Pouring spout assembly for a dispensing container

May 10, 1966 _A. j. _KURTZ 3,250,436

POURING SPOUT ASSEMBLY FOR A DISPENSING CONTAINER

Filed Dec. 31, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1

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May 10, 1966

A. J. KURTZ

3,250,436

POURING SPOUT ASSEMBLY FOR A DISPENSING CONTAINER

Filed Dec. 31, 1963

v. Sheets-Sheet y

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United States Patent Office _p ., „^3,250,436

Patented May 10, 1966

3,250,436 POURING SPOUT ASSEMBLY FOR A DISPENSING CONTAINER

Albert J. Kurtz, 97 Louise St., San Rafael, Calif. Filed Dec. 31,1963, Ser. No. 334,708

Claims. (CI. 222—153)

This invention relates generally to containers of a dispensing type such as those used with powdered, granular, or crystalline materials such as salt, sugar, flour, spices, rice, soaps and detergents, or the like. More particularly it relates to an improved pouring spout for use with such containers.

The general problem in this art has been to provide a method and means for rapidly producing an aperture in a container of cardboard, or similar material, from which the contents may be neatly poured out for use, but which would remain airtight until such time as it is desired to start using the contents. It is also necessary that the dispensing carton be substantially tight after the intermittent use of the contents has commenced.

Various devices have been used for his purpose. Most of these take the form of a U-shaped, three-sided, hinged member made of metal or plastic which is positioned on the top or side of the carton in such a manner that one of its three sides serves to keep the carton closed while together with the other two sides it forms a spout or chute when it is pulled out in the open hinged position. In general these have proved unsatisfactory in that they are difficult to keep airtight before start of use and even more difficult to keep tight while in use. They have also proved cumbersome and expensive to manufacture and apply to a given carton. In addition, with most of existing spouts, it is necessary that part of the structure project into the interior of the carton, thus interfering with the contents thereof and making it practically impossible to apply such a spout to a carton which has been filled, or substantially filled, with material.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a pouring spout for a dispensing carton and method of attaching it thereto which would give greater insurance of tightness of the carton at all times.

It is another object of my invention to provide an improved pouring spout for a carton which would be easier for the consumer to use than any known at present.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a pouring spout for a dispensing carton which would be simple, compact, and inexpensive to manufacture and apply.

It is yet another object of my invention to provide an improved pouring spout which would be easy to apply to a dispensing carton without interfering with the contents thereof.

It is a more specific object of my invention to provide an improved pouring spout which would comprise a single monolithic plastic structure and a method of applying it to a carton.

Other objects of my invention will appear from the description and drawings which follow and form a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a front view of the spout assembly of my invention when in a closed position.

FIG. 2 shows an end view of the spout assembly of my invention when in an open position.

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged front view of the spout of my invention when in a closed position.

FIG. 4 shows a section on line 4—4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged longitudinal section through my spout assembly in an open position to illustrate its principle of operation.

FIG. 6 shows the spout assembly mounted on a carton in closed position illustrating its appearance prior to unsealing and putting into use.

FIG. 7 shows the spout assembly of FIG. 6 after breaking the seal and partially opening the pouring spout.

FIG. 8 shows the spout assembly of FIG. 6 in fully opened position and ready for use.

Referring now to the figures in which like numbers indicate like parts in each case, there is seen the body or frame of my spout assembly 1 which may be of generally pentagonal shape. This I manufacture from plastic material such as polyethylene or polypropyene. Around the periphery of the body there is seen the slot 2 for insertion of the walls of the carton. This may be approximately )-32 of an inch in width and depth depending on the requirements of the carton and the method of sealing which is employed. The hinged flap 3 forms the front of the spout and is an integral part of the body 1 to which it is joined through the plastic hinge section 4. The function of the latter is best understood by reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

The integral, plastic, folding, side flaps 5 form the sides of the spout when open and nest in or against the surface of frame 1 when closed. These may be approximately .015 inch in thickness and may comprise several folds in the manner of a bellows or accordian. In the embodiment shown there is a single fold or crease 6 to effect a pair of side flaps on either side of the spout.

• The tear tab 7 which is also an integral part of my plastic structure is bounded on either edge by score marks 8 which comprise sharp grooves cut into the surface of the plastic. Before being placed in use, of course, the tear tab 7 serves to join the hinge flap 3 to the body 1. It will thus be seen that the solid plastic construction of my spout assembly provides a tight hermetic seal in the package before its use for dispensing purposes is commenced. When it is desired to commence the latter, the tear tab 7 is pulled off, the score marks 8 assisting in providing a clean break between the tear tab and the rest of my spout structure. The opening tab 9 may then be pulled out which puts hinged flap 3 in a pouring position. The side flaps 5 which have been heretofore nestling in the recesses 10 of the body 1 will then unfold and form the sides of the spout. In some embodiments I may dispense with the recesses and merely permit the side flaps to fold up against the outer surface of the body 1.

When it is desired to stop the dispensing operation, hinged flap 3 is folded back on hinge 4 and side flaps 5 return to their folded position. Notch 11 and lip 12, which are best seen on FIGS. 4 and 5 assist in holding hinge flap 3 in closed position and insure reasonable tightness until the next dispensing operation is commenced, after which the foregoing steps are repeated.

While some of the above enumerated parts of the spout assembly may be fabricated or moulded separately by the use of combined heat and pressure they are joined so that they form a single monolithic plastic structure.

In attaching my spout to the carton, it may be sprung into the wall side or top thereof. This may be accomplished by having a suitable octagonal shaped hole cut into the carton blank and then springing the body or the spout assembly into this hole with the aid of the peripheral slot 2, the dimensional relations being adjusted for any given application. Where a plastic carton or carton side or top is used, the body of spout assembly may be joined to form an integral part of the carton member by the use of heat, or pressure, or both. This is true also where a plastic coated carton is used. In the case of a plain cardboard carton, the junction between the pouring spout assembly and carton member may be made in any manner known to those skilled in the art.

3,250,436

FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 better illustrate the operation of my invention on a rectangular carton 13. My spout assembly may be applied to cartons of other shapes and to the top, as well as the ends or sides.

It should now be evident to those skilled in the art that the spout assembly of my invention may be applied to a carton or carton blank during any stage of the carton forming or filling operation and may even be inserted after the carton has been filled. It should also be evident that the insertion of my spout assembly may be effected without disturbing the contents of the carton. This is also true of the operation of my spout during dispensing, since the amount of structure which enters the interior of the carton at any time is negligible.

It will be further evident to those skilled in the art that my invention is simple, compact, and inexpensive to fabricate and install.

While I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention above, it will be understood that it is not so limited, but that other embodiments may be made to come within the scope and spirit of the claims which follow.