Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CLOSURE ~OR A CONTAINER
This invention relates to an improved closure for a container which
may be of a shape free of abnormal external projections as it moves in commerce
to the consumer. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved reclosable
pour spout from which edge flaps project for en~ginE the inward face of the
container adjacent the lateral edges and free end edge of a pour spout opening
when the pour spout is closed and, if desired, a container inner seal having edges
sealed to the inner face of the container to form a pouring spout isolation ante-
chamber between the main chamber of a container and the discharge port reclosable
10 by the container pour spout, and which is tamper and shoplifter resistant because
the initial opening of the spout alters the appearance of the container so shoppers
can by visual inspection determine if the carton has been opened and its contents
possibly tampered with, and so clerks can similarly determine that a carton has
been opened and may contain other merch~ntli~e, viz., lipsticks, which may have
been inserted through the opened spout by a shoplifter, and the condition of the
inner seal can provide additional indication of tampering.
Background of the l~vention
The closure for a container of this application represents an improve-
ment over the closure shown and claimed in my copending application~ Serial No.
20 07/222,850, filed July 22, 1988, now U.S. Letters Patent No. 4,953,781 issued
September 4, 1990.
An object of this invention is to provide a closure structure for a
container which may be in the form of a carton in which a tongue portion of a
wall panel of the carton cooperates with a web attached to the tongue portion and
to the wall panel adjacent the tongue portion to form the closure.
A further object of this invention is to provide a carton having a
closure structure which does not protrude from the surface of the carton, and
because it does not so protrude from the carton, the carton may be processed and
filled by c-,nve-llional erection and filling machinery and cv,.velllionally loaded in
30 shipping containers with minimi7ed likelihood of damage of adjacent cartons in transit.
. ' . : "
.
S'~ Sl ~ "9~ rJ
A further object of this invention is to provide a closure structure for
a container which before opening by the consumer, as it moves in commerce, does
not detract from the carton aesthetics, nor occupy valuable surface area of the
carton where placing of graphics and copy is desirable.
A further object of this invention is to provide such a closure structure
including pleated web portions which can move between a locked open position anda locked closed position.
A further object of this invention is to provide such a closure structure
in which the web projects beyond the free end of the tongue and the pleated web
portions project laterally of the tongue portion to engage the inwardly facing face
of the wall panel between the edge of the tongue opening and the attaching of the
web to the wall panel, to retain the tongue in closed position, the web being attached
to the wall panel adjacent the base of the tongue and laterally of the portion of
the wall engaged by the projecting flaps.
Another object of this invention is to provide an inner seal panel having
edges sealed to the inward face of the container annularly of the pour spout anddividing the interior of the container into main and spout chambers, and also by its
undamaged condition indicating that the contents of the main chamber have not
been tampered with.
Another object of this invention is to provide an inner seal panel which
bridges perforations and locations of slots, cuts or the like in the container wall
associated with the tongue to exclude from the main chamber matter passing through
the perforations or other non-impervious portions in the portion of the container
wall panel spanned and overlain by the seal panel.
Another object of this invention is to provide a seal panel which gives
improved anti-sifting character to the main chamber of the container.
Another object of this invention is to provide a pour spout of substan-
tially the width of a carton wall panel.
Another object of this invention is to provide a seal panel which
30 prevents material and/or migration of product ingredients from the main chamber
. ~
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into the spout chamber and thereby prevents material entering into the spaces
between the outwardly facing surfaces of the pleated web from whence it would
be ejected and scattered by the opening of the pleated web as it is expanded upon
opening of the spout.
Another object of this invention is to provide a carton blank having a
web member, which blank may be assembled, erected, filled and closed by machines
capable of h~n~lling similar carton blanks lacking the pour spout and inner seal panel
features of this invention.
An additional object of this invention is to provide a separate chamber
10 inside the container for inclusion of instructions, coupons, or other objects which,
upon opening of the pour spout, will be free of product and/or ingredients and
immediately available for retrieval by the consumer before the main chamber is
opened to access the goods packaged in the main chamber, thereby precluding the
need to search through the product in the main chamber after the main chamber
is opened and also precl~ inE such items later bridging the discharge opening or
otherwise obstructing the dischargt: of product from the main chamber to and through
the pacl~ge spout after both are opened.
