Carton with slidable tab for controlling dispensing

• US 20060255113A1
• Filed: 05/12/2005
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: McGowan, Gregory H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,503,475 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 229/220
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/723 Sliding elements for covering and uncovering discharge openings of containers, e.g. slide-closures

Abstract

An upper end of a carton includes first and second panels that are in an overlapping relationship with respect to one another. The first panel includes an opening for being in communication with the carton'"'"'s interior. A flexible, elongate closure tab extends through a slot so that the closure tab is interposed between the first and second panels. The closure tab can be slid between the first and second panels, between open and closed configurations. In the closed configuration, the closure tab at least substantially obstructs the opening. In the open configuration, the opening is not substantially obstructed by the closure tab. A projection is engaged by the closure tab for discouraging the closure tab from being completely pulled out of the slot during the open configuration.

Claims

1. A reclosable carton, comprising:

first and second ends that are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction, wherein the first end includes first and second panels that are in an overlapping relationship with respect to one another, and the first panel includes at least one opening for being in communication with the carton'"'"'s interior;

at least one sidewall extending between the first and second ends and extending at least partially around the carton'"'"'s interior;

a flexible, elongate closure tab is connected to the sidewall and extends through a slot so that a portion of the closure tab is interposed between the first and second panels, wherein the portion of the closure tab can be slid, while the portion of the closure tab is interposed between the first and second panels, between

a closed configuration in which the portion of the closure tab at least substantially obstructs the opening, and

an open configuration in which at least some of the opening is not substantially obstructed by the closure tab; and

a projection that projects from the sidewall for being engaged to a predetermined feature of the closure tab and thereby at least discouraging the portion of the closure tab from being completely pulled out of the slot during the open configuration.

2. The carton according to claim 1, wherein the second panel includes an opening that is aligned with the opening in the first panel, and the opening in the first panel is open to the opening in the second panel during the open configuration.

3. The carton according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined feature of the closure tab comprises an edge of the closure tab, and the projection engages the edge of the closure tab for at least discouraging the portion of the closure tab from being completely pulled out of the slot during the open configuration.

4. The carton according to claim 3, wherein the edge of the closure tab is arcuate.

5. The carton according to claim 3, wherein the edge of the closure tab at least partially defines an opening in the closure tab, and the projection extends into the opening for at least discouraging the portion of the closure tab from being completely pulled out of the slot during the open configuration.

6. The carton according to claim 1, wherein the projection comprises a restricting tab.

7. The carton according to claim 6, wherein:

the sidewall includes third and fourth panels that are in an overlapping relationship with respect to one another;

the closure tab is connected to the third panel; and

the restricting tab is connected to the fourth panel.

8. The carton according to claim 7, wherein the fourth panel is positioned between the third panel and the carton'"'"'s interior.

9. The carton according to claim 8, wherein:

the carton includes a front and a rear that are spaced apart from one another in a lateral direction;

the third and fourth panels are at least proximate the front of the carton; and

a minimum distance between the opening and the front of the carton is less than about 19% of a minimum distance between the front and the rear of the carton.

10. The carton according to claim 8, wherein:

the first panel is positioned above the second panel;

the first panel further includes a second opening that is open at a forward end of the first panel for providing access to at least some of the closure tab during the closed configuration;

the second opening is positioned between the first opening and the front of the carton; and

a minimum distance between the first opening and the second opening is less than about 9% of a minimum distance between the front and the rear of the carton.

11. The carton according to claim 1, wherein:

the carton includes a front and a rear that are spaced apart from one another in a lateral direction;

the closure tab and the projection are connected to the sidewall at least proximate the front of the carton; and

a minimum distance between the opening and the front of the carton is less than about 19% of a minimum distance between the front and the rear of the carton.

12. The carton according to claim 11, wherein:

the first panel is positioned above the second panel;

the first panel further includes a second opening that is open at a forward end of the first panel for providing access to at least some of the closure tab during the closed configuration;

the second opening is positioned between the first opening and the front of the carton; and

a minimum distance between the first opening and the second opening is less than about 9% of the minimum distance between the front and the rear of the carton.

