Cartons with reclosable features

• US 9,346,582 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2014
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC (Graphic Packaging International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Pinkstone, Felicia A.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEMEREE, CHRISTOPHER R
• Application Number:
  US14/449,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20150034711A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 229/226, 229/232, 229/225, 229/224
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/26 Folding sheets, blanks or webs
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/0227 with end closures formed by inward folding of flaps and securing them by heat-sealing, by applying adhesive to the flaps or by staples
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/5415 the lines of weakness being provided in one or more closure flaps and in the container body so as to form after rupture a lid hinged to a side edge of the container body
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/6608 the lid being held in closed position by self-locking integral flaps

Abstract

A carton for holding a product is disclosed. The carton comprises a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprise a front panel, a back panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. The carton further comprises a hinge in at least one of the plurality of panels and a reclosable lid pivotably attached to the carton. The reclosable lid comprises a first intermediate panel foldably connected to at least one of the plurality of panels and a second intermediate panel foldably connected to the first intermediate panel. The first intermediate panel is positioned in face-to-face contact with the second intermediate panel. The reclosable lid is pivotable at the hinge between a closed position preventing access to the interior of the carton and an open position allowing access to the interior of the carton.

Claims

1. A carton for holding and dispensing a product, the carton comprises:

a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprise a front panel, a back panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel;

a hinge in at least one of the plurality of panels;

a reclosable lid pivotably attached to the carton, the reclosable lid comprises a first intermediate panel removably connected to the front panel along a first tear line, a second intermediate panel foldably connected to the first intermediate panel along a first fold line, a third intermediate panel removably connected to the first side panel along a second tear line, and a fourth intermediate panel foldably connected to the third intermediate panel along a second fold line, the first intermediate panel is positioned in face-to-face contact with the second intermediate panel and the third intermediate panel is positioned in face-to-face contact with the fourth intermediate panel; and

the reclosable lid is pivotable at the hinge between a closed position preventing access to the interior of the carton and an open position allowing access to the interior of the carton; and

wherein the fourth intermediate panel includes a first corner portion defined by a tear line extending from the second fold line and at least a portion of the first corner portion is in face-to-face contact with the first side panel.

2. The carton of claim 1, wherein the reclosable lid comprises a fifth intermediate panel removably connected to the second side panel along a third tear line and a sixth intermediate panel foldably connected to the fifth intermediate panel along a third fold line, the fifth intermediate panel is positioned in face-to-face contact with the sixth intermediate panel.

3. The carton of claim 2, wherein the sixth intermediate panel includes a second corner portion defined by a tear line extending from the third fold line and at least a portion of the second corner portion is in face-to-face contact with the second side panel.

4. The carton of claim 2 further comprises a plurality of end flaps, the plurality of end flaps are configured to close a first end of the carton, the end flaps comprises a first end flap foldably connected to the front panel, a second end flap foldably connected to the first side panel, a third end flap foldably connected to the second side panel, and a fourth end flap foldably connected to the back panel.

5. The carton of claim 4, wherein the first end flap is foldably connected to the front panel by the first intermediate panel and the second intermediate panel.

6. The carton of claim 5, wherein the second end flap is foldably connected to the first side panel by the third intermediate panel and the fourth intermediate panel.

7. The carton of claim 6, wherein the third end flap is foldably connected to the second side panel by the fifth intermediate panel and the sixth intermediate panel.

8. The carton of claim 7, wherein the fourth end flap is foldably connected to the back panel at a fold line.

9. The carton of claim 8, wherein the reclosable lid comprises the plurality of end flaps and the hinge comprises the fold line.

10. The carton of claim 2, wherein a first cutout separates the third intermediate panel from the first intermediate panel and a second cutout separates the fifth intermediate panel from the first intermediate panel.

11. The carton of claim 1, wherein the lid features comprise a locking tab defined by at least one tear line in the first intermediate panel and the locking tab is foldably connected to the front panel.

12. The carton of claim 1, wherein the first fold line is substantially straight.

13. The carton of claim 1, wherein the first fold line is curved.

14. A carton for holding and dispensing a product, the carton comprises:

a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprise a front panel, a back panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel;

a hinge in at least one of the plurality of panels;

a reclosable lid pivotably attached to the carton, the reclosable lid comprises a first intermediate panel removably connected to the first side panel along a first tear line, a second intermediate panel foldably connected to the first intermediate panel along a first fold line, a third intermediate panel removably connected to the second side panel along a second tear line, and a fourth intermediate panel foldably connected to the third intermediate panel along a second fold line, the first intermediate panel is positioned in face-to-face contact with the second intermediate panel and the third intermediate panel is positioned in face-to-face contact with the fourth intermediate panel; and

the reclosable lid is pivotable at the hinge between a closed position preventing access to the interior of the carton and an open position allowing access to the interior of the carton; and

wherein the second intermediate panel includes a first corner portion defined by a tear line extending from the first fold line and at least a portion of the first corner portion is in face-to-face contact with the first side panel.

15. The carton of claim 14, wherein the reclosable lid comprises a fifth intermediate panel foldably connected to the second intermediate panel and the fourth intermediate panel.

16. The carton of claim 15, wherein a cutout separates the first intermediate panel from the third intermediate panel and the fifth intermediate panel from the front panel.

17. The carton of claim 16, wherein the carton comprises a locking tab defined by at least one tear line in the front panel, the locking tab is adjacent the cutout.

18. The carton of claim 17, wherein the locking tab is a first locking tab, the carton comprises a second locking tab foldably connected to the first side panel and defined by a tear line in the first intermediate panel and a third locking tab foldably connected to the second side panel and defined by a tear line in the third intermediate panel.

19. The carton of claim 15 further comprises a plurality of end flaps, the plurality of end flaps are configured to close a first end of the carton, the end flaps comprises a first end flap foldably connected to the front panel, a second end flap foldably connected to the first side panel, a third end flap foldably connected to the second side panel, and a fourth end flap foldably connected to the back panel.

20. The carton of claim 19, wherein the second end flap is foldably connected to the first side panel by the first intermediate panel and the second intermediate panel, the third end flap is foldably connected to the second side panel by the third intermediate panel and the fourth intermediate panel.

21. The carton of claim 20, wherein the first end flap is foldably connected to the front panel by the fifth intermediate panel.

22. The carton of claim 21, wherein the fourth end flap is foldably connected to the back panel at a fold line, and the reclosable lid comprises the end flaps and the hinge comprises the fold line.

23. A carton for holding and dispensing a product, the carton comprises:

a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprise a front panel, a back panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel;

a hinge in at least one of the plurality of panels;

a reclosable lid pivotably attached to the carton, the reclosable lid comprises a first intermediate panel removably connected to the front panel along a first tear line, a second intermediate panel foldably connected to the first intermediate panel along a first fold line, a third intermediate panel foldably connected to the second intermediate panel, and a fourth intermediate panel foldably connected to the second intermediate panel, the first intermediate panel is positioned in face-to-face contact with the second intermediate panel;

the reclosable lid is pivotable at the hinge between a closed position preventing access to the interior of the carton and an open position allowing access to the interior of the carton; and

wherein the third intermediate panel includes a first corner portion defined by a tear line extending from an edge of the third intermediate panel and at least a portion of the first corner portion is in face-to-face contact with the first side panel.

24. The carton of claim 23 further comprises a plurality of end flaps, the plurality of end flaps are configured to close a first end of the carton, the end flaps comprises a first end flap foldably connected to the front panel, a second end flap foldably connected to the first side panel, a third end flap foldably connected to the second side panel, and a fourth end flap foldably connected to the back panel.

25. The carton of claim 24, wherein the first end flap is foldably connected to the front panel by the first intermediate panel and the second intermediate panel, the second end flap is foldably connected to the first side panel by the third intermediate panel, and the third end flap is foldably connected to the second side panel by the fourth intermediate panel.

26. The carton of claim 25, wherein the fourth end flap is foldably connected to the back panel at a fold line, and the reclosable lid comprises the end flaps and the hinge comprises the fold line.

27. A blank for forming a carton for holding and dispensing a product, the blank comprises:

a plurality of panels, the plurality of panels comprise a front panel, a back panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel;

a hinge in at least one of the plurality of panels;

lid features for forming a reclosable lid, the reclosable lid comprises a first intermediate panel removably connected to the front panel along a first tear line, a second intermediate panel foldably connected to the first intermediate panel along a first fold line, a third intermediate panel removably connected to the first side panel along a second tear line, and a fourth intermediate panel foldably connected to the third intermediate panel along a second fold line, the first intermediate panel is for being positioned in face-to-face contact with the second intermediate panel and the third intermediate panel is for being positioned in face-to-face contact with the fourth intermediate panel when the blank is formed into a carton; and

wherein the fourth intermediate panel includes a first corner portion defined by a tear line extending from the second fold line and at least a portion of the first corner portion is for being positioned in face-to-face contact with the first side panel when the blank is formed into a carton.

28. The blank of claim 27, wherein the reclosable lid comprises a fifth intermediate panel removably connected to the second side panel along a third tear line and a sixth intermediate panel foldably connected to the fifth intermediate panel along a third fold line, the fifth intermediate panel is for being positioned in face-to-face contact with the sixth intermediate panel when the blank is formed into a carton.

