 30. Outer sleeve 30 is generally cylindrically-shaped and comprises a circumferential sidewall 32 extending from a base 34 at a lower end of sleeve 30 to an open upper end 36 of sleeve 30. While FIG. 5 shows a sleeve having a single sidewall, sleeve 30 may comprise any suitable number of sidewalls. For example, sleeve 30 does not need to be cylindrical in shape, and may instead be triangular or square-shaped, for example, in which case sleeve 30 would have three or four sidewalls, respectively.
Base 34 of sleeve 30 may be formed according to different designs. For instance, base 34 may comprise a circular base member 35 (seen for example in FIG. 7) extending inwardly from the bottom edge of sleeve 30. According to such embodiments, the lower end of sleeve 30 is effectively closed, and circular base member 35 may provide improved support to sleeve 30. For example, when a user wishes to decouple sleeve 30 from pod 10, as described in further detail below, then circular base member 35 may assist in preventing sleeve 30 from collapsing in response to the user gripping sidewall 32 for removal of sleeve 30 from pod 10. Circular base member 35 may include one or more holes formed therein to enable air to flow therethrough when mating pod 10 with sleeve, as described in further detail below.
According to other embodiments, the lower end of sleeve 30 may be open, in which case sleeve 30 does not need to include circular base member 35. According to such embodiments, base 34 of sleeve 30 may comprise a curled lip 36 (as can be seen in FIG. 7) for providing a more secure platform when container 100 is not being used. In the absence of circular base member 35, a user may view the underside of pod 10. In cases where the underside of pod 10 is transparent (for example if receptacle 11 is formed of glass), then the user may view the interior of receptacle 11 through the lower end of sleeve 30.
Outer sleeve 30 is formed of partially or fully recyclable cardboard, although other materials may be used. For example, according to some embodiments, outer sleeve 30 may instead, or in addition, Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-28 comprise one or more other materials such as hemp, plastic (such as recycled plastic), and/or one or more metals such as recycled or virgin aluminium or steel. Outer sleeve 30 may be formed of multi-layered cardboard, glued at various angles (such as perpendicularly) , or glued in a spiral arrangement, to provide structural radial strength and tension for friction mating with pod 10.
Turning to FIG. 6, there is shown a cross-sectional view of container 100, with pod 10 mated or secured to sleeve 30. In order to secure pod 10 to sleeve 30, pod 10, and in particular receptacle 11, is partially inserted into open upper end 36 of sleeve 30. The inner diameter of sleeve 30 is similar to the outer diameter of pod 10 when measured from the outer surfaces of knolls 16.
Therefore, an interference fit (otherwise known as a friction fit) may be formed between sleeve 30 and pod 10. For example, the inner diameter of sleeve 30 may be slightly less than the outer diameter of pod 10 when measured from the outer surfaces of knolls 16, such that sleeve 30 expands slightly as pod 10 is inserted into open upper end 36 of sleeve 30. The interference fit between sleeve 30 and pod 10 thereby enables an adhesive-free, friction-based mating between sleeve 30 and pod 10. Shoulder 13, by at least partially overlapping sidewall 32 of sleeve 30, prevents pod 10 from being fully inserted into sleeve 30.
According to some embodiments, instead of using an interference fit, sleeve 30 may be secured to pod using other means. For example, an adhesive may be used, or mechanically interlocking means may be provided on an interior surface of sleeve 30 for mating with corresponding mechanical features provided on pod 10.
FIG. 6 shows lid 40 in greater detail. In particular, lid 40 comprises a lid cover 40 and a lid sidewall 44 extending downwardly from lid cover 40. The interior surface of lid sidewall 44 includes one or more threads for mating with the corresponding one or more threads 18 on the outer surface of neck 17. The bottom of lid sidewall 44 at least partially overlaps upper seat 15 of shoulder 13. Therefore, upper seat of shoulder 13 provides a stopping surface against which the bottom of lid sidewall 44 may engage when lid 40 is being threadably engaged to neck 17. Lid 40, together with neck 17, comprises part of a Child-Resistant (CR) closure, although other types of closures (such as non-CR
closures) are also contemplated within the scope of this disclosure.
The diameter of shoulder 13 relative to sleeve 30 may be such that the outer surface of sidewall 32 may or may not be flush with outer surface of shoulder 13. For example, according to some embodiments, shoulder 13 may extend beyond sidewall 32, may be flush with sidewall 32, or sidewall may extend beyond shoulder 13. The diameter of lid 40 relative to shoulder 13 may be such that the outer surface of lid sidewall 44 may or may not be flush with outer surface of shoulder 13.
For example, according to some embodiments, shoulder 13 may extend beyond lid sidewall 44, may be flush with lid sidewall 44, Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-28 or lid sidewall 44 may extend beyond shoulder 13. As can be seen in the embodiment of FIG. 6, sidewall 32 of sleeve 30, lid sidewall 44, and shoulder 13 have similar diameters such their exterior surfaces appear flush with one another, thereby providing a relatively streamlined appearance to container 100.
