Patent Grant
7328798
This invention relates generally to cartons for packaging multiple articles such as beverage cans or bottles, and more particularly, to a paperboard carton with a two-step opening feature for providing an article dispenser with an enlargeable access opening through which one or more articles in the carton may be dispensed at once.
Cartons for encasing and dispensing multiple articles such as soft drink cans or bottles are useful for enabling consumers to transport, store, and access the articles for consumption. The consumer typically prefers the flexibility to easily access the articles one at a time. To that end, some cartons have dispensers which allow one or more articles to be removed, while continuing to encase the remaining articles. The consumer tears out a portion of the carton to form an opening from which articles may be dispensed.
Such beverage cartons with article dispensers are known in the art. Typically, the article dispenser is defined by a relatively large detachable section of carton that is torn away from the carton by breaking a perforated line. It can be difficult to separate a single detachable section, as the force required to remove the detachable section can easily cause the detachable section to be undesirably ripped into two or more pieces. The user then must tear away the individual pieces or use the dispenser with the remnants of the detachable section in place.
What is needed, therefore, is a carton that is provided with an improved article dispenser having an opening that is large enough to remove articles one or more at a time, but is more convenient to open. Such a carton should have a user-friendly means for grasping and removing the removable portion, as well as a reliable article stopper.
The present invention advantageously reduces the effort required to access articles in a carton and improves the retention of articles remaining in the carton. More specifically, the present invention provides a carton with a dispenser having multiple detachable portions that border one another at one end of the carton. The detachable portions may be separately and at least partially detached from the carton to define an opening for dispensing articles and to restrain articles remaining in the carton.
Generally described, a plurality of panels are connected together to form the carton of the present invention. At least three of the panels are adjacent to one another. When the carton is erected, the panels cooperate to form carton walls for encasing a plurality of articles.
According to one aspect of the invention, the carton includes at least one first detachable portion that facilitates at least partial removal of at least one second at least partially detachable portion. The first detachable portion is a substantially integral portion of the carton that is formed from at least a portion of adjacent first and second carton walls. After removal of the first detachable portion, at least one adjacent part of one or both of the first and second walls remains intact. Removal of the first detachable portion exposes at least one edge of the second detachable portion, which then can be used as a more convenient handhold for initiating and effecting at least partial removal of the second detachable portion.
In certain embodiments, the first detachable portion is a tear strip, at least partial removal of which at least partially defines an opening for dispensing articles and/or facilitates access to the second detachable portion. The second detachable portion can be yieldable, thereby allowing selective removal of articles from the carton while preventing articles from undesirably rolling or falling out of the carton, and may be completely detached when it is no longer needed to retain articles in the carton. For example, the second detachable portion can function as a detachable retention means for yieldably restraining articles in an upper row of the carton. Completely detaching the second detachable portion defines at least one edge of an integral retention means, such as an article stopper comprising portions of an end and sides of the carton. In accordance with the previous example, such an article stopper may rigidly restrain articles in a lower row of the carton after articles in the upper row no longer require the support of the second detachable portion to avoid the risk of falling out.
The second detachable portion may be only partially detachable so as to become a yieldable portion that variably and reversibly reconfigures (that is, enlarges and reduces) the opening, and restrains the articles within the carton after the first detachable portion has been removed. The carton may include more than one second detachable portion, each functioning to restrain at least a portion of at least one article.
According to another aspect of the invention, the first detachable portion is defined by a first severance line that is readily or easily broken, such as a frangible line weakened by perforations or cuts to facilitate tearing or breaking along the frangible line. The first detachable portion is preferably sufficiently wide to define a space between the adjacent carton wall and at least one edge of the second detachable portion, with the space being adequate to accommodate insertion of one or all of the consumer's fingers so that the consumer can grasp the second detachable portion for complete or partial detachment thereof. The first detachable portion is preferably at least sufficiently long to expose at least one entire edge of the second detachable portion, so that the consumer can grasp and pull the entire edge to reduce the chance of inadvertently bifurcating the second detachable portion when defining or reconfiguring the opening in the carton by either removing or partially detaching the second detachable portion. In some embodiments, the first detachable portion may be positioned such that one lengthwise edge of the first detachable portion is defined by and coincident with at least a portion of an edge of one or more carton walls. It will be appreciated that the first detachable portion may also be yieldable.
