Container with flexible pour spout
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A container with a spout for dispensing goods from the container'"'"'s interior, comprising:
- at least one sidewall extending at least partially around said container'"'"'s interior;
at least one flap operative for pivoting relative to said sidewall between open and closed configurations, with said flap being adjacent an opening to said container'"'"'s interior during the open configuration, and said flap at least partially closing said opening during the closed configuration; and
at least one piece of material connected to both said flap and said sidewall, with said piece of material being operative for cooperating with said flap for at least partially defining said spout, at least partially holding said flap in the open configuration by restricting said flap from pivoting to more than a predetermined angle relative to said sidewall in the open configuration, and being at least partially automatically folded while said flap is moved from the open configuration to the closed configuration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A carton with a spout is erected from a blank having a flexible patch attached thereto. The patch cooperates with a pivotable flap of the blank to define the spout. The patch includes a central portion and at least first and second appendages that extend outwardly from the central portion. The central portion is attached to the flap, the first appendage is attached to a first portion of the blank, and the second appendage is attached to a second portion of the blank.
26 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A container with a spout for dispensing goods from the container'"'"'s interior, comprising:
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at least one sidewall extending at least partially around said container'"'"'s interior;
at least one flap operative for pivoting relative to said sidewall between open and closed configurations, with said flap being adjacent an opening to said container'"'"'s interior during the open configuration, and said flap at least partially closing said opening during the closed configuration; and
at least one piece of material connected to both said flap and said sidewall, with said piece of material being operative for cooperating with said flap for at least partially defining said spout, at least partially holding said flap in the open configuration by restricting said flap from pivoting to more than a predetermined angle relative to said sidewall in the open configuration, and being at least partially automatically folded while said flap is moved from the open configuration to the closed configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A carton with a spout, comprising:
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first and second ends that are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction; and
a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around the carton'"'"'s interior and includes, at least, first and second panels that are spaced apart from one another and extend in the longitudinal direction, and a third panel that extends in the longitudinal direction and has edges respectively attached to edges of said first and second panels, wherein said third panel includes at least one flap defined by at least one fold line, and said flap can be pivoted along said fold line to open an opening in said third panel; and
at least one piece of material that is flexible, is positioned at least partially within the carton'"'"'s interior, and is attached to at least each of said flap, said first panel and said second panel so that said piece of material cooperates with said flap to at least partially define said spout. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An article for being erected into a carton with a spout, the article comprising:
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a blank for at least partially forming the carton after the article is erected, wherein said blank includes at least one flap defined by at least one fold line, and said flap can be pivoted along said fold line; and
at least one piece of material operative for cooperating with said flap and thereby at least partially defining the spout after the article is erected, said piece of material including a central portion and at least first and second appendages, wherein said first appendage is proximate a first side of said central portion, said second appendage is proximate a second side of said central portion that is opposite from said first side of said central portion, said central portion is attached to said flap, said first appendage is attached to a first portion of said blank, and said second appendage is attached to a second portion of said blank, with said first and second portions of said blank being on opposite sides of said flap. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A flexible patch that is separate from, and for being attached to, a carton blank, the patch comprising:
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a central portion;
a first appendage that extends at least partially obliquely from a first side of said central portion;
a second appendage that extends at least partially obliquely from a second side of said central portion; and
a third appendage that extends from a third side of said central portion - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for at least folding a piece of material that is for both being attached to a blank and at least partially defining a spout in a carton erected from the blank, the method comprising:
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providing a piece of material;
forming at least a first fold in the piece of material so that a first portion of the piece of material is in at least opposing face-to-face-relation with at least part of a second portion of the piece of material; and
forming at least a second fold in the piece of material so that the first portion of the piece of material is in at least opposing face-to-face relation with at least part of a third portion of the piece of material. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification