Cartons with pouring spouts

• US 5,110,042 A
• Filed: 06/25/1991
• Issued: 05/05/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trenton Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Trenton Box Company Limited
• Inventors: Hurden, Derek
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US07/720,632
• Time in Patent Office: 315 Days
• Field of Search: 206/621.4, 206/621.5, 206/621.6, 206/621.8, 206/625, 229/125.42
• US Class Current: 229/215
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/743 Spouts formed by deforming or tearing scored or incised parts of the side-wall of containers

Abstract

A rectangular carton having a pouring spout which is formed from material coming out of a vertical edge of the carton, i.e. of material on each side of this edge and which hinges about a line extending diagonally upwards across an end face from the vertical edge.

Claims

1. A carton having a pouring spout, said pouring spout being defined by a diagonal hinge line extending upwardly across a first panel of the carton between a first hinge point on a first vertical edge line and a second hinge point on said first panel, said first vertical edge line being disposed between a second panel and said first panel, wherein said pouring spout comprises two hinged spout panels disposed substantially perpendicular to each other, the first of said spout panels being cut out from said first panel and the second of said spout panels being cut out from said second panel, said second spout panel being disposed so as to slide between two supporting panels during opening and closing of said pouring spout, one of said supporting panels being an extension flap connected to said second panel.

2. A carton according to claim 1, further comprising a cut line extending from said second hinge point in a substantially horizontal direction across said first panel of the carton.

3. A carton according to a claim 2, further comprising a second cut line extending from the first hinge point along a continuous convoluted path within said second panel to join said substantially horizontal first cut line.

4. A carton according to claim 3, wherein said first panel is an end face and said second panel is a side securing flap, wherein said second cut line is wholly within said side securing flap.

5. A carton according to claim 4, wherein said extension flap extends from said side securing flap and is folded against the securing flap to provide said one of said two supporting panels between which the second spout panel can slide.

6. A carton according to claim 1, further comprising a vertical tear strip which is defined by tear lines in the second supporting panel wherein said tear strip, prior to being torn away, assists in sealing the carton as a tamper proof feature and, upon being torn away, permits said pouring spout to be opened.

7. A carton according to claim 3, wherein said second cut line, at an upper edge, opens into a cutout having an arcuate shape enabling arcuate movement when opening said pouring spout.

8. A carton according to claim 7, wherein said arcuate shape extends to a midpoint in said second panel, said cutout continuing from said midpoint to said first vertical edge line in a straight line thereby limiting outward movement of said pouring spout.

9. A carton comprising:

first and second face panels;

said first and second face panels connected by a first end panel, wherein a hinge line is disposed between each of said panels;

a second end panel connected by a hinge line to said first face panel at a side opposite said first end panel;

a securing flap connected by a hinge line to said second end panel at a side opposite said first face panel; and

an extension panel connected by a hinge line to said securing flap at a side opposite said end panel;

wherein

a pouring spout defined by a diagonal hinge line extending upwardly across said second end panel between the hinge lines of said securing flap and said first face panel, said pouring spout having first and second hinged spout panels, said first spout panel being cut out from said second end panel and said second spout panel being cut out from said securing flap, said second spout panel being disposed so as to slide between said extension panel and said second face panel during opening and closing of said pouring spout.