According to an aspect of certain embodiments of the invention, the second detachable portion is defined at least in part by the first severance line and a second severance line that enables the second detachable portion to be completely detached from the carton. The second detachable portion may be completely detached from the carton while preserving the ability of the then open carton to restrain the articles remaining therein. In certain embodiments, the second detachable portion is formed at least in part from an end wall. The end wall is more precisely an end closure structure formed from end panels hingedly connected to the carton walls. The first detachable portion may be detached from the carton without disturbing the integrity of at least a portion of the end wall. Thus, at least part of the end wall preferably remains in at least a partially upright position after the first detachable portion is detached and functions as an article retainer or stopper for blocking undesired exit of articles through the opening created by the detachment of the first detachable portion. In certain other embodiments, the second detachable portion is formed from a portion of two or more adjacent walls. Removal of the second detachable portion defines a rigid retention means defined by the remaining portions of the two or more adjacent walls.
According to an aspect of certain other embodiments of the invention, the second detachable portion is made partially detachable and yieldable by means of one or more separation means, such as severance lines, friction joints, perforations, tear tapes, or any other suitable separating mechanism that will be well known by those skilled in the art or is yet to be developed. Each separation means spans the distance from the first severance line to a wall adjacent to the first and second walls, and facilitates at least partial detachment or yielding movement of the second detachable portion. Thus, the second detachable portion is defined at least in part by the first severance line, by separation means, and by one or more fold lines that are integral to, or at an edge of an adjacent wall. Partial detachment frees the second detachable portion to yield so as to enlarge the opening when articles are being dispensed, and to reverse the enlargement by reducing the opening to prevent articles from falling through the dispenser opening when articles are not being dispensed. The reversal may be effected manually or automatically by means of the resilient memory of the carton material.
According to another aspect of the invention, removal or repositioning of the second detachable portion defines or reconfigures an opening for dispensing articles from the carton.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, removal or repositioning of the second detachable portion defines or creates a retention means for retaining articles in the carton.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the carton is formed from a blank having a first severance line at one end of the blank for defining the first detachable portion, as a well as a second severance line or severance means at the end of the blank that define the second detachable portion.
In certain embodiments, the first severance line is continuous and defines the first detachable portion as a relatively narrow and relatively long tear strip that is oriented transversely at least partially across the first side wall, completely across the top wall, and at least partially across the second side wall. At least a portion of one edge along the length of the first severance line is defined by and is coincident to the second severance line. The second severance line extends across at least a portion of an end flap hingedly connected to a first side wall, the second severance line originating on the distal edge and extending across the proximal edge of the first side end flap and onto the adjacent first side wall. The second severance line continues transversely from the first side wall, across the top wall, and then at least partially across the second side wall. The second severance line then turns and continues toward a second side end flap, terminating at the distal edge of the second end flap.
In certain other embodiments, the first severance line includes multiple frangible lines that extend across at least a portion of the second wall, which comprises end flaps and end wall panels. One such frangible line originates either on one side or on the distal end of its respective end flap and terminates on the other side of the end flap from which it originated. Another frangible line extends from the distal end of the end flap of the first panel onto the first panel and turns back to terminate at another point on the distal end of the end flap from which it originated. In certain embodiments, an additional frangible line extends from the distal end to the proximal edge of an end flap of the panel opposite the first panel. The frangible lines cooperate with one another when the carton is erected and the end flaps are folded together to define the first detachable portion.
In these embodiments, the blank also includes a fold line extending across or along an edge of at least a portion of at least one panel that is adjacent to the first and second walls of the erected carton. The fold line defines an axis of motion around which the second detachable portion can yield after the second detachable portion has been partially detached via the separation means, the separation means extending from the first severance means to or substantially near an end of the fold line in the adjacent panel.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, the first detachable portion has a tear initiation means connected or adjacent to at least one end to facilitate removal of the first detachable portion. Suitable tear initiation means include, but are not limited to, a push tab, a pull tab, flap, loop, any combination of tabs, loops or flaps, or an equivalent structure for gripping or grasping an end of a relatively thin or narrow structure. In the exemplary embodiments, the tear initiation means is formed by any combination of cuts, scores, and half cuts, and is integral to a carton wall and disposed at an end of the tear strip. For example, the tear initiation means can comprise a score line forming a substantially semicircular or triangular region, although other shapes may be used, that is bisected by a cut line or a frangible line such that a finger could penetrate the carton by applying pressure at the bisecting line thereby folding back the segments of the bisected semicircular or triangular region, thereby accessing the adjacent end of the first detachable portion. Once the finger is inside the carton and in contact with the first detachable portion, the finger can hook underneath the first detachable portion to pull outwardly, or a finger and a thumb can grasp the end of the first detachable portion, thereby initiating a tear to remove the first detachable portion. As another example, the tear initiation means comprises a frangible line forming a substantially semicircular tab (although other shapes may be used) through which a finger hole is disposed, the finger hole being defined by a substantially circular cutout, half-cut line, or other frangible line, such that a finger can penetrate the carton through the cutout, or by applying pressure to the frangible line (thereby displacing the small substantially circular portion of the carton bounded by the frangible line). In these embodiments, the tab is integral to and is a continuous portion of the end of the first detachable portion. Thus, by grasping and pulling the tab via the finger hole, the consumer can remove the entire tear strip.
