US3618847A - Reclosable dispensing container with snaplocking top tab - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention pertains, generally, to reclosable containers and, more particularly, to reclosable containers having a top wall comprising inner and outer panels adhesively secured at selective locations, a pair of spaced retainers projecting from said top wall and a tab extending from a panel of said top wall, enabling the container to be reclosed after initial opening by the positioning of said tab between said pair of spaced retainers.

Description

United States Patent Inventor Stanley R. Koolnis New York, N.Y. Appl No. 846,039 Filed July 30, 1969 Patented Nov. 9, 197! Assignees Lee Drechsler Palisades,N.Y. Fred Zaudell New York, N.Y.

RECLOSABLE DISPENSING CONTAINER WITH SNAP-LOCKING TOP TAB 12 Claims, 9 Drawing liigs.

US. Cl 229/17 R, 229/5 1 TC Int. Cl. B65d 5/54 Field of Search 229/17, 45,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,346,166 10/1967 Koolnis 229/17 3,348,754 10/1967 Koolnis 229/17 3,387,763 6/1968 Koolnis 229/17 Primary Examiner- Donald F. Norton Attorney- Lilling & Stegel ABSTRACT: The present invention pertains, generally, to reclosable containers and, more particularly, to reclosable containers having a top wall comprising inner and outer panels adhesively secured at selective locations, a pair of spaced retainers projecting from said top wall and a tab extending from a panel of said top wall, enabling the container to be reclosed after initial opening by the positioning of said tab between said pair of spaced retainers.

PATENTEDNBV slam 3,618,847

sum 1 or 3 I INVI'JN'IUR. STANLEY R KOOLNIS ATTOR/Vli K9 PATENIEDNuv 9 I97! 3, 18,847

saw 2 or a INVI'IN'I'UR. STANLEY R. KOOLNIS ATTOP/VE Y5 PATENTEDunv 9 l9?! SHEET 3 OF 3 R- KO LNIS JTTOK/VEKS RECLOSABLE DISPENSING CONTAINER WITH SNAP- LOCKING TOP TAB CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED PATENTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates, generally, to containers, and is especially concerned with containers of the reclosable dispensing type.

Prior art containers of this type have not been especially effective in that they did not provide for a simple positive reclosure of a container after it had been opened.

From the teachings of the prior art, one could provide effective means for reclosing after initial opening. Howeven-the method for the initial opening was either too complicated or too exacting and the tendency on the part of the user wasto open the package in a method other than prescribed'bythe manufacturer, thus negating the possibility of using its reclosable feature. Still otherprior art devices required anexcessive amount of additional paperboard to be used in the manufacture of the containers so as to make such containers impractical from an economical point of view.

SUMMARY In accordance with the foregoing, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide container construction having reclosable dispensing structure which is easily opened from the initially sealed condition, and also equally easily closed to provide effective sealing of the container.

It is another object of the present invention, in addition to the foregoing objects, to provide a reclosable container wherein an openable closure, after initial opening thereof, may be positively retained in its-reclosed condition to prevent inadvertent opening thereof.

It is still another object of the present invention, in addition to each of the foregoing objects, to provide a reclosable container having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph,'which is capable of inexpensive mass production while affording durable and reliable protection for the packaged contents, which may be set up and filled by use of conventional packaging machinery.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the followingspecification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of con- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a blank adapted to be formed into a reclosable container in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a reclosable container of the present invention as formed from the blank of FIG. 1, and in its sealed condition;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the container in its open condition for dispensing;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the dispensing structure of the container of FIGS. 2 and 3 in a reclosed condition;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is apartial sectional view taken generally along the line of 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a partial plan view, similar to FIG. 1, showing a modification of a blank adapted to be formed into a reclosable container in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 2, but illustrates in perspective the modification of a reclosable container of the present invention as formed from the blank of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view taken generally along the line 99 of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIG. 1 thereof, the blank is there generally designated 14), andrnay be integrally fabricated of a single sheet of stiff bendable material, cut and scored to provide the blank. In particular, the blank 10 may include a first, relatively large main panel 11 of generally rectangular configuration, beingbounded between a side edge 12, side fold I3 parallel to and spaced from said side edge, and a pair of lower and upper end folds l4 and 15 extending in parallelism witheach other between opposite ends of theside edge 12 and fold 13. A first auxiliary panel 16 of generally rectangular configuration is hingedly connected to the panel 11 by the side fold 13, being longitudinally coextensive therewith, and is bounded between the fold 13, a side fold I17 parallelto the fold I3, and a pair of lower and upper end folds l8 and 19, extending in parallelism with each other between opposite ends of the folds l3 and 17. In addition, the panel 16 may be provided, at a location contiguous to the end fold 19 and extending longitudinally inward therefrom, with an area 20 of nonadhesive securement, such as provided by acoat of varnish, or the like. The nonadhesive coating 20 may be provided with an uncoated area 21 of any suitable configuration for detachable adhesive securement thereto, as will appear more fully hereinafter.

