US3653582A

US3653582A - Carton having a hinged end closure

Info

Publication number: US3653582A
Application number: US68864A
Authority: US
Inventors: John W Scully
Original assignee: Pneumatic Scale Corp
Current assignee: Pneumatic Scale Corp
Priority date: 1970-09-02
Filing date: 1970-09-02
Publication date: 1972-04-04
Anticipated expiration: 1989-04-04

Abstract

A rectangular carton having a hinged top closure connected to the body portion by weakened lines along the upper edges of the front and end wall panels and adapted to be opened by tearing along the weakened lines, the carton having provision for automatically locking the hinged top closure to the body portion upon reclosing the same whereby to prevent inadvertent opening thereof.

Description

I United States Patent 1 3,653,582 Scully [451 Apr. 4, 1972 [54] CARTON HAVING A HINGED END 3,523,636 8/l970 Phillips ..229/5l TC CLOSURE [72] Inventor: John W. Scully, Raynham, Mass. Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton [731 Assignee: Pneumatic Scale Corporation, Quincy, Anomeykoben church! Mass.

221 Filed: Sept. 2, 1970 1 ABSTRACT [2i 1 Appl. No.: 68,864 A rectangular carton having a hinged top closure connected to the body portion by weakened lines along the upper edges of {52] U 8 Cl 229/51 TC the front and end wall panels and adapted to be opened by [51] lnt. Cl.: I I I I I IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIII tearing along the weakened lines, the carton having provision [581 mu or Search ..'....229/51 TC, 5: T5 for automatically locking the hinged p closure to the y I portion upon reclosing the same whereby to prevent inadver- [56] References Cited tent opening thereof.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Vergobbi ..229/Sl TC Patented April 4, 1972 3,653,582

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 uvvnvron John 14/. 5 cu// y wwzwem A TTORNE Y Patented April 4, 1972 3,653,582

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 4

Fig.6

INVENTOR John W. Scu//y WMGLQJUIGM A T TOR/VE Y Patented April 4, 1972 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 lNl/E/VTOR John 14/. Sou/l y bmac LL12 A TTORNFY Patented April 4, 1972 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 B fgwm 0% GM ATTORNEY CARTON HAVING A HINGE!) END CLOSURE The invention relates to a carton and particularly to a carton having a hinged and reclosable top closure.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved carton having a novel top closure providing a hinged cover which may be easily opened andreclosed and which is characterized by novel means for automatically locking the hinged closure to the body portion of the carton upon reclosing the same.

The invention has for a further object to provide a novel and improved carton of the character specified whose structure is such as to enable it to be efficiently and economically produced on a standard high speed packaging machine, and which uses a minimum of carton material whereby the carton may be economically manufactured.

With these general objects in view and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the carton having a hinged end closure as hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a carton blank embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of the upper portion of the blank showing the initial folding operation to provide a two-ply band;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the car ton folded into rectangular form and showing the top flaps extended;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 5 showing the top closure completed;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the hinged top closure shown in its opened position; and

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the carton showing the same reclosed;

In general, the present invention contemplates a novel and improved carton having a hinged top closure commonly known as a flip top" closure and which is characterized by novel means for positively locking the closure to the body portion automatically upon reclosing the carton. The present carton is an improvementover the carton having a hinged top closure as illustrated and described in the US. Pat. No. 3,282,492, issued to John G. Verbobbi, Nov. 1, 1966, and assigned to the present assignee. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the top closure is formed by integral end closing portions which are folded and sealed to provide a hinged closure in the completed carton wherein the sides of the closure extend over and around three sides of the top of the body portion of the completed carton, the fourth side being hingedly connected thereto. The closure is secured in its initially closed position by partially slit or weakened lines along three of the top closure score lines of the body of the carton and which may be easily broken by the user to open the carton, the closure being joined to the fourth score line to provide the hinge.

The construction of the present carton is such that it may be economically produced in a standard high speed carton fonning machine. It will also be noted that the present hinged closure may be produced from integral end closure portions using no more material than would be used in producing a normal full flap conventional end closure whereby to enable low cost production of the carton.

Referring now to the drawings, the carton blank indicated generally at 10 in FIG. 1 is provided with

end wall panels

12, 14 and side wall panels, 16, 18 forming the body portion of the carton and which are defined by

prescored lines

20, 22, 24, 26, a side seam fiap 28 being connected to the side wall panel 18 as shown. The side wall panel 16 is also referred to herein as the front panel.

