Patent Publication Number: US-7581673-B2

Title: Container with reclosable pour spout

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to containers or cartons and more particularly, to a paperboard container or cartons including an integrally formed paperboard pour spout. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Conventional foldable cartons are well known and are used in a variety of applications. For example, the packaging industry utilizes a vast number of cartons in which numerous products are packaged for subsequent shipment. Current cartons used for packaging flowable substance require forming machinery that has expensive tooling that must be changed for each size package. Also, a variety of cartons includes one or more metal or plastic pour spouts to aid in dispensing, draining or straining liquid contained in the carton or container. The usage of metal or plastic pour spouts in cartons is costly for the pour spout requires special and expensive application equipment and cause decreased assembly line efficiencies. The present invention eliminates the expensive tooling that is needed to form conventional packaging and also provides a pour spout that is integrally formed with the cartons. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a container comprising a pour spout to aid in dispensing, draining or straining flowable substance contained in the carton or container. 
   Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention relates to The present invention relates to a container comprising opposing top and bottom walls and four side walls each having an upper and lower ends, the opposing top and bottom walls and the four side walls bridging the opposing top and bottom walls. The top wall comprises a pivotable tab integrally extending from one transverse end of the top wall. A generally U-shaped indentation is formed on one of the four side walls to receive the pivotable tab therein. A dispensing opening is configured on the upper end of one of the four side walls. The dispensing opening and the pivotable tab cooperate with one another to define a pour spout. The pivotable tab is seated in the U-shaped indentation to cover the dispensing opening when the pour spout is in a closed position and the pivotable tab is detached from the dispensing opening when the pour spout is an open position. 
   Another aspect of the present invention relates a container comprising opposing top and bottom walls, opposing end walls, and opposing side walls. The opposing top and bottom walls are spaced apart from one another by the opposing end walls and the opposing side walls. The opposing top and bottom walls are foldably joined to longitudinal opposing edges of the side walls and the opposing end walls are foldably joined to transverse opposing edges of the side walls. The opposing top and bottom walls, opposing end walls, and opposing side walls all cooperate with one another to form the container. One of the opposing end walls comprises at least one pour spout that is defined by a dispensing opening and a tab that is integrally formed on one of the opposing end wall, and a generally U-shaped indentation is formed on one of the opposing end walls to receive the tab therein. The tab is adapted to be moved between an open position and a closed position. 
   One more aspect of the present invention relates to a paperboard blank for making a container having opposing top and bottom walls, opposing end walls, and opposing side walls. The blank comprises two side panels spaced apart from one another by a top wall. A bottom panel is extended from a longitudinal side of one of the two side panels. A glue flap being is extended from a longitudinal side of the bottom panel, the glue flap is glued to the longitudinal side of one of the side panels when the blank is in the folded position. The top wall has a tab at one end and a flap on anther end. Each of the side panels has a pair of transverse end panels which one of the pair of the transverse end panels comprises a generally U-shaped cut lines, a straight cut line, and a generally U-shaped indentation. Another one of the pair of the transverse end panels comprises a generally V-shaped cut out and a slot wherein the V-shaped cut out and a slot are configured to cooperate with the U-shaped cut lines, the straight cut line, the generally U-shaped indentation, and the tab to form a pour spout when the blank is constructed to make the container. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a container having an integrally formed pour spout in an open position in accordance to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the container shown in  FIG. 1 , illustrating the container in a closed position; 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of a blank used to construct the container shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the container shown in  FIG. 1 , illustrating the detail of the pour spout in an unfolded manner; 
       FIG. 5  is a portion of the perspective view of the container shown in  FIG. 1 , illustrating the detail of the pour spout in the open position; and 
       FIG. 6  is a portion of the perspective view of the container shown in  FIG. 2 , illustrating the pour spout from inside of the container. 
   

   DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a container  10  having an integrally formed pour spout  12 , illustrating the pour spout  12  in an open position in accordance to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The container  10  comprises opposing top and bottom walls  14   a ;  14   b , opposite end walls  16   a ,  16   b , and opposite side walls  18   a ,  18   b . The opposing top and bottom walls  14   a ,  14   b  are spaced apart from one another by the opposite end walls  16   a ,  16   b  and the opposite side walls  18   a ,  18   b . The opposing top and bottom walls  14   a ,  14   b  are foldably joint to longitudinal opposite edges of the side walls  18   a ,  18   b , and the end walls  16   a ,  16   b  are foldably joint to transverse opposite edges of the side walls  18   a ,  18   b . The opposing top and bottom walls  14   a ,  14   b , the opposite end walls  16   a ,  16   b , and the opposite side walls  18   a ,  18   b  are all cooperating with one another to form the container  10 . The pour spout  12  comprises a dispensing opening  21  and a tab  22  tat is configured to enclose the dispensing opening  21  when the pour spout  12  is in the closed position as depicted in  FIG. 2 . The tab  22  is formed on the top wall  14   a  for movement between an open dispensing position and a closed position as depicted in respective  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The tab  22  is integrally extended from the edge of the top wall  14   a  and pivots with respect to the top wall  14   a . The tab  22  includes a door segment  26  and a locking flap  28  that are defined by a score line  29 . The locking flap  28  is inserted into the cut line  33  to hold the door segment  26  of the tab  22  against the opening  21 . A generally U-shaped indentation  32  is formed on the end wall  16   a  to receive the tab  22  therein. The tab  22  and the generally U-shaped indentation  32  are substantially the same size and shape and thus, the tab  22  sits in the generally U-shaped indentation  32  so that the tab  22  and surface of the end wall  16   a  are leveled. It should be noted that the depth of the U-shaped indentation  32  corresponds to the thickness of the tab  22 . In the open position, the pour spout  12  permits the container  10  to dispense the flowable substance, such as cosmetic or detergent powder or granular material such as sugar or salt contained therein. In the closed position, the pour spout  12  protects the flowable substance of the container  10  from surrounding as best shown in  FIG. 2 . Depending on the design, the container  10  may have more than one pour spout  12 . The container  10  is generally rectangular in shape; however, other geometrical shapes may be used accordingly. The container  10  is preferably made from a flat sheet of heat-resistant laminated linerboard or corrugated paperboard having a laminated linerboard, although any foldable material may be used. The container  10  is constructed from a blank  30  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) which is scored and cut to define a series of foldably interconnected walls and panels as hereinafter described. It is well within the scope of this invention to use any suitable material well known or later developed in the art such as, for example, plastic, foil or the like. 
     FIG. 3  is a top view of the blank  30  used to construct the container  10 . The blank  30  is divided into two side panels  34 ,  36  by two substantially parallel longitudinal fold lines  38 ,  39  and further divided into four end panels  42 ,  44 ,  46 , and  48  by two substantially parallel transverse fold lines  52 ,  54 . Top panel  40  is formed by the intersection of the respective two transverse fold lines  52 ,  54  and respective longitudinal fold lines  38 ,  39 . A bottom panel  56  is extended from the longitudinal edge of the side panel  34  and is defined by intersection of the two substantially parallel longitudinal fold lines  58 ,  60  and the two substantially parallel transverse fold lines  52 ,  54  with one another. The bottom panel  56  includes a pair of flaps  64   a ,  64   b  that are defined by intersection of the fold lines  52 ,  54 , and  58 . The flaps  64   a ,  64   b  are extended from the transverse end of the bottom wall  14   b . The bottom panel  56  includes a glue flap  62  that is defined by a fold line  60 . The glue flap  62  projects outwardly from the bottom panel  56  and is provided with a quantity of adhesive  61  thereon for properly securing the two side panels  34 ,  36 , and top panel  40  to the bottom wall  14   b . Alternative forms of securing two side panels  34 ,  36 , and top panel  40  to the bottom wall  14   b , may be used such as by staple, slots and tabs, etc. Opposite transverse ends of the top panel  40  includes a flap  66  and the tab  22 . End panels  42 ,  46  are formed by fold line  52  and extended outwardly from respective panels  34  and  36 . Similarly, End panels  44 ,  48  are formed by fold line  54  and extended outwardly from respective panels  34  and  36 . 
   End panel  42  includes the U-shaped de-embossed or indentation  32  formed therein. Within the area of the U-shaped indentation  32 , there are two cut lines  33  and  31 . As noted above, the cut line  33  is formed so that the locking flap  28  is inserted therein when the pour spout  12  is In the closed position. The cut line  31  is formed to facilitate the inserting of the locking flap  28  into the cut line  31 . The end panel  42  also includes a generally U-shaped cut line  70  formed therein. One end of the U-shaped cut line  70  is in proximity of the cut line  31  and the other end is at one edge of the end panel  42 . It should be noted that the U-shaped cut line  70  is penetrated nearly half of the total depth of the thickness of the end panel  42 . Another cut line  72  is also formed on the back side of the end panel  42  in a manner that is penetrated nearly half through the thickness of the end panel  42 . The formation of the U-shaped cut line  70  and the cut line  72  are advantageous because these cut lines fonts a plug  74  used to seal the opening  21  when the blank  30  is constructed to form the container  10 . As will be described in greater detail a layer  76  of the end panel is adhered to the plug  74 , such that the layer  76  and the plug  74  moves in tandem with each other. 
   End panel  46  includes a V-shaped cut out  74  formed therein. The V-shaped cut out  74  will form into the dispensing opening  21  when the blank  30  is constructed to form the container  10 . The end panel  46  also includes a slot  77  tat is used to receive the lacking flap  28  therein. As best depicted in  FIG. 4 , when the blank  30  is in the folded position, the cut line  33  lay over the slot  77  and the locking flap  28  is inserted therein so that the container  10  is in the closed position. 
   Manual set-up of the container  10  is easily accomplished. First, the blank  30  is folded along the fold lines  38 ,  39 , and  58  and ten the glue flap  62  is preferably glued to the longitudinal side of the panel  36 . Next, the flaps  64   b  and  66  are folded inwardly with respect to fold line  54  and the end panels  44  and  48  are folded with respect to fold line  54  onto one another to form the bottom wall  14   b  as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4 . Then flap  64   a  is tucked in first and second, the panel  46  is folded onto the flap  64   a  with respect to the fold line  52  and third, the panel  42  is folded over the panel  46  and glued thereto. Finally, the tab  22  is preferably hot melted to the panel  42 . It should be noted that the tab  22  is hot incited to the U-shaped cut line  70 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , to initially open the pour spout  12 , a user pulls outwardly the locking tab  28  and in response to the application of a sufficient amount of opening force, the tab  22  and the layer  76  are forced open. Since the inner surface of the layer  76  is adhered to the plug  74 , the layer  76  and the plug  74  move in tandem with each other. During this opening process, the layer  74  breaks free from the surrounding portions of the cut line  70  and, at the same time, the plug  74  breaks free from the panel  42  as best depicted in  FIG. 5 . After the user dispenses the desired amount of contents from the container  10 , the pour spout  12  is enclosed to the closed position shown in  FIGS. 2 and 6  by pushing inwardly on the locking tab  28  into the cut line  33 . 
   While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.