US2820581A - Container and blank with pouring means - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 21, 1958 F. E. MAKUTA CONTAINER AND BLANK WITH POURING MEANS Filed Nov. 18, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m K A .H wa n3 0 w 2 Sheets-f-Shee Inventor FRANCIS E. MAKUTA F; E. MAKUTA CONTAINER AND BLANK WITH POURING MEANS Jan. 21, 1958 Filed Nov. 18, 1952 United States Patent Gfiice Patented Jan. 21, 1958 CONTAINER AND BLANK WITH POURING MEANS Francis E. Maknta, Hazleton, Pa., assignor to Ex-Cell-O Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application November 18, 1952, Serial No. 321,217

2 Claims. (Cl. 222-528) The present invention relates generally to the packaging field, and more specifically to fluid-tight containers fashioned from sheet material such as paperboard or the like. Such containers are particularly well adapted for the packaging of milk and other comestibles but may, of course, be employed for packaging a wide variety of fluent substances.

It is the general object of this invention to provide a container of the character set forth and fashioned from paperboard or the like, such container having fluid dis pensing means adapted to pour and to cut off effectively without permitting the poured fluid to dribble down the outside of the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container of the foregoing type and wherein the dispensing means has a manipulable element adapting it to prevent dribble during pouring and cut-off, irrespective of the fluid level in the container or the size or rate of flow of the poured stream.

A further object of the invention is to provide a blank for a container of the character set forth and which will include structural features capable of implementing the objectives just recited.

Still another object is to provide a container and blank of the type set forth and which will be susceptible of economical manufacture at a cost comparing favorably with that required for paperboard containers presently available to the trade.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken along with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative container embodying the present invention and being in initially filled and sealed conditon ready for use by the consuiner.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the container of Fig. 1 after its lift tab has been raised, thereby exposing the pouring opening of the container.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the container as shown in Fig. 2, but after the pouring lip has been folded into its operative position.

Figs. 4, 5, 5a and 6 are enlarged fragmentary perspective views detailing certain preferred forms of the pouring opening lip in the position as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken through the center of the container of Fig. l displaying the pouring operation diagrammatically.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the inside face of the blank from which a container embodying the invention may be formed.

Fig. 9 is a detailed plan view of the pouring opening inner ply with a lip construction similar to that shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the glue patch section intended for securing the pouring opening inner ply shown in Fig. 9 to the blank shown in Fig.

'8 in the course of fabrication.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and illustrative constructions, certain preferred embodiments have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in considerable detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms of containers, blanks, or pouring openings disclosed, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover all modifications, alternative construc tions, and equivalents falling Within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Illustrative of the type of package in which the invention finds major, but not exclusive, utility, there is shown in Fig. l a container 10 particularly well adapted for the packaging of milk. The container 10 may be fabricated from paperboard or other bendable sheet material and is self-sustaining in shape, being coated or impregnated with appropriate material such as parafiin to render it fluidtight and nonabsorbent. In its finished form, the container 10 comprises a tubular body defined by four side panels 11 and closed at its lower end by a bottom closure (not shown) which may be of any desired construction. At its upper end, the tubular body of the container 10 is closed by the familiar gable top 12.

A lift tab 14 is preformed in the outer ply of the container 10 by laterally spaced severance lines 13, which run down one of the roof panels 15 of the gable top 12 and extend down into the adjacent underlying side panel 11, terminating at a finger recess 16. The severance lines 13 converge toward the finger recess 16, resulting in the formation of a relatively narrow lower end on the tab 14. This lower end presents a finger piece 18 which may be hinged to the remainder of the lift tab along a score line 19. The finger piece 18 may be readily loosened and gripped by the user and, when subjected to an upward pull, causes progressive severance of the lift tab 14 from the outer ply of the container until the tab becomes fully elevated to permit dispensing of the contents of the container. The lift tab of course remains connected to the outer ply of the container along a crease or hinge line situated adjacent the central laminar rib 20 of the gable top.

Turning now to Fig. 8, it will be seen that the construction of the container 10 begins with a cut and scored blank 21 of paperboard or other appropriate sheet material. Such stock is of proper thickness and weight to be bendable during forming of the container but self-sustaining in shape after the container has been erected, filled and closed. The blank 21 is divided into four rectangular side panels 11 which form the side panels of the container 10. In this instance, the blank 21 is provided along its lower edge with bottom closure flaps 22 which are adapted to be folded into overlapping relation and sealed to define the bottom of the container. The top portions of the blank 21 comprise two generally rectangular panels 15 which ultimately define the roof panels of the gable top 12, and two angularly scored panels 17 which include the fractional panels infolded to define the ends of the gable top 12. The top portion of the blank 21 also includes those panels which ultimately define the central laminar rib 20, including the tuck-in flap 24 and the overlapping outer flap 24a. These rib defining panels are usually mechanically secured in position by a staple 25 running through the central rib 20. At one end, the blank 21 is provided with a fractional panel known as a glue flap 26. The latter is used to secure the opposite edges of the blank together in overlapping relation so as to arrange the side panels 11 in a hollow tube which defines the tubular body of the container.

While coating or impregnating of' thecontainer 10 may be effected at various stages during its fabrication, it has been found convenient to perform this step after the blank has been erected and the bottom closure has been made, but prior to completion of the top closure.

' bonded or secured to the inside face of the lifttab in any suitable manner. The pouring: opening 29 is formedin an inner ply 30 bonded to the roof panel 15 and underlying side panel 11 in the outer ply of the container. In the present instance, the pouring opening ply 30is fashioned as a separate patch (Figs. 7 to 9) adapted to be adhesively secured to the blank 21 over an area or glue spot 32 surrounding the lift tab 14 and finger recess 16, as indicated in Fig. 10. The pouring opening ply 39 is also provided with a transverse score line or perforation line 31 which coincides substantially with the score line 34 separating the roof panel 15 from the underlying side panel 11, permitting easy folding of the pouring opening ply upon formation and closing of the gable top 12.

It has been found that, when pouring from a container of the general type disclosed herein, the greater the pouring velocity of the fluid being removed the cleaner the separation will be when pouring is initiated and when pouring is cut off. This effect is generally observed irrespective ofthe size of the poured stream. A further factor to be considered is the adhesive relationship. between the fluid being poured and the surface over which it flows. When the force of gravity on the poured stream at the point; of separation from the containerbecomes greater than the adhesive relationship between the poured fluid and the adjacent surface, of the container ,at that point, pouring can be initiated without dribbling and a clear separation can be elfected when pouring is cut off. When, on the other hand, the adhesive force at theseparation edge is greater than that of gravity, a certain amount of the poured fluid will tend to dribble .down the side of the container both at, initiation andat cut-off of the pouring operation.

Provision is made for imparting. dribble-free pouring characteristics to-the container 10, enabling the same to pour satisfactorily regardless of the size of the poured stream, the level of fluid within the container, or the degree of inclination given the container to initiatepouring. Thisis accomplished by formingin the pouring opening. ply 36a ,manipulable pouring lip 35, the latter being situated immediately adjacentthe pouring opening 29 and initially disposed in. coplanar relation with the ply 3t 7 The lip 35 is integral with ,the pouring opening ply 30 and has at least three sides ldefined in the stock of the ply 30 by precutting, perforating or equivalent operations. ,VThus upon elevation of the lift tab 14, the pouring lip 35' becomes accessible and can readily be down-folded or reversely bent by the user, shifting from a dormant position coplanar with the ply 30 (Fig. 2.) to 'an operative position wherein its freeedge overhangs the finger recess and face of the underlying side panel 11 (Figs. 3 and 7). In this position, the pouring lip 35 defines a surface 40 which might be considered .to be an eave for the underlying side panel 11. Separation edge 38, which is actually the free edge of thepour-ing lip 35, is spaced sufficiently far from the surface of thesidepanel 11, andthe inclined underlying surface ofthe lip .35v is so oriented relative to the plane of the underlyingside panel 11, that thepossibility of having adhesion forces sufficjiently great to lead pouredfluid from the edge '38 down the side 11 of the containeriis eliminated. I

,Referring to Fig, 77-,which' shows thecontainer in pouring position, it :will be perceivedthat the pouringlip the case if the pouring lip 35 were to occupy its dormant position; By the same token,it-will be appreciated that at the hinge line of the pouring lip, which actually defines crest 39 of a pouring weir, the velocity of the fluid immediately adjacent the weir crest 39 is considerably less than it is at the surface of the stream. The substantial rate of flow and relative uniformity of velocity at the p ration ed e :38 of th Pe nsl p. may beebte even when initially dispensing from a container in completely filled condition. As more and morefluid is dispensed from the containenthe longer dimension ofthe latter becomes oriented more closely toward thehorizpntal and pouring conditions become even better. i

