Carton with an improved dispensing feature

• US 7,100,798 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2004
• Issued: 09/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Spivey, Raymond Rudolph
• Primary Examiner(s): NOLAND, KENNETH W
• Application Number:
  US10/777,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20040159671A1
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 221/305, 221/303, 221/33, 221/256, 229/221, 229/122.1, 206/427, 206/193, 206/141
• US Class Current: 221/305
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/04 Racks or containers with arrangements for dispensing articles , e.g. by means of gravity or springs
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/12 dispensing from the side of an approximately horizontal stack A47F1/087 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/112 hand-folded from sheet material
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00141 glued
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/0045 for hands
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00469 Straps made between two handholes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00549 consisting of fold lines
• 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 2571/0066 formed from one single sheet
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00728 the end walls being closed by gluing
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 71/36 having a tubular shape, e.g. tubular wrappers, with end walls

Abstract

A carton with an improved dispenser at one of the carton which preserves the integrity of the carton when the carton is opened by permitting a bottom end flap attached to the bottom panel to remain in place and also a portion of each side end flap that is adjacent to the bottom end flap. This dispenser may also provide a safety net for the first container that is automatically dispensed when the carton is opened.

Claims

1. An enclosed carton for a plurality of containers in two rows, with a top row and a bottom row, the carton comprising:

a. a top panel, side panels, a bottom panel, and two closed ends, at least one of which is an exiting end;

b. a dispenser adapted to be opened to form an opening at the exiting end through which the containers may be removed, and to catch one or more containers exiting the carton;

c. the dispenser being a unitary structure comprising a portion of the top panel, portions of the side panels, and a portion of the exiting end, said dispenser being detachable along a continuous, perforated line extending across the top panel, the side panels, and the exiting end; and

d. means in the top panel for starting the opening of the dispenser.

2. The carton of claim 1, said dispenser adapted to be hingedly connected to the exiting end after said dispenser is opened.

3. The carton of claim 1, wherein the continuous line comprises a tear line.

4. The carton of claim 1, wherein the means for starting comprises a finger flap.

5. The carton of claim 4, in which the finger flap is positioned along the top panel above and between a first container and a second container in the top row adjacent the exiting end.

6. The carton of claim 1, wherein each end comprises a top end flap, a bottom end flap, and side end flaps, and includes means holding said flaps together.

7. The carton of claim 1, which comprises only two rows of the containers, with each said container in the top row being positioned directly above a corresponding container in the bottom row.

8. The carton of claim 7, wherein the rows include a first container and a second container adjacent to and contacting a first closed end and a third container and a fourth container adjacent to and contacting a second closed end.

9. The carton of claim 8, wherein the first and third containers are arranged in the top row of containers and the second and fourth containers are in the bottom row of containers.

10. An enclosed carton for a plurality of containers in two rows, with a top row and a bottom row, the carton comprising:

a. a top panel, side panels, a bottom panel, and closed ends, at least one of which is an exiting end;

b. a dispenser adapted to be opened and hingedly connected to said exiting end, said dispenser being detachable from the carton to form an opening at the exiting end through which the containers may be removed;

c. the dispenser being a unitary structure comprising a portion of the top panel, portions of the side panels, and a portion of the exiting end, said dispenser being removable along a continuous line extending across the top panel, the side panels, and the exiting end; and

d. means in the top panel for facilitating detachment of the dispenser.

11. The carton of claim 10, wherein the continuous line comprises a tear line.

12. The carton of claim 10, wherein the means for facilitating comprises a finger flap.

13. The carton of claim 12, in which the finger flap is located between a first container and a second container in the top row.

14. The carton of claim 10, which comprises only two rows of the containers, with each said container in the top row being positioned directly above a corresponding container in the bottom row.

15. The carton of claim 14, wherein the rows include a first container and a second container adjacent to and contacting a first closed end and a third container and a fourth container adjacent to and contacting a second closed end.

16. The carton of claim 15, wherein the first and third containers are arranged in the upper row of containers and the second and fourth containers are in the lower row of containers.

17. A blank for forming an enclosed carton for a plurality of containers arranged in rows, with a top row and a bottom row, the blank comprising:

a. a sheet of material having parallel fold lines therein, the parallel fold lines defining areas of the sheet corresponding to a top, two sides and a bottom of the carton;

b. at one end of the parallel fold lines, a transverse fold line substantially perpendicular to the parallel fold lines, and a side end flap connected by the transverse fold line to each of the areas corresponding to the two sides;

c. a tear line extending across the areas corresponding to the top and the two sides and continuing to the transverse fold line, and then from the transverse fold line across each of the side end flaps;

d. means adjacent the tear line in the area corresponding to the top for facilitating the tearing of at least a portion of said tear line; and

e. the tear line defining a unitary container dispenser and with the tear line being continuous across the side end flaps, the top and the two sides when the blank is formed into the enclosed carton.

