Abstract:
A carton for packaging articles arranged in rows, includes a top panel ( 16/66 ), side panels ( 12/14, 18/20 ), a bottom panel ( 10/22 ) and an integral tear-open access feature ( 16/62/66 ) provided by the top panel and one of the side panels to gain access to the contents. The tear-open access feature is hingedly connected to the carton. When the carton is placed on the other side panel ( 18/20 ), the tear open access feature is foldable to be disposed in part in contact with the other side panel and in part spaced from the other side panel to provides a platform structure for enhancing the stability of the carton.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a carton for containing articles, and more particularly, although not exclusively, to cartons that are for accommodating bottles. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Packages for packaging multiple articles that provide an opening feature are well known, such as that in EP 1360116, which discloses a carton where access can be gained to the articles within it. It is further known, from U.S. Pat. No. 6,345,759, to provide tapered cartons for containing articles, particularly, although not exclusively, when the articles themselves are tapered. It is desirable to provide a carton which has an access feature which allows the articles to be accessed whilst also displaying the contents of the carton. This allows the identity and remaining number of articles to be determined. It is also desirable to prevent the unintentional egress of articles from the carton. A key factor in mitigating such unintentional egress is that of providing as high a degree of stability in the carton as possible. Such stability is, however, often compromised by the shape of the carton. As an example, a gable top carton has an upper portion which is tapered. If such a carton was to be laid upon its side, in order to dispense its contents, it would possess a lowermost edge about which the entire carton may pivot in response to downward force upon one end and this action could cause the contents to fall out of the carton. 
         [0003]    The present invention seeks to overcome, or at least mitigate, such issues of preventing unintentional egress of articles from a carton. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0004]    A first aspect of the present invention provides a carton for packaging articles arranged in rows which carton comprises a top panel, side panels, a bottom panel and an integral tear-open access means provided by said top panel and one of said side panels to gain access to said article, said integral tear-open access means being permanently hingedly connected to said carton about a first fold line, and wherein when said carton is orientated upon a surface such that a side panels is lowermost, and wherein said integral tear open access means being foldable about said first fold line to contact said side panel in such a manner that said tear open access means provides a part of a platform structure which enhances the stability of the carton. 
         [0005]    Preferably, the part of the platform structure is disposed internally of said carton and provides a support for one end of one or more of said articles which otherwise are resting on the lowermost side panel. 
         [0006]    Preferably, the part of the platform structure together with facing parts of the lowermost side panel forms the platform structure that is generally uniform. 
         [0007]    Preferably, said articles are supported upon an edge created by folding the access means about a second fold line which second fold line is defined within the tear open access means. 
         [0008]    Preferably, the terminal edge of the tear open access means, opposed said first fold line, is positioned between the remaining contents of the carton and the lowermost side panel. 
         [0009]    Preferably, the weight of the said one end of one or more of said articles deforms said side panel. 
         [0010]    Preferably, a web arrangement of gusset panels between adjacent panels of said carton allows at least a part of said side panel that is lowermost to deform in such a manner that a substantial part of said side panel comes into face contacting relationship with said surface. 
         [0011]    Preferably, said web arrangement comprises first and second gusset panels hingedly connected to one another about one common edge, wherein an edge of said first gusset panel opposed from said common edge is hingedly connected to a first panel of the carton, and wherein an edge of said second gusset panel opposed from said common edge is hingedly connected to a second panel of the carton, and wherein said first and second panels of the carton are adjacent to one another. 
         [0012]    As a further option to this first aspect, said part of the platform structure is positioned externally of the carton and serves to space some portion of the lowermost side panel from some portion of said surface. 
         [0013]    Preferably, a terminal edge of the access means, opposed said first fold line, engages with the lowermost side panel of the carton. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the lowermost side panel of the carton comprises one or more apertures with which some portion of said terminal edge of said access means is adapted to engage. 
         [0015]    Preferably, a terminal edge of said access means incorporates one or more finger tabs. 
         [0016]    Preferably, said finger tabs are arranged to facilitate separation of the access means from said side panels and said top panel of said carton. 
