Carton with a dispenser in the top panel for dispensing pouches

A carton is provided for carrying a plurality of pouches which has at least one dispenser in the top panel formed between the handle and the end panel. The carton may have two dispensers, with one formed on each side of the handle between the handle and an end panel. The dispenser is sized so that only one pouch can be dispensed at a time from each row of pouches. The loaded carton can be carried by the handle after a dispenser has been opened.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a carton with a handle that has at least one dispenser in the top panel for dispensing pouches containing drinks one at a time from each row of pouches.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pouches made out of metal foil and plastic have become popular for carrying drinks. A number of these pouches can be carried in a carton, but the removal of one pouch results in the destruction of the carton. It would be desirable to have a carton that could dispense these pouches one at a time, but yet remain intact for future dispensing or for carrying. These cartons typically contain ten pouches in two rows of five pouches each.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a carton that will carry a multiple number of drink pouches which can be dispensed one at a time. It is the further object of this invention to develop a carton with a dispenser that can be carried by the handle after one or more dispenser flaps has been removed.

The objects of this invention have been achieved by providing a carton that has at least one dispenser in the top panel and has a handle in the top panel for carrying. The dispenser can be opened by tearing the dispenser flap in the top panel open along the tear lines provided in the carton. The dispenser can be constructed so that it will only dispense one pouch at a time from each row or only one pouch at a time depending upon the size of the pouch and dispenser. A tab can be provided on the end of the dispenser flap for the easy removal of the dispenser flap. In another embodiment of this invention, two dispensers are provided, with a dispenser on each side of a handle in the center of the top panel. Cartons can be constructed with one or more dispenser flaps using a variety of handles for carrying cartons. It is preferred that the length of the handle be perpendicular to the side panels of the carton.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following specification in conjunctions with the accompanying drawing figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is intended primary for use with pouches used to contain drinks such as orange juice, milk, and fruit drinks. The present invention provides a carton for containing the plurality of these pouches (e.g. 10 or more pouches). The blank10as illustrated inFIG. 1is formed from a foldable sheet of material, such as paperboard. The blank10has bottom flap12which is attached to a side panel14by fold line16, and in turn attached to a top panel18by fold line20. Top panel18is attached to side panel22by fold line24and in turn attached to bottom flap26by fold line28. The top panel18is attached to the top end flap30by fold line32. The top panel18has a handle34with a cut line36in the middle of the handle and fold line38on each side of the handle. The top panel18has a dispenser flap40which can be torn from the top panel along tear line42. The dispenser flap40may have an opening tab44to facilitate opening the dispenser. The dispenser flap40is attached to top end flap46along tear line48. Side panel14is attached to side end flap50by fold line52and attached to side end flap54by fold line56. Side end flap50is attached to bottom end flap58by fold line60and side end flap54is attached to bottom end flap62by fold line64. Side panel22is attached to side end flap66by fold line68and attached to side end flap70by fold line72. Side end flap66is attached to bottom end flap74by fold line76. Side end flap70is attached to bottom end flap78by fold line80.

This blank can be formed into a carton by folding the blank and gluing bottom flaps12and26together forming a sleeve into the which the pouches may be loaded and the various flaps on the ends of the carton folded and glued to each other.

This carton is shown inFIG. 2with a dispenser flap40removed forming the dispenser through which the pouches P may be dispensed. This carton can still be carried by the handle34even after the dispenser has been opened. This carton dispenser can be constructed so that it will only dispense one pouch at a time. This carton can be used either as a store display or taken home by the consumer to be used as a dispensing carton.

Another embodiment of this invention is illustrated inFIG. 3which is a blank having a handle and two dispensers in the top panel. The blank100has bottom flap112which is connected to side panel114by fold line116which is connected to top panel118by fold line120and in turn connected to side panel122by fold line124and finally connected to bottom flap126by fold line128. Top end flap130is connected by fold line132to dispenser flap144. Top end flap134is connected by fold line136to a second dispenser flap138. This dispenser flap138has tear lines140connecting it to side panels114and122. Cut line142is provided for easy removal of the dispenser flap138from the carton, thus opening the dispenser. Dispenser flap144is connected to side panels114and122by tear line146and has cut line148for easy removal of the dispenser flap144. This carton has a curved handle150with fold lines152and154between the handle150and handle flaps155and157. Side panel114is connected to side end flap156by fold line158and to side end flap164by fold line166. Side end flap156is connected to bottom end flap160by fold line162and side end flap164is connected to bottom end flap168by fold line170. Side panel122is connected to side end flap172by fold line174and to side end flap180by fold line182. Side end flap172is connected to bottom end flap176by fold line178and side end flap180is connected to bottom end flap184by fold line186. Slits188may be provided in the side panels122and114to dissipate the stress involved in lifting the carton.

A carton can be formed from the blank shown inFIG. 3by folding into a sleeve form and gluing bottom flaps112and126together and then be loaded with pouches and the various end flaps glued together. A carton erected from the blank shown inFIG. 3is illustrated inFIG. 4where the dispenser flaps138and144have been removed to allow the easy removal of the pouches contained therein.

The different embodiments of the present invention permit the pouches to be removed through a dispenser in the top panel one at a time from each row of pouches or only one at a time if there is only a single row. These cartons also have a handle in the top panel which allows the carton to be carried after a dispenser has been opened.

In order to allow sufficient room for at least one dispenser and to provide adequate strength for carrying the carton, the length of the handle should extend perpendicular to the plane of the two side walls rather than being parallel to the side walls. It is preferred to use a slotted handle that has slits that extend into the side wall for dissipating the stress imposed on the handle. A cut line is usually provided between each dispenser flap and the handle to facilitate the easy removal of the dispenser flap.