Carton having improved dispensing feature and blank therefor

Abstract

A carton ( 90 ) for packaging a plurality of articles (C) includes a dispenser defined by a dispenser pattern ( 40 ) extending through the carton's first side panel ( 14 ), top panel ( 16 ), second side panel ( 18 ), and exiting end panel ( 12 ). The dispenser pattern defines a removable portion ( 92 ) that is separable along the dispenser pattern to form an opening into an interior of the carton. The dispenser pattern includes first ( 60 ) and second ( 62 ) end tear lines formed in respective first ( 32 ) and second ( 36 ) side exiting end flaps. Each of the first and second end tear lines includes a lower ( 56,57 ) end section. The two lower end sections of these end tear lines diverge away from each other toward a bottom panel of the carton and define therebetween a bottom end section of the removable portion.

1 . A blank for forming a carton for containing a plurality of articles, the blank comprising:
 a plurality of main panels hinged together in a linear series, the plurality of main panels configured to form a tubular structure in a set-up carton, the plurality of main panels comprising a bottom panel, a first side panel, a top panel, and a second side panel;   a plurality of exiting end flaps configured to form a front panel in the set-up carton, the front panel being configured to close a front end of the tubular structure, the plurality of exiting end flaps comprising a first side exiting end flap hingedly connected to said first side panel along a first marginal area of the blank and a second side exiting end flap hingedly connected to said second side panel along said first marginal area of the blank;   a dispenser pattern extending through the top panel, the first side panel, the second side panel, and the front panel, the dispenser pattern defining, in the set-up carton, a removable portion that is separable along said dispenser pattern to form an opening into an interior of the set-up carton, wherein the dispenser pattern comprises a first end tear line formed in the first side exiting end flap and a second end tear line formed in the second side exiting end flap, the first end tear line comprising a first lower end section and the second end tear line comprising a second lower end section, wherein, in the set-up carton, said first and second lower end sections diverge away from each other toward the bottom panel to define therebetween a bottom end section of the removable portion.   
     
     
         2 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein said first lower end section extends to a point that is at or adjacent to a bottom edge of the first side exiting end flap and said second lower end section extends to a point that is at or adjacent to a bottom edge of the second side exiting end flap. 
     
     
         3 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein said first lower end section extends to a point in relative proximity to, but spaced apart a distance from, a bottom edge of the first side exiting end flap and said second lower end section extends to a point in relative proximity to, but spaced apart a distance from, a bottom edge of the second side exiting end flap. 
     
     
         4 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein said first end tear line comprises a first generally transverse section and said second end tear line comprises a second generally transverse section, said first and second generally transverse sections extending toward one another from opposite sides of the front panel in the set-up carton. 
     
     
         5 . The blank of  claim 4 , wherein said first end tear line comprises a first curved section and said second end tear line comprises a second curved section, wherein said first curved section is disposed between said first lower end section and said first generally transverse section and said second curved section is disposed between said second lower end section and said second generally transverse section. 
     
     
         6 . The blank of  claim 4 , wherein said first and second generally transverse sections and said first and second lower end sections each comprise a plurality of straight-line cuts. 
     
     
         7 . The blank of  claim 4 , wherein said first and second generally transverse sections and said first and second lower end sections each comprise a plurality of shallow V-shaped cuts. 
     
     
         8 . The blank of  claim 1 , wherein said dispenser pattern is configured so as to give a user of the set-up carton the option of either partially or completely removing the removable portion from a remaining portion of the set-up carton when said dispenser is fully opened. 
     
     
         9 . A carton for packaging a plurality of articles, the carton comprising:
 a top panel;   a bottom panel;   a first side panel coupled to both the top panel and the bottom panel;   a second side panel disposed opposite the first side panel and coupled to both the top panel and the bottom panel;   a back end panel disposed at a back end of the carton;   a front end panel disposed at a front end of the carton, the front end panel comprising a first side exiting end flap and a second side exiting end flap;   a dispenser defined by a dispenser pattern, the dispenser pattern defining a removable portion that is separable along said dispenser pattern to form an opening into an interior of said carton, said dispenser pattern extending at least through the top panel, the first side panel, the second side panel, and the front end panel, wherein the dispenser pattern comprises a first end tear line formed in the first side exiting end flap and a second end tear line formed in the second side exiting end flap, the first end tear line comprising a first lower end section and the second end tear line comprising a second lower end section, wherein said first and second lower end sections diverge away from each other toward said bottom panel to define therebetween a bottom end section of the removable portion.   
     
     
         10 . The carton of  claim 9 , wherein said first lower end section extends to a point that is at or adjacent to a bottom edge of the first side exiting end flap and said second lower end section extends to a point that is at or adjacent to a bottom edge of the second side exiting end flap. 
     
     
         11 . The carton of  claim 9 , wherein said first lower end section extends to a point in relative proximity to, but spaced apart a distance from, a bottom edge of the first side exiting end flap and said second lower end section extends to a point in relative proximity to, but spaced apart a distance from, a bottom edge of the second side exiting end flap. 
     
     
         12 . The carton of  claim 9 , wherein said first end tear line comprises a first generally transverse section and said second end tear line comprises a second generally transverse section, said first and second generally transverse sections extending toward one another from opposite sides of the front end panel. 
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 12 , wherein said first end tear line comprises a first curved section and said second end tear line comprises a second curved section, wherein said first curved section is disposed between said first lower end section and said first generally transverse section and said second curved section is disposed between said second lower end section and said second generally transverse section. 
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 12 , wherein said first and second generally transverse sections and said first and second lower end sections each comprise a plurality of straight-line cuts. 
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 12 , wherein said first and second generally transverse sections and said first and second lower end sections each comprise a plurality of shallow V-shaped cuts. 
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 9 , wherein said dispenser pattern is configured so as to give a user of the carton the option of either partially or completely removing the removable portion from a remaining portion of the carton when said dispenser is fully opened.