         [0017]    A second aspect of the present invention providing carton for packaging articles arranged in rows which carton comprises a top panel, side panels, a bottom panel and an integral tear-open access means provided by said top panel and one of said side panels to gain access to the said articles, said tear-open access means being permanently hingedly connected about a first fold line, and wherein when said carton is orientated upon a surface such that one of said side panels is lowermost, said access means being hingedly connected about said first and an adjacent second fold line to form a part of the platform structure generally spaced from the said one of said side panels and disposed internally or externally of the carton, which platform structure enhances the stability of the carton. 
         [0018]    Preferably, said part of the platform structure is disposed internally of said carton and provides a support for one end of one or more of said articles which otherwise are resting on said the lowermost side panel. 
         [0019]    Preferably, said part of the platform structure, together with facing parts of the lowermost side panel, forms the platform structure that is generally uniform. 
         [0020]    A third aspect of the present invention providing a tear open access feature for use in a carton wherein said access feature is struck from panels of said carton and defined within said panels between at least one frangible line and a first fold line, said frangible line being breakable to allow a user to gain access to articles contained within said carton, said access feature being hingedly connected to said carton by said first fold line, said access feature comprising a second fold line such that said access means can be folded about said second fold line in order to place a portion of the access feature between said articles and a panel of said carton, thereby providing support for the carton contents. 
         [0021]    Preferably, said second fold line is parallel to said first fold line. 
         [0022]    Preferably, said access feature comprises a finger tab to facilitate breaking said frangible line. 
         [0023]    A fourth aspect of the present invention providing a blank for forming a carton comprising the access feature described above. 
         [0024]    A fifth aspect of the present invention providing a blank for forming a carton comprising a linear series of panels for forming a top, opposed side and bottom panels of a set up carton, wherein the blank further comprises an integral tear-open access means provided by said top panel and one of said side panels of the set up carton to gain access articles contained within the set up carton, said tear-open access means being permanently hingedly connected to said set up carton about a first fold line, and wherein when said set up carton is orientated upon a surface such that a side panel is lowermost, and wherein said tear open access means is foldable about said first fold line to contact the lowermost side panel in such a manner that said tear open access means provides a part of the platform structure which enhances the stability of the carton. 
         [0025]    Preferably, the blank further comprises a web arrangement of gusset panels, wherein said web arrangement permits deformation of said set up carton. 
         [0026]    Preferably, said web arrangement comprises first and second gusset panels hingedly connected to one another about one common edge, wherein an edge of said first gusset panel opposed from said common edge is hingedly connected to a first panel of the set up carton, and wherein an edge of said second gusset panel opposed from said common edge is hingedly connected to a second panel of said set up carton, and wherein said first and second panels of said set up carton are adjacent one another. 
         [0027]    A sixth aspect of the present invention providing a carton substantially as described herein before with reference to the accompanying figures. 
         [0028]    A seventh aspect of the present invention providing a blank substantially as described herein before with reference to the accompanying figures. 
         [0029]    An eighth aspect of the present invention providing an access means substantially as described herein before with reference to the accompanying figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0030]    Two exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of reference only to the accompanying drawings: 
           [0031]      FIG. 1  illustrates a plan view of a blank from which a carton can be assembled according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, 
           [0032]      FIG. 2  illustrates perspective view of a carton constructed from the blank of  FIG. 1  according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0033]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the carton of  FIG. 2  wherein an access feature has been opened to gain access to the carton contents, 
           [0034]      FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of the carton of  FIG. 2  when a portion of the access feature has been folded into contact with the carton contents, 
           [0035]      FIG. 5  illustrates a view of the carton according to  FIG. 4  wherein the carton has been orientated upon a side panel, 
           [0036]      FIG. 6  illustrates a cross sectional view of the carton access feature of  FIG. 3  when in operation. 
