AU2012201957B2

AU2012201957B2 - A carton and blank

Info

Publication number: AU2012201957B2
Application number: AU2012201957A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Graeme Hawke
Original assignee: Opal Packaging Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Opal Packaging Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2011-04-14
Filing date: 2012-04-04
Publication date: 2015-10-29
Anticipated expiration: 2032-04-04
Also published as: AU2012201957A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a carton and blank for the convenience foods such as French fries, the carton can 5 be nested inside an alike carton and is preferably made of paper based materials. The carton has an upwardly facing opening and a line of weakness extending from the opening in the front wall and pre-formed fold lines that, when the line of weakness is broken, enable flaps to be folded 10 outward to enlarge the opening. Extending from a rear wall of the carton is foldable assembly comprising two sub-flaps, one of which can be folded away from the rear wall and a the second folded toward the rear wall, so that the folding assembly protrudes from the rear wall. When 15 the carton is oriented onto the foldable assembly, the carton is able to be supported in an inclined orientation with the foldable assembly, and either one or both of the lower end of the rear wall or base of the carton sitting on a supporting surface. 32626091 (GHMatters) P86582.AU.1 3/04/12 Figure 7 (3 I3 Figre 632 2 14, 14 2-2

Description

GRIFFITH TRDMAK HACK IP LAW SPECIFICATION OF PATENT APPLICATION COUNTRY AUSTRALIA TYPE Patent TITLE A CARTON AND BLANK APPLICANT Amcor Limited - 1 A CARTON AND BLANK FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 The present invention relates to a carton for convenience foods such as fried or baked potato chips. The present invention also relates to a blank for making the carton. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 10 Convenience foods, such as fried potato chips are presently packaged in a variety of different packages including: wrapping paper, cardboard trays which are typically wrapped in wrapping paper, small multilayered 15 paper bags and cardboard cups. While packaging in the form of wrapping paper or trays allow several people to take food items from the packaging, it is more difficult for several people to eat from the smaller paper bags and cups. 20 The present invention provides an alternative carton and blank for convenience food items such as fried ships and alike. 25 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a carton for convenience foods such as French fries, the carton including a side wall defining an opening for loading food items into the 30 carton, the side wall having a line of weakness extending from the opening that can be broken to allow at least a part of the side wall to be moved outwardly to enlarge the opening defined by the side wall. 35 An advantage of the carton is that by enlarging the opening, a group of people can more conveniently share food items from the carton without emptying the contents 68276301 (GHMatters) P86582.AU.1 BYRON 11/09/15 -2 of the carton. The side wall may be made of any material suitable for containing food. For example, the material of the side 5 wall may be any sheet material such as, but by no means limited to paper, cardboard, corrugated cardboard, polymeric sheeting, plastic sheeting, metalised sheeting, and laminations thereof. The material may also include synthetic fibres or natural fibres such as cellulosic, 10 hemp, cotton and alike. The side wall of the carton may have a stiffness that enables the container to retain an erect or assembled formation under the weight of food loaded into the carton. 15 The material suitably has sufficient stiffness to allow the carton to be held by hand or placed on a surface and the carton can maintain a self-supporting orientation when loaded with food. 20 The side wall of the carton may be made of any paper based material, such as but by no means limited to paper, cardboard, corrugated cardboard, cartonboard and so forth. Cartonboard or corrugated board is an example of material 25 with the required degree of stiffness, but other materials may also have the required stiffness. The line of weakness may include one or more serrated lines or perforated lines that are pre-formed in the side 30 wall. The line of weakness may extend at least half the height of the side wall, and suitably at least 75% of the height of the side wall, and even more suitably along the entire 35 height of the side wall. Suitably, the carton includes two lines of weakness that 68276301 (GHMatters) P86582.AU.1 BYRON 11/09/15 - 3 define at least in part opposite sides of an openable panel that can be peeled away from the opening by breaking the lines of weakness. 