A wide variety of pour spout fitments for containers is known. For packaging of flowable substances, such as liquids, cartons are known consisting of plastics-coated paperboard and in the form of flat-topped or gable-topped cartons. For flat-topped cartons, shallow fitments are employed in order to retain satisfactory stacking of the cartons upon each other.

EP-A-0332800 discloses a one-piece pour spout fitment for a flat-topped carton. The fitment includes a shallow pour spout with a pouring lip which is intended to project forwardly and upwardly beyond the front surface of the carton. The fitment also includes a flange around the pour spout, which flange is sealed to the top surface of the carton around a weakened zone of the top wall of the carton. The weakened zone may be formed by a closed loop of weakness consisting of a partial-depth cut through the top surface of the carton.

The fitment further includes a flexible strap and a lid connected to the pour spout by way of the strap. The lid is provided internally with a closed loop of teeth. The loop of teeth is encircled by a tamper-evident ring between the lid and the pour spout. Following tearing away of the tamper-evident ring, the lid can be pressed inwards to cause the ring of teeth to move inwards through the pour spout and cut out the wall portion defined by the closed loop of weakness. Either the cut-

out portion is allowed to fall inwards, or it is retained and withdrawn by a headed needle when the lid is opened.

JP-A-08119265 discloses a flat-topped carton with a fitment in the form of a shallow pour spout closed by a lid hinged to the spout at the rear thereof. Not only is an inwardly directed flange of the pour spout sealed around a closed loop of weakness in the form of a partial-depth cut in the top surface of the carton, but also the middle part of the lid is sealed to the carton wall portion bounded by that loop of weakness. Upon tearing away of a tamper-evident strip at the front of the fitment, it can be opened, tearing around the loop of weakness and taking with it the wall portion surrounded by the loop of weakness. To facilitate lifting of the lid, the lid has a unilateral projection at a corner of the carton, for seizing between the consumer's thumb and forefinger. The pour spout is internally undercut around the whole of its periphery, so that an annular outward bulge of the lid may sealingly engage thereunder for resealing of the carton after opening.

JP-A-08198253 discloses a fitment somewhat similar to that of JP-A-08119265, except that the lid is not hinged directly to the pour spout, but is connected thereto by an integral strap at the rear of the fitment.

Another difference is that the flange of the pour spout sealed to the top surface of the carton projects outwardly rather than inwardly. A further difference is that there is a tamper-evident bridge at the centre of the very front of the fitment and between the lid and the pour spout. A yet further difference is that the lid is connected to the inside of the pour spout by an annular bridge. To open the fitment, first of all the front part

of the lid is raised to break the central front bridge between the lid and the pour spout and, possibly, the annular bridge between the lid and the pour spout. Then the lid is pressed inwards to break the whole of the closed loop of weakness. Then the corner projection of the lid is seized and the lid pulled open, swinging about the strap, and carrying with it the carton wall portion sealed to the lid.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a package comprising a container having a top wall formed with a loop of weakness bounding a portion of said wall, and opening means comprising a pour spout fixed to the external surface of said wall around said loop of weakness, and a panel fixed to the external surface of said portion and connected by a linear hinge to said pour spout so as to be turnable about a substantially horizontal axis of hinging to turn said portion about said axis and thereby break said loop of weakness, a pouring edge of said pour spout projecting, in a direction, beyond said external surface of said wall, and an edge of said panel engageable by a consumer to turn said panel about said axis also projecting, in said direction, beyond said external surface of said wall.

Owing to this aspect of the present invention, it is possible to improve openability, pourability, and re- closeability of the package.

The loop of weakness is preferably a partial depth cut and may be in the form of a closed loop, or in the form of an open loop, in which latter case the ends of the loop are substantially at the axis of hinging.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fitment for attachment to a container in the region of an edge between first and second planar walls of said container, said fitment including a main body for applying to the first wall and a relatively rigid projection from said main body for applying to the second wall, whereby said projection serves to locate said fitment relative to said edge during attachment of said fitment to said container.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a package comprising:- a container having first and second walls extending to an edge of said container, and a fitment attached to said container in the region of said edge, said fitment including a main body applied to the first wall and a relatively rigid projection from said main body and applied to the second wall.

Owing to these aspects of the invention, it is possible accurately to position the fitment relative to the container, which is especially important when the main body of the fitment is to project to a desired degree beyond an edge of the first wall of the container.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a package comprising a container having a wall formed with a loop of weakness bounding a portion of said wall, and opening means attached to the external surface of said container and comprising a pour spout fixed to the external surface of said wall around said portion, a panel attached to said portion, and a tamper-evident bridging means between said

pour spout and said panel, the arrangement being such that a unidirectional movement of said panel breaks both said loop of weakness and said bridging means.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of opening a package, comprising performing a unidirectional movement which breaks both (a) tamper-evident bridging means between a pour spout and a panel and (b) a loop of weakness bounding a portion of a wall of a container to the external surface of which wall is attached said pour spout outwardly of said loop of weakness and said panel inwardly of said loop of weakness.

