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 article top engaging devices, article
carriers and to blanks for
forming the same. More specifically, but not exclusively, the invention
relates to a plurality of
blanks forming a plurality of article carriers 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 an aperture
is formed in a panel of
the carrier, wherein tabs are struck from said panel and define the aperture,
The tabs are
displaced out of the plane of said panel when an article is received in the
aperture, wherein said
tabs engage the article generally about a flange or lip of the article.
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 a plurality of connected blanks for
forming two or more
article carriers. Each blank comprises an engaging panel, having at least one
article-receiving
device, and at least one shoulder panel hingedly connected to the engaging
panel. At least one
shoulder panel of a first one of the plurality of connected blanks is
frangibly connected to an
adjacently disposed at least one shoulder panel of a second one of the
plurality of connected
blanks by one or more frangible connections,
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Advantageously, the plurality of connected blanks does not require a cutting
tool or step to be
implemented when the blanks are applied to the articles to form a plurality of
secondary packages
about the primary product container or articles.
Optionally, the frangible connections are broken automatically in response to
folding said shoulder
panels with respect to the engaging panel to which it is hinged.
Optionally, the frangible connections are broken automatically in response to
engagement or
application of the plurality of connected blanks to a group of articles.
A second aspect of the invention provides a plurality of connected blanks for
forming two or more
article carriers. Each blank comprises an engaging panel, having at least one
article-receiving
device, and a pair of side panels hingedly connected to opposing sides of the
engaging panel.
The plurality of connected blanks comprises at least one pair of pair of
frangibly connected side
panels. The at least one pair of pair of frangibly connected side panels
includes a first side panel
hingedly connected to an engaging panel of a first one of the plurality of
connected blanks and a
second side panel hingedly connected to an engaging panel side panel of a
second, adjacently
disposed, one of the plurality of connected blanks
Optionally, one or more frangible connections between the first side panel and
the second side
panel are broken automatically in response to folding said side panels with
respect to the
engaging panel to which it is hinged.
Optionally, the frangible connections are broken automatically in response to
engagement or
application of the plurality of connected blanks to a group of articles.
Optionally, an article-receiving device in the first one of the plurality of
connected blanks is spaced
apart from an article-receiving device in the second one of the plurality of
connected blanks by a
first distance. The first distance is equal to or less than the maximum
diameter of the articles
receivable in the article-receiving devices of said first and second blanks.
A third aspect of the invention provides an article top-receiving device in a
main panel of an article
carrier. The article top-receiving device comprises an opening and a plurality
of engaging tabs.
The plurality of engaging tabs comprises at least one first tab connected to
the main panel by a
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linear fold fine and at least one second tab partially connected from the main
panel by a non-linear
cut.
Optionally, the plurality of engaging tabs comprises at least one third tab
struck from the main
panel and integral with a side panel hingedly connected to the main panel,
Optionally, each of the plurality of engaging tabs is substantially
trapezoidal in shape.
Optionally, a side edge of each of the plurality of engaging tabs abuts a side
edge of an adjacent
one of the plurality of engaging tabs.
Optionally, a free end edge of each of the plurality of engaging tabs provides
an engaging edge
for engaging an article.
Optionally, the article top-receiving device comprises a plurality of second
tabs disposed
substantially about a portion of the perimeter of the receiving aperture
opposing the side panel
from which the third tab extends.
Optionally, the at least one second tab is defined in part by at least one "T"
shaped cutline.
Optionally, the at least one second tab is defined in part by at least one "12
shaped outline
Optionally, the at least one second tab is defined in part by at least one "J-
shaped outline,
Optionally, the at /east one second tab is defined in part by at least one
outline having a first radial
outline portion and a second circumferential outline portion.
Optionally, the first radial outline portion extends along a notional radial
line extending from a
centre of the article top-receiving device.
Optionally, the second circumferential outline portion is linear.
Optionally, the circumferential outline portion comprises at least a part
which is perpendicular to
the first radial outline portion,
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Optionally, outermost ends of first radial outline portions define a notional
circle centred at the
intersection between notional extensions of two or more first radial outline
portions,
Optionally, the second circumferential outline portions are tangential to said
notional circle and
comprise a terminal end disposed outside the notional circle.
Optionally, the non-linear cut is disposed inside the notional circle.
