Carton With Dispensing Feature

Abstract

A carton for holding a plurality of containers. The carton comprises a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprises at least one top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. At least two end flaps are respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels. The at least two end flaps are overlapped with respect to one another and thereby at least partially form at least one closed end of the carton. The carton comprises a handle in the top panel and a dispenser for allowing removal of articles from the carton. The dispenser comprises a dispenser panel that is at least partially defined by a tear line in the carton and is for being at least partially removed for at least further opening a dispenser opening.

1 . A carton for holding a plurality of containers, the carton comprising:
 a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising at least one top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel;   at least two end flaps respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels, wherein the at least two end flaps are overlapped with respect to one another and thereby at least partially form at least one closed end of the carton;   a handle in the at least one top panel; and   a dispenser for allowing removal of articles from the carton, the dispenser comprising a dispenser panel that is at least partially defined by a tear line in the carton and is for being at least partially removed for at least further opening a dispenser opening, the dispenser panel extending from the handle in the at least one top panel and comprising at least a portion of the at least one top panel and at least a portion of at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel.   
     
     
         2 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein the tear line extends in at least the top panel and at least one of the first and second side panels, the tear line further defining at least one retainer portion in at least one of the first and second side panels. 
     
     
         3 . The carton of  claim 2 , wherein the tear line comprises at least one side portion extending in the first side panel, the at least one side portion comprising at least one generally longitudinal segment and a curved segment, the retainer portion of the first side panel being defined at least partially by the curved segment. 
     
     
         4 . The carton of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one longitudinal segment comprises a first longitudinal segment and a second longitudinal segment, and the curved segment extends between respective ends of the first and second longitudinal segments, wherein the retainer portion of the first side panel is further defined by at least the second longitudinal segment. 
     
     
         5 . The carton of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one side portion of the tear line further comprises at least one oblique segment extending from the at least one longitudinal segment, the tear line further comprising at least one top portion extending generally longitudinally between the at least one oblique segment and the handle in the at least one top panel. 
     
     
         6 . The carton of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one top portion of the tear line comprises a first top portion and a second top portion, and the at least one side portion of the tear line comprises a first side portion and a second side portion, the second side portion being generally a mirror image of the first side portion. 
     
     
         7 . The carton of  claim 6 , wherein the handle comprises at least one handle flap in the at least one top panel, and the first and second top portions of the tear line extend from the handle flap. 
     
     
         8 . The carton of  claim 6 , wherein the handle defines at least one handle opening in the at least one top panel, and the first and second top portions of the tear line extend from the handle opening. 
     
     
         9 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein the dispenser panel further comprises at least a portion of the bottom panel. 
     
     
         10 . The carton of  claim 9 , wherein the dispenser panel is foldably connected to the bottom panel at a fold line, the tear line comprises two spaced-apart bottom portions in the bottom panel, and the fold line is a lateral fold line extending between the bottom portions. 
     
     
         11 . The carton of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one side portion of the tear line comprises at least one semi-circular portion defining at least one retention tab in the first side panel for at least partially retaining the dispenser panel in a closed position after the tear line is torn. 
     
     
         12 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one top panel comprises a first top panel at least partially overlapping a second top panel, the handle comprising handle features in each of the first and second top panels, and the tear line extending from the handle in the first top panel. 
     
     
         13 . The carton of  claim 12 , wherein the handle comprises a first handle panel extending in the first top panel and a second handle panel extending in the second top panel, the first handle panel being at least partially overlapped with the second handle panel. 
     
     
         14 . The carton of  claim 13 , wherein the handle further comprises a reinforcing handle panel foldably connected to at least one of the first and second handle panels, the reinforcing handle panel at least partially overlapping the first and second handle panels. 
     
     
         15 . The carton of  claim 14 , wherein the at least two end flaps comprise at least a first top end flap foldably connected to the first top panel, a second top end flap foldably connected to the second top panel, and a reinforcing handle end flap foldably connected to at least the reinforcing handle panel, the first and second top end flaps and the reinforcing handle end flap being at least partially overlapped with respect to one another to thereby at least partially form the at least one closed end of the carton. 
     
     
         16 . The carton of  claim 13 , wherein the handle comprises a first handle opening adjacent the first handle panel extending in the first top panel and a second handle opening adjacent the second handle panel extending in the second top panel. 
     
     
         17 . The carton of  claim 16 , wherein the tear line is adjacent the first handle opening in the first top panel. 
     
     
         18 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two end flaps comprise at least a first side end flap foldably connected to the first side panel and a second side end flap foldably connected to the second side panel, a first lateral fold line extending at least partially across the first side panel and the first side end flap and a second lateral fold line extending at least partially across the second side panel and the second side end flap so that respective upper portions of the first and second side panels and first and second side end flaps extend at an angle with respect to respective lower portions of the first and second side panels and first and second side end flaps. 
     
