Carton and carton blank

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a package, a carton (90) for packaging one or more articles and a blank (10) for forming the carton (90). A plurality of panels (12, 14, 16, 18) define an interior of the carton (90) and include a first primary panel (16); a second primary panel (14) hinged to the first primary panel (16). A first end panel (16A/26A) is hinged to the first primary panel (16). A second end panel (24A) is hinged to the second primary panel (14). A gusset panel (34A) extends between and is hinged to the first end panel (16A/26A) and the second end panel (24A). An opening A3 defines a gusset edge (50A) provided by the gusset panel (34A) and a closure edge (50B) provided by the first end panel (16A/26A). A cut (52) extends from the opening (A3) into the first end panel (16A/26A).

1 . A blank for forming a carton, the blank comprising a plurality of panels for defining an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising:
 a first primary panel;   a second primary panel hingedly connected to the first primary panel;   a first end panel hingedly connected to the first primary panel;   a second end panel hingedly connected to the second primary panel; and   a gusset panel extending between the first and second end panels and hingedly connected to each of the first and second end panels, wherein an opening is defined by a periphery which comprises a gusset edge provided by the gusset panel and a first closure edge provided by the first end panel, and wherein a cut extends from the opening into the first end panel.   
     
     
         2 . A blank according to  claim 1  wherein the cut extends from an intersection between the gusset edge and the first closure edge. 
     
     
         3 . A blank according to  claim 2  wherein the cut comprises an extension of the gusset edge. 
     
     
         4 . A blank according to  claim 1  wherein the gusset panel is hingedly connected to the first end panel along a weakened region including at least one first fold line, wherein the second primary panel is hingedly connected to the first primary panel along at least one second fold line and wherein the weakened region is greater in width than the at least one second fold line. 
     
     
         5 . A carton for packaging one or more articles, the carton comprising a plurality of panels defining an interior chamber, the plurality of panels comprising:
 a first primary panel;   a second primary panel hingedly connected to the first primary panel;   a first end panel hingedly connected to the first primary panel;   a second end panel hingedly connected to the second primary panel; and   a gusset panel extending between the first and second end panels and hingedly connected to both the first and second end panels, wherein an opening is defined by a periphery which comprises a gusset edge provided by the gusset panel and a first closure edge provided by the first end panel, and wherein a cut extends from the opening into the first end panel.   
     
     
         6 . A blank for forming a carton, the blank comprising a plurality of panels for defining an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising:
 a first primary panel;   a second primary panel hingedly connected to the first primary panel;   a first end panel hingedly connected to the first primary panel;   a second end panel hingedly connected to the second primary panel; and   a gusset panel hingedly connected to the first end panel along a weakened region including at least one first fold line, wherein the second primary panel is connected to the first primary panel along at least one second fold line, wherein the weakened region is greater in width than the at least one second fold line.   
     
     
         7 . A blank according to  claim 6  wherein the at least one first fold line is longitudinally aligned with the at least one second fold line. 
     
     
         8 . A blank according to  claim 6  wherein the weakened region comprises a plurality of fold lines extending side by side with one another. 
     
     
         9 . A blank according to  claim 6  wherein an opening is defined by a periphery which comprises:
 a gusset edge provided by the gusset panel; and 
 a first closure edge provided by the first end panel and wherein the at least one first fold line extends from the opening toward an outer free edge of the gusset panel. 
 
     
     
         10 . A carton for packaging one or more articles, the carton comprising a plurality of panels defining an interior chamber, the plurality of panels comprising:
 a first primary panel;   a second primary panel hingedly connected to the first primary panel;   a first end panel hingedly connected to the first primary panel;   a second end panel hingedly connected to the second primary panel; and   a gusset panel hingedly connected to the first end panel along a weakened region including at least one first fold line, wherein the second primary panel is connected to the first primary panel along at least one second fold line, wherein the weakened region is greater in width than the at least one second fold line.   
     
     
         11 . A carton for packaging one or more articles, the carton comprising a plurality of panels defining an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising:
 a first primary panel;   a second primary panel hingedly connected to the first primary panel;   a first end panel hingedly connected to the first primary panel;   a second end panel hingedly connected to the second primary panel and disposed at least in part in an overlapping arrangement with the first end panel; and   a gusset panel disposed in face contacting arrangement with the first and second end panels, the gusset panel being hingedly connected to the first end panel by a weakened region including at least one first fold line extending in a first direction, wherein an opening is defined by a periphery which comprises:   a gusset edge provided by the gusset panel; and   a first closure edge provided by the first end panel, wherein a separation element extends from the opening in a second direction into the first end panel and wherein the weakened region expands in the second direction along at least part of the separation element.   
     
     
         12 . A carton according to  claim 11  wherein the separation element comprises one of the features selected from the following group: a cut, a slot, a notch, and a recess. 
     
     
         13 . A blank for forming a carton, the blank comprising a plurality of panels for defining an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising:
 a first primary panel;   a second primary panel hingedly connected to the first primary panel;   a first end panel hingedly connected to the first primary panel;   a second end panel hingedly connected to the second primary panel arranged to be disposed at least in part in an overlapping arrangement with the first end panel; and   a gusset panel foldable to be disposed in face contacting arrangement with the first and second end panels, the gusset panel being hingedly connected to the first end panel by a weakened region including at least one first fold line extending in a first direction, wherein an opening is defined by a periphery which comprises:   a gusset edge provided by the gusset panel; and   a first closure edge provided by the first end panel, wherein a separation element extends from the opening in a second direction into the first end panel and wherein the weakened region expands in the second direction along at least part of the separation element.