Abstract:
A carton for a group of bottles arranged in rows is of substantially tubular structure comprising a bottom panel ( 18 ), a first side panel ( 16 ), a top panel ( 14 ), a second side wall panel ( 12 ) and end closure panels for at least partially closing the ends of the carton. The carton has an access means, integrally formed in the carton walls and is defined by a weakened line of severance ( 3 ). The access means provides a means for accessing the bottles contained within the carton whilst providing means for retaining the articles to prevent them from being inadvertently dislodged. The access means being formed so that the carton can be oriented to sit on either its bottom panel or the second side panel whilst articles are accessed via an opening in the first side wall panel.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    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 
       [0002]    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 often requires removal of the articles individually. Thus it can be appreciated that a carton with a dispensing feature that facilitates the removal of a single article from the carton at a time would be desirable. 
         [0003]    Cartons designed for dispensing beverage cans one at a time are known in the art. Often the cans are packaged in two rows and disposed upon their sides in rolling contact with the bottom of the carton. This may not be a suitable orientation if the articles contained were more fragile, such as glass bottles, and the cartons needed to be stacked on top of each other. 
         [0004]    State of the art cartons have dispensers which allow only one or two of the cans contained within the carton to be accessed by the user at a time. However it may sometimes be desirable to have a choice of which article to dispense, if, for example, the carton were to contain a variety of different flavoured products. 
         [0005]    Dispensing features on cartons for containing cans, often employ the can&#39;s ability to roll, to assist their removal. This kind of dispensing feature would not work with articles that were not cylindrical, for example, rectangular juice cartons. Thus it can be appreciated that a carton for encasing, carrying and dispensing asymmetric articles, such as bottles would be desirable. 
         [0006]    It would be problematic for articles to be dispensed undesirably from the carton, especially if such articles were made from an easily breakable material such as glass. Thus it can be appreciated that it would be desirable to have a carton with a dispenser suitable for safely carrying and dispensing bottles. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a carton for a plurality of similar articles, such as bottles, arranged in rows wherein the carton is of a substantially tubular structure comprising a bottom panel, a first side wall panel, a top panel, a second side wall panel and a means for at least partially closing the ends of the carton to prevent the articles from being undesirably dislodged, the carton further comprising an access means, integrally formed in the carton walls and being defined by a weakened line of severance, the weakened line of severance extending across a carton side wall along an axis of the tubular structure the access means providing means for retaining the articles to prevent them from being inadvertently dislodged and further being structured and arranged such that the carton can be oriented to sit on either the bottom panel or one of its side panels whilst the articles are accessed through an opening formed when the dispensing feature is utilized in the other of its side wall panels. 
         [0008]    Preferably, the articles are bottles and are disposed such that the bottom of the bottles abuts the bottom panel. 
         [0009]    Alternatively, the weakened line of severance extends through the top panel, first side panel and ends of the carton. 
         [0010]    According to an optional feature of this aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hand-hole punch through means for providing easy access to the dispensing feature. According to an optional feature of this aspect of the present invention, the bottom panel is larger than the top panel. 
         [0011]    According to an optional feature of this aspect of the present invention, the means for closing the ends of the cartons comprises four end flaps hinged to the top panel, first side panel, bottom panel and second side panel. 
         [0012]    Preferably, end flaps hinged to the first and second side walls contain weakened lines of severance. 
         [0013]    According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a blank for forming a carton for a plurality of similar articles, such as bottles, arranged in rows wherein the carton is of a substantially tubular structure comprising a bottom panel, a first side wall panel, a top panel, a second side wall panel and a means for at least partially closing the ends of the carton to prevent the articles from being undesirably dislodged, the carton further comprising an access means, integrally formed in the carton walls and defined by a weakened line of severance, said access means providing means for retaining the articles to prevent them from being inadvertently dislodged and further being structured and arranged such that the carton can be oriented to sit on either the bottom panel or one of its side panels whilst the articles are accessed through an opening formed when the dispensing feature is utilized in the other of its side wall panels. 
         [0014]    Preferably, at least two adjacent panels contain transverse lines of weakness which are contiguous when the blank is formed into the carton. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the means for at least partially closing the ends of the carton includes at least one additional line of weakness which cooperates with the transverse lines of weakness to form the dispensing feature when the blank is formed into the carton. 
         [0016]    According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tubular carton having opposed end closure walls, wherein an article dispenser is provided by a removable portion defined by an endless tearline which includes a first segment extending across a top wall along the tubular axis, a second segment extending across a first side wall along the tubular axis and a pair of third segments formed respectively in the end closure walls to interconnect the first and second segments to form the endless tearline. 
