CARTON FOR DISPENSING ARTICLES

Abstract

A carton includes a top wall (132, 136) having an opposed side edge, first and second opposed side panels (112, 116) extending downward from the opposed side edges of the top wall respectively, and a bottom wall (152, 156) extending between the first and second side panels. The bottom wall is slanted downwardly from the back end of the carton to the front end of the carton. A first wedge panel (162) is hingedly connected to the lower end edge of the first side panel and extending upwards to its upper end edge. The bottom wall is hingedly connected to the upper end edge of the first wedge panel.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to cartons for dispensing articles.

BACKGROUND

When a carton is stored in a fridge, it is difficult to visually determine if cans remain in the carton. The user must reach through an opening into the carton to dispense a can from the carton or tip the carton to roll cans to the opening.

SUMMARY

To address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies, a carton includes tapered side panels and an angled bottom wall. As the carton is placed on its side, gravity feeds the cans toward an opening. According to an exemplary embodiment, A carton, includes a first tapered side wall, a second tapered side wall, a bottom wall slanted downwardly from a back end to a front end, a first side rail, and a second side rail. The first side rail includes a portion of the first tapered side wall that is below the bottom wall. The second side rail includes a portion of the second tapered side that is below the bottom wall.

The foregoing has broadly outlined some of the aspects and features, which should be construed to be merely illustrative of various potential applications. Other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed information in a different manner or by combining various aspects of the disclosed embodiments. Accordingly, other aspects and a more comprehensive understanding may be obtained by referring to the detailed description of the exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in addition to the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a blank.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a carton formed from blank of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bottom wall of the carton of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a bottom wall of the carton of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 5-7 are plan views of the blank of FIG. 1, which is folded according to an exemplary method.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a blank.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a carton formed from the blank of FIG. 8.

FIGS. 10-11 are plan view of the blank of FIG. 8, which is folded according to an exemplary method.

FIG. 12 is a partial perspective view of the carton of FIG. 9, which is folded according to an exemplary method.

FIGS. 13-14 are partial perspective views of a bottom wall of the carton of FIG. 9.

FIG. 15 is an end elevational view of an open back end of the carton of FIG. 9.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the carton of FIG. 9.

FIG. 17 is an end elevational view of an exemplary embodiment of a carton.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a bottom wall of the carton of FIG. 17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Detailed embodiments are disclosed herein. It must be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of various and alternative forms, and combinations thereof. As used herein, the word “exemplary” is used expansively to refer to embodiments that serve as illustrations, specimens, models, or patterns. The figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. In other instances, well-known components, systems, materials, or methods have not been described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the disclosure. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art.

Generally described, a carton is formed from a blank. A blank is a sheet of substrate. As used herein, the term “substrate” includes all manner of foldable sheet material such as paperboard, corrugated board, cardboard, plastic, and the like. Exemplary embodiments of cartons described herein are configured to dispense beverage cans. It is envisaged that the cartons can be configured to dispense other articles and/or different arrangements of articles that may be contained within a carton.

Exemplary embodiments of cartons described herein are configured to dispense beverage cans contained therein. However, cartons can be configured to dispense other articles (such as bottles and any other cylindrical items) and/or different arrangements of articles that may be contained within the carton.

As used herein, directional references such as “top”, “bottom”, “base”, “front”, “back”, “rear”, “end”, “side”, “inner”, “outer”, “upper” and “lower” do not necessarily limit the respective panels to such orientation, but may merely serve to distinguish these panels from one another.

As used herein, the term “hingedly connect” refers to all manner of connecting two or more areas or portions of a blank of sheet material, that involves hinge features for facilitating folding the areas or portions of the blank with respect to one another, or otherwise involves structural features that indicate optimal panel folding locations for the blank. Each of such hinge features or structural features may include one or more fold lines.

As used herein, the term “fold line” may refer to one of the following: a scored line, an embossed line, a debossed line, a line of perforations, a line of short slits, a line of half-cuts, a single half-cut, an interrupted cut line, aligned slits, a line of scores and any combination of the aforesaid options. For ease of distinguishing, fold lines are shown as dashed lines in illustrations of blanks.

As used herein, the term “severance line” refers to all manner of lines that facilitate separating portions of the substrate from one another or that indicate optimal separation locations. The term “severance line” may refer to one of the following: a line of perforations, a line of short slits, a line of half-cuts, a single half-cut, an interrupted cut line, aligned slits, and any combination of the aforesaid options.

