US2162632A - Pouring carton - Google Patents

Description

E C. MEEK rounxue CARTON June 13, 1939,.

Filed Jan. 27, 1 958 2 Sheets-Sheet l I 2 c c c 5 INVENTOR ills/(Ire 6 Med ATTORNEY June 13, 1939. E. C. MEEK POURING CARTON Filed Jan. 27, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fills/av! l. Mae/L mm MM ATTORNEY Patented June 13, 1939 POURING CARTON Eustace C. Meek, Upper Montclair, N. 1., assignor Colgate-Palmolive-Peet Company,

Jersey City, N. 1., a corporation of Delaware Application January 27, 1938, Serial No. 187,134

10Claims.

This invention relates to pouring cartons and more particularly to an attractive and convenient carton within which granular contents'may be packed and shipped. and which is provided with means'whereby a convenient pouring spout or opening may be formed in the carton by the consumer .through which the desired quantity of contents may be conveniently elected as needed.

An. object of this invention is to provide a pouring carton for granular materials, such as soap flakes and soap granules, which is inexpensive to pack andassemble, and which is provided with means to permit the consumer to eject desired limited quantities of the contents of the carton in a convenient manner without lacerating or otherwise damaging the carton. My improved carton possesses inherent advantages over pouring cartons heretofore provided, whereby 20 economies in manufacture, packaging and assembly may be effected, and which is further? more provided with a convenient, easily openable means to permit the pouring of the desired contents from the carton by a slight pressure applied to an indicated limited area thereof.

In accordance with this invention, my improved carton comprises an inner shell or box member which can be made from a one-piece rectangular blank of paperboard material. The 30 box member is enclosed within a sealed wrapper so arranged and folded as to prevent leakage of the granular contents of the container. The body-forming blanks may be cut and scored automatically from large sheets or rolls of paperboard material, each lilank being adapted for automatic assembly into a box having a rectangular cross-section and comprising two relatively broad side wall panels and two relatively narrow side wall panels. Closure flaps are provided at 40 each end of the broad and narrow side wall panels to close the ends of the carton. The flaps extending from the relatively broad side walls may be substantially equal in area to the end area of the carton.

A pouring spout is formed in the end closure flaps by providing preferably a rectangularshaped punch-in portion in the end flap extending from one of the relatively narrow side wall panels, and preferably a rectangular-shaped punch-in portion of slightly smaller area than the punch-in portion first-named in the end closure flap extending from one of the relatively broader side wall panels foldedto directly overlie the end closure flaps first named. The closure flap extending from the other relatively broad side wall panel is provided with preferably a circular-shaped punch-in portion of slightly less diameter than eitherdimension of the rectangular punch-in portion in the closure flap which it overlies, the circular punch-in portion 5 defining the pouring area of the pouring spout. The rectangular punch-in portion on the narrow flap is defined from the surrounding paperboard material by spaced cuts on three sides, and the fourth side of this punch-in portion is 1 provided with a line of perforations or a crease line to permit inward swinging movement of the rectangular punch-in portion with respect to the flap. This hinge line extends inwardly of the narrow side wall panel to which the flap is 15 hinged, and is so constructed as not to interfere with the application of thcautomatic tumlng-in devices which turn the relatively narrow end flaps inwardly to form the end closure of the body member.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved pouring carton having a punch-in area which is so constructed as not to interfere with the movement or operation of automatic box-expanding and flap turning-in devices associated with the box assembling machine.

Another object of my invention is to provide a pouring carton having a punch-in portion which remains hinged to the end closure when punched in to provide an opening for pouring purposes, which cannot float about in the contents but serves to provide a guide whereby uniform outpouring of the granular material from the carton is effected.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pouring carton comprising a box member and an uncut wrapper enclosing the box member, so assembled as to provide a siftproof structure from which the granular material contained therein cannot sift out.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved pouring carton which may be rapidly and economically formed, assembled, packed and wrapped with a sealing wrapper entirely by automatic machinery at a high production rate, providing a highly satisfactory and attractive package for granular materials, salable at relatively low cost.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the disclosure proceeds.