According to some embodiments, the diameter of container 100, once sleeve 30 is secured to pod, may be in the range of From 1.5 inches to 5 inches. As will be recognized by the skilled person, the size and diameter of container 100 may vary within the scope of this disclosure, depending for example on the type and quantity of product that is to be stored in container 100. According to some embodiments, the depth/height of pod 10, and in particular receptacle 11, may be varied without necessarily adjusting the height of sleeve 30, to allow for different storage capacities without need to adjust sleeve 30. A height of sleeve 30 may be configured so as to provide adequate space for required labelling or other information to be displayed, independently of the height of pod 10. For example, according to some embodiments, a height of sleeve 30 may be relatively large compared to a height of pod 10. For example, according to some embodiments, a ratio of a height of the sleeve to a height of the pod may be from 1:1 to 10:1, and more particularly may be from 2:1 to 5:1.
After consumption of the cannabis or other product provided within receptacle 11, a user may economically dispose of container 100 as follows. In particular, after use, the user may simply grip pod or lid 40 with one hand and pull sleeve 30 away from pod 10 with their other hand, by overcoming the friction holding pod 10 to sleeve 30. Because pod 10 and sleeve 30 are formed of recyclable materials, after separation the user may then dispose of pod 10 and sleeve 30 at respective recycling locations.
In order to manufacture container 100 in an autonomous fashion, a machine such as a pick and place machine may capture pod 10 and partially insert pod 10 within open upper end 36 of sleeve 30.
Compression may then be applied to pod 10 and sleeve 30, such compression being sufficient to cause shoulder 13 to engage sidewall 32 of sleeve 30. Pod 10 is thereby secured to sleeve 30 via an interference fit between the inner surface of sidewall 32 and the outer surface of pod 10, and in particular knolls 16.
Thus, according to embodiments of the disclosure, there is provided an improved container for storing a product such as a cannabis product. The container may advantageously reduce unnecessary waste.
Furthermore, the container may be used as an efficient marketing tool while still complying with local and national regulatory laws regarding cannabis or other products. For example, by providing a recyclable sleeve that is relatively large or tall in comparison to the pod, the container is provided with a relatively greater amount of surface area for displaying branding or other information, without Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-28 unnecessarily increasing the amount of plastic that is used for the pod.
Containers according to embodiments of the disclosure may comprise up to about 50% less plastic than comparable containers currently used in the cannabis industry.
Furthermore, while the container described herein has been described as being used for storing a product such as a cannabis product, it shall become clear to a person skilled in the art that the container may be used to store other suitable products, such as pharmaceutical products, cosmetic products, creams, or food products. For example, according to embodiments of the disclosure, the container's ability to provide a suitably effective barrier to light, odour transmission, and humidity transmission, while also being more economical and comprising a standard lid or a CR closure, may make it particularly useful for storing products requiring a relatively long shelf life.
Still further, while the lid has been generally described in the context of being threadably engageable with the neck of the pod, according to some embodiments the pod may be closed using a lid which does not use a thread. For example, according to some embodiments, the lid may close the pod using other means of engagement known to those of skill in the art (for instance, the lid may close the pod via a snap-fit closure).
The word "a" or "an" when used in conjunction with the term "comprising" or "including" in the claims and/or the specification may mean "one", but it is also consistent with the meaning of "one or more", "at least one", and "one or more than one" unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. Similarly, the word "another" may mean at least a second or more unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.
The terms "coupled", "coupling" or "connected" as used herein can have several different meanings depending on the context in which these terms are used. For example, the terms coupled, coupling, or connected can have a mechanical or electrical connotation. For example, as used herein, the terms coupled, coupling, or connected can indicate that two elements or devices are directly connected to one another or connected to one another through one or more intermediate elements or devices via a mechanical element depending on the particular context. The term "and/or"
herein when used in association with a list of items means any one or more of the items comprising that list.
As used herein, a reference to "about" or "approximately" a number or to being "substantially" equal to a number means being within +/- 10% of that number.
While the disclosure has been described in connection with specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to these embodiments, and that alterations, modifications, and variations of these embodiments may be carried out by the skilled person without departing from the Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-28 scope of the disclosure. For example, while the container of the embodiments described herein has been described as including a shoulder, according to other embodiments the container does not have to include a shoulder, unless the claims appended hereto require the presence of the shoulder.
It is furthermore contemplated that any part of any aspect or embodiment discussed in this specification can be implemented or combined with any part of any other aspect or embodiment discussed in this specification.

