Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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CARTON AND BLANK THEREFOR
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to cartons and to blanks for forming the same.
More specifically,
but not exclusively, the invention relates to a carrier having a retention
feature for stabilising
or securing an article within the carrier.
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 an object of the present invention to provide to a carrier having a
retention feature for
stabilising or securing an article within the carrier. It is desirable to
minimise or reduce the
.. material required to produce the carrier for economic and environmental
benefit.
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 carrier for packaging a plurality
of articles. The carrier
comprises a top panel, a bottom panel and first and second side panels. The
bottom panel is
hingedly connected to the first side panel along a first fold line and extends
toward the second
side panel. A retention feature is disposed in at least at the second side
panel for engaging
an article. The bottom panel comprises a proximal panel portion hingedly
connected to a distal
panel portion along a second fold line. The second fold line extends parallel
to and is spaced
apart from the first fold line. The bottom panel comprises a retention
assisting tab for engaging
an article. The retention assisting tab is formed from at least the proximal
panel portion and is
hingedly connected to the distal panel portion. The retention assisting tab is
disposed in
alignment with the retention feature such that the retention assisting tab and
the retention
feature are disposed on a common notional line perpendicular to the first fold
line.
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Optionally, the common notional line may pass through a longitudinal mid-point
of the hinged
connection between the retention assisting tab and the distal panel portion.
Optionally, the common notional line may pass through a centre of the article
being engaged
by the retention assisting tab.
A second aspect of the invention provides a blank for forming an article
carrier. The blank
comprises a plurality of panels for forming walls of the carrier. The
plurality of panels
comprises a top panel, a bottom panel and first and second side panels. The
bottom panel is
hingedly connected to the first side panel along a first fold line and extends
toward the second
side panel. A retention feature is disposed in at least at the second side
panel for engaging
an article. The bottom panel comprises a proximal panel portion hingedly
connected to a distal
panel portion along a second fold line. The second fold line extends parallel
to and is spaced
apart from the first fold line. The bottom panel comprises a retention
assisting tab for engaging
an article. The retention assisting tab is formed from at least the proximal
panel portion and is
hingedly connected to the distal panel portion. The retention assisting tab is
disposed in
alignment with the retention feature such that the retention assisting tab and
the retention
feature are disposed on a common notional line perpendicular to the first fold
line.
A third aspect of the invention provides an article carrier for packaging one
or more articles.
The article carrier comprises a plurality of panels forming walls of a tubular
structure which
may include a top wall, a first side wall, a first base wall, a second side
wall and a second base
wall. The carrier comprises a composite base wall formed from two at least
partially
overlapping layers of sheet material and including an inner layer provided by
the second base
wall and an outer layer provided by the first base wall. A first retention
feature is provided for
engaging an article in a first row of articles and comprises a first retention
tab. A second
retention feature is provided for engaging an article in a second row of
articles. The second
row of articles is disposed adjacent to the first row of articles. The second
retention feature
has a second retention tab. The second retention tab is hinged in opposition
to the first
retention tab. The first base panel comprises a proximal portion, a distal
portion hingedly
connected to the proximal by a first hinged connection; and a third retention
feature. The third
retention feature comprises a retention assisting tab for engaging an article.
The retention
assisting tab is formed from at least the proximal portion and is hingedly
connected to the
distal panel portion. The retention assisting tab is hinged in opposition to
the second retention
tab.
Optionally, the carrier comprises a top engaging device for flanged articles.
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Optionally, the articles are disconnected.
Optionally, the articles are connected to each other via their respective
flanges.
Optionally, the retention assisting tab is disposed in alignment with the
retention feature such
that the retention assisting tab and the retention feature are disposed on a
common notional
line perpendicular to the first fold line.
Optionally, the first retention tab engages with a first article in a radially
outward direction with
respect to the first article.
Optionally, the retention assisting tab engages with a second article,
adjacent the first article,
in a radially outward direction with respect to the second article.
Optionally, the second retention tab engages with the second article in a
radially outward
direction a with respect to the second article.
Optionally, the articles comprise an internal surface and wherein the first,
second and third
retention features engage said internal surface.