18. The blank of claim 17, wherein the means for facilitating comprises a finger flap.

19. The blank of claim 18, wherein the finger flap is positioned to be located between a first container and a second container in the top row when the carton is assembled and the containers are arranged in rows.

20. The blank of claim 17, wherein a first side area comprises first and second parallel fold lines defining a first panel, a bottom area comprises the second parallel fold line and a third parallel fold line defining a second panel, an other side area comprises the third parallel fold line and a fourth parallel fold line defining a third panel, and a top area comprises two top flaps, one top flap being connected to the first panel at the first parallel fold line, and the other top flap being connected to the third panel at the fourth parallel fold line.

21. The blank of claim 20, wherein the tear line extends across each of the top flaps, such that when the carton is formed from the blank, a single tear line will be formed across the top of the carton.

22. The method of forming the blank of claim 20, into a carton, comprising the steps of:

a. attaching the top flaps together to form a sleeve;

b. loading the containers into the sleeve; and

c. closing both ends of the sleeve.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the containers are loaded into the sleeve on their sides, to form the top row and the bottom row, with each said container in the top row being positioned directly above a corresponding container in the bottom row.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the rows include a first container and a second container adjacent to and contacting a first closed end and a third container and a fourth container adjacent to and contacting a second closed end.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the first and third containers are in the top row and the second and fourth containers are in the bottom row.

26. The blank of claim 17, wherein a first side area comprises first and second parallel fold lines defining a first panel, a top area comprises the second parallel fold line and a third parallel fold line defining a second panel, an other side area comprises the third parallel fold line and a fourth parallel fold line defining a third panel, and a bottom area comprises two bottom flaps, one bottom flap being connected to the first panel at the first parallel fold line, and the other bottom flap being connected to the third panel at the fourth parallel fold line.

27. The method of forming the blank of claim 26, into a carton, comprising the steps of:

a. attaching the bottom flaps together to form a sleeve;

b. loading the containers into the sleeve; and

c. closing both ends of the sleeve.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the containers are loaded into the sleeve on their sides, to form the top row and the bottom row, with each said container in the top row being positioned directly above a corresponding container in the bottom row.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the rows include a first container and a second container adjacent to and contacting a first closed end, and a third container and a fourth container adjacent to and contacting a second closed end.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the first and third containers are arranged in the top row of containers and the second and fourth containers are in the bottom row of containers.

31. A blank for forming an enclosed carton for a plurality of containers in two rows, with a top row and a bottom row, the blank comprising:

a. a first top flap connected to one edge of a first side panel by a first fold line, a bottom panel connected at one edge to the opposite edge of the first side panel by a second fold line, a second side panel connected at one edge to the opposite edge of the bottom panel by a third fold line, and a second top flap connected to the opposite edge of the second side panel by a fourth fold line;

b. a first side end flap having a free end and being joined to one end of the first side panel by a fifth fold line, and a second side end flap joined to the corresponding end of the second side panel by a sixth fold line;

c. a tear line in the first top flap extending to the first fold line, across the first side panel to the first point on the fifth fold line, and then across the first side end flap from the first point to the free end of the first side end flap;

d. a tear line in the second top flap extending to the fourth fold line, across the second side panel to a second point on the sixth fold line, then across the second side end flap from the second point to the free end of the second side end flap;

e. means in the first and second top flaps for facilitating the tearing of at least a portion of the tear lines in those flaps; and

f. the tear lines defining a unitary container dispenser when the enclosed carton is formed from the blank, with the portions of the tear lines adjacent the free ends of the side end flaps forming a continuous tear line across the side end flaps.

32. The blank of claim 31, wherein the tear line extending across the first side panel extends at least partially diagonally toward the first side end flap, and the tear line extending across the second side panel extends at least partially diagonally toward the second side end flap, so that the tear lines define substantially triangular sections in both the first side panel and in the second side panel, respectively.

33. The blank of claim 31, wherein the means for facilitating comprises a finger flap.

34. The blank of claim 33, wherein the finger flap is between a first container and a second container in the top row when the carton is assembled and the containers are arranged in rows.

