Blank capable of forming a 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 packaging blank that is capable of forming a reclosable container, said blank comprising: 
 a substantially rectangular front panel having opposing first and second side panels;    a substantially rectangular rear panel connected to said front panel by said second side panel;    at least one top panel connected to a top edge of said front panel;    at least one bottom panel connected to a bottom edge of said front panel; and    a pour spout flap connected to a top edge of said second side panel, said pour spout flap having a detachable pour spout tab;    wherein said blank is capable of being folded such that a portion of said top panel releasably engages a residual pour spout connected to said second side panel when said pour spout tab is detached from said pour spout flap.    
   
   
       2 . A packaging blank according to  claim 1 , wherein said packaging blank consists essentially of a one-piece blank.  
   
   
       3 . A packaging blank according to  claim 2 , wherein said one-piece blank has an external planar side and an internal planar side, said external planar side being finished.  
   
   
       4 . A packaging blank according to  claim 1 , wherein said packaging blank comprises paperboard.  
   
   
       5 . A packaging blank according to  claim 1 , wherein said top panel includes a detachable sealing tab positioned at a free edge of said top panel and adjacent to said pour spout flap, said detachable sealing tab defined by perforations.  
   
   
       6 . A packaging blank according to  claim 1 , 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 pour spout flap upon construction of the container.  
   
   
       7 . A packaging blank according to  claim 1 , wherein said pour spout flap consists of said detachable pour spout tab, said residual pour spout, and a pull tab positioned at a free edge of said pour spout flap.  
   
   
       8 . A packaging blank according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a first top flap connected to a top edge of said first side panel; and    a first bottom flap connected to a bottom edge of said first side panel.    
   
   
       9 . A packaging blank according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second bottom flap connected to a bottom edge of said second side panel.  
   
   
       10 . A packaging blank according to  claim 1 , further comprising a glue flap connected to an edge of said rear panel opposite the edge to which said second side panel is connected.  
   
   
       11 . A packaging blank that is capable of forming a reclosable container having an integral pour spout, said blank comprising: 
 a substantially rectangular front panel having opposing first and second side panels;    a substantially rectangular rear panel connected to said front panel by said second side panel;    a first top panel connected to a top edge of said front panel;    a second top panel connected to a top edge of said rear panel;    a first bottom panel connected to a bottom edge of said front panel;    a second bottom panel connected to a bottom edge of said rear panel; and    a pour spout flap connected to a top edge of said second side panel, said pour spout flap having a detachable pour spout tab positioned at a free edge of said pour spout flap;    wherein said blank is capable of being folded to form a residual pour spout that is releasably secured between said first and second top panels when said detachable pour spout tab is detached from said pour spout flap.    
   
   
       12 . A packaging blank according to  claim 11 , wherein said packaging blank has an external planar side and an internal planar side, said external planar side being finished.  
   
   
       13 . A packaging blank according to  claim 11 , wherein said packaging blank comprises paperboard.  
   
   
       14 . A packaging blank according to  claim 11 , wherein: 
 said first top panel defines an opening adjacent to said pour spout flap; and    said second top panel defines an opening adjacent to said pour spout flap such that said first top panel opening and said second top panel opening are in communication upon construction of the container.    
   
   
       15 . A packaging blank according to  claim 14 , wherein said first top panel includes a tab lock positioned adjacent to said first top panel opening and spaced apart from said pour spout flap such that said tab lock is positioned to releasably engage a portion of said pour spout flap upon construction of the container.  
   
   
       16 . A packaging blank according to  claim 14 , 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 a portion of said pour spout flap upon construction of the container.    
   
   
       17 . A packaging blank according to  claim 11 , wherein said first top panel includes at least one glue release section formed by a partial cut, said glue release section positioned to secure said pour spout flap to said first top panel upon construction of the container.  
   
   
       18 . A packaging blank according to  claim 11 , wherein said first and second top panels are substantially rectangular.  
   
   
       19 . A packaging blank according to  claim 11 , wherein said first and second bottom panels are substantially rectangular.  
   
   
       20 . A packaging blank according to  claim 11 , 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 pour spout flap upon construction of the container.  
   
   
       21 . A packaging blank according to  claim 20 , wherein said pull tab is defined by at least one score line in said pour spout flap.  
   
   
       22 . A packaging blank according to  claim 11 , wherein said pour spout flap and said second side panel include score lines that facilitate the formation of said residual pour spout upon construction of the container.  
   
   
       23 . A packaging blank according to  claim 11 , wherein said detachable pour spout tab and said residual pour spout are defined by perforations in said pour spout flap such that removal of said detachable pour spout tab forms said residual pour spout.  
   
   
       24 . A packaging blank according to  claim 11 , wherein said residual pour spout is substantially polygonal in shape and having at least two parallel edges.  
   
   
       25 . A packaging blank according to  claim 11 , wherein said residual pour spout having a distal edge that forms an apex of said pour spout.  
   
   
       26 . A packaging blank according to  claim 11 , wherein said residual pour spout is substantially triangular in shape.  
   
   
       27 . A packaging blank according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a first top flap connected to a top edge of said first side panel;    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 upon construction of the container to thereby form a seal.    
   
   
       28 . A packaging blank according to  claim 27 , wherein said first top flap is substantially trapezoidal in shape.  
   
   
       29 . A packaging blank according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a first bottom flap connected to a bottom edge of said first side panel; and    a second bottom flap connected to a bottom edge of said second side panel.    
   
   
       30 . A packaging blank according to  claim 29 , wherein said first and second bottom flaps are substantially trapezoidal in shape.  
   
   
       31 . A packaging blank according to  claim 29 , 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 upon construction of the container to thereby form a seal.  
   
   
       32 . A packaging blank according to  claim 29 , 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 upon construction of the container to thereby form a seal.  
   
   
       33 . A packaging blank according to  claim 11 , further comprising a glue flap connected to an edge of said rear panel opposite the edge to which said second side panel is connected.