FLUID CONTAINERS AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE THEREOF

Abstract: A bag-in-the-box container (64) comprises a box (10) folded from flexible sheet material and having side walls (12, 14, 16), a bottom closure and a top closure. An integral pouring spout formation (66) is formed between one of the side walls (16) and the top closure. The pouring spout formation (66) comprises a lower projecting wall (30) which folds along a lower fold line (32) with respect to the side wall (16) and an upper wall arrangement including a rear portion (72B, 78) which forms part of the top closure and a front projecting wing portion (72A, 76) which is delineated from the rear portion (72B, 78) by means of at least one upper fold line (73, 73A). The upper wall (36) is pre-formed to bow upwardly above the plane of the top closure and the lower projecting wall (30) so as to define a spout passage in conjunction with the lower projecting wall (30) when the pouring spout formation (66) is in the raised pouring position and to collapse towards the lower projecting wall (30) when the pouring spout (66) is folded downwardly into a lowered position against the side wall (16). A fluid-tight bag (60) is arranged to fit into the box (10), the bag (60) having an inner spout which is located within the spout passage. The tip of the inner spout is arranged to nest within the tip of the pouring spout formation (66), so that both tips can simultaneously be snipped off in a single cutting operation to obtain access to the fluid within the bag (60). The invention extends to a method of forming a bag-in-the-box container.

Description: FLUID CONTAINERS AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE THEREOF BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION South Athcan oatent 93/5278 discloses a merchandise container which is in the form of a box. The top closure of the box is formed with side flaps which define outwardly extending triangular wings. The end walls are pre¬ formed to bow inwardly, such that when the wings are folded downwardly against increasing resistance, the end wails bow inwardly allowing the side walls to converge to relieve the resistance and create a force tending to bias the wings into engagement of the end wails thereby holding the side wall flaps of the top closure in the closed condition. Whilst these containers are suitable for containing soiid and even granular items of merchandise, they are unsuited to containing liquid products. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a fluid container comprising a box folded from flexible sheet material, the box having side walls, a bottom closure and a top closure, and an integral pouring spout formation being formed between one of the side walls and the top closure, the spout formation comprising a lower projecting wall which folds along a lower fold line with respect to the side wall and an upper wall arrangement being pre-formed to define a spout passage in conjunction with the lower projecting wall when the pouring spout formation is in a raised pouring position and to collapse towards the lower projecting wall when the pouring spout is folded downwardly into a lowered position against the side wall, and a fluid-tight bag arranged to fit into the box. the bag having an inner spout located within the spout passage. Preferably, the tip of the inner spout is arranged to nest within the tip of the pouring spout formation, so that both tips can simultaneously be snipped off in a single cutting operation to obtain access to the fluid within the bag. Conveniently, the upper wall arrangement has a rear portion which forms part of the top closure and a front projecting wing portion which is delineated from the rear portion by means of at least one upper fold line, and which overlies the lower projecting wall, the upper wall being pre-formed to bow upwardly above the plane of the top closure and the lower projecting wall so as to define the spout passage. Typically, opposite walls defining the inner spout of the fluid tight bag are arranged to be sealed between the upper wall arrangement and the lower projecting wall along the upper and lower fold lines of the spout formation when the pouring spout is in the lowered position so as to prevent spillage of fluid from the bag once the bag has been opened Advantageously, the upper wall arrangement comprises first and second overlapping upper walls having first and second respective rear portions which form part of the top closure and first and second respective front projecting wing portions which are delineated from the rear portions by means of first and second respective upper fold lines. In a preferred form of the invention, the inner spout may optionally be arranged to open and close in concert with the pouring spout formation by having its upper and lower walls fixed to the inner surfaces of the respective upper wall arrangement and lower wall of the pouring spout formation. Typically, the first and second rear portions comprise first and second rear panels which are co-planar with the top closure when the pouring spout is in the lowered sealed position and which are angled upwardly out of the plane of the closure when the pouring spout is