Reclosable carton for granular materials

Claim 2

A side-fill, sift-resistant, reclosable carton for granular or powdered materials and having opposed top and bottom walls, opposing front and back walls, and opposing end walls, wherein: (a) each of the end walls comprises front and back closure flaps constituting two main layers attached to each other in face-to-face relation and having a top edge coterminus with the top wall, a bottom closure flap which constitutes a third layer is attached in face-to-face relation to the main layers, and an extension panel from the front wall provides a fourth layer which has a horizontal tear strip thereacross, the fourth layer being attached to the exterior of the other layers below the tear strip; (b) the front wall comprises an inner layer having a top edge abutting the top wall and an outer layer, the outer layer having a horizontal tear strip thereacross which is integral with the tear strips of the end walls, forming one continuous tear strip, the inner and outer layers being attached to each other below the tear strip; (c) an ear is attached to each of the end walls above the tear strip, the ear being integrally attached to the top wall, and holding the top wall against the top edge of the main layers; and (d) a glue flap integrally attached to the top edge of the inner layer of the front wall along substantially its full length, the glue flap comprising a distal attachment portion and a proximal locking portion, the two portions being joined along a full length line of weakness, said distal attachment portion being secured to the inner surface of the outer layer of the front wall above the tear strip.

Claim 3

A side-fill, sift-resistant, reclosable carton according to claim 1 wherein the proximal locking portion of the glue flap comprises one or more tabs along the full length line of weakness.

Claim 4

A side-fill, sift-resistant, reclosable carton according to claim 1 wherein the main layers of each end wall are coextensive with the end wall.

Claim 5

A side-fill, sift-resistant, reclosable carton according to claim 1 wherein each ear is integrally attached to the fourth layer of the end wall.

Claim 6

A side-fill, sift-resistant, reclosable carton according to claim 1 wherein the front inner panel is coextensive with the front outer panel.

Claim 7

A blank for forming a side-fill, sift-resistant, reclosable carton comprising: (a) a front outer panel having an extension panel being attached along axial score lines to each axial edge of the front outer panel, the front outer panel and extension panels having a transverse tear strip therein; (b) a top panel being attached along its upper transverse edge to the lower transverse edge of the front outer panel; (c) a back panel being attached along its upper transverse edge to the lower transverse edge of the top panel, the back panel having a major flap having a transverse dimension substantially equivalent to the axial dimension of the top panel attached along axial score lines to each axial edge of the back panel; (d) a bottom panel being attached along its upper transverse edge to the lower transverse edge of the back panel, the bottom panel having a minor flap attached along axial score lines to each axial edge of the bottom panel; (e) a front inner panel being attached along its upper transverse edge to the lower transverse edge of the bottom panel, the front inner panel having a major flap having a transverse dimension substantially equivalent to the axial dimension of the top panel attached along axial score lines to each axial edge of the front inner panel; (f) an ear being attached along a score line to one of each axial edge of the top panel or each lower transverse edge of the front outer extension panels; (g) a glue flap being integrally attached along its upper transverse edge to the lower transverse edge of the front inner panel along a full length score line, the glue flap comprising a distal attachment portion and a proximal locking portion, the two portions being joined along a full length line of weakness.

Claim 8

A blank for forming a side-fill, sift-resistant, reclosable carton comprising: (a) a front outer panel having an extension panel being attached along axial score lines to each axial edge of the front outer panel, the front outer panel and extension panels having a transverse tear strip therein; (b) a top panel being attached along its upper transverse edge to the lower transverse edge of the front outer panel; (c) a back panel being attached along its upper transverse edge to the lower transverse edge of the top panel, the back panel having a major flap having a transverse dimension substantially equivalent to the axial dimension of the top panel attached along axial score lines to each axial edge of the back panel; (d) a bottom panel being attached along its upper transverse edge to the lower transverse edge of the back panel, the bottom panel having a minor flap attached along axial score lines to each axial edge of the bottom panel; (e) a front inner panel being attached along its upper transverse edge to the lower transverse edge of the bottom panel, the front inner panel having a major flap having a transverse dimension substantially equivalent to the axial dimension of the top panel attached along axial score lines to each axial edge of the front inner panel; (f) an ear being attached along a score line to one of each axial edge of the top panel or each lower transverse edge of the front outer extension panels; (g) a glue flap being integrally attached along its upper transverse edge to the lower transverse edge of the front inner panel along a full length score line, the glue flap comprising a distal attachment portion and a proximal locking portion, the two portions being joined along a full length line of weakness.

Claim 9

A blank according to claim 6 wherein the major and minor flaps have substantially the same transverse dimensions.

Claim 10

A blank according to claim 6 wherein the glue flap comprises one or more tabs along the proximal locking portion of the full length line of weakness.