Carrying carton and can dispenser

Abstract

The carton has two side panels, a front panel, a back panel and top and bottom flaps attached by a crease to each panel. The front panel has a trapezoidal shaped tear out section from a top edge to a bottom portion. A tape carrying handle is adhesively attached to a top portion of each side panel. Upon removing the trapezoidal tear out section, a purchaser of the carton filled with cans in a longitudinally stacked array is able to remove one can at a time without causing other cans to fall out of the carton.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A carton blank comprising: 
 a unitary sheet of material having a first and second side panel, a back panel and front panel together with a top and bottom flap attached to each panel by a longitudinal crease line and each flap adapted to be bent inwardly;    a first vertical crease line attaching the first side panel to the front panel, a second vertical crease line attaching the second side panel to the front panel, a third vertical crease line attaching the second side panel distal from the front panel to the back panel, a fourth vertical crease line attaching the back panel to a support panel; and    a perforation outline on the front panel outlining a trapezoidal section extending from a horizontal perforation line attaching the top flap to the front panel to a bottom portion of the front panel.    
     
     
         2 . The carton blank according to  claim 1  wherein a notch is located on an outside edge of the top flap attached to each side panel.  
     
     
         3 . The carton blank according to  claim 1  wherein a notch is located on an inside edge of the top flap attached to the front panel.  
     
     
         4 . The carton blank according to  claim 1  where a pair of diagonal crease lines are located on the top flap attached to the back panel and front panel.  
     
     
         5 . A beverage carton comprising: 
 an upright first and second side panel, a back panel and a front panel, the panels attached together to form a container for longitudinally stacking an array of cans, a bottom flap attached to each panel folded inwardly and adhesively joined to form a bottom section of the carton;    a perforation outline of the front panel outlining a trapezoidal section beginning at a horizontal perforation line attaching a top flap to the front panel and extending downwardly to a bottom portion of the front panel;    the front and back panels having a width substantially the same as the longitudinal length of the cans;    a carrying handle adhesively attached to an upper portion of the first and second side panel; and    a top flap attached to the first and second side panels, the front panel and back panel folded inwardly to partially enclose a top of the carton below the carrying handle.    
     
     
         6 . The beverage carton according to  claim 5  wherein the carton encloses twelve cans.  
     
     
         7 . The beverage carton according to  claim 5  wherein the trapezoidal section has been removed to permit removal of one can at a time from the carton.  
     
     
         8 . The beverage carton according to  claim 5  wherein a first corner portion of the back panel top flap is glued to the first side panel top flap and a second comer portion of the back panel top flap is glued to the second side panel top flap.  
     
     
         9 . The beverage carton according to  claim 5  wherein a first corner portion of the front panel top flap is glued to the first side panel top flap and a second corner portion of the front panel top flap is glued to the second side panel top flap.  
     
     
         10 . A beverage carton for stacked cans, the cans stacked in a lengthwise configuration, the carton comprising: 
 an upright first and second side panel, a back panel and a front panel having a width conforming substantially to the length of the cans, the panels attached together along crease lines to form an enclosure for the stacked cans, a bottom flap attached to each panel folded inwardly along a crease line and the bottom flaps adhesively joined to form a bottom section of the carton;    a perforation outline of the front panel outlining a trapezoidal section beginning at a horizontal perforation line attaching a top flap to the front panel, the perforation outline extending downwardly to a bottom portion of the front panel;    a carrying handle attached to an upper portion of the first and second side panels; and    a top flap attached to each first and second side panels, the top flap attached to the front panel and a top flap attached to the back panel, all folded inwardly to partially enclose a top of the carton below the carrying handle.    
     
     
         11 . The beverage carton according to  claim 10  wherein the carton encloses twelve cans.  
     
     
         12 . The beverage carton according to  claim 11  wherein the cans are stacked in three rows of four cans each.  
     
     
         13 . The beverage carton according to  claim 10  wherein the trapezoidal section has been removed to permit removal of one can at a time from the carton.  
     
     
         14 . The beverage carton according to  claim 10  wherein each bottom flap has a trapezoidal shape.  
     
     
         15 . The beverage carton according to  claim 10  wherein the carrying strap is a flexible polymeric material and the carton panels, top flaps and bottom flaps are cardboard material.