Another object of this invention is to provide an inner seal panel barrier
between goods pscl;&&ed in the main chamber and a spout chamber having perforations
20 in the container wall panel separated from the main chamber by the inner seal
panel barrier which is a barrier to substances which may adversely affect product
p&cl;aged in the container, viz. moisture vapor, carbon dioxide or other materials
which migm in the absence of the inner seal panel barrier migrate into the carton
main chamber through pervious portions of the container board wall spanned by the
inner seal panel.
A further object of this invention is to provide a container of the
foregoillg character formed of container board having a barrier to escape or migration
of one or more ingredients of the contained product past the barrier, in the absence
of which barrier such ingredient or ingredients would cause degradation of the
.
3 ~
structure and/or appearance of portions of the container on the side of the barrier
remote ~rom the contained product.
A further object of this invention is to provide a container of the
foregoing character in which an inner seal panel barrier spans pervious portions of
the container wall so as to provide a sealed container having a sealed inner barrier
between product surrounded by said barrier and portions of the container on the
opposite side of the barrier from the product, whereby escape or migration of
substances from the contained product to portions of the container beyond the
barrier is precluded.
A further object of this invention is to provide a container of the
foregoing character formed of container board having a barrier to substances which
may adversely affect product packaged in the container, viz. moisture vapor, carbon
dioxide and other materials, which with an inner seal panel barrier ~p~nning pervious
portions of the container wall, provides a sealed container in which the need for a
sealed inner barrier, such as a bag, is obviated.
A further object of this invention is to provide a container of the
foregoing character formed of container board having a barrier to substances which
may adversely affect product packaged in the container, viz. moisture vapor, carbon
dioxide, other gas or materials, with an inner seal panel barrier sp~nning portions
20 of the container wall having areas of pervious character through which moisture
vapor, carbon dioxide or other gas or materials such as oils, greases, surfactants or
other materials might migrate and dividing the interior of the container into two
chambers, thereby providing a sealed container having a chamber in which the need
for a sealed inner barrier, such as a bag, is obviated.
A further object of this invention is to provide a reclosable pour spout
structure inclutling pleated web formed flap portions which can move between a
locked open position and a flap locked closed position.
A further object of the invention is to provide pleated web portions
which form generall;y triangular flaps, portions of which project laterally beyond the
30 side edges of the spout tongue to overlie the inward face of the wall panel adjacent
the side edges of the tongue opening with the apses of the angles of the triangular
flaps ad,jacent the fold line of the tongue being spaced the same as or more closely
than the side edges of the spout tongue so as to provide more latitude in the
registry of the web and spout tongue while maintaining the apses on or between
the side edges of the spout tongue.
A further object of the invention is to provide triangular side flaps
which project beyond the side edges of the spout tongue a distance related to the
distance the portion of the flap is spaced from the spout tongue hinge line and the
distance the adjacent portion of the spout tongue moves relative to the container
10 wall as the spout tongue is swung about the tongue hinge line to substantially avoid
portions of flaps wedging between the side edges of the tongue opening near the
spout tongue hinge line where spout tongue movement is small.
A further object of the invention is to provide triangular side flaps
which in spout closed position pro~,le,.,ively from nil projection at the spout tongue
hinge line lockingly pro~ect pro~ vely further behind the container wall laterally
of the spout tongue.
A further object of the invention is to provide a container having an
inner seal panel that is accescihle through the open spout for removal of a portion
thereof to provide a dispensing aperture through which contents of the main chamber
20 may be dispensed to and through the spout chamber and spout.
A further object o~ the invention is to provide an inner seal panel
having grippable means extending into the spout chamber wherein it is acce~ihle
to the user, after the spout chamber is opened, for pulling outward to provide a
predetermined opening in the inner seal panel for dispensing contents of the main
chamber to and through the spout chamber and spout.