Various other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following particular description and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a face view of an extended paperboard blank which has been suitably cut and scored to form the box member of my improved pouring carton;

Fig. 2 is an outside face view of a wrapper sheet in which the box member packed with granular material is enclosed;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of the box member showing the end wall flaps in the process of being folded into end-' closing position;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one end of the fully assembled box member;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the assembled box member with the wrapper sheet partially applied thereto;

Fig. 6- is a perspective view of one end of the box member with the end portions of the wrapper shown in the process of being folded over the end closure;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the fully assembled pouring carton showing the wrapper fully assembled and applied to the box member;

Fig. 8 is a cross-section through a portion of the packed carton, this View being taken on line .8-8 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view through a portion of the assembled carton, this view being taken along line 99 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of the assembled carton showing the pouring spout formed by pushing in a portion of the wrapper and the punch-in portions of the end closure flaps;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the assembled carton with a pouring spout formed therein, showing the manner in which the granular contents can be smoothly poured in a uniform flow through the spout opening therein, this view being taken along line II-II of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 12 is aface view of an extended paperboard blank for forming a pouring carton of somewhat modified form as relates to the formation of a pouring spout in one end of the carton.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings and the specification.

My improved pouring carton comprises essentially a box member which-may be formed from a single blank of suitable paperboard material, as shown in Fig. 1, and a wrapper which surrounds and encloses the box member, the wrapper being formed of a paper sheet of the requisite strength and toughness applied to the exterior of the box member in a particular manner. The blank which forms the box member, as shown more particularly in Fig. 1, comprises a pair of oppositely spaced, relatively broad side wall panels I and 2, and a pair of intermediate oppositely spaced relatively narrow side wall panels 3 and 4. Narrow side panel 3 is hinged to the adjacent relatively wide panels I and 2 along the fold lines 5, and panel I is hinged to panel 4 along a similar longitudinally extending score line 5. A securing tab I; hinged to the panel 2 along the score edge of panel 4 to provide a generally tubular box structure of rectangular cross-section.

The ends of the box member may be closed and sealed by end wall flaps hinged to the ends of the side wall panels I, 2, 3 and 4. Side wall panel 4 may have an inturned tuck-in flap II at each end thereof, each hinged thereto along the score line I0. Flaps II are of generally rectangular form and extend substantially the width of the panel 4. Similarly, the panel 3 may be provided with a tuck-in flap I2 extending from each end thereof and each hinged thereto along the score line I0, flaps I2 being approximately the width of the panel 3. The relatively wide side Wall Panel I is provided with closure flaps I3 extending from each end thereof, each hinged thereto along the score line Ill, closure flaps I3 being substantially the Width of the panel I. Likewise, the relatively wide panel 2 is provided with a closure flap I4 extending from each end thereof, each hinged thereto along the score line I0, the width of the closure flaps I4 being substantially the width of the panel 2. Thus, it is seen that the box member is formed of a paperboard blank of substantially rectangular shape except for the slightly projecting securing tab 6. Thus, little or no waste results in cutting the blank. The

tuck-in flaps II and I2 at each end of the relaarated from the closure flaps I 4 and I3 respectively, by cut lines I5 which, in effect, are a continuation ofthe fold lines 5, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1.

An important feature of this invention comprises the weakening of a defined area of one or both tuck-in flaps II and one or both tuck-in flaps I2 and closure flaps I3 and III to provide one or more punch-in portions which when punched in leave an opening which forms a pouring opening or spout for the completed carton. These punch-in portions have a particular shape and contour and are so made as to facilitate the assembly of the box member and the proper application of the surrounding wrapper, so as to effect proper registry of the parts thereof. Each punch-in portion is also so made that the punch ing-in operation can be easily and quickly eflected in a positive manner and without leaving any ed edges.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 3, one of the flaps I2 is provided with a punch-in portion a of generally square or rectangular con figuration. The punch-in portion a is defined on one side by a fold line a spaced inwardly from and extending generally parallel to the fold line II) which defines the outer hinged edge of the tuck-in flap I2. The other sides of the punch-in portion a is defined by a line of weakness which preferably includes a pair of spaced parallel extending cuts a extending from the fold line 0. out toward the free edge of the tuck-in flap I2. The fourth side of the punch-in portion a is defined by either a line of perforations or one or more cut lines a spaced from each out line a by an uncut portion a. where two out lines a are employed, they may be separated by an uncut portion a. When apredetermined amount of pressure is applied to the punch-in portion a the portion a and a will break, permitting the punch-in portion a to hinge inwardly along the fold line a .The adjacent closure flap II is arranged to immediately overlie the tuck-in flaps l2 and is also provided with a square or rectangular punch-in portion b arranged to overlie the punch-in portion a, the punch-in portion b being of slightly less area than the punch-in portion a. The punch-in portion b is defined by a line. of weakness preferably including four out lines b the adjacent'ends of the cut lines b being separated by an uncut portion b", which is subject to breakage when a predetermined pressure is applied against the punch-in portion b.

