Sift-proof dispensing carton

Claim 1

A seal end, sift-proof, dispensing carton, for granular material or the like, formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard and comprising, in combination: a. opposed pairs of major and minor side wall panels hingedly interconnecteD along parallel vertical fold lines to form a tubular body open at the upper and lower ends thereof; b. means for closing the lower end of said carton body including closure flaps hingedly attached to the lower edges of the side wall panels and secured to each other in overlapped relation; c. means for closing the upper end of said carton body, which includes a reclosable dispensing opening comprising: i. first and second inner closure flaps hingedly connected to upper edges of said minor side wall panels along horizontal fold lines and folded inwardly in a direction normal thereto; ii. first and second outer closure panels hingedly connected to upper edges of said major side wall panels along horizontal fold lines and folded inwardly in a direction normal thereto and secured to each other and to said inner closure flaps in overlapped relation; d. one of said minor side wall panels including a removable portion located adjacent the upper edge thereof defined by: i. the fold line connecting said one minor side wall panel to a related inner closure flap; and ii. a line of weakness extending downwardly from one end of said fold line and upwardly to the other end of said fold line; iii. said line of weakness being defined by a pair of generally parallel cut lines extending partially through said one minor side wall panel from opposite faces thereof; e. one of said outer closure flaps having hingedly attached to and depending from opposite ends thereof Van Buren ears adhesively secured to adjacent underlying areas of related minor side wall panels; f. the Van Buren ear at one end of said one outer closure flap being co-extensive with and secured to an upper area of said one minor side wall panel removable portion; g. said outer closure flaps having transverse score lines, aligned with each other and with the free inner edge of the inner closure flap attached to said one minor side wall panel, to facilitate the lifting and bending upwardly of portions of said outer closure flaps when said minor side wall panel removable portion and attached inner closure flap are separated from the remainder of said one minor side wall panel along said line of weakness to provide a dispensing opening in said carton; h. certain of said outer closure flaps having therein a line of weakness co-extensive with a portion of the fold line connecting said flap to a related major side wall panel to facilitate separation of said outer closure flap from a related major side wall panel when said carton is opened; i. said Van Buren ear having side elements overlapping portions of said line of weakness and extending over unremovable portions of said minor side wall panel; j. said side elements cooperating with said removable portion and enabling said removable portion to be held in position at said minor side wall panel upon reclosing of the carton.