Another object of the invention is to provide a predetermined opening
in the inner seal panel having substantially the same width as the spout tongue
opening in the container wall or of a narrower width and having its lateral edges
parallel and inwardly adjacent the lateral edges of the spout tongue opening in the
30 container wall so the triangular flaps may be drawn through the spout tongue opening
-- 5 --
in the container waU by swinging the spout tongue into the container until the
triangula:r web side flaps are advanced through the spout opening in the container
wa~l so the triangular flaps may spread between the container wall latera~ly of the
spout oplening therein and portions of the web extending to web glue flaps secured
to the container wall laterally beyond the spread of the triangular flaps so the web
and the container wall embrace the triangular flaps and the end web flap is
concurrently drawn through the spout tongue opening so as to project between the
container side wall and the inner seal panel above the spout tongue opening to
improve the resealing and locking of the container and securing of the spout tongue
10 in coplanar relation with the container side wall after a discharge opening has been
made in the inner seal panel.
Another object of the invention is to provide a predetermined opening
in the inner seal panel having substantially the same width as the spout tongue
opening in the container wall and having its lateral edges parallel and inwardly
adjacent the lateral edges of the spout tongue opening in the container wall so the
triangular flaps may be drawn through the spout tongue opening in the container
wall by swinging the spout tongue into the container until the triangular web side
flaps are advanced through the spout opening in the container wall so the triangular
flaps may spread between the container wall laterally of the spout opening therein
20 and portions of the web exLt:ndil~g to web glue flaps secured to the container wall
laterally beyond the spread of the triangular flaps so the web and the container
wall embrace the triangular flaps, and the end web flap is concurrently drawn
through the spout tongue opening, but not through the opening in the inner seal
panel to project between the container side wall and the inner seal panel above the
spout tongue opening and the inner seal panel contacting the side of the web opposite
the side of the web in contact with the triangular flaps to urge the web toward
the container wall and against the triangular flaps to improve the resealing and
locking of the container and Se~ ;Qg of the spout tongue in coplanar relation with
the container side wall after a discharge opening has been made in the inner seal
30 panel.
-- 6 --
Another object of the invention is to provide a spout tongue opening
in the container wall through which the triangular flaps may be drawn by swinging
the spout tongue into the container until the triangular web side flaps are advanced
through the spout opening in the container wall so the triangular flaps may spread
between the container wall lateralIy of the spout opening therein and portions of
the web extending to web glue flaps secured to the container wall laterally beyond
the spread of the triangular flaps so the web and the container wall embrace thetriangular flaps to improve the resealing and locking of the container and securing
of the spout tongue in coplanar relation with the container side wall after a discharge
opening has been made in the container wall.
A further object of the invention is to provide a tab hinged to the
tongue adjacent the free end thereof and swingable to project outwardly, away from
the web, for convenient grasping by a user to push the tongue to swing through the
tongue opening in the wall to advance the web flaps into the spout chamber and
then pull the tongue outward into flush relation to the container wall or from that
relation into spout extended open position.
Folded web closures for spouts are shown in patents such as Lewin
1,698,338, Martin et al. 2,077,341, Marken 2,444,104, Hansen 2,757,830, Petitto
3,154,226, and Kurtz 3,2S0,436. However, the ~lru~;lu.es are entirely different. Brief ~_ of the Ihvention
Briefly, this invention provides a container having a reclosable pour
spout provided in a side panel thereof. The side panel is provided with slots which
define a pour spout tongue which is hinged at one end to the side panel and, until
opened, may remain attached to the side panel at a location spaced from the hinged
end to provide visible evidence that the pour spout had not been opened. A central
portion of a closure web overlies and is attached to an inner face OI the tongue with
a free edge portion of the web projecting beyond the free end of the tongue. Free
lateral edges of said central portion of the web are connected to accordian pleats
along lateral fold lines diverging from adjacent ends overlying the end of the tongue
hinged to the side panel and extending outwardly across the lateral edges of the
~d ~
tongue to ends outboard of the lateral edges of the tongue adjacent the free end
thereof to provide substantially triangular flaps projecting sidewardly of the tongue.
