Abstract:
A carton having a dispensing feature adapted for permitting the removal of articles from within the carton. Top and bottom opposed walls are interconnected by a pair of side walls to form a tubular body. An article dispenser is provided by a removable portion defined by an opening in the carton for exposing articles for removal. The removable portion is at least partially defined by a frangible line extending across each side wall to opposite side edges of the bottom wall. A portion of the frangible line extends at least partially along the adjacent end edge of the bottom wall and then extends to the opposite side edges of the bottom wall. A buttress arrangement for enhancing the stacking strength of the carton is formed from the distal portion of at least one side end flap.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates generally to cartons for use in packaging articles and, more particularly, relates to a dispensing carton whose stacking strength is enhanced by a special arrangement of an end closure structure and/or a frangible line. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Cartons are useful for allowing consumers to purchase, transport and store a desired quantity of articles. For the convenience of the consumers, some cartons have dispensers which allow the articles to be dispensed from the carton while continuing to encase the remaining articles. A portion of the carton is torn out to form an opening from which articles may be removed. 
   However, some articles are flexible and/or deformable such as juice pouches. Such articles tend to get easily rearranged and crushed within the carton. Moreover, not all cartons have sufficient strength to physically protect the contents when arranged in a stacked condition. Dispensers, in particular, tend to break open unintentionally when the cartons are subject to compression. What is needed, therefore, is an improved dispensing carton for packaging flexible or deformable articles. The improved carton should have good stacking strength as well as an improved dispensing feature to protect the contents when stored or displayed with like cartons in a stacked condition. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a carton with an improved article dispenser which utilizes end flaps to increase the structural integrity of the carton while continuing to facilitate easy access to the articles within the carton. Flexible and/or deformable articles such as stand-up pouches may be retained within the carton in an organized manner. 
   Generally described, top and bottom opposed walls are hingedly interconnected by a pair of side walls to form a tubular body. An end closure structure is provided to at least partially close each end of the tubular body. A buttress arrangement is provided by each end closure structure. Each buttress arrangement is disposed within the interior of the carton and extends vertically between the top and bottom walls to enhance the stacking strength of the carton. An article dispenser is provided at one or both of the opposite ends of the carton. The article dispenser is provided by a removable portion of the carton to define an opening for exposing articles for removal from the carton. The removable portion is defined by a frangible line extending across the top wall at a distance spaced from at least one end of the tubular body. The frangible line further extends from the top wall across each side wall toward the bottom wall to a point on the fold line between each side wall and the bottom wall. The point on each fold line is positioned at a distance from the one end to control undesired tear of the side walls along the frangible line when the carton undergoes vertical compression. 
   In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each end closure structure may include a pair of side end flaps joined to the side walls respectively. Each side end flap may include a proximal portion hingedly connected to the respective side wall and extends toward the other side wall. One of the side end flaps further includes a distal portion hingedly connected to the respective proximal portion. The distal portion of the one side end flap may extend into the interior of the carton to form the respective buttress arrangement. The other side end flap may also include a distal portion extending into the interior of the carton. The distal portions of the side end flaps of each end closure structure may be disposed in a face-to-face contacting relationship to form the respective buttress arrangement. The distal portion of one or each side end flap may be positioned such that that distal portion is disposed between the articles within the carton to serve as a partition. These distal portions extends all the way between the top and bottom walls to be in abutment at their upper and lower ends on the top and bottom walls. 
   In another preferred embodiment, the buttress arrangement at the one end of the tubular body may be removable from the carton along with the removable portion to permit the packaged articles to be dispensed from the carton. 
   In a still another embodiment, the frangible line may extend across each side wall at a distance spaced from the one end of the tubular body. 
   In a still further embodiment, the frangible line may further extend from the point on each fold line to the end edge of the bottom wall at the one end of the tubular body and still further extend at least partially along the end edge of the bottom wall to form an endless line. The frangible line may extend entirely along the end edge of the bottom wall and further along part of each fold line between the respective point and the end edge of the bottom wall. Alternatively, the frangible line may extend along part of the end edge. In this alternative arrangement, each portion of the frangible line that connects between the respective point and the end edge may be formed in the bottom wall. These portions of the frangible line extend divergently from the end edge to the respective points. 
