Box for bag-in-box package with spout location assist port

Abstract

A box for receiving a bag having a spout may comprise a first member comprising a spout access tab and a second member comprising a spout location assist tab spaced apart from the spout access tab. Alternatively, a box may comprise a tray comprising a first removable portion, a lid adaptable to be fastened to the tray, the lid comprising a second removable portion, at least one of the tray and the lid comprising a third removable portion, wherein the first, second, and third removable portions may be removed to form a combined spout access port and spout location assist port. Other alternative embodiments and methods are also disclosed.

1 . A box adaptable for receiving a bag having a spout, said box comprising: 
 a first member comprising a spout access tab; and    a second member comprising a spout location assist tab;    said spout location assist tab being spaced apart from said spout access tab.    
   
   
       2 . The box of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said first member and said second member comprises a flap.  
   
   
       3 . The box of  claim 2  wherein said flap comprises a first flap and a second flap, wherein said first flap and said second flap at least partially overlap each other.  
   
   
       4 . The box of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said first member and said second member comprises a panel.  
   
   
       5 . The box of  claim 1  wherein said first member comprises a first flap and a second flap at least partially overlapping said first flap; and 
 said second member comprises a panel.    
   
   
       6 . The box of  claim 5  wherein said box comprises a lid and a tray; 
 said lid comprises said first flap and said panel; and    said tray comprises said second flap.    
   
   
       7 . The box of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said spout access tab and said spout location assist tab comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of oval, elliptical, pear-shaped, circular, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal, and irregular.  
   
   
       8 . The box of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said spout access tab and said spout location assist tab comprises at least one perforation.  
   
   
       9 . The box of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said spout access tab and said spout location assist tab comprises at least one hinged portion.  
   
   
       10 . The box of  claim 1  wherein a single blank comprises said first member and said second member.  
   
   
       11 . The box of  claim 1  wherein said box comprises a lid and a tray.  
   
   
       12 . The box of  claim 11  wherein said lid is fastened to said tray.  
   
   
       13 . The box of  claim 1  wherein said first member and said second member share an edge.  
   
   
       14 . The box of  claim 1  further comprising a bag disposed in said box, said bag having a spout, said spout being adaptable for manual location through a spout location assist port formable by removal of said spout location assist tab, said spout being adaptable for placement in a spout access port formable by removal of said spout access tab.  
   
   
       15 . The box of  claim 14  further comprising a flowable substance disposed in said bag.  
   
   
       16 . A box adaptable for receiving a bag having a spout, said box comprising: 
 a tray comprising a first removable portion;    a lid adaptable to be fastened to said tray;    said lid comprising a second removable portion;    at least one of said tray and said lid comprising a third removable portion;    wherein said first, second, and third removable portions may be removed to form a combined spout access port and spout location assist port.    
   
   
       17 . The box of  claim 16  wherein at least two of said first, second, and third removable portions at least partially overlap one another.  
   
   
       18 . The box of  claim 16  wherein at least one of said first, second, and third removable portions is provided on a flap.  
   
   
       19 . The box of  claim 16  wherein at least one of said first, second, and third removable portions is provided on a panel.  
   
   
       20 . The box of  claim 16  wherein at least one of said first, second, and third removable portions comprises at least one perforation.  
   
   
       21 . The box of  claim 16  wherein at least one of said first second, and third removable portions comprises at least one hinged portion.  
   
   
       22 . The box of  claim 16  wherein said combined spout access port and spout location assist port comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of oval, elliptical, pear-shaped, circular, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal, and irregular.  
   
   
       23 . The box of  claim 16  wherein said combined spout access port and spout location assist port spans at least one edge.  
   
   
       24 . The box of  claim 23  wherein said combined spout access port and spout location assist port spans at least one edge on each of said tray and said lid.  
   
   
       25 . The box of  claim 16  further comprising a bag disposed in said box; 
 said bag having a spout;    said combined spout access port and spout location assist port permitting manual location and placement of said spout.    
   
