CARTON DISPENSER FOR WRAPPED ARTICLES
United States Patent 3568883
A carton dispenser for wrapped articles in which articles may be packaged for delivery, and later the carton dispenser hung on a wall and articles may be withdrawn one at a time for use through a bottom opening in the carton dispenser provided by the removal of a tab initially folded to close the opening until the dispenser is put to use.
US Patent References:
Window container
Makeley - September 1942 - 2294473
Dispensing package for compressible pads
Gauld - October 1961 - 3002651
Window container
Makeley - September 1942 - 2294473
Dispensing package for compressible pads
Gauld - October 1961 - 3002651
Application Number:
04/809219
Publication Date:
03/09/1971
Filing Date:
03/21/1969
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Assignee:
Le Voy's Inc. (Salt Lake City, UT)
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
206/499, 206/438, 229/122.200
International Classes:
A47F1/08; A47F3/14; A47F1/00; A47F3/00; A47F1/08; B65D83/00; B65D5/16
Field of Search:
221/305,302,34 229/7,17 206/56 (A4)/
Primary Examiner:
Bockenek, David M.
Claims:
I claim
1. A carton dispenser in which wrapped articles are initially packed and from which the articles may be dispensed one at a time, comprising:
2. The carton dispenser of claim 1, wherein said dispensing opening is slightly narrower than the thickness of the articles in the carton to prevent accidental removal of the articles, the front panel flexing slightly to permit easy withdrawal of an article.
3. The carton dispenser of claim 1, in which the articles are generally in the shape of a rectangular block and packed obliquely in overlapping relationship, whereby the lower edge of each article will gravitate into easy reach at the discharge opening.
4. The carton dispenser of claim 1, including:
1. A carton dispenser in which wrapped articles are initially packed and from which the articles may be dispensed one at a time, comprising:
2. The carton dispenser of claim 1, wherein said dispensing opening is slightly narrower than the thickness of the articles in the carton to prevent accidental removal of the articles, the front panel flexing slightly to permit easy withdrawal of an article.
3. The carton dispenser of claim 1, in which the articles are generally in the shape of a rectangular block and packed obliquely in overlapping relationship, whereby the lower edge of each article will gravitate into easy reach at the discharge opening.
4. The carton dispenser of claim 1, including:
Description:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Heretofore, various types and sizes of containers have been developed capable of dispensing the contents thereof in individual or limited quantities. Such containers were made of various materials and in many cases the dispensing container actually cost more than did the contents thereof. In most cases, such cartons, boxes, or other containers heretofore known had to be manipulated in some way by the person seeking the contents thereof, other than by merely reaching with one hand grasping and withdrawing an article. That was true except for the removal of facial tissues and the like, from the paper box in which they were packaged, which box is entirely unsuitable for purposes of this invention. All of these formerly known container dispensers possessed the disadvantages of having to be held in one hand while the other hand removed a part of the contents; some part of the container mechanically actuated in order to remove a portion of the contents; being objectionably costly; leaving a portion of the undispensed contents exposed to the air; or were not disposable after the contents thereof were removed, by virtue of their original cost, and required a refill. Further, none of these formerly known carton dispensers of which I am aware were capable of properly dispensing a lightweight article with a wrapper on and having the shape of a rectangular block or the like.
