U.S. patent application number 10/015285 was filed with the patent office on 2002-06-13 for carton with dispenser.
Invention is credited to Bates, Aaron L..
Application Number | 20020070139 10/015285 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22968801 |
Filed Date | 2002-06-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020070139 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bates, Aaron L. |
June 13, 2002 |
Carton with dispenser
Abstract
A package comprises an article group formed of cylindrical
articles disposed on their sides in a side-by-side parallel
fashion, and a carton disposed around the group. The carton
comprises a top wall, opposed side walls, an end wall and an
article dispenser. The side walls are disposed alongside the ends
of the articles while the end wall is disposed adjacent to the side
wall of an endmost article. The dispenser includes a portion of the
carton formed from and detachably connected to the top, side and
end walls. The portion is connected to the end wall along a
weakened line extending between the side walls so that the weakened
line defines an upper edge of a stopper wall formed from said end
wall when the portion is substantially detached from the carton.
The upper edge extends substantially along the cylindrical axis of
the endmost article.
Inventors: |
Bates, Aaron L.; (Marietta,
GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Legal Department
The Mead Corporation
4850D North Church Lane
Smyrna
GA
30080
US
|
Family ID: |
22968801 |
Appl. No.: |
10/015285 |
Filed: |
December 12, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60255543 |
Dec 12, 2000 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/427 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2571/0058 20130101;
B65D 71/36 20130101; B65D 2571/00543 20130101; B65D 2571/00469
20130101; B65D 2571/00141 20130101; B65D 2571/0066 20130101; B65D
2571/00728 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/427 |
International
Class: |
B65D 065/00; B65D
075/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A carton comprising a plurality of walls defining an upper
corner of the carton and an article dispenser for dispensing
articles from the carton, said dispenser including a displaceable
portion of the carton formed from said upper corner and detachably
connected to said walls to be substantially detached from the
carton to define an opening for exposing an endmost article for
removal, characterized in that said dispenser comprises a
constraining tab for inhibiting said endmost article from
undesirably exiting the carton, said constraining tab extending
upwardly to an elevation higher than a lowest point along a
periphery of said opening.
2. The carton according to claim 1 wherein said displaceable
portion of the carton is hingedly attached to the carton so as to
provide a trough for receiving an article that exits the
carton.
3. The carton according to claim 1 further comprising hand-hole
punch-through means for grasping said displaceable portion, said
punch-through means being defined by weakened lines formed in one
of said walls.
4. The carton according to claim 3 wherein said weakened lines
include a severance line and a fold line which together form a
grasping panel foldably connected to said displaceable portion
along said fold line.
5. The carton according to claim 1 wherein said walls includes a
top wall, a pair of opposed side walls connected to side edges of
said top wall and an end wall interconnecting said side walls, and
said constraining tab is formed from said end wall.
6. The carton according to claim 5 wherein said constraining tab is
defined by an inverted U-shaped weakened formed in the end
wall.
7. The carton according to claim 6 wherein said lowest point is
located adjacent to one or each of opposite ends of said inverted
U-shaped weakened line.
8. The carton according to claim 5 wherein said end wall comprises
a pair of overlapped side end flaps connected respectively to said
side walls, and said constraining tab is formed from said side end
flaps.
9. The carton according to claim 5 further comprising a bottom wall
connecting between lower edges of said side walls, wherein said end
wall comprises a bottom end flap connected to an end edge of said
bottom wall and a pair of side end flaps connected respectively to
end edges of said side walls, wherein said lowest point is located
along a weakened line formed in said side end flaps, and wherein
said constraining tab is formed from part of said bottom end flap
extending upwardly beyond said weakened line.
10. A package comprising an article group formed of at least one
tier of cylindrical articles disposed on sides thereof in a
side-by-side parallel fashion, and a carton disposed around said
group, said carton comprising a top wall, a pair of opposed side
walls connected to said top wall, an end wall interconnecting said
side walls, and an article dispenser for dispensing said articles,
said side walls being disposed alongside ends of said articles of
said group, said end wall being disposed adjacent to a side wall of
an endmost article of said group, said dispenser including a
displaceable portion of said carton formed from and detachably
connected to said top, side and end walls to be substantially
detached from said carton to define an opening for exposing said
endmost article for removal, said displaceable portion being
connected to said side walls along tear lines that are disposed
respectively across opposite ends of said endmost article so that
said opposite ends are partially exposed to facilitate access
thereto by a user when said displaceable portion is substantially
detached.