35. The blank of claim 31, including a bottom end flap joined to the corresponding end of the bottom panel adjacent the first and second side end flaps by a seventh fold line.

36. The blank of claim 35, including top end flaps joined to each end of each of the first and second top flaps by fold lines, a first side panel end flap joined to the end of the first side panel by a first side panel fold line, a second side panel end flap joined to the end of the second side panel by a second side panel fold line, and a bottom end flap joined to the end of the bottom panel by a bottom panel fold line.

37. The method of forming the blank of claim 36 into a carton, comprising the steps of:

a. attaching the first and second top flaps together to form a sleeve;

b. loading the containers into the sleeve; and

c. attaching together the top end flaps, the first side panel end flap, the second side panel end flap, and the bottom end flap at each end of the sleeve.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the containers are loaded into the sleeve on their sides to form the top row and the bottom row, with each said container in the top row being positioned directly above a corresponding container in the bottom row.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the rows of containers include a first container and a second container adjacent to and contacting a first closed end and a third container and a fourth container adjacent to and contacting a second closed end.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the first and third containers are arranged in the top row of containers and the second and fourth containers are in the bottom row of containers.

41. A blank for forming an enclosed carton for a plurality of containers arranged in rows, with a top row and a bottom row, the blank comprising:

a. a first bottom flap connected to one edge of a first side panel by a first fold line, a top panel connected at one edge to the opposite edge of the first side panel by a second fold line, a second side panel connected at one edge to the opposite edge of the top panel by a third fold line, and a second bottom flap connected to the opposite edge of the second side panel by a fourth fold line;

b. a first side end flap having a free end and being connected to an end of the first side panel by a fifth fold line, and a second side end flap having a free end and being connected to the corresponding end of the second side panel by a sixth fold line;

c. a first bottom end flap connected to the corresponding end of the first bottom flap adjacent the first side end flap by a seventh fold line, and a second bottom end flap connected to the corresponding end of the second bottom flap adjacent the second side end flap by an eighth fold line;

d. a tear line extending across the top panel between the second and third fold lines, across the first side panel from the second fold line to a first point on the fifth fold line, across the second side panel from the third fold line to a second point on the sixth fold line, across the first side end flap from the first point to the free end of the first side end flap, and across the second side end flap from the second point to the free end of the second side end flap;

e. the tear line defining a unitary container dispenser when the enclosed carton is formed from the blank, with the portions of the tear line adjacent the free ends of the first and the second side end flaps forming a single tear line across the side end flaps and the portions of the tear lines across the first and second side end flaps forming a hinge line for the dispenser.

42. The blank of claim 41, wherein the tear line extends at least partially diagonally across the first side panel toward the first side end flap, and the tear line extending across the second side panel extends at least partially diagonally toward the second side end flap, so that the tear line defines a substantially triangular section in both the first side panel and in the second side panel.

43. The blank of claim 41, wherein a substantial portion of the tear line across the first side panel and across the second side panel extends diagonally from a point adjacent said top panel to a point adjacent the first side end flap and the second side end flap, respectively.

44. The blank of claim 41, and means defined in the top panel for facilitating the detachment of the dispenser.

45. The blank of claim 44, wherein the means for facilitating comprises a finger flap.

46. The blank of claim 45, wherein the finger flap is between a first container and a second container in the top row when the carton is assembled and the containers are arranged in rows.

47. The blank of claim 41, including top end flaps joined to each end of the top panel by fold lines, a first side panel end flap joined to the end of the first side panel by a first side panel fold line, a second side panel end flap joined to the end of the second side panel by a second side panel fold line, and bottom end flaps joined to the ends of the first and second bottom flaps by bottom panel fold lines.

48. The method of forming the blank of claim 47 into a carton, comprising the steps of:

a. attaching the bottom flaps together to form a sleeve;

b. loading the containers into the sleeve; and

c. closing both ends of the sleeve.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the containers are loaded into the sleeve on their sides in the top row and in the bottom row, with each said container in the top row positioned directly above a corresponding container in the bottom row.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the rows of containers include a first container and a second container adjacent to and contacting a first closed end and a third container and a fourth container adjacent to and contacting a second closed end.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the first and third containers are in the top row of containers and the second and fourth containers are in the bottom row of containers.

