Patent Document

This claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. Nos. 60/641,997, filed Jan. 7, 2005, and 60/678,088, filed May 5, 2005, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to cartons, and more particularly, to a carton for multiple articles such as beverage cans in which the carton has a dispenser for controlled removal of individual articles. 
     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. A consumer frequently desires to remove one article at a time from the multiple-pack carton. Thus, a carton with a dispenser that facilitates the removal of a single article from the carton at a time is desirable. 
     When the articles contained in the carton are cylindrical, and are disposed in the carton upon their sides (i.e., with the longitudinal axis of the cylinder being generally horizontal), it is important that the articles be constrained such that the remaining articles do not roll out of the dispenser when one article is removed. Another important feature is that the dispenser provides easy access to the articles. Additionally, when removing individual articles from such a carton, the user should be able to easily determine how many articles remain in the carton. Thus, 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 is also desirable. 
     Cartons and dispensers which are aimed at satisfying at least some of these objectives are disclosed in the present inventor&#39;s U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/680,364 published on May 13, 2004 under Publication No. US 2004-0089671, as well as U.S. Pat. No. 6,578,736; U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. US 2002/0070139; US 2002/0088820; and US 2002/0088821, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Nevertheless, the cartons and associated dispensers disclosed in each of those patent applications each lack one feature. Namely, the ability to automatically and conveniently position the cans or articles in the carton proximate the dispenser for easy access by a user. While the initial cans are easily removed from the carton once the dispenser is opened, after those cans are removed, the remaining cans have a tendency to position themselves and remain in the lowermost tier and/or near the back end of the carton and away from the dispenser. 
     The prior art includes various cartons and/or mechanisms to elevate the end of the carton opposite from the dispenser to promote the gravity feed of the cans remaining in the carton toward the dispenser. Examples are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,178,242; 5,289,943; and 5,878,947, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference entirely. 
     Nevertheless, such mechanisms are ineffective, difficult and inconvenient for a user to implement, too expensive to manufacture and/or impractical to utilize with current carton and dispenser designs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These and other drawbacks in the prior art have been addressed and overcome with a carton, dispenser and gravity feed device of this invention. A carton of this invention has a dispenser for articles which in one embodiment exposes the upper corner of the carton to reveal an endmost article for removal. The carton also includes a gravity feed feature which is convenient and easy for the user to implement, economical to make and effective to promote the advance of the cans toward the dispenser. 
     In various embodiments of this invention, the carton includes serially and foldably connected bottom, side, top and side panels. Each of these panels also includes end flaps projecting from each end of the panel. An out board edge of one of the side panels includes a glue flap for joinder to the bottom panel. The corresponding end flaps on one end of the carton are folded and glued together to close the carton. The corresponding end flaps on the opposite end of the carton are folded together and include a dispenser according various embodiments compatible with this invention. 
     One such dispenser includes a pair of slanted tear lines in the bottom end flap. A finger hole is formed at the juncture of the bottom panel, bottom end flap and slanted tear lines to commence opening the carton and dispenser. Each side end flap at the dispensing end of the carton includes a tear line which angularly projects from the side edge of the side end flap adjacent to the bottom end flap toward the fold line joining the side end flap to the side panel. The tear line then extends along the fold line joining the side end flap with the side panel to the intersection of the top panel and top end flap. The tear line then progresses along the juncture between the top panel and the side panel toward the handle formed in the top panel of the carton. The tear lines along the common edges of the top panel and each adjacent side panel extend at an angle into the top panel and terminate at a cut crease score or fold line which extends laterally across the top panel. The tear line forming the dispenser of this embodiment does not extend through either side panel or the top panel of the carton. The crease line across the top panel joining the corresponding tear lines is a fold line as opposed to an extension of the tear lines. 
     Once the carton is erected and filled, the user opens the dispenser by inserting a finger into the hole in the bottom panel adjacent the bottom end flap and pulling a middle portion of the bottom end flap and the center portions of the side end flaps upwardly tearing along the tear line through the bottom end flap and side end flaps. As the user continues to pull upwardly, the dispenser is torn along the tear lines adjacent the side panels and the top panel to the fold line in the top panel. In one variation of this embodiment, the top end flap is glued to the center portions of the side end flaps so that the entire dispensing structure is folded backwardly onto the top panel and a tongue flap formed from the center portion of the bottom end flap and the side end flaps is inserted into the handle opening in the top panel to securely and releasably retain the dispenser. 
