Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Title: BOX FOR BAG-IN-BOX PACKAGE WITH SPOUT LOCATION
ASSIST PORT
FIELD
[001] This application relates generally to a box, and more particularly
to a box adaptable for housing a flexible, collapsible bag in which liquids
and
other flowable substances may be contained.
BACKGROUND
[002] Paperboard boxes have long been used by manufacturers in the
packaging and shipping of various products. One example is the use of
paperboard boxes in the packaging and delivery of fluids, semi-solids, and
other
flowable substances contained in a flexible, collapsible bag. The combination
of
such a flexible, collapsible bag inside a paperboard box is commonly known as
a
"bag-in-box" package. The bag, which typically has a closeable spout for
dispensing the flowable contents either directly or through other dispensing
equipment, provides a fluid-tight container for the contents, and the
paperboard
box provides structural rigidity and guards against puncture of the bag during
shipping and handling. The box typically has a spout opening, which may be
formed by removing a perforated portion of the box, for example, and the spout
may be positioned through the spout opening in order to dispense the contents
from the bag. At the time of packaging, the bag is usually placed inside the
box
such that the spout is located close to the spout opening of the box. However,
during loading, shipping, and handling, the spout frequently becomes distanced
from the spout opening in the box, which makes it difficult for the user to
locate
the spout and insert the spout into the spout opening. Thus, it would be a
significant advancement in the art to provide a bag-in-box package for which
the
spout is readily accessible by a user despite migration of the spout inside
the box
during loading, shipping, and handling.
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SUMMARY
[003] A box for receiving a bag having a spout may comprise a first
member comprising a spout access tab and a second member comprising a spout
location assist tab spaced apart from the spout access tab. Alternatively, a
box
may comprise a tray comprising a first removable portion, a lid adaptable to
be
fastened to the tray, the lid comprising a second removable portion, at least
one
of the tray and the lid comprising a third removable portion, wherein the
first,
second, and third removable portions may be removed to form a combined spout
access port and spout location assist port. Another alternative box may
comprise
first, second, and third removable portions that may be removed to form a
combined spout access port and spout location assist port, wherein the first
and
second removable portions share a first edge, and the second and third
removable
portions share a second edge. Another alternative box may comprise a first
member having a first removable portion, a second member having a second
removable portion, the first and second removable portions being at least
partially
overlapping, at least one of the first and second removable portions being
bounded by an edge of the box, the first and second removable portions being
removable to form an opening through which a spout of a bag may be manually
accessed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[004] Fig. I is a perspective view of an embodiment of a box having a
lid and a tray.
10051 Fig. 1A is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a
box.
[006] Fig. 1B is an exploded perspective view of an altemative
embodiment of a box having a lid and a tray.
[007] Fig. 2A is a plan view of a paperboard blank adaptable for
forming the lid of the box of Fig. 1.
[008] Fig. 2B is a plan view of a paperboard blank adaptable for
forming the tray of the box of Fig. 1.
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[0091 Fig. 3 is a plan view of a flexible, collapsible bag adaptable for
use in the box of Fig. 1 to form a bag-in-box package.
[0010] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a box
adaptable for use as a bag-in-box package.
[0011] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of
a box adaptable for use as a bag-in-box package.
[0012] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of yet another alternative embodiment
of a box adaptable for use as a bag-in-box package.
[0013] Fig. 7 is a partial perspective view of still another alternative
embodiment of a box adaptable for use as a bag-in-box package.
[0014] Fig. 8 is a partial perspective view of yet another alternative
embodiment of a box adaptable for use as a bag-in-box package.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] Various boxes for bag-in-box packages are described herein.
Each of the described boxes is useful for containing a flexible bag that has a
spout through which a flowable substance (such as a liquid beverage, for
example) may be injected into and dispensed from the bag. Each of the
described
boxes has one or more removable portions defined by one or more areas of
weakening, such as perforations, for example. The removable portions may be
removed in order to form one or more openings in the box. The one or more
openings allow a user manually to locate the spout inside the box and position
the
spout in one of the openings so that the flowable substance may be dispensed
from the bag, either directly or by connection to other dispensing equipment.
Thus, the user may easily access the spout of the bag inside the box even if
the
spout has migrated in the box during loading, shipping, and handling.
100161 As used herein, the following terms should be understood to have
the indicated meanings:
100171 When an item is introduced by "a" or "an," it should be
understood to mean one or more of that item.