Glue panels connected to the lateral edges of the accordian pleats are attached to
the inner face of the side panel at a greater distance from the slots defining the
tongue than the triangular ~laps extend laterally beyond the slots defining the lateral
edges of the tongue. A free edge portion of the web can snap between a position
inside of the container overlying the inward face of the container, and a position
outside the container at which the closure is open. An inner seal may span the
pour spout tongue and web and adjacent its entire periphery be attached in fixed
10 relation to portions of the inward face of the container wall not overlapped by a
projecting web formed flap portion of the spout. The inner seal may have a grippable
portion projecting into the spout chamber which may be pulled to tear the inner seal
to provide a port for discharge of contents of the main chamber to and through
the spout chamber and dis~e~ .g spout when it is open.
The above and other objects and features of the invention will be
apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains from the
following detailed description and the drawings, in which:
Blief I~ t oi the D~
FIG. 1 is a view in p~ e~ e of a carton which includes a closure
20 spout constructed in accordance with an embodiment of this invention, hinge lines
being shown by dashed lines, portions of the carton being broken away to show
details of construction;
FIG. 2 i9 a plan view of a web member and inner seal panel assembly
of the carton, glue coating on the near side being shown in stippling, glue coating
on the far side being shown by dot-dash-line shading, and fold lines being shown in
dashed lines;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a blank for the carton
in flattened condition with pour spout web and inner seal panel affixed in relation
to the pour spout tongue and adjacent portions of the container;
t ~1 .J~ 9 ~
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of the carton blank and the web and
inner seal panel (part of the latter being broken away) in attached position, hidden
fold lines being shown in dot-dash lines;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view in perspective of the portion of the container
which carries the closure and inner seal;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the container, a tab
member being shown in extended position;
FIG. 7 iS a fragmentary view in perspective of the closure portion of
the container in partly open position;
FIG. 8 iS a view in perspective of the closure portion of the container
with a closure in a near fully open but unlocked position;
~ IG. 9 iS a view in perspective of the closure portion of the carton
in open, locked position;
FIG. 10 is a view in p~ ec~ e of the closure portion of the carton
in open, locked position as the seal is broken;
FIG. 11 iS a view in perspective of the closure portion of the carton
in open, locked position as the seal is broken by drawing a pull tab of the inner
seal panel to open a predetermined dischar~e port in the inner seal panel; and
FIG. 12 is a fragmentary view in P~.D~e~iVe of the closure portion of
20 the carton in partly closed position in relation to a fragmentary portion of the inner
seal panel.
In the following detailed des~ ion and the drawings, like reference
characters indicate like parts.
D~ t o~ ly Pre~erred Embo~ment
In FIG. 1 is shown a cardboard carton 14 constructed in accordance
with an embodiment of this invention. The carton 14 inclu-le~ a body 15, which may
be generally of the form of a box for particulate material or the like. The carton
14 includes a front panel 16, a rear panel 17, which can be similar in form to the
front panel, a first flat side panel 18, which carries a closure and spout assembly
30 20, and a second side panel 21, which can be generally similar to the first side
panel. A bottom assembly 22 includes major flaps 23 and 24 hinged to the rear
panel 17 and the front panel 16, respectively, and minor flaps 26, only one of which
is shown. A top assembly 28 inclu~ major flaps 30 and 32 and minor flaps 33,
only one of which is shown.
The first side panel 18 is part of a blank 34, only a portion of which
is shown in FIG. 3. Slits 36 and 38 separate the side edges of a main tongue 40
from the rest of the blank 34. If an upper tongue is also desired, slits 42 and 44
can separate the side edges of a short upper tongue 46 from the rest of the blank
34. A curved central slit 50 extends from end 49 to end 51 and separates the
curved edge of tab 52 from contiguous parts of tongues 40 and 46. Cross slit
segments 47 and 48 separate the end of tongue 4n from the carton wall, or, where
an upper tongue 46 is provided, from tongue 46 laterally of tab 52, but tab 52!
defined by the curved central slit 50, may be widened so its ends 49 and 51
respectively coincide with the point where slit 47 intersects slit 36 and the point
where slit 48 intersects slit 38. The tongues 40 and 46 are provided with lines of
weakening 54 and 56, respectively, which permit hinge-wise swinging of the tongues
thereabout and, until opened, may remain attached to each other or the panel at
a location spaced from the line(s) of their l~ ge ~.ise s~ gillg. The tab 52 is
provided with a line of weakening 58 which permits :,..ir,gil,g of the tab 52. The
slits 36 and 38 extend downwardly from end portions of the cross slit segments 47
and 48. The slits 42 and 44 extend upwardly from end portions of the cross slit
segments 47 and 48.