A fourth aspect of the invention provides a blank for forming a carrier. The
blank comprises a
plurality of panels forming walls of a tubular structure which may include a
top wall, a first side
wall, a first base wall, a second side wall and a second base wall. The
carrier comprises a
composite base wall formed from two at least partially overlapping layers of
sheet material
and including an inner layer provided by the second base wall and an outer
layer provided by
the first base wall. A first retention feature is provided for engaging an
article in a first row of
articles and comprises a first retention tab. A second retention feature is
provided for engaging
an article in a second row of articles. The second row of articles is disposed
adjacent to the
first row of articles. The second retention feature has a second retention
tab. The second
retention tab is hinged in opposition to the first retention tab. The first
base panel comprises a
proximal portion, a distal portion hingedly connected to the proximal by a
first hinged
connection; and a third retention feature. The third retention feature
comprises a retention
assisting tab for engaging an article. The retention assisting tab is formed
from at least the
proximal portion and is hingedly connected to the distal panel portion. The
retention assisting
tab is hinged in opposition to the second retention tab.
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Within the scope of this application it is envisaged 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
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 carton according
to a first
embodiment;
Figure 2 is a perspective view from above of a carton formed from the blank of
Figure 1;
and
Figures 3A, 3B, 4, 5A and 5B are perspective views from below of stages of
construction
of the carton of Figure 2 from the blank of Figure 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Detailed descriptions of specific embodiments of the package, blanks and
cartons 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
cartons 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, as shown in Figure 2, for containing and carrying a group of
primary products such
as, but not limited to, flanged containers, cups or yoghurt pots, hereinafter
referred to as
articles B. The blank 10 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
90 for engaging and
carrying articles B, such as primary product containers B. It is contemplated
that the teachings
of the invention can be applied to various product containers B, which may or
may not be
tapered and/or cylindrical. Other 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.
The packaging structure or carton 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
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
embodiments
the arrangement is an m x n matrix or array, having two rows (m=2) and two
columns (n=2);
in the illustrated embodiment two rows of three articles B are provided, and
the articles B are
individual 112g cups with a cover or film lid a metallic or plastic material
such as, but not limited
to, Aluminium or PET (polyester - polyethylene terephthalate). Alternatively,
the blank 10 can
be configured to form a carrier for packaging other types, number and size of
articles B and/or
for packaging articles B in a different arrangement or configuration for
example, but not limited
to, fully enclosed cartons or basket carriers, the articles B may be bottles
or cans.
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Turning to Figure 1, there is illustrated a blank 10 for forming a carton 90
(see Figure 2)
according to a first embodiment. The blank 10 comprises a plurality of main
panels 12/14, 16,
18, 20, 22 for forming a tubular structure. The plurality of main panels
12/14, 16, 18, 20, 22
comprises a first base panel (or outer layer) 12/14 having a distal portion 12
and proximal
portion 14, a first side panel 16, a top panel 18, a second side panel 20, and
a second base
panel or securing flap (or inner layer) 22. The plurality of panels 12/14, 16,
18, 20, 22 may be
arranged in a linear series hinged one to the next by corresponding fold lines
13, 15, 17, 19,
21.
The blank 10 is foldable to form a package 90 as illustrated in Figure 2. The
first and second
base panels 12/14, 22 are engageable with one another in an overlapping
relationship to form
a composite base wall 12/14/22 of the carton 90. The blank 10 may comprise a
complementary
locking mechanism for securing the first base panel 12/14 to the second base
panel 22. The
distal portion 12 of the first base panel 12/14 may comprise at least one
first part M of the
complementary locking mechanism. The second base panel 22 may comprise at
least one
second part F of the complementary locking mechanism. In the illustrated
embodiment, the
distal portion 12 of the first base panel 12/14 comprises a male tab M
extending from a free
end edge opposing fold line 13 hingedly connecting the distal portion 12 to
the proximal portion
14. The male tab M is hingedly connected to the distal portion 12 of the first
base panel 12/14
by hinged connection in the form of a fold line 11.
The second part F of the complementary locking mechanism forms a receiver for
receiving
the male tab M.
