Carton With Reclosable Fitment

• US 20130306717A1
• Filed: 07/23/2013
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC (Graphic Packaging International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Fitzwater, Kelly R., Strand, Scott Thomas, Weaver, Sharon, Jesch, Norman L., Mode, Duane R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,108,761 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 229/125.15
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/78 Mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/563 Laminated linings; Coatings
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/703 the score-lines or incisions extending in the body of the tubular container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/705 Tearable flaps defined by score-lines or incisions provided in the body of a tubular container made of a single blank
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/72 Contents-dispensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/725 Incised or pre-scored openings or windows provided in the side wall of containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/746 Spouts formed separately from the container

Abstract

A carton includes a chamfered corner, and a dispenser defined in the chamfered corner. A fitment may be mounted to the chamfered corner of the carton, for use in dispensing contents from the interior of the carton by way of the dispenser. The fitment may comprise a base with a rearward receptacle that is in receipt of the chamfered corner of the carton. A passageway extends through the base, from the receptacle to a front opening of the passageway, and the contents from the interior of the carton may be dispensed outwardly through the front opening of the fitment. The fitment may include one or more inwardly protruding mounting members that may engage behind one or more edges of the carton for restricting the fitment from being pulled off of the chamfered corner of the carton.

Claims

1. A carton for containing and dispensing contents, the carton comprising:

a plurality of panels respectively foldably connected to one another, the plurality of panels extending around an interior of the carton, and the plurality of panels comprising

opposite first and second major side panels,

opposite first and second minor side panels that are each smaller than the first and second major side panels,

a bottom panel at least partially closing a bottom end of the carton,

a top panel at least partially closing a top end of the carton, and

an oblique panel at least partially defining an outer chamfered corner of the carton, so that the chamfered corner comprises the oblique panel, wherein the oblique panel extends between the first and second major side panels, the oblique panel extends between the top panel and the first minor side panel, and the oblique panel extends obliquely relative to each of the first and second major side panels, the first and second minor side panels, and the top and bottom panels; and

a dispenser defined in the chamfered corner, the dispenser being for use in dispensing contents from the interior of the carton.

2. The carton according to claim 1, wherein:

the oblique panel comprises opposite upper and lower edges, and opposite first and second side edges;

the lower edge of the oblique panel is adjacent to and extends along an upper edge of the first minor side panel;

the upper edge of the oblique panel is adjacent to and extends along an edge of the top panel;

a first side edge of the oblique panel is adjacent to and extends along an oblique edge of the first major side panel; and

a second side edge of the oblique panel is adjacent to and extends along an oblique edge of the second major side panel.

3. The carton according to claim 1, wherein the dispenser comprises a hole, and the hole extends through the oblique panel.

4. The carton according to claim 1, wherein the dispenser comprises a disruption in the chamfered corner, and the disruption circumscribes a central portion of the oblique panel.

5. The carton according to claim 4, wherein the disruption comprises a tear line that is for being torn for removing at least the central portion of the oblique panel from the chamfered corner, to at least further define a dispenser hole in the chamfered corner.

6. The carton according to claim 4, wherein the tear line is defined in the oblique panel.

7. The carton according to claim 1, wherein:

a lower edge of the oblique panel is connected by a fold line to an upper edge of the first minor side panel;

the oblique panel is connected to the top panel; and

the oblique panel is connected to each of the first and second major side panels.

8. The carton according to claim 7, wherein the chamfered corner further comprises:

a first flap connected by a fold line to an upper edge of the oblique panel, the first flap being mounted to the top panel;

a second flap connecting the oblique panel to the first major side panel; and

a third flap connecting the oblique panel to the second major side panel.

9. The carton according to claim 7, wherein the chamfered corner further comprises:

a flap connected by a fold line to an upper edge of the oblique panel, the first flap being mounted to the top panel;

a pleat connected between a first side edge of the oblique panel and an oblique edge of the first major side panel; and

a pleat connected between a second side edge of the oblique panel and an oblique edge of the second major side panel.

10. The carton according to claim 7, wherein the chamfered corner further comprises:

a first flap connected by a fold line to an upper edge of the oblique panel, the first flap being mounted to the top panel;

a second flap connected by a fold line to a first side edge of the oblique panel, the second flap being mounted to the first major side panel; and

a third flap connected by a fold line to a second side edge of the oblique panel, the third flap being mounted to the second major side panel.

11. The carton according to claim 10, comprising at least one configuration selected from the group consisting of:

the first flap being mounted to an outer surface of the top panel;

the second flap being mounted to an outer surface of the first major side panel; and

the third flap being mounted to an outer surface of the second major side panel.

12. The carton according to claim 10, wherein:

the second flap is mounted to an outer surface of the first major side panel; and

the third flap is mounted to an outer surface of the second major side panel.

13. The carton according to claim 1, in combination with a fitment, wherein the fitment is mounted to the chamfered corner of the carton, the fitment is for use in dispensing contents from the interior of the carton by way of the dispenser, and the fitment comprises:

a base comprising

a rearward receptacle that is in receipt of the chamfered corner of the carton, so that the chamfered corner extends into the rearward receptacle, and

a passageway extending through the base from the receptacle to a front opening of the passageway, and

a lid for use in closing and opening the front opening to the passageway; and

a connector movably connecting the lid to the base.

14. A fitment for mounting to a corner of a carton, for use in dispensing contents from the carton, the fitment comprising:

a base comprising

a plurality of walls defining a rearwardly open receptacle for receiving the corner of the carton, the plurality of walls extending around a passageway, and the passageway extending through the base from the receptacle to a front opening of the passageway, and

a mounting protrusion connected to and extending inwardly from a wall of the plurality of walls for cooperating with the carton for at least partially mounting the fitment to the corner of the carton;

a lid for closing and opening the front opening to the passageway; and

a connector movably connecting the lid to the plurality of walls.

15. The fitment according to claim 14, wherein:

the plurality of walls comprises opposite first and second walls;

the mounting protrusion is a first mounting protrusion connected to and extending inwardly from the first wall; and

the base further comprises a second mounting protrusion connected to and extending inwardly from the second wall, and the second mounting protrusion is for cooperating with the carton for at least partially mounting the fitment to the corner of the carton.

16. The fitment according to claim 14, wherein the mounting protrusion is elongate in a direction extending from the front opening of the passageway to the receptacle.

17. The fitment according to claim 16, wherein:

the mounting protrusion is a first mounting protrusion;

the base further comprises a second mounting protrusion connected to and extending inwardly from the wall;

the second mounting protrusion is for at least partially mounting the fitment to the corner of the carton;

the second mounting protrusion is elongate in the direction extending from the front opening to the passageway to the receptacle; and

the second mounting protrusion is longer than the first mounting protrusion.

18. An apparatus for containing and dispensing contents, the apparatus comprising:

a carton comprising a chamfered corner and a dispenser defined in the chamfered corner, the dispenser being for use in dispensing contents from an interior of the carton; and

a fitment mounted to the chamfered corner of the carton, the fitment being for use in dispensing contents from the interior of the carton by way of the dispenser, and the fitment comprising

a base comprising

a rearward receptacle that is in receipt of the chamfered corner of the carton, so that the chamfered corner extends into the rearward receptacle, and

a passageway extending through the base from the receptacle to a front opening of the passageway, and

a lid for use in closing and opening the front opening to the passageway; and

a connector movably connecting the lid to the base.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein:

the base of the fitment comprises a plurality of walls, and the plurality of walls extends around the passageway; and

the fitment comprises a mounting protrusion connected to and extending inwardly from a wall of the plurality of walls, and the mounting protrusion is engaged to an edge of the carton for restricting the fitment from being pulled off of the chamfered corner of the carton.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the edge of the carton comprises an edge of a panel of the carton.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the panel is a flap that is mounted to an outer surface of another panel of the carton.

22. The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the panel is a pleat panel of a pleat that is mounted to an outer surface of another panel of the carton.

23. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein:

the panel is a first panel;

the mounting protrusion is a first mounting protrusion;

the carton comprises a second panel that is opposite from the first panel; and

the fitment comprises a second mounting protrusion that is opposite from the first mounting protrusion and is engaged to an edge of the second panel for restricting the fitment from being pulled off of the chamfered corner of the carton.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein:

the first panel is connected by a fold line to a first side edge of an oblique panel of the carton, and the first panel overlaps a first side panel of the carton; and

the second panel is connected by a fold line to a second side edge of the oblique panel, and the second panel overlaps a second side panel of the carton.

25. A blank for forming a carton for containing a product, the blank comprising:

a minor panel comprising first and second edges that are opposite from one another, and third and fourth edges that are opposite from one another, the third and fourth edges extending crosswise to the first and second edges;

a dispenser panel connected to the third edge of the minor panel by a fold line;

first and second major panels respectively foldably connected to the first and second edges of the minor panel, each of the first and second major side panels being larger than the minor panel, each of the first and second major side panels comprising an oblique edge, the oblique edges extending outwardly from proximate respective ends of the fold line, and the oblique edges extending divergently with respect to one another in an outward direction away from the fold line; and

the dispenser panel being positioned between the oblique edges respectively of the first and second major panels.

26. The blank according to claim 25, further comprising:

end flaps respectively foldably connected to opposite end edges of the first major panel;

end flaps respectively foldably connected to opposite end edges of the second major panel; and

a second minor panel connected to a side edge of the first major panel or a side edge of the second major panel.

27. The blank according to claim 25, wherein the dispenser panel comprises a tear line, the tear line is adjacent a central portion of the dispenser panel, and the tear line is for being torn for removing at least the central portion of the dispenser panel to at least further define a dispenser hole in the dispenser panel.

28. The blank according to claim 25, further comprising:

a flap foldably connected to the oblique edge of the first major panel; and

a flap foldably connected to the oblique edge of the second major panel.

29. The blank according to claim 25, wherein:

a first edge of the dispenser panel is foldably connected to the third edge of the minor panel;

the dispenser panel comprises a second edge that is opposite the first edge of the dispenser panel; and

the blank further comprises a flap foldably connected to the second edge of the dispenser panel.

30. The blank according to claim 29, wherein the dispenser panel comprises opposite third and fourth edges that extend crosswise with respect to the first and second edges of the dispenser panel, and the blank further comprises:

a flap foldably connected to the third edge of the dispenser panel; and

a flap foldably connected to the fourth edge of the dispenser panel.

31. The blank according to claim 29, wherein the dispenser panel comprises opposite third and fourth edges that extend crosswise with respect to the first and second edges of the dispenser panel, and the blank further comprises:

a plurality of pleat panels connected between the third edge of the dispenser panel and the oblique edge of the first major panel; and

a plurality of pleat panels connected between the fourth edge of the dispenser panel and the oblique edge of the second major panel.

32. A method of at least erecting a carton having a chamfered corner, the method comprising:

partially erecting the carton, so that opposite first and second major side panels respectively extend from opposite edges a minor side panel;

folding a dispenser panel inwardly relative to the minor side panel, toward each of oblique edges of the first and second major side panels, so that the dispenser panel extends obliquely and at least partially defines the chamfered corner of the carton; and

connecting the dispenser panel to each of the first and second major side panels.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein:

the dispenser panel comprises opposite edges, and there are one or more panels respectively foldably connected to the opposite edges of the dispenser panel; and

the connecting of the dispenser panel to each of the first and second major side panels comprises connecting the one or more panels to outer surfaces of the first and second major side panels, respectively.

34. The method according to claim 33, further comprising mounting a fitment to the chamfered corner of the carton, comprising causing relative movement between the carton and the fitment so that the chamfered corner is received in a rearward receptacle of the fitment, and opposite inwardly protruding mounting members of the fitment respectively engage behind edges of the one or more panels for restricting the fitment from being pulled off of the chamfered corner of the carton.