The illustrated carton blank is provided with bottom closing flaps comprising

end flaps

30, 32 connected to end wall panels l2, 14, respectively, by

prescored lines

34, 36 and

side flaps

38, 40 connected to the

side wall panels

16, 18, respectively, by

prescored lines

42, 44.

The top closing portions of the illustrated carton blank include an integral three-section portion, indicated generally at 46, connected to the

body panels

12, 16 and 14, which portion is adapted to be folded to form the three sides of the hinged closure or cover fitted about the upper end of the body portion. The top closure further includes a side flap 48 hingedly connected to the side wall panel 18 by a prescored line 50 and which comprises the last folded flap to form the top of the hinged cover in the completed carton.

As herein shown, the three-section cover-forming portion 46 comprises

integral sections

52, 54 and 56 extending from the

body panels

12, 16 and 14, respectively, and connected together by

prescored lines

57, 59. The cover-forming portion 46 is connected to the body panels along the top score line 58 which is provided with weakened portions, herein shown as comprising elongated spaced slits cut through the material, leaving relatively small frangible connecting portions between the body panels and the integral cover-forming portion 46. As illustrated herein, the weakened line between the end wall panel 12 and the section 52 comprises spaced slits 60, leaving relatively small unslit connecting portions 62. The weakened line between the panel 16 and the section 54 also comprises spaced slits, leaving relatively small unslit portions 70. Likewise, the weakened line betweenthe end wall panel 14 and the section 56 is also provided with spaced slit portions, leaving small unslit portions as shown.

The integral closure forming portion 46 is also provided with two spaced

transverse score lines

82, 84 providing elongated transverse sections indicated at 86, 88 of substantially equal width adapted to be folded one upon the other to form two-ply side walls which extend about three sides of the top of the body portion in the assembled carton, leaving relatively

short flaps

90, 92, 94 extending from the side walls. As shown in FIG. 1, the transverse section 86 is provided with

cutout areas

72, 74 formed in the

sections

52, 56 which define tabengaging portions 68 designed for cooperation with tab portions 78 formed in the end wall panels 12 and l4'as will be hereinafter more fully described. The section 86 is also provided with V-

shaped cutouts

96, 98 formed in the front panel 16 and which form a continuation of the

cutout areas

72, 74, the

cutout portions

96, 98 serving to relieve the tension at the corners of the assembled carton. As herein shown, the adjacent corners of the

short flaps

90, 92, 94 are cut off at 45, as indicated at 100, and the ends of the

transverse sections

86, 88 are also provided with V-shaped cutouts as indicated at 102.

While the carton blank is still in its developed form, as shown in FIG. 1, selected areas of the inner face of the blank are provided with a coating of adhesive. Thus, a narrow strip of adhesive 104 is applied to the marginal areas of the end wall panel 12 for sealing the same to the side seam flap 28 in the formation of the carton. The bottom closure flap 38 is provided with rectangular areas 106 of adhesive, and the bottom closure flap 40 is also provided with an adhesively coated U- shaped area 108 as shown. The transverse section 86 of the cover-forming portion 46 is'provided with adhesively coated

areas

110, 112, 114 for sealing the same to the transverse section 88 to form the two-ply band or side wall about three sides of the closures in the assembled carton. The side flap 48 is also provided with an adhesively coated area 116 along the marginal portions thereof as illustrated.

In accordance with one feature of the present invention, the

cutout areas

72, 74 define engaging portions 68 which are adapted to cooperate with triangular tab portions 78 formed by slitting the end .

wall panels

12, 14 and which are arranged to effect automatic locking of the closure to the body of the carton after the closure has been initially opened and reclosed. The triangular tabs 78 are rounded at their outer ends and are hinged along the

score lines

20, 22, respectively.

The

cutout areas

72, 74 defining the engaging portions 68 and the triangular tab portions 78 are formed in the blank prior to assembly. More specifically, one cutout area 72 is defined by a cut line extending from a point 124 along weakened line 58 on one side of score line 20 to a point 126 on the other side of score line 20. The cut line then extends angularly upwardly at about 45 to a medial point in the transverse section 86; then upwardly and inwardly to form a right angle defining the tabengaging portion 68; and then angularly inwardly to a point 128 on score line 82. The cut line then extends along the score line 82 inwardly to a point 130. From the point 130, the out line extends angularly downwardly and inwardly and then downwardly and outwardly to the starting point 124. It will be apparent that the cutout area 74 is similarly defined. Thus, the transverse section 86 has two spaced tab-engaging portions 68 disposed in

sections

52 and 56 adjacent the

score lines

20,22, and the end wall panels are slit to provide triangular tab portions immediately below the engaging portions 68 so that in the assembled carton, the engaging portions 68 coincide substantially with the tabs 78 in a manner such that the portions 68 hook under the triangular tabs 78. Each tab 78 is defined by a cut line, one end of the line extending from its

adjacent score line

20, 22 downwardly and outwardly at 45; over the rounded end portion; and then downwardly and inwardly at 45 back to its score line. In practice, the hinged tab portions 78 tend to rock outwardly in their folded and assembled condition to permit the portions 68 to engage thereunder whereby to effect locking of the cover to the body of the carton.