The instant invention or discovery overcomes the disadvantages mentioned above in connection with past known container dispensers in the provision of a simple and economical carton containing wrapped articles and which, when received with its contents by the ultimate user, may be hung on a hook or nail on a wall, a small flap torn away and removed from the bottom of the carton, and the carton becomes a dispenser from which it is only necessary to successively grasp a portion of the wrapping on an article and withdraw the article from the carton. When the carton is empty it is disposed of and a new carton of articles substituted for it. The entire carton, including a hanging tab, may be made by folding a single blank of material such as a suitable paperboard. The carton dispenser is light in weight and easily packable in a case for shipment. Further, the carton is highly desirable for the packaging and dispensing of articles having substantially the shape of a rectangular block. No portion of the article itself is exposed until it is removed from the carton and the wrapper taken off. The articles remaining in the dispenser have only a relatively minute portion of the wrappers visible, one at the dispensing end of the carton and several others through a slot in the front panel of the carton which denotes when the carton is becoming empty. Further advantages of this invention will become apparent from the disclosures hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the ultimate outside face of a blank shaped and scored to be folded into a carton embodying improvements of the instant invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of the complete and filled carton showing the same hung on the wall to function as a dispenser of the articles therein;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged end view of the dispensing end of the carton before it is put to use as a dispenser; and
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line IV-IV of FIG. 3.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The illustrated embodiment of the instant invention is, of course, made in various sizes consistent with the size of the articles to be dispensed therefrom, and in the illustrated showing the carton is designed to contain and dispense articles of substantially rectangular block formation of about 2 inches in width, 3 inches in length, and one inch thick, these dimensions being approximate. The carton dispenser is ideally suited for the dispensing of disposable scrub brushes of a type more fully set forth, described, and claimed in a Kenneth R. Lane application for patent entitled "Disposable Scrub Brush," filed Nov. 18, 1968, Ser. No. 776,507, and which pending application and the instant application are assigned to the same assignee. Such disposable scrub brushes are applicable for various uses including surgical usage for scrubing the arms and hands prior to an operation, cosmetic brushes, industrial usage, and many others, as will be apparent to one skilled in the art, and the brushes may or may not contain detergent and may be of various sizes and degrees of stiffness on the scrubbing surfaces depending upon the particular usage for which they are intended. After being used, the brushes are discarded. Consequently, with the use of the instant invention such brushes are made readily available for usage in clinics, hospitals, beauty salons, industrial plants, machine shops, etc. Further, each brush is enclosed in a flexible wrapper sealed at its ends which maintains a brush in sanitary or sterile condition, as the case may be, until the wrapper is removed. By way of example, the invention will be herein described as dispensing such surgical brushes, although it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that other articles might also be packaged and dispensed from the carton.
The entire carton dispenser is made from a single blank of material, as shown in FIG. 1 and generally indicated by numeral 1. The blank may be paperboard or any other material suitable for cartons. The blank is provided with a number of vertically extending score lines or lines of fold 2 to a define a rear panel 3, a side panel 4, a front panel 5, and another side panel 6. the front panel is provided with a slot 7 therein near the lower portion of the panel through which the contents of the carton are visible and which advises the user when the carton is nearly empty.
The rear panel 3 is shorter than the other panels and carries a side flap 8 foldable along a line 9 for adhesive securement to the inside margin along the free edge of the side panel 6. At the upper end thereof the front panel is provided with a top closure flap 10 foldable on line 11 toward the rear panel, and which carries at its free end a locking tab 12 foldable on line 13, there being a notch 14 on each side of the locking tab at the folding line. At the lower end thereof the rear panel carries a bottom closure flap 15 foldable on line 16 and on the free end this flap carries a trapezoidal flap 17 foldable on line 18 and which in turn carries a lock tab 19 foldable on line 20, there being opposed locking notches 21 at opposite ends of the fold line 20.
Side panel 4 carries a side closure flap 22 foldable on line 23, and at the lower end carries side closure flap 24 of less width than the flap 22 and foldable on line 25. The lower portion of this side panel 4 also carries a triangular flap 26 foldable on a diagonal line 27 extending from a point coinciding with the bottom of the rear panel 3 to the inner edge of fold line 25, this flap 26 being provided with a slot 28 for receiving the locking tab 19 on the rear panel.
The opposite side panel 6 is provided with an allochiral arrangement of fold lines and flaps, including a top side closure flap 29, the bottom end side closure flap 30 and a triangular panel 31 slotted as at 32 in keeping with the structure of the side panel 4.
At the bottom end thereof the front panel 5 is provided with an end closure flap 33 connected to the front panel by a tear line 34 and the outer edge of the closure flap 33 is provided with an insertion tab 35 foldable upon line 36. Extending upwardly from the tear line 34 is a finger tab 37 defined by a tear line 38.
The rear panel at the top thereof is provided with an integral hanging tab 39 projecting above the top of the panel, this tab being provided with a keyhole slot 40 for suspending the entire carton from a nail 41 or the equivalent on a vertical surface such as a wall or cabinet, indicated at 42 in FIG. 2. For case packing this tab may be folded down along fold line 39a.