Those elements of a fold line or a severance line such as cuts, perforations and scores, can be dimensioned and arranged to provide a desired functionality. For example, a line of perforations can be dimensioned or designed with degrees of weakness to define a fold line and/or a severance line. For example, a line of perforations can be designed to facilitate folding and resist breaking in order to provide a fold line, to facilitate folding and facilitate breaking with more effort in order to provide a severance line that can function also as a fold line at least temporarily, or to facilitate breaking with little effort in order to provide a regular severance line.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, the drawings illustrate certain of the various aspects of exemplary embodiments of a carton that is configured to dispense articles.

Referring to FIG. 1, a blank 100 is configured to be folded and secured to form a carton 102 that is described below with reference to FIG. 2. Continuing with FIG. 1, the blank 100 includes a first set of panels that are configured to form a tubular structure. The first set of panels includes an edge panel 110, a first side panel 112, a front panel 114, a second side panel 116, and a back panel 118. The panels are hingedly connected one to the next along fold lines. The edge panel 110 is hingedly connected to the first side panel 112 along a fold line 120, the first side panel 112 is hingedly connected to the front panel 114 along a fold line 122, the front panel 114 is hingedly connected to the second side panel 116 along a fold line 124, and second side panel 116 is hingedly connected to the back panel 118 along a fold line 126.

The blank 100 includes a second set of panels that are configured to form a wall at a top opening of the tubular structure. The second set of panels includes a first top panel 132, a first top flap 134, a second top panel 136, and a second top flap 138. The first top panel 132 is hingedly connected to the first side panel 112 along a fold line 142, the first top flap 134 is hingedly connected to the front panel 114 along a fold line 144, the second top panel 136 is hingedly connected to the second side panel 116 along a fold line 146, and the second top flap 138 is hingedly connected to the back panel 118 along a fold line 148.

The blank 100 includes a third set of panels that are configured to form a wall at a bottom opening of the tubular structure. The third set of panels includes a first bottom panel 152, a first bottom flap 154, a second bottom panel 156, and second bottom flap 158. The first bottom panel 152 is connected to the first side panel 112 by a first wedge panel 162, the first bottom flap 154 is hingedly connected to the first bottom flap 154 along a fold line 164, the second bottom panel 156 is connected to the second side panel 116, and second bottom flap 158 is connected to the back panel 118 by a positioning panel 168. The first wedge panel 162 is hingedly connected to the first side panel 112 by a fold line 170, the first bottom panel 152 is hingedly connected to the first wedge panel 162 along a fold line 172, a second wedge panel 166 is hingedly connected to the second side panel 116 along a fold line 174, the second bottom panel 156 is hingedly connected to the second wedge panel 166 along a fold line 176, the positioning panel 168 is hingedly connected to the back panel 118 along a fold line 178, and the second bottom flap 158 is hingedly connected to the positioning panel 168 along a fold line 180. The first and second wedge panels 162, 166 each is wedge shaped (e.g., triangular, trapezoidal or otherwise shaped substantially similarly to a wedge so as to have a pair of divergently extending edges).

The blank 100 includes a gusset panel 182 that is configured to connect the first bottom panel 152 to the first bottom flap 154 and a gusset panel 184 that is configured to connect the second bottom panel 156 to the second bottom flap 158. The gusset panel 182 is hingedly connected to the first bottom panel 152 along a fold line 186 and the gusset panel 184 is hingedly connected to the second bottom panel 156 along a fold line 188. The fold line 186 is at an angle with respect to the fold line 172 and the fold line 188 is at an angle with respect to the fold line 176.

The first bottom panel 152 includes a hooked edge 190 and the second bottom panel 156 includes a hooked edge 192. The hooked edge 190 and the hooked edge 192 are configured to engage one another to secure the first bottom panel 152 and the second bottom panel 156 in place as a bottom wall of the carton 102.

The blank 100 includes a severance line 194 that defines a detachable portion 196. The severance line 194 includes a first segment 198, a second segment 200, and a third segment 202. The first segment 198 extends across the first side panel 112 from the fold line 122 and back to the fold line 122. The second segment 200 extends between the fold line 122 and the fold line 124. The third segment 202 extends across the second side panel 116 from the fold line 124 and back to the fold line 124. The second segment 200 includes a curved segment 204 that defines a tab portion 206. The tab portion 206 facilitates initiation of tearing of the severance line 194 and removal of the detachable portion 196.

The first top panel 132 includes a first securing tab 210 and a second securing tab 212. The blank 100 includes a second slot 214 and a first slot 216 that interrupt the fold line 146. The second slot 214 and the first slot 216 are configured to receive the first securing tab 210 and the second securing tab 212 to secure the first top panel 132 and the second top panel 136 in place as a top wall of the carton 102.

