US3185360A - Brace and lid for receptacle pouring spout - Google Patents

Description

y 5, 1965 D. L. SMITH 3,185,360

BRACE AND LID FOR RECEPTACLE POURING SPOUT Filed March 7, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

May 25, 1965 D. L. SMITH 3,185,360

BRACE AND LID FOR RECEPTACLE POURING SPOU'I' Filed March 7, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

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lfzar/layn May 25, 1965 D. 1.. SMITH 3,185,360

BRACE AND LID FOR RECEP'I'ACLE POURiNG SPOUT Filed March 7, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

life/Wyn United States Patent 3,185,360 BRACE AND LID FOR RECIQTACLE POURING SPOUT Daniel L. Smith, Fort Myers, Fla, assignor to Home Products, Inc., Fort Myers, Fla, a corporation of Florida Filed Mar. 7, 1963, Ser. No. 263,480 6 Claims. (Cl. 222-528) The present invention relates to a brace and lid for the pouring spout of a receptacle, and it is particularly directed to the provision of such a device intended for use with fibrous-type cartons for milk, fruit juices and the like, currently in wide use. The primary object of the invention is to provide means which, once the pouring spout of such a receptacle has been unfolded to open position, may be mounted upon the receptacle to hold that spout against return to closed position, together with means for covering the open mouth of such a spout.

One conventional form of such carton or receptacle comprises a waxed or otherwise-treated carton of squat horizontal section terminating, at its upper end, in a roof comprising upwardly and inwardly inclined opposite side panels and tn'angularly in-folded end panels, the side panels terminating in lips sealed together to define an upstanding ridge or rib which completes the closure of the upper end of the carton. Such a carton is designed to be opened by forcing apart the forward edges of the side panels, thereby breaking the forward portion of the rib and separating the forward portions of the lips, and then squeezing those panel edges toward each other to force the mid-portion of the forward end panel forwardly, whereby an open pouring mouth, quadrilateral and usually rhombic in horizontal section, is produced. That pouring mouth is defined by a pair of front panels meeting in a vertical fold line at their forward edges and diverging rearward-1y, and a pair of rear walls respectively joined at their forward edges to the rear edges of the forward panels, converging toward their own rear edges, and merging with the inclined roof panels in fold lines. When the mouth is open, the major diagonal of the rhombic section lies in the vertical plane of the unbroken, rearwardly extending portion of the above-mentioned rib.

Another conventional type of receptacle which is currently in similar use comprises a waxed or otherwisetreated carton of square horizontal section terminating, at its upper end, in a roof comprising upwardly and inwardly inclined opposite side panels joining a central horizontal panel, and triangularly in-folded end panels. Such a carton is designed to be opened by lifting the forward end of the horizontal panel to separate it from the inclined 7 panels, thereby providing an upstanding, hinged tab and freeing the in-folded forward end panel. After so lifting the tab, the forward edges of the side panels may be separated, whereupon squeezing those panel edges toward each other will force the mid-portion of the forward end panel forwardly, whereby an open pouring mouth, quadrilateral and usually rhombic in horizontal section is produced. That pouring mouth is defined by a pair of rearwardly and outwardly inclined leaves merging in a central, substantially vertical fold line, and a pair of rearwardly and inwardly inclined ears whose front edges merge with the rear edges of said leaves and whose bases merge with the inclined roof panels in fold lines.

It will be obvious that, in either form of carton above described, the ears must move rearwardly as the spout is folded toward closed position, so that if brace or blocker means is provided to prevent such rearward ear movement, the spout will be held against closure.