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[0018] "Bag" means a flexible, collapsible container suitable for
containing a flowable substance. A bag may be made of any suitable material,
whether natural or synthetic, including but not limited to plastic, rubber, or
a
combination thereof.
[0019] "Blank" means a sheet of material adaptable for forming a box or
a portion of a box.
[0020] "Boundary" means a locus of points that determines a limit of an
item.
[0021] "Box" means a relatively stiff container having one or more
members that is adaptable for receiving a bag. The members of a box may
comprise one or more panels, flaps, or other portions. A box may have any
desirable shape, including but not limited to square, rectangular, triangular,
polygonal, circular, cylindrical, oval, elliptical, spherical, irregular, and
combinations thereof. A box may be made of any suitable material, including
but
not limited to paperboard, cardboard, fibreboard, containerboard, boxboard,
plastic, fiberglass, foam core material, honeycomb core material, fiber
reinforced
composites, or other materials, including combinations thereof.
100221 "Comprises" means includes but is not limited to.
[0023] "Comprising" means including but not limited to.
[0024] "Connected" means linked together, either directly or indirectly
through one or more intermediate items. Two or more items may be connected in
any suitable manner, including but not limited to integral formation and
attachment.
[0025] "Edge" means a region of material shared by two or more
members of a box that are not coplanar. An edge may or may not be the result
of
a fold. For example, and not by way of limitation, an edge may be formed by a
hinge or a molding process.
100261 "Fastened" means attached in any manner, including but not
limited to attachment by one or more stitches, staples, brads, rivets, nails,
screws,
glue, adhesive, welding, melting, fusing, tape, or a combination thereof.
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[0027] "Flap" means a portion of a box that may be folded and fastened
to another portion of the box. A flap may be fastened to a panel, another
flap, or
some other portion of a box.
[0028] "Flowable substance" means any substance that may be caused to
5 flow, including but not limited to a liquid, gas, semi-solid, slurry, paste,
powder,
or combination thereof. Examples of flowable substances include but are not
limited to water, flavored water, carbonated water, soft drinks, syrups,
honey,
juices, milk, coffee, tea, beer, wine, liquor, cheese, ketchup, mustard,
mayonnaise, salad dressings, sauces, relishes, powdered drink mixes, powdered
foods, powdered detergents, liquid chocolate, cereal, grains, spices, pills,
tablets,
gel tabs, pellets, vitamins, minerals, nutritional supplements, custard,
pudding,
and ice cream.
[0029] "Having" means including but not limited to.
[0030] "Hinged" means connected in a manner to permit rotation.
[0031] "Lid" means a portion of a box adaptable for mating with a tray
so as to close the open side of the tray.
100321 "Member" means a portion of a box. A member may include but
is not limited to a flap or a panel.
[0033] "Panel" means a side of a box, regardless of its orientation or
position with respect to other portions of the box. A panel may form a top,
bottom, front, back, lateral, or other side of a box.
100341 "Perforation" means an area of weakening in a material to
facilitate tearing, punching through, or otherwise removing a portion of the
material. A perforation may include but is not limited to one or more cuts,
holes,
slits, scores, indentations, thinned areas, creases, or combinations thereof.
A
perforation may or may not traverse completely through the material, and the
removed portion of material facilitated by a perforation may or may not become
separated from the remainder of the material. A perforation may be made by
cutting, scoring, piercing, punching, crimping, creasing, grinding, filing,
melting,
burning, chemical etching, or any other suitable method.
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100351 "Removable" means, with respect to an item, that the item is
adaptable for undergoing a change in location, position, or orientation, which
may or may not involve separation from another item or material.
100361 "Slit-score" means a cut extending through only a portion of the
thickness of a member.
[0037] "Spout" means a conduit through which a flowable substance
may flow.
[0038] "Spout access port" means an opening in a box through which a
spout may be accessed.
[0039] "Spout access tab" means a removable portion of a box that
facilitates formation of a spout access port.
100401 "Spout location assist port" means an opening in a box that
facilitates manual location and positioning of a spout.
100411 "Spout location assist tab" means a removable portion of a box
that facilitates formation of a spout location assist port.
100421 "Tray" means a component of a box having an open side.
