Carton and blank therefor

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a carton for packaging one or more article and a blank for forming the carton. The carton may have at least one display window (A3) for presentation of an article therein. The carton comprises a plurality of panels forming walls of a tubular structure including a top wall, a first side wall, a base wall, and a second side wall. The carton comprises a handle feature including first (20) and second (22) handle panels in a face-contacting relationship. The first handle panel is hingedly connected to, and disposed in a face-contacting relationship with, the top wall. The second handle panel is detachably connected to a top end flap (38A, 40A, 38B, 40B) along a frangible line (50A, 50B) such that when the frangible line is broken, the handle feature is hingedly movable to a use position where the handle feature extends above the top wall.

1 . A carton for packaging one or more articles comprising a plurality of panels forming walls of a tubular structure including a first side wall having a display window feature, the display window feature comprising at least one window flap formed from the first side wall of the carton and hingedly connected to the first side wall along a first fold line, the at least one window flap comprising an upper portion, a lower portion and an intermediate portion hingedly interconnecting the upper and lower portions, the at least one window flap being folded inwardly of the carton to take a folded position in which the upper portion defines a first angle with respect to a first adjacent portion of the side wall and the lower portion defines a second angle with respect to a second adjacent portion of the side wall, wherein the first angle is an obtuse angle greater than the second angle. 
     
     
         2 . A carton according to  claim 1  wherein the second angle is equal to or greater than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         3 . A carton according to  claim 1  wherein the intermediate portion is hingedly connected to the upper portion about a second fold line and to the lower portion about a third fold line, and wherein the second and third fold lines extend divergently toward a free end edge of the at least one window flap. 
     
     
         4 . A carton according to  claim 1  wherein the adjacent portion is an upper section of the side wall and the second adjacent portion is a lower section of the side wall and wherein the upper and lower sections are hingedly connected together along a fourth fold line to define an obtuse angle therebetween. 
     
     
         5 . A blank for forming a carton, the blank comprising a plurality of panels for forming walls of a tubular structure including a side wall panel and a bottom panel hingedly connected to the side wall panel, the blank comprising a display window feature comprising at least one window flap formed solely from the side wall panel of the carton and hingedly connected thereto along a first fold line, the at least one window flap comprising an upper portion, a lower portion and an intermediate portion hingedly interconnecting the upper and lower portions, the lower portion disposed spaced apart from the bottom panel. 
     
     
         6 . The blank of  claim 5  wherein the intermediate portion is hingedly connected to the upper portion about a second fold line and to the lower portion about a third fold line, and wherein the second and third fold lines extend divergently from at least a location on or adjacent to the first fold line toward a free end edge of the at least one window flap. 
     
     
         7 . The blank of  claim 6  wherein the side panel comprises an upper section and a lower section hingedly connected to the upper section along a fourth fold line, wherein the fourth fold line or a notional extension thereof extends through said at least a location. 
     
     
         8 . The blank of  claim 5  wherein the lower portion has a first maximum width defined by a distance between the first fold line and a free end edge of the lower portion, wherein the upper portion has a second maximum width defined by a distance between the first fold line and a free end edge of the lower portion, and wherein the second maximum width is greater than the first maximum width. 
     
     
         9 . The blank of  claim 5  wherein the at least one window flap comprises a pair of opposed window flaps extending toward each other from the opposed side edges of a window opening defined in the side wall panel at least in part by the pair of opposed window flaps, the free end edges of the respective upper portions of the window flaps being defined by a common cut line, the free end edges of the respective lower portions of the window flaps being spaced apart from each other. 
     
     
         10 . A carton for packaging one or more articles comprising a plurality of panels forming walls of a tubular structure and a carrying handle comprising; a first handle panel hingedly connected to one of the plurality of panels, a second handle panel, and at least one securing panel, the at least one securing panel being frangibly connected to a first one of the first and second handle panels, and wherein the at least one securing panel is separated from the other one of the first and second handle panels. 
     
     
         11 . A carton according to  claim 10  wherein the second handle panel is hingedly connected to a second one of the plurality of panels. 
     
     
         12 . A carton according to  claim 11  wherein the second handle panel is hingedly connected to the first handle panel. 
     
     
         13 . A carton according to  claim 10  wherein the carton comprises a plurality of panels forming walls of a tubular structure includes a top wall, a first side wall, a base wall, and a second side wall. 
     
     
         14 . A carton according to  claim 13  wherein each of the pair of securing panels is a top end closure flap hingedly connected to the top wall. 
     
     
         15 . A carton according to  claim 10  wherein the carton comprises at least one display window for presentation of an article therein, and at least one orientation device for enabling said article to be oriented whilst loaded in the carton. 
     
     
         16 . A carton for packaging one or more articles comprising plurality of panels forming a tubular structure, the plurality of panels including: a first side panel, a first top panel, and a second side panel, the carton comprising a handle feature connected to the first top panel, the first and second side panels are interconnected by a top end flap, the handle feature comprises first and second handle panels disposed in a face-contacting relationship, the first handle panel is hingedly connected to, and disposed in a face-contacting relationship with, the first top panel, the second handle panel is detachably connected to the top end flap along a frangible line such that when the frangible line is broken, the handle feature is hingedly movable to a use position where the handle feature extends above the first top panel. 
     
     
         17 . A carton according to  claim 16  wherein the first and second handle panels are hingedly connected together. 
     
     
         18 . A carton according to  claim 16  wherein the frangible line comprises a cut line and at least one bridging nick interrupting the cut line. 
     
     
         19 . A carton according to  claim 16  wherein the top end flap comprises an outer top end flap and an inner top end flap disposed in face-contacting relationship with the outer top end flap. 
     