For hygienic reasons, it is, of. course, undesirable to expose the remaining contents of such a carton to the open air during periods between uses, and therefore it has been customary for housewives to reclose the open mouth of such a carton after each use. Each time the carton mouth is opened or closed, however, the lines of juncture among the several wall sections of the spout must be reversely bent. Obviously, such repeated bending tends to crack and shatter the wax or other coating at those lines of juncture and flakes of such coating ma? terial frequently break away and fall into the contents of the carton. bending tends to weaken the carton material and, particularly after portions of the coating have sloughed away, that material tends to become scuffed, frayed and consequently highly absorbent. w

Still further, although such cartons are so designed and constructed that the opening and closing steps can be performed by the application of digital pressure to the external surfaces only of the receptacle spout walls, many people, and particularly children, find such manipulation to be difficult or even beyond their capacity and they will therefore insert their fingers into the spout portions of the receptacles and into contact with the inner surfaces of the spout walls. Since children (and, to some extent, other persons of abnormally low manual dexterity) are notoriously less likely to observe optimum rules of cleanliness, it is, of course, highly desirable to guard against the insertion of fingers into the pouring mouth of such a carton.

For all of these reasons, it is desirable to provide means, readily applicable to and removable from a receptacle of the character under consideration, to prevent reclosure of a pouring spout which has once been opened, preferably together with means for covering the opened mouth of such a spout; and the several devices disclosed herein are directed to those objectives.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention may be embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanuing drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specific constructions illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective of one form of receptacle having a foldable pouring spout, with which is associated one form of brace or blocker means and one form of cover means constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the cover means held in open position by the index finger of a hand in which the receptacle is supported for pouring;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the parts illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the brace means illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation thereof;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevation of a different form of cover means in place on the same receptacle;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 2 but showing a modified form of brace means;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of the structure illustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a modified form of brace or blocker means and a modified form FIGS. 8 to 10 in flexed, release condition.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 4, it will be seen that I have illustrated the upper end of a receptacle Patented May 25, 1965' Additionally, such repeated folding or 3 or carton indicated generally by the reference numeral 20, of the type in which upwardly and inwardly inclined roof panels 21 and 22 meet with a horizontal roof panel 23, said. carton roof being completed by tucked-in end panels, the rear one of which is indicated at 24. The tucked-in front end panel comprises adjacent front leaves 25 and 26 meeting in a fold line 27, intermediate leaves 28 and 29 inclining outwardly and rearwardly when the pouring spout-47 is in its illustrated, open condition, and cars 30 and 31 inclining rearwardly and inwardly from their lines of juncture with the leaves 28' and 29 and merging with the roof panels 21 and 22in fold lines 32-and 33. This spout structure is released for opening movement by lifting and tearing free the tab portion 34 of the panel 23.

'Thereupon, the leaves 28 and 29, and the ears 30 and 31 ulation of the spout parts toward closing condition necessarily involves rearward movement of the cars 30 and 31 about their fold lines 32 and 33.

To prevent reclosure ofthe spout, I provide a brace or blocker means, one form of which is indicated in FIGS. 1 to 4 generally by the reference numeral 35. That brace preferably comprises a length of stifi wire which will preferably have some resilience. The wire is bent at its mid-point 36 to define opposed arms 37 and 38 angularly related to each other atapproximately 90. At points 39 and 40 equidistant from the point 36, the wire is again bent to provide legs 41 and 42 which converge at an angle of approximately 90 and which are inclined upwardly from the plane common to the arms 37 and 38 at equal angles of approximately At their distal ends, thelegs 41 and 42 are formed to provide sharpened, inturned spurs-43 and 44.

As is most clearly illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the brace 35 is adapted to .be'engaged with the spout 47 by sliding the brace downwardly over the opened spout, the arms 37 and 38 spanning the front of the spout substantially at the base thereof, the bends 39 and 4t snugly engaging the lateral corners of the spout substantially at the base thereof, the legs 41 and 42 lying in the fold lines 32 and 33 and the spurs 43 and 44 digging into the carton material near the upper ends of said fold lines. The spurs are sufficiently short so that they will not penetrate the ears 30 and'31; but the legs.41 and 42 effectively prevent rearward movement of the ears 30. and 31.