   In a still further preferred embodiment, the removable portion may be defined by a portion of the top wall, a portion of each opposing side walls, and a portion of the respective end closure structure. The removable portion may be hingedly connected to the bottom wall along a portion of the frangible line extending along the end edge of the bottom wall. 
   The present invention in another aspect provides a carton comprising top and bottom opposed walls hingedly interconnected by a pair of side walls to form a tubular body, an end closure structure for at least partially closing each end of the tubular body, and an article dispenser provided at one of the opposite ends by a removable portion of the carton. The removable portion is at least partially defined by a frangible line that comprises first, second, third and fourth portions. The first portion is formed in the top wall and extends between the opposite side edges of the top wall at a distance spaced from the one end. The second portion is formed in one of the side walls and extends from one of the side edges of the top wall to a point on the lower edge of the one side wall. The third portion is formed in the other side wall and extends from the other side edge of the top wall to a point of the lower edge of the other side wall. The fourth portion extends at least partially along the end edge of the bottom wall at the one end of the tubular body such that the second and third portions are interconnected by the fourth portion. Each point on the lower edge of each side wall is positioned at a distance from the one end of the tubular body to control undesired tear of the side walls along the frangible line when the carton undergoes vertical compression. 
   In a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the second and third portions may be disposed at a distance spaced from the one end of the tubular body. 
   In another preferred embodiment, the fourth portion may extend entirely along the end edge of the bottom wall and further along part of the lower edge of each side wall between the respective point and the end edge. 
   In a further preferred embodiment, the fourth portion may extend in part along the end edge of the bottom wall and in part formed in the bottom wall to connect each point to the end edge of the bottom wall. The sub-portions of the fourth portion connecting between the points to the end edge may extend divergently from the end edge to the respective points. 
   In a further preferred embodiment, the removable portion may be defined by a portion of the top wall, a portion of each side wall, and a portion of the respective end closure structure. The removable portion may be hingedly connected to the bottom wall along part of the fourth portion extending along the end edge of the bottom wall. 
   The present invention in a still another aspect provides a carton comprising top and bottom opposed walls hingedly interconnected by a pair of side walls to form a tubular body, an end closure structure for at least partially closing each end of the tubular body, and a buttress arrangement provided by each end closure structure. Each buttress arrangement is disposed within the interior of the carton and extends vertically between the top and bottom walls to enhance the stacking strength of the carton. Each end closure structure comprises a pair of side end flaps joined to the side walls respectively. Each side end flaps of each end closure structure comprises a pair of proximal and distal portions. The proximal portion is hingedly connected to the respective side wall whereas the distal portion is hingedly connected to the respective proximal portion. The proximal portions of the side end flaps extend from the side walls toward each other while the distal portions extending from the respective proximal portions into the interior of the carton. These distal portions are disposed in a face-to-face contacting relationship with each other to form the respective buttress arrangement. Each side end flap includes a vertical fold line dividing that side end flap into the distal and proximal portions. The distal portion has a horizontal transverse size greater than that of the proximal portion. 
   In a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention, each buttress arrangement may be positioned such that it is disposed between articles within the carton to serve as a partition. Each distal portion of each buttress arrangement may extend all the way between the top and bottom walls to be in abutment at its upper and lower ends on the top and bottom walls. 
   The foregoing has broadly outlined some of the more pertinent aspects and features of the present invention. These should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the invention. Other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed information in a different manner or by modifying the disclosed embodiments. Accordingly, other aspects and a more comprehensive understanding of the invention may be obtained by referring to the detailed description of the exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a carton of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a plan view of a blank for forming the carton of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the blank of  FIG. 2 , showing a first step for loading and erecting the carton, wherein articles are placed on the side walls. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the blank of  FIG. 3 , showing another carton-erecting step wherein the side walls are upwardly moved toward each other from the positions shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of the blank of  FIG. 4 , showing a still another carton-erecting step wherein the side walls are moved to the vertical position and the carton is partially erected. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the carton of  FIG. 1 , showing a portion removed for dispensing articles. 
       FIG. 8  is a plan view of a blank for forming a second embodiment of the carton of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a fragmentary perspective view of the carton of  FIG. 8 , showing the bottom wall, one of the end closure structures and one of the side walls. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, the drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of cartons  10  ( FIG. 1) and 12  ( FIG. 9 ) of the present invention. In these embodiments, the cartons  10  and  12  are designed for packaging and dispensing articles “A” which may be beverage pouches made, for example, of a plastic-aluminum laminated film. An example of such a pouch is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,927,498 which is hereby included by reference. 
