Dispensing assembly for a lined carton and process and apparatus thereof

• US 6,145,736 A
• Filed: 09/10/1998
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Board of Trustees of Michigan State University (Michigan State University)
• Original Assignee: Kellogg Company
• Inventors: Ours, David C., Bradley, David L., Borgerson, Michael, Robotham, James O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US09/150,966
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 229/117.3, 229/117.31, 229/117.35, 229/125.04, 229/125.09, 229/125.14, 229/125.15, 229/215, 229/217, 229/117.32, 229/117.33, 229/117.3 4, 53/133.2, 53/133.4, 53/281, 53/471, 53/478, 222/541.5, 222/572, 222/573, 222/556, 222/563, 222/527, 222/528, 222/533, 493/87, 493/95, 493/128, 493/129, 493/907
• US Class Current: 229/117.3
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/744 combined with swivelling devices having a bottom-wall and two side-walls
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 493/907 Lined

Abstract

Dispensing assembly for a carton with a dispensing opening in a side wall thereof and a separate liner therein. The pour spout is pivotably mounted to the dispensing opening between an open and closed position and includes a front panel. The liner is bonded to the front panel so that when the front panel is initially opened, that portion of the liner bonded to said front panel separates from the rest of the liner, providing access to the interior thereof.

Claims

1. Dispensing assembly comprising:

(a) a carton having a dispensing opening in a side wall thereof and separate liner means therein;

(b) a pour spout mounted in said dispensing opening pivotable between open and closed positions and including a front panel having an upper edge which slopes downward from a high corner;

(c) said liner being bonded to said front panel whereby upon initial opening of the pour spout that portion of the liner bonded to the high corner of said front panel provides an area of reduced resistance to initiate separation from said liner providing access to the interior thereof.

2. Dispensing assembly of claim 1 wherein said front panel includes means to promote bonding with said liner.

3. Dispensing assembly of claim 2 wherein said means to promote bonding comprises a heat generator and a heat activatable adhesive.

4. Dispensing assembly of claim 3 wherein the heat generator is selected from the group consisting of a metal foil, a metallic salt or metal particles.

5. Dispensing assembly of claim 1 wherein said liner is also bonded to the interior of said carton adjacent at least one side of the dispensing opening.

6. Dispensing assembly comprising:

(a) a carton having side and end walls and separate liner adapted to contain particulate product therein;

(b) an access panel severably connected to one wall of said carton and pivotable at an integral base thereof;

(c) a fitment having a dispensing opening and an upper margin portion attached to the interior of said end wall such that said access panel overlies said dispensing opening; and

(d) a pour spout having side panels and a front panel having an upper edge which slopes downward from a high corner, said front panel being bonded on one side to the interior of said access panel to pivot therewith between open and closed positions, and on the other side to said liner such that upon initial opening of the pour spout, that portion of the liner bonded to the high corner of said front panel provides an area of reduced resistance to initiate separation from said liner providing access to the contents thereof.

7. Dispensing assembly of claim 6 wherein said fitment includes side members adjacent said dispensing opening forming a narrow space with the side walls of said carton for receiving the side panels of said pour spout.

8. Dispensing assembly of claim 7 wherein the side members of said fitment have means adjacent said dispensing opening to promote bonding with said liner.

9. Dispensing assembly of claim 6 wherein the front panel of said spout means has tab means adapted to interlock with releasable locking means in the upper margin portion of said fitment means.

10. Dispensing assembly of claim 6 wherein the end wall having said access panel has a removable section overlying a segment of the upper margin portion of said fitment adjacent said dispensing opening.

11. Process for making a dispensing assembly comprising:

(a) providing carton means having a dispensing opening in a side wall thereof, pour spout means mounted in said dispensing opening and including a front panel and separate liner means in said carton;

(b) bonding said liner means to said front panel whereby upon initial opening of the pour spout means, that portion of the liner bonded to said front panel separates from said liner means providing access to the interior thereof.

12. Process of claim 11 wherein said liner is filled and sealed and means are employed to bring said portion of said liner into contact with said front panel for bonding thereto.

13. Process of claim 12 wherein said carton is exposed to an area of reduced pressure to bring a portion of said liner means into contact with said front panel for bonding thereto.

14. Process of claim 11 wherein said front panel is provided with means to promote bonding to said liner and means are employed to deliver bonding energy to the interface between said front panel and said liner.

15. Process of claim 11 wherein the means to promote bonding comprises heat generating means and heat activatable adhesive means and means are employed to deliver heat energy to said heat generating means to seal said liner to said front panel.

16. Process of claim 15 wherein said heat generating means is a metal foil, a metallic salt or metal particles and said means to deliver heat energy comprises induction heating means.