The first securing tab 210 is hingedly connected to the first top panel 132 along a fold line 220 and the second securing tab 212 is hingedly connect to the first top panel 132 along a fold line 222. The first securing tab 210 is partially separable from the first top panel 132 along a severance line 224 and a severance line 226. The second securing tab 212 is partially separable from the first top panel 132 along a severance line 228 and a severance line 230. The first securing tab 210 includes a fold line 232 and a fold line 234 and the second securing tab 212 include a fold line 236 and a fold line 238. The fold lines facilitate shaping the first securing tab 210 and the second securing tab 212 to be secured in the second slot 214 and the first slot 216.

The blank 100 includes features that form a handle of the carton 102. The first top panel 132 includes a handle 240 including a first elongated opening 242 and a second elongated opening 244. The first elongated opening 242 includes a first cushioning flap 246 and the second elongated opening 244 includes a second cushioning flap 248. The first cushioning flap 246 is hingedly connected to an edge of the first elongated opening 242 along a fold line 250. The second cushioning flap 248 is hingedly connected to an edge of the second elongated opening 244 along a fold line 252. The second top panel 136 includes a third elongated opening 254 and a fourth elongated opening 256. The third elongated opening 254 is configured to align with the first elongated opening 242 and the fourth elongated opening 256 is configured to align with the second elongated opening 244 when a top wall of the carton 102 is formed.

A tuck flap 260 is hingedly connected to the second top panel 136 along a fold line 262. The tuck flap 260 facilitates forming a top wall of the carton 102.

The first wedge panel 162 tapers at a first angle A1 and the second wedge panel 166 tapers at a second angle A2. The first angle A1 and the second angle A2 are substantially equal. The widest part of the first wedge panel 162 and the second wedge panel 166 have a first height H1. The positioning panel 168 also has a first height H1. The first side panel 112 and the second side panel 116 are tapered. The first side panel 112 narrows in the direction moving from the fold line 120 to the fold line 122. The second side panel 116 narrows in the direction moving from the fold line 126 to the fold line 124. Each of the first side panel 112 and the second side panel 116 narrows moving toward the front panel 114. The widest part of the first side panel 112 has a second height H2 and the widest part of the second side panel 116 has a second height H2. The back panel 118 also has a second height H2. The front panel 114 has a third height H3. The second height H2 is greater than the third height H3. In the exemplary embodiment, the second height H2 is substantially equal to the third height H3 plus the first height H1.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4, the carton 102 includes a first side wall 312, a front wall 314, a second side wall 316, a back wall 318, a top wall 320, and a bottom wall 322. The bottom wall 322 is forward slanted (e.g., at the first angle A1 and the second angle A2) to move cylindrical articles 340 toward the front wall 314 where they can be dispensed through an opening created by partially removing the detachable portion 196 along the severance line 194.

The bottom wall 322 is recessed or elevated. The first wedge panel 162, the second wedge panel 166, and the positioning panel 168 space the bottom wall 322 from the lower end or edge of the carton 102 (e.g., the lower edge of the first side wall 312, the second side wall 316, and the back wall 318.) The bottom wall 322 is spaced from the lower edge of the back wall 318 (e.g., the fold line 178) by the first height H1.

The first wedge panel 162, the second wedge panel 166, and the positioning panel 168 provide rails or beams that support the bottom wall 322 away from the lower edge of the carton 102. The rails are two-ply structures as the first wedge panel 162 overlaps the first side wall 312 (forming a first side rail 362), the second wedge panel 166 overlaps the second side wall 316 (forming a second side rail 364), and the positioning panel 168 overlaps the back wall 318 (forming a back rail 366). The bottom wall 322 is now described in further detail with respect to the formation of the carton 102 from the blank 100.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5-7, the carton 102 can be formed from the blank 100 with folding and securing operations described below. For reference, the inside surface of blanks 100 is shown in FIG. 1. The order of the steps can be altered, steps may be added or omitted, and the means for securing components to one another may vary. For example, surfaces of sheet material may be secured together with tape, staples, interlocking folds, hook and loop fasteners, glue, other adhesives, combinations thereof, and the like.

