Cartons with reclosable opening features

• US 20070095881A1
• Filed: 10/25/2006
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Manaige, Tim
• Granted Patent: US 8,672,214 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 229/101.2
• 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 5/5425 and defining after rupture a lid hinged to the upper edge of the container body
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/606 Bags or bag-like tubes loosely glued to the wall of a "tubular" container

Abstract

A carton includes a pivoting, reclosable lid that allows a top end of the carton to be accessed and subsequently closed. If a bag or other flexible vessel is accommodated within the carton, a first section of the lid can be pivoted toward a first side panel so that the vessel is pressed between the first lid section and the first side panel. The bag contents are thereby securely retained within the carton.

Claims

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

providing a carton comprising;

a first end panel;

a first side panel;

a second end panel opposite the first end panel;

a second side panel opposite the first side panel;

a bottom panel; and

a top panel, wherein a reclosable lid comprises at least a portion of the top panel, at least a portion of the first end panel, and at least a portion of the second end panel, the reclosable lid having a first section pivotably mounted at the second side panel;

opening the carton; and

pivoting the first section so that the first section moves toward the first side panel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein pivoting the first section toward the first side panel comprises pivoting the portion of the top panel until it is adjacent to the first side panel.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the reclosable lid comprises a second section comprising at least a portion of the first side panel.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein pivoting the first section toward the first side panel comprises pivoting the portion of the top panel until it is adjacent to the second section of the lid.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein pivoting the first section toward the first side panel comprises pivoting the first section about a fold line in the second side panel.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a flexible vessel is disposed within the carton.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein pivoting the first section toward the first side panel comprises pressing an upper portion of the flexible vessel between the portion of the top panel and the first side panel.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein pressing an upper portion of the flexible vessel between the portion of the top panel and the first side panel comprises pressing the flexible vessel against a second section of the reclosable lid.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein opening the carton comprises:

separating a lid portion of the first end panel from a remainder of the first end panel; and

separating a lid portion of the second end panel from a remainder of the second end panel.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein opening the carton comprises separating a lid portion of the first side panel from the lid portion of the first end panel.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein opening the carton comprises tearing a tear strip in the top panel.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the top panel comprises a plurality of end top flaps.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the carton is substantially parallelepipedal.

14. A carton, comprising:

a first end panel;

a first side panel;

a second end panel opposite the first end panel;

a second side panel opposite the first side panel;

a bottom panel; and

a top panel, wherein

a reclosable lid is defined in at least the top panel, the first end panel, and the second end panel, the reclosable lid having a first section pivotably mounted at the second side panel.

15. The carton of claim 14, wherein the reclosable lid comprises:

a first end lid panel defined in the first end panel; and

a second end lid panel defined in the second end panel.

16. The carton of claim 15, wherein the reclosable lid is defined in part by:

a breachable line of disruption extending across a top portion of the first end panel and defining a bottom edge of the first end lid panel; and

a breachable line of disruption extending across a top portion of the second end panel and defining a bottom edge of the second end lid panel.

17. The carton of claim 16, wherein the reclosable lid is further defined in part by:

a breachable line of disruption between the first end lid panel and a portion of the first side panel; and

a breachable line of disruption between the second end lid panel and a portion of the first side panel.

18. The carton of claim 14, wherein the reclosable lid comprises a second section defined at least in the first side panel.

19. The carton of claim 18, wherein the first section is connected to the second section at least one tear line.

20. The carton of claim 14, further comprising a flexible vessel accommodated within the carton.

21. The carton of claim 14, wherein a bottom edge of the first section is defined by a fold line extending across the second side panel.

22. The carton of claim 14, further comprising a tear strip in the top panel.

23. The carton of claim 14, wherein the top panel comprises a plurality of end top flaps.

24. The carton of claim 14, wherein the carton is substantially parallelepipedal.

25. A carton blank, comprising:

a first end panel;

a first side panel connected to the first end panel at a first transverse fold line;

a second end panel;

a second side panel connected to the second end panel at a second transverse fold line;

at least one top flap extending along a first marginal area of the blank;

at least one bottom flap extending along a second marginal area of the blank;

a first longitudinal fold line extending through the second side panel;

a first tear line extending generally transversely between the first end panel and the first side panel; and

a second tear line extending generally transversely between the second end panel and the second side panel.

26. The carton blank of claim 25, further comprising a third tear line extending generally longitudinally through the first end panel and adjacent to the first tear line.

27. The carton blank of claim 26, further comprising a fourth tear line extending generally longitudinally through the second end panel and adjacent to the second tear line.

28. The carton blank of claim 26, further comprising a second longitudinal fold line extending through the first side panel between the third and fourth tear lines.

29. The carton blank of claim 28, wherein the first and second tear lines and the first and second longitudinal fold lines are substantially collinear.