         [0017]    Preferably, each end closure wall includes a pair of upper and lower end flaps and a pair of side end flaps, wherein each third segment comprises an upper portion in the respective upper end flap and a lower portion in the side end flap that is hinged to the first side wall. 
         [0018]    Preferably, each third segment further comprises an intermediate portion in the respective lower end flap and wherein the intermediate portion interconnects the upper and lower portions. 
         [0019]    Alternatively, a part of the first segment defines a tear initiation tab, and wherein each third segment extends downwardly from the top wall away from the first side wall so that an upper portion of each third segment adjoining the top wall is disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to the first segment. 
         [0020]    Alternatively, in which at least two adjacent panels contain transverse lines of weakness which are contiguous when the blank is formed into the carton. 
         [0021]    Alternatively, the means for at least partially closing the ends of the carton includes at least one additional line of weakness which cooperates with the transverse lines of weakness to form the dispensing feature when the blank is formed into the carton. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]      FIGS. 1 to 5  illustrate one embodiment of the present invention. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a carton blank according to one embodiment of the invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a perspective top, front and side view of a carton erected from the blank of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a view of the carton as in  FIG. 2  also showing the closing of an end of the carton, by end panels. 
           [0026]      FIG. 4   a  is a view of the carton as in  FIG. 2  with part of the front wall displaced. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4   b  is a view of the carton as in  FIG. 4   a , with the carton oriented to sit on a side wall panel. 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a perspective rotated view of the carton of  FIG. 4   b  with the displaced part of the front wall removed showing the carton for use in a dispensing position. 
       
    
    
       [0029]    Corresponding features are indicated by the same reference numerals in the figures. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0030]      FIG. 1  shows a blank  10  from which the carton of  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4  and  5  is erected. The blank  10  is vertically elongate as viewed in  FIG. 1  and is formed of paperboard. However the blank  10  may be formed of other foldable material such as a plastic sheet or the like. The blank  10  of the preferred embodiment is designed for packaging asymmetric bottles of an identical configuration, arranged in two rows of six. However it is foreseen that in other embodiments of the present invention the articles contained may not be bottles and they may be arranged in more than two rows and indeed the rows may contain more or less than six articles 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 1  the blank  10  includes four primary panels for forming the carton walls, a first side wall panel  16 , a top wall panel  14 , a second side wall panel  12  and a bottom wall panel  18 . The primary panels are foldably connected one to the next along fold lines  22 ,  24  and  26 . A glue flap  88  is foldably connected to the bottom wall panel  18  along a fold line  28 . Reference numerals  72 / 72   a ,  74 / 74   a ,  76 / 76   a  and  78 / 78   a  designate end flaps which are hinged by fold lines  42 / 42   a ,  44 / 44   a ,  46 / 46   a  and  48 / 48   a  to both ends of the primary panels  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  respectively. At each corner of the bottom wall panel  18  is a webbing panel or corner gusset  56 / 56   a . Webbing panels  56 / 56   a  are foldably connected to end flaps  78 / 78   a  along fold lines  43 / 43   a . The webbing panels  56 / 56   a  connect end flaps  78 / 78   a  to neighbouring end flaps  76 / 76   a  and glue panel  88 . The webbing panels  56 / 56   a  are hinged to the neighbouring end flaps  76 / 76   a  and glue panel  88  via fold lines  41 / 41   a.    
         [0032]    When the carton formed from the blank of  FIG. 1  is loaded, the articles are fed in from one or both of the open ends of the carton in two lines side by side so that the larger ends of the bottles abut the bottom wall panel  18  and the smaller bottle top ends of the bottles abut the top wall panel  14 . The end flaps are then folded and glued to form front and rear ends which close the carton. 
