US20020070139A1 - Carton with dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

A package comprises an article group formed of cylindrical articles disposed on their sides in a side-by-side parallel fashion, and a carton disposed around the group. The carton comprises a top wall, opposed side walls, an end wall and an article dispenser. The side walls are disposed alongside the ends of the articles while the end wall is disposed adjacent to the side wall of an endmost article. The dispenser includes a portion of the carton formed from and detachably connected to the top, side and end walls. The portion is connected to the end wall along a weakened line extending between the side walls so that the weakened line defines an upper edge of a stopper wall formed from said end wall when the portion is substantially detached from the carton. The upper edge extends substantially along the cylindrical axis of the endmost article.

Description

• This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/255,543 filed Dec. 12, 2000.[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The invention relates to cartons, and more particularly, to a carton for multiple articles having a dispenser for constrained removal of individual articles.[0002]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• Cartons for encasing multiple articles are useful for enabling consumers to obtain and transport a desired quantity of individual articles such as soft drinks or other beverages. When such a multiple-pack of articles is obtained, a consumer frequently desires to remove one article from the carton at a time. Thus, it can be appreciated that it would be desirable to have a carton with a dispenser that facilitates the removal of a single article from the carton at a time.[0003]
• When the articles contained in the carton are cylindrical, and are disposed in the carton upon their sides, it is important that the articles be constrained such that the remaining articles do not roll out of the dispenser when one is removed. It is also important that the dispenser provide a condition where the articles are easily accessed. It is further often desirable when removing individual articles from a carton to be able to determine how many articles remain in the carton. Thus, it can be further appreciated that it would be desirable to have a carton with a dispenser that constrains remaining articles so that they do not undesirably roll from or otherwise exit the carton when one article is removed. It can also be appreciated that it would be desirable to have a carton with a dispenser that facilitates access to the articles. It can be further appreciated that it would be desirable to be able to determine how many articles remain in a carton from which individual articles are removed.[0004]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• A carton of the invention has a dispenser for articles which can be substantially detached or torn away from the upper corner of the carton to expose an endmost article for removal.[0005]
• According to the invention in one aspect, a carton is provided to comprise a plurality of walls defining an upper corner of the carton and an article dispenser for dispensing articles from the carton. The dispenser includes a displaceable portion of the carton formed from the upper corner and detachably connected to the walls to be substantially detached or torn away from the carton to define an opening for exposing an endmost article for removal. The dispenser comprises a constraining tab for inhibiting the endmost article from undesirably exiting the carton. The constraining tab extends upwardly to an elevation higher than the lowest point along the periphery of the opening. The constraining tab is particularly of utility to inhibit cylindrical articles lying on their sides from undesirably rolling out from the carton.[0006]
• According to a preferred embodiment, the displaceable portion of the carton is hingedly attached to the carton so as to provide a trough for receiving an article that exits the carton.[0007]
• According to another preferred embodiment, the carton further comprises hand-hole punch-through means for grasping the displaceable portion. The punch-through means may be defined by weakened lines formed in one of the walls. The weakened lines may include a severance line and a fold line which together form a grasping panel that is foldably connected to the displaceable portion along the fold line.[0008]
• According to a further preferred embodiment, the walls includes a top wall, opposed side walls connected to the side edges of the top wall and an end wall interconnecting the side walls, and the constraining tab is formed from the end wall. The constraining tab may be defined by an inverted U-shaped weakened line formed in the end wall. The lowest point along the periphery may be located adjacent to one or each of the opposite ends of the inverted U-shaped weakened line. The end wall may include a pair of overlapped side end flaps connected respectively to the side walls whereas the constraining tab may be formed from the side end flaps.[0009]