In the assembly of the carton, the closure forming portion 46 is first folded to provide the two-ply side wall portion or band 118. As shown in FIG. 3, the three-section portion 46 is folded downwardly along the weakened score line 58 to present the same against the outer face of the front panel 16 with the section 86 in non-adhesive engagement with the upper end of the panel 16. The portion 46 is then folded upwardly along the score line 82 to present the section 88 against the adhesively coated

areas

110, 112, 114 of the section 86. Application of pressure will seal the sections together to provide the two-ply portion 118.

The carton blank as thus folded is then assembled into tubular form, as shown in FIG. 5, preferably by folding the same about a forming block to present the adhesively coated area 104 in overlapping engagement with the side seam flap 28 and applyingpressure to seal the seam. This folding operation also folds the two-ply portion 118 to form in effect an unsealed band about three sides of the upper end of the body portion. The inner face of the two-ply band is free of adhesive, and the engaging portions 68 extending from the inner ply engage with the tabs 78 in the end wall panels 12, .14. The

open portions

96, 98 occurring at the corners relieve any undue strain or tension when folding the two-ply section about the corners.

In practice, the bottom closing flaps are then folded in overlapping relation and pressed againstthe end of the forming block in the usual manner. The end flaps 30, 32 are first folded inwardly, and the side flap 38 is then folded over the end flaps to present the rectangular adhesive coated areas 106 against portions of the end flaps. The last folded flap 40 is then folded to present the adhesively coated portion 108 against the remaining portions of the end flaps and also in overlapping relation to the side flap 38 as shown. Pressure may then be applied to set the adhesive and complete the bottom closure. It will be understood that the bottom closure herein shown comprises what is known in the trade as an economy bottom closure wherein the closing flaps are shorter than the thickness of the carton and wherein the side flaps overlap along the center of the carton, as distinguished from a conventional bottom closure wherein both side flaps are of a full length equal to the thickness or narrower width of the carton. The carton with its adhesively secured bottom closure is then removed from the forming block and filled with the material being packaged.

After the filling operation, the top closure is completed in the manner shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, wherein the

short flaps

90, 92, 94 are first folded inwardly and thereafter the hinged and adhesively coated side flap 48 is folded down on top of the short flaps and adhesively secured thereto to produce the fliptop carton shown in FIG. 6. It will be seen that the expedient of cutting off the adjacent corners of the

flaps

90, 92, 94 presents the latter in a single plane free of any overlapping portions, thus providing less bulk and forming a more efficient seal.

From the description above, it will be seen that in the completed carton the top closure is hingedly secured along the score line 50, and the two-ply band 118 of the closure extending around three sides of the top of the body portion is connected to the body portion by the relatively small

unslit portions

62, 70 and of the score line 58 which comprise the frangible portions between the spaced slits. In practice, the tab portions 78 formed in the

end wall panels

12, 14 have a tendency to unfold along their

score lines

20, 22, thus urging the tab portions into a position to be engaged by their respective cutout portions 68. In operation, when initially opening the carton, it is merely necessary to pull the end wall portions of the band 18 outwardly slightly to disengage the locking elements and then lift upwardly with sufficient force to break the frangible connections whereupon the closure may be rocked back on its hinge score line 50 as shown in FIG. 8 wherein the broken away portions are indicated along the upper edges of the

end wall panels

12, 14 and the front wall panel 16. The

hinged top closure may now be conveniently closed to its ini-,

tial position whereupon the tab portions 78 will automatically flex into engagement with the cutout portions 68 whereby to lock the cover in its closed position. In order to again open the carton, the locking elements are first disengaged by pulling outwardly the end wall panels and then lifting upwardly.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the V-shaped cutouts 102 in

transverse sections

86, 88 when folded to form a two-ply band provides a 45 cutoff at the ends of the band to facilitate closing of the carton. The weakened portions, herein shown as spaced slits providing frangible portions therebetween, may take other forms capable of being separated upon application of a lifting force as described. In the illustrated structure of hinged end closure, the weakened portions along the score line 58 are entirely concealed in the assembled carton and are protected from inadvertent damage by the overfolded portions of the closures as shown.