Date Recue/Date Received 2020-10-28

Claims (36)

Claims

1. A container for storing a product, comprising:
a sleeve comprising:
a base at a lower end of the sleeve; and one or more sidewalls extending from the base and defining an open upper end of the sleeve;
and a pod partially inserted into the sleeve through the open upper end of the sleeve and comprising:
a receptacle for holding the product;
a neck defining an opening into the receptacle;
a lid engageable with the neck for closing the opening; and a shoulder at least partially overlapping the one or more sidewalls.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein a width of the shoulder relative to a width of the one or more sidewalls is configured to prevent further insertion of the pod into the sleeve through the open upper end of the sleeve.

3. The container of claim 1 or 2, wherein the pod is at least partially formed of one or more of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), aluminium, and glass.

4. The container of any one of claims 1-3, wherein the sleeve is at least partially formed of one or more of cardboard, plastic, aluminium, and hemp.

5. The container of any one of claims 1-4, wherein the lid is threadably engageable with the neck.

6. The container of any one of claims 1-5, wherein the lid comprises a Child-Resistant Closure (CRC).

7. The container of any one of claims 1-6, wherein the pod is at least partially formed of a material having one or more anti-static properties.

8. The container of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the shoulder wholly overlapping the one or more sidewalls.

9. The container of any one of claims 1-8, wherein:
the shoulder comprises an upper seat; and the lid comprises a rim that at least partially overlaps the upper seat when the lid is engaged with the neck.

10. The container of claim 9, wherein a base of the neck meets the upper seat.

11. The container of any one of claims 1-10, wherein the shoulder comprises a lower seat for preventing further insertion of the pod into the sleeve through the open upper end of the sleeve.

12. The container of any one of claims 1-11, wherein the shoulder is flush with the one or more sidewalls.

13. The container of any one of claims 1-12, wherein the lid is flush with the shoulder when the lid is engaged with the neck.

14. The container of any one of claims 1-13, wherein the pod is secured to the sleeve by an interference fit between one or more outer surfaces of the receptacle and one or more inner surfaces of the one or more sidewalls.

15. The container of any one of claims 1-14, wherein the receptacle comprises one or more features on one or more outer surfaces of the receptacle for engaging with one or more inner surfaces of the one or more sidewalls to resist rotation of the sleeve relative to the pod.

16. The container of claim 15, wherein the one or more features comprise one or more of a size, a shape, and a position on the receptacle such that rotation of the sleeve relative to the pod is resisted sufficiently to enable the lid, when engaged to the neck, to be disengaged from the neck through rotation from the lid relative to the neck.

17. The container of claim 15 or 16, wherein the one or more feature comprise elongated protrusions.

18. The container of claim 17, wherein the elongated protrusions are spaced one from another in a second direction different to the first direction

19. The container of any one of claims 15-18, wherein:
the one or more features are provided on an outer landing surface of the receptacle; and the landing surface meets a lower seat of the shoulder.

20. The container of any one of claims 1-19, wherein the receptacle comprises a rounded base.

21. The container of claim 20, wherein the base comprises an annular convex portion surrounding a central concave portion.

22. The container of any one of claims 1-21, wherein the lower end of the sleeve is open.

23. The container of any one of claims 1-21, wherein the sleeve further comprises a base member extending from the one or more sidewalls toward a longitudinal axis defined by the sleeve, thereby closing the lower end of the sleeve.

24. The container of claim 23, wherein the base of the sleeve comprises one or more apertures formed therein for enabling air to flow from an interior of the sleeve to an exterior of the sleeve via the one or more apertures.

25. The container of any one of claims 1-24, wherein a ratio of a height of the sleeve to a height of the pod is from 2:1 to 5:1.

26. The container of any one of claims 1-25, wherein one or more materials forming the pod may comprise one or more additives for reducing one or more of a moisture vapour transmission rate and an oxygen transmission rate into or out of the receptacle.

27. The container of any one of claims 1-26, wherein the pod comprises one or more materials for providing an active barrier for increasing a shelf life of the product.

28. The container of any one of claims 1-27, wherein the pod comprises one or more materials for providing a passive barrier so as to reduce one or more of a moisture vapour transmission rate and an oxygen transmission rate into or out of the receptacle.

29. The container of any one of claims 1-28, further comprising the product stored within the receptacle.

30. The container of claim 29, wherein the product comprises one or more cannabinoids.

31. The container of any one of claims 1-30, wherein one or more of: the pod;
the pod without the lid;
and the sleeve are recyclable.

32. A method of manufacturing a container for storing a product, comprising:
providing a sleeve comprising:
a base at a lower end of the sleeve; and one or more sidewalls extending from the base and defining an open upper end of the sleeve;
and providing a pod comprising:
a receptacle for holding the product;
a neck defining an opening into the receptacle; and a shoulder; and partially inserting the pod within the sleeve through the open upper end of the sleeve such that the shoulder at least partially overlaps the one or more sidewalls.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising applying compression to the pod in a direction of insertion of the pod into the sleeve so as to secure the pod to the sleeve via an interference fit.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein applying compression comprises applying compression sufficient to cause the shoulder to engage the one or more sidewalls.

35. A kit of parts for making a container for storing a product, comprising:
a sleeve comprising:
a base at a lower end of the sleeve; and one or more sidewalls extending from the base and defining an open upper end of the sleeve;
ands a pod comprising:
a receptacle for holding the product;
a neck defining an opening into the receptacle; and a shoulder, wherein the pod is insertable into the sleeve through the open upper end of the sleeve such that the shoulder at least partially overlaps the one or more sidewalls

36. The kit of claim 35, further comprising a lid engageable with the neck for closing the opening.