5 The openable panel may include a tear strip. For instance, the tear strip may extend in a longitudinal direction of the side wall. The tear strip may have any width and, for example may have a width in the range of 0.5 to 2.0cm. 10 The openable panel may include a tongue having a width lateral to the lines of weakness that is at least half the width of a front sub-panel of the side wall. 15 The tear strip and/or tongue may be separable from the carton when the lines of weakness are broken, or remain attached to the carton when the lines of weakness are broken. The side wall may also include at least one pre-formed 20 crease that defines, with the line(s) of weakness, flaps on the side wall that can be folded outwardly to enlarge the opening when the line(s) of weakness have been broken. Suitably, one or more of the pre-formed creases are spaced from the line(s) of weakness at the opening of the carton 25 and converge toward the line(s) of weakness in a direction down the carton away from the opening. The pre-formed creases may intersect with the line(s) of weakness at a spacing from the opening defined by the side walls. One of the pre-formed creases may be located either side of 30 the line(s) of weakness so as to define openable flaps either side of the line(s) of weakness. Even more suitably, the openable flaps have a wedge shape or triangular shape. 35 The side wall of the carton may include a front panel and an opposite rear panel, and the line of weakness is 68276301 (GHMatters) P86582.AU.1 BYRON 11/09/15 - 4 provide in the front panel. Suitably, the line of weakness and the pre-formed creases are also provided in the front panel. 5 The carton may include a foldable assembly having at least one supporting sub-panel extending from the side wall of the carton, the supporting sub-panel being foldable between: i) an inoperative position in which the sub-panel 10 forms part of, or is retracted toward, the side wall of the carton such that the carton is able to be oriented with a length of the side wall against a flat support surface, and ii) an operative position in which the sub-panel 15 protrudes from the side wall so that when the carton is oriented onto the folding assembly, the carton is located at an inclined orientation relative to when the support assembly is in the inoperative position. 20 Ideally, the at least one supporting sub-panel extends from a rear panel of the side wall. Suitably, the sub panels extend across the width of the carton and when in the operative position support eh carton in a stable 25 orientation, so as to prevent the carton from rocking from side-to-side when oriented onto the folding assembly i.e., with the rear panel facing downwardly. When the supporting sub-panel is in an inoperative 30 position, suitably, a plane of the sub-panel lies adjacent or planar with the side wall. An advantage of this feature is that the carton can be stacked one inside the other in nesting relationship without interference from the foldable assembly. 35 The at least one supporting sub-panel extends from an upper portion of the side wall, and suitably, the folding 68276301 (GHMatters) P86582.AU.1 BYRON 11/09/15 - 5 assembly protrudes from the side wall adjacent to the opening of the carton when in an operative position. In an embodiment, the foldable assembly includes a first 5 of the sub-panel that is joined to the side wall along a first fold line, and a second of the sub-panels is joined to the first sub-panel along a second fold line, and when in an operative position, the first sub-panel is folded to extend away from the side wall and the second sub-panel is 10 folded to extend toward the side wall so that an outer end of the second sub-panel engages the side wall. In an embodiment, the carton includes a securing mechanism having co-operating male and female formations that inter 15 fit to secure the folding assembly in an operative position. Either one or both of the male and female formations may be provided on the sub-panels. Either one of the male or female formations may also form a part of, or extend from the side wall of the carton. 