The second base panel 22 comprises a female tab defining an opening or slot in
the second
base panel 22 forming at least in part the receiver. The opening in the second
base panel 22
is configured to receive the male tabs M. The female tab is arranged to be
displaced out of
the second base panel 22 to form an opening and to bear against the male tab M
when
.. received therein. In some embodiments the complementary locking mechanism
M/F may be
omitted, the first and second base panels 12, 20 may be secured to each other
by other
means, such as but not limited to adhesive or staples.
In the illustrated embodiment the second part F comprises a plurality of cut
lines 60, 62, 64,
.. 66, 68. A first cut line 60 is disposed collinearly with the fold line 21
hingedly connecting the
second base panel 22 to the second side panel 20. The first cut line 60
interrupts the fold line
21. A first pair of fold lines 62, 64 extend from opposed ends of the first
cut line 60 into the
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second side panel 20. The first pair of fold lines 62, 64 may be divergently
arranged with
respect to each other. The first pair of fold lines 62, 64 define a first
displaceable portion
provided in the second side panel 20. A second pair of fold lines 66, 68
extend from opposed
ends of the first cut line 60 into the second base panel 22. The second pair
of fold lines 66, 68
.. may be arranged in parallel with respect to each other. The second pair of
fold lines 66, 68
define a second displaceable portion provided in the second base panel 22.
The blank 10 is adapted to accommodate four articles B arranged in a 2x2
matrix or array.
The blank 10 comprises four top engaging structures T. Each of the top
engaging structures
T is substantially similar in construction and will be described with
reference to a top engaging
structure T provided in the second side panel 20.
Each of the top engaging structures T comprises an opening Al (see Figure 2)
defined by a
cut line or severable line 30. The cut line 30 is struck from at least the
second side panel 20.
.. Optionally, the cut line 30 is curved or arcuate in shape. The cut line 30
interrupts the fold line
19 between the top panel 18 and the second side panel 20. When the second side
panel 20
is folded with respect to the top panel 18, about fold line 19, the cut line
30 opens up to form
the opening Al which can receive a portion of an article B. In the illustrated
embodiment the
opening Al receives a flange F of an article B, best illustrated in Figure 2.
The cut lines 30 each define a protrusion P (see Figure 2) extending from the
side edges of
the top panel 18 and integrally formed therewith. The protrusions P are struck
from material
which would otherwise form the second side panel 20. In this way protrusions P
may be
considered to be struck from one of the first and second side panels 16, 20.
The protrusions
P each form a protective top cover for a portion of an article B which is
received in the opening
Al formed by folding the side panels 16, 20, see Figure 2.
The blank 10 may comprise at least one heel engagement structure Hl/H2 for
engaging with
a heel or lower portion of an article B. The blank 10 illustrated in Figure 1
comprises four heel
engagement structures H1 /H2 each is provided for engaging a respective
article B. The blank
10 comprises a pair of first heel engagement structures H1 and a pair of
second heel
engagement structures H2. Each of the first heel engagement structures H1 is
substantially
similar in construction and will be described in further detail by reference
to one of the first
heel engagement structures H1 provided in the first side panel 16. Each of the
second heel
engagement structures H2 is substantially similar in construction and will be
described in
further detail by reference to one of the second heel engagement structures H2
provided in
the second side panel 20.
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The first heel engagement structure H1 comprises a retention tab 44. The
retention tab 44 is
defined at least in part by a first cut line or severable line 47. The first
cut line 47 interrupts the
fold line 15 hingedly connecting the first side panel 16 to the proximal
portion 14 of the first
base panel 12/14. The first cut line 47 may be non-linear, formed from at
least two linear cut
lines divergently arranged with respect to each other and contiguous with each
other,
alternatively the first cut line 47 may be curved or arcuate in shape. In the
illustrated
embodiment the first cut line 47 is substantially 'If shaped. A second outline
or severance line
49 may extend from the first cut line 47; the second outline or severance line
49 may extend
.. from the middle or centre of the first cut line 47. The second outline or
severance line 49 may
be arranged to be oriented substantially perpendicular to the fold line 15.
The first retention tab 44 may comprise a pair of divergently arranged cut
lines 45a, 45b which
define fold lines so that corner portions of the first retention tab 44 may be
folded thereabout.
