Carton and carton blank

A blank for forming a top-engaging carton, the blank comprising:

• a top panel;
• a shoulder portion in hinged connection to the top panel by at least one first fold line;
• at least two curved cut lines formed in at least one of the top panel and the shoulder portion;
• wherein an article-engaging edge is defined by each of the at least two curved cut lines;
• wherein each of the at least one first fold line is disposed between respective pairs of the at least two curved cut lines that are adjacent to each other;
• and
• wherein the shoulder portion comprises a stress-reducing second fold line extending alongside at least a part of the at least one first fold line.

A top-engaging carton comprising:

• a first top panel and a second top panel;
• a first inner shoulder panel and a second inner shoulder panel, each of the first inner shoulder panel and the second inner shoulder panel sloping to form a keel structure disposed between the first top panel and the second top panel;
• a first outer shoulder panel in hinged connection to the first top panel by at least one first fold line;
• a stress-reducing second fold line formed in the first outer shoulder panel, the stress-reducing second fold line extending alongside at least a part of the at least one first fold line;
• a second outer shoulder panel in hinged connection to the second top panel by at least one third fold line;
• a stress-reducing fourth fold line formed in the second outer shoulder panel, the stress-reducing fourth fold line extending alongside at least a part of the at least one third fold line;
• wherein a first plurality of article-engaging devices is provided by at least one of the first top panel, the first inner shoulder panel, and the first outer shoulder panel;
• wherein a second plurality of article-engaging devices is provided by at least one of the second top panel, the second inner shoulder panel, and the second outer shoulder panel.