20 Ideally, the second panel includes a male formation and the side wall of the carton has a co-operating female formation for securing the folding assembly in an operative position. Suitably, the male formation includes 25 a curved outer edge on the second panel that is received by an opening, and ideally a slit in a side wall, which is spaced from the fold line connecting the first sub-panel to the side wall. 30 The male formation may have a neck portion and a head portion that has a maximum width that is greater than the neck portion, and the female formation has an opening less that the maximum width of the head portion such that the male formation is inter-fitted to the female portion by 35 manipulating the head portion. The present invention also relates to a carton for 68276301 (GHMatters) P86582.AU.1 BYRON 11/09/15 - 6 convenience foods such as French fries, the carton including a side wall defining an opening for loading food items into the carton, the side walls being made of paper based material and carton includes a foldable assembly 5 having at least one supporting sub-panel extending from the side wall of the carton, the supporting sub-panel being foldable between: i) an inoperative position in which the sub-panel is retracted toward or within the side wall of the 10 carton such that the carton is able to be oriented with a length of the side wall against a flat support surface, and ii) an operative position in which the sub-panel is advanced or protrudes from the side wall so that 15 when the carton is oriented onto the folding assembly, the carton is located at an inclined orientation relative to when the support assembly is in the inoperative position. 20 The carton of the present invention described in the paragraph immediately above may also include any one or a combination of the features throughout this specification. For example, the carton may also have an openable formation having a line of weakness extending from the 25 opening that can be broken and allow the opening to be enlarged. According to the present invention there is also provided a blank for making the carton described herein, the blank 30 being made of a paper based material and including: a series of panels that, when the blank is made into a carton, form a side wall defining an opening for loading food items into the carton, a first of the panels for forming a front of the carton has a line of weakness 35 extending from an outer edge of the first panel that in part defines the opening of the carton made from the blank, the line of weakness being able to be broken to 68276301 (GHMatters) P86582.AU.1 BYRON 11/09/15 - 7 allow at least a part of the first panel to be moved outwardly to enlarge the opening defined by the series of panels. 5 At least two foldable sub-panels may also extend from an upper edge of a second of the panels for forming a rear of a carton made from the blank, a first sub-panel extends from the second panel along a first fold line and can be folded to protrude away from the second panel, and a 10 second of the sub-panels is joined to the first sub-panel along a second fold line, which can be folded so that the second sub-panel extends from the first sub-panel towards and engages an outside face of the second panel of the side wall. 15 The present invention also relates to a blank for making a carton for convenience foods, the blank being made of paper based material and includes a series of panels that when assembled into a carton form a side wall of the 20 carton and define an opening for loading food items into the carton, and the blank includes at least one supporting sub-panel extending from one of the panels that may form a rear panel of a carton, the supporting sub-panel extending from the panel along a fold line and can be folded 25 between: i) an inoperative position in which the sub-panel forms part of, or is retracted toward a side wall of the carton made from the blank such that a length of the panel is able to be oriented against 30 a flat support surface; and ii) an operative position in which the sub-panel is advanced or protrudes from the panel so that when the blank is made into a carton and oriented onto the sub-panel, the carton is located at an inclined 35 orientation relative to when the sub-panel is in the inoperative position. 