Carton blank and method for forming the carton blank

• US 5,988,494 A
• Filed: 10/01/1998
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging Corporation
• Inventors: Fontaine, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US09/164,876
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• Field of Search: 229/123.1, 229/125.42, 229/137, 229/138, 229/249, 493/133, 493/162, 53/376.6, 53/477, 53/491
• US Class Current: 229/249
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/068 with supplemental means facilitating the opening, e.g. tear lines, tear tabs

Abstract

A gable top for a carton formed from a carton blank having an outer layer bonded to an intermediate layer by a first strength and an inner layer bonded to the intermediate layer by a second strength less than by a first strength and wherein the intermediate layer is of an esthetically pleasing color and formed into a gable top by sealing together facing portions of the inner layer so that when the gable top is separated to form a pour spout the inner surface of the pour spout will be aesthetically pleasing.

Claims

1. A carton blank for forming a closed carton by folding and sealing together portions of the carton blank comprising:

an outer layer of a relatively rigid material having an outer surface and an inner surface;

an intermediate layer of a first plastic material secured to said inner surface of said outer layer by a first bond of a predetermined first strength;

said intermediate layer having an inner surface;

an inner layer of a second plastic material secured to said inner surface of said intermediate layer by a second bond of a second strength that is less than said first strength so that when a sufficient force is applied to at least a portion of said inner layer, said at least a portion of said inner layer will separate from the corresponding at least a portion of said intermediate layer but said corresponding at least a portion of said intermediate layer will not separate from said outer layer.

2. A carton blank as in claim 1 wherein:

at least said first plastic material is fluid impervious; and

said second plastic material being heat sealable so that superposed portions thereof may be sealed together by the application of heat without adding to the strength of said second bond.

3. A carton blank as in claim 2 wherein:

said first plastic material comprises polypropylene; and

said second plastic material comprises polyethylene.

4. A carton blank as in claim 3 wherein:

said polypropylene is a desired aesthetic color; and

said polyethylene is transparent.

5. A carton blank as in claim 1 wherein:

said second plastic material having shear strength less than the strength of said second bond.

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

a release coating on at least selective sections of said portions of said continuous layer of a second plastic material that are to be heat sealed together so that an effective but more easily opened seal is obtained at said selective sections.

7. A carton blank as in claim 6 wherein:

at least said first plastic material is fluid impervious; and

said second plastic material being heat sealable so that superposed portions thereof may be sealed together by the application of heat without adding to the strength of said second bond.

8. A carton blank as in claim 7 wherein:

said first plastic material comprises polypropylene; and

said second plastic material comprises polyethylene.

9. A carton blank as in claim 8 wherein:

said polypropylene is a desired aesthetic color; and

said polyethylene is transparent.

10. A carton blank as in claim 6 wherein:

said second plastic material having shear strength less than the strength of said second bond.

11. A method for forming a closed carton having a partially openable gable top which may be opened to form a spout while retaining an anesthetic appearance to the inner surface of the opened spout comprising:

forming a carton blank having an outer layer of a relatively rigid material, an intermediate layer of a first plastic material and an inner layer of a second plastic material;

bonding together said outer layer and said intermediate layer with a first bond of a predetermined first strength;

bonding together said intermediate layer and said inner layer with a second bond of a second strength which second strength is less than said first strength;

forming fold lines in said carton blank;

folding said carton blank to form a carton having a gable top so that portions of said inner layer forming said gable top are in a face to face relationship;

applying heat to said portions of said inner layer to bond said portions of said inner layer together with a third bond of a third strength that is greater than said second strength but less than said first strength.

12. A method as in claim 11 and further comprising:

said second plastic material having shear strength that is less than said second strength of said second bond and less than the strength of the heat sealed together portions of said second plastic material.

13. A method as in claim 12 and further comprising:

using a polypropylene material as said first plastic material; and

using a polyethylene material as said second plastic material.

14. A method as in claim 11 wherein said outer layer has an outer surface and an inner surface and further comprising:

applying said first plastic material as a continuous layer over the entire portion of said inner surface so that said first plastic material has an exposed inner surface; and

applying said second plastic material as a continuous layer over the entire portion of said exposed inner surface of said first plastic material.

15. A method as in claim 14 and further comprising:

said second plastic material having shear strength that is less than said second strength of said second bond and less than the strength of the heat sealed together portions of said second plastic material.

16. A carton having a gable top so that sealed together portions of the gable top may be separated to form a pour spout without impairing the aesthetic appearance of the exposed inner surface of the pour spout comprising:

a carton having a gable top formed from a plurality of superposed layers of materials having at least portions thereof sealed together to form an effective seal;

said at least sealed together portions comprising;

an outer layer of a relatively rigid material having at least a first section and a second section integral with said first section and joined thereto by a fold line and said outer layer having an inner surface;

an intermediate layer of a first plastic material secured to said inner surface of said outer layer and having a first section and a second section integral with said first section and joined thereto by a fold line and said intermediate layer having an inner surface;

said intermediate layer being secured to said outer layer by a first bond of a predetermined first strength;

an inner layer of a second plastic material secured to said inner surface of said intermediate layer and having a first section and a second section integral with said first section and joined thereto by a fold line and said inner layer having an inner surface;

said inner layer being secured to said intermediate layer by a second bond having a second strength less than said first strength;

said fold lines of said outer, intermediate and inner layers being in a superposed relationship;

said outer, intermediate and inner layers being folded around said fold lines so that at least portions of said inner surface of said inner layer are in a face to face relationship; and

said at least portions of said inner surface of said inner layer being secured together by a third bond having a third strength that is less than said first strength but more than said second strength.

17. A carton as in claim 16 and further comprising:

said second plastic material having a shear strength less than said second strength of said second bond and less than said third strength of said third bond.

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

a release coating on at least one of said at least portions of said inner surface of said inner layer to facilitate separation of said third bond therebetween.

19. A carton as in claim 16 and further comprising:

a release coating on at least one of said at least portions of said inner surface of said inner layer to facilitate separation of said third bond therebetween.