TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to packages, carrier components and to blanks for forming the same. More specifically, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a package comprising tray for receiving bases of a plurality of articles and a separate cover for covering tops of the plurality of articles.

BACKGROUND

In the field of packaging, it is known to provide cartons for carrying multiple articles. Cartons are well known in the art and are useful for enabling consumers to transport, store and access a group of articles for consumption. For cost and environmental considerations, such cartons or carriers need to be formed from as little material as possible and cause as little wastage in the materials from which they are formed as possible. Further considerations are the strength of the carton and its suitability for holding and transporting large weights of articles. It is desirable that the contents of the carton are secure within the carton.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a package comprising tray in which a plurality of articles is received and a cover, formed from a separate blank, for covering tops of the plurality of articles, the cover being secured to the tray.

The present invention seeks to provide an improvement in the field of cartons, typically formed from paperboard or the like.

SUMMARY

A first aspect of the invention provides a package comprising a tray, a plurality of articles received in the tray, and a cover. The tray has at least one squared corner and the cover has at least one rounded corner panel above the at least one squared corner. The rounded corner panel is formed about a side wall of an adjacently disposed article. The tray may be formed from a first blank and the cover is formed from a second separate blank.

Optionally, the cover comprises a top panel and an end panel hingedly connected thereto, and wherein the rounded corner panel is hingedly connected to the end panel. Optionally, the cover comprises a pair of opposed side panels hingedly connected to opposed sides of the top panel.

Optionally, the end panel is coupled to each of the pair of opposed side panels by at least one connecting panel.

Optionally, the cover is secured to the tray by each of the pair of opposed side panels.

Optionally, the package comprises a window, the window exposes to view the articles, the window is defined between the end panel and the tray.

Optionally, the window is defined in part by the rounded corner panel.

Optionally, the end panel comprises a recessed lower edge portion opposing a hinged edge defined by a hinged connection to the top panel.

Optionally, a recessed lower edge provides a carrying handle and is reinforced by a reinforcing panel hingedly connected to a lower edge of the end panel and disposed in face-to-face relationship therewith to form a two-ply structure.

Optionally, the end panel is a single ply structure, and the recessed lower edge comprises a serrated region for discouraging use of the end panel as a carrying handle.

Optionally, the rounded corner panel is inset from the squared corner by first distance.

A second aspect of the invention provides a combination of a tray blank and separate a cover blank. The tray blank comprises a tray side panel, a tray end panel, and a securing flap for securing the tray side and end together to form a squared corner. The cover blank comprises a cover side panel, a cover end panel and a corner-forming panel for forming a rounded or beveled corner.

Optionally, the tray blank comprises a base panel having a first diagonal length dimension, the cover blank comprises a top panel having a second diagonal length dimension, and wherein the first diagonal length dimension is greater than the second diagonal length dimension. Within the scope of this application, it is envisaged or intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples, features and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings may be considered or taken independently or in any combination thereof.

Features or elements described in connection with, or relation to, one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments unless there is an incompatibility of features. One or more features or elements from one embodiment may be incorporated into, or combined with, any of the other embodiments disclosed herein, said features or elements extracted from said one embodiment may be included in addition to, or in replacement of one or more features or elements of said other embodiment.

A feature, or combination of features, of an embodiment disclosed herein may be extracted in isolation from other features of that embodiment. Alternatively, a feature, or combination of features, of an embodiment may be omitted from that embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view from above of a blank for forming a tray according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

Figure 2 is a perspective view from above of a tray formed from the blank of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a plan view from above of a blank for forming a cover according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 4 is a perspective view from above of a package formed from the blanks of Figures 1 and 3;

Figure 5 is a plan view from above of a blank for forming a cover according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 6 is a perspective view from above of a package formed from the blanks of Figures 1 and 5;

Figure 7 is a plan view from above of the blank of Figure 5 in which the positions of articles in a group of articles is shown overlaid in phantom (dot-dash) lines, the position of the tray of Figure 2 has also been overlaid and position of the side and end walls of the tray are shown in phantom (dot-dash) lines; and

Figure 8 is an alternative perspective view from above of a package formed from the blanks of Figures 1 and 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Detailed descriptions of specific embodiments of the package, blanks and carrier components are disclosed herein. It will be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the way in which certain aspects of the invention can be implemented and do not represent an exhaustive list of all of the ways the invention may be embodied. As used herein, the word “exemplary" is used expansively to refer to embodiments that serve as illustrations, specimens, models, or patterns. Indeed, it will be understood that the packages, blanks, and carrier components described herein may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The Figures are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Well-known components, materials or methods are not necessarily described in great detail in order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure. Any specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the invention.