• In the immediately above embodiment, the carton may further comprise a bottom wall connecting between the lower edges of the side walls. The end wall may comprise a bottom end flap connected to an end edge of the bottom wall and a pair of side end flaps connected respectively to adjacent end edges of the side walls. The lowest point may be located along a weakened line formed in the side end flaps while the constraining tab may be formed from part of the bottom end flap extending upwardly beyond the weakened line.[0010]
• According to the invention in another aspect, a package is provided to comprise an article group formed of at least one tier of cylindrical articles disposed on their sides in a side-by-side parallel fashion, and a carton disposed around the group of articles. The carton comprises a top wall, a pair of opposed side walls connected to the top wall, an end wall interconnecting the side walls, and an article dispenser for dispensing the articles from the carton. The side walls are disposed alongside the ends of the articles of the group whereas the end wall is disposed adjacent to the side wall of an endmost article of the group. The dispenser includes a displaceable portion of the carton formed from and detachably connected to the top, side and end walls to be substantially detached from the carton to define an opening for exposing the endmost article for removal. The displaceable portion is connected to said side walls along tear lines that are disposed respectively across the opposite ends of the endmost article so that the opposite ends of the endmost article are partially exposed to facilitate access to themselves by a user when the displaceable portion is substantially detached from the carton.[0011]
• In a preferred embodiment, the lines are disposed in the side walls and extend between the top wall and the end wall. The tear lines may be curved concavely toward the end wall to expose greater areas of the opposite ends of the endmost article when the displaceable portion is detached.[0012]
• In another preferred embodiment, the tear lines are disposed in the side walls and extend downwardly from the top wall to the end wall. A lowest point along each of the tear lines may be spaced above the lower edge of the respective side wall at a distance no more than a half of the diameter of the endmost article. The dispenser may comprise a constraining tab for inhibiting the endmost article from undesirably exiting the carton. The constraining tab may be formed from the end wall and extend upwardly to an elevation higher than the lowest point along each tear line.[0013]
• In a further preferred embodiment, the article group comprises two or more vertically arranged tiers of cylindrical articles. The articles in each tier may be disposed on their sides in a side-by-side parallel fashion, and the tear lines may be disposed across the opposite ends of an endmost article of the lowermost tier.[0014]
• According to the invention in a further aspect, a package is provided to comprise an article group formed of at least one tier of cylindrical articles disposed on their sides in a side-by-side parallel fashion, and a carton disposed around the group of articles. The carton comprises a top wall, a pair of opposed side walls connected to the top wall, an end wall interconnecting the side walls, and an article dispenser for dispensing the articles from the carton. The side walls are disposed alongside the ends of the articles of the group while the end wall is disposed adjacent to the side wall of an endmost article of the group. The dispenser includes a displaceable portion of the carton formed from and detachably connected to the top, side and end walls to be substantially detached from the carton to define an opening for exposing the endmost article for removal. The displaceable portion is connected to the end wall along a weakened line extending between the side walls so that the weakened line defines the upper edge of a stopper wall formed from the end wall when the displaceable portion is substantially detached from the carton. The upper edge extends substantially along the cylindrical axis of the endmost article so that the stopper wall inhibits the endmost article from undesirably exiting the carton.[0015]
• In a preferred embodiment, the carton further comprises a bottom wall connecting between the lower edges of the side walls, and the upper edge of the stopper wall is spaced above the bottom wall at a distance less than the diameter of the endmost article.[0016]
• In another preferred embodiment, the dispenser comprises a constraining tab for inhibiting the endmost article from undesirably exiting the carton. Such a constraining tab may extend upwardly from the stopper wall. The weakened line may have an inverted “U” configuration so that the weakened line defines the constraining tab that is formed from the end wall.[0017]
