Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ARTICLE CARRIER AND BLANK THEREFOR
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to packages, article carriers and to blanks for
forming the same.
More specifically, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a carrier of
the top-gripping type
having one or more apertures for receiving and retaining an article therein.
BACKGROUND
In the field of packaging it is known to provide cartons for carrying multiple
articles. Cartons are
well known in the art and are useful for enabling consumers to transport,
store and access a group
of articles for consumption. 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. Further considerations are the
strength of the carton and
its suitability for holding and transporting large weights of articles. It is
desirable that the contents
of the carton are secure within the carton.
It is well known to provide top gripping article carriers in which apertures
are provided in a panel
of the carrier for receiving and engaging an article. The carrier may comprise
a keel structure
disposed between a first row of articles and a second row of articles.
It is desirable to provide a handle structure for carrying the carton which
handle structure has
sufficient strength to retain carton integrity in use.
The present invention seeks to provide an improvement in the field of cartons,
typically formed
from paperboard or the like.
SUMMARY
A first aspect of the invention provides an article carrier for packaging at
least one article. The
carrier comprises a main panel having at least one top-engaging article device
for receiving and
securing the main panel to a respective article. The carrier further comprises
a keel structure. The
keel structure comprises at least two keel panels for being disposed between a
first one of the at
least two articles and a second one of the at least two articles. The keel
structure comprises at
least one keel tab struck from at least one of at least two keel panels. The
at least one keel tab is
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arranged to be disposed between the first one of the at least two articles and
the second one of
the at least two articles.
Optionally, the keel structure is formed from a pair of hinged panels, the
pair of hinged panels
being medially located in the main panel.
Optionally, the carrier comprises a pair of opposing side panels hingedly
connected to the main
panel.
Optionally, the carrier comprises an end strap hingedly connected between the
pair of opposing
side panels and being free of direct connection to the main panel.
Optionally, the keel structure comprises a plurality of keel tabs.
Optionally, the at least one keel tab is struck from both of the at least two
keel panels.
Optionally, the at least one keel tab comprises a fold line defining at least
in part an upper and
lower portion thereof
Optionally, the fold line is offset with respect to a hinged connection
between the pair of panels of
the keel structure.
Optionally, the at least two keel panels are provided by portion of the main
panel and are disposed
between a pair of top panels.
Optionally, the pair of top panels are disposed over upper ends of the at
least two articles.
Optionally, each cover panel is arranged to be disposed over an upper end of
at least one article.
Optionally, the at least one keel tab is struck in part from one of the pair
of top panels.
Optionally, each of the pair of opposing side panels is hingedly connected to
the main panel by a
shoulder panel.
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Optionally, the carrier comprises a cutaway that separates the end strap from
the main panel.
Optionally, the cutaway is one of the elements selected from the following
group of elements; a
cutline, a severable line, a recess, a slot, and an aperture.
Optionally, the at least one top-engaging article device comprises a plurality
of top-engaging
article devices, and the keel structure is disposed between a first row of the
top-engaging article
devices and a second row of the top-engaging article devices.
A second aspect of the invention provides a blank for forming an article
carrier. The blank
comprises a main panel having at least one top-engaging article device for
receiving and securing
the main panel to a respective one of at least two articles. The blank further
comprises at least
two keel panels for forming a keel structure. The keel structure is arranged
to be disposed
between a first one of the at least two articles and a second one of the at
least two articles. The
keel structure comprises at least one keel tab struck from at least one of at
least two keel panels.
The at least one keel tab is arranged to be disposed between the first one of
the at least two
articles and the second one of the at least two articles.
Optionally, the at least one top-engaging article device comprises a plurality
of top engaging
article devices, and the at least one keel tab extends away from a first row
of the top-engaging
article devices.
Optionally, the at least one keel tab extends toward a second row of the top-
engaging article
devices.
Optionally, each of the top-engaging article devices comprises at least one
slit, and the at least
one keel tab interrupts the at least one slit of at least one of the top-
engaging article devices.
A third aspect of the invention provides a package comprising an article
carrier and a plurality of
articles. The carrier comprises a main panel having a plurality of top-
engaging article devices for
receiving and securing the main panel to a respective article. The plurality
of top-engaging article
devices is arranged in rows and comprise a first row and a second row. The
carrier further
comprises a keel structure. The keel structure comprises at least two keel
panels disposed
between the first and second rows of top-engaging article devices. The keel
structure comprises
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at least one keel tab struck from at least one of at least two keel panels.
