Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CARTON AND CARTON BLAND WITH FRANGIBLE CONNECTIONS
Background of the Invention
The present invention relates to a carton for containing a plurality of
similar articles, sucl
bottles and a means for retaining the bottles within the carton and in
particular to a mean.
accessing the articles.
l0 Cartons for encasing multiple articles are useful for enabling consumers to
obtain
transport a desired quantity of individual articles such as soft drinks or
other beverages. S
cartons need to be strong enough to support multiple articles, especially if
the articles
bottles. It is also desirable for such cartons to be easy to handle and
portable.
It often desirable for the articles contained within the carton to be
displayed and also for
carton to have large areas which can be printed with advertising graphics. It
is also o:
desirable for the articles to be easily accessible and it is also preferable
for the articles tc
secured in place within the carton, especially if the articles are fragile,
for example g
bottles. It is however undesirable for articles to be accessed too easily, for
example, bed
being purchased.
It is also desirable to have a carton which after the contents of the articles
have b
consumed can be used to return the empty articles to a recycling point.
The present invention seeks to provide a means for displaying the articles or
a portion of
axticles in combination with an access means for removal of the articles where
the acc
means leaves the carton with sufficient integrity for replacement of articles
for the purpose
returning to a recycling point.
Summary of the Invention
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According to a first aspect of the invention in a carton of the type
comprising an open top
container and a separate top closure, the top closure having a plurality of
apertures, each
to receive a portion of an article held within the container, each aperture
having a
frangible connection to at least one other aperture to facilitate the removal
of the articles,
such that in use the removal of the articles breaks the frangible connection,
the
arrangement being such that the structural integrity of the carton is
substantially
maintained upon removal of the articles.
Preferably the plurality of apertures are arranged in rows, each aperture of a
row having a
to frangible connection to at least one other aperture of the same and or
different row.
Preferably, each aperture at the end of a row may be connected to an edge of
the top
closure by a further frailgible connection.
Additionally a frangible connection between two apertures may intersect a
frangible
connection between two other apertures.
Preferably, the arrangement is such that upon removal of the articles no
material is
removed from the top closure. The plurality of apertures may also be arranged
in three
rows, a central row being offset from the other rows and apertures of the
central row
2o having a frangible connection to at least two other apertures of each of
the other two
rows.
According to a second aspect of the invention, in a carton of the type
comprising an open
top container and a separate top closure, the top closure having a plurality
of apertures,
each to receive a portion of an article held within the container, each
aperture having a
frangible connection to at least one other aperture to facilitate the removal
of the articles,
such that in use the removal of the articles breaks the frangible connection,
the
arrangement being such that the structural integrity of the carton is
substantially
maintained upon removal of the articles, wherein the carton further comprises
at least one
3o reinforced handle structure, the arrangement being such that the or each
reinforced handle
structure is of mufti-ply construction, wherein at least one ply is provided
by the open top
container and at least one further ply is provided by the top closure.
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Preferably the open top container comprises side walls, the ply provided by
the open top
container being struck from one of said side walls. A ply of the reinforced
handle
structure may be provided by a handle panel hinged to the top closure.
Additionally the handle panel hinged to the top closure may be secured in flat
face
contact with an inner face of the ply struck from one of said side walls.
Alternatively or additionally a further ply of the reinforced handle structure
may be
1o provided by the top closure and hinged to a handle panel.
According to a third aspect of the invention, a carton of the type comprising
an open top
container and a separate top closure, wherein at least one of the walls of the
open top
container has a top flap folded to extend downwardly into the open top
container, wherein
the top closure comprises an engaging tab for engaging the top flap such that
the
engaging tab is disposed in face contacting relationship between the one wall
and the top
flap, the arrangement being such that the top closure is locked in a recessed
position
below the top of the open top container.
2o According to yet a further aspect of the invention a two-part blank for
forming a carton of
the type comprising an open top container and a separate top closure, a first
part of the
blank is erected to form the open top container and a second part of the blank
is erected to
form a top closure having a plurality of apertures, each to receive a portion
of an article
held within the container, each aperture having a frangible connection to at
least one other
aperture to facilitate the removal of the articles, such that in use the
removal of the
articles breaks the frangible connection, the arrangement being such that the
structural
integrity of the set up carton is substantially maintained upon removal of the
articles.
