IP Library Granted Patent US 7,959,060
Granted Patent B2
US 7,959,060 · App. 11/689,216 · Granted Jun 14, 2011

Multi-ply carton having reclosable opening feature

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,959,060
App. No.
11/689,216
Granted
Jun 14, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A carton is formed from an inner blank and an outer blank. The outer blank ply of the carton includes a pivoting, reclosable lid that allows a top end of the carton to be accessed and subsequently closed. A latch feature is included in the carton to allow the lid to be securely closed over the open top of the carton. The inner blank may form a closed and/or sealed liner vessel within the outer blank ply of the carton.

Claims (44)

1. A method of opening and closing a carton, comprising:

providing a carton formed from an inner blank that is adhered to an outer blank, wherein the outer blank comprises:

an outer first end panel;

an outer first side panel;

an outer second end panel opposite to the outer first end panel;

an outer second side panel opposite to the outer first side panel;

an outer bottom panel; and

an outer top panel, wherein a reclosable lid comprises at least a portion of the outer top panel, at least a portion of the outer first end panel, at least a portion of the outer second end panel, and at least a portion of the outer first side panel, the reclosable lid being pivotably mounted at the outer second side panel, and wherein the inner blank comprises:

a plurality of inner panels forming a vessel within the outer blank, the plurality of inner panels comprising: an inner first end panel; an inner first side panel; an inner second end panel opposite to the inner first end panel; an inner second side panel opposite to the inner first side panel; an at least partially closed bottom end; and an at least partially closed top end;

opening the reclosable lid comprising removing at least one outer tear strip of the outer blank;

opening a top end of the vessel comprising removing an inner tear strip from the vessel; and

closing the reclosable lid.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the inner first end panel is adhered to the outer first end panel;

the inner first side panel is adhered to the outer first side panel;

the inner second end panel is adhered to the outer second end panel; and

the inner second side panel is adhered to the outer second side panel.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the inner blank comprises a plurality of top panels, the top panels including at least one gable score pattern.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein opening the reclosable lid further comprises pivoting the reclosable lid toward the outer second side panel.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein closing the reclosable lid comprises engaging a latch feature on the outer first side panel with the reclosable lid.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein closing the reclosable lid comprises engaging a latch feature on the outer first side panel with the reclosable lid.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carton is substantially parallelepipedal and the outer top panel comprises a plurality of outer top flaps and the bottom panel comprises a plurality of outer bottom flaps.

8. A carton formed from an inner blank and an outer blank, comprising:

the outer blank being formed into a substantially parallelepipedal form, the outer blank comprising:

an outer first end panel;

an outer first side panel;

an outer second end panel opposite to the outer first end panel;

an outer second side panel opposite to the outer first side panel;

an outer bottom panel; and

an outer top panel, wherein

a reclosable lid comprises at least a portion of the outer top panel, at least a portion of the outer first end panel, at least a portion of the outer second end panel, and at least a portion of the outer first side panel, the reclosable lid being pivotably mounted at the outer second side panel at a hinge line spaced from the outer top panel wherein the outer blank further comprises at least one outer tear strip defined by a plurality of breachable lines of disruption in at least the outer first end panel, the outer first side panel, and the outer second end panel, the at least one outer tear strip allowing the reclosable lid to be pivoted open upon removal of the at least one outer tear strip; and

the inner blank being formed into a vessel disposed within the substantially parallelepipedal form, wherein the vessel comprises:

an inner first end panel adhered to the outer first end panel;

an inner first side panel adhered to the outer first side panel;

an inner second end panel adhered to the outer second end panel;

an inner second side panel adhered to the outer second side panel;

an at least partially closed bottom end; and

an at least partially closed top end;

wherein the inner blank further comprises at least one inner tear strip defined by a plurality of breathable lines of disruption, the at least one inner tear strip allowing the liner vessel to be opened.

9. The carton of claim 8 , wherein the top end of the inner blank comprises at least one gable score pattern.

10. The carton of claim 8 , wherein a latch feature is defined in the outer first side panel.

11. The carton of claim 8 , wherein the hinge line extends substantially across an entire width of the second side panel.

12. The carton of claim 8 , wherein the carton is substantially parallelepipedal and the outer top panel comprises a plurality of outer top flaps and the bottom panel comprises a plurality of outer bottom flaps.

13. The carton of claim 8 , wherein the inner blank comprises a plurality of top end flaps, each top end flap is foldably connected to a respective one of the inner first end panel, the inner first side panel, the inner second end panel, and the inner second side panel, the plurality of top end flaps cooperating to form the at least partially closed top end.

Assignments (10)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 15, 2026
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS SUCCESSOR‑IN‑INTEREST TO U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 075415/0575 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2021
From: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 055811/0676 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2021
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, LLC; FIELD CONTAINER QUERETARO (USA), L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 055545/0204 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 8, 2021
From: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, LLC
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 055520/0204 →
CERTIFICATE OF CONVERSION Recorded Jan 29, 2018
From: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 045182/0983 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 8, 2018
From: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 045020/0746 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 5, 2018
From: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, LLC (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, INC.); FIELD CONTAINER QUERETARO (USA), L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 045009/0001 →
NOTICE AND CONFIRMATION OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Dec 22, 2014
From: GRAPHIC PACKAGING HOLDING COMPANY; GRAPHIC PACKAGING CORPORATION; GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BLUEGRASS LABELS COMPANY, LLC; FIELD CONTAINER QUERETARO (USA), L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 034689/0185 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 4, 2007
From: WILSON, WESTON R.; CONATSER, ROBERT L.; FITZWATER, KELLY R.
To: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 019373/0414 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 21, 2007
From: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 019458/0437 →