Claims
- 1. A container having a top, a bottom, and at least one wall connecting said top and said bottom, said container comprising:an outer substrate layer; an inner aseptic layer secured to said outer substrate layer; and a cut of predetermined depth in said outer substrate layer on a top surface and at least one wall surface of said container, such that said cut does not puncture said inner aseptic layer; whereby a predetermined portion of said top and a predetermined portion of said at least one wall may be torn away from said container at said cut, thereby forming an opening through both said top and said at least one wall such that a user is enabled to pour the contents of said container through said opening; and whereby after said predetermined portion of said top and a predetermined portion of said at least one wall has been torn off, said container is adapted to be rested on said bottom substantially without spilling the contents of said container.
- 2. The container of claim 1 wherein said cut has a predetermined shape such that a pouring guide is created when said predetermined portions are torn away from said container.
- 3. The container of claim 1 wherein said cut is a perforated cut.
- 4. The container of claim 1 wherein said cut is a scored cut.
- 5. The container of claim 1 wherein said cut is a laser cut.
- 6. The container of claim 1 wherein said outer substrate layer is comprised of paperboard.
- 7. The container of claim 1 wherein said predetermined portion of said top is substantially all of said top.
- 8. A method for manufacturing a container having a top, a bottom, and at least one wall connecting said top and said bottom, each of said top and said at least one wall having a predetermined portion which may be torn away from said container, said method comprising the steps of:providing a material having an outer substrate layer, and an inner aseptic layer secured to said outer substrate layer; making a cut in a top surface and at least one wall surface of said outer substrate layer such that said cut does not puncture said inner aseptic layer; and forming a container; whereby said predetermined portion of said top and said predetermined portion of said at least one wall may be torn away from said container at said cut to form an opening through both said top and said at least one wall such that a user is enabled to pour the contents of said container through said opening; and whereby after said predetermined portion of said top and a predetermined portion of said at least one wall has been torn off, said container is adapted to be rested on said bottom substantially without spilling the contents of said container.
- 9. The method of claim 8 wherein said cut has a predetermined shape such that a pouring guide is created when said predetermined portion of said top is torn away from said container.
- 10. The method of claim 8 wherein said cut is a perforated cut.
- 11. The method of claim 8 wherein said cut is a scored cut.
- 12. The method of claim 8 wherein said cut is made by a laser.
- 13. The method of claim 8 wherein said outer substrate layer is comprised of paperboard.
- 14. The method of claim 8 wherein said predetermined portion of said top is substantially all of said top.
- 15. A container having a top and a bottom, said container comprising:an outer substrate layer; and an inner aseptic layer secured to said outer substrate layer; and a cut in said outer substrate layer on a top surface such that said cut does not puncture said inner aseptic layer; whereby substantially all of said top may be torn away from said container at said cut to form an opening such that a user is enabled to pour the contents of said container through said opening; and whereby after said substantially all of said top has been torn off, said container is adapted to be rested on said bottom substantially without spilling the contents of said container.
- 16. A method for manufacturing a container having a top and a bottom, said top adapted to be torn off of said container, said method comprising the steps of:providing a material having an outer substrate layer, and an inner aseptic layer secured to said outer substrate layer; making a cut in a top surface of said substrate layer, such that said cut does not puncture said inner aseptic layer; and forming a container; whereby substantially all of said top may be torn away from said container at said cut to form an opening such that a user is enabled to pour the contents of said container through said opening; and whereby after said substantially all of said top has been torn off, said container is adapted to be rested on said bottom substantially without spilling the contents of said container.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/537,465, filed Mar. 27, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,152, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/020,440, filed Feb. 9, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,874, entitled Tear-Away Container Top. Each reference is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
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Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number |
Date |
Country |
179240 |
Apr 1986 |
EP |
2257686 |
Jan 1993 |
GB |
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Continuations (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/537465 |
Mar 2000 |
US |
Child |
10/195734 |
|
US |
Parent |
09/020440 |
Feb 1998 |
US |
Child |
09/537465 |
|
US |