Patent Grant
6902104
The invention relates to cartons, and more particularly, to a carton for multiple articles having a dispenser for constrained removal of individual articles. In particular the invention relates to a carton, which is adapted to be inclined to improve access to the articles; and to a dispenser, which is formed by cross-tearing motion of a corner of the carton.
Cartons for encasing multiple articles are useful for enabling consumers to obtain and transport a desired quantity of individual articles such as soft drinks or other beverages. When such a multiple-pack of articles is obtained, a consumer frequently desires to remove one article from the carton at a time. Thus, it can be appreciated that it would be desirable to have a carton with a dispenser that facilitates the removal of a single article from the carton at a time.
When the articles contained in the carton are cylindrical, and are disposed in the carton upon their sides, it is important that the articles be constrained such that the remaining articles do not roll out of the dispenser when one is removed. It is also important that the dispenser provides a condition where the articles are easily accessed. It is further often desirable when removing individual articles from a carton to be able to determine how many articles remain in the carton. Thus, it can be further appreciated that it would be desirable to have a carton with a dispenser that constrains remaining articles so that they do not undesirably roll from or otherwise exit the carton when one article is removed. It can also be appreciated that it would be desirable to have a carton with a dispenser that facilitates access to the articles. It can be further appreciated that it would be desirable to have a carton with a dispenser that facilitates determining how many articles remain in the carton as individual articles are removed.
A further problem associated with similar known cartons is that a user can have difficulty in grabbing articles furthest from the dispenser. The present invention and its preferred embodiments seek to overcome or at least instigate the problems of the prior art.
A first aspect of the invention provides a carton comprising a plurality of walls including a top wall, a pair of opposed side walls connected to side edges of the top wall and an end wall interconnecting the side walls to provide a front wall of the carton. The carton further comprises an article dispenser at the front end of the carton for dispensing articles from the carton. The dispenser includes an opening for exposing an endmost article for removal. The opening is provided by removal of a portion of the carton formed from the top, side and end walls. The carton still further comprises a heel formed from the portion detached from the carton. The heel is engaged with a part of the carton to support the carton in an inclined position in which the carton is inclined to the front end of the carton.
In a preferred embodiment, the heel comprises a protruding portion that is formed from the top wall. The protruding portion of the heel engages the rear end of the carton to hold the heel in position. The rear end may include an end wall panel hingedly connected to one of the side walls, and the protruding portion may be placed to underlie the end wall panel. The rear end may further include a support flap hingedly connected to the base wall of the carton to underlie the end wall panel. In this arrangement, the protruding portion may be interposed between the end wall panel and the support flap. The end wall panel may include an engagement flap hingedly connected thereto and extending downwardly therefrom.
The heel may be positioned so that an edge of the heel abuts the base wall of the carton. Optionally, the protruding portion may include a pair of opposed short side edges in engagement with the side walls of the carton respectively.
Preferably, the heel comprises one or more side panels to abut the side walls of the carton to provide lateral stability to the inclined carton.
A second aspect of the invention provides a carton comprising a plurality of walls including a top wall, a pair of opposed side walls connected to side edges of the top wall and an end wall interconnecting the side walls defining an upper corner of the carton and an article dispenser for dispensing articles from the carton. The dispenser includes a detachable portion of the carton formed from the top, side and end walls. The detachable portion is detachably connected to the top, side and end walls to be detached from the carton to define an opening for exposing an endmost article for removal. The carton of this aspect further comprises a tear initiation arrangement for grasping the detachable portion. The tear initiation arrangement is formed in one or more of the side walls to facilitate a cross-tearing motion of the detachable portion.
In a preferred embodiment, the detachable connection of the detachable portion comprises a frangible line of joinder for defining an edge of the opening. The tear initiation arrangement may comprise a hinged flap inwardly displaceable to define a finger aperture. Optionally, an edge of the finger aperture is provided by the frangible line of joinder to enable a user to grasp an edge of the detachable portion.
There may further comprise a bevelled corner panel between the top wall and the end wall to provide support to a user's finger when the detachable portion is griped during the cross-tearing action.
