Carton with opening feature

A carton having an opening feature. The carton may include a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels may include a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. The carton may further include a dispenser having a dispenser panel that is at least partially defined by a tear line having a perforation pattern. The perforation pattern may have at least one cut having a central portion, a first distal portion extending from the central portion, and a second distal portion extending from the central portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention generally relates to carriers or cartons for holding and displaying containers. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a perforation pattern for carton opening features.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In general, one aspect of the disclosure is directed a carton having an opening feature. The carton may comprise a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels may comprise a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. The carton may further comprise a dispenser having a dispenser panel that is at least partially defined by a tear line comprising a perforation pattern. The perforation pattern may comprise at least one cut having a central portion, a first distal portion extending from the central portion, and a second distal portion extending from the central portion.

In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a blank for forming a carton having an opening feature. The blank may comprise a plurality of panels for forming an interior of the carton formed from the blank. The plurality of panels may comprise a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. The blank may further comprise dispenser features for forming a dispenser in the carton formed from the blank. The dispenser features may comprise a dispenser panel that is at least partially defined by a tear line comprising a perforation pattern. The perforation pattern may comprise at least one cut having a central portion, a first distal portion extending from the central portion, and a second distal portion extending from the central portion.

In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a method of forming a carton having an opening feature. The method may comprise obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels. The plurality of panels may comprise a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. The blank further may comprise dispenser features comprising a dispenser panel that is at least partially defined by a tear line comprising a perforation pattern. The perforation pattern may comprise at least one cut having a central portion, a first distal portion extending from the central portion, and a second distal portion extending from the central portion. The method can further comprise forming an interior of the carton at least partially defined by the plurality of panels, and forming a dispenser opening by at least partially removing the dispenser panel from the carton.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate the above stated advantages and other advantages and benefits of various additional embodiments reading the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the below-listed drawing figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

The present disclosure relates generally to various aspects of materials, blanks, packages, cartons, constructs, etc., for holding food items, and methods of making such materials, blanks, packages, cartons, and constructs. Although several different disclosures, aspects, implementations, and embodiments are provided, numerous interrelationships between, combinations thereof, and modifications of the various disclosures, aspects, implementations, and embodiments are contemplated hereby. Cartons according to the present disclosure can accommodate packages of numerous different shapes. For the purpose of illustration and not for the purpose of limiting the scope of the disclosure, the following detailed description describes articles (e.g., containers or packages of candy, chocolate or other packaged food item) at least partially disposed within the carton embodiments. In this specification, the terms “lower,” “bottom,” “upper”, “top”, “front”, and “back,” or other terms of orientation, indicate orientations determined in relation to fully erected cartons or packages and any such indication of orientations is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure as the cartons or packages disclosed herein are capable of different orientations than shown and/or described herein.

FIG. 1is a plan view of the exterior side11of a blank, generally indicated at13, used to form a carton15(FIGS. 5-6) according to one exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. The carton15can be used to house a plurality of containers C. In the illustrated embodiment, the carton15is sized to house twenty four containers C in four layers in a 2×3 arrangement, but it is understood that the carton15may be sized and shaped to hold containers of a different or same quantity in one or more than one layer and/or in different row/column arrangements (e.g., 3×4, 1×6, 3×6, 2×6×2, 3×3×2, 4×5, 3×5, 2×9, 2×6, 3×4, etc.). In one embodiment, the carton15has a dispenser17for accessing the containers C in the carton15. As will be discussed below in more detail, the dispenser17can be positioned to an open position (FIGS. 7-8) for accessing the articles (e.g., containers, packages, food items and non-food items) or any other item capable of being contained inside the carton15.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the carton blank13has a longitudinal axis L1and a lateral axis L2. In the illustrated embodiment, the blank13comprises a top panel21foldably connected to a first side panel23at a first lateral fold line25. A bottom panel27is foldably connected to the first side panel23at a second lateral fold line29. A second side panel24is foldably connected to the bottom panel27at a third lateral fold line26. An attachment panel35is foldably connected to the top panel21at a fourth lateral fold line37. In alternative embodiments, the blank13can have alternative panel and/or flap arrangements.

In one embodiment, the top panel21is foldably connected to a first top end flap45and a second top end flap47. The first side panel23is foldably connected to a first side end flap49and a second side end flap51. The bottom panel27is foldably connected to a first bottom end flap53and a second bottom end flap55. The second side panel24is foldably connected to a first side end flap57and a second side end flap59. When the carton15is erected, the top end flap45, bottom end flap53, and side end flaps49,57close a first end65of the carton15, and the top end flap47, bottom end flap55, and side end flaps51,59close a second end67of the carton, as illustrated inFIG. 5. In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, different flap arrangements can be used for at least partially closing the ends65,67of the carton15.

