Carton with handle and dispenser

• US 9,376,244 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2015
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC (Graphic Packaging International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Kastanek, Raymond S., Baldino, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): DEMEREE, CHRISTOPHER R
• Application Number:
  US14/619,416
• Publication Number:
  US 20150151889A1
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 229/243, 493/121
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/26 Folding sheets, blanks or webs
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/86 Forming integral handles; Attaching separate handles
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 69/00 Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00141 glued
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00469 Straps made between two handholes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00524 integral
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00549 consisting of fold lines
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00574 whereby contents can still be carried after the line has been torn
• 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 5/40 specially constructed to contain liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4608 Handgrip holes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/703 the score-lines or incisions extending in the body of the tubular container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 71/32 formed by finger-holes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 71/34 characterised by weakened lines or other opening devices
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 71/36 having a tubular shape, e.g. tubular wrappers, with end walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/18 providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient with thermal insulation B65D81/38; ice-boxes with cooling means F25D

Abstract

A carton for containing a plurality of articles. The carton comprises a top panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and a bottom panel. End flaps can be respectively foldably connected to respective panels and at least partially overlapped with respect to one another to thereby at least partially form a closed end of the carton. A dispenser panel can be at least partially defined by a dispenser tear line extending in at least the top panel and at least one of the end flaps. An opening section can be at least partially defined by the dispenser tear line and can be foldably connected to one of the first side panel and the second side panel. The dispenser panel is at least partially removable from the carton to create a dispenser opening, and the opening section is positionable relative the first side panel to expand the dispenser opening.

Claims

1. A carton for containing a plurality of articles, the carton comprising:

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

end flaps respectively foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, the end flaps being at least partially overlapped with respect to one another and thereby at least partially form a closed end of the carton;

a handle in the top panel, the handle comprising a handle panel for grasping and carrying the carton;

a dispenser comprising a dispenser panel being at least partially defined by a dispenser tear line extending in at least the top panel and at least one of the end flaps, the dispenser panel comprising at least a portion of the top panel and including the handle panel, the dispenser panel is at least partially removable from the carton to create a dispenser opening; and

an opening section at least partially defined by the dispenser tear line in the top panel and foldably connected to one of the first side panel and the second side panel, the opening section is positionable relative the one of the first side panel and the second side panel to expand the dispenser opening;

wherein at least a portion of the dispenser panel is connected to the opening section along the dispenser tear line, and the opening section and the dispenser panel are at least partially separable from one another along the dispenser tear line, and

wherein the top panel comprises an aperture extending adjacent the handle panel, the aperture is disposed in the dispenser panel, and the aperture is spaced apart from the dispenser tear line.

2. The carton of claim 1, wherein the end flaps comprise at least a top end flap foldably connected to the top panel, the dispenser tear line comprising a first portion extending in the top panel and a second portion extending in the top end flap from an end of the first portion, the dispenser panel being separable from the opening section along at least a portion of the first portion of the dispenser tear line.

3. The carton of claim 1, wherein:

the top panel is a first top panel, the dispenser panel is a first dispenser panel, and the dispenser tear line is a first dispenser tear line;

the carton comprises a second top panel;

the dispenser further comprises a second dispenser panel, the second dispenser panel being at least partially defined by a second dispenser tear line extending in at least the second top panel; and

the second dispenser panel at least partially overlaps the first dispenser panel to form an overlapped dispenser panel.

4. The carton of claim 1, wherein an entirety of the opening section is spaced apart from the aperture in the top panel.

5. A carton for containing a plurality of articles, the carton comprising:

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

end flaps respectively foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, the end flaps being at least partially overlapped with respect to one another and thereby at least partially form a closed end of the carton;

a handle comprising a first handle panel in the first top panel and a second handle panel in the second top panel for grasping and carrying the carton, the first handle panel and the second handle panel being overlapped to form the handle;

a dispenser comprising a first dispenser panel and a second dispenser panel, the first dispenser panel being at least partially defined by a first dispenser tear line extending in at least the first top panel and at least one of the end flaps, the first dispenser panel comprising at least a portion of the first top panel and including the first handle panel, the second dispenser panel being at least partially defined by a second dispenser tear line extending in at least the second top panel, wherein the second dispenser panel at least partially overlaps the first dispenser panel to form an overlapped dispenser panel, and the overlapped dispenser panel is at least partially removable from the carton to create a dispenser opening; and

an opening section at least partially defined by the first dispenser tear line in the first top panel and foldably connected to one of the first side panel and the second side panel, the opening section is positionable relative the one of the first side panel and the second side panel to expand the dispenser opening;

wherein the first handle panel is in the first dispenser panel, the second handle panel is in the second dispenser panel, and the overlapped dispenser panel comprises the first handle panel and the second handle panel.