A third aspect of the invention provides a package comprising an article group formed of at least one tier of cylindrical articles disposed on sides thereof in a side-by-side parallel fashion and a carton disposed around the group. The carton comprises a top wall, a pair of opposed side walls connected to side edges of the top wall and an end wall interconnecting the side walls defining an upper corner of the carton, and an article dispenser for dispensing articles from the carton. The dispenser includes a detachable portion of the carton formed from the top, side and end walls. The detachable portion is detachably connected to the top, side and end walls to be detached from the carton to define an opening for exposing an endmost article for removal. In this aspect, the carton further comprises a tear initiation arrangement for grasping the detachable portion. The tear initiation arrangement is formed in one or more of the side walls to facilitate a cross-tearing motion of the detachable portion.
The carton may further comprise a tear-assisting arrangement formed at least in the end wall to enable the user to grip an article positioned within the detachable portion. The tear-assisting arrangement may include a hinged flap inwardly displaceable to define a finger aperture.
The carton may further comprise a bevelled corner panel to provide support for a user's finger when the detachable portion is griped by the user during the cross-tearing action of the detachable portion and/or removal of the article and detachable portion from the carton.
The detachable connection of the detachable portion may comprise a frangible line of joinder for defining an edge of the opening.
The article group may comprise two or more vertically arranged tiers of cylindrical articles. The articles in each tier may be disposed on their sides in a side-by-side parallel fashion, and the frangible line may be disposed across the opposite ends of an endmost article of the lowermost tier.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Referring to the drawings, there are shown cartons each having a dispenser for dispensing articles contained within the carton and blanks for forming the cartons. The blanks and cartons are formed from paperboard or other foldable sheet material, for example plastics material or the like, to which there has been added cut and fold lines. The cartons are used to hold one or more articles, for example cans or bottles, and to dispense the articles. In the illustrated embodiments a unitary blank is used to make a single carton, although it is envisaged that two or more blanks may be employed for example, to provide the dispenser or heel structure, described in more detail below.
Referring first to
Along each longitudinal edge, there comprises a series of end wall panels and flaps for forming an end wall of the carton. Each end wall is identical and therefore like references has been used, with the affix “a” or “b”. Therefore, only one end wall will now be described in any greater detail.
The rear end wall (i.e., the left end as viewed in
In one class of embodiments there further comprises bevelled panels between the top and end walls and/or the base and end walls such that in
In the embodiment of
A dispenser D is formed at one end of the blank which, in this embodiment, is provided by a plurality of panels formed from the respective end wall, opposed side walls 14 and 18 and top wall panel 16. In use, a trough T (
Turning to
Each finger punch-through arrangement S1, S2 is substantially the same and therefore the arrangement S1 will be described only. The punch-through arrangement S1 comprises a first panel 70b and a second panel 72b hingedly connected to second side wall panel 18 along fold lines 76b, 76b respectively. Each panel 70b, 72b is separated by the cut line 78 so that in use the panel 70b and 72b are pushed inwardly to allow the user to grasp the trough and, optionally the article positioned within the trough.
There may further comprise tear-assisting means in the form of additional or second finger punch-through arrangements S3, S4 for allowing a user to grab an article C and to pull it outwards with the trough T to remove it (and the trough T) from the carton as shown in FIG. 3. In this embodiment, the second finger punch-through arrangements S3, S4 are disposed astride fold lines 36b, 34b forming the corner between the end wall and the respective side wall panels 18, 14. Either second punch-through arrangement S3 or S4 may be used along with the adjacent first punch-through arrangement S1 or S2 to facilitate the user's grasping of the article positioned within the trough. For example, the thumb of the user's left hand may be pressed against the punch-through arrangement S3 to depress the front end wall while the forefinger of his left hand is inserted through the punch-through arrangement S1. By this means, the user can easily grasp the left end of the article.
The finger punch-through arrangement S4 comprises first and second panels 92a, 94a hingedly connected to end wall panel along fold lines 91a, 93a respectively and to side wall panel along fold lines 97a, 95a respectively. First and second panels 92a, 94a are separated from each other by cut line 90a to allow the panels 92a, 94a to flex out of alignment.
