Cartons with dispensing features

• US 7,762,394 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2006
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC (Graphic Packaging International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Bradford, Paul, Gould, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Ackun, Jr.; Jacob K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Poon; Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/497,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20070029220A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 206427-431, 206/435, 206/45.24, 206/45.26, 229/231, 229/244, 229/243, 229/122, 229/240, 229/242
• US Class Current: 206/427
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/005 using batteries, e.g. as a back-up power source
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 7/00 Micromanipulators specimen supports for investigating or analysing materials G01N23/2204; associated with microscopes G02B21/32; means for supporting or positioning the objects or the material in discharge tubes H01J37/20
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00141 glued
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/0058 The tear line defining a dispensing aperture provided with means for preventing the articles from freely exiting the wrapper, e.g. by rolling out
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00604 for supporting the wrapper in a dispensing position, e.g. inclined
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/0227 with end closures formed by inward folding of flaps and securing them by heat-sealing, by applying adhesive to the flaps or by staples
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/5425 and defining after rupture a lid hinged to the upper edge of the container body
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 71/36 having a tubular shape, e.g. tubular wrappers, with end walls

Abstract

Cartons have dispensers that allow ease of access to articles accommodated within the cartons. A carton has a back panel, a top panel, a front panel, a bottom panel, a first end panel, a second end panel, and a dispenser/stand pattern disposed in the top panel and the front panel and defining a dispenser/stand. The carton is capable of being placed in a dispensing configuration in which the dispenser/stand provides a dispenser opening and supports the carton in an inclined position. The dispenser/stand is connected to the front panel when the dispenser/stand supports the carton in an inclined position.

Claims

1. A carton, comprising:

a back panel;

a top panel;

a front panel;

a bottom panel;

a first end panel;

a second end panel; and

a dispenser/stand pattern disposed in the top panel and the front panel and defining a dispenser/stand, the carton being capable of being placed in a dispensing configuration in which the dispenser/stand provides a dispenser opening and supports the carton in an inclined position, wherein

the dispenser/stand pattern defines a top dispenser/stand panel and a plurality of foldably connected front dispenser/stand panels, the front dispenser/stand panels being connected along at least one transverse fold line, and

the plurality of front dispenser/stand panels is connected to the top dispenser/stand panel along a first transverse fold line and to the front panel along a second transverse fold line, the plurality of front dispenser/stand panels being connected to the front panel along the second transverse fold line when the dispenser/stand supports the carton in an inclined position.

2. The carton of claim 1, wherein the plurality of front dispenser/stand panels comprises at least three foldably connected front dispenser/stand panels.

3. The carton of claim 2, wherein the dispenser stand pattern allows the dispenser/stand to be torn away from the top panel and from parts of the front panel while remaining foldably attached to the front panel.

4. The carton of claim 2, further comprising at least one retaining feature in the bottom panel, the at least one retaining feature being sized and arranged to engage a portion of the dispenser/stand.

5. The carton of claim 1, further comprising:

a first diamond corner panel between the top panel and the first end panel; and

a second diamond corner panel between the top panel and the second end panel.

6. The carton of claim 5, wherein the first end panel comprises a plurality of first end flaps and the second end panel comprises a plurality of second end flaps.

7. The carton of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of containers accommodated in the carton, the containers having long axes extending generally parallel to the top panel.

8. The carton of claim 5, wherein the dispenser/stand pattern defines at least one tab cutout.

9. The carton of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of containers accommodated in the carton, the containers having long axes extending generally parallel to the top panel.

10. A method of placing a carton in a dispensing configuration, comprising:

providing a carton according to claim 4;

tearing the top dispenser/stand panel away from the top panel;

tearing the front dispenser/stand panels away from a portion of the front panel so that the front dispenser/stand panels remain attached to the front panel; and

engaging the dispenser/stand with the at least one retaining feature.

11. A carton blank, comprising:

a back panel;

a top panel;

a front panel;

a bottom panel;

at least one first end flap;

at least one second end flap; and

a dispenser/stand pattern disposed in the top panel and the front panel and defining a dispenser/stand, a carton formed from the blank being capable of being placed in a dispensing configuration in which the dispenser/stand provides a dispenser opening and supports the carton in an inclined position, wherein

the dispenser/stand pattern defines a top dispenser/stand panel in the top panel and a plurality of foldably connected front dispenser/stand panels in the front panel,

the front dispenser/stand panels are connected along at least one transverse fold line, and

the plurality of front dispenser/stand panels is connected to the top dispenser/stand panel along a first transverse fold line and to the front panel along a second transverse fold line, the plurality of front dispenser/stand panels being connected to the front panel along the second fold line when the dispenser/stand supports a carton formed from the blank in an inclined position.

12. The blank of claim 11, wherein the dispenser/stand pattern allows the dispenser/stand to be torn away from the top panel and from parts of the front panel while remaining foldably attached to the front panel.

13. The blank of claim 12, further comprising at least one retaining feature in the bottom panel, the at least one retaining feature being sized and arranged to engage a portion of the dispenser/stand.

14. The blank of claim 12, further comprising:

a first diamond corner panel between the top panel and the first end panel; and

a second diamond corner panel between the top panel and the second end panel.

