CARTON WITH DISPENSER

• US 20120138667A1
• Filed: 12/02/2011
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Burke, Bradley J., Kohler, Karl A., Wolfe, Robert
• Application Number:
  US13/309,942
• Publication Number:
  US 20120138667A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 229/117.3
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/56 with means for indicating level of contents
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/563 Laminated linings; Coatings
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/742 Spouts formed by deforming or tearing the closure flaps or severed or incised parts of the closure flaps B65D5/06 takes precedence

Abstract

A carton for containing a product. The carton comprises a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprises a first end panel, a first side panel, a second end panel, and a second side panel. At least one top flap can be respectively foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels. The at least one top flap comprises at least an end top flap foldably connected to the second end panel. A dispenser can comprise at least a portion of the end top flap, a tear feature extending at least partially across the end top flap, and a dispenser pattern extending in at least a portion of the end top flap and the second end panel. The dispenser can be positionable between a dispensing position and a closed position after tearing the tear feature.

Claims

1. A carton for containing a product, the carton comprising:

a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprises a first end panel, a first side panel, a second end panel, and a second side panel;

at least one top flap respectively foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, the at least one top flap at least partially forming a closed top end of the carton, the at least one top flap comprising at least an end top flap foldably connected to the second end panel;

a dispenser comprising at least a portion of the end top flap, a tear feature extending at least partially across the end top flap, and a dispenser pattern extending in at least a portion of the end top flap and the second end panel, the dispenser being positionable between a dispensing position and a closed position after tearing the tear feature.

2. The carton of claim 1, further comprising a liner at least partially disposed in the interior of the carton, the liner at least partially overlapping the second end panel and the end top flap.

3. The carton of claim 2, further comprising a window feature comprising an opening in at least the second end panel and a window portion of the liner overlapping the opening.

4. The carton of claim 2, wherein:

the dispenser pattern comprises a plurality of dispenser fold lines for facilitating flexing of the dispenser when in the dispensing position; and

the plurality of dispenser fold lines comprises a lateral dispenser fold line extending in at least a portion of the end top flap and the second end panel, two oblique dispenser fold lines extending in at least the second end panel from an end of the lateral dispenser fold line, and a longitudinal dispenser fold line extending at least partially across the second end panel.

5. The carton of claim 4, wherein:

the liner overlaps at least a portion of the first side panel;

the carton further comprises a window feature comprising an opening in the second end panel and the first side panel and a window portion of the liner overlapping the opening in the second end panel and the first side panel; and

the plurality of dispenser fold lines further comprises a first side dispenser fold line extending at least partially across the first side panel from an edge of the second opening.

6. The carton of claim 5, wherein:

the window feature is a first window feature, the opening is a first opening, and the window portion of the liner is a first window portion of the liner;

the liner overlaps at least a portion of the second side panel;

the carton further comprising a second window feature comprising a second opening in the second end panel and the second side panel and a second window portion of the liner overlapping the second opening in the second end panel and the second side panel; and

the plurality of dispenser fold lines further comprises a second side dispenser fold line extending at least partially across the second side panel from an edge of the second opening.

7. The carton of claim 2, further comprising an indicator window feature comprising an indicator opening in at least one panel of the plurality of panels, wherein indicator window feature comprises an indicator portion of the liner overlapping the indicator opening.

8. The carton of claim 2, wherein:

the liner is a first liner, the first liner overlapping an upper portion of the second end panel;

the carton further comprises a second liner and an indicator window feature, the second liner being at least partially disposed in the interior of the carton and overlapping at least a lower portion of the second end panel, the indicator window feature comprising an indicator opening in at least the lower portion of the second end panel and an indicator portion of the second liner overlapping the indicator opening; and

the first liner and the second liner respectively comprise different materials.

9. The carton of claim 8, further comprising a first window feature and a second window feature, the first window feature comprising a first opening in the second end panel and the first side panel, the second window feature comprising a second opening in the second end panel and the second side panel, wherein:

the first liner overlaps at least a portion of the first side panel and at least a portion of the second side panel, the first window feature comprising a first window portion of the first liner overlapping the first opening in the second end panel and the first side panel, and the second window feature comprising a second window portion of the first liner overlapping the second opening in the second end panel and the second side panel.

10. The carton of claim 2, wherein:

the at least one top flap comprises a first side top flap foldably connected to the first side panel and a second side top flap foldably connected to the second side panel;

the dispenser comprises a first dispenser tab and a second dispenser tab, each of the first dispenser tab and the second dispenser tab comprising a first portion of the respective first side top flap and second side top flap, each of the first dispenser tab and the second dispenser tab being separable from a second portion of the respective first side top flap and second side top flap along a respective tear line; and

the liner overlaps at least a portion of the first side panel, the first dispenser tab, the second side panel, and the second dispenser tab.

