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.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a carton for containing a plurality of similar articles, such as bottles and a means for retaining the bottles within the carton and in particular to a means of accessing the articles. 
         [0002]    Cartons for encasing multiple articles are useful for enabling consumers to obtain and transport a desired quantity of individual articles such as soft drinks or other beverages. Such cartons need to be strong enough to support multiple articles, especially if the articles are bottles. It is also desirable for such cartons to be easy to handle and portable. 
         [0003]    It often desirable for the articles contained within the carton to be displayed and also for the carton to have large areas which can be printed with advertising graphics. It is also often desirable for the articles to be easily accessible and it is also preferable for the articles to be secured in place within the carton, especially if the articles are fragile, for example glass bottles. It is however undesirable for articles to be accessed too easily, for example, before being purchased. 
         [0004]    It is also desirable to have a carton which after the contents of the articles have been consumed can be used to return the empty articles to a recycling point. 
         [0005]    The present invention seeks to provide a means for displaying the articles or a portion of the articles in combination with an access means for removal of the articles where the access means leaves the carton with sufficient integrity for replacement of articles for the purpose of returning to a recycling point. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    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. 
         [0007]    Preferably the plurality of apertures are arranged in rows, each aperture of a row having a 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 frangible connection. 
         [0008]    Additionally a frangible connection between two apertures may intersect a frangible connection between two other apertures. 
         [0009]    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 having a frangible connection to at least two other apertures of each of the other two rows. 
         [0010]    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 reinforced handle structure, the arrangement being such that the or each reinforced handle structure is of multi-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. 
         [0011]    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. 
         [0012]    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. 
         [0013]    Alternatively or additionally a further ply of the reinforced handle structure may be provided by the top closure and hinged to a handle panel. 
         [0014]    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. 
         [0015]    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. 
         [0016]    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 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 article held within the container, each aperture having 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 multi-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. 
         [0017]    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 
         [0018]    Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; 
           [0019]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a first part of a blank for forming a carton according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 1B  illustrates a second part of a blank for forming a carton according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 1C  is a perspective view from the front, side and top of a carton constructed from the blanks of  FIGS. 1A and 1B ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2A  illustrates a first part of a blank for forming a carton according to a second embodiment of the invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2B  illustrates a second part of a blank for forming a carton according to a second embodiment of the invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2C  is a perspective view from the front and side of a carton constructed from the blanks of  FIGS. 2A and 2B ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a first part of a blank for forming a carton according to a third embodiment of the invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3B  illustrates a second part of a blank for forming a carton according to a third embodiment of the invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 3C  is a perspective view from the front and side of a carton constructed from the blanks of  FIGS. 3A and 3B ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 3D  is a top view of the carton of  FIG. 3C , showing the removal of a bottle from the carton; 
           [0029]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a first part of a blank for forming a carton according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 4B  illustrates a second part of a blank for forming a carton according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 5A  illustrates a first part of a blank for forming a carton according to a fifth embodiment of the invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 5B  illustrates a second part of a blank for forming a carton according to a fifth embodiment of the invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 5C  is a perspective view from the front and side of a carton constructed from the blanks of  FIGS. 5A and 5B ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 5D  is a top view of the carton of  FIG. 5C , showing the removal of a bottle from the carton; 
           [0035]      FIG. 6A  illustrates a first part of a blank for forming a carton according to a sixth embodiment of the invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 6B  illustrates a second part of a blank for forming a carton according to a sixth embodiment of the invention; 
           [0037]      FIG. 6C  is a top view of a carton constructed from the blanks of  FIGS. 6A and 6B ; 
           [0038]      FIG. 7A  illustrates a first part of a blank for forming a carton according to a seventh embodiment of the invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 7B  illustrates a second part of a blank for forming a carton according to a seventh embodiment of the invention; 
           [0040]      FIG. 7C  is a perspective view from the front and side of a carton constructed from the blanks of  FIGS. 7A and 7B ; 
           [0041]      FIG. 8A  illustrates a first part of a blank for forming a carton according to an eighth embodiment of the invention; 
           [0042]      FIG. 8B  illustrates a second part of a blank for forming a carton according to an eighth embodiment of the invention; 
           [0043]      FIG. 8C  illustrates a first step in the folding process of the blank shown in  FIG. 8B ; 
           [0044]      FIG. 8D  illustrates a first step in the folding process of the blank shown in  FIG. 8A ; 
           [0045]      FIG. 8E  illustrates a step in the erection of a carton formed from the blanks of  FIGS. 8A and 8B ; 
           [0046]      FIG. 8F  is a perspective view from the front and top of a carton constructed from the blanks of  FIGS. 8A and 8B ; 
           [0047]      FIG. 9A  illustrates a first part of a blank for forming a carton according to a ninth embodiment of the invention; 
           [0048]      FIG. 9B  illustrates a second part of a blank for forming a carton according to a ninth embodiment of the invention; 
           [0049]      FIG. 9C  illustrates a step in the erection of a carton formed from the blanks of  FIGS. 9A and 9B ; 
           [0050]      FIG. 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 
       [0051]      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 &amp; 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 . 
