Carton with reclosable top

• US 10,472,120 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2017
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Cooper, Matt, Bates, Aaron Lee, Pinkstone, Felicia A., Lenkeit, Gary, Hajek, Ronald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nash, Brian D
• Application Number:
  US15/422,802
• Publication Number:
  US 20170225822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 229212, 229147, 229213
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/062 with supplemental means facilitating the opening, e.g. tear lines, tear tabs
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/42 Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks

Abstract

A carton for holding at least one article is disclosed herein. The carton includes panels that extend at least partially around the interior of the carton including a front panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and a back panel. A reclosable top has a first top panel foldably connected to the front panel, a second top panel foldably connected to the back panel, a first gusset foldably connected to the first side panel, and a second gusset foldably connected to the second side panel. The reclosable top is positionable between a closed position and an open position. The first gusset and the second gusset have closure features biasing the first top panel and the second top panel to the closed position.

Claims

1. A carton for holding at least one article, the carton comprising:

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

a reclosable top comprising a first top panel foldably connected to the front panel at a fold line, a second top panel foldably connected to the back panel at a fold line, a first gusset foldably connected to the first side panel, and a second gusset foldably connected to the second side panel, each of the first gusset and the second gusset are respectively foldably connected to the first top panel and the second top panel,

the reclosable top is positionable between a closed position, wherein the first top panel and the second top panel are downwardly folded at the respective fold line and positioned generally perpendicular to the respective front panel and back panel to at least partially close the interior of the carton, and an open position wherein the first top panel and the second top panel allow access to the interior of the carton,

the first gusset and the second gusset have closure features biasing the first top panel and the second top panel to the closed position.

2. The carton of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of bottom end flaps respectively foldably connected to the plurality of panels for closing a bottom end of the carton.

3. The carton of claim 1, wherein, in the closed position, the first top panel and the second top panel are in at least partial face-to-face contact.

4. A carton for holding at least one article, the carton comprising:

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

a reclosable top comprising a first top panel foldably connected to the front panel at a fold line, a second top panel foldably connected to the back panel at a fold line, a first gusset foldably connected to the first side panel, and a second gusset foldably connected to the second side panel, the first gusset comprises a first gusset panel, a second gusset panel, and a third gusset panel, the first gusset panel being foldably connected to the second gusset panel along a first oblique fold line, and the third gusset panel being foldably connected to the second gusset panel along a second oblique fold line, the second gusset comprises a fourth gusset panel, a fifth gusset panel, and a sixth gusset panel, the fourth gusset panel being foldably connected to the fifth gusset panel along a third oblique fold line and the sixth gusset panel being foldably connected to the fifth gusset panel along a fourth oblique fold line, each of the first gusset and the second gusset are respectively foldably connected to the first top panel and the second top panel, the second gusset panel is foldably connected to the first side panel at a first longitudinal fold line and the fifth gusset panel is foldably connected to the second side panel at a second longitudinal fold line;

the reclosable top is positionable between a closed position wherein the first top panel and the second top panel are downwardly folded at the respective fold line to at least partially close the interior of the carton and an open position wherein the first top panel and the second top panel allow access to the interior of the carton,

the first gusset and the second gusset have closure features biasing the first top panel and the second top panel to the closed position.

5. The carton of claim 4, wherein the first gusset panel is foldably connected to the first top panel at a first lateral fold line and the third gusset panel is foldably connected to the second top panel at a second lateral fold line.

6. The carton of claim 5, wherein the first lateral fold line and the first oblique fold line intersect at a first angle, the first angle is less than 45°

.

7. The carton of claim 6, wherein the first angle is in the range of approximately 40°

to approximately 43°

.

8. The carton of claim 5, wherein the second lateral fold line and the second oblique fold line intersect at a second angle, the second angle is less than 45°

.

9. The carton of claim 8, wherein the second angle is in the range of approximately 40°

to approximately 43°

.

10. A carton for holding at least one article, the carton comprising:

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

a reclosable top comprising a first top panel foldably connected to the front panel, a second top panel foldably connected to the back panel, a first gusset foldably connected to the first side panel, and a second gusset foldably connected to the second side panel, each of the first gusset and the second gusset are respectively foldably connected to the first top panel and the second top panel,

the reclosable top is positionable between a closed position wherein the first top panel and the second top panel are downwardly folded to at least partially close the interior of the carton and an open position wherein the first top panel and the second top panel allow access to the interior of the carton,

the first gusset and the second gusset have closure features biasing the first top panel and the second top panel to the closed position, and

the first top panel comprises a removable tear strip adjacent an attachment portion for adhesive attachment to the second top panel to secure the reclosable top in the closed position, the removable tear strip being separable from the attachment portion to release the first top panel from attachment to the second top panel and allow the first top panel and second top panel to be positioned in the open position.