100431 Referring to Figs. 1, 2A, and 2B, a box 10 may be formed from
the mating of a lid 30 and a tray 32, each of which may be formed from a
single
blank that is suitably cut, scored, and folded according to methods known in
the
art. Alternatively, box 10 may be made from a single blank or more than two
blanks that are appropriately fastened together. Box 10 may be made of any
suitable material, including but not limited to paperboard, cardboard,
fibreboard,
containerboard, boxboard, plastic, fiberglass, foam core material, honeycomb
core material, fiber reinforced composites, or other suitable materials,
including
combinations thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, the blanks for lid 30 and
tray 32 have cut lines 38 (represented by solid lines), which indicate how the
blanks may be cut from a sheet of material, and score lines 40 (represented by
dashed lines, other than dashed lines 54a, 54b, 60a, 60b, and 68), which
indicate
where the blanks may be folded in order to form lid 30 and tray 32. On lid 30,
the cut lines 38 and score lines 40 form a single panel 42 and a plurality of
flaps
46a-f, 52a, and 58a. Similarly, on tray 32, the cut lines 38 and score lines
40
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form a single pane144 and a plurality of flaps 46g-n, 52b, and 58b. Persons of
ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the various flaps may be folded
and
fastened together to form lid 30 and tray 32, which themselves may be fastened
together to form box 10. For the sake of simplicity, notches 55 of lid 30 (see
Fig.
2A) are not shown in Fig. 1. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will also
recognize that many other suitable blank shapes, cut line patterns, score line
patterns, and combinations of panels and flaps may be used to form box 10. For
example, as shown in Fig. 1A, a box 160 similar to box 10 may be made from a
single blank rather than a lid and a tray. As another example, as shown in
Fig.
1 B, a box 200 may be formed by a lid 210 and a tray 212 in which removable
portions 218 and 222 defmed by perforations 220 and 224, respectively, are
entirely within the boundaries of members 214 and 216, respectively, and are
generally aligned with and overlap each other substantially completely after
lid
210 and tray 212 are mated to each other. Removable portions 218 and 222 may
be removed to form a spout access port. A bag-in-box package may be formed
by inserting a flexible bag 80 (see Fig. 3) into box 10, box 160, or box 200.
Flexible bag 80, which may contain a flowable substance, has a spout 82 that
may be positioned with respect to a spout access port as described further
below.
100441 Again referring to Figs. 1, 2A, and 2B, a spout access tab 50 may
be formed by removable portions 50a and 50b on front flaps 52a and 52b of lid
and tray 32, respectively, such that when lid 30 and tray 32 are mated to form
box 10, portion 50a of lid 30 is generally aligned with and partially overlaps
portion 50b of tray 32. Portions 50a and 50b may be defined by perforations
54a
and 54b, respectively, which together constitute a perforation 54 that defines
25 spout access tab 50. In the illustrated embodiment, flaps 52a and 52b,
which may
be fastened to each other when lid 30 is mated to tray 32, together form a
composite member in which spout access tab 50 is formed. Alternatively, spout
access tab 50 may be formed in a single member of box 10, such as a single
flap
or a single panel. Perforation 54 facilitates removal of spout access tab 50
to
30 form a spout access port 84, which may be generally V-shaped as shown such
that spout 82 of bag 80 may rest in the narrower part of the V-shape when box
10
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is turned upside down from the position shown in Fig. 1 for use. Persons
having
ordinary skill in the art will understand that spout access tab 50 and spout
access
port 84 may have any desirable size, shape, and orientation. For example,
spout
access tab 50 and spout access port 84 may have an oval, elliptical, pear-
shaped,
circular, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal, or irregular shape, and
may be
located at any desired position and orientation with respect to edge 64 and
need
not be centered along edge 64, which is shared by flap 52a and pane142. Spout
access tab 50 may be hinged along some portion of its boundary such that spout
access tab 50 remains attached to box 10 even after spout access port 84 is
formed. To help a user manually locate spout 82 of bag 80 within box 10, a
spout
location assist tab 70 may be formed by a perforation 68 in pane142 of lid 30.
Perforation 68 facilitates removal of spout location assist tab 70 to form a
spout
location assist port 86. A user may insert one or more fmgers through spout
location assist port 86 in order to manually locate the spout inside box 10
and
position the spout in spout access port 84, even if the spout has migrated
away
from spout access tab 50 during loading, shipping, and handling. Although
spout
location assist tab 70 and spout location assist port 86 are shown as
generally
circular and centered along edge 64 in Figs. 1 and 2A, spout location assist
tab 70
and spout location assist port 86 may have any desirable shape, such as oval,
.