in the raised pouring position. The first and second rear panels may be defined by first crease lines which extend diagonally and inwardly from opposite top corners of the box, and second crease lines forming the first and second upper fold lines and being arranged to overlie the lower fold line. Tamper-indicating means may be provided on the spout formation, the tamper-indicating means comprising a tear-off tag defined within the first and/or second upper walls of the container. Conveniently, the fluid container includes retaining means for retaining the pouring spout formation in the lowered position against the side wall. Typically, the retaining means is constituted by the side wall being pre¬ formed to bow inwardly, such that when the pouring spout formation is folded downwardly against increasing resistance, the opposed adjacent side walls converge to relieve the resistance and create a force tending to bias the pouring spout formation against the side wall. Alternatively or additionally, the retaining means includes an adhesive for temporarily adhering an inner surface of the pouring spout formation to the side wall. The invention extends to a method of forming a fluid container comprising the steps of: cutting a blank for a box from flexible sheet material: forming the blank into a rectangular open-ended cylinder having opposed major side walls, opposed minor side walls, a plurality of bottom panels extending from an operatively lower edge of the side walls and defining a bottom opening, and a plurality of top panels extending from the upper edge of the side walls and defining a top opening, the top panels including a cover flap and an opposed under flap hinged to the major side walls and first and second opposed wing panels hinged to the minor side walls and to the cover flap and under flap; providing a filled fluid-tight bag having a base end and a top end; inserting the base end of the bag through the top opening by pressing a plunger against the top end of the bag, the bag being pre-formed to define at least one projecting ear extending from one side of the plunger, the ear being arranged to locate against an operatively inner face of the first wing panel on full insertion of the bag into the open- ended cylinder; and folding down the cover flap over the under flap and folding down the first and second wing panels over the side panels, with the first wing panel forming a pouring spout formation and the ear forming an inner spout nesting with the pouring spout formation. In one form of the invention, the method includes the step of bonding an operatively lower surface of the projecting ear to the operatively inner face of the first wing panel. The bonding step may include the step of applying adhesive to the operatively lower surface of the ear just prior to full insertion of the bag into the box. In an alternative form of the invention, an adhesive nozzle is positioned against the inner face of the first wing panel just prior to insertion of the bag into the box. and adhesive is applied via the nozzle after insertion of the bag. Conveniently, the method includes the steps, prior to inseπion of the bag, of folding a pair of opposed side bottom flaps inwardly towards one another with an air vent being defined between the flaps for allowing air to escape on insertion of the bag, applying adhesive to the base end of the bag and the operatively upper surfaces of the side bottom flaps, and folding at least one additional bottom flap over the side bottom flaps so as to bond the base end of the bag to a thus formed bottom closure. Preferably, the tag is separated from the front triangular panel by means of a perforated line, and the tag overlies the rear triangular panel. The invention extends to a blank of flexible sheet material which is cut and creased to form the fluid container. The flexible sheet material may be stiff paper, cardboard or corrugated sheeting such as E-flute corrugated board, or rigid plastic sheeting. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a fluid container of the invention with a spout of the container in a lowered sealed position; Figure 2 shows a detail of the spout of Figure 1 in an intermediate raised position; Figure 3 shows the spout of Figure 2 in a raised position with its end snipped off: Figure 4 shows a plan view of a blank from which the fluid container of Figure 1 is formed; Figure 5 shows a detail of the pouring spout of Figure 2 in a fully raised pouring position; Figure 6 shows a cross-section on the line 6-6 of Figure 3, with the spout in the fully raised pouring position; Figure 6A shows a cross-sectional side view of the spout in the closed sealed position; Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a fluid container of the invention with the spout of the container in a lowered sealed position; Figure 8 shows a detail of a spout of Figure 7 in a raised position; I igure 9 shows a plan view of a blank from which the fluid container of Figure 7 is formed; Figures 10A to IOC show underplan views of various steps in the manufacture of the fluid container of Figure 7; and Figure 11 shows highly schematic pictorial views of various steps involved in the manufacture of the fluid container. DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS Referring first to Figure 1, a prismatic fluid container 10 is formed with opposed major side walls 12, opposed minor side or end walls 14 and 16, a base wall 18 and a top closure wall 20. As is clear from the blank 21 of the container illustrated in of Figure 4, the top closure wall 20 is formed principally from an under flap 22 hinged to one side wall 12 and a cover flap 24 hinged to the other side wall 12 and glued to the under flap 22. A first projecting triangular wing portion 26 is folded down against the end wall 14, and a second projecting triangular wing portion 27 forms part of a pouring spout formation 28, the various panel components of which are encircled in broken outline in the blank of Figure 4. The blank is die cut from folding boxboard having a thickness of 250μm to 550μm. The pouring spout formation 28 is formed from a number of triangular facets or panels defined by cut and fold lines, and includes a lower triangular wall 30 separated from the end wall 16 by a first fold line 32 and divided into first and second triangular panels 30A and 30B by means of a vertical fold line 34 which extends downwardly through the end wall 16. As can more clearly be seen in Figure 4, the triangular wing portion 26 is similarly formed with a lower triangular wall 35. A first triangular upper wall 36 is divided into front and rear triangular panels 36A and 36B by means of a crease line 38, and a second upper wall 40 is divided into similar triangular front and rear panels 40A and 40B by a crease line 38 A. The crease line 38A is substantially co-linear with the crease line 38 and is adjacent and parallel to the first fold line 32 when the spout formation 28 is in the folded down position indicated in Figure 1. Both of the rear panels 36B and 40B form part of the top closure wall 20. The rear panel 40B is separated from the cover flap 24 by means of an uppermost diagonal fold line 42 which extends inwardly from a top corner 42A of the box . Likewise, the rear panel 36B is separated from the under flap by means of a diagonal fold line 44, which extends inwardly from an opposed top corner 44A of the box. A diagonal cut line 45 defines an overlapping tongue portion 46 of the cover flap 24. In a lowered sealed position indicated in Figure 1, the triangular panels 36A and 40A of the first and second walls are collapsed against the respective triangular panels 30A and 30B of the lower wall 30. Likewise, corresponding triangular panels 36C and 40C of the triangular wing portion 26 are collapsed against the respective triangular panels 35A and 35B of the lower triangular wall 35. As the spout formation 28 is raised from the closed position indicated in Figure 1 through to an intermediate "centre" position indicated in Figure 2. in which the lower wall 30 of the spout formation is angled just below (approximately 30°) the plane of the top closure 20. the first and second upper walls 36 and 40 begin bow outwardly along the fold or crease lines 38 and 38 A. with the triangular panels 40B and 36B being angled upwardly relative to the cover flap 24. The first and second walls 36 and 40 have a memory when in the bowed state. This has the effect of biasing the spout formation into the fully raised position indicated in Figure 5 once the spout formation is raised into a "over-centre" position beyond the "centre" position indicated in Figure 2. In the fully raised position indicated in Figure 5. in which the lower wall 30 is elevated at approximately 30° relative to the plane of the top closure 20. the edges 52 and 54 of the respective first and second upper walls 36 and 40 expand outwardly so as to define a spout opening 56 between the walls. The pouring spout is held in the raised pouring position by virtue of the static tension between the fold lines 42 and 44, 38 and 38A and 32. When the pouring spout formation 28 is folded downwardly from the raised pouring position beyond the "centre" position of Figure 2. it is biased towards the closed position of Figure 1 as the resistance diminishes. Both of the end walls of the container are pre-formed with fold lines 34 so as to develop slight concavity when the first and second wings 26 and 27 are folded downwardly. The fold line or crease 34 meets two divergent creases 50 which extend to the bottom corners of the blank. The slight concavity receives the downwardly folded wing portions so that they he in planes defined by the perimeters of the end walls 14 and 16. and substantially flush with the ends of the container. The precise mechanism by which the first and second wings 26 and 27 are biased into the lowered sealed position of Figure 1 is described in more detail in the complete specification of South African patent 93/5278. which is incorporated herein by reference. Basically, as the end walls 14 and 16 bow inwardly, the side walls 12 converge and create a force tending to bias the wings downwardly into engagement with the end walls so as to hold them against the end walls when the flaps 22 and 24 are in the closed condition. The crease formations 34 and 50 assist in the inward bowing of the end walls 14 and 16. The edge 54 is formed with a notch 58 adjacent the fold or crease line 38A