• In the immediately above embodiment, the carton may further comprise a bottom wall connecting between the lower edges of the side walls. The constraining tab may have a highest point along the upper edge while the highest point may be spaced above the bottom wall at a distance greater than a half of the diameter of the endmost article and less than the diameter. Alternatively, the carton may further comprise a bottom wall connecting between the lower edges of the side walls, and the upper edge has a lowest point at one or each of the opposite ends of the weakened line. Such a lowest point may be spaced above the bottom wall at a distance no greater than a half of the diameter of the endmost article.[0018]
• According to the invention in a still further aspect, a carton is provided to comprise a plurality of walls defining an upper corner of the carton and an article dispenser for dispensing articles from the carton. The dispenser includes a displaceable portion of the carton formed from the upper corner of the carton and detachably connected to the walls of the carton to be at least partially detached from the carton to define an opening for exposing an endmost article in the carton for removal. The displaceable portion is hingedly connected to one of the walls for downward pivotal movement to an opened position so as to provide when in the opened position a trough for receiving an article that exits the carton.[0019]
• In a preferred embodiment, the carton walls includes a top wall, a pair of opposed side walls connected to the side edges of the top wall and an end wall interconnecting the side walls. The displaceable portion may be formed from the top, side and end walls and hinged to the end wall along a fold line disposed parallel to the top wall. The carton may further comprise a bottom wall connecting between the lower edges of the side walls while the fold line is positioned closer to the bottom wall than to the wall so that at least part of the displaceable portion may lie in the plane of the bottom wall when the displaceable portion is brought into the opened position. This arrangement is of utility in that the trough provided by the displaceable portion can reach a support surface on which the carton is placed and thereby the trough may also sit on the support surface to be capable of receiving and supporting an article.[0020]
• In the immediately above embodiment, the part of the displaceable portion to be in the plane of the bottom wall may comprise the upper edge of the end wall that is connected to the top wall. The fold line may extend entirely across the end wall. Alternatively, the fold line may be a weakened fold line curved or bent to take an essentially inverted-U shape. Such a weakened fold line remains partially unbroken to serve as a line of joiner when the displaceable portion is in the opened position.[0021]
• Other advantages and objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.[0022]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is an isometric illustration of a carton having a dispenser in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention,[0023]
• FIG. 2 is an isometric illustration of the carton of FIG. 1 with the dispenser trough pivoted away from the upper portion of the end portion of the carton,[0024]
• FIG. 3 is a plan view of a blank for forming the carton with the dispenser shown in FIG. 1,[0025]
• FIG. 4 is an isometric illustration of a carton having a dispenser in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention,[0026]
• FIG. 5 is an isometric illustration of the carton of FIG. 4 with the dispenser trough pivoted down to the opened position, and[0027]
• FIG. 6 is a plan view of a blank for forming the carton shown in FIG. 4[0028]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
• FIGS.[0029]1 to3 illustrate a first embodiment of the present invention. Throughout these drawings, the same reference numerals are used to denote the same or like features of the invention.
• For convenience of understanding, reference may be made to FIGS. 1, 2 and[0030]3 simultaneously. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate acarton10 having a dispenser in accordance with the first embodiment. FIG. 3 illustrates the blank12 from which the carton of FIGS. 1 and 2 is formed. Cans “C” arranged in a 6×2 array are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as an aid in understanding the invention. More specifically, the cans “C” are arranged in a group consisting of two vertically disposed tiers each including six cans. The cans “C” in each tier are disposed on their sides in a side-by-side parallel fashion.
• Referring to FIG. 3, the blank[0031]12 include four primary panels for forming the carton walls, i.e., a firstside wall panel64, atop wall panel62, a secondside wall panels66 and abottom wall panel68 foldably connected one to the next alongfold lines82,84 and86. Aglue flap88 is foldably connected to the firstside wall panel64 along afold line90.Reference numerals72,72a,74,74a,76,76a,78,78adesignate end flaps foldably connected the ends of theprimary panels62,64,66,68. The end flaps arranged along each of the upper and lower edges (as viewed in FIG. 3) of the blank12 form a composite end wall such as shown at70 in FIG. 1.
