Carton and Carton Blank With Frangible Connections

Abstract

A carton of the type includes an open top container ( 10 ) and a separate top closure ( 20 ). The top closure ( 20 ) has a plurality of apertures ( 56 ) each to receive the neck of a bottle held within the container. Each aperture ( 56 ) has a frangible connection ( 37 ) to at least one other aperture ( 56 ) to facilitate the removal of the bottles such that the removal of the bottles breaks the frangible connection. The frangible connection ( 37 ) is arranged such that the structural integrity of the carton is substantially maintained upon removal of the bottles.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . A two part carton comprising an open top container and a separate top closure, wherein said open top container comprises a pair of opposed side walls and a pair of opposed end walls, at least one of said side and end walls comprises a top flap hingedly connected to an uppermost edge of said at least one wall, said top flap is folded downwardly with respect to said uppermost edge to extend into said open top container, said top closure engages with said engaging tab of said top closure such that said top closure is locked in a recessed position below said uppermost edge of said open top container. 
   
   
       18 . The carton according to  claim 17  wherein said engaging tab extends upwardly from said top panel and engages between said top flap and said at least one wall. 
   
   
       19 . The carton according to  claim 17  wherein said engaging tab extends upwardly from said top panel and engages an outside surface of said top flap. 
   
   
       20 . A top closure for closing an open top of a container to form a carton, said top closure being formed of foldable sheet material and comprising an article-retaining arrangement including a plurality of apertures each for receiving a portion of an article held within said container, said each aperture having a frangible connection extending to at least another one of said apertures to facilitate removal of said articles from the carton such that in use removal of said articles breaks said frangible connection, said frangible connection being arranged such that structural integrity of the carton is substantially maintained upon breaking of said frangible connection. 
   
   
       21 . The top closure according to  claim 20  wherein said plurality of apertures are arranged in rows, each aperture of a row having a frangible connection extending to at least one of said apertures of the same row. 
   
   
       22 . The top closure according to  claim 20  wherein said plurality of apertures are arranged in rows, each aperture of a row having a frangible connection extending to at least one of said apertures of a different row. 
   
   
       23 . The top closure according to  claim 21  wherein each aperture at and end of a row is connected to an edge of said top closure by a further frangible connection. 
   
   
       24 . The top closure according to  claim 22  wherein each aperture at an end of a row is connected to an edge of said top closure by a further frangible connection. 
   
   
       25 . The top closure according to  claim 20  wherein a frangible connection between two of said apertures intersects a frangible connection between two other ones of said apertures. 
   
   
       26 . The top closure according to  claim 20  wherein said frangible connection is an arrangement such that upon breaking of said frangible connection, no material is removed from said top closure. 
   
   
       27 . A two part blank for forming a carton, comprising a first part for forming an open top container and a second part for forming a top closure having a plurality of apertures each for receiving a portion of an article held within the carton, each aperture having a frangible connection extending to at least another one of said apertures to facilitate removal of said articles from the carton such that removal of said articles breaks said frangible connection, said frangible connection being arranged such that structural integrity of the carton is substantially maintained upon breaking of said frangible connection. 
   
   
       28 . A two-part blank for forming a carton, comprising a first part for forming an open top container and a second part for forming a top closure, said open top container comprises a pair of opposed side walls and a pair of opposed end walls, at least one of said side and end walls comprising a top flap hingedly connected an uppermost edge of said at least one wall, said top flap is folded downwardly with respect to said uppermost edge to extend into said container when the carton is erected, said top closure including a top panel and engaging tab, and said top flap engages with said engaging tab, when the carton is erected, such that said top closure is locked in recessed position below said uppermost edge of said at least one wall.