Carton With Vent Openings

Abstract

A blank and/or carton that provide(s) at least one aperture in at least one end flap to allow exchange of air between an inside of a carton formed from the blank and the outside of the formed carton is provided. The blank and/or carton can include more than one aperture in an end flap, in adjacent end flaps, in end flaps at both ends of the blank or carton, in end flaps at either the exiting end of the carton, the non-exiting end, or both. A method of exchanging air is also described.

1 . A carton comprising:
 a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel;   a first side panel end flap at a peripheral portion of the first side panel;   a second side panel end flap at a peripheral portion of the second side panel; and   at least one aperture formed in either the first side panel end flap or the second side panel end flap.   
   
   
       2 . The carton of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a dispensing flap defined at least partially by a tear line.   
   
   
       3 . The carton of  claim 2  wherein the tear line comprises a portion of the first side panel, the first side panel end flap, the top panel, the second side panel, and the second side panel end flap. 
   
   
       4 . The carton of  claim 2  including a finger flap in the top panel. 
   
   
       5 . The carton of  claim 4  wherein the finger flap is disposed along the tear line in the top panel. 
   
   
       6 . The carton of  claim 2  wherein the tear line extends across the first side panel end flap to the aperture and then continues across the first side panel end flap to a peripheral portion. 
   
   
       7 . The carton of  claim 2  wherein the tear line extends across the second side panel end flap to the aperture and then continues across the second side panel end flap to a peripheral portion. 
   
   
       8 . The carton of  claim 1  wherein the first side panel end flap and the second side panel end flap are at a first end of the carton, wherein the carton further comprises a third side panel end flap at a second end of the first side panel opposite the first side panel end flap and a fourth side panel end flap at the second end of the second side panel opposite the second side panel end flap. 
   
   
       9 . The carton of  claim 8  further comprising at least one aperture formed in either the third side panel end flap or the fourth side panel end flap. 
   
   
       10 . A blank comprising:
 a first side panel connected to a top panel by a first fold line;   the top panel connected to a second side panel by a second fold line;   the second side panel connected to a bottom panel by a third fold line;   a first transverse fold line at a first peripheral edge of the first side panel, the top panel, the second side panel, and the bottom panel;   a first side panel end flap at the first peripheral edge of the first side panel;   a second side panel end flap at the first peripheral edge of the second side panel; and   at least one aperture formed in either the first side panel end flap or the second side panel end flap.   
   
   
       11 . The blank of  claim 10  further comprising:
 an adhesive panel connected to the bottom panel by a fourth fold line.   
   
   
       12 . The blank of  claim 10  further comprising:
 an adhesive panel connected to the first side panel by a fourth fold line.   
   
   
       13 . The blank of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a second transverse fold line at a second peripheral edge of the first side panel, the top panel, the second side panel, and the bottom panel, the second peripheral edge disposed on an end of the blank opposite the first peripheral edge.   
   
   
       14 . The blank of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a third side panel end flap at the second peripheral edge of the first side panel;   a fourth side panel end flap at the second peripheral edge of the second side panel; and   at least one aperture formed in either the third side panel end flap or the fourth side panel end flap.   
   
   
       15 . The blank of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a dispensing flap defined at least partially by a tear line.   
   
   
       16 . The blank of  claim 15  wherein the tear line comprises a portion of the first side panel, the first side panel end flap, the top panel, the second side panel, and the second side panel end flap. 
   
   
       17 . The blank of  claim 15  including a finger flap in the top panel. 
   
   
       18 . The blank of  claim 17  wherein the finger flap is disposed along the tear line in the top panel. 
   
   
       19 . The blank of  claim 15  wherein the tear line extends across the first side panel end flap to the aperture and then continues across the first side panel end flap to a peripheral portion. 
   
   
       20 . The blank of  claim 15  wherein the tear line extends across the second side panel end flap to the aperture and then continues across the second side panel end flap to a peripheral portion. 
   
   
       21 . The blank of  claim 10  wherein at least one said aperture includes at least a first aperture formed in the first side panel end flap and at least a second aperture formed in the second side panel end flap. 
   
   
       22 . A method of forming a blank into a carton, wherein the blank comprises a first side panel connected to a top panel by a first fold line; the top panel connected to a second side panel by a second fold line; the second side panel connected to a bottom panel by a third fold line; a first transverse fold line at a first peripheral edge of the first side panel, the top panel, the second side panel, and the bottom panel; a first side panel end flap at the first peripheral edge of the first side panel; a second side panel end flap at the first peripheral edge of the second side panel; and at least one aperture formed in either the first side panel end flap or the second side panel end flap; the method comprising
 folding the blank to form the carton;   filling the carton with containers; and   closing the first side panel end flap and the second side panel end flap to at least partially enclose the containers in the carton, wherein the aperture expose the containers in the carton to ventilation to allow exchange of air between outside the carton and inside the carton.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the blank further comprises a dispensing flap defined at least partially by a tear line, the tear line including a portion of the first side panel, the first side panel end flap, the top panel, the second side panel, and the second side panel end flap, the method further comprising:
 separating the dispensing flap along the tear line to form an opening in the carton.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the blank further comprises a finger flap disposed along the tear line in the top panel. 
   
   
       25 . A method of exchanging air in an enclosed carton, the carton comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel; a first side panel end flap at a peripheral portion of the first side panel; a second side panel end flap at a peripheral portion of the second side panel; at least one aperture formed in either the first side panel end flap or the second side panel end flap, the method comprising:
 allowing air exchange between inside the carton and outside the carton through the at least one aperture.