GB1562713A - Bottle package and carton blank therefor - Google Patents

Description

(54) BOTTLE PACKAGE AND CARTON BLANK THEREFOR (71) We, FEDERAL PAPER BOARD COMPANY INC., A Corporation organised and existing under the laws of the State of New York, United States of America, of 75 Chestnut Ridge Road, Montvale, New Jersey, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to packaging and is more particularly concerned with improvements in wrap-around type packages of beverage bottles which employ a flat blank wrapped as a tubular carton about a group of the bottles arranged in longitudinal and transverse row alignment.

In the packaging of bottles and canned beverages two types of carton have achieved extensive use in the beverage marketing industry, namely, the cellular basket-type, which is particularly adaptable for multi-trip use with products in returnable bottles, and the single trip, disposable, wrap-around type, which is most often employed with products in nonreturnable containers, particularly canned beverages. With the introduction of nonreturnable or disposable beverage bottles the wrap-around type has been adapted for these, also, since jt employs less material and is more economical for one-trip, disposable use than the basket type.

Initially, the packaging of bottles in a wraparound blank presented a retention problem because of the bottle shape at the top.

However, retention apertures in which outside cap edges were seated with provision for a tight wrap solved that problem and the adoption of turned-down panels at the ends of the tube followed.

Recently, there has been a demand for elimination of the disposable container, or alternatively, some arrangement for inducing the consumer to return such containers for reuse or recycling, particularly, the disposable bottles. In response to such demands, it has been suggested that an effort be made to develop a single trip style wrap-around style package which will enable the bottles to be removed and replaced without mutilating the carton to an extent which would render it unfit for the purpose of carrying the empty bottles on a return trip to the distributor.It is a general object of the invention therefore, to provide a package formed by wrapping a blank of paperboard or other foldable sheet material about a group of bottles in double row formation and transverse alignment so as to confine the bottles while enabling the customer to readily remove the bottles from the package without destruction of the bottle retaining capabilities of the carton so that the carton can subsequently be used to return the empty bottles to the distributor.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a package for marketing bottled beverages which employs a blank of paperboard or other foldable sheet material which is wrapped as a tubular carton about a group of bottles arranged in double row formation and transversely paired alignment, the carton having provision for retaining the endmost bottles against unintentional movement out of the carton while enabling those bottles to be readily removed without destroying the bottle retaining and carrying characteristics of the carton so that the carton can subsequently be used for returning the bottles, when emptied, to the distributor, the carton further having a handle forming structure which extends into the interior of the package between centre pairs of the bottles and which may remain intact while those bottles are removed and replaced.

In accordance with the invention from one aspect there is provided a package comprising a group of bottles arranged in double row relation and in transversely aligned pairs, and a tubular carton formed from a flat blank of foldable sheet material which is wrapped about the top, opposite sides and bottom of said group of bottles, said carton comprising a top wall forming panel disposed on the top of the bottles, side wall forming panels adjoining said top wall forming panel and extending along the outermost sides of the bottles in the two rows, and bottom wall forming panels folded beneath the bottles and having overlapped marginal portions with interengaging locking elements which connect said bottom wall forming panels together, said carton having first means for restraining the bottom ends of the bottles against movement longitudinally of the carton, further means at the ends of the top wall forming panel for restraining the top ends of the endmost bottles against unintentional movement out of the ends of the carton, in a releasable manner such that the endmost bottles can be removed and subsequently relocated within the carton, and a handle forming structure which comprises handle panels disposed in downwardly folded relation from a transverse hinge line in the plane of the top wall forming panel, said handle panels being positioned between centre pairs of the bottles and having finger accommodating apertures, the handle forming structure further comprising webs by which the handle panels are individually connected at their ends to the adjoining side wall forming panels, each handle panel and its associated webs being formed from material which is defined in the flat blank by a plurality of score lines and by a respective cut line which extends across the top wall forming panel and into the side wall forming panels at its ends, the apertures, one for each handle panel, formed in the carton by the downfolding of the said blank material to form the handle forming structure, being of a sufficient size to allow the centre pairs of bottles to be removed from the carton therethrough and subsequently replaced therethrough into the carton.