Extending from the fold 17 of panel 16 is a second main panel 22, of generally rectangular configuration substantially congruent to that of panel 11 and longitudinally coextensive therewith. The panel 22 is bounded within the fold-I7, a fold 23 parallel to the fold l7, and a pair of lower andupper end folds 24 and 25 extending in parallelism with each other, generally normal to and between the opposite ends of the side folds l7 and 23. An additional generally rectangular auxiliary panel 26 extends from the fold 23 of panel 22, being longitudinally coextensive therewith, and is bounded within the fold 23, a fold 27 parallel to the fold 23, and a pair of lower and upper end folds 28 and 29 in parallelism with each other and respectively extending between opposite ends of the side folds 23 and 27. A glue flap 30 may extend from the panel 26, being connected thereto by the fold 27, and being substantially longitudinally coextensive therewith.

Extending fromthe lower end of panel ill, being connected thereto by the fold 14 and longitudinally coextensive therewith,.is a generally rectangular panel 31. The panel 31 may be formed with a cutout 32, as required by certain packaging machinery.

Similarly, the panel 22 is provided at its lower end with a generally rectangular panel 33 hingedly connected by fold 24 to the panel 22 and coextensive with the said connecting fold 24. The panel 33 is provided with cars 34 extending from opposite ends. A flap 35 may extend from the lower end of fold 18 of auxiliary panel 116, and a flap 36 may extend from the lower end 28 of panel 26.

Extending from the upper end fold 15 of panel 11, and generally coextensive with the fold 15, is a panel 37 of generally rectangular configuration similar to that of panel 31. The panel 37 is bounded on its outer side by an edge 38 extending generally parallel to and spaced from the fold 15, which may have a cutout 39, as required by certain packaging machinery. At one end of panel 37, an edge 40 extends normal to and between the fold 15 and the edge 38, in substantial alignment with the edge 12. At the other end of the panel 37,

there is provided an edge lll generally parallel to the edge 40 and in substantial alignment with the fold 13. However, the edge 41 terminates at its opposite ends adjacent to and spaced from fold l and edge 38. Extending from the inner end of edge 411 adjacent to fold E5 is an edge 42. having a rectangular portion 420 extending to the juncture of folds 15, i3 and 19, enabling the rectangular portion '32:: to define a projection 43 on the panel 37.

Similarly, from the other, outer end of edge 41, there extends a cut 414 having a generally rectangular portion 44a terminating at the edge 38 in substantial alignment with the fold l3, enabling the portion 41411 to define a projection 45 on the panel 37. The projections 43 and 45 are thus spaced laterally from each other, projecting beyond the end of edge 41 of the panel 37.

The panel 37 is further formed with a pair of end portions or severance lines 416 and 57 extending from opposite ends of edge 41 inwardly of the panel 37 and in divergent relation with each other. The severance line 46 extends to and terminates at the fold or fold line 15. The fold or fold line l5 comprising that portion thereof between the end of the severance line 46 and a transverse fold line 41% is constructed and arranged as a severance line 36a, so that, as will now be considered readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains, the portion .19 of panel 37 intermediate severance lines 46, 46a and 47 is swingable out of the plane of panel 37, upon the severance of said lines, about a hinge axis comprising the transverse fold l8.

