DUAL RECLOSABLE DISPENSER CARTON

• US 20130134211A1
• Filed: 11/30/2011
• Published: 05/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: McNeil-PPC Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Linkel, Stephan M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,844,798 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 229/121
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/542 the lines of weakness being provided in the container body
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/722 having an alternating movement co-operating with incised or scored openings near the bottom-edges of the bodies of tubular containers

Abstract

A dispenser carton having more than one dispenser opening, permitting two different modes of access to products or articles contained within the carton. Preferably, the dispenser openings are oriented to permit the optimal orientation of products for dispensing from each of the dispenser openings. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, separate and independent from the first aspect yet complementary thereto if desired, the dispenser openings are provided to permit loading of articles therein in an oriented manner corresponding to automated carton-loading equipment and optionally also to permit dispensing through at least one of the openings in a desired dispensing orientation.

Claims

1. A carton for containing and dispensing a plurality of articles within and from an interior of said carton, said carton comprising:

a first major wall;

a second major wall opposite said first major wall

a first side wall extending between said first major wall and said second major wall;

a second side wall opposite said first side wall and extending between said first major wall and said second major wall;

a first end wall extending between said first major wall and said second major wall and between said first side wall and said second side wall;

a second end wall opposite said first end wall and extending between said first major wall and said second major wall and between said first side wall and said second side wall;

a first dispenser formed in said first major wall; and

a second dispenser formed in said second major wall;

wherein;

said first dispenser is a dispenser door configured for pivoting, about a dispenser door hinge, between an open configuration and a closed configuration;

said second dispenser is a lid dispenser configured for pivoting, about a lid dispenser hinge, between an open configuration and a closed configuration; and

said dispenser door hinge is substantially perpendicular to said lid dispenser hinge.

2. A carton as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first end wall and said second end wall may remain in an open configuration to permit loading of articles therethrough and into said carton and may be closed after loading of articles into said carton has been completed.

3. A carton as in claim 2, wherein said at least one of said first end wall and said second end wall is formed from overlapped flaps which are coupled together after said articles are loaded into said carton therethrough.

4. A carton as in claim 1, wherein:

said dispenser lid has a top wall formed from a portion of first major wall, and a front wall along one of said first end wall and said second end wall; and

said portion of said first major wall is coupled to a remainder of said first major wall along a hinge line extending substantially parallel to and spaced from said the other of said first end wall and said second end wall.

5. A carton as in claim 4, wherein said dispenser lid has a first side wall formed from a portion of said first side wall of said carton, and a second side wall formed from a portion of said second side wall of said carton.

6. A carton as in claim 5, wherein upon opening said dispenser lid, said first side wall of said dispenser lid is separated from said first side wall of said carton leaving a partial first side wall of said carton, and said second side wall of said dispenser lid is separated from said second side wall of said carton leaving a partial second side wall of said carton, said carton further comprising:

a first supplemental side wall panel positioned along said first side wall of said carton such that upon opening said dispenser lid and moving said first side wall of said dispenser lid away from said first side wall of said carton, said first supplemental side wall completes said partial first side wall of said carton; and

a second supplemental side wall panel positioned along said second side wall of said carton such that upon opening said dispenser lid and moving said second side wall of said dispenser lid away from said second side wall of said carton, said second supplemental side wall completes said partial second side wall of said carton.

7. A carton as in claim 5, wherein said dispenser door has a front wall formed by separating a dispenser panel portion of said first major wall from said first major wall along a line of weakness, and at least one side wall extending from a side edge of said dispenser door front wall.