Finally, the closure flap which is superimposed over the closure flap I3, is provided with a relatively circular-shaped punch-in portion o positioned over the punch-in portion b and whose diametrical extent is slightly less than the length and width of underlying punch-in portion b. The punch-in portion c may be defined by a line of weakness including four arouate-shaped cuts 0 separated by an uncut portion 0''. The uncut portions 0 are so arranged as to be generally out of alignment with the uncut portions b of the underlying punch-in portion b.

Normally only one punch-in area comprising the punch-in portion a and the superimposed punch-in portions 1; and c, is required to provide the requisite pouring spout in the carton. Since this punch-in area is later to be covered by the wrapper sheet shown in Fig. 2 and thus concealed from view, it may in certain instances be desirable to provide two punch-in areas at each end of the carton all equally and similarly spaced from the adjacent side wall panel 3 or 4, as the case may be. As will hereinafter be more fully explained, there will thus be provided a punch-in area in the box member at the point where the,

punch-in designation 36 appears on the wrapper, irrespective of how the wrapper is applied to the box member. Since the punch-in area is relatively small, no material weakening of the box member or carton results in providing such a punch-in area at the same relative position in all four corners of the box member. Thus, a punch-in portion a, shaped and defined in the manner previously described, may be provided in both tuck-in flaps l2 and also in the tuck-in flaps ll, asshown in Fig. 1., Likewise, a punch -in portion b, shaped and defined as above described, may be provided at both ends of both end closure flaps. l3, Likewise, a circularshaped punch-in portion 0 defined as. above (16-.- scribed may be provided at both ends of both end closure flaps 14, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

In assembling the box member from. the blank shown in Fig. 1, a stripof adhesive is applied to the securing tab 6 and this tab is then brought into overlapping relationship with respect to the relatively narrow side wall panel 4, forming a tubular structure. This operation may be automatically performed by swinging the panel 2 over the panels 3 and I along the fold line 5 and likewise swinging the panel 4 over the panel 2 so as to overlap the, glued securing tab 6. The panel 4 and the securing tab 6 are then pressed into adhesive contact; @The collapsed structure as thus made. is expanded into tubular form, which serts itself between the overlying end closure flaps l3 and I4 adjacent the tuck-in flap H or II at one end of the carton. In. order that this insertion tool will not damage'or be obstructed in its movement by the punch-in portion a,.it is preferable .to provide an uncut portion a be- ,tween the cuts a so that the end of the tool may freely slide inwardly across the inside face of the adjacent tuck-in flap H or I! without striking or abutting the cut edges formed by the cuts a This precaution need be taken only if all four corners of the box member are provided with punch-in portions. If'only one corner of the box member is provided with a punch-in area, the collapsed box structure-may be ex- 15 panded by inserting the tool at the opposite end form which the punch-in area appears, and thus there would be no out edge in the adjacent tuckin flap to interfere with the expansion tool. Where all four corners of the box are provided with punch-in areas, however, it is generally preferable to make the cuts a-'*, over which the insertion tool must slide, discontinuous as by providing the uncut portions a and a so that the cuts a will in no way interfere with the 25 closure I4 is folded over the end closure flap I3, 35

adhesive having previously been applied thereto. The box member is then ready to receive the soap granules to be packaged therein.

When the soap granules have been inserted into the box member, the other endof the carton is sealed by turning the tuck-in flaps H and I2 inwardly, as shown in Fig. 3, and then folding the end closure flap I3 over the tuck-in flaps II and I2 and finally folding the end closure flap l4 over the end closure flap l3, glue or adhesive having previously been applied to the tuck-in. flaps II and 12 and/or to the end closure flap l3 and/or to the end closure fiap l4. In closing the end walls of thebox, it will be noted that the edge a of the punch-in portion a will not interfere with the inward movement of the tuck-in tool t, since the defining line a is merely a fold line or a line composed of perforations, so that the side edge of the punch-in portion a is not separated this line. This important feature permits quick from the associated tuck-in flap II or l2 along 55 and rapid assembly of the box member without in any way interfering with the rapid automatic movement of the tuck-in tools t.

