Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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I
ARTICLE CARRIER
This invention relates to article carriers and blanks which are particularly
Lseful for
carrying articles, for example, battles. More particularly, the invention
relates to an
S article carrier of the wrap-around type and is concerned with an improved
article retention
and carrier reinforcing feature which receive neck portions of bottles
accommodated in
the carrier.
Neck retention means in wrap-around carriers are well know. For example, US ~
549
1 S? ~iverwood) illustrates a wraparound carrier incorporating downwardly
folded
retaining flaps struck from and connected to side panels of the carrier. The
retaining flaps
are used to support a neck portion of are article.
The present invention and its prefezr~ed embodiments seek to overcome or
attempt to
mitigate the prolslems associated with the prior art.
One aspect of the i:weation provides an article carrier for containing a
plurality of necked
articles comprising a top, bottom, and opposed side panels interconziected
together,
wherein the top panel comprises article receiving and retaixcing means
including an article
retaining fEap, which article retaining i'lap is folded inwardly of the top
panel thereby to
deizne an aperture for rec~izring a neck portion of the article and wherein
the article
retaining flap abuts the neck portion to engage and retain the article. The
article
retaining flap is formed from the top panel.
According to an optional feature of ttlis aspect of the invention, these may
further
comprise a fold line extending across the article retaining flap such that the
Clap is folded
to define adjacent flap portions adapted to abut the neck portion at two
positions thereby
to improve article retention.
According to another optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the
article receiving
and rctainine means may comprise a pair of complimentary retaining flaps
hi~tged to
apposite edges of the aperture.
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According to a fiuther optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the
or each hinge
lisp may be foldably joined to the edge of the associated neck receiving
aperture along a
fold line comprising tvvo angular ly related parts.
Optionally, the aagularly related parts may intersect at the stress relief
fold lines defining
;herebetwe~zt an intermediate panel adjacent an end edge of the top panel.
Accordilug to yet another optional feature of this aspect of the inyeation
there may
further comprise stress relief fold lines diverging outwardly fronn the end
most
I~ ape~rcure to an and edge of the top panel.
According to a still further optional feature ofthis aspect of the invention
there may
further comprise an outer pa.~t adjacent a main part of the top panel which
outer part of
the top panel is so constructed to be folded out of alignment with the
adjacent main part.
A second aspect ef the invention provides an article carrier for packaging
arhirles
having a ~aeck portioa, haviag article receiving and retaining means
comprising an
aperture formed in part in the tap panel and a flap struck from the top panel
and hingedly
connxted to the edge of the aperture which flap is put in an operative
position about its
hinged cormeotion to provicLe a portion thereof which extends inwardly ofthe
carrier
which is a adapted to cngsge a neck portion of an article retained in the
aperture.
A third aspect o~'t'rie invention provides a blank for forming an article
caxrier
comprising a plurality of panels including opposed side wall panels and a top
panel
being hingedly interconnected, oracle receiving and retaining means formed
from the tap
panel, tlae article reeeivrng and retaining means comprising an aperhuc
adapted to
receive a portion of an article in use and a flap strc~ck from the top panel
and hingedly
connected to an edge cf the aperture which flap is adapted to abut the article
received in
the aperture in use, wherein the flap is capable of pivoting into an operative
position
about its hinged connection to provide a portion thereof winch e~ctends
through the
aperture in Lse, the portion of the flap being adapted to engage a neck part
of tl~e article.
Preferably. there may further comprise a fold line extending across the
article
retaining flap such that the flap is folded to defroe adjacent flap portions
adapted to
abut the neck portion at tyro positions thereby to improve article retention.
Wo4436_w
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2a
According to an optional feate~re of the third aspect of the invention the
article
recei~~itzg and retaining means na.ey comprise a pair of complimentary
retaining
flaps hinged to opposite edges of the aperture.
According to another options! feature of the third asptet of the invention tht
or each
hinged flap may be foldably joined to the edge of the associated neck
receiving
aperture along a fold line comprising two angularly related parts. Preferably,
the
angnlarly related parts may intersect at a point from which stress relief fold
lines
divtrgs, the stress relief fold lines defining therebetween an intermediate
panel
adjacent an end edge of the top panel.
According to a further optional feature of the third aspect of tht invention
there
may further comprise stress relief fold lines diverging outwardly from the end
most
IS aperture to an end edge of the top panel.
