Carton with an improved dispensing feature
View Patent ↗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.
1. A package comprising:
a plurality of containers in an enclosed carton not adhesively attached to another enclosed carton; the plurality of containers being disposed in two rows, including a top row and a bottom row;
the enclosed carton having:
six sides, the six sides including a first side disposed between a second side and a third side; the first side being adjacent and perpendicular a fourth side, the second side, and the third side; the second side and the third side being parallel; the rows being substantially parallel the first side and the fourth side;
a continuous line extending through the first side, through the second side and third side, and through the fourth side, wherein the line is so located that detachment along at least the portions of the line which extend through the first side, second side, and third side defines (i) a unitary structure that is hinged to the carton along at least a portion of the line extending through the fourth side and that forms a basket for catching containers exiting the carton and (ii) an opening through which containers may be removed; and
means in the first side for facilitating said detachment.
2. The package of claim 1 wherein the continuous line comprises a tear line.
3. The package of claim 2 wherein the carton does not include cut lines for receiving adhesive on the second side or the third side.
4. The package of claim 1 wherein the means for facilitating comprises a finger flap.
5. The package of claim 4 wherein the finger flap is located between a first container and a second container in the top row.
6. The package of claim 1 with only two rows of the containers, with each said container in the top row being positioned directly above a container in the bottom row.
7. The package of claim 6 wherein the container further comprises a fifth side that is adjacent the first side, second side, and third side and that is parallel the fourth side; and wherein the rows include a first container and a second container adjacent and contacting the first side and fourth side and a third container and a fourth container adjacent and contacting the first side and the fifth side.
8. The package of claim 7 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.
9. The package of claim 1 wherein the containers are cylindrical.
10. The package of claim 1 wherein the containers are cans.
11. The package of claim 1 wherein the containers are bottles.
12. The package of claim 1 wherein the basket is removable from the carton along score lines.
13. The package of claim 1 wherein the basket is hingeable along score lines and can be reclosed.
14. An enclosed carton for a plurality of containers in two rows, including a top row and a bottom row, the carton comprising:
six sides, the six sides including a first side disposed between a second side and a third side; the first side being adjacent and perpendicular a fourth side, the second side, and the third side; the second side and the third side being parallel; the rows being substantially parallel the first side and the fourth side;
a continuous line extending through the first side, through the second side and third side, and through the fourth side, wherein the line is so located that detachment along at least the portions of the line which extend through the first side, second side, and third side defines (i) a unitary structure that is hinged to the carton along at least a portion of the line extending through the fourth side and that forms a basket for catching containers exiting the carton and (ii) an opening through which containers may be removed; and
a finger flap in the first side for facilitating said detachment, the finger flap being connected to an insertion flap by a fold line.
15. The carton of claim 14 wherein the finger flap is connected to the first side by a portion of the continuous line.
16. The carton of claim 14 wherein the finger flap and the insertion flap are connected to the unitary structure by a fold line.
17. The carton of claim 14 wherein the finger flap is located between a first container and a second container in the top row.
18. The carton of claim 14 wherein the finger flap and the insertion flap are both connected to the first side by portions of the continuous line.
19. The carton of claim 14 wherein the containers are cylindrical.
20. The carton of claim 14 wherein the containers are cans.
21. The carton of claim 14 wherein the containers are bottles.
22. A method of opening an enclosed carton not adhesively attached to another enclosed carton containing a plurality of containers in two rows, including a top row and a bottom row, the carton having (i) six sides, the six sides including a first side disposed between a second side and a third side; the first side being adjacent and perpendicular a fourth side, the second side, and the third side; the second side and the third side being parallel; the rows being substantially parallel the first side and the fourth side; and (ii) a unitary structure comprising a portion of the first side, portions of the second side and third side, an upper portion of the fourth side, said portions being defined by a substantially continuous tear line extending across the first side, the second side, the third side, and the fourth side, the method comprising the steps of:
engaging a portion of the tear line extending along the first side of the carton;
opening the carton by separating the unitary structure from the carton along the tear line across the first side, the second side, and the third side, the structure remaining attached to the carton at the fourth side, and
forming a basket for catching containers exiting the carton.
23. The method of claim 22 wherein the carton does not include cut lines for receiving adhesive on the second side or the third side.
24. 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 including an exiting end and an other end, the carton having (i) six sides, the six sides including a first side disposed between a second side and a third side; the first side being adjacent and perpendicular a fourth side, the second side, and the third side; the second side and the third side being parallel; the rows being substantially parallel the first side and the fourth side; and (ii) a unitary structure comprising a portion of the first side, portions of the second side and third side, an upper portion of the fourth side, said portions being defined by a substantially continuous tear line extending across the first side, the second side, the third side, and the fourth side, the method comprising the steps of:
engaging a portion of the tear line extending along the first side of the carton;
detaching the unitary structure from the carton along the tear line; and
placing the detached unitary structure under the other end of the carton to elevate the other end to facilitate removal of the containers from the carton.
25. The method of claim 24 wherein the carton does not include cut lines for receiving adhesive on the second side or the third side.