In accordance with the invention from a second aspect there is provided a unitary blank adapted for forming the carton of a package as defined in the preceding paragraph.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled bottle package, with bottles shown therein in phantom line, which embodies the principles of the invention Fig. 2 is an end view of the packaging of Fig. 1 to a larger scale; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the package of Fig. 1 to a larger scale; Fig. 4 is a partial longitudinal section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a plan view of a cut and scored blank for wrapping about a cluster of bottles to form the carton and package illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view showing a portion of a modified blank:: Fig. 7 is a fragmetary perspective view showing a portion of an end of a package formed with the modified blank of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of a further modified blank; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a top portion of one end of a package formed with the blank of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a partial plan view showing a central portion of a cut and scored blank for wrapping about a cluster of bottles to form a further modified bottle package; Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing a bottle package formed with the modified blank of Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a partial plan view showing a central portion of a cut and scored blank for wrapping about a cluster of bottles to form a still further modified bottle package; and Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing a bottle package formed with the modified blank of Fig. 12.

The carton 10 which is illustrated in Figs.

1 to 4, is formed by wrapping the blank 12 of Fig. 5 about a group of eight beverage bottles B which are arranged in two rows of four bottles with ~ the bottles Th transversely paired alignment. The blank 12 is paperboard or other suitable foldable sheet material which is cut and scored as shown in Fig. 5. The blank 12, which is symmetrical about a longitudinally extending centre line a-a, is divided by parallel, longitudinally spaced transverse score lines 14, 15, 16 and 17 into a top wall forming centre panel 18, adjoining side wall forming panels 20 and 22, and bottom wall forming panels 23 and 24, the last mentioned being at opposite end margins of the blank 12.The side wall forming panels 20 and 22 are subdivided by transversely extending score lines 25 and 26, which are parallel with and equally spaced from the score lines 15 and 16, into associated top and bottom side wall panel portions 27, 28 and 30, 32, respectively. The dimension of the top wall forming panel 18 in the direction longitudinally of the blank corresponds approximately to the distance between the outside edges of the capped tops of a pair of transversely aligned bottles B, which distance is less than the transverse distance at the bottom of the bottles with the result that in the assembled package the top side wall panel portions 27 and 30 are slanted toward each other, the score lines 25 and 26 being located so that the panel portions 27 and 30 generally follow the upward slant of the shoulders of the bottles, that is, the portions of the bottles joining the main portions of the bottle bodies to the bottle necks. The dimensions, longitudinally of the blank, of the bottom side wall panel portions 28, 32 correspond generally to the height of the main body portions of the bottles B. The transverse dimension of the major portion of the blank 12 corresponds approximately to the bottom dimension of the rows of bottles B, when grouped as shown in Fig. 3, so that the carton takes the form of an open ended tube with provision for restraining the bottles against removal out of the ends of the tube as will become apparent.

Relatively narrow top wall end panels 33 and 34 are formed in opposite side margins of the blank 12 so as to extend from the opposite ends of the top wall forming panel 18. The panels 33 and 34 are separated from the panel 18 by longitudinally extending hinge forming score lines 35 and 36 with the opposite ends of the panels joined to the adjoining side wall panel portions 27 and 30 by foldable, triangular webs 37, 38 and 40, 42 which in the set-up carton are folded so as to lie in the inside surfaces of the top side wall panel portions, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. The top wall end panels 33 and 34 project a short distance beyond the longitudinally extending side edges 43 and 44 of the blank 12 and extend inwardly thereof by a similar distance to the score lines 35 and 36, as can be seen in Fig. 5.

The top wall forming panel 18 and the adjoining side wall panel portions 27 and 30 are cut and scored to provide a handle forming structure 45 (Figs. 1 to 4) when the package is formed. A score line 46, extending longitudinally of the blank and centered transversely thereof, is adapted to form a hinge fold for a pair of handle panels 47 and 48 which extend on opposite sides of the score line 46 and are cut from the material in the panel 18 with end portions 50, 52 and 53, 54 of the handle forming structure 45 extending into the adjoining top side wall panel portions 27 and 30.The handle panels 47 and 48 and end portions 50 52 and 53, 54 are formed by cutting on curved lines 55 and 56 which are equally spaced laterally of the blank in relation to the score line 46, which, in the form illustrated, are semi-circular and convex towards the blank side edges, and which at their ends extend into the side wall panel portions 27 and 30 where they join the ends of pairs of score lines 155, 156 and 57, 58.