The top end flap45, bottom end flap53, and side end flaps49,57extend along a first marginal area of the blank13, and are foldably connected at a first longitudinal fold line61that extends along the length of the blank13. The top end flap47, bottom end flap55, and side end flaps51,59extend along a second marginal area of the blank13, and are foldably connected at a second longitudinal fold line63that also extends along the length of the blank13. The longitudinal fold lines61,63may be, for example, substantially straight, or offset at one or more locations to account for blank thickness, varying width of the blank panels, or for other factors.

In one embodiment, the side end flaps49,51,57and59may have several rows of longitudinal partial cuts56on the exterior. For illustrative purposes only,FIG. 1has 6 rows of partial cuts56, however more or less rows may be used, without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. The partial cuts56create a surface that assist with the adhesion of glue when the carton is formed. The side end flaps49,51,57and59and partial cuts56can be otherwise shaped, arranged, positioned, and/or omitted without departing from the disclosure. Further the second side panel24may comprise adhesive areas79and81for adhesively connecting the second side panel24to the attachment panel35. The adhesive area81may comprise adhesive release areas83that circumscribe the adhesive area81and are cut for example between 10% to 90% and in one exemplary embodiment 50% through the blank13. The adhesive release areas83can tear and separate from the side panel24when the carton15is opened into the dispensing position, as illustrated inFIG. 8.

In one embodiment, the dispenser17comprises a dispenser panel71that is removably attached to the carton at a tear line, generally indicated at101. The tear line101comprises two oblique portions75a,75bthat are spaced apart and extend from the edge113of the blank to a respective edge of the longitudinal portion91a,91bof the tear line101. As illustrated inFIG. 1, the longitudinal portions91a,91bare collinear with at least a portion of respective longitudinal fold lines61,63. In one embodiment, the tear line101comprises two oblique portions89a,89bextending from respective edges133a,133bof respective longitudinal portions91a,91bto edges135a,135bof lateral portion93of the tear line101. In the illustrated embodiment, the oblique portions75a,75bextend across the attachment panel35and a portion of the top panel21to respective edges139a,139bof longitudinal portions91a,91b. Further, the longitudinal portions91a,91bare collinear with a portion of the longitudinal fold lines61,63that extends along or between a first longitudinal edge137aof the top panel21and a third longitudinal edge138aof the first top end flap45, and a second longitudinal edge137bof the top panel21and a fourth longitudinal edge138bof the second top end flap47, respectively. The oblique portions89a,89bof the tear line101extend from the longitudinal portions91a,91bacross a portion of the top panel21and into a portion of the first side panel23to the lateral portion93of the tear line. The tear line101could be otherwise shaped, arranged, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure. For instance, the tear line21could be curved without departing from the disclosure.

In the illustrated embodiment, the dispenser panel71has a first portion72, a second portion73, and a third portion74. The first portion72is in the attachment panel35and defined by the edge113of the blank13, the oblique portions75a,75bof the tear line101, and the lateral fold line37. In one embodiment, the first portion72comprises an access flap85foldably connected to the attachment panel35at a lateral fold line87. The access flap85comprises a portion of the attachment panel35that does not include glue and therefore can be lifted and/or pulled to open the carton. The second portion73is in the top panel21and is at least partially defined by lateral fold lines25,37, the oblique portions75a,75bof the tear line101in the top panel, the longitudinal tear lines91a,91b, and the oblique portion89a,89bof the tear line portion in the top panel. The third portion74is in the first side panel23and is at least partially defined by the portions of the oblique tear lines89in the first side panel and the lateral tear line93. The dispenser panel71, including one or more of the first portion72, the second portion73, and the third portion74, could be otherwise shaped, arranged, configured without departing from the disclosure.

In one embodiment, one or more of the portions75a,89a,91a,93,75b,89b,91b, and93bof the tear line101can comprise a Z-shaped perforation pattern100. As shown inFIGS. 1 and 9, the longitudinal portions91a,91bof the tear line101comprise the perforation patterns100. As shown inFIG. 9, the perforation pattern100comprises a series of spaced apart cuts102. Each of the cuts102are similar in shape and therefore only one of the cuts will be described in detail but it is understood that the other cuts of the perforation pattern100will have similar features. Each cut102has a central portion103extending in the longitudinal direction of fold lines61,63and having a first end109and a second end110. A first distal portion105of the cut102extends from the first end109at an obtuse angle A1(FIG. 9) relative to the central portion to a terminal end111of the cut. A second distal portion107of the cut extends from the second end110of the central portion103at an obtuse angle A2(FIG. 9) relative to the central portion to a terminal end119of the cut. In one embodiment, the angles A1and A2can be approximately equal so that the first distal portion105and the second distal portion107are generally parallel. The central portion103, first distal portion105, and the second distal portion107may have a length between 1 mm and 10 cm and more preferably between 3 mm and 10 mm. The angles A1, A2may range, for example from 0 to 180 degrees or between 120 and 150 degrees.

