Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
RESEAI~ LE PAPE:R80ARD PACiCAGE
ound of the Invention
This invention relates to resealable packages of the -type
adapted to inhibit or prevent vapor transmission to or from the
interior of the package. Packages of this type are generally used
for breakfast cereals, snack foods, flour mixes, and other
applications requiring low vapor transmission through the package.
Conventional packages used or these materials normally employ an
outer paperboard package and an inner bag which contains the
product. Once this type of package has been opened, it is very
difficult, if not ;mpossible, to get a good resealing of the package
to prevent the transmission of vapor into or out of the package.
The present invention on the other hand, provides a package which
not only eliminates the need for a bag within the paparboard
package, but also provides a means for resealing the package to
inhibit the transmission of vapor into or out of the package.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention comprises a resealable paperboard
package which includes a base and a top. The base comprises a
bottom and a plurality of base side panels extending upwardly from
the bottom. The base and side panels are secured together to form
the base with an open upper end. Each base side panel has a base
side panel extension hingedly joined thereto along a fold line at
the upper edge of the base side panel. Each base panel extension
extents at an angle to the base side panel to which it is attached
and is biased outwardly from the base side panel. The top comprises
a top central panel and a plurality of top side panels attached to
and depending from the top central panel. The top central panel and
the side panels are secured together to form a top with an open
lower end complimentary in shape to the open upper end ox the base.
The top is positioned over the upper end oE the base with the top
side panels in intimate contact with the base panel extensions which
are biased into 0ngagement with the top side panels. Initially, the
top is adhesively secured to the base but is adapted to be separated
from the base by breaking the adhesive bonds.
The base and the top are made from paperboard coated on one
side with a commercial heat sealing vapor proof coàting. The base
and the top are formed so that the interior of the package is
essentially smooth and only coated surfaces of -the paperboard are
exposed C)D the ;nterior of the base and the top. This keeps the
product contained within the package free flowing and prevents or
inhibits the migration of vapor into or out of the package. Another
advantage of the present invention relates to the reinforcement of
the base side walls by the top. For certain applications this will
allow the package to be formed from a lower point paperboard.
Br;ef Description of the Drawings
In the drawings:
PIG. 1 is an isometric view of the finished package;
PIG. 2 is an isometric view of the package showing the top
and the base separated;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the base blank;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the top blank;
JIGS. 5-8 are schematic representations illustrating the
fabrication of the base from the base blank; and
FIGS. 9-13 are schematic representations of the formation
of the top from the top blank with the formation occurring about the
upper end of the base.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Referring now to the drawings and in particular to JIGS. 1
and 2, reference numeral 2 designates the resealable paperboard
package of the present invention. The resealable paperboard package
of the present invention includes a base 4 and a top which
cooperate to form the resealable package.
The base 4 is formed from blank 8 which is illustrated in
FIG. 3. The blank 3 includes four base side panels 10, 12, 14 and
16, two bottom panels 18 and 22, and two bottom ~usseted tuck panels
20 and 24. The bottom panels 18, 20, 22 and 24 are hingedly joinecl
to the base side panels 10, 12 14 and 16 respectively along a common
horizontal score line 26 which extends along the lower edge of the
base side panels. The base side panels 10, 12, 14 and 16 are
hingedly joined to each other by vertical score lines 28, 30 and 32
which coincide with the vertical edges of the base side panels
intermediate panels 10 and 12, 12 and 14 and 14 and 16 respectively.
The base side panels are provided with sealing extensions
--2--
34~ 36, 3~ and 40 which are hingedly joined to panels 10, l2, 14 and
16 respectively along a common horizontal score line 42 which
extends along the upper edges of the base side panels. The sealing
extensions 34, 36, 38 and 40 each extend the entire width ox the
S base side panel to which they are joined and are separated erom each
other by cuts 6 and 48. The cuts 44, ~6 and 48 are aligned
with score lines 28, 30 and 32 respectively and extend completely
through the pap~rboard from the free edges of the sealing extensions
to the score line 42.