Extending along each severance line 46 and 47, just outward of panel portion &9, are a pair of relatively nonadhesive surface areas or zones 50 and 511. The zones 56 and 51 each extend from the distal end of the respective adjacent projection 413 and 441 to the adjacent end of the transverse fold line 48, and may be coated with a relatively nonadhesive material, such as varnish or the like.

A generally rectangular panel 52 extends from the fold line 25 of panel 22, being generally coextensive therewith. The panel 52 is bounded on its outer side by an edge 53 parallel to the fold line 25, and bounded at one end by an edge or severance line 54 in alignment with the fold line 23. Adjacent to the fold line 17, the panel 52 is bounded by an edge 55 in substantial alignment with the fold l7 and terminating at its opposite ends adjacent to and spaced from the respective fold 25 and edge 53. From the opposite ends of the fold line 55, there extend generally longitudinal edges 56 and 57, respectively terminating at the fold line 25 and edge 53. The edges 56 and 57 have generally rectangular portions 56a and 57a defining therewithin projections 55% and 59 extending in spaced relation beyond the fold line or edge 55.

Extending outwardly from the edges or fold lines 41, 42 and 44S, and connected to the panel 37 by the latter fold lines, is a tab 60 which is of a generally trapezoidal configuration, tapering inwardly away from said fold lines. More particularly, the tab 60 comprises a pair of triangular side portions or wings 61 and 62 separated from a generally rectangularly configured centrally disposed portion 63 by severance lines 64 and 65. if desired, an additional fold 66 may extend transversely across the tab 60 to provide a finger-pull tab end portion 67.

The panel 52 is further formed with a pair of generally parallel severance lines or weakened portions 68 and 69 extending from opposite ends of the severance line or edge 55 to the fold 25 and the edge 53, respectively. A transverse fold line 70 extends across the panel 52 between the fold line 25 and the edge 53, and the portion of the fold line 25, between the end of the severance line 68 and the transverse fold line 70, designated by the reference character 68a, is constructed and arranged to present a severance line, and thus constitutes a portion, continuation or extension thereof. Thus, bounded within the severance lines 68, 68a and 63, and between the transverse fold line 70 and the severance lines or edges 56, 56a and 57, there is defined a portion 71 of panel 52 swingable relative to and out of the plane of panel 52 about the fold line 70 upon severance of the lines 68, 68aand 69.

Extending from the fold line 19 of the panel 16 is a flap or ear 72. The ear 72 extends from the fold line l9 to the adjacent side edge of the tab 60, and also extends to and along the finger-pull tab portion 67 of said tab. Formed in the flap or car 72 are a pair of spaced weakened portions or severance lines 73 and 74, each extending from spaced locations along the fold line 19, outwardly therefrom, the line 73 extending to the adjacent edge of the tab 66, and the line 74 extending to the edge 55 generally medially of the ends thereof. The fold 19, between the severance lines 73 and 74 is also severable, as at 75, to define between the severance lines a severable por tion 76. The sever-able portion 76 comprises a severable section 77 having a crescent-shaped or half moon severable finger portion 78. The finger portion 78 is separated from the remainder of the severable section 77 by a fold line 79, and the remainder of the severable section 77 is rendered severable from the severable portion 76 by severance lines 80 and 81, the latter of which is contiguous with, at least in part, an edge of the finger-pull tab end portion 67 of the tab 60.

An ear or tab 82 extends from the fold line 54 of panel 52, and a flap 83 extends from the fold line 29.

In the assembled or setup condition of the blank 10, the panels 1 l, 16, 22 and 26 are swung about fold lines l3, l7 and 23 to define peripherally extending sidewalls, and the glue flap 30 adhesively secured to the panel 11, along the edge 12. Further, the tabs 35 and 36 are swung inwardly about folds 18 and 28, while the panels 33 and 33 are swung inwardly about their folds 14 and 24, the panel 33 being adhesively secured in overlying relationship with respect to the panel 31, and the cars 34 being swung upwardly and adhesively secured to the adjacent sidewall panels 16 and 26, as seen in MG. 2. The tabs 35 and 36 may be adhesively secured to the underside of panel 31. In this manner, the panels 31 and 33, and the flaps 35 and 36 combine to define a bottom wall for the setup container generally designated by the reference character 85 shown and illustrated in FIGS. 2-6.