Optionally, a bridging connection is defined between a terminal end of the non-
linear cut and a
terminal end of an adjacent second circumferential outline portion.
Optionally, outermost terminal ends of radial outlines defining the at least
one first tab is disposed
outside of the notional circle.
Optionally, an outermost terminal end of radial outlines defining the at least
one third tab is
disposed outside of the notional circle..
Optionally, the linear fold line of the at least one first tab is disposed
outside of the notional circle.
A fourth aspect of the invention provides a method of forming two or more
article carriers from a
plurality of connected blanks. The plurality of connected blanks comprises two
or more blanks
each forming an article carrier. Each blank includes an engaging panel, having
at least one article-
receiving device, and at least one side panel hingedly connected to the
engaging panel. A side
panel of a first one of the two or more blanks is frangibly connected to a
side panel of a second
one of the two or more blanks by one or more frangible connections. The method
comprises
farming a group of articles, applying the plurality of connected blanks to the
group of articles, and
pressing the plurality of connected blanks about ends of the articles forming
the group of articles.
The method comprises folding the side panels of the first and second blanks
with respect to the
engaging panel to which it is hinged. The frangible connections between the
side panels of the
first and second blanks are broken automatically in response to folding said
side panels. The
method comprises receiving an article in each of the at least one article-
receiving devices such
that two or more distinct article carriers are formed.
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Optionally, the method of forming two or more article carriers comprises
packaging articles each
comprising an upper end having an end diameter, a main body having a body
diameter, and a
shoulder portion disposed between the main body and upper end. The body
diameter is greater
than the end diameter such that when two articles are placed in juxtaposition
a void exists
therebetween in a region between shoulder portions of said articles, The
method comprises
displacing the side panels of the first and second blanks into the void, said
displacement
facilitating separation of the first blank from the second blank.
A fifth aspect of the invention provides an article carrier of the top
engaging type comprising an
engaging panel, having at least one article-receiving device struck from the
engaging panel, and
at least one side panel comprising a severed frangible connection along an
edge of the at least
one side panel opposing its hinged connection to the engaging panel,
Optionally, the at least one side panel comprises a tab struck from the
engaging panel and
interrupting the hinged connection between the at least one side panel and the
engaging 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 Of
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.
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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 plurality of connected blanks, each
blank capable of
forming a carrier, according to a first embodiment;
Figure 1B is an enlarged plan view of a portion of one of the blanks of Figure
1 showing an
article retention structure;
Figure 10 is a plan view from above of the plurality of connected blanks
showing the position
of articles superimposed thereon; and
Figures 2 and 3 are a perspective views from above of a carrier formed from
one of the blanks
of Figure 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Detailed descriptions of specific embodiments of packages, blanks, carriers,
and methods 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,
carriers, and methods
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 plurality of connected
blanks 1 each of which
is capable of forming a carton or carrier 90, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, for
containing and
carrying a group of primary products such as, but not limited to, bottles or
cans, hereinafter
referred to as articles B. Each blank 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D forms a secondary
package for
packaging at least one primary product container or package.
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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 andior
cylindrical. Exemplary containers include bottles (for example metallic, glass
or plastics bottles),
cans (for example aluminium cans), tins, pouches, packets and the like.
The blanks 10A, 108, 10C, 10D are 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 90 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 VVestRock
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 embodiments, the blanks 10A, 108, 10C, 10D are configured
to form a carton or
carrier 90 for packaging an exemplary arrangement of exemplary articles B. In
the embodiments
illustrated the arrangement is a 2 x 3 matrix or array; two rows of three
articles are provided, and
the articles B are beverage cans. Alternatively, the blanks 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D
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 plurality of connected blanks 1,
specifically there are four
blanks 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D arranged in a 2 x 2 matrix or array. Each blank 10A,
10B, 10C, 10D
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comprises a main panel 12 for forming a top wall or engaging panel of a
carrier 90 (see Figures
2 and 3). Each blank 10A, 1013, 10C, 100 is connected to at least two adjacent
blanks 10A, 108,
10C, 10D by frangible connections 25, 27,
The blanks 10A, 10B, 10C, 100 comprise a first side or shoulder pane/ 20
hingedly connected to
a first side edge of the main panel 12 by a hinged connection in the form of a
fold line 21.