A fourth aspect of the invention provides an article carrier for containing a
plurality
of necked articles, comprising a top panel and a pair of opposed side panels
foldably
connected respectively to opposite side edges of the top panel, wherein the
top panel
comprises article receiving and retaining means iaclading an article retaining
flap,
whicb~ artecle retaining flap is folded inwardly of the top panel and thereby
defines
an aperture for receiving a neclt portion to retain one article, characterised
in that
the article retaining flap is joined to the top pane! along a pair of
divergent fold lines
diverging from a point within the top panel which point is desposed at a
position
2~ spaced from an adjacent one of the opposite side edges of the top panel
A fifth asptct of tine invention provides a blank for forming an article
carrier for
containing a pluralit~~ of necked articles, comprising a top panel and a pair
of
opposed side panels folda6ly connected respectively to opposite side edges of
the top
panel, wherein the top panel coianprises article receiving and retaining mtans
iacludiBg an article retaining flap, wrhich article retaining flap is capable
of being
folded inwardly of the top pane! to retain said one article and thereby tn
define an
aperture for receiving a neck portion of one of the articles, characterised in
that the
article retaining flap is joined to the top panel along a pair of divergent
fold lines
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divacging from a point within the top panel which point is disposed at n
positior!
Spaced from sn adjacent ofle of the opposite side edges of the top panel.
An advantage of the carrier outlined in any one of the aspects of the
invention is that rthcre
is pro~~ided a carton which can. package c~.vo or more rows of articles and~or
the top panel
can br~ defined which is not limited to the dimension of the primary article;
thereby
improving carrying capabilities in those corners with handle means. Another
advantage
is that there is a larger area of the side gavel that can be used as an
advertising panel.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only.
with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a plan, view of an article engaging and retaining means according to
a first
embodiment of the invention in a uniform blank;
FIC=. Z is a perspective view of the article engabittg and retaining means
shown in Fig_ 1
in a formed condition in engagement nvith article A;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the article eslgaging arid retaining means according
to a second
embodiment ef the invention;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the article carrier shown in Fig. 3;
FIG. S is a plan view of the article engaging and retaining means according to
a third
embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 6 is a pe>spective view of the article engaging and retaining moans shown
in Fig. 5.
Referring to the drawings, and in particular Fig. 1 and 2 thereof, an article
carrier is
formed from orle or more blal~lcs of paperboard or other suitable foldable
sheet material.
LY04436_~~
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WO 00/37331 PCT/US99/05761
-4-
In this embodiment, the blank 10 comprises a first base panel 14, inclined
heel (or sloping)
panel 16, first side panel 18 comprising lower, middle and upper side panels
20, 21 22, top
panel 24, second side panel 26 comprising upper, middle and lower side panels
27, 28, 29,
inclined heel panel 30 and second base panel 32 hingabIy connected one to the
next along
fold lines 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50 and 52 respectively. Article
receiving and
retaining means 12 which can be of a known type as shown in Fig. 1 is formed
in a top wall
24 of a wrap-around carrier. The article receiving and retaining means 12 can
be formed at
the ends of the tubular structure of a wraparound carton, for example to
retain the end
corner articles (as shown in Fig. 1) or alternatively, can be provided for one
or more of the
articles held in a carrier.
The article receiving and retaining means 12 comprises a retaining aperture 54
which, in
this example, receives the neck portion of a bottle, as shown in Fig. 2. The
article
receiving and retaining means 12 may also comprise one or more retaining flaps
56, 58
which in the formed carton, provide internal flap portions that abut part of
the neck of an
article A.
Turning in detail to the article receiving and retaining means 12 in this
particular
embodiment, there comprises a first flap 56 including outer, and inner flap
portions 60, 62
respectively. Outer flap portion 60 is hinged to top wall 24 along fold line
64, and to inner
flap portion 58 along fold line 66. Inner flap portion 62 is hinged to top
panel 24 along fold
line 68.
Optionally, a cut line 70 is struck from fold line 64 and fold line 68 at
their interconnection
to make folding easier and can define a portion which extends upwardly above
the top
panel, as illustrated in Fig. 2. First flap 56 may be struck from top panel
24, to define an
outer side edge 72, and an inner side edge 74 which are interconnected by a
cut line 76
3o defining an end edge of first flap 56. First flap 56 is pivotal about the
fold lines 64 and 66
such that these fold lines 64, 66 and optional cut line 70 together define a
lateral edge 71 of
aperture 54 in use, as shown in Fig. 2.
