CA2209287C - Fully enclosed wrap-around carton - Google Patents

Abstract

A blank for forming a carton for packaging a plurality of articles comprisin g a series of hingeably interconnected top, first side, bottom and second side panels (12, 14, 16, 18, 20) for forming an open-ended sleeve capable of receiving said articles, the top and bottom panels (12, 18, 20) being similarly non-rectangularly shaped substantially to correlate with the cross - sectional shape of the array of articles in a plan parallel to said top and bottom panels (12, 18, 20), wherein a gusset (38) comprising two hingeably connected gusset panels (58, 60) connects the first side panel (14) and top or bottom panel (12, 18, 20) which gusset (38) is adapted to facilitate movemen t of the first side panel (14) to correlate with the associated shape of a stowed array of articles during the formation of the carton (10).

Description

.~.v.v. lv..~1-1'.i .!I .'.-.W lL:.v ~W ._;m .-.Jt l1 ~ t.~ . 'c.
~>~t~,..~.,_.
..o.'t t',, n ;n i_V I v.L r 1V"tV 11 L L L 1\L,Vr1 V'.A 02209287 1997-U7-U~21 l~ I

CART~IY
The invention relates to cartons for packaging a plurality of articles such as cans or bottles ofdr;nk far example, particularly cartons for packaging multiple tiers, or layers, of ara.cles in a fully enclosed carton for example, arid also cartons for packing articles in a non-rectangular array.
A. Jrnown carton having an octaganally shaped base and top panel is disclosed by Chaussadas in US
4747485. The carton comprises a large number of separate panels for closing the sides and ends of the carton. A separate panel is hingably connected to each of the tight edges of the top and base panels_ The majority of these panels depend only substantially halfway between the associated top or battorn panel and the opposite bottom or top panel and therefore overlap an associated panel depending from the opposite top or bottom panel. A relatively complex method o~folding various panels is therefore required in order to close the carton shown in US 474748.
The invention seeks to avoid or at least mitigate various problems with prior art cartons_ According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a blank far forming a carton for packaging a plurality of articles comprising a series of hingably intercorunected top, first sides bottom and second side panels for forming an open ended sleeve capable afreceiving said articles, the tvp and bottom panels being similarly non-reetangularly shaped substarnially to correlate with the cross-sectional shape of the array of articles in a plane parallel to said top and bottom panels, wherein said side panels comprise a. plurality of fold regions adapted to be folded in at least three different planes to conform with the shape of the associated fop and/or bottom panel wherein a AMEPJt3ED SHEET

.,, . , , ,'~ ,'_~' ' J, .~..lu.::l m ' y ~ ~:'.~~'~CA 02209287 1997-07-02~".
. ".., . .. ,. ,., 1 ~J' 'T

gusset comprising two hing~ly connected gusset panels connects the first side panel between adjacent fold regions and top yr battvm panel.
~'he carton blank preferably comprises two gussets between adJacent fold regions of said first side panel and the top or bottom panel which gussets cooperate with associated end portions of the first side panel to cause movement thereof during the formation of the carton. Two gussets can connect both side panels to the top panel and two gussets connect both side panels to the bottom panel.
The fold regions can each comprise a series of hingably connected portions, and the hingably connected portions ran be separated by curvable portions which provide rounded corners in the coz~apleted carton.
One of the gusset panels can comprise a tab which protrudes therefrom to facilitate tucking of the gusset inside the carton during formation thereof. Also, one of the gusset panels can comprise means such as an edge which operably abuts an end of the carton to help retain the associated side panel in its formed position in the carton. Preferably said protruding tab comprises said abutting edge.
Another aspect of the invention provides a blank far forming a carton for packaging a plurality of articles comprising a seci.es of hir~gably intercozu~ected main. panels for fornling an open ended sleeve capable of receiving said articles, two apposite main panels beir~, similarly non-rectangularly shaped substarnially to correlate with the cross-sectional shape of the array of articles in a plane parallel to said two opposite main. panels, wherein two further main panels comprise a plurality of AMENt~p SHEET