68276301 (GHMatters) P86582.AU.1 BYRON 11/09/15 - 8 The blanks may also include any one or a combination of the features of the present invention described herein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 5 Examples of cartons and blanks will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a photograph showing a perspective view of a carton in which the carton is laying to one side 10 so that a front panel of a side wall is facing upwardly, and a rear panel of the side wall faces downwardly, and in which the carton has a folding assembly in an operative position that orients the carton into an inclined position to a surface relative to when the folding assembly is 15 collapsed flat into an inoperative position; Figure 2 is a photograph showing a perspective view of one version of the carton shown in Figure 1 in which the front panel of the carton has been opened along a single serrated line of weakness to enlarge the opening 20 to make it easier for food items to be removed from the carton; Figure 3 is a photograph showing a perspective view of another version of the carton shown in Figure 1 in which the front panel of the carton has been opened along 25 a tear strip to enlarge the opening to make it easier for food items to be removed from the carton; Figure 4 illustrates a blank for making the version of the carton shown in Figure 2; Figure 5 illustrates a blank for making the 30 version of the carton shown in Figure 3; Figure 6 is a schematic illustration of an upper perspective view of a carton in which a front panel of a side wall of the carton includes an intact tear strip having a line of weakness and two pre-creased fold lines 35 in a V-shape; Figure 7 is a blank for making the carton shown in Figure 6; 68276301 (GHMatters) P86582.AU.1 BYRON 11/09/15 - 9 Figure 8 is a schematic illustration of an upper perspective view of a carton in which a front panel of a side wall of the carton includes an intact line of weakness and two pre-creased fold lines in a V-shape; and 5 Figure 9 is a blank for making the carton shown in Figure 8. DETAILED DESCRIPTION 10 Preferred embodiments of four cartons and four blanks for making the cartons will now be described with reference to the accompanying Figures. As a matter of convenience, the same reference numerals have been used in the Figures to identify the same or similar features on the cartons and 15 the blanks. The following text includes reference numerals which are used to help identify particular features in the Figures. However, in order to maintain the clarity of the Figures, 20 not all of the reference numerals have been included in each Figure. In addition, it will also be appreciated that not all of the features form part of the embodiment shown in the Figures. 25 With reference to the Figures, the carton 1 includes a base wall 10 that is joined by fold lines 12 to front and rear panels 13 and 14 respectively of the side walls 2. As a result of the curved fold lines 12 connected to the side wall 2, the base wall 10 has a concave profile that 30 faces outwardly when the carton is in an upright orientation, and the front and rear panels 13 and 14 of the side wall 2 have a convex profile that face outwardly (see Figs 1 to 3). 35 The side wall 2 of the carton 1 also includes end panels 15 extending from longitudinal fold lines 16 on opposites sides of the front panel 13. Each end side wall panel 15 68276301 (GHMatters) P86582.AU.1 BYRON 11/09/15 - 10 comprise two sub-panels 15a, 15b and an attachment flap 17 that is adhered using food grade adhesive to the rear side wall panel 14 to erect the side wall of the carton. The front 13, rear 14 and end side panels 15 form a side wall 5 2 of the carton 1 that defines an opening via which food can be loaded into the carton 1. Figures 1 to 3 illustrate the carton 1 in tilted orientation in which the rear panel 14 faces downwardly, and the front panel 13 faces upwardly. 10 The base wall 10 is not directly connected to the end side panels 15 which allows the carton 1 to be flattened. When in the flattened form, the front 13 and rear 14 panels are located against one another while the fold line 11 in the 15 base wall 10 and the fold line between the sub-panels 15a and 15b of the end wall are folded, and suitably fodled outwardly. As can be seen in the Figures, the front 13, rear 14 and 20 end panels 15 of the side wall 2 increase in width in a direction moving away from the base wall 10 such that the cross-section of the carton 1 increases in a direction away from the base wall 10. A benefit of this feature is that the cartons 1 can be stacked in nesting relationship, 25 one inside the other. With reference to Figures 1 to 5, the cartons 1 and blanks 3 also include a foldable assembly 18 that extends from a first fold line 19 interconnecting the foldable support 30 assembly to the rear panel 14 of the side wall 2. The foldable assembly includes two sub-panels, namely a first sub-panel 20 that