Carton with article opening

Abstract

A carton for containing a number of articles with each article having an article diameter. The carton may include a front wall, a pair of sidewalls, and an access panel positioned along the front wall and the pair of sidewalls. The access panel may include a height of less than about the article diameter along a portion of the front wall and along the pair of sidewalls.

1 . A carton for containing a number of articles, with each article having an article diameter, comprising: 
 a front wall;    a pair of sidewalls; and    an access panel positioned along the front wall and the pair of sidewalls;    the access panel comprising a height of less than about the article diameter along a portion of the front wall and along the pair of sidewalls.    
   
   
       2 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein the front wall comprises a flap so as to retain the number of articles within the carton when the access panel is removed.  
   
   
       3 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein the front wall comprises a plurality of front tear lines defining in part the access panel.  
   
   
       4 . The carton of  claim 3 , further comprising a top wall and wherein the plurality of front tear lines comprises a pair of front tear lines extending horizontally from the pair of sidewalls and diagonally towards the top wall.  
   
   
       5 . The carton of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of front tear lines comprises a thumb guide tear line.  
   
   
       6 . The carton of  claim 3 , further comprising a bottom wall and wherein the plurality of front tear lines comprises a bottom tear line positioned adjacent to the bottom wall.  
   
   
       7 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein the front wall comprises a plurality of flaps.  
   
   
       8 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of sidewalls comprises a plurality of side tear lines defining in part the access panel.  
   
   
       9 . The carton of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of side tear lines comprise semicircular tear lines.  
   
   
       10 . The carton of  claim 8 , wherein the pair of sidewalls comprises a plurality of curved tear lines adjacent to the access panel.  
   
   
       11 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein the carton comprises a two article by six article configuration.  
   
   
       12 . A carton for containing a number of articles, with each article having an article diameter, comprising: 
 a front wall;    a top wall;    a pair of sidewalls; and    an access panel formed along the front wall, the top wall, and the pair of sidewalls;    the access panel comprising:    a plurality of front wall tear lines;    a plurality of sidewall tear lines positioned on the pair of sidewalls and spaced from an edge formed by the top wall and the pair of sidewalls; and    a top wall fold line aligning with the plurality of sidewall tear lines.    
   
   
       13 . The carton of  claim 12 , further comprising a bottom wall and wherein the plurality of front wall tear lines comprises a pair of diagonal tear lines extending from a middle portion of the front wall adjacent to the bottom wall towards but short of the top wall adjacent to the pair of sidewalls.  
   
   
       14 . The carton of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of front tear lines comprises a thumb guide tear line.  
   
   
       15 . The carton of  claim 12 , wherein the front wall comprises a plurality of flaps.  
   
   
       16 . The carton of  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of top wall fold lines.  
   
   
       17 . The carton of  claim 12 , wherein the pair of sidewall tear lines comprises a distance of about 1/16th to about ¼th of an inch (about 1.6 to about 6.35 millimeters) from the top wall.  
   
   
       18 . The carton of  claim 12 , wherein the top wall comprises a handle cutout and wherein the access panel can be positioned within the handle cutout when the access panel is opened.  
   
   
       19 . The carton of  claim 12 , wherein the front wall retains the number of articles within the carton when the access panel is removed.  
   
   
       20 . The carton of  claim 12 , wherein the carton comprises a two article by six article configuration.