so as to reduce overlapping of the first and second upper walls 36 and 40 along the corner crease lines 38 and 38 A, which would undesirably tend to urge the pouring spout upwardly when held in the closed condition. As is clear from Figures 3 and 6, the box 10 contains a sealed fluid-tight bag 60 formed from a suitable plastics material such as polyethylene or polypropylene for containing a suitable liquid or granular fluid. A typical construction comprises an outside barrier layer of 12μ PVDC coated polyester laminated to an inner 40μ to 50μ LDPE layer. The upper surface of the spout 62 is glued to the inner surfaces of the walls 36 and 40, and the lower surface of the spout is glued to the upper surface of the lower wall 30. As a result, when the pouring spout formation 28 is moved into its raised pouring position indicated in Figures 5 and 6, this has the effect of opening up the inner spout 62. As is shown at 64 in Figure 3 and in broken outline in Figure 6. the ends of the outer and inner spouts 28 and 62 are then snipped off so as to facilitate pouring of the liquid from the bag 60. The "memory" of the bowed first and second upper walls tends to hold the spout in a rigid raised pouring position, and prevents it from collapsing inwardly during pouring. Once the desired quantity of liquid has been poured from the bag, the pouring spout is then folded down into its closed sealed position indicated in Figure 6A. It is clear from the detailed in Figure 6A how a sealing effect is achieved by the first and second upper walls 36 and 40 collapsing against the lower wall 30 and the corner defined by the crease lines 38 and 38A being braced against the corner defined by the fold line 32. Liquids and granular fluids can thus readily be stored in the bag 60 once it has been opened, without danger of being spilt. Turning now to Figure 7, a tamper-indicating fluid container 64 is shown, those pans of the container which are similar to the container of Figures 1 and 6A are indicated with identical numerals. The container 64 has a pouring spout formation 66, the various panel components of which are encircled in chain outline 70 in the blank of Figure 9. The top closure 71 is formed with an under flap 22 and an upper flap 71 A. A first triangular upper wall 72. which is similar to the upper wall 36 of Figure 4. is divided into front and rear triangular panels 72A and 72B by means of an upper fold line 73. A second upper wall 74 is divided into a triangular front panel 76 and a triangular rear panel 78 by means of an upper fold line 73 A. A tear- off tag 80 is separated from the front triangular panel 76 by means of a perforated line 82. As can more clearly be seen in Figure 7, the tear-off tag 80 overlies the rear triangular panel 72B, and located against the upper surface of the rear triangular panel 72B in the closed position illustrated in Figure 7 with the pouring spout formation 66 being folded down. In order to open the container, t e tamper-indicatmg tag 80 is torn free, as is shown at 84 in Figure 8, which allows the pouring spout 66 to be folded upwardly into the raised position illustrated in Figure 8. When the pouring spout is closed in the position indicated in Figure 7. the upper fold lines 73 and 73A directly overlie the lower fold line 32. This position is essentially identical to that of the first embodiment illustrated in detail in Figure 6A. in which the upper fold line 38 directly overlies the lower fold line 32 so as to seal opposite walls of the plastic spout 62. Raising of the spout 66 causes upward movement of the fold lines 73 and 73 A away from the fold lines 32. with the rear triangular panels 72B and 78 moving upwardly out of the plane defined by the upper flap 71 A and the under flap 22. The blank 68 of Figure 9 is formed with major side walls 12A and 12B and minor end walls 14 and 16. Glue flaps 86 and 88 extend from the free side edges of the respective major side wall 12A and the underflap 22. During the assembly process, adhesive is applied to the operatively upper surfaces of the flaps 86 and 88, which are in turn glued to the undersurface of the free edge of the minor end wall 14 and the triangular wing portion 26 so as to create an open-ended rectangular cylinder. Extending from a lowermost edge of the major side wall 12A is an inner base flap 90. A centrally located rectangular cut-out 92 extends from a lowermost edge of the base flap 90. Side flaps 94 and 96 similarly extend from the lowermost edges of the respective minor end walls 16 and 14, and an outer base flap 98 extends from the lowermost edge of the side wall 12B. The side flaps 94 and 96 are shorter than the inner and outer base flaps 90 and 98 by a distance which corresponds to the depth of the cut-out 92. Just prior to inseπion of the bag 60 through the open top end of the partly formed container, the side flaps 94 and 96 are folded down. A first series of glue lines 97A is then applied over the exposed surfaces of the flaps and the base of the bag. The intermediate base flap 90 is then folded down over the glue lines 97 A, as is clear from Figure 10B. after which a second series of glue lines 97B are applied over the exposed lowermost surfaces of the side flaps 94 and 96 and