13. The carton according to claim 11, wherein the minimum distance between the opening and the front of the carton is less than about 17% of the minimum distance between the front and the rear of the carton.

14. The carton according to claim 11, wherein the minimum distance between the opening and the front of the carton is less than about 15% of the minimum distance between the front and the rear of the carton.

15. The carton according to claim 11, wherein the minimum distance between the opening and the front of the carton is less than, or equal to, about 13.3% of the minimum distance between the front and the rear of the carton.

16. The carton according to claim 1, wherein:

the carton includes a front and a rear that are spaced apart from one another in a lateral direction;

the first panel is positioned above the second panel;

the first panel further includes a second opening that is open at a forward end of the first panel for providing access to at least some of the closure tab during the closed configuration; and

a minimum distance between the first opening and the second opening is less than about 9% of a minimum distance between the front and the rear of the carton.

17. The carton according to claim 16, wherein the minimum distance between the first opening and the second opening is less than about 7% of the minimum distance between the front and the rear of the carton.

18. The carton according to claim 16, wherein the minimum distance between the first opening and the second opening is less than about 5% of the minimum distance between the front and the rear of the carton.

19. The carton according to claim 16, wherein the minimum distance between the first opening and the second opening is less than, or equal to, about 3.3% of the minimum distance between the front and the rear of the carton.

20. A reclosable carton, comprising:

first and second ends that are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction, wherein the first end includes first and second panels that are in an overlapping relationship with respect to one another, and the first panel includes at least one opening for being in communication with the carton'"'"'s interior;

at least one sidewall extending between the first and second ends and extending at least partially around the carton'"'"'s interior, with the sidewall defining a front and a rear of the carton that are spaced apart from one another in a lateral direction;

a flexible, elongate closure tab that is connected to the sidewall proximate the front of the carton, wherein the closure tab extends through a slot so that a portion of the closure tab is interposed between the first and second panels, and the portion of the closure tab can be slid, while the portion of the closure tab is interposed between the first and second panels, between

a closed configuration in which the portion of the closure tab at least substantially obstructs the opening, and

an open configuration in which at least some of the opening is not substantially obstructed by the closure tab; and

means for at least discouraging the portion of the closure tab from being completely pulled out of the slot during the open configuration,

wherein a minimum distance between the opening and the front of the carton is less than about 19% of a minimum distance between the front and the rear of the carton.

21. A blank for forming a carton, the blank comprising:

an inner front panel including a projecting restricting tab;

a right side panel foldably connected to the inner front panel;

a first upper panel foldably connected to the right side panel and including an opening;

a rear panel foldably connected to the right side panel;

a left side panel foldable connected to the rear panel;

a second upper panel foldably connected to the left side panel;

an outer front panel foldably connected to the rear panel; and

a closure tab connected to the outer front panel, wherein the closure tab is for sliding between the first and second upper panels for opening and closing the opening after the carton is erected from the blank, and the closure tab includes an edge that is operative for being engaged by the restricting tab and thereby at least discouraging the closure tab from being completely pulled out from between the first and second upper panels after the carton is erected from the blank.

22. The blank according to claim 21, wherein the edge of the closure tab at least partially defines an opening in the closure tab.

23. The blank according to claim 21, wherein:

the first upper panel includes first, second, third and fourth edges;

the first and second edges are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction;

the third and fourth edges are spaced apart from one another in a lateral direction;

the opening is closer to the first edge than to the second edge;

a minimum distance between the opening and the first edge is less than about 19% of a minimum distance between the first edge and the second edge; and

the minimum distance between the first edge and the second edge is greater than a minimum distance between the third edge and the fourth edge.

24. A carton erected from the blank of claim 21.

25. The blank according to claim 21, further including a plurality of flaps respectively located at the blank'"'"'s margins.