is joined to the rear side wall panel 14 along the first fold line, and a second sub-panel 21 extending from the first sub-panel 20 along a second fold 35 line 22. Figures 1 to 3 show the foldable assembly in an operative position in which the first sub-panel 20 is oriented away from the rear side wall panel 14 and the 68276301 (GHMatters) P86582.AU.1 BYRON 11/09/15 - 11 second sub-panel 21 is oriented toward the rear side wall panel 14. An outer edge of the second sub-panel 21 is received by a slit 23 in the rear side wall panel 14 that is spaced from the first fold line 19 to secure the 5 support assembly in the operative position. When the carton is tilted onto the folding assembly 18, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the carton 1 is located in an inclined orientation that spaces the opening 25 of the 10 carton 1 above the support surface. By inclining the carton 1 in this manner, the contents of the carton 1 are less likely to be spilt from the carton 1 than if laid flat on its rear side wall panel 14. In addition, the weight of the contents of the carton 1 helps to prevent 15 the outer edge of the second sub-panel 21 from dislodging from the slit 23. In addition, the first and second sub-panels 20 and 21 provide flat support that stabilises the carton and 20 prevents the carton from rocking on the rear side wall panel 14. Although not shown in the Figures, the foldable assembly 18 may be located in an inoperative position in which the 25 assembly does not protrude outwardly from the rear side wall panel 14 of the carton 1. As a result, when in the inoperative position, the carton 1 can be readily stacked in nesting relationship and lie against a flat support surface with the opening 25 adjacent to the flat surface. 30 In addition, the front side wall panel 13 of the carton 1 has an openable formation including at least one line of weakness 30 extending from the opening 25 of the carton 1. The line of weakness 30 can be broken to allow at least 35 part of the front panel 13 to be opened outwardly to enlarge the opening, and thereby make it easier for a group of people to take items from the carton 1. 68276301 (GHMatters) P86582.AU.1 BYRON 11/09/15 - 12 In the case of the embodiment shown in Figure 2, a single line of weakness 30 has been broken and bi-sects the front panel 13 and extends from the opening to the base wall 10. 5 Two wedge shaped panels 31 are formed in the front panel 13 of the side wall 2 by a pair of angled pre-creased fold lines 32 that interconnecting the front panel 13 to the end side wall panels 15 and converge towards, and insects with, the line of weakness 30 at the base wall 10 of the 10 carton. When the line of weakness 30 is broken, the two wedge shaped panels 31 can be folded outwardly, as shown in Figure 2 along pre-formed creases fold lines 32. In the case of the embodiment shown in Figure 3, a tear 15 strip 35 centrally located on the front panel 13 of the side wall 2 extends from the opening 25 toward the base wall 10. The tear strip 35 is formed by two parallel serrated lines of weakness 30 that are formed in the conventional manner. Figure 5 illustrates a blank for 20 making the carton shown in Figure 3. As can best be seen from Figure 5, the tear strip 35 includes a series of spaced cuts and frangible bridge portions that are connected to the front side wall panel in Figure 5. 25 A pair of angled pre-creased fold lines 32 also extends from the fold lines 33 interconnecting the front side wall panel 13 to the end side wall panels 15, and converges toward, and intersects with, the tear strip 35 toward the base wall 10 of the carton. The lines of weakness 30 30 defining the tear strip 35 and the pre-creased fold lines 32 define two wedge shaped panels 31 that can be folded outwardly when the tear strip 35 is peeled away, as shown in the Figure 3. 35 A benefit of the carton 1 shown in the Figures is that the opening 25 defined by the side wall 2 can be enlarged to allow greater access to food in the carton 1. 68276301 (GHMatters) P86582.AU.1 BYRON 11/09/15 - 13 Figure 4 illustrates a blank 3 for making the carton 1 shown in Figure 2. The blank 3 includes a base wall panel 10 that is bisected by an intermediate fold line 11. The 5 base wall 10 has curved fold lines 12 that define the junction between the base wall 10 and the front and rear side walls panels 13 and 14 that extend from the opposite sides of the base wall 10. As can be seen, the width of the front and rear side wall panels 13 and 14 increases in 10 a direction away from the base wall 10 such that when the blank 3 is assembled into the carton, the carton can be stacked in nesting relationship with alike cartons. The curved fold lines 12, at the junctions of the base wall 10 with the front and rear side walls panels 13 and 14 causes 15 the base wall 10 to adopt a concave profile facing outwardly, and the front and rear side wall panels 13 and 14 adopt a convex profile facing outwardly when assembled, and as shown in the Figure 1 to 3. 