,_~ . __, ~ ~ .... ~- ., ~, i. a . ...,-.rCA 02209287 1997'U7'U2~ . ., . ...
." _ ..,.. t t~..,.
m _~
fold regions adapted to be folded in at least three diffefern planes to coczform with the shape of the associated opposed main panels wherein a gusset comprising two hingably connected gussat panels ca~ects a first main panel between adjacent fold regions and one of the two opposite main panels, The gu$set can comprise an associated aperture which facilitates folding of the gusset, and the gusset can comprise zxxeans which close the aperture when the carton is formed. Other aspects of the invention relate to a carton and o~foxzning a carton.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accorxypaoying drawings, in which:.-FIGLRE 1 is a plan view of a carton blank for forming a carton according to a first embadimcxit of the invention;
FIGURES 2 to 6 provide diff~-ent views of the blank shown in Figure 1 during the process of forming the carton shown in Figures 7 and 8;
FIG>~S 7 and $ are perspective views of a farmed carton according to the first embodiment of the invention;
~C~» 9 is a plan view of a blank for farming a carton according to a second embodiment of the invention;
AMENDED SHEET

' FIGURES 10 to 14 are perspective views of a carton according to the second embodiment of the invention;
20 FIGURE 15 is a plan view of a blank for forming a carton according to a third embodiment of the invention;
FIGURES 16 to 21 are various perspective views of a carton according to a third embodiment of the invention;
FIGURE 22 is a plan view of a blank for forming 25 a fourth embodiment of a carton according to the invention;
FIGURES 23 to 28 provide views of different stages during the process of forming a carton from the blank shown in Figure 22; .
FIGURE 29 is a perspective view of a carton 30 formed from the blank shown in Figure 22; and FIGURE 30 is a schematic representation of the method of loading and closing the carton shown in Figure 29.
' Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments 35 The first embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 1 to 8 wherein a carton blank 11 for forming carton 3 PCT/US96I00314 , shown in Figures 7 and 8. The carton is designed to hold a non-rectangular array of articles such as an array comprising rows of 2, 3 and 2 articles which has a substantially hexagonal cross-section in the horizontal ,.

