Easy open self closing outlet for gable-top cartons

Abstract

A manually operated easy to open, squeeze-to-open while lifting for pouring, self-closing spillage-free dispenser for standard gable-top milk cartons, said dispenser made from same polyethylene laminated paperboard used for making standard gable-top milk cartons formed and sealed by standard gable-top milk carton packaging machine with its clamping, compression, heating and sealing jaws, used to form and seal the original ridge line atop the roof of the gable roof portion, modified for forming and sealing the curved quadrant elongated slotted dispenser outlet, with a tamper-evident closure that can be easily removed by the tear-away indents provided.

What I claim is:  
     
         1 . Squeeze-to-open curved quadrant elongated dispenser having nested male and female curvilinear elements in contact with one another to form a closure which when manually squeezed laterally opens for dispensing and self-closes upon release of the squeeze effort. Said dispenser made from any flexible resilient thermoplastic material similar to low density polyethylene or a combination thereof with paper which can be formed by clamping, compressing, heating and cooling to set its curvilinear shape.  
     
     
         2  A squeeze-to-open dispenser as in  claim 1  provided with tamper-evident closure tab with indents for easy tear away of tamper evident closure tab.  
     
     
         3  A squeeze-to-open dispenser as in  claim 1 , wherein the elongated curved male and female elements are each extended with bent attachments for forming an elliptical shape when opposing ends are joined together, to create an external bulge within the sloping roof portion of a gable-top milk carton to maintain a built-in pressure required for repeated opening and closing cycles of said dispenser.  
     
     
         4  A squeeze-to-open dispenser as in  claim 1 , wherein the external bulge within the sloping roof portion of a gable-top milk carton is formed by independent flexible and resilient thermoplastic parts, located within the mouth, adjacent to, but not connected to, the nested curved male and female curvilinear elongated dispenser, are formed into an elliptical shape, whereby, when their opposing ends are joined together, exerts and maintains the built-in pressure required for repeated opening and closing cycles of said dispenser.  
     
     
         5  A squeeze-to-open dispenser as in  claim 1 , wherein the external bulge within the sloping roof portion of a gable-top milk carton is formed by thickening the polyethylene laminated paperboard with additional flexible and resilient thermoplastic material.  
     
     
         6  Wherein the dispenser in  claim 1  is used in conjunction with gable-top milk cartons, formed and sealed in standard Evergreen, or equal, milk carton packaging machines, with standard clamping, compressing, heating, sealing and cooling jaws, normally used for forming and sealing the flat ridge portion atop the standard gable-top roof, are modified for forming and sealing the curved quadrant shaped curvilinear elongated dispenser.  
     
     
         7 . Wherein conventional phrase “milk carton” is used, implications are that it is a carton that can be used for dispensing other products besides milk.  
     
     
         8 . Wherein, conventional phrase “milk carton” is used, implications are any size capable of being formed by beverage gable-top packaging machines.  
     
     
         9 . A squeeze-to-open dispenser as in  claim 1 , wherein the external bulge within the sloping roof portion is made by making the overall dispenser slotted outlet length shorter, than the width of the milk carton, by outwardly tapering the opposing ends of said outlet symmetrically towards the opposing gable roof eaves