   Generally described, the cartons  10 ,  12  are formed from foldable sheet material such as paperboard. Carton  10  shown in  FIG. 1  is formed from a single blank  14 . The blank  14  is configured as shown in  FIG. 2  and includes at least four primary panels for forming the carton  10 . The primary panels of the blank  14  are a top wall  24 , a first side wall  20 , a bottom wall  18  and a second side wall  22 . These panels  24 ,  20 ,  18  and  22  are hingedly connected in series one to the next along fold lines  30 ,  32  and  34 . The top wall  24  is hingedly connected to the first side wall  20  by fold line  30 . The first side wall  20  is then hingedly connected to the bottom wall  18  by fold line  32 . The bottom wall  18  is then hingedly connected to the second side wall  22  by fold line  34 . Each of the panels  18 ,  20 ,  22  and  24  is provided with opposing end flaps that are connected to the respective primary panel along transverse fold lines  36  and  38 . Fold lines  36  and  38  each extends substantially the full length of the blank  14 . 
   Still referring to  FIG. 2 , the opposing end flaps include opposing bottom end flaps  52  and  54 , opposing top end flaps  56  and  58  and opposing side end flaps  60 ,  62 ; and  64 ,  66 . The end flaps  52 ,  56 ,  60  and  64  extend outward from the transverse fold line  36  while the end flaps  54 ,  58 ,  62  and  66  extend outward from the transverse fold line  38 . 
   Side end flaps  60 ,  62 ,  64  and  66  include medial fold lines  70 ,  72 ,  74  and  76 , respectively. The medial fold line of each side end flap divides that end flap into a pair of proximal and distal portions  60   a ,  60   b ;  62   a ,  62   b ;  64   a ,  64   b ; and  66   a ,  66   b . Preferably, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the width (or horizontal transverse size) W 1  of each of the distal portions  60   b ,  62   b ,  64   b , and  66   b  is greater than the width (or horizontal transverse size) W 2  of each of the proximal portions  60   a ,  62   a ,  64   a , and  66   a . Stated differently, the distance between transverse fold line  36  or  38  and each medial fold line is less than the distance between that medial fold line and the free end edge of the respective distal portion. 
   The articles “A” are preferably stand-up pouches which may be deformable and are made from a flexible material such as a plastic-aluminum laminated film. In the empty condition, each article “A” is flat. In the filled condition, each article “A” has a flat bottom and generally rectangular front and rear panels. The front and rear panels extend from the bottom into a mutual contacting and sealed relationship at the top of the pouch. The bottom of each pouch is in the form, generally, of a hexagon. Each side wall of each pouch has a generally triangular configuration with its base being at the bottom. Therefore, the bottom of each pouch is considerably wider than the top when viewed from the side. 
   Prior to erecting the carton  10 , two separate rows of filled pouches “A” are arranged on the side walls  20 ,  22  of blank  14  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The two rows are placed on the side walls  20  and  22  respectively such that each pouch “A” lie on its front or rear panel. It is preferred that the bottoms of the pouches “A” in the left-hand side row as viewed in  FIG. 3  face the tops of the pouches “A” in the right-hand side row. It is also preferred that the pouches “A” in each row are arranged one next to another in somewhat overlapping relationship as best illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
   In order to erect the carton  10 , the side end flaps  60 ,  62 ,  64  and  66  are folded upward along transverse fold lines  36  and  38  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Side end flaps  60 ,  62 ,  64  and  66  are then folded along the medial fold lines  70 ,  72 ,  74  and  76  respectively so that the proximal portions  60   a ,  62   a ,  64   a  and  66   a  remain in the vertical positions and the distal portions  60   b ,  62   b ,  64   b  and  66   b  generally horizontally extend inwardly of the blank over the adjacent end pouches “A” of the respective rows. The folding of the side end flaps  60 ,  62 ,  64  and  66  secures the end pouches “A” in position against the side walls  20 ,  22  and thus the intermediate pouches in each row are also retained in position during the course of the succeeding carton-erecting process due to their overlapping arrangement discussed previously. 
