Patent Publication Number: US-2006000880-A1

Title: Box with widest possible pouring spout

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/583,727 filed on Jun. 29, 2004. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates generally to fibrous structures, and more particularly to a box-like container which has the widest possible integrated pouring spout, thereby providing a larger opening for more efficient pouring of coarse or larger materials.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Although many pouring spout arrangements have been devised in the past, very few have gained commercial acceptance. One of these is a metal spout attached to the end panel of a cardboard box and covered with paper for sealing prior to the opening of the spout. This type of spout is not only expensive to produce, but is limited in size and thus has insufficient pouring areas useful for pouring course or large products such as course or bulky products.  
      Plastic spouts in the top of a box have also been designed, however, again the design requires the attachment of a separate element and is also relatively small in size, again prohibiting the dispensing of coarse or large products and are relatively expensive to produce.  
      As a consequence, there has been a need for an improved pouring spout with the largest possible opening for use in dispensing products which are larger, course or bulky in nature which is also efficient and economical to manufacture.  
      In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention provides an improved pouring spout arrangement which requires virtually no added expense in producing a cardboard box. The spout will provide for the easy pouring of the material from the box and can be closed once the material has been dispensed. This spout arrangement provides for the largest possible spout opening which is important for materials that are large or bulky or which tend to form lumps.  
      The spout arrangement provides a cardboard box made from a single sheet of material defining two opposite end panels, one of which has two layers, positioned one on top of the other. The outer layer includes a cutout for a portion of the closure flap, pivotal about its lower edge with an opening above it. Additionally, the outer layer has a reinforcing flap which will adhere to the side wall frontal or rear portion of the box as a stabilizing feature of the structure.  
      The inner layer has a remainder of the closure flap which is pivotal about its lower edge and bendable transversely at its intermediate portion. Above the bendable portion the inner layer is attached to the outer portion of the stationary side of the cardboard box and will act to secure the pouring spout in a closed position when not in use. Above the bendable portion it is attached to the outer portion of the stationary side wall.  
      The box is opened by pulling outwardly on the closure flaps to pivot them about the lower edges. This removes the bottom closure flap from inside of the opening and causes it to bend transversely, uncovering the openings through the end panel of the box. The closure flaps may be retained in the opened position by locating the top edge of the closure flap adjacent the pivot point of the closure flap bearing, against the wall of the outer panel on either side of the opening. Therefore, it is unnecessary to hold the pouring spout open manually as the contents of the box are being dispensed.  
      The spout is closed by reversing the operation and inserting the bottom edge of the closure flap inside the lower edge of the stationary cutout in the inner panel.  
      The principle object of this invention is to provide for the largest possible opening for a pouring spout arrangement on a cardboard box.  
      Another object of this invention is to create a pouring spout arrangement that is an integral portion of the cardboard blank from which such a box is constructed with no need for additional element.  
      It must be clearly understood at this time although the preferred embodiment of the invention consists of the pouring spout which is an integral portion of the cardboard blank from which a cardboard box is manufactured, that many conventional pouring spouts exist that will achieve the a similar operation and they will also be fully covered within the scope of this patent.  
      With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this invention.  
       FIG. 1  depicts a fragmentary perspective view of a box according to prior art;  
       FIG. 2  depicts a perspective view of a box incorporating the spout of this invention;  
       FIG. 3  depicts a fragmentary perspective view of the spout in an open position;  
       FIG. 4  depicts a box blank prior to assembly of the cardboard box with integrated spout according to the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  depicts a fragmentary portion of the blank prior to assembly of the cardboard box illustrating the outer portion of the integrated spout according to the present invention; and  
       FIG. 6  depicts a fragmentary portion of the blank prior to assembly of the cardboard box illustrating the inner portion of the integrated spout according to the present invention. 
    
