WO2006047736A2

WO2006047736A2 - Dispensing carton

Info

Publication number: WO2006047736A2
Application number: PCT/US2005/038962
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Michel Auclair
Original assignee: Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems Llc
Priority date: 2004-10-27
Filing date: 2005-10-27
Publication date: 2006-05-04
Also published as: WO2006047736A3; GB0423853D0; EP1814790A2

Abstract

A carton (10) for dispensing articles is provided with a partition structure (54, 56) transversely to the carton (10) for restraining articles from moving from one part of the carton to the other. To erect the carton, a plurality of panels is connected together in a partition structure bonded to wall panels of the carton so that, when the carton is erected, the partition structure is automatically erected perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the carton. The wall panels of the carton to which the partition structure is not bonded may be provided with longitudinal fold lines to facilitate collapse and erection of the carton.

Description

DISPENSING CARTON

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to paperboard cartons for use in packaging articles and, more particularly, relates to a dispensing carton with an opening for dispensing and restraining articles as desired within the carton.

Background of the Invention

Cartons are useful for allowing consumers to purchase, transport and store a desired quantity of articles such as soft drinks. For example, there are typically multiple rows or tiers of articles, one above the other, carried within the carton, which may be of a size and shape to fit into a refrigerator, from where the articles can be removed from the container. For the convenience of the consumer, some cartons have dispensers which allow the articles to be removed one at a time while continuing to encase the remaining articles. In such a configuration, a portion of the carton is torn out to form an opening from which articles may be dispensed.

Unfortunately, it is often the case that the last or last few articles in the carton remain at the rear of the container where it can be difficult, or at least inconvenient, to reach, especially for persons with limited reach, for example children.

Therefore, there is a need for a carton having an improved access structure that facilitates easy access to the last articles in the container.

Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a carton for articles, such as cans or bottles, comprising a generally tubular structure formed from a top wall, a bottom wall and a pair of side walls connecting together the top and bottom wall, an end closure structure at each end of the carton which at least partially closes the ends of the tubular structure to secure the articles therein, the carton further comprising a partition structure arranged perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the carton to thereby divide the carton into two portions to prevent articles in one portion from moving into the other portion, characterised in that the partition structure is hingedly connected to two opposed walls of the carton such that it is erectable and collapsible automatically with erection and collapse of the carton.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a carton blank comprising a series of main panels including a first side wall panel, a top wall panel, a second side wall panel and a bottom wall panel hinged one to the next and adapted to form a generally tubular structure, an end flap hingedly connected along a fold line to at least one of said wall panels to form an end closure structure for at least partially closing each end of said carton when said carton is erected, and a partition structure hingedly connected to two opposed wall panels of the carton such that it is erectable automatically with erection of the carton so as to extend perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the carton to thereby divide the carton into two portions to prevent articles in one portion from moving into the other portion.

According to a third aspect, the invention provides a package comprising an article group, and a carton disposed around said group, said carton comprising a generally tubular structure formed from a top wall, a bottom wall and a pair of side walls connecting together the top and bottom wall, an end closure structure at each end of the carton which at least partially closes the ends of the tubular structure to secure the articles therein, the carton further comprising a partition structure arranged perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the carton to thereby divide the carton into two portions to prevent articles in one portion from moving into the other portion, characterised in that the partition structure is hingedly connected to two opposed walls of the carton such that it is erectable and collapsible automatically with erection and collapse of the carton.

hi one embodiment, the partition structure is hingedly connected to the top and bottom walls of the carton. Alternatively, the partition structure may be hingedly connected to the side walls of the carton. In a preferred embodiment, the partition structure comprises a first partition structure support panel connected to one of the walls of the carton, a second partition structure support panel connected to an opposed one of the walls of the carton, and two partition structure panels extending between the first and second partition structure support panels and being hingedly connected to each other and to the first and second partition structure support panels.

