Biodegradable packaging with pouring spout

• US 5,372,301 A
• Filed: 06/28/1993
• Issued: 12/13/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Saint Germain Cartonnage
• Original Assignee: Saint Germain Cartonnage
• Inventors: Besson, Jean-Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US08/082,106
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 229/125.04, 229/125.09, 229/125.42, 229/214, 229/215, 229/217
• US Class Current: 229/215
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/744 combined with swivelling devices having a bottom-wall and two side-walls
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/10 Bio-packaging, e.g. packing containers made from renewable resources or bio-plastics

Abstract

Packaging of biodegradable material comprising a retractable pouring spout corresponding to a trapezoidal opening in the central region of one wall of the packaging. The large base of the opening is located on the side of the upper corners of the packaging. The retractable pouring spout is assembled from an external trapezoidal shape (19) corresponding to the opening and an internal assembly (24, 37) having a narrowed central portion (26) about which two lateral wings (25a, 25b) are articulated by lines (26a, 26b) oriented in the opposite direction from the sides (13, 15) of the trapezoidal shape (19). As a result, the wings (25a, 25b) have clearance with the sides (13, 15) of the trapezoidal opening (19), and the opening of the pouring spout takes place without friction of the lateral wings against the sides of the trapezoidal opening.

Claims

1. Packaging of biodegradable material comprising:

a retractable pouring spout corresponding to a trapezoidal opening in a central region of a lateral wall of the packaging, said trapezoidal opening having a large base, and two sides slanted in opposite directions, said large base being located between upper corners of the packaging, said retractable pouring spout being assembled from an external trapezoidal shape corresponding to said opening and an internal assembly having a central portion about which two lateral wings are articulated by means of lines slanted in directions opposite from the sides of said trapezoidal opening, such that the wings have clearance with said sides, said pouring spout is adapted to be opened without substantial friction of the lateral wings against the sides of the trapezoidal opening, said external trapezoidal shape constituting a grasping tongue for the pouring spout, said lateral wall having two slots above the grasping tongue, said slots defining a spacing having a width sufficiently wide to permit insertion of a human finger, and said width being smaller than the large base of the trapezoidal opening.

2. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the central portion of the internal assembly is a trapezoid inscribed in and inverted relative to said trapezoidal opening.

3. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the lateral wings form between themselves an angle decreasing progressively outwardly of the pouring spout opening.

4. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the lateral wings bear retention lugs.

5. Packaging according to claim 1, further including an internal wall affixed to said lateral wall, and said internal assembly adapted to be extracted from said internal wall by tearing out said internal wall.

6. Packaging according to claim 5, further including a flexible zone located in the internal wall above the internal assembly, said flexible zone having two slits spaced apart a distance comprised between the spacing of the slots above the grasping tongue and the length of the large base of the trapezoidal opening.

7. Packaging according to claim 6, wherein the flexible zone includes edges which are disposed offset relative to edges of the spacing above the grasping tongue.

8. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein the internal assembly is a separate piece.

9. Packaging of biodegradable material comprising:

a retractable pouring spout corresponding to a trapezoidal opening in a central region of a lateral wall of the packaging, said trapezoidal opening having a large base and two sides slanted in opposite directions, said large base being located between upper corners of the packaging, said retractable pouring spout being assembled from an external trapezoidal shape corresponding to said opening and an internal assembly having a central portion about which two lateral wings are articulated by means of lines slanted in directions opposite from the sides of said trapezoidal opening such that the wings have clearance with said sides, and said pouring spout is adapted to be opened without substantial friction of the lateral wings against the sides of the trapezoidal opening, said lateral wall including two slots above the trapezoidal shape, said slots defining a spacing between them, said spacing being sufficiently wide so as to permit insertion of a human finger, said spacing being smaller than the large base, said lateral wall having an internal wall affixed thereto, and said internal assembly adapted to be extracted from said internal wall by tearing said internal wall, a flexible zone located in the internal wall above said internal assembly, said flexible zone having two slits spaced apart a distance comprised between the spacing of the slots above the trapezoidal shape and the length of the large base of the trapezoidal opening.