Abstract: Dispensing aids (100, 500, 1300, 2000) are provided to facilitate removing articles (B) from cartons (200, 600, 1500, 2100) having openings (O) that function as article dispensers. The dispensing aids (100, 500, 1300, 2000) engaging at least the articles (B) furthest from the opening (O) with means for engaging. The means for engaging includes an article engaging portion such as a top engaging collar (102), a bottom engaging sled (502), a side engaging crossbar (1310), or a belt (2002). The means for engaging is displaced toward the opening (O) of the carton by a means for displacing. The means for displacing may be a grip (104, 504, 1304, 2004) or strap (906). As the grip, strap, or other means for displacing the article engaging portion is pulled, the article engaging portion is drawn toward the opening (O) as are the articles that are engaged.

Abstract: A reinforced handle is provided in an end wall closure of a sleeve type carton by forming a handle aperture in a top end flap, and by aligning the handle aperture with corresponding cutouts formed in respective side end flaps, each cutout being reinforced with one or more reinforcing panels that align with at least its weight bearing edge. Each reinforcing panel is hingedly attached to the respective side end flap to be foldable along the hinged connection and secured in a face contacting arrangement, whereby the reinforcing panel overlies the cutout as an overlay panel, or aligns its edge with the weight bearing edge of the cutout. In this manner, the material at the weight bearing edge of the cutout is at least two plies thick. When the carton is fully erected and sealed, the reinforced cutout is in registry with the handle aperture, thereby creating the reinforced handle.

Abstract: A carton includes a tray (110) and a lid (120). The tray includes a pair of handles (400, 405), each comprising a first panel (370) extending in a first direction, a second panel (350) extending in a second direction, and a third panel (330) extending in a third direction. The lid is removably attached to the tray. The lid is positioned between the pair of handles.

Abstract: A carton for dispensing articles having a dispensing feature is adapted for restraining articles within the carton until the consumer desires to remove the endmost articles from the carton. To erect the carton, a plurality of panels are connected together to define an end of the carton. A first detachable portion at the end of the carton may be detached from the carton to define an opening for dispensing articles from an upper or lower row of articles within the carton. A second detachable portion at the end of the carton borders the first detachable portion and may also be detached from the carton to enlarge the opening in an alternative embodiment. The second detachable portion restrains articles in an upper row of articles prior to detaching the second detachable portion from the erected carton.

Abstract: A device for breaking a series of perforations or cuts to open a carton or otherwise separate materials connected by a frangible severance line includes a pair of fold lines that converge away from the severance line, a collapsible line perpendicular to severance line and between the pair of fold lines, and third fold line perpendicular to and intersecting the collapsible line. A tear in the severance line is initiated by applying pressure in vicinity of the intersection of the collapsible line and the third fold line, which causes the device to apply tension to the frangible line, which is further weakened by having an elongated perforation that it centered on the axis of tension, and neighboring perforations that are angled toward the axis of tension. The angle of each perforation with respect to the axis of tension preferably varies depending on its location relative to the axis of tension.

Abstract: A package includes an article group of at least one row of cylindrical articles enclosed by a carton. The carton includes a plurality of walls and an article dispenser opening formed at the region of intersection of planes of the top wall, the opposed side walls and the end wall. A portion of the article dispenser opening is defined by an end wall severance line having all points disposed at elevations at a distance as measured from the plane of the top wall no greater than the diameter of the substantially cylindrical articles that lie in an upper row of the group. Another portion of the article dispenser opening is defined by side wall severance lines a portion of which is at a distance less than the diameter away from the base wall. No portion of either side wall severance line is oblique with respect to the top wall.

Abstract: An apparatus automatically tests the effect of pendular motion on the integrity of cartons or other containers having handles, by grasping the handles with a simulated hand connected to a simulated arm, which swings the carton along an arcuate path according to a predefined test protocol. A first test protocol simulates removal of the carton from an elevated shelf. A second test protocol simulates the oscillating motion of a human carrying a carton by its handle. A third test protocol simulates a human swinging the carton upward to an elevated shelf. The simulated hand may be connected to the simulated arm by a simulated wrist that allows articulation of the hand during the test, thereby more closely approximating handling of the carton by a human user. The simulated arm may be caused to pivot or oscillated by the force of gravity and alternatively, by a mechanical or electromechanical drive system.

Abstract: A blank for forming a carton of the end loading type for containing a plurality of beverage cans, the capacity of the carton can be increased to accommodate the insertion of ice-cubes into the carton for cooling the beverage cans contained therein, the blank for forming the carton, including a series of main panels including at least one top panel, one of the top panels having a tear strip and thereby being separable into two parts, the blank further including end extension panels, wherein upon constructing the blank into the set up carton, separating the top panel, by deploying the tear strip, allows each end extension panel and each of the separated parts of the top panel to be raised above the tops of the beverage cans to increase the capacity of the carton to accommodate the insertion of ice cubes.

Abstract: A carton with an improved dispenser facilitates access to articles enclosed within by providing expansive side recesses that expose at least one article on the lowermost row and the two end most articles in the uppermost row. The dispenser opening is defined by one or more severance lines extending at least partially across the top, end, and side walls, with a portion of the end wall remaining as an article stopper after the at least partially detachable portion of the dispenser is removed.

Abstract: A severable carton wall includes a substantially vertically disposed composite wall formed from a pair of overlapping panels joined along a seam, and a frangible line extending across the composite wall, traversing the seam, defining a removable upper portion of the composite wall. An extensively-weakened segment of the frangible line that substantially traverses the seam is shaped and disposed such that the extensively-weakened segment defines a notch in the removable upper portion within the seam of the removable upper portion. The extensively-weakened segment includes a pair of cut lines formed respectively in the end portions of the panels such that the cut lines define a pair of secured protrusions formed respectively from the panels and extending upwardly from the lower portion of the composite wall.

Abstract: A carton for dispensing articles having a dispensing feature with a built-in ad panel. A plurality of panels are connected together to define an end of the carton. A displaceable portion at the end of the carton may be detached from the carton to define an opening for dispensing the articles from within the carton. The opening partially defines a positionable portion which is moveable between a first position and a second position. The positionable portion may be used as an ad panel to allow greater promotional flexibility.

Abstract: A frangible line defines a line of severance by extending across a carton wall that has a seam. The frangible line is extensively weakened along a predetermined segment where it traverses the seam. Preferably, the predetermined segment is extensively weakened by substantially disjoining the panel regions on either side of the line. Disjoinder is preferably achieved by making the predetermined segment a cut line.

Abstract: A carton for dispensing articles having a dispensing feature is adapted for restraining articles within the carton until the consumer desires to remove the endmost articles from the carton. To erect the carton, a plurality of panels are connected together to define an end of the carton. A first detachable portion at the end of the carton may be detached from the carton to define an opening for dispensing articles from an upper or lower row of articles within the carton. A second detachable portion at the end of the carton borders the first detachable portion and may also be detached from the carton to enlarge the opening in an alternative embodiment. The second detachable portion restrains articles in an upper row of articles prior to detaching the second detachable portion from the erected carton.

Abstract: A carton for dispensing articles having a dispensing feature with a built-in ad panel. A plurality of panels are connected together to define an end of the carton. A displaceable portion at the end of the carton may be detached from the carton to define an opening for dispensing the articles from within the carton. The opening partially defines a positionable portion which is moveable between a first position and a second position. The positionable portion may be used as an ad panel to allow greater promotional flexibility.

Abstract: A carton for dispensing articles having a dispensing feature with a built-in retention feature capable of being utilized as a promotional flag. A plurality of panels are connected together to define an end of the carton. A displaceable portion at the end of the carton may be detached from the carton end to define an opening for dispensing the articles from within the carton. Within the interior of the erected carton is a panel portion that is obscured from view within the carton prior to the displaceable portion being at least partially detached from the carton. The panel portion is exposed to the exterior of the carton through the opening by at least partial detachment of the displaceable portion from the carton. A distal end of the panel portion extends into the opening for restraining articles within the carton. The panel portion may also be used as an ad panel to allow greater promotional flexibility.

Abstract: A carton includes a first wall, a second wall connected to the first wall along a corner fold line and disposed at an angle with respect to the first wall to define a corner of the carton along the corner fold line, and a tear line formed in the first wall and extending into the second wall to define a tear panel disposed astride the corner fold line. The tear panel includes a push tab connected thereto along a transverse fold line extending transversely of the corner fold line.

Abstract: A frangible line defines a line of severance by extending across a carton wall that has a seam. The frangible line is extensively weakened along a predetermined segment where it traverses the seam. Preferably, the predetermined segment is extensively weakened by substantially disjoining the panel regions on either side of the line. Disjoinder is preferably achieved by making the predetermined segment a cut line.

Abstract: An enclosed carton has an exiting end capable of permitting articles to exit the carton. The carton comprises a bottom wall, a top wall and foldably connected adjoining side walls. The exiting end has a bottom end flap foldably attached to the bottom wall, a top end flap foldably attached to the top wall, a side end flap foldably attached to each side wall, and means for attaching the flaps together. The exiting end has a tear line for forming a dispenser opening. The tear line extends through the top wall at a distance spaced from the exiting end and extends at an angle through each side wall towards the exiting end to the attachment of each side wall with the side end flaps at a distance greater from the top wall than the bottom wall, with a fold line extending through each side end flap at a distance from the bottom wall. A handle is defined by a pair of apertures in the top wall that extend transversely towards the side walls.

Abstract: A carton includes a first wall, a second wall connected to the first wall along a corner fold line and disposed at an angle with respect to the first wall to define a corner of the carton along the corner fold line, and a tear line formed in the first wall and extending into the second wall to define a tear panel disposed astride the corner fold line. The tear panel includes a push tab connected thereto along a transverse fold line extending transversely of the corner fold line.

Abstract: A beverage carton has a center panel, a left panel foldably connected to the center panel along a left fold line, a right panel foldably connected to the center panel along a right fold line, and a strap handle formed from the center, left and right panels. The strap handle extends transversely, instead of longitudinally, across the center panel between the left and right panels to absorb lifting forces in the side panels rather than end panels of the carton.