The closure and spout assembly 20 is completed by a web member 60
shown in plan above line W-W in FIG. 2. The web member 60 in~lud~ a central
panel 6a, central wall glue panel 63, inner generally triangular first and second
pleat panels 64 and 66 hinged to the central panel 62 along lines of fold 68 and
70, respectively, outer generally triangular third and fourth pleat panels 72 and 74,
which are hinged to the first and second pleat panels at fold lines 76 and 78,
respectively, and first and second glue panels 80 and 82, which are hinged to the
third and fourth pleat panels 72 and 74 along fold lines 84 and 86, respectively.
-- 10 --
"
'
As indicated by stippling in FIG. 2, the central wall glue panel 63, first and second
glue panels 80 and 82 and a major portion of the central panel 62 are areas of
attachment of the web to the inward face of the container wall and are either
provided with adhesive on their outer faces, or are secured by adhesive applied to
the areas of the carton wall to which they are to be secured. As shown in FIG. 4,
the first and third pleat panels 64 and 72 are folded together and the second and
fourth pleat panels 66 and 74 are folded together. The inner face of the main
tongue 40 is attached to the central panel 62 of the web member 60 by means of
the adhesive on the central panel 62, but not to the inner face of tab 52, adhesive
being omitted from the area 53 of panel 62 overlain by tab 52 and tongae 46.
Central wall glue panel 63 extending from central panel 62 is secured by adhesive
to the inwardly facing face of wall panel 18 below line 54 and the web portions
62-63 reinforce the hinge line 54. The width of the central web panel 62 at the
tongue hinge line 54 may be equal to or as shown may be less than the width of
tongue 40 at hinge line 54, while the width of the central panel 62 adjacent the
free end of the tongue gO is wider than the tongue, so fold lines 68 and 70 extend
from respective ends 67 and 69 at or inboard of the lateral edges 36, 38 of tongue
40 adjacent hinge line 54 and from or across lateral edges 36, 38 of tongue 40 to
ends 71, 73 spaced outboard of the lateral edges of tongue 40 adjacent the free end
20 of the tongue in an ov~lyi,lg relation to the inner or inward face of the box wall,
viz. panel 18, laterally of the tongue opening when tongue 40 is coplanar with
wall 18. Portions of panels 62 and 64 adjacent fold line 68 form a triangular flap
75 and portions of panels 66 and 62 adjacent fold line 70 form a triangular flap
77. Flaps 75 and 77 can flex and respectively project laterally of edges 36 and 38
of tongue 40 in underlying relation to the inwardly facing face of panel 18 when
tongue 40 is coplanar with wall 18 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. As the tongue 40
is moved from closed coplanar relation with panel 18 to the open position in which
it projects outwardly from that panel, the movement of the lateral edges of the
tongue relative to panel 18 is least adjacent hinge line 54 and pro~.6~ vely greater
30 to the free end of tongue 40 where the greatest movement occurs. The fold lines
~ ' '' ' .
~,~ q ~ 9~o '~
68 and 70, when web 60 is secured to the tongue as described above, preferably
have zero projection beyond the lateral edges of tongue 40 adjacent the hinge line
of the tongue and the greatest projection laterally of the side edges of tongue 40
~d~acent the free end of the tongue. The zero projection condition as shown in
FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 may extend from hinge line 54 to points 43,45 where fold lines
68,70 cross side edges 36,38 of tongue 40. The glue panels 80 and 82 are attached
to underlying face portions of the first side panel 18, the front panel 16 and the
rear panel 17 that are adjacent but spaced from portions of said panels which other
portions, viz. flaps 75, 77, of web 60 can overlie.
