Carton with dispensing features

• US 10,124,947 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2015
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Pinkstone, Felicia A., Burke, Bradley J., Fitzwater, Kelly R., Hancock, Tony
• Primary Examiner(s): Demeree, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US14/545,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20150368019A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 2291173, 229215, 22911727, 229217, 22911732, 229248, 53452
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/0227 with end closures formed by inward folding of flaps and securing them by heat-sealing, by applying adhesive to the flaps or by staples
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/541 the lines of weakness being provided in one or more closure flaps
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/544 and defining after rupture a lid hinged about a line located in the top surface of the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/563 Laminated linings; Coatings
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/742 Spouts formed by deforming or tearing the closure flaps or severed or incised parts of the closure flaps B65D5/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/743 Spouts formed by deforming or tearing scored or incised parts of the side-wall of containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/062 Flexible containers disposed within polygonal containers formed by folding a carton blank

Abstract

A package for holding a product. The package can comprise a carton and a bag. The carton can comprise a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carton and a dispenser for accessing the interior of the carton. The dispenser can comprise at least one dispenser flap at least partially closing a top of the carton. The bag can be at least partially disposed in the interior of the carton, and the bag can comprise a dispenser feature that is accessible via the dispenser in the carton.

Claims

1. A package for holding a product, the package comprising a carton and a bag, the carton comprising:

a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprises a front panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the front panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the front panel, and a back panel foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel;

a plurality of top end flaps foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels, the plurality of top end flaps are for at least partially closing a top end of the carton, the plurality of top end flaps comprising a front top flap foldably connected to the front panel;

a plurality of bottom end flaps foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels, the plurality of bottom end flaps are for at least partially closing a bottom end of the carton; and

a dispenser for accessing the interior of the carton through the top end of the carton, the dispenser comprising at least one dispenser flap at least partially closing a top of the carton, the at least one dispenser flap comprising a first dispenser flap and a second dispenser flap, the dispenser further comprising a liner patch overlapping at least a portion of the first dispenser flap, the second dispenser flap, and the front top flap at the top end of the carton such that the liner patch extends from the interior of the carton through the dispenser when the dispenser is open, the liner patch is free from contact with the plurality of bottom end flaps;

wherein the bag contains the product and is at least partially disposed in the interior of the carton and is in contact with the plurality of bottom end flaps at the bottom end of the carton, the bag is disposed below the liner patch, and the bag comprises a dispenser feature that is accessible via the dispenser in the carton.

2. The package of claim 1, wherein the bag comprises a top seal, and at least a portion of the top seal comprises an oblique seal that extends obliquely with respect to a top end of the bag.

3. The package of claim 2, wherein the dispenser feature of the bag is at least partially defined by the oblique seal and the top end of the bag.

4. The package of claim 2, wherein an edge of the oblique seal is aligned with an edge of the dispenser.

5. The package of claim 1, wherein the bag comprises a top seal extending across the bag, the top seal extending obliquely with respect to a top end of the bag.

6. The package of claim 1, wherein the first dispenser flap at least partially overlaps the second dispenser flap, the first dispenser flap comprising a distal portion secured to the second dispenser flap.

7. The package of claim 6, wherein a tear feature extends across at least a portion of the first dispenser flap and at least partially defines the distal portion and a reclosable flap in the first dispenser flap.

8. The package of claim 7, wherein the reclosable flap comprises a closing tab at least partially defined by the tear feature, and the second dispenser flap comprises a notch for at least partially receiving the closing tab after the tear feature has been actuated to at least partially separate the reclosable flap from the distal portion of the first dispenser flap.

9. The package of claim 6, wherein the front panel extends between the first side panel and the second side panel, the first dispenser flap is foldably connected to the first side panel along a first portion of a fold line, and the second dispenser flap is foldably connected to the second side panel along a second portion of the fold line.

10. The package of claim 9, wherein each of the first portion and the second portion of the fold line is oblique with respect to the front panel.