29. The blank of claim 28, wherein the sixth intermediate panel includes a second corner portion defined by a tear line extending from the third fold line and at least a portion of the second corner portion is for being positioned in face-to-face contact with the second side panel when the blank is formed into a carton.

30. The blank of claim 28 further comprises a plurality of end flaps, the plurality of end flaps are configured to close a first end of the carton when the blank is formed into a carton, the end flaps comprises a first end flap foldably connected to the front panel, a second end flap foldably connected to the first side panel, a third end flap foldably connected to the second side panel, and a fourth end flap foldably connected to the back panel.

31. The blank of claim 30, wherein the first end flap is foldably connected to the front panel by the first intermediate panel and the second intermediate panel.

32. The blank of claim 31, wherein the second end flap is foldably connected to the first side panel by the third intermediate panel and the fourth intermediate panel.

33. The blank of claim 32, wherein the third end flap is foldably connected to the second side panel by the fifth intermediate panel and the sixth intermediate panel.

34. The blank of claim 33, wherein the fourth end flap is foldably connected to the back panel at a fold line.

35. The blank of claim 28, wherein a first cutout separates the third intermediate panel from the first intermediate panel and a second cutout separates the fifth intermediate panel from the first intermediate panel.

36. The blank of claim 27, wherein the lid features comprise a locking tab defined by at least one tear line in the first intermediate panel and the locking tab is foldably connected to the front panel.

37. The blank of claim 27, wherein the first fold line is substantially straight.

38. The blank of claim 27, wherein the first fold line is curved.

39. A blank for forming a carton for holding and dispensing a product, the blank comprises:

a plurality of panels, the plurality of panels comprise a front panel, a back panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel;

a hinge in at least one of the plurality of panels;

lid features for forming a reclosable lid, the reclosable lid comprises a first intermediate panel removably connected to the first side panel along a first tear line, a second intermediate panel foldably connected to the first intermediate panel along a first fold line, a third intermediate panel removably connected to the second side panel along a second tear line, and a fourth intermediate panel foldably connected to the third intermediate panel along a second fold line, the first intermediate panel is for being positioned in face-to-face contact with the second intermediate panel and the third intermediate panel is for being positioned in face-to-face contact with the fourth intermediate panel when the blank is formed into a carton; and

wherein the second intermediate panel includes a first corner portion defined by a tear line extending from the first fold line and at least a portion of the first corner portion is for being positioned in face-to-face contact with the first side panel when the blank is formed into a carton.

40. The blank of claim 39, wherein the reclosable lid comprises a fifth intermediate panel foldably connected to the second intermediate panel and the fourth intermediate panel.

41. The blank of claim 40, wherein a cutout separates the first intermediate panel from the third intermediate panel and the fifth intermediate panel from the front panel.

42. The blank of claim 41, wherein the blank comprises a locking tab defined by at least one tear line in the front panel, the locking tab is adjacent the cutout.

43. The blank of claim 42, wherein the locking tab is a first locking tab, the blank comprises a second locking tab foldably connected to the first side panel and defined by a tear line in the first intermediate panel and a third locking tab foldably connected to the second side panel and defined by a tear line in the third intermediate panel.

44. The blank of claim 40 further comprises a plurality of end flaps, the plurality of end flaps are configured to close a first end of the carton when the blank is formed into a carton, the end flaps comprises a first end flap foldably connected to the front panel, a second end flap foldably connected to the first side panel, a third end flap foldably connected to the second side panel, and a fourth end flap foldably connected to the back panel.

45. The blank of claim 44, wherein the second end flap is foldably connected to the first side panel by the first intermediate panel and the second intermediate panel, the third end flap is foldably connected to the second side panel by the third intermediate panel and the fourth intermediate panel.

46. The blank of claim 45, wherein the first end flap is foldably connected to the front panel by the fifth intermediate panel.

47. The blank of claim 46, wherein the fourth end flap is foldably connected to the back panel at a fold line, and the reclosable lid comprises the end flaps and the hinge comprises the fold line.

48. A blank for forming a carton for holding and dispensing a product, the blank comprises:

a plurality of panels, the plurality of panels comprise a front panel, a back panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel;

a hinge in at least one of the plurality of panels;

lid features for forming a reclosable lid, the reclosable lid comprises a first intermediate panel removably connected to the first front panel along a first tear line, a second intermediate panel foldably connected to the first intermediate panel along a first fold line, a third intermediate panel foldably connected to the second intermediate panel, and a fourth intermediate panel foldably connected to the second intermediate panel, the first intermediate panel is for being positioned in face-to-face contact with the second intermediate panel when the blank is formed into a carton; and

wherein the third intermediate panel includes a first corner portion defined by a tear line extending from an edge of the third intermediate panel and at least a portion of the first corner portion is for being positioned in face-to-face contact with the first side panel when the blank is formed into a carton.