Referring to Figure 1 , there is shown a plan view of a blank 10 which is capable of forming a carton or carrier 90 in the form of a tray, as shown in Figure 2, for containing and carrying a group of primary products such as, but not limited to, bottles or cans, hereinafter referred to as articles B, as shown in Figure 2. The blank 10 forms part of a secondary package P, P’ for packaging at least one primary product container or package. The carrier 90 takes the form of an open topped carton, tray, or crate.

Referring to Figure 3, there is shown a plan view of a blank 1 10 which is capable of forming a carton or carrier 190, as shown in Figure 4. The carrier 190 is configured to receive a group of primary products or articles B. The carrier 190 takes the form of a cover or shroud.

Referring to Figure 5, there is shown a plan view of an alternative blank 210 which is capable of forming an alternative carton or carrier 290, as shown in Figure 6. The carrier 290 is configured to receive a group of primary products or articles B. The carrier 290 takes the form of a cover or shroud.

In the embodiments detailed herein, the terms “carton” and “carrier” refer, for the non-limiting purpose of illustrating the various features of the invention, to a container for engaging and carrying articles, such as primary product containers. It is contemplated that the teachings of the invention can be applied to various product containers, which may or may not be tapered and/or cylindrical. Exemplary containers include bottles (for example metallic, glass or plastics bottles), cans (for example aluminum cans), tins, pouches, packets, and the like.

The blanks 10; 110; 210 are formed from a sheet of suitable substrate. It is to be understood that, as used herein, the term “suitable substrate” includes all manner of foldable sheet material such as paperboard, corrugated board, cardboard, plastic, combinations thereof, and the like. It should be recognized that one or other numbers of blanks may be employed, where suitable, for example, to provide the carrier structure described in more detail below.

The packaging structures or cartons described herein may be formed from a sheet material such as paperboard, which may be made of or coated with materials to increase its strength. An example of such a sheet material is tear-resistant NATRALOCK® paperboard made by WestRock Company. It should be noted that the tear resistant materials may be provided by more than one layer, to help improve the tear-resistance of the package. Typically, one surface of the sheet material may have different characteristics to the other surface. For example, the surface of the sheet material that faces outwardly from a finished package may be particularly smooth and may have a coating such as a clay coating or other surface treatment to provide good printability. The surface of the sheet material that faces inwardly may, on the other hand, be provided with a coating, a layer, a treatment or be otherwise prepared to provide properties such as one or more of tear-resistance, good glue-ability, heat sealability, or other desired functional properties.

In the illustrated embodiments, the blanks 10; 110; 210 are configured to form a carton or carrier 90; 190; 290 for packaging an exemplary arrangement of exemplary articles B. In the illustrated embodiments, the arrangement is a 3 x 4 matrix or array. In the illustrated embodiments three rows of four articles B are provided, and the articles B are beverage cans. Alternatively, the blanks 10; 1 10; 210 can be configured to form carriers for packaging other types, number, and size of articles and/or for packaging articles in a different arrangement or configuration. Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a blank 10 comprising a plurality of panels 12, 14a, 14b, 16a, 16b, including a main panel 12 for forming base wall of a carrier 90 (see Figure 2). The blank 10 comprises a first end panel 14a hingedly connected to a first end of the main panel 12 by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 13a. The blank 10 comprises a second end panel 14b hingedly connected to a second end of the main panel 12 by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 13b.

The blank 10 comprises a first side panel 16a hingedly connected to a first side of the main panel 12 by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 15a. The blank 10 comprises a second side panel 16b hingedly connected to a second side of the main panel 12 by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 15b.

