Packaging Corporation of America

Tenneco Packaging Inc.

Caraustar Custom Packaging

Other

Federal-mogul Corporation

The Procter & Gamble

James L Stone

Thomas J Brink

David F Gnadt

Charles L Gunn

Thomas J Weber

Timothy Paul Burda

Scott A Lampe

Dennis J Ruehl

Timothy J Lewandowski

A container is provided with a simple opening and closure mechanism which provides for easy reclosure of the container. A user may grasp a reclosable flap and move the flap between open and closed positions to effect opening and closure of the container. The reclosable flap may overlay a container lid such that the container lid is kept in a closed position when the reclosable flap overlays the container lid with the reclosable flap in its closed position. The container may be open and closed several times, and a seal may be maintained in the vicinity of the reclosable flap even after multiple uses of the container.

Reclosable container

A tray composed of a unitary, continuous blank has an inner surface and an outer surface. The tray comprises a bottom wall, a plurality of sidewalls extending upwardly from the bottom wall and a plurality of minor flaps. Each of the plurality of minor flaps is connected to one of the sidewalls via a fold line and has a respective outer edge. At least one of the minor flaps is connected to a sidewall via a first cut score. The first cut score extends upwardly from the bottom wall without extending to an outer edge of the minor flap. The at least one minor flap is separated from the sidewall via a knife cut. The knife cut extends from near the outer edge of the minor flap downward toward and near the first cut score. The at least one minor flap has a second cut score formed therein. The second cut score extends from near the separation means. The first and second cut scores are formed from opposing surfaces of the blank so as to form a partial web.

Partial web in tray corners

A one-piece, flip-top reclosable container embodying the present invention includes an outer carton having opposing top and bottom walls, front and back walls, and first and second side walls. The first and second side walls and the front wall include a preferential area of weakness for opening the carton from a sealed form to an unsealed form. The preferential area of weakness forms a lid hingedly connected to the top wall. The top wall includes a front top minor flap hingedly connected to an upper end of the front wall. An internal collar is integrally formed with the front top minor flap. The internal collar is disposed within the carton when the carton is in the sealed form. The internal collar includes a front panel and opposing first and second side panels adjacent to the respective front wall and the opposing first and second side walls of the carton. The front panel of the internal collar is detachably connected to the front top minor flap along at least one horizontal fold line. The internal collar optionally includes an extension flap comprised of at least one hinged portion and at least one island portion disposed in forcibly displaceable mutual engagement such that opening the lid exerts a force which disengages the mutual engagement and closing the lid leads to snap re-engagement of the hinged portion and the island portion.

Flip-top carton with integral partial collar

A forward-tilting display container with fold-out display doors which is adjustable between an enclosed position and a display position. In the enclosed position, the fold-out display doors comprise a portion of the lid of the container, with the remainder of the lid defining a pedestal-forming portion. The lid is hingedly connected to a display panel on the side of the container. The container is adjusted to the display position by folding the lid back so that the display doors overlay the display panel and the pedestal-forming portion lies underneath the container. In the display position, the display doors are opened to expose both the display panel and the display doors, with the pedestal-forming portion of the lid supporting the container in a forward-tilting position.

Forward-tilting display container with fold-out doors

A two-piece paperboard container composed of an outer carton and liner includes a paperboard pour spout formed from portions of the outer carton and liner. The pour spout includes a spout body and a pair of spout wings hingedly connected to opposing edges of the spout body. The outer carton encompasses the liner and includes a spout body reinforcing panel overlying the spout body. The spout body reinforcing panel is adhered to the spout body and moves in tandem with the spout body in response to the pour spout being opened and closed. The outer carton further includes a plurality of top and bottom flaps adapted to form the respective top and bottom of the container. A pair of backboard panels extending from one of the top flaps are folded to form a backboard of the pour spout.

Two-piece paperboard container with pour spout

A flip-top reclosable carton is comprised of an outer carton and an internal collar. The outer carton includes opposing top and bottom walls, opposing front and back walls, and opposing first and second side walls. The first and second side walls and the front wall include a continuous horizontal tear means for opening up the carton from a sealed form to form a lid hingedly connected to a base. The top wall includes first and second top minor flaps hingedly connected to upper ends of the respective first and second side walls. The internal collar is integrally formed with the first and second top minor flaps. The collar is disposed within the carton and includes a front panel and opposing first and second side panels adjacent to the respective front wall and the opposing first and second side walls of the carton. The collar includes at least one hinged portion and at least one island portion disposed in forcibly displaceable mutual engagement such that opening the lid exerts a force which disengages the mutual engagement and closing the lid leads to snap re-engagement of the hinged portion and the island portion.