   Following the above folding step, the side walls  20  and  22 , with the rows of pouches “A” held in place, are folded toward each other along fold lines  32  and  34  in order to further erect the carton. This is best illustrated in  FIG. 4 . This further erecting step eventually brings the side walls  20 ,  22  into the upright positions as shown in  FIG. 5 . When the side walls  20  and  22  are in the upright positions, the pouches “A” in one row become nested with the pouches “A” in the other row in such a manner that the bottoms of the pouches in the one row face the tops of the pouches in the other row. In  FIG. 5 , the bottoms of the pouches in the left-hand side row and the tops of the pouches in the right-hand side row rest upon the bottom wall  18 . 
   From the condition of  FIG. 5 , the top wall  24  and the edge flap  80  are folded down to their respective horizontal positions and glued or otherwise secured to each other. The edge flap  80  is hingedly connected to the second side wall  22  along fold line  82 . After that, the upper and lower end flaps  56  and  52  are folded downward and upward respectively and glued to the adjacent proximal portions  60   a  and  64   a  to provide an end closure structure for closing the rear end of the carton. The upper and lower end flaps  58  and  54  are also similarly folded and secured to the adjacent proximal portions  62   a  and  66   a  to provide the other end closure structure for closing the forward end of the carton. A fully erected carton is thus provided as shown in  FIG. 1 . In the fully enclosed carton, the pouches “A” occupy a minimum space because the pouches “A” in the one row are nested with those of the other row and also because the pouches in each row are in the overlapping condition. 
     FIG. 6  is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the carton of  FIG. 1  and shows the condition of the inside of the fully erected carton. In  FIG. 6 , the distal portions  62   b  and  66   b  of the end closure structure at the forward end are disposed in a face-contacting relationship between the end pouches “A”. In fact, the distal portions  60   b  and  64   b  are also in a face contacting relationship as suggested in  FIG. 5  and disposed between the end pouches at the rear end of the carton. These distal portions  62   b ,  66   b ; and  60   b ,  64   b  extend all the way between the top and bottom walls  24  and  18  to provide buttress arrangements for enhancing the stacking strength of the carton, that will be discussed later in more details. As viewed in  FIG. 1 , the fold lines  30 ,  32 ,  34  and  82  form the horizontal longitudinal edges of the carton  10  while the transverse fold lines  36  and  38  form the vertical edges and horizontal transverse edges of the carton  10 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 6 , the side end flaps and the upper and lower end flaps at each end of the carton provide the respective end closure structure. Particularly, the distal portions of the side end flaps of each end closure structure are arranged in a face contacting relationship while extending inward, at an angle relative the corresponding proximal end portions. This is best shown in  FIG. 6  wherein the distal end portions  62  and  66   a  extend into the internal space of the carton at about 90 degrees with respect to the proximal portions  62   a  and  66   a . Referring further to  FIG. 6 , the distal end portions  62   b  and  66   a  are disposed between the adjacent end pouches “A” of the two rows to serve as a partition or spacer between the adjacent end pouches “A”. The distal portions  60   b  and  64   b  of the other end closure structure may also be arranged in a face contacting relationship and/or may be disposed between the respective end pouches “A” of the two rows to serve as another partition or spacer between the respective end pouches “A”. Furthermore, the distal portions of each end closure structure extend all the way between the top and bottom walls  24  and  18  and provide a buttress arrangement for enhancing the stacking strength of the carton. The upper and lower ends of each buttress arrangement are in direct abutment on the top and bottom walls  24  and  18  respectively to be able to bear the load transmitted from the top and bottom walls when the carton is arranged with like cartons in a stacked condition. 
   As shown in  FIG. 6 , the horizontal transverse size or width W 1  (see  FIG. 2 ) of each distal portion is greater than the horizontal transverse or width of the corresponding proximal portion. This arrangement allows the distal portions to provide sturdier buttress arrangements for achieving greater stacking strength. The buttress arrangements also provide greater structural integrity to the carton  10 . Because of the buttress arrangements, the carton  10  may sustain greater weights when stacked within a group of like cartons. 