     The cans do not fall from the carton once the dispenser is opened because a remaining portion of the side end flaps adjacent the side panel remain intact at the end of the carton to form retaining panels and hold the cans therein. 
     According to embodiments of this invention, once the user opens the dispenser, the initial can, typically the forward uppermost can, may be removed from the carton. Once the first can is removed from the carton, the user may easily and conveniently erect the gravity feed stand according to this invention. Advantageously, the gravity feed stand according to embodiments of this invention is easily accessed by the user by initially tearing the gravity feed stand beginning in the top panel of the carton at the end of the carton opposite from the dispenser. Access to initiate the gravity feed stand according to this invention on the top panel of the carton is significantly more convenient and user-friendly than prior gravity feed stands which were located primarily on the bottom of the carton. The requirement of initially accessing the gravity feed stand on the bottom of the carton is a significant disadvantage especially after the dispenser is opened in that the cans and articles in the carton have a tendency to fall out of the carton while the user is manipulating the carton to erect the gravity feed stands of the prior art. 
     The gravity feed stand of this invention is formed in part by a tear line extending through the top panel and adjacent portions of the adjoining side panels of the carton. The gravity feed stand tear line extends into the end of the carton formed by the side panel end flaps. A pair of generally parallel fold lines extend through the end panel so that the end panel may be folded downwardly onto itself and the stand located on the bottom of the carton thereby elevating the end of the carton opposite from the dispenser and promoting the gravity feed of the cans towards the dispensing end of the carton. 
     According to the carton, blank package and associated method for dispensing the packaged articles, this invention provides for a convenient and user friendly implementation of the dispenser, gravity feed stand and associated carton or package without the uncontrolled and/or inadvertent removal of the upper forward most article during the removal of the displaceable portion of the carton. Moreover, the dispenser does not require the removal of significant portions of the carton and can be re-closed if desired. The gravity feed stand is also easily and conveniently implemented to enhance access to the cans in the carton via the dispenser. 
     Other advantages and benefits of this invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of a blank for forming a carton with a dispenser and a gravity feed stand according to one embodiment of this invention; 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a carton constructed from the blank of  FIG. 1  with the dispenser open to provide access to the articles in the carton; 
         FIGS. 2B-2C  are sequential views similar to  FIG. 2A  of the gravity feed stand being erected; 
         FIG. 3A  is a side elevational view of the carton prior to and during the gravity feed stand being erected; 
         FIG. 3B  is a side elevational view of an end of the carton being elevated with the gravity feed stand according to one embodiment of this invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of a blank for forming a carton with a dispenser and a gravity feed stand according to another embodiment of this invention; 
         FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of a carton constructed from the blank of  FIG. 4  with the dispenser open to provide access to the articles in the carton; 
         FIGS. 5B-5C  are sequential views similar to  FIG. 5A  of the gravity feed stand being erected; 
         FIG. 6A  is a side elevational view of the carton prior to and during the gravity feed stand being erected; and 
         FIG. 6B  is a side elevational view of an end of the carton being elevated with the gravity feed stand according to this embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1 to 3B  illustrate one embodiment of this invention, and throughout these drawings, the same or similar reference numerals are used to denote the same or similar features of the invention. 
       FIGS. 2A to 3B  illustrate a carton  10  having a dispenser and a gravity feed stand in accordance with this invention.  FIG. 1  illustrates a blank  12  from which the carton  10  of  FIGS. 2A-3B  is formed. Cans may be arranged in a 2×6 array in the carton  10 . More specifically, the cans are arranged in a group consisting of two vertically disposed and aligned tiers each including six 12 ounce cans. However, this invention is not limited to a 2×6 arrangement and is readily used in a 2×c, 3×4, 4×3, other arrangement and/or other size cans. The cans in each tier are disposed on their sides in a side-by-side parallel fashion with their respective longitudinal axes generally horizontal when the carton is supported on a shelf, table or the like. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of the blank  12  includes four primary panels for forming the carton walls, i.e., a first side wall panel  14 , a top wall panel  16 , a second side wall panel  18  and a bottom wall panel  20  foldably connected one to the next along fold lines  22 ,  24  and  26 . A glue flap  28  is foldably connected to side panel  14  along fold line  30 . In alternative embodiments, the carton blank may be formed into a carton with composite wall panels, thereby avoiding the need for glue flap  28 . Reference numerals  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  and  46  designate end flaps foldably connected the ends of the panels  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  20 , respectively. Each end flap  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46  is joined to the associated panel  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  by a fold line  32   a ,  34   a ,  36   a ,  38   a ,  40   a ,  42   a ,  44   a ,  46   a , respectively. The end flaps  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  38  arranged along the lower edge (as viewed in  FIG. 1 ) of the blank  12  form a composite end wall  48  ( FIG. 2A ). The end flaps  40 ,  42 ,  44  and  46  arranged along the upper edge of  FIG. 1  form a composite end wall (not shown). 
