Resealable pack having a locking grip-tab closure

• US 5,402,933 A
• Filed: 12/23/1993
• Issued: 04/04/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Behrmann, Veith
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US08/173,355
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 229/217, 229/219, 229/231, 229/234
• US Class Current: 229/231
• 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

Abstract

A pack, which has panels and flaps folded together for forming an enclosure having a plurality of connected sides, has a pack closure portion formed from portions of four contiguous sides in a portion whereat a first side and a second side converge to form a corner and extend between and separate a third and fourth side. The closure portion is defined from the remainder of the pack by a hinge line in the first side and by lines cut in each of the second, third and fourth sides so that upon tearing and separating the closure portion of the pack from the remainder of the pack at the lines on the second, third and fourth sides, the closure portion is hingedly connected to the first side of the remainder of the pack at the hinge line for opening and closing the pack. The second side of the closure portion also has a tab for gripping which, when the pack is closed, overlays the second side of the remainder of the pack, and a tab for locking is formed in the tab for gripping, the tab for locking being engageable in a slot positioned in the second side of the remainder of the pack overlaid by the tab for gripping.

Claims

1. In a pack having panels and flaps folded together for forming an enclosure having a plurality of connected sides and which includes four contiguous sides wherein a first side and a second side converge to form a corner and extend between and separate a third side and a fourth side, the improvements comprising:

a hinge line positioned in the first side and lines cut in each of the second, third and fourth sides, wherein the hinge line is at a position displaced a distance from the corner and extends between the third and fourth sides, wherein the second-side line is at a position displaced a distance from the corner and extends between the third and fourth sides, wherein each of the third-side line and fourth-side line extends from the second-side line towards the first side to a position adjacent the hinge line and wherein the second-, third-, and fourth-side lines are cut for tearing and separating, at the lines, a closure portion of the pack from a remainder of the pack so that upon tearing and separating the closure portion from the remainder, the second, third and fourth sides of the closure portion separate from the remainder of the second, third and fourth sides of the pack and the first side of the closure portion is hingedly connected to the first side of the remainder at the hinge line for opening and closing the pack;

a second side portion of the remainder of the pack which, upon the closure portion being positioned for closing the pack, extends from a position adjacent the closure portion second side;

a first tab which is integral with and extends from the second side of the closure portion in a direction away from the corner for providing a tab for gripping and so that upon the closure portion being positioned for closing the pack, the first tab overlays the remainder second-side portion;

a slot which is formed and positioned in the remainder second-side portion so that upon the closure portion being positioned for closing the pack, the slot is overlaid by the first tab; and

a second tab formed from a portion of the first tab and configured and positioned for, upon the closure portion being positioned for closing the pack, engaging the slot for locking the first tab and closure to the remainder of the pack.

2. A pack according to claim 1 wherein the first tab terminates at a tab edge which extends between the third and fourth sides and further comprising a recess positioned in the second side of the remainder of the pack adjacent the tab edge and extending from the tab edge in a direction away from the corner.

3. A pack according to claim 2 wherein the pack second side is formed of a first panel and a second panel wherein the first panel overlays the second panel and forms an exterior of the pack and the closure portion second side, the first and second tabs and the recess are formed in the first panel.

4. A pack according to claim 3 wherein the slot is formed in the second panel.

5. A pack according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the slot is rectangularly shaped and extends lengthwise between the third and fourth sides and wherein the second tab is semi-circular in shape.

6. A pack according to claim 1 or 2 further comprising a fold line which defines an interface between the closure portion second side and the first tab.

7. A pack according to claim 1 wherein the first tab extends for a distance between the third and fourth sides which is substantially half of a distance of the second side between the third and fourth sides.

8. A pack according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the first side further comprises a semi-circular portion cutout recess which extends from the hinge line between the third and fourth sides and in a direction away from the corner.

9. A pack according to claim 8 further comprising a fold line which defines and interfaces between the closure portion second side and the first tab.

10. A pack according to claim 1 wherein the third-side and fourth-side lines have cuts which are shorter at a central portion of each line than at end portions of each line.

11. A pack according to claim 1 wherein the pack is made of cardboard.

12. A pack according to claim 11 wherein the cardboard is selected from the group consisting of standard, recycled, plain and microcorrugated cardboard.