The blanks 10A, 108, 10C, 100 comprise a second side or shoulder panel 22
hingedly connected
to a second side edge of the main panel 12 by a hinged connection in the form
of a fold line 23.
The second side edge opposes the first side edge
A first blank 10A is frangibly connected to a second blank 10B by a first
frangible connection 25,
more specifically: a second side or shoulder panel 22 of the first blank 10A
is frangibly connected
to a first side or shoulder panel 20 of the second blank 108. The first
frangible connection 25 may
comprise a plurality of outlines spaced apart from each other bye connecting
bridge or nick N.
The ....... first frangible connection 25 may comprise two or more connecting
bridges or nicks N.
A third blank 10C is frangibly connected to a fourth blank 100 by a second
frangible connection
25, more specifically, a second side or shoulder panel 22 of the third blank
10C is frangibly
connected to a first side or shoulder panel 20 of the fourth blank 10D. The
second frangible
connection 25 may comprise a plurality of cutlines spaced apart from each
other by a connecting
bridge or nick N. The second frangible connection 25 may comprise two or more
connecting
bridges or nicks N.
The first blank 10A is frangibly connected to the third blank 10C by a third
frangible connection
27. The third frangible connection 27 may comprise a plurality of cutlines
spaced apart from each
other by a connecting bridge or nick N. An end edge of the main panel 12 of
the first blank 10A is
frangibly connected to an end edge of the main panel 12 of the third blank 10C
by two or more
connecting bridges or nicks N.
The second blank 1013 is frangibly connected to the fourth blank 100 by a
fourth frangible
connection 27, The fourth frangible connection 27 may comprise a plurality of
outlines spaced
apart from each other by a connecting bridge or nick N. An end edge of the
main panel 12 of the
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second blank 10B is frangibly connected to an end edge of the main panel 12 of
the fourth blank
10D by two or more connecting bridges or nicks N.
The plurality of connected blanks 1 may comprise a cutaway in the form of an
aperture. The
cutaway interrupts or spaces apart the first frangible connection 25 from the
second frangible
connection 25. The cutaway interrupts or spaces apart the third frangible
connection 27 from the
fourth frangible connection 27. The cutaway separates a portion of each blank
10A, 106, 10C,
100 from each of the other blanks 10A, 10B, 10C, 100,
Each main panel 12 includes at least one article retention structure RT1, see
Figure 1B In the
embodiment of Figure 1 the engaging panel 12 comprises a plurality of article
retention structures
RT1, specifically six article retention structures RT1 arranged in 2 x 3
matrix or array.
The article retention structure RT1 comprises an article receiving opening
defined in part by an
aperture API which is defined in, or struck from, the main panel 12, Each of
the article retention
structures RT1 comprises a plurality of teeth or tabs 14a, 14b, 16 disposed
about the aperture
API.
Each of the teeth 14a, 14b, 16 is struck from the engaging panel 12 and is
hingediy connected
thereto. Each tooth 14a, 14b, 16 is defined, in part, by a pair of cut lines
13, 15. The cut lines 13,
15 extend substantially radially outward from the article receiving aperture
API.
The illustrated embodiment comprises eight teeth 14a, 14b, 16 defined about
the receiving
aperture API. Each tooth 14a, 14b, 16 comprises a free engaging edge opposing
a hinged
connection between each tooth 14a, 14b, 16 and the main panel 12. Each free
engaging edge
defines a portion the receiving aperture API. The receiving aperture API may
be substantially
octagonal in shape.
The retention structures RT1 comprise at least one first tab 14a coupled or
connected to the main
or engaging panel 12 by a linear fold line 17. The linear fold line 17 may be
defined, at least in
part, by a linear cut line. The linear fold line 17 may be non-parallel to an
opposing free engaging
edge of the at least one first tab 14a.
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The retention structures RT1 comprise at least one second tab 14b coupled or
connected to the
main or engaging panel 12. The at least one second tab 14b is partially
disconnected from the
main panel 12 by a non-linear, optionally arcuate, cut line 19. The non-linear
cut line 19 defines
a lobe 18 struck from the at least one second tab 14b.
The retention structure RT1 may comprise a plurality of second tabs 14b each
having a lobe 18.
