Carton blank and carton formed therefrom

• US 5,857,614 A
• Filed: 09/19/1997
• Issued: 01/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging Corporation (Graphic Packaging International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Walsh, Joseph C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mai, Tri M.
• Application Number:
  US08/934,269
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 229/231, 229/160.2, 229/207, 229/125.04, 229/208, 229/209, 229/230, 229/3.1, 229/924, 229/925, 229/243, 229/242, 229/241, 229/4.5, 220/461, 220/463
• US Class Current: 229/231
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/6602 formed by folding one or more extensions hinged to the upper edge of a tubular container body
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/743 Spouts formed by deforming or tearing scored or incised parts of the side-wall of containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/744 combined with swivelling devices having a bottom-wall and two side-walls

Abstract

A carton formed from a carton blank so that the carton has an outer layer formed from a relatively rigid material and an inner layer formed from a relatively flexible fluid impervious material. The outer layer and the inner layer have superposed weakened portions secured together so that the carton may be opened along the superposed weakened portions in one simultaneous operation. Also, in another embodiment, a similar carton is provided with a pour spout.

Claims

1. A carton blank comprising:

a unitary sheet of a relatively rigid material;

said unitary sheet of a relatively rigid material having a plurality of cut and fold lines for dividing said unitary sheet of a relatively rigid material into conventional panel portions having at least a central body portion having at least three panel portions joined by two fold lines;

a generally rectangular sheet of a relatively flexible fluid impervious material having at least a central body portion;

at least portions of said at least a central body portion of said rectangular sheet being secured to said at least a central body portion of said unitary sheet;

continuous linearly extending weakened portions formed in said at least three panel portions of said unitary sheet;

at least a portion of said generally rectangular sheet being weakened along a line opposite to said continuous linearly extending weakened portions;

a continuous coating of adhesive securing together the portions of said at least a central body portion of said unitary sheet and said at least a central body portion of said generally rectangular sheet along and adjacent to said weakened portions; and

said continuous coating of adhesive cooperating with said at least a portion of said generally rectangular sheet to preserve the integrity of said generally rectangular sheet but to permit the simultaneously separation thereof with said unitary sheet.

2. A carton blank as in claim 1 wherein:

said generally rectangular sheet comprises a plastic material.

3. A carton blank as in claim 2 wherein:

said generally rectangular sheet of a plastic material comprises a separate first portion and a separate second portion having adjacent edge portions;

at least portions of one of said first and second portions being in an overlying relationship with at least portions of the other of said first and second portions;

a continuous portion of said overlying portions being secured together to preserve the integrity of said generally rectangular sheet of a relatively flexible fluid impervious material; and

at least a portion of said continuous portion being located opposite to said linearly extending weakened portions to permit the separation of said first and second portions simultaneously with said unitary sheet.

4. A carton blank as in claim 1 wherein:

said rectangular sheet comprises a laminate of a paper material and a plastic material with said paper material being secured to opposite portions of said unitary sheet.

5. A carton blank as in claim 4 wherein:

said generally rectangular sheet comprises a separate first portion and a separate second portion;

each of said separate first and second portions having an edge portion;

said edge portions being in a face to face relationship and being located opposite to said linearly extending weakened portion; and

at least said paper portions of said edge portions being secured together to preserve the integrity of said inner layer but to permit separation of said first and second portions simultaneously with the separation of said unitary sheet.

6. A carton blank as in claim 1 wherein:

said generally rectangular sheet comprises a laminate of a generally rectangular sheet of a relatively flexible paper material and a plastic material wherein said plastic material comprises a first portion and a second portion.

7. A carton blank as in claim 6 wherein:

at least portions of one of said first and second portions overlying at least portions of the other of said first and second portions;

a continuous portion of said overlying portions being secured together to preserve the integrity of said inner carton; and

at least a portion of said continuous portion being located opposite to said linearly extending weakened portion to permit the separation of said first and second portions simultaneously with the separation of said.

8. A carton blank as in claim 1 and further comprising:

said at least three panel portions having at least one sidewall panel portion having opposite side edges;

a panel portion integral with each of said opposite side edges and joined to said at least one sidewall panel portion by a fold line;

said linearly extending weakened portions of said outer unitary sheet extending from a location in one of said panel portions to a location in the other of said panel portions.

9. A carton blank as in claim 1 and further comprising:

said at least three panel portions having at least one sidewall panel portion having opposite substantially parallel side edges;

said linearly extending weakened portions having at least one portion extending between said opposite side edges and having opposite ends;

said linearly extending weakened portions also having at least other portions extending from said opposite ends and forming said opposite side edges;

spout forming material having a central portion and two wing portions integral with said central portion and extending outwardly on either side thereof;

at least a portion of said central portion of said spout forming material secured to at least a portion of said central body portion of said generally rectangular sheet between said linearly extending weakened portions of said opposite side edges; and

said at least a portion of said central body portion of said generally rectangular sheet being located opposite to said at least one portion of said linearly extending weakened portions so that a sufficient force can be applied to said weakened portions to separate said weakened portions and to pull said central portion and said wing portions outwardly to form a pour spout.

