Reclosable container having an integral pour spout

Abstract

A packaging blank capable of forming a reclosable container comprises in one embodiment a front panel having opposing side panels, a rear panel connected to the front panel by the second side panel, a top panel connected to a top edge of the front panel, a bottom panel connected to a bottom edge of the front panel, and a pour spout flap connected to a top edge of the second side panel. Upon construction the packaging blank provides a reclosable container having an integral pour spout that is releasably securable to a portion of the top panel. Still further, the invention relates to a method of forming the container and a method of packaging articles in the container.

1 . A reclosable container having an integral pour spout, said container comprising: 
 at least one substantially rectangular bottom panel;    substantially rectangular first and second side panels secured to opposing edges of said bottom panel, said first and second side panels defining substantially parallel planes;    a substantially rectangular front panel connected to said bottom panel and to respective edges of said first and second side panels;    a substantially rectangular rear panel secured to said bottom panel and to respective edges of said first and second side panels, said front panel and said rear panel defining substantially parallel planes;    at least one substantially rectangular top panel secured to respective edges of said front and rear panels, said top panel having a tab lock spaced apart from a top edge of said second side panel; and    a reclosable pour spout connected to the top edge of said second side panel and releasably securable to at least a portion of said top panel;    wherein said second side panel and said reclosable pour spout include score lines that facilitate the opening and closing of said pour spout.    
   
   
       2 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein said top panel defines an opening positioned adjacent to said reclosable pour spout such that said tab lock releasably engages said pour spout to thereby seal said opening.  
   
   
       3 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein said score lines facilitate the deformation of said front panel, said rear panel, and said second side panel to thereby release said pour spout from said tab lock and permit articles in said container to flow through said opening.  
   
   
       4 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein said container consists essentially of a one-piece blank.  
   
   
       5 . A container according to  claim 4 , wherein said one-piece blank has an external planar side and an internal planar side, said external planar side being finished.  
   
   
       6 . A one-piece reclosable container having an integral pour spout, said container comprising: 
 at least one substantially rectangular bottom panel;    first and second side panels secured to opposing edges of said bottom panel, said first and second side panels defining substantially parallel planes;    a substantially rectangular front panel secured to said bottom panel and to respective edges of said first and second side panels;    a substantially rectangular rear panel secured to said bottom panel and to respective edges of said first and second side panels, said front panel and said rear panel defining substantially parallel planes;    a first top panel secured to respective edges of said front and rear panels;    a pour spout flap secured to a top edge of said second side panel, said pour spout flap having a detachable pour spout tab defined by perforations, said detachable pour spout tab releasably secured to at least a portion of said first top panel; and    a second top panel secured to an internal planar side of said first top panel such that said first and second top panels define substantially parallel planes;    wherein said pour spout flap includes a residual pour spout that is releasably securable to said first top panel, said residual pour spout defined by perforations.    
   
   
       7 . A one-piece reclosable container according to  claim 6 , wherein said one-piece container comprises paperboard.  
   
   
       8 . A one-piece reclosable container according to  claim 6 , wherein: 
 said first top panel defines an opening adjacent to the top edge of said second side panel; and    said second top panel defines an opening adjacent to the top edge of said second side panel such that said first top panel opening and said second top panel opening are in communication.    
   
   
       9 . A one-piece reclosable container according to  claim 8 , wherein said first top panel includes a tab lock positioned adjacent to said first top panel opening and spaced apart from the top edge of said second side panel such that said tab lock is positioned to releasably engage a portion of said pour spout flap.  
   
   
       10 . A one-piece reclosable container according to  claim 9 , wherein said tab lock is positioned to releasably engage said pour spout when said detachable pour spout tab is detached from said first top panel and said residual pour spout flap.  
   
   
       11 . A one-piece reclosable container according to  claim 8 , wherein said first top panel includes: 
 a detachable sealing tab occupying said first top panel opening, said sealing tab connected to said first top panel by perforations; and    a tab lock defined by said perforations, said tab lock positioned adjacent to said detachable sealing tab and spaced apart from said pour spout flap such that removal of said detachable sealing tab permits said tab lock to releasably engage said residual pour spout upon construction of the container.    
   
   
       12 . A one-piece reclosable container according to  claim 11 , whereby removal of said detachable pour spout tab and said detachable sealing tab permits articles in said container to flow through said openings.  
   
   
       13 . A one-piece reclosable container according to  claim 6 , wherein said first top panel includes at least one glue release section formed by a partial cut, said glue release section supporting adhesion of said detachable pour spout tab to said first top panel.  
   
   
       14 . A one-piece reclosable container according to  claim 13 , wherein said glue release section secures said detachable pour spout tab to said first top panel with an adhesive such that said glue release section is separated from said first top panel when said detachable pour spout tab is detached from said first top panel and said pour spout is opened.  
   