The plurality of second tabs 14b may be arranged about the opening such that
the lobes 18
encourage an article B, when received in the opening, toward the first or
second side edges of
the main panel 12,
Optionally, the radial cut lines 13, 15, defining side edges of the teeth 14a,
14b, 16, may terminate
with a circumferential cut line 11. In the illustrated embodiment, the
circumferential cut line 11 is
linear in shape so as to form a "r shaped cut line In other embodiments, the
circumferential cut
line 11 may be nonlinear or curved: the circumferential cut line 11 may define
a portion of an "12
or "J" shaped outline. In the illustrated embodiment, only those radial
outlines 13, 15 disposed
between a pair of second tabs 14b terminate with a circumferential cut line it
In other
embodiments, the radial outline 13, 15 between a first tab 14a and a second
tab 14b may,
additionally or alternatively, terminate with a circumferential cut line 11
Optionally, the retention structures RT1 comprise a third tab 16. The third
tab 16 is integral with
one of the first and second side panel 20,22 and interrupts the hinged
connection 21 23 between
said one of the first and second shoulder panels 20, 22 and the main panel 12.
The third tabs 16 are arranged to fold simultaneously with the one of the
first and second shoulder
panels 20, 22 from which they extend.
The third tabs 16 may be displaced out of the plane of the main panel 12 when
the one of the first
and second shoulder panels 20, 22 from which they extend is folded with
respect to the main
panel 12.
Alternatively, when the blanks 10A, 10B, 10C; 10D are lowered with respect to
a group of articles
B; and the articles B are received by the retention structures RT1, the
articles B may displace the
third tabs 16 out of the plane of the main panel 12 from which it is struck.
The first and second
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shoulder panels 20, 22 may be folded in response to receipt of the articles B
in the retention
structures RT1.
In the illustrated embodiment, each retention structure RT1 comprises a pair
of first tabs 14a
disposed on opposing sides of the third tab 16,
in the illustrated embodiment, each retention structure RT1 comprises a
plurality (specifically, but
not limited to, five) of second tabs 14b disposed substantially about in inner
half of the perimeter
of the receiving aperture AP1.
Optionally, each blank 10A, 10B, 10C, 100 comprises a handle structure H. The
handle structure
H may comprise a pair of handle openings spaced apart from each other. In the
illustrated
embodiment, the handle openings are defined i n part by a handle aperture Al
and in part by a
one or more foldable tabs 60 struck from the engaging panel 12. Each of the
one or more foldable
tabs 60 is hingedly connected thereto by a hinged connection in the form of
fold line 61. in the
illustrated embodiment, each handle opening comprises a pair of foldable tabs
60. A first pair of
the foldable tabs 60 of a first handle opening is hinged substantially in
opposition to a second pair
of the foldable tabs 60 of a second handle opening. The first handle opening
is disposed centrally
of a first group of four article retention devices RT1. The second handle
opening is disposed
centrally of a second group of four article retention devices RT1.
The blanks 10A. 10B, 10C, 100 include 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 1 Opt, (0.010"/-0.25mm), preferably from about
16pt.
(0.016"/-0.41rnm) to about 26pt. (0.026"1-0.7rnm), An example of such a
substrate is a 27point
(pt.) (0.0277 approximately 0,69 mm) SBS board (solid bleached sulphate
paperboard coated on
one side, trade name PrintKote0) or cNi< . board (Coated Natural Kraft an
unbleached kraft
paperboard having a clay coating on one side, trade name CarrierKoterm)
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.
The blanks 10A, 108, 10C, 100 may include a tear resistant layer laminated to
the paperboard
layer. it optionally includes an adhesive layer between the paperboard
substrate and the tear
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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.,
NATRALOCK , which
may include a layer of an n-axially oriented film, e.g.. IVIYLARO, 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 rnetallocene-catalysed polyethylene (mPE).
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
(LDPEY. The adhesive layer may be placed between the substrate and the tear
resistant layer to
secure the tear resistant layer to the substrate
Turning to the construction of the carrier 90 from the blanks 10A, 106, 10C,
10D, the plurality of
connected blanks 1 may be applied to a group of articles B. The plurality of
connected blanks 1
is lowered with respect to the group of articles B. Each of the article
retention structures RT of
each the blank 10A, 1013, 10C, 10D is aligned with a respective article B in
the group. Portions of
the articles B pass through the engaging panels 12.