elliptical, pear-shaped, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal, or
iuregular,
shape, and may be located at any desired position and orientation with respect
to
edge 64 and need not be centered along edge 64. Spout location assist tab 70
may be hinged along some portion of its boundary such that spout location
assist
tab 70 remains attached to box 10 even after spout location assist port 86 is
formed. Although spout access tab 50 and spout location assist tab 70 are
shown
as being generally aligned with each other along edge 64, they need not be
aligned with each other and may instead be offset from each other. Also,
although spout access tab 50 and spout location assist tab 70 are shown as
being
spaced apart from edge 64, they may be adjacent edge 64 if desired. Although
spout access tab 50 is shown to be formed in flaps 52a and 52b and spout
location
assist tab 70 is shown to be formed in panel 42, each of the spout access tab
50
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and the spout location assist tab 70 may be formed in any suitable member of
box
10, whether a flap, panel, or other member. Although spout access tab 50 and
spout location assist tab 70 are shown as having different shapes, they may
have
the same shape. Of course, box 10 may also have other features, such as handle
openings 56a and 56b positioned on back flaps 58a and 58b of lid 30 and tray
32,
respectively, such that when the lid 30 and tray 32 are mated to form box 10,
handle opening 56a of the lid 30 is generally aligned with handle opening 56b
of
the tray 32. Handle openings 56a and 56b may be defined by perforations 60a
and 60b, respectively.
100451 Referring to Fig. 4, an alternative box 20 is shown, which is
similar to box 10 described above, except that the spout location assist tab
70 and
spout location assist port 86 are rectangular in shape rather than circular.
In this
embodiment, spout location assist tab 70 may be hinged along any of its sides
66,
72, 88, 90, if desired. The distance D from the spout location assist tab 70
to
edge 64 may be any desirable distance, such as about 0.5 to 1.0 inch. Of
course,
the distance D may be any value from zero to 0.5 inch or greater than 1.0
inch.
The length L and width W of spout location assist port 86 may be large enough
for a user to insert several fmgers through it in order to locate the spout 82
and
position spout 82 in spout access port 84.
[0046] Referring to Fig. 5, another alternative box 100 is shown, which
also may receive a bag 80 having a spout 82 as shown in Fig. 3. Box 100 is
similar to box 10 above in that box 100 may be formed by a lid 30 and tray 32,
but box 100 has a combined spout access port and spout location assist port
110
that spans edge 64. The combined spout access port and spout location assist
port
110 may be formed by removing removable portions 112, 114, and 116, which
may be formed by perforations 102, 104, and 106 in flap 52b, flap 52a, and
panel
42, respectively. Any of the removable portions 112, 114, and 116 may have a
hinged portion. As with box 10 described above, flaps 52a and 52b may be
fastened to each other. The combined spout access port and spout location
assist
port 110 may have any desirable shape and may be positioned at any desirable
location along edge 64. A user may insert one or more fingers through the
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combined spout access port and spout location assist port 110 in order to
manually locate the spout 82 and position spout 82 in the combined spout
access
port and spout location assist port 110. For example, in the embodiment
illustrated in Fig. 5, a user may insert one or more fingers into the portion
of port
5 110 vacated by removable portion 116 to manually locate the spout 82 and
then
position spout 82 in a portion of port 110 vacated by removable portion 112 or
114. Alternatively, instead of removable portion 116 being on panel 42 of lid
30,
removable portion 116 may be provided on pane144 of tray 32, in which case
perforations 102 and 106 would span edge 115, which is shared by flap 52b and
10 panel 44. As still another alternative, a removable portion may be provided
in
both pane142 of lid 30 and pane144 of tray 32, such that the combined spout
access port and spout location assist port 110 spans both edge 64 and edge
115,
similar to the one-piece embodiment shown in Fig. 6.
[0047] Referring to Fig. 6, yet another alternative box 120 is shown
having a combined spout access port and spout location assist port 150 that
spans
edge 152 and edge 154. Box 120 is shown as a one-piece box that may be made
from a single blank as will be recognized by persons of ordinary skill in the
art.
Once again, box 120 may receive a bag 80 having a spout 82 as shown in Fig. 3.
The combined spout access port and spout location assist port 150 may be
formed
by removing removable portions 142, 144, and 146, which may be formed by
perforations 132, 134, and 136 in flaps or panels 122, 124, and 126,
respectively.