20 End panels 15 of the side wall 2 comprising two sub-panels 15a, 15b and an attachment flap 17 extending from sub panel 15b is glued to, and forms part of, the rear panel 14. 25 A foldable assembly 18 extends from the rear panel 14 of the side wall 2. The foldable assembly 18 includes a first supporting sub-panel 20 extending from the rear side wall panel 14 and a second sub-panel 21 extending from the first sub-panel 20. An outer portion or edge of the 30 second sub-panel 21 is received by a slit 23 in the rear panel 14 which secures the first and second sub-panels 15a, 15b in an operative formation. The sub-panels 20 and 21 extend across the width of the 35 carton. Figures 1 to 3 illustrate the situation in which the carton is oriented onto the foldable assembly with the rear panel 14 of the side wall 2 facing downwardly. The 68276301 (GHMatters) P86582.AU.1 BYRON 11/09/15 - 14 sub-panels 20 and 21 stability supports carton so as not to rock sideways. Figure 5 illustrates a blank for making the carton shown 5 in Figure 3, and includes the same features described above for the blank shown in Figure 4. The blanks 3 shown in Figures 4 and 5 differ by the configuration of the openable formation of the front side 10 walls. The blank of Figure 4 includes a single line of weakness 30 and two pre-ceased fold lines 32 that are angled to form wedge shaped panels 31 in the front side wall panel 13 that can be opened in the manner shown in Figure 2. The blank of Figure 5 includes a tear strip 35 15 defined by two lines of weakness 30 and two pre-creased fold lines 32 that are angled to form wedge shaped panels 31 in the front wall panel 13 that can be opened in the manner shown in Figure 3. 20 It is also possible the lines of weakness 30 and fold lines 32 of blanks 3 shown in Figures 4 and 5 may also be excluded, in which case the foldable assembly 18 is common to each embodiment. 25 Figure 6 illustrates an upper perspective view of a carton 1 in which a front panel 13 of the side wall 2 includes a pair of the lines of the weakness 30 that define a tear strip 35. The tear strip 35 extending along the height of the front panel 13 and has been illustrated intact. The 30 tear strip 35 is much the same as the tear strip shown in Figures 3 and 5. However, unlike the embodiment of the carton shown in Figures 3 and 5, the carton of Figure 6 does not include a foldable assembly for supporting the carton in an inclined orientation. 35 Figure 7 illustrates a blank 3 for making the carton 1 shown in Figure 6. The blank 3 includes a rear 14, side 15 68276301 (GHMatters) P86582.AU.1 BYRON 11/09/15 - 15 and a front panel 13 which form the side wall 2 of the carton 1. The front panel 13 and rear panel 14 are interconnected by a base 10 and the front panel 13 includes tear strip 30. 5 Figure 8 illustrates an upper perspective view of a carton 1 in which a front panel 13 of the side wall 2 includes a single line of weakness 30 extending vertically over the height of the carton 1 so as bi-sect the front panel 13. 10 The line of weakness 30 is intact. By breaking the line of weakness 30, pre-creased fold lines 32 define flaps 31 that can be folded outwardly to enlarge the opening the carton in much the same way as the cartons 1 shown in Figure 2 and 3. However, unlike the cartons 1 shown in 15 Figures 1 to 3, the carton 1 shown in Figure 8 does not include a foldable assembly for the supporting the carton 1 in an inclined orientation. Figure 9 illustrates a blank 3 for making the carton 1 20 shown in Figure 8. The blank 3 includes a rear 14, side 15 and a front panel 13 which help form the carton 1. The front panel 13 and rear panel 14 are interconnected by a base 10 and the front panel 13 includes a line of weakness 30. 25 It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 30 For example, although not shown in the Figures, it is possible that the slit and outer edge of the second sub panel may be configured with inter-fitting formation that help prevent the second panel from disengaging from the rear side wall. 35 68276301 (GHMatters) P86582.AU.1 BYRON 11/09/15