In folding the blank 1, the panels 3, 4, 5 and 6 are disposed at right angles to each other along fold lines 3 2 and the side tab 8 on the rear panel 3 is adhesively secured inside the free marginal portion of the side panel 6 to form a container substantially rectangular in cross section. The closure flap 15 on the rear panel is then folded downwardly to the position seen more clearly in FIG. 4 giving the container a bottom end that slopes toward the front panel 5 to define a discharge opening or gate 43, FIG. 2. The triangular flaps 31 and 26 on the side panels are then folded inwardly, one under the other, to bring the slots 28 and 32 into register with each other, then the flap 17 on the flap 15 is folded upwardly over the triangular flaps 26 and 31 and the locking tab 19 is tucked through the slots 28 and 32 to underlie the triangular flaps, thus establishing a reenforced portion on the rear side of the discharge opening. The discharge opening is initially closed by the flap 33 on the front panel and the insert tab 35 is slid inwardly beneath the flap 15 on the rear panel, all as seen clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4. Then the container is filled with articles having a generally rectangular block form, for example the brushes explained hereinabove, each brush 44 being enclosed in a wrapper 45 of paper or equivalent material which is transversely sealed by a seam across each end thereof as indicated at 46. The wrapped brushes are disposed within the shaped carton in diagonally overlapped relationship as seen best in FIG. 4.
After the container is filled the top thereof is closed by folding inwardly the side closing flaps 22 and 29 and folding the top closure flap 10 on the front panel rearwardly over the side flaps with the locking tab 12 inserted against the inside face of the rear panel. The filled cartons may then be packed in a suitable case for shipping, the hanging tab 39 being folded downwardly against the cover flap 10.
When it is desired to put the carton to use as a dispenser, it is a simple expedient to elevate the hanging tab 39 and attach it to a nail or the like on a wall so that the carton is suspended downwardly therefrom with the front panel 5 facing the user. Then the finger tab 37, which is centrally disposed, may be pinched against the bottom closure flap 33 between the thumb and finger and both this tab and the closure flap 33 torn loose along the tear lines 34 and 38 and removed withdrawing the insert tab 35 at the same time to provide the bottom opening 43. This opening is preferably slightly narrower than the thickness of a brush 44, the front panel flexing at the lower end thereof sufficiently to permit ready withdrawal of a packaged brush, but there is sufficient friction to retain the brushes within the carton against accidental dislodgement. It will be noted from the showing in FIG. 2 that the end seam 46 of the lowermost brush projects through the opening where it may be easily gripped between the thumb and finger and withdrawn through the opening 43, the next brush gravitating into position with its leading end margin exposed at the opening. In this manner the brushes may readily be dispensed from the carton one at a time until the carton is empty, the visual slot 7 in the front panel 5 warning the user that a new carton will shortly be needed. When empty, the carton is disposed of, and a new carton hung in place.
It will be noted that the structure of the carton dispenser is such that there is a smooth, clean inner surface for the contents, unmarred or unobstructed by staples, locking tabs, or other impediments to the smooth, downward gravitation of the contents of the carton. Further, the carton is pleasing in appearance and may be economically and quickly folded and secured in shape, and will readily dispense rectangular block shaped articles.
It should be evident that various modifications can be made to the described embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Heretofore, various types and sizes of containers have been developed capable of dispensing the contents thereof in individual or limited quantities. Such containers were made of various materials and in many cases the dispensing container actually cost more than did the contents thereof. In most cases, such cartons, boxes, or other containers heretofore known had to be manipulated in some way by the person seeking the contents thereof, other than by merely reaching with one hand grasping and withdrawing an article. That was true except for the removal of facial tissues and the like, from the paper box in which they were packaged, which box is entirely unsuitable for purposes of this invention. All of these formerly known container dispensers possessed the disadvantages of having to be held in one hand while the other hand removed a part of the contents; some part of the container mechanically actuated in order to remove a portion of the contents; being objectionably costly; leaving a portion of the undispensed contents exposed to the air; or were not disposable after the contents thereof were removed, by virtue of their original cost, and required a refill. Further, none of these formerly known carton dispensers of which I am aware were capable of properly dispensing a lightweight article with a wrapper on and having the shape of a rectangular block or the like.