     To form an erected carton from the blank  12 , the side wall panels  14 ,  18  are folded along the fold lines  22 ,  24 . The bottom wall panel  20  is folded along the fold line  26  until it overlaps the glue flap  28  folded inwardly along fold line  30 . The overlapping portions of the glue flap  28  and the bottom panel  20  are glued to each other to thereby form a flat tubular carton. 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  10 , the end flaps  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  and  46  are folded to form the respective end walls to thereby close the ends of the carton  10 . To form the end walls, the top and bottom end flaps  34 ,  38 ,  42  and  46  are folded to their respective positions generally perpendicular to the associated panel wall. The end flaps  36 ,  44  are then folded to their respective vertical positions to overlap the top and bottom end flaps  34 ,  42 ,  38  and  46 . End flaps  38 ,  46  each include a pair of notches  50  so that the terminal edge  52  of each flap  38 ,  46  is shorter than the corresponding edge  54  on the end flaps  34 ,  42 . Glue is applied to the outside faces of the end flaps  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  42 ,  44  and  46 . The end flaps  32 ,  40  are then folded onto the top, bottom, and side end flaps. This causes the side end flaps  34  and  42  to be glued atop the other end flaps. 
     A handle  56  is also included in the top wall  16 . While any appropriate handle or orientation for the handle can be used with the carton  10 , preferably handle  56  is constructed according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,106,014, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     A dispenser  54  according to one embodiment of the invention is formed in part by the corresponding end flaps  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46  on the dispensing end  47  of the carton  10 . A finger hole  58  is formed at the juncture of the bottom panel  20 , bottom end flap  40  and a pair of slanted tear lines  60  in the bottom end flap  40  to commence opening the carton  10  and dispenser. The slanted tear lines  60  are useful for a carton containing an arrangement of two tiers of six cans of twelve ounces each; however, the tear lines  60  may be of a different orientation, inclination or configuration for cartons designed to carry other sized cans or arrangements of cans. For example, the tear lines are generally parallel for a carton containing twelve ounce cans in a 2×6 configuration. Each side end flap  42 ,  46  at the dispensing end  47  of the carton  10  includes a tear line  62  which angularly projects from the side edge of the side end flap  42 ,  46  adjacent to the bottom end flap  40  toward the fold line  42   a ,  46   a  joining the side end flap  42 ,  46  to the associated side panel  18 ,  14 . The tear line  62  may include a jog  63 . A tear line  64  then extends along the fold line  42   a ,  46   a  to the intersection of the top panel  16  and top end flap  44 . A tear line  66  then progresses along the juncture between and/or the fold lines  22 ,  24  joining the top panel  16  and the side panel  14 ,  18  toward the handle  56  formed in the top panel  16  of the carton  10 . The tear lines  66  along the fold lines  22 ,  24  each terminate at an angular tear line  68  in the top panel  16 . Each angular tear line  68  terminates at a cut crease score or fold line  70  which extends laterally across the top panel  16 . 
     The tear line(s) forming the dispenser  57  of this embodiment do/does not extend through either side panel  14 ,  18  or the top panel  16  of the carton  10 . The crease line  70  across the top panel  16  joining the corresponding tear lines is a fold line as opposed to an extension of the angular tear lines  68 . One of ordinary skill will understand that the design and configuration of the dispenser  57  shown and described herein is exemplary only and this invention is readily applicable with other dispenser designs. 
