IP Library Patent Application 11272959
Patent Application
App. No. 11/272,959

Cartons having tilt features

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
11/272,959
Abstract

A carton has a dispenser located at an exiting end of the carton. The dispenser can be opened by separating a dispenser flap from the exiting end of the carton, thereby forming a dispenser opening at the exiting end. The dispenser flap is then engaged with a mounting feature at the bottom of the carton to tilt the carton in a manner such that articles are urged toward the exiting end by gravity.

Claims (54)

1 . A method of placing a carton in a tilt configuration, comprising:

providing a carton having a first side panel; a top panel; a second side panel; a bottom panel; an end panel; an exiting end panel; and a dispenser pattern defining a dispenser flap at least in the exiting end panel and in the top panel;

separating the dispenser flap from a remainder of the carton, wherein separating the dispenser flap forms a dispenser opening at least in the exiting end panel and in the top panel; and

engaging the dispenser flap with a mounting feature proximate to the end panel, wherein the dispenser flap provides a nonzero angle of orientation of the carton with respect to horizontal.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the dispenser flap comprises a mounting projection.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein engaging the dispenser flap with the mounting feature comprises inserting the mounting projection in the mounting feature.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the mounting feature comprises a breachable line of disruption at or adjacent to the end panel.

5 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising bending the dispenser flap at the mounting projection before inserting the mounting projection in the mounting feature.

6 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the dispenser flap further comprises a base that extends substantially perpendicularly to the mounting projection, wherein the base abuts a bottom panel of the carton when the carton is in the tilt configuration.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein separating the dispenser flap further forms the dispenser opening in the first and second side panels.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising bending the dispenser flap at the mounting projection before engaging the mounting projection with the mounting feature.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein providing a carton further comprises providing a plurality of articles disposed within the carton.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of articles comprise at least one of generally cylindrical beverage containers and petaloid beverage containers.

11 . A method of placing a carton in a tilt configuration, comprising:

providing a parallelepipedal carton having an exiting end panel comprising a plurality of exiting end flaps and a dispenser pattern defining a dispenser flap at an exiting end of the carton;

separating the dispenser flap from the exiting end of the carton to form a dispenser opening at the exiting end of the carton, the dispenser flap having a mounting projection; and

inserting the mounting projection in a mounting feature at an end of the carton opposite to the exiting end, wherein the dispenser flap provides a nonzero angle of orientation of the carton with respect to horizontal.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising bending the dispenser flap at the mounting projection before inserting the mounting projection in the mounting feature.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the mounting feature comprises a breachable line of disruption at or adjacent to the end panel.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the dispenser flap further comprises a base that extends substantially perpendicularly to the mounting projection, wherein the base abuts a bottom panel of the carton when the carton is in the tilt configuration.

15 . A carton, comprising:

a first side panel;

a second side panel;

a top panel;

a bottom panel;

an end panel;

an exiting end panel that is opposite from the end panel;

a dispenser pattern defining a dispenser flap at least in the exiting end panel and in the top panel; and

a mounting feature at or adjacent to the end panel sized to receive at least a portion of the dispenser flap when the dispenser flap is separated from a remainder of the carton.

16 . The carton of claim 15 , wherein the dispenser flap comprises a mounting projection sized to be received in the mounting feature.

17 . The carton of claim 16 , wherein the dispenser flap further comprises a base that extends substantially perpendicularly to the mounting projection.

18 . The carton of claim 16 , wherein the mounting feature comprises a breachable line of disruption proximate to the end panel.

19 . The carton of claim 16 , wherein the dispenser flap further comprises at least one fold line extending substantially laterally across the exiting end panel.

20 . The carton of claim 15 , wherein the dispenser pattern further defines the dispenser flap in the first and second side panels.

21 . The carton of claim 15 , wherein the exiting end panel comprises a plurality of overlapping exiting end flaps.

22 . The carton of claim 15 , further comprising a handle in the top panel.

23 . The carton of claim 15 , wherein the carton has the shape of a parallelepiped.

24 . In combination, the carton of claim 15 and a plurality of articles disposed within the carton.

25 . The combination of claim 24 , wherein the plurality of articles comprises at least one of generally cylindrical beverage containers and petaloid beverage containers.

26 . A carton blank, comprising:

a first side panel;

a second side panel;

a top panel;

a bottom panel;

at least one exiting end flap extending along a first marginal area of the blank;

at least one end flap extending along a second marginal area of the blank;

a dispenser pattern defining a dispenser flap at least in the at least one exiting end flap, the top panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel; and

a mounting feature at or adjacent to the at least one end flap sized to receive at least a portion of the dispenser flap.

27 . The blank of claim 26 , wherein the at least one exiting end panel comprises a first side exiting end flap connected to the first side panel, and a second side exiting end flap connected to the second side panel, the dispenser pattern extending through the first side exiting end flap and the second side exiting end flap.

28 . The blank of claim 27 , wherein the dispenser pattern comprises:

a first fold line extending generally transversely through first side exiting end flap; and

a second fold line extending generally transversely through the second side exiting end flap.

29 . The blank of claim 26 , wherein the mounting feature comprises a breachable line of disruption in the blank.

30 . The blank of claim 26 , wherein the first side panel, the second side panel, the top panel, and the bottom panel are substantially rectangular.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 21, 2007
From: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 019458/0437 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 13, 2006
From: SPIVEY, SR., RAYMOND RUDOLPH; GOMES, JEAN-MANUEL; HAND, GRAHAM
To: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 017184/0589 →