Abstract: A carton for containing a plurality of articles such as cans, the carton comprises a pair of side walls, a bottom wall, a top wall and end closure panels for at least partially closing the ends of the carton, wherein the top wall is of multi-ply construction and the carton further comprises an access means defined by a series of weakened lines in the top, side and end walls, the access means including at least one initiating means formed in the top wall, each initiating means including a pair of weakened lines which form a displaceable tab and each initiating means being of single-ply construction to facilitate easy opening of the carton access means.

Abstract: A reinforced handle is provided in an end wall closure of a sleeve type carton by forming a handle aperture in a top end flap, and by aligning the handle aperture with corresponding cutouts formed in respective side end flaps, each cutout being reinforced with one or more reinforcing panels that align with at least its weight bearing edge. Each reinforcing panel is hingedly attached to the respective side end flap to be foldable along the hinged connection and secured in a face contacting arrangement, whereby the reinforcing panel overlies the cutout as an overlay panel, or aligns its edge with the weight bearing edge of the cutout. In this manner, the material at the weight bearing edge of the cutout is at least two plies thick. When the carton is fully erected and sealed, the reinforced cutout is in registry with the handle aperture, thereby creating the reinforced handle.

Abstract: The invention provides a substantially child resistant package. A gate panel (110) and a tab panel (130) are secured to an aperture panel (130). At least one aperture (123) is formed on the aperture panel. At least one gate (114) is formed on the gate panel and is aligned with the aperture when the gate panel is in contact with the aperture panel. At least one partially detachable tab (136) is formed on the tab panel and is aligned with the gate when the tab panel is in contact with the gate panel. In an exemplary package, a blister is aligned with and secured to the aperture panel. The gate panel is folded and secured to the aperture panel and blister package. The tab panel is folded and covers at least some portion of the gate panel.

Abstract: Dispensing aids (100, 500, 1300, 2000) are provided to facilitate removing articles (B) from cartons (200, 600, 1500, 2100) having openings (O) that function as article dispensers. The dispensing aids (100, 500, 1300, 2000) engaging at least the articles (B) furthest from the opening (O) with means for engaging. The means for engaging includes an article engaging portion such as a top engaging collar (102), a bottom engaging sled (502), a side engaging crossbar (1310), or a belt (2002). The means for engaging is displaced toward the opening (O) of the carton by a means for displacing. The means for displacing may be a grip (104, 504, 1304, 2004) or strap (906). As the grip, strap, or other means for displacing the article engaging portion is pulled, the article engaging portion is drawn toward the opening (O) as are the articles that are engaged.

Abstract: A blank for forming a carton of the end loading type for containing a plurality of beverage cans, the capacity of the carton can be increased to accommodate the insertion of ice-cubes into the carton for cooling the beverage cans contained therein, the blank for forming the carton, including a series of main panels including at least one top panel, one of the top panels having a tear strip and thereby being separable into two parts, the blank further including end extension panels, wherein upon constructing the blank into the set up carton, separating the top panel, by deploying the tear strip, allows each end extension panel and each of the separated parts of the top panel to be raised above the tops of the beverage cans to increase the capacity of the carton to accommodate the insertion of ice cubes.

Abstract: A carton having a dispensing feature adapted for permitting the removal of articles from within the carton. Top and bottom opposed walls are interconnected by a pair of side walls to form a tubular body. An article dispenser is provided by a removable portion defined by an opening in the carton for exposing articles for removal. The removable portion is at least partially defined by a frangible line extending across each side wall to opposite side edges of the bottom wall. A portion of the frangible line extends at least partially along the adjacent end edge of the bottom wall and then extends to the opposite side edges of the bottom wall. A buttress arrangement for enhancing the stacking strength of the carton is formed from the distal portion of at least one side end flap.

Abstract: An apparatus for sequentially manipulating from a supply point of a hopper carton blanks each having a contacting panel and for transferring the blanks to an in-feed end of a packaging machine. The apparatus comprises carton pick up means for sequentially engaging the contacting panel and for withdrawing from the hopper a blank. The carton pick up means is supported by a holder frame that is connected to a swingable collar structure to move the blank in a first direction transverse to the contacting panel of the blank in the hopper. The holder frame is slidably connected to the collar structure through rods to move the blank in a second direction transverse to the first direction to transfer the blank to the in-feed end for further processing.

Abstract: A package has an article group of at least one row of substantially cylindrical articles and a carton disposed around the article group. The carton includes a plurality of walls including a top wall, a base wall, a pair of opposed side walls connected to side edges of the top wall and side edges of the base wall, and an end wall interconnecting the side walls, and an article dispenser opening formed at the region of intersection of planes of the top wall, the opposed side walls and the end wall. A portion of the article dispenser opening is defined by the end wall terminating along an end wall severance line having all points disposed at elevations at a distance as measured from the plane of the top wall no greater than the diameter of the substantially cylindrical articles that lie in an upper row of the group.

