US3189246A

US3189246A - Gable top container

Info

Publication number: US3189246A
Application number: US126556A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Seaver A Seline
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-07-25
Filing date: 1961-07-25
Publication date: 1965-06-15
Anticipated expiration: 1982-06-15

Description

June l5, 1965 s. A. sELINE, JR

@ABLE TOP CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 25, 1961 Q. J mc Tw L W A m *n 5 julle 15, 1955 s. A. sELlNE, JR

GABLE TOP CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 25, 1961 S n o@ N T w W A my A a7 Y B United States Patent Ok sassari;` GABLE TOP CONTAINER Y Seaver A: Sellne, Jr., 1304 N. 56th St., Omaha 32, Nebr. Filed July 25, 1961, Ser. No. 126,556 i 3 Claims. (615229-17) `This invention relates to an improved gable top container for holding iluids, and` more particularly to a gable topjcarton having an improved formof spout.

Cartons having gablettops are used extensively for packaging lmilk,A buttermilk, orange` juice and other iluid products.,` The gable `top is particularly` useful since a container seal and spout may `be' conveniently combined by the` proper folding fof panels into the gable conguration,` Heretofore, the design ofthe spout for gable top cartonshas `possessed a number of disadvantages, severalof which will be discussed in detail below.

It is an object `of this invention to provide an improved designof a gable top carton.

It is another object `to provide a gable top carton with an improved spout, the `design `ofwhich providesl a better seal and a spout which is more reliable in operation than priordevices.

Ittisan additional object to provide a gable top carton with sealing surfaces of reduced area, resulting in a sav ingslof heat energy. q

It is an additional object to provide a spout which Will readily snap open with a minimum of difficulty with no contamination of the` contents of the container.

Briefly, the gable top container of this invention cornprises a pair of opposed inclined walls, joined and sealed along the interfaces of horizontal panels disposed on each uppermost edge of one of said walls, thus forming a peaked roof over `said container.- A pair of opposed` triangular side panels are `inclined inwardly under the inclined walls, each triangular panel having a pair of opposed triangular flap portion-s hingedly secured on each of the side edges thereof. These ap `portions rest against the `.underside of the Walls and each has a quadrilateral strip portion `hingedly disposed along the top edge thereof, the strip portions on adjacent ap portions being hingedly joined to one another along a `common edge. The strip `portions are secured between said uppermost edges. vide` a retractable spout for said container, "the strip portions of said pair having opposed L-shaped recessed portions along their upper edges and communicating with one another to provide reduced sealing areas of said strip poitionswith respect to said uppermost edges. On the interior areas on thehorizontal panels of the inclined walls, dened by the opposedL-shaped recessed portions, `an abhesive or release agent is coated thereon to` prevent :sealing of these interior areas when the container is assembled and sealed.

The above and other objects of the present invention will `appear from the following description which is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings where like components in the several views are identified by the same reference numerals. It should be understood, however, that components of which this invention consists may be variously arranged and organized, and that `this invention is not limited to the speciic arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan View of the flat blank out of which the improved container of this invention is formed;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the open gable top prior to sealing;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the upper part of the container with the gable top sealed;

One pair of the ap portions is adapted to proi ICC FIGURE 4 isl an enlarged fragmentary,` partially secl tioned, perspective view of the assembled and sealed gable top; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view ofthe container with the spout of the gable top units open position. l Referring to FIGURE 1, a flat blank 10 is shown.

Fromthe blank ltl, the improved gable top container of this invention is made. Blank 10 is made of a heat sealable material such as polyethylene or paper coated with t a wide variety of plastic compounds. `Theart requires that the` carton material used must, havethe property i of producing cartons withitluid-tight seals` at all joined portions of the `assembled container. t Flat blank 1t),V is divided `into areas which will' be described shortly. These areas are defined by a series of scored linesI on which the blank is folded to produce` the completed container in` three dimensions. Thus, four

side panels

11, 12, 13, 14 are provided with a side liap 15 which is sealed against the underside of` panel 11 when the container is assembled. A Couven-p,

tional bottom closure is provided and is made up of mutually overlapping

panels

16, 17, 18, 19.

The gable top Ziuof` the nished container 21 (FIG.