Ina box member of convenient size for the 6G packaging of soap granules, such as a box eight and one-half inches high running the length'of the side wall panel i or 2, approximately six inches inch along each side, the square superimposed 70 punch-in portion b approximately ths of an. inch along each side, and the circular punch-rin portion c approximately Hths of an inch in diameter, the punch-in portions 0, b and 0 thus decreasing in size from the inner surface to the outer surface of the end closure. The fold line a of the punch-in portion a in such a carton may be spaced approximately /]6thS of an inch from the fold line I0. When the punch-in area is pushed in, the punch-in portion a will hinge about the hinge line a and the punch-in portion b adhesively secured to the punch-in portion a and the punch-in portion 0 adhesively secured to the punch-in portion 1) will swing in with the punchin portion a, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11.

The box member is enclosed within a suitable paper wrapper made from the rectangular blank, as shown in Fig. 2, which blank need not be creased nor folded prior to its application to the box member. The wrapper is applied on an automatic wrapping machine by folding the body section of the blank around the side wall panels I, 3, 2 and 4 of the box member, as illustrated in Fig. 5, so that the side wall section 2| of the wrapper will overlie the side wall panel 2 of the box member, the side wall section 23 will overlie the side wall panel 4 of the box member, the side wall section 22 of the wrapper will overlie the side wall panel of the box member, and the side wall section 24 of the wrapper will overlie the side wall panel 3 of the box member, which box panels and wrapper sections may or may not be secured together adhesively. A securing section 26 on the wrapper extends partially over the side wall panel 3 of the box member and is arranged to underlie the side wall section 24 of the wrapper, as will be evident by referring to Fig. 5.

The outwardly projecting ends of the wrapper are then folded inwardly as illustrated more particularly in Fig. 6. The narrow end sections 3| and 32 at each end of the wrapper are first folded inwardly so as to overlie the adjacent ends of closure flap M of the box member and the adjacent triangular fold portions 3| and 32' are folded over so as to overlie the inside face of adjacent end sections 33 and 34 of the wrapper. Previous to the application of the wrapper to the box member, suitable adhesive may be applied to the narrow end sections 3| and 32 and to the triangular sections 3 I and 32', so that these parts will become secured respectively to the adjacent end wall flap I4 of the box and the adjacentend sections 33 and 34 of the wrapper. The end section 33 at each end of the carton is then folded inwardly and adhesively secured to the end wall fiap M of the box member and finally the end section 34 at each end of the wrapper is folded over and adhesively secured to the adjacent end closure flap M, the end section 34 being of such extent as to partially overlap and also be adhesively secured to the extremity of the adjacent end section 33 of the wrapper, as shown more particularly in Figs. '7 and 10.

It is important to here note that, when the triangular portions 3| and 32' are folded inwardly against the inside face of the end sections 33 and 34 and the end sections 33 and 34 are folded downwardly and secured in place, the ends 35 of the end sections 33 and 34 each extend along a diagonal line from the corners of the adjacent end wall of the carton, leaving exposed a triangular area of the narrow end wall sections 3| and 32 of the wrapper. This triangular area is of suflicient extent to fully cover the underlying circular punch-in portion 0, as illustrated in Fig. 10. This triangular area is marked by a circle. 36 defining an area 31 which is positioned directly over the circular punch-in portion 0, the circle 36 being positioned over the cuts 0 which define the punch-in area 0, so that only one layer of paper overlies the punch-in area provided in the box member. The wrapper portion 31 within the imprinted circle 36 may be further designated by having a printed designation push in adjacent thereto, so that-the customer will know exactly Where pressure is to be applied to effect opening of the carton. The wrapper thus does not materially interfere with the push-in operation to provide the pouring spout and, furthermore, is so marked and designated as to permit instant location of the weakened areas which, when pushed in, provide a pouring spout. The marked circle 36 on the wrapper may, if desired, comprise a line of perforations to permit easy separation of the area 31 within the marked circle 36 from the surrounding end sections 3| of the wrapper, but such line of perforations in the wrapper are generally not necessary. It will be further noted that the end sections 3| and 32, 33 and 34, are so folded that only a single layer of the wrapping sheet overlies the punch-in area and that the diagonally extending edges 35 of the end sections 33 and 34 are spaced inwardly from the punchin area so that these parts do not interfere with the easy pouring of the contents from the carton.