The two opposed walls of the carton to which the partition structure is not hingedly connected may each be provided with at least one longitudinal fold line to enable the carton to be collapsed to a substantially flat configuration.

Preferably, each end closure structure of the carton is provided with access means for facilitating removal of the carton contents.

Each of the access means may comprise at least a first access portion comprising a portion of the respective end closure structure and adjacent, integral portions of the side walls which first access portion can be divorced as a unit from that end of the carton.

Preferably, removal of the first access portion leaves remaining upper and lower portions of said end closure structure so that the remaining lower portion provides an abutment to restrain egress of articles from the carton

In one embodiment, the access means further comprises a second access portion comprising at least part of the remaining upper portion of the respective end closure structure and adjacent, integral portions of the top and side walls which second access portion can be at least partially detached from the carton to facilitate removal of articles therefrom.

Preferably, the second access portion is completely detachable from the carton. Alternatively, the second access portion may remain hingedly attached to the top wall of the carton and can be folded back so that said remaining upper portion provides an abutment to restrain egress of articles from the carton. In one embodiment of the carton blank, said partition structure comprises a first partition structure support panel extending from a longitudinal edge of the blank so as to be connectable to one of the wall panels when the carton is formed into a tubular structure, two partition structure panels extending from the first partition structure support panel in a longitudinal direction and being hingedly connected to each other and to the first partition structure support panel, and a second partition structure support panel extending from the partition structure panels in a longitudinal direction and being hingedly connected thereto, so as to be connectable to the wall panel opposite to the one to which the first partition structure support panel is connected when the carton is formed into a tubular structure.

In one preferred embodiment, the article group is formed of at least two tiers of cylindrical articles, each of said tiers including a plurality of said articles disposed on sides thereof in a side-by-side parallel fashion.

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 embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

One embodiment of the invention will now be more fully described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a plan view of one embodiment of a blank for forming the carton of the present invention;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 illustrate stages in the formation of the carton from the blank of FIG. 1; Fig. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the central portion of the carton during its formation;

Fig. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the central portion of the carton, similar to that of FIG. 5, but after its formation is complete;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a carton of the present invention formed from the blank of Fig. 1, with one end open showing the interior thereof;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the carton of Fig. 7 with both ends closed; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the carton of Fig. 7 having a first access portion detached and a second access portion partially detached from the carton to provide an opening for dispensing articles from the carton.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, the drawings illustrate one exemplary embodiment of a cartons 10 for dispensing articles such as beverage cans 2.

Generally described, the carton 10 is formed from a foldable sheet material such as a paperboard blank. More particularly, carton 10 is formed from a paperboard blank 12 configured as shown in Fig. 1. The blank 12 includes at least four primary panels for forming the carton 10. The panels of the blank 12 are a bottom panel 14, a first side panel 16, a second side panel 18, and a top panel 20. As shown in Fig. 1, the panels of the blank 12 are hingedly connected in series to one another. The first side panel 16 is hingedly connected to the top panel 14 by fold line 22. The top panel 14 is then hingedly connected to the second side panel 18 by fold line 24. The second side panel 18 is then hingedly connected to the top panel 20 by fold line 26. Each of the panels 14, 16, 18 and 20 include opposing end flaps defined by transverse fold lines 28 and 30. Fold lines 28 and 30 each extend the full length of the blank 12. First side panel 16 includes opposing end flaps 32 and 34 and second side panel 18 includes opposing end flaps 36 and 38. Similarly, top panel 14 includes opposing end flaps 40 and 42 and bottom panel 20 includes opposing end flaps 44 and 46. In order to erect the carton 10, bottom panel 20 is glued or is otherwise secured to side panel 16 by edge flap 48, hingedly connected to bottom panel 20 by fold line 50, to form an open ended tubular carton 10, as will be more fully described below. After the articles are grouped and loaded through either or both of the open ends of the carton 10, the end flaps 32 - 46 are folded and secured together to form opposed end closure structures of the carton 10. End flap 32 is secured to end flap 36 with end flaps 40 and 44 on the interior thereof whereas end flap 34 is secured to end flap 38 with end flaps 42 and 46 on the interior thereof.

