Carton

Abstract

The present invention concerns a carton for holding granular or other products in a bag. The carton comprises a substantially rectangular sleeve having front, rear and side panels ( 1, 2, 3 ). The front and rear panels have flaps ( 21, 22 ) which resiliently engage within a channel ( 20 ) formed when the side panels ( 3 ) are deformed inwardly along crease patterns ( 5 ), the resulting inter-engagement of components holding the top of the carton securely together. A bag is secured and sealed internally of the carton by being located under one of the flaps ( 22 ) which is biased to clamp the bag.

1 . A reclosable carton comprising: 
 front, rear and side panels, the side panels being configured to deform when the front and rear panels are brought together, such that one or more holding areas are created between an inside face of a side panel and an inside face of one of the front or rear panels, the one or more holding areas having an increased holding effect as the front and rear panels are brought closer together,    wherein the front and rear panels are each provided with a flap at a top portion thereof,    wherein, in a reclosure operation, the front and rear panels are movable together and the flaps are positionable in a common one of said holding areas, and    wherein at least one of said flaps having an interference fit with said common holding area.    
   
   
       2 . A reclosable carton according to  claim 1 , wherein the side panels are configured to deform inwardly.  
   
   
       3 . A reclosable carton according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more holding areas each further comprises one of said front and rear panel flaps when folded into the carton.  
   
   
       4 . A reclosable carton according to  claim 3 , wherein said one or more holding areas each further comprises a deformed side panel flap folded into the interior of the carton.  
   
   
       5 . A reclosable carton according to  claim 4 , wherein the other of the front and rear panel flaps has, at its edges, an interference fit with the one or more holding areas.  
   
   
       6 . A reclosable carton according to  claim 5 , wherein side edges of other of the front and rear panel flaps are substantially normal to a top edge of the panel from which they extend.  
   
   
       7 . A reclosable carton according to  claim 6 , wherein the other of the front and rear panel flaps has a marginal taper.  
   
   
       8 . A reclosable carton according to  claim 5 , wherein the other of the front and rear panel flaps has a line of weakness extending parallel with a top edge of said panel from which it extends.  
   
   
       9 . A reclosable carton according to  claim 1 , wherein said flaps are foldable into the interior of the carton to thereby form, in association with the front, rear and side panels, two internal compartments at the top of the carton.  
   
   
       10 . A reclosable carton according to  claim 1 , wherein the carton comprises a substantially rectangular tube.  
   
   
       11 . A reclosable carton according to  claim 1 , wherein the sides of the carton are each provided with a score pattern extending downwardly from their top.  
   
   
       12 . A reclosable carton according to  claim 11 , wherein the score pattern comprises a vertical score line extending downwardly from the top of the carton substantially parallel with the vertical sides of the side panel, and a substantially triangular score line whose top apex connects with the vertical score line, the remaining corners of the triangular score line terminating at the vertical sides of the side panel.  
   
   
       13 . A reclosable carton according to  claim 12 , wherein the sides of the substantially triangular score line are arcuate.  
   
   
       14 . A reclosable carton according to  claim 11 , wherein side panel flaps on the sides of the carton have a score pattern which overlies the score pattern of the side panels when folded into the interior of the carton.  
   
   
       15 . A reclosable carton according to  claim 1 , wherein the carton has means for affixing a surface of a liner bag in position at or adjacent said first one of said front and rear panel flaps.  
   
   
       16 . A reclosable carton comprising: 
 front and rear panels connected by side panels, the front and rear panels having flaps at their top portions;    wherein an upper portion of each side panel is formed to be deformable from an open position of the carton to a closed position of the carton against an opening force, the side panels in the closed position defining a holding channel together with one of the front and rear panel flaps; and    wherein the other of the front and rear panel flaps is insertable into the channel and engages one of the front and rear panel flaps, the flaps being biased into engagement with one another and being held within the holding channel through a clamping action of the channel on edge portions of the flaps.    
   
   
       17 . A reclosable carton according to  claim 16 , wherein the other of the front and rear panel flaps has a tapered profile to increase the degree of interference fit as the other of the front and rear panel flaps is inserted further into the holding channel.  
   
   
       18 . A reclosable carton according to  claim 16 , wherein each side panel has a flap at its upper portion, which is positionable in the interior of the carton to assist in the clamping engagement of the front and rear panel flaps.  
   
   
       19 . A blank for use in forming a carton comprising: 
 front and rear panels; and    a pair of side panels,    wherein the front and rear panels are each provided with a flap at a top end thereof, the side panels having a score pattern enabling the side panels to deform to form a channel with one of said front and rear panel flaps when folded into the interior of the carton, and the other of the front and rear panel flaps is configured to be clamped at edge portions thereof when inserted in the channel and when the front and rear panels are brought together.    
   
   
       20 . A blank according to  claim 19 , wherein the score pattern comprises a vertical score line extending downwardly from a top of the side panel substantially parallel with the vertical sides of the side panel, and a substantially triangular score line whose apex connects with the vertical score line, the remaining corners of the triangular score line terminating at the vertical sides of the side panel.  
   
   
       21 . A blank according to  claim 19 , wherein the other of said front and rear panel flaps has a score line extending parallel with a top edge of said front or rear panel.  
   
   
       22 . A blank according to  claim 19 , wherein the other of said front and rear panel flaps is sized to engage with an interference fit in said channel.  
   
   
       23 . A blank according to  claim 19 , wherein each side panel is provided with a side panel flap at its upper portion.