     Once the carton  10  is erected and filled with cans, the user opens the dispenser  57  by inserting a finger into the hole  58  in the bottom panel  20  adjacent the bottom end flap  40  and pulling a middle portion  40   b  of the bottom end flap  40  and portions  42   b ,  46   b  of the side end flaps  42 ,  46  upwardly tearing along the tear lines  60 ,  62  through the bottom end flap  40  and side end flaps  42 ,  46 . As the user continues to pull upwardly, the dispenser is torn along the tear lines  64  adjacent the side panels  14 ,  18  and the angular tear lines  68  to the fold line  70  in the top panel  16 . In one variation of this embodiment, the top end flap  44  is glued to the center portions  42   b ,  46   b  of the side end flaps  42 ,  46  so that the entire dispensing structure is folded backwardly onto the top panel  16  and a tongue flap  72  formed from the center portion  40   b  of the bottom end flap  40  and the portions  42   b ,  46   b  are inserted into the handle opening  56  in the top panel  16  to securely and releasably retain the dispenser. The cans do not fall from the carton  10  once the dispenser is opened because retaining portions  42   c ,  46   c  of the side end flaps  42 ,  46  adjacent the side panels  14 ,  18  remain intact at the end  47  of the carton  10  to form retaining panels  42   c ,  46   c  and hold the cans therein. 
     If needed, the tongue flap  72  can be removed from the handle opening  56  and folded downwardly toward the dispensing end  47  of the carton while remaining attached to the top panel  16  along the fold line  70 . The tongue flap  72  can then be tucked between the corresponding retaining panel portions  42   c ,  46   c  of the side end flaps  42 ,  46  remaining attached to the respective side panel  18 ,  14  to releasably close the dispenser for transport of the carton  10  if needed. 
     Advantageously, the side panels  14 ,  18  remain intact after the dispenser  57  is opened according to this embodiment of the invention. Additionally, the dispenser  57  need not be entirely removed from the carton  10  which can then be releasably closed once again if needed. Moreover, the handle opening  56  provides a convenient hold for the tongue flap  72  during removal of the cans. 
     The user may implement the gravity feed stand  74  to elevate or prop up the end  48  of the carton  10  opposite the dispensing end  47  and thereby providing a gravity feed inclination for the remaining cans in the carton  10  to roll towards the dispensing end  47  for convenient access and removal through the dispenser  57  by a user. This may be done before or after the dispenser  57  is opened and one or more cans removed from the carton  10 . Advantageously, the gravity feed stand  74  is initially erected by tearing the end  48  of the carton  10  in the top panel  16 . As a result, the carton  10  with the dispenser  57  open may remain in an upright position while the stand  74  is erected thereby avoiding the problems of flipping the carton  10  to gain access to a feature on the bottom of the carton  10  used to elevate the carton  10  for gravity feed dispensing. 
     The gravity feed stand  74  includes in one embodiment a finger flap  76  located in the top panel  16  of the carton adjacent the end  48  opposite the dispensing end  47 . The user inserts one or more fingers in the finger flap  76  and pulls toward the end  48  and away from the dispenser  57  thereby tearing the top panel  16  along a tear line  78  in opposite directions outwardly from the finger flap  76  toward the adjacent side panels  14 ,  18 . The tear line  78  in the top panel  16  extends beyond the fold lines  22 ,  24  joining the side panels  14 ,  18  to the top panel  16 . The tear line  78  is generally linear as it extends into the respective side panels  14 ,  18 . In the side panels  14 ,  18 , the tear line  78  includes an angular tear portion  82  which merges the tear line  78  with the junctures  34   a ,  38   d  between the side panels  14 ,  18  and the associated side end panels  34 ,  38 . The tear line  78  then progresses via portion  82  along the fold lines  34   a ,  38   a  until it terminates at a fold line  84  extending transversely across the side end panels,  34 ,  38 . The fold line  84  is formed in the side end panels  34 ,  38  and is generally parallel to and spaced from a fold line  86  on the side end panels  34 ,  38  which originates at the juncture of the angular tear line portion  80  and the fold lines  34   a ,  38   a . The fold lines  84 ,  86  separate the side end panels into upper  34   a ,  38   a  intermediate  34   b ,  38   b  and lower  34   c ,  38   c  regions of the end panel  48 . The tear line  78  in the top panel  16  and portions of the side panels  14 ,  18  adjacent the end panel  48  defines a base  88  of the stand  74  that remains attached to the end panel  48  in a generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration of the gravity feed stand  14  as will be described later herein. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2B , the initial separation of the gravity feed stand  74  from the remainder of the carton  10  begins by tearing along the tear line  78  and pulling the base  88  and portions  34   a ,  38   a ,  38   b ,  34   b  outwardly from the carton  10  in the direction of arrow A. The gravity feed stand  74  is then pivoted around the fold line  84  in the direction of arrow B of  FIG. 2C  until the panels  34   b ,  38   b  are folded into face-to-face juxtaposition with the panels  34   c ,  38   c  as shown generally in  FIG. 3B . At this point, the panels  34   a ,  38   a  are juxtaposed to the bottom panel  20  and the base  88  of the gravity feed stand  74  props up the end  48  of the carton  10  (arrow C in  FIG. 3B ). In one embodiment, the portions  34   c ,  38   c  and  34   b ,  38   b  are equal height thereby providing a retaining end wall  38   c ,  34   c  to prevent the cans from rolling out the end  48  of the carton  10  irrespective of the gravity feed inclination provided by the stand  74 . 