11. The carton of claim 10, wherein:

the end top flap comprises a reclosable lid portion and a distal portion, the reclosable lid portion overlapping at least a portion of the first dispenser tab and the second dispenser tab, and the distal portion being secured to the second portion of at least one of the first side top flap and the second side top flap; and

the tear feature comprises a tear strip, the distal portion being separable from the reclosable lid portion along the tear strip.

12. The carton of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one top flap further comprises a side top flap foldably connected to the first side panel, at least a portion of the end top flap at least partially overlapping the side top flap to at least partially form the closed top end of the carton; and

the end top flap comprises a reclosable lid portion and a distal portion, the distal portion being at least partially in face-to-face contact with the side top flap.

13. The carton of claim 12, wherein:

the dispenser comprises a dispenser tab, the dispenser tab comprising a first portion of the side top flap and being separable from a second portion of the side top flap along a tear line; and

at least a portion of the reclosable lid portion of the end top flap at least partially overlaps the dispenser tab, and at least a portion of the distal portion is secured to at least a portion of the second portion of the side top flap.

14. The carton of claim 13, wherein:

the tear feature comprises a tear strip, the reclosable lid being separable from the distal portion along the tear strip; and

the reclosable lid portion comprises a protrusion at least partially defined by the tear strip, the protrusion being at least partially overlapped by at least a portion of the side top flap when the dispenser is in the closed position.

15. The carton of claim 13, wherein the dispenser pattern comprises a plurality of dispenser fold lines for facilitating flexing of the dispenser when in the dispensing position, the plurality of dispenser fold lines comprising a lateral dispenser fold line extending at least partially across the reclosable lid portion of the end top flap and the second end panel, a first oblique dispenser fold line and a second oblique dispenser fold line extending in at least the second end panel from an end of the lateral dispenser fold line, and a longitudinal dispenser fold line extending at least partially across the second end panel.

16. The carton of claim 15, wherein:

the side top flap is a first side top flap, the at least one top flap further comprising a second side top flap foldably connected to the second side panel;

the dispenser tab is a first dispenser tab and the tear line is a first tear line, the dispenser further comprising a second dispenser tab that is separable from a second portion of the second side top flap along a second tear line; and

the plurality of dispenser fold lines comprises a first side dispenser fold line extending in the first side panel from an end of the first tear line and a second side dispenser fold line extending in the second side panel from an end of the second tear line.

17. The carton of claim 16, wherein the first side dispenser fold line and the first oblique dispenser fold line extend from a first end of the longitudinal dispenser fold line, and the second side dispenser fold line and the second oblique dispenser fold line extend from a second end of the longitudinal dispenser fold line.

18. The carton of claim 15, wherein the plurality of dispenser fold lines comprises a first curved dispenser fold line and a second curved dispenser fold line, the first curved dispenser fold line extending in the second end panel from an end of the first oblique dispenser fold line to a first end of the longitudinal dispenser fold line, and the second curved dispenser fold line extending in the second end panel from an end of the second oblique dispenser fold line to a second end of the longitudinal dispenser fold line.

19. The carton of claim 13, further comprising a liner overlapping at least a portion of the reclosable lid portion of the end top flap, the dispenser tab, the second end panel, and the first side panel.

20. The carton of claim 19, wherein the liner comprises at least a first edge and a second edge, at least a portion of the first edge at least partially overlapping the dispenser tab and the first side panel, at least a portion of the second edge at least partially overlapping the first side panel and the second end panel.

21. A blank for forming carton for containing a product, the blank comprising:

a plurality of panels comprising a first end panel, a first side panel, a second end panel, and a second side panel;

at least one top flap respectively foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, the at least one top flap being for at least partially forming a closed top end of the carton formed from the blank, the at least one top flap comprising at least an end top flap foldably connected to the second end panel; and

dispenser features for forming a dispenser in the carton formed from the blank, the dispenser features comprising at least a portion of the end top flap, a tear feature extending at least partially across the end top flap, and a dispenser pattern extending in at least a portion of the end top flap and the second end panel, the dispenser being for positioning between a dispensing position and a closed position after tearing the tear feature in the carton formed from the blank.

22. The blank of claim 21, further comprising a liner at least partially overlapping an interior surface of the second end panel and the end top flap.

23. The blank of claim 22, further comprising a window feature comprising an opening in at least the second end panel and a window portion of the liner overlapping the opening.

24. The blank of claim 22, wherein:

the dispenser pattern comprises a plurality of dispenser fold lines for facilitating flexing of the dispenser when in the dispensing position in the carton formed from the blank; and

the plurality of dispenser fold lines comprises a lateral dispenser fold line extending in at least a portion of the end top flap and the second end panel, two oblique dispenser fold lines extending in at least the second end panel from an end of the lateral dispenser fold line, and a longitudinal dispenser fold line extending at least partially across the second end panel.