Flip-top reclosable container with integrally formed collar

A paperboard container composed of a unitary, continuous blank comprises opposing top and bottom walls, a plurality of side walls bridging the top and bottom walls, and a paperboard pour spout closure. The plurality of side walls includes a first side wall, and a top major flap extends from an upper end of the first side wall and forms a portion of the top wall. A backboard is coupled to the top major flap and includes a plug. The inner surface of the backboard is adhered to the inner surface of the first side wall. A closure layer is formed in the first side wall and is adhered to the plug. The closure layer and the plug form the pour spout closure. The pour spout closure is pivotally coupled to the first side wall for movement between closed and open positions. The plug is detachably linked to a remainder of the backboard. The plug is linked to the backboard when the pour spout closure is initially in the closed position. The plug is detached from the remainder of the backboard and leaves behind a hole in response to opening the pour spout closure. The plug is inserted into the hole in response to reclosing the pour spout closure. The first side wall forms at least one prong adjacent to the closure layer. The prong engages the plug in response to closing the pour spout closure.

Non-directional paperboard pour spout

A paperboard container composed of a unitary, continuous blank comprises opposing top and bottom walls, a plurality of side walls bridging the top and bottom walls, and a paperboard pour spout closure. The plurality of side walls includes a first side wall, and an top minor flap extends from an upper end of the first side wall and forms a portion of the top wall. A backboard is coupled to the top minor flap and includes a plug. The inner surface of the backboard is adhered to the inner surface of the first side wall. A closure layer is formed in the first side wall and is adhered to the plug. The closure layer and the plug form the pour spout closure. The pour spout closure is pivotally coupled to the first side wall for movement between closed and open positions. The plug is detachably linked to a remainder of the backboard. The plug is linked to the backboard when the pour spout closure is initially in the closed position. The plug is detached from the remainder of the backboard and leaves behind a hole in response to opening the pour spout closure. The plug is inserted into the hole in response to reclosing the pour spout closure. The first side wall forms at least one prong adjacent to the closure layer. The prong engages the plug in response to closing the pour spout closure.

A carton-liner assembly comprises an outer carton and a liner disposed within and affixed to the carton. The carton includes opposing top and bottom carton walls, opposing front and back carton walls, and opposing first and second side carton walls. The front carton wall and the opposing side carton walls include a continuous tear strip for opening up the carton from a sealed form to form a lid hingedly connected to a base. The liner includes a front liner wall and opposing side liner walls adjacent to the respective front carton wall and opposing side carton walls of the carton. The liner optionally includes a back liner wall adjacent to the back carton wall of the carton. To reduce the weight of the carton-liner assembly, the walls of the liner include a series of stripped-out areas. Preferably, the stripped-out areas are elongated in a vertical direction and have respective arrow-shaped lower ends. Each liner wall includes a pair of stripped-out areas separated by a center strut. The liner walls intersect at vertical corner posts, and the pair of stripped-out areas on each liner wall are spaced away from these vertical corner posts.

Flip-top reclosable carton with reduced-weight liner

A paperboard container having a reclosable shaker pour spout for dispensing granular products. The reclosable shaker pour spout is formed on a wall of the container from first and second minor flaps which are folded inwardly within the container, a first-down major flap which is folded inwardly and overlies the the first and second minor flaps, and a second-down major flap which is folded inwardly and overlies the first-down major flap. Both of the first and second minor flaps have at least one semi-aperture formed on their outer edges which are aligned with corresponding semi-apertures on the other minor flap. The semi-apertures on each of the flaps cooperate to form full apertures in response to the first and second minor flaps being folded inwardly within the container. A detachable plug formed on the first-down major flap overlies the apertures in response to the first-down major flap being folded inwardly on top of the first and second minor flaps. A tear-away pour spout opening tab formed on the second-down major flap overlies and becomes adhered to the detachable plug in response to the second-down major flap being folded inwardly on top of the first-down major flap. Initial opening of the container is accomplished by tearing away the opening tab from the second-down major flap, which causes the detachable plug to become detached from the first-down major flap and create an opening in its former position, thus providing access to the apertures formed from the first and second minor flaps. The container may thereafter be closed by frictionally engaging the plug into the opening on the first-down major flap.