52. A method of opening an enclosed carton containing a plurality of containers in rows, including at least a top row and a bottom row, the carton having (i) a top panel, side panels, a bottom panel, and closed ends, at least one of which is an exiting end, and (ii) a dispenser which is a unitary structure comprising a portion of the top panel, portions of the side panels, and the upper portion of the exiting end, said dispenser being defined by a tear line extending across the top panel, the side panels, and the exiting end, the carton including means for facilitating opening of the dispenser located at the portion of the tear line which extends across the top panel, the method comprising the steps of:

a. tearing a portion of the tear line extending across the top panel; and

b. opening the dispenser in a direction away from the containers so that the portions of the tear line that extend across the top panel and the side panels are torn to allow the dispenser to remain attached and form a basket at the exiting end of the carton.

53. The method of claim 52, including the step of continuing the opening of the dispenser until the portion of the tear line extending across the exiting end is completely detached from the carton.

54. An enclosed carton for a plurality of containers in two rows, with a top row and a bottom row, the carton comprising:

a. a top panel, side panels, a bottom panel, and closed ends, at least one of which is an exiting end;

b. a dispenser which is detachable from the carton to form an opening at the exiting end through which the containers may be removed;

c. the dispenser being a unitary structure comprising a portion of the top panel, portions of the side panels, and a portion of the exiting end, said dispenser being defined by a perforated line comprising a tear line extending across the top panel, the side panels, and the exiting end; and

d. wherein a portion of said line extending across said exiting end forms a hinge line that allows the dispenser to be pivoted to an open position and form a basket at the exiting end of the carton.

55. The carton of claim 54, including means in the top panel for facilitating the opening of the dispenser, whereby opening of the dispenser is started at the top panel.

56. The carton of claim 55, the means for facilitating comprising a finger flap positioned in said top panel approximately between a first container and second container in the top row.

57. The carton of claim 55, which is so dimensioned as to carry only two rows of containers, with each said container in the top row being positioned directly above a corresponding container in the bottom row, whereby the basket will catch an end container in the top row when the dispenser is opened.

58. The carton of claim 57, wherein the rows of containers include a first container and a second container adjacent to and contacting a first closed end and a third container and a fourth container adjacent to and contacting a second closed end.

59. The carton of claim 58, wherein the first and third containers are arranged in the top row of containers and the second and fourth containers are in the bottom row of containers.

60. An enclosed carton for carrying a plurality of containers in only two rows, with a top row and a bottom row, the carton comprising:

a. a top panel, side panels, a bottom panel, and closed ends, at least one of which is an exiting end, each container in the top row positioned directly above and parallel to a corresponding container in the bottom row;

b. a dispenser that is detachable from the carton to form an opening at an exiting end through which the containers may be removed; and

c. the dispenser being a unitary structure comprising a portion of the top panel, portions of the side panels, and a portion of the exiting end, said dispenser being defined by a tear line extending across the top panel, the side panels, and the exiting end, and wherein the dispenser is capable of remaining attached to the carton to form a basket at the exiting end of the carton.

61. The carton of claim 60, wherein the dispenser is capable of remaining attached to the carton by a portion of the tear line which extends across the exiting end.

62. The carton of claim 60, including means in the top panel for facilitating the opening of the dispenser, whereby opening of the dispenser is started at the top panel.

63. The carton of claim 60, wherein the rows of containers include a first container and a second container adjacent to and contacting a first closed end and a third container and a fourth container adjacent to and contacting a second closed end.

64. The carton of claim 63, wherein the first and third containers are arranged in the top row of containers and the second and fourth containers are in the bottom row of containers.

65. The carton of claim 62, the means for facilitating comprising a finger flap located along the tear line extending across the top panel for opening the dispenser along the line.

66. A blank for forming an enclosed carton for a plurality of containers arranged in two rows, with a top row and a bottom row, the blank comprising:

a. a sheet of material having first, second, third and fourth parallel fold lines therein, said parallel fold lines defining areas of the sheet corresponding to a top, two sides and a bottom of the carton;

b. at one end of the parallel fold lines, a transverse fold line substantially perpendicular to the parallel fold lines, and a side end flap connected by the transverse fold line to each of the areas corresponding to the two sides;

c. a line of removal extending across the areas corresponding to the top and then across the two sides in a substantially diagonal path from the top to the transverse fold line, and then from the transverse fold line across each of the side end flaps to their free ends; and

d. the line of removal defining a unitary container dispenser when the enclosed carton is formed from the blank, with the portions of the line of removal adjacent the free ends of the side end flaps being so located that a substantially continuous line of removal will be formed across the side end flaps, the top and the two sides of the carton.

