Sealable carton for liquid-based materials

Abstract

A carton for transporting and dispensing liquid-based materials including a sealed base, tapered side panels, and a gable top. The top portion of the carton includes a fold-over flap including a seal to close the carton. The seal is tamper-proof such that, upon reopening the carton, the seal is damaged and reveals evidence of tamper. The carton may be carried using a handle attachable to the top of the carton.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A carton for transporting and dispensing liquid-based materials, comprising:
 a sealed base;   tapered sides; and   a top portion comprising two gables and a sealing flap to close said top portion;   wherein the sealing flap includes a tamper-proof seal.   
     
     
         2 . The carton according to  claim 1 , wherein the tamper-proof seal comprises adhesive tape disposed between the sealing flap and an exterior surface on one of the gables. 
     
     
         3 . The carton according to  claim 1 , wherein said carton is stackable with a plurality of cartons. 
     
     
         4 . The carton according to  claim 1 , wherein the carton further comprises at least one fill line on at least one of the tapered sides. 
     
     
         5 . The carton according to  claim 4 , further comprising a volume above the file line to accommodate foam during filing of the carton. 
     
     
         6 . The carton according to  claim 1 , further comprising a removeable handle, wherein the handle comprises:
 two handle loops;   two retaining flaps, each foldable under one of the gables; and   an opening for receiving a distal end of said top portion of the carton.   
     
     
         7 . The carton according to  claim 6 , wherein said opening includes a serrated edge. 
     
     
         8 . The carton according to  claim 6 , wherein said opening includes two holes which interlock with two tabs on the sealing flap of the carton. 
     
     
         9 . The carton according to  claim 6 , wherein at least one of said retaining flaps includes a perforation to split said at least one retaining flap when opening the carton. 
     
     
         10 . The carton according to  claim 1 , wherein the top portion includes a plurality of foldable panels, wherein two or more of the panels and the gables include embossed lines which interact with one another to create seals. 
     
     
         11 . The carton according to  claim 1 , wherein the flap includes a perforation to permit a portion of the flap to be opened. 
     
     
         12 . The carton according to  claim 1 , wherein the tamper-proof seal extends across the entire flap. 
     
     
         13 . The carton according to  claim 1 , wherein the tamper-proof seal includes one or more unsealed gaps. 
     
     
         14 . The carton according to  claim 1 , further comprising a biodegradable cardboard material. 
     
     
         15 . A carton for transporting and dispensing liquid-based materials, comprising:
 a sealed base;   a plurality of upwardly tapered sides;   a top portion comprising a gable top and a sealing flap to close said top portion;   a seal on the sealing flap, said seal revealing tamper evidence upon opening of said top portion of the carton;   at least one fill line on at least one of the tapered sides; and   a handle comprising two handle loops, two retaining flaps foldable under each end of the gable top, and an opening for receiving a distal end of said top portion of the carton.   
     
     
         16 . The carton according to  claim 15 , wherein said opening includes two holes which interlock with two tabs on the top portion of the carton. 
     
     
         17 . The carton according to  claim 15 , wherein the top portion includes a plurality of foldable panels, wherein two or more of the panels and the gables include embossed lines which interact with one another to create seals. 
     
     
         18 . The carton according to  claim 15 , wherein said carton is stackable with a plurality of cartons. 
     
     
         19 . The carton according to  claim 15 , wherein the handle further includes two assembly flaps that fold through at least one of the handle loops to keep the two handle loops together. 
     
     
         20 . The carton according to  claim 15 , further comprising a volume above the file line to accommodate foam during filing of the carton.