Reclosable container

Claim 2

A container having a generally tubular body member; a bottom closure means affixed to one end of said body member; a top closure means affixed to the other end of said body member; pouring closure means hinged to said body member and closing said container in a stable closed first position, said pouring closure means being capable of being forced inwardly to arrive at a stable open second position; and reclosure means comprising a rigid structure firmly attached to said pouring closure means but unattached to any other part of said container, overlapping said body member across a line at which said pouring closure means and said body member are hinged, and contacting said hinge line between said closure means and said body member.

Claim 3

A container in accordance with claim 1 wherein said pouring closure means comprises a plurality of adjacent panels forming a part of said body member, each said panel having a severable line along one side, said severable lines forming a continuous line of severance along said body member, the length of a straight line from a first point at one end of said continuous line of severance to a second point at the other end of said continuous line of severance being shorter than the shortest distance along the surface of said body member from said first point to said second point, each said panel being hinged on all other sides to either said body member or to an adjacent panel, and wherein said reclosure means is attached to one of said panels.

Claim 4

A container in accordance with claim 2 wherein said tubular body member comprises three or more flat body surfaces inteRsecting along generally parallel lines, wherein said line of severance extends from said first point on a first said flat body surface to said second point on an adjacent second one of said flat body surfaces, wherein said first flat body surface contains one of said panels hinged to another of said panels along the intersection of said first flat body surface with said second flat body surface, and wherein said reclosure means is attached to the panel on said first flat body surface and overlaps the hinge line between said panel on said first flat body surface and said first flat body surface.

Claim 5

A container in accordance with claim 3 wherein there are four of said flat body surfaces forming a tubular body having a generally rectangular cross section.

Claim 6

A container in accordance with claim 3 wherein said panels are triangular in shape with all said triangular panels having a common point on the intersection of said first flat body surface with said second flat body surface.

Claim 7

A container in accordance with claim 5 wherein there are two said panels on said second flat body surface.

Claim 8

A container in accordance with claim 6 wherein there are four said flat body surfaces forming a tubular body having a generally rectangular cross section.

Claim 9

A container in accordance with claim 5 wherein there is one said panel on said second flat body surface.

Claim 10

A body member in accordance with claim 8 wherein there are four said flat body surfaces forming a tubular body having a generally rectangular cross section.

Claim 11

A blank for the formation of the side of a tubular paperboard carton, said blank comprising a rectangular paperboard member, a line of severance extending from a first point on said member to a second point on said member, a first score line extending from said first point to a third point on said member, said third point being spaced from said line of severance, a second score line extending from said second point to said third point, and a reclosure means affixed to the reclosure area of the blank defined by said line of severance, said first score line and said second score line, said reclosure means overlapping said first score line, being permanently adhered to said closure area, and being unattached to any other portion of said blank.

Claim 12

A blank for the formation of the side of a tubular paperboard carton, said blank comprising a rectangular paperboard member, a line of severance extending from a first point on said member to a second point on said member, a first score line extending from said first point to a third point on said member, said third point being spaced from said line of severance, a second score line extending from said second point to said third point, and a reclosure means affixed to the reclosure area of the blank defined by said line of severance, said first score line and said second score line, said reclosure means overlapping said first score line, being permanently adhered to said closure area, and being unattached to any other portion of said blank.

Claim 13

A blank for the formation of the sides of a tubular paperboard carton, said blank comprising a rectangular paperboard member having at least three parallel score lines extending substantially the full width of said rectangular member to form side wall panels, a line of severance extending from a first point on a first one of said side wall panels across one of said score lines to a second point in an adjacent side wall panel joined to said first one of said side wall panels by said one of said score lines, a score line extending from said first point to a third point on said one of said score lines, said third point being spaced from said line of severance, a score line extending from said second point to said third point, and a reclosure means affixed to the area of the blank defined by a portion of said line of severance, a portion of said crossed score line and said score line from said first point to said third point, said reclosure means overlapping said score line from said first point to said third point and being permanently affixed to said area.

Claim 14

A blank for the formation of the sides of a tubular paperboard carton, said blank comprising a rectangular paperboard member having at least three parallel score lines extending substantially the full width of said rectangular member to form side wall panels, a line of severance extending from a first point on a first one of said side wall panels across one of said score lines to a second point in an adjacent side wall panel joined to said first one of said side wall panels by said one of said score lines, a score line extending from said first point to a third point on said one of said score lines, said third point being spaced from said line of severance, a score line extending from said second point to said third point, and a reclosure means affixed to the area of the blank defined by a portion of said line of severance, a portion of said crossed score line and said score line from said first point to said third point, said reclosure means overlapping said score line from said first point to said third point and being permanently affixed to said area.

Claim 15

The blank of claim 11 additionally comprising one or more supplementary score lines from one or more points along said line of severance between said crossed score line and said second point to said third point.