Envelopes – wrappers – and paperboard boxes – Paperboard box – Including an access opening in a sidewall intended to permit...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-29
2001-01-23
Elkins, Gary E. (Department: 3727)
Envelopes, wrappers, and paperboard boxes
Paperboard box
Including an access opening in a sidewall intended to permit...
C221S305000, C229S221000, C229S242000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176419
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to cartons for packaging multiple articles such as beverage cans, bottles and the like, and more particularly to a paperboard carton with an article dispensing feature for providing an access opening through which articles in the carton may be dispensed one by one.
Beverage cartons with a built-in dispensing feature are known in the art. One example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,364,509 in which a can dispensing feature is torn out of an end closure structure at one end of a tubular carton. The end closure structure is composed of a bottom end flap, a pair of side end flaps and a pair of web panels each foldably interconnecting the bottom end flap to a respective side end flap. A pair of tear lines are formed in the side end flaps respectively to facilitate tearing of the end closure structure. Tearing along the tear lines provides a swingable dispensing feature formed of the bottom end flap, the web panels and portions of the side end flaps which have become free of the remainder of the side end flaps. The dispensing feature so torn out may be moved outwardly and downwardly to define in the end closure structure an access opening through which the cans may be removed one at a time. A drawback of this carton is that each side end flap must be individually torn along the respective tear line to have the dispensing feature ready to use. It may even require that the side end flaps be pressed at more than one location along each tear line to break the tear lines.
What is needed, therefore, is a carton that is provided with an improved article-dispensing feature that is convenient to use. Such a carton should allow both the tear lines to break by a single tearing action.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to this invention in one form, a carton with an improved article-dispensing feature is provided. The carton comprises top and bottom walls that are interconnected by a pair of opposed side walls to form a tubular structure. An end closure structure is provided at each end of the tubular structure to at least partially close that end. One or each of the end closure structures includes a bottom end flap, a pair of side end flaps and a pair of web panels. The bottom end flap is foldably joined to the bottom wall and extends upwardly. The side end flaps are foldably joined respectively to the side walls and extend to each other to traverse the respective end of the tubular structure as well as to cover at least part of the bottom end flap. Each web panel foldably interconnects the bottom end flap with the respective side end flap and it is disposed in a face-contacting relationship with the inside surface of the respective side end flap. A pair of first tear lines are formed respectively in the side end flaps. Each first tear line extends between the adjacent side wall and the adjacent web panel. A pair of second tear lines are also formed respectively in the side end flaps. These second tear lines emanate respectively from the first tear lines and extend to each other to form a single continuous line disposed above the first tear lines.
The carton in this form of the invention provides a tear panel that may be torn off of the carton. The tear panel is defined along its upper edge by the second tear lines and along its lower edge at least in part by the first tear lines. Cutting of the tear panel may be initiated by pulling the tear panel outwardly and downwardly. The tear panel may be pulled either alone or together with the bottom end flap which is a primary portion of the swingable dispensing feature. When the tear panel is pulled alone, the second and first tear lines successively break in the described sequence, allowing the tear panel to be severed from the carton. This exposes the bottom end flap for its swing out movement. When the tear panel is pulled together with the bottom end flap, the second tear lines break first and then do the first tear lines during the downward swinging movement of the bottom end flap. In either case, the first and second tear lines may be broken by a single downward pulling action on the tear panel.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each first tear line extends from the adjacent side wall and terminates in coincidence with the inner end of the fold line between the respective side end flap and the adjacent web panel. This arrangement eliminates an additional fold line or extension of the first tear line that would otherwise be required in the adjacent web panel.
In another preferred embodiment, each first tear line may have an upper end on the junction between the adjacent side wall and the respective side end flap. In this embodiment, the second tear lines may emanate respectively from the upper ends of the first tear lines. Alternatively, each second tear line may emanate from a point along the adjacent first tear line.
In still another preferred embodiment, each first tear line may be arched and lie concave to the second tear lines. This arrangement facilitates smooth breaking of the first tear lines while the tear panel is pulled.
In a further preferred embodiment, the continuous line formed of the second tear lines may have an upwardly convexly curved portion for defining a centrally located pull tab. Such a tab provides a convenience for a customer to hold the tear panel.
In a still further preferred embodiment, the continuous line may have a downwardly convexly curved portion for defining a downwardly depending leg for engaging the bottom end flap. The leg may be used to engage the bottom end flap to lock the dispensing feature in a closed position when the feature is swung back to the closed position to reclose an access opening in the respective end closure structure.
In a still further preferred embodiment, the carton may further comprise a pair of third tear lines extending upwardly from the continuous line to define an access tab therebetween for facilitating tearing of the side end flaps along the second tear lines.
In a still further preferred embodiment, the side end flaps may be disposed in an overlapping relationship, and the second tear lines extend coincidentally with each other in the area where the side end flaps are overlapped.
The present invention in another form provides a carton blank comprising a bottom wall, a pair of side walls, a bottom end flap, a pair of side end flaps and a pair of web panels. The side walls are foldably joined to the opposite side edges of the bottom wall. The bottom end flap is foldably joined to one of the opposite end edges of the bottom wall. The side end flaps are foldably joined respectively to the respective end edges of the side walls adjacent to the bottom end flap so that when the blank is erected into a carton, the side end flaps extend to each other to traverse the respective end of the carton and to cover at least part of the bottom end flap. Each web panel foldably interconnects the bottom end flap with the respective side end flap. A pair of first tear lines are formed in the side end flaps, respectively. Each first tear line extends between the adjacent side wall and the adjacent web panel. A pair of second tear lines are also formed in the side end flaps, respectively. Each second tear line extends from the adjacent first tear line to the free end edge of the respective side end flap so that when the carton is erected, the second tear lines form a single continuous line disposed above the first tear lines.
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Elkins Gary E.
Suzuki Tsugihko
The Mead Corporation
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