The patent has been granted The patent has been granted, Grant of patent is intended, Examination is in progress, Request for examination was made, The application has been published EP Register Verified

SEALABLE CONTAINER, SEALED CONTAINER AND PROCESS FOR MAKING A SEALABLE CONTAINER

Publication No. EP4056491

•

App No. EP22153165

•

Filed by LINPAC Packaging Limited

•

Filed on 2011-01-10

•

Issued/Published on 2026-07-29

Official EPO Register

Publication No. EP4056491 A2

Application No. EP22153165 Filed: 2011-01-10

Grant Date 2026-07-29 Mention of grant

Active Oppositions 1 Active EPO Oppositions

Patent Abstract / Summary

[0001] A thermoformed sealable container comprises a base and a continuous side wall extending substantially perpendicular to the base with a peripheral flange formed along the upper, in use, edge of the continuous side wall; wherein the base and the continuous side wall are clear and consist essentially of polyethylene terephthalate (PET); wherein the peripheral flange comprises a return flange; wherein a layer of adhesive is located on an upper, in use, surface of the peripheral flange such that a lidding film may be sealed to the peripheral flange to create a sealed space between the base, continuous side wall and lidding film, and wherein said layer of adhesive does not extend onto the vertical, in use, surfaces of the continuous side wall and does not extend to the base.

IPC Classifications

B65D21/02, B65D77/20, B65D81/20, // B65B51/02, B65B51/10

Priority Claims

GB 20100000310 Date: 2010-01-08

GB 20100011918 Date: 2010-07-15

Designated Contracting States (38 EPC States)

AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

Parties & Representation

Applicants

LINPAC Packaging Limited

Wakefield Road, Featherstone

Inventors (4)

Hardwick, Craig

Wakefield West Yorkshire WF4 1JY

Davey, Alan John

Selby North Yorkshire YO8 9RG

Parker, David

Doncaster South Yorkshire DN6 8RT

Howden, Stephen

Normanton West Yorkshire WF6 2ST

Representatives / Agents

Hoffmann Eitle

Patent- und Rechtsanwälte PartmbB, Arabellastraße 30

Lautier, Thierry, et al

Bird & Bird AARPI, 2, rue de la Chaussée d'Antin

Key Procedural Dates

Request-For-Examination 2023-06-26

First-Examination-Report-Despatched 2024-10-28

Legal Status & Event History

Official European Patent Office legal and procedural status changes recorded for this file.

30 Events Recorded

Date	Code	Event Description	Auth
2022-09-14	AC	DIVISIONAL APPLICATION: REFERENCE TO EARLIER APPLICATION	EP
2022-09-14	AK	DESIGNATED CONTRACTING STATES	EP
2022-08-12	PUAI	PUBLIC REFERENCE MADE UNDER ARTICLE 153(3) EPC TO A PUBLISHED INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION THAT HAS ENTERED THE EUROPEAN PHASE	EP
2022-08-12	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2022-11-25	PUAL	SEARCH REPORT DESPATCHED	EP
2022-12-28	RIC1	INFORMATION PROVIDED ON IPC CODE ASSIGNED BEFORE GRANT	EP
2022-12-28	AK	DESIGNATED CONTRACTING STATES	EP
2023-06-14	P01	OPT-OUT OF THE COMPETENCE OF THE UNIFIED PATENT COURT (UPC) REGISTERED	EP
2023-06-30	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2023-08-02	17P	REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION FILED	EP
2023-08-02	RBV	DESIGNATED CONTRACTING STATES (CORRECTED)	EP
2024-10-25	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2024-11-27	17Q	FIRST EXAMINATION REPORT DESPATCHED	EP
2025-12-17	P04	WITHDRAWAL OF OPT-OUT OF THE COMPETENCE OF THE UNIFIED PATENT COURT (UPC) REGISTERED	EP
2026-03-08	GRAP	DESPATCH OF COMMUNICATION OF INTENTION TO GRANT A PATENT	EP
2026-03-08	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2026-04-01	RIC1	INFORMATION PROVIDED ON IPC CODE ASSIGNED BEFORE GRANT	EP
2026-04-08	INTG	INTENTION TO GRANT ANNOUNCED	EP
2026-04-08	RIC1	INFORMATION PROVIDED ON IPC CODE ASSIGNED BEFORE GRANT	EP
2026-06-23	GRAS	GRANT FEE PAID	EP
2026-06-26	GRAA	(EXPECTED) GRANT	EP
2026-06-26	STAA	INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF AN EP PATENT APPLICATION OR GRANTED EP PATENT	EP
2026-07-29	AC	DIVISIONAL APPLICATION: REFERENCE TO EARLIER APPLICATION	EP
2026-07-29	AK	DESIGNATED CONTRACTING STATES	EP
2026-07-29	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2026-08-20	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2026-08-26	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP
2026-09-02	U01	REQUEST FOR UNITARY EFFECT FILED	EP
2026-09-16	U07	UNITARY EFFECT REGISTERED	EP
2026-09-21	REG	REFERENCE TO A NATIONAL CODE	EP