15. The blank of claim 12, wherein the dispenser/stand pattern defines at least one tab cutout in the top panel.

16. A carton and a plurality of bottles, comprising:

a back panel;

a top panel;

a front panel;

a bottom panel;

a first end panel;

a second end panel;

a first diamond corner panel between the top panel and the first end panel;

a second diamond corner panel between the top panel and the second end panel;

a first dispenser pattern disposed in the top panel and the front panel and defining a dispenser/stand, the carton being capable of being placed in a dispensing configuration in which the dispenser/stand provides a dispenser opening and supports the carton in an inclined position, and is connected to the front panel along a fold line when the dispenser/stand supports the carton in an inclined position; and

a plurality of bottles, each bottle having a long axis extending generally parallel to the top panel.

17. The carton and a plurality of bottles of claim 16, wherein the dispenser pattern defines a top dispenser panel in the top panel and a front dispenser panel in the front panel.

18. The carton and a plurality of bottles of claim 17, wherein the first end panel comprises a plurality of first end flaps and the second end panel comprises a plurality of second end flaps.

19. The carton and a plurality of bottles of claim 16, further comprising a second dispenser pattern defining a second dispenser in the top and front panels.

20. A method of placing a carton in a dispensing configuration, comprising:

providing a carton and plurality of bottles according to claim 17;

tearing the top dispenser panel away from the top panel; and

tearing the front dispenser panel away from a portion of the front panel.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising resting the carton on the bottom panel to dispense bottles.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising resting the carton on the back panel to dispense bottles.

23. A carton blank, comprising:

a back panel;

a top panel;

a front panel foldably connected to the top panel;

a bottom panel;

at least one first end flap;

at least one second end flap; and

a first diamond corner panel between the top panel and the at least one first end flap;

a second diamond corner panel between the top panel and the at least one second end flap; and

a first dispenser pattern disposed in the top panel and the front panel and defining a dispenser/stand, wherein the dispenser pattern defines a top dispenser/stand panel in the top panel and a front dispenser/stand panel in the front panel, and the dispenser/stand provides a dispenser opening and supports a carton formed from the carton blank in an inclined position, and is connected to the front panel along a fold line when the dispenser/stand supports the carton in an inclined position.

24. The blank of claim 23, further comprising a second dispenser pattern defining a second dispenser in the top and front panels.

25. A carton and a plurality of bottles, comprising:

a back panel;

a top panel;

a front panel;

a bottom panel;

a first end panel;

a second end panel;

a dispenser pattern disposed in the top panel and the front panel and defining a dispenser/stand, the carton being capable of being placed in a dispensing configuration in which the dispenser/stand provides a dispenser opening and supports the carton in an inclined position, and is connected to the front panel along a fold line when the dispenser/stand supports the carton in an inclined position;

a first diamond corner panel between the top panel and the first end panel;

a second diamond corner panel between the top panel and the second end panel;

a third diamond corner panel between the bottom panel and the first end panel; and

a fourth diamond corner panel between the bottom panel and the second end panel; and

a plurality of bottles, each bottle having a long axis extending generally parallel to the top panel, a base adjacent to the back panel, and a top portion adjacent to the front panel.

26. The carton and a plurality of bottles of claim 25, wherein the bottles are bottles arranged in two rows and at least four columns.

27. A carton, comprising:

a back panel;

a top panel;

a front panel;

a bottom panel;

a first end panel;

a second end panel; and

a dispenser/stand pattern disposed in the top panel and the front panel and defining a dispenser/stand, the carton being capable of being placed in a dispensing configuration in which the dispenser/stand provides a dispenser opening and supports the carton in an inclined position, wherein

the dispenser/stand pattern defines a top dispenser/stand panel and at least three foldably connected front dispenser/stand panels, the front dispenser/stand panels being connected along transverse fold lines, and

the plurality of front dispenser/stand panels is connected to the top dispenser/stand panel along a transverse fold line.

28. The carton of claim 27, wherein the dispenser stand pattern allows the dispenser/stand to be torn away from the top panel and from parts of the front panel while remaining foldably attached to the front panel.

29. The carton of claim 27, further comprising at least one retaining feature in the bottom panel, the at least one retaining feature being sized and arranged to engage a portion of the dispenser/stand.

30. The carton of claim 27, further comprising:

a first diamond corner panel between the top panel and the first end panel; and

a second diamond corner panel between the top panel and the second end panel.

31. The carton of claim 30, wherein the first end panel comprises a plurality of first end flaps and the second end panel comprises a plurality of second end flaps.

32. The carton of claim 31, further comprising a plurality of containers accommodated in the carton, the containers having long axes extending generally parallel to the top panel.

33. The carton of claim 30, wherein the dispenser/stand pattern defines at least one tab cutout.

34. A carton blank, comprising:

a back panel;

a top panel;

a front panel;

a bottom panel;

at least one first end flap;

at least one second end flap; and

a dispenser/stand pattern disposed in the top panel and the front panel and defining a dispenser/stand, wherein the dispenser/stand pattern defines a top dispenser/stand panel in the top panel and a plurality of foldably connected front dispenser/stand panels in the front panel, wherein

the front dispenser/stand panels are connected along at least one transverse fold line, and

the plurality of front dispenser/stand panels is connected to the top dispenser/stand panel along a transverse fold line,

the dispenser/stand pattern allowing the dispenser/stand to be torn away from the top panel and from parts of the front panel while remaining foldably attached to the front panel,

a first diamond corner panel between the top panel and the first end panel, and

a second diamond corner panel between the top panel and the second end panel.