A first securing flap 18a is hingedly connected to a first end of the first side panel 16a by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 17a. A second securing flap 18b is hingedly connected to a second end of the first side panel 16a by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 17b.

A third securing flap 20a is hingedly connected to a first end of the second side panel 16b by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 19a. A fourth securing flap 20b is hingedly connected to a second end of the second side panel 20a by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 19b.

The blank 10 is formed into a carrier 90 by folding the first and second side panels 16a, 16b about fold lines 15a, 15b respectively. First and second securing flaps 18a, 18b are folded with respect to the first side panel 16a, about fold lines 17a, 17b, to be substantially perpendicular to the first side panel 16a.

Third and fourth securing flaps 20a, 20b are folded with respect to the second side panel 16b, about fold lines 19a, 19b, to be substantially perpendicular to the second side panel 16b.

Glue or other adhesive treatment is applied to the first, second, third and fourth securing flaps 18a, 18b, 20a, 20b or to corresponding regions of the first and second end panels 14a, 14b. The first end panel 14a is folded with respect to the main panel 12 about fold line 13a to be substantially perpendicular to thereto. The first end panel 14a is brought into face contacting relationship with the first and third securing flaps 18a, 20a. The first end panel 14a is secured to the first and third securing flaps 18a, 20a.

The second end panel 14b is folded with respect to the main panel 12 about fold line 13b to be substantially perpendicular to thereto. The second end panel 14b is brought into face contacting relationship with the second and fourth securing flaps 18b, 20b. The second end panel 14b is secured to the second and fourth securing flaps 18b, 20b.

Figure 2 illustrates the carrier 90 formed from the blank 10. The carrier 90 is loaded with a plurality or group of articles B, a cover 190 is applied to the articles B as shown in Figure 4.

Referring to Figure 3 there is shown a blank 110 for forming the cover 190, the blank 110 comprises a plurality of main panels 1 12, 114, 116. The plurality of main panels 112, 114, 116 comprises a first main or top panel 114. A first side panel 112 is hingedly connected to a first side of the top panel 114 by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 113. A second side panel 1 12 is hingedly connected to a second, opposing, side of the top panel 114 by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 115.

The corners of the top panel 114 may be rounded, beveled, chamfered or filleted.

The blank 1 10 comprises an end closure structure for partially closing each end of a tubular structure defined in part by the cover 190.

A first end closure structure comprises a first end panel 118 hingedly connected to a first end of the top panel 114 by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 117. A first corner panel 122A is hingedly connected to a first side of the first end panel 118 by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 121 A. A second corner panel 126A is hingedly connected to a second, opposing, side of the first end panel 1 18 by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 125A. A first securing or anchor panel 124A is hingedly connected to the first corner panel 122A by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 123A. A second securing or anchor panel 128A is hingedly connected to the second corner panel 126A by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 127A. A first web panel 130A is hingedly connected between the first anchor panel 124A and the first side panel 112, by fold lines 129A, 131 A respectively. A second web panel 132A is hingedly connected between the second anchor panel 128A and the second side panel 116, by fold lines 133A, 135A respectively.

Optionally, the first end closure structure comprises a reinforcing structure including a first reinforcing panel 140 hingedly connected to the first end panel 118 by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 141 . A second reinforcing panel 142 is hingedly connected to a first side of the first reinforcing panel 140 by a hinged connection in the form of a pair of fold lines F1 . The second reinforcing panel 142 is hingedly connected to the first corner panel 122A by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 137A. A third reinforcing panel 144 is hingedly connected to a second, opposing, side of the first reinforcing panel 140 by a hinged connection in the form of a pair of fold lines F2. The third reinforcing panel 144 is hingedly connected to the second corner panel 126A by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 139A.

The reinforcing panels 140, 142, 144 forming the first end closure structure may be hingedly connected to a recessed edge defined in the first end panel 118 and in the first and second corner panels 122A, 126A. The reinforcing panels 140, 142, 144 can be considered to be struck, at least in part, from (or provided at least in part) by material which would otherwise form the first end panel 118, the first corner panel 122A, and the second corner panel 126A.