5 plane. However since articles such as cans and bottles are generally cylindrical or at least have curved sides in the case of bottles, a hexagonal array of such articles has curved corners. In order to tightly pack such an array, carton 10 has curvable side panel portions. Carton 10 can :10 hold a single tier of tall articles or a double tier of articles. Of course multiple tiers can be accommodated simply by adapting the length of its side panels to suit the height of the proposed number of tiers.
The blank 11 comprises a base panel 12 which is ~15 hingably connected to end tabs 22 and 24 and to side panels 14 and 16 via fold lines 56a and 56b, and gusset panels 40a, 40b, 40c and 40d as shown in Figure 1. Side panels 14 and 16 each comprises a series of side panel portions 42a and 42b, 46a and 46b, 50a and 50b, and 54a and 54b. The 2:0 side panel portions are separated from adjacent side panel portion by curvable panel portions 44a and 44b, 48a and 48b, and 52a and 52b. The curvable panel portions comprise a series of crease lines which allow some amount of bending of each of the curvable panel portions in order for the 25 side panels 14 and 16 to-be folded around packaged articles in an arcuate manner thereby to fully enclose the sides of the carton. The carton therefore has a cross-section in the horizontal plane which is polygonal, in this case hexagonal, with curved, or rounded, corners.
3~D Side panels 14 and 16 are hingably attached to first and second top panels 18 and 20 respectively. The top panels 18 and 20 are hingably connected to respective side panels 14 and 16 by gussets 38a, 38b, 38c and 38d arid fold lines 64a and 64b. The top panels are of the lap type 3!i and can be joined together using adhesive or cooperating locking means such as tabs and apertures, for example. Top panel 18 comprises end tabs 26b and 28b hingably connected thereto along fold lines 25c and 25d respectively. Slit features 33c and 33d are positioned at the fold line between the first top panel 18 and each of the end tabs 26b and 28b but in other embodiments only one or no such features might be provided. These slit features 33c and 33d enable bending of the fold line between the side tabs and first top panel when handle 30 is used as described later. Handle 30 is provided in second top panel 20 and comprises a strap having finger tabs 32 foldably joined thereto. Second top panel 20 is foldably connected to end tabs 26a and 28a along fold lines 25a and 25b respectively and, in this example, the ends of the handle strap extend into end tabs 26a and 28a along lateral cuts 33a and 33b.
Second top panel 20 also comprises a handle reinforcement panel 36 which, in this example, is hingably connected to the strap of handle 30 along fold lines 34.
Each of the gussets 38a, 38b, 38c and 38d can, as shown in Figure 2, comprises an outermost panel 58 hingably connected to an innermost panel 60. ' A cut 62 can be used to separate part of panel 58 from panel 60 and the associated top panel 18 or 20. Thus cut 62 can usefully define a protrusion 59 from outermost gusset panel 58 which protrusion 59, or folding means, can be used to tuck the gusset inside the carton and hence help the folding of the sides of the carton. Lower gussets 40a, 40b, 40c and 40d could be formed similar to gussets 38 but here each comprises two symmetrical panels which are hingably connected to one another along a fold line 41.
A method of folding blank 11 to form a completed carton 10 as shown in Figures 7 and 8, can be seen in Figures 2 to 6. First top panel 18 can be first folded about fold line 64b so that it is overlaid on side panel 14. Reinforcement panel 36 can then be folded about fold line 34 beneath handle strap 30 thereby to provide a two ply handle and thus strengthen the handle. Side panels 16 and second top panel 20 can then be folded about hinge line 56a into the configuration shown in Figure 3. The first and second top panels can then be attached to one another for example by gluing at overlapped portions, or using .
cooperating locking means (not shown) such as locking tabs and apertures. Of course, other panels could be used as overlap panels to enable a tubular sleeve to be formed.
The handle edges at cuts or slits 33a and 33b are thus substantially aligned with slit features 33c and 33d in first top panel 18 in order to allow parts of the hinge or fold lines 25a, 25b, 25c and 25d between the top panels and end tabs 26a and 28a, and 26b and 28b to move. This enables upward flexing of the handle strap 30 in use by allowing inward movement at the portion of the handle strap adjacent the ends of the carton. To assist in this movement, a pair of lateral creases or fold lines 35c and 35d can be provided for example in the first top panel 18 as shown in Figure 2. In this example both the fold lines 35c and 35d, and associated parts of fold lines 25c and 25d which extend across the deflectable portion which extends between the end tab and the top panel assist in the inward deflection thereof when handle 30 is used.
The folded blank can then be opened to form a sleeve like structure as shown in Figure 4. In this configuration, articles such as cans can be loaded into a partially formed carton 10 through the open ends thereof.
After loading the articles, the end tabs 22 and 24 can be folded upwardly whilst end tabs 26a, 26b, 28a and 28b can be folded downwardly. The side panel 14 and 16 can then be folded around the articles to close the ends of the carton.
For example, gussets 38a, 38b, 38c and 38d can be folded into the position under the associated top panel 18 or 20 by pressing inwardly the panel 58 and/or the panel 60 of -one or more of the gussets 38. By folding the gussets 38a to 38d inwardly, the ends of the side panels 14 and 16 are caused to close about the ends of the carton 10.
Similarly, by folding gussets 40a to 40d inwardly of the carton 10, the lower part of side panels 14 and 16 can be caused to rotate to close the ends of the carton.

