IP Library Granted Patent US 9,174,765
Granted Patent B2
US 9,174,765 · App. 14/035,539 · Granted Nov 3, 2015

Carton with pressure control feature

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,174,765
App. No.
14/035,539
Granted
Nov 3, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A carton may include a linter. The liner may include one or more pressure control features for automatically relieving pressure from within an area enclosed by the liner. A pressure control feature may be in the form of one or more vent passageways extending through the liner.

Claims (102)

1. A package for containing and dispensing contents, the package comprising:

a carton; and

a liner positioned in an interior of the carton, the liner comprising at least one vent passageway extending through the liner, the vent passageway being configured for automatically in a predetermined manner relieving gas pressure from within an area enclosed by the liner; wherein

the liner is a laminate comprising an inner ply and outer ply;

the vent passageway includes both a hole in the inner ply and a hole in the outer ply, and the holes are in fluid communication with one another; and

one of the holes is smaller than the other of the holes, for restricting flow through the vent passageway.

2. The package according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the vent passageway has a diameter of less than about 0.015 inches.

3. The package according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the vent passageway has a diameter in a range of about 0.003 inches to about 0.015 inches.

4. The package according to claim 1 , wherein the liner is mounted to the carton and forms a substantially closed inner container that is positioned in an interior of the carton, and the vent passageway extends through a wall of the container.

5. The package according to claim 1 , wherein:

the hole in the outer ply is one of a series of holes that at least partially define a tear line in the outer ply; and

the hole in the inner ply is smaller than the hole in the outer ply.

6. The package according to claim 5 , wherein:

the outer ply comprises paper; and

the inner ply comprises polymer film.

7. The package according to claim 5 , wherein:

the hole in the inner ply is one of a series of holes in the inner ply; and

spacing between adjacent holes of the series of holes in the inner ply is greater than spacing between adjacent holes of the series of holes in the outer ply.

8. A package for containing and dispensing contents, the package comprising:

a carton;

a liner positioned in an interior of the carton, the liner comprising at least one vent passageway extending through the liner, the vent passageway being configured for automatically in a predetermined manner relieving gas pressure from within an area enclosed by the liner; and

adhesive material, the liner being mounted to a panel of the carton at least by way of the adhesive material, and the adhesive material not obstructing the vent passageway.

9. The package according to claim 8 , wherein the adhesive material extends at least partially around an opening to the vent passageway.

10. The package according to claim 9 , wherein the adhesive material circumscribes the opening to the vent passageway.

11. The package according to claim 9 , wherein the opening of the vent passageway is open to a vent chamber cooperatively defined by the panel, liner and adhesive material.

12. The package according to claim 11 , wherein the panel comprises a hole that is open to the vent chamber.

13. The package according to claim 11 , wherein the panel, liner and adhesive material cooperatively define a second vent passageway that is open to the vent chamber.

14. The package according to claim 13 , wherein an open end of the second vent passageway is proximate a fold line foldably connecting the panel to another panel.

15. A package for containing and dispensing contents, the package comprising:

a carton;

a liner positioned in an interior of the carton, the liner comprising pressure control means for automatically in a predetermined manner relieving gas pressure from within an area enclosed by the liner; and

adhesive material, the liner being mounted to a panel of the carton at least by way of the adhesive material, and the adhesive material not obstructing the pressure control means.

16. The package according to claim 15 , wherein:

the carton comprises a plurality of panels respectively foldably connected to one another, and the plurality of panels extends around an interior of the carton.

17. The package according to claim 16 , wherein:

the pressure control means comprises

at least one vent passageway extending through the liner, and

the adhesive material not obstructing the vent passageway.

18. The package according to claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of the vent passageway has a diameter in a range of about 0.003 inches to about 0.015 inches.

19. The package according to claim 17 , wherein the adhesive material extends at least partially around an opening to the vent passageway.

20. The package according to claim 19 , wherein the adhesive material circumscribes the opening to the vent passageway.

21. The package according to claim 19 , wherein the opening of the vent passageway is open to a vent chamber cooperatively defined by the panel, liner and adhesive material.

22. The package according to claim 21 , wherein the panel comprises a hole that is open to the vent chamber.

23. The package according to claim 21 , wherein the panel, liner and adhesive material cooperatively define a second vent passageway that is open to the vent chamber.

24. The package according to claim 23 , wherein an open end of the second vent passageway is proximate a fold line foldably connecting the panel to another panel of the plurality of panels.

25. The package according to claim 15 , wherein the pressure control means comprises at least one vent passageway extending through the liner.

26. The package according to claim 25 , wherein at least a portion of the vent passageway has a diameter in a range of about 0.003 inches to about 0.015 inches.

27. The package according to claim 25 , wherein the liner is mounted to the carton and forms a substantially closed inner container that is positioned in the interior of the carton, and the vent passageway extends through a wall of the container.

