초록 ▼

The carton is provided for carrying cylindrical containers, such as cans in three or more layers and having open ends at the top and bottom of each end of the carton. A dispenser flap is formed by zigzag tear lines in the exiting end of the carton. The carton is constructed so that the ends of a can

The carton is provided for carrying cylindrical containers, such as cans in three or more layers and having open ends at the top and bottom of each end of the carton. A dispenser flap is formed by zigzag tear lines in the exiting end of the carton. The carton is constructed so that the ends of a can adjacent the exiting end of the carton are exposed and can be grasped by a person pulling the can forward or up and commencing the tear line forming the flap. Preferable this tear line is of a zigzag configuration, or step format with interruptions in the riser. Cut tear lines in the step permit the controlled tearing of the tear line.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed: 1. A carton for carrying twelve cans in three layers of four cans in each layer, with each can having a diameter and a top end and bottom end, the carton comprising; (a) a bottom panel, a top panel, said top and bottom panels being interconnected by adjoining side panels, said ends

What is claimed: 1. A carton for carrying twelve cans in three layers of four cans in each layer, with each can having a diameter and a top end and bottom end, the carton comprising; (a) a bottom panel, a top panel, said top and bottom panels being interconnected by adjoining side panels, said ends of said cans to be contained in the carton being adjacent said side panels, said carton having two ends, with an end flap attached to each end of each side panel, said end flaps on each end of the carton being adhered together by glue; (b) with said end flaps on each end of the carton having a top and bottom, with a top opening formed between the top of said end flaps on each end of the carton and said top panel, and a bottom opening formed between the bottom of said end flaps on each end of the carton and said bottom panel, each said opening being significantly smaller than the cans to be contained in the carton, each said side panel extending beyond the ends of said top and bottom panel with an arcuate opening in each side panel adjacent each end of the carton and the top panel and an arcuate opening in each side panel adjacent each end of the carton and the bottom panel; and (c) a tear line extending from each said arcuate opening in each side panel adjacent one end of the carton and the top panel; said tear lines converging toward each other and extending towards said bottom panel so as to form a dispensing flap that may at least be partially torn open by a person grasping the ends of a container adjacent said top opening through said arcuate openings, said tear lines having a zigzag configuration interspersed by interruptions in at least a portion of said tear lines so that the tear lines resist tearing when the carton is loaded with cans and subjected to the normal stresses imposed in carrying a carton loaded with cans. 2. A carton and a plurality of containers within the carton, the containers being arranged in at least three layers with a plurality of containers in each layer, with each container having two ends, a side wall connecting the two ends, and at least one diameter, the carton comprising: a bottom panel having a bottom panel exiting end; a top panel having a top panel exiting end; a first side panel having a first side panel exiting end; a second side panel having a second side panel exiting end, the top and bottom panels being adjacent to the first and second side panels; an exiting end panel having a first side connected to the first side panel exiting end, a second side connected to the second side panel exiting end, a top, and a bottom; a top end opening at least partially defined by the top of the exiting end panel and the top panel exiting end a first top side opening adjacent to the first side panel exiting end and the top panel exiting end; a second top side opening adjacent to the second side panel exiting end and the top panel exiting end; the first and second top side openings being of sufficient size to permit a person to grasp the ends of a container adjacent to the top side openings; a first tear line extending from the first top side opening into the exiting end panel; and a second tear line extending from the second top side opening into the exiting end panel, wherein the first and second tear lines converge toward each other and extend toward the bottom of the exiting end panel to at least partially form a dispensing flap, wherein the dispensing flap may be at least partially torn open by grasping and pulling an adjacent one of the containers. 3. The carton and a plurality of containers of claim 2, wherein pulling a first container out of the carton causes at least partial tearing of the tear lines, permitting a person to remove the containers from the carton. 4. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 2, wherein the first and second tear lines extend downwardly a sufficient distance towards the bottom of the exiting end panel to permit a person to grasp and remove a container in the layer above a bottom layer of the containers when the dispenser flap is fully open. 5. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 2, wherein the top end opening is continuous with the first and second top side openings. 6. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 2, wherein the first side panel exiting end and the second side panel exiting end extend toward the exiting end panel beyond the top panel exiting end. 7. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 6, wherein the top of the exiting end panel does not extend upwardly to a plane wherein the top panel lies. 8. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 2, wherein the top of the exiting end panel does not extend upwardly to a plane wherein the top panel lies. 9. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 2, wherein the top end opening extends a distance from the top panel exiting end to the top of the exiting end panel that is significantly less than the at least one diameter of the containers so as to prevent a container from automatically rolling out of the top end opening. 10. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 9, wherein the first side panel exiting end and the second side panel exiting end extend toward the exiting end panel beyond the top panel exiting end. 11. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 9, wherein the top of the exiting end panel does not extend to a plane wherein the top panel lies. 12. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 9, wherein the first tear line is of a zigzag configuration interspersed by a plurality of interruptions in at least a portion of the first tear line. 13. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 2, wherein the first tear line is of a zigzag configuration interspersed by a plurality of interruptions in at least a portion of the first tear line. 14. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 13, wherein the second tear line is of a zigzag configuration interspersed by a plurality of interruptions in at least a portion of the second tear line nearest the top panel exiting end. 15. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 14, wherein a fold line in the exiting end panel connects ends of the first and second tear lines. 16. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 15, wherein a converging portion of the first tear line is connected to a substantially vertical portion of the first tear line, with the substantially vertical portion having no significant interruptions extending to the fold line in the exiting end panel. 17. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 15, wherein the fold line is approximately a distance of 115 to 150 percent of the at least one diameter of the containers from the bottom panel. 18. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 13, wherein the first and second tear lines end a significant distance from the bottom of the exiting end panel. 19. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 12, wherein a bottom end opening is at least partially defined by the bottom of the exiting end panel and the bottom panel exiting end. 20. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 19, wherein a distance between the bottom of the exiting end panel and the exiting end of the bottom panel is significantly less than the at least one diameter of the containers so as to prevent containers from falling out of the bottom end opening. 21. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 20, further comprising: a first bottom side opening in the first side panel exiting end adjacent to the bottom panel; and a second bottom side opening in the second side panel exiting end adjacent to the bottom panel. 22. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 2, wherein the exiting end panel comprises a first flap and a second flap. 23. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 22, wherein the first flap is foldably connected to the first side panel and the second flap in foldably connected to the second side panel. 24. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 23, wherein a bottom end opening is formed between the bottom of the exiting end panel and the exiting end of the bottom panel, wherein a distance between the bottom of the exiting end panel and the exiting end of the bottom panel is significantly less than the at least one diameter of the containers so as to prevent containers from falling out of the bottom end opening. 25. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 24, further comprising: a first bottom side opening in the first side panel exiting end adjacent to the bottom panel; and a second bottom side opening in the second side panel exiting end adjacent to the bottom panel. 26. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 22, further comprising a pair of parallel fold lines extending between the first side panel and the first flap. 27. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 2, further comprising an end panel disposed at a non-exiting end of the carton and means to close the non-exiting end. 28. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 27, further comprising a top non-exiting end opening adjacent to a top of the non-exiting end panel and the top panel. 29. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 28, further comprising a bottom non-exiting end opening adjacent to a bottom of the non-exiting end panel and the bottom panel, the bottom non-exiting end opening extending a distance between the non-exiting end panel and the bottom panel that is significantly less than the at least one diameter of the containers. 30. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 2, further comprising a handle. 31. A carton and a plurality of containers within the carton, the containers being arranged in at least two layers with a plurality of containers in each layer, with each container having two ends, and a side wall having at least one diameter, the carton comprising: a bottom panel; a top panel having a top panel exiting end; a first side panel having a first side panel exiting end; a second side panel having a second side panel exiting end, the top and bottom panels being adjacent to the first and second panels, an exiting end panel having a first side connected to the first aide panel exiting end, a second side connected to the second side panel exiting end, a top, and a bottom; a top end opening at least partially defined by the top of the exiting end panel and the top panel exiting end; a first top side opening extending into the first side panel and into the top panel; a second top side opening extending into the second side panel into the top panel; a first tear line extending from the first top side opening into the exiting end panel; and a second tear line extending from the second top side opening into the exiting end panel, wherein the first and second tear lines converge towards one another to at least partially from a dispensing flap. 32. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 31, wherein the first tear line is of a zigzag configuration interspersed by a plurality of interruptions at least in a portion of the first tear line. 33. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 32, wherein the second tear line is of a zigzag configuration interspersed by a plurality of interruptions at least in a portion of the second tear line nearest the top panel exiting end. 34. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 33, wherein the top end opening is smaller than the containers. 35. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 34, wherein a bottom end opening Is at least partially defined by the bottom of the exiting end panel and the exiting end of the bottom panel. 36. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 32, wherein the first tear line comprises a series of stair steps, each stair step having a step and a riser portion, at least some of the stair steps having a tear line portion. 37. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 36, wherein the first tear line comprises at least some interruptions in the riser portions. 38. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 31, wherein the exiting end panel comprises a first flap and a second flap. 39. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 38, wherein the first flap is foldably connected to the first side panel and the second flap is foldably connected to the second side panel. 40. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 31, further comprising: an end panel disposed at a non-exiting end of the carton; and means to close the non-exiting end. 41. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 40, further comprising a top non-exiting end opening adjacent to a top of the non-exiting end panel and the top panel. 42. The carton and plurality of containers of claim 40, further comprising a bottom non-exiting end opening adjacent to a bottom of the non-exiting end panel and the bottom panel. 43. A method of opening a carton, comprising: providing a carton and a plurality of containers within the carton, the carton comprising: a bottom panel; a top panel; a first side panel; a second side panel; an exiting end panel; at least one opening and at least one tear line at least partially defining a dispensing flap; and grasping one of the containers through the at least one opening and pulling the container from the carton, the pulling also tearing the at least one tear line and opening the dispensing flap. 44. The method of claim 43, wherein the at least one opening comprises: a first top side opening adjacent to a first side panel exiting end and an exiting end of the top panel; and a second top side opening adjacent to a second side panel exiting end and to the top panel exiting end, the first and second top side openings being of sufficient size to permit a person to grasp opposite ends of at least one of the containers located adjacent to the top side openings. 45. The method of claim 43, wherein the at least one opening further comprises a top end opening that is at least partially defined by an exiting end of the top panel and a top of the exiting end panel. 46. The method of claim 45, wherein the containers have at least one common diameter, and wherein the top end opening extends a distance from the top panel citing end to the top of the exiting end panel that is significantly less than the at least one common diameter so as to prevent a container from automatically rolling out of the top end opening. 47. The method of claim 46, wherein the at least one tear line comprises; a first tear line of a zigzag configuration interspersed by a plurality of interruptions in at least a portion of the first tear line; and a second tear line of a zigzag configuration interspersed by a plurality of interruptions in at least a portion of the second tear line. 48. The method of claim 47, wherein a fold line connects ends of the first and second tear lines, the fold line being a distance of approximately 115 to 150 percent of the at least one common diameter from the bottom panel. 49. The method of claim 43, wherein grasping one of the containers through the at least one opening comprises grasping opposite ends of one of the containers. 50. The method of claim 43, wherein the containers are generally cylindrical and are arranged in multiple layers with a plurality of containers in each layer.