The cut lines 45a, 45b are arranged to converge toward the first cut line 47.
It will be
appreciated that cut lines 45a, 45b may be replaced with fold or score lines
to provide a hinged
connection between each corner portion and the first retention tab 44.
The first retention tab 44 is hingedly connected to the proximal portion 14 of
the first base
panel 12/14 by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 43. The fold
line 43 may be
nonlinear or curvilinear in shape.
The second heel engagement structure H2 comprises a second retention tab 50.
The second
retention tab 50 is defined at least in part by a first cut line or severable
line 53. The first cut
line 53 interrupts the fold line 21 hingedly connecting the second side panel
20 to the second
base panel 22. The first cut line 53 may be non-linear, formed from at least
two linear cut lines
divergently arranged with respect to each other and contiguous with each
other, alternatively
the first cut line 53 may be curved or arcuate in shape. In the illustrated
embodiment the first
cut line 53 is substantially `1_1' shaped. A second outline or severance line
57 may extend from
the first cut line 53; the second outline or severance line 57 may extend from
the middle or
centre of the first cut line 53. The second outline or severance line 57 may
be arranged to be
oriented substantially perpendicular to the fold line 21.
The second retention tab 50 may comprise a pair of divergently arranged cut
lines 53, 55
which define fold lines so that corner portions of the second retention tab 50
may be folded
thereabout. The cut lines 53, 55 are arranged to converge toward the first cut
line 53. It will be
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appreciated that cut lines 53, 55 may be replaced with fold or score lines to
provide a hinged
connection between each corner portion and the second retention tab 50.
The second retention tab 50 is hingedly connected to the second base panel 22
by a hinged
connection in the form of a fold line 51. The fold line 51 may be nonlinear or
curvilinear in
shape.
The second retention tabs 50 may be smaller in dimension than the first
retention tabs 44. The
pair of second retention tabs 50 are spaced apart from each other.
The receiver of the complementary locking mechanism may be provided between an
adjacently disposed pair of second retention tabs 50.
The blank 10 may comprise at least one further or third heel engagement
structure H3 for
.. engaging with a heel or lower portion of an article B. The blank 10
illustrated in Figure 1
comprises two further heel engagement structures H3 each is provided for
engaging a
respective article B. Each of the further heel engagement structures H3 is
substantially similar
in construction and will be described in further detail by reference to one of
the further heel
engagement structures H3 provided in the first base panel 12/14.
The third heel engagement structure H3 comprises a retention assisting tab 40.
The retention
assisting tab 40 is defined at least in part by a first cut line or severable
line 42a. The first cut
line 42a interrupts the fold line 13 hingedly connecting the distal portion 12
of the first base
panel 12/14 to the proximal portion 14 of the first base panel 12/14. The
first cut line 42a may
be non-linear, formed from at least two linear cut lines divergently arranged
with respect to
each other and contiguous with each other, alternatively the first cut line
42a may be curved
or arcuate in shape. In the illustrated embodiment the first cut line 42a is
substantially 'U'
shaped.
The retention assisting tab 40 may comprise a pair of divergently arranged cut
lines 41a, 41b
which define fold lines so that corner portions of the retention assisting tab
40 may be folded
thereabout. The cut lines 41a, 41b are arranged to converge toward the first
cut line 42a. It
will be appreciated that cut lines 41a, 41b may be replaced with fold or score
lines to provide
a hinged connection between each corner portion and the retention assisting
tab 40.
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The retention assisting tab 40 is hingedly connected to the distal portion 12
of the first base
panel 12/14 by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 42b. The fold
line 42b may be
nonlinear or curvilinear in shape.
Optionally, the blank 10 may comprise an access device in the form of a tear
strip. The tear
strip is defined at least in part by a pair of severance lines Ti, T2 defined
in the first side panel
16. The tear strip may comprise a tear initiation tab I defined by a outline
interrupting the fold
line 17 hingedly connecting the first side panel to the top panel 18.