Base side panels 10 and 14 are each provided with a series
of four spaced release spots 50 and 52 which are defined by circle
cuts. The cuts extend through abo~1t half the thickness of the
paperboard and adhesive 54 is applied to the surface of the release
spots. The release spots 50 and 52 are spaced below the upper edges
(score line 42) of the base side panels 10 and l a distance at
least equal to or greater than the width of the sealing extensions
34 and 38. With this construction, the ex-tensions 34 and 38 can be
folded over onto the face of the base side panels 10 and 14 without
even partially covering the adhesive coated release spots 50 and 52.
A second vertical edge of base side panel 16, opposite the
edge defined by the score line 32, is defined by a vertical score
line 56. Score line 56 hingedly joins base side panel 16 to a side
seam adhesive flap 58 which is coated on one side with an adhesive
as shown in PIG. 3. The flap 58 is made up of two sections joined
by scor0 line 60 and extends the entire height of panel 16. This
adhesive flap 58 is adapted to be doubled over along score line 60
and the two sections bonded together. The double thickness flap is
then bonded to the inner surface of panel 10 adjacent the free
vertical edge of that panel to form a sleeve from the blank 8 during
the package forming operation. To reduce the thickness of the
doubl0d over flap 58, the thickness of the paperboard in the flap
may be reduced by skiving or shaving one surface Oe the paperboard
prior to applying the adhesive.
us shown in FIG. 3, outer bottom panel 18 has a length
corresponding to the width of base side pane]. 10 and a width
corresponding to the width of base side panel -L2 and 16. The outer
bottom panel 18 is joined to the inner bottom panel 22 by bottom
--3--
t~7~
tuck panel 20. Tuck panel 20 is hingedly joined to the outer bottom
panel 18 and the inner bottom panel 22 along score lines 28 and 30
respectively. The tuck panel 20 compr;ses three generally
triangular shaped sections 62, 64 and 66 which are defined by score
5 lines 26, 28, 30, 68 and 70. Score lines 68 and 70 hingedly join
sections 62, 6~ and 66. The score lines 68 and 70 start at the
intersections of score line 26 and score lines 28 and 30
respectively; are oriented at an angle of 90 with respect to each
other and 45~ with respect to score lines 28 and 30; and end at the
free edge of tuck panel 20 where they intersect. Except for a
bottom sealing extension 72 which extends the width of the ;nner
bottom panel 22, the tuck panel 20 has a width about half that of
the inner bottom panel 22.
Tuck panel 24 is a mirror image of tuck panel 20 and is
hingedly joined to the inner base panel 22 along score line 32. The
tuck panel 24 comprises three generally triangular shaped sections
7~, 76 and 78 ~Jhich are defined by score lines 26, 32, 56, 80 and
82. Fold lines 80 and 82 hingedly join sections 74, 76 and 78. The
score lines 80 and 82 start at the intersections of score line 26
and score lines 32 and 56 respectively; are oriented at an angle of
90~ with respect to each other and 45 with respect to score lines
32 and 56; and end at the free edge of tuck panel 24 where they
intersect. except for a bottom sealing extension 84 which extends
the width of inner bottom panel 22, the tuck panel ?4 has a width
about half that of the inner bottom panel.
sealing and adhesive extension 86 is hingedly joined to
tuck panel 24 along score line 56 and side seam adhesive flap 58
along score line 26. The sealing and adhesive extension 86 is the
same width as tuck panel 24.
Inner bottom panel 22 is defined by score line 26, a score
line 88, opposite score line 26 and extending parallel to score line
26, plus score lines 30 and 32 which hingedly join the inner bottom
panel 22 to tuck panels 20 and 24 respectively. The extensions of
score lines 30 and 32 which join the inner bottom panel 22 to tuck
panels 20 and 24 are offset slightly from the main portions of the
score lines so that the inner bottom panel. 22 has a length
substantially corresponding to but somewhat less the width of base
side panel l The width ox the bottom panel 22 corresponds to the
width of base side panels 12 and 16. Score line 88 hingedly joins
the inner bottom panel to sealing flap 90 which extends the entire
length of the inner bottom panel. This flap in conjunction with
sealing extensions located on the adjacent tuck panels 20 and 2~ are
utilized to seal the bottom of the base I.