10. A carton blank as in claim 9 and further comprising:

a sharp point on each of said wing portions so that when said central portion is pulled outwardly said sharp points will penetrate and form openings in said generally rectangular sheet so that said portion of said generally rectangular sheet will tear along with said outer layer.

11. A carton formed from a carton blank comprising:

a unitary sheet of a relatively rigid material;

said unitary sheet of a relatively rigid material having a plurality of cut and fold lines for dividing said unitary sheet of a relatively rigid material into conventional panel portions having at least a central body portion having at least three panel portions joined by two fold lines;

a generally rectangular sheet of a relatively flexible fluid impervious material having at least a central body portion;

at least portions of said at least a central body portion of said rectangular sheet being secured to said at least a central body portion of said unitary sheet;

continuous linearly extending weakened portions formed in said at least three panel portions of said unitary sheet;

at least a portion of said generally rectangular sheet being weakened along a line opposite to said continuous linearly extending weakened portions;

a continuous coating of adhesive securing together the portions of said at least a central body portion of said unitary sheet and said at least a central body portion of said generally rectangular sheet along and adjacent to said weakened portions; and

said continuous coating of adhesive cooperating with said at least a portion of said generally rectangular sheet to preserve the integrity of said general rectangular sheet but to permit the simultaneously separation thereof with said unitary sheet comprising;

an outer layer formed from said unitary sheet of a relatively rigid material;

an inner layer formed from said generally rectangular sheet of a relatively flexible fluid impervious material;

said inner layer having a central body portion with at least portions of said central body portion secured to opposite portions of said outer layer; and

at least a portion of said secured together portions having said weakened portions in a superposed relationship so that one opening can be formed simultaneously in said outer and inner layers by the application of a force to said outer layer.

12. A carton as in claim 11 wherein:

said inner layer is formed from a plastic material.

13. A carton as in claim 11 wherein said weakened portion of said inner layer comprises:

a separate first portion and a separate second portion;

at least portions of one of said first and second portions overlying at least portions of the other of said first and second portions;

a continuous portion of said overlying portions being secured together to preserve the integrity of said inner carton;

at least a portion of said continuous portions being located opposite to said linearly extending weakened portions of said outer layer to permit said simultaneously opening of said outer and inner layers.

14. A carton as in claim 11 wherein:

said inner layer comprises a laminate of a paper material and a plastic material with said paper material having said central body portion and said central body portion of said paper material being secured to opposite portions of said outer layer.

15. A carton as in claim 14 wherein said weakened portion of said inner layer comprises:

a separate first portion and a separate second portion;

each of said separate first and second portions having an edge portion;

said edge portions being in a face to face relationship and being located opposite to said linearly extending weakened portions; and

at least portions of said edge portions being secured together to preserve the integrity of said inner carton but to permit separation of said first and second portions so that one opening can be formed simultaneously in said outer and inner layers.

16. A carton as in claim 11 wherein:

said inner layer comprises a laminate of a generally rectangular sheet of a relatively flexible paper material and a plastic material wherein said plastic material comprises a separate first portion and a separate second portion;

at least portions of one of said first and second portions overlying at least portions of the other of said first and second portions;

a continuous portion of said overlying portions being secured together to preserve the integrity of said inner layer; and

at least a portion of said continuous portions being located opposite to said linearly extending weakened portion to permit the separation of said first and second layers so that one opening can be formed simultaneously in said outer and inner layers.

17. A carton as in claim 11 and further comprising:

said linearly extending weakened portions of said outer layer extending from a location in one of said at least three panel portions to a location in another of said at least three panel portions.

18. A carton as in claim 11 wherein said carton blank further comprises said at least three panel portions having at least one sidewall panel portion having at least a portion of said central body portion of said at least three panel portions having opposite substantially parallel side edges;

said linearly extending weakened portions having at least one portion extending between said opposite side edges and having opposite ends;

said linearly extending weakened portions also having at least other portions extending from said opposite ends and forming said opposite side edges and further comprising;

a spout having a central portion and two wing portions integral with said central portion and extending outwardly on either side thereof;

at least a portion of said central portion of said spout secured to at least a portion of said central body portion of said generally rectangular sheet between said linearly extending weakened portions of said opposite side edges; and

said at least a portion of said generally rectangular sheet being located opposite to said at least one portion of said linearly extending weakened portions so that a sufficient force can be applied to said weakened portions to separate said weakened portions and to pull said central portion and said wing portions outwardly to form a pour spout.

19. A carton as in claim 18 and further comprising:

a sharp point on each of said wing portions so that when said central portion is pulled outwardly said sharp points will penetrate and form openings in said generally rectangular sheet so that said portion of said generally rectangular sheet will tear along with said outer layer.