8. A carton as in claim 1, wherein:

said first major wall has a left edge, a right edge substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said left edge, a bottom edge extending between and substantially perpendicular to said left edge and said right edge, and a top edge extending substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said bottom edge and between and substantially perpendicular to said left edge and said right edge;

said first side wall extends perpendicularly from said left edge of said first major wall and has a first edge along said left edge of said first major wall and a second edge parallel to and spaced apart from said first edge;

said second side wall extends perpendicularly from said right side edge of said first wall and has a first edge along said right side edge and a second edge parallel to and spaced apart from said first edge;

said second major wall is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said first major wall and extends between said second edge of said first side wall and said second edge of said second side wall, said second major wall having a left edge extending along said second edge of said second side wall, a right edge extending along said second edge of said first side wall, a bottom edge extending between and substantially perpendicular to said left edge and said right edge of said second major wall and substantially parallel and spaced apart from said bottom edge of said first major wall, and a top edge extending substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said bottom edge of said second major wall and said top edge of said first major wall and extending between and substantially perpendicular to said left edge and said right edge of said second major wall;

said first end wall extends perpendicularly from said top edge of said first major wall and between and substantially perpendicular to said first side wall and said second side wall;

said second end wall extends perpendicularly from said bottom edge of said first major wall and between and substantially perpendicular to said first side wall and said second side wall;

said dispenser door has a front panel defined in said first major wall, a bottom edge, a left side panel substantially parallel to said first side wall, and a right side panel substantially parallel to said second side wall;

said dispenser door opens by pivoting said dispenser door front panel about said dispenser door front panel bottom edge to pivot said dispenser door panel away from said first major panel and to slide said dispenser door left side panel and said dispenser door right side panel along said first side wall and said second side wall, respectively, to access the articles within said carton;

said lid dispenser has a top panel defined in said second major wall, a left edge, a right edge substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said left edge, a front edge extending between and substantially perpendicular to said left edge and said right edge, and a back edge extending substantially parallel to said front edge and between and substantially perpendicular to said left edge and said right edge; and

said lid dispenser opens by pivoting said top panel along said back edge of said lid dispenser to lift said top panel away from said second major wall to access the interior of said carton.

9. A carton as in claim 8, wherein:

said dispenser door bottom edge extends substantially collinearly along said bottom edge of said first major wall; and

said back edge of said lid dispenser is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said right edge of said second major wall.

10. A carton as in claim 8, wherein said lid dispenser further comprises:

a front panel extending from said top panel front edge substantially perpendicular to said top panel and substantially parallel to said second end wall;

a left side panel extending substantially perpendicularly from said front panel and substantially parallel to and along said first side wall; and

a right side panel extending substantially perpendicularly from said front panel and substantially parallel to and along said second side wall.

11. A carton containing a plurality of elongated articles having a longitudinal axis, said carton comprising:

a first major wall;

a second major wall opposite said first major wall

a first side wall extending between said first major wall and said second major wall;

a second side wall opposite said first side wall and extending between said first major wall and said second major wall;

a first end wall extending between said first major wall and said second major wall and between said first side wall and said second side wall;

a second end wall opposite said first end wall and extending between said first major wall and said second major wall and between said first side wall and said second side wall;

a first dispenser formed in one of said first major wall, said second major wall, said first side wall, said second side wall, said first end wall, and said second end wall; and

a second dispenser formed in another of said first major wall, said second major wall, said first side wall, said second side wall, said first end wall, and said second end wall;

wherein;

said articles are all oriented in said carton to be oriented with respect to said first dispenser with said longitudinal axes thereof in a horizontal orientation, and with respect to said second dispenser with said longitudinal axes thereof in a vertical orientation.

12. A carton as in claim 11, wherein:

said first dispenser is a dispenser door having a front wall substantially coplanar with said first major wall and configured for pivoting about a dispenser door hinge; and

said articles are oriented for being dispensed from said first dispenser with said longitudinal axes of said articles extending substantially parallel to said dispenser door hinge.

13. A carton as in claim 12, wherein at least two articles are arranged substantially collinearly and substantially parallel to said dispenser door hinge.

14. A carton as in claim 12, wherein:

said second dispenser is a lid dispenser having a top panel substantially coplanar with said second major wall and configured for pivoting about a lid dispenser hinge; and

said articles are oriented for being dispensed from said second dispenser with said longitudinal axes of said articles extending substantially perpendicular to said dispenser door hinge.

15. A carton as in claim 14, wherein:

said dispenser door hinge is substantially parallel to said first major wall and said second side wall; and

said lid dispenser hinge is substantially parallel to said second major wall and said first end wall.

