Beveled corner carton with an interlocking separator pad

1. An article carrying carton with two ends loaded with a plurality of articles comprising:

(a) said carton having a bottom panel, top panel and foldably attached adjoining side panels with each end being an interlocking end which is closed by a top end flap foldably attached to the top panel, a bottom end flap foldably attached to the bottom panel and an angle panel foldably attached to each side panel and a side end flap foldably attached to each angle panel, each said angle panel and foldably attached side end flap constituting a side end closure, with each side end closure having an aperture, with said side end closures being held together by securing means;

(b) two layers of articles with at least two rows of articles in each layer; and

(c) an interlocking separator pad with two ends, each of which is an interlocking end, said pad having four angled corners, each of which is adjacent an angle panel of the carton, said pad being located between the two layers of articles with each end of the pad having an interlocking end portion of the pad that is interlocked with said apertures in the side end closures on the end of the carton to which said end of the pad is adjacent, with at least one end of the pad having a leading flap that is folded into a plane which is at least substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel of the carton.

2. The carton loaded with a plurality of articles of claim 1 , in which the means far securing each side end closure of the carton is by gluing the top end flap and bottom end flap to the side end flaps.

3. The carton loaded with a plurality of articles of claim 1 , in which the articles are generally cylindrical containers with a curved circumference and with two ends with an axis extending between the two ends, said axes of the containers being perpendicular to the separator pad, with the containers being arranged in each layer that each angle panel of the carton is adjacent to the curved circumference of a container.

4. The carton with a plurality of articles of claim 3 , in which each end portion of the separator pad is interlocked with the side end closures on one end of the carton, in which the aperture in each side end closure is a slot, with each interlocking end portion of a separator pad having a plurality of tabs each of which extends through a slot in a side end closure thereby interlocking the separator pad with the side end closures, with each leading flap of the separator pad being lodged between the side end closures on one end of the carton and an adjacent layer of containers in the carton.

5. The carton with a plurality of articles of claim 4 , in which each side end closure has one slot and each end portion of the separator pad has two tabs.

6. The carton with a plurality of articles of claim 3 , said carton having a dispenser flap which when removed provides an opening which permits the removal of the containers from each layer, said dispenser flap formed by a bottom tear line in a side panel which is at least substantially parallel to an end of the carton and a top tear line spaced apart from said bottom tear line and is at least substantially parallel thereto, said bottom and top tear lines extending into the adjoining top panel and interconnecting each other and extending into the adjoining bottom panel and interconnecting each other, said parallel tear lines being spaced apart by a distance sufficient to permit the removal through said opening of a container by a person.

7. The carton with a plurality of articles of claim 6 , in which said bottom tear line in the side panel of the carton is located from the closest side end flap by a distance which is sufficient to prevent a container adjacent the closest side end flap from rolling out of the opening formed when the dispenser flap is removed when the carton is resting on the end where said closest side end flap is located, but with said bottom tear line not being so far from said closest side end flap to prevent the removal through said opening of a container adjacent said closest side end flap.

8. The carton with a plurality of articles of claim 7 , in which the tear lines that extend into the adjoining bottom panel and adjoining top panel of the carton extend into each said panel far enough to permit a person to grasp the adjacent end of a container through the opening formed when the dispenser flap is removed.

9. The carton with a plurality of articles of claim 8 , in which a tear line interconnects said bottom tear line and top tear line in said side panel of the carton to facilitate opening said dispenser flap.

10. The carton with a plurality of articles of claim 9 , which has at least one finger flap in the dispenser flap adjacent to the tear line connecting the top and bottom tear lines together in said side panel to facilitate tearing the dispenser flap open.

11. The carton with a plurality of articles of claim 10 , which has a tear line in the bottom panel between the bottom tear line and the closest bottom end flap and a tear line in the top panel between the bottom tear line and the closest top end flap to enable a person to move that portion of the side panel between the bottom tear line and the closest side end flap a sufficient distance to permit the easy removal of containers from the opening formed by the removal of the dispenser flap.

12. The carton with a plurality of articles of claim 4 , said carton having a dispenser flap which when removed provides an opening which permits the removal of the containers from each layer, said dispenser flap formed by a bottom tear line in a side panel which is at least substantially parallel to an end of the carton and a cop tear line spaced apart from said bottom tear line and is at least substantially parallel thereto, said bottom and top tear lines extending into the adjoining top panel and interconnecting each other and extending into the adjoining bottom panel and interconnecting each other, said parallel tear lines being spaced apart by a distance sufficient to permit the removal through said opening of a container by a person.

13. The carton with a plurality of articles of claim 12 , in which said bottom tear line in the side panel of the carton is located from the closest side end flap by a distance which is sufficient to prevent a container adjacent the closest side end flap from rolling out of the opening formed when the dispenser flap is removed when the carton is resting on the end where said closest side end flap is located, but with said bottom tear line not being so far from said closest side end flap to prevent the removal through said opening of a container adjacent said closest side end flap.