At the upper end of the container 85, the flaps 72 and B3 are swung inwardly (into the plane of the paper), while the panel 37 is also swung inwardly about its fold line 15 and the panel 52 is swung inwardly about its fold line 25 into overlying relationship with respect to the panel 37. The flaps 72 and 83 may be adhesively secured to the underside of the panel 37. Adhesive means are employed to adhesively secure the panel 52 in its overlying relationship with respect to the panel 37, whereby the panels 52 and 37 combine to define upper and lower or outer and inner layers of a top wall for the container 85. Adhesive may be applied over substantially the entire inner surface of panel 52 and the latter applied to the outer surface of inner panel or layer 37 for adhesive securement to the latter, except in the nonadhesive zones 46 and 47.

it will now be appreciated that the projections 58 and 59 respectively overly projections 45 and 413, being generally congruent thereto, and are adhesively secured in their overlying relationship to define double thickness projections.

it will also be apparent that the panel portion 71 of panel 52 overlies and is secured in facing engagement with the portion 49 of panel 37, except for the unsecured zones 50 and 51. Further, the tab 60 extends downwardly from the fold lines 41, 412 and 44, and is detachably adhesively secured to the adjacent portion of panel 16 which define a sidewall of container 85. The detachable securement of tab 60 is to the coated sidewall region 20, as at the triangular-shaped portion or area 21. The wings 61 and 62 of the tab 60 are adhesively secured to the sidewall 16 adjacent to and outside of the coated sidewall region 20. In this manner, the container 85 is effectively sealed, the wings 6i and 62 serving to hold the panels 37 and 52 in closing relation with respect to each other and the side panel 16.

Opening of the container may very simply be accomplished by manual grasping of the finger-tab pull portion 67 of the tab 60 to detach the tab from the sidewall 16 and swing it upwardly about the fold lines 41, 42 and 44. Upon upward swinging of the tab 60 into generally coplanar relation with the top wall panels or layers 37 and 52, the tab wings 61 and 62 remain in adhesive securement with the sidewall 16, and the tab 60 is served therefrom along the severance lines 64 and 65. Upon further swinging of the tab 60 into generally coplanar relationship with respect to the top wall panels or layers 37 and 52, and there beyond, it will be understood that the portion 71 of outer top wall layer 52 will be swung upwardly about the fold line 70, as by severance of lines 68, 68a and 69, the portion 49 of inner layer or panel 37 swinging upwardly as a result of its securement to the underside of panel portion 71. The portion 49 is severed from the top wall panel or layer 42 along severance or weakened lines 46, 46a and 47, and swings relative to the top wall panel or layer 37 along the fold line 48.