16. A carton as in claim 11, wherein:

said second dispenser is a lid dispenser having a top panel substantially coplanar with said second major wall and configured for pivoting about a lid dispenser hinge; and

said articles are oriented for being dispensed from said second dispenser with said longitudinal axes of said articles extending substantially perpendicular to said second dispenser door hinge.

17. A carton as in claim 16, wherein:

said lid dispenser top panel has a front edge, and a height in a direction from said front edge to said lid dispenser hinge;

said articles each have a height along said longitudinal axis thereof from a first end to a second end of said article;

said second major wall has a height in a direction substantially parallel to said lid dispenser height, said second major wall height being at least twice said article height;

said lid dispenser top panel height is longer than said article height and shorter than said height of said second major wall; and

wherein at least two articles are arranged substantially collinearly and substantially perpendicular to said lid dispenser hinge.

18. A carton as in claim 11, wherein said articles are loaded through one of said first end wall and said second end wall with said longitudinal axes substantially perpendicular to said first end wall and said second end wall.

19. A carton as in claim 11, wherein:

said first major wall has a left edge, a right edge substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said left edge, a bottom edge extending between and substantially perpendicular to said left edge and said right edge, and a top edge extending substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said bottom edge and between and substantially perpendicular to said left edge and said right edge;

said first side wall extends perpendicularly from said left edge of said first major wall and has a first edge along said left edge of said first major wall and a second edge parallel to and spaced apart from said first edge;

said second side wall extends perpendicularly from said right side edge of said first wall and has a first edge along said right side edge and a second edge parallel to and spaced apart from said first edge;

said second major wall is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said first major wall and extends between said second edge of said first side wall and said second edge of said second side wall, said second major wall having a left edge extending along said second edge of said second side wall, a right edge extending along said second edge of said first side wall, a bottom edge extending between and substantially perpendicular to said left edge and said right edge of said second major wall and substantially parallel and spaced apart from said bottom edge of said first major wall, and a top edge extending substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said bottom edge of said second major wall and said top edge of said first major wall and extending between and substantially perpendicular to said left edge and said right edge of said second major wall;

said first end wall extends perpendicularly from said top edge of said first major wall and between and substantially perpendicular to said first side wall and said second side wall;

said second end wall extends perpendicularly from said bottom edge of said first major wall and between and substantially perpendicular to said first side wall and said second side wall;

said first dispenser is a dispenser door having a front panel defined in said first major wall, a bottom edge, a left side panel substantially parallel to said first side wall, and a right side panel substantially parallel to said second side wall;

said first dispenser opens by pivoting said front panel about said dispenser door front panel bottom edge to pivot said dispenser door panel away from said first major panel and to slide said dispenser door left side panel and said dispenser door right side panel along said first side wall and said second side wall, respectively, to access said articles within said carton;

said second dispenser is a lid dispenser having a top panel defined in said second major wall, a left edge, a right edge substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said left edge, a front edge extending between and substantially perpendicular to said left edge and said right edge, and a back edge extending substantially parallel to said front edge and between and substantially perpendicular to said left edge and said right edge; and

said lid dispenser opens by pivoting said lid dispenser top panel along said back edge of said lid dispenser to lift said top panel away from said second major wall to access the interior of said carton.

20. A method of forming and filling a carton with a plurality of the same articles, each article being elongated along a longitudinal axis, said method comprising:

assembling a carton having first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth walls, with a dispenser door in one of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth walls, and a lid dispenser in another of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth walls; and

loading articles into the interior of the carton by pushing the articles along said article longitudinal axes to be oriented substantially horizontally when dispensed from the dispenser door;

wherein;

said dispenser door opens by pivoting about a dispenser door hinge; and

loading of articles further comprises loading articles with the article longitudinal axes substantially parallel to said dispenser door hinge.

21. A method as in claim 20, further comprising assembling the carton so that articles are oriented with their longitudinal axes oriented substantially vertically for dispensing through said lid dispenser, wherein:

said dispenser lid opens by pivoting about a dispenser lid hinge; and

loading of articles further comprises loading articles with the article longitudinal axes substantially perpendicular to said dispenser lid hinge.

