Envelopes – wrappers – and paperboard boxes – Paperboard box – With inner flexible or flaccid bag liner
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-03
2001-11-20
Elkins, Gary E. (Department: 3727)
Envelopes, wrappers, and paperboard boxes
Paperboard box
With inner flexible or flaccid bag liner
C229S117270, C229S117350, C229S222000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318626
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to reclosable packaged food containers, and more specifically, to containers of this type that are used to hold bulk food products such as cereal.
Bulk food products, such as cereal, are often sold to the consumer in semi-rigid, box-shaped containers, and these containers have achieved wide-spread commercial acceptance. Nevertheless, it is believed that these food containers can be improved.
For instance, when cereal is poured, or served, from a conventional cereal box, occasionally some cereal is spilled. There are a number of reasons for this. One reason is that cereal is often poured by very young children with, understandably, limited motor skills. Another reason is that cereal is often served and eaten in the early morning by persons who may not yet be fully alert. The design of the conventional cereal box may also contribute to this occasional spilling.
To elaborate, conventional cereal boxes include a semi-rigid outer carton having a box-shape, and an inner flexible liner or bag, and the cereal product is held in this inner liner. To open the box, the top of the outer carton and then the top of the inner liner are torn open. These box tops are usually designed to be torn open; and, for example, they may be provided with tear strips, perforated tear lines, or detachable flaps. The inner liner is typically torn open by tearing open the upper edge of that liner, usually along most or all of that edge. The above procedure results in a relatively large opening at the top of the inner liner and at the top of the cereal box. At the same time, the box and liner offer limited guidance for the cereal being poured out of the top opening. As a result, occasionally some of the cereal spills as it is poured out of the box.
In addition, with cereal boxes of the type described above, the tops of the boxes are commonly designed to be re-closed after cereal is served from a box. Among other reasons, these box tops are re-closed to help maintain the freshness of the product in the box and to help prevent that product from spilling out of the box in case the box is knocked over. Many consumers do try to close the box top after serving the cereal; however, these attempts are often not completely successful. Also, in many cases, a person will think that the box top is properly closed when in fact it is not.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of this invention is to improve packaged food containers.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a packaged food container, of the type having an outer carton and an inner liner, that is easy to open and that forms a pour spout as it is being opened. A further object of this invention is to provide a unique cereal carton having an easy open top flap feature that acts as a pour spout.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a unique cereal carton having pour spout flaps with glue delamination zones for easy opening, and a cut score edge to assist during re-close.
These and other objectives are attained with a reclosable packaged food container, comprising an outer carton and an inner flexible liner. The outer carton has a generally semi-rigid construction, the inner liner is positioned inside the outer carton, and a supply of a food product is disposed in that liner. The outer carton includes a top wall that, in turn, includes first and second opposing top flaps. These flaps are movable between closed and open positions; and in the open position, the top flaps form a top opening, longitudinally extending only partly across the length of the top wall, to provide access to the inner liner.
The inner liner includes a top edge and a top portion. That top edge is adapted to form a reclosable pour opening at the top of the top portion of the liner. The top portion of the liner is adapted to form a collapsible pouring spout extending only partly across the top edge of the liner and also extending through the top opening in the carton to dispense the food product from the liner. In addition, when the flaps of the carton are in the open position, the flaps extend upwardly from the top opening of the carton and form a spout guide. In particular, these flaps engage the top portion of the liner, on opposite sides thereof, to help form and to hold that top portion of the liner in the shape of the pouring spout.
Preferably, the top edge of the liner includes first and second edge segments, and that top edge is opened along the first edge segment to form the pour opening. To facilitate opening the liner along this first segment, the liner may form a peelable seal area or the liner may be unsealed along this edge segment.
Further benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description, given with reference to the accompanying drawings, which specify and show preferred embodiments of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2898027 (1959-08-01), Scholle
patent: 3136471 (1964-06-01), Brastad
patent: 3139227 (1964-06-01), Dorfman
patent: 3426955 (1969-02-01), Olson
patent: 3477632 (1969-11-01), Donahue
patent: 3498522 (1970-03-01), Peet
patent: 4154346 (1979-05-01), Heuberger
St. Pierre Dane T.
Thiemann Daniel A.
Elkins Gary E.
Kraft Canada Inc.
Marcoux Thomas A.
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