The at least one keel tab
is disposed between a pair of adjacently disposed articles. A first one of the
pair of adjacently
disposed articles is engaged by a top-engaging article device in the first row
and a second one of
the pair of adjacently disposed articles is engaged by a top-engaging article
device in the second
row.
Optionally, the at least one keel tab is adhesively secured to said first and
second ones of the pair
of adjacently disposed articles.
Optionally, the carrier further comprising a pair of opposing side panels
hingedly connected to the
main panel, and an end strap hingedly connected between the pair of opposing
side panels and
being free of direct connection to the main panel.
Within the scope of this application, it is envisaged or 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 considered or
taken independently
or in any combination thereof.
Features or elements described in connection with, or relation to, one
embodiment are applicable
to all embodiments unless there is an incompatibility of features. One or more
features or
elements from one embodiment may be incorporated into, or combined with, any
of the other
embodiments disclosed herein, said features or elements extracted from said
one embodiment
may be included in addition to, or in replacement of one or more features or
elements of said
other embodiment.
A feature, or combination of features, of an embodiment disclosed herein may
be extracted in
isolation from other features of that embodiment. Alternatively, a feature, or
combination of
features, of an embodiment may be omitted from that embodiment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAW NGS
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;
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Figure 2 is a perspective view from above of a carrier formed from the blank
of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is an alternative perspective view from above of a portion of the
carrier of Figure
2; and
Figure 4 is an alternative perspective view from above of a portion of the
carrier of Figure
2 showing a handle feature in a deployed condition.
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 which is
capable of forming a
carton or carrier 90, as shown in Figure 2, for containing and carrying a
group of primary products
such as, but not limited to, bottles or cans, hereinafter referred to as
articles B, as shown in Figure
2. The blank 10 forms a secondary package for packaging at least one primary
product container
or package.
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 primary 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.
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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.
The packaging structures or cartons described herein may be formed from a
sheet material such
as paperboard, which may be made of or coated with materials to increase its
strength. An
example of such a sheet material is tear-resistant NATRALOCK paperboard made
by WestRock
Company. It should be noted that the tear resistant materials may be provided
by more than one
layer, to help improve the tear-resistance of the package. Typically, one
surface of the sheet
material may have different characteristics to the other surface. For example,
the surface of the
sheet material that faces outwardly from a finished package may be
particularly smooth and may
have a coating such as a clay coating or other surface treatment to provide
good printability. The
surface of the sheet material that faces inwardly may, on the other hand, be
provided with a
coating, a layer, a treatment or be otherwise prepared to provide properties
such as one or more
of tear-resistance, good glue-ability, heat sealability, or other desired
functional properties.
In the illustrated embodiment, the blank 10 is configured to form a carton or
carrier 90 for
packaging an exemplary arrangement of exemplary articles B. In the illustrated
embodiment, the
arrangement is a 2 x 3 matrix or array; two rows of three articles B are
provided, and the articles
B are beverage cans. Alternatively, the blank 10 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.
Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a blank 10 comprising a plurality of
panels 12, 14, 16, 18, 20,
including a main panel 14 for forming a top wall or an engaging panel of a
carrier 90 (see Figure
2).
The blank 10 includes a first side panel 18 hingedly connected to a first side
of the main panel 14
by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 17; more specifically, the
first side panel 18 is
hingedly connected to a first outer shoulder panel 14E forming part of the
main panel 14. The
blank 10 includes a second side panel 20 hingedly connected to a second side
of the main panel
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14 by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 19; more specifically,
the second side panel
20 is hingedly connected to a second outer shoulder panel 14F forming part of
the main panel 14.
The first outer shoulder panel 14E is hinged to a first top panel 14A by a
hinged connection in the
form of a fold line 73A. The second outer shoulder panel 14F is hinged to a
second top panel 14B
by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 73B. The main panel 14
further comprises a first
inner shoulder panel 14C and a second inner shoulder panel 14D. The first
inner shoulder panel
14C is hinged to a first top panel 14A by a hinged connection in the form of a
fold line 75A. The
first inner shoulder panel 14C is hinged to the second inner shoulder panel
14D by a hinged
connection in the form of a fold line 76. The second inner shoulder panel 14D
is hinged to the
second top panel 14B by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 75B.