11. The package according to claim 10 wherein said tear lines are
disposed in the side walls and extend between said top wall and
said end wall, said lines being curved concavely toward said end
wall to expose greater areas of said opposite ends when said
displaceable portion is detached.
12. The package according to claim 10 wherein said tear lines are
disposed in said side walls and extend downwardly from said top
wall to said end wall, a lowest point along each of said tear lines
being spaced at a distance above a lower edge of a respective one
of said side walls, said distance being no more than a half of a
diameter of said endmost article.
13. The package according to claim 12 wherein said dispenser
comprises a constraining tab for inhibiting said endmost article
from undesirably exiting the carton, said constraining tab being
formed from said end wall and extending upwardly to an elevation
higher than said lowest point.
14. The package according to claim 10 wherein said article group
comprises two or more vertically arranged tiers of cylindrical
articles, said articles in each tier being disposed on sides
thereof in a side-by-side parallel fashion, said tear lines being
disposed across opposite ends of an endmost article of a lowermost
tier.
15. A package comprising an article group formed of at least one
tier of cylindrical articles disposed on sides thereof in a
side-by-side parallel fashion, and a carton disposed around said
group, said carton comprising a top wall, a pair of opposed side
walls connected to said top wall, an end wall interconnecting said
side walls, and an article dispenser for dispensing said articles,
said side walls being disposed alongside ends of said articles of
said group, said end wall being disposed adjacent to a side wall of
an endmost article of said group, said dispenser including a
displaceable portion of said carton formed from and detachably
connected to said top, side and end walls to be substantially
detached from said carton to define an opening for exposing said
endmost article for removal, said displaceable portion being
connected to said end wall along a weakened line extending between
said side walls so that said weakened line defines an upper edge of
a stopper wall formed from said end wall when said displaceable
portion is substantially detached, said upper edge extending
substantially along a cylindrical axis of said endmost article so
that said stopper wall inhibit said endmost article from
undesirably exiting said carton.
16. The package according to claim 15 wherein said carton further
comprises a bottom wall connecting between lower edges of said side
walls, said upper edge of said stopper wall being spaced at a
distance above said bottom wall, said distance being less than a
diameter of said endmost article.
17. The package according to claim 15 wherein said dispenser
comprises a constraining tab for inhibiting said endmost article
from undesirably exiting the carton, said constraining tab
extending upwardly from said stopper wall.
18. The package according to claim 17 wherein said weakened line
has an inverted "U" configuration so that said weakened line
defines said constraining tab formed from said end wall.
19. The package according to claim 18 wherein said carton further
comprises a bottom wall connecting between lower edges of said side
walls, said constraining tab having a highest point along said
upper edge, said highest point being spaced above said bottom wall
at a distance greater than a half of a diameter of said endmost
article and less than said diameter.
20. The package according claim 18 wherein said carton further
comprises a bottom wall connecting between lower edges of said side
walls, said upper edge has a lowest point at one or each of
opposite ends of said weakened line, said lowest point being spaced
above said bottom wall at a distance no greater than a half of a
diameter of said endmost article.
21. A carton comprising a plurality of walls defining an upper
corner of the carton and an article dispenser for dispensing
articles from the carton, said dispenser including a displaceable
portion of the carton formed from said upper corner and detachably
connected to said walls to be at least partially detached from the
carton to define an opening for exposing an endmost article for
removal, characterized in that said displaceable portion is
hingedly connected to one of said walls for downward pivotal
movement to an opened position so as to provide when in said opened
position a trough for receiving an article that exits the
carton.
22. The carton according to claim 21 wherein said walls includes a
top wall, a pair of opposed side walls connected to side edges of
said top wall and an end wall interconnecting said side walls, said
displaceable portion being formed from said top, side and end walls
and hinged to said end wall along a fold line disposed parallel to
said top wall.