Patent & Non-Patent Citations

Cited documents and prior art referenced in search and examination reports.

16 Citations

Cited Patent Documents

DE20219469 2003-03-13

Espacenet

EP0614823 1994-09-14

Espacenet

US6149006 2000-11-21

Espacenet

WO0105666 2001-01-25

Espacenet

JPS63117730 1988-07-29

Espacenet

DE2144653 1973-03-15

Espacenet

EP1607337 2005-12-21

Espacenet

US4427148 1984-01-24

Espacenet

WO9928123 1999-06-10

Espacenet

GB1432219 1976-04-14

Espacenet

WO2009121834 2009-10-08

Espacenet

EP0440550 1991-08-07

Espacenet

US6086931 2000-07-11

Espacenet

US2005074531 2005-04-07

Espacenet

DE102006020361 2007-08-16

Espacenet

US6127023 2000-10-03

Espacenet

Worldwide Patent Family

Related applications and patents in the same INPADOC worldwide family.

55 Family Members

Country	Publication Number	Kind	Publication Date	Action
EP	EP4056491A2	A2	2022-09-14	Espacenet
EP	EP4056491A3	A3	2022-12-28	Espacenet
EP	EP4056491B1	B1	2026-07-29	Espacenet
EP	EP4056491C0	C0	2026-07-29	Espacenet
AU	AU2011204508A1	A1	2013-07-18	Espacenet
AU	AU2011204508B2	B2	2015-11-26	Espacenet
CY	CY1122050T1	T1	2020-10-14	Espacenet
CY	CY1124342T1	T1	2022-03-24	Espacenet
CZ	CZ28307U1	U1	2015-06-16	Espacenet
DE	DE202011110699U1	U1	2015-08-17	Espacenet
DK	DK201400135U1	U1	2014-10-10	Espacenet
DK	DK201400135Y3	Y3	2014-11-14	Espacenet
DK	DK2459459T3	T3	2019-08-26	Espacenet
DK	DK2845819T3	T3	2019-02-04	Espacenet
EP	EP2459459A2	A2	2012-06-06	Espacenet
EP	EP2459459B1	B1	2019-05-22	Espacenet
EP	EP2459459B8	B8	2019-06-26	Espacenet
EP	EP2845819A1	A1	2015-03-11	Espacenet
EP	EP2845819B1	B1	2018-10-24	Espacenet
EP	EP3184453A1	A1	2017-06-28	Espacenet
EP	EP3184453B1	B1	2022-03-09	Espacenet
ES	ES2707334T3	T3	2019-04-03	Espacenet
ES	ES2739998T3	T3	2020-02-05	Espacenet
ES	ES2910656T3	T3	2022-05-13	Espacenet
ES	ES3079092T3	T3	2026-09-21	Espacenet
GB	GB201000310D0	D0	2010-02-24	Espacenet
GB	GB201011918D0	D0	2010-09-01	Espacenet
GB	GB2471028A	A	2010-12-15	Espacenet
GB	GB201100292D0	D0	2011-02-23	Espacenet
GB	GB2478028A	A	2011-08-24	Espacenet
GB	GB2478028B	B	2012-12-05	Espacenet
HR	HRP20190087T1	T1	2019-03-22	Espacenet
HR	HRP20190087T8	T8	2019-04-19	Espacenet
HR	HRP20191497T1	T1	2019-11-29	Espacenet
HU	HUE042948T2	T2	2019-07-29	Espacenet
HU	HUE046058T2	T2	2020-02-28	Espacenet
HU	HUE058255T2	T2	2022-07-28	Espacenet
LT	LT2459459T	T	2019-08-26	Espacenet
LT	LT2845819T	T	2019-02-11	Espacenet
PL	PL2459459T3	T3	2019-11-29	Espacenet
PL	PL2845819T3	T3	2019-04-30	Espacenet
PL	PL3184453T3	T3	2022-06-20	Espacenet
PT	PT2459459T	T	2019-09-06	Espacenet
PT	PT2845819T	T	2019-01-30	Espacenet
PT	PT3184453T	T	2022-04-06	Espacenet
RS	RS58221B1	B1	2019-03-29	Espacenet
RS	RS59226B1	B1	2019-10-31	Espacenet
SI	SI2459459T1	T1	2019-10-30	Espacenet
SI	SI2845819T1	T1	2019-03-29	Espacenet
SM	SMT201900072T1	T1	2019-02-28	Espacenet
SM	SMT201900465T1	T1	2019-09-09	Espacenet
WO	WO2011083342A2	A2	2011-07-14	Espacenet
WO	WO2011083342A8	A8	2011-09-29	Espacenet
WO	WO2011083342A3	A3	2011-11-17	Espacenet
WO	WO2011083342A4	A4	2012-01-05	Espacenet