The first inner shoulder panel 14C and the second inner shoulder panel 14D
form a keel structure
140/14D disposed between two rows of articles B, see Figure 2.
Each of the first and second top panels 14A, 14B includes opposed pairs of
article-engaging
devices 70A, 72A (and 70B, 72B) formed therein and generally along respective
fold lines 73A,
75A (and 73B, 75B). Fold lines 73A, 75A hingedly interconnect the respective
series of article-
engaging devices 70A, 72A. Fold lines 73B, 75B hingedly interconnect the
respective series of
article-engaging devices 70B, 72B. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the
article-engaging
devices 70A, 72A, 70B, 72B takes the form of a curved slit. The article
engaging devices 72A
disposed between the first top panel 14A and the first inner shoulder panel
14C are defined at
least in part by a pair of slit or cuts. The pair of slit or cuts are spaced
apart by a keel tab 40
(described in further detail below). The slits may be considered to interrupt
a respective one of
the fold lines 73A, 75A, 73B, 75B, between the first and second top panels
14A, 14B and the
inner and outer shoulder panels 14C, 14D, 14E, 14F. In other embodiments, each
of the article-
engaging devices may be formed by a series of curved frangible lines. In other
embodiments, the
article-engaging devices 70A, 72A, 70B, 72B may comprise apertures for
receiving upper parts
of articles B held by the carrier 90. It will be understood that many
mechanisms exist for clipping,
locking, or engaging the tops or other portions of articles B (such as
radially protruding portions
or flanges) for holding the articles B in an assembled and secure group so
that a number of articles
B may easily be purchased and transported at the same time. In the illustrated
embodiment, the
article-engaging devices 70A, 72A, 70B, 72B take the form of C-shaped slits
which form openings
when the top panels 14A, 14B are folded about the fold lines 73A, 75A, 73B,
75B, each thereby
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providing an article-engaging edge. Once opened, the slits are sized similarly
to or substantially
equal to the rim edge of an article B. Each article-engaging device 70A, 72A,
70B, 72B provides
a pair of openings for receiving a portion of an article B.
In the illustrated embodiment, the fold lines 73A, 75A (and 73B, 75B) that
hingedly interconnect
the series of article-engaging devices 70A, 72A (and 70B, 72B) are slightly
arcuate in shape (in
other embodiments they may be linear or straight) with their convex sides
disposed toward the
interiors of respective adjacent top panels 14A, 14B.
First and second outer shoulder panels 14E, 14F each include one or more
second or stress-
reducing fold lines 71A, 71B that extend alongside at least part of respective
fold lines 73A, 73B.
In the illustrated embodiment, stress-reducing fold lines 71A, 71B are
generally arcuate (in other
embodiments they may be linear or straight) with their concave sides disposed
toward the interiors
of respective adjacent top panels 14A, 14B. The stress-reducing fold lines
71A, 71B can be
disposed between two adjacent ones of cut lines 70A, 70B.
In the illustrated embodiment, first and second inner shoulder panels 14C, 140
also include one
or more second or stress-reducing fold lines 77A, 77B that extend alongside at
least part of
respective fold lines 75A, 75B. Stress-reducing fold lines 77A, 77B may
generally mirror the
stress-reducing fold lines 71A, 71B disposed on the first and second outer
shoulder panels 14E,
14F. Stress-reducing fold lines 77A, 77B may facilitate the contouring of
inner shoulder panels
14C, 14D to corresponding portions of the necks of adjacent articles.
The blank 10 comprises a first end strap 26A/22A/12/22B/26B and a second end
strap 30A/24A/-
16/24B/30B.