    
      For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this invention.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein similar parts of the invention are identified by like reference numerals. There is seen in  FIG. 1 a  fragmentary perspective view of the prior art integrated spout with cardboard container.  FIG. 2  represents a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the box with integrated widest possible spout  10  according to the present invention illustrating the widest possible spout  18  in an open position. Illustrated in  FIG. 2  is a container  12  with a top panel portion  14 , side panel portion  22  and the external end panel portion  20  with an external side panel portion  16  attached to a side panel portion  22  of the container  12 . It must be understood that any number of materials may be used in manufacturing the container  12  and will be covered within the scope of this patent.  
       FIG. 3  is a fragmentary perspective view of the box with integrated spout  10  with the widest possible spout  18 . The container  12  has a box top portion  14 , a side panel portion  22 , an external side panel portion  16  and an external end panel portion  20 . The widest possible spout  18  is composed of an external spout front panel  32  attached to an internal spout front panel  42 . This external spout front panel is foldably attached to the spout side panels  44  and  46 . These spout side panels  44  and  46  are pulled through the external spout cuts  36  and  38  and through the internal spout cut  50  as seen in  FIG. 3 . The bottom portion of the widest possible spout  18  is held in place by the internal spout closure panel  35  which is attached to the external spout closure panel  34   
       FIG. 4  depicts the exterior of an unassembled blank of the box with integrated spout  30 . The box blank is assembled by folding the blank along the internal side panel score  56 , the internal end panel score  58 , the side panel scores  60  and  62 , the external end panel score  64  and the external side panel score  66 , the bottom side flap scores  68  and  72 , the bottom end flap score  70 , the top side flap scores  74  and  78  and the top end flap scores  76  and  88 . The internal side panel portion  28  is affixed to the interior of the side panel portion  24 . The external side panel portion  16  is affixed to the exterior of the side panel portion  22  and the internal end panel portion  29  is affixed to the external end panel portion  20 . The top end flaps  80  and  82  are secured to the internal box top side portion  26  and the box top side portion  26  is then secured to the second box top side portion  27 . Similarly, the bottom end flaps  84  and  86  are secured to a bottom side flap  90  and that secured bottom side flap  90  is affixed to the second bottom side flap  92 .  
      The internal spout front panel  42  is affixed to the external spout front panel  32 . The internal spout front panel  42  is folded along the lower internal spout score  54  as well as the spout side panels  44  and  46  and the external spout front panel  32  is folded along the lower external spout score  52  allowing the spout to open as the spout side panels  44  and  46  move outwardly through the external spout cuts  36  and  38 , and the internal spout cuts  48  and  50  which are now aligned with one another. The spout securing portions of the spout  94  and  96  prevent the spout side panels  44  and  46  from opening further than is necessary to form the spout opening. The bottom portion of the spout circular cut  40  forms a convenient finger pull for opening the spout which is secured in the closed position by the bottom portion of the external spout closure panel  34 .  
       FIG. 5  depicts a fragmentary view of the unassembled box blank with a closer view of the exterior portion of the spout.  FIG. 5  includes external side panel portion  16 , side panel portion  24 , box top side portion  27 , top end flap  80 , external spout front panel  32 , with external spout closure panel  34  and external spout cuts  36  and  38  as well as the spout circular cut  40 . Score lines depicted in  FIG. 5  include lower external spout score  52 , side panel score  60 , external end panel score  64 , top side flap score  74 , and top end flap score  88 .  
       FIG. 6  depicts a fragmentary view of the unassembled box blank with a closer view of the interior portion of the spout.  FIG. 6  includes a side panel portion  22 , a box top side portion  26 , the internal end panel portion  29 , the internal spout front panel  42 , the spout side panels  44  and  46  with the spout securing portions of the spout side panels  94  and  96  together with the internal spout cuts  48  and  50 . Score lines seen in  FIG. 6  are lower internal spout score  54 , internal side panel score  56 , internal end panel score  58 , and top side flap score  78 .  
      The box with widest possible spout  10  shown in the drawings and described in detail herein disclose arrangements of elements of particular construction and configuration for illustrating the preferred embodiment of structure and method of construction of the present invention. It is to be understood however, that elements of different construction and configuration and other arrangements thereof, other than those illustrated and described may be employed for providing a box with widest possible spout  10  in accordance with the spirit of this invention, and such changes, alternations and modifications as would occur to those skilled in the art are considered to be within the scope of this invention as broadly defined in the claims.  
      Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.