Dispensing carton

Application filed August 15, 1830. Serial No. 475,565.

My present invention relates to a packing carton for granular materials and more particularly to such, a carton having means whereby it may be readily opened to provide _s a so-called pouring opening and be again closed to form a substantially tight closure of the carton.

An object of my invention is to provide a simple, cheap and practical type of carton 10 and closure device which can be conveniently opened and closed by a simple hand operation without resort to any special knife or other tool for the purpose.

Another object of my invention is to pro15 vide a closure device which may be completely concealed when the carton is sealed and ready for shipment.

A further object is to provide upon a carton a closure device and arrangement of 20 flaps which in cooperation with each other will form a tight closure that cannot be opened by pressure exerted from within by the contents of the carton.

In the provision of a pouring opening upon 25 cartons for granular commodities such as sugar and salt, it is desirable that the closure means.be arranged so that the opening can be tightly closed when not in use. When such a pouring opening is provided by tear30 ing away portions of the carton the closure cannot be again effectively closed and as a result a great many different types of stiffer or metallic closure devices have been developed. These latter closure devices have met ³⁵ with some success,'but are still subject to the objection that because of their shape, and size they project from the carton blanks when applied to the blanks before folding and as _4Q a result the cartons cannot be folded, filled and sealed by a standard machine such as is now generally used for forming and filling similar cartons not having a pouring opening. It is therefore a further object of my 45 invention to provide a pouring opening and closure means for a carton that may be attached to the carton blank before the folding operation and which is of such form that it will not interfere with the folding, pack50 ing and sealing of th& carton in a filling machine suitable for filling a similar carton not having such a closure device.

In carrying out my invention I propose to form a pouring opening in at least one of the end flaps and secure thereover a relatively flat sliding closure means which in cooperation with a support upon another flap will be held in proper relation with said opening when the carton is sealed and over which another flap may be disposed to completely conceal the same.

For a better understanding of my invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein I have shown by way of illustration and not of limitation, preferred embodiments thereof.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views;

Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 show in perspective a portion of a carton having its upper end closing flaps disposed in the different positions which they assume in closing the carton,

Figure 5 shows the end of a carton with the flaps glued in their closed positions,

Figure 6 is a plan view showing the scored portion of the top flap torn away to expose the closure device,

Figure 7 is a plan view of one form of closure device, . Figures 8 and 9 are partial perspective views showing a modified and more simple form of my invention,

Figure 10 is a sectional view showing the disposition of this latter type of closure member and also one form of securing means,

Figure 11 is a sectional view showing another type of closure member securing means, Figure 12 shows a further modified form of closure device constructed in accordance with my invention, and

Figures 13,14 and 15 are perspective views of another embodiment of my invention, in which the closure device of relatively stiff material is slidably mounted upon one of the end flaps.

Upon referring to the drawings, it will be seen that my improved carton comprises a body portion, designated by the numeral 10, upon which there is formed two end flaps 11 and 12, and two side flaps 13 and 14. The end

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1,869,751 tines are bent over upon the flap to firmly , hold the support 17 in place.

In a further modification of my invention, as shown in Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11, I dispense with the slide supporting member 17 ₇₀and secure the slide, here designated by the numeral 25, directly to the surface of the nap 13. In this embodiment the slide 25, as stated above, is secured directly upon the flap 13 by a rivet or other means 26 and the tearing ₇₅out portion 14 of the flap 14 is so arranged that the edges of the slide 25 will always lay under the undisturbed portion of the flap 14 and be thus held closely against the surface of the flap 13 adjacent the pouring opening. _c0In order that the slide 25 may move freely under the flap 14, as when opening the pouring outlet, I provide an area as outlined by dotted lines X, upon which no glue will be provided. As a further feature in this con- _G5nection, I may if necessary also slightly emboss the flap 14 at this point so as to provide a cavity between the flaps for the slide 25 when in its open position.

Another simple form- which my invention go may take is illustrated in Figures 13, 14 and 15 of the drawings. In this embodiment the pouring openings 15 and 16 in the flaps 12 and 13 respectively are shown as triangular in shape. This shape of opening is particu- 95 larly desirable where it is required to pour the contents of the carton into small receptacles, such as are used for sugar and the like.

As a closure means, I show a flat member 28 100 of relatively stiff material which may be of metal, celluloid, cardboard, or in fact any suitable material. The closure member 28 in this case is rectangular in shape, and is attached to the carton flap 13 by projecting two ₁₀₅oppositely disposed tongues 29 formed upon the sides of this member through parallel extending slots 30 which lie adjacent the opening 16, and later folding said tongues over upon the member 28 and about the por- no tion of the flap 13 lying between the slots 30. If desired, these tongues 29 may also be turned outward after being passed through the slots 30.

The slots 30 are shown as having a greater n;, width at one end, as at 31. This construction permits the closure member 28 to be applied to the flap 13 in a flat condition and the tongues 29 to be bent through this enlarged end 31 in assembling. Another variation of 125 , this feature is to make up the closure member 28 with the tongues 29 disposed at 90° : from the body portion so that in cross section 1 the part will be similar to an ordinary staple. The closure member 28 can then be applied by . passing the tongues 29 through the narrow I slots 30 where they will be bent oyer in much > the same fashion as are the ordinary staple ^r fasteners for stationery. In this device, like > that shown in Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11,1 pro- K?

flaps 11 and 12 are shown as provided with 1 interlocking tongues and recessed portions so J that they will lie in substantially the same plane when closed. This interlocking tongue : 5 feature of the flaps 11 and 12 is no part of ;

my present invention, but forms the subject i matter of a copending application filed by me : December 17, 1929, and identified by Serial Number 414,697.