The first end strap 26A/22A/12/22B/26B. The first end strap 26A/22A/12/22B/26B
comprises a
first end panel 12. A first corner panel 22A is hingedly connected to a first
end of the first end
panel 12 by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 21A. Fold line 21A
may comprise a
plurality of fold lines, the illustrated embodiment comprises a single fold
line, the plurality of fold
lines may be parallel with each other. A first securing panel 26A is hingedly
connected to an end
of the first corner panel 22A by a hinged connection in the form of a fold
line 23A. Fold line 23A
may comprise a plurality of fold lines, the illustrated embodiment comprises a
single fold line, the
plurality of fold lines may be parallel with each other. A first gusset panel
28A is hingedly
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interconnected between the first securing panel 26A and a first end of the
first side panel 18 by
fold lines 25A, 27A. Fold line 27A may comprise a plurality of fold lines, the
illustrated embodiment
comprises a single fold line, the plurality of fold lines may be parallel with
each other.
A second corner panel 22B is hingedly connected to a second end of the first
end panel 12 by a
hinged connection in the form of a fold line 21B. Fold line 21B may comprise a
plurality of fold
lines, the illustrated embodiment comprises a single fold line, the plurality
of fold lines may be
parallel with each other. A second securing panel 26B is hingedly connected to
an end of the
second corner panel 22B by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 23B.
Fold line 23B may
comprise a plurality of fold lines, the illustrated embodiment comprises a
single fold line, the
plurality of fold lines may be parallel with each other. A second gusset panel
28B is hingedly
interconnected between the second securing panel 26B and a first end of the
second side panel
by fold lines 25B, 27B. Fold line 27B may comprise a plurality of fold lines,
the illustrated
embodiment comprises a single fold line, the plurality of fold lines may be
parallel with each other.
The first end strap 26A/22A/12/22B/26B is partially separated from, or
severable from, the main
panel 14. The first end panel 12 is partially separated from, or severable
from, the main panel 14.
The blank 10 may comprise at least two cut lines, or frangible lines for
severing, separating the
first end panel 12 from the main panel 14.
The first corner panel 22A is separated from the main panel 14. The blank 10
may comprise an
aperture separating, at least in part, the first corner panel 22A from the
main panel 14. The first
corner panel 22A may be separated, at least in part, from the main panel 14 by
a cut line or
frangible line.
The second corner panel 22B is separated from the main panel 14. The blank 10
comprises an
aperture separating, at least in part, the second corner panel 22B from the
main panel 14. The
second corner panel 22B may be separated, at least in part, from the main
panel 14 by a cut line
or frangible line.
The first end strap 26A/22A/12/22B/26B forms a first end wall of the carrier
90.
The blank comprises a second end strap 30A/24A/16/24B/30B. The second end
strap 30A/24A/-
16/24B/30B comprises a second end panel 16. A third corner panel 24A is
hingedly connected to
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a first end of the second end panel 16 by a hinged connection in the form of a
fold line 29A. Fold
line 29A may comprise a plurality of fold lines, the illustrated embodiment
comprises a single fold
line, the plurality of fold lines may be parallel with each other. A third
securing panel 30A is
hingedly connected to an end of the third corner panel 24A by a hinged
connection in the form of
a fold line 31A. Fold line 31A may comprise a plurality of fold lines, the
illustrated embodiment
comprises a single fold line, the plurality of fold lines may be parallel with
each other. A third
gusset panel 32A is hingedly interconnected between the third securing panel
30A and a second
end of the first side panel 18 by fold lines 33A, 35A. Fold line 35A may
comprise a plurality of fold
lines, the illustrated embodiment comprises a single fold line, the plurality
of fold lines may be
parallel with each other
A fourth corner panel 24B is hingedly connected to a second end of the second
end panel 16 by
a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 29B. Fold line 29B may comprise
a plurality of fold
lines, the illustrated embodiment comprises a single fold line, the plurality
of fold lines may be
parallel with each other. A fourth securing panel 30B is hingedly connected to
an end of the fourth
corner panel 24B by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 31B. Fold
line 31B may comprise
a plurality of fold lines, the illustrated embodiment comprises a single fold
line, the plurality of fold
lines may be parallel with each other A fourth gusset panel 32B is hingedly
interconnected
between the fourth securing panel 30B and a second end of the second side
panel 20 by fold
lines 33B, 35B. Fold line 35B may comprise a plurality of fold lines, the
illustrated embodiment
comprises a single fold line, the plurality of fold lines may be parallel with
each other.
The second end strap 30A/24A/16/24B/30B is partially separated from, or
severable from, the
main panel 14. The second end panel 16 is partially separated from, or
severable from, the main
panel 14. The blank 10 may comprise at least two cut lines, or frangible lines
severing, separating
the second end panel 16 from the main panel 14.