The score lines 155, 156 and 57, 58 extend in diverging relation from the intersections of the score line 46 with the transverse score lines 15 and 16 and are adapted to serve as hinge folds for the end portions 50, 52 and 53, 54 which constitute triangular web formations connecting the handle panels to the side wall panel portions 27 and 30 at opposite ends of the panels 47 and 48 when the panels 47 and 48 are folded vertically downwards within the carton so as with the end portions 50, 52, 53 and 54 to form the handle structure 45 as shown in Fig. 4.The handle panels 47 and 48 are provided with aligned finger apertures by cutting on curved lines 60, 62 and scoring on hinge forming lines 63, 64 thereby providing small reinforcing tabs 65 and 66 which are adapted to fold on the lines 63, 64 to the position shown in Fig. 4 or to a position sandwiched between the folded panels 47 and 48.

The side wall panel portions 28 and 32 each provided with apertures 67 of identical configuration, which are spaced transversely of the blank in accordance with the spacing of the bottles in the lengthwise rows. The apertures 67 interrupt the score lines 14 and 17 and extend a short distance into the bottom wall forming panels 23 and 24. The uppermost edges of the apertures 67 in the set-up carton are defined by curved cut lines 68 which are convex in relation to the aperture 67 and have their ends connected by transverse fold lines 70 and 72 which are spaced towards the centre of the blank in relation to the fold lines 14 and 17.

The small tabs defined by the cut lines 68 are centrally divided by short cuts 73 extending longitudinally of the blank. The apertures 67 are adapted to receive the heels of the bottles so as to hold the bottles at the bottom against movement in the tightly wrapped package 10. The apertures 67 and associated elements may be formed in accordance with the disclosure in U.S.

Patent No. 3,589, 593, granted to Arthur J.

Weiss, on June 29, 1971.

The bottom wall forming panels 23 and 24 at the end margins of the blank 12 are provided with locking and latching means in the free marginal portions which are adapted to be overlapped and secured beneath the bottom of the bottle assembly in wrapping the blank about the assembly so as to form the package 10. The panel 24, which is the outermost of the panels 23 and 24 when those panels are overlapped to form the carton bottom, is scored on a transverse line 74 to provide a relatively narrow male locking panel 75 on the blank end margin. The score line 74 is spaced from the end edge of the blank and is interrupted by transversely spaced cut lines 76 which extend into the main body of the panel 24 to as to provide locking tab members 77.

Latching fingers 78, having enlarged heads and reduced neck portions. are formed on the blank end margin in alingment with the locking tab members 77. The locking panel 75 may be sectionalized, as shown, to facilitate manipulation during the locking operation. The other bottom wall forming panel 23, which may be termed the female locking panel, is provided along its free margin with a series of locking apertures 80 for receiving the locking tab members 77 and the latching fingers 78. The locking apertures 80 are transversely spaced in accordance with the spacing of the locking and latching elements 77 and 78 so as to co operate therewith in securing the panels 23 and 24. The locking and latching arrangement may be the same as the corresponding arrangement described in the aforesaid U.S. Patent No. 3,589,593 or as described in U.S. Patent No. 3,556,386, granted to Robert H.Ganz, on January 19, 1971.

The manner in which the cut and scored blank 12 is applied to the group of bottles B will be readily apparent from the drawings and the foregoing description. The blank is designed to be fed down over the top surfaces of the bottles with the handle panels 47 and 48 turned down towards a vertical centre plane so as to lie between the two centre pairs of transversely aligned bottles whilst leaving openings in the top panel 18 to provide access to the centre pairs of bottles. The side wall panel portions 27, 28 and 30, 32 are folded down against the outermost side surfaces of the bottles and the bottom wall forming panels 23 and 24 are overlapped with the locking tab members 77 and latching fingers 78 being engaged in the apertures 80 while tightly drawn to confine the bottles.The latch forming fingers 78 are positioned in a vertical plane, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to serve as separators for the bottom portions of the transversely aligned pairs of bottles.

The bottoms of the bottles are seated in the apertures 67. The panels 33 and 34 are turned down into respective generally vertical planes so as to confine the end pairs of bottles at the tops thereof. These panels 33 and 34 may serve as advertising elements and they can be hinged outward without destruction so as to release the tops of the end pairs of bottles for removal and subsequent replacement. When the bottles are replaced the panels 33 and 34 can be returned to their bottle restraining positions without destruction of the webs 37 40 and 38, 42 which retain them in such positions.

Appropriate instructions for removing and replacing the bottles may be printed on the carton surface. The consumer is able to discern, generally without instructions, that the bottles may be readily removed and replaced without destroying the carton and the handle arrangement alerts him to the reuse capability for returning the bottles to the distributor.