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-5-
Similarly, a complementary second flap 58 comprises outer, and inner flap
portions 78, 80
respectively. In this embodiment, second flap 58 is a larger area than of
first flap 56. It is
anticipated that the first and second flaps 56, 58 need not necessarily be
different sizes and
could be identical in construction. Optionally, one flap only might be
provided for a given
article receiving and retaining means 12. It is envisaged that where two flaps
are provided,
they need not abut along cut line 76 and indeed, a significant gap could be
provided
between the flaps, for example.
Turning to the construction of second flap 5$, the outer portion 78 is
foldably connected to
top wall 24 along fold line 82 and to inner portion 80 along fold line 86.
Inner portion 80 is
hingably connected to top panel 24 along fold line 88. Likewise, a second cut
line 90 can
be optionally provided to separate fold line 82 from fold line 86. Second flap
58 is struck
from top panel 24, to define an outer side edge 92 and an inner side edge 94
which is
interconnected by cut line 76 defining one end edge of second flap 32. Second
flap 58 is
pivotal about fold lines 82, 88 such that these fold lines 82, 88 and cut line
90 together
define an opposing lateral edge 73 of aperture 54, as shown in Fig. 2. When
both flaps 56,
58 are co-planer, such as when the carrier is in blank form illustrated in
Fig. 1, the aperture
54 is substantially closed. Optionally, the aperture 54 may extend in to the
side wall 18.
In this embodiment, the carrier is formed to package two rows of three
articles. The blank
10 shown in Fig. 1, comprises a further article receiving and retaining means
12 for one
row of articles formed from top wall 24. In addition, article receiving and
retaining means
13 for a second row of articles is also formed from top wall 24. Article
receiving and
retaining means 13 is substantially the same as retaining means 12 and is
therefore not
described in any greater detail.
In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, there may further comprise a pair of
apertures 94,
adapted to receive articles positioned intermediate the end most articles.
These apertures
can support a neck portion of the articles and may optionally include a pair
of substantially
"V" shaped cut lines 96, 98 struck from the side panels 18, 26 to define fold
lines for
support tabs that protrude outwardly of the side wall 18. The carton can also
include article
heel retention means 99 formed from the panels, as is well known in the art.
Handle tabs
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WO 00/37331 PCT/US99/05761
-6-
93 may be struck from top panel 24. Suitable known securing means are provided
to secure
the base panels together. In this embodiment, locking and retaining tabs 95,
97 are
provided as is well known.
Turning to the second and third embodiments illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, 6
respectively,
there comprises additional or alternative modifications to article engaging
and retaining
means and/or to the carton of the invention. Each embodiment can be applied to
a
wraparound carton of the type substantially as herein before described and so
only the
differences of the carrier of the second and third embodiments are described
in any greater
1o detail.
The second embodiment illustrates article receiving and retaining means 112
formed in the
top panel 124 which corresponds to article receiving and retaining means 12
illustrated in
Fig. 1, with corresponding features shown in Fig. 3 prefixed by the numeral
"1". Thus, the
second embodiment illustrates article receiving and retaining means 112 which
further
comprises a pair of divergent fold lines 1 I l, 113 struck from top panel I24
and extending
outwardly from the intersection of fold lines 164 and 166 to the end edges of
top panel 124
to define intermediate panel 115. Fold lines 111, 113 are intended to act as
stress relief
folds. Further or alternatively intermediate panel 11 S may be moved out of
the plane of top
2o panel to minimise unwanted flexing of top panel 124, thereby to improve the
rigidity of the
end portion of the top panel.
Turning to the third embodiment which is adapted for large glass bottles,
there is illustrated
article receiving and retaining means 212 formed in the top panel 224 which
corresponds to
article receiving and retaining means 12 illustrated in Fig. 1, with
corresponding features
shown in Fig. 5 prefixed by the numeral "2". Thus, the third embodiment
illustrates the or
each article receiving and retaining means 212 which further comprises a pair
of divergent
fold lines 211,213 struck from top panel 224 and extending outwardly from the
intersection
of fold lines 264 and 266 to the end edge of top panel 224 to define
intermediate panel 215.
3o Fold lines 211, 213 are intended to act as stress relief folds. Further or
alternatively
intermediate panel 21 S may be moved out of the plane of top panel to minimise
unwanted
flexing of top panel 224. There may further comprises an additional fold line
217
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_7_
interconnecting adjacent article engaging and retaining means 212 to define a
top panel
portion 219 that is positioned out of alignment to the main portion 223 of top
panel 224,
thereby to minimise unintended flexing of the top panel 224, thereby to
improve the rigidity
of the top panel.