In one embodiment, adjacent cuts102may be spaced apart a distance D3in the lateral direction L2and may be spaced apart a distance D4in the longitudinal direction L1. The distances D3and D4may range, for example from at least 0.1 mm-10 mm or at least between 1-4 mm. The dimension noted herein are exemplary only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure as the distances or features shown herein could be otherwise dimensioned, shaped, arranged, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure.

In one embodiment the central portion103of each cut102may be centered along a respective fold line61,63so that the central portion103is collinear with a respective fold line and the distal portions105,107are oblique relative to the central portion and the fold line. In one embodiment, the first distal portion105may extend into the top panel21and the second distal portion107may extend into a respective end flap45,47. However, the Z-shaped perforation pattern100is not limited to be along corner edges of respective panels. For example, the pattern100may be positioned to be out of alignment with fold lines61,63and can further be used to form other removable features. In another example, the Z-shaped perforation pattern100may also be used to form any of the tear lines75a,89a,93,75b,89bor could be used to form other removable features in the blank13and/or carton15.

In one exemplary embodiment shown inFIGS. 2-6, the carton15can be assembled from the blank13by initially folding the second side panel24along fold line26(FIG. 2) and then folding the first top panel21along fold line25so that the attachment panel35overlaps the second side panel24. The attachment panel35can be secured in face-to-face contact by adhesive applied either to the interior surface of the attachment panel35or the adhesive areas on the exterior surface of the second side panel24. As shown inFIG. 3the side panels23,24can then be positioned relative to the top panel21and the bottom panel27to form a generally open-ended tubular sleeve127and at least partially forming the interior space129. The tubular sleeve127can be filled with articles/containers (not shown) prior to closing the ends65,67of the carton15, or one of the ends can be closed prior to loading the containers. Once the containers are loaded, the ends65,67of the sleeve127can be closed to form the closed carton15, as illustrated byFIGS. 4-6, by at least partially overlapping the end flaps45,49,53,57to close the first end65, and at least partially overlapping the end flaps47,51,55,59to close the second end67. The carton15can be assembled and loaded by other positioning steps without departing from the disclosure.

As shown inFIGS. 7-8, the dispenser17can be opened by grasping the access flap portion85and tearing the dispenser panel71along respective portions75a,91a,89a,93, and75b,91b,89bof the tear line101to form a dispenser opening131. In one embodiment, containers can be removed from the dispenser opening131by a consumer. Alternatively, the dispenser17may comprise one or more dispenser and dispenser openings or the dispenser could be otherwise configured to have one or more openings of other shapes and sizes. Further, the dispenser17could alternatively include one or more dispenser panels in the first side panel23to allow the user to remove containers through dispenser opening(s) in the other side panel without departing from the disclosure. Also, the dispenser17could comprise one or more dispenser panels that comprise at least a portion of the bottom panel27without departing from the disclosure. Further, the dispenser17could be omitted without departing from the disclosure.

In general, the blank may be constructed from paperboard having a caliper so that it is heavier and more rigid than ordinary paper. The blank can also be constructed of other materials, such as cardboard, or any other material having properties suitable for enabling the carton to function at least generally as described above. The blank can be coated with, for example, a clay coating. The clay coating may then be printed over with product, advertising, and other information or images. The blanks may then be coated with a varnish to protect information printed on the blanks. The blanks may also be coated with, for example, a moisture barrier layer, on either or both sides of the blanks. The blanks can also be laminated to or coated with one or more sheet-like materials at selected panels or panel sections.

In accordance with the exemplary embodiments, a fold line can be any substantially linear, although not necessarily straight, form of weakening that facilitates folding therealong. More specifically, but not for the purpose of narrowing the scope of the present disclosure, fold lines include: a score line, such as lines formed with a blunt scoring knife, or the like, which creates a crushed or depressed portion in the material along the desired line of weakness; a cut that extends partially into a material along the desired line of weakness, and/or a series of cuts that extend partially into and/or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness; and various combinations of these features. In situations where cutting is used to create a fold line, typically the cutting will not be overly extensive in a manner that might cause a reasonable user to incorrectly consider the fold line to be a tear line.

The above embodiments may be described as having one or more panels adhered together by glue during erection of the carrier embodiments. The term “glue” is intended to encompass all manner of adhesives commonly used to secure carton panels in place.

The foregoing description of the disclosure illustrates and describes various embodiments. As various changes could be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Furthermore, the scope of the present disclosure covers various modifications, combinations, alterations, etc., of the above-described embodiments. Additionally, the disclosure shows and describes only selected embodiments, but various other combinations, modifications, and environments are within the scope of the disclosure as expressed herein, commensurate with the above teachings, and/or within the skill or knowledge of the relevant art. Furthermore, certain features and characteristics of each embodiment may be selectively interchanged and applied to other illustrated and non-illustrated embodiments of the disclosure.