Carton with upper-end dispenser

Abstract

A carton including a dispenser disposed at the upper end of the carton. The dispenser includes an at least partially detachable portion that is connected by detachable connection, such as tear strips. The tear strips define an edge of the carton. At least a portion of the edge along each of the end walls is offset from a top wall of the carton by a distance such that at least the uppermost tier of articles is exposed for removal but the articles are retained in the carton by the edge. The distance is no greater than the diameter of each of the articles.

1 . A package, comprising 
 a plurality of substantially cylindrical articles each having a diameter, said articles being arranged on sides thereof in at least one tier; and    a carton, comprising: 
 a plurality of walls including a top wall, a pair of opposed end walls connected to said top wall, a front wall connected to a said top wall, and a rear wall connected to said top wall, wherein said front wall and said rear wall interconnect said end walls; and  
 an article dispenser for dispensing articles from the carton, said dispenser including an at least partially detachable portion of the carton formed at least from said top wall, said at least partially detachable portion being connected at least to said front wall and said end walls by a detachable connection, said at least partially detachable portion to be detached from the carton to provide an opening for exposing at least an uppermost tier of articles for removal;  
   wherein said detachable connection comprises a severable line of joinder for defining a front edge and end edges of said opening, wherein the minimum-distance between the top wall and each of the end edges of said opening is less than said diameter.    
   
   
       2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein said at least partially detachable portion in further formed from an upper end of said carton, said upper end comprising at least part of each of said front and end walls.  
   
   
       3 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said front wall and said pair of end walls comprises a tear initiation arrangement for facilitating a user's cross-tearing motion for detaching at least a portion of said detachable connection.  
   
   
       4 . The package of the  claim 1 , wherein the detachable connection comprises at least one tear strip.  
   
   
       5 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the detachable connection extends at least partially across said rear wall.  
   
   
       6 . The package of the  claim 1 , further comprising a fold line extending between ends of the detachable connection such that the at least partially detachable portion is hingedly connected to the carton upon removal of said detachable connection.  
   
   
       7 . The package of  claim 6 , wherein said fold line is disposed on said rear wall such that said at least partially detachable portion is hingedly connected to the carton along said rear wall upon removal of said detachable connection.  
   
   
       8 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the carton further comprises: 
 a bottom wall connected to said front wall, rear wall, and said pair of end walls; and    a handle formed in said bottom wall.    
   
   
       9 . The package of  claim 3 , wherein said detachable connection comprises a pair of tear strips; and said tear initiation arrangement comprises a pair of push tabs formed at the end of each said pair of tear strips.  
   
   
       10 . A carton, for enclosing articles arranged a plurality of tiers comprising: 
 an upper end;    a dispenser comprising detachable portion formed from said upper end;    a detachable connection for at least partially separating said detachable portion from said carton to define an opening for removing articles from said carton;    wherein said opening has an edge and at least a portion of said edge is for retaining the uppermost tier of said articles in said carton after said detachable portion is separated.    
   
   
       11 . The carton of  claim 10 , wherein said upper end comprises a top wall and portions of a front wall, a rear wall, and opposing end walls.  
   
   
       12 . The carton of  claim 10 , wherein said detachable connection extends across each of said end walls and across said front wall.  
   
   
       13 . The carton of  claim 12 , further comprising a fold line extending across the rear wall and between the ends of said detachable connection.  
   
   
       14 . The carton of  claim 12 , wherein said detachable connection further extends at least partially across said rear wall.  
   
   
       15 . The carton of  claim 10 , wherein a distance between said top wall and said portion of said edge that is for retaining said uppermost tier is less than the height of said uppermost tier.  
   
   
       16 . A blank forming the carton of  claim 10 .  
   
   
       17 . A blank for forming a carton, comprising: 
 a front panel having a side edge and opposing end edges;    a first front end flap and a second end flap connected to said front panel along opposing end edges; and    a detachable connection extending substantially continuously across said first end flap, said front panel, and said second end flap, said detachable connection.    
   
   
       18 . The blank of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 a rear panel having a side edge and opposing end edges;    a first rear end flap and a second rear end flap connected to said rear panel along said opposing end edges;    at least one severance line extending from the distal edge of said first rear end flap substantially to said end edge of said rear panel; and    at least one severance line extending from the distal edge of said first rear end flap substantially to said end edge of said rear panel.