US3003673A - Box having pouring spout - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 10, 1961 D. A. CLARK ETAL 3,003,673

BOX HAVING POURING SPOUT Filed Sept. 25, 1959 42 5 L46 40 L INVENTORS.

00 via A (70/76 9 7:? BY 9000/0 A. C/OIk United States Patent 3,003,673 BOX HAVING POURING SPOUT David A. Clark and Ronald A. Clark, both of Atherton, M0. Filed Sept. 23, 1959, Ser. No. 841,881 3 Claims. (Cl. 229-17) This invention relates to a pull-out pouring'spout for boxes especially adapted for containers conventionally used in the packaging of soaps and detergents and other granular materials, the primary object being to eliminate spillage problems that consistently harass the purchasing public because of the nature of box opening means commonly employed throughout the industry.

It is the most important object of the present invention to provide a pull-out pouring spout for containers that is adapted to be folded to a closed condition after each use and which will positively prevent spillage of the material therefrom without need for rescaling as initially packaged.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide a spout that is initially held in place by hold-down means that includes a readily removable, tear-out tab.

A further important object of the instant invention is the provision of individual components of the spout itself, together with other parts of the box made in a way to preserve the usual shape and configuration of the box insofar as the provision of a flat, horizontal top is concerned.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a box having a pouring spout made pursuant to our present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, perspective view showing the spout pulled out in condition for use.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, vertical, fragmentary, crosssectional view through a portion of the box and more particularly, through the pouring spout when closed substantially midway through the main segment of the spout; and

FIG. 4 is an inside plan view of the blank from which the box is made.

The box as illustrated in FIG. 1 is provided with a right side panel 10, a front end panel 12, and a top, broadly designated by the numeral 14, the left side panel being shown in FIG. 3 and designated by the numeral 16.

Looking, therefore, to FIG. 4 of the drawing, blank 18 from which the box is made, has a line of bend 20 separating panels and 12 and lines of bend 22 and 24 that set ofi a rear end panel 26 between the panels 10 and 16. The panels 10, 12, 16 and 26 are in turn separated from top 14 and bottom 28 by transverse lines of bend 30 and 32 respectively. Lines of sever ance 34 and 36 disposed as continuations of lines of bend 22 and 24 respectively, and a line of severance 38 continuing from line of bend 20, separate bottom 28 into a plurality of flaps 40, 42, 44 and 46 that are folded in the usual and conventional manner about the line 32 in overlapping relationship to form the bottom 28, suitable adhesive being employed in the normal way to hold the bottom 28 properly assembled.

A line of bend 48 presents a marginal flap 50 whose outer face (not shown) is connected to the left side panel 16 by adhesive 52 when the panels 10, 12, 16 and 26 are folded along lines 20, 22, 24 and 48 to present the polygonal form of the box as shown in FIG. 1.

The top 14 is made up in a manner similar to bottom 28 of a flap 54 including the flap 42 integral with the rear end panel 26 at the line of bend 30. A lower top flap 56 is integral with front side panel 10 through line of bend 30, and an upper top flap 58 is integral with left side panel 16 through line of bend 30. Lines of ice cut 60 and 62 aligned with the lines of bend 22 and 24 respectively, separate the flap 54 from the flaps 56 and 58.

Pull-out pouring spout 64 for the top '14 is disposed adjacent the end panel 12 and includes a plurality of triangular segments, one of which is identified as a main segment and designated by the numeral 66. Segment 66 is an integral part of the end panel 12 and joins therewith by a line of fold 68 forming one edge of the segment 66 and constituting a continuation of the line of bend 38. Additionally, the spout 64 includes a pair of secondary segments 78 and 72, the former of which connects with flap 58 by a line of fold 74 and the segment 72 joins with flap 56 by a line of fold 76.

Spout 64 includes still further, a pair of median segments 78 and 80 that are integral with main segment 66 along lines of fold 82 and 84 respectively. The segments 72 and 78 are integrally connected by continuation 20a of the line of bend 20, and marginal flap 50 is integral with segment 80 by continuation 48a of the line of bend 43. When the flap 50 is joined to the panel 16 along glue strip 52, a portion of the flap 50 overlaps segment 70 and is adhered thereto. Consequently, the line of fold 68 extends across the line of bend 48 terminating at the free ends of the marginal flap 50. And, a diagonal fold line 86 provided in the marginal flap 50, becomes contiguous with the line of fold 74. Hence, as seen in FIG. 2, a portion of the marginal flap 50, designated by the numeral 88, becomes a part of the spout 64 because of its adhesive joinder with the segment 70.

It is thus seen that when the spout 64 is folded in the closed position illustrated in FIG. 1, the portion 88 of marginal flap 50, is interposed between the segments 70 and 80 of the spout 64. Also, when the spout 64 is in the closed condition, the segments 78 and 80 overlap the segment 66 and of course, the segment 72 overlies the segment 78, thereby placing segment 72 within the same horizontal plane as the portion 88 of marginal flap 50.