• To form an erected carton from the blank[0032]12, the firstside wall panel64 is folded along the fold line82 to lie flat on thetop wall panel62. Glue is applied to theglue flap88, and then thebottom wall panel68 is folded along the fold line86 to lie flat on thesecond wall panel66. By this means, thebottom wall panel68 is glued to theglue flap88, and thereby a flat tubular carton is provided The flat tubular carton is then expanded into an open-ended tubular form. After cans are loaded through one or both of the open ends of the carton, the end flaps72,72a,74,74a,76,76a,78,78aare folded to form the respective end walls to thereby close the ends of the carton. To form theend wall70, the top and bottom end flaps72 and74 are folded to their respective vertical positions. Glue is applied to the outside faces of the end flaps72 and74, and then the side end flaps76 and78 are folded in the described sequence onto the top and bottom end flaps72 and74. This causes the side end flaps76 and78 to be glued to the top and bottom end flaps72 and74. In the closed position show in FIG. 1, the side end flaps76 and78 overlap each other and are secured together also by means of glue. The other end wall (not shown) of the carton is formed in like manner byend flaps72a,74a,76aand78a.
• An erected carton is shown in FIG. 1 wherein a[0033]trough20 is integrally formed at an end portion of thecarton10 to be displaceable to form a dispenser. A hand-hole punch-through means for grasping thetrough20 is formed in thetop wall62 by a weakened line ofseverance22 and a weakenedfold line24. Together, these twolines22 and24 form the hand-hole punch-through means and define anelliptical panel26 on the cusp of thetrough20 adjacent the remainder of thecarton10 that can be grasped to pull down thetrough20 and reveal the dispenser area oropening50. A weakened severance line or tearline30 is formed in each of theopposed side walls64 and66 and extends from thetop wall62 to thecomposite end wall70. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the tear line lines30 are of arcuate configuration. They are curved or arched concavely toward theend wall70. The tear lines30 intersect a frangible or otherwise weakenedfold line32 of joiner that is formed in the side end flaps76 and78 to extend between theside walls64 and66 entirely across theend wall70.
• Referring now particularly to FIG. 2, therein is illustrated the manner in which the[0034]trough20 has been substantially removed from thecarton10 at the upper corner region and remains hingedly attached to the lower portion of theend wall70 along the weakenedfold line32. With thetrough20 pivoted downward, thedispenser opening50 is revealed. Constrainingtab members40 and42 formed from the bottom end flap74 are visible through thedispenser opening50.
• The cans “C” become accessible through the[0035]opening50 by at least substantially detaching thetrough20 from thecarton10. Although thetrough20 can be completely removed by detaching it from the carton along the weakenedfold line32 that forms its hinge, when it remains attached, as shown, it serves as a handy mechanism for receiving an article (a can “C”), particularly when the dispenser is first opened. When thetrough20 is pivoted down to an opened position as shown in FIG. 2, theupper edge21 of theend wall70 is brought into contact with a support surface on which the carton is placed. This allows thetrough20 to be also supported by the support surface to be able to receive and properly support a can.
• When the[0036]trough20 is in the opened position or completely detached, the lower portion of theend wall70 forms astopper wall80 that extend all the way between theside walls64 and66 along the cylindrical axis X-X (see FIG. 2) of the end most can of the lower tier adjacent thestopper wall80. The upper edge of thestopper wall80 is defined by the weakenedfold line32 that is spaced above the bottom wall68 (see FIG. 3) at a distance less than the diameter of the cans “C”, and preferably no more than a half of the diameter of the cans “C”. Thestopper wall80 by itself is capable of inhibiting the cans on the lower tier from inadvertently exiting the carton before intended removal. However, an additional can stopper may be used. Such an additional stopper is provided by the constrainingtab members40 and42. The respective upper or highest points on thetabs40 and42 may be disposed above thebottom wall68 at a distance greater than a half of the diameter of the cans and less than the diameter of the cans. Thus, the constrainingtabs40 and42 are shown in FIG. 2 as projecting upwardly beyond theupper edge32 of thestopper wall80. The contents of the carton are easily viewed through thedispenser opening50.