_ 7 _ Associated endmost portions of side panels 14 and 16 are thus brought into an overlapping relationship with each other as shown in Figure 7. To maintain the carton in its closed configuration, endmost portions 54a and 54b can be attached to one another, for example by gluing or by cooperating locking means such as locking tabs and apertures. Also, either one or both of the endmost portions 54a and 54b can be attached to either one or both of end tabs 26a and/or 26b or end tab 22. Thus, various overlapping portions can be attached together. Similarly the opposite end of the carton can be maintained in a closed position so as to form the fully enclosed carton 10 shown in Figures 7 and 8.
It can be seen that carton 10 is designed to fully and tightly enclose an array of articles by having curvable side panels which wrap tightly around the articles. The carton is made aesthetically pleasing by having suitably shaped top and bottom panels which reflect the non-rectangular shape of the stored array of articles.
Of course, other non-rectangular arrays such as triangulary rhombic, rhomroidal, and octagonal arrays for example could be used.
A second embodiment of a carton 110 according to the invention is shown in Figures 9 to 14. In this embodiment, features substantially similar to those shown in the first embodiment are labelled wing the same two digit reference numeral prefixed by the numeral 1. Thus, a first top panel 118 is hingably connected to a side panel 114 which in turn is hingably connected to a base panel 112. The base panel 112 is connected to a second side panel 116 which is hingabiy connected to a second top panel 120. In this example, handle slots 133 are substantially similar to those in the previous embodiment, however, fold lines 135c can be provided to define a displaceable portion 131c adjacent the fold lines 125c and 125d between top panel 118 and end panels 126b and ~128b respectively.
Alternatively, those lines labelled 135c can be cut lines _ g _ thereby providing an aperture 131c at the fold lines between the first top panel 118 and end panels 126b and 128b. ' In the side panels 114 and 116, the central curvable portions of the first embodiment are replaced by a central panel portion 148a and 148b and the other side panel portions can be simply hingabiy connected by a single fold line. In this embodiment, the side panels are also adapted to wrap around the sides of an array of articles to fully enclose the sides thereof. However, the base panel 112 and carton top panel, formed from panels 118 and 120, do not comprise overly rounded corners, but each is an irregular octagon. In this example an array of articles with rows of 1, 2, 2 and 1 articles is intended to be placed in the or each tier. The blank 111 shown is adapted to hold two tiers of such arrays of cans for example.
The side panels are hingably connected to the associated top panel by gussets 138 which can each comprise a main panel 158 for example hingably connected to the associated side panel 114 or 116 and minor panel 160 hingably connected to both the main gusset panel 158 and the associated top panel 118 or 120. An interrupted cut 162 can be used to separate part of panel 158 from panel 160 and the associated top panel 118 or 120. Thus cut 162 can usefully define a protrusion 159 which can be used to tuck the gusset 138 into the position between the associated top panel 118 or 120 and the articles within the carton 110. In other words, the shape of the gusset panels is designed to assist in the folding of the side panels during the closing of the carton after loading. Also, an edge 157, here provided on each of the main gusset panels .
158, cooperates in the formed carton with an end panel 126 or 128 to retain the formed shape of the side panels.
The side panels 114 and 116 here each comprise ' 35 removable portions 170a and 170b. These portions can be attached to the carton blank in part at least along a tearable line 174 and by fold lines 153 and 156 or 164 as _ g _ shown in Figure 9. The removable portions 170 can comprise means to assist in the removal of the portion from the carton such as a finger aperture 172. The finger aperture can be closed by a hingable tab portion until it is used.
Carton 110 can be formed by folding blank 111 in a manner substantially similar to that described with reference to the first embodiment. Thus top panel 118 can be folded about fold line 164b, side panel 116 and top panel 120 can be folded about fold line 156a and the top panels attached to one another at overlap portions thereof.
A carton sleeve can then be formed and loaded prior folding side panels 114 and 116 round and closing the ends by folding end panels 122, 124, 126a, 128a, 126b and 128b about their associated fold lines.