The upper flap 58 of the top 14 is provided with a tear-out tab 90 at one corner thereof adjacent the panels 10 and 12 and which tear-out tab 90 is manifestly in the same horizontal plane as the segment 70 of the spout 64. Lines of weakness 92 and 94 between the tab 90 and the flap 5'8, and a line of weakness 96 between the tab 90 and a hold-down tab 98, permit lifting of the tab 90 and the tearing of the same away from the flap 58 and the tab 98. As seen in FIG. 1, the tab 98 is folded downwardly into overlapping relationship to the end panel 12 and glued thereto. Consequently, the tab 98 remains in place on the end panel 12 when the tear-out tab 90 is removed. It is to be pointed out at this juncture that the line of weakness 94 joins the tearout tab 90 with the segment 70 of the spout 64. Consequently, when the tab 90 is removed, the spout 64 may be readily folded outwardly to the pouring position illustrated in FIG. 2.

It is preferable, when the flap 58 is adhered to the flap 56, that no adhesive be provided for the tear-out tab 90 since the tab 98 will adequately hold the tab 90 against the segment 72 of the spout 64. And, by virtue of the joinder of the tab 90 to the segment 70, the entire spout 64 will be held closed with lines of fold 20a and 48a contiguous with the line of fold 68.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a box, a hollow body having a pair of side panels, a pair of end panels, a bottom and a top; and a pull-out pouring spout for said top adjacent one of the end panels, said spout including a central main triangular segment having a line of fold forming one edge of the main segment and the upper edge of said one end panel, a pair of secondary triangular segments disposed one on each side of said main segment and each joined with said top by a line of fold, and a median triangular segment between each secondary segment respectively and the main segment and joined therewith 'by lines of fold, the median segments overlapping the main segment and each secondary segment overlapping its corresponding median segment when the spout is closed, said top having a pair of relatively overlapped flaps, one of the secondary segments being integral with one of the flaps, the other secondary segment being integral with the other flap, said one flap having means thereon and connected with said one end panel for initially holding the spout closed, said spout holding means including a tear-out tab connected with the secondary segment of said one flap and overlapping the secondary segment of said other flap, and a hold-down tab conneoted with the tear-out tab and glued to said one end panel.

2. In a box, a hollow body having a pair of side panels, a pair of end panels, a bottom and a top; and a pull-out pouring spout for said top adjacent one of the end panels, said spout including a central main triangular segment having a line of fold forming one edge of the main segment and the upper edge of said one end panel, a pair of secondary triangular segments disposed one on each side of said main segment and each joined with said top by a line of fold, and a median triangular segment between each secondary segment respectively and the main segment and joined therewith by lines of fold, the median segments overlapping the main segment and each secondary segment overlapping its corresponding median segment when the spout is closed, said top having a pair of relatively overlapped flaps, one of the secondary segments being integral with one of the flaps, the other secondary segment being integral with the other flap, said one flap having means thereon and connected with said one end panel for initially holding the spout closed, said spout holding means including a tear-out tab connected with the secondary segment of said one flap and overlapping the secondary segment of said other flap, a hold-down tab connected with the tear-out tab and glued to said one end panel, and a portion interposed between the secondary segment of said one flap and the median segment therebelow.

3. In a box, a hollow body having a pair of side panels, a pair of'end panels, a bottom and a top; and a pullout pouring spout for said top adjacent one of the end panels, said spout including a central main triangular segment having a line of fold forming one edge of the main segment and the upper edge of said one end panel, a pair of secondary triangular segments disposed one on each side of said main segment and each joined with said top by a line of fold, and a median triangular segment between each secondary segment respectively and the main segment and joined therewith by lines of fold, the median segments overlapping the main segment and each secondary segment overlapping its corresponding median segment when the spout is closed, said top having a pair of relatively overlapped flaps, one of the secondary segments being integral with one of the flaps, the other secondary segment being integral with the other flap, said one flap having means thereon and connected with said one end panel for initially holding the spout closed, said spout holding means including a tear-out tab connected with the secondary segment of said one flap and overlapping the secondary segment of said other flap, a hold-down tab connected with the tear-out tab and glued to said one end panel, a portion interposed between the secondary segment of said one flap and the median segment therebelow, and a manginal flap on said one end panel secured to one of the side panels, said portion being a continuation of said marginal flap.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,561,568 Falk July 24, 1951 2,565,182 Maxon Aug. 21, 1951 2,811,297 Mairon Oct. 29, 1957 2,861,732 Parker Nov. 25, 1958 2,928,579 Graybill Mar. 15, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 95,342 Sweden Feb. 2, 1939

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