67. The blank of claim 66, wherein the area corresponding to one side comprises a first panel located between the first and second parallel fold lines, the area corresponding to the bottom comprises a second panel located between the second and third parallel fold lines, the area corresponding to the other side comprises a third panel located between the third and fourth parallel fold lines, and the area corresponding to the top comprises two top flaps, one of which is connected to the first panel at the first parallel fold line, and the other of which is connected to the third panel at the fourth parallel fold line.

68. The blank of claim 67, wherein the line of removal extends across each of the top flaps, such that when the carton is formed from the blank, a single line of removal will be formed across the top of the carton.

69. The method of forming the blank of claim 67 into a carton, comprising the steps of:

a. attaching the top flaps together to form a sleeve;

b. loading the containers into the sleeve; and

c. closing both ends of the sleeve.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein the containers are loaded into the sleeve on their sides, to form the top row and the bottom row, with each said container in the top row being positioned directly above a corresponding container in the bottom row.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein the rows of containers include a first container and a second container adjacent to and contacting a first closed end and a third container and a fourth container adjacent to and contacting a second closed end.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein the first and third containers are arranged in the top row of containers and the second and fourth containers are in the bottom row of containers.

73. A blank for forming an enclosed carton for a plurality of containers in two rows, with a top row and a bottom row, the blank comprising:

a. a first top flap connected to one edge of a first side panel by a first fold line, a bottom panel connected at one edge to the opposite edge of the first side panel by a second fold line, a second side panel connected at one edge to the opposite edge of the bottom panel by a third fold line, and a second top flap connected to the opposite edge of the second side panel by a fourth fold line;

b. a first side end flap joined to one end of the first side panel by a fifth fold line, and a second side end flap joined to the corresponding end of the second side panel by a sixth fold line;

c. a tear line in the first top flap extending to the first fold line, across the first side panel to a first point on the fifth fold line, and then across the first side end flap from the first point to a free end of the first side end flap;

d. a tear line in the second top flap extending to the fourth fold line, across the second side panel to a second point on the sixth fold line, then across the second side end flap from the second point to a free end of the second side end flap; and

e. the tear lines defining a unitary container dispenser when the enclosed carton is formed from the blank, with the portions of the tear lines adjacent the free ends of the side end flaps being so located that a single tear line will be formed across the side end flaps.

74. The blank of claim 73, and further comprising a finger flap in the first and second top flaps adjacent the portions of the tear lines which extend across the first and the second top flaps.

75. The method of forming the blank of claim 73 into a carton, wherein the blank has a bottom end flap foldably attached to each end of the bottom panel, comprising the steps of:

a. attaching the first and second top flaps together to form a sleeve;

b. loading the containers into the sleeve; and

c. attaching together the top end flaps, side end flaps and bottom end flap at each end of the sleeve.

76. The method of claim 75, wherein the containers are loaded into the sleeve on their sides, to form the top row and the bottom row, with each said container in the top row being positioned directly above a corresponding container in the bottom row.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein the rows of containers include a first container and a second container adjacent to and contacting a first closed end and a third container and a fourth container adjacent to and contacting a second closed end.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein the first and third containers are arranged in the top row of containers and the second and fourth containers are in the bottom row of containers.

79. A blank for forming an enclosed carton for a plurality of containers in two rows, with a top row and a bottom row, the blank comprising:

a. a first bottom flap connected to one edge of a first side panel by a first fold line, a top panel connected at one edge to the opposite edge of the first side panel by a second fold line, a second side panel connected at one edge to the opposite edge of the top panel by a third fold line, and a second bottom flap connected to the opposite edge of the second side panel by a fourth fold line;

b. a first side end flap joined to one end of the first side panel by a fifth fold line, and a second side end flap joined to the corresponding end of the second side panel by a sixth fold line;

c. a tear line extending across the top panel from the third fold line to the second fold line, across the first side panel to a first point on the fifth fold line, and then across the first side end flap from the first point to a free end of the first side end flap;

d. the tear line further extending from the third fold line, across the second side panel to a second point on the sixth fold line, then across the second side end flap from the second point to a free end of the second side end flap; and

e. the tear line defining a unitary container dispenser when the enclosed carton is formed from the blank.

80. The blank of claim 79, and further comprising a finger flap in the top panel adjacent the portion of the tear line that extends across the top panel.

