Can dispensing package
View Patent ↗The carton is provided for carrying cylindrical containers, such as cans in three or more layers and having open ends at the top and bottom of each end of the carton. A dispenser flap is formed by zigzag tear lines in the exiting end of the carton. The carton is constructed so that the ends of a can adjacent the exiting end of the carton are exposed and can be grasped by a person pulling the can forward or up and commencing the tear line forming the flap. Preferable this tear line is of a zigzag configuration, or step format with interruptions in the riser. Cut tear lines in the step permit the controlled tearing of the tear line.
1. A blank for forming a carton, comprising:
a top panel;
a bottom side panel foldably connected to the top panel;
a top side panel foldably connected to the top panel;
at least one bottom flap;
at least one end flap extending along a first marginal area of the blank;
a first exiting end flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel and extending along a second marginal area of the blank; and
a second exiting end flap foldably connected to the top side panel and extending along the second marginal area of the blank, wherein
a side edge of the first exiting end flap extends to a first curved end edge of the bottom side panel, the first curved end edge extends concavely from the first exiting end flap to an exiting end edge of the top panel.
2. The blank of claim 1 , wherein:
a side edge of the second exiting end flap extends to a first curved end edge of the top side panel; and
the first curved end edge of the top side panel extends to the exiting end edge of the top panel.
3. The blank of claim 2 , wherein the at least one end flap comprises:
a first end flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel; and
a second end flap foldably connected to the top side panel.
4. The blank of claim 3 , wherein the end edge of the top panel is free of flaps.
5. The blank of claim 1 , wherein:
a side edge of the first end flap extends to a second curved end edge of the bottom side panel; and
the second curved end edge of the bottom side panel extends to an end edge of the top panel.
6. The blank of claim 5 , wherein:
a side edge of the second end flap extends to a second curved end edge of the top side panel; and
the second curved end edge of the top side panel extends to the end edge of the top panel.
7. The blank of claim 6 , wherein third and fourth curved end edges of the bottom side panel extend to the at least one bottom flap.
8. The blank of claim 6 , wherein:
the at least one bottom flap comprises a first bottom flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel, and a second bottom flap foldably connected to the top side panel;
third and fourth curved end edges of the bottom side panel extend to the first bottom flap; and
third and fourth curved end edges of the top side panel connect to the second bottom flap.
9. The blank of claim 1 , wherein the first exiting end flap is foldably connected to the bottom side panel at two substantially parallel fold lines.
10. The blank of claim 9 , wherein the first exiting end flap is foldably connected to the bottom side panel at two substantially parallel fold lines.
11. The blank of claim 1 , wherein an exiting end edge of the top panel is free of flaps.
12. The blank of claim 1 , wherein the exiting end edge of the top panel is free of flaps.
13. A method of enclosing containers within a carton, comprising:
providing a blank according to claim 1 ;
enclosing a plurality of containers within the blank; and
adhering at least one flap of the blank so that the blank forms a substantially parallelepipedal structure, to form a carton wherein
a corner of the carton at least partially defined by the first curved end edge of the bottom side panel and the exiting end edge of the top panel is open, and
a container adjacent to the corner is accessible by hand through the open corner.
14. A blank for forming a carton, comprising:
a top panel;
a bottom side panel foldably connected to the top panel;
a top side panel foldably connected to the top panel;
at least one bottom flap;
at least one end flap extending along a first marginal area of the blank;
a first exiting end flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel and extending along a
second marginal area of the blank;
a second exiting end flap foldably connected to the top side panel and extending along the second marginal area of the blank; and
a first tear line extending through the first exiting end flap;
wherein a side edge of the first exiting end flap extends to a first curved end edge of the bottom side panel,
the first curved end edge of the bottom side panel extends to an exiting end edge of the top panel.
15. The blank of claim 14 , wherein the first tear line extends into the bottom side panel adjacent to the first curved end edge of the bottom side panel.
16. The blank of claim 15 , further comprising a second tear line extending through the second exiting end flap and into the top side panel to a point adjacent to a first curved end edge of the top side panel.
17. A blank for forming a carton, comprising:
a top panel;
a bottom side panel foldably connected to the top panel;
a top side panel foldably connected to the top panel;
at least one bottom flap;
at least one end flap extending along a first marginal area of the blank;
a first exiting end flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel at substantially parallel fold lines and extending along a second marginal area of the blank;
a second exiting end flap foldably connected to the top side panel and extending along the second marginal area of the blank;
a first tear line extending through the first exiting end flap; and
a second tear line extending through the second exiting end flap, wherein
a side edge of the first exiting end flap extends to a first end edge of the bottom side panel,
the first end edge of the bottom side panel extends to an exiting end edge of the top panel,
a side edge of the second exiting end flap extends to a first end edge of the top side panel, and
the first end edge of the top side panel extends to the exiting end edge of the top panel.
18. The blank of claim 17 , wherein the at least one end flap comprises:
a first end flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel; and
a second end flap foldably connected to the top side panel.
19. The blank of claim 18 , wherein:
a side edge of the first end flap extends to a second end edge of the bottom side panel;
the second end edge of the bottom side panel extends to an end edge of the top panel;
a side edge of the second end flap extends to a second end edge of the top side panel; and
the second end edge of the top side panel extends to the end edge of the top panel.
