Carton and carton blank

Abstract

A carton includes a plurality of panels for forming a structure for containing the one or more articles (C), and a dispenser (D) having an access panel ( 35 ). The access panel is at least partially defined by a frangible line ( 64, 66, 68, 70, 75, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80 ) extending in at least one of the plurality of panels. The access panel is at least partially removable from the carton ( 90 ) to thereby form a dispenser opening. The carton further includes a handle structure (H) for grasping and carrying the carton. The handle structure extends only partially within the access panel such that only a portion of the handle structure is removable from the carton with the access panel.

1 . A carton for packaging one or more articles, the carton comprising:
 a plurality of panels for forming a structure for containing one or more articles;   a dispenser comprising an access panel, the access panel being at least partially defined by a frangible line extending in at least one of the plurality of panels, the access panel being at least partially removable from the carton to form a dispenser opening in the carton; and   a handle structure for grasping and carrying the carton, wherein the handle structure extends only partially within the access panel such that only a portion of the handle structure is removable from the carton together with the access panel.   
     
     
         2 . A carton according to  claim 1  wherein the frangible line comprises two termination points spaced apart from one another, the termination points being disposed on opposite sides of the handle structure and proximate to the handle structure. 
     
     
         3 . A carton according to  claim 2  wherein each of the termination points comprises a tear termination. 
     
     
         4 . A carton according to  claim 3  wherein each of the tear terminations comprises a curved slit. 
     
     
         5 . A carton according to  claim 4  wherein part of each of the curved slits is disposed substantially perpendicularly to the frangible line. 
     
     
         6 . A carton according to  claim 2  wherein the handle structure comprises a frangible feature such that when the frangible line is broken and the access panel is at least partially removed from the carton, the frangible feature can also be broken to allow the access panel and only a portion of the handle structure to be removed from the carton. 
     
     
         7 . A carton according to  claim 6 , wherein the handle structure further comprises a crease disposed in a region between the termination points and wherein the frangible feature is positioned along said crease to facilitate propagation of a tear substantially along the crease when the access panel and the portion of the handle structure are removed from the carton. 
     
     
         8 . A carton according to  claim 7  wherein the crease and frangible feature at least partially define an edge of the portion of the handle structure when the access panel is fully removed from the carton. 
     
     
         9 . A carton according to  claim 8  wherein the handle structure is a slot-handle structure comprising a pair of elongate tabs which are defined in part by first and second fold lines and in part by a severance line that extends transversely across the one of the plurality of panels and into each of two side panels adjacent thereto, wherein the crease extends between the first and second fold lines, and wherein said frangible feature comprises one or more slits. 
     
     
         10 . A carton according to  claim 9  wherein the crease is “V”-shaped and wherein the one or more slits comprise two slits, one being on each of arms of the “V”-shaped crease. 
     
     
         11 . A carton according to  claim 10  wherein the “V”-shaped crease forms part of a first “X”-shaped crease arrangement formed at a first end of the slot-handle structure and wherein a second “X”-shaped crease arrangement is formed at a second end of the slot-handle structure, the first and second “X”-shaped crease arrangements facilitate folding of the elongate tabs when the handle structure is deployed for carrying the carton. 
     
     
         12 . A carton according to  claim 6  wherein the frangible feature is structured and arranged such that it does not readily break when the handle is deployed for carrying the carton, but can sufficiently easily be broken when the frangible line is broken for removing the access panel. 
     
     
         13 . A carton according to  claim 1  wherein between about 5% and about 30% of the handle structure remains after the access panel has been fully removed. 
     
     
         14 . A package comprising a carton according to  claim 1  and a plurality of articles disposed therein. 
     
     
         15 . A blank for forming a carton, the blank comprising:
 a plurality of panels for forming a structure for containing the one or more articles;   a dispenser comprising an access panel, the access panel being at least partially defined by a frangible line extending in at least one of the plurality of panels, the access panel being at least partially removable to form a dispenser opening; and   a handle structure for grasping and carrying the carton when formed from the blank, wherein the handle structure extends only partially within the access panel such that only a portion of the handle structure is removable from the carton along with the access panel.   
     
     
         16 . A blank according to  claim 15  wherein the frangible line comprises two termination points spaced apart from one another, the termination points being disposed on opposite sides of the handle structure and proximate to the handle structure. 
     
     
         17 . A blank according to  claim 16  wherein each of the termination points comprises a tear termination. 
     
     
         18 . A blank according to  claim 17  wherein each of the tear terminations comprises a curved slit. 
     
     
         19 . A blank according to  claim 18  wherein part of each of the curved slits is disposed substantially perpendicularly to the frangible line. 
     
     
         20 . A blank according to  claim 16  wherein the handle structure comprises a frangible feature such that when the frangible line is broken and the access panel is at least partially removed from the carton, the frangible feature can also be broken to allow the access panel and only a portion of the handle structure to be removed from the carton.