Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
- 1 -
ARTICLE CARRIER AND BLANK THEREFOR
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a blank for forming a carrier and to the
carrier itself. More
specifically, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a blank for
forming carrier of the basket-
style wherein a medial partition divides the carrier into at least two cells,
and wherein a carrying
handle is provided which facilitates the transport of the carrier.
BACKGROUND
In the field of packaging it is known to provide basket-style article carriers
for carrying multiple
articles. Basket-style article carriers are well known in the art and are
useful for enabling
consumers to transport, store and access a group of articles for consumption.
These carriers
typically have a handle on top, such that the carrier mimics a conventional
basket, and typically
include a riser or medial partition from which the handle is fashioned. For
cost and
environmental considerations, such cartons or carriers need to be formed from
as little material
as possible and cause as little wastage in the materials from which they are
formed as possible.
Typically blanks for forming such carriers are arranged on a blank grid ¨ the
more blanks that
can be fitted onto the grid, the less material that is wasted. In certain
applications, a too close
arrangement of too tight nesting of blanks in a blank grid can be
disadvantageous. This is
because the closer fitting of the blanks makes it difficult to separate and
remove the cut blanks,
without tearing of the blanks, from a larger sheet of material from which a
plurality of individual
blanks are cut. Accordingly there is a balance between the total number of
blanks in a blank grid
that are cut simultaneously from a single sheet, and the time taken in
carefully removing those
blanks without tearing.
The present invention seeks to provide an improvement in the field of basket-
style article
carriers, typically formed from paperboard or the like.
SUMMARY
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a blank
for forming a
basket-style carrier. The blank comprises a plurality of panels for forming
walls of the carrier
including a first side panel, a second side panel and a bottom panel. The
first side panel is
hinged to the bottom panel and the bottom panel is asymmetrical and has first
and second
opposed end edges. The first end edge is offset from a first end edge of the
adjacent first side
CA 2976824 2017-08-21
- 2 -
panel by a first distance. The second end edge of the bottom panel is offset
from a second end
edge of the adjacent first side panel by a second distance (D5). The first
distance is greater than
the second distance. The bottom panel may also comprise a beveled corner,
which beveled
corner is located at an intersection of the first end edge of the bottom panel
with a free side
edge of the bottom panel, which free side edge is opposite from a side edge of
the bottom panel
that is hinged to the first side panel.
The first end edge of the bottom panel is off-set, in other words, laterally
spaced from a notional
line passing through the first end edge of the first side panel. Similarly,
the second end edge of
the bottom panel is off-set by being laterally spaced from a notional line
passing through the
second end edge of the first side panel. By reducing the overall size of the
bottom panel and by
skewing its position to the side and making it "off-center", when adjacent
blanks are nested, a
greater space (cut-out region) is provided between adjacent blanks in the
grid, thus enabling
them to be more easily separated from one another and from the sheet of
material from which
they are struck, even when the number of blanks in the blank grid results in
tight and close
positioning of blanks. The non-rectangular, i.e. beveled corner further
increases the separation
between blanks and permits easier release of adjacent blanks from the blank
grid. By beveling
or otherwise shaping the an edge of the bottom panel a cut-out section between
adjacent
nested blanks in the blank grid may be shaped to lead into a cut line and
promote easy removal
of blanks along cut-lines and mitigate against unintentional tearing of corner
portions (or other
parts) of blanks, which it is known, can otherwise occur. Of particular
benefit is the provision of a
beveled corner, optionally angled in the region of 45 which creates a vertex
where converging
cut lines (for example the free edge of the bottom panel and the first end
edge of the bottom
panel) promote complete removal of blanks from the blank grid without tearing.
Optionally, the bottom panel is asymmetrical about a central axis of the first
side panel.
Optionally, the first side panel has a width defined as the distance between
first and second end
edges thereof, and wherein the bottom panel has a width defined as the
distance between first
and second opposed end edges thereof, the width of the bottom panel may be
less than the
width of the first side panel, and a notional half-way line of the bottom
panel may be off-set from
a notional half-way line of the first side panel.
CA 2976824 2017-08-21
- 3 -
Optionally, a center line of the blank is defined by a notional line through
the center of blank 10,
positioned half-way along the length of the blank.
A corner distance may be defined as the distance between a notional line
coincident with the
first end edge of the bottom panel and a notional line coincident with a
termination of the
beveled corner along said free side edge. A first center distance may be
defined as the distance
between the first side edge of the bottom panel and the centerline. The corner
distance may be
greater than or equal to the first center distance and the corner distance may
be less than or
equal to three times the first center distance.
Optionally, said first distance may be greater than the first center distance
and the first may be
less than two times the first center distance.
Optionally, a corner depth of the beveled corner is defined by the formula:
D3 = D4xtan(180 ¨ 9), wherein '0' is an angle defined by the free side edge
and the beveled
corner (59). Optionally, said angle '0' is greater than or equal about 100
and is less than 145 .
Optionally, the second side panel is spaced from and located opposite to the
first side panel,
and wherein a securing panel is hinged to the second side panel, the securing
panel is for
attachment to the bottom panel, and the securing panel is asymmetrical about a
central axis of
the adjacent second side panel and has first and second opposed end edges.
Optionally, the
first end edge of the securing panel is offset from a first end edge of the
adjacent second side
panel by a first distance. The second end edge of the securing panel may be
offset from a
second end edge of the adjacent second side panel by a second distance, and
the first distance
is greater than the second distance.
Optionally, the first end edge of the securing panel is offset from the first
end edge of the
adjacent second side panel by a similar distance to that first distance which
first end edge of the
bottom panel is offset from the first end edge of the first side panel.
Optionally, the blank is removed from a blank grid.
Optionally, the blank is cut from a larger sheet of material along with a
plurality of other similar
such blanks and wherein said other similar such blanks and said blank are
closely nested on
said larger sheet of material.
CA 2976824 2017-08-21
-4 -
Optionally, a cut-out region between bottom panels of adjacent nested blanks
is generally "Z"-
shaped or at least comprises an angled portion. It is envisaged that the
bevelled corner of a
bottom panel may be provided by at least one angled straight line and in some
alternative
embodiments by more than one angled and contiguous cut lines. Additionally or
alternatively,
the bevelled corner in some arrangements may be provided by a curvilinear cut
line or an
arcuate cut line that leads into the corner of the cut-out region to allow the
blank to be peeled off
the blank grid optionally starting in that corner.
Within the scope of this application it is envisaged and intended that the
various aspects,
embodiments, examples, features and alternatives set out in the preceding
paragraphs, in the
claims and/or in the following description and drawings may be taken
independently or in any
combination thereof. For example, features described in connection with one
embodiment are
applicable to all embodiments unless there is incompatibility of features.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to
the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view from above of a blank for forming a carrier according
to a first
embodiment;
Figure 2 is a plan view of a standard sized sheet of material from which a
nested group
of blanks according to the prior art are arranged for being struck therefrom;
Figure 3 is a plan view of a standard sized sheet of material from which a
nested group
of blanks according to Figure 1 are arranged for being struck therefrom;
Figure 4 is a perspective view from above of a carrier formed from the blank
of Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a perspective view from above of a carrier formed from the blank
of Figure 1;
Figure 6 is an enlarged partial view of a section of the sheet shown in Figure
3 of
material from which a nested group of blanks are arranged;
Figure 7 is an enlarged plan view showing a bottom panel of the blank of
Figure 1
overlaid with a securing panel of the blank of Figure 1 to illustrate a
securely adhered
corner portion; and
Figure 8 is a further enlarged partial view of a section of the sheet shown in
Figure 3 of
material from which a nested group of blanks are arranged.
CA 2976824 2017-08-21
- 5 -
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Detailed descriptions of specific embodiments of the package, blanks and
carriers are disclosed
herein. It will be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely
examples of the way in
which certain aspects of the invention can be implemented and do not represent
an exhaustive
list of all of the ways the invention may be embodied. As used herein, the
word "exemplary" is
used expansively to refer to embodiments that serve as illustrations,
specimens, models, or
patterns. Indeed, it will be understood that the packages, blanks and carriers
described herein
may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The Figures are not
necessarily to scale and
some features may be exaggerated or minimised to show details of particular
components.
Well-known components, materials or methods are not necessarily described in
great detail in
order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure. Any specific structural and
functional details
disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis
for the claims and as
a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ
the invention.
Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a plan view of a blank 10 capable of
forming a carton or
carrier 90, (see Figure 4), for containing and carrying a group of primary
products, such as, but
not limited to, bottles or cans, hereinafter referred to as articles (not
shown).
In the embodiments detailed herein, the terms "carton" and "carrier" refer,
for the non-limiting
purpose of illustrating the various features of the invention, to a container
for engaging and
carrying articles, such as product containers. It is contemplated that the
teachings of the
invention can be applied to various product containers, which may or may not
be tapered and/or
cylindrical. Exemplary containers include bottles (for example metallic, glass
or plastics bottles),
cans (for example aluminium cans), tins, pouches, packets and the like.
The blank 10 is formed from a sheet of suitable substrate. It is to be
understood that, as used
herein, the term "suitable substrate" includes all manner of foldable sheet
material such as
paperboard, corrugated board, cardboard, plastic, combinations thereof, and
the like. It should
be recognised that one or other numbers of blanks may be employed, where
suitable, for
example, to provide the carrier structure described in more detail below.
In the illustrated embodiment, the blank 10 is configured to form a carton or
carrier 90 for
packaging an exemplary arrangement of exemplary articles. In the illustrated
embodiment, the
arrangement is a 2 x 3 matrix or array and the articles are bottles.
Alternatively, the blank 10
CA 2976824 2017-08-21
- 6 -
can be configured to form a carrier for packaging other types, number and size
of articles and/or
for packaging articles in a different arrangement or configuration. More
specifically, the blank
may be configured for forming a carrier for holding a 2 x 2 arrangement of
articles and in such
an application, eight such (2x2) blanks may be nested or tessellated on and
struck from a single
large sheet of material (whereas only 6 of the (2x3) blanks may be nested or
tessellated on and
struck from a single large sheet of material.
Referring to Figure 1, the blank 10 comprises a plurality of main panels 16b,
14, 16a, 20a, 18,
20b, 22 for forming outer walls of a basket-style carrier 90 (see Figure 9).
The plurality of main
panels 16b, 14, 16a, 20a, 18, 20b, 22 includes a second side panel 14 and a
first side panel 18.
The second side panel 14 is hinged at a first end to a first end panel 16a by
a hinged connection
such as a fold line 15a. The second side panel 14 is hinged at a second end to
a second end
panel 16b by a hinged connection such as a fold line 15b. The first side panel
18 is hinged at a
first end to a third end panel 20a by a hinged connection such as a fold line
17a. The first side
panel 18 is hinged at a second end to a fourth end panel 20b by a hinged
connection such as a
fold line 17b.
The blank 10 comprises a bottom panel 22, optionally hinged to the first side
panel 18 by a
hinged connection such as a fold line 19. A securing panel 12 is hinged to the
second side
panel 14 by a hinged connection such as a fold line 13.
The first end panel 16a and the third end panel 20a together form a first end
wall 16a/20a of the
carrier 90. The second end panel 16b and the fourth end panel 20b together
form a second end
wall 16b/20b of the carrier 90.
The blank 10 comprises a first riser panel 24a hinged to the second end panel
16b by a hinged
connection such as a fold line 23b. The blank 10 comprises a second riser
panel 24b hinged to
the fourth end panel 20b by a hinged connection such as a fold line 23a. The
first riser panel
24a is hinged to the second riser panel 24b by a hinged connection such as a
fold line 33.
Together the first and second riser panels 24b, 24b assist in coupling the
second end panel 16b
to the fourth end panel 20b to form the first composite end wall 16b/20b when
the blank 10 is
assembled. The first riser panel 24a comprises a first recess R1 which is
configured to form a
hook-like projection on a side edge thereof. The second riser panel 24b
comprises a second
recess R2 which is configured to form a hook-like projection on a side edge
thereof.
CA 2976824 2017-08-21
- 7 -
The bottom panel 22 comprises an entirely optional hinged connection such as a
fold line 21
which extends longitudinally thereacross so as to longitudinally divide the
bottom panel 22. The
bottom panel 22 comprises a further recess R3 struck from a first end edge
thereof; the fold line
21 extends from the further recess R3. The further recess R3 is configured to
form a notch for
interlocking with the hook-like projections formed in the first riser panel
24a and the second riser
panel 24b.
The second and first side panels 14, 18 are spaced apart; the first end panel
16a and the
second end panel 20a are spaced apart (in blank form); and between them, there
is provided
first and second handle panels 30a, 30b which form part of a carrying handle
structure. A fold
line 31a between the first and second handle panels 30a, 30b hingedly couples
those panels
30a, 30b together. The first handle panel 30b is hinged to a first partition
panel 26a along a
hinged connection such as a fold line 29b. The second handle panel 30a is
hinged to a second
partition panel 26b along a hinged connection such as a fold line 29a.
Optionally in some
arrangements one or both of the first and second handle panels 30a, 30b may be
omitted.
The first partition panel 26a is hinged to the first end panel 16a along a
hinged connection such
as a fold line 25a.
The second partition panel 26b is hinged to the first partition panel 26a
along a hinged
connection such as interrupted fold line 31. The second partition panel 26b is
hinged to the third
end panel 20a along a hinged connection such as a fold line 25a. A second
securing panel 43a
is hinged by fold line 43b to a bottom edge of the first partition panel 26a.
The first and second riser panels 24a, 24b and the first and second partition
panels 26a, 26b
each form a partial medial panel of the carrier 90.
The blank 10 further comprises a plurality of partition structures. The
partition structures are
provided to divide the interior of the basket carrier 90 into separate cells.
The cells may or may
not be of uniform size and, optionally in the present arrangement, the
partition structures divide
the interior of the basket carrier 90 into six cells arranged in two rows of
three cells each.
CA 2976824 2017-08-21
- 8 -
The first partition structure comprises a first divider panel 40a that is
struck from material that
would otherwise form part of the first partition panel 26a and is hinged
thereto by a hinged
connection such as a fold lines 53a, 53b. The first partition structure
comprises a first securing
tab 42a that is hinged to the first partition panel 26a by a hinged connection
such as a fold line
41c. A second divider panel 40b is hinged to the first partition panel 26a by
a hinged connection
such as a fold line 41c.The first securing tab 42a is provided to secure a
first end of the first
divider panel 40a, to the second side panel 14. A second securing tab 41b is
provided to secure
a first end of the second divider panel 40b, to the second side panel 14. The
second securing
tab 41b is hinged to the second divider panel 40b by means of a fold line 42b.
The second partition structure comprises a third divider panel 50a that is
struck from material
that would otherwise form part of the second partition panel 26b and is hinged
thereto by a
hinged connection such as a fold lines 55a, 55b. The second partition
structure comprises a
third securing tab 52a that is hinged to the second partition panel 26b by a
hinged connection
such as a fold line 51c. A fourth divider panel 50b is hinged to the second
partition panel 26b by
a hinged connection such as a fold line 51c.The third securing tab 52a is
provided to secure a
first end of the third divider panel 50a, to the first side panel 18. A fourth
securing tab 51b is
provided to secure a first end of the fourth divider panel 50b, to the first
side panel 18. The
fourth securing tab 51b is hinged to the fourth divider panel 50b by means of
a fold line 52b.
The first and second partition panels 26a, 26b each form a longitudinal
partition within the
carrier 90. The first, second, third and fourth divider panels 40a, 40b, 50a,
50b each form a
transverse partition within the carrier 90.
The first and second handle panels 30a, 30b comprises a first handle structure
H1 and a
second handle structure H2 respectively. The first handle structure H1
comprises a first handle
=
opening defined in the first handle panel 30b. The first handle opening is
defined in part by a cut
line. Optionally, the first handle opening is defined in part by a first
handle aperture A2 struck
from the first handle panel 30. Optionally, the first handle opening is
defined at least in part by a
first cushioning flap 62a struck from the first handle panel 30a and hingedly
connected thereto
by a fold line 65b.
A portion of the first partition panel 26a forms a third handle panel. The
portion of the first
partition panel 26a which forms the third handle panel comprises a third
handle structure A4
defined therein. The third handle structure A4 comprises a third handle
opening A4. The third
CA 2976824 2017-08-21
- 9 -
handle opening is defined in part by a cut line. Optionally, the third handle
opening is defined by
a third handle aperture A4 struck from first partition panel 26a.
Optionally, a portion of the second partition panel 26b forms a fourth handle
panel. The portion
of the second partition panel 26b which forms the fourth handle panel
comprises a fourth handle
structure A3 defined therein. The fourth handle structure A3 comprises a
fourth handle opening
A3. The fourth handle opening is defined in part by a cut line. Optionally,
the fourth handle
opening is defined by a fourth handle aperture A3 struck from second partition
panel 26b.
The first and second partition panels 26a 26b are hinged together along a
common top edge by
interrupted fold line 31. The fold line 31 may be oriented to extend in a
longitudinal direction in a
set up carrier 90. The fold line 31 may be substantially parallel to the
bottom panel 22 in a setup
carrier 90. The fold line 31 may substantially perpendicular to the fold line
29a which hinges the
second handle panel 30a to the second partition panel 25.
The blank 10 is arranged so as to comprise a first row or linear series L1 of
panels 24a, 16b, 14,
16a, 26a/28 and a second row or linear series L2 of panels 24b, 20b, 18, 20a,
26b. The first row
L1 of panels is hinged to the second row L2 of panels by the fold line 33
between the first and
second riser panels 24a, 24b; by the fold line 31a between the first and
second handle panels
30a, 30b; and by the interrupted fold line 31 between the first and second
partition panels 26a,
26b. The outer perimeter of the first and second linear series of panels L1,
L2 defines a general
footprint of the blank 10. Depending from the second side panel 14, and thus
from the first linear
series panels L1 is the securing panel 12. Similarly, on the opposite side of
the blank 10, the
bottom panel 22 extends from the first side panel 18 beyond the second linear
series L2.
In the present arrangement, it can be seen that the securing panel 12 is not
fully co-extensive
with the second side panel 14. Whereas a left-hand edge 69 of the securing
panel 12 is laterally
spaced from the fold lines 15b at a fourth distance, the right-hand edge 67 of
the securing panel
12 is laterally spaced further from the fold lines 15a at a third distance.
The third distance is
greater than the fourth distance. Stated differently, the securing panel 12 is
asymmetrical about
a center axis of the adjacent second side panel 14. To illustrate this, a cut
out region C2 is
shown in bold outline. The cut out region 02 is not part of the blank 10 and
is a cut and removed
portion.
CA 2976824 2017-08-21
- 10 -
Similarly, the bottom panel 22 is not fully co-extensive with the first side
panel 18. Whereas a
left-hand end edge 63 of the bottom panel 22 is laterally spaced from a
notional line aligned with
fold line 17b by a small distance (second distance D5; see Figure 8), the
right hand end edge 61
of the bottom panel 22 is laterally spaced from a notional line aligned with
the fold line 17a by a
greater distance (first distance Dl; see Figure 8). The first distance D1 is
greater than the
second distance D5. Stated differently, the bottom panel 22 is asymmetrical
about a center axis
of the adjacent first side panel 18. To illustrate this, a second cut out
regionC1 is shown in bold
outline. The cut out region Cl is not part of the blank 10 and is a cut and
removed portion. It is
removal of this cut out region Cl that gives the bottom panel 22 an asymmetric
shape. The
bottom panel 22 being asymmetric refers to it being asymmetrical about a
center axis of the
adjacent first side panel 18. This also results in the spacing between the
bottom wall 22 of the
assembled carrier 90 and the end wall 16a/20a being larger than the spacing
between the
bottom wall 22 of the assembled carrier 90 and the end wall 16b/20b (see
Figure 5). The
asymmetry of the bottom panel 22 whilst not aesthetically unpleasing is
unusual; furthermore,
the removal of additional material (cut out regions Cl and 02) increases
wastage, which is.
unusual. However, very beneficially, the blank 10 described and illustrated
herein provides for a
reduction in overall wastage of blanks 10 which are formed (by "cutting",
"blanking" or "striking")
from a larger sheet of material 'S'. See Figure 3 wherein an arrangement of
blanks are nested
on a sheet '5'.
As can be seen in Figure 3, the arrangement of six blanks 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d,
10e, 10f is a
close-fitting arrangement in order to maximize the number of blanks 10 that
can be cut from
such a single sheet '5'. In the layout shown, a bottom panel 22 of a first
blank 10a is positioned
back-to-back with a bottom panel 22 of a second blank 10b, such that "right-
hand" or "first-
edges" 61 are facing each other. A cut-out region '03' is disposed between the
adjacent blanks
10a, 10b. It is because of the additional cut-out region 'Cl' provided on each
blank 10a, 10b, in
other words, because of the asymmetrically arranged and re-sized bottom panel
22 with
beveled corner, that a "Z"-shaped cut-out region '03' is formed. By offsetting
the bottom panel
22 of nested blanks 10a, 10b, and cutting a bevel on the corner, a gap
(Canyon) is created that
gives the blanking grid room to break the carton blanks 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d,
10e, 10f apart
without ripping or tearing the corners of the bottom panels 22 of the blanks.
In this way the cut
out region or cut out area C3 between nested blanks 10a, 10b etc. is increased
and this
improves cutting speeds, the number of sheets per hour that can be cut and
processed is
increased, and the quality risks associated with prior art blanking grids are
reduced. The
CA 2976824 2017-08-21
- 11 -
increased and specifically shaped cut out region 03 between basket bottom
panels 22, with an
angle on a corner allows for the blanking grid to turn 90 degrees without it
being torn. Further
beneficially, the invention allows a cutting team to die-cut faster, with a
reduced set-up time,
thus reducing labor costs. In prior art blanking arrangements (as shown in
Figure 2) significant
labor of a die-cutting team and dozens of hours may be required to produce new
tooling to
make sure that it would not rip or tear the carton blanks during blanking. The
present invention
now allows for reduced set-up time, for faster die-cutting speeds to be used
and for longer
period and with a reduced risk of poor-quality.
For reference, Figure 2 illustrates a sheet of material S' from which six
known blanks 10a', 10b',
10c', 10d, 10e', 10f' are formed. In order to maximize the number of blanks
10a', 10b', 10c',
10d', 10e', 10f that can be struck from a standard sized sheet of material
`S", it is typical to nest
blanks 10' as shown, with a bottom panel 22' of a first blank 10b' being
disposed immediately
adjacent to a bottom panel 22' of a second blank 10a'. As shown, the bottom
panel 22 is
substantially fully co-extensive with the first side panel 18'. The bottom
panel 22' is
symmetrically positioned relative to the first side panel 18'. In other words,
a notional center line
of the first side panel 18' is in line with a notional center line of the
bottom panel 22'. The sheet
of material 'S shown in Figure 2 is a standard sized sheet, and six blanks
10a', 10b', 10c', 10d',
10e', 10f', each for forming a basket style carrier that can contain a 2 x 3
arrangement are
arranged thereon. However, the blanking grid can sometimes cause tearing of
the blanks when
the individual blanks are removed, and as described above this leads to a
reduction in quality,
slower production time and increased cost. The area of the cut out region 03'
between nested
blanks 10a', 10b', 10c', 10d', 10e', 10f is smaller than the new area of the
cut out region 03
between nested blanks 10a, 10b etc.
By forming the blanks 10 as show in Figure 1 and arranging them as shown in
Figure 3, the
basket carriers 90 produced therefrom are lower in cost, produced more quickly
and suffer far
less from low-quality issues.
Referring to Figures 1 and 3-7, and in particular Figures 6, 7 and 8 a set of
definitions and
dimensional relationships, which may be used in the specification and claims,
are listed which
help to characterize beneficial features of the new blank 10. It will be
understood that the
definitions are provided in relation to the blank(s) illustrated and that the
definitions are accurate
for the illustrated blank and that for blanks of other materials and sizes
(for holding different
CA 2976824 2017-08-21
- 12 -
number and/or capacity article) similar definitions may hold true within a
range of acceptable
manufacturing tolerance.
Dimension Definition in words
Blank Full Length If' The maximum end-to-end length of the blank 10. In
this
arrangement, the maximum end-to-end length of the blank 10 is
between a left-hand edge of riser panel 24a and a right-hand edge
of second securing panel 41b. (See Figures 1 and 6)
Blank Half Length Lh' Half of the maximum end-to-end length of the blank
10. In this
arrangement, that is half of the maximum length of blank 10
between the left-hand edge of riser panel 24a and the right-hand
edge of second securing panel 41b. (See Figures 1 and 6)
In mathematical terms: Lh = ¨Lf
2
Center Line 'CL' The center line 'CU is a notional line through the center
of blank
10, positioned at half of the blank's full length. (See Figures 6 and
7)
'Cl' The additional cut-out region on each blank 10 (See
Figure 1).
`C3' The sum of the cut out region C3' (see Figure 2) and the
additional
cut-out regions Cl on each of two adjacent and nested blanks (see
Figure 3).
First Center Distance The distance between a first end edge (61) of the bottom
panel
'D2' (22) and the center line 'CU. (See Figures 6 and 7)
First Distance D1' The distance between the first end edge (61) of the
bottom panel
(22) and a first end edge (17a) of the adjacent first side panel (18).
(See Figure 8)
Second Distance 'D5' The distance between a second side edge (17b) of the
first side
panel (18) and the second end edge (63) of the bottom panel (22).
(See Figure 8)
Corner Distance 'D4' The distance between the first end edge (61) of the
bottom panel
(22) and a notional line (NL) in line with the termination of the
beveled corner (59) of the bottom panel (22) along free side edge
('E'). (See Figures 6 and 7)
CA 2976824 2017-08-21
- 13 -
Corner Depth 'D3' The distance between free side edge (`E') of the
bottom panel (22)
and a notional line passing through the termination of the beveled
corner (59) of the bottom panel (22) along first end edge (61). (See
Figure 8)
In mathematical terms:
D3 = D4.tan(180
Turning to the construction of the carrier 90 from the blank 10 the carrier 90
may be formed by a
series of sequential folding operations in a straight-line machine so that the
carrier 90 may not
be required to be inverted to complete its construction. Construction of the
blank 10 into a
.. carrier 90 is conducted in a usual manner and will therefore only be
described briefly.
Glue or other adhesive treatment is applied to the first partition panel 26a
in the region of the
third handle structure A4. Similarly, glue or other adhesive treatment is
applied to the second
partition panel 26b in the region of fourth handle structure A3. The first and
second handle
panels 30a, 30b are folded 180 about fold lines 29b, 29a respectively and
into face-contacting
and affixed relationship with the first partition panel 26a and second
partition panel 26b.
Glue G or other adhesive treatment is applied to the first securing tab 42a,
second securing tab
41b, third securing tab 52a, and fourth securing tab 51b. The blank 10 is then
folded about the
fold lines 25a, 25b so as to bring the first and second securing tabs 42a, 41b
into face
contacting relationship with the second side panel 14 and secured thereto. The
second and third
securing tabs 52a, 51b are brought into face contacting relationship with the
first side panel 18
and are secured thereto.
The blank 10 is folded about fold lines 23a, 23b, such that portions of the
first and second riser
panels 24a, 24b are brought into face contacting relationship with the second
and fourth end
panels 16b, 20b.
Glue or other adhesive treatment is then applied to the second riser panel 24b
and to the
.. second partition panel 26b.
CA 2976824 2017-08-21
-14-
Second securing panel 43a may then be folded about fold line 43b and glue or
other adhesive
treatment applied to second securing panel 43a.
The blank 10 is then folded about fold lines 31a, 33 and 31 to bring the first
partition panel 263
into face contacting relationship with the second partition panel 26 and
secured thereto. The first
riser panel 24a is brought into face contacting relationship with the second
riser panel 24b and
is secured thereto.
Glue or other adhesive treatment is then applied to bottom panel 22, in
alternative embodiments
glue may be applied to the securing panel 12 (see Figure 7).
To complete the construction of the blank 10, the bottom panel 22 is folded
about fold line 21,
such that the securing panel 12 is secured to the bottom panel 22. A flat
collapsed carrier is
thereby formed; the flat collapsed carrier can be opened into a basket-style
article carrier 90, as
shown in Figures 4 and 5. When the flat collapsed carrier is opened into a
basket-style carrier
90 by separating the first and first side panels 14, 18, the partition
structures are automatically
erected.
Once the carrier 90 is erected, the first and second handle panels 30a, 30b,
first and second
.. partition panels 26a, 26b, and first and second riser panels 24A, 24B form
a medial partition
structure that is disposed medially and substantially within the interior of
the carrier 90 defined
by the outer wall panels 18, 20b, 16b, 14, 16a, 20a. The medial partition
divides the interior of
the carrier 90 into two separate cells. The partition panels 40a, 40b 50a, 50b
further divide the
basket carrier into cells.