         [0052]    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. 
         [0053]    Turning to  FIG. 1A , the blank  10  comprises a first side wall  12 , a front panel  14 , a second side wall  16  and a back panel  18 , hingedly 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 . 
         [0054]    The blank further 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  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. 
         [0055]    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 . 
         [0056]    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. 
         [0057]    The first stage is to apply glue to the outside edge of glue flap  88  and then fold it 1800 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 of folding and gluing steps, the bottom end flaps  72 ,  74  can be secured to form a bottom end closure means. 
         [0058]    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 . 
         [0059]    A second blank  20  is shown in  FIG. 1B , which can be formed into a cover for the tubular crate formed from the blank  10  of  FIG. 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. 
         [0060]    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  may 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. 
         [0061]    Once the tubular crate has been loaded with six bottles, in a 3×2 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 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 of 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 embodiment of the invention, is reinforced to form a 3 ply handle structure. 
         [0062]    The carton formed from the blanks  10  and  20  is shown in  FIG. 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 mot 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 . 
         [0063]    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 embodiments have features common to the first embodiment herein before described, only differences in subsequent embodiments will be highlighted. 
         [0064]    Shown in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B and  2 C is a second embodiment of the present invention wherein a tubular crate formed from a blank  210  is fitted with a cover formed 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 connected to the front and back panels  14 ,  18  instead of the arrangement of the first embodiment. 
         [0065]    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 3×4 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  of 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. 
         [0066]    A third embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B,  3 C and  3 D. 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  342   a / 342   b ,  344   a / 344   b ,  346   a / 346   b  and  348   a / 348   b . 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 . 
         [0067]    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. 
         [0068]    The construction of the crate from blank  410  is similar to that herein before described. The glue flap  488  is used to secure first side panel  412  to back panel  418  to form a tubular crate. A composite bottom wall is formed by securing the two end flaps  472  to each 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. 
         [0069]    A fifth embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B,  5 C and  5 D. 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 center 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&#39;s hands when the handle apertures  554 , which are struck from the front and back panels  514 ,  518 , axe being used to lift the crate. 
         [0070]    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  556  of the central row to at least two apertures  556  in each of the other two rows, as shown in Big,  5 C. 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 separating the nicks  537  around a bottle, as shown in  FIG. 5D . In this way each bottle can be accessed individually, whilst the structural integrity of the carton is maintained. 
         [0071]    Yet a further embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 6A ,  6 B and  6 C. 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 nicks  637  intersect. In 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. 
         [0072]    A seventh embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 7A ,  7 B and  7 C. 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 . 
         [0073]    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 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  FIG. 7C . The outer handle panels  726  can then be folded and glued to the outside faces of each of the front and back panels  714 ,  718  and the first and second side walls  712 ,  716  of the tubular crate. 
         [0074]    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  828   b . The main panel  922  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 . 
         [0075]    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 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  920  when the blanks  810 ,  820  are erected into a carton  830 . The blank  820  is provided with cower end flaps  828   a  and  828   b  on either side of the main panel  822 . To erect the carton the inner and outer handle panels  824 ,  826  and cover end flaps  828   a  and  828   b  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 mot secured to the front and back panels  14 ,  18 . The cover of  FIG. 8C  is brought into registry with the loaded carton of  8 D so that the inner and outer handle panels  824 ,  826  are secured to the carton as described in other embodiments. The cover end flaps  828   a  and  828   b  are folded as shown in  FIG. 8E  with the cover end flaps  828   b  being secured by adhesive of other known means, to the top end flaps  876 . In this way, two rectangular covers are provided which shield the endmost bottles contained within the carton  830  from view as shown in  FIG. 5F . The cover end flaps  828   b  also provide an area which enables the cartons  830  of the eighth embodiment to be stacked more readily on top of each other. 
         [0076]    A ninth embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 9A ,  9 B and  9 C. In the ninth embodiment, reinforcement of the handle structure is provided by inner handle panels  996  which are attached to the blank  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 similar series of folding and gluing steps as previously described. However, in this embodiment the 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. 
         [0077]    The blank  920  comprises a main panel  922  and cover flaps  928   a  and  928   b  foldably attached to the main panel along fold lines  938   a  and  938   b . To ensure that the cover flaps  928   b  do mot obscure the handle apertures  954  when the cover formed from the blank  920  is inserted into the tubular crate, the cover flaps  928   b  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  928   a  can be folded either upward or downward out of the plane of main panel  922  and may or may not be secured to the tubular crate by use of glue. If the cover flaps  928   a  are folded upward out of the plane of the main panel  922  then the cover formed from the blank  920  may be locked 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  928   a  are in flat face contacting relationship between top end flaps  976  and an adjacent upper portion of the front and back panels  914 ,  918 . 
         [0078]    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 cower formed from blank  520  of the fifth embodiment could be sized to fit the tubular crate formed from blank  410  of the fourth embodiment. 
         [0079]    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. 
         [0080]    It will be recognised that as used herein, directional references such as “top”, “bottorm”, “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.