Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CARTON HAVING A PIVOTABLE DISPENSER
BACKGROUND
[00011 Dispensing cartons are known. Such cartons typically have a top panel
formed from flaps that are separable to open the top of the carton. The
contents of the
carton can then be dispensed from the open carton top. Such cartons, however,
typically are not easily closed once opened, and may not provide for easy
dispensing
of the carton contents. One solution to this problem is to include a pivotable
dispenser that can be opened for dispensing the carton contents and then
closed for
storage. Conventional pivotable dispensers, however, may be difficult to open
and/or
to place in a dispensing configuration. Many conventional dispensers also
require a
metal or plastic insert spout piece to form the dispensing portion of the
carton, which
may increase costs and/or complexity of manufacture.
SUMMARY
[00021 According to a first aspect of the invention, a carton comprises a
first side
panel, a first end panel, a second side panel, a second end panel, a bottom
panel and a
top panel. The top panel comprises a first end top flap, a first side top flap
overlying
the first end top flap and having an aperture formed therein, and a second
side top flap
overlying the first side top flap. The first end top flap is adhered to the
underside of
the second side top flap through the aperture in the first side top flap. A
plurality of
lines of disruption in the second side top flap define in part a pivotable
dispenser in
the top panel.
[00031 The pivotable dispenser may be placed in a dispensing configuration by
breaching the plurality of lines of disruption in the second side top flap and
pulling
the dispenser open. An access flap can be defined in the dispenser to allow a
user to
insert a finger into the top panel and thereby access the dispenser. Accessing
and
opening the dispenser can be performed using a relatively simple motion.
[0004] According to a second aspect of the invention, the first end top flap
can
include a spout section having wing portions. The wing portions can engage
inside
edges of the aperture in the first side top flap to secure the dispenser in
the dispensing
configuration. Locking cuts may be formed in the top panel in which the wing
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portions can be removably engaged to further secure the dispenser in the
dispensing
configuration. The dispenser can be closed by pressing the dispenser back into
the top
panel.
[0005] According to a third aspect of the invention, the spout dispenser can
be
formed from the top flaps of the carton such that no additional inserts or
pieces etc.
are required.
[0005.1] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a
carton,
comprising a first side panel; a first end panel; a second side panel; a
second end
panel; a bottom panel; and a top panel comprising: a first end top flap; a
first side top
flap overlying the first end top flap, the first side top flap having an
aperture, wherein
the aperture defines a first shoulder and a second shoulder; and a second side
top flap
overlying the first side top flap, the first end top flap, the first top flap
and the second
side top flap forming a pivotable dispenser in the top panel, wherein a
plurality of
lines of disruption in the second side top flap define a spout section of the
pivotable
dispenser, the spout section being at least partially separable from the
second side top
panel to enable pivoting of the pivotable dispenser, wherein the spout section
comprises a central spout portion, a first wing portion extending from and
foldably
connected to a first side of the central spout portion, and a second wing
portion
extending from and foldably connected to a second side of the central spout
portion;
and wherein a central portion of the first end top flap is adhered to the
central spout
portion of an underside of the second side top flap through the aperture and
the first
wing portion and second wing portion of the spout section abut and overlay the
first
shoulder and second shoulder, respectively, when the pivotable dispenser is in
a
closed position.
[0005.2] According to a further aspect of the present invention there is
provided a
blank, comprising a first side panel; a first end panel; a second side panel;
a second
end panel; a first side top flap foldably connected to the first side panel
and having an
aperture formed therein, wherein the aperture defines a first shoulder and a
second
shoulder; a first end top flap foldably connected to the first end panel and
having a
first plurality of lines of disruption formed therein, the first end top flap
including a
central portion; a second side top flap foldably connected to the second side
panel and
having a second plurality of lines of disruption formed therein, the second
plurality of
lines of disruption defining a spout section including a central spout
portion, a first
wing portion foldably connected to a first side of a central spout portion,
and a second
wing portion foldably connected to a second side of the central spout portion;
and at
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least one bottom flap extending along a bottom marginal area of the blank,
wherein
the first side top flap, the first end top flap and the second side top flap
are foldable to
form a top panel of the carton comprising a pivotable dispenser, the first end
top flap
is configured to be attached to an inner surface of the second side top flap
in the
carton, and in the carton formed from the blank, the central portion of the
first end top
flap is for being adhered to the central spout portion through the aperture,
and the first
wing portion and second wing portion are configured to abut the first shoulder
and
second shoulder, respectively, when the pivotable dispenser of the carton
formed
from the blank is in a closed position.