The foregoing has broadly outlined some of the more pertinent aspects and features of the present invention. These should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the invention. Other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed information in a different manner or by modifying the disclosed embodiments. Accordingly, other aspects and a more comprehensive understanding of the invention may be obtained by referring to the detailed description of the exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims.
Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, the drawings show exemplary embodiments of cartons that illustrate certain of the various aspects of the present invention. In the embodiments described herein, the cartons are for dispensing articles such as beverage cans. Generally described, the cartons are formed from a foldable sheet material such as paperboard, corrugated board, plastic, or the like.
Referring to a first embodiment shown as
Each of the panels 102, 104, 106, 108, and 110 includes opposing end flaps or end wall panels defined in part by transverse fold lines disposed in series along each longitudinal edge of the blank 100. When the carton 200 is erected, the end flaps and end wall panels cooperate to form an end closure structure. Each end closure structure is identical and therefore like references have been used, with “a” or “b” affixed to distinguish one end of the carton from the other. First bottom panel 102 is hingedly connected to end flap 120a along a fold line 122a. First side panel 104 is hingedly connected to end wall panel 124a along fold line 126a. Second side panel 106 is hingedly connected to end wall panel 128a along fold line 130a. Top panel 108 is hingedly connected to end flap 132a along fold line 134a. Second bottom panel 110 is hingedly connected to end flap 136a along fold line 138a.
In order to erect the carton 200, first bottom panel 102 is glued or is otherwise secured to second bottom panel 110, to form the composite bottom wall 102/110 of open ended tubular carton 200. After the articles are grouped and loaded through either or both of the open ends of the carton 200, the end flaps and end wall panels are folded and secured together to form opposing end closure structures of carton 200. End flap 120a is secured to end flap 136a whereas end wall panel 124a is secured to end wall panel 128a. Additionally, end flaps 120a, 132a, and 136a may optionally support the integrity of the carton by being secured to end wall panel 124a and to end wall panel 128a. The end flaps 120b, 132b and 136b, and end wall panels 124b and 128b, cooperate similarly to form the opposing end closure structure. Referring now to
The cartons illustrated in the drawings are adapted to hold a group of similarly dimensioned, preferably cylindrical articles (such as cans or bottles), in one or more vertically arranged rows and one or more horizontally arranged columns. The articles in each row are disposed on their sides in a side-by-side parallel fashion. Referring again to
Referring again to
The blank 100 further comprises a suitable known handle H to allow the user to carry the carton.
The blank 100 also includes at least one relatively long and relatively narrow removable tear strip 142 defined by a second frangible severance line 144, at least a portion of which is coincident with severance line 140. In preferred embodiments, a portion of severance line 144 defining one entire side of tear strip 142, i.e., a segment that spans the entire length of tear strip 142 is coincident with the upper edge 146 of severance line 140 as viewed in
The blank 100 preferably includes one or more tear or severance initiation means 148, such as push tabs that function as a grasping means for grasping the end of the tear strip, shown in more detail in
To open the carton of
Detachment of the detachable portion T defines opening O and forms side wall recesses 404 and 406 that are not identical to one another. Rather, the lowest point of side wall recess 404 is distanced from composite bottom wall 102/110 by less than or equal to half the diameter of an article C. The lowest point of side wall recess 406 is distanced from composite bottom wall 102/110 by greater than or equal to the diameter of an article C. Thus, because of the depth of recess 404 a user can easily access the articles on the lowermost row of the carton 200 by grasping the article C at the end of the article that is adjacent to side wall 204. The relatively shallower recess 406 provides additional stability and capacity for retaining articles in the carton 200.