11. The package of claim 9, wherein the plurality of top end flaps further comprises a first top flap foldably connected to the first side panel along the fold line and a second top flap foldably connected to the second side panel along the fold line, the first top flap and the second top flap being at least partially overlapped with one another to at least partially close the top of the carton.

12. The package of claim 11, wherein the first dispenser flap is connected to the first top flap along a first tear line, the second dispenser flap is connected to the second top flap along a second tear line, and each of the first dispenser flap and the second dispenser flap is at least partially separable from the respective first top flap and second top flap along the respective first tear line and second tear line.

13. The package of claim 9, wherein the second dispenser flap at least partially overlaps the front top flap.

14. The package of claim 6, wherein the first dispenser flap is foldably connected to the first side panel, the second dispenser flap is foldably connected to the second side panel, the front top flap is foldably connected to the front panel and the carton further comprises a back top flap foldably connected to the back panel.

15. The package of claim 14, wherein the front top flap is connected to the first dispenser flap and the second dispenser flap by a respective first front gusset panel and second front gusset panel, and the back top flap is connected to the first dispenser flap and the second dispenser flap by a respective first back gusset panel and second back gusset panel.

16. The package of claim 15, wherein the first dispenser flap comprises a reclosable flap that is separable from the distal portion of the first dispenser flap along a tear feature, a top portion of the bag is attached to the reclosable flap so that at least a portion of the top portion of the bag is disposed between the reclosable flap and the second dispenser flap when the dispenser is in a closed configuration.

17. The package of claim 1, wherein the carton further comprises a spout feature extending in at least the front panel and the front top flap.

18. The package of claim 17, wherein the spout feature comprises a lateral fold line extending in the front top flap and two oblique fold lines extending in the front panel from an end of the lateral fold line, the front top flap and the front panel being for folding along the lateral fold line and the oblique fold lines to form a spout adjacent the dispenser when the dispenser is in an open configuration.

19. The package of claim 1, wherein the carton further comprises a top wall at least partially closing a top of the carton, and the dispenser comprises a flip top foldably connected to the top wall, the flip top being positionable between a closed position and an open position.

20. The package of claim 19, wherein the carton comprises a front wall insert attached to at least one panel of the plurality of panels, the flip top at least partially overlaps the front wall insert in the closed position, the front wall insert comprises a locking tab, and the dispenser comprises a locking insert attached to an interior surface of the flip top for engaging the locking tab when the flip top is in the closed position.

21. In combination, a blank for forming a carton and a bag for being disposed in an interior of the carton, the blank comprising:

a plurality of panels, the plurality of panels comprises a front panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the front panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the front panel, and a back panel foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel;

a plurality of top end flaps foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels, the plurality of top end flaps are for at least partially closing a top end of the carton formed from the blank, the plurality of top end flaps comprising a front top flap foldably connected to the front panel;

a plurality of bottom end flaps foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels, the plurality of bottom end flaps are for at least partially closing a bottom end of the carton formed from the blank; and

dispenser features for forming a dispenser for accessing the interior of the carton through the top end of the carton formed from the blank, the dispenser features comprising at least one dispenser flap for at least partially closing a top of the carton formed from the blank, the at least one dispenser flap comprising a first dispenser flap and a second dispenser flap, the dispenser features further comprising a liner patch overlapping at least a portion of the first dispenser flap, the second dispenser flap, and the front top flap such that the liner patch extends from the interior of the carton through the dispenser when the carton is formed from the blank and the dispenser is open, the liner patch is free from contact with the plurality of bottom end flaps;

wherein the bag contains the product and comprises a dispenser feature that is for being accessible via the dispenser when the carton is formed from the blank, the bag is at least partially disposed in the interior of the carton formed from the blank, is in contact with the plurality of bottom end flaps at the bottom end of the carton formed from the blank, and is for being disposed below the liner patch when the carton is formed from the blank.