     
         20 . A carton according to  claim 19  wherein the second handle panel is detachably connected to the outer top end flap along the frangible line, the frangible line comprising a cut line and at least one bridging nick interrupting the cut line, the inner top end flap is hingedly connected to the first top panel along a fold line which includes at least one opening interrupting the fold line, the at least one opening is in vertical alignment with the at least one bridging nick. 
     
     
         21 . A carton according to  claim 16  wherein the carton comprises a second top panel hingedly connected between the second side panel and the second handle panel. 
     
     
         22 . A carton according to  claim 16  wherein a connecting panel is formed from the second handle panel and secured to the first top panel. 
     
     
         23 . A carton for packaging one or more articles comprising plurality of panels forming a tubular structure, the plurality of panels including: a first side panel, a first top panel, the carton comprising a handle feature connected to the first top panel and a top-receiving opening defined in the first top panel adjacent to the first side panel, wherein the handle feature is hingedly connected to the first top panel along a hinged connection such that it is hingedly movable between an initial stowed position where the handle feature is in face-contacting relationship with the first top panel and a use position where the handle feature extends above the first top panel, and wherein the hinged connection is disposed between the first side panel and the top-receiving opening such that when the handle feature is in the stowed position, the handle feature may be devoid of blocking the top-receiving opening. 
     
     
         24 . A carton for packaging one or more articles comprising plurality of panels forming a tubular structure, the plurality of panels including: a first side panel, a first top panel, the carton comprising a handle feature connected to the first top panel and a top-receiving opening defined in the first top panel adjacent to the first side panel, wherein the handle feature is hingedly connected to the first top panel along a hinged connection such that it is hingedly movable between an initial stowed position where the handle feature is in face-contacting relationship with the first top panel and a use position where the handle feature extends above the first top panel, and wherein the hinged connection is disposed between the first side panel and the top-receiving opening such that when the handle feature is in the stowed position it is arranged such that the top-receiving opening is operationally exposed. 
     
     
         25 . A carton according to  claim 24  wherein the top-receiving opening is sufficiently exposed that an article is receivable in the top-receiving opening to enable a portion of said article to be handled or engaged externally of the carton. 
     
     
         26 . A carton for packaging one or more articles comprising a plurality of panels forming walls of a tubular structure, the plurality of panels including: a first top panel, the carton comprising at least one top end flap, and a carrying handle having at least one handle panel hingedly connected to one of the plurality of panels and disposed in a face-contacting relationship with, the first top panel, the at least one top end flap being frangibly connected to a first one of the at least one handle panels, wherein the at least one handle panel is detachably connected to the at least one top end flap along a frangible line such that when the frangible line is broken, the handle feature is hingedly movable to a use position where the handle feature extends above the first top panel. 
     
     
         27 . A blank for forming a carton, the blank comprising a plurality of panels for forming walls of a tubular structure and a carrying handle comprising; a first handle panel hingedly connected to one of the plurality of panels, a second handle panel, and at least one securing panel, the at least one securing panel being frangibly connected to a first one of the first and second handle panels, and wherein the at least one securing panel is separated from the other one of the first and second handle panels by a cutaway. 
     
     
         28 . A blank for forming a carton, the blank comprising a plurality of panels for forming walls of a tubular structure including; a first side panel, a first top panel, and a second side panel, the blank comprising a handle feature connected to the first top panel, the first and second side panels configured to be interconnected by an inner and outer top end flap, the handle feature comprising first and second handle panels arranged to be disposed in a face-contacting relationship in a set-up carton, the first handle panel being hingedly connected to the first top panel, and arranged to be disposed in a face-contacting relationship with the first top panel in a set-up carton, wherein the second handle panel is detachably connected to the outer top end flap along a frangible line such that when the frangible line is broken, the handle feature is hingedly movable to a use position where the handle feature extends above the first top panel. 
     
     
         29 . A blank for forming a carton, the blank comprising a plurality of panels for forming a tubular structure, the plurality of panels including a first side panel and a first top panel, the blank comprising a handle feature connected to the first top panel and a top-receiving opening defined in the first top panel adjacent to the first side panel, wherein the handle feature is hingedly connected to the first top panel along a hinged connection such that in a set-up carton it is hingedly movable between an initial stowed position where the handle feature is in face-contacting relationship with the first top panel and a use position where the handle feature extends above the first top panel, and wherein the hinged connection is disposed between the first side panel and the top-receiving opening such that when the handle feature is in the stowed position, the handle feature may be devoid of blocking the top-receiving opening. 
     
     
         30 . A blank for forming a carton, the blank comprising a plurality of panels for forming a tubular structure, the plurality of panels including a first side panel and a first top panel, the blank comprising a handle feature connected to the first top panel and a top-receiving opening defined in the first top panel adjacent to the first side panel, wherein the handle feature is hingedly connected to the first top panel along a hinged connection such that in a set-up carton it is hingedly movable between an initial stowed position where the handle feature is in face-contacting relationship with the first top panel and a use position where the handle feature extends above the first top panel, and wherein the hinged connection is disposed between the first side panel and the top-receiving opening such that when the handle feature is in the stowed position it is arranged such that the top-receiving opening is operationally exposed. 
     
     
         31 . 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 first top panel, the blank comprising at least one top end flap and a carrying handle having at least one handle panel hingedly connected to one of the plurality of panels, the at least one handle panel arrange to be disposed in a face-contacting relationship with the first top panel in a set-up carton, the at least one top end flap being frangibly connected a first one of the at least one handle panels, wherein the at least one handle panel is detachably connected to the at least one top end flap along a frangible line, in a set-up carton severance of the frangible line allows the handle feature to be hingedly moved to a use position where the handle feature extends above the first top panel.