     Another embodiment of this invention is shown in  FIGS. 4-6B  with the carton blank  112  being shown in  FIG. 4  adapted to form a carton  110 . Similar reference numerals will be used in describing features of this embodiment of the invention which are the same or similar to the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 1-3B . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the blank  112  includes four primary panels for forming the carton walls, i.e., a first side wall panel  14 , a top wall panel  16 , a second side wall panel  18  and a bottom wall panel  20  foldably connected one to the next along fold lines  22 ,  24  and  26 . A glue flap  28  is foldably connected to side panel  14  along fold line  30 . Reference numerals  32 ,  134 ,  36 ,  138 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  and  46  designate end flaps foldably connected the ends of the panels  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  20 , respectively. Each end flap  32 ,  134 ,  36 ,  138 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46  is joined to the associated panel  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  by a fold line  32   a ,  34   a ,  36   a ,  38   a ,  40   a ,  42   a ,  44   a ,  46   a , respectively. The end flaps  32 ,  134 ,  36  and  138  arranged along the lower edge (as viewed in  FIG. 4 ) of the blank  112  form a composite end wall  48  ( FIG. 5A ). The end flaps  40 ,  42 ,  44  and  46  arranged along the upper edge of  FIG. 4  form a composite end wall (not shown). 
     To form an erected carton from the blank  112 , the side wall panels  14 ,  18  are folded along the fold lines  22 ,  24 . The bottom wall panel  20  is folded along the fold line  26  until it overlaps the glue flap  28  folded inwardly along fold line  30 . The overlapping portions of the glue flap  28  and the bottom panel  20  are glued to each other to thereby form a fiat tubular carton. 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  110 , the end flaps  32 ,  134 ,  36 ,  138 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  and  46  are folded to form the respective end walls to thereby close the ends of the carton  110 . To form the end walls, the top and bottom end flaps  134 ,  138 ,  42  and  46  are folded to their respective positions generally perpendicular to the associated panel wall. The end flaps  36 ,  44  are then folded to their respective vertical positions to overlap the top and bottom end flaps  134 ,  42 ,  138  and  46 . End flaps  138 ,  46  each include a pair of notches  50  so that the terminal edge  52  of each flap  138 ,  46  is shorter than the corresponding edge  54  on the end flaps  134 ,  42 . Glue is applied to the outside faces of the end flaps  134 ,  36 ,  138 ,  42 ,  44  and  46 . The end flaps  32 ,  40  are then folded onto the top, bottom, and side end flaps. This causes the side end flaps  134  and  42  to be glued atop the other end flaps. 
     A handle  56  is also included in the top wall  16 . While any appropriate handle or orientation for the handle can be used with the carton  110 , preferably handle  56  is constructed according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,106,014, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     A dispenser  54  according to this embodiment of the invention is formed in part by the corresponding end flaps  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46  on the dispensing end  47  of the carton  110 . The dispenser  54  of this embodiment is substantially identical to the dispenser shown and described with respect to the first embodiment of the carton  10  and associated blank  12 . Therefore, a detailed description of the dispenser  54  will not be repeated with respect to the carton  110  and associated blank  112  of  FIGS. 4-6B . 
