Abstract:
A two-piece bliss-type container blank and resulting container for easily dispensing products contained within is disclosed. Specifically, the container is designed to have an exterior bottom panel that is essentially flat, while having an internal bottom panel that is inclined toward a front panel. The front panel includes structure to permit the removal of product from within the container. The two-piece bliss-type structure provides a strong and stable container that may be constructed to varying sizes and geometries.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to bliss-type container blanks and containers. More specifically, the present invention relates to a two-piece bliss container having sloped interior bottom wall. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with accompanying drawings. It is emphasized that, according to common practice, various features of the drawings are not to scale. On the contrary, the dimensions of various features are arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity. Included in these drawings are the following figures: 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary two-piece bliss box blank arrangement; 
       FIG. 2  is an exemplary partially erected view of the two-piece bliss box blank arrangement of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is another perspective view of the partially erected two-piece bliss box blank arrangement of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is yet another perspective view of the partially erected two-piece bliss box blank arrangement of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is an exemplary rear perspective view of the formed two-piece bliss container; and, 
       FIG. 6  is a side sectional view of the container depicted in  FIG. 5  along cut line  6 - 6  shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is directed to a two-piece bliss type container blank  20 . The two piece blanks includes a liner blank  56  and a body wrap blank  58  which when combined form container  54 . The two-piece bliss type box arrangement is convenient for imparting strength and stability while allowing the container  54  to carry and easily dispense liquid or other flowable products. One suitable embodiment of the container blank arrangement  20  and resulting container  54  is described in more particularity below. 
     FIG. 1  depicts a blank  20  used to form a container  54 . The blank  20  is typically constructed from a single piece of formable material such as, without limitation, sheets of cellulose-based material formed from cellulose materials such as wood pulp, straw, cotton, bagasse, or the like. Cellulose-based materials used in the present invention may come in many forms, such as fiberboard, containerboard, corrugated containerboard and paperboard. However, it will be appreciated that the single piece of formable material may be constructed from other material as well, such as, without limitation, a polymer based material. The polymer based material may be in the form of a sheet of plastic material, or a sheet of corrugated plastic material. 
   The blank  20  is cut and scored, perforated or otherwise formed into a plurality of panels that, when assembled, form container  54 . In all FIGURES, like numbers indicate like parts; additionally, cut lines are shown as solid lines, score lines as dashed lines, and lines of perforation as broken lines. For the purposes of further description herein, the downward direction is defined as a direction perpendicular to the first bottom panel  22  when the container  54  has been erected. The upwards direction is defined as the direction perpendicular to the first bottom panel  22  that corresponds to the inner surface of the bottom panel when the container  54  has been erected. 
   With respect to  FIG. 1 , the container blank arrangement  20  includes a two-piece blank arrangement. Specifically, the container blank arrangement  20  includes the liner blank  56  and the body wrap blank  58 . The liner blank  56  and the body wrap blank  58  are configured such that when the various panels are folded as described in more detail below the container  54  is formed. 
   The liner blank  56  includes a second bottom panel  40 . Attached to the second bottom panel  40  is a rear panel  42  attached to the second bottom panel  40  along a fold line  33 . Opposite fold line  33  is a fold line  37 , and attached to the second bottom panel  40  along the fold line  37  is a front panel  44 . Both the back panel  42  and the front panel  44  include a top flap  46  that are connected to the back panel  42  and front panel  44  along fold lines  35  respectively. Formed in the front panel  44  is a valve assembly punch-out panel  38 . 
   The body wrap blank  58  includes a first bottom panel  22 . Additionally opposed side panels  24  are connected to the first bottom panel  22  along fold lines  21 . Opposite the first bottom panel  22  are top panels  30  that are connected to the side panels  24  along fold lines  25 . Additionally, each side panel  24  is attached to a front flap  26  along a fold line  29 . Also the side panel  24  is connected with a rear flap  28  along a fold line  23 , opposite fold line  29 . 
   The top panels  30  include a hand-hold punch-out panel  60  and hand-hold cut-out  62  formed therein. The hand-hold punch-out panel  60  is defined by perforation line  51 . The hand-hold cut-out  62  is generally defined in the outer periphery of the top panel  30 . It will be appreciated that the relative size, shape, and location of the hand-hold punch-out panel  60  and hand-hold cut-out  62  will be such that when the container  54  is formed, the hand-hold punch-out panel  60  and hand-hold cut-out  62  align to provide a sturdy hand-hold for the container  54 . 