11. The carton of claim 10, wherein the removable tear strip extends across less than the entire width of the first top panel.

12. A blank for forming a carton for holding at least one article, the blank comprising:

a plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and a back panel, the plurality of panels being for forming an interior of the carton formed from the blank;

reclosable features for forming a reclosable top of the carton formed from the blank, the reclosable features comprising a first top panel foldably connected to the front panel at a fold line, a second top panel foldably connected to the back panel at a fold line, a first gusset foldably connected to the first side panel, and a second gusset foldably connected to the second side panel, each of the first gusset and the second gusset are respectively foldably connected to the first top panel and the second top panel,

the reclosable top is positionable between a closed position, wherein the first top panel and the second top panel are downwardly folded at the respective fold line and positioned generally perpendicular to the respective front panel and back panel to at least partially close the interior of the carton formed from the blank, and an open position wherein the first top panel and the second top panel are positioned allow access to the interior of the carton formed from the blank,

the first gusset and the second gusset have closure features biasing the first top panel and the second top panel to the closed position in the carton formed from the blank.

13. The blank of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of bottom end flaps respectively foldably connected to the plurality of panels for closing a bottom end of the carton formed from the blank.

14. The blank of claim 12, wherein, in the closed position of the carton formed from the blank, the first top panel and the second top panel are in at least partial face-to-face contact.

15. A blank for forming a carton for holding at least one article, the blank comprising:

a plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and a back panel, the plurality of panels being for forming an interior of the carton formed from the blank;

reclosable features for forming a reclosable top of the carton formed from the blank, the reclosable features comprising a first top panel foldably connected to the front panel at a fold line, a second top panel foldably connected to the back panel at a fold line, a first gusset foldably connected to the first side panel, and a second gusset foldably connected to the second side panel, each of the first gusset and the second gusset are respectively foldably connected to the first top panel and the second top panel, the first gusset comprises a first gusset panel, a second gusset panel, and a third gusset panel, the first gusset panel being foldably connected to the second gusset panel along a first oblique fold line, and the third gusset panel being foldably connected to the second gusset panel along a second oblique fold line, the second gusset comprises a fourth gusset panel, a fifth gusset panel, and a sixth gusset panel, the fourth gusset panel being foldably connected to the fifth gusset panel along a third oblique fold line and the sixth gusset panel being foldably connected to the fifth gusset panel along a fourth oblique fold line, the second gusset panel is foldably connected to the first side panel at a first longitudinal fold line and the fifth gusset panel is foldably connected to the second side panel at a second longitudinal fold line,

the reclosable top is positionable between a closed position wherein the first top panel and the second top panel are downwardly folded at the respective fold line to at least partially close the interior of the carton formed from the blank and an open position wherein the first top panel and the second top panel are positioned allow access to the interior of the carton formed from the blank,

the first gusset and the second gusset have closure features biasing the first top panel and the second top panel to the closed position in the carton formed from the blank.

16. The blank of claim 15, wherein the first gusset panel is foldably connected to the first top panel at a first lateral fold line and the third gusset panel is foldably connected to the second top panel at a second lateral fold line.

17. The blank of claim 16, wherein the first lateral fold line and the first oblique fold line intersect at a first angle, the first angle is less than 45°

.

18. The blank of claim 17, wherein the first angle is in the range of approximately 40°

to approximately 43°

.

19. The blank of claim 16, wherein the second lateral fold line and the second oblique fold line intersect at a second angle, the second angle is less than 45°

.

20. The blank of claim 19, wherein the second angle is in the range of approximately 40°

to approximately 43°

.

21. A blank for forming a carton for holding at least one article, the blank comprising:

a plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and a back panel, the plurality of panels being for forming an interior of the carton formed from the blank;

reclosable features for forming a reclosable top of the carton formed from the blank, the reclosable features comprising a first top panel foldably connected to the front panel, a second top panel foldably connected to the back panel, a first gusset foldably connected to the first side panel, and a second gusset foldably connected to the second side panel, each of the first gusset and the second gusset are respectively foldably connected to the first top panel and the second top panel,

the reclosable top is positionable between a closed position wherein the first top panel and the second top panel are downwardly folded to at least partially close the interior of the carton formed from the blank and an open position wherein the first top panel and the second top panel are positioned allow access to the interior of the carton formed from the blank,

the first gusset and the second gusset have closure features biasing the first top panel and the second top panel to the closed position in the carton formed from the blank, and

the first top panel comprises a removable tear strip adjacent an attachment portion for adhesive attachment to the second top panel to secure the reclosable top in the closed position in the carton formed from the blank, the removable tear strip being separable from the attachment portion to release the first top panel from attachment to the second top panel and allow the first top panel and second top panel to be positioned in the open position in the carton formed from the blank.