The lower portion of the front end wall 202a forms a stopper wall 412 that extends upwardly from the composite bottom wall 102/110 between the side walls 204 and 206. The upper edge 414 of the stopper wall 412 as defined by the end wall section of severance line 140 slopes or curves substantially diagonally from its lowest point (less than or equal to one half the diameter of one article) at fold line 130a to its highest point (greater than or equal to the diameter of one article) at fold line 126a. Thus, the stopper wall 412 prevents the articles C in the lowermost row from inadvertently exiting the carton 200 before intended removal.
The blank 500 further comprises a suitable known handle H2 to allow the user to carry the carton.
Referring now to
By removing or detaching the detachable portion T2, the end portion of the carton is exposed to provide dispenser opening O2 for the articles so that the user can gain access to the articles C in the uppermost row. Furthermore, the lower portion of the front end wall 602a forms a stopper wall 612 that extends upwardly from the composite bottom wall 502/510 between the side walls 604 and 605. The upper edge 614 of the stopper wall 612 is defined by the end wall section of severance line 540 so that the stopper wall 612 alone is capable of inhibiting the articles C in the lowermost row or rows from inadvertently exiting the carton 600 before intended removal, and so that the contents of the carton 600 are easily viewed through the dispenser opening O2. The highest point along the upper edge 614 is spaced at a distance S above the composite bottom wall 502/510, where S is greater than or preferably substantially equal to the diameter of one article C. The distance S is greater than the distance R.
To define second detachable portion T3 (which comprises at least portions of end wall panels 724a and 736a and end flap 732a), the severance line 740 curves from the distal edge of end wall panel 724a towards (without reaching) bottom panel 702, turns to follow fold line 724a toward top panel 708 along an edge of side panel 704, follows fold line 732a toward side panel 706 along an edge of top panel 708, follows a portion of fold line 738a toward edge flap 710, and turns toward the distal edge of end wall panel 736a, while curving towards end flap 732a. As shown in
Blank 700 also includes an alternative severance initiation means 748, which is a tab 750 through which is disposed a finger hole 752 that is defined by a cut or severable line 754. Thus, the grasping means 748 is essentially a loop. Although the tab 750 shown is semicircular or rounded, any shape through which the finger hole 752 of suitable size can be disposed can be utilized. To remove the tear strip 742, the user simply inserts a finger into finger hole 752, preferably displacing the center section, and pulls the tear strip 742, which is integral to the grasping means 748. As the figure illustrates, prior to being accessed, the finger hole 752 may be occluded to prevent infiltration of light and debris. The occluding material may include fold lines to facilitate its being punched out to access finger hole 752.
The blank 700 further comprises a suitable handle H3 to allow the user to carry the carton.
Referring now to
Referring again to
Referring to
To define portion 1050, the frangible line 1044 extends from the distal end of end flap 1032a, across fold line 1034a, onto the top panel 1008, and then turns back without intersecting itself to again cross fold line 1034a and to terminate at another point on the distal end of the same end flap 1032a. Therefore, frangible line 1044 is intersected twice by fold line 1034a. The portion 1050 includes a peak just above the uppermost fold line 1052. When pressed, the peak collapses inwardly along the uppermost fold line 1052 to form a tab that can be grasped to remove portion 1050 along frangible line 1044.
Frangible lines 1042 and 1046 extend at least partially across each of the end wall panels 1024a and 1028a of opposing side panels 1004 and 1006, originating on one side edge each respective end wall panel and terminating on the opposite side edge of the end wall panel from which it originated. Each of frangible lines 1040 and 1048 extends from the respective distal end of end flap 1020a or 1036a to its adjacent panel 1002 or 1010. Frangible lines 1074 and 1076 free the lower end of the fully detachable portion.
