Reclosable carton

Abstract

A carton accommodates a flexible vessel and includes a reclosure feature. The reclosure feature provides a relatively tight seal for the contents of the flexible vessel.

1 . A blank for forming a carton, comprising: 
 a first side panel;    a first end panel;    a second side panel;    a second end panel;    at least one top flap extending across a first marginal portion of the blank;    at least one bottom flap extending across a second marginal portion of the blank; and    at least one tear strip extending along at least substantially an entire length of the blank, through the first side panel, the first end panel, the second side panel, and the second end panel, the at least one tear strip at least partially defining a first reclosure flap in the first side panel and a second reclosure flap in the second side panel.    
     
     
         2 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the at least one tear strip divides the first side panel into a lower first side panel section and an upper first side panel section; and    the at least one tear strip divides the second side panel into a lower second side panel section and an upper second side panel section.    
     
     
         3 . The blank of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the at least one tear strip divides the first end panel into a lower first end panel section and an upper first end panel section; and    the at least one tear strip divides the second end panel into a lower second end panel section and an upper second end panel section.    
     
     
         4 . The blank of  claim 3 , further comprising a first reclosure pattern in the first end panel adjacent to the at least one tear strip.  
     
     
         5 . The blank of  claim 4 , wherein the first reclosure pattern comprises a plurality of lines of disruption in the first end panel.  
     
     
         6 . The blank of  claim 5 , further comprising a second reclosure pattern in the second end panel adjacent to the at least one tear strip.  
     
     
         7 . The blank of  claim 4 , further comprising a crease in the first end panel adjacent to the at least one bottom flap.  
     
     
         8 . The blank of  claim 3 , wherein a height of the upper first side panel section plus a height of the at least one tear strip is at least 20% of a height of the first side panel.  
     
     
         9 . The blank of  claim 6 , wherein a height of the upper first side panel section plus a height of the at least one tear strip is at least 20% of a height of the first side panel.  
     
     
         10 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one top flap comprises a first side top flap foldably connected to the first side panel and a second side top flap foldably connected to the second side panel.  
     
     
         11 . The blank of  claim 2 , wherein a length of the first side panel is approximately equal to a length of the second side panel.  
     
     
         12 . The blank of  claim 11 , wherein the first side panel, the first end panel, the second side panel, and the second end panel are substantially rectangular.  
     
     
         13 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein the blank is constructed of paperboard.  
     
     
         14 . A carton, comprising: 
 a first side panel;    a first end panel;    a second side panel;    a second end panel;    a top panel;    a bottom panel, wherein the first side panel, the first end panel, the second side panel, the second end panel, the top panel and the bottom panel form a substantially parallelepipedal enclosure;    at least one tear strip extending through the first side panel, the first end panel, the second side panel, and the second end panel, the at least one tear strip at least partially defining a first reclosure flap in the first side panel and a second reclosure flap in the second side panel; and    a flexible vessel disposed within the substantially parallelepipedal enclosure.    
     
     
         15 . The carton of  claim 14 , wherein: 
 the at least one tear strip divides the first side panel into a lower first side panel section and an upper first side panel section; and    the at least one tear strip divides the second side panel into a lower second side panel section and an upper second side panel section.    
     
     
         16 . The carton of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 the at least one tear strip divides the first end panel into a lower first end panel section and an upper first end panel section; and    the at least one tear strip divides the second end panel into a lower second end panel section and an upper second end panel section.    
     
     
         17 . The carton of  claim 16 , further comprising a first reclosure pattern in the first end panel adjacent to the at least one tear strip, wherein the first reclosure pattern comprises a plurality of lines of disruption in the first end panel.  
     
     
         18 . The carton of  claim 17 , further comprising a second reclosure pattern in the second end panel adjacent to the at least one tear strip.  
     
     
         19 . The carton of  claim 16 , wherein a height of the upper first side panel section plus a height of the at least one tear strip is at least 20% of a height of the carton.  
     
     
         20 . The carton of  claim 14 , wherein the top panel comprises a plurality of top flaps and the bottom panel comprises a plurality of bottom flaps.  
     
     
         21 . A method of opening and reclosing carton, comprising: 
 providing a carton according to  claim 14;     tearing the at least one tear strip around a perimeter of the carton to separate the carton into an upper section and a reclosable lower section.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 pressing an upper portion of the flexible vessel between the first reclosure flap and the second reclosure flap; and    pivoting the first reclosure flap and the second reclosure flap inwardly toward one another, wherein the upper portion of the flexible vessel remains pressed between the first reclosure flap and the second reclosure flap.    
     
     
         23 . A method opening and reclosing carton, comprising: 
 providing a carton according to  claim 18;     tearing the at least one tear strip around a perimeter of the carton to separate the carton into an upper section and a reclosable lower section;    pressing an upper portion of the flexible vessel between the first reclosure flap and the second reclosure flap;    deforming a portion of the first end panel outwardly at the first reclosure pattern;    deforming a portion of the second end panel outwardly at the second reclosure pattern; and    pivoting the first reclosure flap and the second reclosure flap inwardly toward one another, wherein the upper portion of the flexible vessel remains pressed between the first reclosure flap and the second reclosure flap.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising pivoting the deformed portion of the first end panel downwardly before pivoting the first reclosure flap and the second reclosure flap inwardly toward one another.  
     
     
         25 . A method of opening and reclosing carton, comprising: 
 providing a carton comprising an upper section and a lower section, the upper section being separable from the lower section, and the lower section comprising a first reclosure flap and a second reclosure flap;    providing a flexible vessel within the carton;    separating the upper section from the lower section, wherein the flexible vessel remains in the lower section; and    pivoting the first reclosure flap and the second reclosure flap inwardly toward one another with the flexible vessel held between the flaps.    
     
     
         26 . A method of opening and reclosing carton, comprising: 
 providing a carton comprising an upper section and a lower section, the upper section being separable from the lower section, and the lower section comprising a first reclosure flap and a second reclosure flap;    separating the upper section from the lower section;    deforming an upper part of a first end of the lower section;    deforming an upper part of a second end of the carton;    pivoting the deformed upper part of the first end downwardly;    pivoting the deformed upper part of the second end downwardly; and    pivoting the first reclosure flap and the second reclosure flap inwardly toward one another.