14. The carton with a plurality of articles of claim 13 , in which the tear lines that extend into the adjoining bottom panel and adjoining top panel of the carton extend into each said panel far enough to permit a person to grasp the adjacent end of a container through the opening formed when the dispenser flap is removed.

15. The carton with a plurality of articles of claim 14 , in which a tear line interconnects said bottom tear line and top tear line in said side panel of the carton to facilitate opening said dispenser flap.

16. The carton with a plurality of articles of claim 15 , which has at least one finger flap in the dispenser flap adjacent to the tear fine connecting the top and bottom tear lines together in said side panel to facilitate tearing the dispenser flap open.

17. The carton with a plurality of articles of claim 16 , which has a tear line in the bottom panel between the bottom tear line and the closest bottom end flap and a tear line in the top panel between the bottom tear line and the closest top end flap to enable a person to move that portion of the side panel between the bottom tear line and the closest side end flap a sufficient distance to permit the easy removal of containers from the opening formed by the removal of the dispenser flap.

18. The carton with a plurality of articles of claim 4 , in which there are three rows of containers in each layer.

19. A carton with two ends for carrying a plurality of containers in two layers with at least two rows in each layer and an interlocking separator pad for keeping the layers of containers separate comprising:

(a) said carton having a bottom panel, top panel and foldably attached adjoining side panels with each end being an interlocking end which is closed by a top end flap foldably attached to the top panel, a bottom end flap foldably attached to the bottom panel and an angle panel foldably attached to each side panel and a side end flap foldably attached to each angle panel, each said angle panel and foldably attached side end flap constituting a side end closure, with each side end closure having an aperture, wit said side end closures being held together by securing means; and

(b) an interlocking separator pad with two ends, each of which is an interlocking end, said pad having four angled corners, each of which is adjacent an angle panel of the carton, said pad being designed to be located between the two layers of containers with each end of the pad having an interlocking end portion of the pad that is interlocked with said apertures in the side end closures on the end of the carton to which said end of the pad is adjacent, with at least one end of the pad having a leading flap that is folded into a plane which is at least substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel of the carton.

20. The carton and interlocking separator pad of claim 19 , in which each end portion of the separator pad is interlocked with the side end closures on one end of the carton, in which the aperture in each side end closure on each end of the carton is a slot, with each interlocking end portion of a separator pad having a plurality of tabs, each of which extends through a slot in a side end closure, thereby interlocking the separator pad with the side end closures.

21. The carton and interlocking separator pad of claim 20 , said carton having a dispenser flap which when removed provides an opening which permits the removal of the containers from each layer, said dispenser flap formed by a bottom tear line in a side panel which is at least substantially parallel to an end of the carton and a top tear line spaced apart from said bottom tear line and is at least substantially parallel thereto, said bottom and top tear lines extending into the adjoining top panel and interconnecting each other and extending into the adjoining bottom panel and interconnecting each other, said parallel tear lines being spaced apart by a distance sufficient to permit the removal through said opening of a container by a person.

22. A blank for a carton with two ends for carrying a plurality of containers in two layers with at least two rows in each layer and an interlocking separator pad for keeping the layers of containers separated comprising:

(a) said carton blank having a bottom panel, top panel and foldably attached adjoining side panel, with each end being an interlocking end which is closed by a top end flap foldably attached to the top panel, a bottom end flap foldably attached to the bottom panel and an angle panel foldably attached to each side panel and a side end flap foldably attached to each angle panel, each said angle panel and foldably attached side end flap constituting a side end closure, with each side end closure having an aperture, with said side end closures being designed to be held together by securing means; and

(b) an interlocking separator pad with two ends, each of which is an interlocking end, said pad having four angled corners, each of which is designed to be adjacent an angle panel of the carton, said pad being designed to be located between the two layers of articles with each end of the pad having an interlocking end portion of the pad that is designed to be interlocked with said apertures in the side end closures on the end of the canon to which said end of the pad is to be adjacent, with at least one end of the pad having a leading flap that is designed to be folded into a plane which is at least substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel of the carton.

23. The blank and interlocking separator pad of claim 22 , in which the end portion of the separator pad is capable of being interlocked with the side end closures on one end of the carton, in which the aperture in each side end closure is a slot, with each interlocking end portion of a separator pad having a plurality of tabs, each of which is capable of extending through a slot in a side end closure thereby interlocking the separator pad with the side end closures, with each leading flap of the separator pad being capable of being lodged between a side end closure of one end of the carton and an adjacent layer of containers in the carton when the carton is formed and loaded with containers.