As shown in FIG. 3, one side of panels 20, 22, 2~l and
extension 86 are coated with a heat sealing adhesive for bonding the
base of the package together.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, the top 6 is formed from a blank
100 which includes a top central panel 102 and top side panels 10~l,
106, 108 and 110. Side panels 10~l and 106 are located on opposite
sides of the top central panel 102 and are hingedly joined to the
top central panel by score lines 112 and 114. The top side panels
104 and 106 have a horizontal dimension equal to the dimension of
the top central panel edge to which they are joined and a vertical
dimension equal to the vertical dimension of the top side panels 108
and 110. The top side panels 108 and 110 are located on opposite
sides of the top central panel 102 and are hingedly joined to the
top central panel by score lines 116 and 118 respectively. The top
side panels 108 and 110 have a horizontal dimension equal to the
horizontal dimension of the top central panel edge to which they are
joined and a vertical dimension equal to or less than the vertical
dimension between the tops of release spots 50, 52 and the upper
edges (score line ~2) of base side panels 10 and is
Top side panels 108 and 110 have release panels 120 and 122
depending therefrom and hingedly joined thereto along score lines
12~ and 126 respectively. The horizontal dimensions of the panels
120 and 122 equal the dimension of the top side panel edge to which
they are joined. The vertical dimension of the release panels 120
and 122 is such that the vertical dimension from the lower free
0dges 128, 130 of the release panels to score lines 116 and 118
raspectively is equal to or greater than the vertical dimension from
the bottoms of release spots 50, 52 to the upper edges (score line
~2) of the base side panels 10 and l
Inner ~lu0 flaps 132 and 13~ are hingedly joined to the
ends of top side panel 108 along score lines 112 and 11~
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Pi
resp0ctively. Outer glue flaps 136 and 138 are hingedly joined to
the ends of top sida panel llO along score lines 112 and 114
respectively. The horlzontal and vertical dimensions of the glue
flaps 132, 134, 136 and 138 equal the horizontal and vertical
dimensions of top side panels 104 and 106. The glue flaps are
separated from the top side panels by cuts 140, 142, 144 and 146.
As shown in FIG. 4, one side of pane].s 104 and 106 and one side of
inner glue flaps 132 and 134 are coated with a heat sealing
adhesive. With this construction the elue flaps are adapted to be
folded over and adhesively bonded to each other and the top side
panels 104 and 106 when the top 6 is formed.
Although not shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the opposite sides of
blanks 8 and 100 are entirely coated with a heat sealing metal.liæed
one side low density polyethylene film. The metalli~ed side is
laminated to the paperboard. The film functions as a moisture or
vapor barrier and as an adhesive during the formation of the package.
The grain of the paperboard in the base blank 8 extends
parallel to score lines 26 and 42. The grain of the paperboard in
the top blank 100 extends parallel to score lines 116 and llS. With
the grains running in these directions the extensions 34, 36, 38 and
40 and the panels 103 and 110 tend to remain flat. With the grains
running perpendicular to the preferred direction the extensions 34,
36, 38 and 40 can tend to become wavy thereby adversely affecting
the seal between the top 6 and the base 4.
The package 2 is formed by first forming the base 4 by
folding and sealing it about a mandrel (not shown having an
exterior shape complimentary to the interior shape of the base,
filling the base with the material being packaged, forming the top 6
on the base and sealing the top to the base.
The first step in the formation of the base 4 is to fold
the outer section of glue flap 58 over onto the inner section to
place the adhesive coated surfaces in contact. The sections of the
adhesive Elap 58 are then adhesively bonded together. This results
in an adhesive flap 58 wherein both of its exposed surfaces are
coated with the polyethylene film.
