Convertible-reclosable box/carton with pour spout
First Claim
1. A package for containing a flowable product therein, said package being in the form of a carton or box, said package having a planar front panel, a planar rear panel, a planar top panel, a planar bottom panel, a pair of planar side panels, and a closure, all of said panels being connected to one another and defining therebetween a hollow interior for holding the pourable product therein, said upper panel merging with said front panel at a front corner and merging with said rear panel at a rear corner, said upper panel having a first portion arranged to be removed therefrom adjacent one of said side panels to form a spout through which the flowable product may be poured, said closure comprising a first connector located adjacent said front corner and a second connector located adjacent said rear corner, said side panels including plural preformed lines located contiguous with said top panel, at least one of said lines being severable parallel to the plane of said top panel and being located immediately adjacent thereto, at least one other of said lines being foldable, said top panel having a fold line extending thereacross approximately midway between said side panels and being located between said front and rear panels, said package being arranged to be re-closed after removal of said first portion of said top panel by folding said top panel along said fold line and bringing portions of said front and rear panel contiguous with said front and rear corners into a confronting relationship, whereupon said first connector releasably engages said second connector to hold said front and rear panels together and to close said spout.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A package, e.g., carton or box, for a flowable product, e.g., dry cereal. The carton/box has a planar front panel, a planar rear panel, a planar top panel, a planar bottom panel, a pair of planar side panels, and a closure assembly. The upper panel merges with the front panel at a front corner and merges with the rear panel at a rear corner. The upper panel includes two sections, pivotably connected to each other, with one of the sections located contiguous with the front corner and the other contiguous with the rear corner. The upper panel also has a first, e.g., U-shaped, portion arranged to be removed, e.g., torn away, adjacent one of the side panels to form a pouring spout. The closure assembly comprises a first releasably securable connector located adjacent the front corner, and a second releasably securable connector located adjacent the rear corner. The side panels of the package include plural preformed, e.g., weakened, lines located contiguous with the top panel. At least one of the lines in each side panel is severable parallel to the plane of the top panel immediately adjacent the top panel. The other lines in each side panel are foldable. The top panel also has a fold line extending fully thereacross between the two sections making up that panel. The package'"'"'s spout is arranged to be re-closed by folding the two sections making up the top panel along it'"'"'s fold line and bringing those portions of the front and rear panels contiguous with the front and rear corners into a confronting relationship with each other, whereupon they become releasably secured to hold the front and rear panels together and to close the spout.
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Citations
32 Claims
- 1. A package for containing a flowable product therein, said package being in the form of a carton or box, said package having a planar front panel, a planar rear panel, a planar top panel, a planar bottom panel, a pair of planar side panels, and a closure, all of said panels being connected to one another and defining therebetween a hollow interior for holding the pourable product therein, said upper panel merging with said front panel at a front corner and merging with said rear panel at a rear corner, said upper panel having a first portion arranged to be removed therefrom adjacent one of said side panels to form a spout through which the flowable product may be poured, said closure comprising a first connector located adjacent said front corner and a second connector located adjacent said rear corner, said side panels including plural preformed lines located contiguous with said top panel, at least one of said lines being severable parallel to the plane of said top panel and being located immediately adjacent thereto, at least one other of said lines being foldable, said top panel having a fold line extending thereacross approximately midway between said side panels and being located between said front and rear panels, said package being arranged to be re-closed after removal of said first portion of said top panel by folding said top panel along said fold line and bringing portions of said front and rear panel contiguous with said front and rear corners into a confronting relationship, whereupon said first connector releasably engages said second connector to hold said front and rear panels together and to close said spout.
Specification