           [0037]      FIG. 7  illustrated a plan view of a blank from which a carton can be assembled according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention, 
           [0038]      FIG. 8  illustrates perspective view of a carton constructed from the blank of  FIG. 7  according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, 
           [0039]      FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of the carton of  FIG. 8  wherein an access feature has been opened to gain access to the carton contents, 
           [0040]      FIG. 10  illustrates a perspective view of the carton of  FIG. 8  when a portion of the access feature has been folded into contact with the carton contents, 
           [0041]      FIG. 11  illustrates a view of the carton according to  FIG. 10  wherein the carton has been orientated upon a side panel, 
           [0042]      FIG. 12  illustrates a cross sectional view of the carton access feature of  FIG. 9  when in operation. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0043]      FIG. 1  illustrates a plan view of a carton blank  6  according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         [0044]    The blank  6  comprises a linear series of main panels  10 ,  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  and  22  interconnected by fold lines  11 ,  13 ,  15 ,  17 ,  19 ,  21  respectively. Panels  10  and  22  at each end of the linear series comprise apertures  54  suitable for being engaged by a packaging machine for bringing panels  10  and  22  into at least partial overlapping relationship during construction of the carton. Panel  10  comprises a first part  58  of a complementary locking mechanism and panel  22  comprises a second part  56  of the complementary locking mechanism. Panels  10  and  22  may be secured to one another by means of the complementary locking mechanism  56 ,  58  to form a composite base of a setup carton  8 , illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0045]    Panels  12 ,  14 ,  18 ,  20  form side panels, where panels  12  and  20  form lower side panels and panels  14  and  18  form upper side panels being disposed at an angle inwardly, towards each other, in a setup carton  8  as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0046]    Top panel  16  is disposed between upper side panel  14  and upper side panel  18  which are each hingedly connected to the top panel  16  on opposed sides along fold lines  15  and  17  respectively. Furthermore, top panel  16  is hingedly connected along either end to top end panels  26  and  32 , along frangible lines  27  and  37  respectively. Defined within top panel  16 , is a region  66  which forms an integral part of the access means as illustrated in  FIG. 3  and described in further detail below. 
         [0047]    Lower end flaps  24 ,  30  are hingedly connected along fold lines  23  and  41  respectively to opposed ends of lower side panel  12 . Similarly lower end flaps  28 ,  34  are hingedly connected along fold lines  31  and  33  respectively to lower side panel  20 . Web structures  35   a / 36   a ,  35   b / 36   b  hinge the lower end flaps  24 ,  28 ,  30 ,  34  to composite base panel  10 ,  22  formed from securing panel  10  to panel  22 . Each web structure  35   a / 36   a ,  35   a / 35   b  is substantially the same and will be described by reference to only one of them. 
         [0048]    Web panel  36   a  is hingedly connected to the base panel  22  and also hingedly connected to lower end flap  28 . A relief panel  35   a  is struck from base panel  22 . Relief panel  35   a  is hingedly connected to web panel  36   a  and hingedly connected to base panel  22  along a fold line  74   a . Fold line  74   a  extends into base panel  22  from a first end disposed at a vertex shared by base panel  22 , lower side panel  20  and lower end flap  28 . A cut line  76   a  extends from the other end of fold line  74   a  to a free edge of the base panel  22  coincident with the point at which web panel  36   a  hinges to the base panel  22 . This cut line  76   a  allows the relief panel to fold out of the plane of base panel  22  in response to folding of lower end flap  28  and lower side panel  20  as the carton  8  is being set up. 
         [0049]    Upper end flaps  38   a  and  38   b  are hingedly connected to opposing ends of upper side panels  18 . Similarly a second set of upper end flaps  38   a  and  38   b  are hingedly connected to oppose ends of upper side panel  14 . The upper end flaps  38   a ,  38   b  are of substantially the same construction and will be described by reference to only one example. 
         [0050]    Upper end flap  38   a  is hingedly connected to upper side panel  18  along fold line  29  and to lower end flap  28  along a portion of the free edge adjacent the fold line  29 . The hinged portion of the free edge being disposed substantially at the free edge opposed to fold line  29 . 
         [0051]    Upper end flap  38   a  is hingedly connected via web arrangement  40   a / 42   a ,  40   b / 42   b  to top end flap  26 . The web arrangement  40   a / 42   a ,  40   b / 42   b  comprises first gusset panel  40   a  which is hingedly connected by fold line  82   a  to a portion of the free edge of upper end flap  38   a  adjacent the top end flap  26 . First gusset panel  40   a  is hingedly connected to a second gusset panel  42   a  along fold line  80   a ; second gusset panel  42   a  is hingedly connected to a portion of top end flap  26  along fold line  78   a.    