Abstract: An insert suitable for placement within a carton. The insert comprises a support panel capable of supporting an article to be located within the carton, and a pair of leg panels extending convergently downwardly from the opposing side edges of the support panel into abutment at the lower edges of said leg panels. The invention also provides a package wherein a fragile item of merchandise is located within the fully folded insert and placed into a carton, such as a perfume bottle or cosmetic product. The underside of the base of such item of merchandise is conveniently spaced above from the base of the carton to reduce the risks of damage to or breakage of the article.

Abstract: A carton having a dispensing feature adapted for permitting the removal of articles from within the carton. To erect the carton, a plurality of panels are connected together to define an end of the carton. At least one removable portion is provided in the erected carton and is defined by an endless tear line. The endless tear line includes multiple portions defined in the top wall, one side wall, and end flaps extending from the top wall and the one side wall.

Abstract: A tubular carton and blank for forming the carton includes a top, base and a pair of side walls. At least one of the side walls includes a displaceable zone arranged to protrude out of the plane of the one side wall. The displaceable zone includes connected sections each occupying a different plane to a next adjacent section.

Abstract: A carton and blank for forming a carton of the top gripping type for accommodating a plurality of containers. The carton is tubular in structure and has top and base spaced, opposed panels. The base panel has apertures each for receiving a container. The base panel also has a foldable retaining tab hingedly connected thereto for operatively engaging part of the respective container. The carton also has a retaining structure depending from the top panel. The retaining structure comprises an engagement panel with an engaging edge to engage at least one of the containers.

Abstract: A package includes an article group formed of two or more vertically arranged tiers of similarly dimensioned, cylindrical articles disposed on their sides in a side-by-side parallel fashion, and a carton disposed around the group. The carton includes a top wall, opposed side walls, an end wall and an article dispenser. The side walls are disposed alongside the ends of the articles while the end wall is disposed adjacent to the side wall of an endmost article. The dispenser includes a corner portion of the carton formed from and detachably connected to the top, side and end walls to define an opening upon removal of the corner portion. The opening is shaped to define a recess in the end wall to reveal a part of the endmost article in the lowermost tier.

Abstract: A carton and a blank for forming a carton including a tray portion with an open top and a cover connected to the tray portion to close the top of the tray portion. The tray portion has a pair of opposed end walls each having a hand aperture, and the cover has a pair of end flaps disposed internally of the end walls of the tray portion. Another aspect of the invention also covers a package including a carton referred to above and a collapsible carrier retained within the carton.

Abstract: A carton of the wrap-around type has a pair of overlapped base panels. One of the base panels which carries a locking tab overlies a tongue protruding from the end edge of the other base panel. The protruding tongue is formed with a complementary locking aperture engaged by the locking tab to secure the overlapped panels together. On either side of the locking tab, the said one base panel has a hinged tab protruding from the end edge of that panel. Each of the hinged tabs underlies the end edge of the other base panel, one on each side of the protruding tongue. This ‘over and under’ arrangement presents less of an externally overlapped edge than is the case of a simple complete overlap and thus mitigates against the base panels being skewed or prized apart leading to tearing and/or dislodgement of the locking means.

Abstract: The wrap-around carrier of the invention includes opposed side panels hingedly connected to a top panel and to a pair of bottom flaps. An end retention structure is connected to at least one of the side panels and to the adjacent one of the bottom flaps. The end retention structure includes an anchor panel hingedly connected to an end edge of the one side panel and disposed in a face-contacting relationship with the inside surface of the one side panel, a gusset panel hingedly connected to the anchor panel and extending toward the adjacent end opening of the carrier, and an end panel hingedly connected to the gusset panel and disposed to engage the adjacent end article packaged in the carrier to prevent it from dislodging form the carrier. The end retention structure further includes a relief panel that hingedly interconnects the end panel with the one bottom flap. The relief panel is disposed in the plane of the one bottom flap when the carrier is in an erected condition.

Abstract: An article carrier and a blank for forming an article carrier, for holding one or more articles, for example foodstuff or the like, including a base panel, a pair of outwardly sloping side wall panels hingedly connected to the base panel and one or more inwardly sloping end wall panels hingedly connected to the base panel.

Abstract: A carton includes a top wall, a pair of opposed side walls connected to the side edges of the top wall, an end wall interconnecting the side walls and an article dispenser for dispensing articles from the carton. The dispenser includes a detachable portion of the carton formed at least from the side and end walls. The detachable portion is connected at least to the side and end walls by a detachable connection to be detached from the carton to define an opening for exposing at least an endmost article for removal. At least one of the side walls comprises a tear initiation arrangement for facilitating a user's cross-tearing motion for detaching the detachable portion along the detachable connection. The detachable connection of the detachable portion comprises a frangible line of joinder for defining an edge of the opening. The frangible line extends from the tear initiation arrangement into at least the end wall.

Abstract: A wraparound carton comprises wall panels hingedly interconnected in series, wherein the wall panels include a pair of base wall panels at the opposite end of the blank. One of the base wall panels is connected to an adjacent wall panel through a beam forming portion that includes a bracket panel hingedly connected to the one base wall panel and a pair of support panels both connected to the bracket panel and extending to the adjacent wall panel.