Claims

1. A carton for convenience foods such as French fries, the carton including: 5 a side wall defining an opening for loading food items into the carton, and a base wall from which the side wall extends, and the carton can be seated in an upright orientation in which the base wall faces downwardly, 10 wherein the side wall has a front panel and an opposite rear panel, the front panel has a line of weakness extending from the opening that can be broken to allow at least a part of the front side wall to be folded to enlarge the opening defined by the side wall, 15 and wherein the side wall of the carton has a stiffness that enables the carton to be self-supporting and retain an erect formation under the weight of food loaded when: i) the carton is in the upright orientation and ii), when the carton is located in a laying 20 orientation with the rear panel facing downwardly and the line of weakness broken to enlarge the opening.

2. The carton according to claim 1, wherein the line of weakness includes one or more serrated lines or 25 perforated lines that are pre-formed in the side wall.

3. The carton according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the line of weakness extends along at least half the height of the side wall. 30

4. The carton according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the line of weakness extends along at least 75% of the height of the side wall. 35

5. The carton according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the carton includes two lines of weakness that define at least in part opposite sides of an openable 68276301 (GHMatters) P86582.AU.1 BYRON 11/09/15 - 17 panel in the form of a tear strip that can be peeled away from the opening by breaking the lines of weakness.

6. The carton according to any one of claims 1 to 5, 5 wherein the side wall includes at least one pre-formed crease that defines, with the line(s) of weakness, flaps in the front wall that can be folded outwardly to enlarge the opening when the line(s) of weakness have been broken. 10

7. The carton according to claim 6, wherein one or more of the pre-formed creases are spaced from the line(s) of weakness at the opening of the carton and converge toward the line(s) of weakness in a direction down the carton away from the opening. 15

8. The carton according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the carbon includes a foldable assembly having at least one supporting sub-panel that, when folded, extends from the side wall of the carton, the supporting sub-panel 20 being foldable between: i) an inoperative position in which the sub panel forms part of, or is retracted toward the side wall of the carton such that the carton is able to be oriented with a length of the side wall against a flat support 25 surface, and ii) an operative position in which the sub panel protrudes from the side wall so that when the carton is oriented onto the folding assembly, the carton is 30 located at an inclined orientation relative to when the support assembly is in the inoperative position.

9. The carton according to claim 8, wherein the at least one supporting sub-panel extends from the rear panel 35 of the side wall. 68276301 (GHMatters) P86582.AU.1 BYRON 11/09/15 - 18

10. The carton according to claim 8 or 9, wherein when the supporting sub-panel is in an inoperative position, a plane of the sub-panel lies adjacent to, or forms part of the plane of the rear panel of the side 5 wall.

11. The carton according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the foldable assembly includes a first sub panel that is joined to the side wall along a first fold 10 line, and a second sub-panel is joined to the first sub panel along a second fold line, and when in an operative position, the first sub-panel is folded to extend away from the rear panel of the side wall and the second sub panel is folded to extend toward the rear panel of the 15 side wall so that the outer end of the second sub-panel engages the side wall.

12. The carton according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the carton includes co-operating male and 20 female formations that inter-fit to secure the folding assembly in an operative position.

13. The carton according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the carton is made of paper based materials. 25

14. A blank for making a carton, the blank and including a series of panels that, when the blank is made into a carton form a base wall and a side wall that extends from the base, the side wall defining an opening 30 for loading food items into the carton, the series of panels for forming the side wall include a front panel and an opposite rear panel, the front panel has a line of weakness extending from an outer edge of the front panel that in part defines the opening of the carton made from 35 the blank, the line of weakness being able to be broken to allow at least a part of the front panel to be pulled outwardly to enlarge the opening, and wherein the panels 68276301 (GHMatters) P86582.AU.1 BYRON 11/09/15 - 19 forming the side wall of the carton have a stiffness that enables the carton to be self-supporting and retain an erect formation under the weight of food loaded into the carton made from the blank when: i) the carton is in an 5 upright orientation and ii), when the carton is located in a laying orientation with the rear panel facing downwardly and the line of weakness broken to enlarge the opening.

15. The blank according to claim 14, wherein the 10 line of weakness extends along at least half the height of the front panel.

16. The blank according to any one of claims 14 or 15, wherein the blank includes two lines of weakness that 15 define at least in part opposite sides of an openable panel that form part of the front panel that can be peeled away from the opening by breaking the lines of weakness.

17. The blank according to claim 16, wherein the 20 openable panel includes a tear strip.

18. The blank according to claim 16, wherein the openable panel is a tongue that is at least half the width of a front sub-panel of the first panel. 25

19. The blank according to any one of claims 14 to 18, wherein the side wall includes at least one pre-formed crease that defines, with the line(s) of weakness, openable flaps in the front panel that can be folded outwardly to enlarge the opening when the line(s) of 30 weakness have been broken.

20. The blank according to claim 19, wherein the pre formed creases are spaced from the line(s) of weakness at one edge of the front panel that defines an opening of the carton, and the pre-formed creases cover toward the 35 line(s) of weakness in a direction toward a second edge. 68276301 (GHMatters) P86582.AU.1 BYRON 11/09/15 - 20

21. The blank according to claim 19 or 20 or 19, wherein the flaps have a wedge shape. 5

22. The blank according to any one of claims 14 to 21, wherein the blank is made of paper based materials. 68276301 (GHMatters) P86582.AU.1 BYRON 11/09/15