         [0052]    Top panel  16  comprises a fold line  64  extending between the frangible lines  27 . 
         [0053]    Upper side panel  14  comprises a frangible line  60  which originates at the vertex shared by top end flap  32 , top panel  16 , upper end flap  38   b  and upper side panel  14 . The frangible line  60  terminates at the vertex shared by top end flap  26 , upper end flap  38   a , top panel  16  and upper side panel  14 . 
         [0054]    The frangible line  60  extends into upper side panel  14  in a generally v-shaped manner. A portion of the frangible line  60  defines a finger engaging tab  62  in the upper side panel  14 . Frangible line  60  forms a continuous frangible line with frangible lines  27  and  37 . The finger engaging tab  62  can be engaged by a user to break the frangible lines  60 ,  27 ,  37 . An access means is defined between frangible lines  60 ,  27 ,  37  and fold line  17  that allows a user to gain access to the articles A contained within the set up carton  8  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0055]    Turning to the construction of a carton  8  of  FIG. 2 , from the blank  6  of  FIG. 1 . The blank is folded about a group of articles A. In the exemplary embodiment shown the group of articles consists of a group of 8 bottles arranged in two rows of four; however it is envisaged that other types of articles of potentially different number and configuration could be contained within a carton of the present invention. 
         [0056]    The top panel  16  is brought down over the group of articles A and upper side panels  14 ,  18  are folded about the upper portions of the group of articles A. Lower side panels  12 ,  20  are then folded around the lower portions of the group of articles A. 
         [0057]    The composite base of the carton  8  is formed by folding panels  10  and  22  about fold lines  11  and  21  respectively. The panels  10 / 22  are locked together by engaging the first part  56  of the complementary locking means with the second part  58  of the complementary locking means. 
         [0058]    Upper and lower end flaps  38   a ,  38   b ,  24 ,  28 ,  30  and  34  are then folded about their respective fold lines  23 ,  25 ,  29 ,  31 ,  33 ,  35 ,  39  and  41  to enclose the ends of the articles A. Each of the upper end flaps  38   a ,  38   b  are linked to a respective one of the lower end flaps  24 ,  28 ,  30  and  34  such that folding any upper end flap  38   a ,  38   b  will result in substantially folding one of the lower end flaps  24 ,  28 ,  30 ,  34 . Similarly, folding any one of the lower end flaps  24 ,  28 ,  30 ,  34  will result in substantially folding a respective one of the upper end flaps  38   a ,  38   b . The upper end flaps  38   a ,  38   b  are connected to the top end flaps  26 ,  32  which top end flaps are then folded about fold lines  27  and  37 , over the upper end flaps  38   a ,  38   b . The connection between the upper end flaps and the top end flaps  26 ,  32  comprises sets of pairs of gusset panels  40   a ,  42   a , which gusset panels are discussed in greater detail below. 
         [0059]    Turning now to  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6 , the access means is illustrated as having been severed from its connection with upper side wall  14  and with top end flaps  26 ,  32 . The access means is thus free to hinge about fold line  17  that connects the access means to an edge of upper side wall  18 . 
         [0060]      FIG. 6  is a cross section of  FIG. 5  along the line ‘X-X’ and shows the way in which the access means is folded about fold line  64  such that the end of the access means, furthest from fold line  17 , may be inserted between the articles and the upper side panel  18 . Spacer panel  66  is defined between fold lines  64  and  17 . The upper edge of the spacer panel engages with the underside of one or more articles A such that the edge of upper side panel  18  corresponding to fold line  17  is displaced away from the articles A. Thus the upper side panel  18  is caused to hinge about fold line  19  such that a plane containing the upper side panel  18  becomes substantially parallel to a plane containing the lower side panel  20 . The spacer panel  66  therefore forms a brace between the surface upon which the carton is disposed and the underside of portions of one or more of the articles A. 
