Pre-lined carton with dispensing spout

• US 6,227,440 B1
• Filed: 02/22/1999
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC (Graphic Packaging International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation (WestRock Company)
• Inventors: Hart, Joseph J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US09/255,529
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 279/117.3, 279/117.31, 279/117.34, 279/125.04, 279/125.08, 279/125.15, 222/528, 222/531, 222/535, 222/541.5
• US Class Current: 229/117.3
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/744 combined with swivelling devices having a bottom-wall and two side-walls

Abstract

A pre-lined carton of the present invention includes a carton formed from a blank having a liner adhered to the inner surfaces of the carton. The carton includes a pour spout which is movable between a closed position and an open position. The carton has a panel which covers the pour spout and is removed to expose the pour spout. The opening created by the removable panel is sized to allow the spout to be moved from its closed position to its open position. The spout is part of a mounting assembly which includes a mounting panel to which the spout is hingedly connected. The mounting panel is glued to the inner surface of the container so that the spout will be between the mounting panel and the container wall. The spout assembly mounting panel includes an opening which communicates with the spout, and which is aligned with the removable panel of the container.

Claims

1. A pre-lined carton including:

a carton box formed from a blank, the carton comprising walls which define an enclosure, the carton walls having inner surfaces;

a liner sized to fit in the carton enclosure, said liner being glued to the inner surfaces of the carton walls;

a pour spout on the carton, the pour spout being movable between a closed position and an open position, the liner also being glued to a surface of the pour spout, whereby the spout is initially closed to prevent access to product within the liner, and upon opening the spout for a first time, an opening forms in the liner to allow the product to be poured out of the pour spout of the carton;

said liner being adhered to the inner surfaces of the carton in the blank configuration before the blank is folded into the carton box;

a spout assembly, the spout assembly including a mounting panel and said pour spout, said mounting panel being adhered to said inner surface of one of said carton walls, said pour spout being hingedly connected to said mounting panel, said pour spout being positioned between said mounting panel and said carton wall, said mounting panel including an opening therein sized to permit product to flow from said liner through said pour spout after said pour spout has been opened for the first time.

2. The pre-lined carton of claim 1 including a removable panel on said carton wall;

said spout assembly being positioned in said carton wall such that said mounting panel opening is aligned with said carton removable panel;

whereby when said panel is removed from said carton an opening is formed in said carton wall which exposes said pour spout;

said carton wall opening being sized to permit said pour spout to pivot through said carton wall opening.

3. The pre-lined carton of claim 1 including said removable panel having edges, and a tear-strip adjacent an edge of said removable panel to facilitate removal of said removable panel.