Cover means is indicated generally by the reference numeral 45 and comprises a lid portion 46 and a finger piece which may preferably, but not necessarily, be integral, The cover means may be formed of sheet metal, synthetic plastic or any other suitable, durable non-warping material. The lid portion 46 is shaped to conform substantially to the upwardly opening mouth of the spout '47 and, depending upon the contour of that mouth, may be folded or bent upon lines 48 and/or 49 to conform reasonably closely-to the uppermost surface of said mouth. The finger piece 50 is, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, provided with'rebent ears 51 and 52 defining a channel in which the tab 34 may be snugly received to mount the cover means 45 hingedly on the receptacle. 20 in cooperative association with the spout 47.

In FIG. 5, I have illustrated a modified form of cover means 53 including a finger piece 54 which is rebent as at 55 to define a socket adapted to receive the tab 34. Preferably, the finger piece 54 will be provided with spurs 56 and the rebent portion 55 will similarly be provided with spurs 57 tending to retain the cover means 53 against accidental dislodgement from the tab 34.

In FIGS. 6 and 7 I have illustrated a modified form of brace means 58 for assoc ation With a carton or receptacle 4 20. The brace 58 will preferably be formed of the same kind of material used for the brace means 35. 'At its mid-point 59, a stiff wire is bent to define opposedarms 60 and 61 angularly related to each other at approximately 90. At points equidistant from the mid-point 59, the wire is bent as at 62 and 63 to define legs 64 and 65 converging at approximately 90 and inclined upwardly away from the plane common to the arms 60 and 61 at equal angles of approximately 45. From the upper ends of the legs 64 and 65,'runners 66 and 67 extend rearwardly in a common plane above the plane common to the arms 60 and 61 and terminate in in-turned hooks 68 and 70 engageable, respectively, with the rear edges 69 and 71 of the inclined roof panels 21 and 22. Preferably, the runners 66 and 67 may be provided with spurs 72 to assist in retaining the brace in position on the receptacle.

It will be apparent that the operation of the brace 58 is directly analogous to the operation of the brace 35, and that either the cover means 45 or the cover means 53 may be utilized in conjunction therewith.

In FIGS. 8 to 10, I have illustrated a ditferent'form of receptacle in which upwardly and inwardly inclined roof panels 31 and 82 terminate in lip-turned lips 83 and '34 which are sealed together to define anupstanding rib 85, the roof structure being completed byin-folded or tucked-in end panels, the. rear endpanelbeing suggested at 86 and the front end panel beingindicatedwat 87. The pouring spout of this form of carton is defined by outwardly and rearwardly inclined leaves '88 and 89 and.inwardly and rearwardly inclined ears and '91. When the spout is in closed condition, the leaf 88 is in facing relation to the ear 90, the leaf 89 is in-facing relation to the ear 91 and the forward portionsofihe lips 83 and 84, being sealed together, hold the parts in that condition. When that seal is broken, however, the parts 88, 89, 90 and 91 may be moved, in the-manner above described, to the relative positions illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 10, the forward portions of the lips 83 and 84 now constituting upstanding tabs 92 and 93. As the parts move to their illustrated positions, the cars 90 and 91 swing forwardly about the fold l-inesy94 and 95 in which they merge with the panels 81 and 82; and any folding of the spout toward closed position must involve rearward movement of the ears'90 and 91 about those'fold lines.

My brace or bracket 96 for association with this form of carton is preferably formed from spring wire which is bent substantially double at its'mid-point97 to provide a downwardlyopening bight 98 defined by substantially parallel legs '99 and '100 which, in the equilibrium con.- dition of the brace, are laterally spaced by a distance slightly less than the combined thickness of the lips 83 and 84, whereby the rib 85 may be entered into the bight 98 and there will be resiliently gripped by the legs. 99 and 100 to retain the braceiagainst'accidental dislodgment from the rib.