         [0061]    The gusset panels  40   a ,  42   a ,  40   b ,  42   b  allow the upper side panel  18  to be folded into the plane of the lower side panel  20 . The web arrangement of gusset panels partially unfolds as the upper side wall hinges about fold line  19 . Thus upper side panel  18  remains connected to the top end wall panels  26 ,  32  via the web arrangement between the top end panel  26 ,  32  and the respective upper end flap  38   a ,  38   b . The partial unfolding of the web arrangement of gusset panel allows the carton to be distorted from an original configuration, in which the upper side panel  18  tapers inwardly of the carton toward the top panel  16 , into a distorted configuration in which the upper side panel is substantially in the plane of the lower side panel  20 . Should the carton be disposed upon the lower side panel  20 , this distortion effectively increases the dimensions of the lowermost surface of the carton and thus serves to increase its stability. 
         [0062]      FIG. 5  illustrates the way in which the hinging of the upper side panel  18  about fold line  19  results in distortion of the carton. The web arrangement of gusset panels  40   a ,  42   a ,  40   b ,  42   b , permits the distortion to take place without causing damage to the carton  8 . This is achieved by the web arrangement of gusset panels  40   a ,  42   a ,  40   b  and  42   b  hinging with one another and with the respective top end flaps  26 ,  32  and upper side flaps  38   a ,  38   b  such that an aperture can be created between the adjacent edges of the top end panels  26 ,  32  and the upper side flaps  38   a ,  38   b . This aperture provides sufficient spacing for the upper side panel  18  to be hinged substantially into the plane of the lower side panel, as described above. 
         [0063]    The spacing of the edge the upper side panel  18 , corresponding with fold line  17 , away from the articles A, causes the upper side panel  18  to become substantially coplanar with the lower side panel  20 . At this point, the carton may be disposed in an orientation better suited to dispensing the articles A, such that the upper side panel  18  and the lower side panel  20  are lowermost and the articles are orientated in two tiers on top of upper side panel  18  and lower side panel  20 . In the first preferred embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the articles A are in rolling contact with the lower side panel  20  and with an uppermost edge, corresponding to hinge line  64 , of spacer panel  66 . 
         [0064]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the spacer panel  66  prevents the carton  8  from pivoting about the edge corresponding with fold line  19 . This provides significant benefit to the user in that it thus not possible accidentally to cause such pivoting and thus for the articles A in either tier to unintentionally egress from the carton  8 . It can also be seen from  FIG. 6  how the access means, when folded between the articles A and the upper side panel  18 , forms a tubular structure of substantially triangular cross section and thus offering a high level of rigidity and robustness. 
         [0065]    Turning now to  FIGS. 7 to 11 , illustrated within which is a second embodiment of the present invention, differing from the first only in a few elements. Those elements of the second preferred embodiment that correspond with like elements of the first embodiment have been given the same numbering and prefixed with the number ‘1’ for clarity. In the majority of respects, the details of composition and method of construction of the second preferred embodiment are identical to those of the first embodiment described above, and therefore only those areas that differ will be described below. 
         [0066]    Contrasting  FIG. 7  with  FIG. 1  illustrates that the most fundamental difference between the two embodiments is that the access means of the second embodiment comprises a far greater portion of the upper side panel  114  and goes on to extend into the lower side panel  112 , where it terminates in two finger tabs  162 . The access means will be described in greater detail below. 
         [0067]    Conversely, the access means of the second preferred embodiment comprises a smaller portion of the top panel  116  than the first. Only a portion of the fold lines  127  and  137 , connecting the top end panels  126  and  132  with the top panel  116 , are frangible, the remainder being a non-frangible fold line. The frangible portion of each of fold line  127  and  137  commences at the intersection of frangible line  160  with the fold line  127 ,  137 , and continues until the intersection of fold line  164  with the fold line  127 ,  137 . 
         [0068]    A further difference between the first and second preferred embodiments is that the web arrangement gusset the top end panels  126 ,  132  with the upper end flaps  138   a ,  138   b , consists of only one gusset panel  140   a ,  140   b  rather than the two gusset panels used in the first preferred embodiment. This is because the second embodiment does not require distortion of the carton in order to increase the stability of the carton when disposed upon its lower side panel. 
