Carton blank and carton formed therefrom

• US 20020055429A1
• Filed: 12/20/2001
• Published: 05/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Walsh, Joseph C.
• Application Number:
  US10/027,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20020055429A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 493/59
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/6602 formed by folding one or more extensions hinged to the upper edge of a tubular container body
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/6623 the lid being hinged about a line located in the top surface of the container
• 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 5/744 combined with swivelling devices having a bottom-wall and two side-walls

Abstract

A carton blank and a carton formed therefrom wherein the formed carton is fluid impervious and is provided with a pour spout but retains the fluid imperviousness of the carton until the pour spout is opened and wherein the pour spout has wing portions located between an inner and an outer layer of the carton and free to move relative thereto.

Claims

1. A carton blank comprising:

an outer layer comprising a generally rectangular sheet of a relatively rigid material;

said outer layer having a plurality of cut and fold lines formed therein for dividing said outer layer into a plurality of panels;

said outer layer having at least one top panel integral with at least a first sidewall panel and joined thereto by a fold line;

said at least a first sidewall panel being integral with a second sidewall panel and a third sidewall panel and joined thereto by opposite fold lines;

a first weakened portion formed in said at least a first sidewall panel adjacent to said fold line between said at least one top panel and said at least a first sidewall panel;

a fold line in said at least a first sidewall panel extending between said opposite fold lines and spaced from said first weakened portion;

a second weakened portion formed in said at least a first sidewall panel and located between said first weakened portion and said fold line between said opposite fold lines;

said second weakened portion being mounted for pivotal movement relative to said at least a first sidewall panel;

a pour spout having a central body portion, a first wing portion extending from one side of said central body portion and a second wing portion extending from the other side of said central body portion;

said central body portion of said pour spout being united with said second weakened portion for movement therewith so that said central body portion and said first and second wing portions cooperate to form said pour spout;

an inner layer comprising a generally rectangular sheet of a relatively flexible fluid impervious material; and

at least portions of said inner layer being secured to at least portions of said outer layer and at least other portions of said inner layer being secured to at least portions of said central body portion of said pour spout.

2. A carton blank as in claim 1 wherein:

said pour spout having an outer surface and an inner surface;

at least portions of said outer surface of said central body portion being secured to at least portions of said second weakened portion with said first wing portion being superposed over but not secured to said second sidewall panel and said second wing portion being superposed over but not secured to said third sidewall panel;

at least portions of said inner surface of said central body portion being secured to at least portions of said inner layer; and

said first wing portion being joined to said central body portion by a fold line and said second wing portion being joined to said central body portion by a fold line.

3. A carton blank as in claim 2 and further comprising:

a third weakened portion;

said third weakened portion being formed in a portion of said inner layer;

said third weakened portion comprising a plurality of cut lines;

continuous portions of said inner layer on either side of each of said cut lines being secured to portions of said pour spout to retain the fluid imperviousness of said inner layer.

4. A carton blank as in claim 3 wherein:

at least portions of said first and second weakened portions being in a coinciding relationship; and

at least one of said plurality of cut lines of said third weakened portion being parallel to but spaced from said at least portions in said coinciding relationship.

5. A carton blank as in claim 4 wherein:

a second one of said plurality of cut lines of said third weakened portion being parallel to but spaced from said fold line joining said central body portion and said first wing portion of said pour spout; and

a third one of said plurality of cut lines of said third weakened portion being parallel to but spaced from said fold line joining said central body portion and said second wing portion of said pour spout.

6. A carton blank as in claims 5 wherein:

said continuous portions being secured only to portions of said central body portion of said pour spout; and

said first and second wing portions being located between but not secured to portions of said outer and inner layers.

7. A carton blank as in claim 1 and further comprising:

said plurality of panels comprising at least a plurality of top panels joined by fold lines to adjacent sidewall panels, a front panel and a back panel;

at least one continuous strip of a relatively flexible material superposed at least over said top panels and portions of said opposite sidewall panels said front panel and said back panel adjacent to said fold lines joining said top panels and said opposite sidewall panels;

said front panel and said back panel; and

at least portions of said at least one continuous strip of a relatively flexible material being secured only to at least portions of said inner layer.

8. A carton blank as in claim 7 and further comprising:

a third weakened portion;

said third weakened portion being formed in a portion of said inner layer;

said third weakened portion comprising a plurality of cut lines;

continuous portions of said inner layer on either side of each of said cut lines being secured to portions of said pour spout to retain the fluid imperviousness of said inner layer.