The flap or ear 72 is, as hereinbefore, pointed out, adhesively secured to the underside of the top wall panel or layer 37. The flap portion 76, therefore, swings upwardly with the portion 49 upon severance of the lines 73, 74 and 75. Severance of the lines 46 and 47 will swing the panel portion 49 upwardly with the panel portion 71, with the zones 50 and 51 being unsecured to the panel portion 71. Since the severance lines 46 and 47 are spaced laterally apart generally less than the lateral spacing of the severance lines 68 and 69, the panel portion 71 will extend laterally beyond the panel portion 49 to overlie the zones 50 and 51, except when the tab 60 is swung upwardly beyond the top wall, as in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 illustrates the open condition of the container 85, wherein its contentsmay be dispensed through the opening between severance lines 46 and 47. It will be understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains, that it is possible, for any one of a number of reasons, as the tab 60 is swung upwardly from and out of the plane of the top wall panel or layer 37, for the flap portion 76 to separate from the flap or ear 72, or not to separate therefrom along the lines 65, 66 and 67, thus remaining as a partial closure to the container 85, as illustrated in FIG. 3, or a substantially complete closure with respect thereto. It is for this reason that the crescent or half moon shaped portion 78 is provided. The user will find it simple to force the portion 78 mm severed from the rest of the flap portion 76, and to be folded with respect to the severable section 77 along the fold line 79. The severable section 77 can then be removed from the remainder of the flap portion 76 along the severance line 80, thus presenting, in effeet, a spout through which the contents of the container 85 can be poured. Or, the user, after removing the severable section 77, can then remove the remainder of the flap portion 76 along the lines 73, 74 and 75. If, the severable section 77 and the crescent or half moon shaped portion 78 is severed from the remainder of the flap portion 76 when the tab 55 is swung upwardly and out of the plane of the top wall panel or layer 37, then the user can utilize the spout that is, in'etfect, defined thereby, as illustrated in FIG. 3, or, as hereinbefore pointed out, can remove the remainder of the flap portion 76 by sever ing the same from the flap or ear 72 along the lines 73, 74 and 75.

Reclosure is effected bymerely swinging the panel portion 71 and with it the panel portion 49 and flap portion 76 into their previously closed position. In this condition, the panel portion 71 overlies the zones 50 and 51 to provide a highly effective and protective closure of the container opening. Further, the tab 60 is swung downward below the projections 43 and 45, and 58 and 59 along the container sidewall 16, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. It will there be observed that the portions of the tab 60 extending outwardly from eachend of the fold line 41 and terminating at one end along the severance lines 64, and at the other end along the severance line 65, will extend laterally outwardly into position beneath the projections 43 and 45, and 58 and 59, so as to be retained thereby against unintentional opening of the container. Of course, reopening may be effected in the same manner as hereinbefore described, however, it will not be necessary to again sever the severance lines.

With particular reference now to FIGS. 7-9, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts, but wherein the reference characters are primed, there is illustrated therein a modification of the blank illustrated in FIG. I, generally designated by the reference character 10', from which a container 85 illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, may be constructed.

In this embodiment, the tab 60' is constructed and arranged as an element or part of the top wall outer panel or layer 71'. It is, otherwise, constructed and arranged in the same manner as the tab 60 of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, and comprises the same parts, portions and elements.

Similarly, the flap or ear 72' is constructed and arranged substantially the same as the flap or ear 72 of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. l-6. However, the severable section 77' comprises a tab or pull portion particularly adapted to define a pouring spout when it is severed from the remainder of the portion 76' along the severance line or weakened portion 86. The severance line 86 has a curvilinear, crescentor moonshaped portion 87, a portion of which is contiguous with the severance line 75, as indicated at 88. A fold line 89 extends from one end of the severance line 86 to the severance line 81'. The top wall inner panel or layer 37 comprises a panel portion 90 which is generally ofpear-shaped configuration. The portion 90 is defined by a severance line or weakened portion 91. A tab or pull portion 92 is disposed generally centrally of the portion 90 and is defined by severance lines 93 and 94, and a crescentor moon-shaped portion 95 corresponding generally with the crescentor moon-shaped portion 87 of the severance line 86. As will be consideredreadily apparent hereinafter, the tab or pull portion 92 is adapted to overlie the portion 77', and these two portions are adapted to be adhesively secured with respect to one another. Thence, in use, these two portions are adapted to be operable concurrently. To that end, the tab or pull portion 92'comprises, in addition, a fold line 96.

The container of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7-9 is adapted to be laid-up in substantially the same manner as the container 85 illustrated in FIGS. l-6. In this embodiment, however, and as hereinbefore explained, the tab 60' is constructed and arranged to comprise an element of the top wall outer panel or layer 52'. Thus, as the tab 60 is pulled away from the sidewall or panel 16', and thence swung upwardly out of and away from a generally coplanar position with respect to the top wall outer panel or layer 52', the portion 71 will be severed from the panel or layer 52' along the severance lines 68, 68a and 69'.