the base of the bag 60. as well as over that portion of the intermediate base flap 90 above the broken line 92 which is to be covered by the outer base flap 98. The outer base flap 98 is then folded down into position, as is indicated in Figure IOC. By providing the cut-out 92 and the recessed side flaps 94 and 96. adhesive can be applied simultaneously to the outer surfaces of the various flaps and the base of the bag, thereby allowing the flaps 90, 94 and 96 as well as the bag 60 to be glued to the outer flap 98. As the base of the bag 60 is firmly glued to the base of the container, the bag is in this preferred version of the invention anchored firmly within the container at both its base and spout ends, which prevents it from working loose and facilitates the pouring operation. Referring now to Figure 1 1 , a highly schematic view of various steps involved in the manufacture of the fluid container is shown. The entire manufacturing process typically takes place on a machine which is similar to the fully automatic horizontal RSB600 cartoner series of the type manufactured by Jacob White (Packaging) Limited of Riverside Industrial Estate, Riverside Way, Dartford. Kent, United Kingdom The blank 68 is shown in its erected form as per Figure 10A. at the stage when it resembles an open-ended rectangular c linder As was descπbed previous! * . , the side flaps 94 and 96 are folded inwardly , and are held in position by one or more retaining bars 100. During the various folding and gluing operations, the boxes are moved along a suitable conveyer, which is represented schematically in Figure 1 1 by a first conveyer belt 102. Once the flaps 94 and 96 are secured, the container 68 is moved to filling stations 104. where filled bags 60 slide down a transverse hopper or feed shoot 106. A drive piston 108 having a rectangular profile is used to urge the bag 60 into the open top end 110 of the partly formed container 68. The piston 108 is dimensioned to have a width which is just smaller than the width of the top surface presented by the bag 60. with the result that as the piston presses against the operatively upper surface of the bag, a pair of triangular ears defining inner spouts 62A and 62B are formed on opposite sides of the piston 108 between the side walls of the piston and the constricted side walls 106A of the feed hopper. The bag 60 may be a bag of the type manufactured by Gainsborough Craftsman Limited and described more fully in copending United Kingdom patent application no. 9505101A. As the bag 60 is inserted through the opening 110, air escapes through an air vent 112 defined between the flaps 94 and 96. with the reaction bars 100 serving to hold the partly formed container and the flaps 94 and 96 in position. The various gluing and folding steps described with reference to Figure 10A to 10C are then performed, with at least one adhesive nozzle 114 being used to apply glue lines to the various base flaps of the container in the manner previously described. It can clearly be seen in the detail at 116 how the triangular ears 62 A and 62B of the bag 60 cover the inner surfaces of the triangular walls 30 and 35 of the container. Adhesive may optionally be applied to the inner surface of the lower triangular wall 30 as well as to the inner surface of the upper triangular wall 36 for facilitating adhesion of the upper and lower surfaces of the triangular ear 62B to the respective upper and lower triangular walls 36 and 30. The adhesive may be applied in a number of different ways. In a first method of application which is illustrated in detail at 1 17, adhesive is applied in a small blob 1 17A towards the base of the outer surface of each ear 62A and 62B when the bag 60 is almost fully inserted into the box 68, with the result that as the bag is fully inserted, the adhesive blob 117A smears down the inner surface of the triangular wall 35, with the side walls of the piston serving to press the triangular ear 62A against the triangular wall 35. The identical gluing operation occurs in gluing the outer surface of the triangular ear 62B to the inner surface of the triangular wall 30. In an alternative gluing method illustrated in detail at 1 18, a pair of curved gluing nozzles 118A having a relatively flat profile are located against the inner surfaces of the triangular walls 30 and 35, with the ends of the nozzles being located at the approximate centres of the triangles. The bag 60 is then inserted into the opening 110 in the box, and once the Figure 10B position has been reached, the glue nozzles 118A are activated, and spray a dose of glue between the triangular walls 30 and 35 and the respective triangular ears 62B and 62A, after which the curved nozzles 1 18A are retracted. An adhesive nozzle 1 19 is then used to apply first and second glue lines 120A and 120B, in the manner indicated in Figure 9, to the inner surface of the upper flap 71 A. The first glue line 120A terminates short of the chain outline 70. which encloses the various panel components making up the pouring spout formation 66. The second glue line 1 0A is positioned on the other side of the fold line defining the rear triangular panel 78 between the tear-off tag 80 and the upper free edge of the