In order to proved the carton 10 with a partition structure intermediate the two ends of the carton 10, the blank 12 includes four partition panels 52, 54, 56 and 58 arranged in the longitudinal direction of the carton parallel to the bottom panel 20. A first partition structure support panel 52 extends from the edge flap 48 of the bottom panel 20 with first and second partition structure panels 54 and 56 being hingedly connected in series to the first partition structure support panel 52 by fold lines 60 and 62. A second partition structure support panel 58 is hingedly connected to the second partition structure panel 56 by fold line 64 having a cut portion 66. Partition panels 54, 56 and 58 are not connected to the edge flap 48, the join 68 between them having been cut during production of the blank 12. Top and bottom panels 14 and 20 are also provided with longitudinal fold lines 70 and 72 in order to facilitate flat storage of the carton blank and erection thereof, as will be more fully described below.

The carton illustrated in the drawings is adapted to hold a group of similarly dimensioned, cylindrical articles 2 (such as cans or bottles), in a plurality of vertically arranged rows (as best shown in Fig. 9). The articles 2 in each row are disposed on their sides in a side~by-side parallel fashion. The side panels 16 and 18 are disposed alongside the ends of the articles 2 of the group while each end closure structure of the carton is disposed adjacent to the side walls of the respective endmost articles. The blank 12 includes a pair of frangible lines 74, 76 and 78, 80 at each end of the blank 12 which define portions 82, 84 and 86, 88, respectively. The frangible lines 74, 76 and 78, 80 may be a line of severance or any other weakened line that facilitates separation along the frangible lines 74, 76 and 78, 80. It is contemplated that frangible lines include, but are not limited to, lines of perforation, lines of short slits, lines of nick members, or the equivalent.

Portions 82, 84 and 86, 88 are similarly configured relative to one another. To define portions 82, 84 and 86, 88, the frangible lines 74, 76 and 78, 80 each extend from the distal end of end flaps 32, 36 and 34, 38, respectively. Each frangible line 74, 76 and 78, 80 extends across fold line 28, 30, respectively, onto the respective one of the side panels 16, 18 and then turns back around on the respective side panel to terminate on the distal end of the end flap from which it originated. Therefore, each frangible line 74, 76 and 78, 80 is intersected twice by the respective fold line 28, 30.

The portions of frangible lines 74, 76 and 78, 80 across end flaps 32, 36 and 34, 38 are preferably parallel to one another. Also, each of the portions 82, 84 and 86, 88 on the side panels 16, 18 preferably is somewhat square in shape with rounded corners. Each portion 82, 84 and 86, 88 also has a truncated portion as a result of the intersection with the respective fold line 28, 30. However, each portion 82, 84 and 86, 88 is oriented on respective side panels 16, 18 such that the curvature of a pair of opposed corners of each portion 82, 84 and 86, 88 defined by frangible lines 74, 76 and 78, 80 provides upper and lower peaks, relative the top and bottom of the carton 10, respectively. The upper and lower peaks promote natural tearing of the side panels 16, 18, when the endmost article from the upper tier is removed from the carton, without necessarily utilizing additional frangible segments or lines extending upward toward the top panel 14. When the carton 10 is erected and end flaps 32, 36, and 34, 38 are folded and secured to one another, portions 82, 84 and 86, 88 cooperate with one another along frangible lines 74, 76 and 78, 80 to define a pair of first detachable portions 90, 92 as best shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The frangible lines 74, 76 and 78, 80 combine to define a continuous or endless frangible line about the periphery of the first detachable portions 90 and 92 of the carton 10. Each of the portions 82, 84 and 86, 88 further preferably includes a tab 89 which may be pushed through or pulled out to initiate the removal of the detachable portions 90, 92 from the carton 10 along frangible lines 74, 76 and 78, 80. In order to facilitate carrying of the carton 10, the top panel 14 is also provided with a pair of apertures 94, 96 joined by a cut 98 to provide to flaps 100, 102 which can be folded about respective fold lines 104, 106 to provide a means for gripping the carton 10.

