US2417498A

US2417498A - Paper carton having combined top closure and pouring spout

Info

Publication number: US2417498A
Application number: US602071A
Authority: US
Inventors: Oscar H Hultin
Original assignee: Pneumatic Scale Corp
Current assignee: Pneumatic Scale Corp
Priority date: 1945-06-28
Filing date: 1945-06-28
Publication date: 1947-03-18
Anticipated expiration: 1964-03-18

Description

PAPER CARTON HAVING QbllBINED TOP CLOSURE AND POURING SPOUT Filed June 28, 1945 2 Shei a-Shut 1 March 18, 1947. 2,417,498 PAPER CAR TON'I- IAVING COMBINED TOP CLOSURE AN]? POURING-SPQUT o. HULTIN 2 Shots-Shot 2 Filed June '28, 1945 INVENTOR- Oscdr l/u/flh J5 ,4 rogue) Patented Mar. 18, 1947 PAPER CARTON HAVING COMBINED TOP CLOSURE AND POURING SPOUT Oscar H. Hultin, Quincy, Mass, assignor to Pneumatic Scale Corporation,

Limited, Quincy.

Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application June 28, 1945, Serial No. 602,071

2 Claims. I

This invention relates to a package and to a carton for producing the package.

The invention has for an object to provide a package comprising a filled carton having a novel and highly efficient top closure adapted to be opened to form a convenient pouring spout for dispensing the commodity within the carton and whose structure is such as to facilitate opening of the carton.

With this general object in view and. such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the package and cartons hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 shows a blank from which the present carton may be formed; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the top flaps of the carton extended; Fig. 3 is a similar view of the carton partially closed; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the partially closed carton showing the flaps disposed in position for the application of adhesive for sealing the carton; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the package embodying a filled. closed and sealed carton provided with a wrapper, the latter being partially broken away to reveal a portion of the top closure structure arranged to facilitate opening of the pouring spout; Fig. 6 is an end view in cross section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; Fig. '7 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which the top closure is initially opened to form a pouring spout; Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the pouring spout fully opened; and Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the fully opened pouring spout in an inage comprising a filled carton having a novel and improved top closure in which the closing flaps are formed and folded in a manner such as k to provide a pouring spent at one corner of ti:

carton when the same is opened, and wh ch is characterized by novel structure to facilitate opening of the pouring spout. In the preferred form of the invention one of the end flaps of the carton is formed integrally with an adjacent side flap the latter being preferably scored to permit the connected side and end flaps to be folded down together into top closing position to form a bellows like fold in one of the flaps so that when opened the integral side and end flaps form at the corner between the same a pouring spout through which the contents of the carton may be conveniently discharged.

Provision is also madein the preferred embodiment of the invention for facilitating opening of the pouring spout and to this end perforations or weakened lines are preferably provided in the carton at suitable portions adjacent the pouring end so that the flaps may be easily torn and separated from the remainder of the top closure to form the pouring opening, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

In the illustrated carton a folded edge of the bellows fold may extend substantially parallel to one wall of the closed carton, as shown in Fig. 5, and, in opening the carton it is intended that this folded edge be grasped and lifted to open the pouring spout, as shown in Fig. '7. In order to facilitate such procedure the junction of the upper edge or corner of the side wall and extended flap portion thereof immediately below the edge of the fold to be grasped is beveled or rounded to form a hollow space between the fold and the underlying edge of the carton into which hollow space the thumb or finger may be inserted to obtain a firm grasp on the fold to initiate the opening operation. Further, in the formation of the carton, the bellows fold may and preferably will be made at an angle such as to permit said folded edge to extend beyond the edge or extension of the vertical side wall of the carton in its closed form, as best shown in Fig? 4, whereby to further facilitate access to the underside of the folded edge of the bellows fold to be lifted to initiate opening of the pouring spout.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Fig, 1, l0 represents a carton blank proided with scored fold lines defining side wall panels i2, i4 and end wall panels l6. l8 provided with

bottom closure flaps

20, 22 respectively of conventional form extended from the side and end wall panels. and, the end wall panel 7 i8 is also provided with the usual longitudinal tab 24 for securing the carton in its assembled form. The top closing flaps are constructed and folded in a manner such as to provide a pouring spout at one end of the carton when the latter is opened, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, and, as better shown in Figs. 1 and 2. the top closing flaps comprise a side flap 26 foldably connected to the panel I 2 and provided with a perforated or weakened arcuate line 29, an integral side and end flap member 30 comprising the spout forming flap extending from the panel 16 and a portion of panel 14. a partial side flap 32 foldably connected to the remainder of the panel l4 and an end flap 34 fold-ably connected to the panel I8.

As herein shown, the spout forming flap 30 is generally arcuate in form and provided with

angular score lines

34, 38 dividing the flap 3. into a generally quadrant shaped section 40, and two generally octant shaped

sections

42, 44 arranged to form a bellows fold when folded into top closing position. The arcuate portion of the spout forming flap 38 extends along sections 40, 42' comprising substantially a quadrant and an octant and the arc is extended in perforate form through the section 44 by a weakened line 46. The remaining portion of the section 44 of the flap 3!! extends angularly upward from the junction of

sections

42, 44 to the end of the flap, as shown, and forms a section 48 defined by said angular line, the perforated are 46 and the end of the flap.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the

flap portions

25, 32, 34 and a portion of section 48 of flap 30 are foldably connected to their respective panels by a fold line extending along a plane 50. In order to permit the corner or edge of the carton adjacent the bellows fold section 44 to be rounded or beveled during the closing operation, a fold line 52 adjacent said section is scored slightly below the level of the score line 58, as illustrated. The end of the score line 52 adjacent the edge of the panel US may be extended angularly to meet the score line 58, and, the other end of the line 52 may and preferably will terminate prior to reaching the end of the flap 32 in order to permit the portion between the end of the score line and the flap to take a natural fold during the closing operation.