3) is constructed from the following components which l A,

are clearly visible in the flat blank lltl of FIG.` 1. pair

oftrectangular walls

22, 23 hingedly secured along the-upper perimeter of

side panels

12 and 14 on scored

lines

24, 25 provide the sides of gable top 20; and when these

walls

22, 23 are folded over, they assume theshape of a peaked roof covering container 21. Along the top edge of the

Walls

22, 23 are disposed horizontal panels" 26, 27 on hinged

orscored lines

28, 29.

Panels

26, 27 are later joined to form the `top closure of the gable top 20.

On

alternate sides

11,13 of the blank 10 are

trianygular side panels

30,31 separated from the

container side panels

13 and 11` by scored lines `32, 33. On each of the two sides of `

triangular side panels

30, 31 are `a pair of opposedtriangular flap portions` 34, 35 and 36, 37.V Eachtpair of Vthe said flap portions is hingedly joined to the triangular panels 30, 31-on scored lines 38,` 39.` and 40, 41. The lines which separate

flap portions

36 and 35 .froinrectangular wall 22, and which f from wall 23 are scored lines` t separate flap portion 34 42 4s and 44.

Rectangular walls

22, 23^and their `adjoining

horizontal panels

26, 27 are each provided with flared scored` p lines 45, 4a, running Vfrom

cornersu

47, 48 on the first or spout side of the gable top `Ztl'upvvardly toward the t upper

central portions

49, 50 of

panels

26, 27.

Superadjacent the `triangular flap-.portions 36, 37 on scored lines 51, 52are small quadrilateral strips 53,-` 54 Theselatter strips are joined to eachother on a com-M` mon scored `line 55. Strips` 53, 54 are on the second side of the .gable top 2t), opposite that side `which pro vides theyspoutV 55 `of the -nished container 21.

cessed, L-shaped strips157, 58 are separated `from

flap portions

34, 35 by scored lines 61, 62 and are separated i;

from each other `by a `common scored line 63.

In the container of this invention, i-t is the provision` of the recessed, L-shaped` strips 57, 5S with

tabs

59, 60

which results in a `marked improvement in spout 56 and gable top 20. `sults in a savings in heat energy, while :small tabs 59, provide a means whereby the gabletop 2i) can be sealed The narrower design of

strips

57, 58 re' with a minimum of difliculty. When the consumer forms the spout 56 in order to pour out the luid contents of container 2l, the minimal sealing area of tabs S9, e@ renders it easier to open the top and form spout 56, and eliminates the threat of contamination by the consumer of the containers iluid contents. The diiiiculties attending the formation of prior art spouts made such contarnination likely.

FGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the partially'asseinbled container 2li. Prior to assembly, flat blank lll is printed with an abhesive material. An abhesive or release agent is a material such as a silicon emulsion or cellophane which prevents the heat sealing of the surfaces to which it is applied. ln the case of the invention described herein, an abhesive is coated or printed on the interior surfaces of

horizontal panels

26, 27 in the areas 7l, 72, defined by the recessed portions of the opposed L-

shaped strips

57, 53. See FlGS. 2, 4 and 5. The presence of an abhesive at 7l, 72 will prevent the sealing of those interior surfaces of the panels Z6, 27 and make it easier for the consumer to form spout55.

'Flat blank lil is then folded on the side scored lines 63, ed and 65, 66 to form a hollow tube which defines the container 2l. Flap l5 is secured to the underside of side panel ll by the application of heat and pressure. Bottom closure llaps lo, i7, 1S, 19 are folded to form a permanent and duid-tight bottom closure (not shown).

Rectangular walls

22, 23 are bent inwardly on scored

lines

24, 25 so that each panel inclines slightly over container 2l. Triangularpanels 39, 3l are bent inwardly on scored

lines

32, 33 under panels Y22, 23. The container Zll with the unsealed gable top 2li would assume the torrn shown in FlGURE 2 just prior to sealing.