In laying-up the container 85' of FIGS. 7-9, the flap or ear 72' may be entirely adhesively secured to the underside of the top wall inner panel or layer 37. However, in adhesively securing the panel 37 to the top wall outer panel or layer 52, the pear-shaped panel portion comprising the tab of fingerpull portion 92 may be provided with a wall outer panel or nonadhesive coating such as varnish, or the like, so that only the portion 71' of the top wall outer panel or layer 52 will tear back upon the operation of the tab 60. A suitable legend, such as press here and tear back may be imprinted upon the portion 92, advising the user to sever the portion 92, and thus, the portion 77' from the portions 90 and 76' respectively, along the severance lines 93, 94, 95, 86, 87 and 88. The user may then tear back" the portions 92 and 77 to the fold lines 96 and 89, respectively, to define a pouring orifice for the container 85'. And, when the portion 71' is moved into a closed position, it will overlie the remainder of the portion 90 outside of the portion 92, to thus provide, in conjunction with the snap lock feature hereinbefore defined, an effective closure therefor. However, should the user decide that a wider or more extensive opening or pouring orifice is desirable, the portions 90 and 76' may also be removed along the severance lines 91, 73', 74 and 75. It is to be understood, at this point, that the portions 90 and 76' can be caused to operate with the portion 71' by simply adhesively securing the portion 90 to the underside of the portion 71'. Alternatively, since the panel 37, and thus the portion 90 is fabricated of a plurality of layers of material, then, depending upon the depth and the closeness of the score lines defining the severance line 91, only one or two of the layers comprising the panel 37' can be caused to tear back with the portion 71, thus leaving at least one more layer of the portion 90 and all of the layers of material from which the fiap or car 72' is fabricated. In the event of this type of construction, while no legend, indicia or printing need appear on the resulting portion 92, it will be quite apparent to any user that a pouring spout or orifice may be defined quite simply, by tearing back the portion 92, thus, concurrently, the portion 77.

It will be understood to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, therefore, that the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7-9 is particularly adapted to provide facile means for opening a package, such as the container or package 85' illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, and, more specifically, is constructed and arranged to acquire less effort in tearing back the portion 71 to the fold line 70 through the medium of the tab 60. In addition, the container or package 85 is constructed and arranged to provide, in effect, a guided pouring orifice while yet providing a container that is constructed and arranged to present an effective snap closure method of storing material. Thus, in reclosing the portion 71, and the tab 60, the portion 71' will overly what constitutes, in effect, a shelf defined by the portion 90. In this manner, insects, dust and dirt are precluded from entering the container.

The same features and advantages are achieved by the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-6, That embodiment, however, is particularly adapted for use in connection with heavier-duty packages. Thus, for example, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, the board or other material from which the container 85 is fabricated will not rip or tear or break at the crescent or half moon, nor will it tear back even though there are, in effect, three layers of paperboard glued together, namely, the panels 37 and 52, and the flap or ear 72. And, in the larger packages, using much heavier, stronger, laminated or coated paperboards, the user will find it rather difficult to break or tear the crescent or half moon. In such exemplary uses of the container 85, it will be found necessary to rely upon the use of a tool or device to break the crescent or half moon, and to then tear the portion 79 along the severance line 80. This advantageous feature is required in those instances where more security is desirable, especially during shipping and storage.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a reclosable dispensing container which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacturers, setup, filling and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A reclosable container comprising, in combination, a bottom wall, a plurality of sidewalls upstanding from said bottom wall extending about the periphery thereof, a top wall extending across the upper ends of said sidewalls, said top wall comprising a pair of inner and outer layers adhesively secured in overlying relationship, a pair of spaced retainers projecting from at least one of said layers of said top wall, generally coplanar therewith, beyond the adjacent sidewall, a tab extending from one of said inner and outer layers of said top wall between said retainers and hingedly connected to said one of said inner and outer layers for swinging movement through the space between said retainers, said inner and outer layers of said top wall being formed with severance lines extending outwardly from opposite sides of said tab, the top wall portion between said severance lines defining a closure openable upon severance of said severance lines for swinging out of the plane of said top wall, said tab being moveable with said closure, portion on said tab for movement therewith into and out of retaining engagement beneath said retainers, said portions being in edge-to-edge conforming engagement with said retainers when coplanar therewith, and winged portions forming a part of one of said inner and outer layers particularly adapted to be secured with respect to an adjacent sidewall, and severance lines enabling the remainder or remaining portions of said tab to be severed from said winged portions when the tab is moved from a closed position with respect to said adjacent sidewalls to an open position away therefrom, enabling said winged portions to retain the inner and outer layers of said top wall in a closing or closed position with respect to the other walls of said container, whereby said container is effectively sealed.