i5 Fteneficiaiiy, the openabie portions i70 enable an article A to be removed from carton 110 without tearing open the entire carton. As shown in Figures 11 and 12, openable and closeable portion 170b can be opened by breaking the tearable line 174 and opening the panel 170b about fold line 153b. Additionally, a tear Line 161c can be provided in gusset 138c between gusset panels 158c anal 160c (see Figure 9) to enable openable panel 170b to be fully opened.
As can be seen in Figure 12, carton 110 can package two tiers of articles which can be separated by a partition panel 176 for example. In order to gain access to the lower tier of articles, a second openable or removable portion 170a can be provided. In order to open openable portion 170a it is folded about hinge line 143a whilst breaking tearable feature 174 and tearable fold line _ 141b between the panels of gusset 140b (see Figure g). Of course, the gussets could be designed to enable the openabie panels to be fully opened without the need of. a second tearable feature such as lines 161c or 141b just described.
Additionally, in this example, the gusset panels 138 are folded beneath the associated upper panel by folding gusset panels 158 and 160 relative to one another about fold line 161 so that both portions are superposed beneath the top panel. The main gusset panel 158 can thus lie adjacent a fold line 125 between end panels 126a, 126b, 128a or 128b at edge 157 thereof thereby to provide rigidity at this fold line between the side panels and up to the edge of the handle strap as well as acting to retain the shape of the side panels.
A third embodiment of a carton according to the invention will now be described in relation to the blank and carton shown in Figures 15 to 20. In this example of the invention, features similar to those of the first two embodiments are labelled using the same last two digit reference numeral prefixed with the numeral 2. Thus, a first top panel 218 is hingably connected to a side panel 214 which in turn is hingably connected to a base panel 212. A second side panel 216 is hingably connected to both base panel 2i2 and a second top panel 220. The side panels 214 and 216 are substantially similar to those shown in Figure 9 as described above, except the openable (and/or removable) portions 270 have a different configuration. In this example, a tearable line 274 extends substantially about three sides of the rectangular panel forming removable portion 270. The openable portion 270a and 270b are hingabiy connected on a fourth side along fold lines 239b and 237c respectively. Each of these fold lines connects the openable portions 270a and 270b to an associated gusset panel namely 240b and 238c respectively in this example. A finger aperture 272 can be provided and this can be covered by a foldable tab 271.
Openable portion 270b is foldable about fold line -237c in the completed carton as shown in Figure 17. The portion 270b can be removed by tearing along fold line 261c -as shown in Figure 18 thereby to leave a carton wherein the articles A in an upper tier are removable as shown in Figure 19. similarly, lower openable portion 270a is openable by folding about fold line 239b. Also, the portion 270a can be removed entirely by tearing along fold line 241b for example.
In this example the carton 210 is adapted to hold two tiers of articles, wherein each tier comprises an array of 1, 2, 2 and 1 rows of articles. Of course, different numbers of rows of different numbers of articles could be packaged and indeed different numbers of tiers can be housed by suitably adapting the blank described here.
A fourth embodiment of a blank 311 and of a carton 310 formed therefrom as shown in Figures 22 to 30.
The formed carton 310 shown in Figure 29 has a generally octagonal cross-section in the horizontal plane and is designed to accommodate a single tier of articles such as bottles in an array of 3, 4, 4, and 3 articles per ro~o.
Blank 311 comprises a top panel 320 which is hingably connected to side panel 316 along fold line 364x.
In turn, the side panel 316 is hingably connected to base panel 312 having an octagonal shape. The base panel 312 is connected to a second side panel 314 along a fold line 356b. In this embodiment, instead of providing overlapping top panels to form the blank into a tubular, sleeve like structure, a tab 315 is provided. In this embodiment tab 315 which is hingably connected to the top panel 320 along a fold line 364b can be attached to an upper portion of side panel 314 for example by gluing or by- using cooperating locking means such as locking tabs and apertures.
Blank 311 comprises a handle 330 having finger tabs 332 in the top panel 320 and a handle reinforcing strap 336, which here is hingably connected to the end panels 326 and 328 which are hingably connected to the top panel 320. Additionally, diverging crease lines can be formed in the top panel 320 to provide a stress relieving feature 380 for when the handle is used. In this embodiment, openable features 370 are provided in the top panel 320.
The openable features 370 abut the aperture WO 96/21603 PCT/US96/0032~