Optionally, the article receiving and retaining means 212 may further comprise
a pair of
flaps 231,233 struck from and foldably connected to each upper side panel
222,227
illustrated in Fig. 5, which are adapted to be folded out of alignment with
the associated
upper side panel 222,227, to receive and retain a shoulder portion of the
article A.
to In order to erect a wraparound carrier comprising article receiving and
retaining means 12,
the flaps 56, 58 are displaced inwardly by suitable means which may be
similar, at least in
function to those known, for example from WO 94/25363. In the first
embodiment, the top
panel 24 of the carrier blank 10 is applied to the tops of a group of articles
A to be
packaged in the carrier, and the side walls 18, 26 folded downwardly to be
disposed in
flanking relationship along the side walls of the articles. The neck portion
of an article A is
thereby engaged in the aperture 54 and is also received by the flaps 56, 58 of
article
receiving and retaining means 12. Preferably, each flap is folded during the
set up of the
article engaging and retaining means about fold line 64, 66, 68; 82, 86, 88
respectively to
move outer and inner flap portions out of alignment and into abutment with a
neck portion
of the article A as shown in Fig. 2.
Thereafter, heel retention flaps of article heel retention means 99 are formed
to receive and
retain a heel portion of the articles as is well known. Base panel 14 can then
be folded
inwardly and upwardly into engagement with the base portions of the articles A
as
illustrated in Fig. 2. A similar operation on the other side of the group of
articles is also
performed, and the wraparound carrier can be completed by securing the
overlapping base
panels 14, 32 together by means known in the art, for example by gluing or
preferably by
the use of locking and retaining tabs 95,97 as is well known.
3o Thus, the carrier is in a set-up condition, shown in Fig. 2 and the article
receiving and
retaining means 12 is formed such that the internal retaining flap portions
60, 62, 78, 80 are
provided to engage the neck of article A and to closely conform to the neck
portions of the
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_g_
articles thereby to prevent unwanted movement of the articles in the carrier
and to reduce
the risk of tearing.
The construction of the second and third embodiments is substantially the same
as the first
embodiment to produce Garners illustrated in Figs 4 and 6 respectively and
therefore only
the differences are described in any greater detail. Figs. 4 and 6 show
intermediate panels
115, 215 that are folded out of alignment with top panel 124, 224
respectively.
It will be seen from Fig. 6 that the third embodiment includes flaps 231,233
that are folded
out of alignment with upper side panels 222, 227 to receive a shoulder portion
of the
articles. Outer parts 219 of the top panel are folded out of alignment with
main portion 223
to form a carrier shown in Fig. 6.
It is apparent that a large amount of paperboard may be put into contact with
the retained
article using a retaining structure according to the invention, thereby
providing both
protection and securing for the article. It is preferable to use a two part
article engaging flap
i.e. inner and outer portions 60,62;78,80 so that they are folded about fold
line 66;86
respectively to define two angularly related parts. Each part desirably abuts
a portion of the
neck of the article to improve article retention. Additionally, the improved
conformity of
the retaining flaps and of those embodiments with intermediate panel 11 S and/
or top panel
portion 219 enables a relatively strong pack tightening whilst minimising the
risk of
tearing.
Further, the invention is not limited to a configuration as described above,
and it is
envisaged, it would be possible to provide article retaining means according
to the
invention comprising one or more hinged means per retaining flap to be
provided in the
assembled carrier.
It will be recognized that as used herein, the terms "top", "bottom" and
"side" with respect
3o to the panels of the carton (or carton blank) are relative terms, and that
the carton (formed
from the blank) may be re-oriented as necessary or as described.
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-9-
It will be recognized that rather than the carton being formed with a
plurality of the article
receiving apertures, the carton may be formed with only one receiving
aperture.
The present invention and its preferred embodiment relate to an article
carrier which is
shaped to provide satisfactory strength to hold the bottle securely but with a
degree of
flexibility so that the load transferred to the retaining means is absorbed by
the carrier. The
shape of the blank minimises the amount of paperboard required. The carrier
can be
applied to an array of bottles by hand or automatic machinery. It is
anticipated that the
invention can be applied to a variety of carriers and not limited to those of
the wraparound
io type.
CA 02321698 2000-08-30