     The user may implement the gravity feed stand  174  to elevate or prop up the end  48  of the carton  110  opposite the dispensing end  47  and thereby providing a gravity feed inclination for the remaining cans in the carton  110  to roll towards the dispensing end  47  for convenient access and removal through the dispenser  57  by a user. Advantageously, the gravity feed stand  174  is initially erected by tearing the end  48  of the carton  110  in the top panel  16 . As a result, the carton  110  with the dispenser  57  open may remain in an upright position while the stand  174  is erected thereby avoiding the problems of flipping the carton  110  to gain access to the feature on the bottom of the carton  110  used to elevate the carton  110  for gravity feed dispensing. 
     The gravity feed stand  174  of this embodiment includes a finger flap  176  located in the top panel  16  of the carton adjacent the end  48  opposite the dispensing end  47 . The user inserts one or more fingers in the finger flap  76  and pulls toward the end  48  and away from the dispenser  57  thereby tearing the top panel  16  along a tear line  178  in opposite directions outwardly from the finger flap  176  toward the adjacent side panels  14 ,  18 . The tear line  178  in the top panel  16  extends beyond the fold lines  22 ,  24  joining the side panels  14 ,  18  to the top panel  16 . The tear line  178  is generally linear as it extends across the top panel  16 . In the side panels  14 ,  18 , the tear line  178  is angular and projects toward the junctures  134   a ,  138   d  between the side panels  14 ,  18  and the associated side end panels  134 ,  138 . The tear line  178  then progresses in the side end panels  134 ,  138  in a generally L-shaped configuration until it terminates at a fold line  184  extending transversely across the side end panels,  134 ,  138 . The fold line  184  is formed in the side end panels  134 ,  138  and is generally parallel to and spaced from a fold line  186  on the side end panels  134 ,  138  which originates at the bend in the L-shaped portion of the tear line  178 . The fold lines  184 ,  186  separate the side end panels into upper  134   a ,  138   a  intermediate  134   b ,  138   b  and lower  134   c ,  138   c  regions of the end panel  48 . The tear line  178  in the top panel  16  and portions of the side panels  14 ,  18  adjacent the end panel  48  defines a base  188  of the stand  174  that remains attached to the end panel  48  in a generally triangular shaped configuration of the gravity feed stand  174  as will be described later herein. 
     The configuration of the tear line  178  in the side end panels  134 ,  138  results in a pair of spaced shoulder panels  200 ,  200  in the end  48  of the carton  110  after the gravity feed stand  174  is erected. Each shoulder panel  200  is located adjacent one of the side panels  14 ,  18  on the end  48  of the carton  110  and combine to restrict the opening formed in the end  48  of the carton  110  from the gravity feed stand  174 . The shoulder panels  200  and associated restricted opening in end  48  inhibit the escape or removal of the cans from the end  48  of the carton  110 . As such, the cans are only able to exit the carton  110  via the dispenser  57  even when the gravity feed stand  174  is erected. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5B , the initial separation of the gravity feed stand  174  from the remainder of the carton  110  begins by tearing along the tear line  178  and pulling the base  188  and portions  134   a ,  138   a ,  138   b ,  134   b  outwardly from the carton  110  in the direction of arrow AA. The gravity feed stand  174  is then pivoted around the fold line  184  in the direction of arrow BB of  FIG. 5C  until the panels  134   b ,  138   b  are folded onto in face-to-face juxtaposition with the panels  134   c ,  138   c  as shown generally in  FIG. 6B . At this point, the panels  134   a ,  138   a  and end portion of the top panel  16  form a triangular-shaped base  188  of the gravity feed stand  174  to prop up the end  48  of the carton  110  (arrow CC in  FIG. 3B ). The apex of the triangular-shaped base  188  contacts the bottom panel  20  to support the carton  110 . In one embodiment, the portions  134   c ,  138   c  and  134   b ,  138   b  provide a retaining end wall  138   c ,  134 C to prevent the cans from rolling out the end  48  of the carton  110  irrespective of the gravity feed inclination provided by the stand  174 . 
     The various embodiments of this invention serve as useful dispensing cartons that can be placed in a gravity feed inclination upon a surface or within a compartment such as a refrigerator or pantry. Modifications may be made in the foregoing without departing from the scope and spirit of the claimed 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. 
     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. Hinged connections can be formed from one or more of one of the following: a score line, a frangible line, a cut crease line or a fold line, without departing from the scope of invention. 
     From the above disclosure of the general principles of the present invention and the preceding detailed description of at least one preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will readily comprehend the various modifications to which this invention is susceptible. Therefore, I desire to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and equivalents thereof.

Technology Category: 7