As best shown in Fig. 3, the sequence in which the flaps are closed is as follows. The spout forming flap 30 is first folded down by simultaneously folding in the side and end flap sections thereof forming a bellows fold having an exposed folded edge 54 substantially parallel to the edge of the panel 14, and with the end flap section All-overlying the bellows fold. When thus folded the underlying portion or the bellows fold breaks or folds over on the lowered score line 52 forming a hollow or open space 55 between the edge 54 and the adjacent edge of the carton. In practice, the carton may and preferably will be formed and folded on a forming block shaped to assist in forming the rounded or beveled edge. At the same time as the bellows .fold is being formed the side flap portion 32 and end flap 34 may be folded down with the end fiap overlying the side flap as shown. The remaining side flap 26 is then folded down and adhesively secured to the underlying flaps. As illustrated in Fig. 4, prior to folding down the last folded flap the latter is first spread outwardly for convenienceln applying a coating of adhesive thereto. In practies, the forming block above referred to may and preferably will be formed with suitable depressed portions to permit. the multiple plyportions of the top closure tobe pressed in so as toprovide a substantially levelv upper surface against which the adhesive flap 26 may be pressed. As shown in Fig. 5, .the completely sealed carton or package may, in some" instances bea vided with an outer wrapper 60'. i

From the description thus far it will bepb- I served that in the assembled package or carton the bellows fold portions 'of' the integral flap.

a of the section. 46 and forms. an integral part thereof in the sealed carton.

In order tq open the carton to expose the pouring spout, the top closure is torn along the arcuate line 29 by lifting upwardly against the bellows folded edge 54 as shown in Fig. 'l to separate the side flap portion 62 from the remainder of the side flap 25, the remaining portion of the latter being retained in its initially sealed condition. This operation may,be performed by inserting the thumb or finger under the exposed folded edge portion 54, the hollow or open space 56 immediately below the edge greatly facilitating this operation. As herein shown, in order to further facilitate this operation, the bellows folded edge 54 is preferably arranged to extend'- outwardly beyond the edge of the carton so as to provide a convenient projection in the closed carton by which the flaps may be grasped to initiate the tearing operation. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, the folded edge 54 of the bellows fold is caused to project beyond the edge of the carton, as shown. by scoring the folding line 36 slightly off. the perpendicular so that the angle defined by the-score'line 38 and the score line, 59 of the flap section 40' will be slightly more than degrees. Thus, when the flap portion 30 is subsequently folded down, the folded edge 54 will project outwardly beyond the edge of the carton, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. I

Upon separation-toftheflap-portion 62 along the perforated line 28; as abovedescribed; the upraised flaps are grasped and,v upon-further lifting movement the underlying perforated portion 46 of the flap 44 is torn from the adhe iively secured portionAB whereupon the severed 7 ans may be fugy extended to form the pouring spout, as illustratedin. FigsT'S' and 9.

From the above description, it will be observed that the present invention provides a novel and improved carton which may be economically produced and. having a top closure whizh may be easily opened to form a simple and convenient pouring spout. It will be further observed that the present carton is characterized by having a hollow space or opening adjacent one edge of the spout forming flaps in their closed condition whereby to facilitate access to the edge of the pouring spout to initiate the opening operation. This feature is of particular advantage when the carton is covered with an outer wrapper for by pressing along the edge of the package, the hollow space may be readily detected, the wrapper torn, and the flaps raised to extend the pouring spout. I r

While the preferred em-bodlmentof the inven+ tion has been herein illustrated ands'deszribed it} f will be"understood*-that thcinvention; may be embodied in'otherforms withinthe ope -of'the 6o: I

following d aving thusdescribed the; in ntien member 30 is free of adheslve'and that the ari-f 1 cuate weakened line iron the underlying'scclow said folded edge to facilitate access thereto, said bellows like fold having said one folded edge projecting beyond the adjacent wall of the carton to facilitate opening of the pouring spout.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a package comprising a carton having side and end wall pan els provided with extensions forming the top closing flaps, said top closing flaps including an integral side and end flap member of subs antially arcuate form and provided with radially scored lines arranged to permit said integral flap member to be folded to form a bellows like fold therein as a part of the closed top of the carton. and. when opened, to form a pouring spout, said beilows fold in its closed form having one folded edge adjacent an edge of the carton arranged to be grasped to initiate opening of the pouring spout, said carton having a depressed portion therein immediately below said folded edge to facilitate REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,349,362 Marshall May 23. 1M4 1,704,987 Marsh Mar. 12. 1929 2,064,029 Murray Dec. 15, 1936 2,029,747 Venning et al Feb. 4, 1936 2,028,687 Rea Jan, 21, 1936