23. The carton according to claim 22 further comprising a bottom
wall connecting between lower edges of said side walls, and said
fold line is positioned closer to said bottom wall than to said top
wall so that at least a part of said displaceable portion may lie
in a plane of said bottom wall when said displaceable portion is in
said opened position.
24. The carton according to claim 23 wherein said end wall is
connected at an upper edge thereof to said top wall, and said part
of said displaceable portion comprises said upper edge of said end
wall.
25. The carton according to claim 23 wherein said fold line extends
entirely across said end wall.
26. The carton according to claim 23 wherein said fold line is a
weakened fold line curved or bent to take an essentially inverted-U
shape, and said weakened fold line remains partially unbroken to
serve as a line ofjoinder when said displaceable portion is in said
opened position.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Provisional
Application No. 60/255,543 filed Dec. 12, 2000.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to cartons, and more particularly, to
a carton for multiple articles having a dispenser for constrained
removal of individual articles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Cartons for encasing multiple articles are useful for
enabling consumers to obtain and transport a desired quantity of
individual articles such as soft drinks or other beverages. When
such a multiple-pack of articles is obtained, a consumer frequently
desires to remove one article from the carton at a time. Thus, it
can be appreciated that it would be desirable to have a carton with
a dispenser that facilitates the removal of a single article from
the carton at a time.
[0004] When the articles contained in the carton are cylindrical,
and are disposed in the carton upon their sides, it is important
that the articles be constrained such that the remaining articles
do not roll out of the dispenser when one is removed. It is also
important that the dispenser provide a condition where the articles
are easily accessed. It is further often desirable when removing
individual articles from a carton to be able to determine how many
articles remain in the carton. Thus, it can be further appreciated
that it would be desirable to have a carton with a dispenser that
constrains remaining articles so that they do not undesirably roll
from or otherwise exit the carton when one article is removed. It
can also be appreciated that it would be desirable to have a carton
with a dispenser that facilitates access to the articles. It can be
further appreciated that it would be desirable to be able to
determine how many articles remain in a carton from which
individual articles are removed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A carton of the invention has a dispenser for articles which
can be substantially detached or torn away from the upper corner of
the carton to expose an endmost article for removal.
[0006] According to the invention in one aspect, a carton is
provided to comprise a plurality of walls defining an upper corner
of the carton and an article dispenser for dispensing articles from
the carton. The dispenser includes a displaceable portion of the
carton formed from the upper corner and detachably connected to the
walls to be substantially detached or torn away from the carton to
define an opening for exposing an endmost article for removal. The
dispenser comprises a constraining tab for inhibiting the endmost
article from undesirably exiting the carton. The constraining tab
extends upwardly to an elevation higher than the lowest point along
the periphery of the opening. The constraining tab is particularly
of utility to inhibit cylindrical articles lying on their sides
from undesirably rolling out from the carton.
[0007] According to a preferred embodiment, the displaceable
portion of the carton is hingedly attached to the carton so as to
provide a trough for receiving an article that exits the
carton.
[0008] According to another preferred embodiment, the carton
further comprises hand-hole punch-through means for grasping the
displaceable portion. The punch-through means may be defined by
weakened lines formed in one of the walls. The weakened lines may
include a severance line and a fold line which together form a
grasping panel that is foldably connected to the displaceable
portion along the fold line.
[0009] According to a further preferred embodiment, the walls
includes a top wall, opposed side walls connected to the side edges
of the top wall and an end wall interconnecting the side walls, and
the constraining tab is formed from the end wall. The constraining
tab may be defined by an inverted U-shaped weakened line formed in
the end wall. The lowest point along the periphery may be located
adjacent to one or each of the opposite ends of the inverted
U-shaped weakened line. The end wall may include a pair of
overlapped side end flaps connected respectively to the side walls
whereas the constraining tab may be formed from the side end
flaps.
[0010] In the immediately above embodiment, the carton may further
comprise a bottom wall connecting between the lower edges of the
side walls. The end wall may comprise a bottom end flap connected
to an end edge of the bottom wall and a pair of side end flaps
connected respectively to adjacent end edges of the side walls. The
lowest point may be located along a weakened line formed in the
side end flaps while the constraining tab may be formed from part
of the bottom end flap extending upwardly beyond the weakened
line.