According to yet a further aspect of the invention a two-part blank for
forming a carton of
3o the type comprising an open top container and a separate top closure
wherein a first blank
is erected to form the open top container and a second blank is erected to
form the top
closure, the top closure having a plurality of apertures, each to receive a
portion of an
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article held within the container, each aperture laving a frangible connection
to at least
one other aperture to facilitate the removal of the articles, the removal of
the articles
breaks the frangible connection, the arrangement being such that the
structural integrity of
the carton is substantially maintained upon removal of the articles, wherein
the set up
carton further comprises at least one reinforced handle structure, the
arrangement such
that the reinforced handle structure is of mufti-ply construction, wherein at
least one ply is
provided by the open top container and at least one further ply is provided by
the top
closure.
to Preferably, the first blank comprises side walls wherein at least one ply
of the reinforced
handle structure is struck from one of said side walls. The second blank may
comprise at
least one handle panel for forming, in a setup carton, the ply provided by the
top closure.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of
example only,
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which;
Figure 1A illustrates a first part of a blank for forming a carton according
to a first
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 1B illustrates a second part of a blank for forming a carton according
to a first
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 1 C is a perspective view from the front, side and top of a carton
constructed from the
blanks of Figs. lA and 1B;
Figure 2A illustrates a first part of a blank for forming a carton according
to a second
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2B illustrates a second part of a blank for Forming a carton according
to a second
embodiment of the invention;
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Figure 2C is a perspective view from the front and side of a carton
constructed from the
blanks of Figs. 2A and 2B;
Figure 3A illustrates a first part of a bla~~k for forming a carton according
to a third
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 3B illustrates a second part of a blank for forming a carton according
to a third
embodiment of the invention;
to
Figure 3C is a perspective view from the front and side of a carton
constructed from the
blanks of Figs. 3A and 3B;
Figure 3D is a top view of the carton of Fig. 3C., showing the removal of a
bottle from the
carton;
Figure 4A illustrates a first part of a blank for forming a carton according
to a fourth
embodiment of the invention;
2o Figure 4B illustrates a second part of a blank for forming a carton
according to a fourth
embodiment of the invention;
Figure SA illustrates a first part of a blank for forming a carton according
to a fifth
embodiment of the invention;
Figure SB illustrates a second part of a blank for forming a carton according
to a fifth
embodiment of the invention;
Figure SC is a perspective view from the front and side of a carton
constructed from the
3o blanks of Figs. 5A and SB;
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Figure SD is a top view of the carton of Fig. SC., showing the removal of a
bottle from the
Carton;
Figure 6A illustrates a first part of a blank for forming a carton according
to a sixth
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 6B illustrates a second part of a blank for forming a carton according
to a sixth
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 6C is a top view of a carton constructed from the blanks of Figs. 6A
and 6B;
Figure 7A illustrates a first part of a blank for forming a carton according
to a seventh
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 7B illustrates a second part of a blank for forming a carton according
to a seventh
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 7C is a perspective view from the front and side of a carton
constructed from the
blanks of Figs. 7A and 7B;
Figure 8A illustrates a first part of a blank for forming a carton according
to an eighth
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 8B illustrates a second part of a blank for forming a carton according
to an eighth
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 8C illustrates a first step in the folding process of the blank shown
in Fig. 8B;
Figure 8D illustrates a first step in the folding process of the blank shown
in Fig. 8A;
Figure 8E illustrates a step in the erection of a carton formed from the
blanks of Figs. 8A and
8B;
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Figure ~F is a perspective view from the front and top of a carton constructed
from the blanks
of Figs. 8A and 8B;
Figure 9A illustrates a first part of a blanl~ for forming a carton according
to a ninth
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 9B illustrates a second part of a blank for forming a carton according
to a ninth
embodiment of the invention;
to
Figure 9C illustrates a step in the erection of a carton formed from the
blanks of Figs. 9A and
9B;
Figure 9D is a perspective view from the front, side and top of a carton
constructed from the
blanks of Figs. 9A and 9B;
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
Figs. 1A and 1B, show a first and second part of a two-part blank respectively
for forming a
carton 30, made from paperboard or similar foldable sheet material. It is
envisaged that a
unitary blank could be used instead, without departing from the scope of the
invention. In the
first embodiment of the invention two blanks 10 and 20, of Figs. 1A & 1B are
formed into a
tubular crate and a cover respectively. The cover is inserted into the tubular
crate to form the
carton 30 of the first embodiment, which is shown in Fig. 1C.