6. The carton of claim 5, wherein the first handle panel comprises a first gripping portion, and the second handle panel comprises a second gripping portion, the first gripping portion at least partially overlaps the second gripping portion to form the handle.

7. The carton of claim 5, wherein the opening section is a first opening section, the first opening section being foldably connected to the first side panel along a first fold line, and the dispenser further comprises a second opening section that is at least partially defined by the second dispenser tear line and is foldably connected to the second side panel along a second fold line.

8. The carton of claim 7, wherein:

the end flaps comprise at least a first top end flap foldably connected to the first top panel and a second top end flap foldably connected to the second top panel;

the first dispenser tear line comprises a first portion extending in the first top panel and a second portion extending in the first top end flap from an end of the first portion, the first dispenser panel being separable from the first opening section along at least a portion of the first portion of the first dispenser tear line; and

the second dispenser tear line comprises a third portion extending in the second top panel and a fourth portion extending in the second top end flap from an end of the third portion, the second dispenser panel being separable from the second opening section along at least a portion of the third portion of the second dispenser tear line.

9. The carton of claim 8, wherein the first opening section is further defined by a first end tear line and a second end tear line each extending in the first top end flap, the first end tear line extending from the first dispenser tear line and the second end tear line extending from the first end tear line, and the second opening section is further defined by a third end tear line and a fourth end tear line each extending in the second top end flap, the third end tear line extending from the second dispenser tear line and the fourth end tear line extending from the third end tear line.

10. The carton of claim 8, wherein:

the second portion of the first dispenser tear line is arcuate and extends to a first edge of the first top end flap, and the fourth portion of the second dispenser tear line is arcuate and extends to a second edge of the second top end flap; and

the second top end flap at least partially overlaps the first top end flap, and the second portion of the first dispenser tear line at least partially overlaps the fourth portion of the second dispenser tear line.

11. The carton of claim 8, wherein:

the end flaps comprise at least a first top end flap foldably connected to the first top panel and a second top end flap foldably connected to the second top panel; and

the bottom end flap at least partially overlaps and is adhered to the first top end flap and the second top end flap.

12. A blank for forming a carton, the blank comprising:

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

end flaps respectively foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, the end flaps are for being at least partially overlapped with respect to one another to at least partially form a closed end of the carton formed from the blank;

handle features in the top panel, the handle features comprising a handle panel for grasping and carrying the carton formed from the blank;

dispenser features for forming a dispenser in the carton formed from the blank, the dispenser features comprising a dispenser panel being at least partially defined by a dispenser tear line extending in at least the top panel and at least one of the end flaps, the dispenser panel comprising at least a portion of the top panel and including the handle panel, the dispenser panel is at least partially removable from the carton formed from the blank to create a dispenser opening; and

opening features comprising an opening section at least partially defined by the dispenser tear line in the top panel and foldably connected to one of the first side panel and the second side panel, the opening section is positionable relative the one of the first side panel and the second side panel to expand the dispenser opening in the carton formed from the blank;

wherein at least a portion of the dispenser panel is connected to the opening section along the dispenser tear line, and the opening section and the dispenser panel are at least partially separable from one another along the dispenser tear line, and

wherein the top panel comprises an aperture extending adjacent the handle panel, the aperture is disposed in the dispenser panel, and the aperture is spaced apart from the dispenser tear line.

13. The blank of claim 12, wherein the end flaps comprise at least a top end flap foldably connected to the top panel, the dispenser tear line comprising a first portion extending in the top panel and a second portion extending in the top end flap from an end of the first portion, the dispenser panel being separable from the opening section along at least a portion of the first portion of the dispenser tear line.