The first and second side panels 20,22 of the blanks 10A, 10B, 10C, 100 are
folded with respect
to the main panel 12 to which they are hinged. The first and second side
panels 20, 22 of the
blanks 10A, 10B, 10C, 100 are folded about sides or shoulders of the articles
B.
The frangible connections or nicks N are broken automatically in response to
folding of the first
and second side panels 20, 22.
The first and second side panels 20, 22 of the blanks 10A, 10B, 10C. 100 may
be folded
simultaneously with the third tabs 16.
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The articles B have a maximum diameter d, as indicated in Figure IC, The
article retention
devices RT1 adjacent to the second side panel 22 of the first blank 10A are
spaced apart from
the article retention devices RT1 adjacent to the first side panel 20 of the
second blank 10B by a
distance w, also shown in Figure 1C, The distance w is measured between a
centre or middle of
the article retention devices RT1 in the first blank 10A and a centre or
middle of the article
retention devices RT1 in the second blank 106.
The article retention devices RT1 adjacent to the second side panel 22 of the
third blank 10C are
spaced apart from the article retention devices RT1 adjacent to the first side
panel 20 of the fourth
blank 100 by a distance w, again distance w is measured between centres of the
article retention
devices RT1.
The centre or middle of the article retention devices RT1 may, but need not
be, the coincident
with the centre or middle of the aperture API.
The distance w may be equal to or less than the maximum article diameter d.
The teeth 14a, 14b, 16 of the article retention structures RT may be folded
out of the plane of the
main panels 12 as the main panels 12 are pushed or pressed over the articles B
or immediately
prior thereto.
Each tooth 14a, 14b, 16 is folded about a respective article B received in the
respective one of
the article retentions structures RT.
The engaging edges of the teeth 14a, 14b, 16 engage beneath a projection of
the article B. The
projection may be located about the neck or chime of the article B (which may
provide a flange)
of an article B. When the article B is a can the projection may be provided by
a canners end seam.
When the article B is a bottle the projection may be provided by a cap or a
tamper evident device
attached thereto, or by a flange disposed below the cap. In other embodiments,
it may be provided
by a ridge or undercut shaping of the article B or by an end closure of the
article B for example
but not limited to a crown cork or closure. In this way, the engaging edges
grip or hold the article
B and prevent or inhibit the article B from unintentionally separating from
the engaging panel 12.
The assembled carrier 90 is shown in Figure 3.
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The present disclosure provides an article carrier 90 of the top engaging type
comprising an
engaging panel 12. The engaging panel 12 comprises at least one article-
receiving device RT1
struck from the engaging panel 12, The article carrier 90 comprises a pair of
side or shoulder
panels hingedly connected to opposing sides of the engaging panel 12.
The present disclosure provides a plurality of connected blanks 1, comprising
two or more blanks
10A, 10B, 100, 100 each for forming an article carrier 90. Each Wank 10A, 106,
100, 100
comprises an engaging panel 12, having at least one article-receiving device
RT1, and a pair of
side or shoulder panels hingedly connected to opposing sides of the engaging
panel 12. A first
side panel of a first one of the two or more blanks WA, 106, 100, 100 is
frangibly connected to
an adjacently disposed side panel of a second one of the two or more blanks
10A, 10B, 100, 100
by one or more frangible connections. The frangible connections are broken
automatically in
response to application of the plurality of connected blanks 1 to a group of
articles.
In some embodiments, an article-receiving device RT1 in a first one of the two
or more blanks
'10A, 10B, 10C, 10D is spaced apart from an article-receiving device RT1 in a
second one of the
two or more blanks WA, 106, 100, 100 by a distance w, The distance w may be
equal to or less
than the maximum diameter d of the articles B receivable in the article-
receiving device RT1 of
said blanks 10A; 106, 100, 10D,
The top engaging article carrier 90 forms a package with two or more articles
B. The articles B
each comprise an upper end which may be provided by an end closure or cap, the
upper end has
an end diameter. The article B comprises a main body having a body diameter
and a neck or
shoulder portion disposed between the main body and upper end. The body
diameter is greater
than the end diameter. When two articles B are placed in juxtaposition a gap
or void exist
therebetvveen in a region between neck or shoulder portions of said articles
B. The side or
shoulder panels 20, 22 are displaceable into this region, said displacement
facilitating separation
of one blank WA, 106: 10C, 100 from another blank 10A, 106, 100, 100.
