Carton blank, carton and method of forming the carton

• US 7,210,612 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2005
• Issued: 05/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Kastanek, Raymond S., Walsh, Joseph C., Conatser, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai; Tri M.
• Application Number:
  US11/040,532
• Publication Number:
  US 20050127150A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 229/117.27, 229/117.3, 229/215, 229/217, 229/219, 229/228, 229/125.42, 229/160.1, 229/122, 229/125.09, 229/229, 229/231, 229/145, 229/148, 229/121
• US Class Current: 229/117.27
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/6623 the lid being hinged about a line located in the top surface of the container

Abstract

A carton blank having an outer layer of a relatively rigid material, a first inner layer of a relatively rigid material superposed over a portion of the outer layer and a second inner layer of a relatively flexible layer of a fluid impervious material is provided with first and second weakened portions so that, after a carton has been formed from the carton blank, filled with a desired material and sealed, the first weakened portion may be broken to form a flip top lid which when moved in an arcuate path will gradually sever the second weakened portion to form an opening in the carton so that an amount of the desired material may be removed from the carton. The carton also may include a feature which allows the flip top lid to be securely re-closed after initial opening of the lid.

Claims

1. A method of opening and closing a container, the method comprising:

providing a container, comprising;

an exterior body having a lid;

an insert member adhered to the body and having at least one sidewall panel, the insert member having a latch panel adhered to the lid and a hinge portion disposed adjacent to the latch panel, the insert member being formed from a first material; and

a sheet of a second, fluid-impervious material disposed on an interior of the container and adhered to the insert member;

moving the lid to an open position by applying an opening force thereto, wherein the opening force causes the latch panel to separate from the at least one sidewall panel, thereby forming a hole in the at least one sidewall panel, and wherein the opening force causes the hinge portion to pivot upwardly;

moving the lid to a closed position by applying a closing force thereto; and

releasably retaining the lid in the closed position by engaging at least a portion of the latch panel with at least a portion of the hinge portion.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the lid is a flip top lid.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sheet of material covers the hole.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a score line defines an upper portion of the hinge portion.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the hinge portion pivots about the score line when the container moves to the open position.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the latch panel is defined in part by cut lines.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the latch panel is attached to the lid by adhesive.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the sheet of material covers the hole.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the hinge portion is not adhered to the sheet of material.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the lid comprises a tab portion.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the latch panel is attached to the lid by adhesive.

12. A container, comprising:

an exterior body having a pivotable lid;

an insert member adhered to the exterior body and having a plurality of sidewall panels, the insert member having a latch panel adhered to the lid and a binge portion disposed adjacent to the latch panel, the latch panel and the binge portion being formed in one of the sidewall panels, the insert member being formed from a first material; and

a sheet of a second, fluid-impervious material disposed on an interior of the container and adhered to the insert member, wherein

the container includes a first condition before the container has initially been opened, a second open condition and a third re-closed condition,

in the first condition, the latch panel is attached to both the insert member and the lid,

in the second condition, the latch panel remains attached to the lid but has been removed from the insert member, thus leaving a hole in the sidewall panel in which the hinge portion is formed,

in the third condition, the latch panel is releasably engaged with the hinge portion, and

the hinge portion pivots upwardly when the container moves from the first condition to the second condition.

13. The container of claim 12, wherein the hinge portion is not adhered to the sheet of material.

14. The container of claim 13, wherein the sheet of material covers the hole.

15. The container of claim 13, wherein the latch panel is attached to the lid by adhesive.

16. The container of claim 15, wherein a score line defines an upper portion of the hinge portion and the binge portion pivots about the score line when the container moves from the first condition to the second condition.

17. The container of claim 16, wherein in the first condition, the latch panel is defined in part by cut lines.

18. The container of claim 15, wherein the lid is a flip top lid and comprises a tab portion.