Carton and blank therefor

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a carton (90) for packaging one or more articles B and a blank (10) for forming the carton. The carton may have at least one display window W for presentation of an article therein. The carton comprises a plurality of panels defining a tubular structure and including a top panel (16), a first side panel (14), a second side panel (18), a first base panel (12) hingedly connected to the first side panel and second base panel (20) hingedly connected to the second side panel. The carton further comprises at least one end closure structure including a top end flap (30a) hingedly connected to the top panel (16) by a first fold line (31a), a first side end flap (26a) hingedly connected to the first side panel (14) and a second side end flap (34a) hingedly connected to the second side panel (18).

1 . A carton for packaging one or more articles, the carton comprising a plurality of panels connected together to define an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels defining a tubular structure and including a top panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a first base panel hingedly connected to the first side panel and second base panel hingedly connected to the second side panel, wherein the first and second base panels are disposed in at least partially overlapping relationship with each other, the first base panel being disposed a flat face-contacting arrangement with an outer surface of the second base panel, the carton further comprises at least one end closure structure, wherein the at least one end closure structure comprises a top end flap hingedly connected to the top panel by a first fold line, a first side end flap hingedly connected to the first side panel and a second side end flap hingedly connected to the second side panel, the top end flap is secured to an outer surface of each of the first and second side end flaps to at least partially close an end of the tubular structure, wherein the first side end flap has a free upper edge which is separate and spaced apart from an adjacent free side edge of the top end flap and wherein the free upper edge and the first fold line define a first obtuse angle therebetween when the carton is a blank form. 
     
     
         2 . The carton of  claim 1  wherein the free upper edge of the first side end flap is disposed below the first fold line. 
     
     
         3 . The carton of  claim 1  wherein the second base panel has a female locking feature comprising a locking aperture, the first base panel has a male locking feature comprising a locking tab, wherein the locking tab is received in the locking aperture such that the first and second base panels are secured together to provide a base wall. 
     
     
         4 . The carton of  claim 1  wherein the second side end flap is connected to the top end flap through a gusset panel and wherein the gusset panel is folded with respect to the second side end flap and the top end flap such that the gusset panel is tucked between the top end flap and the second side end flap. 
     
     
         5 . The carton of  claim 4  wherein the top end flap comprises an upper portion hingedly connected to the top panel by a first fold line and a lower portion hingedly connected to the upper portion by a second fold line and wherein the gusset panel is not directly connected to the lower portion and wherein the upper portion interconnects the lower portion and the gusset panel. 
     
     
         6 . The carton of  claim 1  wherein the one of the first and second side panels has a window opening for exposing to view an article disposed in the interior of the carton. 
     
     
         7 . The carton of  claim 1  wherein the top end flap has a handle opening and the first side end flap has a cutout which is disposed in alignment with the handle opening. 
     
     
         8 . The carton of  claim 7  wherein the free upper edge of the first side end flap is disposed above the handle opening. 
     
     
         9 . The carton of  claim 4  wherein the gusset panel is hingedly connected to the second side end flap by a third fold line which defines a second obtuse angle with respect to the first fold line when the carton is in the blank form and wherein the second obtuse angle is greater than the first obtuse angle. 
     
     
         10 . The carton of  claim 4  wherein the top end flap has a handle opening and the second side end flap has a cutout which is disposed in alignment with the handle opening, and wherein the gusset panel is hingedly connected to a side edge of an upper portion of the top end flap and wherein the gusset panel is disposed between the side edge of the upper portion of the top end flap and the handle opening. 
     
     
         11 . The carton of  claim 4  wherein the top end flap has a handle opening and the second side end flap has a cutout which is disposed in alignment with the handle opening, and wherein the gusset panel is hingedly connected to a side edge of an upper portion of the top end flap and wherein the gusset panel is disposed between the side edge of the upper portion of the top end flap and the cutout. 
     
     
         12 . The carton of  claim 4  wherein the top end flap has a handle opening and the second side end flap has a cutout which is disposed in alignment with the handle opening, wherein the gusset panel is hingedly connected to a side edge of an upper portion of the top end flap, wherein the gusset panel comprises a width dimension defined between a free edge and a hinged connection to the top end flap, the cutout is spaced apart from the side edge of an upper portion of the top end flap by a first linear dimension, the first linear dimension being greater than or equal to the width dimension of the gusset panel. 
     
     
         13 . The carton of  claim 4  wherein the top end flap has a handle opening and the second side end flap has a cutout which is disposed in alignment with the handle opening, wherein the gusset panel is hingedly connected to a side edge of an upper portion of the top end flap, wherein the gusset panel comprises a width dimension defined between a free edge and a hinged connection to the top end flap, the handle opening is spaced apart from the side edge of an upper portion of the top end flap by a second linear dimension, the second linear dimension being greater than or equal to the width dimension of the gusset panel. 
     
     
         14 . The carton of  claim 9  wherein the top end flap has a handle opening and the second side end flap has a cutout which is disposed in alignment with the handle opening, wherein the gusset panel is hingedly connected to a side edge of an upper portion of the top end flap, wherein the third fold line comprises a first end and second end, the first and second ends of the third fold line being disposed in closer proximity to the side edge of the upper portion of the top end flap than the cutout. 
     
     
         15 . The carton of  claim 9  wherein the top end flap has a handle opening and the second side end flap has a cutout which is disposed in alignment with the handle opening, wherein the gusset panel is hingedly connected to a side edge of an upper portion of the top end flap, wherein the third fold line comprises a first end and second end, the first and second ends of the third fold line being disposed in closer proximity to the side edge of the upper portion of the top end flap than the handle opening. 
     
     
         16 . A blank for forming a carton, the blank comprising a plurality of panels for forming walls of a tubular structure, the plurality of panels including a top panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a first base panel hingedly connected to the first side panel and second base panel hingedly connected to the second side panel, wherein the first and second base panels are arranged to be disposed in at least partially overlapping relationship with each other in a setup carton, the first base panel being disposed a flat face-contacting arrangement with an outer surface of the second base panel, the blank further comprises at least one end closure structure, wherein the at least one end closure structure comprises a top end flap hingedly connected to the top panel by a first fold line, a first side end flap hingedly connected to the first side panel and a second side end flap hingedly connected to the second side panel, the top end flap is arranged to be secured to an outer surface of each of the first and second side end flaps to at least partially close an end of the tubular structure in a setup condition, wherein the first side end flap has a free upper edge which is separate and spaced apart from an adjacent free side edge of the top end flap and wherein the free upper edge and the first fold line define a first obtuse angle therebetween. 
     
     
         17 . The blank of  claim 16  wherein the second side end flap is connected to the top end flap through a gusset panel and wherein the gusset panel is arranged to be folded with respect to the second side end flap and the top end flap such that the gusset panel is tucked between the top end flap and the second side end flap in a setup carton. 
     
     
         18 . The carton of  claim 17  wherein the gusset panel is hingedly connected to the second side end flap by a third fold line which defines a second obtuse angle with respect to the first fold line and wherein the second obtuse angle is greater than the first obtuse angle.