To complete the assembly, rectangular walls 22, 2.3 are bent toward each other until the inner surfaces or hori

zontal panels

26, 27 approximately touch each other, Triangular side panels Citi, 3l are pushed toward each other until the pairs of

triangular llap portions

34, 35 and 36, 37 bend outwardly over panels 3d, 3l and lie adjacent the underside of

walls

22, 23. The quadrilateral strips 53, 5d are inserted between

horizontal panels

26, 27. As a result of the design herein, only the tabs 59, all of

strips

57, 53 are inserted between the panels 215, Z7. Heat and pressure are used to seal gable top 2? by securing panel 26 to panel 27, and further by securing strips 53, 5d and tabs 59, dit between

strips

26, 27. The nished gable top Ztl assumes the form illustrated in FIGURE 3. A staple 67 may be inserted through

strips

26, 27. lt reinforces the heat seal and assists in holding

panels

26, 27, strips 53, 5d and tabs 59, di) together. Care must be taken to avoid interfering with the operation of spout 56 when a staple 67 is used.

When a consumer decides to use the iluid contents of container 2li., pressure is applied outwardly at a pair of opposed points 68, 6% on the underside of

rectangular walls

22, 23. (See FlG. 5.) The pressure is applied to the

triangular flap portions

34, 35 in the vicinity of the lrea 68, 69, which in turn transmits the force to the

walls

22, 23. The seal between tabs 59, e@ and

horizontal panels

26, 27 is broken with ease. The presence of the abhesive on areas 7l, 72 maires the rupturing of the seal an the spout side of the gable top much easier. The rectangular walls ZZ, 235 are bent backward along ilared scored

lines

45, 46. This action causes spout 56 to snap Jutwardly.

To cause retraction of spout 5e, a small inwardly diected force is exerted at apex 7l). The spout 56 will snap Jack into place. The flared portions of rectangular panels 22, 23 -are pressed back into their initial position. This effects a temporary closure of gable top Ztl.

In FIGURE 4, a partial sectional view of the gable top 2ti'illustrates the disposition of the various sealed surfaces of the said top. Quadrilateral strips S3 and 54 are secured between horizontal panels 26, Z7. The heat ,ses

.l sealing operation permanently secures

strips

53, 54 between

panels

26, 27. On the spout side, however, abhesive is applied to areas 7l, '72. A heat seal is only effected between tabs S9, 6@ and

panels

26, 27. The strength of the seal is sufficient for transportation and handling of container 2l, but may be ruptured with ease by the consunier according to the method described above.

The design of gable top containers of the prior art called for quadrilateral strips similar to 57, 58 on both the closed and spout sides. The use of comparatively wide strips on the spout side created a number of problems which have been effectively solved by the design of this invention which results in an improved container. The design herein eliminates bullcy layers of carton material which would otherwise interfere with the proper sealing o'f the gable top. More positive pressure may thus be directly applied to the sealing areas of horizontal panels Z6, 27, and an improved seal results. The appearance of the gable top 29 and container 2l is also improved; and the improved seal precludes the entry of contaminants through openings in the gable top which were present in the design of the prior art.

Abhesive need only be placed on the inner surface of horizontal panels 26, 2'7 in the areas 7l, 72. This eliminates the requirement for two-sided abhesive printing; ln addition, the sealing area is reduced. The smaller area on which the fluid Contents of the container may adhere, reduces the danger of contamination of the uid contents during sealing and also reduces the amount of heat required which would otherwise be used in converting the adherent fluid to steam.

Having thus describe-:l my invention, l claim:

l. A gable top for a container comprising a pair of opposed inclined walls each having an upright panel hingedly disposed on the uppermost edges thereof, said walls being inclined inwardly over said container to form a peaked roof, said panels being joined and sealed to each other, a pair of opposed triangular side panels inclined inwardly under said walls, each triangular panel having a air of opposed triangular flap portions hingedly secured on each of the side edges there f, said flap portions resting against the underside of said walls and each having a quadrilateral strip portion hingedly disposed along the top edges thereof, the strip portions on adjacent flap portions being hingedly joined to one another along a cornmon edge, said strip portions secured between said upright panels, one pair of said iiap portions adapted to provide a retractable spout for said container and the stripl portions thereof having opposed rectangular recesesd p0rtions ot substantial depth and extent along their upper edges communicating with one another to provide reduced sealing areas of said strip portions with respect to,- said upright panels, the opposed inner surfaces of said upright panels, which surfaces are defined by said rec tangular recessed portions of said strip portions, being, coated with an abhesive substance.