When the user or customer desires to open the carton, an inspection of the ends of the carton will immediately reveal, by the notation push in, where the punch-in area lies. A slight pressure applied by the thumb or finger against the area entitled push in will cause the area 3'! within the marked circle 36 to break away from the surrounding end section 3| of the Wrapper. This break will generally be cleanly defined and of circular form by reason of the sharp edge defined by the cuts 0 when the circular punch-in area 0 lets loose through the breakage of the uncut parts The applied pressure breaks the uncut portions 0 of the circular punchein portion 0, the uncut portions 1) of the square punch-in portion 1), and the uncut por tions 11 and a of.the punch-in portion a, and since the wrapper portion 31, and the punch-in portions a, b and c are all secured together by adhesive, theentire punch-in area will swing inwardly, hinging about the hinge line (1 as illustrated in Figs 10 and 11. The punched-in portion a having attached thereto the portions 1) and will swing inwardly into the position shown in Fig. 11, serve to guide the outflow of the soap granules from the carton, so that smooth pouring is maintained. A pouring stream of generally circular cross-section results from the fact that the outer punch-in portion 0 when punched defines a circular opening.

In the wrapping of the packed box member, 7

it is possible that on occasion the wrapper may be so applied that the marked line 36 defining the punch-in area on the wrapper is located against an end wall not intended to be pushed in. In such event difficulties may arise'if only one set of superimposed punch-in portions 11, b and c are provided. To avoid such a possibility and to provide a mistake-proof construction, it may be desirable to provide punch-in areas a in all of the flaps II and I2 with correspondng superimposed punch-in areas I) in the flaps |3 and corresponding superimposed punch-in areas 0 in the flaps I4. When so constructed, the wrapper cannot be wrongly applied to the box member and a punch-in area directly beneath the defining circle 36 in the wrapper is positively provided in all cases.

There is shown in Fig. '12 a paperboard blank for forming a box member which is in all recorresponding enlarged punch-inportion e is.

provided in the adjacent end of the flap ii. In other words, one of the flaps II of the blank shown in Fig. 12 is provided with a circular In my improved construction, however, it will be punch-in portion d in place 01' the rectangular punch-in portion a provided in the bottomforming flap 12 shown in Fig. I, and also a circular punch-in portion e is provided at one end of the bottom-forming flap I3 01' the blank shown in Fig. 12, as a substitute for one oi the rectangular punch-in portions 1) formed in the bottom-forming fiap l3 or the blank shown in Fig. 1. Circular punch-in portions d and e in the flaps I2 and I3 respectively of the blank shown in Fig. 12 may in some instances be found desirable when the box-assembling machine is provided with atool element for expanding the box into tubular form, which might tear or otherwise be obstructed by a rectangular punchin portion on the bottom flaps l2 and i3, as shown in Fig. 1. It has been found that where a circular punch-in portion d defined by spaced cuts d leaving uncut portions (1'' therebetween is provided in fiap ii, there is no possible danger of the insertion tool damaging or being obstructed in its movement by the punch-in portion d. As shown in Fig. 12, only one of the flaps l2 adjacent the end of the collapsed box into which the box expansion tool is inserted, is provided with a circular punch-in portion d. the other fiap I 2 being provided with a rectangular punch-in portion a constructed as previously described. l

The adjacent end of the bottom-forming flap l3, shown in Fig. 12, is also provided with a circular punch-in portion e otslightly greater diameter than the underlying punch-in portion 1, the punch-in portion e being formed by a series of spaced cuts 8 having uncut portions therebetween. Except for the circular punch-in portions d and e, the blank shown in Fig. 12 is in all respects similar to the blank shown inFig. 1 and is assembled in the same manner as heretofore described in connection with the assembly of the blank shown in Fig. l. The box member assembled from the blank shown in Fig. 12 is covered by a wrapper of the type shown in Fig. 2 in the same manner as heretofore described in connection with the assembly of the carton from the box blank and wrapper shown in Figs. 1 and 2, respectively. The blank shown in Fig. 12 may be used where it is desired to provide punchin portions in both opposite end walls of the box member and at both ends of each end wall. It will be understood that the circular punch-in portions d and e above described are presented to illustrate another means which may be employed to avoid obstruction of the tool element of the box-assembling machine which is inserted between the overlying end closure flaps i3 and H and adjacent the tuck-in flap I! at one end of the, carton.

A carton constructed as above described is sift-proof and the granular material packed therein cannot sift out of the assembly carton. This desirable result is accomplished by forming the tuck-in flaps ii and I2 the-full width of'the panels 3 and 4 to which they are connected and forming the end closure flaps II and M the full width of the side wall panels I and 2 to which they are respectively attached, these parts being all secured together by adhesive. Theunbroken and uncut wrapper provides a final seal for the carton, and when the end sections 3| and 32 and the end sections 33 and 34 have been adhesively secured to the'end wall fiaps l4, there is no possible way in which the granular materials can sift out from the carton. Sitting of the contents most commonly occurs at the corners of a box.

noted I that the wrapper is unbroken at the cornersof the carton and the ends of the wrapper are so folded and secured as to prevent sifting of the contents from the carton.

