US2974845A - Carton having pour spout with reclosure - Google Patents

Description

March 14, 1961 G. E. STRUBLE 2,974,845

CARTON HAVING POUR SPOUT WITH RECLOSURE Filed May 19, 1959 35 3ld 32c V340 ig 34b 36 Blc/ gal) 3 u a JP 22 35a 36b ll 32d E E u a Q g as INVENTOR lenn E. Srruble i ATTORNEY United States Patent CARTON HAVING POUR SPOUT WITH RECLOSURE Glenn E. Struble, Hamilton, Ohio, assignor to Diamond National Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 19, 1959, Ser. No. 814,294

4 Claims. (Cl. 229-17) The present invention relates to a carton having a pour spout with reclosure, and more particularly to such a carton in which a foldable top part is limited to a double thickness hinge line.

Cartons have been provided which have a pour spout integral therewith and made from parts that are folded in a bellows-like arrangement into the interior of the carton during shipment; upon opening thereof, the bellows flap is pulled from the interior of the carton to provide a pour spout, and this spout is reinsertable into the carton to efiect reclosing thereof. In such cartons, the infolded bellows type pour spout has been provided with an attachment flap made up of three layers in overlapping relationship. As a result, when the carton was opened and the pour spout outfolded, it was necessary to fold the attachment flap about a hinge line that was of triple thickness. This proved to be extremely difiicult, and resulted in the tearing of the carton since it was easier for one thickness of material to tear than it was for the three thicknesses of material to be folded. The torn part of the carton often left an opening which admitted dust and other foreign matter into the contents of the carton, even though the bellows pour spout had been reclosed. Hence, these cartons did not provide for complete and sanitary reclosure.

An object of the present invention is to provide a carton having a pour spout in the form of a bellows that may be readily opened.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a carton having a bellows type pour spout that is reclosable.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a carton having a bellows type pour spout that is secured to an attachment flap that is relatively easily folded. 7

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a carton having a bellows type pour spout that may be opened and the bellows placed into pouring position without risking the tearing of the carton at places other than those intended.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of the instant invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a plan view of a blank, with parts removed, for making the carton of the present invention.

' Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are perspective views, with parts cut away, showing the manner of erecting a carton from the blank of Fig. l.

' Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the pour spout corner of the carton in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view, with parts in section, showing the opening of the carton of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference -numerals are usedto designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in Fig. l a blank 10 comprising an end panel 11, a side panel 12, a second end panel 13 and a second side panel 14. Extending from the end panel 11 is a glue flap 15, and it will be understood that these several flaps and panels are separated from each other by suitable scores. A bottom flap is integral with the bottom of each of the four panels of the blank 10, and are designated 21, 22, 23 and 24, respectively.

Integral with the upper end of end panel 11 is a bellows flap panel 31. Panel 31 is divided into two sector shaped sections 31a and 31b by the score line 310 that extends from one corner of panel 31 to the arcuate margin 31d thereof.

A top flap 32 is integral with side panel 12, and may be seen to be generally rectangular in shape. Top flap 32 is divided into sections 32a and 32b by a score 32c extending diagonally from the upper left hand corner of the flap 32 to the fold line between it and side panel 12. From the end of score 32c adjacent the side panel 12, and extending to the panel 31 is a series of perforations 32d.

A panel 33 is integrally joined to the top margin of end panel 13, and a top flap 34 is integrally joined with the top margin of side panel 14. Top flap 34 is divided into sections 34a and 34b by the score 340 that extends from the lower right-hand corner of generally rectangular flap 34 upwardly and diagonally to the upper margin thereof. Score 340 is parallel with score 32c in top flap 32. Extending from and integral with the righthand margin of top flap 34 is an car 36 having a tab portion 36a and a securing portion 3612 that are separated by a score 360. Score 360 extends diagonally from the upper left-hand corner of car 36, and the tab portion 36a may be seen to extend further from the top flap 34 than the securing portion 36b.

Referring now to the bellows flap panel 31, there may be seen integral therewith a securing flap 35, and it will be particularly noted that securing flap 35 has a free edge 35a extending diagonally upwardly and to the left from the lower right-hand corner thereof.