It will be seen from
In order to form the completed carrier from the blank, a series of sequential folding and gluing operations are required and will be described. The folding and gluing operations can be performed in one or more straight-line machines, so that the tray is not required to be rotated or inverted to complete its construction. The folding process is not limited to that described below and can be altered according to particular manufacturing requirements.
In order to construct an erected carton shown in
The flat tubular carton is expanded into an open ended tubular form. Articles, for example cans C, are loaded through one or both of the open ends of the carton and the end walls are formed to close the ends of the carton. As each end wall is substantially the same and the rear end wall will hereinafter be described.
First, support flaps 40a, 38a and 44a are folded inwardly along fold lines 42a, 39a and 46a respectively. Thereafter, the end wall panels 30a, 32a are followed inwardly along fold lines 34a and 36a respectively and they are secured together by glue or other suitable securing means. Preferably, the support panels are also secured to the inner surface of panels 30a and 32a to provide additional support to the end wall. The opposing end wall is constructed in the same manner, and shall not be described in any further detail. Thus, the carton is in a completed and closed condition, shown in
The trough T is integrally formed as an end portion of the carton to be detachable to form the dispenser D. The user grabs the trough T, by pushing his fingers through the finger punch-through arrangement S1 or S2 to engage the cusp of the trough T on the side wall and severs the trough T from the carton along the frangible line 68 using a cross tearing motion. By removing or detaching the trough T from the carton, the end portion of the carton is exposed to provide a dispensing opening O for the articles. One advantage of having the punch-through arrangements S1, S2 provided on the opposite side wall panels is that either right-handed or left-handed person can easily open the carton.
In those embodiments with or without secondary finger punch-through arrangements S3, S4, the consumer may grab the article, as well as the trough T to sever the trough T. Thus, the articles C are accessible through the opening O.
When the trough T is detached, the lower portion of the respective end wall forms a stopper wall that extends all the way between the side wall panels 14 and 18. The upper edge of the stopper wall 85 is defined by the frangible line 68 that is spaced above the bottom wall 12/20 at a maximum distance, for example, less than the diameter of the cans “C”. The stopper wall 85 (
The part of the frangible line 68 formed in each side wall panel is shaped to extend across the adjacent end of the endmost can “C” in the lower tier so as to partially expose, the opposite ends of the endmost can “C” as shown in
The position of each finger punch through arrangement is preferably in registry with the space at the center of four end cans, i.e., the two endmost cans and the two adjacent cans at the front end of the carton. This arrangement not only facilitates removal of the trough T but also assists in preventing a can from jumping out of, or being expelled from, the carton. The reason why it could be a “jumping can” preventer is that a consumer could hold the endmost can in the upper tier by inserting his pointing or middle finger through the punch-through arrangement and could use the endmost can as a tool for breaking the tear line 68. In this case, the endmost can is held by the consumer whilst the trough T is detached and therefore the can is not ejected from the carton.
A second embodiment of the invention is shown in
Along each longitudinal edge, there comprises a series of end wall panels and flaps for forming an end wall of the carton. Each end wall is identical and therefore like references has been used, with the affix “a” or “b”. Therefore, only one end will now be described in any greater detail.
The rear end wall (i.e., the left end wall as viewed in
Bevelled panels are provided, in some embodiments, between the top wall panel and end walls and/or the base wall panel and end walls such that in this embodiment there comprises a first bevelled panel 150a positioned intermediate end support flap 140a and base wall panel 112 and hingedly connected thereto along fold lines 142a and 152a. A second part of the first bevelled panel is provided by panel 154a hingedly connected to second base wall panel 120 and end support flap 144a along fold lines 146a and 156a. Preferably, there further comprises a second bevelled panel 158a hingedly interconnecting top wall panel 116 and end support flap 138a along fold lines 139a and 160a.
In the embodiment of
A dispenser D is formed at one end of the blank which, in this embodiment, is provided by a plurality of panels formed from end wall panels 130b, 132b, opposed side wall panels 114, 118 and top wall panel 116. In use, a trough L (or detachable portion) is removed from a corner portion of the side, end and opposite side wall panels to form the dispenser D shown in FIG. 7.