[0011] According to the invention in another aspect, a package is
provided to comprise an article group formed of at least one tier
of cylindrical articles disposed on their sides in a side-by-side
parallel fashion, and a carton disposed around the group of
articles. The carton comprises a top wall, a pair of opposed side
walls connected to the top wall, an end wall interconnecting the
side walls, and an article dispenser for dispensing the articles
from the carton. The side walls are disposed alongside the ends of
the articles of the group whereas the end wall is disposed adjacent
to the side wall of an endmost article of the group. The dispenser
includes a displaceable portion of the carton formed from and
detachably connected to the top, side and end walls to be
substantially detached from the carton to define an opening for
exposing the endmost article for removal. The displaceable portion
is connected to said side walls along tear lines that are disposed
respectively across the opposite ends of the endmost article so
that the opposite ends of the endmost article are partially exposed
to facilitate access to themselves by a user when the displaceable
portion is substantially detached from the carton.
[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the lines are disposed in the
side walls and extend between the top wall and the end wall. The
tear lines may be curved concavely toward the end wall to expose
greater areas of the opposite ends of the endmost article when the
displaceable portion is detached.
[0013] In another preferred embodiment, the tear lines are disposed
in the side walls and extend downwardly from the top wall to the
end wall. A lowest point along each of the tear lines may be spaced
above the lower edge of the respective side wall at a distance no
more than a half of the diameter of the endmost article. The
dispenser may comprise a constraining tab for inhibiting the
endmost article from undesirably exiting the carton. The
constraining tab may be formed from the end wall and extend
upwardly to an elevation higher than the lowest point along each
tear line.
[0014] In a further preferred embodiment, the article group
comprises two or more vertically arranged tiers of cylindrical
articles. The articles in each tier may be disposed on their sides
in a side-by-side parallel fashion, and the tear lines may be
disposed across the opposite ends of an endmost article of the
lowermost tier.
[0015] According to the invention in a further aspect, a package is
provided to comprise an article group formed of at least one tier
of cylindrical articles disposed on their sides in a side-by-side
parallel fashion, and a carton disposed around the group of
articles. The carton comprises a top wall, a pair of opposed side
walls connected to the top wall, an end wall interconnecting the
side walls, and an article dispenser for dispensing the articles
from the carton. The side walls are disposed alongside the ends of
the articles of the group while the end wall is disposed adjacent
to the side wall of an endmost article of the group. The dispenser
includes a displaceable portion of the carton formed from and
detachably connected to the top, side and end walls to be
substantially detached from the carton to define an opening for
exposing the endmost article for removal. The displaceable portion
is connected to the end wall along a weakened line extending
between the side walls so that the weakened line defines the upper
edge of a stopper wall formed from the end wall when the
displaceable portion is substantially detached from the carton. The
upper edge extends substantially along the cylindrical axis of the
endmost article so that the stopper wall inhibits the endmost
article from undesirably exiting the carton.
[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the carton further comprises a
bottom wall connecting between the lower edges of the side walls,
and the upper edge of the stopper wall is spaced above the bottom
wall at a distance less than the diameter of the endmost
article.
[0017] In another preferred embodiment, the dispenser comprises a
constraining tab for inhibiting the endmost article from
undesirably exiting the carton. Such a constraining tab may extend
upwardly from the stopper wall. The weakened line may have an
inverted "U" configuration so that the weakened line defines the
constraining tab that is formed from the end wall.
[0018] In the immediately above embodiment, the carton may further
comprise a bottom wall connecting between the lower edges of the
side walls. The constraining tab may have a highest point along the
upper edge while the highest point may be spaced above the bottom
wall at a distance greater than a half of the diameter of the
endmost article and less than the diameter. Alternatively, the
carton may further comprise a bottom wall connecting between the
lower edges of the side walls, and the upper edge has a lowest
point at one or each of the opposite ends of the weakened line.
Such a lowest point may be spaced above the bottom wall at a
distance no greater than a half of the diameter of the endmost
article.
[0019] According to the invention in a still further aspect, a
carton is provided to comprise a plurality of walls defining an
upper corner of the carton and an article dispenser for dispensing
articles from the carton. The dispenser includes a displaceable
portion of the carton formed from the upper corner of the carton
and detachably connected to the walls of the carton to be at least
partially detached from the carton to define an opening for
exposing an endmost article in the carton for removal. The
displaceable portion is hingedly connected to one of the walls for
downward pivotal movement to an opened position so as to provide
when in the opened position a trough for receiving an article that
exits the carton.