My improved carton isso constructed as to permit rapid manufacture of the box member-forming blank, assembly of the box-forming blank into box form, the packaging of the contents therein, the sealing of the box member, and the application 01' the wrapper thereto, entirely by automatic machinery at a high production rate, providing an economical package which can be sold at low cost. The box-forming blank, as

shown in Fig. 1, may be cut and scored on an automatic cutting and scoring machine and cut at a high rate of speed irom large sheets or rolls of paperboard material. The wrapper, as shown in Fig. 2. is 01' rectangular form and may be cut from large sheets or rolls of wrapping paper which has been previouslylithographed and decorated, which cutting operation is all performed by automatic machinery. The punch-in portions 0, b and c which are to define the pouring spout,

' are so arranged and constructed as not to interthere is no danger that in the wrapping operation the marked circle 36 in the wrapper defining the punch-in area has been misplaced or disarranged with respect to the underlined punch-in portions 0,. b and a. The wrapper is furthermore so applied that only one thickness of the wrapping sheet overlies the punch-in portion c, so that very little force is required to break the wrapper around the designating circle 36. It has been further found, after considerable research and experiment, that a pushing in of the marked punch-in portion can be efiected with less force and less .difliculty if the punch-in portions a in the flaps II and I2 and the punch-in portions b in the fiap I! are generally square in outline, the circular punch-in portion 0 then defining the contour oi the pouring stream. It will be further noted that the punch-in portions b are surrounded by cuts b except only at the unbroken corners b, which are easily broken by slight inward pressure. Likewise, the punch-in portiona is defined by cuts a and a separated only by the unbroken portions a and a which easily break upon the application of slight inward pressure. Due to the fact that the portions 0, b and a, when pushed in are hinged along the hinge line a this pushedin area does not float about in the contents so as to interfere with the proper outpouring of the granular material in the carton. These hinged portions a, b and c serve as a gate to guide the material in its outward flow and, ii necessary, slight finger pressure may be applied to the punch-in portions c, b and a also serve as a partial closure for the carton, which assists in preventing unauthorized ejection of the material from the carton.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A pouring carton for granular material including, a box member formed of paperboard material including, two relatively wide side wall panels and two relatively narrow side wall panels positioned between said wide side wall panels, an end closure for saidbox member formed by a tuck-in flap hinged to and extending from each of said narrow side wall panels, and superimposed overlapping end closure flaps extending from said wide side wall panels, adhesive means for securing said flaps together, one of said tuck-in flaps having a rectangular-shaped punch-in portion severable from its fiap along three side edges and hinged to its flap along the fourth side edge thereof, the superimposed end closure flap having a rectangular-shaped punch-in portion severable from its flap along all side edges, and said end closurefiap superimposed over the end closure fiap last named having a generally circular punch-in portion severable from its flap along all side edges, said punch-in portions being arranged in substantially aligned. relationship, said punch-in portions when pushed inwardly defining a generally circular pouring opening and a rectangular-shaped inclined guide element for guiding the granular material thereover in a smooth flow through said pouring opening.

2. A pouring carton for granule-.1 material including, a box member formed of paperboard material, said box member including two relatively wide side wall panels and a relatively narrow side wall panel positioned between said wide side wall panels, a tuck-in flap extending inwardly from said narrow side wall panel, and end closure flaps extending from said wide side wall panels arranged in overlapping relationship and super-imposed over said tuck-in flap, said tuckin flap having a generally rectangular punch-in portion defined by severable lines of weakness along three side edges and a hinge along the fourth side edge thereof, said end 010-- sure flap immediately superimposed thereover having a punch-in portion of lesser area than the punch-in portion first named. and defined by severable lines of weakness permitting said second-named punch-in portion to be completely severed from its flap, and said endrclosure flap superimposed over the other flaps named having a generally circular punch-in portion of less area than said second-named punch-in portion defined by severable lines of weakness severable from its flap along all side edges, said punch-in portions being arranged in substantially aligned relationship, said punch-in portions when pushed inwardly define a generally circular pouring opening and a rectangular-shaped inclined guide of greater area than said pouring opening operative to guide the granular material thereover in a smooth flow to and through said pouring opening.