The third corner panel 24A is separated from the main panel 14. The blank 10
comprises an
aperture separating, at least in part, the third corner panel 24A from the
main panel 14. The third
corner panel 24A may be separated, at least in part, from the main panel 14 by
a cut line or
frangible line.
The fourth corner panel 24B is separated from the main panel 14. The blank 10
comprises an
aperture separating, at least in part, the fourth corner panel 24B from the
main panel 12. The
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fourth corner panel 24B may be separated, at least in part, from the main
panel 14 by a cut line
or frangible line.
The second end strap 30A/24A/16/24B/30B forms a second end wall of the carrier
90.
The blank 10 may comprise at least one handle feature. The blank 10 comprises
a first handle
flap 12A struck from the first end panel 12. The first handle flap 12A defines
a recess or cutaway
in a lower edge of the first end panel 12. The recess or cutaway may be
substantially an inverted
"U" shape. The first handle flap 12A is struck from, or defined in, the first
end panel 12 and is
hingedly connected thereto by a fold line 13.
The blank 10 may comprise a second handle flap 16A struck from the second end
panel 16. The
second end panel 16A defines a recess or cutaway in a lower edge of the second
end panel 16.
The recess or cutaway may be substantially an inverted "U" shape. The second
end panel 16A is
struck from, or defined in, the second end panel 16 and is hingedly connected
thereto by a fold
line 15.
The blank 10 may comprise at least one partition or divider K The partition or
divider K comprises
at least one keel tab 40. The illustrated embodiment comprises a plurality of
keel tabs 40,
specifically three keel tabs 40, although in other embodiments more or less
keel tabs 40 may be
provided. The blank 10 may comprise a keel tab 40 for placement between each
adjacent pair of
articles B being packaged.
Each keel tab 40 is struck from the main panel 14. A portion of each keel tab
40 is struck from, or
defined in, the second inner shoulder panel 14D, a portion of each keel tab 40
is struck from, or
defined in, the first inner shoulder panel 14C. A further portion of the keel
tabs 40 may be provided
by material which would otherwise form the first top panel 14A, that is to say
an optional portion
of the keel tab 40 may be struck from, or defined in the first top panel 14A
and may interrupt the
adjacent one of the curved slits 72A.
Each keel tab 40 is defined, at least in part, by a cut line 41. Cutline 41 is
substantially 11' or "C"
shaped. The cut line 41 comprises a pair or terminal ends disposed in the
second inner shoulder
panel 14D. The cut line 41 extends into the first inner shoulder panel 14C.
The cut line 41 may
extends into the first top panel 14A. The cut line 41 and/or tab may be
considered to interrupt the
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slit forming the article engaging devices 72A disposed between the first top
panel 14A and the
first inner shoulder panel 14C
The keel tabs 40 may be arranged to be integral with the second inner shoulder
panel 14D. In
other embodiments, the keel tabs 40 may be hingedly connected to the second
inner shoulder
panel 14D by hinged connection in the form of a fold line.
In the illustrated embodiment, the cut line 41 is defined in part in the
second inner shoulder panel
14D. In other embodiments the cut line 41 may terminate at or proximate the
fold line 76 between
the first and second inner shoulder panels 14C, 14D; in such embodiments the
keel tabs 40 may
be considered to extend from the second inner shoulder panel 14D.
Each keel tab 40 may comprise a fold line 43 extending transversely
thereacross. The fold line
43 may be arranged to disposed in alignment with an upper end of a main body
of the articles B
being packaged. The fold line 43 may be arranged to be aligned with a joint or
transition between
main body of the articles B and a shoulder or neck portion of the articles B.
In the illustrated embodiment, the keel tab 40 interrupts an engaging or
support edge of the first
inner shoulder panel 14C; the portion of the first inner shoulder panel 14C
which the keel tab 40
removes would otherwise form a part of the support edge defined by the outline
or slit forming the
article engaging device 72A. It has been found that portions of the first
inner shoulder panel 14C
disposed on opposing sides of the keel tab 40 provide engaging or support
edges which are
sufficient to retain the article B within article engaging device 72A or
carrier 90.