         [0033]    An erected carton formed from the blank  10  is shown in  FIG. 2 . To form an erected carton as in  FIG. 2 , the second side wall panel  12  is folded along the fold line  22  to lie flat on the top wall panel  14 . Glue is applied to the glue flap  88  and then the bottom wall panel  18  is folded along the fold line  26  to lie flat on the first side wall panel  16 . By this means, the second side wall panel  12  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. The webbing panels  56 / 56   a  hinged to the glue panel  88  effectively become hinged end flaps  72 / 72   a . At both ends of the tubular carton the bottom wall panel  18  is foldably connected via fold lines  41 / 41   a  and  43 / 43   a  and webbing panels  56 / 56   a  to the end flaps  72 / 72   a  and  76 / 76   a . After bottles are loaded through one or both of the open ends of the carton, the end flaps  72 / 72   a ,  74 / 74   a ,  76 / 76   a  and  78 / 78   a , are folded to close both ends of the carton. End flaps  72  and  76  are folded inwardly, along fold lines  42  and  46  respectively, assisted by the webbing panels  56  which fold along lines  41  and  43  to lie in flat face contact with end flap  78 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Glue may be applied to the outermost faces of end flaps  72  and  76 , before end flap  74  is folded down along fold line  46 , to become partially stuck to end flaps  72  and  78 . More glue may then be applied to end flap  74 , so that when end flap  78  is folded up along fold line  48  it is glued to the front face of end flap  74  and the respective end of the carton is closed. The erected and closed carton formed from blank  10  of  FIG. 1  is shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0034]    In the preferred embodiment of the invention weakened lines  30 / 30   a  extend through end flaps  72 / 72   a  and  76 / 76   a . The weakened lines  30 / 30   a  provide a structural function and enable the erected carton to have slightly rounded corners rather than abrupt edges. The slightly rounded or bevelled corners may provide additional protection of the bottles contained within the carton. The weakened lines  30 / 30   a  of the preferred embodiment are shaped complementarily to the shape of end flaps  74 / 74   a.    
         [0035]    The bottom panel  18  is, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, slightly larger than the top wall panel  14  so that the carton has a tapered shape which may further serve to protect the bottles contained within the carton. 
         [0036]    The erected carton in  FIGS. 2 and 3  shows a dispensing feature integrally formed at a front end portion of the carton. The dispensing feature or access means is employed to allow access to the bottles contained in the carton, whilst the bottles are also prevented from being undesirably dislodged from the carton. 
         [0037]    In the preferred embodiment of the invention the dispensing feature is integrally formed in the top wall panel  14 , the first side wall panel  16 , and end flaps  74 ,  74   a ,  76 ,  76   a ,  78  and  78   a . Weakened lines of severance  3  define the dispensing feature which extends from a hand-hole punch through in the top wall panel  14 . The hand-hole punch through is defined by a second weakened line of severance  2  and a fold line  4 . The insertion of a finger into the hand-hole punch through will cause the hand-hole punch through to fold into the carton about fold line  4  which will cause the second weakened line of severance  2  to sever, creating a hole or aperture in the carton which provides an easy access opening for the dispensing feature. The dispensing feature is defined by the weakened lines of severance  3  which extend from either side of the fold line  4 , bisecting the top wall  14 . The dispensing feature comprises part of the end walls of the carton. The weakened line of severance  3  continues from the top wall through end flaps  74 / 74   a ,  78 / 78   a  and  76 / 76   a  and terminates in the first side wall panel  16 . 
         [0038]    In use as a dispensing carton the carton may be rotated so that it stands on its bottom wall panel  18  or on the second side wall panel  12 , so that the first side wall  16  is then viewed as the top wall and the top and bottom wall panels  14  and  18  are viewed as the sides of the carton. In either position the bottles may be retained within the carton and are prevented from being undesirably dislodged, but whilst access to multiple bottles at the same time is enabled by displacing the dispensing feature.  FIG. 4   a  shows the carton in a first orientation and  FIG. 4   b  shows a second orientation whereby the bottles are seen as two rows one on top of the other. In other embodiments of the invention the bottles may be stacked in more than two rows. Partial removal of the dispensing feature allows the bottles neighbouring the first side wall  16  to be accessed as shown in  FIG. 4   a  and  FIG. 4   b . Complete removal of the dispensing feature is shown in  FIG. 5 . In the two orientations of  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b , it is either an undisplaced portion of top wall panel  14  or the first side wall  16  that prevents bottles from being undesirably dislodged from the carton, whilst allowing at the same time easy access to the bottles. 
         [0039]    In the preferred embodiment of the invention the end flaps  74 / 74   a  and  72 / 72   a  contain weakened lines that define apertures. When the end flaps are folded to close the ends of the carton the apertures align and form handles for the easy carrying of the carton. In other embodiments of the invention a handle may be situated in the top wall panel  14 . 
         [0040]    The orientation of the carton as shown in  FIG. 4   b  may be suitable for use in a fridge, where the carton could sit on a shelf for example and the bottles could be removed individually by easily grasping the necks of the bottles. The user could also choose which bottle to dispense which may be advantageous if the carton were to contain a variety of flavours. 
         [0041]    It is envisaged that the endless weakened line of severance  3  that defines the dispensing feature could follow a different shaped path and thus create a different shaped dispensing feature whilst still providing access to the articles contained within. 
         [0042]    It will be recognised that as used herein, directional references such as “top”, “base”, “end”, “side”, “inner”, “outer”, “upper” and “lower” 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 frangible line or a fold line, without departing from the scope of invention. 
         [0043]    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 more than one article in different arrays.