defined by the finger tabs 3 3 2 which form part of the handle 330 and have lateral tearable lines similar to lines 274 and 174 shown in the second and third embodiments described herein. Four gussets 338 are provided between the top panel 320 and effectively the side panels of the carton when tab 315 and side panel 314 are attached. The gussets 338 are equivalent in this example and with reference to gusset 338a it can be seen that they comprise a main panel 358a which is hingably connected to side panel 316. The main panel 358a is hingably connected to a minor panel 360a which in turn is hingably connected to top panel 320. The main gusset panel 358a comprises a protruding tab 359a which can be used to close the carton and to retain the associated side wall in a curved formation due to cooperation between the edge 357a of tab 359a and end panel 328 for example. This cooperation is more apparent with reference to the later drawings. Also, the gusset panel 358 can be positioned between an associated, e.g. cornermost, article top such as a bottle cap and the top panel 320.
This can help prevent any aperture opening in the top of the carton when formed in spite of the aperture 363 formed adjacent the gusset.
The side walls 316 and 314 are symmetrical and comprise a main central panel having a medial fold line 385a and 385b respectively which enable both side panels to be folded substantially in half. This is beneficial in enabling the partially formed carton shown in Figure 25 to be flat packed ready for erection into the sleeve like structure shown in Figure 26 which is ready for loading.
The medial fold lines 385a and 385b extend into side panel portions 346a, 350a, 346b and 350b. Additionally, a gusset -386 is provided adjacent each fold line 385 in the lateral portions of the side panels. These gussets 386 facilitate better wrapping of the sides and ends of loaded articles and the formation of a sloping upper portion of the side panels which can be seen with reference to Figures 27 to 29. To this end fold lines 323a and 323b are also provided in lower end panel 324 and 322 respectively. In order to form the sloping upper portion it is apparent that top panel 320 should be a smaller octagon than base panel 312.
Additionally, in common with the other embodiments, gussets 340 can be provided between base panels 312 and the side panel.
In order to form carton 310 the reinforcing strip 336 is folded about fold line 334 into position shown in Figure 23. Thus, apertures 382 in strip 336 are aligned with fold lines 325a and 325b thereby minimising any restriction in the folding of the upper end panels 328 and 326 about fold line 325a and 325b when closing the ends of a loaded carton. Next, the top panel 320 and upper portion of side panel 316 are folded about fold line 385a into the position shown in Figure 24. The upper portion of side panel 314 is then folded about fold line 385b so that it abuts tab 315 and can be attached thereto for example by gluing, to form the flat structure shown in Figure 25.
Conveniently, blanks 311 can be stored in this flat arrangement and transported to packaging machinery ready to be loaded into suitable hoppers such as hopper H shown schematically in Figure 30. ' To load a carton the structure shown in Figure 25 is first expanded into the sleeve like structure as shown in Figure 26. This is also shown in the upstream part of the packaging process shown in Figure 30, wherein it is apparent that the carton is moved downstream along the flow direction indicated by arrow F. In this schematic drawing it can be seen that at stage A, the infeed rows of articles are separated into the desired formation of two rows on each of the open ends of the carton comprising an innermost ' row of four articles and an adjacent outermost row of three articles. The outer row is displaced slightly with respect to the inner row so that the rows of articles are nested thereby to form a relatively tightly packed configuration.
That is, an article in the outer row abuts two articles in the inner row. This is not true of the abutment of the two inner rows after they have been loaded into the carton during the phase indicated by section B of Figure 30. The adjacent innermost rows of four articles abut one another so that only a single article is abutted in the adjacent innermost row. However, for different sizes or shapes of cartons it would of course be possible to provide a different structure of abutment of the articles within the carton.
After loading a carton 320, the gussets 338 and 340 are tucked inwardly in zone C of the flow path shown in Figure 30. As shown in bubble G of Figure 30, main gusset panel 358c is tucked inwardly to a position beneath top panel 320. Also, as shown in bubble H of Figure 30, the gussets 340 are tucked upwardly. This tucking action of the gussets causes a bending of the side panels towards the partially closed structure shown in Figure 27. The endmost parts of the side panels 350a and 350b can then be drawn further round to the ends of the carton as shown in zone D
of Figure 30. This causes further curvature of side panels 314 and 316 which thereby contour the sides of the adjacent articles and reflect the shape of three sides of tl~e octagonal base panel 312 and top panel 320. Additionally, the upper portions of the side panels 314 and 316 bevel in, or are inclined, thereby to contour the shoulders of the bottles retained within a carton.
The upper and lower end panels 322, 324, 328 and 326 can then be folded about the associated fold line to the top or lower panel as shown in Figure 28. The associated upper and lower end panels such as panels 328 and 322 can then be attached to one another for example by gluing. Alternatively, cooperating locking means such as locking tabs and apertures might be provided. Also, the end panels can be attached to the end panels 346a, 346b, 350a and 350b. For example, if an adhesive such as glue is used then the finished carton shown in Figure 29 can be pressed in zone E of Figure 30 to ensure the panels remain closed.