In the embodiments to be described it will be recognised that minor variations
to the
invention could be made for example a crash bottom of the type known in the
art, could be
employed without departing from the scope of the invention. The invention is
designed to
receive similar articles, such as bottles, but it is envisaged that the
present invention could be
used to contain other articles, without departing from the scope of the
invention.
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Turning to Figure 1A, the blank 10 comprises a first side wall 12, a front
panel 14, a second
side wall 16 and a back panel 18, hi.ngedly connected one to the next in
series along fold lines
42, 44, 46 and 48 respectively. Handle apertures 54 are struck from the front
and back panels
14, 18. Finger gripping tabs 58 protrude inward from the upper edges of the
handle apertures
54. The finger gripping tabs enable the erected carton to be easily grasped
and lifted by the
handle apertures 54.
The blank fiuther comprises bottom end flaps 72 and 74 hingedly connected to
each of the
first and second side walls 12, 16 along fold lines 62 and to each of the
front and back panels
l0 14, 18, along fold lines 64. The bottom end flaps 72, 74 provide a bottom
end closure means
when the blank is erected into a carton. It is envisaged that other bottom end
closure means
could be used without departing from the scope of the invention.
Top end flaps 76 are also provided and are hingedly connected to the first and
second side
walls 12, 16, opposite the end flaps 72. The top end flaps 76 can provide
reinforcement to the
first and second side walls 12, 16 when the blank is erected into the carton
30. The blank 10
also comprises a glue flap 88 which is hingedly connected to the back panel
18, along fold
line 48.
2o Turning to the construction of the tubular crate from blank 10, a series of
sequential folding
and gluing operations are required, which preferably can be performed in a
straight line
machine, so that the crate and/or blank 10 are not required to be rotated or
inverted to
complete the construction. The folding process is not limited to that
described below and can
be altered according to particular manufacturing requirements.
The first stage is to apply glue to the outside edge of glue flap 88 and then
fold it 180° about
fold line 48 so that it lies in flat face contacting relation with the inside
face of back panel 18 .
The front panel 14 is then folded about fold line 44 to lie flat on top of the
inside face of
second side panel 16. This causes the first side panel 12 to come into flat
face contacting
relation with the back panel 18 and the glued outer edge of glue flap 88, so
that the first side
panel 12 becomes stuck to the glue flap 88, thus connecting the first side
panel 12 and back
panel 18. The blank 10 can then be erected into a tubular structure and using
a similar series
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of folding and gluing steps, the bottom end flaps 72, 74 can be secured to
form a bottom end
closure means.
In this embodiment of the invention the top end flaps 76 are glued and folded,
inward of the
crate, 180° about fold lines 66 to provide reinforcement to the top
edges of the first and
second side panels 12, 16. In other embodiments of the invention, the top end
flaps 76 may be
hingedly connected to panels of the second blank 20.
A second blank 20 is shown in Figure 1B, which can be formed into a cover for
the tubular
crate formed from the blank 10 of Figure 1A. The blank 20 comprises a main
panel 22,
which is, on either side, hingedly connected to inner handle panels 24 along
fold lines 32.
Handle apertures 54 are struck from the inner handle panels 24 and finger
gripping tabs 58
protrude inward from the upper edges of the handle apertures 54. The inner
handle panels 24
are hingedly connected, along folded lines 34, to outer handle panels 26,
which have finger
gripping tabs 58 integrally formed at their edges. The outer handle panels 26
are recessed and
formed such that they compliment the shape of the handle apertures 54 struck
from both the
inner handle panels 24 and those struck from the front and back panels 14, 18.
Cover end
flaps 28 are hingedly connected to the main panel 22 along fold lines 38 and
can provide
structural rigidity as well as aesthetic appeal to the carton 30, when
assembled.
The main panel 22 further comprises apertures 56 for receiving the similarly
configured
articles and each aperture is connected to at least one other aperture by a
frangible connection
or nick 37. In this first embodiment, the apertures 56 are arranged in two
rows and each
aperture 56 is connected to at least one other aperture 56 in the same row by
a frangible
connection or nick 37. In other embodiments of the invention, the arrangement
of the
apertures 56 or frangible connections or nicks 37 ma.y differ from that
described in the first
embodiment of the invention. It is envisaged that many arrangements could be
used without
departing from the scope of the invention.