   Each respective front flap  26  includes a portion of a valve mechanism profile cut-out  32  formed there within. It will be appreciated that at least a portion of the valve mechanism profile  32  formed in the front flap  26  is representative of the valve mechanism punch-out formed within the front panel  44 . It will further be appreciated that the illustrated valve mechanism profile cut-out  32  formed in the front flaps  26  and the valve assembly punch-out panel  38  are merely illustrative of one possible configuration, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The intent is merely to show where access to an interior of the formed container  54  may be provided, and one possible manner in which this may be accomplished. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many other configurations for providing access are within the scope of this invention. 
   With respect to  FIG. 2 , erection of the two-piece bliss container  54  will now be described herein. Specifically, the liner blank  56  is laid juxtaposed the body wrap blank  58  such that the second bottom panel  40  overlays the first bottom panel  22 . As can be seen in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 6 , the length of the second bottom panel  40  measured in a direction from fold line  37  to fold line  33  is greater than the length of the first bottom panel measured in a direction from fold line  29  to fold line  23 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the increased length of the second bottom panel  40  is an example of how the slope that the second bottom panel  40  has relative to the first bottom panel  22  when the container  54  is formed is determined. The angle of that slope is a question of design choice that may be based upon the type of product in the container and/or the location of the valve mechanism cut-outs. However, it will be appreciated that the overall length of the second bottom panel with respect to the first bottom panel should be sufficient to provide enough slope to allow the easy dispersal of any products (not shown) herein. It is believed that the second bottom panel  40  relative to the first bottom panel  22  may be at an angle of about 5 degrees to about 40 degrees. However, the degree of angle between these two panels may be less than or greater than this disclosed range. 
   Further erection of the container is caused by folding the front panel  44  upwardly approximately 90 degrees along the fold line  37 . Subsequently the front flaps  26  may be folded inwardly approximately 90 degrees along fold line  29  such that the front flap  26  and front panel  44  are juxtaposed to one another. Additionally the rear panel  42  may be folded upwardly along a fold line  33  approximately 90 degrees. Subsequently the rear flaps  28  may be folded inwardly along fold lines  23 . Consequently, the rear flap  28  and the rear panel  42  will be in juxtaposition relative to one another. At this point, as best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the container  54  is now ready to receive product (not shown) there within. 
   Once the product (not shown) is placed within the container  54 , the top assemblies may be closed. Specifically, the top flaps  46  are folded inwardly approximately 90 degrees along fold lines  35 . Subsequently the top panels  30  may be folded inwardly approximately 90 degrees along a fold line  25 . As best seen in  FIG. 5 , the hand-hold punch-out panels  60  may then be pressed downwardly, thereby allowing a user to grasp the area between the two hand-hold cut-outs  62 . 
   As best seen in  FIG. 6 , the two-piece bliss box container includes a sloped inner bottom panel while still keeping a flat outer bottom panel. As mentioned above, in one embodiment the amount of slope between the second bottom panel  40  and the first bottom panel  22  maybe a function of their respective lengths. As discussed above, the angle between the second bottom panel  40  and the first bottom panel  22  is variable, and is determined at least partially by the nature of the product within the container  54 . 
   One possible type of product that my suitably be used with this container  54  is a liquid product, such as bagged wine, or dairy products. To this end, the container  54  may be used to hold a bag  34  with a valve mechanism  36 . The bag  34  may be any suitable liquid impermeable bag suitable for holding a variety of liquids. Additionally, the bag may include the valve assembly  36  that is configured to operatively allow any products contained within the bag to be selectively released. 
   As noted above, the overall geometry of the various panels is not to be limited by the FIGURES. Specifically, the front panel  44  and rear panel  42  are depicted as being rectangular; however, the both panels may be any other geometric shape is without exceeding the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, without limitation, the front panel  44  and rear panel  42  may be square. Likewise, the first bottom panel  22  and the second bottom panels  40  may wider or narrower as the need arises. It will be appreciated that the geometry of the various panels may be adjusted accordingly without exceeding the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
   While various embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of such embodiments. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.