In Figs, 6 and 7 there is illustrated a modified arrangement for restraining the end pairs of bottles in the package. Only one of the modified top wall end arrangements is shown, it being understood that a corres ponding arrangement is provided at the other side of the blank 112 (Fig. 6). The blank 112 is scored to provide the top wall forming panel, now denoted 118, with longitudinally spaced, transverse score lines 115 and 116 defining side edges of the panel 118, and a longitudinally extending score line 135 which separates the panel 118 from a top wall end panel 133. The score line 135 is offset inwardly of the side edge 143 of the bank. A rectangular tongue projects outwardly beyond the blank side edge 143, being defined by a longitudinally directed edge 182 between transverse edges 183 and 184.The edges 183, 184 are speced longitudinally of the blank so as to be outwardly and symmetrically offset from the transverse score lines 115 and 116 in relation to the top wall forming panel 118. Hinge forming score lines 185 and 186 extend from the intersections of the score line 135 with the transverse score lines 115 and 116, to the intersections of the edges 183 and 184 with the blank side edge 143, so as to define -hinge sides of webs 137 and 140 which connect the panel 133 with side wall panel portions 127 and 130 corresponding to the panel portions 27 and 30 in Figs. 1 to 5.

Further hinge sides are defined for these webs 137 and 140 by score lines 187 and 188 which diverge outwardly from the ends of the transverse score lines 115 and 116 within the score lines 185, 186. The score lines 186 and 188 extend to relatively short, longitudinally extending cut lines 190 and 192 which extend towards each other to respective cut lines 193 and 194. The cut lines 193,194 in turn extend to the edge 182.

In the set-up carton the webs 137, 140 lie against the inside faces of the side wall forming panels to provide reinforcement in that area. In addition, the top wall end panel 133 is somewhat deeper than the end panels 33, 34 of the carton of Figs. 1 to 5.

Another top wall end arrangement is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. The top wall forming panel, now denoted 218, is formed in the blank 212 in the same manner as before, by spaced, transverse score lines 215 and 216. The top wall end panel 233 is separated from the panel 218 by a longitudinal score line 235 which extends a substantial distance towards opposite ends of the blank 212 and defines end parts of the top panel portions 227 and 230 of the side wall forming panels. These end parts of the panel portions 227, 230 are separated from the top wall end panel 233 by score lines 288, 290 which extend in a divergent manner from the intersections of the score lines 215, 216 with the score line 235, into and across a rectangular tongue which projects outwardly beyond the side edge 243 of the blank.The tongue, which is formed by the top wall and panel 233 and the end parts of the panel portions 227, 230 in combination, is defined by a longitudinally directed edge 286, and transverse edges 284, 285 at its ends. The inner ends of the edges 284, 285 are located on the intersections of the score line 235 with transverse score lines 225, 226 which separate the top panel portions 227, 230 of the side wall forming panels from the respective bottom panel portions of those panels; they are joined to the longitudinal blank edge 243 proper by inclined portions 282, 283 of that edge. The end parts of the panel portions 227, 230 are sub-divided by inclined score lines 287, 292 which extend divergently from the intersections of the score lines 215, 216 with the score line 235 to the edge 286 of the tongue.They accordingly form the end parts of the panel portions 227, 230 into triangular webs 293, 294 on either side of the top wall end panel 233, and further webs 295, 296 forming the free corners of the tongue. In the set-up carton (Fig. 9) the webs 293, 295 and, likewise, 294 296 are folded against one another and against the inside faces of the respective panel portions 227, 230 so as to reinforce the connections between the top wall end panel 233 and the side wall forming panels.

In Figs. 10 to 11 another modified form of the blank and carton is illustrated. The blank 312 (Fig. 10) is cut and scored as described with respect to blank 12 (Fig. 5) except for the top wall forming panel 318 and adjoining top panel portions 327 and 330 of the side wall forming panels. The top wall forming panel 318 is defined in the blank 312 by spaced, parallel transverse score lines 315 and 316 while the adjoining top side wall panel portions 327 and 330 extend between the score lines 315 and 316 and transversely extending, parallel score lines 325 and 326 which are spaced from the score lines 315 and 316, respectively. A handle forming structure is formed in the panel 318 and the panel positions 327, 330 in the same manner as the handle structure in the blank of Fig. 5.Score lines 335 and 336 are spaced inwardly of the side edges of the blank and extend between the transverse score lines 315 and 316 so as to define fold lines for top wall end panels 333 and 334 which are connected to top corner portions of the top side wall panel portions 327 and 330 by triangular webs 337, 340 and 338, 342. The distance between the score lines 315 and 316 is somewhat less than the distance between the outside edges of the bottle caps of the aligned pairs of endmost bottles, and cap receiving apertures 370 are provided in the top side waX panel portions and so located so that the caps on the endmost bottles seat therein when the blank is wrapped about the bottles.The blank 312 is assembled with a cluster of bottles B and wrapped about the bottles in the same manner as described with respect to the blank 12, with possibly somewhat less tension when the bottom wall forming panels are locked together, so that the apertures 370 will serve to restrain the endmost bottles against movement out of the ends of the carton while at the same time the end bottles may be intentionally removed without destroying the retention capablities of the carton. In this form the top wall end panels are not relied upon to hold the end bottles in the carton.