   The carton  10  of the present invention also includes a removable portion  90  at the forward end of the carton. The removable portion  90  is defined by a frangible line consisting of line portions  92   a - 92   i .  FIG. 2  best illustrates the frangible line that provides an endless tear line when the carton is set up. The frangible line  92   a - 92   i  may be a line of severance or any other weakened line that facilitates separation along the length of the frangible line. It is contemplated that the tear line includes, but is not limited to, a perforation, a line of short slits, a line of half cut, a combination of slits and score lines, or the equivalent. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , the portion  92   a  is formed in the side wall  20 . The portion  92   a  extends between the side edge of the top wall  24 , defined by fold line  30 , to an intermediate point P 1  along the lower edge ( 32 ) of the side wall  20 . The portion  92   a  is disposed at a distance from the adjacent end edge of the side wall  20  defined by the fold line  38 . The point P 1  is also spaced at a distance from the fold line  38 . The lower end of the portion  92   a  at this location P 1  is effective to prevent, or at least mitigate, undesired tear or rupture along the frangible line when the erected carton undergoes compression. Such compression would typically be applied to the carton while the carton is transported, stored and/or displayed in a stacked condition wherein a number of like cartons are stacked one on top of another. If the lower end of the portion  92   a , for example, were located at the corner defined by the fold lines  32  and  38 , undesired tear would tend to develop from the corner along the portion  92   a  when the carton undergoes compression. The portion  92   b  is formed in the side wall  22  in a similar manner to the portion  92   a . The lower end of the portion  92   b  is located on the lower edge ( 34 ) of the side wall  22  at an intermediate position P 2  that is spaced from the fold line  38  for the same reason as discussed above for the point P 1 . 
   Still referring to  FIG. 2 , the line portion that interconnects the portions  92   a  and  92   b  consists of three sub-portions  92   c ,  92   d  and  92   e . The sub-portion  92   c  is aligned or collinear with a portion of the fold line  32  and extends from the point P 1  to the transverse fold line  38 . The sub-portion  92   e  is aligned or collinear with a portion of the fold line  34  and extends from the point P 2  to the transverse fold line  38 . The sub-portion  92   d  is aligned or collinear with a portion of the fold line  38  and extends between the fold lines  32  and  34  along the entire length of the adjacent end edge of the bottom wall  18 . 
   Referring further to  FIG. 2 , the line portion that extends across the top wall  24  consists of three sub-portions  92   f ,  92   g  and  92   h . The sub-portion  92   f  extends from one of the side edges of the top wall  24  to a tear initiation tab  94 . The sub-portion  92   h  extends from the other side edge ( 30 ) of the top wall  24  to the tear initiation tab  94 . The tear initiation tab  94  is defined in the top wall  24  by the sub-portion  92   g  and a fold line  93  such that the sub-portion  92   g  interconnects the sub-portions  92   f  and  92   h . The sub-portion  92   h  is arranged continuous with the portion  92   a.    
   The portion  92   i  extends across edge flap  80  such that it is continuous with the portion  92   b . The portion  92   i  underlies sub-portion  92   f  when the carton  10  is erected and, therefore, cooperates with portion  92   f  when the removable portion  90  is removed from the carton  10 . 
   The line portions  92   a - 92   i  in a set-up condition cooperate with one another to form the endless frangible line that defines the periphery of the removable portion  90 . To remove the removable portion  90  from the carton, a finger or fingers of a user are pressed against the tear initiation tab  94  and are thereby inserted into the aperture defined by the tab  94  that is thrust into the carton by the finger(s). The fingers are then engaged with the top panel  24  along the fold line  93  and pulled forwardly and downwardly away from the rear end of the carton to tear the carton along the frangible line. This pulling action may easily tear the carton entirely along the frangible line to separate the removable portion  90  from the carton. The sub-portion  92   d  may optionally remain unbroken to keep the removable portion  90  attached to the remainder of the carton.  FIG. 7  illustrates the removable portion  90  fully separated from the carton  10  and then rotated to show the interior of the removable portion  90 . As best illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the buttress arrangement provided by the distal portions  62   b ,  66   b  is also removed from the carton along with the removable portion  90 . 
     FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate a carton  12  that is an alternative embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 9  shows a carton that is formed from the blank  16  of  FIG. 8 . The carton  12  is similar to the carton  10  of the previous embodiment except for the details of the frangible line that is modified to provide a removable portion  96  that differs from the removable portion  90 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the removable portion  96  of carton  12  is defined by an endless frangible line that is formed near the forward end of the carton  12  by means of line portions  98   a - 98   i . The frangible line  98   a - 98   i  may be of the same quality of the frangible line  92   a - 92   i  to facilitate separation along the length of the frangible line. 