22. The combination of claim 21, wherein the bag comprises a top seal, and at least a portion of the top seal comprises an oblique seal that extends obliquely with respect to a top end of the bag.

23. The combination of claim 22, wherein the dispenser feature of the bag is at least partially defined by the oblique seal and the top end of the bag.

24. The combination of claim 22, wherein an edge of the oblique seal is for alignment with an edge of the dispenser when the carton is formed from the blank.

25. The combination of claim 21, wherein the bag comprises a top seal extending across the bag, the top seal extending obliquely with respect to a top end of the bag.

26. The combination of claim 21, wherein the first dispenser flap comprises a distal portion for being secured to the second dispenser flap when the carton is formed from the blank.

27. The combination of claim 26, wherein a tear feature extends across at least a portion of the first dispenser flap and at least partially defines the distal portion and a reclosable flap in the first dispenser flap.

28. The combination of claim 27, wherein the reclosable flap comprises a closing tab at least partially defined by the tear strip, and the second dispenser flap comprises a notch for at least partially receiving the closing tab after the tear feature has been actuated to at least partially separate the reclosable flap from the distal portion of the first dispenser flap when the carton is formed from the blank.

29. The combination of claim 26, wherein the front panel is foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel along a first fold line, the first dispenser flap is foldably connected to the first side panel along a first portion of a second fold line, and the second dispenser flap is foldably connected to the second side panel along a second portion of the second fold line.

30. The combination of claim 29, wherein each of the first portion and the second portion of the second fold line is oblique with respect to the first fold line.

31. The combination of claim 29, wherein the plurality of top end flaps further comprises a first top flap foldably connected to the first side panel along a first longitudinal portion of the second fold line and a second top flap foldably connected to the second side panel along a second longitudinal portion of the second fold line, wherein the first top flap and the second top flap are for being at least partially overlapped with one another to at least partially close the top of the carton formed from the blank.

32. The combination of claim 31, wherein the first dispenser flap is connected to the first top flap along a first tear line, the second dispenser flap is connected to the second top flap along a second tear line, and each of the first dispenser flap and the second dispenser flap is at least partially separable from the respective first top flap and second top flap along the respective first tear line and second tear line.

33. The combination of claim 26, wherein the first dispenser flap is foldably connected to the first side panel, the second dispenser flap is foldably connected to the second side panel, and the blank further comprises a back top flap foldably connected to the back panel.

34. The combination of claim 33, wherein the front top flap is connected to the first dispenser flap and the second dispenser flap by a respective first front gusset panel and second front gusset panel, and the back top flap is connected to the first dispenser flap by a first back gusset panel and to an attachment tab by a second back gusset panel, and the attachment tab is for being secured to the second dispenser flap when the carton is formed from the blank.

35. The combination of claim 21, further comprising a spout feature extending in at least the front panel and the front top flap.

36. The combination of claim 35, wherein the spout feature comprises a lateral fold line extending in the front top flap and two oblique fold lines extending in the front panel from an end of the lateral fold line, the front top flap and the front panel being for folding along the lateral fold line and the oblique fold lines to form a spout adjacent the dispenser when the carton is formed from the blank.

37. A method of forming a package comprising:

obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels and dispenser features comprising at least one dispenser flap, the plurality of panels comprises a front panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the front panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the front panel, and a back panel foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel, the at least one dispenser flap comprising a first dispenser flap and a second dispenser flap, the blank further comprises a plurality of top end flaps foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels, the plurality of end flaps comprising a front top flap foldably connected to the front panel, and a plurality of bottom end flaps foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels;

attaching a liner patch to the blank overlapping at least a portion of the first dispenser flap, the second dispenser flap, and the front top flap, the liner patch is free from contact with the plurality of bottom end flaps;

forming an interior of the carton at least partially defined by the plurality of panels;

positioning a bag containing a product at least partially in the interior of the, the bag comprising a dispenser feature;