The tab 52 can be swung out as shown in FIG. 6 and can be pulled
outwardly of the carton 14 to cause tongue 40 to swing outwardly about hinge line
54 and draw triangular flaps 75, 77 from behind wall 18 and through the opening
resulting from outward swinging of flap 40 about hinge line 54. Flaps 75 and 77
spread to project over the outward facing surface of panel 18 when they clear the
edge of the wall opening. Outward ~ ing of tongue 40 causes an upper end
portion 91 of the central panel 62 to be drawn trailingly through the opening, or
to push the short upper tongue 46, if present, to swing outward and upward, out of
the way as shown in ~IG. 7 as the pleat panels open. The pleat panels can be
opened toward fully open position as shown in FIG. 8. Finally, pairs of pleat panels
64-72 and 66-74 can be swung apart as shown in FIG. 9 to a locked position.
When the closure assembly 20 is to be closed from the locked position
of FIG. g, the pairs of pleat panels 64-72 and 66-74 are returned to the position
of FIG. 8 and the outwardly projecting tab 52 is grasped and pushed inwardly from
the FIG. 8 position to bring the upper end portion 91 of the central panel 62 to
bear against the container wall, or if the tongue 46 is present, to push the latter
and the tongue 40 inwardly of the carton 14, as shown in FIG. 12. The tongue 46
is swung inwardly and upwardly as the upper end portion 91 folds downwardly as it
passes trailingly beneath the lower edge of tongue 46 and then springs upward when
it is inside of the bo~ and behind the tongue 46, or in the absence of tongue 46,
behind the box wall in position to, in les~onse to pulling on tab 52, apply force
-- 12 --
- . , : . .. :
. . .
~:
directed from inside ~he container outwardly against tongue 46, if present, to bring
the carton back to the FIG. 6 position at which the upper end portion 91 underlies
and closes the cross slit 47-48 and bridgingly closes the opening left by forming of
tongue 52. Also, as tab 52 is so manipulated, the triangular flaps 75, 77 trail
against the lateral edges of the opening in wall 18 until they are clear to spread
into positions underlying the inward facing face of wall 18, so that as tab 52 is
pulled outwardly moving tongue 40 toward coplanar relation to wall 18, the flanges
75, 77 lie :Elatwise against the inwardly facing surface of wall 18. The tab 52 can
then be folded into alignment with the first side panel 18 for storage in the ~IG. 1
position.
While slits 36, 38, 42, 44, 47, 48 and 50 referred to in the foregoing
description are each shown in the drawings as continuous and extending through the
container wall from end-to-end of the slit, the slits may be in the form of perforations
or other wall weakening alterations of the wall so the consumer and vendor personnel
may by observation visually verify the unopened condition oi the container until the
consumer has completed the slits, viz., by tearing, to open the carton and place it
in condition for operation of the closure-spout.
Where desired, the web fold line 54w may be reinforced and improved
sealing of the web to wQll 18 attained in the vicinity of web fold line meeting points
67 (where fold lines 84, 76 and 71 meet) and 69 (where fold lines 86, 78 and 70
meet) respectively at the upper ends of cuts 61 and 65 defilling the lateral edges
of central wall glue panel 63. In the vicinity of points 67, 69, the folding of the
web may result in some thickening effect on the web leading to a possibility of
leaking in the vicinity of points 67 and 69 when the glue does not completely seal
any opening resulting from bulking by meeting folds in such areas of the web formed
of the portion of the blank above line W-W in FIG. 2. Such reinforcement and
sealing may be effected by revising the web blank to that portion of the blank
above section line Y-Y in FIG. 2, thereby adding the supplemental seal panel 59
joined to central wall glue panel 63 along fold line 55. When the web is as above
line Y-Y in ~IG. 2 and is folded on fold line 55 so the seal panel 59 is folded
- 13 -
. . '
inwardly and up so ais to cover the inwardly facing face of the portions of the web
below the line 57 in FIG. 3, and its entire face is glued in the position as shown
in FIG.3, that is the panel 59 spans hinge line 54w, also any aperture as might exist
at and below points 67, 69 and outboard of edges 61, 65 of central wall glue panel
63 and also the lower portions 86, 87 of first and second glue panels 80, 82. Any
portions of panel 59 extending beyond portions of the web above fold line 55 in
PIG. 2 oppose portions of the inward facing face of wall 18 and are adhesively
secured to that surface of side panel 18.