Figs. 2 - 4 illustrate three stages in the formation of the carton 10 from the blank 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the first stage involves folding the second partition structure support panel 58 together with the second partition structure panel 56 about fold line 62 and then to provide an area 108 of glue G on the overturned surface of the second partition structure support panel 58. The partition structure of the four partition panels 52, 54, 56 and 58, together with half of the bottom panel 20 is then folded about the fold line 72 resulting in the area 108 of glue G on the overturned surface of the second partition structure support panel 58 contacting the second side panel 18 and being bonded thereto, as best shown in FIG. 3. A further area 110 of glue G is then provided on the first partition structure support panel 54 and an area 112 of glue G is also provided along the edge flap 48 of the bottom panel 20. The first side panel 16, together with half of the top panel 14, is then folded about fold line 70, as best shown in FIG. 4, resulting in the areas 110 and 112 of glue G contacting the first side panel 18 and being bonded thereto.

The bonding of the edge flap 48 of the bottom panel 20 to the first side panel 16 results in the formation of a generally tubular carton, as is well known, The bonding of the second partition structure support panel 58 to the second side panel 18 and of the first partition structure support panel 54 to the first side panel 16 results in the partition structure being automatically erected when the container 10 is erected by pushing in against the fold lines 70, 72 of the top and bottom panels 14, 20. FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the container, illustrating the way the first and second partition structure panels 54 and 56 extend transversely across the container 10 as the container is partly erected with the top and bottom panels being shown partly unfolded at the sides of the carton and FIG. 6 shows a similar view with the carton fully erected and rotated 90° with respect to the view of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 shows an internal perspective view from one open end of the carton 10, from which can be seen the how the edge flap 48 is bonded to first side panel 18 and the partition structure extending across the carton 10 so as to partition it into two sections so that articles within one section cannot move or roll through to the other section. It will, of course, be appreciated that both sections must be filled with articles before the respective end is bonded closed, since, with the partition structure in place, the carton cannot be completely filled from on end alone. FIG. 8 illustrates the carton 10 with both ends closed.

As will be appreciated, removal of the first detachable portions 90, 92 from the carton 10 defines openings at each end of the carton for dispensing articles. For example, as shown in Fig. 9, first detachable portion 90 has been detached in order to allow the endmost article of the upper or lower row of articles to be removed through the opening defined by removal of the first detachable portion 90. The article is prevented from accidentally rolling out of the carton 10 through the opening by an upper edge 114 and lower edge 116. The lower edge 116 is formed by remaining portions of end flaps 34 and 38 after the removal of first detachable portion 90. The opening is also defined by upper edge 114 which restrains the upper row of articles within the carton as shown in Fig. 9. The upper edge 114 is also formed by remaining portions of end flaps 34 and 38 after removal of first detachable portion 90.

As best shown in FIGs. 1 and 9, the carton 10 also includes a pair of part-frangible lines 118, 120 extending between each side panel 16, 18 across top panel 14. The part-frangible lines 118, 120 are frangible where they extend over the side panels 16, 18, but are fold lines where they extend across the top panel 14. The part-frangible lines 118, 120 terminate at the portions 82, 84 or 86, 88 on side panels 16, 18 to partially define a pair of second part- detachable portions 122, 124 above the first detachable portions 90, 92. The second part- detachable portions 118, 120 therefore include the upper edge 114, as shown in Fig. 9 for retaining the endmost article in the upper row of the carton.