25. The blank of claim 24, wherein:

the liner overlaps at least a portion of the first side panel;

the blank further comprises a window feature comprising an opening in the second end panel and the first side panel and a window portion of the liner overlapping the opening in the second end panel and the first side panel; and

the plurality of dispenser fold lines further comprises a first side dispenser fold line extending at least partially across the first side panel from an edge of the second opening.

26. The blank of claim 25, wherein:

the window feature is a first window feature, the opening is a first opening, and the window portion of the liner is a first window portion of the liner;

the liner overlaps at least a portion of the second side panel;

the carton further comprises a second window feature comprising a second opening in the second end panel and the second side panel and a second window portion of the liner overlapping the second opening in the second end panel and the second side panel; and

the plurality of dispenser fold lines further comprises a second side dispenser fold line extending at least partially across the second side panel from an edge of the second opening.

27. The blank of claim 22, further comprising an indicator window feature comprising an indicator opening in at least one panel of the plurality of panels, wherein indicator window feature comprises an indicator portion of the liner overlapping the indicator opening.

28. The blank of claim 22, wherein:

the liner is a first liner, the first liner overlapping an upper portion of the second end panel;

the blank further comprises a second liner and an indicator window feature, the second liner overlapping at least a lower portion of the interior surface of the second end panel, the indicator window feature comprising an indicator opening in at least the lower portion of the second end panel and an indicator portion of the second liner overlapping the indicator opening; and

the first liner and the second liner respectively comprise different materials.

29. The blank of claim 28, further comprising a first window feature and a second window feature, the first window feature comprising a first opening in the second end panel and the first side panel, the second window feature comprising a second opening in the second end panel and the second side panel, wherein:

the first liner overlaps at least a portion of the first side panel and at least a portion of the second side panel, the first window feature comprising a first window portion of the first liner overlapping the first opening in the second end panel and the first side panel, and the second window feature comprising a second window portion of the first liner overlapping the second opening in the second end panel and the second side panel.

30. The blank of claim 22, wherein:

the at least one top flap comprises a first side top flap foldably connected to the first side panel and a second side top flap foldably connected to the second side panel;

the dispenser comprises a first dispenser tab and a second dispenser tab, each of the first dispenser tab and the second dispenser tab comprising a first portion of the respective first side top flap and second side top flap, each of the first dispenser tab and the second dispenser tab being separable from a second portion of the respective first side top flap and second side top flap along a respective tear line; and

the liner overlaps at least a portion of the first side panel, the first dispenser tab, the second side panel, and the second dispenser tab.

31. The blank of claim 30, wherein:

the end top flap comprises a reclosable lid portion and a distal portion, the reclosable lid portion being for overlapping at least a portion of the first dispenser tab and the second dispenser tab in the carton formed from the blank, and the distal portion is for being secured to the second portion of at least one of the first side top flap and the second side top flap in the carton formed from the blank; and

the tear feature comprises a tear strip, the distal portion being separable from the reclosable lid portion along the tear strip.

32. The blank of claim 21, wherein:

the at least one top flap further comprises a side top flap foldably connected to the first side panel, at least a portion of the end top flap being for at least partially overlapping the side top flap to at least partially form the closed top end of the carton formed from the blank; and

the end top flap comprises a reclosable lid portion and a distal portion, the distal portion for being disposed at least partially in face-to-face contact with the side top flap.

33. The blank of claim 32, wherein:

the dispenser comprises a dispenser tab, the dispenser tab comprising a first portion of the side top flap and being separable from a second portion of the side top flap along a tear line; and

at least a portion of the reclosable lid portion of the end top flap is for at least partially overlapping the dispenser tab in the carton formed from the blank, and at least a portion of the distal portion is for being secured to at least a portion of the second portion of the side top flap in the carton formed from the blank.

34. The blank of claim 33, wherein:

the tear feature comprises a tear strip, the reclosable lid being separable from the distal portion along the tear strip; and

the reclosable lid portion comprises a protrusion at least partially defined by the tear strip, the protrusion is for being at least partially overlapped by at least a portion of the side top flap when the dispenser is in the closed position in the carton formed from the blank.

35. The blank of claim 33, wherein the dispenser pattern comprises a plurality of dispenser fold lines for facilitating flexing of the dispenser when in the dispensing position in the carton formed from the blank, the plurality of dispenser fold lines comprising a lateral dispenser fold line extending at least partially across the reclosable lid portion of the end top flap and the second end panel, a first oblique dispenser fold line and a second oblique dispenser fold line extending in at least the second end panel from an end of the lateral dispenser fold line, and a longitudinal dispenser fold line extending at least partially across the second end panel.