Portions of the frangible line 1044 across end flap 1032a and adjacent fold line 1034a are preferably arched or curved somewhat inward relative to one another so that the portion 1050 is somewhat narrower at the distal ends of end flap 1032a. Referring now to
As can be seen in
Each separation means 1062, 1064, 1066, and 1068 is positioned at or near a natural stress point that would occur on a carton having no separation means if a user were to attempt to remove an article through the opening formed by removal of fully detachable portion 1050. In preferred embodiments, the dimensions and positioning of partially detachable portions 1142, 1144 are also related to the dimensions of the articles (not shown) enclosed within carton 1100. Each of partially detachable portions 1142, 1144 has a depth, as defined as the distance D1 from the respective separation means 1064, 1066 to the end closure structure 1102a, measured along respective fold lines 1014, 1016. The distance D1 is preferably less than or substantially equal to the diameter of one cylindrical article. Each of partially detachable portions 1142, 1144 has a height that is defined as the distance D2 from the respective separation means 1062, 1068 to the top wall 1108, as measured along fold line 1026a, 1030a. The distance D2 is preferably also less than or substantially equal to the diameter of one cylindrical article. It should be noted that the dimensions of the partially detachable portions of the embodiments shown in
Partial detachment of yieldable second detachable portions 1142, 1144 allows movement of thereof along fold lines 1070, 1072 in each respective side wall 1104, 1106. Partially detachable yieldable portion 1142 is defined by frangible line 1046, separation means 1068, fold line 1072, separation means 1066, and a portion of frangible line 1140. Similarly, partially detachable yieldable portion 1144 is defined by frangible line 1042, separation means 1062, fold line 1070, separation means 1064, and a portion of frangible line 1140.
In a variation of the embodiment shown in
As shown in
Separation means 1764 and 1766 extend from severance line 1840 and terminate at respective fold line 1726a, 1730a bordering the side wall 1806 or 1804 that is adjacent to each yieldable portion 1842, 1844. Separation means 1764 and 1766 thereby enable variable and reversible movement of yieldable portions 1842, 1844 along the hinged edge that joins the remaining section of respective end wall panel 1724a, 1728a to the adjacent side wall 1704, 1706.
According to an aspect of this embodiment, yieldable portions 1842, 1844 are preferably partially detachable and therefore made yieldable somewhat automatically. The consumer first removes fully detachable portion 1750 via severance line 1840. In the version of the embodiment that is shown in the Figures, the consumer may utilize tear initiation means 1748 to grasp and remove fully detachable portion 1750. At this point, the carton 1800 is open and the endmost article is exposed to the consumer. Upon grasping the endmost article, the consumer preferably pulls the article out of the opening thereby displacing the yieldable portions 1842, 1844 outwardly. When the consumer is removing articles from the carton 1800, the yieldable portions 1842, 1844 yield so as to enlarge the opening to allow release of the articles. However, once an article has been removed, the yieldable portions 1842, 1844 revert back into substantially the original position to retain the remaining articles in the carton 1800.
It will be appreciated that composite end flap 1720a of carton 1800 includes a notch 1770 that may be substantially semicircular, and which remains after the fully detachable portion 1750 has been removed to serve at least in part to provide an additional access point for a consumer to insert a thumb or finger to aid in grasping an article from the bottom of the carton 1800, and also serves restrain articles in carton 1800 in conjunction with yieldable portions 1842, 1844 and the lower portions 1846, 1848 of end wall panels 1724a and 1728a that remain after fully detachable portion 1750 has been removed. It should also be noted that upper end flap 1732a is notched on either distal corner to minimize the overlap and to prevent undesired adhesion of the upper end flap 1732a to yieldable portions 1742, 1744. Thus, when the consumer first removes an article from the newly opened carton 1800, a minimal amount of force is required to partially detach the yieldable portions 1742, 1744 due to the minimal overlap and to separation means 1764, 1766.
The separation means 1764 and 1766 are positioned at or near natural stress points that would occur on a similar carton having no separation means if a user were to attempt to remove an article through the opening formed by removal of fully detachable portion 1750. In preferred embodiments, the dimensions and positioning of yieldable portions 1742, 1744 are also related to the dimensions of the articles enclosed within the carton 1800. Each of yieldable portions 1742, 1744 has a height that is defined as the distance D2 from the respective separation means 1764, 1766 to the top wall 1808, as measured along fold lines 1726a, 1730a. The distance D2 is preferably less than or substantially equal to the diameter of one cylindrical article.
Removal of first detachable portion 1750 from carton 1800 defines an opening for dispensing articles and defines an edge of yieldable portions 1842, 1844 for selectively retaining or facilitating dispensing of articles. Upon removing detachable portion 1050, the article C is prevented from accidentally rolling out of the carton 1900 through the opening by yieldable portion 1142 and by yieldable portion 1144, as shown in
Separation means 1062, 1064, 1066, 1068 are preferably extensively more weakened than the severance line 1140 to allow easier separation of the partially detachable portions 1142, 1144 from the adjacent walls. As shown in
The blank 2100 includes frangible severance lines 2122a, 2142, 2144; 2146, 2148 and 2176 which when the carton is erected, form a continuous frangible severance line 2240 (shown in
In certain embodiments, to facilitate removal of a portion of end flap 2136a along with detachable portion 2150, and to discourage separation of the adhesive or other means used to secure end flap 2136a to end flap 2120a, severance line 2148 may be relatively weaker than the other severance lines and/or the adhesive may be relatively stronger than severance line 2148.
