Carton with dispensing features

• US 10,562,687 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2018
• Issued: 02/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC (Graphic Packaging International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC (Graphic Packaging International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pinkstone, Felicia A., Burke, Bradley J., Fitzwater, Kelly R., Hancock, Tony
• Primary Examiner(s): Demeree, Christopher R
• Application Number:
  US16/155,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20190039802A1
• Time in Patent Office: 496 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 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, 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.

2. The package of claim 1, wherein the dispenser extends in an oblique direction between the top of the carton and the front panel.

3. The package of claim 1, 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.

4. The package of claim 3, 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.

5. The package of claim 1, wherein the front panel extends between the first side panel and the second side panel.

6. The package of claim 5, wherein the plurality of top end flaps further comprises a first top flap foldably connected to the first side panel and a second top flap foldably connected to the second side panel, 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.

7. The package of claim 6, wherein the overlapped first top flap and second top flap define a third plane that is orthogonal relative to the first plane.

8. The package of claim 7, wherein the first dispenser flap and the second dispenser flap are at least partially overlapped to define the second plane that extends obliquely between the first plane and the third plane.

9. The package of claim 1, wherein the first dispenser flap and second dispenser flap are at least partially overlapped in the second plane to at least partially close the top of the carton.

10. The package of claim 1, wherein the first dispenser flap and the second dispenser flap at least partially close the top of the carton and define an oblique top corner of the carton.

11. 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;

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.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the forming the dispenser comprises fanning the dispenser extending in an oblique direction between the top of the carton and the front panel.

13. The method of claim 11, 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 and securing the distal portion to the second dispenser flap, the tear feature at least partially defines the distal portion and a reclosable flap in the first dispenser flap.

14. The package of claim 13, 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.

15. The method of claim 11, 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 method comprises at least partially overlapping the first top flap and the second top flap to close the top of the carton.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the overlapped first top flap and second top flap define a third plane that is orthogonal relative to the first plane.

17. The package of claim 16, wherein the first dispenser flap and the second dispenser flap are at least partially overlapped to define the second plane that extends obliquely between the first plane and the third plane.

18. The package of claim 11, wherein the first dispenser flap and second dispenser flap are at least partially overlapped in the second plane to at least partially close the top of the carton.

19. The package of claim 11, wherein the first dispenser flap and the second dispenser flap at least partially close the top of the carton and define an oblique top corner of the carton.