36. The blank of claim 35, wherein:

the side top flap is a first side top flap, the at least one top flap further comprising a second side top flap foldably connected to the second side panel;

the dispenser tab is a first dispenser tab and the tear line is a first tear line, the dispenser further comprising a second dispenser tab that is separable from a second portion of the second side top flap along a second tear line; and

the plurality of dispenser fold lines comprises a first side dispenser fold line extending in the first side panel from an end of the first tear line and a second side dispenser fold line extending in the second side panel from an end of the second tear line.

37. The blank of claim 36, wherein the first side dispenser fold line and the first oblique dispenser fold line extend from a first end of the longitudinal dispenser fold line, and the second side dispenser fold line and the second oblique dispenser fold line extend from a second end of the longitudinal dispenser fold line.

38. The blank of claim 35, wherein the plurality of dispenser fold lines comprises a first curved dispenser fold line and a second curved dispenser fold line, the first curved dispenser fold line extending in the second end panel from an end of the first oblique dispenser fold line to a first end of the longitudinal dispenser fold line, and the second curved dispenser fold line extending in the second end panel from an end of the second oblique dispenser fold line to a second end of the longitudinal dispenser fold line.

39. The blank of claim 33, further comprising a liner overlapping at least a portion of the reclosable lid portion of the end top flap, the dispenser tab, the second end panel, and the first side panel.

40. The blank of claim 39, wherein the liner comprises at least a first edge and a second edge, at least a portion of the first edge at least partially overlapping the dispenser tab and the first side panel, and at least a portion of the second edge at least partially overlapping the first side panel and the second end panel.

41. A method of forming a carton, the method comprising:

obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a first end panel, a first side panel, a second end panel, and a second side panel, at least one top flap respectively foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, the at least one top flap comprising at least an end top flap foldably connected to the second end panel, and dispenser features comprising at least a portion of the end top flap, a tear feature extending at least partially across the end top flap, and a dispenser pattern extending in at least a portion of the end top flap and the first end panel;

forming an interior of the carton at least partially defined by the plurality of panels;

positioning the at least one top flap to at least partially close a top end of the interior and to at least partially form a dispenser comprising the dispenser features;

opening the dispenser by tearing the tear feature and positioning a reclosable lid portion of the end top flap to a dispensing position; and

closing the dispenser by positioning the reclosable lid portion of the end top flap to a closed position.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising positioning a liner to at least partially overlap an interior surface of the second end panel and the end top flap.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising forming a window feature comprising an opening in at least the second end panel and a window portion of the liner by overlapping the window portion of the liner with the opening in at least the second end panel.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein:

the at least one top flap comprises a first side top flap foldably connected to the first side panel and a second side top flap foldably connected to the second side panel;

the dispenser features comprise a first dispenser tab and a second dispenser tab, each of the first dispenser tab and the second dispenser tab comprising a first portion of the respective first side top flap and second side top flap, each of the first dispenser tab and the second dispenser tab being separable from a second portion of the respective first side top flap and second side top flap along a respective tear line;

the end top flap further comprises a distal portion and the tear feature comprises a tear strip, the distal portion being separable from the reclosable lid portion along the tear strip;

the positioning the at least one top flap comprises positioning the end top flap so that the reclosable lid portion overlaps at least a portion of the first dispenser tab and the second dispenser tab and securing the distal portion to the second portion of at least one of the first side top flap and the second side top flap; and

the opening the dispenser comprising at least partially removing the tear strip to separate the distal portion and the reclosable lid portion of the end top flap, pivoting the reclosable lid portion upwardly, separating the first dispenser tab and the second dispenser tab from the respective second portion of the respective first side top flap and second side top flap along the respective tear lines, and pivoting the first dispenser tab and the second dispenser tab upwardly.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein:

the reclosable lid portion comprises a protrusion at least partially defined in an edge of the reclosable lid portion formed by the removing of the tear strip;

the closing the dispenser comprising pivoting the first dispenser tab and the second dispenser tab downwardly, pivoting the reclosable lid portion downwardly, and engaging at least a portion of the protrusion with at least a portion of the second portion of at least one of the first side top flap or the second side top flap.

46. The method of claim 41, wherein:

the dispenser pattern comprises a lateral dispenser fold line extending in at least a portion of the end top flap and the second end panel, two oblique dispenser fold lines extending in at least the second end panel from an end of the lateral dispenser fold line, and a longitudinal dispenser fold line extending at least partially across the second end panel; and

the method further comprises flexing the dispenser at least the dispenser pattern after the opening the dispenser.