20. The blank of claim 19 , wherein:
the at least one bottom flap comprises a first bottom flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel and a second bottom flap foldably connected to the top side panel;
third and fourth end edges of the bottom side panel extend to the first bottom flap; and
third and fourth end edges of the top side panel extend to the second bottom flap.
21. The blank of claim 17 , wherein:
the first tear line extends into the bottom side panel adjacent to the first end edge; and
the second tear line extends into the top side panel.
22. The blank of claim 17 , wherein the exiting end edge of the top panel is free of flaps.
23. A method of enclosing containers within a carton, comprising:
providing a blank according to claim 17 ;
enclosing a plurality of containers within the blank; and
adhering at least one flap of the blank so that the blank forms a substantially parallelepipedal structure, wherein
a first corner of the carton is at least partially defined by the first end edge of the bottom side panel, the first end edge of the top side panel, and the exiting end edge of the top panel,
the first corner is open, and
a container adjacent to the first corner is accessible by hand through the open first corner.
24. A blank for forming a carton, comprising:
a top panel;
a bottom side panel foldably connected to the top panel;
a top side panel foldably connected to the top panel;
at least one bottom flap;
at least one end flap extending along a first marginal area of the blank;
a first exiting end flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel and extending along a second marginal area of the blank; and
a second exiting end flap foldably connected to the top side panel and extending along the second marginal area of the blank,
a side edge of the first exiting end flap extends to a first curved end edge of the bottom side panel;
the first curved end edge of the bottom side panel extends concavely to an exiting end edge of the top panel;
a side edge of the second exiting end flap extends to a first curved end edge of the top side panel; and
the first curved end edge of the top side panel extends concavely to the exiting end edge of the top panel
wherein the exiting end edge of the top panel is free of flaps.
25. The blank of claim 24 , wherein the at least one end flap comprises:
a first end flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel; and
a second end flap foldably connected to the top side panel.
26. The blank of claim 25 , wherein:
a side edge of the first end flap extends to a second curved end edge of the bottom side panel;
the second curved end edge of the bottom side panel extends to an end edge of the top panel;
a side edge of the second end flap extends to a second curved end edge of the top side panel; and
the second curved end edge of the top side panel extends to the end edge of the top panel.
27. The blank of claim 26 , wherein:
the at least one bottom flap comprises a first bottom flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel, and a second bottom flap foldably connected to the top side panel;
third and fourth curved end edges of the bottom side panel extend to the first bottom flap; and
third and fourth curved end edges of the top side panel connect to the second bottom flap.
28. A method of enclosing containers within a carton, comprising:
providing a blank according to claim 24 ;
enclosing a plurality of containers within the blank; and
adhering at least one flap of the blank so that the blank forms a substantially parallelepipedal structure, wherein
at least one corner of the carton is open, and
a container adjacent to the corner is accessible by hand through the open corner.
29. A blank for forming a carton, comprising:
a top panel;
a bottom side panel foldably connected to the top panel;
a top side panel foldably connected to the top panel;
at least one bottom flap;
at least one end flap extending along a first marginal area of the blank;
a first exiting end flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel and extending along a second marginal area of the blank;
a second exiting end flap foldably connected to the top side panel and extending along the second marginal area of the blank,
a first tear line extending through the first exiting end flap; and
a second tear line extending through the second exiting end flap
wherein an exiting edge of the top panel is free of flaps.
30. A blank for forming a carton, comprising:
a top panel;
a bottom side panel foldably connected to the top panel;
a top side panel foldably connected to the top panel;
at least one bottom flap;
at least one end flap extending along a first marginal area of the blank;
a first exiting end flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel at substantially parallel fold lines and extending along a second marginal area of the blank;
a second exiting end flap foldably connected to the top side panel and extending along the second marginal area of the blank;
a first tear line extending through the first exiting end flap; and
a second tear line extending through the second exiting end flap.
31. The blank of claim 30 , wherein the at least one end flap comprises:
a first end flap foldably connected to the bottom side panel; and
a second end flap foldably connected to the top side panel.
32. The blank of claim 31 , wherein the first end flap is foldably connected to the bottom side panel at two substantially parallel fold lines.
33. The blank of claim 30 , wherein an exiting end edge of the top panel is free of flaps.
34. The blank of claim 30 , wherein:
a side edge of the first exiting end flap extends to a first curved end edge of the bottom side panel; and
the first curved end edge of the bottom side panel extends to an exiting end edge of the top panel.
35. The blank of claim 34 , wherein:
a side edge of the second exiting end flap extends to a first curved end edge of the top side panel; and
the first curved end edge of the top side panel extends to the exiting end edge of the top panel.
36. The blank of claim 35 , wherein:
a side edge of the first end flap extends to a second curved end edge of the bottom side panel;
the second curved end edge of the bottom side panel extends to an end edge of the top panel;
a side edge of the second end flap extends to a second curved end edge of the top side panel; and
the second curved end edge of the top side panel extends to the end edge of the top panel.
37. The blank of claim 36 , wherein the first tear line extends into the bottom side panel adjacent to the first curved end edge; and
the second tear line extends into the top side panel adjacent the second curved end edge.
38. A method of enclosing containers within a carton, comprising:
providing a blank according to claim 30 ;
enclosing a plurality of containers within the blank; and
adhering at least one flap of the blank so that the blank forms a substantially parallelepipedal structure, wherein
the first and second exiting end flaps form an exiting end of the carton, and the parallel fold lines define a corner of the carton that is out of plane with the exiting end and out of plane with the bottom side panel.