The first end closure structure may provide a handle structure, the handle structure may be struck in part, or defined in part in the first end panel 118. The handle structure may be struck in part or defined in part in the first reinforcing panel 140. The handle structure may comprise a cutaway or opening in the first end panel 118 defined at least in part by a handle flap 160 hingedly connected to the first end panel 118. The cutaway or opening extends into the first reinforcing panel 140 and is defined by a handle aperture A2. The opening interrupts the hinged connection between the first end panel 118 and the first reinforcing panel 140. In an assembled condition the cutaway or opening defines a recess in lower edges of each of the first end panel 118 and the first reinforcing panel 140, said recesses being disposed in registry with each other.

The first corner panel 122A is separated from the top panel 1 14 by an aperture A1 . The aperture A1 separates the first web panel 130A from the top panel 114. The aperture A1 may separate a portion of the first anchor panel 124A from the first side panel 1 12. The aperture A1 defines a first rounded or filleted corner of the top panel 1 14.

The second corner panel 126A is separated from the top panel 1 14 by an aperture A1. The aperture A1 separates the second web panel 132A from the top panel 1 14. The aperture A1 may separate a portion of the second anchor panel 128A from the second side panel 116. The aperture A1 defines a second rounded or filleted corner of the top panel 114.

A second end closure structure comprises a second end panel 120 hingedly connected to a second end of the top panel 114 by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 1 19. A third corner panel 122B is hingedly connected to a first side of the second end panel 120 by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 121 B. A fourth corner panel 126B is hingedly connected to a second, opposing, side of the second end panel 120 by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 125B. A third securing or anchor panel 124B is hingedly connected to the third corner panel 122B by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 123B. A fourth securing or anchor panel 128B is hingedly connected to the fourth corner panel 126B by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 127B.

A third web panel 130B is hingedly connected between the third anchor panel 124B and the first side panel 112, by fold lines 129B, 131 B respectively. A fourth web panel 132B is hingedly connected between the fourth anchor panel 128B and the second side panel 116, by fold lines 133B, 135B respectively.

Optionally, the second end closure structure comprises a reinforcing structure including a fourth reinforcing panel 146 hingedly connected to the second end panel 120 by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 143. A fifth reinforcing panel 148 is hingedly connected to a first side of the fourth reinforcing panel 146 by a hinged connection in the form of a pair of fold lines F3. The fifth reinforcing panel 148 is hingedly connected to the third corner panel 122B by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 137B. A sixth reinforcing panel 150 is hingedly connected to a second, opposing, side of the fourth reinforcing panel 146 by a hinged connection in the form of a pair of fold lines F4. The sixth reinforcing panel 150 is hingedly connected to the fourth corner panel 126B by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 139B. The reinforcing panels 146, 148, 150 forming the second end closure structure may be hingedly connected to a recessed edge defined in the second end panel 120 and in the third and fourth corner panels 122B, 126B. The reinforcing panels 146, 148, 150 can be considered to be struck, at least in part, from (or provided at least in part) by material which would otherwise form the second end panel 120, the third corner panel 122B, and the fourth corner panel 126B.

The second end closure structure may provide a handle structure, the handle structure may be struck in part, or defined in part in the second end panel 120. The handle structure may be struck in part or defined in part in the fourth reinforcing panel 146. The handle structure may comprise a cutaway or opening in the second end panel 120 defined at least in part by a handle flap 160 hingedly connected to the second end panel 120. The cutaway or opening extends into the fourth reinforcing panel 146 and is defined by a handle aperture A2. The opening interrupts the hinged connection between the second end panel 120 and the fourth reinforcing panel 146. In an assembled condition the cutaway or opening defines a recess in lower edges of each of the second end panel 120 and the fourth reinforcing panel 146, said recesses being disposed in registry with each other.

The third corner panel 122B is separated from the top panel 114 by an aperture A1 . The aperture A1 separates the third web panel 130B from the top panel 114. The aperture A1 may separate a portion of the third anchor panel 124B from the first side panel 112. The aperture A1 defines a third rounded or filleted corner of the top panel 1 14.