49. The blank of claim 48 further comprises a plurality of end flaps, the plurality of end flaps are configured to close a first end of the carton when the blank is formed into a carton, the end flaps comprises a first end flap foldably connected to the front panel, a second end flap foldably connected to the first side panel, a third end flap foldably connected to the second side panel, and a fourth end flap foldably connected to the back panel.

50. The blank of claim 49, wherein the first end flap is foldably connected to the front panel by the first intermediate panel and the second intermediate panel, the second end flap is foldably connected to the first side panel by the third intermediate panel, and the third end flap is foldably connected to the second side panel by the fourth intermediate panel.

51. A method of forming a carton for holding and dispensing a product, the method comprising:

obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels, the plurality of panels comprise a front panel, a back panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel;

a hinge in at least one of the plurality of panels;

lid features for forming a reclosable lid;

the lid features comprise a first intermediate panel removably connected to the front panel along a first tear line, a second intermediate panel foldably connected to the first intermediate panel along a first fold line, a third intermediate panel removably connected to the first side panel along a second tear line, and a fourth intermediate panel foldably connected to the third intermediate panel along a second fold line, the fourth intermediate panel includes a first corner portion defined by a tear line extending from the second fold line;

forming an interior of the carton at least partially defined by the plurality of panels; and

forming the reclosable lid by positioning the first intermediate panel in face-to-face contact with the second intermediate panel, positioning the third intermediate panel in face-to-face contact with the fourth intermediate panel, and positioning at least a portion of the first corner portion in face-to-face contact with the first side panel, the reclosable lid is pivotable at the hinge between a closed position preventing access to the interior of the carton and an open position allowing access to the interior of the carton.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the method further comprises accessing the interior of the carton by separating the reclosable lid from the carton and pivoting the lid at the hinge to the open position.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein the method further comprises reclosing the carton by pivoting the reclosable lid at the hinge to the closed position.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the reclosing the carton comprises engaging an at least one locking tab with a locking feature of the reclosable lid.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the locking feature is a recess in the reclosable lid.

56. The method of claim 51, wherein the reclosable lid comprises a fifth intermediate panel removably connected to the second side panel along a third tear line and a sixth intermediate panel foldably connected to the fifth intermediate panel along a third fold line;

and the method further comprises positioning the fifth intermediate panel in face-to-face contact with the sixth intermediate panel.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the sixth intermediate panel includes a second corner portion defined by a tear line extending from the third fold line;

and the method further comprises positioning at least a portion of the second corner portion in face-to-face contact with the second side panel.

58. The method of claim 51, wherein the lid features comprise a locking tab defined by at least one tear line in the first intermediate panel and the locking tab is foldably connected to the front panel.

59. A method of forming a carton for holding and dispensing a product, the method comprising:

obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels, the plurality of panels comprise a front panel, a back panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel;

a hinge in at least one of the plurality of panels;

lid features for forming a reclosable lid;

the lid features comprise a first intermediate panel removably connected to the first side panel along a first tear line, a second intermediate panel foldably connected to the first intermediate panel along a first fold line, a third intermediate panel removably connected to the second side panel along a second tear line, and a fourth intermediate panel foldably connected to the third intermediate panel along a second fold line, the third intermediate panel includes a first corner portion defined by a tear line extending from the first fold line;

forming an interior of the carton at least partially defined by the plurality of panels; and

forming the reclosable lid by positioning the first intermediate panel in face-to-face contact with the second intermediate panel, positioning the third intermediate panel in face-to-face contact with the fourth intermediate panel, and positioning at least a portion of the first corner portion in face-to-face contact with the first side panel, the reclosable lid is pivotable at the hinge between a closed position preventing access to the interior of the carton and an open position allowing access to the interior of the carton.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the reclosable lid comprises a fifth intermediate panel foldably connected to the second intermediate side panel and the fourth intermediate side panel.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein a cutout separates the first intermediate panel from the third intermediate panel and the fifth intermediate panel from the front panel.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the carton comprises a locking tab defined by at least one tear line in the front panel, the locking tab is adjacent the cutout.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein the locking tab is a first locking tab, the carton comprises a second locking tab foldably connected to the first side panel and defined by a tear line in the first intermediate panel and a third locking tab foldably connected to the second side panel and defined by a tear line in the third intermediate panel.