3. A pouring carton for granular material including, a box member formed of paperboard material, said box member'having two relatively wide side wall panels and an intermediate relatively narrow side wall panel, a tuck-in flap hinged to and extending inwardly from said narrow side wall panel, said flap having a punch-in portion of generally rectangular form defined by spaced out lines extending around three sides of said portion, and a hinge line defining the other side of said portion, said hinge line being nearest the hinged end of said tuck-in flap, an end closure flap extending from one of said wide side wall panels superimposed over said tuck-in flap, said end closure flap having a punch-in portion of generally rectangular form and slightly less in area than the punch-in portion first named, the punch-in portion in said end closure flap being completely severable from its flap and defined along its four sides by spaced cuts presenting unbroken-material at the corners of said rectangular punch-in portion, and an end closure flap extending from said other wide side wall panel superimposed over the end closure flap first named, said superimposed end closure flap having a circular-shaped punch-in portion completely severable from its flap and defined by spaced cuts leaving unbroken portions therebetween, said punch-in portions being adhesively secured together so thatwhen pushed inwardly the two topmost punch-in portions will completely separate from the respective flaps with which they are associated and hinge together with the lowermost punch-in portion about said hinge line.

4. A pouring carton for granular material including, a box member formed of paperboard material, said box member having two relatively wide side wall panels and an intermediate relatively narrow side wall panel, a tuck-in flap hinged to and extending inwardly from said narrow side wall panel, said tuck-in flap having a punch-in portion defined by spaced out lines and a hinge line, said hinge line being nearest the hinged end of said tuck-in flap, an end closure flap extending from one of said wide side wall panels superimposed over said tuck-in flap, said end closure flap having a punch-in portion of slightly less area than the punch-in portion first named, the punch-in portion of said end closure flap being completely severable from its flap and defined by spaced cuts presenting unbroken material 'therebetween, an end closure flap extending from said other wide side wall panel superimposed over the end closure flap first named, the end closure flap extending from said other side wall panel having a punchin portion completely severable from its flap and defined by spaced cuts leaving unbroken portions therebetween, said punch-in portions being adhesively secured together so that when pushed inwardly the two topmost punch-in portions will completely separate from the respective flaps with which they are associated and hinge together with the partially separated lowermost punch-in portion about said hinge line.

5. A pouring carton including, a box member formed of paperboard material, said box member having two relatively wide side wall panels and two relatively narrow side wall panels positioned between said wide side wall panels, a

tuck-in flap extending from each end of said,

narrow side wall panels, an end closure flap extending from each end of said wide side wall panels, the adjacent end closure flaps and tuckadjacent wide side wall panels, and a one-piece wrapper applied to said box member, said wrapper having end Sections foldable over said end closure, certain of the end sections of said wrapper being arrangedin overlapped relationship,

one of theend sections or said wrapper having punch-in indicia thereon which will register with any of said punch-in areas in'said box member when said wrapper is applied thereto, said wrapper being unbroken at .the corners of the box and of single ply thickness where it overlles the adjacent punch-in portion.

6. A pouring carton including, a box member formed of paperboard material, said box member having two relatively wide side wall panels and two relatively narrow side wall panels positioned between said wide. side wall panels, a tuckin flap extending inwardly from one end of each of said narrow side wall panels, one of said tuckin flaps having a generally rectangular punch-in portion defined by spaced out. lines extending along three sides of said portion, an end closure flap extending from one of said side wall panels superimposed over said tuck-in flap, said end closure flap having a generally rectangular- -shaped punch-in portion defined by spaced cuts presenting unbroken material therebetween, an end closure flap extending from said other side wall panel superimposed over the end closure flap. first named, the end closure flap extending from 36 said other side wall panel having a generally circular punch-in portion defined by spacedcuts leaving unbroken material therebetween, said punch-in portions being adhesively secured together and arranged in generally aligned rela- 40 tionship, and a paper wra l er enclosing said box member, said wrapper being unbroken at the corners of the box and 01' single-ply thickness where it overlies said circular punch-in portion.

'7. A pouring carton including, a box member formed of paperboard material including four side wall panels and an end closure formed by overlapping end closure flaps extending from said side wall panels, certain of said flaps having a punch-in portion defined by a line of ,weakness,

said punch-in portions being arranged in substantially aligned relationsl'iip which when punched in give access to the contents of the box member, and an uncut wrapper of generally rectangular form surrounding said side wall panels,

5 said wrapper having four opposed end sections folded over and secured to said end closure so as to define a generally triangular-shaped wrapped area of single-ply thicknessextending over said topmost punch-in portion so that when inward pressure is exerted on saidwrapper at a point over said topmost punch-in portion said singleply area of the wrapper will be ruptured along a line substantially conforming to the line of weakness defining said topmost punch-in portion, 95 whereby the pouring opening defined by the topmost punch-in portion will not be overlapped or obstructed by surrounding portions of the wrapper.

