Wrap-around carton with dispensing feature

Abstract

A wrap-around article carrier has a plurality of tuck-in flaps and gussets to restrain the articles the carrier is designed to carry from falling out of the carrier. The carrier further comprises a dispensing feature, which once removed allows the articles in the carrier to be dispensed in a controlled manner.

1 . A carrier package, comprising: 
 a carrier, comprising 
 a top panel,  
 a first side panel adjacent to the top panel,  
 a second side panel adjacent to the top panel and disposed on a side of the carrier package opposite to the first side panel,  
 a bottom panel adjacent to each of the first and second side panels and opposite from the top panel,  
 a first upper gusset at least partially closing an upper part of a first end of the carrier,  
 a first lower gusset at least partially closing a lower part of the first end of the carrier,  
 a second upper gusset at least partially closing an upper part of a second end of the carrier,  
 a second lower gusset at least partially closing a lower part of the second end of the carrier, and  
 a dispenser pattern extending at least partially across at least one panel selected from the group consisting of the side panels and the top panel, with the dispenser pattern defining a dispenser flap that is at least partially removable from a remainder of the carrier so that a dispenser opening is defined by the remainder of the carrier in response to the dispenser flap having been at least partially removed from the remainder of the carrier; and  
   a plurality of containers located within the carrier, 
 wherein the dispenser flap is configured so that when the dispenser flap is at least partially removed so that the dispenser opening is defined by the remainder of the carrier, the containers can be dispensed through a dispenser opening in the carrier.  
   
     
     
         2 . The carrier package according to  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser pattern comprises at least one tear line extending at least partially across the at least one panel.  
     
     
         3 . The carrier package according to  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser pattern extends at least partially across each of the side panels and the top panel.  
     
     
         4 . The carrier package according to  claim 1 , further comprising a retention panel, wherein the carrier includes opposite first and second ends that are each open, the retention panel extends completely across the first end, and the dispenser flap is adjacent the second end.  
     
     
         5 . The carrier package according to  claim 1 , further comprising a retention flap that is not in contact with either of the first and second side panels and extends downwardly from the top panel to partially obstruct an open end of the carrier.  
     
     
         6 . The carrier package according to  claim 1 , further comprising a retention flap that is not in contact with either of the first and second side panels and extends upwardly from the bottom panel to partially obstruct an open end of the carrier.  
     
     
         7 . A blank for erecting into a wrap-around carrier, the blank comprising: 
 a top panel;    a first side panel foldably connected to the top panel;    a second side panel that is opposite from the first side panel and is foldably connected to the top panel;    a first bottom panel foldably connected to the first side panel; and    a second bottom panel foldably connected to the second side panel,    wherein the first bottom panel and the second bottom panel are for being secured together when the blank is erected into the wrap-around carrier, and    wherein a dispenser pattern extends at least partially across at least two panels selected from the group consisting of the side panels and the top panel, with the dispenser pattern defining a dispenser flap for being at least partially removable from a remainder of the blank.    
     
     
         8 . The blank according to  claim 7 , wherein the dispenser pattern comprises at least one tear line extending at least partially across the at least two panels.  
     
     
         9 . The blank according to  claim 7 , wherein the dispenser pattern extends at least partially across each of the side panels and the top panel.  
     
     
         10 . The blank according to  claim 7 , wherein the first bottom panel includes securing features for operatively interacting with securing features of the second bottom panel to secure the first and second bottom panels together when the blank is erected into the wrap-around carrier.  
     
     
         11 . The blank according to  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the securing features of the first bottom panel includes at least one locking flap, and    the securing features of the second bottom panel include at least one opening for at least partially holding the locking flap.    
     
     
         12 . The blank according to  claim 1   1 , further comprising at least one retaining flap in the second bottom panel, wherein the retaining flap is for being held in an erected configuration by the locking flap when the carrier is erected from the blank.  
     
     
         13 . The blank according to  claim 7 , further comprising a push-in tab defined by at least one cut in a rear end of the top panel.  
     
     
         14 . The blank according to  claim 7 , further comprising a push-in tab defined by at least one cut in a rear end of the top panel.  
     
     
         15 . The blank according to  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 a first front tuck-in panel connected to a front end of the first side panel;    a first rear tuck-in panel connected to a rear end of the first side panel;    a second front tuck-in panel connected to a front end of the second side panel;    a second rear tuck-in panel connected to a rear end of the second side panel;    a first front retaining panel foldably connected between the first front tuck-in panel and a right front truncated corner of the first bottom panel;    a first rear retaining panel foldably connected between the first rear tuck-in panel and a right rear truncated corner of the first bottom panel;    a second front retaining panel foldably connected between the first front tuck-in panel and a left front truncated corner of the top panel;    a second rear retaining panel foldably connected between the first rear tuck-in panel and a left rear truncated corner of the top panel;    a third front retaining panel foldably connected between the second front tuck-in panel and a right front truncated corner of the top panel;    a third rear retaining panel foldably connected between the second rear tuck-in panel and a right rear truncated corner of the top panel and;    a forth front retaining panel foldably connected between the second front tuck-in panel and a left front truncated corner of the second bottom panel; and    a fourth rear retaining panel foldably connected between the second rear tuck-in panel and a left rear truncated corner of the second bottom panel.    
     
