Blank and container having an integral recloseable pour spout

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging blank and container having an integral reclosable pour spout which provides enhanced seals, and promotes accurate placement of the pour spout during construction. The blank provides a pour spout assembly having a skewed fold line that facilitate folding operations and promotes accurate positioning of the pour spout, a detachable access tab that promotes sealing and provides tamper evidence, and a novel pour spout assembly that promotes directional and controlled pouring of articles. The invention further relates to a container formed from the blank.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A packaging blank capable of forming a container comprising:
 a substantially rectangular front panel having first and second side panels connected to opposite edges of said front panel;   a spout body reinforcing panel and a detachable access tab defined by said first side panel, said pour spout reinforcing panel defining at least one retention tab;   a substantially rectangular rear panel connected to said front panel by said second side panel;   a glue flap connected to an edge of said rear panel opposite the edge to which said second side panel is connected; and   a pour spout assembly panel connected to said rear panel by said glue flap;   wherein said blank is capable of being folded such that portions of said pour spout assembly panel correspond with said spout body reinforcing panel to form a reclosable pour spout upon construction of a container such that portions of said pour spout assembly panel accurately position and secure said pour spout within an interior of the container and substantially adjacent to an edge of said first side panel.   
     
     
         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 pour spout assembly panel comprises:
 a spout connection panel connected to and extending from said glue flap;   a spout body interior panel connected to and extending from said spout connection panel; and   first and second spout side panels extending laterally from opposite edges of said spout body interior panel, said first and second spout side panels each defining at least one retention tab;   wherein said retention tabs of said spout body reinforcing panel and said first and second spout side panels correspond with one another upon construction of said packaging blank into the container to facilitate the opening and closing of the pour spout.   
     
     
         6 . A packaging blank according to  claim 5 , wherein a lower edge of said second spout side panel is arcuate-shaped and extends below a lower edge of said first spout side panel and said spout body interior panel to facilitate directional pouring of articles contained within the container formed from said packaging blank. 
     
     
         7 . A packaging blank according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a spout body intermediate panel connected to said rear panel and positioned substantially above said glue flap, said spout body intermediate panel defining at least one retention tab that corresponds with said retention tab of said spout body reinforcing panel upon construction of said packaging blank into the container to facilitate the opening and closing of the pour spout; and   a glue tab connected to said rear panel and positioned substantially above said spout body intermediate panel.   
     
     
         8 . A packaging blank according to  claim 7 , wherein said glue tab defines at least one channel and at least one retention tab for guiding the movement of the pour spout, and for facilitating the opening and secure closing of the pour spout of the container formed from said blank, respectively. 
     
     
         9 . A packaging blank according to  claim 1 , wherein said pour spout assembly panel includes at least one score line that is skewed relative to a vertical axis of said blank, said skewed score line facilitating the folding and gluing of the blank and further facilitating the accurate positioning of the pour spout within an interior of the container upon construction. 
     
     
         10 . A packaging blank according to  claim 1 , wherein said packaging blank includes score lines, cut-scores, reverse cut-scores, and perforations that facilitate the formation of the container having the reclosable pour spout. 
     
     
         11 . A packaging blank according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an outer top closure panel connected to an upper edge of said front panel;   an inner top closure panel connected to an upper edge of said rear panel;   an outer bottom closure panel connected to a lower edge of said front panel;   an inner bottom closure panel connected to a lower edge of said rear panel;   a first inner top closure flap connected to an upper edge of said first side panel;   a second inner top closure flap connected to an upper edge of said second side panel;   a first inner bottom closure flap connected to a lower edge of said first side panel; and   a second inner bottom closure flap connected to a lower edge of said second side panel.   
     
     
         12 . A packaging blank according to  claim 11 , wherein portions of said first inner top closure flap, said second inner top closure flap, said first inner bottom closure flap, said second inner bottom closure flap, said inner top closure panel, and said inner bottom closure panel include glue assist perforations formed in the respective flaps and panels. 
     
     
         13 . A reclosable container having a directional integral pour spout comprising:
 at least one substantially rectangular bottom panel;   substantially rectangular first and second side panels secured to opposite edges of said bottom panel, said first and second side panels defining substantially parallel planes, said first side panel defining a spout body reinforcing panel and a detachable access tab;   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 and rear panels defining substantially parallel planes;   at least one substantially rectangular top panel secured to respective edges of said front and rear panels;   at least one top closure flap connected to a top edge of said first side panel; and   a pour spout assembly secured to said first side panel and positioned at an edge of said first side panel and said rear panel, said pour spout assembly having at least one retention tab for securing said pour spout assembly against said first side panel;   wherein said pour spout assembly is opened upon removal of said detachable access tab and closed upon securing said at least one retention tab against said first side panel.   
     
     
         14 . A reclosable container according to  claim 13  wherein said at least one bottom panel includes:
 an outer bottom closure panel connected to a lower edge of said front panel; 
 an inner bottom closure panel connected to a lower edge of said rear panel; 
 a first inner bottom closure flap connected to said first side panel; and 
 a second inner bottom closure flap connected to said second side panel. 
 
     
     
         15 . A reclosable container according to  claim 13  wherein said at least one top closure panel includes:
 an outer top closure panel connected to an upper edge of said front panel; 
 an inner top closure panel connected to an upper edge of said rear panel; 
 a first inner top closure flap connected to said first side panel; and 
 a second inner top closure flap connected to said second side panel. 
 
     
     
         16 . A reclosable container according to  claim 13 , wherein said pour spout assembly comprises:
 a spout connection panel secured to said first side panel;   a spout body intermediate panel secured to said spout body reinforcing panel;   a spout body interior panel secured to said spout body intermediate panel and connected to said spout body connection panel; and   first and second spout side panels extending laterally from opposite edges of said spout body interior panel, said first and second spout side panels each defining at least one retention tab;   wherein said retention tabs of said spout body reinforcing panel, and said first and second spout side panels correspond with one another to facilitate the opening and closing of the pour spout.   
     
     
         17 . A reclosable container according to  claim 16 , wherein a lower edge of said second spout side panel is arcuate-shaped and extends below a lower edge of said first spout side panel and said spout body interior panel to facilitate directional pouring of articles contained within the container. 
     
     
         18 . A reclosable container according to  claim 16 , wherein said first spout side panel extends substantially parallel to said rear panel and said second spout side panel extends at an angle of between about 35 and 50 degrees relative to said first spout side panel upon opening said spout to thereby provide directional and controlled pouring of articles in the container. 
     
     
         19 . A reclosable container according to  claim 18 , wherein said second spout side panel extends to an intermediate portion of said spout body reinforcing panel.