Abstract: A pour spout carton for extended shelf life paperboard containers, such as those of the gable top type. A dispensing opening is formed, as by die cutting, in a panel of the carton. A pour spout carries a flange extending from the edge of the dispensing hole to a location radically beyond the dispensing opening, the flange sonically bonded to the outer barrier layer along an annular outermost knurled zone. The knurled zone sonic horn configuration yields pour spout attachment times and spout attachment integrity superior to known prior spout attachment methods and spout constructions.

Abstract: A paperboard carton for containing and pouring liquid has a pour spout fitment adhesively secured to its upper surface and at least partially over a reinforcing patch on said upper surface to spread the upward force exerted by opening the fitment over an area of the carton surface larger than the bottom surface of the fitment so as to prevent the fitment from being torn away from the carton surface. In addition to the force distribution, the tensile strength of the added patch material is much greater than the strength of the carton coating, thus this new patch material becomes the primary seal.

Abstract: A pour spout construction particularly adapted for longer shelf life barrier paperboard containers, such as containers of the gable top type. Barrier containers often carry products and the interior surfaces of the former are lined or covered with a barrier layer. According to this invention a dispensing opening is formed in the paperboard and the major barrier layer extends across and covers this opening. An externally threaded pour spout, attached to the container, carries a threaded cap which normally closes the pour spout. This cap carries an innermost annular skirt whose lower edge is adhered to that barrier layer portion which spans the dispensing opening. When the cap is unscrewed from the spout, the innermost annular skirt carries a part of the barrier layer away from its normal, sealing position, thus rupturing the barrier layer and permitting dispensing of the container contents.

Abstract: A gable top carton and a blank for forming it. The upstanding fin at the top of the gable includes two fin forming protions or extensions from each gable panel laminated together. Half of the length of each fin forming gable panel portion is provided with a horizontally extending tear line and also with a plurality of vertically extending cut lines at its midportion, the latter functioning as tear lines. To open the carton, the midportion of the upper edge of the fin is ripped downwardly and thereafter half of the fin removed by also tearing along the horizontal tear lines, to thus open half of the carton top for manual pour spout formation by the consumer. By virtue of the plurality of vertical cut lines on each gable panel fin portion, the initial vertical ripping can take place along respective non-corresponding (non-homologous) vertical cut lines in each of the two fin forming gable portions, thus compensating for any edgewise misalignment of the gable panel fin portions.

Abstract: A pour spout fitment for a flat top or a gable top paperboard container. A flat strip of rigid plastic material is bent over upon itself to form upper and lower strips integrally hinged together. The lower strip carries a plug coplanar with it, the upper surface of the plug adhered to a part of the lower surface of the upper, hinged strip. The lower surface of the plug is sealed to a portion of a barrier extrusion which covers the entire interior surface of the container, the plug being aligned with a dispensing opening through the paperboard, the opening also covered by the barrier extrusion material. For initial opening and dispensing of the container contents, the upper strip is pulled upwardly, carrying with it the plug and the ruptured barrier extrusion material adhered to the plug. The surfaces of the lower strip over which the contents of the container flow during dispensing are thus protected from contamination at all times except during dispensing.

Abstract: An end closure construction for a tube-type container formed from a single paperboard blank, the blank having an extruded barrier layer coating on one surface thereof. The carton has at least one end closure which is flat and defined by end closure panels. To prevent excessive overlapping of paperboard layers at the center of the flat, closed carton end, each one of a pair of facing end closure panels is centrally recessed along its free edge. An abutment tongue on one of the facing end closure panels is bordered by a pair of recesses. Each of the recesses is spanned by the extruded barrier layer coating. The abutment tongue bears against the oppositely positioned barrier layer to form gussets, in a controlled manner, from the barrier layer.

Abstract: A pour spout for a paperboard container of either the flat top or gable top type. In one embodiment, a rectangular strip of a rigid plastics material, such as high density polyethylene, is provided with two upwardly liftable, coplanar hinged flaps, integrally formed with the strip. The flaps are aligned with respective vent and pour openings pre-cut in the container top. Upon lifting the flaps from the plane of the strip, an extruded barrier layer (typically a polymer-foil laminate) spanning the pre-cut openings is ruptured and is carried upwardly through the die-cut openings. One opening is a dispensing opening and the other a vent opening. In a second embodiment, a single integral, coplanar and also liftable flap on the rigid strip is employed to define a single pour opening. In a third embodiment, a single integral and copolanar flap on the rigid strip is covered by a flexible strip which is peeled back to expose the flap. The flap is then pushed downwardly to define a single pour opening.