Turning to the construction of the carton 90 as illustrated in Figure 2, the
carton 90 can be
formed by a series of sequential folding operations in a straight-line machine
so that the carton
90 is not required to be rotated or inverted to complete its construction. The
folding process is
not limited to that described below and may be altered according to particular
manufacturing
requirements.
A group of articles B is assembled; in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2
four articles B are
arranged in a 2 x 2 array. The top panel 18 of the blank 10 is disposed above
the group of
articles B to provide a top wall 18 of the carton 90. In Figure 3A the group
of articles B and top
panel 18 are illustrated from below, so as to give the impression that
inverted articles B have
been placed upon the inner surface of the top panel 18.
The first and second side walls 16, 20 are folded, with respect to the top
panel 18 about fold
lines 17, 19 respectively, about opposing sides of the group of articles B so
as to be disposed
about the opposing sides of the group of articles B, as shown in Figure 3B. A
flange or skirt S
of each article B is received in a respective one of the openings Al of the
top engaging
structures T created when first and second side walls 16, 20 are folded, best
shown in Figure
2.
The second base panel 22 is folded about the fold line 21 so as to be disposed
adjacent the
base of the group of articles B. Each of the second retention tabs 50 engages
with an
adjacently disposed article B. The articles B may comprise a recessed base or
a lip or chime
C, as shown in Figure 2, with which the second retention tabs 50 engages.
The first base panel 12/14 is folded about the fold line 15 so as to be
disposed adjacent the
base of the group of articles B. Each of the first retention tabs 44 engages
with an adjacently
disposed article B. The articles B comprise a recessed base, a lip, rim or
chime C with which
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the first retention tabs 44 engages. In this way the articles B comprise an
engageable internal
edge or surface.
The distal portion 12 of the first base panel 12/14 is folded with respect to
the proximal portion
14, about the fold line 15, such that the retention assisting tabs 40 are
displaced out of the
plane of the proximal portion 14 of the first base panel 12/14. The proximal
portion 14 of the
first base panel 12/14 is folded to be disposed adjacent the base of the pair
of articles B
adjacent to the first side panel 16. In doing so each of the retention
assisting tabs 40 is brought
into engagement with a respective one of the pair of articles B adjacent to
the second side
panel 20. Each retention assisting tab 40 is laterally aligned with the
article B with which it is
engaged.
The retention assisting tabs 40 engage with articles B disposed in a row of
articles B adjacent
to the row of articles B which are engaged by the first retention tabs 44.
The retention assisting tabs 40 may engage with articles B disposed in a
different row of
articles B to the row of articles B which are engaged by the first retention
tabs 44.
The retention assisting tabs 40 may engage with articles B disposed in the
same row of articles
which are engaged by the second retention tabs 50.
The assembled carton 90 is shown in Figures 2.
The flange F of each article B has been at least partially received in the
opening Al of the top
engaging structure T. In the illustrated embodiment the articles B are
disconnected or
individual cups which are disposed in close proximity to their adjacent
neighbours. The articles
B are tapered in shape, they can be considered to be substantially frusto-
conical in shape,
albeit inverted such that the end having the smaller diameter is in contact
with the composite
base panel 12/14/22 and the end having the larger diameter is in contact with
the top panel
18.
A void or gap exists between lower portions of two adjacent articles B.
The retention assisting tabs 40 may encourage the articles B adjacent to the
second side
panel 20 towards the articles B adjacent to the first side panel 16 and hence
towards the first
side panels 16.
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The second retention tabs 50 may encourage, push or force, the articles B
adjacent to the
second side panel 20 in an opposing direction, towards the second side panel
20. The second
retention tabs 50 may encourage the articles B adjacent to the second side
panel 20 into
engagement with the opening Al of the top engaging structures T provided in
second side
panel 20.
The first retention tabs 44 may encourage, push or force, the articles B
adjacent to the first
side panel 16 in towards the first side panel 16. The first retention tabs 44
may encourage the
articles B adjacent to the first side panel 16 into engagement with the
openings Al of the top
engaging structures T provided in first side panel 16.
Each of the retention assisting tabs 40 may have the effect of encouraging an
article B in a
first row, adjacent to the second side panel 20, and an article B in an
adjacent row towards
each other. In the illustrated embodiment the adjacent row is disposed
adjacent to the first
side panel 16.