2. A gable top for a container comprising a pair of opposed inclined walls each having an upright panel hing-- edly disposed on the uppermost edges thereof, said wallsl being inclined inwardly over said container to form a.

peaked roof, said panels being joined and sealed to each other, a pair of opposed triangular side panels inclined. inwardly under said walls, each triangular panel having4 a pair ot opposed triangular flap portions hingedly se-V cured on each of the side edges thereof, said llap portions resting against the underside of said walls and each having a quadrilateral strip portion hingedly disposed along the top edge thereof, the strip portions on adjacent flap portions being hingedly joined to one another along a common edge, said strip portions secured between said upright panels, one pair or" said lisp portions adapted to provide a retractable spout for said container and the strip portions thereof having opposed L-shaped recessed portions of substantial depth and extent along their upper edges communicating with one another to provide reduced sealing areas of said strip portions with respect to said upright panels, the opposed inner surfaces of said upright panels which surfaces are defined by said rectangular recessed portions of said strip portions, being coated with an abhesive substance.

3. A gable top container comprising a pair of opposed inclined Walls each having an upright panel hingedly disposed on the uppermost edges thereof, said walls being inclined inwardly over said container to forni a peaked roof over said container, said panels being joined and sealed to each other, a pair of opposed trianguiar side i panels inclined inwardly under said walls, each triangular panel having a pair or" opposed triangular flap portions hingedly secured on each of the side edges thereof, said iap portions resting against the underside of said Walls and each having a quadrilateral strip portion hingedly disposed along the top edge thereof, the strip portions on adjacent iiap portions being hingedly joined to one another along a common edge, said strip portions secured between said upright panels, one pair of said flap portions adapted to provide a retractabie spout for said container and the strip portions thereof having opposed References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,362,862 11/41.1 Sidebotham 229-17 X OTHER REFERENCES Iagenberg: German printed application, 1,052,305,

March 1959.

Jagenberg: German printed application 1,090,067, September i960.

FRANKLTN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner.

EARLE i. DRUMMOND, Examiner.

Claims

1. A GABLE TOP FOR A CONTAINER COMPRISING A PAIR OF OPPOSED INCLINED WALLS EACH HAVING AN UPRIGHT PANEL HINGEDLY DISPOSED ON THE UPPERMOST EDGES THEREOF, SAID WALLS BEING INCLINED UPWARDLY OVER SAID CONTAINER TO FORM A PEAKED ROOF, SAID PANELS BEING JOINED AND SEALED TO EACH OTHER, A PAIR OF OPPOSED TRIANGULAR SIDE PANELS INCLINED INWARDLY UNDER SAID WALLS, EACH TRIANGULAR PANEL HAVING A PAIR OF OPPOSED TRIANGULAR FLAP PORTIONS HINGEDLY SECURED ON EACH OF THE SIDE EDGES THEREOF, SAID FLAP PORTIONS RESTING AGAINST THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID WALLS AND EACH HAVING A QUADRILATERAL STRIP PORTION HINGEDLY DISPOSED ALONG THE TOP EDGES THEREOF, THE STRIP PORTIONS ON ADJACENT FLAP PORTIONS BEING HINGEDLY JOINED TO ONE ANOTHER ALONG A COMMON EDGE, SAID STRIP PORTIONS SECURED BETWEEN SAID UPRIGHT PANELS, ONE PAIR OF SAID FLAP PORTIONS ADAPTED TO PROVIDE A RETRACTABLE SPOUT FOR SAID CONTAINER AND THE STRIP PORTIONS THEREOF HAVING OPPOSED RECTANGULAR RECESSES PORTIONS OF SUBSTANTIAL DEPTH AND EXTENT ALONG THEIR UPPER EDGES COMMUNICATING WITH ONE ANOTHER TO PROVIDE REDUCED SEALING AREAS OF SAID STRIP PORTIONS WITH RESPECT TO SAID UPRIGHT PANELS, THE OPPOSED INNER SURFACES OF SAID UPRIGHT PANELS, WHICH SURFACES ARE DEFINED BY SAID RECTANGULAR RECESS PORTIONS OF SAID STRIP PORTIONS, BEING COATED WITH AN ABHESIVE SUBSTANCE.