Container with reclosable pull-out pouring spout

Claim 2

A folding container for comminuted dry products having a self-contained, reclosable pouring spout, said container comprising foldably connected side and end walls, and closure flaps foldably connected to the upper edges of said walls and initially overlapping one another to form a substantially flat, exposed top surface; said closure flaps including an outer flap connected to a side wall and overlying and being adhesively secured only to an inner flap connected to an opposed side wall, a triangular end flap having one side thereof connected to an end wall, and triangular connecting flaps foldably connected to the remaining sides of said end flap and to the adjacent ends of said outer and inner flaps; one connecting flap being provided with a unitary projecting peripheral tab; the outer flap having a substantial portion of the end thereof projecting beyond the folding connection between said outer flap end and the connecting flap; said end and connecting flaps extending inwardly in foldback relation when said container is initially closed and said peripheral tab being freely slidable into a snugly sandwiched relation between a closure flap connected to one side wall flap and the connecting flap foldably connected thereto; said outer flap having the portion thereof overlying the end flap capable of being torn whereby said end and connecting flaps and said peripheral tab remain in unitary relation and are movable to extended positions to form the pouring spout.

Claim 3

The container of claim 1 wherein the projecting peripheral tab is formed on the triangular connecting flap connecting said inner closure flap and said end flap.

Claim 4

The container of claim 1 wherein the outer closure flap substantially spans the distance between the opposed side walls and is provided with a tear line extending endwise from the end of said outer flap which overlies the triangular end flap when said container is in an initially closed condition.

Claim 5

The container of claim 3 wherein said tear line extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the foldline connection between said end flap and end wall, and terminates at the apex of said triangular end flap opposite said foldline connection.

Claim 6

The container of claim 4 wherein the inner edge of said inner closure flap is substantially aligned with said tear line.

Claim 7

The container of claim 4 wherein one edge of the second connecting flap is substantially aligned with the outer flap tear line when said container is in its initially closed condition.

Claim 8

The container of claim 2 wherein the underside of the outer flap and the connecting flap connected to said outer flap form a pocket in which only the peripheral tab of the other connecting flap is slidably disposed when said closure flaps are moved into overlapping relation to effect initial clOsing of said container.

Claim 9

The container of claim 7 wherein the entire peripheral tab is slidably withdrawn from said pocket and exposed when said outer flap is initially torn said exposed tab being a handle to effect movement of said end and connecting flaps into extended pouring spout positions; said tab forming a portion of the extended pouring spout.

Claim 10

A blank of foldable sheet material for forming a container having pairs of side and end walls and closure flaps adapted when in one position of adjustment to form a pouring spout, said blank comprising side wall-forming and end wall-forming panels arranged in alternate side-by-side relation, an outer closure flap foldably connected to and substantially coextensive with the upper edge of one side wall-forming panel, an inner closure flap foldably connected to and substantially coextensive with the upper edge of a second side wall-forming panel, a triangular closure flap disposed intermediate said inner and outer closure flaps, said triangular closure flap having a side thereof foldably connected to the upper edge of one end wall-forming panel, triangular connecting flaps foldably connected to the remaining sides of said triangular closure flap, one connecting flap having a second side thereof foldably connected to an end of said inner flap; the other connecting flap having a second side thereof foldably connected to an end of said outer flap, said outer flap end extending beyond the connection between said outer flap and said other connecting flap, the second side of said other connecting flap being aligned with an elongated tear line formed in said outer flap, said tear line being in spaced substantially parallel relation with the folding connection between said outer flap and said one side wall-forming panel, and a projecting tab forming the third side of one of the connecting flaps; said tab and said one connecting flap being of unitary construction and forming a wall portion of the extended pouring spout when said blank is set up.

Claim 11

A blank of foldable sheet material for forming a container having pairs of side and end walls and closure flaps adapted when in one position of adjustment to form a pouring spout, said blank comprising side wall-forming and end wall-forming panels arranged in alternate side-by-side relation, an outer closure flap foldably connected to and substantially coextensive with the upper edge of one side wall-forming panel, an inner closure flap foldably connected to and substantially coextensive with the upper edge of a second side wall-forming panel, a triangular closure flap disposed intermediate said inner and outer closure flaps, said triangular closure flap having a side thereof foldably connected to the upper edge of one end wall-forming panel, triangular connecting flaps foldably connected to the remaining sides of said triangular closure flap, one connecting flap having a second side thereof foldably connected to an end of said inner flap; the other connecting flap having a second side thereof foldably connected to an end of said outer flap, said outer flap end extending beyond the connection between said outer flap and said other connecting flap, the second side of said other connecting flap being aligned with an elongated tear line formed in said outer flap, said tear line being in spaced substantially parallel relation with the folding connection between said outer flap and said one side wall-forming panel, and a projecting tab forming the third side of one of the connecting flaps; said tab and said one connecting flap being of unitary construction and forming a wall portion of the extended pouring spout when said blank is set up.

Claim 12

The blank of claim 9 wherein the end of said outer flap connected to said other connecting flap is provided with a pair of convergent foldlines extending from corners of the outer flap end and forming an apex, one end of said tear line terminating at said apex.