Referring now to Fig. 2, there may be seen the blank 10 partially folded to form the carton of the present invention. The blank 10 has been folded to bring the side panels 12 and 14 parallel with each other, and the end panels 11 and 13 parallel with each other. Glue has been applied to the glue flap 15, and it has been thereby secured to the inside of side panel 14. In addition, the

securing flap 35 has similarly had glue applied thereto and it has been secured to the section 34b of top flap 34 by a continuous gluing operation, and at the same time as the glue flap 15 was secured to the side panel 14. It will be understood that the top flap 32 is coplanar with side panel 12 and that top flap 34 is coplanar with side panel 14. Bellows flap panel 31 may be seen, with parts broken away, to extend between the end panel 11 and the top flap 34, to which it is now secured by the securing flap 35. Through the break provided in bellows flap panel 31, it may be seen that free edge 35a of securing flap 35 doesnot go beyond the score 34c in top flap 34.

After the bottom has been closed and the carton filled with the usual granular or flaked material, closing of the top of the carton is begun as shown in Fig. 3, and it may be seen in this figure that bellows flap panel 31 is folded so that the score line 310 becomes a fold line and now overlies the interior of the carton. Panel 31.

has been folded about a fold line 31a lying between it and end panel 11 and also about a fold line 31 lying between it and securing flap 35. Since securing flap 35 is adhesively secured to top flap 34, this latter flap has begun to told on the line between it and side panel 14.

Top flap 32" is shown broken away in order that the parts above discussed may be seen.

In Fig. 4, the top flap 34 has been folded, and is shown almost in the horizontal position. Top flap 32 has again been broken away in order to show thetop flap 34 and bellows flap panel 31. It will be observed that the score line or fold line 31c now extends diagonally from corner 40 of the carton, and that the bellows flap panel 31 is reversely folded about fold line 31c. Fold line 31f overlies fold line 31a. The free edge 35a of securing flap 35 lies between a vertical plane extending through score 34c and the fold line 31 and thus no part of the securing flap 35 extends beyond this vertical plane. The carton is completed, as shown in Fig. 5, by folding down the remaining top flap 32 and securing it to the upper surface of top flap 34, and by folding down the ear 36 and securing only the securing portion 36b thereof to the end wall 11; tab portion 36a remains in a plane parallel to end wall 11, but is not secured thereto.

To open the carton of the present invention, it is only necessary to sever the material of the carton along the line of the perforations 32d and to pivot about the scores 32c and 340 of the attachment flap made up of the sections 32a and 34b, to which the securing flap 35 is adhesively secured. The arrangement of the parts during opening of the carton may thus be seen in Fig. 6, it being noted that after severing the carton at the perforations 320! it is only necessary to pull upwardly on the tab portion 36a of ear 36 tofirst free the securing portion 36!) thereof and then to continue the upward movement of car 36 to cause bending of the aforesaid attachment flap. The sections 31a and 31b are shown in Fig. 6 in their out-folded position, and so the material may be poured through the pouring spout formed by these sections.

It will be particularly noted that the opening of this carton is relatively easy, since only a two thickness attachment flap has to be folded about hinge lines formed by the scores 32c and 340 and thus tearing of the carton, as in a line beyond the line of perforations 32d, is avoided.

The appearance of the various flaps forming the top and pour spout of the carton are shown in Fig. 7, wherein there may be seen the side walls or panels 12 and 14, the top flap 32, the top flap 34 underlying the top flap 32, the securing flap 35 and the sections 31a and 31b of bellows flap panel 31.

There has been provided a carton made from a one piece unit blank that provides a bellows type reclosable pour spout, which carton may be readily opened and which only requires the folding of an attachment flap to which the bellows flap panels are joined, about a double thickness hinge or fold line. Hence, tearing of the carton in an attempt to open or bend the attachment flap is avoided and as a result there is no danger of undesired material entering the carton through an undesired and unintended opening. Due to the resilient nature of the material from which the carton of the present invention is made, opening and reclosing thereof may be readily accomplished.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in'the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a carton having a bellows type reclosable pour spout, an end wall and a pair of opposed side walls, a

bellows flap having one edge thereof integral with the top margin of said end wall and foldably joined thereto about a fold line at the top of said end wall, said bellows flap extending into said carton and being reversely folded about a fold line extending diagonally from a corner of said carton, a securing flap integral with said bellows flap and reversely folded with respect thereto about a fold line overlying said first mentioned fold line, a first top flap integral with one said side wall and secured to the upper surface of said securing flap, a second top flap integral with the other side wall and secured to the upper surface of said first top flap, said first and second top flaps each having a score therein extending diagonally from said corner of the carton, the scores in said first and second top flaps being vertically juxtaposed, said securing fiap having a free edge opposite said third mentioned fold line between said third fold line and a plane extending through said vertically juxtaposed scores, said second top flap and other side wall including a perforated linear portion extending therebetween from one end of said diagonal scores in said top flaps to the intersec tion between said end Wall and said other sidewall, said first top flap including an ear foldably connected transversely to one end thereof and removably secured in juxtaposition on the outside of said end wall.

