Dispensing cartons are known. Such cartons typically have a top panel formed from flaps that are separable to open the top of the carton. The contents of the carton can then be dispensed from the open carton top. Such cartons, however, are not easily closed once opened, and do not provide for easy dispensing of the carton contents. One solution to this problem is to include a pivoting dispenser that can be opened for dispensing the carton contents and then closed for storage. Manufacture of conventional dispensers, however, often requires complex packaging and material processes.
A paperboard carton blank comprises a carton section and a spout section. The carton section comprises a first end panel, a first side panel, a second end panel, a second side panel, at least one top flap, at least one bottom flap, and a spout pattern defining a pivoting portion. The spout section comprises a center section and at least one side extension connected to the center section, wherein the spout section is constructed to be adhered to the carton section to cooperate with the spout pattern in the carton section to form a dispenser. A carton constructed from the blank can include a bag or other vessel having a top portion that is adhered to the spout section. The bag may be drawn out of the carton intact as the dispenser is opened, where the bag may in turn be opened.
According to the first embodiment, a carton may be provided with a dispenser that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. The spout section provides for easy opening and reclosure of the carton, and can be constructed from a paperboard piece that is adhered directly to the carton section. The bag can be mounted in the carton without complex sealing or joining processes, which reduces cost and complexity of construction.
Other aspects, features, and details of the present invention can be more completely understood by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the drawings and from the appended claims.
The carton section 7 comprises a first end panel 10 foldably connected to a first side panel 20 at a first transverse fold line 21, a second end panel 30 foldably connected to the first side panel 20 at a second, interrupted transverse fold line 31, and a second side panel 50 foldably connected to the second end panel 30 at a third, interrupted transverse fold line 51. An adhesive panel 60 may be foldably connected to the second side panel 50 at a fold line 61.
The first end panel 10 is foldably connected to a first end top flap 12 and a first end bottom flap 14. The first side panel 20 is foldably connected to a first side top flap 22 and a first side bottom flap 24. The second end panel 30 is foldably connected to a second end top flap 32 and a second end bottom flap 34. The second side panel 50 is foldably connected to a second side top flap 52 and a second side bottom flap 54. The flaps 12, 22, 32, 52 extend along a top marginal portion of the carton section 7, and the flaps 14, 24, 34, 54 extend along a bottom marginal portion of the carton section 7. When the carton 150 is erected, the flaps 12, 22, 32, 52 close a top opening of the carton 150, and the flaps 14, 24, 34, 54 close a bottom opening of the carton 150.
A spout pattern 40 is formed in the carton section 7. The spout pattern 40 is defined by a first leg 36 extending across a longitudinally extending line 70, a second leg 48 extending collinear with the second transverse fold line 31, a third leg 49 extending collinear with the third transverse fold line 51, and a tear strip 44. The second and third legs 48, 49 may be tear lines formed from, for example, cut-space lines. The legs 48, 49 are shown as formed from 100% cuts (i.e., cuts that extend through the entire blank) in
The tear strip 44 may be defined by a zipper cut or zipper knife 46 having spaced arcuate longitudinally extending sections that connect in the second side panel 50. The portion of the tear strip 44 extending into the second side panel 50 forms a graspable tear tab 45. The spout pattern 40 generally coincides with an area of the carton section 7 where the spout section 9 will be adhered, and defines a pivoting portion 42 of the second end panel 30.
The spout section 9 comprises a center section 72, a bottom section 74, and foldably attached first and second side extensions 76, 78. The bottom section 74 is foldably attached to the center section 72 at a longitudinal fold line 75, and has a downwardly extending arcuate section 80. The upper part of the center section 72 may have a contour that is complementary in shape to the lower part of the bottom section 74, which facilitates manufacturing multiple spout sections 9. The center section 72 includes two projections 82 separated by an arcuate cutout portion 84. The side extensions 76, 78 include respective stops 86, 88 that limit the outward extension of the spout section 9 from the erected carton 150.
The process of erecting the carton 150 will be discussed with reference to
Referring to
The bottom flaps 14, 24, 34, 54 and top flaps 12, 22, 32, 52 are then closed. If the contents of the carton 150 are to be held within a bag or other vessel, the bag (not shown) is inserted into the partially closed carton before closing both the top and bottom flaps. An upper section of the bag is then secured to the spout section 9. The bag may be secured to, for example, the interior side of the center section 72 of the spout section 9. In one embodiment, the bag is fused to the center section 72 by a one inch diameter glue spot applied by a hot melt stick. The remainder of the bag need not be adhered to the interior of the carton 150, and the bag may be filled with a dispensable product, such as, for example, cereal, prior to erecting the carton.
Referring to
The dispenser 100 can be closed by simply pushing the dispenser 100 back towards the second side panel 30, as shown in
According to the above-described embodiments, cartons can be provided with dispensers that are simple in construction, and that are easily opened and reclosed.
In the exemplary embodiment discussed above, the blank is formed from clay coated newsprint (CCN). In general, the blank may be constructed of paperboard, having a caliper of at least about 14, so that it is heavier and more rigid than ordinary paper. The blank, and thus the carton, can also be constructed of other materials, such as cardboard, or any other material having properties suitable for enabling the carton to function at least generally as described above. The first and second sides of the blank can be coated with, for example, a clay coating. The clay coating may then be printed over with product, advertising, and other information or images. The blank may then be coated with a varnish to protect any information printed on the blank. The blank may also be coated with, for example, a moisture barrier layer, on either or both sides of the blanks. The blank can also be laminated to or coated with one or more sheet-like materials at selected panels or panel sections.
In accordance with the exemplary embodiments, a fold line can be any substantially linear, although not necessarily straight, form of weakening that facilitates folding therealong. More specifically, but not for the purpose of narrowing the scope of the present invention, fold lines include: a score line, such as lines formed with a blunt scoring knife, or the like, which creates a crushed portion in the material along the desired line of weakness; a cut that extends partially into a material along the desired line of weakness, and/or a series of cuts that extend partially into and/or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness; and various combinations of these features.
A tear line can be any substantially linear, although not necessarily straight, form of weakening that facilitates tearing therealong. Specifically, but not for the purpose of narrowing the scope of the present invention, tear lines include: a cut that extends partially into the material along the desired line of weakness, and/or a series of cuts that extend partially into and/or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness, or various combinations of these features. As a more specific example, one type of tear line is in the form of a series of cuts that extend completely through the material, with adjacent cuts being spaced apart slightly so that small somewhat bridge-like pieces of the material (e.g., ‘nicks’) are defined between adjacent cuts. The nicks are broken during tearing along the tear line. Such a tear line that includes nicks can also be referred to as a cut line, since the nicks typically are a relatively small in relation to the cuts. The term “line” as used herein includes not only straight lines, but also other types of lines such as curved, curvilinear or angularly displaced lines.
In situations where cutting is used to create a fold line, typically the cutting will not be overly extensive in a manner that might cause a reasonable user to incorrectly consider the fold line to be a tear line. In contrast, where nicks are present in a cut line (e.g., tear line), typically the nicks will not be overly large or overly numerous in a manner that might cause a reasonable user to incorrectly consider the subject cut line to be a fold line.
The above embodiments are described as having one or panels adhered together by glue. The term “glue” is intended to encompass all manner of adhesives commonly used to secure paperboard carton panels in place.
The foregoing description of the invention illustrates and describes the present invention. Additionally, the disclosure shows and describes only selected preferred embodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is capable of use in various other combinations, modifications, and environments and is capable of changes or modifications within the scope of the inventive concept as expressed herein, commensurate with the above teachings, and/or within the skill or knowledge of the relevant art.