[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the carton walls includes a top
wall, a pair of opposed side walls connected to the side edges of
the top wall and an end wall interconnecting the side walls. The
displaceable portion may be formed from the top, side and end walls
and hinged to the end wall along a fold line disposed parallel to
the top wall. The carton may further comprise a bottom wall
connecting between the lower edges of the side walls while the fold
line is positioned closer to the bottom wall than to the wall so
that at least part of the displaceable portion may lie in the plane
of the bottom wall when the displaceable portion is brought into
the opened position. This arrangement is of utility in that the
trough provided by the displaceable portion can reach a support
surface on which the carton is placed and thereby the trough may
also sit on the support surface to be capable of receiving and
supporting an article.
[0021] In the immediately above embodiment, the part of the
displaceable portion to be in the plane of the bottom wall may
comprise the upper edge of the end wall that is connected to the
top wall. The fold line may extend entirely across the end wall.
Alternatively, the fold line may be a weakened fold line curved or
bent to take an essentially inverted-U shape. Such a weakened fold
line remains partially unbroken to serve as a line of joiner when
the displaceable portion is in the opened position.
[0022] Other advantages and objects of the present invention will
be apparent from the following description, the accompanying
drawings, and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 is an isometric illustration of a carton having a
dispenser in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
invention,
[0024] FIG. 2 is an isometric illustration of the carton of FIG. 1
with the dispenser trough pivoted away from the upper portion of
the end portion of the carton,
[0025] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a blank for forming the carton with
the dispenser shown in FIG. 1,
[0026] FIG. 4 is an isometric illustration of a carton having a
dispenser in accordance with a second embodiment of the
invention,
[0027] FIG. 5 is an isometric illustration of the carton of FIG. 4
with the dispenser trough pivoted down to the opened position,
and
[0028] FIG. 6 is a plan view of a blank for forming the carton
shown in FIG. 4
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate a first embodiment of the present
invention. Throughout these drawings, the same reference numerals
are used to denote the same or like features of the invention.
[0030] For convenience of understanding, reference may be made to
FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 simultaneously. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a carton
10 having a dispenser in accordance with the first embodiment. FIG.
3 illustrates the blank 12 from which the carton of FIGS. 1 and 2
is formed. Cans "C" arranged in a 6.times.2 array are shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2 as an aid in understanding the invention. More
specifically, the cans "C" are arranged in a group consisting of
two vertically disposed tiers each including six cans. The cans "C"
in each tier are disposed on their sides in a side-by-side parallel
fashion.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 3, the blank 12 include four primary
panels for forming the carton walls, i.e., a first side wall panel
64, a top wall panel 62, a second side wall panels 66 and a bottom
wall panel 68 foldably connected one to the next along fold lines
82, 84 and 86. A glue flap 88 is foldably connected to the first
side wall panel 64 along a fold line 90. Reference numerals 72,
72a, 74, 74a, 76, 76a, 78, 78a designate end flaps foldably
connected the ends of the primary panels 62, 64, 66, 68. The end
flaps arranged along each of the upper and lower edges (as viewed
in FIG. 3) of the blank 12 form a composite end wall such as shown
at 70 in FIG. 1.
[0032] To form an erected carton from the blank 12, the first side
wall panel 64 is folded along the fold line 82 to lie flat on the
top wall panel 62. Glue is applied to the glue flap 88, and then
the bottom wall panel 68 is folded along the fold line 86 to lie
flat on the second wall panel 66. By this means, the bottom wall
panel 68 is glued to the glue flap 88, and thereby a flat tubular
carton is provided The flat tubular carton is then expanded into an
open-ended tubular form. After cans are loaded through one or both
of the open ends of the carton, the end flaps 72, 72a, 74, 74a, 76,
76a, 78, 78a are folded to form the respective end walls to thereby
close the ends of the carton. To form the end wall 70, the top and
bottom end flaps 72 and 74 are folded to their respective vertical
positions. Glue is applied to the outside faces of the end flaps 72
and 74, and then the side end flaps 76 and 78 are folded in the
described sequence onto the top and bottom end flaps 72 and 74.