2. A reclosable container according to claim I, wherein said tab extends from the inner layer of said top wall.

3. A reclosable container according to claim 2, wherein the severance lines on said inner layer are spaced laterally inwardly of the severance lines on said outer layer, to thus define a shelf portion on said inner layer, the laterally extending portion of said outer layer being unsecured to the self portion of said inner layer for overlapping closing relationship with respect thereto.

4. A reclosable container according to claim I, wherein said tab is hingedly connected to said top wall at a location inwardly of the projecting ends of said retainers, for swinging movement of said portions into and out of said retaining engagement beneath said retainer.

5. A reclosable container according to claim 1, wherein said tab extends from the outer layer of said top wall.

6. A reclosable container according to claim 3, wherein said tab is detachably secured in overlying relationship with respect to the adjacent sidewall.

7. A reclosable container as defined in claim 1, comprising, further, a flap or ear operatively associated with said adjacent sidewall and extending therefrom, said flap or ear being particularly adapted to be disposed in underlying relationship with respect to said top wall, and comprising severance lines corresponding generally with the severance lines of the inner and outer layers of said top wall to define a portion moveable from said flap or ear, the shape or configuration of which corresponds, generally, with that of the closure defined by and between the severance lines of the top wall portion, said portion of the flap or ear comprising a pull-tab portion separably operatively associated therewith.

8. A reclosable container as defined in claim 7, wherein the pull-tab portion comprises a finger portion severably operatively associated with said portion of the flap or car defined by and between the severance lines thereof.

9. A reclosable container as defined in claim 8, wherein said finger portion is defined, at least in part, by a severance line of crescentor half-moon-shaped configuration.

10. A reclosable container as defined in claim 1, wherein the tab extends from the outer layer of said top wall portion, and wherein the inner layer of said top wall portion comprises severance lines defining a portion therebetween particularly adapted to be severable therefrom, said portion of the inner layer and the closure defined by and between the severance lines of said outer layer of the top wall portion being separable, enabling the portion of said inner layer to define a shelf portion for overlapping closing relation therebetween, enabling said closure to substantially proclude the entry of dust, dirt, insects and the like when said closure is disposed in overlapping relation with respect to the shelf portion of said inner layer, and wherein there is further provided a flap or ear extending from said adjacent sidewall particularly adapted to be disposed in underlying relation with respect to the inner and outer layers of the top wall portion, said flap or ear comprising severance lines defining a portion therebetween, the configuration of said portion corresponding, generally, with the configuration of the closure defined by and between the severance lines of said outer layer of the top wall portion, and wherein the portions of the fiap or ear and the inner layer of said top wall portion each comprise, further, severance lines defining a pull-tab portion, said pull-tab portions belong by a crescentor half-moon-shaped configuration.

12. A reclosable container as defined in claim 11, wherein the shelf portion of the inner layer of said top wall portion is defined by a substantially continuous severance line of generally pear-shaped configuration.