   
       15 . A one-piece reclosable container according to  claim 6 , wherein said pour spout flap includes a pull tab connected to said detachable pour spout tab, said pull tab facilitating the removal of said detachable pour spout tab from said first top panel and said pour spout flap.  
   
   
       16 . A one-piece reclosable container according to  claim 15 , wherein said pull tab is defined by at least one score line in said pour spout flap.  
   
   
       17 . A one-piece reclosable container according to  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 a first top flap connected to a top edge of said first side panel, said first top flap secured between said first and second top panels;    wherein at least a portion of said second top panel is debossed such that a portion of said first top flap correspondingly engages said debossed portion to thereby form a seal.    
   
   
       18 . A one-piece reclosable container according to  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 a first bottom flap connected to a bottom edge of said first side panel, said first bottom flap secured between said first and second bottom panels; and    a second bottom flap connected to a bottom edge of said second side panel, said second bottom flap secured between said first and second bottom panels.    
   
   
       19 . A one-piece reclosable container according to  claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of said first bottom panel is embossed such that a portion of said first and second bottom flaps correspondingly engages said embossed portion to thereby form a seal.  
   
   
       20 . A one-piece reclosable container according to  claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of said second bottom panel is debossed such that a portion of said first and second bottom flaps correspondingly engages said debossed portion to thereby form a seal.  
   
   
       21 . A one-piece reclosable container according to  claim 6 , wherein said pour spout flap and said second side panel include score lines that facilitate the formation of said pour spout.  
   
   
       22 . A one-piece reclosable container having an integral pour spout, said container comprising: 
 a first substantially rectangular bottom panel;    a second substantially rectangular bottom panel secured to an internal planar side of said first bottom panel, said first and second bottom panels defining substantially parallel planes;    first and second substantially rectangular side panels secured to opposing edges of said bottom panel, said first and second side panels defining substantially parallel planes;    a substantially rectangular front panel secured to said bottom panel and to respective edges of said first and second side panels;    a substantially rectangular rear panel secured to said bottom panel and to respective edges of said first and second side panels, said front panel and said rear panel defining substantially parallel planes;    a first top panel secured to respective edges of said front and rear panels, said first top panel defining an opening adjacent to a top edge of said second side panel, said first top panel having a tab lock adjacent said opening and spaced apart from the top edge of said second side panel;    a second top panel secured to an internal planar side of said first top panel such that said first and second top panels define substantially parallel planes, said second top panel defining an opening in communication with said first top panel opening;    a pour spout flap secured to the top edge of said second side panel, said pour spout flap having a detachable pour spout tab and a pour spout defined by perforations and positioned adjacent to one another;    a first top flap connected to a top edge of said first side panel, said first top flap secured between said first and second top panels;    a first bottom flap connected to a bottom edge of said first side panel, said first bottom flap secured between said first and second bottom panels; and    a second bottom flap connected to a bottom edge of said second side panel, said second bottom flap secured between said first and second bottom panels.    
   
   
       23 . A one-piece reclosable container according to  claim 22 , wherein said one-piece container comprises paperboard.  
   
   
       24 . A one-piece reclosable container according to  claim 22 , wherein said first top panel includes at least one glue release section formed by a partial cut, said glue release section supporting adhesion of said detachable pour spout tab to said first top panel.  
   
   
       25 . A one-piece reclosable container according to  claim 22 , wherein said first top panel includes: 
 a detachable sealing tab occupying said first top panel opening, said sealing tab connected to said first top panel by perforations and positioned adjacent to said tab lock such that removal of said detachable sealing tab permits said tab lock to releasably engage a portion of said pour spout flap.    
   
   
       26 . A one-piece reclosable container according to  claim 25 , wherein said detachable sealing tab is positioned between said pour spout flap and said second top panel opening such that removal of said detachable pour spout tab and said detachable sealing tab permits a flow of articles from said container.  
   
   
       27 . A one-piece reclosable container according to  claim 22 , wherein said pour spout flap includes a pull tab positioned at a free edge of said pour spout flap, said pull tab facilitating the removal of said detachable pour spout tab from said first top panel and said pour spout flap.  
   
   
       28 . A one-piece reclosable container according to  claim 22 , wherein a portion of said second top panel adjacent to said first side panel is debossed such that said first top flap correspondingly engages said debossed portion to thereby form a seal.  
   
   
       29 . A one-piece reclosable container according to  claim 22 , wherein: 
 respective opposing edge portions of said first bottom panel are embossed; and    respective opposing edge portions of said second bottom panel are debossed, such that said first and second bottom flaps correspondingly engage said embossed edges portions and said debossed edge portions, respectively, to thereby form a seal.    
   
   
       30 . A one-piece reclosable container according to  claim 22 , wherein said pour spout flap and said second side panel include score lines that facilitate the deformation of said front panel, said rear panel, and said second side panel to thereby extend said pour spout upwardly and permit articles in said container to flow through said first and second top panel openings.