In'Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings, the flaps 12 and 13 are shown as having respectively holes 15 and 16 which register to form an opening in the carton through which its contents may be poured as will hereinafter ap15 pear. The flap 13 is shown as also having a closure device secured thereto which provides a means for closing the pouring opening after the carton is broken. This closure device in one embodiment of my invention com20 prises a relatively flat supporting member 17 and a slide 18. The slide 18 in this modification is shown as pivotally connected to the support 17 by a rivet 19 and is provided with an upwardly extending projection 20 for 25 convenient operation.

After the carton blank has been equipped as above and closed as illustrated in Figure 5, the closure device and the pouring opening will be completely concealed. In order so that the pouring opening may be readily exposed for use, I provide means whereby the overlying flap 14 can be conveniently torn away. This feature, as here illustrated contemplates the scoring of the flap 14 so that the ³⁵ corner lying over the closure device may be easily torn off completely. In this embodiment the scoring extends diagonally in from two adjacent sides of the flap to a central point where a tongue portion 21 is cut en40 tirely free from the flap. With this arrangement the user merely grasps the tongue 21 and by a pulling operation can expose the closure device and the pouring outlet. By arranging the tongue 21 in this manner, I 45 find that the corner can be more easily removed than if the corner is pulled from any other direction. Upon referring now to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, it will be seen, as shown in Figure 5, that the closure ⁵⁰ device is completely concealed and when the corner of the flap 14, here designated 14', is torn away the closure device and its slide 18 will be exposed.

When providing a pouring opening upon 55 cartons for granular materials such as sugar and salt, it is important that the closure means be sufficiently tight to prevent a sifting of the contents and a consequent loss of weight during transportation. In order to βθ meet these conditions, I propose in this modification, as shown in Figure 7, to. provide a plurality of tines 22 in spaced relation around the edges of the supporting member 17 so that it will hold the closure slide 18 snugly •5 against the surface of the flaps 13. These

1,869,751 vide two oppositely disposed projections 32, one of which is to be turned up by the user to facilitate a sliding of the memlier 28. The outside or concealing flap 14 is here shown 5 as having a scored portion 14' that may be readily torn away to expose the member 28 and the proper one of the projections 32. This scored portion is cut completely through at the apex of the triangle and is rounded 10 as at 33, so that a finger nail can be easily inserted to remove the closure concealing portion 14'.

These latter embodiments are much more simple in construction than is the embodi15 ment first described and they are in some respects, particularly as to simplicity and cost, much more desirable. In these constructions the number of parts have been reduced to a minimum. Where the rivet, as 20 shown in Figure 10, is provided for as a part of the closure 25 there need be only one piece in addition to the carton blank proper. This additional piece, as illustrated in Figure 8, is substantially of sector shape and is prefer25 ably provided with oppositely disposed projections 27, one of which can be turned up as shown in Figures 10 and 11 to form a handle by which the closure means 25 can be moved, after the outer flap 14 has been opened as by 80 tearing away the scored portion 14.

In operation only one of the projections 27 or 32 is used, this being the one nearest the edge of the carton, but by providing two such projections I make these parts symmetrical 35 and thus facilitate a feeding of the parts from a hopper to an automatic assembling machine without the necessity of having to arrange the parts with one particular side up.

The problem of economically providing a pouring outlet upon cartons of the type illustrated, wherein the cartons are formed of single blanks having end closure flaps as shown, is not a simple one. These cartons 45 come from the box factory in a collapsed condition with only their vertical seam glued and the closing and sealing of the top and bottom is then completed at the filling station by automatic machinery.

so The most desirable arrangment from the point of view of economy is to have the closure device embodied in and attached to the carton blank at the box factory. If the closure device is to be applied to the carton 55 blank at the box factory, it will be necessary that the device be of such construction that it will not interfere with the successful operation of the automatic forming, filling and sealing machines used for this purpose at 60 the packing station.

All the closure devices for cartons of the type here involved, with which I am familiar, require that the closure devices be attached to the cartons after they have passed through 65 the automatic forming, filling and sealing machine. This procedure necessitates an additional operation at the filling station and results in an increase in the cost. ’. ”

The types of devices, which are illustrated and described above have all of the features ⁷⁰to be desired in a pouring carton and the closure means are of such construction that they can be applied to the carton blank at the box factory and will not interfere jgvith’ the operation of the automatic filling ma- ⁷⁵chinery.

In the drawings, the pouring outlet 16 in the flap 13 is shown as formed by cutting away the flap at this point. I should like to have it understood, however, that while I ⁸⁰have illustrated the flaps as provided with a definite opening or hole therethrough, I may in order to further insure against sifting, merely outline such an opening by scoring the flap 13 at this point and leave the final 85 forming of the opening to the user who will punch these portions out with the finger.

In another embodiment of my invention, as shown in Figure 12,1 show a closure supporting member 23 of rectangular outline under which there is disposed a slide 24 having a rectilinear movement. In this arrangement the slide is not secured to the support but is held tightly against the surface of the flap 13 by the supporting member 23. 95

In a further modification of my invention, I may provide, instead of a sliding closure, a hinged closure of such design that it will be held in place and concealed by the scored portion of the outer flap until the carton is 109 opened.

While I have, for the sake of clearness and in order to disclose my invention so that the same can be readily understood described and illustrated specific devices and arrangements, 105 I desire to have it understood that this invention is not limited to the specific means disclosed but may be embodied in other ways that will suggest themselves, in view of this broad disclosure, to persons skilled in the art. 110 It is believed that this invention is broadly new and it is desired to claim it as such so that all such changes as come within the scope of the appended claims are to be considered as part of this invention. 115