This causes the side end flaps 76 and 78 to be glued to the top and
bottom end flaps 72 and 74. In the closed position show in FIG. 1,
the side end flaps 76 and 78 overlap each other and are secured
together also by means of glue. The other end wall (not shown) of
the carton is formed in like manner by end flaps 72a, 74a, 76a and
78a.
[0033] An erected carton is shown in FIG. 1 wherein a trough 20 is
integrally formed at an end portion of the carton 10 to be
displaceable to form a dispenser. A hand-hole punch-through means
for grasping the trough 20 is formed in the top wall 62 by a
weakened line of severance 22 and a weakened fold line 24.
Together, these two lines 22 and 24 form the hand-hole
punch-through means and define an elliptical panel 26 on the cusp
of the trough 20 adjacent the remainder of the carton 10 that can
be grasped to pull down the trough 20 and reveal the dispenser area
or opening 50. A weakened severance line or tear line 30 is formed
in each of the opposed side walls 64 and 66 and extends from the
top wall 62 to the composite end wall 70. In the preferred
embodiment illustrated, the tear line lines 30 are of arcuate
configuration. They are curved or arched concavely toward the end
wall 70. The tear lines 30 intersect a frangible or otherwise
weakened fold line 32 of joiner that is formed in the side end
flaps 76 and 78 to extend between the side walls 64 and 66 entirely
across the end wall 70.
[0034] Referring now particularly to FIG. 2, therein is illustrated
the manner in which the trough 20 has been substantially removed
from the carton 10 at the upper corner region and remains hingedly
attached to the lower portion of the end wall 70 along the weakened
fold line 32. With the trough 20 pivoted downward, the dispenser
opening 50 is revealed. Constraining tab members 40 and 42 formed
from the bottom end flap 74 are visible through the dispenser
opening 50.
[0035] The cans "C" become accessible through the opening 50 by at
least substantially detaching the trough 20 from the carton 10.
Although the trough 20 can be completely removed by detaching it
from the carton along the weakened fold line 32 that forms its
hinge, when it remains attached, as shown, it serves as a handy
mechanism for receiving an article (a can "C"), particularly when
the dispenser is first opened. When the trough 20 is pivoted down
to an opened position as shown in FIG. 2, the upper edge 21 of the
end wall 70 is brought into contact with a support surface on which
the carton is placed. This allows the trough 20 to be also
supported by the support surface to be able to receive and properly
support a can.
[0036] When the trough 20 is in the opened position or completely
detached, the lower portion of the end wall 70 forms a stopper wall
80 that extend all the way between the side walls 64 and 66 along
the cylindrical axis X-X (see FIG. 2) of the end most can of the
lower tier adjacent the stopper wall 80. The upper edge of the
stopper wall 80 is defined by the weakened fold line 32 that is
spaced above the bottom wall 68 (see FIG. 3) at a distance less
than the diameter of the cans "C", and preferably no more than a
half of the diameter of the cans "C". The stopper wall 80 by itself
is capable of inhibiting the cans on the lower tier from
inadvertently exiting the carton before intended removal. However,
an additional can stopper may be used. Such an additional stopper
is provided by the constraining tab members 40 and 42. The
respective upper or highest points on the tabs 40 and 42 may be
disposed above the bottom wall 68 at a distance greater than a half
of the diameter of the cans and less than the diameter of the cans.
Thus, the constraining tabs 40 and 42 are shown in FIG. 2 as
projecting upwardly beyond the upper edge 32 of the stopper wall
80. The contents of the carton are easily viewed through the
dispenser opening 50.
[0037] Because each tear line 30 extends across the adjacent end of
the endmost can "C" in the lower tier, the opposite ends of the
endmost can "C" are partially exposed as shown in FIG. 2 so that a
user can easily grasp that can by the opposite ends. The curvature
of the tear lines 30 help to increase the exposed areas of the can
ends. After the top, end-most can (the can "C" in the trough) is
removed from the upper tier, the remaining cans C in the upper tier
will nest in the spaces between the cans of the lower tier. Nesting
of cans in this manner is well known in the art and is not
illustrated. The invention serves as a useful dispensing carton
that can be placed upon a surface or within a compartment such as a
refrigerator or pantry.
