Carton and blank therefor

Abstract

A packaging system with an improved shelf pusher function to enhance the retail shelf-stocking is disclosed. The packaging system includes a carton comprising a dispensing element that is co-operative with product display unit to provide for an automatic push of the packaged products to the front of the display unit. The blank for forming the carton, the shelf with which the carton is co-operable, and the method of loading the shelf are also disclosed.

1 . A carton for housing packaged articles and using in a conjunction with a retail shelf, including:
 (a) a base wall upon which the packaged articles rest and are supported;   (b) a top wall;   (c) a first side wall and a second side wall connecting the base wall and the top wall;   (d) a front-end wall connecting the top, base and side walls;   (e) a back-end wall connecting the top, base and side walls;   (f) a base portion removal element positioned on the back-end wall for progressive displacement of the base wall either partially or completely,   
       wherein the base portion removal element is operable whilst the carton base wall is disposed proximate to the shelf so that the packaged articles in the carton are depositable directly onto the shelf as the base wall is displaced. 
     
     
         2 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion removal element comprises a tear strip defined by two frangible lines extending a length of the base wall. 
     
     
         3 . The carton of  claim 1 , further comprises a frangible loop for removing the front-end wall of the carton. 
     
     
         4 . The carton of  claim 1 , further including a tear initiation element for facilitating access to the base portion removal element,
 wherein the base portion removal element is operable after the tear initiation element is deployed such that the base wall of the carton is progressively displaceable, either partially or completely, as the carton is progressively loaded further into the shelf for depositing the packaged articles onto the shelf.   
     
     
         5 . The carton of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the base portion removal element comprises two frangible lines, the tear initiation element comprises an aperture and at least one severable connection, the severable connection defining a removable portion of the back-end wall and being connected at one end to the aperture and at the other end to the two frangible lines of the base portion removal element.   
     
     
         6 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the retail shelf includes an engaging element and an automatic-pusher mechanism;   and   the carton further includes an engaging element co-operable with the engaging element of the retail shelf to facilitate a loading of the packaged articles in the carton onto the shelf.   
     
     
         7 . The carton of  claim 6 , wherein the engaging element of the retail shelf comprises a hook structure, and the engaging element of the carton comprises an aperture structure. 
     
     
         8 . The carton of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the retail shelf includes an engaging element comprising a resiliently biased pusher-mechanism; and   the base portion removal element includes an engaging element co-operable with the engaging element of the retail shelf to facilitate a loading of the packaged articles in the carton onto the shelf.   
     
     
         9 . A blank for forming the carton according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . A retail shelf including:
 an automatic-pusher mechanism; and   a shelf engaging element that is co-operable with the engaging element of the carton according to  claim 6 , such that loading of the packaged articles in the carton onto the shelf is facilitated.   
     
     
         11 . A retail shelf including:
 a pusher mechanism; and   a shelf engaging element that is co-operable with the engaging element of the carton according to  claim 8 , such that loading of the packaged articles in the carton onto the shelf is facilitated.   
     
     
         12 . A package system with enhanced retail shelf-stocking performance, comprising the carton according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . A package system comprising the carton according to  claim 2 . 
     
     
         14 . A package system comprising the carton according to  claim 3 . 
     
     
         15 . A package system comprising the carton according to  claim 4 . 
     
     
         16 . A package system comprising the carton according to  claim 5 . 
     
     
         17 . A package system comprising the carton according to  claim 6 . 
     
     
         18 . A package system comprising the carton according to  claim 7 . 
     
     
         19 . A package system comprising the carton according to  claim 8 . 
     
     
         20 . A blank for forming the carton according to  claim 3 .