Runners 101 and 102 extend forwardly fromthe lower ends of the legs 99 and 100 to lie along opposite sides of the base of the rib 85. 'Arms 103 and 104 diverge forwardly and downwardly from the forward ends of the runners 101 and 102, the angular relation of said arms being such that, when the bracket 96is arranged on the rib $5 in the described relationship, said arms will lie in the fold lines 94 and 95.

The wire is re'bent at points 105 and 106 equidistant from the runners 101 and 102 to define return arms 107 and 108 above and substantially paralleling the. arms 103 and 104 and adapted to lie in contact with the rear surfaces of the ears. 90 and 91.

Risers :109 and litl'extend upwardly and-reanwardly from the inner ends of the return arms 107 and 108, and return runners 1111 and 112 extend rearwardly from the upper ends of said risers, the wire being reversely bent, within the lengths of said return runners, to define up.- wardly opening bights 113 and 114 whose bases are laterally aligned and disposed above the level of the base of the bight 98, for a purpose which willappea-r,

Cross arms 115 and 116 extend laterally from the return runners 11 1 and 112 and traverse the vertical plane of the rib S5. Toes 117 and 118 extend downwardly from said cross arms and are provided, at their lower ends, with in-turned, sharpened spurs 119 and 120. The bracket is so constructed that, in its equilibrium condition, the distance between the spurs 1'19 and 120 vis slightly less than the combined thickness of the lips 83 and 84.

Because of the inherent resiliency of the wire, the toes 117 and 118 maybe moved apart by squeezing pressure applied to the bights 113 and 114 by a thumb and finger, whereby the bracket may be readily mounted upon the rib 85 and, when pressure is relieved from said bights, the spurs .119 and 120 will dig into the material of the rib to retain the bracket against accidental dislodgment.

A cover means, indicated generally by the reference numeral 122, comprises a lid portion 123, a finger piece 124 and trunnion means 125 and 126. The cover means 122 may be formed of sheet metal, plastic, or any other suitable material. The lid portion 123 is designed to conform generally to the open mouth of the spout and, as shown, is "bent to provide a step 127 for cooperation with the forward edges of the tabs 92 and 93. The trunnion means 125 and 126 may comprise integral tabs extending oppositely laterally from the cover means adjacent the juncture of the finger piece 124 with the neck 128 of the lid portion 123, and said tabs are receivable in the bights 113 and 114 (which may preferably incline upwardly and rearwardly as shown in FIG. 8) to mount the cover means pivotally upon the bracket 96. The finger piece 124 inclines upwardly and rearwardly relative to the lid portion 123 for manipulation by a finger of a hand in which the carton 80 may be held. Obviously, as the finger piece is pressed downwardly, the lid portion 123 will be raised. Preferably, the finger piece will not extend significantly rearwardly beyond the cross arms 1 15 and 116 so that, when said finger piece is) depressed to a maximum degree, there will be no fulcrum action tending to lift the trunnion means out of the bights 113 and 114.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a liquid receptacle equipped with a foldable pouring spout of the type including integral, triangular, lateral ears which, when the spout is closed, lie substantially in the respective sides of the receptacle top and, when the spout is open, diverge forwardly and outwardly from said respective sides and must move rearwardly as said spout is folded toward closed condition, of brace means removably engaged with said receptacle and formed to provide two arms, each arm engaging a rear surface of one of said ears to block such rearward movement thereof.

2. For use with a liquid receptacle equipped with a foldable pouring spout of the type including integral, triangular, lateral ears which, when the spout is closed, lie substantially in the respective sides of the receptacle top and, when the spout is open, diverge forwardly and outwardly from said respective sides and must move rearwardly as said spout is folded toward closed condition, the invention which consists in brace means removably engaged with said receptacle and formed to provide two arms, each arm engaging a rear surface of one of said ears to block such rearward movement thereof, said brace means comprising a continuous, resilient piece proportioned and designed to span the front of such a spout near the base thereof when such spout is open and including opposed arms designed to lie behind such ears, substantially at the fold lines in which such ears merge with the respective sides of such receptacle top.