The base blank 8 is then folded along score lines 12, 30,
32 and 56 to form a sleeve with the inner polyethylene coated
--6--
t7
surface of base side pnnel 10 adjacent its free edge overlapping the
polythylene coated adhesiYe flap 58. The side seam adhesive flap 58
is then adhesively bonded to the inner surface of the base side
panel 10 to form the sleeve shown in FIG. 5. The side seam ox the
sleeve has no raw edges to permit moisture migration and the
adhesive bond between the polyethylene coated surfaces forms a Good
seal. The sealing extensions 34, 36, 38 and ~0 are folded back along
score line ~2 toward their adjacent base side panels. However,
because of the memory of the paperboard> the extensions are biased
outwardly from the base sid0 walls and do not l;e flat against the
sidewalls.
After the sleeve is formed the inner base panel 22 is
folded along score line 26 to the position shown in FIG. 6 to close
the bottom of the base and bring the polyethylene coated surface of
the adhesive flap 90 into contact with the inner polyethylene coated
surface of outer bottom panel 18 Concurrently the panel sections 66
and 74 wi-th their extensions 72 and 8~ are being folded back along
score lines 70, 30 and 80, 32 to bring the polyethylene coated
surfaces of these sections into contact with the polyethylene coated
surfaces of panels 62, 64 and 76, 78. As shown in FIG. 7, the outer
bottom panel l and the sections 62, 64 and 76, 78 of tuck panels 20
and 2~ are now folded to overlay the inner bottom panel 22. The
panel sections 62, 64 are folded along score lines 26, 28 and 68 and
the panel sections 76, 78 are folded along score lines 32, 56 and
82. Once folded, the tuck panels 20 and 2~l are disposed
intermediate the outer bottom panel 18 and the inner bottom panel
22. The outer bottom panel 18 which overlays both the inner bottom
panel 22 and the tuck panels is folded along fold line 13 up against
the inner bottom panel and causes the sealing flap 90 to be folded
back against the inner bottom panel. Once the bottom pan01s are
folded to form the base as shown in FIG. 8, the panels are
adhesively bonded together by apply;ng pressure and heat to the
adhesive on the panels. With this bottom construction the edges of
the inner bottom pan01 exposed to the interior of the package are
all defined bythe polythylene coated sides of score lines 26, 30, 32
and 88. accordingly, the inner bottom panel pres0nts no raw edges
which would allow moisture migration and the bond between the
-7
polycthylene coated surfaces forms a Good seal.
After the base 4 is fotmed it is filled with the material
to be packaged and then used as a mandrel for forming the top 6.
The material to be packaged is omitted from FIG. 9 for clarity.
S As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 the top b].ank lOO is positioned
over the base 4. The top side panel 108 is then folded about
scoreline 116 to overlay sealing extension 34 and top side panels
104 and 106 are folded about score lines 112 and 114 to overlay
sealing extensions 36 and 40. Top side panel 110 is then folded
about score line 118 to overlay sealing extension 38 as shown in
FIG. 11. Next glue flaps 13Z and 134 are folded about score lines
112 and 114 to overlay and to be adhesively bonded to top side
panels 104 and lO6 as shown in E'IG. 12. The glue flaps .L36 and 138
are then folded about score lines 11~ and 114 to overlay and to be
adhesively bonded to glue flaps 132 and 13~s. The release panels
120 and 122 are adhesively bonded to the base side panels 10 and 14
by means of the adhesive spots 50 and 52 respectively to form the
package illustrated in FIG. 13 with the polyethylene coated surfaces
of the top 6 in contact with the polyethylene coated surPaces of the
sealing extensions 34, 36, 38 and 40.
While a preferred method of forming the package has been
described, it is contemplated that other methods could also be
employed. For example the top 6 and the base 4 could each be Formed
about separate mandrels and then the top 6, already formed, placad
over and adhesively bonded to the base 4.
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