According to a first series of steps, the blank 100 is folded and secured into a collapsed tubular structure. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, adhesive is applied to the inside surface of the first wedge panel 162, the inside surface of the second wedge panel 166, and the inside surface of the positioning panel 168. The first bottom panel 152, first wedge panel 162, and gusset panel 182 are folded as a unit along the fold line 170 to overlap the inside surface of the first side panel 112. As such, the inside surface of the first wedge panel 162 is secured to the inside surface of the first side panel 112. The first bottom flap 154 is folded along the fold line 164 such that the inside surface of the first bottom flap 154 is in flat face contact with the inside surface of the front panel 114. The second bottom panel 156, the second wedge panel 166, and the gusset panel 184 are folded as a unit along the fold line 174 to overlap the second side panel 116. As such, the inside surface of the second wedge panel 166 is secured to the inside surface of the second side panel 116. The second bottom flap 158 and the positioning panel 168 are folded as a unit along the fold line 178 to overlap the inside surface of the back panel 118. As such, the inside surface of the positioning panel 168 is secured to the inside surface of the back panel 118.

The gusset panel 182 is folded along the fold line 186 such that the outside surface of the gusset panel 182 is in flat face contact with the outside surface of the first bottom panel 152. The gusset panel 184 is folded along the fold line 188 such that the outside surface of the gusset panel 184 is in flat face contact with the outside surface of the second bottom panel 156. Adhesive is applied to the inside surface of the gusset panel 182 and the gusset panel 184.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the blank 100 is folded along the fold line 122 such that the inside surface of the gusset panel 182 is in flat face contact with the outside surface of the first bottom flap 154. As such, the gusset panel 182 is secured to the first bottom flap 154. Adhesive is applied to the outside surface of the edge panel 110.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the blank 100 is folded along the fold line 126 such that the inside surface of the gusset panel 184 is in flat face contact with the outside surface of the second bottom flap 158. As such, the gusset panel 184 is secured to the second bottom flap 158. In addition, the inside surface of the back panel 118 overlaps the outside surface of the edge panel 110. As such, the back panel 118 is secured to the edge panel 110 such that the back panel 118 is hingedly connected to the first side panel 112 along the fold line 120.

Referring to FIG. 7, the blank 100 is formed as a collapsed tubular structure. Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, and 7, the collapsed tubular structure can be erected by folding the blank 100 along the fold line 120, the fold line 122, the fold line 124, and the fold line 126. The collapsed tubular structure is folded until the first side panel 112 is substantially parallel to the second side panel 116 and the front panel 114 is substantially parallel to the back panel 118. Here, the first side panel 112 forms the first side wall 312, the front panel 114 forms the front wall 314, the second side panel 116 forms the second side wall 316, and the back panel 118, forms the back wall 318.

As the first side panel 112 is pulled apart from the front panel 114, the gusset panel 182 folds the first bottom panel 152 down along the fold line 186. When the first side panel 112 is substantially perpendicular to the front panel 114, the first bottom panel 152 is substantially perpendicular to the first side panel 112.

Similarly, as the second side panel 116 is pulled apart from the back panel 118, the gusset panel 184 folds the second bottom panel 156 down along the fold line 188. When the second side panel 116 is substantially perpendicular to the back panel 118, the second bottom panel 156 is substantially perpendicular to the second side panel 116.

As the first bottom panel 152 and the second bottom panel 156 are folded downwardly, they overlap one another and the hooked edge 190 and the hooked edge 192 are adjacent one another. The hooked edge 190 and the hooked edge 192 can engage one another to releasably secure the first bottom panel 152 and the second bottom panel 156 in a folded position. Thereafter the bottom wall 322 is formed as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Cylindrical articles 340 can then be loaded into the carton 102 through the top open end of the carton 102. The cylindrical articles 340 are loaded with their ends adjacent the first side wall 312 and the second side wall 316 and with their side walls configured to roll on the bottom wall 322.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the top open end of the carton 102 is closed by folding the first top flap 134 and the second top panel 136 inwardly along the fold line 144 and the fold line 148. The second top panel 136 is then folded inwardly along the fold line 146 to overlap the first top flap 134 and the second top panel 136. The tuck flap 260 is folded along the fold line 262 and inserted into the carton 102 with the outside surface of the tuck flap 260 against the inside surface of the first side wall 312. The first top flap 134 is then folded inwardly along the fold line 142 to overlap the second top panel 136. The first elongated opening 242 and the second elongated opening 244 align with the fourth elongated opening 256 and the third elongated opening 254 to form a handle 330. The first securing tab 210 is inserted into the first slot 216 and the second securing tab 212 is inserted into the second slot 214 to releasably secure the first top panel 132 in place and form the top wall 320.

The first side wall 312, the second side wall 316, the top wall 320, and the bottom wall 322 together have a substantially constant cross sectional area along an axis between the front wall 314 and the back wall 318. As such the cylindrical articles 340 can be tightly packed in the carton 102 (e.g., without extra space to move around).