[0005.3] According to another aspect of the present invention there is
provided a
method of dispensing product from a carton, comprising: providing a carton
with
dispensable product contained therein, the carton comprising: a first side
panel; a first
end panel; a second side panel; a second end panel; a bottom panel; and a top
panel
comprising: a first end top flap having a first plurality of lines of
disruption formed
therein, the first end top flap including a central portion; a first side top
flap overlying
the first end top flap, the first side top flap having an aperture formed
therein, wherein
the aperture defines a first shoulder and a second shoulder; and a second side
top flap
overlying the first side top flap and having a second plurality of lines of
disruption
formed therein, the second plurality of lines of disruption defining a spout
section
including a central spout portion, a first wing portion extending from a first
side of a
central spout portion, a second wing portion extending from a second side of
the
central spout portion, and an access flap foldably connected to the central
spout
portion, wherein the central portion of the first end top flap is adhered to
the central
spout portion of the second side top flap through the aperture, and the first
wing
portion and the second wing portion abut the first shoulder and the second
shoulder,
respectively, when the spout section is in a closed position; breaching the
second
plurality of lines of disruption; pivoting the spout section away from a
remainder of
the top panel, wherein pivoting the spout section pulls at least a portion of
the first
end top flap through the aperture in the first side top flap; dispensing
product through
the aperture in the first side top flap; and pivoting the spout section toward
the
aperture so the first wing portion abuts the first shoulder and the second
wing portion
abuts the second shoulder.
[0006] Other aspects, features, and details of the present invention can be
more
completely understood by reference to the following detailed description,
taken in
conjunction with the drawings and from the appended claims.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0007] According to common practice, the various features of the drawings
discussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale. Dimensions of various
features
and elements in the drawings may be expanded or reduced to more clearly
illustrate
the embodiments of the invention.
[0008] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first side of a blank used to form a carton
having a
pivotable spout dispenser according to a first embodiment of the invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a partially erected carton.
[0010] FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views of the erected carton.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a partial top plan view of the spout dispenser.
[0012] FIG. 5 illustrates the spout dispenser being opened.
[0013] FIG. 6 illustrates the spout dispenser being opened.
[0014] FIG. 7 is an end view of the carton with the spout dispenser opened and
in a
dispensing configuration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] The present invention generally relates to dispensing or pour features
for
cartons. The present invention can be used, for example, in cartons that
contain
articles or other products such as, for example, food and beverages. The
articles can
also include particulate products such as, for example, rice, beans, sugar,
and other
pourable dry products. In this specification, the relative terms "bottom,"
"side,"
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"end," and "top" may indicate orientations determined in relation to fully
erected and
upright cartons.
[0016] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank 8 used to form a carton 190 having a
pivotable spout dispenser 160 (illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B) according to a
first
embodiment of the invention. The blank 8 comprises a first side panel 10, a
first end
panel 20 connected to the first side panel 10 at a first transverse fold line
21, a second
side panel 30 foldably connected to the first end panel 20 at a second
transverse fold
line 31, and a second end panel 40 foldably connected to the second side panel
30 at a
third transverse fold line 41. An adhesive panel 50 may be foldably connected
to the
first side panel 10 at a fourth transverse fold line 51.
