Tenneco Packaging Inc.

Packaging Corporation of America

Caraustar Custom Packaging

Thomas J Brink

James L Stone

Scott A Lampe

David F Gnadt

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 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 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 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.

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, an upper minor flap, and a paperboard pour spout. The plurality of side walls includes a first side wall having upper and lower ends. The upper minor flap extends from the upper end of the first side wall, and the upper minor flap forms a portion of the top wall. The pour spout includes a spout body and a pair of spout wings hingedly connected to opposing edges of the spout body. The pour spout is pivotally coupled to the first side wall for movement between closed and open positions. The spout wings extend into the container via an opening in the first side wall. The pour spout further includes a backboard hingedly connected to the upper minor flap and adhered to an inner surface of the first side wall. The backboard partially overlaps the spout body. The spout wings form respective bumps at locations immediately adjacent to an upper edge and respective ones of the opposing edges of the spout body. The backboard forms a pair of shoulders which releasably engage the respective bumps. The spout wings form a pair of die-cut stops which project in generally opposite directions from respective ones of the opposing edges of the spout body. The stops are generally coplanar with the spout body.

Growing community of inventors

Kentwood, MI, United States of America

Thomas J Brink