The instant invention or discovery overcomes the disadvantages mentioned above in connection with past known container dispensers in the provision of a simple and economical carton containing wrapped articles and which, when received with its contents by the ultimate user, may be hung on a hook or nail on a wall, a small flap torn away and removed from the bottom of the carton, and the carton becomes a dispenser from which it is only necessary to successively grasp a portion of the wrapping on an article and withdraw the article from the carton. When the carton is empty it is disposed of and a new carton of articles substituted for it. The entire carton, including a hanging tab, may be made by folding a single blank of material such as a suitable paperboard. The carton dispenser is light in weight and easily packable in a case for shipment. Further, the carton is highly desirable for the packaging and dispensing of articles having substantially the shape of a rectangular block. No portion of the article itself is exposed until it is removed from the carton and the wrapper taken off. The articles remaining in the dispenser have only a relatively minute portion of the wrappers visible, one at the dispensing end of the carton and several others through a slot in the front panel of the carton which denotes when the carton is becoming empty. Further advantages of this invention will become apparent from the disclosures hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the ultimate outside face of a blank shaped and scored to be folded into a carton embodying improvements of the instant invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of the complete and filled carton showing the same hung on the wall to function as a dispenser of the articles therein;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged end view of the dispensing end of the carton before it is put to use as a dispenser; and
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line IV-IV of FIG. 3.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The illustrated embodiment of the instant invention is, of course, made in various sizes consistent with the size of the articles to be dispensed therefrom, and in the illustrated showing the carton is designed to contain and dispense articles of substantially rectangular block formation of about 2 inches in width, 3 inches in length, and one inch thick, these dimensions being approximate. The carton dispenser is ideally suited for the dispensing of disposable scrub brushes of a type more fully set forth, described, and claimed in a Kenneth R. Lane application for patent entitled "Disposable Scrub Brush," filed Nov. 18, 1968, Ser. No. 776,507, and which pending application and the instant application are assigned to the same assignee. Such disposable scrub brushes are applicable for various uses including surgical usage for scrubing the arms and hands prior to an operation, cosmetic brushes, industrial usage, and many others, as will be apparent to one skilled in the art, and the brushes may or may not contain detergent and may be of various sizes and degrees of stiffness on the scrubbing surfaces depending upon the particular usage for which they are intended. After being used, the brushes are discarded. Consequently, with the use of the instant invention such brushes are made readily available for usage in clinics, hospitals, beauty salons, industrial plants, machine shops, etc. Further, each brush is enclosed in a flexible wrapper sealed at its ends which maintains a brush in sanitary or sterile condition, as the case may be, until the wrapper is removed. By way of example, the invention will be herein described as dispensing such surgical brushes, although it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that other articles might also be packaged and dispensed from the carton.
The entire carton dispenser is made from a single blank of material, as shown in FIG. 1 and generally indicated by numeral 1. The blank may be paperboard or any other material suitable for cartons. The blank is provided with a number of vertically extending score lines or lines of fold 2 to a define a rear panel 3, a side panel 4, a front panel 5, and another side panel 6. the front panel is provided with a slot 7 therein near the lower portion of the panel through which the contents of the carton are visible and which advises the user when the carton is nearly empty.
The rear panel 3 is shorter than the other panels and carries a side flap 8 foldable along a line 9 for adhesive securement to the inside margin along the free edge of the side panel 6. At the upper end thereof the front panel is provided with a top closure flap 10 foldable on line 11 toward the rear panel, and which carries at its free end a locking tab 12 foldable on line 13, there being a notch 14 on each side of the locking tab at the folding line. At the lower end thereof the rear panel carries a bottom closure flap 15 foldable on line 16 and on the free end this flap carries a trapezoidal flap 17 foldable on line 18 and which in turn carries a lock tab 19 foldable on line 20, there being opposed locking notches 21 at opposite ends of the fold line 20.
Side panel 4 carries a side closure flap 22 foldable on line 23, and at the lower end carries side closure flap 24 of less width than the flap 22 and foldable on line 25. The lower portion of this side panel 4 also carries a triangular flap 26 foldable on a diagonal line 27 extending from a point coinciding with the bottom of the rear panel 3 to the inner edge of fold line 25, this flap 26 being provided with a slot 28 for receiving the locking tab 19 on the rear panel.
