Carton and carton blank

Abstract

A carton for packaging one or more articles B, the carton comprising a plurality of panels for forming a tubular structure including a top wall 12/20, a first side wall 14 and a second side wall 18. The top wall comprises filleted corners A1-A4 so as to be octagonal in shape. The filleted corners define free corner edges of the top wall. Each of the first and second side walls comprise at least two filleted corners so as to be at least hexagonal in shape. Each filleted corner of the top wall is disposed adjacent to a filleted corner of one of the first and second side walls. The carton comprises a handle structure defined in the top wall. The handle structure comprises a handle strap 54 extending longitudinally between opposed ends of the carton. The handle strap is defined at least in part by first and second severance lines 55A, 55B.

1 . A carton for packaging one or more articles comprising a plurality of panels for forming a tubular structure including a top wall, a first side wall and a second side wall, the top wall comprising filleted corners so as to be octagonal in shape, the filleted corners defining free corner edges of the top wall, the top wall comprising opposed end edges each extending between a respective pair of the free corner edges, each of the first and second side walls comprising at least two filleted corners so as to be at least hexagonal in shape, and wherein each filleted corner of the top wall is disposed adjacent to a filleted corner of one of the first and second side walls, the carton comprising a handle structure defined in the top wall, the handle structure comprising a handle strap extending longitudinally between the opposed end edges of the top wall, wherein the handle strap is defined at least in part by first and second severance lines. 
     
     
         2 . A carton according to  claim 1  wherein the handle structure further comprises a pair of divergently arranged fold lines extending from each end of the first and second severance lines to an adjacent one of the free corner edges of the top wall. 
     
     
         3 . A carton according to  claim 2  wherein a first one of the pair of divergently arranged fold lines comprises a lower fold resistance than the other one of the pair of divergently arranged fold lines. 
     
     
         4 . A carton according to  claim 2  wherein each of the pairs of divergently arranged fold lines converge at an end of one of the first and second severance lines. 
     
     
         5 . A carton according to  claim 2  wherein each of the pairs of divergently arranged fold lines terminate at a free corner edge of the top wall so as to define a web, the web being displaceable out of the plane of the top wall when the handle is in use. 
     
     
         6 . A carton according to  claim 1  wherein opposed ends of the tubular structure are closed, at least in part by a top end closure flap hingedly connected to the top wall, the top end closure flap being displaceable inwardly when the handle is in use. 
     
     
         7 . A carton according to  claim 1  wherein the top wall is equal in length to each of the first and second side walls. 
     
     
         8 . A carton for packaging one or more articles comprising a plurality of panels for forming a tubular structure including a top wall, a first side wall and a second side wall, the top wall comprising at least two filleted corners so as to be at least hexagonal in shape, the filleted corners defining first and second free corner edges of the top wall, each of the first and second side walls comprising at least one filleted corner, and wherein the first free corner edge of the top wall is disposed adjacent to the filleted corner of the first side wall and the second free corner edge of the top wall is disposed adjacent to the filleted corner of the second side wall, the carton comprising a handle structure defined in the top wall, the handle structure comprising a handle strap extending longitudinally between opposed ends of the carton, wherein the handle strap is defined at least in part by first and second severance lines. 
     
     
         9 . A carton according to  claim 8  wherein the handle structure comprises a first pair of divergently arranged fold lines extending from a first end of the first severance line to the first free edge of the top wall and a second pair of divergently arranged fold lines extending from a first end of the second severance line to the second free edge of the top wall. 
     
     
         10 . A carton according to  claim 8  wherein a first end of the tubular structure is closed, at least in part by a top end closure flap hingedly connected to a first end of the top wall, the top end closure flap being displaceable inwardly when the handle is in use. 
     
     
         11 . A carton according to  claim 9  wherein a first one of the first pair of divergently arranged fold lines comprises a lower fold resistance than the other one of the first pair of divergently arranged fold lines. 
     
     
         12 . A carton according to  claim 9  wherein a first one of the second pair of divergently arranged fold lines comprises a lower fold resistance than the other one of the second pair of divergently arranged fold lines. 
     
     
         13 . A carton according to  claim 9  wherein the first and second pairs of divergently arranged fold lines terminate define a web, the web being displaceable out of the plane of the top wall when the handle is in use. 
     
     
         14 . A blank for forming a carton, the blank comprising a plurality of panels for forming a tubular structure having a top wall, a first side wall and a second side wall, at least one of the plurality of panels forming a handle panel comprising at least two filleted corners, the filleted corners defining first and second free corner edges of the handle panel, a further one of the plurality of panels hingedly connected to the handle panel comprising at least two filleted corners, and wherein the first free corner edge of the handle panel is disposed adjacent to a first one of the filleted corners of the further one of the plurality of panels and the second free corner edge of the handle panel is disposed adjacent to a second one of the filleted corners of the further one of the plurality of panels, the blank comprising a handle structure defined in the handle panel, the handle structure comprising a handle strap extending longitudinally between opposed ends of the blank, wherein the handle strap is defined at least in part by a severance line. 
     
     
         15 . A blank according to  claim 14  wherein the handle structure comprising a first pair of divergently arranged fold lines extending from a first end of the first severance line to the first free edge of the handle panel and a second pair of divergently arranged fold lines extending from a second end of the first severance line to the second free edge of the handle panel. 
     
     
         16 . A blank according to  claim 15  comprising a second handle panel comprising at least two filleted corners, the filleted corners defining first and second free corner edges of the second handle panel, wherein another one of the plurality of panels is hingedly connected to the second handle panel and comprises at least two filleted corners, and wherein the first free corner edge of the second handle panel is disposed adjacent to a first one of the filleted corners of said another one of the plurality of panels and the second free corner edge of the second handle panel is disposed adjacent to a second one of the filleted corners of said another one of the plurality of panels, the blank comprising a handle structure defined in the second handle panel, the handle structure comprising a handle strap extending longitudinally between opposed ends of the blank, wherein the handle strap is defined at least in part by a second severance line, the handle structure comprising a third pair of divergently arranged fold lines extending from a first end of the second severance line to the first free edge of the second handle panel and a fourth pair of divergently arranged fold lines extending from a second end of the second severance line to the second free edge of the second handle panel.