Official File Inspection EPC Art. 128 Public Dossier

Complete European Patent Register Dossier (148 Total Documents)

The full inspection file for Application EP22153165 contains 148 total documents, including all notices of opposition, proprietor counter-statements, examination communications, third-party observations, and procedural forms. Below are all major recorded procedural filings and publication specifications.

Open 148-Doc Register Dossier

Dossier Filing

Date: 2026-03-08 Procedure: Grant EPIDOSNIGR1

Inspect on Register

SEALABLE CONTAINER, SEALED CONTAINER AND PROCESS FOR MAKING A SEALABLE CONTAINER

Patent Abstract / Summary

IPC Classifications

Priority Claims

Designated Contracting States (38 EPC States)

Parties & Representation

Applicants

Inventors (4)

Representatives / Agents

Key Procedural Dates

Patent Oppositions

Dynaplast SAS

Legal Status & Event History

Patent & Non-Patent Citations

Cited Patent Documents

Worldwide Patent Family

Complete European Patent Register Dossier (148 Total Documents)

Recorded Filings & Patent Specifications

European Patent Specification - Granted Patent (B1)

Official European Patent Register Full Dossier

European Search Report (A3)

European Patent Application without Search Report (A2)

Opposition filed

Change - divisional application(s)

(Expected) grant

New entry: Payment of fee for grant

New entry: Payment of fee for publishing/printing

New entry: Receipt of the translation of the claim(s)

Intention to grant the patent

New entry: Communication of intention to grant a patent

Change - classification

Change - German title

Change - classification

New entry: Renewal fee paid

Renewal fee payment

New entry: Reply to examination report

Change: Despatch of examination report + time limit

New entry: Renewal fee paid

Renewal fee payment

New entry: Despatch of examination report + time limit

Communication from the examining division

First examination report

New entry: Renewal fee paid

Renewal fee payment

Amendment by applicant

The date on which the examining division becomes responsible, has been established

Request for examination filed

Change - designated states

Amendments

Date on which the examining division has become responsible

New entry: Renewal fee paid

Renewal fee payment

Change - classification

Publication of search report

Publication in section I.1 EP Bulletin

New entry: Renewal fee paid

Change - representative

Renewal fee payment

Language of the procedure

International searching authority