triangular rear panel. The triangular rear panel 78 thus has a fixed portion which is glued to the underflap and a free portion which is separated trom the fixed portion by means of the tamper-indicating tag. Once the tag 80 is torn free, the pouring spout can be folded upwardly into the raised position. Suitable folding arms or bars (not illustrated) are used to fold the under flap 22 and the cover flap 71 A towards one another, with the cover flap being folded over the underflap. This has the simultaneous affect of causing the triangular wing portions 26 and 27 and the triangular ears 62 A and 62B which are bonded to the respective triangular walls 30 and 35 to fold outwards to a position indicated at 126 in which they are co-planar with the glued together under flap 22 and cover flap 71 A. The container is then moved through 90° so as to travel along a second conveyer 127. Adhesive is applied to the rear surfaces of the triangular wings 26 and 27 by respective glue nozzles 128 and 130. with the stronger adhesive being applied behind the triangular wing 26 so as to affix it permanently to the underlying end wall 14. The triangular wing 27, which forms part of the pouring spout formation 28. may be glued down by a relatively weak adhesive such as a wax compound in order to hold it temporarily in position. Alternatively, no glue whatsoever is applied to the wing portion, which is biased into the closed sealed position in the manner described earlier on in the specification, as well as in the complete specification of South African patent 93/5278. by virtue of the structure of the pack. The wings 26 and 27 are folded down against the respective end walls 14 and 16. by being passed through a pair of spaced folding guides 132. so as to arrive at the complete bag-in-the-box container 134. The liquid container of the invention has a number of advantages over existing containers. The container is suited to a high speed automated manufacturing process of the type previously described, as well as to a manual assembly process for smaller production runs. As the cardboard box and the plastic bag are separable, they can easily be re-cycled. The plastic bag and the cardboard box can also be manufactured from re-cycled materials, making the entire construction environmentally friendly. The type of plastic from which the bag is made can easily be altered so as to accommodate all types of fluids, including corrosive fluids such as alkalines and acids. The particular bowed structure of the side walls lends to the container having a relatively high vertical crushing resistance, which allows it to be stacked and transported relatively easily. The re-sealing feature provided by the folded down pouring spout reduces spillage, and makes the liquid within the container less prone to picking up external odours once the container has been initially opened. In cases where the liquid contents of the bag require sterilisation, this can be done as a separate step, before the bag is fitted into the box. Finally, the structure of the pouring spout and the inner nested spout and the manner in which the tips can be snipped off reduces spillage and facilitates the pouring of liquids from the container.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A fluid container comprising a box folded from flexible sheet material, the box having side walls, a bottom closure and a top closure, and an integral pouring spout formation being formed between one of the side walls and the top closure, the spout formation comprising a lower projecting wall which folds along a lower fold line with respect to the side wall and an upper wall arrangement being pre-formed to define a spout passage in conjunction with the lower projecting wall when the pouring spout formation is in a raised pouring position and to collapse towards the lower projecting wall when the pouring spout is folded downwardly into a lowered position against the side wall, and a fluid-tight bag arranged to fit into the box. the bag having an inner spout located within the spout passage. 2. A fluid container according to claim 1 in which the tip of the inner spout is arranged to nest within the tip of the pouring spout formation, so that both tips can simultaneously be snipped off in a single cutting operation to obtain access to the fluid within the bag. 3. A fluid container according to either one of the preceding claims in which the upper wall arrangement has a rear portion which forms part of the top closure and a front projecting wing portion which is delineated from the rear portion by means of at least one upper fold line, and which overlies the lower projecting wall, the upper wall being pre-formed to bow upwardly above the plane of the top closure and the lower projecting wall so as to define the spout passage. 4. A fluid container according to any one of the preceding claims in which opposite walls defining the inner spout of the fluid tight bag are arranged to be sealed between the upper wall arrangement and the lower projecting wall along the upper and lower fold lines of the spout formation when the pouring spout is in the lowered position so as to prevent spillage of fluid from the bag once the bag has been opened. 