         [0069]    Turning to the access means of the second preferred embodiment, the access means is defined between frangible line  160 , the frangible portions of fold line  127 ,  137  and fold line  164 . The frangible line  160  commences in the top panel  116  where it intersects with the fold lines  127 ,  137  between fold line  164  and fold line  115 . The frangible line  160  diverges away from fold line  127 ,  137  across fold line  115 , continuing through upper side panel  114  and across fold line  113  before converging to two adjacent finger tabs  162  in lower side panel  112 .  FIG. 7  also shows the position of spacer panel  166  as defined between fold line  115  and fold line  164  in the top panel  116 . 
         [0070]    Turning to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the set up carton  18  is illustrated before and after the access means has been severed from the top panel  116 , upper side panel  114  and lower side panel  112 . Unlike the first preferred embodiment, the top panel  116  is left partially intact after the access panel has been freed to hinge about fold line  164 , the integrity of the top panel is maintained by remaining portions of top panel  116  at the corners where the top end panels  126 ,  132 , the upper side panel  114  and the top panel  116  meet. 
         [0071]      FIGS. 10 ,  11  and  12  illustrate the set up carton of  FIG. 9  wherein the access means has been folded about fold line  164  such that the spacer panel  166  is in substantially face contacting relationship with the remaining portion of top panel  116 . The spacer panel is, however, wider than the remaining portion of top panel  116 , and so the fold line  115  is offset from the fold line  117  between the remaining portion of the top panel  116  and the upper side panel  118 . 
         [0072]      FIGS. 11 and 12  together show the second preferred embodiment disposed on its side and ready to dispense articles A. Lower side panel  120  is lower most.  FIGS. 11 and 12  show that the access means has been folded about fold line  115 , illustrated in  FIG. 7 , such that the finger tabs in the end of the access means have been located in receiving slits  191 . The receiving slits  191  each have corresponding receiving flaps  190  that hinge to the lower side panel  120  such that the finger tabs  162  may pass through the resulting aperture and thus locate interior of the carton between the articles A and the lower side panel  120 . 
         [0073]      FIG. 12  shows a cross section of the carton of  FIG. 10  through line ‘Y-Y’ and illustrates the way in which the portion of the access means between fold line  115  and the finger tabs  162  is substantially coplanar with the lower side panel  120  and thus how the lowermost surface of the carton effectively extends the full length of the carton. Pivoting of the carton  18  about the edge coinciding with fold line  115  is therefore prevented by the spacer panel  166  hinged between the upper edge of the remaining portion of the top panel  116  and the portion of the access means substantially in the plane of the lowermost surface of the carton along fold line  115 . 
         [0074]    Thus, both the first and second preferred embodiments of the present invention both provide a means of bracing the terminal end of a tapered wall against the horizontal plane, so as to prevent the articles A contained within the carton  8 / 18  from being angled downwardly of horizontal and the unintentionally egress of the articles A from the carton  8 / 18 . 
         [0075]    It is envisaged that the features of the embodiment herein described that relate to the geometry of the set up carton  8 / 18  may be altered without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example the carton need not be of the wrap around type but could be a fully enclosed carton, basket carrier or other known carton style. Furthermore, the carton may not be gabled as in the preferred embodiments, but may instead be entirely tapered between its base and top panels. In such a situation, the access means described herein could result in an added benefit of putting the articles in an orientation that would prevent or at least mitigate from them unintentionally exiting the carton. Still further, the invention could be applied to cartons of substantially rectangular geometry. In such a case, the access means could offer the added benefit of inclining the articles so as to present them to the user, in preparation of user removing an article. Such an added benefit could also be gained from the use of the access means with cartons of the other geometries described above. 
         [0076]    It is envisaged that means of forming a base that is other than a composite of two or more panels may be employed whilst still gaining the benefit of the present invention. It will also be appreciated that the specific arrangement, described herein, for achieving the engagement of panels  10 ,  22  to form the composite base, is not limiting and is offered on an exemplary basis only. 
         [0077]    It will be recognized that as used herein, directional references such as “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “back”, “end”, “side”, “inner”, “outer”, “upper” and “lower” do not limit the respective 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 invention.