As above described, the present hinged end closure carton may be economically produced in a standard automatic packaging machine wherein the prescored carton blank is folded about a forming block. While a preferred manner of assembling the carton, as herein described, contemplates folding of the bottom closure flaps against the end of the forming block and then removing the carton to be filled through the top, it will be understood that the present invention also contemplates forming the top closure against the end of the forming block. When thus formed, the carton is removed from the block and filled through the bottom, whereupon the bottom closure is folded and sealed, and the carton turned upright.

From the above description it will be seen that the present carton is provided with a hinged end closure of novel structure which may be economically produced with a minimum of carton material and which may be manufactured in a standard automatic packaging machine to produce an efficient selflocking and easily opened hinged closure.

It will be observed that the present closure locking structure leaves the front panel 16 free of any slits or cutout portions, thus having the advantage of providing a continuous and uninterrupted printing surface.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A hinged reclosable top closure for a rectangular carton having a body portion closed at its lower end and comprising front and rear side wall panels connected along their side edges to a pair of end wall panels, said hinged top closure being formed by integral extensions from the upper edges of saidwall panels and including an integral three-section portion extending from said front and said end wall panels and connected to the upper edge thereof by weakened lines providing frangible connecting portions, said upper edges lying in a common plane and said three-section portion being folded downwardly and upwardly to provide a two-ply band about the upper portion of said front and end wall panels, the inner ply portions confronting the upper portions of the end wall panels of said two-ply band being partially cut out to provide engaging portions, the upper portions of said end wall panels being provided with slit openings defining tabs for cooperation with said engaging portions, there being relatively short separate front and end wall flaps projecting upwardly from said two-ply band which are folded inwardly, and an inwardly folded flap hingedly connected to the upper edge of said rear wall panel and adhesively secured to said relatively short inwardly folded front and end flaps to provide a hinged cover connected to the upper edges of said front and end wall panels by said frangible connecting portions, said closure being initially opened by pulling the band outwardly and upwardly with sufficient force to rupture said frangible connecting portions, said engaging portions and said tabs arranged to cooperate to effect automatic locking of the hinged cover upon closing and reclosing the carton.

2. A carton having a hinged top closure as defined in claim 1, wherein the cutout areas defining the engaging portions are disposed adjacent the forward ends of said two-ply portions confronting the upper portions of said end wall panels, and the slit openings defining the cooperating tabs are likewise disposed adjacent the forward ends of the upper portions of said end wall panels.

3. A carton having a hinged top closure as defined in claim 1, wherein the tabs are hinged and are adapted to fiex into engagement with said engaging portions upon closing the cover.

4. A carton having a hinged top closure as defined in claim 1, wherein the inner faces of said two-ply band are adhesively secured together except that the areas defining the engaging portions are free of adhesive.

5. A carton having a hinged top closure as defined in claim 1, wherein the cutout portions of the inner ply adjacent the end wall panels further include integral cutouts in the inner ply adjacent the edges of the front wall panel.

Claims

1. A hinged reclosable top closure for a rectangular carton having a body portion closed at its lower end and comprising front and rear side wall panels connected along their side edges to a pair of end wall panels, said hinged top closure being formed by integral extensions from the upper edges of said wall panels and including an integral three-section portion extending from said front and said end wall panels and connected to the upper edge thereof by weakened lines providing frangible connecting portions, said upper edges lying in a common plane and said three-section portion being folded downwardly and upwardly to provide a two-ply band about the upper portion of said front and end wall panels, the inner ply portions confronting the upper portions of the end wall panels of said two-ply band being partially cut out to provide engaging portions, the upper portions of said end wall panels being provided with slit openings defining tabs for cooperation with said engaging portions, there being relatively short separate front and end wall flaps projecting upwardly from said two-ply band which are folded inwardly, and an inwardly folded flap hingedly connected to the upper edge of said rear wall panel and adhesively secured to said relatively short inwardly folded front and end flaps to provide a hinged cover connected to the upper edges of said front and end wall panels by said frangible connecting portions, said closure being initially opened by pulling the band outwardly and upwardly with sufficient force to rupture said frangible connecting portions, said engaging portions and said tabs arranged to cooperate to effect automatic locking of the hinged cover upon closing and reclosing the carton.

3. A carton having a hinged top closure as defined in claim 1, wherein the tabs are hinged and are adapted to flex into engagement with said engaging portions upon closing the cover.