Still another modified form of the blank and carton is illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13.

The blank 412 is cut and scored in the same manner as described with respect to the blank 12 except for the omission of the top wall end panels 33, 34 and the provision of cap receiving apertures 470 in the top side wall panel portions 427 and 430. The top wall forming panel 418 is defined by spaced transverse score lines 415 and 416 while the adjoining top side wall panel portions 427 and 430 are defined by spaced parallel score lines 425, 415 and 426. Apertures 470 are provided in the side wall panel portions 427 and 430 adjacent the score lines 415 and 416 in which the caps on the endmost bottles are seated when the blank is wrapped about a cluster of bottles so as to serve as a means for restraining the endmost bottles against accidental movement out of the ends of the carton while permitting intentional removal without the need for tearing the blank material.Handle panels 447 and 448 are formed in the blank 412 in the same manner as the handle panels 47 and48 in the blank 12 and are folded to form handle members in the same way.

In all forms of the carton which are disclosed, the handle forming structure is the same. In each form the handle panels depend from the plane of the top wall forming panel so that they nest between the two centre pairs of bottles. The bottles of the two centre pairs may be readily removed upwardly through the openings which are created at the top of the carton, one to either side of the handle forming structure, when the handle forming structure is formed. With the exercise of a normal degree of care the endmost bottles may also be removed without appreciable tearing of the blank and without destroying the retention capability of the carton, so that the empty bottles may be replaced for a return trip to the distribution centre.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A package comprising a group of bottles arranged in double row relation and in transversely aligned pairs, and a tubular carton formed from a flat blank of foldable

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. top wall and panel 233 and the end parts of the panel portions 227, 230 in combination, is defined by a longitudinally directed edge 286, and transverse edges 284, 285 at its ends. The inner ends of the edges 284, 285 are located on the intersections of the score line 235 with transverse score lines 225, 226 which separate the top panel portions 227, 230 of the side wall forming panels from the respective bottom panel portions of those panels; they are joined to the longitudinal blank edge 243 proper by inclined portions 282, 283 of that edge. The end parts of the panel portions 227, 230 are sub-divided by inclined score lines 287, 292 which extend divergently from the intersections of the score lines 215, 216 with the score line 235 to the edge 286 of the tongue.They accordingly form the end parts of the panel portions 227, 230 into triangular webs 293, 294 on either side of the top wall end panel 233, and further webs 295, 296 forming the free corners of the tongue. In the set-up carton (Fig. 9) the webs 293, 295 and, likewise, 294 296 are folded against one another and against the inside faces of the respective panel portions 227, 230 so as to reinforce the connections between the top wall end panel 233 and the side wall forming panels. In Figs. 10 to 11 another modified form of the blank and carton is illustrated. The blank 312 (Fig. 10) is cut and scored as described with respect to blank 12 (Fig. 5) except for the top wall forming panel 318 and adjoining top panel portions 327 and 330 of the side wall forming panels. The top wall forming panel 318 is defined in the blank 312 by spaced, parallel transverse score lines 315 and 316 while the adjoining top side wall panel portions 327 and 330 extend between the score lines 315 and 316 and transversely extending, parallel score lines 325 and 326 which are spaced from the score lines 315 and 316, respectively. A handle forming structure is formed in the panel 318 and the panel positions 327, 330 in the same manner as the handle structure in the blank of Fig. 5.Score lines 335 and 336 are spaced inwardly of the side edges of the blank and extend between the transverse score lines 315 and 316 so as to define fold lines for top wall end panels 333 and 334 which are connected to top corner portions of the top side wall panel portions 327 and 330 by triangular webs 337, 340 and 338, 342. The distance between the score lines 315 and 316 is somewhat less than the distance between the outside edges of the bottle caps of the aligned pairs of endmost bottles, and cap receiving apertures 370 are provided in the top side waX panel portions and so located so that the caps on the endmost bottles seat therein when the blank is wrapped about the bottles.The blank 312 is assembled with a cluster of bottles B and wrapped about the bottles in the same manner as described with respect to the blank 12, with possibly somewhat less tension when the bottom wall forming panels are locked together, so that the apertures 370 will serve to restrain the endmost bottles against movement out of the ends of the carton while at the same time the end bottles may be intentionally removed without destroying the retention capablities of the carton. In this form the top wall end panels are not relied upon to hold the end bottles in the carton. Still another modified form of the blank and carton is illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13. The blank 412 is cut and scored in the same manner as described with respect to the blank 12 except for the omission of the top wall end panels 33, 34 and the provision of cap receiving apertures 470 in the top side wall panel portions 427 and 430. The top wall forming panel 418 is defined by spaced transverse score lines 415 and 416 while the adjoining top side wall panel portions 427 and 430 are defined by spaced parallel score lines 425, 415 and 426. Apertures 470 are provided in the side wall panel portions 427 and 430 adjacent the score lines 415 and 416 in which the caps on the endmost bottles are seated when the blank is wrapped about a cluster of bottles so as to serve as a means for restraining the endmost bottles against accidental movement out of the ends of the carton while permitting intentional removal without the need for tearing the blank material.Handle panels 447 and 448 are formed in the blank 412 in the same manner as the handle panels 47 and48 in the blank 12 and are folded to form handle members in the same way. In all forms of the carton which are disclosed, the handle forming structure is the same. In each form the handle panels depend from the plane of the top wall forming panel so that they nest between the two centre pairs of bottles. The bottles of the two centre pairs may be readily removed upwardly through the openings which are created at the top of the carton, one to either side of the handle forming structure, when the handle forming structure is formed. With the exercise of a normal degree of care the endmost bottles may also be removed without appreciable tearing of the blank and without destroying the retention capability of the carton, so that the empty bottles may be replaced for a return trip to the distribution centre. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A package comprising a group of bottles arranged in double row relation and in transversely aligned pairs, and a tubular carton formed from a flat blank of foldable