   
       26 . The box of  claim 25  further comprising a flowable substance disposed in said bag.  
   
   
       27 . A box adaptable for receiving a bag having a spout, said box comprising: 
 a first member comprising a first removable portion;    a second member comprising a second removable portion;    a third member comprising a third removable portion;    wherein said first and second removable portions share a first edge;    wherein said second and third removable portions share a second edge;    wherein said first, second, and third removable portions may be removed to form a combined spout access port and spout location assist port.    
   
   
       28 . The box of  claim 27  wherein at least one of said first, second, and third members comprises a flap.  
   
   
       29 . The box of  claim 27  wherein at least one of said first, second, and third members comprises a panel.  
   
   
       30 . The box of  claim 27  wherein at least one of said first, second, and third removable portions comprises at least one perforation.  
   
   
       31 . The box of  claim 27  wherein at least one of said first, second, and third removable portions comprises at least one hinged portion.  
   
   
       32 . The box of  claim 27  wherein said combined spout access port and spout location assist port comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of oval, elliptical, pear-shaped, circular, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal, and irregular.  
   
   
       33 . The box of  claim 27  further comprising a bag disposed in said box; 
 said bag having a spout;    wherein said combined spout access port and spout location assist port facilitates manual location of said spout within said box and placement of said spout in said combined spout access port and spout location assist port.    
   
   
       34 . The box of  claim 33  further comprising a flowable substance disposed in said bag.  
   
   
       35 . A box adaptable for receiving a bag having a spout, said box comprising: 
 a first member comprising a spout access tab; and    a second member connected to said first member, said second member comprising a spout location assist tab;    said spout location assist tab being spaced apart from said spout access tab.    
   
   
       36 . A box adaptable for receiving a bag having a spout, said box comprising: 
 a first member comprising a first perforation adaptable for forming a first opening; and    a second member connected to said first member, said second member comprising a second perforation adaptable for forming a second opening;    said second opening being spaced apart from said first opening.    
   
   
       37 . A box adaptable for receiving a bag having a spout, said box comprising: 
 a tray comprising a first flap having a first perforation defining a first removable portion;    a lid comprising a second flap having a second perforation defining a second removable portion, and a panel having a third perforation defining a third removable portion spaced apart from said second removable portion;    said panel and said second flap being connected by an edge;    said lid being adaptable for mating with said tray such that said second removable portion partially overlaps said first removable portion;    wherein said third removable portion may be removed to form a first opening adaptable for manually locating the spout; and    wherein said first and second removable portions may be removed to form a second opening adaptable for receiving the spout.    
   
   
       38 . A pair of blanks for forming a lid and a tray for a box, comprising: 
 a first blank comprising a first panel and a first plurality of flaps connected to said first panel;    said first plurality of flaps being foldable and fastenable to form a tray;    one of said first plurality of flaps having a first removable portion;    a second blank comprising a second panel and a second plurality of flaps connected to said second panel;    said second plurality of flaps being foldable and fastenable to form a lid;    one of said second plurality of flaps having a second removable portion;    said second panel having a third removable portion;    said lid being adaptable for mating with said tray such that said second removable portion at least partially overlaps said first removable portion.    
   
   
       39 . A box adaptable for receiving a bag having a spout said box comprising: 
 a first means for forming a spout location assist port in a first member;    a second means for forming a spout access port in a second member;    said second member being connected to said first member;    said spout access port being spaced apart from said spout location assist port.    
   
   
       40 . The box of  claim 39  further comprising a third means for containing a flowable substance disposed in said box.  
   
   
       41 . The box of  claim 40  wherein said third means comprises a fourth means for dispensing said flowable substance.  
   
   
       42 . A box adaptable for receiving a bag having a spout, said box comprising: 
 a first means for forming a tray;    a second means for forming a lid;    said lid being adaptable for mating with said tray; and    a third means for forming a combined spout access port and spout location assist port in said tray and said lid.    
   