3o Once the tubular crate has been loaded with six bottles, in a 3 x 2
arrangement, the blank 20
is folded to form a cover. The inner handle panels 24 and cover flaps 28 are
folded upward,
out of the plane of main panel 22, 90° about fold lines 32 and 38. In
this way, a
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complimentary insert is formed which can fit inside the tubular crate. Glue
may then be
applied to the outer faces of the inner handle panels 24, cover end flaps 28
and outer handle
panels 26. The folded blank 20 is then inserted into the loaded carton so that
the apertures 56
of the main panel 22 are brought into registry with the bottle necks. The
inner handle panels
24 and cover flaps 28 may then be secured by use o f glue to the inside faces
of the front and
back panels 14, 18 and to the inside faces of the first and second side walls
12, 16 as shown
in Fig. 1C. The outer handle panels 26 are then folded about fold lines 34 and
glued to the
outside face of the front and back panels 14, 18 of the tubular crate. In this
way, the structural
integrity of the tubular carton is improved, particularly of the handle
structure, which in this
to embodiment of the invention, is reinforced to form a 3 ply handle
structure.
The carton formed from the blanks 10 and 20 is shown in Figure 1C. It can be
seen that the
bottles are secured within the carton, once the cover made from blank 20 has
been secured
inside the tubular crate. Access to the bottles is gained by separating the
frangible
connections or nicks 37, this may be achieved simply by pulling on a bottle
contained within
the carton 30. In this way each bottle can be accessed individually, whilst
the structural
integrity of the carton 30 is maintained. Bottles not removed are held in
position by the
apertures 56 in the cover. Therefore the carton provides an adaptable carrying
container, the
structural integrity of which is not destroyed when the bottles are accessed.
This enables the
carton to be reused for the convenient returning of the empty bottles. In this
embodiment of
the invention, when all bottles are removed, no material from the cover formed
from blank 20
is actually removed from the carton 30.
It can be appreciated that various changes may be made within the scope of the
present
invention, for example, the size and shape of the panels and apertures may be
adjusted to
accommodate articles of differing size or shape. Figs. 2A - 9D illustrate
further embodiments
of the present invention, which will now be described by way of example only
and to
illustrate some of the changes that can be made, whilst keeping within the
scope of the
present invention. In subsequent figures similar reference numerals have been
used to denote
like features, the reference numerals in the second embodiment of the
invention are increased
by '200' to show that they represent features of the second embodiment. Since
other
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embodiments have features common to the first embodiment herein before
described, only
differences in subsequent embodiments will be highlighted.
Shown in Figs. 2A, 2B and 2C is a second embodiment of the present invention
wherein a
tubular crate formed from a blank 210 is fitted with a cover forrried from the
blank 220 as in
the first embodiment. In the second embodiment of the invention handle
apertures 254 are
struck from the first and second side walls 12, 16 and the top end flaps 76
are hingedly
comzected to the front and back panels 14, 18 instead of th_e arrangement of
the first
embodiment.
l0
The second embodiment differs from the first in that the cover contains 12
apertures 256 for
securing a uniform array of 12 bottles in a 3 x 4 arrangement within the
carton. Access to the
bottles is provided by severing the frangible connections or nicks 237, which
again connect
each aperture 256 in a row to at least one other aperture 256 o f the same
row. Additional
frangible connections or nicks 237 are provided from some of the apertures 256
and the edges
of the main panel 222. In this way access to the bottles neighbouring the
carton 230 front and
back panels 14, 18 is gained more readily. The structural integrity of the
carton 230 remains
after the bottles have been accessed and the cover formed from blank 220
remains
substantially intact. The carton 230 can be used to recycle the bottles.
A third embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figs . 3A, 3B, 3C and
3D. The
carton 330 formed from the blanks 310 and 320 is not rectangular as in the
previous
embodiments. The blank 310 contains additional corner panels 390 hingedly
attached to each
of the first and second side walls 312, 316, and to each of the front and back
panels 314, 318,
along fold lines 342a/342b, 344a/344b, 346a/346b and 348a/348b. The tubular
carton erected
from the blank 310 is octagonal for the purpose of providing additional
protection to the
bottles contained within the carton 330. The additional corner panels 390
protect the bottles
which are positioned at the corners of the bottle arrangement_ The cover for
the tubular
carton, erected from the blank 320, contains tabs 392 hingedly attached to the
main panel 322
specifically adapted so that the shape of the complimentary cover fits
securely into the
tubular crate formed from the blank 310. The tabs 392 are folded similarly to
the inner handle
panels 324 and cover end flaps 328.