sheet material which is wrapped about the top, opposite sides and bottom of said group of bottles, said carton comprising a top wall forming panel disposed on the top of the bottles, side wall forming panels adjoining said top wall forming panel and extending along the outermost sides of the bottles in the two rows, and bottom wall forming panels folded beneath the bottles and having overlapped marginal portions with inter-engaging locking elements which connect said bottom wall forming panels together, said carton having first means for restraining the bottom ends of the bottles against movement longitudinally of the carton, further means at the ends of the top wall forming panel for restraining the top ends of the endmost bottles against unintentional movement out of the ends of the carton, in a releasable manner such that the endmost bottles can be removed and subsequently relocated within the carton, and a handle forming structure which comprises handle panels disposed in downwardly folded relation from a transverse hinge line in the plane of the top wall forming panel, said handle panels being positioned between centre pairs of the bottles and having finger accommodating apertures, the handle forming structure further comprising webs by which the handle panels are individually connected at their ends to the adjoining side wall forming panels, each handle panel and its associated webs being formed from material which is defined in the flat blank by a plurality of score lines and by a respective cut line which extends across the top wall forming panel and into the side wall forming panels at its ends, the apertures, one for each handle panel, formed in the carton by the downfolding of the said blank material to form the handle forming structure, being of a sufficient size to allow the centre pairs of bottles to be removed from the carton therethrough and subsequently replaced therethrough into the carton.

2. A package as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said handle panels are disposed in face-to-face engagement with - each other and have their finger accommodating apertures aligned.

3. A package as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said cut lines are C-shaped and mutually concave.

4. A package as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said further means are comprised of cap accommodating apertures formed in the side wall forming panels at the attachment thereof to the top wall forming panel, the cap accommodating apertures receiving and locating portions of the caps of the endmost bottles.

5. A package as claimed in any claim of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said futher means comprise end panels which are hingedly connected to the top wall forming panel, as end extensions thereof, along hinge lines which are spaced inwardly of the ends of the side wall forming panels, the end panels being connected to the side wall forming panels by webs which are folded in relation to the end panels and the side wall forming panels.

6. A package as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the webs are triangular.

7. A package as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the webs are folded on themselves and parts thereof lie against the inside faces of the side wall forming panels so that the webs reinforce the connections between the end panels and the side wall forming panels.

8. A unitary blank adapted for forming the carton of a package as claimed in any preceding claim.

9. A unitary blank, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 5, 6, 8, 10 or 12 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A package substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.