Carton with article opening

Abstract

A carton for containing a number of articles with each article having an article diameter. The carton includes a front wall, a hinged flap positioned on the front wall, and an access flap positioned on the front wall adjacent to the hinged flap. The access flap has a height less than the article diameter such that the articles are retained within the carton by the hinged flap when the access flap is removed.

1 . A carton for containing a number of articles, with each article having an article diameter, comprising: 
 a front wall;    a hinged flap positioned on the front wall; and    an access flap positioned on the front wall adjacent to the hinged flap;    the access flap comprising a height less than the article diameter such that the number of articles are retained within the carton by the hinged flap when the access flap is removed.    
   
   
       2 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein the hinged flap comprises a tear line.  
   
   
       3 . The carton of  claim 2 , wherein the tear line comprises a line of weakening.  
   
   
       4 . The carton of  claim 2 , wherein the hinged flap comprises a pair of tear lines.  
   
   
       5 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein the hinged flap comprises a pair of legs.  
   
   
       6 . The carton of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of sidewalls positioned adjacent to the front wall and wherein the access flap extends into the sidewalls.  
   
   
       7 . The carton of  claim 6 , wherein the access flap along the pair of sidewalls comprises a height of less than the article diameter.  
   
   
       8 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein the access flap comprises a thumb guide positioned therein.  
   
   
       9 . The carton of  claim 1 , further comprising a bottom wall and wherein the access flap comprises a further tear line adjacent to the bottom wall.  
   
   
       10 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein the carton comprises a two article by six article configuration.  
   
   
       11 . A carton for containing a number of articles, with each article having an article diameter, comprising: 
 a front wall;    a top wall;    an access flap formed along the front wall and the top wall; and    a plurality of side tear lines positioned adjacent to the access flap along the top wall so as to allow the front wall to bend after the access flap is removed and one of the number of articles is removed therethrough.    
   
   
       12 . The carton of  claim 11 , wherein the access flap along the top wall comprises a dimension of about the article diameter.  
   
   
       13 . The carton of  claim 11 , wherein the top wall comprises a pair of strips, with one of the pair of strips on either side of the access flap, and wherein the plurality of side tear lines is positioned within the pair of strips.  
   
   
       14 . The carton of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of side tear lines comprises a pair of side tear lines.  
   
   
       15 . The carton of  claim 11 , further comprising a bottom wall and wherein the access flap comprises a further tear line adjacent to the bottom wall.  
   
   
       16 . The carton of  claim 11 , wherein each of the articles includes an article length and wherein the access flap comprises a width of less than the article length.  
   
   
       17 . The carton of  claim 11 , wherein the carton comprises a two article by six article configuration.  
   
   
       18 . A carton for containing a number of articles, with each article having an article length, comprising: 
 a front wall; and    an access flap positioned within the front wall;    the access flap comprising a width greater than half of the article length; and    the access flap comprising a thumb flap positioned along the front wall.    
   
   
       19 . The carton of  claim 18 , wherein each article comprises an article diameter and wherein the access flap comprises a height of about a multiple of the article diameter.  
   
   
       20 . The carton of  claim 18 , wherein the carton comprises a two article by six article configuration.