81. The method of forming the blank of claim 79 into a carton, comprising the steps of:

a. attaching the first and second bottom flaps together to form a sleeve;

b. loading the containers into the sleeve; and

c. attaching together bottom end flaps, which are foldably attached to the ends of the first and second bottom flaps, the side end flaps and the top end flap at each end of the sleeve.

82. The method of claim 81, wherein the containers are loaded into the sleeve on their sides, to form the top row and the bottom row, with each said container in the top row being positioned directly above a corresponding container in the bottom row.

83. The method of claim 82, wherein the rows of containers include a first container and a second container adjacent to and contacting a first closed end and a third container and a fourth container adjacent to and contacting a second closed end.

84. The method of claim 83, wherein the first and third containers are arranged in the top row of containers and the second and fourth containers are in the bottom row of containers.

85. A method of opening an enclosed carton containing a plurality of containers in two rows, including a top row and a bottom row, the carton having (i) a top panel, side panels, a bottom panel, and closed ends, at least one of which is an exiting end, and (ii) a dispenser which is a unitary structure comprising a portion of the top panel, portions of the side panels, an upper portion of the exiting end, said portions being defined by a substantially continuous tear line extending across the top panel, the side panels, and the exiting end, the method comprising the steps of:

a. engaging a portion of the tear line extending along the top panel of the carton; and

b. separating the dispenser from the carton along the tear line across the top panel and the side panels, the dispenser remaining attached to the carton at the exiting end thereby forming a basket at the exiting end of the carton.

86. The method of claim 85, including the step of subsequently removing the dispenser from the carton by detaching the portion of the tear line extending across the exiting end.

87. An enclosed carton for a plurality of containers in only two rows, including a top row and a bottom row, the carton comprising:

a top panel, two side panels, at least one bottom panel, and two closed ends, including an exiting end;

wherein the top panel, the two side panels, and the at least one bottom panel are separated by parallel fold lines;

transverse fold lines at each said closed end;

wherein the transverse fold lines define end flaps for the top panel, the two side panels, and the at least one bottom panel;

a continuous tear line formed at the exiting end in the top panel and continuing through each said side panel flap to define an opening section, said opening section being adapted to be hinged to said carton;

wherein the top row includes a top end container and the bottom row includes a bottom end container and wherein the top end container and the bottom end container contact the exiting end of the enclosed carton.

88. An enclosed carton for a plurality of containers in only two rows, including a top row and a bottom row, the carton comprising:

a top panel, two side panels, at least one bottom panel, and two closed ends, including an exiting end;

wherein the top panel, the two side panels, and the at least one bottom panel are separated by parallel fold lines;

transverse fold lines at each said closed end;

wherein the transverse fold lines define end flaps for the top panel, the two side panels, and the at least one bottom panel;

a continuous tear line defining an opening section that forms a dispensing opening along the top panel of the exiting end to allow access to the containers in the enclosed carton, said opening section being adapted to be hinged to said carton;

wherein the top row includes a top end container and the bottom row includes a bottom end container and wherein the top end container and the bottom end container contact the exiting end of the enclosed carton.

89. An enclosed carton for a plurality of containers in only two rows, including a top row and a bottom row, the carton comprising:

a top panel, two side panels, at least one bottom panel, and two closed ends, including an exiting end;

wherein the top panel, the two side panels, and the at least one bottom panel are separated by parallel fold lines, including two top panel parallel fold lines that separate the top panel from each said side panel;

transverse fold lines spaced from each said closed end;

wherein the transverse fold lines define end flaps for the top panel, the two side panels, and the at least one bottom panel;

a continuous tear line formed at the exiting end and proceeding through the top panel, through each said side panel, and through each said side panel flap to define a dispenser at the exiting end for dispensing one or more containers;

wherein the continuous tear line, each said top panel parallel fold line, and the transverse fold line at the exiting end form substantially triangular shaped areas in each said side panel.

90. A blank for forming an enclosed carton for a plurality of containers in only two rows, the carton comprising:

a top panel, two side panels, at least one bottom panel and two closed ends, including an exiting end;

wherein the top panel, the side panels, and the at least one bottom panel are separated by parallel fold lines;

transverse fold lines spaced from each said closed end;

wherein the transverse fold lines define end flaps for the top panel, the side panels, and the at least one bottom panel;

a tear line that extends through the top panel and the side panels to define a dispenser at the exiting end and for dispensing one or more containers;

wherein the tear line comprises a continuous line of perforations that proceeds through each said side panel in a generally diagonal direction from the top panel toward and into each said side panel end flap.