Summarizing the structure of the carton of FIGS. 1-7, the front panel 114 and back panel 118 each is hingedly connected to the first and second side panels 112, 116 to form a collapsible tubular structure that is collapsible into a flat tubular form as shown in FIG. 7. The first bottom panel 152 is connected to the front panel 114 through the first bottom flap 154. The first bottom flap 154 is hingedly connected to the first bottom panel 152 and to the front panel 114 such that the first bottom panel 152 and the first bottom flap 154 are folded into a face contacting arrangement respectively with the first side panel 112 and the front panel 114 when the tubular structure is collapsed into the flat tubular form. The second bottom panel 156 is connected to the back panel 118 through the second bottom flap 158. The second bottom flap 158 is hingedly connected to the second bottom panel 156 and to the back wall 118 such that the second bottom panel 156 and the second bottom flap 158 are folded into a face contacting arrangement respectively with the inside surface of the second side panel 116 and that of the back panel 118 when the tubular structure is collapsed into the flat tubular form.

Referring to FIGS. 8-16, another exemplary embodiment is described. Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a blank 400 is configured to be folded and secured to form a carton 402. Referring to FIG. 8, the blank 400 includes a first set of panels that are configured to form a tubular structure with a front open end and a back open end. The first set of panels includes a first connecting panel 410, a first wedge panel 412, a first side panel 414, a top panel 416, a second side panel 418, a second wedge panel 420, a bottom panel 422, and a second connecting panel 424.

The first set of panels are hingedly connected one to the next along fold lines. The first connecting panel 410 is hingedly connected to the first wedge panel 412 along a fold line 430. Optionally, the fold line 430 may be omitted, and the first connecting panel 410 may integrally be joined with the first wedge panel 412 to form a single panel having a size as large as the total size of the first connecting panel 410 and the first wedge panel 412. The first wedge panel 412 is hingedly connected to the first side panel 414 along a fold line 432, the first side panel 414 is hingedly connected to the top panel 416 along a fold line 434, the top panel 416 is hingedly connected to the second side panel 418 along a fold line 436, the second side panel 418 is hingedly connected to the second wedge panel 420 along a fold line 438, the second wedge panel 420 is hingedly connected to the bottom panel 422 along a fold line 440, and the bottom panel 422 is hingedly connected to the second connecting panel 424 along a fold line 442.

The fold line 430 and the fold line 432 are formed at an angle A3. The fold line 438 and the fold line 440 are formed at an angle A4.

The blank 400 includes a first set of flaps that are configured to form a front wall to close a front open end of the tubular structure. The first set of flaps includes a first side front flap 450 that is hingedly connected to the first side panel 414 along a fold line 452; a top front flap 454 that is hingedly connected to the top panel 416 along a fold line 456; a second side front flap 458 that is hingedly connected to the second side panel 418 along a fold line 460; and a bottom front flap 462 that is hingedly connected to the bottom panel 422 along a fold line 464.

The blank 400 includes a second set of flaps that are configured to form a back wall to close a back open end of the tubular structure. The second set of flaps includes a first side back flap 470 that is hingedly connected to the first side panel 414 along a fold line 472; a top back flap 474 that is hingedly connected to the top panel 416 along a fold line 476; a second side back flap 478 that is hingedly connected to the second side panel 418 along a fold line 480; and a bottom back flap 482 that is hingedly connected to the bottom panel 422 along a fold line 484. The bottom back flap 482 includes an inside supporting portion 486 and an outer supporting portion 488. The inside supporting portion 486 is hingedly connected to the bottom panel 422 along the fold line 484 and the outer supporting portion 488 is hingedly connected to the inside supporting portion 486 along a fold line 490.

The inside supporting portion 486 has a height H5. The widest part of the first connecting panel 410 has a height H6. The front panel 114 is tapered. The front end of the first side panel 414 (e.g., the fold line 452) has a height H7 and the back end of the first side panel 414 (e.g., the fold line 472) has a height H8.

The widest part of the second wedge panel 420 has a height H9. The second side panel 418 is tapered. The front end of the second side panel 418 (e.g., the fold line 460) has a height H10 and the back end of the second side panel 418 (e.g., the fold line 480) has a height H11.

The height H5, the height H6, and the height H9 are substantially the same. The height H7 and the height H10 are substantially the same. The height H8 and the height H11 are substantially the same. The height H8 is substantially equal to the height H6 plus the height H7. The height H11 is substantially equal to the height H9 plus the height H10.