As can be seen best in Figure 5, the asymmetric bottom panel 22 is spaced
further from the
second end wall 16a, 20a than it is from the first end wall 16b, 20b. The
similar asymmetric
shape and size of the securing panel 12 enables a secure connection between
the securing
panel 12 and bottom panel 22. In spite of the beveled corner 59 and reduced
width of the
bottom panel 22 (because of the addition cut-out region 'Cl'), a sufficiently
secure connection
between the bottom panel 22 and securing panel 12 is ensured because a glue
area G1 in that
corner region (see Figure 7) is sufficiently large enough. Should dimension
'D4' and/or
dimension 'D3' be too small and/or dimension 'D2' too large, the security of
the bond between
the securing panel 12 and bottom panel 22 in that corner region may be
compromised and
CA 2976824 2017-08-21
- 15 -
accordingly, it is preferred if the corner distance (D4') is greater than or
equal to the first center
distance (D2') and that the corner distance (D4') is less than or equal to
three times the first
center distance ( D2 D4 < 3xD2 ). For similar reasons, additionally or
alternatively, it is
preferred if a corner depth (D3') of the beveled corner (59) which is defined
by the formula:
D3 = D4x tan(1 80 ¨19) , is controlled by the angle '0' (the angle defined by
the free side edge 'E'
and the beveled corner 59 is greater than or equal about 100 and is less than
about 145 .
It can be appreciated that various changes may be made within the scope of the
present
invention. For example, the size and shape of the panels and apertures may be
adjusted to
accommodate articles of differing size or shape. The carrier may be configured
and arranged to
package a different number of articles. In such embodiments, the carrier may
comprise an
alternative number of partition structures so as to separate adjacent
articles. In the first
illustrated embodiment, the side and end walls 20, 22, 16/18, 24/26 are
substantially of the
same height as the bottles contained within the carrier. In other embodiments,
a top cover may
additionally be applied to the carrier to more fully enclose the tops of the
articles, albeit utilising
the recess for accessing the carrying handle. In yet other embodiments, the
side and end walls
20, 22, 16/18, 24/26 are not substantially of the same height as the bottles
contained within the
carrier.
It will be recognised that as used herein, directional references such as
"top", "bottom", "base",
"front", "back", "end", "side", "inner", "outer", "upper" and "lower" do not
necessarily limit the
respective panels to such orientation, but may merely serve to distinguish
these panels from
one another.
As used herein, the terms "hinged connection" and "fold line" refer to all
manner of lines that
define hinge features of the blank, facilitate folding portions of the blank
with respect to one
another, or otherwise indicate optimal panel folding locations for the blank.
Any reference to
"hinged connection" should not be construed as necessarily referring to a
single fold line only;
indeed a hinged connection can be formed from two or more fold lines wherein
each of the two
or more fold lines may be either straight/linear or curved/curvilinear in
shape. When linear fold
lines form a hinged connection, they may be disposed parallel with each other
or slightly angled
with respect to each other. When curvilinear fold lines form a hinged
connection, they may
intersect each other to define a shaped panel within the area surrounded by
the curvilinear fold
CA 2976824 2017-08-21
- 16 -
lines. A typical example of such a hinged connection may comprise a pair of
arched or arcuate
fold lines intersecting at two points such that they define an elliptical
panel therebetween. A
hinged connection may be formed from one or more linear fold lines and one or
more curvilinear
fold lines. A typical example of such a hinged connection may comprise a
combination of a
linear fold line and an arched or arcuate fold line which intersect at two
points such that they
define a half moon-shaped panel therebetween.
As used herein, the term "fold line" may refer to one of the following: a
scored line, an
embossed line, a debossed line, a line of perforations, a line of short slits,
a line of half-cuts, a
single half-cut, an interrupted cut line, a line of aligned slits, a line of
scores and any
combination of the aforesaid options.
It should be understood that hinged connections and fold lines can each
include elements that
are formed in the substrate of the blank including perforations, a line of
perforations, a line of
short slits, a line of half-cuts, a single half-cut, a cut line, an
interrupted cut line, slits, scores,
any combination thereof, and the like. The elements can be dimensioned and
arranged to
provide the desired functionality. For example, a line of perforations can be
dimensioned or
designed with degrees of weakness to define a fold line and/or a severance
line. The line of
perforations can be designed to facilitate folding and resist breaking, to
facilitate folding and
facilitate breaking with more effort, or to facilitate breaking with little
effort.
CA 2976824 2017-08-21
