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US 6,386,438 B1Granted
Carton blank, carton and method of forming the carton
AssigneeGraphic Packaging Corporation
InventorsJoseph C. Walsh, Robert L. Conatser, Raymond S. Kastanek
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A carton blank having an outer layer of a relatively rigid material, a first inner layer of a relatively rigid material superposed over a portion of the outer layer and a second inner layer of a relatively flexible layer of a fluid impervious material is provided with first and second weakened portions so that, after a carton has been formed from the carton blank, filled with a desired material and sealed, the first weakened portion may be broken to form a flip top lid which when moved in an arcuate path will gradually sever the second weakened portion to form an opening in the carton so that an amount of the desired material may be removed from the carton.
Claims21
A carton blank comprising:
- an outer layer comprising a first generally rectangular sheet of a relatively rigid material and having an outer surface and an inner surface;
- said outer layer having a plurality of cut and fold lines formed therein for dividing said outer layer into a plurality of panels;
- said outer layer having at least a first sidewall panel being integral with a second sidewall panel and a third sidewall panel and joined thereto by opposite fold lines;
- a first top panel integral with said first sidewall panel and joined thereto by a fold line;
- a second top panel integral with said second sidewall panel and joined thereto by a fold line;
- a third top panel integral with said third sidewall panel and joined thereto by a fold line;
- a first inner layer comprising a second generally rectangular sheet of a relatively rigid material having an outer surface and an inner surface;
- said second generally rectangular sheet being opposite to portions of said first, second and third sidewall panels;
- said second generally rectangular sheet having at least a first partial sidewall panel integral with a second partial sidewall panel and a third partial sidewall panel and secured thereto by opposite fold lines;
- said first sidewall panel and said first partial sidewall panel having substantially the same width between said opposite fold lines thereof;
- said second generally rectangular sheet having an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion;
- at least a portion of said first partial sidewall panel adjacent to said lower edge being secured to at least a portion of said first sidewall panel;
- said upper edge portion being located adjacent to but spaced from said fold lines between said first, second and third sidewall panels and said first, second and third top panels;
- a second inner layer comprising a generally rectangular sheet of a relatively flexible fluid impervious material and having an outer surface and an inner surface;
- at least portions of said outer surface of said second inner layer being secured to opposite portions of said inner surface of said outer layer;
- at least other portions of said outer surface of said second inner layer being secured to at least portions of said inner surface of said first inner layer;
- said second inner layer having a weakened portion located adjacent to but spaced from said upper edge of said first inner layer;
- portions of said outer surface of said second inner layer surrounding said weakened portion being secured to opposite portions of said inner surface of said first inner layer;
- and
- a continuous weakened portion in portions of said first, second and third sidewall panels for cooperating with said weakened portion in forming an opening in a carton formed from said outer layer and said first and second inner layers so that said weakened portions may be broken to form an opening in said carton and a flip top lid for opening or closing said opening.
17 more elements
A dispensing carton comprising:
- a plurality of sidewall panels folded around parallel fold lines and held in folded relationship by a glue tab panel to form a central body portion;
- said plurality of sidewall panels comprising at least one sidewall panel having integral second and third sidewall panels joined thereto by opposite fold lines;
- an inner insert having at least a first partial sidewall panel, a second partial sidewall panel and a third partial sidewall panel superposed over portions of said first, second and third sidewall panels;
- said insert having top and bottom edges;
- said first partial sidewall panel being secured to facing portions of said first sidewall panel at a location adjacent to said bottom edge;
- a continuous fluid impervious liner for said carton having a central body portion, a top portion and a bottom portion;
- a plurality of bottom panels integral with said plurality of sidewall panels and joined thereto by fold lines;
- a plurality of top panels integral with said plurality of sidewall panels and joined thereto by fold lines;
- said bottom portion and said bottom panels being folded and secured together in a fluid tight relationship;
- said top portion and said top panels being folded and secured together in a fluid tight relationship;
- a first continuous weakened portion in portions of said first, second and third sidewall panels;
- a second continuous weakened portion in said continuous fluid impervious liner in a portion thereof spaced from said top edge;
- the portion of said fluid impervious liner surrounding said second weakened portion being secured to said insert;
- and
- said first and second weakened portions when broken providing an opening and a flip top lid for said carton.
12 more elements
A method for forming a secured together top portion for a container comprising at least an outer layer comprising a plurality of sidewall panels and a glue panel folded around fold lines and secured together;
- a plurality of bottom panels integral with said plurality of sidewall panels and joined thereto by fold lines;
- a plurality of top panels integral with said plurality of sidewall panels and joined thereto by fold lines and wherein the plurality of top panel comprise two relatively long top panels and two relatively short top panels;
- at least an inner layer comprising a flexible fluid impervious material having a central body portion, a bottom portion and a top portion wherein the central body portion is secured to at least portions of said plurality of sidewall panels and wherein the plurality of bottom panels and the bottom portion are folded and secured together to form an open ended carton ready to be filled with a desired material and wherein the fold lines between the plurality of top panels and the plurality of sidewall panels lie in a common plane and wherein the open ended carton has been filled with a desired material comprising:
- folding and continuously sealing together portions of said top portion so as to have a central body portion and two opposite outwardly extending portions lying substantially in said common plane with said central body portion extending in a direction substantially parallel with said two relatively long top panels;
- folding one of said two relatively long top panels to a location wherein it is superposed over said central section;
- folding each of said two relatively short top panels so that one of said two opposite end sections is located between each of said two relatively short top panels and spaced apart portions of said one of said two relatively long top panels;
- folding the other of said two relatively long top panels until it is superposed over said folded two relatively short top panels and the portion of said one of said two relatively long top panels located therebetween;
- securing together facing portions of said other of said two relatively long top panels and said two relatively short top panels and said portion of said one of said two relatively long top panels;
- wherein the plurality of sidewall panels comprise at least a first sidewall panel integral with a second and a third sidewall panel and connected thereto by fold lines;
- a first continuous weakened portion formed in the first, second and third sidewall panels to form separable portions of the first, second and third sidewall panels;
- an inner insert having at least first, second and third partial sidewalls joined by fold lines and superposed over portions of the first, second and third sidewall panels;
- the inner insert having upper edge and a lower edge;
- the first partial sidewall panel being secured to said first sidewall panel at a location adjacent to the bottom edge of the first partial sidewall panel;
- the inner insert being enclosed within and secured to a portion of the inner layer of a flexible impervious sheet;
- a second continuous weakened portion formed in a portion thereof parallel to and spaced from a portion of the top edge and additional weakened portions to form a pull tab;
- applying a first force on said additional weakened portions to remove said pull tab;
- breaking said first weakened portion so that said separable portions of said first, second and third sidewall panels can be moved;
- moving said separable portions of said first, second and third sidewall panels in an arcuate path;
- gradually severing said second weakened portion by said movement of said separable portions of said first, second and third sidewall panels to form an opening in said carton.
16 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.