Container and closure for a container

Abstract

A container having a paperboard carton and a plastic closure is provided. The carton has a bottom and a sidewall extending upward toward an open end. A plurality of flaps extend from the sidewall at the open end. Each flap joins to the sidewall at a hinge and depends downwardly from the sidewall over an end portion of the sidewall. The closure has a base portion and inner and outers walls depending downward from the base portion. The base portion and inner and outer walls define a channel therebetween. The channel receives the flaps of the carton. At least one of the inner and outer walls defines a shoulder that engages the flaps to secure the carton to the closure.

1 . A container comprising:
 a rectangular paperboard carton including a rectangular bottom and four sidewalls extending generally upward from the bottom, the sidewalls and bottom defining an open ended enclosure, each sidewall terminating in a fold connecting a flap to the sidewall, each flap having a terminating free end extending in generally parallel relationship to the fold, the folds generally defining an open end of the carton;   a plastic closure mounted to the free end of the carton, the closure having a generally rectangular base and an-inner skirt spaced apart from an outer skirt, the inner and outer skirts depending downward from the base, the base and inner and outer skirts combining to form a rectangular channel therebetween, the channel receiving the free end of the carton, the rectangular base defining an opening therethrough;   at least one rib extending into the channel from one of the skirts toward the other skirt engaging the terminating edge of each flap; and   a movable door covering the opening integrally hinged to the rectangular base at a living hinge, the movable door engageable with the rectangular base to maintain the door in a closed position.   
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each fold connecting a flap to a sidewall is creased to form an integral hinge between the flap and the sidewall, and wherein the flaps are substantially planar and each flap has opposed ends that extend between the fold and the terminating free end, the opposed ends being tapered or trimmed such that the length of the terminating end is shorter in length than the width of the sidewall to which the flap is secured, and
 wherein the paperboard carton is formed from a unitary one-peace blank of paperboard.   
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the connection between the carton and the closure is free of adhesive. 
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1 , further including a support flange extending inward from the inner skirt and spaced apart from the rectangular base, the movable door includes an engagement flange, the engagement flange receivable in the opening, a terminating end of the engagement flange abutting the support rib when the movable door is in a closed position. 
   
   
       5 . A container, comprising:
 a carton formed at least in part from paperboard material, the carton having a bottom and a sidewall extending upward toward an open end;   a plurality of flaps extending from the sidewall at the open end, each flap depending downwardly from the sidewall over an end portion of the sidewall; and   a closure secured to the carton at the open end, the closure having a base portion and inner and outers walls depending downward therefrom to define a channel therebetween, the channel receiving the flaps, at least one of the inner and outer walls defining a shoulder, the shoulder engaging the flaps to secure the carton to the closure.   
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein each of the flaps have opposing first and second side surfaces and a terminating end face extending between the first and second side surfaces, wherein the flaps engage the shoulder along the end face. 
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein each flap is joined to the sidewall at a hinge, the hinge being formed by a folded crease formed into the paperboard material, and wherein the flaps are substantially planar. 
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the paperboard material defines first and second surfaces with a substantially constant paperboard thickness extending transversely therebetween throughout the end portion and the flaps, wherein the channel has a width of between 2.5 and 4 times of the paperboard thickness above the shoulder. 
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the inner and outer walls, the channel and the shoulder are a continuous and free of interruptions in extension around a periphery of the closure. 
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the inner and outer walls, the channel and the shoulder are discontinuous and broken into different discrete segments around a periphery of the closure. 
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the closure defines a dispensing opening formed therethrough, further including a lid adapted to open and close the dispensing opening. 
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the closure is non-removably secured to the carton without any adhesive. 
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the closure is further adhesively bonded to the carton, the adhesive providing a seal between the closure to the carton to prevent leakage therebetween. 
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the shoulder is a rib formed on the inner wall, and wherein each flap is folded inwardly from the sidewall to form the hinge. 
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the shoulder is a rib formed on the outer wall, and wherein each flap is folded outwardly from the sidewall to form the hinge. 
   
   
       16 . A closure for a rectangular paperboard carton having an open free end defined by folded over flaps of the rectangular sidewall of the carton, the flaps terminating in an end face that runs parallel to the folds, the closure comprising:
 a rectangular base having a dispensing opening passing therethrough;   inner and outer skirts extending from and extending transverse to a bottom side of the rectangular base, the inner and outer skirts and rectangular base combining to form a rectangular channel adapted to receive and engage an open free end of the carton;   a shoulder formed in one of the inner and outer skirts, the shoulder configured to engage the end face of the folded over flaps;   a lid door hingedly connected to the rectangular base by a living hinge and having a top panel sized to cover the opening when the lid door is in a closed position; and   lid door inner and outer walls extending from and generally transverse to the top panel, the lid door inner wall sized to insert into and mate with the opening, the outer wall terminating in a free end that abuts with a top side of the rectangular base in the closed position.   
   
   
       17 . The closure of  claim 16 , wherein one of the rectangular base and the lid door includes a clasp and the other of the rectangular base and lid door including a catch for selectively engaging the clasp to secure the lid door in a closed position. 
   
   
       18 . The closure of  claim 16 , further comprising an inner support flange that extends inward from an inner surface of the inner skirt, a terminating end of the lid door inner wall abutting the support flange when the lid door is in a closed condition. 
   
   
       19 . The closure of  claim 16 , wherein the lid door and rectangular base form a seal therebetween when the lid door is in a closed condition.