As can best be seen in FIG. 9, the portions of the part-frangible lines 118, 120 that are frangible where they extend over the side panels 16, 18 allow the second part-detachable portions 122, 124 to be detached from the side panels 20, 22. The second part-detachable portions 122, 124 may therefore be at least partially detached from the carton 10 with the remainder of the part-frangible lines 118, 120 remaining untorn across the top panel 14 to create a hinge. The second part-detachable portions 122, 124 may be pivoted upward as shown in FIG. 9 to enlarge the opening to facilitate removal of the endmost article in the upper row from the carton. However, the second part-detachable portions 122, 124, when pivoted back to the initial position, can yet restrain the remaining articles in the upper row. Alternatively, the fold lines across the top panel 14 forming part of the part-frangible lines 118, 120 may also be formed as frangible in order to allow the second part-detachable portions 118, 120 to be completely detached from the carton 20 to enlarge the opening for dispensing articles.

The present invention has been illustrated in relation to a particular embodiment which 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.

Claims

1. A carton for articles, such as cans or bottles, comprising a generally tubular structure formed from a top wall, a bottom wall and a pair of side walls connecting together the top and bottom walls, an end closure structure at each end of the carton which at least partially closes the ends of the tubular structure to secure the articles therein, the carton further comprising a partition structure arranged perpendicularly to a tubular axis of the tubular structure to thereby divide the carton into two portions to prevent articles in one portion from moving into the other portion, characterised in that the partition structure is hingedly connected to two opposed ones of the top, bottom and side walls of the carton such that it is erectable and collapsible automatically with erection and collapse of the carton.

2. A carton according to claim 1, wherein the partition structure is hingedly connected to the top and bottom walls of the carton.

3. A carton according to claim 1, wherein the partition structure is hingedly connected to the side walls of the carton.

4. A carton according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said partition structure comprises two partition structure panels extending between the two opposed walls respectively, the two partition structure panels being hingedly connected to each other.

5. A carton according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the other two opposed walls of the carton to which the partition structure is not hingedly connected are each provided with at least one longitudinal fold line substantially parallel to said tubular axis to enable the carton to be collapsed to a substantially flat configuration.

6. A carton according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each end closure structure of the carton is provided with access means for facilitating removal of the carton contents.

7. A carton according to claim 6, wherein each of the access means comprises at least a first access portion that comprises a portion of the respective end closure structure and respective adjacent, integral portions of the side walls such that the first access portion can be divorced as a unit from that end of the carton.

8. A carton according to claim 7, wherein removal of the first access portion leaves remaining upper and lower portions of said end closure structure so that the remaining lower portion provides an abutment to restrain egress of articles from the carton

9. A carton according to claim 8, wherein the access means further comprises a second access portion comprising at least part of the remaining upper portion of the respective end closure structure and adjacent, integral portions of the top and side walls such that the second access portion can be at least partially detached from the carton to facilitate removal of articles therefrom.

10. A carton according to claim 9, wherein the second access portion is completely detachable from the carton.

11. A carton according to claim 9, wherein the second access portion remains hingedly attached to the top wall of the carton and can be folded back so that said remaining upper portion provides an abutment to restrain egress of articles from the carton.

12. A carton according to claim 4, wherein said partition structure further comprises a first partition structure support panel connected to one of the two opposed walls and a second partition structure support panel connected to the other one of the two opposed walls, said two partition structure panels being hingedly connected to the first and second partition structure support panels respectively.

13. A carton blank comprising a series of main panels including a first side wall panel, a top wall panel, a second side wall panel and a bottom wall panel hinged one to the next and adapted to form a generally tubular structure when the blank is erected into a carton, an end flap hingedly connected along a fold line to at least one of said wall panels to form an end closure structure for at least partially closing each end of said carton when said carton is erected, and a partition structure hingedly connected to one of said top, bottom, first side and second side wall panels of the blank such that the partition structure extends perpendicularly to a tubular axis of the tubular structure when said carton is erected to thereby divide the carton into two portions to prevent articles in one portion from moving into the other portion.