[0017] The first side panel 10 is foldably connected to a first side top flap
12 and a
first side bottom flap 14. The first end panel 20 is foldably connected to a
first end
top flap 22 and a first end bottom flap 24. = The second side panel 30 is
foldably
connected to a second side top flap 32 and a second side bottom flap 34. The
second
end panel 40 is foldably connected to a second end top flap 42 and a second
end
bottom flap 44. The top flaps 12, 22, 32, 42 extend along a first or top
marginal
portion of the blank 8, and may be foldably connected along a first
longitudinal fold
line 62. The bottom flaps 14, 24, 34, 44 extend along a second or bottom
marginal
portion of the blank 8, and may be foldably connected along a second
longitudinal
fold line 64. The longitudinal fold lines 62, 64 may be straight fold lines,
or may be
offset at one or more locations to account for, for example, blank thickness.
When the
carton 190 is erected, the top flaps 12, 22, 32, 42 close a first or top
opening of the
carton 190, and the bottom flaps 14, 24, 34, 44 close a second or bottom
opening of
the carton 190.
[0018] A spout dispenser pattern 100 is formed in the blank 8. According to an
aspect of the invention, the spout dispenser pattern 100 includes lines of
disruption
formed in the first side top flap 12, the first end top flap 22, and the
second side top
flap 32. The spout dispenser pattern 100 defines the pivotable spout dispenser
160 in
the erected carton 190 (FIGS. 3A and 3B).
[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, the spout dispenser pattern 100 includes an
aperture
110 formed from a plurality of lines of disruption in the first side top flap
12. The
aperture 100 is defined by spaced side cut lines 112, an end cut line 114, and
an
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arcuate end cut line 116. The cut lines 112 define shoulders 118 on either
side of the
aperture 110. The cut lines 112, 114, 116 of the exemplary embodiment define
the
opening or aperture 110 in the first side top flap 12. Alternatively, the
lines 112, 114,
116 could be breachable lines of disruption (e.g. tear lines) in the flap 12
defining a
knockout panel (not illustrated). The knockout panel could be removed during
erection of the blank 8 or during use of the carton 190.
[0020] In the first top end flap 22, a pair of dogleg-shaped cut-crease lines
128 (e.g.,
fold lines) extend from a distal end of the flap 22 to the first longitudinal
fold line 62.
A longitudinally extending cut-crease fold line 130 extends through a medial
portion
of the first top end flap 22 and across the cut-crease lines 128. The lines
128, 130
define a central portion 120, first and second wing portions 122, and a base
124 in the
first end top flap 22. The central portion 120 is foldably connected to the
base 124 at
the fold line 130. At the first end top flap 22, the longitudinal fold line 62
can include
a cut-crease section 132.
[0021] In the second side top flap 32, a spout section 138 is defined by a
plurality of
lines of disruption. The spout section 138 includes a central spout portion
140 and
first and second wing portions 142 defined by dogleg-shaped interior side cut-
crease
lines 148 (e.g., fold lines), spaced exterior side cut-space lines 149 (e.g.,
tear lines),
and a laterally extending end fold line 152. An access flap 144 is defined by
an
arcuate cut-space line 145 (e.g., tear line) connecting the side cut-space
lines 149 and
a lateral fold line 150. Oblique locking cuts 154 extend outwardly from the
exterior
side cut-space lines 149.
[0022] The lines 128, 130, 148 may be formed from, for example, cut-crease
lines
having 100% cuts (i.e., cuts that extend through the entire blank) in FIG. 1,
or partial
cuts may also be used. Cut-space lines, for example, may also be used to form
the
lines 128, 130, 148. The lines 145, 149 are breachable lines of disruption
that may be,
for example, cut-space lines having 100% cuts or partial cuts. Cut-crease
lines, for
example, may also be used to form the lines 145, 149.