   Each of the portions  98   a  and  98   b  in the side walls  20  and  22  is routed in part to define a crank shape, rather than smoothly curved all the way, because part of them serve also as tear lines for defining part of a carrying handle arrangement “H” (see  FIG. 8 ). The details of the handle arrangement “H” is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,330 that is hereby incorporated by reference. Otherwise, the portions  98   a  and  98   b  are arranged similarly to the portions  92   a  and  92   b  in the previous embodiment to prevent, or at least mitigate, undesired tear or rupture along the frangible line when the erected carton undergoes compression. 
   In this embodiment, the line portion that interconnects the portions  98   a  and  98   b  consists also of three sub-portions  98   c ,  98   d  and  98   e . However, the sub-portions  98   c  and  98   e  are not aligned with the fold lines  32  and  34  nor does the sub-portion  98   d  extend along the entire length of the respective end edge of the bottom wall  18 . Instead, the sub-portion  98   d  extends along only a part of the end edge of the bottom wall  18  between two spaced points P 3  and P 4  along the end edge while the sub-portions  98   c  and  98   e  extend divergently from the points P 3  and P 4  to the points P 1  and P 2  respectively. Apparently, the sub-portions  98   c  and  98   e  are formed in the bottom wall  18 . This arrangement of the sub-portions  98   c  and  98   e  is effective to facilitate development of the tear into the bottom panel  18  when the removable portion  96  is pulled away from the remainder of the carton. The separation of the removable portion  96  is thus facilitated by the divergent arrangement of the sub-portions  98   c  and  98   e.    
   The line portion that extends across the top wall  24  consists of five sub-portions  98   f ,  98   g ,  98   h ,  98   j  and  98   k . The sub-portion  98   f  extends from one of the side edges of the top wall  24  and interconnected with the sub-portion  98   g  by the sub-portion  98   j . The sub-portion  98   h  extends from the other side edge ( 30 ) of the top wall  24  and interconnected to the sub-portion  98   g  by the sub-portion  98   k . Apparently, these sub-portions  98   f - 98   h ,  98   j  and  98   k  serve also as weakened lines for defining part of the handle arrangement “H”. The sub-portion  98   g  defines in the top wall  24  a handle flap  97  of the handle arrangement “H”. The sub-portions  98   j  and  98   k  serve not only as tear lines but also as fold lines to define connector tabs  99  and  99  of the handle arrangement “H”. The sub-portion  98   h  is arranged continuous with the portion  98   a.    
   The portion  98   i  is arranged similarly to the sub-portion  92   i  of the previous embodiment and extends continuously with the portion  98   b  across the edge flap  80 . The portion  98   i  underlies sub-portion  98   f  when the carton  12  is erected and, therefore, cooperates with the sub-portion  98   f  when the removable portion  96  is separated from the carton  12 . 
   How to separate the removable portion  96  is also similar to the way the removable portion  90  is separated in the previous embodiment. A minor difference is that the handle flap  97  remains attached to the handle arrangement “H” along the fold line  95  when the flap  97  is folded inwardly either to initiate the separation of the removable portion  96  or to lift the carton by the handle arrangement “H”. 
   It will be recognised that as used herein, directional references such as “top”, “bottom”, “base”, “end”, “side”, “inner”, “outer”, “upper”, “lower”, “forward” and “rear” do not limit the respective panels to such orientation, but merely serve to distinguish these panels from one another. Any reference to hinged 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 line of perforation, a line of short slits or their combination, without departing from the scope of invention. 
   It should be understood that various changes may be made within the scope of the present invention, for example, the size and shape of the panels and apertures may be adjusted to accommodate articles of differing size or shape, alternative top and base closure structures may be used. The carton may accommodate only one or more than two rows of articles. The carton may be provided with two removable portions at its opposite ends respectively. 
   The present invention and its preferred embodiment relate to enhancing stacking strength of a fully enclosed carton. 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. It will, however, be apparent and those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention is capable of many modifications and variations without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is described by the claims appended hereto and supported by the foregoing.