Figure 2 illustrates a carrier 90, formed from the blank 10, engaged with a
group of articles B.
Each of the article-engaging devices 70A, 72A, 70B, 72B of the blank 10
engages an upper end
of an article B of the group of articles B. Portions of the articles B pass
through the main panel 14
and engage therewith. The side panels 18, 20 are folded about sides of the
group of articles B
and the end straps 26A/22A/12/22B/26B, 30A/24A/16/24B/30B are folded about
ends of the group
of articles B.
The keel tabs 40 are folded out of the main panel 14 and extend inwardly or
downwardly. Each
keel tab 40 is disposed between a pair of articles B, best shown in Figures 3
and 4. The keel tabs
inhibit the pair of articles B from contacting each other directly ¨ at least
at an upper end.
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Adhesive may be applied to the keel tabs 40 (or to corresponding regions of
the articles B) such
that each article B adjacent to a keel tab 40 may be adhesively secured
thereto. An article B may
be adhesively secured to both or opposing faces of the keel tabs 40 -that is
to say one article may
be adhesively secured to one of the opposing faces of a keel tab 40 and
another article may be
adhesively secured to the other one of the opposing faces of said keel tab 40.
This may improve
security of the articles B with in the carrier 90. A fugitive glue may be
employed to secure the keel
tabs 40 to the articles B. An example of a specific glue is SwiftOmelt 7044
manufactured by HB
Fuller. Use of a fugitive glue is optional, an advantage of a fugitive glue is
its tendency to remain
attached to the carrier 90 when the articles B are disengaged from the carrier
90 (this may be
more desirable than having the glue remain attached to the articles B). In
alternative embodiments
other adhesives maybe employed such as, but not limited to, hot-melt glue.
The keel tabs 40 may inhibit or prevent damage to the articles B from impact
or contact between
the pair of articles B. The keel tab 40 may also suppress noise when the
carrier 90 is transported.
The keel tab 40 may also improve security of the keel structure formed by the
inner shoulder
panels 14C, 14D.
Figure 4 shows the carrier 90 with the first handle flap 12A forming a
cushioning flap. The first
handle flap 12A is in a deployed or use condition, the cushioning flap 12A has
been folded
internally of the carrier 90 to provide a folded edge for carrying the carrier
90; the folded edge
may be more comfortable and/or safer for the user.
The blank 10 includes at least a paperboard substrate. The material of the
paperboard substrate
may be selected from any conventional paperboard, for example, ranging in
weight upwardly from
about 1Opt., preferably from about 16pt. to about 28pt. (0.028"/-0.7mm). An
example of such a
substrate is an 18 point (pt.) SBS board (solid bleached sulfate paperboard
coated on one side,
trade name PrintKote0) or CNK board (Coated Natural Kraft -an unbleached
kraft paperboard
having a clay coating on one side, trade name CarrierKoteTM) manufactured by
WestRock
Company. The paperboard substrate may be a bleached or unbleached board. The
board may
be coated on at least one side, optionally the side opposite the lamination,
with a conventional
coating selected for compatibility with the printing method and board
composition.
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The blank 10 may include a tear resistant layer laminated to the paperboard
layer. It optionally
includes an adhesive layer between the paperboard substrate and the tear
resistant layer. The
tear resistant layer may be disposed over the uncoated side of the paperboard
substrate and may
be formed of polymeric material and secured to the substrate. The tear
resistant layer imparts
toughness to the laminate structure. Suitable tear resistant materials may
include, but not be
limited to, tear resistant laminated sheet material, e.g., NATRALOCKO, which
may include a layer
of an n-axially oriented film, e.g. MYLARO, which is a bi-axially oriented
polyester, oriented nylon,
cross-laminated polyolefin or high density polyolefin. The orientation and
cross-laminated
structure of these materials contribute to the tear resistant characteristic.
Also, tear resistance
may be attributed to the chemical nature of the tear resistant material such
as extruded
metallocene-catalyzed polyethylene (m PE).
Alternatively, the tear resistant layer may be a layer of linear low-density
polyethylene (LLDPE).
In embodiments where linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) or mPE is used,
it is not
necessary to incorporate an adhesive layer. Other suitable materials having a
high level of tear
resistance may also be used.
