Carton with plastic reclosable header

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a package with a rigid or semi-rigid container and a polymeric or plastic header with a reclosure, such as a zipper. The rigid or semi-rigid container is typically provided in a stack of flat containers. The header is sealed, glued or otherwise secured to the containers. The container, typically inverted, is filled, and the bottom is formed by folding and sealing the bottom portion of the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container portion for a carton, comprising:
 a front portion and a rear portion;   first and second edges formed by respective first and second exterior folds joining the front portion to the rear portion thereby forming an open top and an open bottom;   the front portion including a first front interior vertical fold inwardly adjacent from the first edge and a second front interior vertical fold inwardly adjacent from and parallel to the second edge;   the rear portion including a first rear interior vertical fold inwardly adjacent from the first edge and a second rear interior vertical fold inwardly adjacent from and parallel to the second edge;   the front and rear portions including respective front and rear horizontal folds upwardly adjacent from the open bottom; and   a first glue dot adjacent to a top of the first edge and a second glue dot adjacent to a top of the second edge.   
     
     
         2 . The container portion of  claim 1  wherein the front portion and rear portion are made from a single sheet of material, wherein edges of the sheet of material are joined at a seam and further including a third glue dot at a top of the seam. 
     
     
         3 . The container portion of  claim 1  further including a header attached to and covering the top, the header including a closure. 
     
     
         4 . The container portion of  claim 3  wherein the header is formed of polymeric material. 
     
     
         5 . The container portion of  claim 4  wherein the closure is a zipper. 
     
     
         6 . The container portion of  claim 5  wherein the zipper is tamper-evident. 
     
     
         7 . A container portion for a carton, comprising:
 a front portion and a rear portion;   first and second edges formed by respective first and second exterior folds joining the front portion to the rear portion thereby forming a top and a bottom;   the front portion including a first front interior vertical fold inwardly adjacent from the first edge and a second front interior vertical fold inwardly adjacent from and parallel to the second edge;   the rear portion including a first rear interior vertical fold inwardly adjacent from the first edge and a second rear interior vertical fold inwardly adjacent from and parallel to the second edge;   the front and rear portions including respective first front and rear horizontal folds upwardly adjacent from the bottom;   one of the front portion and the rear portion including a second horizontal fold between the first front or rear horizontal fold and the bottom; and   wherein the container portion is subsequently folded so that the first and second front and rear interior vertical folds become corners of a package, first and second edges become central folds of first and second gusseted sides, portions of the container portion between the second horizontal fold and the bottom becomes a fin seal of a package, and portions of the container portion below the first front and rear horizontal folds become a closed bottom of a package.   
     
     
         8 . The container portion of  claim 7  further including a header attached to and covering the top, the header including a closure. 
     
     
         9 . The container portion of  claim 8  wherein the header is formed of polymeric material. 
     
     
         10 . The container portion of  claim 9  wherein the closure is a zipper. 
     
     
         11 . The container portion of  claim 10  wherein the zipper is tamper-evident. 
     
     
         12 . The container portion of  claim 1  further including a first front inclined fold portion extending from the first front interior vertical fold to the bottom; and a second front inclined fold portion extending from the second front interior vertical fold to the bottom. 
     
     
         13 . The container portion of  claim 12  wherein an angle between a projection of the first and second front interior vertical folds and the respective first and second front inclined fold portions is in the range of 1-4 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The container portion of  claim 12  wherein an angle between a projection of the first and second front interior vertical folds and the respective first and second front inclined fold portions is in the range of 2-3 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The container portion of  claim 12 , further including:
 a first rear inclined fold portion extending from the first rear interior vertical fold to the bottom; and   a second rear inclined fold portion extending from the second rear interior vertical fold to the bottom.   
     
     
         16 . The container portion of  claim 15  wherein an angle between a projection of the first and second rear interior vertical folds and the respective first and second rear inclined fold portions is in the range of 1-4 degrees. 
     
     
         17 . The container portion of  claim 15  wherein an angle between a projection of the first and second rear interior vertical folds and the respective first and second rear inclined fold portions is in the range of 2-3 degrees. 
     
     
         18 . The container portion of  claim 7  further including a first front inclined fold portion extending from the first front interior vertical fold to the bottom; and a second front inclined fold portion extending from the second front interior vertical fold to the bottom. 
     
     
         19 . The container portion of  claim 18  wherein an angle between a projection of the first and second front interior vertical folds and the respective first and second front inclined fold portions is in the range of 1-4 degrees. 
     
     
         20 . The container portion of  claim 18  wherein an angle between a projection of the first and second front interior vertical folds and the respective first and second front inclined fold portions is in the range of 2-3 degrees. 
     
     
         21 . The container portion of  claim 18 , further including:
 a first rear inclined fold portion extending from the first rear interior vertical fold to the bottom; and   a second rear inclined fold portion extending from the second rear interior vertical fold to the bottom.   
     
     
         22 . The container portion of  claim 21  wherein an angle between a projection of the first and second rear interior vertical folds and the respective first and second rear inclined fold portions is in the range of 1-4 degrees. 
     
     
         23 . The container portion of  claim 21  wherein an angle between a projection of the first and second rear interior vertical folds and the respective first and second rear inclined fold portions is in the range of 2-3 degrees.