Returning to
The portion of the frangible line 168 in the end wall panels 130b, 132b (
The portion of the frangible line 168 formed in each side wall panel 114, 118 is shaped to extend across the adjacent end of the endmost article C in the lower tier so as to partially expose the opposite ends of the endmost can C as shown in
In this embodiment there comprises one or more finger punch-through arrangements, S1′, S2′ for grasping the trough L. Preferably a finger punch-through arrangement is struck from each side wall panel so that the trough L is displaced from the carton by using a cross-tearing motion. Each finger punch-through arrangement S1′, S2′ is substantially the same as those shown in
It will be seen from
In order to construct an erected carton shown in
The flat tubular carton is expanded into an open ended tubular form. Articles, for example cans C, are loaded through one or both of the open ends of the carton and the end walls are formed to close the ends of the carton. As each end wall is substantially the same, the rear end wall will hereinafter be described.
First, support flaps 140a, 138a and 144a are folded inwardly along fold lines 142a, 139a and 146a respectively. Thereafter, the end wall panels 130a, 132a are followed inwardly along fold lines 134a and 136a respectively and they are secured together by glue or other suitable securing means. Preferably, the support panels are also secured to the inner surface of the end wall panels 130a and 132a to provide additional support to the end wall. The opposing end wall, i.e., the front end wall, is constructed in the same manner, and shall not be described in any further detail. Thus, the carton is in a completed and closed condition, shown in
The trough L is integrally formed as an end portion of the carton to be removed to form the dispenser D (FIG. 7). The user grabs the trough L, by pushing his finger through either finger punch-through arrangement S1′ or S2′ to engage the edge of the trough L on the respective side wall and severs the trough L from the carton along the frangible line 168 using a cross tearing motion. Bevelled panel 158b can be used to support the user's thumb during the tearing motion, shown in FIG. 6. By removing the trough L from the carton, the end portion of the carton is exposed to provide a dispensing opening O for the articles as shown in FIG. 7. Thus, the articles C are accessible through the opening O.
Removing the article C from the trough L, shown in
This is achieved by orienting the trough L so that the corner formed at the intersection between panels 164 and 165 (or in those embodiments with bevelled panel 158b) is positioned lowermost point to define a recess R for receiving the lower-rear corner portion of the carton defined by base wall panel and the rear end wall opposite the dispenser as shown in FIG. 8.
The trough L is then engaged with the carton. In this embodiment, this is achieved by inserting a protruding part 180 of the trough L into the gap between the composite support flap 140a/144a and the composite end wall panel 130a/132a as illustrated in FIG. 8. Thus, the composite base wall 112/120 of the carton abuts the edge of the composite panel 165b/165a (
A third embodiment of the invention is shown in
In the embodiment of
In this embodiment, the rear support flaps 240a, 238a, 244a are hingedly connected to the end panels 230a, 232a by web panels 241a to improve the folding action of and construction of the end wall, described in more detail below. In addition, engagement flap 288 is provided to engage the heel in respect of the carton. Engagement flap 288 is hingedly connected to end wall panel 230a along fold line 286. The structure of the front end wall is identical to that of the rear end wall except that the front wall is free of the engagement flap 288.
Turning to the construction of the third embodiment of the blank shown in
In order to form the dispenser D (FIG. 13), the trough T is removed whereby the hand panel 287 is pushed inwardly by folding along fold line 289 and the user grips a portion of panel 264 and pulls the trough T to detach it from the remainder of the carton to reveal a dispenser opening O.
In order to construct the heel, the trough T is oriented in the same way as the second embodiment shown in
A fourth embodiment is shown in
It will be recognised that as used herein, directional references such as “top”, “base”, “end”, “side”, “inner”, “outer”, “front” and “rear” do not limit the respective panels to such orientation, but merely serve to distinguish these panels from one another. Any reference to hinged connection should not be construed as necessarily referring to a single fold line only: indeed it is envisaged that hinged connection can be formed from one or more of one of the following, a score line, a frangible line or a fold line, without departing from the scope of invention.
It should be understood that various changes may be made within the scope of the present invention, for example, the size and shape of the panels and apertures may be adjusted to accommodate articles of differing size or shape, alternative top and base closure structures may be used. The carton may accommodate more than one article in different arrays.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 20040188508 A1 | Sep 2004 | US |