9. A carton blank as in claim 8 wherein:

said continuous portions being secured only to portions of said central body portion of said pour spout; and

said first and second wing portions being located between but not secured to portions of said outer and inner layers.

10. A carton blank as in claim 1 and further comprising:

said outer layer having an outer surface and an inner surface;

said inner layer having an outer surface and an inner surface;

said pour spout having an outer surface and an inner surface;

at least portions of said outer surface of said central body portion of said pour spout being secured to at least portions of said inner surface of said second weakened portion for movement therewith; and

a sharp point on each of said first and second wing portions so that when said central body portion of said pour spout moves outwardly said sharp points will penetrate and form openings in said inner layer so that said at least portion of said inner layer secured to said central body portion of said pour spout will tear away from other portions of said inner layer during the formation of said pour spout.

11. A pour spout for a carton wherein the carton has a plurality of sidewall panels and top and bottom panels with a first sidewall panel having a pair of spaced apart fold lines joining the first sidewall panel to a second sidewall panel and a third sidewall panel comprising:

an outer layer formed from a relatively rigid material;

said first sidewall panel having another fold line joining said first sidewall panel to a top panel;

a first weakened portion formed in said first sidewall panel adjacent to said another fold line;

a second weakened portion formed in said first sidewall panel and located so that at least a portion of said second weakened portion coincides with at least a portion of said first weakened portion;

a pour spout having a central body portion, a first wing portion extending from one side of said central body portion and a second wing portion extending from the other side of said central body portion;

said central body portion of said pour spout being secured to said second weakened portion with said first wing portion superposed over but not secured to at least a portion of said second sidewall panel and said second wing portion superposed over but not secured to at least a portion of said third sidewall panel;

a generally rectangular sheet of a relatively flexible fluid impervious material superposed over said outer layer and said pour spout so that said pour spout is located between said outer and inner layers; and

at least portions of said inner layer being secured to at least portions of said outer layer and at least other portions of said inner layer being secured to at least portions of said central body portion of said pour spout.

12. A pour spout for a carton as in claim 11 and further comprising:

said first and second wing portions being located between said outer and inner layers and mounted for movement relative thereto.

13. A pour spout for a carton as in claim 12 and further comprising:

a third weakened portion;

said third weakened portion being formed in a portion of said inner layer;

said third weakened portion comprising a plurality of cut lines;

continuous portions of said inner layer on either side of each of said cut lines being secured to portions of said pour spout to retain the fluid imperviousness of said inner layer.

14. A pour spout for a carton as in claim 13 wherein:

at least portions of said first and second weakened portions being in a coinciding relationship; and

at least one of said plurality of cut lines of said third weakened portion being parallel to but spaced from said at least portions in said coinciding relationship.

15. A pour spout for a carton as in claim 14 wherein:

a second one of said plurality of cut lines of said third weakened portion being parallel to but spaced from said fold line joining said central body portion and said first wing portion of said pour spout; and

a third one of said plurality of cut lines of said third weakened portion being parallel to but spaced from said fold line joining said central body portion and said second wing portion of said pour spout.

16. A pour spout for a carton as in claim 15 wherein:

said continuous portions being secured only to portions of said central body portion of said pour spout.

17. A pour spout for a carton as in claim 13 wherein:

said continuous portions being secured only to portions of said central body portion of said pour spout.

18. A pour spout for a carton as in claim 17 wherein:

said pour spout having an outer surface and an inner surface;

at least portions of said outer surface of said central body portion being secured to at least portions of said second weakened portion with said first wing portion being superposed over, but not secured to said second sidewall panel and said second wing portion being superposed over but not secured to said third sidewall panel;

at least portions of said inner surface of said central body portion being secured to at least portions of said inner layer; and

said first wing portion being joined to said central body portion by a fold line and said second wing portion being joined to said central body portion by a fold line.

19. A pour spout for a carton as in claim 11 and further comprising:

said outer layer having an outer surface and an inner surface,

said inner layer having an outer surface and an inner surface;

said pour spout having an outer surface and an inner surface;

at least portions of said outer surface of said pour spout being secured to at least portions of said inner surface of said second weakened portion for movement therewith;

at least portions of said outer surface of said central body portion of said pour spout being secured to at least portions of said inner surface of said second weakened portion for movement therewith; and

a sharp point on each of said first and second wing portions so that when said central body portion of said pour spout moves outwardly said sharp points will penetrate and form openings in said inner layer so that said at least portion of said inner layer secured to said central body portion of said pour spout will tear away from other portions of said inner layer during the formation of said pour spout.