The fourth corner panel 126B is separated from the top panel 114 by an aperture A1 . The aperture A1 separates the fourth web panel 132B from the top panel 114. The aperture A1 may separate a portion of the fourth anchor panel 128B from the second side panel 116. The aperture A1 defines a fourth rounded or filleted corner of the top panel 114.

Optionally, the blank 110 comprises an access device for providing an opening to access an interior of the package P. The access device comprises a removable portion 114R defined in part in the top panel 1 14 by a weakened line of severance or tear line 134. A removable portion 116R may be defined in part in at least one of the first and second side panel 112, 116. The weakened line of severance or tear line 134 may extend into said at least one of the first and second side panel 112, 1 16. The weakened line of severance or tear line 134 may provide a continuous loop defining removable sections 114R, 116R in each of the top panel 114 and the second side panel 1 16. The access device may be provided with a tear initiation device Ti in the form of a flap 136 hingedly connected to the removable portion 1 14R by a fold line F5. The tear initiation device Ti is defined in part by a second tear line 138, the second tear line 138 has a lower or reduced tear resistance compared to the weakened line of severance or tear line 134 defining the removable portion 1 14R.

Figure 4 illustrates a package P formed from the tray carrier 90, a group of article B loaded into the tray carrier 90, and a cover panel 190 mounted about the articles B and secured to the tray carrier 90. Figure 3 shows a plurality of first glue locations G1 for securing the first and second side panel 112, 116 of the cover 190 to the first and second side panels 16a, 16b of the tray carrier 90.

The anchor panels 124A, 124B, 128A, 128B may be adhesively secured to a respective one of the first and second side panel 112, 116 of the cover 190 as indicated by second glue location G2 in Figure 3.

The reinforcing panels 140, 142, 144 are folded about fold lines 141 , 137A, 139A into face-to- face relationship with the panel 118, 122A, 126A to which they are hingedly connected. The reinforcing panels 140, 142, 144 are disposed internally of the panel 118, 122A, 126A to which they are hingedly connected.

Similarly, the reinforcing panels 146, 148, 150 are folded about fold lines 141 , 137A, 139A into face-to-face relationship with the panel 120, 122B, 126B to which they are hingedly connected. The reinforcing panels 146, 148, 150 are disposed internally of the panel 120, 122B, 126B to which they are hingedly connected.

The corner panels 122A, 122B, 126A, 126B are bent or displaced to form rounded corners in the cover 190. Articles B in the corner of the group of articles B may serve as a mandrel about which the corner panels 122A, 122B, 126A, 126B may be shaped or rounded.

The first and second side panels 112, 116 may be dimensioned to be shorter in length than the group of articles B, and the top panel 1 14. The endmost articles B in the group of articles B may extend beyond the first and second side panels 1 12, 1 16 and be exposed to view through a window in each end of the package P. The window being defined between the tray carrier 90 and the cover 190.

The first and second side panels 16a, 16b of the tray carrier 90 are longer in dimension than the first and second side panel 112, 1 16 of the cover 190.

The tray carrier 90 comprises square corners defined between one of the first and second side panels 16a, 16b and an adjacent one of the first and second end panels 14a, 14b. The tray carrier comprises a main or base panel 12 having a first diagonal dimension L1 between opposed corners.

The top panel 114 of the cover 190 comprises a second diagonal dimension L2 between opposed corners. The first diagonal dimension L1 is greater than the second diagonal dimension L2.

Referring now to Figures 5 to 8, there is shown an additional embodiment of the present disclosure. In the second illustrated embodiment like numerals have, where possible, been used to denote like parts, albeit with the addition of the prefix “200” to indicate that these features belong to the second embodiment. The additional embodiment shares many common features with the first embodiment and therefore only the differences from the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 will be described in detail.

Figure 5 illustrates a second embodiment and shows a blank 210 for forming a cover or shroud 290 as shown in Figure 6.