8. A pouring carton for granular material ineluding, a box member formed of paperboard -material having two relatively ,wide side wall panels and two intermediate relatively narrow side wall panels, a tuck-in flap extending inwardly from one of said narrow-side wall panels, said tuck-in flap having a punch-in portion, end 010- I sure flaps extending from said wide side wall panels arranged in superimposed overlapping relationshipand each having a punch-in portion, said punch-in portions being arranged in substantially aligned relationship which when punched in give access to the contents of the box member, and an uncut wrapper of generally rectangular form enclosing said side wall panels, said wrapper having opposed end sections folded over and secured to said end closure, the end sections extending from said wide side wall panels being folded so that the extremities thereof extend diagonally across said end closure so that the end section superimposed over said topmost pouring opening-defining punch-in portion presents a generally triangular area of single thickness sheet material, and indicia imprinted on the triangular area only defining the position of the under-lying punch-in portion, the topmost punch-in portion having its area substantially confined within the triangular area carrying said indicia so that when inward pressure on said indicia imprinted portion is applied to efiect rupture of the wrapper and punch-in portions, said indicia imprinted portion of the wrapper will be ruptured along a line substantially conforming to the lineof weakness defining the topmost punchinportion whereby the pouring opening defined by the topmost punch-in portion will not be overlapped or obstructed by surrounding portions of the wrapper.

9. A siftproof pouring carton for granular material including, a box member formed of paperboard material having four side wall panels, overlapping end closure flaps connected to said side wall panels at each end thereof providing end closures, certain of said flaps having a punch in portion defined by a line of weakness, said punch-in portions being arranged in aligned superimposed relationship, and an uncut wrapper of generally rectangular form enclosing said side wall panels, said wrapper having connected. end sections at each end thereof folded over the adjacent end closure, two ofsaid end sections being positioned in opposed relationship having diagonally extending extremities leaving uncovered a triangular area of the intermediate end section of the wrapper which extends over said punch-in portions, and indicia imprinted on the triangular area defining the position of the underlying punch-in portions, the topmost punch-in portion having its area substantially'confined within the single-ply triangular area of the' wrapper carrying said indicia so that when inward pressure on said indicia imprinted portion of the wrapper is applied to effect rupture of the wrapper and inward collapse of said punch-in portions, said indicia imprinted portion of the wrapper will rupture along a line substantially conforming to the line of weakness defined by the topmost punch-in portion whereby the pouring opening defined by the, topmost punchin portion will not be overlapped or obstructed by surrounding portions of the wrapper.

10. A siftprooi pouring carton for granular material including, a box member formed of paperboard material having two relatively wide a side wall panels and two relatively narrow intermediate side wall panels, a tuck-in flap extending inwardly from one of said narrow side wall panels, said tuck-in flap having a punch-in portion, and end closurefiaps extending from said wide side wall panels arranged in superimposed overlapping relationship each-having a punch-in portion aligned with the punch-in portion in said tuckin flap, and an uncut wrapper extending continuously around said side wall panels and provided with a portion extending beyond said closure flaps, said portion having uncut end sections ex-.

overlies the punch-in portions so located as to define the position of the underlying punch-in portions, the topmost punch-in portion having its area substantially confined within said single-ply end section of the wrapper so that when inward pressure on said indicia imprinted area of the wrapper is applied to effect rupture of the wrapper and inward collapse of said punch-in portion, said indicia imprinted portion of the wrapper will be ruptured along a line substantially 10 conforming to the line of weakness defining the topmost punch-in portion whereby the pouring opening defined by the topmost punch-in portion will not be overlapped or obstructed by surrounding portions of the wrapper.

EUSTACE C. MEEK.

. CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION, Patent No. 2,162,652. I June 15, 1959.

EUSTACE c.- MEEK.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, first column, lines L l, h2, I 5 and hi strike out the sentence "The flaps extending from the relatively broad side walls maybe substantially equal in area to the end area of the carton,"; page 5, second column, line 17, for "form" read from; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Officeo Signed and sealed this 19th day of September, A. D, 1959.

Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

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