[0023] An exemplary process of erecting the carton 190 will be discussed with
reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Referring to FIG. 1, adhesive may be applied to
the
exterior side of the adhesive panel 50 and/or to the interior side of the
second end flap
40. The blank 8 is folded about the transverse fold lines 21 and 41 to bring
the
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exterior side of the adhesive flap 50 into contact with the interior or
underside of the
second end panel 40. The panels 40, 50 are thereby adhered together. The
resulting
article is then "opened" to have a generally closed tubular structure.
[0024] In order to close the top of the carton, adhesive is applied to the
exterior side
of the first end top flap 22 between the dogleg shaped cut-crease lines 128
and/or to
the interior or underside of the spout section 138 of the second side top flap
32,
between the dogleg shaped interior side cut-crease lines 148. Adhesive may
also be
applied to the underside of part of or the entirety of the exterior side of
the first side
top flap 12 except in the area of the shoulders 118. Alternatively or in
addition to
adhesive applied to the first side top flap 12, adhesive may be applied to the
entirety
of or part of the underside of the second side top flap 32 outside of the area
defined by
the lines 145, 149, 152, and so that the shoulders 118 are not adhered to the
second
side top flap 32. Adhesive may be applied to the entirety of or part of the
upper
surface of the second end top flap 42.
[0025] The top flaps 12, 22, 32, 41 may be closed by folding the first and
second
end top flaps 22, 42 down as shown in FIG. 2. The first side top flap 12 is
then
folded over onto the end top flaps 22, 42 so that the side flap 12 overlies
the end flaps
22, 42. The first side top flap 12 may be adhered to the second end top flap
42 at any
desired location or locations. The underside of the first side top flap 12 may
be
adhered to the upper side of the first end top flap 22 in the area of the base
124.
[0026] The second side top flap 32 is folded over the first side top flap 12
so that
the flap 32 overlies the flap 12. The underside of the second side top flap 32
may be
adhered to the exterior or upper side of the first side top flap 12 in areas
outside of the
spout section 138. The upper or exterior side of the central portion 120 may
be
adhered to the underside of the central spout portion 140 of the second side
top flap
32 through the aperture 110.
[0027] The bottom flaps 14, 24, 34, 44 may then be folded and adhered together
to
close the bottom of the carton. The resultant carton 190 is illustrated in
FIGS. 3A and
3B. Dispensable product may be loaded into the carton 190 before closing both
ends
of the carton. If the contents of the carton 190 are to be held within a bag
or other
vessel, the bag (not shown) may be inserted into the partially closed carton
before
closing both ends of the carton.
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[0028] Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the top flaps 12, 22, 32, 42 are adhered
together to form a top panel 170, and the bottom flaps 14, 24, 34, 44 are
adhered
together to form a bottom panel 180. The dispenser pattern 100 (illustrated in
FIG. 1)
in the top flaps 12, 22, 32 defines a pivotably (e.g., hingedly or foldably)
attached
spout dispenser 160 in the top panel 170. FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a
portion of the
top panel 170 illustrating the pivotable dispenser 160 in detail. As shown in
FIG. 4,
the dispenser 160 can be formed entirely from the top flaps 12, 22, 32
comprising the
top panel 170.
[0029] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the shape of the central portion 120 in the
first end
top flap 22 generally corresponds to the shape of the central spout portion
140 of the
spout section 138, and the upper surface of the central portion 120 is adhered
to the
underside of the central spout portion 140 through the aperture 110 in the
first end top
flap 12. The wings 122 of the first end top flap 22 may remain unadhered to
any
other part of the carton 190.
[0030] FIGS. 5-7 illustrate an exemplary process of opening of the dispenser
160.
Referring to FIG. 5, a user inserts a finger, tool or other object into the
top panel 170
at the access flap 144. The top panel 170 tears along the arcuate breachable
line 145
as the access flap 144 is pressed inwardly.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 6, the top panel 170 is further torn along the
breachable
lines 149 as the central spout portion 140 and wing portions 142 in the second
side top
panel 32 are pivoted outwardly about the fold line 152. The central portion
120 in the
first end top flap 22 is adhered to the central spout portion 140 and the
portion of the
first end top flap 22 beyond the fold line 130 also pivots outwardly. This
movement
pulls the central portion 120 of the first end top flap 22 through the
aperture 110 in the
first side top panel 12. At the same time, contact with the sides of the
aperture 110
causes the wings 122 in the first end top flap 22 to be folded inwardly at the
lines 128
with respect to the central portion 120.