5. A fluid container according to any one of the preceding claims in which the upper wall arrangement comprises first and second overlapping upper walls having first and second respective rear portions which form part of the top closure and first and second respective front projecting wing portions which are delineated from the rear portions by means of first and second respective upper fold lines. 6. A fluid container according to any one of the preceding claims in which the inner spout is arranged to open and close in concert with the pouring spout formation by having its upper and lower walls fixed to the inner surfaces of the respective upper wall arrangement and lower wall of the pouring spout formation. 7. A fluid container according to claim 5 in which the first and second rear portions comprise first and second rear panels which are co- planar with the top closure when the pouring spout is in the lowered sealed position and which are angled upwardly out of the plane of the closure when the pouring spout is in the raised pouring position. 8. A fluid container according to claim 7 in which the first and second rear panels are defined by first crease lines which extend diagonally and inwardly from opposite top corners of the box, and second crease lines forming the first and second upper fold lines and being arranged to overlie the lower fold line. 9. A fluid container according to any one of the preceding claims in which tamper-indicating means are provided on the spout formation. 10. A fluid container according to claim 9 in which the tamper-indicating means comprises a tear-off tag defined within the first and/or second upper walls of the container. 1 1. A fluid container according to any one of the preceding claims which includes retaining means for retaining the pouring spout formation in the lowered position against the side wall. 1 . A fluid container according to claim 1 1 in which the retaining means is constituted by the side wall being pre-formed to bow inwardly, such that when the pouring spout formation is folded downwardly against increasing resistance, the opposed adjacent side walls converge to relieve the resistance and create a force tending to bias the pouring spout formation against the side wall. 13. A fluid container according to either one of the preceding claims in which the retaining means includes an adhesive for temporarily adhering an inner surface of the pouring spout formation to the side wall. 14. A method of forming a fluid container comprising the steps of: cutting a blank for a box from flexible sheet material; forming the blank into a rectangular open-ended cylinder having opposed major side walls, opposed minor side walls, a plurality of bottom panels extending from an operatively lower edge of the side walls and defining a bottom opening, and a plurality of top panels extending from the upper edge of the side walls and defining a top opening, the top panels including a cover flap and an opposed under flap hinged to the major side walls and first and second opposed wing panels hinged to the minor side walls and to the cover flap and under flap; providing a filled fluid-tight bag having a base end and a top end; inserting the base end of the bag through the top opening by pressing a plunger against the top end of the bag, the bag being pre-formed to define at least one projecting ear extending from one side of the plunger, the ear being arranged to locate against an operatively inner face of the first wing panel on full insertion of the bag into the open- ended cylinder; and folding down the cover flap over the under flap and folding down the first and second wing panels over the side panels, with the first wing panel forming a pouring spout formation and the ear forming an inner spout nesting with the pouring spout formation. 15. A method according to claim 14 which includes the step of bonding an operatively lower surface of the projecting ear to the operatively inner face of the first wing panel. 16. A method according to claim 15 in which adhesive is applied to the operatively lower surface of the ear just prior to full insertion of the bag into the box. 17. A method according to claim 15 in which an adhesive nozzle is positioned against the inner face of the first wing panel just prior to insertion of the bag into the box. and adhesive is applied via the nozzle after insertion of the bag. 18. A method according to any one of the preceding claims 14 to 17 which includes the steps, prior to insertion of the bag, of folding a pair of opposed side bottom flaps inwardly towards one another with an air vent being defined between the flaps for allowing air to escape on insertion of the bag, applying adhesive to the base end of the bag and the operatively upper surfaces of the side bottom flaps, and folding at least one additional bottom flap over the side bottom flaps so as to bond the base end of the bag to a thus formed bottom closure.

Inventors: ELIOVSON ROBIN DAVID, HORAN THOMAS EDWARD, ELIOVSON, ROBIN, DAVID, HORAN, THOMAS, EDWARD
Applicants: ELIOVSON ROBIN DAVID, HORAN THOMAS EDWARD, M PAK LTD, ELIOVSON, ROBIN, DAVID, HORAN, THOMAS, EDWARD, M-PAK LIMITED
Application year: 1995
Main classification: B65D77
IPC codes: B31B47, B65D5, B65D77