Owing to these aspects of the present invention, the manipulations required by a consumer to open the package are very straightforward.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a package comprising a container having a wall formed with a loop of weakness bounding a portion of said wall, and opening means attached to the external surface of said container and comprising a pour spout fixed to the external surface of said wall around said portion and a panel on the external surface of said portion, and instructing means instructing a consumer to apply pressure unilaterally to said panel, thereby to commence unilaterally breaking said loop of weakness.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of opening a package, comprising pressing down unilaterally on a panel on an external surface of a portion of a wall of a

container bounded by a loop of weakness, and thereby commencing unilaterally breaking said loop of weakness.

Owing to these aspects of the invention, the opening of the package by a consumer is made easier.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a package comprising a container having a wall formed with a loop of weakness bounding a portion of said wall, and opening means attached to the external surface of said container and comprising a pour spout fixed to the external surface of said wall around said loop of weakness, and a panel attached to the external surface of said portion, said panel being displaceable inwardly to a limited extent relative to said pour spout, and said pour spout overlapping said loop of weakness at at least one location around said loop.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of opening and re- closing a package comprising displacing outwardly a panel attached to a portion of a wall of a container which portion is bounded by a loop of weakness around which extends a pour spout, thereby displacing said portion outwardly to open said package and displacing said panel inwardly until said portion has been forced past said pour spout and said panel encounters an abutment.

Owing to these aspects of the invention, it is possible in a simple manner to provide a re-closable package.

According to a tenth aspect of the present

invention, there is provided a package comprising a container having a wall formed with a loop of weakness bounding a portion of said wall, and opening means attached to the external surface of said container and comprising a pour spout fixed to the external surface of said wall around said loop of weakness, a panel attached to the external surface of said portion and turnable outwardly, together with said portion, relative to said pour spout into an open position, and first and second hooks fixed to the external surface of said pour spout and arranged to engage resiliently releasably respective opposite parts of said panel in said open position to retain said panel releasably in said open position.

Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible reliably and releasably to retain the panel in its open position.

In order that the invention may be clearly and completely disclosed, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is top plan view of a filled package, Figure 2 is a top plan view of a container of the package, Figure 3 is a fragmentary, lateral elevation of the package opened, Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but with the package re-closed, Figure 5 shows a vertical section through the

package and taken on the line V-V of Figure 1, Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a modified version of the filled package, Figure 7 is a fragmentary front elevation of the modified version, Figure 8 is a fragmentary, partly sectional, rear elevation of the modified version, Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 3, but of the modified version, and Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 4, but again of the modified version.

Referring to Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings, the package consists of a container 1, a product 2 and a fitment in the form of an opening device 3. The container 1 is in the form of a flat-topped carton, and may be of paperboard with plastics, moisture-barrier and heat-and pressure-sealing coatings at both the inside and the outside thereof, possibly with an oxygen barrier layer between the paperboard and the inner plastics layer. The product 2 may be a liquid, for example milk or orange juice, or a detergent, or may be a particulate material, such as soap powder. The opening device 3 has been moulded in one piece of plastics and consists of simply a flap-form panel 4 within a frame-form pour spout 5. Beneath the flap 4, the top wall of the container 1 is formed with an oval, partial-depth cut 6 encircling a wall portion 7. The partial-depth cut 6 is formed in the external surface of the top wall of the carton 1 and

extends through the outside coating of plastics into the paperboard layer. The frame 5 has a curved front section 5a which, centrally at 5b, projects very slightly forwards beyond the front surface la of the carton 1 to promote pourability, i. e. satisfactory pouring from the carton, through discouraging the product from running down the front surface la, especially when the package has just been opened and pouring has to commence from a full carton 1. The frame 5 also includes a rear section 5c which is straight and, its front edge, has an integral hinge 8 connecting it to the flap 4. The hinge 8 is of a linear form and so, in co-operation with two upstanding flanges 5d of the frame 5, accurately guides movement of the flap 4 relative to the frame 5. The two flanges 5d extend from front to back of the frame 5 at respective opposite sides of the flap 4. The flap 4 extends forwardly from the hinge 8 in the form of a recess 9 ) which is of U-shape in plan view and which is defined by a flat base wall 4a and a side wall 4b the outer surface of which is inclined obliquely inwards towards the wall portion 7. Thus, the recess 9 is open at its rear end and closed at its front end. The base wall 4a is adhered by hot melt, for example, to that wall portion 7, whilst the frame 5 is adhered by hot melt, for example, to the portion of the top wall encircling the portion 7.

However, at its front end zone, the flap 4 is formed with a forwardly projecting lip 4c lying substantially at the level of the top edges of the flanges 5d. The lip 4c extends forwards a short distance beyond the front surface la and also slightly beyond the front section 5a, to facilitate engagement of the front of the flap 4 by the consumer and thereby facilitate the opening of the package.