[0032] FIG. 7 illustrates the pivotable spout dispenser 160 opened and in its
dispensing configuration, thereby forming a dispenser opening 165. Friction
between
the wings 122 and the interior edges of the aperture 110 serves to maintain
the
dispenser 160 in its dispensing configuration. If desired, the spout dispenser
160 can
be pivoted open further so that the wings 122 engage the locking cuts 154. The
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pivotable dispenser 160 can be reclosed by simply pushing the dispenser 160
back
towards the top panel 170. The shoulders 118 at each side of the aperture 110
project
inwardly to partially occlude the aperture 110, and abut the wing portions 142
to
prevent the dispenser 160 from being pressed too far in through the aperture
110.
[0033] According to the above-described embodiments, cartons can be provided
with dispensers that are simple in construction, and that are easily opened
and
reclosed. The carton provides a relatively simple, one-step action for opening
and
dispensing product from the carton. The spout dispenser is formed from the top
flaps
of the carton and no additional inserts or pieces are required.
[0034] In the exemplary embodiment discussed above, the blank is formed from
clay coated newsprint (CCN). In general, the blank may be constructed of
paperboard, having a caliper of at least about 14, so that it is heavier and
more rigid
than ordinary paper. The blank, and thus the carton, can also be constructed
of other
materials, such as cardboard, or any other material having properties suitable
for
enabling the carton to function at least generally as described above.
[0035] The first and second sides, of the blank can be coated with, for
example, a
clay coating. The clay coating may then be printed over with product,
advertising,
and other information or images. The blank may then be coated with a varnish
to
protect any information printed on the blank. The blank may also be coated
with, for
example, a moisture barrier layer, on either or both sides of the blanks. The
blank can
also be laminated to or coated with one or more sheet-like materials at
selected panels
or panel sections.
[0036] In accordance with the exemplary embodiments, a fold line can be any
substantially linear, although not necessarily straight, form of weakening or
disruption
in a blank that facilitates folding therealong. More specifically, but not for
the
purpose of narrowing the scope of the present invention, fold lines include:
score
lines, creases, cuts that extend partially into a material along a desired
line of
weakness, and/or a series of cuts that extend partially into and/or completely
through
the material along the desired line of weakness, and various combinations of
these
features.
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[0037] For purposes of the description presented herein, the term "line of
disruption" can be used to generally refer to either a cut line, a crease
line, a tear line,
or a fold line formed in the material (or a combination of at least one cut
line, tear
line, fold line, etc.). A breachable line of disruption is a line of
disruption that is
intended to be breached during ordinary use of the carton. An example of a
breachable line of disruption is a tear line.
[0038] A tear line can be any form of weakening that facilitates tearing
therealong.
Specifically, but not for the purpose of narrowing the scope of the present
invention,
tear lines include: a cut that extends partially into the material along the
desired line
of weakness, and/or a series of cuts that extend partially into and/or
completely
through the material along the desired line of weakness, or various
combinations of
these features.
[0039] The term "line" as used herein includes not only straight lines, but
also other
types of lines such as curved, curvilinear or angularly displaced lines.
[0040] The above embodiments may be described as having one or more panels
adhered together by glue. The term "glue" is intended to encompass all manner
of
adhesives commonly used to secure paperboard carton panels in place.
[0041] In the present specification, a "panel" or "flap" need not be flat or
otherwise
planar. A "panel" or "flap" can, for example, comprise a plurality of
interconnected
generally flat or planar sections.
[0042] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that while the
present
invention has been discussed above with reference to preferred embodiments,
various
additions, modifications, and variations can be made thereto without departing
from
the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the following
claims.
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