The present disclosure also provides an article top-receiving device in a main
panel 12 and
comprising an opening AP1 and a plurality of engaging tabs 14a, 14b, 16. The
plurality of
engaging tabs 14a, 14b, 1' comprises at least one first tab 14a connected to
the main panel 12
by a linear fold line 17 and at least one second tab 14a partially connected
from the main panel
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12 by a non-linear cut 19. The plurality of engaging tabs 14a. 14b, 16 may
comprise at least one
third tab 16 struck from the main panel 12 and integral, that is to say free
from a predefined hinged
connection, with a side or shoulder panel 20, 22 hingedly connected to the
main panel 12.
Each of the plurality of engaging tabs 14a, 14b, 16 may be substantially
trapezoidal in shape.
A side edge of each of the plurality of engaging tabs 14a, 14b. 16 may abut a
side edge of an
adjacent one of the plurality of engaging tabs 14a, 14b, 16
A free end edge of each of the plurality of engaging tabs 14a. 1413, 16 may
provide an engaging
edge or support edge for engaging or supporting an article.
Embodiments of the disclosure provide an article retention structure RT1
having a plurality
(specifically, but not limited to, five) of second tabs 14b disposed
substantially about a portion of
the perimeter of the receiving aperture AP1 opposing the side or shoulder
panel 20, 22 from which
the third tab 16 of said article retention structure RT1 extends.
The second tabs 14b may be defined in part by at least one "To, "L" or ',J"
shaped outline The
second tabs 14b may be defined, at least in part, by at least one outline
having a first radial outline
portion and a second circumferential outline portion. The first radial outline
portion extends along
a notional radial line extending from a centre of article retention structures
RT1. The second
circumferential outline portion may be arcuate or linear. The circumferential
outline portion may
comprise at least a portion which is perpendicular to the first radial outline
portion.
The outermost ends of a plurality of first radial outline portions define a
notional circle NC centred
at the intersection between notional extensions of two or more first radial
outline portions. The
second circumferential outline portions may be tangential to said notional
circle NC and may
comprise a terminal end disposed outside the notional circle NC.
The non-linear or arcuate cut lines 19 may be disposed inside the notional
circle NC. A hinge or
bridging connection is defined between a terminal end of a non-linear or
arcuate cut line 19 and
a terminal end of an adjacent second circumferential outline portion.
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Outermost terminal ends of radial outlines 13, 15 defining the first and/or
third tabs 14a, 16 may
be disposed outside of the notional circle NC.
The linear fold line 17, and/or the linear cut defining said linear fold line
17, of the first tabs 14a
may be disposed outside of the notional circle NC,
Free end edges of each of the plurality of engaging tabs 14a, 14b, 16 define
an aperture API
having a polygonal shape. Free end edges of each of the plurality of engaging
tabs 14a, 14b, 16
may provide at least two pairs of substantially or generally opposing free or
engaging edges. A
first pair of the at least two pairs of generally opposing free or engaging
edges may be
substantially orthogonal to a second pair of the at least two pairs of
opposing free or engaging
edges.
The present disclosure also provides a method of providing two or more article
carriers 90 from a
plurality of connected blanks 1. The plurality of connected blanks 1 comprises
two or more blanks
10A, 10B, 10C, 10D each forming an article carrier 90. Each blank 10A, 10B,
10C, 10D comprises
an engaging panel 12, having at least one article-receiving device Rh 1 and at
least one side or
shoulder panel hingedly connected to the engaging panel 12 A side panel of a
first one of the
two or more blanks 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D is frangibly connected to a side panel
of a second one of
the two or more blanks 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D by one or more frangible
connections. The method
comprises applying the plurality of connected blanks 1 to a group of articles
B, applying the
plurality of connected blanks 1 to a group of articles B comprises pressing
the plurality of
connected blanks 1 about ends of the articles B forming the group of articles
B. and receiving an
article B in each of the at least one article-receiving devices RT1, wherein
the frangible
connections between the side panels of the first and second blanks are broken
automatically in
response to folding said side or shoulder panels with respect to the engaging
panel 12 to which it
is hinged. In this way, the plurality of connected blanks 1 are separated to
form distinct or separate
article carriers 90.
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.
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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 st.4ch
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 outline, 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 outline, an interrupted
outline, slits, scores, embossed
lines. clebossed 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.
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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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