The adhesive layer may be formed of polyolefin material such as a low-density
polyethylene
(LDPE). The adhesive layer may be placed between the substrate and the tear
resistant layer to
secure the tear resistant layer to the substrate.
The present disclosure provides a carrier 90 of the top engaging type having
article retention
structures or article top engaging devices 70A, 70B, 72A, 72B for engaging
articles B.
The carrier 90 comprises a main panel 14 having one or more article top
engaging devices 70A,
70B, 72A, 72B for receiving and securing the main panel 14 to a respective
article B. The carrier
90 may comprise a pair of opposing side panels 18, 20 hingedly connected to
the main panel 14.
Each of the pair of opposing side panels 18, 20 may be hingedly connected to
the main panel 14
by a shoulder panel 14E, 14F.
The carrier 90 may comprise an end strap 26A/22A/12/22B/26B,
30A/24A/16/24B/30B hingedly
connected between the pair of opposing side panels 18, 20 and free of direct
connection to the
main panel 14. A cutaway, in the form of a cutline, severable line, recess,
slot or aperture,
separates the end strap 26A/22A/12/22B/26B, 30A/24A/16/24B/30B from the main
panel 14.
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The carrier 90 comprises a keel structure, the keel structure may comprise at
least two panels
14C, 14D. The keel structure may be formed from a pair of hinged panels, the
pair of hinged
panels 14C, 14D may be medially located in the main panel 14 and may extend
longitudinally of
the main panel 14.
The keel structure may comprise at least one keel tab 40 struck from, defined
in, or extending
from at least one of the pair of panels 14C, 14D of the keel structure. The
keel structure may
comprise a plurality of keel tabs 40.
The at least one keel tab 40 may be struck from each or both of the panels
forming the keel
structure. The at least one keel tab 40 may comprise a fold line defining at
least in part an upper
and lower portion of the keel tab 40. The fold line may be offset with respect
to a hinged connection
or fold line between the pair of panels 140, 14D of the keel structure.
The at least two keel panels 14C, 140 may be provided by portion of the main
panel 14 and may
be disposed between a pair of cover or top panels 14A, 14B. The pair of cover
or top panels 14A,
14B may be arranged to be disposed over upper ends of two or more articles B.
Each cover or
top panel 14A, 14B is arranged to be disposed over an upper end of at least
one article B.
In other embodiments, the main panel may comprise a plurality of article
retention devices
arranged in rows, the article retention devices may comprise an opening with a
plurality of hinged
tabs disposed thereabout. Each article retention devices receives an article,
the tabs folding out
of the main panel and being disposed below a flange, rim or other protrusion
or undercut provided
by the article.
The at least one keel tab 40 may be struck in part from, or partially defined
in, one of the pair of
cover or top panels 14A, 14B.
A fugitive glue may be employed to secure the side panels 18, 20 and/or end
panels 12, 16 to the
articles B. An example of a specific glue is Swiftemelt 7044 manufactured by
HB Fuller. Use of a
fugitive glue is optional, an advantage of a fugitive glue is its tendency to
remain attached to the
carrier 90 when the articles B are disengaged from the carrier 90 (this may be
more desirable
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than having the glue remain attached to the articles B). In alternative
embodiments other
adhesives maybe employed such as, but not limited to, hot-melt glue.
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 inner and/or outer shoulder panels
may be omitted entirely
or may be included in any desired combination. The present invention is not
limited to cartons of
the top-engaging type, the invention may be employed with other carton styles
such as, but not
limited to, open top crates, lidded or closed top crates and fully enclosed
cartons.
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 be
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 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-
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cut, an interrupted cutline, 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 cutline, an interrupted
cutline, slits, scores, embossed
lines, debossed lines, 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.
The phrase "in registry with" as used herein refers to the alignment of two or
more elements in an
erected carton, such as an aperture formed in a first of two overlapping
panels and a second
aperture formed in a second of two overlapping panels. Those elements in
registry with each
other may be aligned with each other in the direction of the thickness of the
overlapping panels.
For example, when an aperture in a first panel is "in registry with" a second
aperture in a second
panel that is placed in an overlapping arrangement with the first panel, an
edge of the aperture
may extend along at least a portion of an edge of the second aperture and may
be aligned, in the
direction of the thickness of the first and second panels, with the second
aperture.
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