The retention assisting tabs 40 have the effect of encouraging the articles in
a transverse
direction, which is to say in a direction perpendicular to a tubular axis of
the carton 90.
In this way the retention assisting tabs 40 may be advantageous in maintaining
secure
engagement of the articles with their respective top engaging structure T.
This may ensure
the articles B are securely held within the carton 90 during transportation.
The retention assisting tabs 40 may have the effect of preventing or
inhibiting tilting or rotation
of the articles B, which is to say in a direction perpendicular to a tubular
axis of the carton 90.
The present disclosure provides a carton 90 for packaging articles B. The
carton 90 may
comprise a top engaging device T for flanged articles B, such as flanged cups.
The cups may
be disconnected or may connected to each other via their respective flanges.
The carton 90
comprises a composite wall 12/14/22 formed from two at least partially
overlapping layers of
sheet material and including an inner layer 22 and an outer layer 12/14. The
carton 90
comprises a plurality of panels forming walls of a tubular structure which may
include a top
wall 18, a first side wall 16, a base wall 12/14/22, and a second side wall
20, optionally hingedly
connected to each other in a linear series.
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The carton 90 comprises a first retention feature H1 for engaging an article
Bin a first row of
articles B and a second retention feature H2 for engaging an article B in a
second row of
articles B, the second row of articles B being disposed adjacent to the first
row of articles B.
.. The first retention feature H1 comprising a first retention tab 44. The
second retention feature
H2 comprising a second retention tab 50. The first retention tab 44 is hinged
in opposition to
the second retention tab 50.
The base panel 12/14 comprises a proximal portion, a distal portion hingedly
connected to the
proximal by a first hinged connection 13, and a third retention feature H3.
The third retention
feature H3 comprises a retention assisting tab 40 for engaging an article B.
The retention
assisting tab 40 is formed from at least the proximal panel portion 14 and is
hingedly connected
to the distal panel portion 12.
The retention assisting tab 40 is hinged in opposition to the second retention
tab 50.
The retention assisting tab 40 is disposed in alignment with the retention
feature H2 such that
the retention assisting tab 40 and the retention feature H2 are disposed on a
common notional
line L perpendicular to the first fold line, shown in Figure 5B. The common
notional line L
extends through the centre of an articles B in each of the rows of articles B
said articles being
adjacent each other in a transverse direction with respect to the tubular
structure of the carton
90.
The first retention tab 44 engages with a first article B in a radially
outward direction with
respect to the first article B.
The retention assisting tab 40 engages with a second article B, adjacent the
first article B, in
a radially outward direction with respect to the second article B.
The second retention tab 50 engages with the second article B in a radially
outward direction
a with respect to the second article B.
The present disclosure provides an article carrier 90 for packaging articles
comprising a top
panel 18, a bottom panel 12/14 and first and second side panels 16,20. The
bottom panel
.. 12/14 is hingedly connected to a first side panel 16 along a first fold
line 15 and extends toward
the second side panel 20. A retention feature H2 is disposed in at least at
the second side
panel for engaging an article. T bottom panel 12/14 comprises a proximal panel
portion 14
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hingedly connected to a distal panel portion 12 along a second fold line 13
extending parallel
to and spaced from the first fold line 15. The bottom panel 12/14 comprises a
retention
assisting tab 44 for engaging an article B. The retention assisting tab 44 is
formed from at
least the proximal panel portion 14 and is hingedly connected to the distal
panel portion 12.
The retention assisting tab 44 is disposed in alignment with the retention
feature H2 such that
the retention assisting tab 44 and the retention feature H2 are disposed on a
common notional
line L perpendicular to the first fold line.
The common notional line L may pass through a longitudinal mid-point of the
hinged
connection between the retention assisting tab and the distal panel portion
12.
The common notional line L may pass through a centre of the article B being
engaged by the
retention assisting tab 44.
An advantage of the present disclosure is that the requirement for a centre
keel or spacer
structure to be provided in the void between articles B in adjacent rows is
avoided or negated,
this reduces the material required to produce the carton 90 and blank 10.
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.
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
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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 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,
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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