closing the top end of the carton by at least partially overlapping the plurality of top end flaps, the bag is disposed below the liner patch;

closing the bottom end of the carton by at least partially overlapping the plurality of bottom end flaps, the bag is in contact with the plurality of bottom end flaps at the bottom end of the carton; and

forming a dispenser at least partially defined by the dispenser features, the forming the dispenser comprising positioning the at least one dispenser flap to at least partially close the top of the carton, the dispenser feature of the bag being accessible via the dispenser, the liner patch extends from the interior of the carton through the dispenser when the dispenser is open.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising forming a top seal along a top end of the bag so that at least a portion of the top seal comprises an oblique seal that extends obliquely with respect to the top end of the bag.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the dispenser feature of the bag is at least partially defined by the oblique seal and the top end of the bag.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein an edge of the oblique seal is aligned with an edge of the dispenser when the dispenser is formed.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein the first dispenser flap comprises a distal portion at least partially defined by a tear feature, and the positioning the at least one dispenser flap further comprises positioning the first dispenser flap to at least partially overlap the second dispenser flap to at least partially close the top of the carton and securing the distal portion to the second dispenser flap.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the plurality of top end flaps further comprises a second top flap, the plurality of panels comprises a first side panel and a second side panel, the first top flap and the first dispenser flap are foldably connected to the first side panel, the second top flap and the second dispenser flap are foldably connected to the second side panel, and the closing the top end comprises at least partially overlapping the first top flap and the second top flap to at least close the top of the carton.

43. A package for holding a product, the package comprising a carton and a bag, the carton comprising:

a plurality of panels comprising a first side panel, a second side panel, and a front panel extending at least partially around an interior of the carton, the front panel defines a first plane; and

a dispenser for accessing the interior of the carton, the dispenser comprising at least a first dispenser flap and a second dispenser flap at least partially closing a top of the carton, each of the first dispenser flap and the second dispenser flap foldably connected to the respective first side panel and second side panel at a respective fold line that is oblique relative to the front panel, at least one of the first dispenser flap and the second dispenser flap defines a free distal edge, at least a portion of the free distal edge is parallel to the respective fold line, the dispenser defines a second plane that is oblique relative to the first plane;

wherein the bag is at least partially disposed in the interior of the carton, and the bag comprises a dispenser feature that is accessible via the dispenser in the carton.

44. The package of claim 43, wherein the dispenser extends in an oblique direction between the top of the carton and the front panel.

45. The package of claim 43, wherein the first dispenser flap comprises a distal portion secured to the second dispenser flap, and a tear feature extends across at least a portion of the first dispenser flap and at least partially defines the distal portion and a reclosable flap in the first dispenser flap.

46. The package of claim 43, wherein an entirety of at least one of the first dispenser flap and the second dispenser flap is oblique relative to the front panel.

47. The package of claim 43, wherein one of the first side panel and the second side panel defines a third plane, the second plane is substantially perpendicular to the third plane.

48. In combination, a blank for forming a carton and a bag for being disposed in an interior of the carton, the blank comprising:

a plurality of panels comprising a first side panel, a second side panel, and a front panel; and

dispenser features for forming a dispenser for accessing the interior of the carton formed from the blank, the dispenser features comprising at least a first dispenser flap and a second dispenser flap for at least partially closing a top of the carton formed from the blank, each of the first dispenser flap and the second dispenser flap foldably connected to the respective first side panel and the second side panel at a respective fold line that is oblique relative to the front panel, at least one of the first dispenser flap and the second dispenser flap defines a free distal edge, at least a portion of the free distal edge is parallel to the respective fold line;

wherein the bag comprises a dispenser feature that is for being accessible via the dispenser when the carton is formed from the blank.

49. The combination of claim 48, wherein the dispenser features are for forming the dispenser extending in an oblique direction between the top of the carton and the front panel when the carton is formed from the blank.

