Abstract:
An enclosed carton has an exiting end capable of permitting articles to exit the carton. The carton comprises a bottom wall, a top wall and foldably connected adjoining side walls. The exiting end has a bottom end flap foldably attached to the bottom wall, a top end flap foldably attached to the top wall, a side end flap foldably attached to each side wall, and means for attaching the flaps together. The exiting end has a tear line for forming a dispenser opening. The tear line extends through the top wall at a distance spaced from the exiting end and extends at an angle through each side wall towards the exiting end to the attachment of each side wall with the side end flaps at a distance greater from the top wall than the bottom wall, with a fold line extending through each side end flap at a distance from the bottom wall.

Description:
[0001]    This is a division of application Ser. No. 10/015,285, filed Dec. 12, 2001, which is hereby incorporated by reference and which 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 tom 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. Th 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 joinder 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]    [0023]FIG. 1 is an isometric illustration of a carton having a dispenser in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention,  
         [0024]    [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]    [0025]FIG. 3 is a plan view of a blank for forming the carton with the dispenser shown in FIG. 1,  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 is an isometric illustration of a carton having a dispenser in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention,  
         [0027]    [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]    [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 6×2 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 ,  72   a ,  74 ,  74   a ,  76 ,  76   a ,  78 ,  78   a  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 ,  72   a ,  74 ,  74   a ,  76 ,  76   a ,  78 ,  78   a  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  72   a ,  74   a ,  76   a  and  78   a.    
         [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 joinder 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  168   a  and  168   b  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  168   a  is foldably connected to the first side wall panel  164  along a fold line  190  while the outer or lower bottom wall panel  168   b  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  168   a  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  74   a  in the first embodiment.  
         [0041]    [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 . 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.  
         [0043]    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 .  
         [0044]    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.  
         [0045]    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.  
         [0046]    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.