3. The invention of claim 2 in which the distal end of each arm is provided with an inturned, sharpened spur.

4. For use with a liquid receptacle made of foldable material and of the type whose top comprises upwardly and inwardly inclined side panels joining a central horizontal panel, and tucked-in end panels, the front end portion of said horizontal panel being separable from said side panels to define an upstanding tab and to release the front end panel for unfolding to define an upwardly opening pouring spout rearwardly bounded by opposite integral, triangular, lateral cars which must swing rearwardly as said spout is folded toward closed condition; the invention which comprises, in combination, brace means proportioned and designed to span the front of such a spout, when the spout is open, adjacent the base thereof and having opposed legs proportioned and designed to lie substantially in the fold lines at the bases of said ears, the distal ends of said legs being inturned for retentive engagement with said receptacle, and cover means including a finger piece constructed and arranged retentively to receive such a tab, and a lid portion arranged to cover the open mouth of the spout associated with said tab.

5. A brace of the character described consisting of a stiff wire bent substantially at its midpoint to define rectilinear arms diverging at an angle of approximately from a right-angular apex, said arms being bent again, at points substantially equidistant from said apex, to define legs converging at an angle of approximately 90 to each other and inclining upwardly from the plane common to said arms at equal angles of approximately 45 6. For use with a liquid receptacle made of foldable material and of the type whose top comprises upwardly and inwardly inclined side panels joining a central horizontal panel, and tucked-in front and rear end panels, the front end portion of said horizontal panel being separable from said side panels to define an upstanding tab and to release the front end panel for unfolding to define' an upwardly opening pouring spout rearwardly bounded by opposite integral, triangular, lateral cars which must swing rearwardly as said spout is folded toward closed condition; the invention which comprises, in combination, brace means consisting of a stiff wire bent substantially at its midpoint to define arms diverging at an angle of approximately 90 from an apex and to span the opened front panel of such a receptacle near the base thereof, and then bent again, at points substantially equidistant from said apex, to define legs converging at an angle of approximately 90 and inclining upwardly from the plane common to said arms at equal angles of approximately 45 to lie behind said ears and substantially at the foldlines between said ears and said inclined side panels, and cover means including a finger piece constructed and arranged retentively to receive such a tab, and a lid portion arranged to cover the open mouth of the spout associated with said tab.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 621,662 3/91 Harreif.

1,197,844 9/16 Muchmore 24-261 X 1,265,759 5/18 Edmonds 222-529 1,366,006 1/21 Jehn 222-532 1,498,275 6/24 Hartley 24-36 X 1,528,027 3/25 Peterson 222-529 X 2,393,514 1/46 Bicknell 24-261 X 2,510,918 6/50 Wax 222-532 2,546,052 3/51 Wilkins 222-529 X 2,582,502 1/52 Nagler 24-261 X 2,617,563 11/52, Miller 222-528 2,636,704 4/53 Norberg 24-261 X 2,775,386 12/56 Cannon 229-7 2,973,131 2/61 Mead et-al.,

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. THE COMBINATION WITH A LIQUID RECEPTACLE EQUIPPED WITH A FOLDABLE POURING SPOUT OF THE TYPE INCLUDING INTEGRAL, TRIANGULAR, LATERAL EARS WHICH, WHEN THE SPOUT IS CLOSED, LIE SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE RESPECTIVE SIDES OF THE RECEPTACLE TOP AND, WHEN THE SPOUT IS OPEN, DIVERGE FORWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY FROM SAID RESPECTIVE SIDES AND MUST MOVE REARWARDLY AS SAID SPOUT IS FOLDED TOWARD CLOSED CONDITION, OF BRACE MEANS REMOVABLY ENGAGED WITH SAID RECEPTACLE AND FORMED TO PROVIDE TWO ARMS, EACH ARM ENGAGING A REAR SURFACE OF ONE OF SAID EARS TO BLOCK SUCH REARWARD MOVEMENT THEREOF.

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