     
         19 . The carton of  claim 18 , further comprising a diamond corner panel extending between each of the first and second side end flaps and the respective first and second side panels. 
     
     
         20 . A blank for forming a carton for holding a plurality of containers, the blank comprising:
 a plurality of panels comprising at least one top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel;   at least two end flaps respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels, wherein the at least two end flaps are for being overlapped with respect to one another to thereby at least partially form at least one closed end of a carton formed from the blank;   a handle in the at least one top panel; and   a dispenser for allowing removal of articles from the carton formed from the blank, the dispenser comprising a dispenser panel that is at least partially defined by a tear line in the blank and is for being at least partially removed for at least further opening a dispenser opening, the dispenser panel extending from the handle in the at least one top panel and comprising at least a portion of the at least one top panel and at least a portion of at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel.   
     
     
         21 . The blank of  claim 20 , wherein the tear line extends in at least the top panel and at least one of the first and second side panels, the tear line further defining at least one retainer portion in at least one of the first and second side panels. 
     
     
         22 . The blank of  claim 21 , wherein the tear line comprises at least one side portion extending in the first side panel, the at least one side portion comprising at least one generally longitudinal segment and a curved segment, the retainer portion of the first side panel being defined at least partially by the curved segment. 
     
     
         23 . The blank of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one longitudinal segment comprises a first longitudinal segment and a second longitudinal segment, and the curved segment extends between respective ends of the first and second longitudinal segments, wherein the retainer portion of the first side panel is further defined by at least the second longitudinal segment. 
     
     
         24 . The blank of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one side portion of the tear line further comprises at least one oblique segment extending from the at least one longitudinal segment, the tear line further comprising at least one top portion extending generally longitudinally between the at least one oblique segment and the handle in the at least one top panel. 
     
     
         25 . The blank of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one top portion of the tear line comprises a first top portion and a second top portion, and the at least one side portion of the tear line comprises a first side portion and a second side portion, the second side portion being generally a mirror image of the first side portion. 
     
     
         26 . The blank of  claim 25 , wherein the handle comprises at least one handle flap in the at least one top panel, and the first and second top portions of the tear line extend from the handle flap. 
     
     
         27 . The blank of  claim 25 , wherein the handle defines at least one handle opening in the at least one top panel, and the first and second top portions of the tear line extend from the handle opening. 
     
     
         28 . The blank of  claim 20 , wherein the dispenser panel further comprises at least a portion of the bottom panel. 
     
     
         29 . The blank of  claim 28 , wherein the dispenser panel is foldably connected to the bottom panel at a fold line, the tear line comprises two spaced-apart bottom portions in the bottom panel, and the fold line is a lateral fold line extending between the bottom portions. 
     
     
         30 . The blank of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one side portion of the tear line comprises at least one semi-circular portion defining at least one retention tab in the first side panel for at least partially retaining the dispenser panel in a closed position after the tear line is torn. 
     
     
         31 . The blank of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one top panel comprises a first top panel for being at least partially overlapped with a second top panel when the carton is formed from the blank, the handle comprising handle features in each of the first and second top panels, and the tear line extending from the handle in the first top panel. 
     
     
         32 . The blank of  claim 31 , wherein the handle comprises a first handle panel extending in the first top panel, a second handle panel extending in the second top panel, and a reinforcing handle panel foldably connected to at least one of the first and second handle panels, the reinforcing handle panel for being at least partially overlapped with the first handle panel and the second handle panel when the carton is formed from the blank. 
     
     
         33 . The blank of  claim 32 , wherein the at least two end flaps comprise at least a first top end flap foldably connected to the first top panel, a second top end flap foldably connected to the second top panel, and a reinforcing handle end flap foldably connected to at least the reinforcing handle panel, the first and second top end flaps and the reinforcing handle end flap for being at least partially overlapped with respect to one another to thereby at least partially form the at least one closed end of the carton. 
     
     
         34 . The blank of  claim 32 , wherein the handle comprises a first handle opening adjacent the first handle panel extending in the first top panel and a second handle opening adjacent the second handle panel extending in the second top panel, the tear line being adjacent the first handle opening in the first top panel. 
     