[0038] A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 4 to
6, where like parts have been designated by the same reference
numeral with the prefix "1" and only the differences are discussed
in any greater detail.
[0039] Referring to FIG. 5, cans "C" in this embodiment are
arranged in a group consisting of two vertically disposed tiers
each including five cans. The cans in each tier are disposed on
their sides in a side-by-side parallel fashion.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 6, the blank of the carton has a pair of
bottom wall panels 168a and 168b that are secured together to form
a composite bottom wall when the blank is erected into a carton.
The inner or upper bottom wall panel 168a is foldably connected to
the first side wall panel 164 along a fold line 190 while the outer
or lower bottom wall panel 168b is foldably connected to the second
side wall panel 166 along a fold line 186. Each bottom wall panel
is provided at its opposite ends with end flaps 100 or 102. The end
flaps 100 on the inner bottom wall panel 168a are glued
respectively to the end flaps 102 on the outer bottom wall panel
168 to form full bottom end flaps similar to the end flaps 74 and
74a in the first embodiment.
[0041] FIG. 4 illustrates a carton 110 formed from the blank 112 of
FIG. 6. The tear lines 130 extend from the top wall 162 to their
respective lowest points 200 on the end edges 202 of the respective
side walls 164 and 166. The lowest point 200 is spaced above the
composite bottom wall at a distance, preferably, no more than a
half of the diameter of the cans "C" to provide a maximum exposed
area of the respective can end when the trough 120 is detached from
the carton 110.
[0042] As shown further in FIG. 4, the weakened fold line 132 is
curved, or bent, to assume an inverted "U" shape, which defines a
constraining tab 204 along the upper straight portion of the
weakened fold line 132. The lowest points on the weakened line 132
are located at its opposite ends 200 which are in registry with the
lower ends of the tear lines 130.
[0043] Therefore, the constraining tab 204 projects above the
lowest points 200. The weakened line 132 is located above the
composite bottom wall at a distance, preferably, greater than a
half of the diameter of the cans "C" and less than the diameter of
the cans "C". Stated differently, the weakened fold line 132 is
positioned considerably closer to the bottom wall than to the top
wall 162. As best shown in FIG. 5, the weakened fold line 132
partially breaks near its opposite ends when the trough 120 is
brought to the opened position; however, the straight portion of
the line 132 remains unbroken to serve as a fold line.
[0044] Unlike the first embodiment, the tabs 140 and 142 (see FIG.
6) on the end flaps 100 and 102 do not project upwardly beyond the
weakened line 132. However, they are disposed flat with the inside
face of the constraining tab 204 and thereby function to reinforce
the constraining tab 204.
[0045] Reference numeral 206 designate a half cut formed in the
constraining tab 204 and extending along the weakened fold line
132. The half cut 206 may be used to facilitate removal of the
trough 120 when it is desired to completely detach the trough 120
from the carton 110. Reference numerals 208, 210 and 212 designate
fold lines formed in the top wall 162 to define an yielding panel
124. The yielding panel 214 is easily displaced downwardly when
pressed downwardly. Therefore, the yielding panel 214 is useful to
facilitate breaking of the severance line 122 during the process of
grasping the trough 120 by the hand-hole punch-through means or
elliptical panel 126. The stopper wall 180 is created in the same
manner as in the first embodiment and extend entirely across the
dispenser opening 150 along the cylindrical axis X-X (see FIG. 5)
of the endmost can "C" of the lower tier.
[0046] Modifications may be made in the foregoing without departing
from the scope and spirit of the claimed invention. For example,
the dispenser may be formed at each end of the carton according to
the invention. It should be also appreciated that as used herein,
directional references such as "top", "bottom", "end", "side",
"upper" and "lower" do not limit the respective panels to such
orientation, but merely serve to distinguish these panels from one
another.
[0047] It should be further appreciated that any reference to
hinged or foldable connection should not be construed as
necessarily referring to a single fold line only: indeed, it is
envisaged that hinged connection can be formed from one or more of
one of the following, a score line, a frangible line or a fold
line, without departing from the scope of invention.
* * * * *