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A fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figs. 4A and 4B. In
this
embodiment the front panel 414, back panel 418 and one of the end flaps 474
are provided
with additional fold lines 480, 482, 484, which can be used to fold the
assembled crate
formed from blank 410 into a flat position. This enables the blank to be pre-
glued to form the
crate, yet provides a structure that can be folded into a flat condition, to
facilitate in the
storage and transportation prior to the crate being loaded with articles.
The construction of the crate from blank 410 is similar to that herein before
described. The
l0 glue flap 488 is used to secure first side panel 412 to back panel 418 to
farm a tubular crate.
A composite bottom wall is formed by securing the two end flaps 472 to a ach
other. This may
be achieved by use of adhesive or other means known in the art. The fold lines
480, 482, 484
are aligned such that the tubular crate formed from the blank 410 can be
folded flat.
A fifth embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figs. 5A, SB, SC and
SD. The blank
520 for forming the cover is similar to that of the previous embodiments, but
is designed to
facilitate a different arrangement of bottles or other similar articles. In
this embodiment the
articles loaded into the tubular crate, formed from the blank 510, are
arranged in three rows;
of four, three and four articles respectively. The apertures 556 of the
ceriter row of three are
offset with respect to the apertures 556 of the adjacent rows. This
configuration of articles or
bottles provides recesses at opposed ends of the carton adjacent the front and
back panels
514, 518. The recesses provide space inside the crate for a consumer's hands
when the handle
apertures 554, which are struclc from the front and back panels 514, 518, axe
being used to lift
the crate.
In order to access the bottles of the present embodiment the main panel 522
comprises
frangible connections or nicks 537 which connect each of the apertures 55 6 of
the central row
to at least two apertures 556 in each of the other two rows, as shown in Fig,
SC. Additional
frangible connections or nicks 537 are also provided between the apertures 556
which are
closest to the first and second side walls 512, 516, and the first and second
side walls 512,
516 of the carton 530. Similarly to the first embodiment, access to the
bottles is gained by
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separating the nicks 537 around a bottle, as shown in Fig SD. In this way each
bottle can be
accessed individually, whilst the structural integrity of the carton is
maintained.
Yet a further embodiment is shown in Figs. 6A, 6B and 6C. The carton erected
from the
blanks 610 and 620 of the sixth embodiment is shown in Fig. 6C. In this
embodiment, twelve
bottles are arranged in two rows of six. Frangible connections or nicks 637
connect apertures
656 of one row to at least one aperture 656 of the adjacent row in such a way
that some of the
nicks 637, provided in the main panel 622, intersect. Separation of the nicks
can be readily
achieved in this embodiment by applying force at the point where the nicl~s
637 intersect. In
to this embodiment, the nicks 637 also extend between the apertures adjacent
the front and back
panels 614, 618 and the front and back panels 614, 618 themselves.
A seventh embodiment is shown in Figs. 7A, 7B and 7C. The blank 710 for
forming the
tubular crate is shown in Fig. 7A. The first and second side walls 712, 714.
are also provided
with handle apertures 754, so that the erected carton as shown in Fig. 7C has
four reinforced
handle structures, which improves the versatility of the carton 730.
In the seventh embodiment of the present invention the blank 720 for forming
the cover is
provided with inner handle panels 724 and outer handle panels 726 on each of
the sides of the
2o main panel 722 rather than only on two sides as in the first embodiment.
The cover is secured
to the crate, formed from the blank 710, in a similar way as in the first
embodiment; each of
the inner handle panels 724 are folded upward, out of the plane of main panel
722 to form the
complimentary insert. This fits inside the loaded tubular crate. Glue or other
securing means
known in the art, may then be applied to the outer faces of the inner handle
panels 724 and
outer handle panels 726. The folded blank 720 may then be inserted into the
loaded carton so
that the apertures 754 of the main panel 722 are brought into registry with
the necks of the
bottles. The inner handle panels 724 are then secured to the inside faces of
each of the front
and back panels 714, 718 and the first and second side walls 712, 716 as shown
in Figure 7C.
The outer handle panels 726 can then be folded and glued to the outside faces
of each of the
3o front and back panels 714, 718 and the first and second side walls 712, 716
of the tubular
crate.