• Because each[0037]tear line30 extends across the adjacent end of the endmost can “C” in the lower tier, the opposite ends of the endmost can “C” are partially exposed as shown in FIG. 2 so that a user can easily grasp that can by the opposite ends. The curvature of the tear lines30 help to increase the exposed areas of the can ends. After the top, end-most can (the can “C” in the trough) is removed from the upper tier, the remaining cans C in the upper tier will nest in the spaces between the cans of the lower tier. Nesting of cans in this manner is well known in the art and is not illustrated. The invention serves as a useful dispensing carton that can be placed upon a surface or within a compartment such as a refrigerator or pantry.
• A second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS.[0038]4 to6, where like parts have been designated by the same reference numeral with the prefix “1” and only the differences are discussed in any greater detail.
• Referring to FIG. 5, cans “C” in this embodiment are arranged in a group consisting of two vertically disposed tiers each including five cans. The cans in each tier are disposed on their sides in a side-by-side parallel fashion.[0039]
• Referring to FIG. 6, the blank of the carton has a pair of[0040]bottom wall panels168aand168bthat are secured together to form a composite bottom wall when the blank is erected into a carton. The inner or upperbottom wall panel168ais foldably connected to the firstside wall panel164 along afold line190 while the outer or lower bottom wall panel168bis foldably connected to the secondside wall panel166 along afold line186. Each bottom wall panel is provided at its opposite ends withend flaps100 or102. The end flaps100 on the innerbottom wall panel168aare glued respectively to the end flaps102 on the outerbottom wall panel168 to form full bottom end flaps similar to the end flaps74 and74ain the first embodiment.
• FIG. 4 illustrates a[0041]carton110 formed from the blank112 of FIG. 6. The tear lines130 extend from thetop wall162 to their respectivelowest points200 on the end edges202 of therespective side walls164 and166. Thelowest point200 is spaced above the composite bottom wall at a distance, preferably, no more than a half of the diameter of the cans “C” to provide a maximum exposed area of the respective can end when thetrough120 is detached from thecarton110.
• As shown further in FIG. 4, the weakened[0042]fold line132 is curved, or bent, to assume an inverted “U” shape, which defines a constrainingtab204 along the upper straight portion of the weakenedfold line132. The lowest points on the weakenedline132 are located at its opposite ends200 which are in registry with the lower ends of the tear lines130.
• Therefore, the constraining[0043]tab204 projects above the lowest points200. The weakenedline132 is located above the composite bottom wall at a distance, preferably, greater than a half of the diameter of the cans “C” and less than the diameter of the cans “C”. Stated differently, the weakenedfold line132 is positioned considerably closer to the bottom wall than to thetop wall162. As best shown in FIG. 5, the weakenedfold line132 partially breaks near its opposite ends when thetrough120 is brought to the opened position; however, the straight portion of theline132 remains unbroken to serve as a fold line.
• Unlike the first embodiment, the[0044]tabs140 and142 (see FIG. 6) on the end flaps100 and102 do not project upwardly beyond the weakenedline132. However, they are disposed flat with the inside face of the constrainingtab204 and thereby function to reinforce the constrainingtab204.
• [0045]Reference numeral206 designate a half cut formed in the constrainingtab204 and extending along the weakenedfold line132. The half cut206 may be used to facilitate removal of thetrough120 when it is desired to completely detach thetrough120 from thecarton110.Reference numerals208,210 and212 designate fold lines formed in thetop wall162 to define anyielding panel124. The yieldingpanel214 is easily displaced downwardly when pressed downwardly. Therefore, the yieldingpanel214 is useful to facilitate breaking of theseverance line122 during the process of grasping thetrough120 by the hand-hole punch-through means orelliptical panel126. Thestopper wall180 is created in the same manner as in the first embodiment and extend entirely across thedispenser opening150 along the cylindrical axis X-X (see FIG. 5) of the endmost can “C” of the lower tier.
• Modifications may be made in the foregoing without departing from the scope and spirit of the claimed invention. For example, the dispenser may be formed at each end of the carton according to the invention. It should be also appreciated that as used herein, directional references such as “top”, “bottom”, “end”, “side”, “upper” and “lower” do not limit the respective panels to such orientation, but merely serve to distinguish these panels from one another.[0046]
• It should be further appreciated that any reference to hinged or foldable connection should not be construed as necessarily referring to a single fold line only: indeed, it is envisaged that hinged connection can be formed from one or more of one of the following, a score line, a frangible line or a fold line, without departing from the scope of invention.[0047]

