Carton and carton blank

Abstract

A carton ( 90 ) for one or more articles (A) includes a tubular structure formed from at least a top panel ( 12/20 ), a first side wall panel ( 14 ), a second side wall panel ( 18 ) and a base panel ( 16 ). The carton has a handle structure (H) defined at least in the top panel that includes a handle strap ( 50 a/ 50 b ). The carton further includes a relief structure (R 1 /R 2 ) for controlling and directing deformation of the top panel and at least one of the side wall panels. The relief structure includes a fold line ( 54 b ) extending from the handle strap across the top panel and into at least one of the side wall panels. A weakening feature interrupts the fold line, and is formed in part in the top panel and in part in at least one of the side wall panels.

In the claims: 
     
         1 . A carton for packaging one or more articles, comprising a plurality of panels for forming a tubular structure including a top panel, a first side wall panel, a second side wall panel and a base panel, the carton comprising a handle structure defined at least in the top panel, the handle structure comprising a handle strap, wherein the carton comprises a relief structure for controlling and directing deformation of the top panel and at least one of the first and second side wall panels, the relief structure comprising a fold line extending from the handle strap across the top panel and into said at least one of the first and second side wall panels, wherein a weakening feature interrupts the fold line, the weakening feature being formed in part in the top panel and in part in said at least one of the first and second side wall panels. 
     
     
         2 . The carton according to  claim 1  wherein the weakening feature comprises at least one aperture. 
     
     
         3 . The carton according to  claim 2  wherein the at least one aperture has a longitudinal axis which is collinear with the fold line. 
     
     
         4 . The carton according to  claim 1  wherein the weakening feature comprises one selected from the group consisting of a slit, an interrupted slit, a half cut, an interrupted half cut, and a combination thereof, the weakening feature extending collinear with the fold line. 
     
     
         5 . The carton according to  claim 1  wherein the fold line is substantially straight and is orientated substantially perpendicular to a tubular axis of the carton. 
     
     
         6 . The carton according to  claim 1  wherein the handle strap extends in the direction substantially parallel to a tubular axis of the carton. 
     
     
         7 . A carton for packaging one or more articles comprising a plurality of panels for forming a tubular structure including a top panel, a first side wall panel, a second side wall panel and a base panel, the carton comprising a handle structure defined at least in the top panel, the handle structure comprising a handle strap, wherein the carton comprises a relief structure for controlling and directing deformation of the top panel and at least one of the first and second side wall panels, the relief structure comprising a fold line extending from the handle strap across the top panel and into said at least one of the first and second side wall panels, the relief structure further comprising a first substantially “V” shaped fold line defined in said at least one of the first and second side wall panels and a second substantially “V” shaped fold line defined in said at least one of the first and second side wall panels, wherein the first substantially “V” shaped fold line comprises a pair of first arms which meet each other at a first point of intersection, and the second substantially “V” shaped fold line comprises a pair of second arms which meet each other at a second point of intersection, the first and second points of intersection being disposed along the fold line and spaced from each other. 
     
     
         8 . The carton according to  claim 7  wherein the first arms of the first substantially “V” shaped fold line extend from a hinged connection between the top panel and said at least one of the first and second side wall panels and terminate at the first point of intersection. 
     
     
         9 . The carton according to  claim 8  wherein the second arms of the second substantially “V” shaped fold line extend from a hinged connection between the top panel and said at least one of the first and second side wall panels and terminate at the second point of intersection, the second point of intersection being disposed between the first point of intersection and the hinged connection between the top panel and said at least one of the first and second side wall panels. 
     
     
         10 . The carton according to  claim 7  wherein one of the first arms and one of the second arms extend from the same location on a hinged connection between the top panel and said at least one of the first and second side wall panels and terminate at the first and second points of intersection respectively, and the other of the first arms and the other of the second arms extend from the same location on the hinged connection and terminate at the first and second points of intersection respectively. 
     
     
         11 . The carton according to  claim 7  wherein the first arms comprise a pair of arcuate fold lines. 
     
     
         12 . The carton according to  claim 11  wherein the second arms comprise a pair of arcuate fold lines. 
     
     
         13 . The carton according to  claim 7  wherein the first point of intersection of the first arms is located at a terminal end of the fold line. 
     
     
         14 . The carton according to  claim 13  wherein the second point of intersection of the second arms is located substantially equidistant from the terminal end of the fold line as it is from a hinged connection between the top panel and said at least one of the first and second side wall panels. 
     
     
         15 . The carton according to  claim 7  wherein the first arms of the first substantially “V” shaped fold line extends into the top panel such that the first arms terminate adjacent opposed ends of the handle strap respectively. 
     
     
         16 . The carton according to  claim 7  wherein the handle strap is defined at least in part by a pair of elongate apertures struck from the top panel. 
     
     
         17 . The carton according to  claim 7  wherein a weakening feature interrupts the fold line, the weakening feature being formed in part in the top panel and in part in said at least one of the first and second side wall panels. 
     
     
         18 . A blank for forming a carton, the blank comprising a plurality of panels for forming a tubular structure including a top panel, a first side wall panel, a second side wall panel and a base panel, the blank comprising a handle structure defined at least in the top panel, the handle structure comprising a handle strap, wherein the blank comprises a relief structure for controlling and directing deformation of the top panel and at least one of the first and second side wall panels in a set-up carton, the relief structure comprising a fold line extending from the handle strap across the top panel and into said at least one of the first and second side wall panels, wherein a weakening feature interrupts the fold line, the weakening feature being formed in part in the top panel and in part in said at least one of the first and second side wall panels. 
     
     
         19 . The blank according to  claim 18  wherein the weakening feature comprises one selected from the group consisting of a slit, an interrupted slit, a half cut, an interrupted half cut, and a combination thereof, the weakening feature extending collinear with the fold line. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The blank according to  claim 18  wherein the weakening feature comprises at least one aperture.