Display/Vending Carton

Abstract

A carton with an improved dispensing feature at one end of the carton, which preserves the integrity of the carton, while enabling the display and enhanced access and vending of containers within the carton.

1 . A carton for containing a plurality of beverage containers arranged in at least two stacked rows in the carton, the two stacked rows comprise a top row and a bottom row, the top row comprises a top end container and the bottom row comprises a bottom end container, the carton comprises:
 a plurality of panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprise a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel, the first side panel and the second side panel are respectively foldably attached to the top panel at respective longitudinally-extending fold lines, the top panel is adjacent to the top row of containers and the bottom panel is adjacent the bottom row of containers;   at least two end flaps respectively independently foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels at at least one fold line, wherein the at least two end flaps at least partially form a closed end of the carton; and   an opening section that allows access to the articles in the carton at the closed end, the opening section is at least partially defined by a tear line;   in each of the at least two end flaps, the tear line comprises a first portion and a second portion that extends from the first portion, the first and second portions form a retainer portion in each of the at least two end flaps upon opening of the opening section, the retainer portion is shaped to retain the top end container and the bottom end container at the closed end, the retainer portion in each of the at least two end flaps comprises a lower portion that extends at least partially across the closed end for retaining the bottom end container and an upper portion that extends upwardly from the lower portion, each respective upper portion of the retainer portion retains the top end container at the closed end, each upper portion of the retainer portion is formed by a respective second portion of the tear line, and each lower portion of the retainer portion is formed by a respective first portion of the tear line,   the tear line comprises a third portion in at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel, the third portion extends from the second portion and is generally parallel to at least one of the longitudinally-extending fold lines.   
   
   
       2 . The carton of  claim 1  wherein the second portion of the tear line intersects the at least one fold line at a location spaced apart from the top panel. 
   
   
       3 . The carton of  claim 2  wherein the third portion of the tear line intersects the second portion of the tear line at the location spaced apart from the top panel. 
   
   
       4 . The carton of  claim 1  wherein the second portion of the tear line is spaced apart from the top panel and forms a top edge of the upper portion. 
   
   
       5 . The carton of  claim 4  wherein the third portion of the tear line is spaced apart from the top panel by an equal distance as the spacing between the second portion of the tear line at the top edge of the upper portion and the top panel. 
   
   
       6 . The carton of  claim 1  wherein the second portion is generally perpendicular to the first portion. 
   
   
       7 . The carton of  claim 11  wherein the opening section is detached from the carton upon opening of the opening section. 
   
   
       8 . The carton of  claim 1  wherein the tear line comprises a fourth portion in the top panel that at least partially defines a portion of the opening section in the top panel. 
   
   
       9 . The carton of  claim 8  in combination with the plurality of beverage containers, wherein the containers have at least one common diameter. 
   
   
       10 . The carton of  claim 9  wherein the top end container and the bottom end container are adjacent the closed end. 
   
   
       11 . The carton of  claim 10  wherein the fourth portion of the tear line is spaced apart from the closed end by a distance of at least approximately the common diameter. 
   
   
       12 . The carton of  claim 8  wherein the third portion of the tear line is in the first side panel, the tear line further comprises a fifth portion in the second side panel, the fifth portion is generally parallel to at least one of the longitudinally-extending fold lines. 
   
   
       13 . The carton of  claim 8  wherein the at least two end flaps comprise a first side end flap foldably connected to the first side panel, a second side end flap foldably connected to the second side panel, and a top end flap foldably connected to the top panel,
 the at least one fold line comprises a longitudinally-extending fold line connecting each of the at least two end flaps to a respective panel,   each of the first side end flap and the second side end flap comprises a respective first portion and second portion of the tear line, and   the fourth portion of the tear line is generally parallel to the longitudinally-extending fold line.   
   
   
       14 . A blank for forming a carton for containing a plurality of beverage containers arranged in at least two stacked rows in the carton, the two stacked rows comprise a top row and a bottom row, the top row comprises a top end container and the bottom row comprises a bottom end container, the blank comprises:
 a plurality of panels that are respectively foldably connected to one another, the plurality of panels comprises a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel, the first side panel and the second side panel are respectively foldably attached to the top panel at respective longitudinally-extending fold lines, the top panel is adjacent to the top row of container when the blank is formed into the carton and the bottom panel is adjacent the bottom row of containers when the blank is formed into the carton;   at least two end flaps respectively independently foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels at at least one fold line, wherein the at least two end flaps are for at least partially forming a closed end when the blank is formed into the carton; and   a tear line forming an opening section,   in each of the at least two end flaps the tear line comprises a first portion and a second portion that extends from the first portion, the first and second portions are adapted to form a retainer portion in each of the at least two end flaps upon opening of the opening section, the retainer portion is shaped to retain the top end container and the bottom end container when the blank is formed into the carton, the retainer portion in each of the at least two end flaps comprises a lower portion that extends at least partially across a respective end flap and is positioned for retaining the bottom end container, and an upper portion that extends upwardly from the lower portion, each respective upper portion of the retainer portion retains the top end container when the blank is formed into the carton, each upper portion of the retainer portion is formed by a respective second portion of the tear line, and each lower portion of the retainer portion is formed by a respective first portion of the tear line,   the tear line comprises a third portion in at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel, the third portion extends from the second portion and is generally parallel to at least one of the longitudinally-extending fold lines.   
   
   
       15 . The blank of  claim 14  wherein the second portion of the tear line intersects the at least one fold line at a location spaced apart from the top panel. 
   
   
       16 . The blank of  claim 15  wherein the third portion of the tear line intersects the second portion of the tear line at the location spaced apart from the top panel. 
   
   
       17 . The blank of  claim 14  wherein the second portion of the tear line is spaced apart from the top panel and forms a top edge of the upper portion. 
   
   
       18 . The blank of  claim 17  wherein the third portion of the tear line is spaced apart from the top panel by an equal distance as the spacing between the second portion of the tear line at the top edge of the upper portion and the top panel. 
   
   
       19 . The blank of  claim 14  wherein the second portion is generally perpendicular to the first portion. 
   
   
       20 . The blank of  claim 14  wherein the tear line comprises a fourth portion in the top panel that at least partially defines a portion of the opening section in the top panel. 
   
   
       21 . The blank of  claim 20  wherein the third portion of the tear line is in the first side panel, the tear line further comprises a fifth portion in the second side panel, the fifth portion is generally parallel to at least one of the longitudinally-extending fold lines. 
   
   
       22 . The blank of  claim 20  wherein the at least two end flaps comprise a first side end flap foldably connected to the first side panel, a second side end flap foldably connected to the second side panel, and a top end flap foldably connected to the top panel,
 the at least one fold line comprises a longitudinally-extending fold line that connects each of the at least two end flaps to a respective panel,   each of the first side end flap and the second side end flap comprises a respective first portion and second portion of the tear line, and   the fourth portion of the tear line is generally parallel to the longitudinally-extending fold line.