Carton with support

A blank for forming a carton having a support for supporting a plurality of articles, the blank comprising:

• a plurality of panels including a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel and a second side panel;
• end flaps respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels at a fold line, wherein the end flaps at least partially form a closed end of the carton;
• and a support panel foldably attached to the top panel for being formed into the support for at least partially supporting the plurality of articles in a carton erected from the blank, the support panel comprises a first foldable panel foldably attached to a second foldable panel, the first foldable panel for being positioned generally parallel to at least one of the first and second side panels in the carton erected from the blank and the second foldable panel for being positioned generally parallel to at least one of the top and bottom panels in the carton erected from the blank, wherein the first foldable panel is for forming a shoulder for contacting the plurality of articles in the carton erected from the blank;
• the support has an end positioned adjacent the fold line for contact with at least one of the end flaps when the closed end is formed, the end of the support restricting the at least one of the end flaps from being folded into the carton when the end flaps form the closed end;
• wherein the top panel is a first top panel and the blank comprises a second top panel and a third top panel, the support panel being foldably attached to the first top panel, and the blank comprising a handle foldably attached to the second top panel;
• wherein the handle comprises a first handle panel in the third top panel and a second handle panel in the second top panel, the first and second handle panels being foldably connected at a lateral fold line.

A method of forming a carton from a blank comprising:

• providing a blank comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel and a second side panel, end flaps respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels at a fold line, and a support panel foldably attached to the top panel, the support panel comprises a first foldable panel foldably attached to a second foldable panel, wherein the first foldable panel is for forming a shoulder for contacting a plurality of articles in the carton formed from the blank, the support panel has an end positioned adjacent the fold line;
• forming a support by folding the support panel relative to the top panel wherein the first foldable panel is positioned generally parallel to at least one of the first and second side panels and the second foldable panel is positioned generally parallel to at least one of the top and bottom panels in the carton erected from the blank;
• attaching the support panel to the top panel;
• and
• forming a sleeve that extends at least partially around the support;
• and
• closing the carton by folding the end flaps to at least partially form a closed end of the sleeve by contacting at least one of the end flaps with the end of the support, the end of the support restricting the at least one of the end flaps from being folded into the carton when the end flaps form the closed end,
• the support panel further comprises a third foldable panel foldably attached to the second foldable panel, and a fourth foldable panel foldably attached to the third foldable panel, forming said support comprises folding the first foldable panel relative to the top panel, folding the second foldable panel relative to the first foldable panel, folding the third foldable panel relative to the second foldable panel, folding the fourth foldable panel relative to the third foldable panel, attaching the support panel comprises adhesively attaching the fourth foldable panel to the top panel, and forming the support includes positioning the first foldable panel, second foldable panel, and third foldable panel such that the support has a rectangular cross-sectional shape.