Package, carton and blanks for forming the same

Abstract

A carton for articles includes a top wall, a pair of opposed end walls and a strap handle by which the carton can be carried. The strap handle is formed from part of the top wall and is connected to the end walls. The strap handle is detachable from the top wall such that detachment of the strap handle splits a remaining part of the top wall into two portions. The carton further comprises at least one bracing panel secured to the two portions of the top wall and is structured and arranged to provide a connection between the two portions.

1 . A carton for articles, comprising a top wall, a pair of opposed end walls and a strap handle by which the carton can be carried, the strap handle being formed from part of the top wall and being connected to the end walls, the strap handle being detachable from the top wall such that detachment of the strap handle splits a remaining part of the top wall into two portions, and the carton further comprises at least one bracing panel secured to the two portions of the top wall and being structured and arranged to provide a connection between the two portions. 
     
     
         2 . A carton according to  claim 1  wherein the strap handle is defined by one of a pair of frangible lines and a pair of cut-lines in the top wall. 
     
     
         3 . A carton according to  claim 1  wherein the strap handle is defined by a combination of a pair of frangible lines and a pair of cut-lines in the top wall. 
     
     
         4 . A carton according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one bracing panel is secured to respective inside faces of the two portions and is free of attachment to the strap handle. 
     
     
         5 . A carton according to  claim 4  wherein the at least one bracing panel is secured by adhesive to the inside faces of the two portions along the opposed side edges of the top wall such that the at least one bracing panel is only attached to the two portions of the top wall to connect the two portions. 
     
     
         6 . A carton according to  claim 1  wherein each of the end walls comprises a relief mechanism to assist free movement of the strap handle out of the plane of the end wall. 
     
     
         7 . A carton according to  claim 6  wherein the relief mechanism comprises at least one of a terminating frangible line, a terminating severance line and a notched cut-out formed in a respective one of the end walls. 
     
     
         8 . A carton according to  claim 6  wherein the strap handle is defined by a pair of severance lines in the top wall, wherein the each end wall is a composite structure comprising major and minor end flaps, wherein the relief mechanism of the each end wall comprises a pair of terminating severance lines defined in the minor end flaps of each end wall as respective extensions of the severance lines in the top wall, and wherein the relief mechanism of the each end wall further comprises a further pair of severance lines formed in the major end flaps of the each end wall, the severance lines in the major end flaps of the each end wall are disposed in alignment with the terminating severance lines in the minor end flaps of the each end wall. 
     
     
         9 . A carton according to  claim 6  wherein the strap handle is defined by a pair of severance lines in the top wall, wherein the end wall is a composite structure comprising major and minor end flaps, wherein the relief mechanism of the each end wall comprises a pair of terminating severance lines defined in the minor end flaps of the each end wall as respective extensions of the severance lines in the top wall, and wherein the relief mechanism of the each end wall further comprises a pair of notched cut-outs of the major end flaps of the each end wall, the notched cut-outs of the each end wall are disposed adjacent to the terminating severance lines in the minor end flaps of the each end wall. 
     
     
         10 . A carton according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one bracing panel comprises two or more bracing panels each secured to the two portions of the top wall. 
     
     
         11 . A carton according to  claim 1  wherein the strap handle comprises two or more strap plies of sheet material secured together. 
     
     
         12 . A pair of blanks for forming a carton having a strap handle, one of the blanks comprising a series of main panels for forming a body of the carton including one or more top panels for forming a top wall of the carton, the one or more top panels defining one or more strap plies therein for forming the strap handle, the one or more strap plies being detachable from the one or more top panels such that detachment of the one or more strap plies splits a remaining part of the top wall into two portions when the blanks are erected into the carton, and the other of the blanks comprises a bracing panel securable to the one or more top panels to provide a connection between the two portions. 
     
     
         13 . A pair of blanks according to  claim 12  wherein the one or more top panels comprise two top panels, and the one or more strap piles comprise two strap piles formed respectively from respective parts of the two top panels, each of the two strap piles being defined by at least one of a frangible line and a cut-lines in the top wall.