The blank 400 includes a handle structure 500. The handle structure 500 includes a severance line 502 and a severance line 504, each of which extends from the first side panel 414, across the top panel 416, and onto the second side panel 418. Segments of the severance line 502 and the severance line 504 that extend across the top panel 416 are curved to approach one another. The severance line 502 includes a curved segment 506 and the severance line 504 includes a curved segment 508. The curved segment 506 partially defines a first cushioning flap 510 and the curved segment 508 partially defines a second cushioning flap 512. The first cushioning flap 510 is hingedly connected to the top panel 416 along a fold line 514 and the second cushioning flap 512 is hingedly connected to the top panel 416 along a fold line 516. The handle structure 500 further includes a fold line 518 and a fold line 520. The fold line 518 extends between the severance line 502 and the severance line 504 on the second side panel 418. The fold line 520 extends between the severance line 502 and the severance line 504 on the first side panel 414.

The blank 400 includes features that provide a detachable portion of the carton 402 through which cylindrical articles can be dispensed. A first severance line 530 defines a first detachable portion 532. The first severance line 530 extends from the fold line 452 across the first side panel 414 and back to the fold line 452 and extends from the fold line 452 across the first side front flap 450 to the distal end of the first side front flap 450. The first severance line 530 includes a curved segment 534 that defines a first tab portion 536.

A second severance line 540 defines a second detachable portion 542. The second severance line 540 extends from the fold line 460 across the second side panel 418 and back to the fold line 460 and extends from the fold line 460 across the second side front flap 458 to the distal end of the second side front flap 458. The second severance line 540 includes a curved segment 544 that defines a second tab portion 546.

Referring to FIG. 9, the carton 402 includes as first side wall 614, a top wall 616, a second side wall 618, a bottom wall 622, a front wall 624, and back wall 626. The bottom wall 622 is forward slanted (e.g., at the angle A3 and the angle A4) to move cylindrical articles 640 toward the first side wall 614 where they can be dispensed through an opening created by partially removing the detachable portions 536/546 along the severance lines 530/540.

The bottom wall 622 is recessed. The first wedge panel 412, the second wedge panel 420, and the inside supporting portion 486 space the bottom wall 622 from the lower edge of the carton 402 (e.g., the lower edge of the first side wall 614, second side wall 618, back wall 626). The bottom wall 622 is spaced from the lower edge of the back wall 626 by the height H5 (or height H6 or height H9).

The first wedge panel 412, the second wedge panel 420, and the inside supporting portion 486 provide rails or beams that support the bottom wall 322 away from the lower edge of the carton 102. The rails are two-ply structures as the first wedge panel 412 overlaps the first side wall 614 (forming a first side rail 664), the second wedge panel 420 overlaps the second side wall 618 (forming a second side rail 662), and the inside supporting portion 486 overlaps the back wall 626 (forming a back rail 666).

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 10-11, the carton 402 can be formed from the blank 400 with folding and securing operations described below. For reference, the outside surface of the blank 400 is shown in FIG. 8 and the inside surface of the blank 400 is shown in FIG. 10 (other than folded portions). The order of the steps can be altered, steps may be added or omitted, and the means for securing components to one another may vary. For example, surfaces of sheet material may be secured together with tape, staples, interlocking folds, hook and loop fasteners, glue, other adhesives, combinations thereof, and the like.

According to a first series of steps, the blank 400 is folded and secured into a collapsed tubular structure. Referring to FIG. 8, adhesive is applied to the inside surface of the first connecting panel 410, the inside surface of the first wedge panel 412, and the inside surface of the second wedge panel 420. Referring to FIGS. 8 and 10 the blank 400 is folded along the fold line 432 such that the inside surface of the first connecting panel 410 is secured to the inside surface of the first side panel 414 and inside surface of the first wedge panel 412 is secured to the inside surface of the first side panel 414. The blank 400 is folded along the fold line 438 such that the inside surface of the second wedge panel 420 is secured to the inside surface of the second side panel 418.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, adhesive is applied to the outside surface of the second connecting panel 424 and/or the outside surface of the first connecting panel 410. The blank 400 is folded along the fold line 434 such that the outside surface of the first connecting panel 410 and the outside surface of the second connecting panel 424 are in contact with and secured to one another.

Referring to FIG. 11, the blank 400 is formed as a collapsed tubular structure. The collapsed tubular structure can be erected as a tubular structure with a front open end and a back open end. Referring to FIGS. 11 and 15, the tubular structure is erected by folding the blank 400 along the fold line 430, the fold line 434, the fold line 436, and the fold line 440 to pull the first side panel 414, the top panel 416, the second side panel 418, and the bottom panel 422 away from one another such that panels connected along the fold lines are substantially perpendicular to one another. Referring to FIG. 15, the first side panel 414 forms the first side wall 614, the top panel 416 forms the top wall 616, the second side panel 418 forms the second side wall 618, and the bottom panel 422 is the bottom wall 622.

