Carton having dispensing configurations

• US 7,784,675 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2007
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC (Graphic Packaging International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Ho Fung, Charles F., Sutherland, Robert L., Biddle, Barry D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins; Gary E
• Application Number:
  US11/767,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20070295796A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• Field of Search: 229/120.09, 229/120.011, 229/235, 229/240, 229/242, 206/427
• US Class Current: 229/240
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00141 glued
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00567 defining a narrow removable strip
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/0066 formed from one single sheet
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00728 the end walls being closed by gluing
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00864 Lines of weakness for separating into subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/5253 Containers initially closed but folded about a central axis to display the contents in two or more cells
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 71/36 having a tubular shape, e.g. tubular wrappers, with end walls

Abstract

A carton can be placed in a dispensing configuration by separating the carton into dispenser sections. The dispenser sections may be connected by a hinge that allows the sections to stand side-by-side.

Claims

1. A method of dispensing generally cylindrical containers from a carton, comprising:

obtaining a substantially parallelepipedal carton formed from a blank comprising a first side panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the first side panel, a third side panel foldably connected to the second side panel, a fourth side panel foldably connected to the third side panel, and a fifth side panel foldably connected to the fourth side panel, a first plurality of end flaps foldably connected along a first marginal area of the blank, a second plurality of end flaps foldably connected along a second marginal area of the blank, a tear pattern extending in at least the first, second, third, and fifth side panels, and a hinge extending in at least the fourth side panel, the tear pattern comprising a first tear feature in the third side panel and a second tear feature in the fifth side panel and the hinge extending from respective ends of the first and second tear features, the carton having four sides formed from the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth side panels, a first end comprised of the first plurality of end flaps, and a second end comprised of the second plurality of end flaps, the first tear feature is an enlarged tear feature, wherein at least a portion of the enlarged tear feature is wider than the remainder of the tear pattern;

obtaining a plurality of generally cylindrical containers accommodated in the carton in at least two rows and at least two columns, each generally cylindrical container having a longitudinal axis, a container side, a first container end and a second container end;

separating the carton at least three of the sides into a first dispenser section and a second dispenser section so that the two dispenser sections remain hingedly attached in side-by-side configuration, wherein

the first dispenser section accommodates a first plurality of the plurality of generally cylindrical containers and has a first open top through which the first plurality of containers can be dispensed, the first open top being at a top end of the first dispenser section opposite to the first end of the carton,

the second dispenser section accommodates a second plurality of the plurality of generally cylindrical containers and has a second open top through which the second plurality of containers can be dispensed, the second open top being at a second top end of the second dispenser section opposite to the second end of the carton,

substantially all of the containers in a bottom column of the first plurality of containers rest on their sides on the first end of the carton, and

substantially all of the containers in a bottom column of the second plurality of containers rest on their sides on the second end of the carton; and

removing at least one of the first plurality of generally cylindrical beverage containers from the first dispenser section.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein separating the carton into the dispenser sections comprises tearing the tear pattern along the three sides of the carton.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the number of containers in the first plurality of containers is equal to the number of containers in the second plurality of containers.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of containers comprises at least eight containers arranged in at least two rows and at least four columns.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of containers comprises at least six containers arranged in at least three rows and at least two columns.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

pivoting the dispenser sections about the hinge connecting the first and second dispenser sections to place the first and second dispenser sections in a side-by-side configuration.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the hinge extends across one of the four sides, dividing the side into a first portion and a second portion, and wherein said pivoting step places the first portion in face-to-face contact with the second portion.

8. The method of claim 1, the enlarged tear feature being shaped differently than a remainder of the tear pattern.

9. The method of claim 8, the enlarged tear feature being defined by curved tear lines and the remainder of the tear pattern being defined by generally straight tear lines.

10. The method of claim 1, the tear pattern further comprising a third tear feature extending in at least the first and second side panels.

11. The method of claim 1, the tear pattern comprising a tear strip.