   
       43 . A box adaptable for receiving a bag having a spout, said box comprising: 
 a first member, a second member, and a third member;    a first means for connecting said first and second members;    a second means for connecting said second and third members; and    a third means for forming a combined spout access port and spout location assist port in said first, second, and third members.    
   
   
       44 . A method of making a bag-in-box package comprising: 
 placing a bag inside a box;    said bag having a spout;    said box having a first removable portion adaptable for forming a spout location assist port and a second removable portion adaptable for forming a spout access port spaced apart from said spout location assist port; and    at least partially filling said bag with a flowable substance.    
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44  wherein said box comprises a single blank.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 44  wherein said box comprises more than one blank.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 46  wherein said box comprises a lid and a tray.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 44  wherein an edge is disposed between said first and second removable portions.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 44  further comprising closing said spout.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 44  further comprising closing said box.  
   
   
       51 . A method of making a bag-in-box package comprising: 
 providing a box comprising a lid and a tray, 
 said tray comprising a first removable portion;  
 said lid comprising a second removable portion;  
 at least one of said tray and said lid comprising a third removable portion;  
 wherein said first, second, and third removable portions may be removed to form a combined spout access port and spout location assist port;  
   placing a bag inside said box, said bag having a spout; and    at least partially filling said bag with a flowable substance.    
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 51  wherein said combined spout access port and spout location assist port spans at least one edge.  
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 51  further comprising closing said spout.  
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 51  further comprising closing said box.  
   
   
       55 . A method of making a bag-in-box package comprising: 
 providing a box comprising 
 a first member comprising a first removable portion;  
 a second member comprising a second removable portion;  
 a third member comprising a third removable portion;  
 wherein said first and second removable portions share a first edge;  
 wherein said first, second, and third removable portions may be removed to form a combined spout access port and spout location assist port;  
 placing a bag inside said box, said bag having a spout; and  
 at least partially filling said bag with a flowable substance.  
   
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 55  further comprising closing said spout.  
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 55  further comprising closing said box.  
   
   
       58 . A box comprising: 
 a first member having a first removable portion;    a second member having a second removable portion;    said first and second removable portions being at least partially overlapping;    an edge that at least partially defines a boundary for at least one of said first and second removable portions;    said first and second removable portions being removable to form an opening through which a spout of a bag may be manually accessed.    
   
   
       59 . The box of  claim 58  wherein said edge comprises at least one perforation.  
   
   
       60 . The box of  claim 58  wherein said edge comprises at least one slit-score.  
   
   
       61 . The box of  claim 58  wherein at least a portion of said boundary comprises at least one perforation.  
   
   
       62 . The box of  claim 58  wherein at least a portion of said boundary comprises at least one slit-score.  
   
   
       63 . The box of  claim 58  wherein at least a portion of said boundary comprises at least one hinged portion.  
   
   
       64 . The box of  claim 58  further comprising a third removable portion the removal of which facilitates manual grasping and removal of at least one of said first and second removable portions.  
   
   
       65 . A box comprising: 
 a panel;    a first flap connected to said panel at an edge;    said first flap comprising a first removable portion having a boundary defined by said edge;    a second flap having a second removable portion and a third removable portion;    said first flap being attached to said second flap such that said first removable portion at least partially overlaps said second removable portion;    said third removable portion being removable to permit manual grasping and removal of at least one of said first and second removable portions;    said first, second, and third removable portions being removable to form an opening adaptable for receiving a spout of a bag.    
   
   
       66 . The box of  claim 65  wherein said boundary comprises at least one perforation.  
   
   
       67 . The box of  claim 65  wherein said boundary comprises at least one slit-score.  
   
   
       68 . The box of  claim 67  wherein said at least one slit-score traverses an interior surface of said box.  
   
   
       69 . The box of  claim 67  wherein said at least one slit-score traverses an exterior surface of said box.  
   
   
       70 . The box of  claim 65  wherein said boundary comprises at least one hinged portion.