Carton with reclosable pouring opening

• US 5,326,024 A
• Filed: 09/29/1993
• Issued: 07/05/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
• Inventors: Fogle, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US08/128,980
• Time in Patent Office: 279 Days
• Field of Search: 229/213, 229/214, 229/216-219, 229/125.42
• US Class Current: 229/214
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/701 Tearable flaps defined by score-lines or incisions provided in the closure flaps of a tubular container made of a single blank

Abstract

A carton for packaging pourable material. Upper end panel sections are connected by gussets to sloped upper side panel sections, and the latter are connected by overlapping horizontal flaps. Separation of an end tear strip portion of the horizontal flaps allows an upper end panel section to be folded out to form a pouring spout configuration. The tab remaining after separation of the tear strip portion is inserted in a slit in the upper end panel section to hold the section in place after being reclosed.

Claims

1. A carton for packaging pourable material, comprising:

opposite side panels connected to opposite end panels and to a bottom panel;

an upper sloped panel section connected to each of the side panels along a fold line;

an upper end panel section connected to each of the end panels along a fold line;

gusset panels connecting each of the upper end panel sections to the upper sloped panel sections;

means in addition to the gusset panels for holding the upper sloped panel sections and upper end panel sections in closed condition;

a tear strip connected to the upper sloped panel sections, the tear strip extending from an end of the carton adjacent one of the upper end panel sections to a point spaced therefrom to form a tab when the tear strip is separated from the upper sloped panel sections back to said point, whereby separation of the tear strip allows access tot he adjacent upper end panel section to permit said adjacent upper end panel section to be pulled outwardly, pivoting down about the fold line connecting said adjacent upper end panel section to the end panel associated therewith and causing the gusset panels connected to said adjacent upper end panel section to fold outwardly; and

said adjacent upper end panel section including a slit for receiving the end portion of said tab to maintain said adjacent upper end panel section in closed position after it has been reclosed by pivoting said adjacent upper end panel section up about said fold line to cause the associated gusset panels to fold inwardly.

2. A carton for packaging pourable material as defined in claim 1, wherein the means in addition to the gusset panels for holding the upper sloped panel sections and the upper end panel sections in closed condition comprises a flap attached to one of the upper sloped panel sections and connected to the other sloped panel section, the flap being substantially horizontal when the carton is resting on the bottom panel.

3. A carton for packaging pourable material, comprising:

opposite side panels connected to opposite end panels and a bottom panel;

an upper sloped panel section connected to each of the side panels along a fold line;

an upper end panel section connected to each of the end panels along a fold line;

gusset panels connecting each of the upper end panel sections to the upper sloped panel sections;

a flap attached to one of the upper sloped panel sections and connected to the other upper sloped panel section, the flap being substantially horizontal when the carton is resting on the bottom panel;

a tear strip comprised of an end portion of the flap connected to the upper sloped panel sections, the tear strip extending from an end of the carton adjacent one of the upper end panel sections to a point spaced therefrom to form a tab when the tear strip is separated from the upper sloped panel sections back to said point, whereby separation of the tear strip allows access to the adjacent upper end panel section to permit said adjacent upper end panel section to be pulled outwardly, pivoting down about the fold line connecting said adjacent upper end panel section to the end panel associated therewith and causing the gusset panels connected to said upper end panel section to fold outwardly; and

end flaps connected to the upper end panel sections and extending toward the opposite end panels, on of the end flaps underlying the tear strip including a weakened transversely extending line, the weakened line enabling said one end flap to sever to form a shorter flap over which contents of the carton can be poured.

4. A generally rectangular blank for forming a carton for packaging pourable material, comprising:

alternating side and end panel sections connected by first fold lines;

bottom panel flaps connected to the side and end panel sections along second fold lines extending at substantially right angles to the first fold lines;

upper side panel sections connected to the side panel sections and upper end panel sections connected to the end panel sections along third fold lines substantially parallel to the second fold lines;

gusset panels connected the upper side panel sections to the upper end panel sections along fold lines;

a first flap attached to one of the upper side panel sections;

a second flap attached to the other upper side panel section, the flaps being adapted to be overlapped and adhered to each other;

a tear strip at one end of the flaps, the tear strip being of a length such that separation thereof from the upper side panel sections allows access to the upper end panel section adapted to be adjacent the tear strips in a carton formed from the blank to permit the latter upper end panel section to be pulled outwardly, pivoting down about its third fold line to cause the gusset panels connected to said upper end panel section to fold outwardly; and

said latter upper end panel section including a slit for receiving the end portion of the tear strip to maintain said latter upper end panel section in closed position after it has been reclosed.