Claims (26)

What is claimed is:

1. A carton comprising a plurality of walls defining an upper corner of the carton and an article dispenser for dispensing articles from the carton, said dispenser including a displaceable portion of the carton formed from said upper corner and detachably connected to said walls to be substantially detached from the carton to define an opening for exposing an endmost article for removal, characterized in that said dispenser comprises a constraining tab for inhibiting said endmost article from undesirably exiting the carton, said constraining tab extending upwardly to an elevation higher than a lowest point along a periphery of said opening.

2. The carton according toclaim 1 wherein said displaceable portion of the carton is hingedly attached to the carton so as to provide a trough for receiving an article that exits the carton.

3. The carton according toclaim 1 further comprising hand-hole punch-through means for grasping said displaceable portion, said punch-through means being defined by weakened lines formed in one of said walls.

4. The carton according toclaim 3 wherein said weakened lines include a severance line and a fold line which together form a grasping panel foldably connected to said displaceable portion along said fold line.

5. The carton according toclaim 1 wherein said walls includes a top wall, a pair of opposed side walls connected to side edges of said top wall and an end wall interconnecting said side walls, and said constraining tab is formed from said end wall.

6. The carton according toclaim 5 wherein said constraining tab is defined by an inverted U-shaped weakened formed in the end wall.

7. The carton according toclaim 6 wherein said lowest point is located adjacent to one or each of opposite ends of said inverted U-shaped weakened line.

8. The carton according toclaim 5 wherein said end wall comprises a pair of overlapped side end flaps connected respectively to said side walls, and said constraining tab is formed from said side end flaps.

9. The carton according toclaim 5 further comprising a bottom wall connecting between lower edges of said side walls, wherein said end wall comprises a bottom end flap connected to an end edge of said bottom wall and a pair of side end flaps connected respectively to end edges of said side walls, wherein said lowest point is located along a weakened line formed in said side end flaps, and wherein said constraining tab is formed from part of said bottom end flap extending upwardly beyond said weakened line.

10. A package comprising an article group formed of at least one tier of cylindrical articles disposed on sides thereof in a side-by-side parallel fashion, and a carton disposed around said group, said carton comprising a top wall, a pair of opposed side walls connected to said top wall, an end wall interconnecting said side walls, and an article dispenser for dispensing said articles, said side walls being disposed alongside ends of said articles of said group, said end wall being disposed adjacent to a side wall of an endmost article of said group, said dispenser including a displaceable portion of said carton formed from and detachably connected to said top, side and end walls to be substantially detached from said carton to define an opening for exposing said endmost article for removal, said displaceable portion being connected to said side walls along tear lines that are disposed respectively across opposite ends of said endmost article so that said opposite ends are partially exposed to facilitate access thereto by a user when said displaceable portion is substantially detached.

11. The package according toclaim 10 wherein said tear lines are disposed in the side walls and extend between said top wall and said end wall, said lines being curved concavely toward said end wall to expose greater areas of said opposite ends when said displaceable portion is detached.

12. The package according toclaim 10 wherein said tear lines are disposed in said side walls and extend downwardly from said top wall to said end wall, a lowest point along each of said tear lines being spaced at a distance above a lower edge of a respective one of said side walls, said distance being no more than a half of a diameter of said endmost article.

