Package including a gable-shaped top

• US 5,230,463 A
• Filed: 07/02/1992
• Issued: 07/27/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Mills IP Holdings II, LLC (General Mills Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: General Mills Incorporated
• Inventors: Brauner, Arne H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US07/908,101
• Time in Patent Office: 390 Days
• Field of Search: 229/138, 229/140, 229/149, 229/208, 229/213, 229/223, 229/117.12, 229/40, 220/462, 206/45.31
• US Class Current: 229/138
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/067 Gable-top containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/6602 formed by folding one or more extensions hinged to the upper edge of a tubular container body

Abstract

A package (10) including a gable-shaped top is disclosed including an outer carton (12) and an inner liner (14). The carton (12) is formed from a single layer blank (16) which is printed only on the outer surface (17). The gable-shaped top includes first and second side panels (54, 66) which are divided into first and second right triangles (84, 86) and an isosceles trapezoid (88) by fold lines (74, 76) including perforations (82). End flaps (90, 92) are further provided having lengths equal to the lengths of the legs of the right triangles (84, 86) and having widths equal to the lengths of the minor bases of the isosceles trapezoids (88). The top panel (94) of the gable-shaped top is held with the inside surfaces (19) of the right triangles (84, 86) abutting with the inside surfaces (19) of the front and back panels (46, 60), with the end flaps (90, 92) extending perpendicularly between the legs of the right triangles (84, 86), and with the inside surface (19) of the top panel (94) abutting with the inside surfaces (19) of the end flaps (90, 92), the legs of the right triangles (84, 86) and the top edge of the front panel (46) giving the package (10) a totally finished appearance.

Claims

1. A package comprising, in combination:

a carton, with the carton including a gable-shaped top comprising, in combination;

a front panel having inside and outside surfaces, a free top edge, and first and second side edges;

first and second side panels, with each of the side panels including inside and outside surfaces, a top edge, and first and second side edges;

a back panel including inside and outside surfaces, a top edge, and first and second side edges, with the first edges of the front and first side panels being connected about a fold line, with the second edges of the front and second side panels being connected about a fold line, with the second edges of the back and first side panels being connected about a fold line, with the first edges of the back and second side panels being connected about a fold line, with each of the side panels being divided into first and second right triangles and a generally isosceles trapezoid by first and second fold lines, with the right triangles having first legs of equal length extending along the top edges of the side panels and second legs extending along the side edges of the side panels, with the generally isosceles trapezoid having a minor base extending along the top edges of the side panels intermediate the first legs of the right triangles;

first and second rectangular shaped end flaps having a top edge, a bottom edge, and first and second side edges, with the bottom edges of the end flaps being connected to and having an equal width to the minor bases of the generally isosceles trapezoids of the side panels, with the lengths of the first legs of the first and second right triangles being equal to the length of the side edges of the end flaps;

a top panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, and first and second side edges, with the bottom edge of the top panel being connected to the top edge of the back panel about a fold line, with the length of the side edges of the top panel being equal to the lengths of the minor bases of the generally isoscele trapezoids of the side panels; and

means for holding the top panel with the inside surfaces of the first and second right triangles of the first and second side panels abutting with the inside surfaces of the front and back panels, with the end flaps extending perpendicularly between the second legs of the first and second right triangles of the first and second side panes, and with the inside surface of the top panel abutting with the inside surfaces of the end flaps, the first legs of the first and second right triangles, and the top edge of the front panel.

2. The package of claim 1 wherein the holding means comprises, in combination:

a closure panel having inside and outside surfaces, a top edge, and a bottom edge, with the bottom edge of the closure panel being connected to the top edge of the top panel about a fold line; and

means for securing the closure panel to the front panel with the inside surface of the closure panel abutting with the outside surface of the front panel.

3. The package of claim 2 wherein the securing means comprises means for removably securing the closure panel to the front panel.

4. The package of claim 3 wherein the securing means comprises, in combination:

a tab die cut intermediate the top and bottom edges of the closure panel and extending towards the bottom edge of the closure panel; and

a slot die cut in the front panel for removable slideable receipt of the tab of the closure panel.

5. The package of claim 4 wherein the closure panel includes first and second side edges, and wherein the securing means further comprises, in combination:

first and second fold lines extending from the tab to the respective side edges of the closure panel, with the first and second fold lines of the closure panel being parallel to the fold line between the closure and top panels.

6. The package of claim 5 wherein the spacing between the first and second side edges of the closure panel decreases from the bottom edge to the top edge, with the width of each of the first and second fold lines being less than the width of the tab of the closure panel.

7. The package of claim 6 wherein the fold lines dividing the side panels into the first and second right triangles and the generally isosceles trapezoid include perforations

8. The package of claim 7 further comprising, in combination:

a liner located inside of the carton.

9. The package of claim 8 wherein the package is formed from a blank of a single layer of material, with one of the first and second side panels including a glue flap for securement to the inner face of the adjacent panel.

10. The package of claim 9 wherein the glue flap has the shape of an isosceles trapezoid with the major base extending along the side edge of the side panel and the minor base being shorter than, spaced from, and parallel to the side of the side panel.

11. The package of claim 1 wherein the fold lines dividing the side panels into the first and second right triangles and the generally isosceles trapezoid include perforations.

12. The package of claim 1 further comprising, in combination:

a liner located inside of the carton.

13. The package of claim 1 wherein the package is formed from a blank of a single layer of material, with one of the first and second side panels including a glue flap for securement to the inner face of the adjacent panel.

14. The package of claim 13 wherein the glue flap has the shape of an isosceles trapezoid with the major base extending along the side edge of the side panel and the minor base shorter than, spaced from, and parallel to the side edge of the side panel.