Claims (25)

CLAIMS:

1. A blank for forming a carton for packaging a plurality of articles comprising a series of hingably interconnected top, first side, bottom and second side panels for forming an open ended sleeve capable of receiving said articles, the top and bottom panels being similarly non-rectangularly shaped substantially to correlate with the cross-sectional shape of the array of articles in a plane parallel to said top and bottom panels, wherein each of said side panels comprises a plurality of spaced apart fold regions and is adapted to be folded so as to put those areas of the side panel disposed between the fold regions into at least three different planes to conform with the shape of the associated top and bottom panels and wherein a gusset comprising two hingably connected gusset panels connects said areas of the side panels to the top or bottom panels respectively.

2. A carton blank according to claim 1 comprising two gussets connected between said areas of said side panels and the top and bottom panels respectively which gussets cooperate with associated end portions of the first side panel to cause movement thereof during the formation of the carton.

3. A carton blank according to claim 2 wherein two gussets connect both side panels to the top panel and two gussets connect both side panels to the bottom panel.

4. A carton blank according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said fold regions each comprise a series of hingably connected portions.

5. A carton blank according to claim 4 wherein the hingably connected portions are separated by curvable portions which provide rounded corners in the completed carton.

6. A carton blank according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein one of the gusset panels comprises a tab which protrudes therefrom to facilitate tucking of the gusset inside the carton during formation thereof.

7. A carton blank according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein one of the gusset panels comprises means which operably abuts an end of the carton to help retain the associated side panel in its formed position in the carton.

8. A carton blank according to claim 7 wherein said means is an edge.

9. A carton blank according to claim 6, 7 or 8 wherein said protruding tab comprises said abutting edge.

10. A blank according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the gusset has an associated aperture which facilitates folding of the gusset.

11. A blank according to claim 10 wherein the gusset comprises means which close the aperture when the carton is formed.

12. A blank for forming a carton for packaging a plurality of articles comprising a series of hingably interconnected top, first side, bottom and second side panels for forming an open ended sleeve capable of receiving said articles, the top and bottom panels being similarly non-rectangularly shaped substantially to correlate with the cross-sectional shape of the array of articles in a plane parallel to said top and bottom panels, wherein each of said side panels comprises a plurality of panel portions including a pair of opposite end panel portions and at least one medial panel portion, said panel portions of said each side panel being foldably interconnected by fold regions, each of said side panels being adapted to be folded so as to put said end and medial panel portions into at least three different planes to conform with the shape of the associated top and bottom panels wherein the blank further comprises a pair of first gussets provided for said each side panel and a pair of second gussets provided for said first side panel, each of said first and second gussets comprising two hingably interconnected gusset panels, and said pair of first gussets connects one of said panel portions of said each side panel to the top or bottom panel.

13. The blank according to claim 12 wherein said one panel portion comprises the medial panel portion.

14. The blank according to claim 12 wherein said pair of first gussets connect each side panel to the bottom panel and said pair of second gussets connect the side panel to the top panel.

15. The blank according to claim 12 wherein said fold regions each comprises at least one fold line.

16. The blank according to claim 14 wherein one of the gusset panels of each second gusset comprises a protrusion which protrudes therefrom to facilitate tucking of the second gusset inside the carton during formation thereof.

17. The blank according to claim 12 wherein one of the gusset panels of each second gusset comprises means for operably abutting an end of the carton to help retain the associated side panel in its formed position in the carton, and the abutting means comprises an edge of a tab.

18. The blank according to claim 12 wherein each second gusset has an associated aperture which facilitates folding of the gusset, and said each second gusset comprises means for closing the aperture when the carton is formed.

19. A blank for forming a carton for packaging a plurality of articles comprising a series of hingably interconnected top, first side, bottom and second side panels for forming an open ended sleeve capable of receiving said articles, the top and bottom panels being similarly non-rectangularly shaped substantially to correlate with the cross-sectional shape of the array of articles in a plane parallel to said top and bottom panels, wherein each of said side panels comprises a plurality of panel portions including a pair of opposite end panel portions and at least one medial panel portion, said panel portions of said each side panel being foldably interconnected by fold regions, each of said side panels being adapted to be folded so as to put said end and medial panel portions into at least three different planes to conform with the shape of the associated top and bottom panels, wherein said blank further comprises a pair of first gussets provided for said each side panel and a pair of second gussets provided for said each side panel, each of said first and second gussets comprising two hingably interconnected gusset panels, and said pair of first gussets connects adjacent panel portions of said each side panel to the top or bottom panel.

20. The blank according to claim 19 wherein said pair of first gussets connect said each side panel to the bottom panel, and said pair of second gussets of said first side panel connect said first side panel to the top panel.

21. The blank according to claim 19 wherein said fold regions each comprises at least one fold line.

22. The blank according to claim 19 wherein said fold regions each comprises at least three crease lines.

23. The blank according to claim 22 wherein said fold regions are curvable portions for providing rounded corners in the completed carton.

24. The blank according to claim 20 wherein one of the gusset panels of each second gusset comprises a protrusion which protrudes therefrom to facilitate tucking of the second gusset inside the carton during formation thereof.

25. The blank according to claim 19 wherein each second gusset has an associated aperture which facilitates folding of the gusset, and said each second gusset comprises means for closing the aperture when the carton is formed.