13. The package according toclaim 12 wherein said dispenser comprises a constraining tab for inhibiting said endmost article from undesirably exiting the carton, said constraining tab being formed from said end wall and extending upwardly to an elevation higher than said lowest point.

14. The package according toclaim 10 wherein said article group comprises two or more vertically arranged tiers of cylindrical articles, said articles in each tier being disposed on sides thereof in a side-by-side parallel fashion, said tear lines being disposed across opposite ends of an endmost article of a lowermost tier.

15. A package comprising an article group formed of at least one tier of cylindrical articles disposed on sides thereof in a side-by-side parallel fashion, and a carton disposed around said group, said carton comprising a top wall, a pair of opposed side walls connected to said top wall, an end wall interconnecting said side walls, and an article dispenser for dispensing said articles, said side walls being disposed alongside ends of said articles of said group, said end wall being disposed adjacent to a side wall of an endmost article of said group, said dispenser including a displaceable portion of said carton formed from and detachably connected to said top, side and end walls to be substantially detached from said carton to define an opening for exposing said endmost article for removal, said displaceable portion being connected to said end wall along a weakened line extending between said side walls so that said weakened line defines an upper edge of a stopper wall formed from said end wall when said displaceable portion is substantially detached, said upper edge extending substantially along a cylindrical axis of said endmost article so that said stopper wall inhibit said endmost article from undesirably exiting said carton.

16. The package according toclaim 15 wherein said carton further comprises a bottom wall connecting between lower edges of said side walls, said upper edge of said stopper wall being spaced at a distance above said bottom wall, said distance being less than a diameter of said endmost article.

17. The package according toclaim 15 wherein said dispenser comprises a constraining tab for inhibiting said endmost article from undesirably exiting the carton, said constraining tab extending upwardly from said stopper wall.

18. The package according toclaim 17 wherein said weakened line has an inverted “U” configuration so that said weakened line defines said constraining tab formed from said end wall.

19. The package according toclaim 18 wherein said carton further comprises a bottom wall connecting between lower edges of said side walls, said constraining tab having a highest point along said upper edge, said highest point being spaced above said bottom wall at a distance greater than a half of a diameter of said endmost article and less than said diameter.

20. The package accordingclaim 18 wherein said carton further comprises a bottom wall connecting between lower edges of said side walls, said upper edge has a lowest point at one or each of opposite ends of said weakened line, said lowest point being spaced above said bottom wall at a distance no greater than a half of a diameter of said endmost article.

21. A carton comprising a plurality of walls defining an upper corner of the carton and an article dispenser for dispensing articles from the carton, said dispenser including a displaceable portion of the carton formed from said upper corner and detachably connected to said walls to be at least partially detached from the carton to define an opening for exposing an endmost article for removal, characterized in that said displaceable portion is hingedly connected to one of said walls for downward pivotal movement to an opened position so as to provide when in said opened position a trough for receiving an article that exits the carton.

22. The carton according toclaim 21 wherein said walls includes a top wall, a pair of opposed side walls connected to side edges of said top wall and an end wall interconnecting said side walls, said displaceable portion being formed from said top, side and end walls and hinged to said end wall along a fold line disposed parallel to said top wall.

23. The carton according toclaim 22 further comprising a bottom wall connecting between lower edges of said side walls, and said fold line is positioned closer to said bottom wall than to said top wall so that at least a part of said displaceable portion may lie in a plane of said bottom wall when said displaceable portion is in said opened position.

24. The carton according toclaim 23 wherein said end wall is connected at an upper edge thereof to said top wall, and said part of said displaceable portion comprises said upper edge of said end wall.

25. The carton according toclaim 23 wherein said fold line extends entirely across said end wall.

26. The carton according toclaim 23 wherein said fold line is a weakened fold line curved or bent to take an essentially inverted-U shape, and said weakened fold line remains partially unbroken to serve as a line ofjoinder when said displaceable portion is in said opened position.

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