The frame 5 has, at its front and laterally, a U- shaped inner edge 5e which lies directly beneath the U- shaped wall 4b and which does not project over the external surface of the portion 7.

To open the package, a consumer simply swings upwards the lip 4c so that the flap 4 turns about the hinge 8 and thereby tears the portion 7 out of the top wall of the carton 1. To re-close the package, the consumer turns the flap 4 back through its initial position relative to the frame 5 to the position shown in Figure 4, in which the wedge form of the flap 4, seen particularly clearly in Figure 5, causes it to jam frictionally against the edge 5e and thus hold the flap 4 closed until the consumer again swings upwards the lip 4c. In that way, the flap 4 is discouraged from re- opening without a deliberate action on the part of the consumer.

The version shown in Figures 6 to 10 differs from that described with reference to Figure 1 to 5 in a number of respects. Firstly, the pouring lip 5b, projecting forwards beyond the front surface la, extends for the whole width between the flanges 5d and is also directed slightly upwardly, as can be seen from, for example, Figure 9. This further improves the pourability of the pour spout 5. Secondly, at almost its front edge, the pour spout 5 is provided with a vertical, downwardly extending flange 10 which, in attaching of the opening device 3 to the container 1, assists in locating the device 3 relative to the container 1 in the front-to-back sense, which is important in ensuring the correct degree of protrusion of the device 3 from the front surface la and also in locating the device 3 accurately relative to

the partial-depth cut 6. Thirdly, the flap 4 has its side walls 4b connected at their tops to the tops of the flanges 5d by means of tamper-evident bridges 11. Not only do these bridges 11, if broken, provide evidence of tampering, but, when broken by turning of the flap 4, give a snap sound so that the consumer immediately knows that the bridges have not previously been broken.

Fourthly, the opening procedure initially includes pressing inwards of the flap 4 about the hinge 8 so as not only to break the bridges 11 but also to commence breaking of the loop of weakness 6. In order to encourage the consumer to press the flap 4 down unilaterally, the lip 4c, which protrudes forwards slightly beyond the lip 5b, is formed with an indication, in this case the word mPRESS", as to where the consumer is to apply his thumb. Unilateral commencement of breaking of the loop 6 facilitates almost complete tearing-out of the portion 7. The arrangement whereby the unilateral pressure is applied adjacent an edge of the carton is advantageous in that the carton yields less to downwards pressure at a top edge thereof than to downwards pressure more toward the middle of the top wall thereof. The bridges 11 are of such strength that the force required to break those bridges by pressing at the lip 4c is sufficient to break the front part of the loop of weakness 6. The force required in effect determines the speed at which the flap 4 descends and we have found that a relatively short downwards stroke by the consumer's thumb is highly desirable in promoting reliable breaking of the forward part of the loop 6.

This stroke is substantially equal to the distance between the lips 4c and 5b and is advantageously a maximum of 3mm. Thus, the breaking of the tamper-evident bridges 11 and the breaking of the loop of weakness 6 are

performed almost simultaneously by a unidirectional pressing action of the consumer. Moreover, the shorter the vertical distance between the lips 4c and 5b, the shorter the upward protrusion of the device 3 from the container 1 and thus the more appropriate the package for stacking. After fracturing of the forward part of the loop 6 by downward pressing of the flap 4, the consumer then displaces upwards the lip 4c (the slight forward projection of the lip 4c beyond the lip 5b allowing easy engagement of the lip 4c by the consumer for this purpose) and, as he continues to turn the flap 4 upwards, that upward movement tears the portion 7 almost completely from the top wall of the container 1, as illustrated in Figure 9. A fifth difference between the two versions is that, as the flap 4 approaches the condition shown in Figure 9, two inward flanges 12 thereof engage resiliently releasably under respective hooks 13 protruding upwardly from the rear section 5c of the frame 5. The hooks 13 are in mirror symmetry relative to the central longitudinal vertical plane of the device 3 and include respective short walls which, as can be seen from Figure 6, extend in respective vertical planes converging forwardly. The flanges 12 terminate in respective edges converging downwardly towards each other, so that, when the flanges engage under the hooks 13, those edges lie parallel to the short walls of the hooks 13. After pouring from the container 1, the flanges 12 and the hooks 13 are releasably disengageable by simply turning the flap 4 forwardly and downwardly to bring the flap 4 and thus the portion 7 finally into the re-closed condition shown in Figure 10. A seventh difference between the two versions is that, as can be seen from Figure 7, at respective opposite sides of the portion 7 the frame 5 very slightly overlaps the loop 6

and thus the portion 7, so that, upon re-closing movement of the flap 4 and because the front and side edges of the flat base wall 4a are spaced horizontally from the frame 5 in the un-opened condition, the portion 7 is forced past the frame 5 until the lip 4c encounters the lip 5b, as shown in Figure 10.