The front wall 624 is formed at the front open end of the tubular structure. The top front flap 454 is folded inwardly along the fold line 456 and the bottom front flap 462 is folded inwardly along the fold line 464. Adhesive is applied to the outer surface of the top front flap 454 and the outer surface of the bottom front flap 462. The first side front flap 450 is folded inwardly along the fold line 452 to overlap and secure to the top front flap 454 and the bottom front flap 462. Adhesive is applied to the outside surface of the first side front flap 450. The second side front flap 458 is folded inwardly along the fold line 460 to overlap and secure to the top front flap 454, the bottom front flap 462, and the first side front flap 450.

Referring momentarily to FIG. 15, the back open end of the carton 402 is loaded with cylindrical articles 640. Particularly, the carton 402 is placed on the first side wall 614 (or the second side wall 618) so that the cylindrical articles 640 can be loaded onto a flat surface.

Referring to FIGS. 12, 13, and 15, the back wall 626 is formed at the back open end of the tubular structure. The top back flap 474 is folded inwardly along the fold line 476. Adhesive is applied to the outside surface of the top back flap 474 and the inside surface of the inside supporting portion 486. The first side back flap 470 is folded inwardly along the fold line 472 to overlap and secure to the top back flap 474 and the inside supporting portion 486. Adhesive is applied to the outside surface of the first side back flap 470. The second side back flap 478 is folded inwardly along the fold line 480 to overlap and secure to the first side back flap 470, the top back flap 474, and the inside supporting portion 486.

Referring to FIGS. 12-16, adhesive is applied to the inside surface of the outer supporting portion 488. The outer supporting portion 488 is folded along the fold line 490 to overlap and secure to the first side back flap 470 and the second side back flap 478. Thereafter, the carton 402 is formed and can be placed on the rails 662, 664, 666 such that the bottom wall 622 is configured to dispense the cylindrical articles 640.

Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, another exemplary embodiment is described. The carton 702 is substantially similar to the carton 402, with the exception of a first side back flap 770, a second side back flap 778, and a bottom back flap 782. For clarity, other elements of the carton 702 are not described in detail. Rather, the description provided above with respect to the carton 402 is applicable to the carton 702. Like elements numbers have been used for the carton 702 with the first numeral of the element number increased by three with respect to the element number of the carton 402 for the same element. For example, bottom wall 622 is substantially similar to bottom wall 922.

The first side back flap 770 includes a cutout portion 850 and the second side back flap 778 includes a cutout portion 852. The cutout portion 850 defines a side rail support portion 854 and the cutout portion 852 defines a side rail support portion 856. The cutout portions 850, 852 define portions of the back wall 926 (e.g., side rail support portions 854, 856) that extend below the bottom wall 922 (e.g., the bottom panel 722) adjacent the first wedge panel 712 and the bottom panel 722 to support the side rails 962, 964. In other words, a back rail 966 includes a cutout/

The exemplary side rail support portions 854, 856 are tapered toward the distal edges of the side rails 962, 964. The exemplary side rail support portions 854, 856 provide lateral support to the side rails 962, 964 to keep the side rails 962, 964 from collapsing or folding.

Because of the cutout portions 850, 852, the bottom back flap 782 is a single flap and does not fold over the inside surface and outside surface of the back wall, as does the bottom back flap 482 of the carton 402. The bottom back flap 782 is folded inwardly like the top back flap 774 and the first side back flap 770 and the second side back flap 778 are folded over the outside surface of the top back flap 774 and the bottom back flap 782.

The above-described embodiments are merely exemplary illustrations of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Variations, modifications, and combinations may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims. All such variations, modifications, and combinations are included herein by the scope of this disclosure and the following claims.

Claims

1. A carton, comprising: a top wall having an opposed side edge;first and second opposed side panels extending downward from the opposed side edges of the top wall respectively; anda bottom wall extending between the first and second side panels, the bottom wall being slanted downwardly from a back end of the carton to a front end of the carton,wherein a first wedge panel is hingedly connected to a lower end edge of the first side panel and extending upwards to an upper end edge of the first wedge panel, and wherein the bottom wall is hingedly connected to the upper end edge of the first wedge panel.