The blank 2100 further comprises a suitable known handle H to allow the user to carry the carton. Certain embodiments also include one or more horizontal score lines such as fold line 2152 to facilitate the initiation of a tear for detachment of detachable portion 2150.
In certain embodiments, the dimensions and positioning of the yieldable portion 2204 are also related to the dimensions of the articles enclosed within carton 2200. Yieldable portion 2242 has a depth, as defined as the distance D1 from the separation means 2164 to the end wall 2202a, measured along fold line 2114. The distance D1 is preferably less than or substantially equal to the diameter of one cylindrical article. Yieldable portion 2242 has a height that is defined as the distance D2, which is preferably equal to at least a portion of the total height of the carton 2200, and further, is preferably equal to the diameter of one cylindrical article multiplied by the number of rows of articles in the article group enclosed by the carton 2200.
As can be seen in
According to an aspect of the invention, yieldable portion 2242 may be partially detachable and therefore made yieldable somewhat automatically. The consumer first removes detachable portion 2150 via continuous frangible line 2240. At this point, the carton 2200 is open and the endmost article is exposed to the consumer. Upon grasping the endmost article, the consumer preferably pushes the article toward the yieldable portion 2242, thereby displacing the yieldable portion 2242 outwardly via separation means 2208, and along fold line 2170. When the consumer is removing an article from the carton 2200, the yieldable portion 2242 thus yields so as to enlarge the opening to allow release of the articles. The rigid portion 2226 at the same time retains the next article in the carton while the first article is being removed. The fold line 2170 is preferably scored only as deeply as necessary to define the fold line, facilitate yielding of the yieldable portion 2242, and to preserve the resiliency and memory of the side wall 2204 such that the yieldable portion 2242 springs back into place before the next article has the opportunity to escape the rigid portion 2226 of the retention means. Thus, once an article has been removed, the yieldable portion 2204 reverts back into substantially the original position to retain the remaining articles in the carton 2200. Separation means 2164 is preferably extensively more weakened than the remainder of the continuous frangible line 2240 to allow easier separation of the partially detachable yieldable portion 2242 from the side wall 2204. As shown in
Removal of detachable portion 2150, 2154, 2156, 2158 from carton 2200 defines an opening for dispensing articles. For example, as shown in
Each exemplary carton 200, 600, 800, 1100, 1400, 1600, 1800, 2200 described herein includes at least three adjacent carton walls. A detachable portion 142, 542, 742, 1050, 1250, 1350, 1550, 1750, 2150 defined by a severance line is formed at least from the first and second walls. The first wall may be an end wall or top wall. The second wall may be a top wall or side wall. The third wall may be a side, top or end wall. In certain embodiments, at least one separation means extends from the severance line to the third wall to facilitate yielding movement of a yieldable second detachable portion of the carton, adjacent to the removable portion. The yieldable portion is at least partially detachable and is defined at least in part by the at least one of separation means and in part by a fold line that is formed in or at an edge of the third wall. The separation means may be a severance line or a friction joint between two adjacent walls. In certain embodiments, the first detachable portion extends into a fourth wall that is opposite the second wall.
However, it should be understood that the orientation of the elements can be varied according to the needs of the consumer, particularly with respect to configuration of storage and refrigeration units. As an example, depending on the application, the first detachable portion of a carton may extend across a side and an end panel, and one or more yieldable portions may be hingedly connected to a top panel and an end panel. Furthermore, carton 2200 demonstrates that a single yieldable portion formed substantially on one side of a carton is effective to dispense and retain articles in the carton.
The present invention has been illustrated in relation to a particular embodiment that is intended in all respects to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention is capable of many modifications and variations without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is described by the claims appended hereto and supported by the foregoing.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/717,254 filed on Nov. 19, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,073,665 the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. This application also claims the benefit of the filing dates of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/615,379, filed on Sep. 30, 2004; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/615,927, filed on Oct. 4, 2004; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/615,928, filed on Oct. 4, 2004; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/617,533, filed on Oct. 8, 2004, the entirety of each is incorporated herein by reference.
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| 60615927 | Oct 2004 | US | |
| 60615379 | Sep 2004 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10717254 | Nov 2003 | US |
| Child | 11047280 | US |
