Claims
- 1. A resealable container comprising inner and outer panels disposed in overlapping relation, said inner panel defining a dispensing opening, said outer panel having formed therein a closure flap overlying said dispensing opening, said outer panel having spaced side edges, said closure flap being positioned between said outer panel side edges in spaced relation to said side edges, said closure flap having side edges and ends, said closure flap side edges being defined by lines of weakening, each of said lines of weakening being generally in the form of a straight line having an arcuate intermediate portion projecting transversely towards an adjacent one of said outer panel side edges, one of said ends being defined by a fold line and the other of said ends being separable from said outer panel, whereby said closure flap may be partially separated from and hinged relative to said outer panel to uncover said dispensing opening upon completely rupturing said outer panel along said lines of weakening, said arcuate intermediate portions of said lines of weakening defining along each side edge of said closure flap a projection having a curved outline, and said inner panel having a cut line therein underlying and being generally aligned with each of said lines of weakening with the exception of said arcuate intermediate portions, said cut lines defining on said inner panel shoulders behind which said closure flap projections are engageable in the resealing of said container.
- 2. A resealable container according to claim 1 wherein said outer panel is secured to said inner panel between said lines of weakening and said outer panel side edges.
- 3. A resealable container according to claim 1 wherein said inner panel and said outer panel are end forming panels of said container.
- 4. A resealable container according to claim 1 wherein a central portion of said closure flap has a transverse fold line extending between said closure flap side edges for facilitating depressing of said closure flap side edge projections behind said inner panel shoulders.
- 5. A resealable container according to claim 1 wherein a central portion of said closure flap has a transverse fold line extending between said closure flap side edges at said arcuate intermediate projections for facilitating depressing of said closure flap side edge projections behind said inner panel shoulders.
- 6. A resealable container according to claim 1 wherein said dispensing opening is between said inner panel cut lines.
- 7. A resealable container according to claim 1 wherein said inner panel cut lines define an inwardly deflectable panel between said shoulders, the inwardly deflectability of said inner panel inwardly deflectable panel facilitating the engagement of said closure flap side edge projections behind said shoulders.
- 8. A resealable container according to claim 7 wherein each of said inner panel cut lines has at each end thereof an extension, and said extension at each end of said cut lines being disposed in converging relation.
- 9. A resealable container according to claim 1 wherein said fold line is interrupted by a projecting tab defined by a cut line in said outer panel, said tab forming means for holding said closure flap in an open position.
- 10. A resealable container according to claim 1 wherein said lines of weakening extend through an end edge of said outer panel.
- 11. A resealable container according to claim 1 wherein said closure flap has a transverse fold line adjacent said closure flap other end, said transverse fold line defining a terminal flap portion.
- 12. A resealable container according to claim 6 wherein said container also includes a pair of innermost panels underlying said inner panel, said innermost panels being half panels and having free ends in opposed relation; said innermost panels free ends being notched to define an opening of a size greater than that of said inwardly deflectable panel so as to not interfere with the engagement of said closure flap projections behind said shoulders.
- 13. A container blank comprising a plurality of panels integrally connected along a plurality of fold lines, said panels including two panels positioned relative to others of said panels for folding into overlapping relation, said two panels being identified as an inner panel and an outer panel, said inner panel defining a dispensing opening, said outer panel having formed therein a closure flap for overlying said dispensing opening, said outer panel having spaced side edges, said closure flap being positioned between said outer panel side edges in spaced relation to said side edges, said closure flap having side edges and ends, said side edges being defined by lines of weakening, each of said lines of weakening being generally in the form of a straight line having an arcuate intermediate portion projecting transversely towards an adjacent one of said outer panel side edges, one of said ends being defined by a fold line and the other of said ends being separable from said outer panel, whereby said closure flap may be partially separated from and hinged relative to said outer panel to uncover said dispensing opening upon completely rupturing said outer panel along said lines of weakening, said arcuate intermediate portions of said lines of weakening defining along each side edge of said closure flap a projection having a curved outline, and inner panel having a cut line therein for underlying and being generally aligned with said lines of weakening with the exception of said arcuate intermediate portions, said cut lines defining on said inner panel shoulders behind which said closure flap projections are engageable in the resealing of a resultant container.
- 14. A container blank according to claim 13 wherein a central portion of said closure flap has a transverse fold line extending between said closure flap side edges for facilitating depressing of said closure flap side edge projections behind said inner panel shoulders.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation-in-part of my earlier filed copending application Ser. No. 930,400 filed Nov. 14, 1986, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,875.
This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in containers having vending means and more particularly to an improved vending and reclosure device suitable for dispensing powder and granular products.
This invention in particular relates to an improvement over the resealable container disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,308,956 granted to John J. Steinke et al on Jan. 5, 1982.
Most particularly, the invention relates to a resealable container which includes inner and outer panels disposed in overlapping relation with the inner panel defining a dispensing opening and the outer panel having formed therein a closure flap overlying the dispensing opening.
Most specifically, the outer panel has spaced side edges add the closure flap is positioned between the outer panel side edges in spaced relation to the side edges with the closure flap having side edges and ends. The side edges of the closure flap are defined by lines of weakening which in the formation of the container maintain the closure flap integral with the outer panel until the container is initially opened. The lines of weakening have intermediate arcuate portions projecting towards adjacent outer panel side edges. The inner panel is provided with cut lines underlying and being generally aligned with the lines of weakening with the exception of the arcuate intermediate portions and the cut lines define on the inner panel shoulders behind which the closure flap arcuate projections which result when the closure flap is separated from the remainder of the outer panel along the lines of weakening, engage to retain the closure flap in its dispensing opening closing position.
The resealable container of this invention is advantageously a carton formed of paperboard or like material and the closure flap may be provided with a projecting tab at that end thereof which is hingedly connected to the remainder of the outer panel for retaining the closure flap in a container open position.
US Referenced Citations (10)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
| Parent |
930400 |
Nov 1986 |
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Patent Grant
4799594