The interior of the carton 14 is divided by inner seal panel 92 into
two chambers, a main chamber 88 and a spout chamber 90, as shown in FIG. 12.
As shown in plan view below line W-W in FIG. 2, seal panel 92 may be rectangular
in shape and integral with central wall glue panel 63 along fold line 55. If desired,
the seal panel may have one or more barrier type selected layers provided by pattern
printing or other methods, or the seal panel may be manufactured separately, of
barrier type materials, and then joined with the spout web prior to the attachment
to the carton blank. The Iar sides [as viewed in FIG. 2] of lateral margin areas 94,
95 and top margin areas 96, 97 and 98 are adhesively secured to portions of the
inward face of the carton spaced from portions of that face which may be overlain
by portions of the web member 60, while the far side of bottom margin area 93 is
20 adhesively secured in face-to-face relation to the far side of the web from and
below line 54 in FIG. 3, namely, the far sides of central wall glue panel 63 and
the lower portions of first and second glue panels 80, 82 overlain by margin area
93, the near face of which portions of the web are adhesively secured to a portion
of the inward face of the carton adjacent the portions to which iirst and second
lateral glue areas 94, 95 are secured, so the central portion 99 of the seal panel
92 spans the spout ~ lule and the contiguous inward wall area bounded by the
surrounding adjacent area of attachment of glue panels 63, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97 and
98 and with the carton forms a spout chamber housing the spout :~llu~,lu-e in the
container.
- 14 -
' ' ' ~ '
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, when the spout 20 is opened, the inner
seal 92 in unpunctured and undamaged condition evidences the fact that the main
chamber 88 of the carton 14 has not been accessed through the spout chamber 90.
The spout chamber 90, when inner seal 92 is installed on the carton
blank as described, provides a closed chamber 90 in which objects may be packed
to travel to the consumer, objects such as coupons, tokens, proof of purchase devices,
recipes or such other item 89 as the manufacturer may desire to immediately place
in the hands of the consumer at the time the spout chamber 90 is opened, thus
avoiding placing same in the product packaged in the main chamber 88 of the carton
wherein the consumer would have to hunt for same, or from whence same might
span or obstruct the main chamber discharge opening in the inner seal panel as
contents of the main chamber are di:,chaLged toward the spout. The central portion
of the inner seal may itself be an integral coupon 81 as an alternative for, or in
addition to another important article 89 as illustrated in FIG. 9.
The inner seal as shown in FIG. 10 may be broken and opened as by
piercing and cutting with a knife 83 or the like, or be provided with associatedmeans for grasping and removing a central portion of the inner seal panel, such as
105, that s~slantially registers with the opening 41 in the wall 18 that is opened
by swinging tongue 40 outward into open spout position.
The inner seal 92 may be provided with an opening tab 100 that extends
integrally from the edge 101 of inner seal panel 92 as shown in FIG. 2. From theposition shown in FIG. 2, opening tab 100 is folded into the page and up behind
inner seal panel 92 about fold line 101. The far sides of areas 97 and 102 (as viewed
in FI(~. 2) will then be positioned for adhesive attachment in face-to-face relation
to provide a reinforced portion 97-102 at the top end of inner seal panel portion
97. Opening tab 100 may have a width substantially equal to the width of the
opening 41 in wall 18 when tongue 40 is swung outward, the width of which opening
is indicated in FIG. 2 by the spacing of lines 136 and 138, which may be lines of
weakening which facilitate tearing of the central portion 105 of panel 92 (between
lines 136,138) from laterally adjacent portions 106, 107 of panel 92, while portions
- 15 -
106, 107 are adjacent or against the inward face of wall 18, or 18 and 16 and 17,
and glue panels 80, 82 overlying portions of carton 14 as opening tab 100 is gripped
as shown in FIG. 11 and pulled outwardly to tear open the inner seal.