2. The carton of claim 1, further comprising a detachable portion at the front end such that a dispensing opening is defined at the front end upon removal of the detachable portion from the carton.

3. The carton of claim 2, further comprising a front wall at the front end, the front wall extending between the first and second side panels, wherein the detachable portion is formed from a part of the front wall.

4. (canceled)

5. The carton of claim 1, further comprising a back wall at the back end, the back wall extending between the first and second side panels, wherein the back wall comprises a back panel and a back support panel extending upwards from a lower end edge of the back panel.

6. The carton of claim 1, wherein the bottom wall comprising a pair of first and second bottom panels, the first and bottom panel and the second bottom panel overlapping one another at least in part.

7. The carton of claim 6, further comprising a front wall at the front end, wherein the first bottom panel is hingedly connected to the upper end edge of the first wedge panel and is connected to the front wall through a first bottom flap, and wherein the second bottom panel is hingedly connected to the second side panel through a second wedge panel that is hingedly connected to the second bottom panel and to the second side panel.

8. The carton of claim 7, further comprising a back wall at the back end, wherein the second bottom panel is connected to the back wall through a second bottom flap that is hingedly connected to the bottom wall.

9. The carton of claim 8, wherein the first bottom flap is hingedly connected to the front wall and to the first bottom panel.

10. The carton of claim 8, wherein the second bottom flap is hingedly connected to the back wall and to the second bottom panel.

11. The carton of claim 9, wherein the first bottom panel is hingedly connected to a first gusset panel that is secured to the first bottom flap in face-contacting arrangement.

12. The carton of claim 10, wherein the second bottom panel is hingedly connected to a second gusset panel that is secured to the second bottom flap in face-contacting arrangement.

13. The carton of claim 6, further comprising front and back opposed walls at the front and back ends respectively, the front wall and back wall each is hingedly connected to the first and second side panels to form a collapsible tubular structure that is collapsible into a flat tubular form, wherein the first bottom panel is connected to the front wall through a first bottom flap, and wherein the first bottom flap is hingedly connected to the first bottom panel and to the front wall such that the first bottom panel and the first bottom flap are folded into a face contacting arrangement respectively with the first side panel and the front wall when the tubular structure is collapsed into the flat tubular form.

14. The carton of claim 13, wherein the second bottom panel is connected to the back wall through a second bottom flap, and the second bottom flap is hingedly connected to the second bottom panel and to the back wall such that the second bottom panel and the second bottom flap are folded into a face contacting arrangement respectively with the second side panel and the back wall when the tubular structure is collapsed into the flat tubular form.

15. A blank for forming a carton, the blank comprising: a pair of first and second side panels;a first bottom panel hingedly connected to the first side panel by a first wedge panel; anda second bottom panel hingedly connected to a second wedge panel;wherein the first and second panels are hingedly interconnected by an end wall panel andthe end wall panel is hingedly connected to a first bottom flap which is hingedly connected to a first gusset panel.

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. A blank for forming a carton, comprising a first set of panels that are hingedly connected one to the next and are configured to form a tubular structure, the first set of panels comprising: a first connecting panel;a first wedge panel joined together with the first connecting panel;a first side panel hingedly connected to the first wedge panel;a top panel hingedly connected to the first side panel;a second side panel hingedly connected to the top panel;a second wedge panel hingedly connected to the second side panel;a bottom panel hingedly connected to the second wedge panel; anda second connecting panel hingedly connected to the bottom panel,wherein the first and second connecting panels are secured together in face contacting arrangement upon formation of the tubular structure.

19. The blank of claim 18, wherein the first and second side panels are hingedly connected to opposite side edges of the top panel.

20. The blank of claim 19, further comprising a first set of flaps comprising a first side back flap that is hingedly connected to the first side panel and a second side back flap that is hingedly connected to the second side panel, wherein the first and second side back flaps together provide a single back wall for closing at least in part a back end of the tubular structure when the tubular structure is set up.

21. The blank of claim 19, wherein the first wedge panel is hingedly connected to one of opposed side edges of the first side panel and the second wedge panel is hingedly connected to one of opposed side edges of the second side panel.

22. The blank of claim 19, wherein a front end edge of the first side panel has a first height and a back end edge of the first side panel has a second height, wherein a back end edge of the first wedge panel has a third height, and wherein the second height is substantially equal to the first height plus the third height.

23. The blank of claim 20, wherein the first set of flaps further comprising a first side front flap that is hingedly connected to the first side panel and a second side front flap that is hingedly connected to the second side panel, wherein the first and second side front flaps together provide a single front wall for closing at least in part a front end of the tubular structure when the tubular structure is set up.