2. In a carton having a bellows type reclosable pour spout, an end wall and a pair'of opposed side walls, a bellows flap having one edge thereof integral with the top margin of said end wall and foldably joined thereto about a fold line at the top of said end wall, said bellows flap extending into said carton and being reversely folded about a fold line extending diagonally from a corner of said carton, a securing flap integral with said bellows flap and reversely folded with respect thereto about a fold line overlying said first mentioned fold line, a first top flap integral with one said side wall and secured to the upper surface of said securing flap, a second top flap integral with the other side wall and secured to the upper surface of said first top flap, said first and second top flaps each having a score therein extending diagonally from said corner of the carton, the scores in said first and second top flaps being vertically juxtaposed, said securing flap having a free edge opposite said third mentioned fold line between said third fold line and a plane extending through said vertically juxtaposed scores, said second top flap and other side wall including a perforated linear portion extending therebetween from one end of said diagonal scores in said top flaps to the intersection between said end wall and said other side wall, said first top flap including an ear foldably connected transversely to one end thereof and removably secured in juxtaposition on the outside of said end wall, and a tab foldably connected at one end of said ear to be readily grasped and separate said car from the end wall and tear said perforated linear portion.

3. A blank for a carton comprising a first end panel, a first side panel, a second end panel and a second side panel in the order named, said panels being of equal height and separated by fold lines, bottom panels foldably connected transversely of said end and side panels, a glue flap foldably connected to the edge of one end panel, a bellows flap foldably connected transversely of the top edge of said first end panel, a first top flap foldably connected transversely of the top edge of said first side panel, a panel foldably connected transversely of the top edge of said second end panel, a second top flap foldably connected transversely of the top edge of said second side panel, said bellows flap including two sector-shaped sections of equal area and divided by a fold line extending diagonally from the extreme outer margin of said first end panel at the foldable connection with said bellows flap, a securing flap foldably connected to the outer margin of said bellows flap adjacent the origin of said diagonal fold line, said bellows flap including a margin opposite the origin of said diagonal fold line and intersected thereby, said securing flap including an angular margin extending from the origin of said diagonal fold line and extending into one side edge thereof, said top flaps being rectangular and including mutually parallel fold Parallel with the angular margin of said securing flap, the fold line of said first top flap extending angularly from the upper corner adjacent said bellows flap and intersecting the foldable connection with said first side panel, a linear perforation at the fold line between said first top flap and said first side panel and extending from the side margin of said top flap adjacent the bellows flap along the foldable connection and intersecting the angular fold line in said first top flap, the fold line in said second top flap extending from a lower marginal corner of said second side wall at the foldable connection with said top flap to the upper marginal edge thereof, and a connecting ear foldably connected to one side of said second top flap.

4. A blank for a carton comprising a first end panel, a first side panel, a second end panel and a second side panel in the order named, said panels being of equal height and separated by fold lines, bottom panels foldably connected transversely of said end and side panels, a

glue flap foldably connected to the edge of one end panel,

a bellows flap foldably connected transversely of the top edge of said first end panel, a first top flap foldably connected transversely of the top edge of said first side panel, a panel fold'ably connected transversely of the top edge of said second end panel, a second top flap foldably connected transversely of the top edge of said second side panel, said bellows flap including two sector-Shaped sections of equal area and divided by a fold line extending diagonally from the extreme outer margin of said first end panel at the foldable connection with said bellows flap, a securing flap foldably connected to the outer margin of said bellows flap adjacent the origin of said diagonal fold line, said bellows flap including a margin opposite the origin of said diagonal fold line and intersected thereby, said securing flap including an angular margin extending from the origin of said diagonal fold line and extending into one side edge thereof, said top flaps being rectangular and including mutually parallel fold lines parallel with the angular margin of said securing flap, the fold line of said first top flap extending angularly from the upper corner adjacent said bellows flap and intersecting the foldable connection with said first side panel, a linear perforation at the fold line between said first top flap and said first side panel and extending from the side margin of said top flap adjacent the bellows flap along the foldable connection and intersecting the angularfold line in said first top flap, the fold line in said second top fiap extending from a lower marginal corner of said second side wall at the foldable connection with said top flap to the upper marginal edge thereof, and a connecting ear foldably connected to one side of said second top flap and including a foldable tab at one end thereof.

Marsh Oct. 9, 1934 Maxon Aug. 21, 1951

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