Turning now .to the-pouring. lip perse and itsrelation to the pouring opening ply, it willbe noted upon reference to Figs. 4 and 9 that the lip 35 has three edges initially defined in the ply 30 as by means of suitable incisions. opposite ends of the lip 35 are interrupted so as to leave a pair of severable ties or bridges41 adapted to hold the lip 35 indorrnant position coplanar with the ;ply 30 until turned ,down by the user. Such incisions, which may conveniently be pre-cut extensions of the lateral edges 37 of the pouring opening,,preferably terminate short of the transverse score line 31 on the pouring openp ,3 between their lowerends and the transverse vscoreline T-his .nwr senei e h i ationshi betwee h s parat on. ed e. .8 a d hee ieee t; linder nssisi panel 11. Terminating the lip-defining ineisions sl ort f the sca e-li e; isals d sira le b cau itresul n cre tion. ofqaapa a fiu-sealede 45 adj cent th lower portion of theypouring opening 29. and which comprises a part of the continuousparaffin seal initially surv rounding the .pouring opening .for .fluidaretaining ,and sanitary purposes.

Referring next .to Figs. :5 and 5a," it will benoted that the pouring lip 35 there. illustrated resembleszthe one just described but has its opposite ends initially. defined by perforation lines 42. When turned down -bythe user, the lip 35 simply parts-fromthestock of the ply '30 along the perforation lines-42. InFig. 5a, the lip 35 may optionally be provided with a central score or perforationline 42a. After thelip has 'been placed -into operative position by the user, it may be creased somewhat along the line 42a so as to give it a spout-like configuration.

In Fig. 6, the lip 35 has its defined byuninterrupted incisions '44. The stifiness of the stock in the pouring opening ply '30, supplemented by the adhesion of the paraffin coating which fills the incisions 44, are relied upon to maintain the lip 35 in dormant position p 'e to i i i tien he .d spen i i ep a i as nd eatedui ith iews ju tenss s s. l ig- 7, it wi l bea ete that t e 129. v. ingl p .3 s dep t b ds-r a v .tosth pou n op n n plv' Siten forced down by the user. However, it is desirable .to avoid the use ofa score line ,or other foldingguide at the hinge point because nightrender the -lip 35 susceptible of being inadvertently. torn off when gripped by. the user. r

A container embodying the present invention maycbe prepared for pouring in but twds'teps. First the popring opening 29 iscsposed by grasping the finger piece 1 8 and pulling nip on the lift tab 14 until the pouring opening is completely exposed, as shown in Eiga).

Second, the pee in l p 35 ihe de n fe ed rem .35 whenrin operative position produces an almost vertical dormant position into 3 its operativeposition asshown in Fig. 3. This may be accomplished by grasping the lip 35 either between the lingers or -by-the use ,of any.

the apnreplia means .--.f or e di g substantially through at the initial line. 1 Rouringimay thereupon be effectively accomplished by inclining the container to -.the;desi:ced. angle... r

In thisinstance, .the incisions defining the and as 'sr ete length the he distan I claim as my invention:

1. In a container of paperboard or the like having a top panel and an adjacent underlying side panel, the combination comprising a sanitarily protected ply having a pouring opening therein, said opening being situated in the top panel, an outer ply fixed to said sanitarily protected ply and having a lift tab initially overlying the pouring opening and the marginal areas of said sanitarily protected ply sealing the pouring opening, means defining a pouring lip integral with said sanitarily protected ply and situated adjacent the pouring opening and entirely within the perimeter of the top panel, said pouring lip having a dormant position coplanar with said sanitarily protected ply, severable ties yieldably retaining said pouring lip in said dormant position coplanar with said sanitarily protected ply, said pouring lip being manipulable by the user from said dormant position into a substantially reversely bent operative position overlying said sanitarily protected ply upon elevation of said lift tab, said pouring lip in said operative position having a free end overhanging beyond the plane of the side panel and projecting outside the perimeter of the top panel.

2. In a blank of paperboard or the like intended for fabrication into a sealed container having side, top and bottom panels, the combination comprising a partially severable lift tab extending upwardly from a side panel and terminating in the adjacent top panel, an attached inner pouring ply having a pouring aperture therein and a transverse score line for locating said pouring ply with relation to the junction between such top and side panels, a manipulable pouring lip coplanar with said pouring ply and defined at its ends by separation lines extending downwardly from the lower portion of said pouring aperture but terminating without crossing said transverse score line and means for yieldably maintaining said pouring lip in coplanar relation with said pouring ply prior to manipulation of said lip by the user.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,263,957 Sooy Nov. 25, 1941 2,288,914 Monroe July 7, 1942 2,459,130 Jones Jan. 11, 1949 2,531,630 Jones Nov. 28, 1950 2,601,399 Jones June 24, 1952

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