22. The blank of claim 21, wherein the removable tear strip extends across less than the entire width of the first top panel.

23. A method of forming a carton for holding at least one article, the method comprising:

obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels, the plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and a back panel, reclosable features for forming a reclosable top, the reclosable features comprising a first top panel foldably connected to the front panel at a fold line, a second top panel foldably connected to the back panel at a fold line, a first gusset foldably connected to the first side panel, and a second gusset foldably connected to the second side panel, each of the first gusset and the second gusset are respectively foldably connected to the first top panel and the second top panel;

positioning the plurality of panels to form an interior of the carton;

positioning the reclosable features to form the reclosable top, the reclosable top is positionable between a closed position, wherein the first top panel and the second top panel are downwardly folded at the respective fold line and positioned generally perpendicular to the respective front panel and back panel to at least partially close the interior of the carton, and an open position wherein the first top panel and the second top panel allow access to the interior of the carton;

the first gusset and the second gusset have closure features biasing the first top panel and the second top panel to the closed position of the reclosable top.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising activating the closure features and positioning the reclosable top to the closed position.

25. A method of forming a carton for holding at least one article, the method comprising:

obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels, the plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and a back panel, reclosable features for forming a reclosable top, the reclosable features comprising a first top panel foldably connected to the front panel at a fold line, a second top panel foldably connected to the back panel at a fold line, a first gusset foldably connected to the first side panel, and a second gusset foldably connected to the second side panel, each of the first gusset and the second gusset are respectively foldably connected to the first top panel and the second top panel, the first gusset comprises a first gusset panel, a second gusset panel, and a third gusset panel, the first gusset panel being foldably connected to the second gusset panel along a first oblique fold line, and the third gusset panel being foldably connected to the second gusset panel along a second oblique fold line, the second gusset comprises a fourth gusset panel, a fifth gusset panel, and a sixth gusset panel, the fourth gusset panel being foldably connected to the fifth gusset panel along a third oblique fold line and the sixth gusset panel being foldably connected to the fifth gusset panel along a fourth oblique fold line, the second gusset panel is foldably connected to the first side panel at a first longitudinal fold line and the fifth gusset panel is foldably connected to the second side panel at a second longitudinal fold line,

positioning the plurality of panels to form an interior of the carton;

positioning the reclosable features to form the reclosable top, the reclosable top is positionable between a closed position wherein the first top panel and the second top panel are downwardly folded at the respective fold line to at least partially close the interior of the carton and an open position wherein the first top panel and the second top panel allow access to the interior of the carton.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the first gusset panel is foldably connected to the first top panel at a first lateral fold line and the third gusset panel is foldably connected to the second top panel at a second lateral fold line.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the first lateral fold line and the first oblique fold line intersect at a first angle, the first angle is less than 45°

.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the first angle is in the range of approximately 40°

to approximately 43°

.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the second lateral fold line and the second oblique fold line intersect at a second angle, the second angle is less than 45°

.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the second angle is in the range of approximately 40°

to approximately 43°

.

31. A method of forming a carton for holding at least one article, the method comprising:

obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels, the plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and a back panel, reclosable features for forming a reclosable top, the reclosable features comprising a first top panel foldably connected to the front panel, a second top panel foldably connected to the back panel, a first gusset foldably connected to the first side panel, and a second gusset foldably connected to the second side panel, each of the first gusset and the second gusset are respectively foldably connected to the first top panel and the second top panel, the first top panel comprises an attachment portion and a removable tear strip adjacent the attachment portion, the removable tear strip being separable from the attachment portion;

positioning the plurality of panels to form an interior of the carton;

positioning the reclosable features to form the reclosable top, the reclosable top is positionable between a closed position wherein the first top panel and the second top panel are downwardly folded at the respective fold line to at least partially close the interior of the carton and an open position wherein the first top panel and the second top panel allow access to the interior of the carton;

the first gusset and the second gusset have closure features biasing the first top panel and the second top panel to the closed position of the reclosable top;

closing the reclosable top and adhesively attaching the attachment portion to the second top panel to secure the reclosable top in the closed position; and

separating the removable tear strip from the attachment portion to release the first top panel from attachment to the second top panel and positioning the reclosable top to the open position.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising positioning the reclosable top to the closed position by activating the closure features.