28. A package for containing and dispensing contents, the package comprising:

a carton; and

a liner positioned in an interior of the carton, the liner comprising pressure control means for automatically in a predetermined manner relieving gas pressure from within an area enclosed by the liner, wherein:

the liner is a laminate comprising an inner ply and outer ply;

the pressure control means includes both a hole in the inner ply and a hole in the outer ply, and the holes are configured so that the holes are in fluid communication with one another; and

one of the holes is smaller than the other of the holes, for restricting flow through the vent passageway.

29. The package according to claim 28 , wherein:

the hole in the outer ply is one of a series of holes that at least partially define a tear line in the outer ply; and

the hole in the inner ply is smaller than the hole in the outer ply.

30. The package according to claim 29 , wherein:

the outer ply comprises paper; and

the inner ply comprises polymer film.

31. The package according to claim 29 , wherein:

the hole in the inner ply is one of a series of holes in the inner ply, and the series of holes in the inner ply partially defines the pressure control means; and

spacing between adjacent holes of the series of holes in the inner ply is greater than spacing between adjacent holes of the series of holes in the outer ply.

32. A carton blank for being formed into a package, the carton blank comprising:

a plurality of panels respectively foldably connected to one another; and

a liner mounted to at least one panel of the plurality of panels, the liner comprising at least one vent passageway extending through the liner, the vent passageway being configured for automatically in a predetermined manner relieving gas pressure from within an area enclosed by the liner when the carton blank is formed into the package.

33. The carton blank according to claim 32 , wherein at least a portion of the vent passageway has a diameter of less than about 0.015 inches.

34. The carton blank according to claim 32 , wherein at least a portion of the vent passageway has a diameter in a range of about 0.003 inches to about 0.015 inches.

35. The carton blank according to claim 32 , wherein:

the liner is a laminate comprising an inner ply and outer ply;

the vent passageway includes both a hole in the inner ply and a hole in the outer ply, and the holes are aligned so that the holes are in fluid communication with one another; and

one of the holes is smaller than the other of the holes, for restricting flow through the vent passageway.

36. The carton blank according to claim 35 , wherein:

the outer ply comprises paper; and

the inner ply comprises polymer film.

37. The carton blank according to claim 35 , wherein:

the hole in the outer ply is one of a series of holes that at least partially define a tear line in the outer ply; and

the hole in the inner ply is smaller than the hole in the outer ply.

38. The carton blank according to claim 37 , wherein:

the hole in the inner ply is one of a series of holes in the inner ply; and

spacing between adjacent holes of the series of holes in the inner ply being greater than spacing between adjacent holes of the series of holes in the outer ply.

39. The carton blank according to claim 32 , comprising adhesive material, the liner being mounted to a panel of the plurality of panels at least by way of the adhesive material, and the adhesive material not obstructing the vent passageway.

40. The carton blank according to claim 39 , wherein the adhesive material extends at least partially around an opening to the vent passageway.

41. The carton blank according to claim 40 , wherein the adhesive material circumscribes the opening to the vent passageway.

42. The carton blank according to claim 40 , wherein the opening of the vent passageway is open to a vent chamber cooperatively defined by the panel, liner and adhesive material.

43. The carton blank according to claim 42 , wherein the panel comprises a hole that is open to the vent chamber.

44. The carton blank according to claim 42 , wherein the panel, liner and adhesive material cooperatively define a second vent passageway that is open to the vent chamber.

45. The carton blank according to claim 44 , wherein an open end of the second vent passageway is proximate a fold line foldably connecting the panel to another panel of the plurality of panels.

46. A method of forming a package, the method comprising:

erecting a carton with a liner, so that the liner forms a substantially closed inner container that is positioned in an interior of the carton; and

the liner comprising at least one vent passageway extending through the liner, the vent passageway being configured for automatically in a predetermined manner relieving gas pressure from within substantially closed inner; wherein

the liner is a laminate comprising an inner ply and outer ply;

the vent passageway includes both a hole in the inner ply and a hole in the outer ply, and the holes are in fluid communication with one another; and

one of the holes is smaller than the other of the holes for restricting flow through the vent passageway.

47. The method according to claim 46 , comprising

using adhesive material in the forming of the package, and

positioning the adhesive material so that the vent passageway is not obstructed by the adhesive material.

48. A method of forming a package, the method comprising:

obtaining a carton blank comprising a plurality of panels respectively foldably connected to one another;

mounting a liner to at least one panel of the plurality of panels, the liner comprising at least one vent passageway extending through the liner;

erecting the carton with the liner positioned at least partially in an interior of the carton; and

enclosing an area with the liner, the vent passageway being configured for automatically in a predetermined manner relieving gas pressure from within the area enclosed by the liner.

Assignments (6)
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 045177/0577 →
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 →