Claims (12)

1. A reclosable container comprising, in combination, a bottom wall, a plurality of sidewalls upstanding from said bottom wall extending about the periphery thereof, a top wall extending across the upper ends of said sidewalls, said top wall comprising a pair of inner and outer layers adhesively secured in overlying relationship, a pair of spaced retainers projecting from at least one of said layers of said top wall, generally coplanar therewith, beyond the adjacent sidewall, a tab extending from one of said inner and outer layers of said top wall between said retainers and hingedly connected to said one of said inner and outer layers for swinging movement through the space between said retainers, said inner and outer layers of said top wall being formed with severance lines extending outwardly from opposite sides of said tab, the top wall portion between said severance lines defining a closure openable upon severance of said severance lines for swinging out of the plane of said top wall, said tab being moveable with said closure, portion on said tab for movement therewith into and out of retaining engagement beneath said retainers, said portions being in edge-to-edge conforming engagement with said retainers when coplanar therewith, and winged portions forming a part of one of said inner and outer layers particularly adapted to be secured with respect to an adjacent sidewall, and severance lines enabling the remainder or remaining portions of said tab to be severed from said winged portions when the tab is moved from a closed position with respect to said adjacent sidewalls to an open position away therefrom, enabling said winged portions to retain the inner and outer layers of said top wall in a closing or closed position with respect to the other walls of said container, whereby said container is effectively sealed.

2. A reclosable container according to claim 1, wherein said tab extends from the inner layer of said top wall.

3. A reclosable container according to claim 2, wherein the severance lines on said inner layer are spaced laterally inwardly of the severance lines on said outer layer, to thus define a shelf portion on said inner layer, the laterally extending portion of said outer layer being unsecured to the self portion of said inner layer for overlapping closing relationship with respect thereto.

4. A reclosable container according to claim 1, wherein said tab is hingedly connected to said top wall at a location inwardly of the projecting ends of said retainers, for swinging movement of said portions into and out of said retaining engagement beneath said retainer.

5. A reclosable container according to claim 1, wherein said tab extends from the outer layer of said top wall.

6. A reclosable container according to claim 3, wherein said tab is detachably secured in overlying relationship with respect to the adjacent sidewall.

7. A reclosable container as defined in claim 1, comprising, further, a flap or ear operatively associated with said adjacent sidewall and extending therefrom, said flap or ear being particularly adapted to be disposed in underlying relationship with respect to said top wall, and comprising severance lines corresponding generally with the severance lines of the inner and outer layers of said top wall to define a portion moveable from said flap or ear, the shape or configuration of which corresponds, generally, with that of the closure defined by and between the severance lines of the top wall portion, said portion of the flap or ear comprising a pull-tab portion separably operatively associated therewith.

8. A reclosable container as defined in claim 7, wherein the pull-tab portion comprises a finger portion severably operatively associated with said portion of the flap or ear defined by and between the severance lines thereof.

9. A reclosable container as defined in claim 8, wherein said finger portion is defined, at least in part, by a severance line of crescent- or half-moon-shaped configuration.

10. A reclosable container as defined in claim 1, wherein the tab extends from the outer layer of said top wall portion, and wherein the inner layer of said top wall portion comprises severance lines defining a portion therebetween particularly adapted to be severable therefrom, said portion of the inner layer and the closure defined by and between the severance lines of said outer layer of the top wall portion being separable, enabling the portion of said inner layer to define a shelf portion for overlapping closing relation therebetween, enabling said closure to substantially proclude the entry of dust, dirt, insects and the like when said closure is disposed in overlapping relation with respect to the shelf portion of said inner layer, and wherein there is further provided a flap or ear extending from said adjacent sidewall particularly adapted to be disposed in underlying relation with respect to the inner and outer layers of the top wall portion, said flap or ear comprising severance lines defining a portion therebetween, the configuration of said portion corresponding, generally, with the configuration of the closure defined by and between the severance lines of said outer layer of the top wall portion, and wherein the portions of the flap or ear and the inner layer of said top wall portion each comprise, further, severance lines defining a pull-tab portion, said pull-tab portions belong removable along said severance lines and defining a pouring spout through which the contents of said reclosable container can be dispensed when the closure is disposed in an open relationship with respect to said top wall portion.

11. A reclosable container as defined in claim 10, wherein the severance lines of said portion of the flap or ear and the inner layer of said top wall portion are defined, at least in part, by a crescent- or half-moon-shaped configuration.

12. A reclosable container as defined in claim 11, wherein the shelf portion of the inner layer of said top wall portion is defined by a substantially continuous severance line of generally pear-shaped configuration.

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