14. A carton blank according to claim 13, wherein the partition structure is hingedly connected to one of the top and bottom wall panels of the blank.

15. A carton blank according to claim 13, wherein the partition structure is hingedly connected to one of the side wall panels of the blank.

16. A carton blank according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein said partition structure comprises a first partition structure support panel hingedly connected to said one wall panel along a first fold line substantially parallel to said tubular axis.

17. A carton blank according to claim 16, wherein said partition structure further comprises two hinged partition structure panels hingedly connected to the first partition structure support panel along a second fold line substantially perpendicular to said first fold line,.

18. A carton blank according to claim 17 wherein said partition structure further comprising a second partition structure support panel hingedly connected to one of the partition structure panels along a third fold line substantially parallel to the second fold line so as to be secured to another one of said wall panels that is disposed opposite to said one wall panel; when the blank is formed into a carton.

19. A carton blank according to claim 17, wherein said two partition structure panels are hingedly connected together along a fourth fold line substantially parallel to said second fold line.

20. A carton blank according to any one of claims 13 to 19, wherein two of said wall panels to which the partition structure is not hingedly connected are each provided with at least one longitudinal fold line substantially parallel to said tubular axis to enable a carton formed from the blank to be collapsed to a substantially flat configuration.

21. A package comprising an article group, and a carton disposed around said group, said carton comprising a generally tubular structure formed from a top wall, a bottom wall and a pair of side walls connecting together the top and bottom walls, an end closure structure at each end of the carton which at least partially closes the ends of the tubular structure to secure the articles therein, the carton further comprising a partition structure arranged perpendicularly to a tubular axis of the tubular structure to thereby divide the carton into two portions to prevent articles in one portion from moving into the other portion, characterised in that the partition structure is hingedly connected to two opposed one of said top, bottom and side walls of the carton such that it is erectable and collapsible automatically with erection and collapse of the carton.

22. A package according to claim 21, wherein the partition structure is hingedly connected to the top and bottom walls of the carton.

23. A package according to claim 21, wherein the partition structure is hingedly connected to the side walls of the carton.

24. A package according to any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein said partition structure comprises a first partition structure support panel connected to one of the two opposed walls of the carton, a second partition structure support panel connected to the other one of the two opposed walls of the carton, and two partition structure panels extending between the first and second partition structure support panels and being hingedly connected to each other and to the first and second partition structure support panels.

25. A package according to any one of claims 21 to 24, wherein the other two opposed walls of the carton to which the partition structure is not hingedly connected are each provided with at least one longitudinal fold line substantially parallel to said tubular axis to enable the carton to be collapsed to a substantially flat configuration.

26. A package according to any one of claims 21 to 25, wherein each end closure structure of the carton is provided with access means for facilitating removal of the carton contents.

27. A package according to claim 26, wherein each of the access means comprises at least a first access portion comprising a portion of the respective end closure structure and adjacent, integral portions of the side walls which first access portion can be divorced as a unit from that end of the carton.

28. A package according to claim 27, wherein removal of the first access portion leaves remaining upper and lower portions of said end closure structure so that the remaining lower portion provides an abutment to restrain egress of articles from the carton

29. A package according to claim 28, wherein the access means further comprises a second access portion comprising at least part of the remaining upper portion of the respective end closure structure and adjacent, integral portions of the top and side walls which second access portion can be at least partially detached from the carton to facilitate removal of articles therefrom.

30. A package according to claim 29, wherein the second access portion is completely detachable from the carton.

31. A package according to claim 29, wherein the second access portion remains hingedly attached to the top wall of the carton and can be folded back so that said remaining upper portion provides an abutment to restrain egress of articles from the carton.

32. A package according to any one of claims 21 to 31, wherein the article group is formed of at least two tiers of cylindrical articles, each of said tiers including a plurality of said articles disposed on sides thereof in a side-by-side parallel fashion.