The opposite side panel 6 is provided with an allochiral arrangement of fold lines and flaps, including a top side closure flap 29, the bottom end side closure flap 30 and a triangular panel 31 slotted as at 32 in keeping with the structure of the side panel 4.
At the bottom end thereof the front panel 5 is provided with an end closure flap 33 connected to the front panel by a tear line 34 and the outer edge of the closure flap 33 is provided with an insertion tab 35 foldable upon line 36. Extending upwardly from the tear line 34 is a finger tab 37 defined by a tear line 38.
The rear panel at the top thereof is provided with an integral hanging tab 39 projecting above the top of the panel, this tab being provided with a keyhole slot 40 for suspending the entire carton from a nail 41 or the equivalent on a vertical surface such as a wall or cabinet, indicated at 42 in FIG. 2. For case packing this tab may be folded down along fold line 39a.
In folding the blank 1, the panels 3, 4, 5 and 6 are disposed at right angles to each other along fold lines 3 2 and the side tab 8 on the rear panel 3 is adhesively secured inside the free marginal portion of the side panel 6 to form a container substantially rectangular in cross section. The closure flap 15 on the rear panel is then folded downwardly to the position seen more clearly in FIG. 4 giving the container a bottom end that slopes toward the front panel 5 to define a discharge opening or gate 43, FIG. 2. The triangular flaps 31 and 26 on the side panels are then folded inwardly, one under the other, to bring the slots 28 and 32 into register with each other, then the flap 17 on the flap 15 is folded upwardly over the triangular flaps 26 and 31 and the locking tab 19 is tucked through the slots 28 and 32 to underlie the triangular flaps, thus establishing a reenforced portion on the rear side of the discharge opening. The discharge opening is initially closed by the flap 33 on the front panel and the insert tab 35 is slid inwardly beneath the flap 15 on the rear panel, all as seen clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4. Then the container is filled with articles having a generally rectangular block form, for example the brushes explained hereinabove, each brush 44 being enclosed in a wrapper 45 of paper or equivalent material which is transversely sealed by a seam across each end thereof as indicated at 46. The wrapped brushes are disposed within the shaped carton in diagonally overlapped relationship as seen best in FIG. 4.
After the container is filled the top thereof is closed by folding inwardly the side closing flaps 22 and 29 and folding the top closure flap 10 on the front panel rearwardly over the side flaps with the locking tab 12 inserted against the inside face of the rear panel. The filled cartons may then be packed in a suitable case for shipping, the hanging tab 39 being folded downwardly against the cover flap 10.
When it is desired to put the carton to use as a dispenser, it is a simple expedient to elevate the hanging tab 39 and attach it to a nail or the like on a wall so that the carton is suspended downwardly therefrom with the front panel 5 facing the user. Then the finger tab 37, which is centrally disposed, may be pinched against the bottom closure flap 33 between the thumb and finger and both this tab and the closure flap 33 torn loose along the tear lines 34 and 38 and removed withdrawing the insert tab 35 at the same time to provide the bottom opening 43. This opening is preferably slightly narrower than the thickness of a brush 44, the front panel flexing at the lower end thereof sufficiently to permit ready withdrawal of a packaged brush, but there is sufficient friction to retain the brushes within the carton against accidental dislodgement. It will be noted from the showing in FIG. 2 that the end seam 46 of the lowermost brush projects through the opening where it may be easily gripped between the thumb and finger and withdrawn through the opening 43, the next brush gravitating into position with its leading end margin exposed at the opening. In this manner the brushes may readily be dispensed from the carton one at a time until the carton is empty, the visual slot 7 in the front panel 5 warning the user that a new carton will shortly be needed. When empty, the carton is disposed of, and a new carton hung in place.
It will be noted that the structure of the carton dispenser is such that there is a smooth, clean inner surface for the contents, unmarred or unobstructed by staples, locking tabs, or other impediments to the smooth, downward gravitation of the contents of the carton. Further, the carton is pleasing in appearance and may be economically and quickly folded and secured in shape, and will readily dispense rectangular block shaped articles.
It should be evident that various modifications can be made to the described embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention.