NZ205879A - Lay-flat paperboard container with spout - Google Patents

Description

Xo ? Priority Date(s): Complete Specification Filed: Class: Publication Date: ...

P.O. Journal, No: ..J.J.f.l.....

N.Z. FATr; 18 OCT 1983 r ece iv::o Patents Form No. 5 Number PATENTS ACT 1953 Dated COMPLETE SPECIFICATION SPOUT STRUCTURE #We SOMERVILLE BELKIN INDUSTRIES LIMITED, a corporation: organised under the laws of Canada, of Terminal A,' London Ontario, N6A 4T2, Canada, do hereby declare the invention for which Kwe pray that a Patent may be granted to p&&/us. and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 205879 D25-142-32 9 This invention relates to a spout construction for a container of the type generally used to package granular materials such as salt.

The spout is formed from the container blank. Spouts of this general characteristic have been used for many years.

One such spout has been made by the Flowseal Corporation of St. Louis, Missouri at least since 1955, and is described in Canadian patent specification No. 555,300.

The spout structure made available through the Flowseal Corporation is formed in the end wall of a container from a spout flap that underlies the end wall in the folded position. Basically, the spout flap consists of an arcuate strip with a transverse fold that is foldable to form the strip into a trough-like spout when pulled outwardly of the wall of the container.

A serious limitation of this particular kind of spout has been its limitations in respect of size and location on the end wall of the container upon which it is mounted. The various panels and fold lines that make up the Flowseal spout underlie the end wall of the container that the spout construction is formed on when the container is folded. This has always been a serious limitation. These end walls of popular sized packages tend to be small in size so that the size of the spout has often been smaller than desirable. Moreover, the requirement of having to form the various parts of the spout strip so that they underlie the end wall upon which the spout structure is mounted 205879 D25-142-329 has restricted the location of the spout. The spout has often been mounted off-centre on the end wall of the container. This is not desirable from an appearance point of view.

There is a further difficulty with spouts of a Flowseal design that is often encountered. The flap from which the spout strip is formed is glued to the underside of the end wall of the container. The spout strip is varnished to reject glue and to keep it free for manipulation in the formation of the spout. It has not always been possible to maintain the spout strip entirely free of glue or sticking from other causes so that difficulty has been encountered in puling the spout strip from the container to form a spout. Moreover, the shear weight of the contents of the container against the spout strip has tended to maintain it against the wall and resist against pulling in the formation of a spout strip.

One attempt to overcome the size limitation of the Flowseal container has involved the location of the spout in a corner of the container. This produces an imbalanced package because the spout is not centrally located and requires more paperboard because of added wrap-artbund of the spout flap. It further does not insure easy release that is achieved with this invention.

Thus, the spouts of the general nature to which this invention relates have, in the past, suffered from design 205 87 9 D25-142-329 limitations in respect of size, design limitations in respect of location and difficulties in operation.

This invention relates generally to a spout structure similar to the one of the Flowseal Corporation but it has distinguishing features that overcome the inherent disadvantges of the Flowseal spout.

It is an object of this invention to provide a spout structure wherein the spout is formed from a spout strip that is cut from a spout panel that has means for insuring the easy withdrawal of the spout through the panel and that at the same time permits the spout structure to be made in larger sizes and with greater freedom of location on the container wall.

A lay-flat paperboard container with a spout structure comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, end walls one of which is a spout end wall and side walls, a spout flap, the spout flap being adhesively secured to the inner face of an end wall to form the walls into a lay-flat sleeve configuration, a spout strip cut from said spout flap, a V-shaped spout wall in the spout strip, the I ' V-shaped spout wall being defined by an end of the spout strip and a spout fold line extending in a V-formation, the spout fold line forming the bottom edge of the spout in use, the spout strip having a free end portion that extends beyond the spout fold line, the end spout wall of the container having a V-shaped spout release panel cut therefrom between the side edges of the spout wall and hinged thereto along one side edge of its V-shape, s.aid spout release panel 20587 9 D25-142-32 9 being of the same configuration as and glued to said V-shaped spout wall whereby by swinging the V-shaped spout release panel outwardly about its hinge line, a portion of the spout strip is drawn through the end spout wall to fold the spout strip about its spout'fold line and form a spout, the free end of the spout strip being in juxtapostion to the spout wall and a wide wall of the container when the container is in lay-flat condition so as to extend beyond the edge of the end spout wall of the container through which the spout strip can be withdrawn and over the hinged adjacent side wall of the container whereby when the container is set up, the free end portion of the spout strip makes a triangular configuration with the end spout wall and said adjacent side wall of the container with the free end of the spout strip in engagement with the adjacent side wall of the container to retain the portion of it that is outward of the spout fold line spaced from the end wall of the container.

The invention will be clearly understood after reference to the detailed specification read in conjunction with the drawings.

In the drawings: Figure la is an illustration of the .top portion of a container showing the spout construction in a folded position; Figure lb is an illustration similar to Figure la but showing the spout in an open and operative position; Figure 2 is an illustration of a one piece paperboard blank from which the container is formed; 205879 D25-142-329 Figure 3 is an illustration showing a first fold in the assembly of the blank into a fold-down container; Figure 4 is a sectional view showing the first stop in the erection of a fold-down container for use; Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the assembled disposition of the parts; and Figure 6 is a sectional view of a set up spout.

Referring to the drawings, the container illustrated has end wall 10 and 12, one of which, 10, is also a spout wall; and side walls 14 and 16. The continer is manufactured in a lay-flat configuration as spout flap 18 is adhesively secured to spout wall 10 as will be referred to in more detail later.

Top wall flaps 20, 22, 24 and 26 hinged to the upper extremities of the side and end walls form a top wall for the container in use and bottom wall flaps 28, 30, 32 and 3 4 hinged to the side and end walls form a bottom wall for the container in use. The formation of top wall and bottom wall in containers of this type is very well known and not referred to. in detail in this application.

This application concerns an improvement in the spout structure which is formed from spout strip, that is generally indicated by the numeral 36 in the lay-out of the blank of Figure 3.

The spout strip generally indicated by the numeral 36 is hinged at one end with respect to the spout flap 18 from 205879 D25-142-329 which it is cut as at 40. The spout strip has a transversely extending spout fold line 42 formed therein which commences at / one end of the hinge line 40 and that in use is projected through a V-shaped opening in the end wall 10 that is formed as the V-shaped blank formation 44 separates from the end wall to form the bottom of the spout. This will be explained in detail in connection with the use of the container. An important feature of the spout strip 36 is the extension 37 of its free end in a transverse direction beyond the extent of the side wall 10 that it underlies in the folded container. Thus, in use and as the container is actuated from the fold-down to set-up position the free end 37 of the strip 36 engages with the front wall 14 of the container to fold the trailing end of the spout strip about its spout fold line 42 and move it out of the plane of the end wall 10 of the container. This is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.

By this expedient the free end of the spout strip beyond the spout fold line 42 is prelifted from any contact with the surface of the side wall 10 in the set-up container so that the spout formation that is formed from the strip can be easily drawn through the V-shaped opening in end wall 10 left by the severance of the panel 44 from the end wall 10. The extension 37 permits an easy formation or set-up of the spout because there is no tendency of the strip to stick to the end .wall 10 in the initial stages of spout formation. It also permits the 20587 D25-142-329 formation of a larger spout in a given end wall because it increases the length of the strip from which the spout is formed. It further permits a design of good proportions that can be centrally located on the end wall. Thus, the advantges are a better functioning, larger, better located and stronger spout.

Line 42 is a crease line with no through cuts. Lines 40 and 48 are partially cut lines that are easily broken in the opening process. Line 50 is a partially cut line that will hinge easily. The top circular edge of the strip is cut to break very easily.

In the blank the spout strip generally indicated by the numeral 36 is formed with a readily severable line at its hinged connection with the spout flap 18 as at 40, The hinge line 42 is a fold line only and is not cut. The strip beyond the line 42 is cut from the spout flap 36 so that the free end portion 37 can be easily bent upwardly about the foldline 42. The strip is cut along its arcuate upper edge between foldline 42 and hinge line 40 except for small spaced apart areas so that the V-shaped portion of the spout strip defined by the lines 40 and 42 can be easily broken away at its upper edge in use as will be explained later.

The end panel 10 is formed with a cut-out 46 to provide access to the upper arcuate edge of panel 44 which is cut from the panel 10 except at small spaced apart spaces along 205879 D25-142-329 its edge 48 and perforated fold line 50. In use panel 44 is glued to the portion of the spout strip bounded by the lines 40 and 42 as will be explained.

In order to assemble the blank of Figure 3 one first bends the free end of the spout strip upwardly about line 42 in the direction of arrow A to give the free end of the spout strip a set that tends to cause it to incline upwardly from the plane of the spout flap 18. This is possible on straightline untimed equipment because the free end 37 of strip 36 is outboard of spout flap 18. Glue is applied to the area indicated in Figure 3 but before the spout flap is folded. One then folds over the spout flap 18 to overlie panel 16 as in Figure 3 and holds it with a hold-down bar 19. It will be noted that the spout flap is held flat in folded position by a folding bar and that there is no glue applied under the folding bar. The prefolding of the spout strip on line 42 assists in the folding of the spout strip 36 during carton forming on the folding line and also in pulling the spout through for pouring. In this connection it will be noted that the free end portion of the spout strip 37 beyond the hinge line 42 is preferably provided with a varnish so that it will not accept adhesive.