In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 6, member 122 is the top of box 120 in
which removable portion 142 is formed, member 124 is a side of box 120 in
which removable portion 144 is formed, and member 126 is the bottom of box
120 in which removable portion 146 is formed. Any of the removable portions
142, 144, and 146 may have a hinged portion. The combined spout access port
and spout location assist port 150 may have any desirable shape and may be
positioned at any desirable location along edges 152 and 154. A user may
insert
one or more fingers through the combined spout access port and spout location
assist port 150 in order to manually locate the spout 82 and position spout 82
in
the combined spout access port and spout location assist port 150. For
example,
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in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 6, a user may insert one or more fingers
into
the portion of port 150 vacated by removable portion 142 to manually locate
the
spout 82 and then position spout 82 in a portion of port 150 vacated by
removable
portion 144 or 146. In this embodiment, spout 82 may be oriented downward in
the opening formed by the removal of portion 146 to help facilitate improved
flow of contents out of bag 80. Of course, spout 82 may be positioned in a
portion of port 150 vacated by any of the removable portions 142 or 144 or 146
or a combination thereof, and the box may be oriented such that any of the
members 122, 124, or 126 is facing downward. Thus, the presence of three
removable portions 142, 144, and 146 that collectively span edges 152 and 154
provides increased flexibility to the user with respect to how box 120 and
spout
82 may be oriented for use. Although all three removable portions 142, 144,
and
146 may be removed, it should be noted that a user need not remove all three
removable portions 142, 144, and 146 in order to place the spout 82 in a
desired
position. For example, a user may choose to remove only removable portions
142 and 144, or only removable portions 144 and 146, or only removable
portions 142 and 146. In some instances, a user may choose to remove only one
of removable portions 142, 144, and 146.
[0048] Referring to Fig. 7, still another alternative box 230 is shown
having a combined spout access port and spout location assist port 256. Box
230
has a panel 232 with a flap 236 that may be folded along edge 258 and attached
to another member 234. Edge 258 may have one or more perforations or slit-
scores along one or more of portions 238, 240, and 242 to facilitate folding
of
flap 236 and to reduce springback of flap 236 when it is attached to member
234.
Slit-scores along edge 258 may be provided on the inner surface, the outer
surface, or both. Portion 242 of edge 258 forms a boundary of removable
portion
250. If portion 242 of edge 258 has one or more perforations or slit-scores,
such
perforations or slit-scores serve the additional purpose of facilitating the
tearing
off of removable portion 250 if desired, for example, if box 230 is to be
placed on
a shelf having a lip that would otherwise interfere with removable portion 250
when box 230 is upside down from the position shown in Fig. 7. Alternatively,
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portion 242 may be hinged, as shown on box 260 in Fig. 8, rather than
perforated,
if it is desired to leave removable portion 250 connected to panel 232 . Flap
236
has a removable portion 250 formed by a perforation 244, and member 234 has a
removable portion 252 formed by perforation 246. Removable portion 250 may
be positioned so as to partially overlap and be substantially aligned with
removable portion 252. Member 234 may or may not extend all the way to edge
258. Member 234 may also have another removable portion 254 formed by a
perforation 248. The combined spout access port and spout location assist port
256 may be formed by removal of removable portions 250, 252, and 254.
Removable portion 254 may be perforated to a greater extent than removable
portion 252 such that a user may readily punch through and remove removable
portion 254 in order to facilitate manual grasping and removal of removable
portions 252 and 250. The combined spout access port and spout location assist
port 256 may be sized such that a user may insert two or more fingers through
port 256 in order to manually locate the spout of a bag (not shown) inside box
230 and position the spout so that the spout may be accessed through port 256.
Box 230 may be positioned upside down from the position shown in Fig. 7 for
use so that the spout may be located as low as possible in order to facilitate
better
draining of the contents from the bag. Box 230 (Fig. 7) and box 260 (Fig. 8)
may
be made from a single blank or multiple blanks.
100491 In any of the foregoing embodiments, a bag-in-box package may
be formed by placing a bag having a spout into a box as described herein
before
the box is closed. The bag may be filled or partially filled with a flowable
substance through the spout, and then the spout may be closed. After the bag
is
filled, the box may be closed with the filled bag inside. The bag-in-box
package
thus formed may then be shipped to a user. The user may easily access the
spout
by removing one or more removable portions as described herein to form a spout
location assist port and a spout access port, which may be separate or
combined,
manually locating the spout through the spout location assist port, and
manually
placing the spout in the spout access port. The user may thus readily access
the
spout even if the spout has migrated in the box during loading, shipping, and
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handling. The flowable substance in the bag may then be dispensed from the
spout, either directly or through other dispensing equipment.
[0050] Although the foregoing specific details describe certain
embodiments of this invention, persons reasonably skilled in the art will
recognize that various changes may be made in the details of this invention
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the
appended claims and considering the doctrine of equivalents. Therefore, it
should be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the specific
details
shown and described herein.