14. The blank of claim 12, wherein:

the top panel is a first top panel, the dispenser panel is a first dispenser panel, and the dispenser tear line is a first dispenser tear line;

the carton comprises a second top panel;

the dispenser further comprises a second dispenser panel, the second dispenser panel being at least partially defined by a second dispenser tear line extending in at least the second top panel; and

the second dispenser panel is for being at least partially overlapped with the first dispenser panel to form an overlapped dispenser panel in the carton formed from the blank.

15. The blank of claim 12, wherein an entirety of the opening section is spaced apart from the aperture in the top panel.

16. A blank for forming a carton, the blank comprising:

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

end flaps respectively foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, the end flaps are for being at least partially overlapped with respect to one another to at least partially form a closed end of the carton formed from the blank;

handle features comprising a first handle panel in the first top panel and a second handle panel in the second top panel for grasping and carrying the carton formed from the blank, the first handle panel and the second handle panel being overlapped to form a handle in the carton formed from the blank;

dispenser features for forming a dispenser in the carton formed from the blank, the dispenser features comprising a first dispenser panel and a second dispenser panel, the first dispenser panel being at least partially defined by a first dispenser tear line extending in at least the first top panel and at least one of the end flaps, the first dispenser panel comprising at least a portion of the first top panel and including the first handle panel, the second dispenser panel being at least partially defined by a second dispenser tear line extending in at least the second top panel, wherein the second dispenser panel is for being at least partially overlapped with the first dispenser panel to form an overlapped dispenser panel in the carton formed from the blank, and the overlapped dispenser panel is for being at least partially removable from the carton formed from the blank to create a dispenser opening; and

opening features comprising an opening section at least partially defined by the first dispenser tear line in the first top panel and foldably connected to one of the first side panel and the second side panel, the opening section is positionable relative the one of the first side panel and the second side panel to expand the dispenser opening in the carton formed from the blank;

wherein the first handle panel is in the first dispenser panel, the second handle panel is in the second dispenser panel, and the overlapped dispenser panel comprises the first handle panel and the second handle panel.

17. The blank of claim 16, wherein the first dispenser panel and the second dispenser panel are configured to form the overlapped dispenser panel that is generally oval-shaped.

18. The blank of claim 16, wherein the first handle panel comprises a first gripping portion, and the second handle panel comprises a second gripping portion, the first gripping portion at least partially overlaps the second gripping portion to form the handle in the carton formed from the blank.

19. The blank of claim 18, wherein:

the end flaps comprise at least a first top end flap foldably connected to the first top panel and a second top end flap foldably connected to the second top panel; and

the bottom end flap at least partially overlaps and is adhered to the first top end flap and the second top end flap in the carton formed from the blank.

20. The blank of claim 16, wherein the opening section is a first opening section, the first opening section being foldably connected to the first side panel along a first fold line, and the dispenser further comprises a second opening section that is at least partially defined by the second dispenser tear line and is foldably connected to the second side panel along a second fold line.

21. The blank of claim 20, wherein:

the end flaps comprise at least a first top end flap foldably connected to the first top panel and a second top end flap foldably connected to the second top panel;

the first dispenser tear line comprises a first portion extending in the first top panel and a second portion extending in the first top end flap from an end of the first portion, the first dispenser panel being separable from the first opening section along at least a portion of the first portion of the first dispenser tear line; and

the second dispenser tear line comprises a third portion extending in the second top panel and a fourth portion extending in the second top end flap from an end of the third portion, the second dispenser panel being separable from the second opening section along at least a portion of the third portion of the second dispenser tear line.

22. The blank of claim 21, wherein the first opening section is further defined by a first end tear line and a second end tear line each extending in the first top end flap, the first end tear line extending from the first dispenser tear line and the second end tear line extending from the first end tear line, and the second opening section is further defined by a third end tear line and a fourth end tear line each extending in the second top end flap, the third end tear line extending from the second dispenser tear line and the fourth end tear line extending from the third end tear line.