- ... The next step in the operation is to fold the panels 10 and 14 about the fold line as at arrow B between panels 12 and 14 to cause the end wall 10 to overlie the adhesive coated glue flap" 18. The hold-down bar is removed as glue contact is 2 05 8 7 9 D25-142-32 9 made. As it does so the panel 44 is adhesively secured to the area of the glue strip between the lines 40 and 42 thereof When it is desired to set the container for use one compresses the two side ends thereof to articulate the side and end walls into a rectangular configuration as shown in Figures 4 and 5. As this occurs the free end portion 37 of the spout strip comes into engagement with the side wall 14 and hinges the free end of spout strip about the hinge line 42 to positively locate it out of the plane of the end wall and to insure that there is no adhesive contact of the end of the strip with the end wall 10 of the container. The container bottom walls are formed, the container filled and the container top walls are closed.

In this position the spout strip is disposed ready for withdrawal through the end wall of the container to form a spout.

When it is desired to form a spout the user inserts a fingernail through the opening 46 in the end wall 10 and pulls outwardly oh panel 44. The panel 44 and its adhesively secured section of the spout strip that lies between the lines 40 and 42 hinges about the line 50 of the panel 44 and usually breaks along line 48 from panel 10 and the arcuate upper edge of the spout strip breaks from the spout panel to cause the latter to hinge about its axis 40. ^ 205 87 9 D25-142-329 As the spout strip hinges about its axis 40 the hinge line 42 thereof extends through the opening in the wall 10 left by the hinged panel 44 to form a trough and spout from the strip as indicated in Figures lb and 6. In the formation of the spout the strip 36 will usually break away from its flap along line 40.

The spout strip has a notch 52 that engages with an edge of the spout opening in the set-up position to latch the spout in a set-up position.

The spout can be reclosed by depressing it inwardly to overcome the pressure of the latch notch 52 and then opened and closed as many times as required to dispense the container contents.

All of the assembly operations of the container to the lay-flat condition can be done on automatic gluing machinery. Their order to achieve the end result can be varied.

The container when loaded with a granular material such as table salt is especially useful because it has at one end a large tamper-proof centrally located spout. The easily frangible line along the top and one side 48 of the panel 44 and the arcuate edge of the spout strip 36 that must be broken by the user as he inserts his fingernail through the opening 46 in the end panel 10 to first open the spout readily shows signs of tampering if it has been previously broken. This tamper-proof feature i's achieved without additional seals. At the same time 205 87 9 D25-142-329 it is very easy to open the container. One merely inserts a fingernail through the opening 46 and over the upper edge of the spout strip 36 to pull the laminated panel 44 and spout strip through the V-shaped opening as the panel 44 is hinged about its hinge axis 50. In addition to the increased dimensions and superior location of the spout that are attributable to the free end 36 of the spout strip that extends beyond the edge of the end panel and engages with the front wall of the container as indicated in Figures 4 and 5, the free end of the spout strip also insures that the spout strip can be withdrawn from the container to form a spout with a minimum of effort. In prior constructions of the general type to which this invention relates the free end of the spout strip has laid flat against the end wall of the container. There has been a tendency for the spout strip to adhere to the end wall of the container and thereby prevent easy formation of the spout strip. It also limits the size and location of the spout strip.

Embodiments of the invention other than the one illustrated will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is not intended that the invention should be restricted to the specific embodiment illustrated. 205879 O

Claims (1)

1. WHAT WE CLAIM IS: A lay-flat paperboard container with a spout structure comprising: a top wall; a bottom wall; end walls one of which is a spout end wall and side walls; —^ a spout flap; the spout flap being adhesively secured to the inner face of .said one end wall to form the walls into a lay-flat sleeve configuration; a spout strip cut from said spout flap; a V-shaped spout wall in the spout strip, the V-shaped spout wall being defined by an end of the spout strip and a spout fold line extending in a V-formation, the spout fold line forming the bottom edge of the spout in use; the spout strip having a free end portion that extends beyond the spout fold line; the end spout wall of the container having a V-shaped spout release panel cut therefrom between the side edges of the spout e/\d wall and hinged thereto along one side edge of its V-shape, said spout release panel being of the same configuration as and glued to said V-shaped spout wall whereby by swinging the V-shaped spout release panel outwardly about its hinge line, a portion of the ^ ' [ o _13_ I N,2, PATENT OPWSW 1 ' JAN :?86 ,i-i v-- '.«*»;805307-;zoS^T);free end portion of the spout strip is drawn through the end spout wall to be folded about the line and form a spout;;whereby in the lay-flat sleeve configuration the free end portion of the spout is in juxtaposition to the spout end wall and a side wall of the container and extends beyond the hinge line of the end spout wall of the container through which the spout strip is drawn and over the hinged adjacent side wall of the container whereby when the container is set up from its lay-flat sleeve configuration, the free end portion of the spout strip makes a triangular configuration with the end spout wall and said adjacent side wall of the container with the free end portion of the spout strip in engagement with the adjacent side wall of the container to retain the portion of the free end portion that is outward of the spout fold line spaced from the spout end wall of the container.;^;^ WEST-WALKER, McCABE;Par" ^;ATTORNEYS FOR THE APPLICANT;o*