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An eighth embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 8A - 8F. In this
embodiment of -the
invention, the carton 830 is designed to receive twelve bottles, in four rows
of three, where
the end most rows are hidden from view beneath raised cover flaps 828b. The
main panel g22
is provided with six apertures 856 in two rows of three to display the
remaining six bottles.
Frangible connections or nicks 837 connect each of the apertures 856 to at
least one other
aperture 856.
As in other embodiments of the invention handle panels 854 are struck from the
first and
second side walls 12, 16 and top end flaps 876 are provided, hingedly
connected to the front
to and back panels. In this embodiment however the top end flaps 876 are not
secured in flat
face contact with the front and back panels 14, 18 and are secured to the
cover of blank g20
when the blanks 810, 820 are erected into a carton 830. The blank 820 is
provided with coyer
end flaps 828a and 828b on either side of the main panel 822. To erect the
carton the inner
and outer handle panels 824, 826 and cover end flaps 828a and 828b are folded
upward out of
the plane of the main panel 822 as shown in Fig. 8C. The tubular crate of Fig.
8D is erected
via a similar operation of folding and gluing steps, although the top end
flaps 876 are not
secured to the front and back panels 14, 18. The cover of Fig. 8C is brought
into registry vcTith
the loaded carton of 8D so that the inner and outer handle panels 824, 826 are
secured to -the
carton as described in other embodiments. The cover end flaps 828a and 828b
are folded as
shown in Fig. 8E with the cover end flaps 828b being secured by adhesive of
other known
means, to the top end flaps 876. In this way, two rectangular covers are
provided whsch
shield the endmost bottles contained within the carton 830 from view as shown
in Fig. 8F.
The cover end flaps 828b also provide an area which enables the cartons 830 of
the eighth
embodiment to be stacked more readily on top of each other.
A ninth embodiment is shown in Figs. 9A, 9B and 9C. In the ninth embodiment,
reinforcement of the handle structure is provided by inner handle panels 996
which are
attached to the blanlc 910, for forming the tubular crate, rather than
attached to the blank 920,
for forming the cover, as in the first embodiment. The inner handle panels 996
are, in this
embodiment, foldably attached to the first and second side wall panels 912,
916 and are
foldably connected to adjacent top end flaps 976. The tubular crate is erected
by a simLlar
series of folding and gluing steps as previously described. However, in this
embodiment the
CA 02563285 2006-10-06
WO 2005/100171 PCT/US2005/012205
-15-
top end flaps 976 can be used to secure the cover formed from the blank 920,
within the
tubular carton, without the need for glue.
The blank 920 comprises a main panel 922 and cover flaps 928a and 928b
foldably attached
to the main panel along fold lines 938a and 938b. To ensure that the cover
flaps 928b do not
obscure the handle apertures 954 when the cover formed from the blank 920 is
inserted into
the tubular crate, the cover flaps 928b are folded downward out of the plane
of main panel
922 and are obscured from view when the carton 930 is fully erected. The cover
flaps 928a
can be folded either upward or downward out of the plane of main panel 922 and
may or rrzay
to not be secured to the tubular crate by use of glue. If the cover flaps 928a
are folded upward
out of the plane of the main panel 922 then the cover formed from the blank
920 may be
loclced within the tubular carton by folding the top end flaps 976 and
adjacent inner handle
panels 996 about fold lines 966 and 968. This action may lock the cover within
the tubular
crate such that the cover flaps 928a are in flat face contacting relationship
between top e=nd
flaps 976 and an adjacent upper portion of the front and back panels 914, 918.
It is envisaged that the features of the various embodiments herein described
could be
combined without departing from the scope of the present invention. For
example, the cover
formed from blank 520 of the fifth embodiment could be sized to fit the
tubular crate forn f.ed
from blank 410 of the fourth embodiment.
In other embodiments of the invention the apertures formed within the top
panel may not be
circular and may also be provided with additional tabs protruding into the
aperture, to aid
retention of the bottle necks or other articles contained within the carton.
It will be recognised that as used herein, directional references such as
"top", "bottom",
"front", "back", "end", "side", "inner", "outer", "upper" and "lower" do not
limit the
respective panels to such orientation, but merely serve to distinguish these
panels from one
another. Any reference to hinged 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 the following, a score line, a frangible line or a fold line
without departing
from the scope of the invention.