     
         16 . The blank according to  claim 15 , further comprising a dividing fold line that divides the second rear retaining panel into two foldably connected portions along the dividing fold line.  
     
     
         17 . The blank according to  claim 15 , further comprising a dividing fold line that divides the third rear retaining panel into two foldably connected portions along the dividing fold line.  
     
     
         18 . The blank according to  claim 15 , further comprising a cut line separating a portion of the top panel defined by the area between the second rear retaining panel and the third rear retaining panel from the top panel to form a drop down gusset.  
     
     
         19 . A carrier package, comprising: 
 a carrier, comprising 
 a top panel,  
 a first side panel adjacent to the top panel,  
 a second side panel adjacent to the top panel and disposed on a side of the carrier package opposite to the first side panel,  
 a bottom panel adjacent to each of the first and second side panels and opposite from the top panel, the bottom panel comprising a first bottom panel joined to a second bottom panel by at least primary male and primary female locking elements,  
 at least one first gusset at least partially closing a first end of the carrier,  
 at least one second gusset at least partially closing a second end of the carrier, and  
 a dispenser pattern extending at least partially across at least one of the side panels and the top panel, with the dispenser pattern defining a dispenser flap that is at least partially removable from a remainder of the carrier so that a dispenser opening is defined by the remainder of the carrier in response to the dispenser flap having been at least partially removed from the remainder of the carrier; and  
   a plurality of containers located within the carrier,    wherein the dispenser flap is configured so that when the dispenser flap is at least partially removed, the containers can be dispensed through the dispenser opening.    
     
     
         20 . The carrier package according to  claim 19 , wherein the first and second bottom panels are further secured by secondary male and secondary female locking elements.  
     
     
         21 . The carrier package according to  claim 19 , wherein the dispenser pattern comprises at least one tear line extending at least partially across the at least one panel.  
     
     
         22 . The carrier package according to  claim 19 , wherein the dispenser pattern extends at least partially across each of the side panels and the top panel.  
     
     
         23 . The carrier package according to  claim 19 , further comprising a retention panel, wherein the carrier includes opposite first and second ends that are each open, the retention panel extends completely across the first end, and the dispenser flap is adjacent the second end.  
     
     
         24 . The carrier package according to  claim 19 , further comprising a retention flap that is not in contact with either of the first and second side panels and extends downwardly from the top panel to partially obstruct an open end of the carrier.  
     
     
         25 . The carrier package according to  claim 19 , further comprising a retention flap that is not in contact with either of the first and second side panels and extends upwardly from the bottom panel to partially obstruct an open end of the carrier.  
     
     
         26 . A carrier package, comprising: 
 a carrier, comprising 
 a top panel,  
 a first side panel adjacent to the top panel,  
 a second side panel adjacent to the top panel and disposed on a side of the carrier package opposite to the first side panel,  
 a bottom panel adjacent to each of the first and second side panels and opposite from the top panel, the bottom panel comprising a first bottom panel joined to a second bottom panel by at least primary male and primary female locking elements,  
 at least one first gusset at least partially closing a first end of the carrier,  
 at least one second gusset at least partially closing a second end of the carrier, and  
 a retention panel, wherein the carrier includes opposite first and second ends that are each open, and the retention panel extends completely across the first end; and  
   a plurality of containers located within the carrier.    
     
     
         27 . The carrier package according to  claim 26 , wherein the first and second bottom panels are further secured by secondary male and secondary female locking elements.  
     
     
         28 . A carrier package, comprising: 
 a carrier, comprising 
 a top panel,  
 a first side panel adjacent to the top panel,  
 a second side panel adjacent to the top panel and disposed on a side of the carrier package opposite to the first side panel,  
 a bottom panel adjacent to each of the first and second side panels and opposite from the top panel, the bottom panel comprising a first bottom panel joined to a second bottom panel by at least primary male and primary female locking elements,  
 at least one first gusset at least partially closing a first end of the carrier,  
 at least one second gusset at least partially closing a second end of the carrier, and  
 a retention flap that is not in contact with either of the first and second side panels and extends downwardly from the top panel to partially obstruct an open end of the carrier; and  
   a plurality of containers located within the carrier.    
     
     
         29 . The carrier package according to  claim 28 , wherein the first and second bottom panels are further secured by secondary male and secondary female locking elements.  
     
     
         30 . A carrier package, comprising: 
 a carrier, comprising 
 a top panel,  
 a first side panel adjacent to the top panel,  
 a second side panel adjacent to the top panel and disposed on a side of the carrier package opposite to the first side panel,  
 a bottom panel adjacent to each of the first and second side panels and opposite from the top panel, the bottom panel comprising a first bottom panel joined to a second bottom panel by at least primary male and primary female locking elements,  
 at least one first gusset at least partially closing a first end of the carrier,  
 at least one second gusset at least partially closing a second end of the carrier, and  
 a retention flap that is not in contact with either of the first and second side panels and extends upwardly from the bottom panel to partially obstruct an open end of the carrier; and  
   a plurality of containers located within the carrier.    
     
     
         31 . The carrier package according to  claim 30 , wherein the first and second bottom panels are further secured by secondary male and secondary female locking elements.