23. The blank of claim 21, wherein:

the second portion of the first dispenser tear line is arcuate and extends to a first edge of the first top end flap, and the fourth portion of the second dispenser tear line is arcuate and extends to a second edge of the second top end flap; and

the second top end flap at least partially overlaps the first top end flap in the carton formed from the blank, and the second portion of the first dispenser tear line at least partially overlaps the fourth portion of the second dispenser tear line in the carton formed from the blank.

24. A method of forming a carton comprising:

obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and a bottom panel, end flaps respectively foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, handle features in the top panel comprising a handle panel, and dispenser features comprising a dispenser panel being at least partially defined by a dispenser tear line extending in at least the top panel and at least one of the end flaps, the dispenser panel comprising at least a portion of the top panel and including the handle panel, and opening features comprising an opening section at least partially defined by the dispenser tear line in the top panel and foldably connected to one of the first side panel and the second side panel, wherein at least a portion of the dispenser panel is connected to the opening section along the dispenser tear line, the top panel comprises an aperture extending adjacent the handle panel, the aperture is disposed in the dispenser panel, and the aperture is spaced apart from the dispenser tear line;

forming an interior of the carton at least partially defined by the plurality of panels, the forming the interior of the carton comprising forming an open-ended sleeve;

positioning the end flaps to be at least partially overlapped with respect to one another to at least partially close an end of the open-ended sleeve and form a closed end of the carton; and

at least partially separating the dispenser panel at the dispenser tear line to at least partially remove the dispenser panel to create a dispenser opening, the at least partially separating the dispenser panel comprising at least partially separating the opening section and the dispenser panel from one another along the dispenser tear line.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising expanding the dispenser opening by pivoting the opening section relative to the one of the first side panel and the second side panel.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the handle panel is at least partially removed with the dispenser panel to create the dispenser opening.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the dispenser panel is completely removed from the carton to create the dispenser opening.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the end flaps comprise at least a top end flap foldably connected to the top panel, the dispenser tear line comprising a first portion extending in the top panel and a second portion extending in the top end flap from an end of the first portion.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein:

the top panel is a first top panel, the dispenser panel is a first dispenser panel, and the dispenser tear line is a first dispenser tear line;

the carton comprises a second top panel;

the dispenser further comprises a second dispenser panel, the second dispenser panel being at least partially defined by a second dispenser tear line extending in at least the second top panel; and

the method comprises at least partially overlapping the second dispenser panel and the first dispenser panel to form an overlapped dispenser panel.

30. The blank of claim 24, wherein an entirety of the opening section is spaced apart from the aperture in the top panel.

31. A method of forming a carton comprising:

obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a first top panel, a second top panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and a bottom panel, end flaps respectively foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, handle features comprising a first handle panel in the first top panel and a second handle panel in the second top panel, dispenser features comprising a first dispenser panel and a second dispenser panel, the first dispenser panel being at least partially defined by a first dispenser tear line extending in at least the first top panel and at least one of the end flaps, the first dispenser panel comprising at least a portion of the first top panel and including the first handle panel, the second dispenser panel being at least partially defined by a second dispenser tear line extending in at least the second top panel, and opening features comprising an opening section at least partially defined by the first dispenser tear line in the first top panel and foldably connected to one of the first side panel and the second side panel;

forming an interior of the carton at least partially defined by the plurality of panels, the forming the interior of the carton comprising forming an open-ended sleeve, at least partially overlapping the second dispenser panel and the first dispenser panel to form an overlapped dispenser panel, and overlapping the first handle panel and the second handle panel to form a handle, wherein the first handle panel is in the first dispenser panel, the second handle panel is in the second dispenser panel, and the overlapped dispenser panel comprises the first handle panel and the second handle panel;

positioning the end flaps to be at least partially overlapped with respect to one another to at least partially close an end of the open-ended sleeve and form a closed end of the carton; and

at least partially separating the overlapped dispenser panel at the first dispenser tear line and the second dispenser tear line to at least partially remove the overlapped dispenser panel to create a dispenser opening.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the overlapped dispenser panel formed by overlapping the first dispenser panel and the second dispenser panel is generally oval-shaped.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the first handle panel comprises a first gripping portion, and the second handle panel comprises a second gripping portion, the method comprises overlapping the first gripping portion and the second gripping portion to form the handle.