Shaker pour spout dispenser

A nested blank arrangement comprises first and second unitary, continuous blanks each for forming a side-filled, flip-top reclosable carton having opposing top and bottom walls, opposing front and back walls, and opposing first and second side walls. Each blank includes at least five panels hingedly connected to each other along generally horizontal fold lines. Each panel includes opposing first and second vertical edges. In order of connection, the panels include an inner front panel, a bottom panel, a back panel, a top panel, and an outer front panel. First and second side closure flaps are hingedly connected to each of the panels along the respective first and second vertical edges. The first and second side closure flaps cooperate to form the opposing first and second side walls of the carton. The first and second blanks are vertically oriented in opposite directions and are horizontally adjacent to each other. One or more of the first side closure flaps of the first blank horizontally nest with and border on one or more of the first side closure flaps of the second blank such that a horizontal distance between the first vertical edges of the first blank and the first vertical edges of the second blank is less than twice a horizontal dimension of the first side closure flap having a largest horizontal dimension.

Nestable blank for forming a side-filled, flip-top reclosable carton

A collapsible carton comprises opposing front and back panels, opposing top and bottom panels generally bridging said opposing front and back panels, a first pair of accordion panels connecting said front panel to said bottom panel, and a second pair of accordion panels connecting said back panel to said bottom panel. The carton further includes a plurality of side closure flaps extending from opposing ends of the top and bottom panels and the front and back panels. When the carton is in open-sided form and after a compressible product is loaded into the carton through one of the open sides, the carton is collapsed in response to moving the top and bottom panels toward each other so as to cause the first and second pairs of accordion panels to spread outward in accordion-like fashion into overlapping relationship.

Collapsible paperboard carton

A two-piece, crash-bottom basket carrier includes a bottom wall, a pair of opposing side walls, a pair of opposing end walls, a longitudinal partition, and one or more transverse partitions. The side walls and the end walls extend upward from the bottom wall, and the end walls bridge the opposing side walls. The bottom wall, the side walls, and the end walls are all formed from a first unitary paperboard blank. The longitudinal partition extends between the opposing end walls and is located approximately midway between the opposing side walls. The longitudinal partition is generally perpendicular to the bottom wall and the end walls and is generally parallel to the side walls. A handle is formed along an upper central handle section of the longitudinal partition to permit carrying of the basket carrier. Each of the transverse partitions extends between the longitudinal partition and one of the side walls. The transverse partitions are generally perpendicular to the bottom wall and the side walls and are generally parallel to the end walls. The transverse partitions serve to divide the interior of the basket carrier into multiple cells suitable for receiving respective beverage bottles. The longitudinal and transverse partitions are formed from a second unitary paperboard blank.

Two-piece, crash-bottom basket carrier

A side-filled, flip-top reclosable carton composed of a unitary, continuous blank, comprises opposing top and bottom walls, opposing front and back walls, and opposing first and second side walls. The first and second side walls and the front wall include a continuous horizontal tear element for opening up the carton from a sealed form to form a lid hingedly attached to a base section. The first and second side walls include respective first and second top minor flaps hingedly connected to opposing ends of the top wall. The first and second side walls include respective first and second web flaps hingedly connected at upper edges thereof. The first web flap is hingedly connected to the first top minor flap along a first diagonal score line, and the second web flap is hingedly connected to the second top minor flap along a second diagonal score line.

Flip-top reclosable carton and blank for making the same

A recloseable container comprises an outer carton and a collar disposed therein. The outer carton includes opposing top and bottom walls, opposing front and back walls, and opposing side walls. The collar is press bonded to one or more of the inner surfaces of the opposing front and back walls and the opposing side walls of the carton. The opposing side walls and the front wall of the carton include a continuous horizontal tear strip for opening up the carton from a sealed form to form a lid hingedly attached to a base section. To manufacture the recloseable container, an outer surface of a strip of collar material is press bonded to an inner surface of carton material. The attached carton material and strip of collar material are then simultaneously die-cut and scored to produce a respective carton blank and collar blank from which the recloseable container is formed.

Growing community of inventors

Grand Rapids, MI, United States of America

James L Stone