The composite web member - seal panel - opening tab assembly blank
60-92-100, whether an assembly of a plurality of parts, each fabricated from a
respective material, or a unitary part fabricated from a single piece of material as
shown in FIG. 2, may be prepared for affixation to the carton blank by folding
triangular panel 64 about fold line 68 to lie flatwise against the iar side of central
panel 62 and between panel 62 and triangular panel 72 which extends from fold line
76 to first glue panel 80 projecting laterally of panel 62, by further folding triangular
panel 66 about fold line 70 to lie flatwise against the far side of central panel 62
and between panel 62 and triangular panel 74 which extends from fold line 78 to
second glue panel 82 projecting laterally of panel 629 by folding opening tab 100 to
lie flatwise behind seal panel 92 and extending upward from the fold at edge 101,
and by folding the seal panel 92 into the page and up behind the previously folded
web elements so opening tab 100 will extend between the triangular panels 72, 74
and seal panel 92, or otherwise into the spout chamber formed by the container
wall and the inner seal panel. The pre-folded composite web member- seal panel
- opening tab assembly 60-92-100 with any associated object 89 desired to be included
20 in the spout chamber inserted in the assembly, and, with adhesive pre-applied to
the appropriate areas of either the assembly or the container, may then be afiixed
in proper relation to the dispensing spout location on the carton blank.
When the inner seal panel has been opened as by use of opening tab
100 so that it has a dlsch~ge opening through which contents of the main chamber
may discharge into the spout chamber and out through the spout, the lateral edges
of the ~lischar~e opening in the inner seal panel are essentially parallel and close
spaced to the edges of the spout opening in wall 18 of the carton. When the open
spout is closed by gripping tab 52 and pushing tongue 40 past copl~n~r relation with
the carton wall 18 into the spout chamber far enough that the triangular flaps 75
30 and 77 and spout end flap 91 are drawn through the opening in wall 18 and spread
to underlie the inward face of the carton wall, the tongue 40 is not pushed further
to the extent that any of said flaps are pushed through the discharge opening ininner seal panel 92, with the result that as the tongue 40 is drawn outwardly into
coplanar relation with the wall 18 of the carton, the mentioned flaps 75, 77 and91 project between the carton wall and respective parts of panels 72,74 near therespective glue panels 80,82 respectively while being supported by the portions of
the inner seal panel annularly of the opening therein, so as to provide a closure
with ~nh~nced anti-sifting character, as well as a closure of enhanced locking of
the tongue and associated spout parts in closed relation to the carton wall 18 so as
to provide enhanced resistance to migration of substances past the closure in the
carton wall.
If desired, the web fold line 54w may be reinforced and improved
sealing of the web to wall 18 attained in the vicinity of web fold line meeting points
67 (where fold lines 84, 76 and 71 meet) and 69 (where fold lines 86, 78 and 70
meet) respectively at the upper ends of cuts 61 and 65 deri~ g the lateral edgesof central wall glue panel 63. In the vicinity of points 67, 69, the folding of the
web may result in some thickening effect on the web leading to a possibility of
leaking in the vicinity of points 67 and 69 during discharge of contents of the main
chamber through the spout when the glue does not completely seal any opening
resulting from bulking by meeting folds in such areas of the web formed of the
portion of the blank above line W-W in FIG. 2. Such reinforcement and sealing may
be effected by revising the inner seal panel portion 92 of the blank, that is the
portion of the blank below section line W-W in FIG. 2, by enlarging bottom margin
glue area 92 to include the additional area between lines 103 and 104 in FIG. 2 so
the bottom margin glue area 93 corresponds in vertical extent to that of supplemental
seal panel 59 joined to central wall glue panel along fold line 55 described earlier.
When bottom margin glue area 93 is so revised and inner seal panel 92 is folded
inwardly and up so as to cover the inwardly facing face of the portions of the web
above the line 55 in FIGS. a and 3, the bottom margin glue area 93 extends to line
57/104 in FIG. 3, spans hinge line 54w, also any aperture as might exist above line
- 17 --
.
,
~ Y d ~ t ~'
55 and at and below points 67, 69 and outboard of edges 61, 65 of central wall
glue panel 63 and also the lower portions 85, 87 of first and second glue panels 80,
82. Any portions of area 93 extending beyond portions of the web above fold line 55
in FIG. 3, oppose portions of the inward facing face of wall 18 and are adhesively
secured to that surface of side panel 18.
The container/carton closure construction illustrated in the drawings
and described above is subject to structural modification without departing from
the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
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