22. A carton blank comprising:

a first panel having a left edge, a right edge substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said left edge, a top edge extending between and substantially perpendicular to said left edge and said right edge, and a bottom edge substantially parallel to said top edge and extending between and substantially perpendicular to said left edge and said right edge;

a second panel extending from said right edge of said first panel and having a left edge along said first panel right edge, a right edge substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said left edge, a top edge extending between and substantially perpendicular to said left edge and said right edge, and a bottom edge substantially parallel to said top edge and extending between and substantially perpendicular to said left edge and said right edge;

a third panel extending from said right edge of said second panel and having a left edge along said second panel right edge, a right edge substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said left edge, a top edge extending between and substantially perpendicular to said left edge and said right edge, and a bottom edge substantially parallel to said top edge and extending between and substantially perpendicular to said left edge and said right edge;

a fourth panel extending from said right edge of said third panel and having a left edge along said third panel right edge, a right edge substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said left edge, a top edge extending between and substantially perpendicular to said left edge and said right edge, and a bottom edge substantially parallel to said top edge and extending between and substantially perpendicular to said left edge and said right edge;

a first top end panel extending from a top edge of one of said first, second, third, and fourth panels to close a top end of an open-ended carton formed upon folding said first, second, third, and fourth panels with respect to one another along said left and right edges thereof;

a first bottom end panel extending from a bottom edge of one of said first, second, third, and fourth panels to close a bottom end of an open-ended carton formed upon folding said first, second, third, and fourth panels with respect to one another along said left and right edges thereof;

a dispenser door score line defined in one of said first, second, third, and fourth panels to define a top edge of a dispenser door front panel upon being cut; and

a flip-top lid fold line defined in an other of said first, second, third, and fourth panels to define a pivot hinge of a top panel of a flip-top lid defined by a portion of said other of said first, second, third, and fourth panels.

23. A blank as in claim 22, wherein said dispenser door score line is substantially parallel to the left edge and right edge of said panel in which said dispenser door score line is defined.

24. A blank as in claim 23, wherein said flip-top fold line is substantially parallel to the top edge and bottom edge of said panel in which said flip-top lid fold line is defined.

25. A blank as in claim 24, wherein said dispenser door score line is defined in said first panel and said flip-top lid fold line is defined in said third panel.

26. A blank as in claim 25, further comprising:

a first flip-top lid score line defined in said second panel to define a bottom edge of a first side wall of a flip-top lid upon cutting of said first flip-top lid score line; and

a second flip-top lid score line defined in said fourth panel to define a bottom edge of a second side wall of a flip-top lid upon cutting said second flip-top lid score line.

27. A blank as in claim 26, further comprising a panel extending from said top edge of said second panel to form a front panel of a flip-top lid formed from said second panel.

28. A blank as in claim 22, wherein said flip-top fold line is substantially parallel to the top edge and bottom edge of said panel in which said flip-top lid fold line is defined.

29. A blank as in claim 22, wherein said dispenser door score line is defined in said first panel and said flip-top lid fold line is defined in said third panel.

30. A blank as in claim 22, further comprising a fifth panel extending from said right edge of said fourth panel and having a left edge along said fourth panel right edge, a right edge substantially parallel to and spaced apart from said left edge, a top edge extending between and substantially perpendicular to said left edge and said right edge, and a bottom edge substantially parallel to said top edge and extending between and substantially perpendicular to said left edge and said right edge;

wherein;

said dispenser door score line is defined in said first panel; and

said fifth panel is configured to overlap with a section of said first panel to form said dispenser door.

31. A blank as in claim 30, wherein said fifth panel further comprises a first dispenser panel side segment extending from said top edge of said fifth panel and a second dispenser panel side segment extending from said bottom edge of said fifth panel, said first dispenser panel side segment and said second dispenser panel side segment forming side walls of a dispenser door formed by said fifth panel and a portion of said first panel.