The cover 290 is configured to be employed with the carrier 90 of Figure 2 and is adapted to cover to articles B loaded into the carrier 90 to form a package P’ as shown in Figures 6 and 8. The carrier 90 comprises twelve articles B arranged in a 3 x 4 matrix or array.

In the embodiment of Figure 5 the reinforcing structures have been omitted or removed. First and second end panels 218, 220 each comprises a recessed lower edge E1 , E2 opposing their respective hinged connection to top panel 214. Each of the recessed lower edges E1 , E2 may be serrated or scalloped in shape. The first side panel 212 comprises a first fold line 213L defining a lower or distal portion 212L of the first side panel 212. The first side panel 212 comprises a second fold line 213U defining an upper or proximal portion 212U of the first side panel 212.

The second side panel 216 comprises a third fold line 215L defining a lower or distal portion 216L of the second side panel 216. The second side panel 216 comprises a fourth fold line 215U defining an upper or proximal portion 21611 of the second side panel 216.

Figure 7 shows the blank of Figure 5 in which the positions of articles in a group of articles which the blank is adapted to accommodate are shown overlaid in phantom (dot-dash) lines. The position of the tray of Figure 2 has also been overlaid and position of the side and end walls of the tray are shown in phantom (dot-dash) lines. It will be appreciated that the blank 110 of Figure is similarly arranged with respect to the articles B and the tray 90.

The articles B have a maximum diameter d and a radius r. The articles B disposed in the corner of the tray tangentially contact one of the first and second side panels 16a, 16b and one of the first and second end panels 14a, 14b.

The first and second side panels 212, 216 of the cover 290 extend a distance x beyond the tangential contact point between the corner article B and a respective one of the first and second side panels 16a, 16b of the tray 90. End edges of the first and second side panels 212, 216 of the cover 290 are spaced apart from the first and second end panels 14a, 14b of the tray by a distance r - x. The distance x may be around half an inch or about 12.5mm, and provide a region of overlap for glue application

The corner panels 222A, 222B, 226A, 226B have a width dimension z. The width dimension z may be equal to a quarter of the circumference of the article

The corner of the top panel 214 of the cover 290 is inset from the corner of the tray 90 by a distance y.

The present disclosure provides a package P; P’ comprising a tray 90, a plurality of articles B received in the tray 90, and a cover 190; 290. The tray 90 has at least one squared corner and the cover 190; 290 has at least one rounded or beveled corner panel 122A, 122B, 126A, 126B; 222A, 222B, 226A, 226B above the at least one squared corner. The rounded or beveled corner panel 122A, 122B, 126A, 126B; 222A, 222B, 226A, 226B is formed about a side wall of an adjacently disposed article B. The tray 90 is formed from a first blank 10 and the cover 190; 290 is formed from a second separate blank 110; 210.

The cover 190; 290 comprises a top panel 1 14; 214 and an end panel 1 18, 120; 218, 220 hingedly connected thereto. The rounded or beveled corner panel 122A, 122B, 126A, 126B; 222A, 222B, 226A, 226B is hingedly connected to the end panel 118, 120; 218, 220.

The cover 190; 290 comprises a pair of opposed side panels 112, 116; 212, 216 hingedly connected to opposed sides of the top panel 114; 214. The end panel 1 18, 120; 218, 220 is coupled to each of the pair of opposed side panels 112, 116; 212, 216 by at least one connecting panel 122A, 122B, 126A, 126B, 124A ,124B, 128A, 128B; 222A, 226A, 226B, 224A ,224B, 228A, 228B.

The cover 190; 290 is secured to the tray 90 by each of pair of opposed side panels 112, 116; 212, 216.

A window exposes to view the articles B, the window is defined between the end panel 118, 120; 218, 220 and the tray 90. The window may be defined in part by the rounded or beveled corner panel 122A, 122B, 126A, 126B; 222A, 222B, 226A, 226B.

The end panel 118, 120; 218, 220 may comprise a recessed lower edge portion opposing a hinged edge defined by a hinged connection to the top panel 114; 214.

The recessed lower edge may provide a carrying handle and may be reinforce by a reinforcing panel hingedly connected to a lower edge of the end panel 118, 120; 218, 220 and disposed in face-to-face relationship therewith to form a two-ply structure.