24. The blank and separator pad of claim 23 , said carton having a dispenser flap which when removed provides an opening which permits the removal of the containers from each layer, said dispenser flap fanned by a bottom tear line in a side panel which is at least substantially parallel to an end of the carton and a top tear line spaced aped from said bottom tear line and is at least substantially parallel thereto, said bottom and top tear lines extending into the adjoining top panel and interconnecting each other and extending into the adjoining bottom panel and interconnecting each other, said parallel tear lines being spaced apart by a distance sufficient to permit the removal through said opening of a container by a person.

25. The carton loaded with a plurality of articles of claim 3 , in which the top panel and bottom panel each have four angled corners, each of which is adjacent an angle panel of the carton.

26. The canon loaded with a plurality of articles of claim 4 , in which the top panel and bottom panel each have four angled corners, each of which is adjacent an angle panel of the carton.

27. The carton and interlocking separator pad of claim 19 , in which the top panel and bottom panel each have four angled corners, each of which is adjacent an angle panel of the carton.

28. The carton and interlocking separator pad of claim 20 , in which the top panel and bottom panel each have four angled corners, each of which is adjacent an angle panel of the carton.

29. The blank and interlocking separator pad of claim 22 , in which the top panel and bottom panel each have four angled corners, each of which is adjacent an angle panel of the carton.

30. A container carrying carton with two ends loaded with a plurality of generally cylindrical containers comprising:

(a) said carton having a bottom panel, top panel and foldably attached adjoining side panels with each end being an interlocking end which is closed by a top end flap foldably attached to the top panel, a bottom end flap foldably attached to the bottom panel and an angle panel foldably attached to each side panel and a side end flap foldably attached to each angle panel, each said angle panel and foldably attached side end flap constituting a side end closure, with each side end closure having a slot, with said side end closures being held together by glue;

(b) two layers of generally cylindrical containers at least two rows of containers in each layer; and

(c) an interlocking separator pad with two ends, each of which is an interlocking end, said pad having four angled corners, each of which is adjacent an angle panel of the carton, said pad being located between the two layers of containers with each end of the pad having two tabs each of which extends trough a slot in a side end closure thereby interlocking the separator pad with the side end closures with at least one end of the pad having a leading flap being lodged between the side end closures on one end of the carton and an adjacent layer of containers in the carton.

31. A carton loaded with a plurality of containers, comprising:

a bottom panel;

a top panel;

a first side panel;

a second side panel;

a first end at least partially closed by a first top end flap foldably attached to the top panel, a first bottom end flap foldably attached to the bottom panel, a first side end panel and a second side end panel;

a second end at least partially closed by a plurality of second end flaps;

two layers of generally cylindrical containers with at least two rows of containers in each layer; and

a separator pad disposed between the two layers of containers, the separator pad having a first end and a second end, the first end having a leading flap and a first tab, the first tab being interlocked with a first aperture extending at least through the first side end panel, and the leading flap being folded into a plane which is at least substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel, wherein

each container has two ends and an axis extending between the two ends, the axes of the containers being generally perpendicular to the separator pad.

32. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 31 , further comprising:

a first angle panel connecting the first side end panel to the first side panel; and

a second angle panel connecting the second side end panel to the second side panel.

33. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 32 , wherein the first end of the separator pad has two angled corners, each angled corner being adjacent to one of the angle panels.

34. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 32 , wherein the separator pad further comprises a second tab extending through a second aperture, the second aperture extending at least through the second side end panel and the second angle panel.

35. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 32 , wherein the second end of the separator pad has two second end tabs, each second end tab extending through an aperture in the second plurality of end flaps.

36. A carton loaded with a plurality of containers, comprising:

a bottom panel;

a top panel;

a first side panel;

a second side panel;

a first end at least partially closed by a first plurality of end flaps, the first plurality of end flaps comprising a first top end flap foldably attached to the top panel, a first bottom end flap foldably attached to the bottom panel, a first angle panel foldably connected to the first side panel, a first side end panel foldably connected to the first angle panel, a second angle panel foldably connected to the second side panel, and a second side end panel foldably connected to the second angle panel;

a second end at least partially closed by a plurality of second end flaps;

two layers of generally cylindrical containers with at least two rows of containers in each layer; and

a separator pad disposed between the two layers of containers, the separator pad having a first and a second end, the first end having a first tab and a second tab, the first tab being interlocked with a first aperture extending at least through the first side end panel and the first angled panel, and the second tab being interlocked with a second aperture extending at least through the second side end panel and the second angled panel, wherein

each container has two ends and an axis extending between the two ends, the axes of the containers being generally perpendicular to the separator pad.

37. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 36 , wherein the first end of the separator pad has two angled corners, each angled corner being adjacent to one of the angle panels.

38. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 37 , wherein the first end of the separator pad comprises a leading flap folded into a plane which is at least substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel.

39. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 37 , wherein the second end of the separator pad has two second end tabs, each second end tab extending trough an aperture in the second plurality of end flaps.