     
         35 . A method of opening a carton for holding a plurality of containers, the method comprising:
 obtaining a carton comprising a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising at least one top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel, at least two end flaps respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels, wherein the at least two end flaps are overlapped with respect to one another and thereby at least partially form at least one closed end of the carton, a handle in the at least one top panel, and a dispenser comprising a dispenser panel that is at least partially defined by a tear line in the carton, the dispenser panel extending from the handle in the at least one top panel and comprising at least a portion of the at least one top panel and at least a portion of at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel;   at least further opening a dispenser opening by at least partially removing the dispenser panel from the carton; and   removing at least one article from the carton through the dispenser opening.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising positioning the dispenser panel to at least partially close the dispenser opening. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the tear line comprises two spaced-apart top portions extending generally longitudinally from the handle in the at least one top panel and two spaced-apart side portions extending in the first side panel, the side portions each comprising at least one generally longitudinal segment and a curved segment, each curved segment at least partially defining a retainer portion in the first side panel, and each retainer portion at least partially retaining at least one article in the carton after the at least partially removing the dispenser panel. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the handle comprises at least one handle opening in the at least one top flap, the top portions of the tear line extend from the at least one handle opening, and the at least further opening the dispenser opening comprises grasping the dispenser panel adjacent the at least one handle opening and tearing the tear line along at least the top portions and the side portions. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the handle comprises at least one handle panel extending in the at least one top panel and at least one handle flap foldably connected to the at least one handle panel, and the method further comprises forming the at least one handle opening by inwardly folding the at least one handle flap at least partially into the carton. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the dispenser panel comprises at least a portion of the bottom panel and is foldably connected to the bottom panel at a fold line, the tear line comprises two spaced-apart bottom portions in the bottom panel, the fold line is a lateral fold line extending between the bottom portion of the tear line, and the at least partially removing the dispenser panel further comprises tearing the tear line along the bottom portions and folding the dispenser panel about the fold line. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein each of the side portions of the tear line comprises a semi-circular portion defining a retention tab in the first side panel and a recess in the dispenser panel, and the method further comprises positioning the dispenser panel to at least partially close the dispenser opening by folding the dispenser panel upwardly about the fold line in the bottom panel so that the recesses in the dispenser panel are positioned above the respective retention tabs in the first side panel. 
     
     
         42 . A carton for holding a plurality of containers, the carton comprising;
 a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising a first top panel, a second top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel;   at least three end flaps respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels, wherein the at least three end flaps are overlapped with respect to one another and thereby at least partially form a closed end of the carton, the at least three end flaps comprising at least a first top end flap foldably connected to the first top panel, a second top end flap foldably connected to the second top panel, and a bottom end flap foldably connected to the bottom panel; and   a dispenser for allowing removal of articles from the carton, the dispenser comprising a dispenser panel that is at least partially defined by a tear line in the carton and is for being at least partially removed for at least further opening a dispenser opening, the dispenser panel comprising at least a portion of the first top end flap, the second top end flap, and the bottom end flap.   
     
     
         43 . The carton of  claim 42 , wherein the dispenser panel comprises a first access flap in the first top end flap and a second access flap in the second top end flap. 
     
     
         44 . The carton of  claim 43 , wherein the tear line comprises at least a first portion extending in the first top end flap and a second portion extending in the second top flap. 
     
     
         45 . The carton of  claim 44 , wherein the first access flap is at least partially defined by the first portion of the tear line and a first curved fold line extending in the first top end flap, and the second access flap is at least partially defined by the second portion of the tear line and a second curved fold line extending in the second top end flap. 
     
     
         46 . The carton of  claim 45 , wherein the tear line comprises two spaced apart bottom portions extending in the bottom end flap. 
     
     
         47 . The carton of  claim 46 , wherein each of the first and second portions of the tear line comprises at least one lateral segment extending from a respective longitudinally-extending edge of the respective first and second top end flap, at least one curved segment extending from the at least one lateral segment, and at least one longitudinal segment extending from the at least one curved segment to a respective laterally-extending edge of the respective first and second top end flap. 
     
     
         48 . A blank for forming a carton for holding a plurality of containers, the blank comprising;
 a plurality of panels comprising a first top panel, a second top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel;   at least three end flaps respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels, wherein the at least three end flaps are for being overlapped with respect to one another to thereby at least partially form a closed end of a carton formed from the blank, the at least three end flaps comprising at least a first top end flap foldably connected to the first top panel, a second top end flap foldably connected to the second top panel, and a bottom end flap foldably connected to the bottom panel; and   a dispenser for allowing removal of articles from the carton formed from the blank, the dispenser comprising a dispenser panel that is at least partially defined by a tear line in the blank and is for being at least partially removed for at least further opening a dispenser opening, the dispenser panel comprising at least a portion of the first top end flap, the second top end flap, and the bottom end flap.   
     
     
         49 . The blank of  claim 48 , wherein the tear line comprises at least a first portion extending in the first top end flap and a second portion extending in the second top flap. 
     
     
         50 . The blank of  claim 49 , wherein the dispenser panel comprises a first access flap in the first top end flap and a second access flap in the second top end flap, the first access flap being at least partially defined by the first portion of the tear line and a first curved fold line extending in the first top end flap, and the second access flap being at least partially defined by the second portion of the tear line and a second curved fold line extending in the second top end flap. 
     
     
         51 . The blank of  claim 50 , wherein the tear line comprises two spaced apart bottom portions extending in the bottom end flap, and each of the first and second portions of the tear line comprises at least one lateral segment extending from a respective longitudinally-extending edge of the respective first and second top end flap, at least one curved segment extending from the at least one lateral segment, and at least one longitudinal segment extending from the at least one curved segment to a respective laterally-extending edge of the respective first and second top end flap.