The end panel 118, 120; 218, 220 may be a single ply structure and the recessed lower edge may comprise a serrated region for discouraging use of the end panel 118, 120; 218, 220 as a carrying handle. The rounded or beveled corner panel 122A, 122B, 126A, 126B; 222A, 222B, 226A, 226B is inset from the squared corner by distance y.

The present disclosure also provides a combination of a tray blank 10 and a cover or shroud blank 1 10; 210. The tray blank 10 has a tray side panel 16a, 16b, a tray end panel 14a, 14b, and a securing flap 18a, 18b, 20a, 20b for securing the tray side and end panels 16a, 16b, 14a, 14b together to form a squared corner. The cover or shroud blank 110; 210 has a cover side panel 1 12, 116; 212, 216, a cover end panel 118, 120; 218, 220 and a corner-forming panel 122A, 122B, 126A, 126B; 222A, 222B, 226A, 226B for forming a rounded or beveled corner.

The tray blank 10 comprises a base panel 12 having a first diagonal length dimension L1 , the cover or shroud blank 110; 210 comprises a top panel 114 having a second diagonal length dimension L2. The first diagonal length dimension L1 of the base panel 12 of the tray blank 10 is greater than the second diagonal length dimension L2 of the top panel 114 of the cover or shroud blank 110; 210.

It will be recognized that as used herein, directional references such as "top", "bottom", “base”, "front", "back", "end", "side", "inner", "outer", "upper" and "lower" do not necessarily limit the respective panels to such orientation but may merely serve to distinguish these panels from one another.

As used herein, the terms “hinged connection” and “fold line” refer to all manner of lines that define hinge features of the blank, facilitate folding portions of the blank with respect to one another, or otherwise indicate optimal panel folding locations for the blank. Any reference to “hinged connection” should not be construed as necessarily referring to a single fold line only; indeed, a hinged connection can be formed from two or more fold lines wherein each of the two or more fold lines may be either straight/linear or curved/curvilinear in shape. When linear fold lines form a hinged connection, they may be disposed parallel with each other or be slightly angled with respect to each other. When curvilinear fold lines form a hinged connection, they may intersect each other to define a shaped panel within the area surrounded by the curvilinear fold lines. A typical example of such a hinged connection may comprise a pair of arched or arcuate fold lines intersecting at two points such that they define an elliptical panel therebetween. A hinged connection may be formed from one or more linear fold lines and one or more curvilinear fold lines. A typical example of such a hinged connection may comprise a combination of a linear fold line and an arched or arcuate fold line which intersect at two points such that they define a half moon-shaped panel therebetween.

As used herein, the term “fold line” may refer to one of the following: a scored line, an embossed line, a debossed line, a line of perforations, a line of short slits, a line of half-cuts, a single halfcut, an interrupted cutline, a line of aligned slits, a line of scores and any combination of the aforesaid options.

It should be understood that hinged connections and fold lines can each include elements that are formed in the substrate of the blank including perforations, a line of perforations, a line of short slits, a line of half-cuts, a single half-cut, a cutline, an interrupted cutline, slits, scores, embossed lines, debossed lines, any combination thereof, and the like. The elements can be dimensioned and arranged to provide the desired functionality. For example, a line of perforations can be dimensioned or designed with degrees of weakness to define a fold line and/or a severance line. The line of perforations can be designed to facilitate folding and resist breaking, to facilitate folding and facilitate breaking with more effort, or to facilitate breaking with little effort.

The phrase “in registry with” as used herein refers to the alignment of two or more elements in an erected carton, such as an aperture formed in a first of two overlapping panels and a second aperture formed in a second of two overlapping panels. Those elements in registry with each other may be aligned with each other in the direction of the thickness of the overlapping panels. For example, when an aperture in a first panel is “in registry with” a second aperture in a second panel that is placed in an overlapping arrangement with the first panel, an edge of the aperture may extend along at least a portion of an edge of the second aperture and may be aligned, in the direction of the thickness of the first and second panels, with the second aperture.