50. The combination of claim 48, wherein the first dispenser flap comprises a distal portion for being secured to the second dispenser flap when the carton is formed from the blank, and a tear feature extends across at least a portion of the first dispenser flap and at least partially defines the distal portion and a reclosable flap in the first dispenser flap.

51. The combination of claim 48, wherein the respective fold line comprises a first oblique fold line foldably connecting the first dispenser flap to the first side panel and a second oblique fold line foldably connecting the second dispenser flap to the second side panel, the free distal edge comprises a first free distal edge of the first dispenser flap and a second free distal edge of the second dispenser flap, the first free distal edge is parallel to the first oblique fold line and the second free distal edge is parallel to the second oblique fold line.

52. The combination of claim 48, wherein an entirety of at least one of the first dispenser flap and the second dispenser flap is oblique relative to the front panel in the carton formed from the blank.

53. The combination of claim 48, wherein the front panel defines a first plane of the carton formed from the blank, the dispenser defines a second plane of the carton formed from the blank, the second plane is oblique relative to the first plane, one of the first side panel and the second side panel defines a third plane in the carton formed from the blank, the second plane is substantially perpendicular to the third plane when the carton is formed from the blank.

54. A method of forming a package comprising:

obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels and dispenser features comprising at least one dispenser flap, the plurality of panels comprising a first side panel, a second side panel, and a front panel, the at least one dispenser flap comprising a first dispenser flap and a second dispenser flap, each of the first dispenser flap and the second dispenser flap foldably connected to the respective first side panel and the second side panel at a respective fold line that is oblique relative to the front panel, at least one of the first dispenser flap and the second dispenser flap defines a free distal edge, at least a portion of the free distal edge is parallel to the respective fold line;

forming an interior of the carton at least partially defined by the plurality of panels such that the front panel defines a first plane;

positioning a bag at least partially in the interior of the carton, the bag comprising a dispenser feature; and

forming a dispenser at least partially defined by the dispenser features, the forming the dispenser comprising positioning the at least one dispenser flap to at least partially close a top of the carton, the dispenser feature of the bag being accessible via the dispenser, the dispenser defines a second plane that is oblique relative to the first plane.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the forming the dispenser comprises forming the dispenser extending in an oblique direction between the top of the carton and the front panel.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein the first dispenser flap comprises a distal portion and a tear feature extends across at least a portion of the first dispenser flap and at least partially defines the distal portion and a reclosable flap in the first dispenser flap, and wherein the forming the dispenser comprises securing the distal portion of the first dispenser flap to the second dispenser flap.

57. The method of claim 54, wherein an entirety of at least one of the first dispenser flap and the second dispenser flap is oblique relative to the front panel.

58. The method of claim 54, wherein one of the first side panel and the second side panel defines a third plane, the second plane is substantially perpendicular to the third plane.

59. A package for holding a product, the package comprising a carton and a bag, the carton comprising:

a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprises a front panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the front panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the front panel, and a back panel foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel;

a plurality of top end flaps foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels, the plurality of top end flaps are for at least partially closing a top end of the carton, the plurality of top end flaps comprising a front top flap foldably connected to the front panel;

a plurality of bottom end flaps foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels, the plurality of bottom end flaps are for at least partially closing a bottom end of the carton; and

a dispenser for accessing the interior of the carton through the top end of the carton, the dispenser comprising at least one dispenser flap at least partially closing a top of the carton, the at least one dispenser flap comprising a first dispenser flap and a second dispenser flap, the dispenser further comprising a liner patch overlapping at least a portion of the first dispenser flap, the second dispenser flap, and the front top flap at the top end of the carton such that the liner patch extends from the interior of the carton through the dispenser when the dispenser is open, wherein the liner patch has a lowermost edge spaced apart from the bottom end of the carton;

wherein the bag contains the product and is at least partially disposed in the interior of the carton and is in contact with the plurality of bottom end flaps at the bottom end of the carton, the bag is disposed below the liner patch, and the bag comprises a dispenser feature that is accessible via the dispenser in the carton.