Packaging system and blanks therefor

Abstract

A package (94) comprising at least one first inner carrier (92) and a second outer carrier (90), the or each of the at least one first inner carrier (92) having a first tubular structure, the second outer carrier (90) also having a tubular structure, and the second outer carrier being disposed, at least in part, on the outside of the first inner carrier such that the axes of the tubular structures are substantially perpendicular.

1 . A package comprising at least one first inner carrier and a second outer carrier, the or each of the at least one first inner carrier having a first tubular axis, the second outer carrier having a second tubular axis, and the second outer carrier being disposed, at least in part, on the outside of the first inner carrier such that the first and second tubular axes are substantially perpendicular. 
     
     
         2 . A package according to  claim 1  further comprising a group of articles, wherein the or each at least one first inner carrier is of the wraparound type and comprises: a top panel, first and second side panels, a bottom wall and two opposite open ends, wherein the first tubular axis extends between the two opposite open ends; wherein the second outer carrier is of the wraparound type and comprises: a top panel, first and second side panels, a bottom wall and two opposite open ends, wherein the second tubular axis extends between the two opposite open ends; wherein the first inner carrier is wrapped about the group of articles, and wherein the second outer carrier is wrapped around the first inner carrier and group of articles. 
     
     
         3 . A package according to  claim 2  wherein the first and second carriers comprise complementary features provided to facilitate co-operation of the first and second carriers. 
     
     
         4 . A package according to  claim 1  or  claim 2  wherein the second outer carrier comprises at least one locking tab and wherein the first inner carrier comprises an aperture, the first and second carriers being configured such that when the package is formed, the locking tab of the second outer carrier is received in said aperture of the first inner carrier for connecting the first inner and second outer carriers together. 
     
     
         5 . A package according to  claim 4  when dependent upon  claim 2 , wherein the bottom wall of the first inner carrier is formed by a first bottom panel and a second bottom panel disposed in at least partial overlapping relationship, and wherein the aperture is defined in part by a first cutaway struck from the first bottom panel and a second cutaway struck from the second bottom panel. 
     
     
         6 . A package according to any of  claims 2  to  4 , wherein the second outer carrier comprises an article engaging structure, and wherein a top of at least one of the articles of the group in the first inner carrier is received, at least in part, within the engaging structure of the second outer tubular structure. 
     
     
         7 . A package according to any preceding claim, further comprising a carrying handle structure, which carrying handle structure comprises one or more foldable tabs, and wherein said one or more foldable tabs provide a spacer for being disposed between two adjacent articles. 
     
     
         8 . A package comprising a first carton and two or more articles, the first carton comprising: a top panel, first and second side panels, a bottom wall, wherein the first carton is disposed about the group of articles, and wherein the carton is disposed about the two or more articles, wherein at least one of the first and second side panels comprises a fold line extending at least in part between the top panel and the bottom wall, the fold line arranged to be aligned with a void between a pair of adjacent articles and facilitating folding of said one of the first and second side panels into said void. 
     
     
         9 . A package according to  claim 8  wherein the other one of the first and second side panels comprises a second fold line extending at least in part between the top panel and the bottom wall, the second fold line arranged to be aligned with a second void between a pair of adjacent articles and to facilitate folding of said other one of the first and second side panels into said second void. 
     
     
         10 . A package according to  claim 8  comprising a second carton, the first carton having a first tubular axis, the second carton having a second tubular axis, and the second carton being disposed, at least in part, on the outside of the first carton such that the first and second tubular axes are substantially perpendicular. 
     
     
         11 . A package according to  claim 9 , the package comprising a group of articles arranged in two or more rows, each row comprising at least two articles and wherein the second carton comprises: a top panel, first and second side panels, a bottom wall, wherein the at least one of the first and second side panels of the second carton comprises a third fold line extending at least in part between the top panel and the bottom wall, the fold line arranged to be aligned with a third void between an article in a first row and a further article in an adjacent row, the third fold line facilitating folding of said one of the first and second side panels of the second carton into said third void. 
     
     
         12 . A package according to  claim 11  wherein the other one of the first and second side panels of the second carton comprises a fourth fold line extending at least in part between the top panel and the bottom wall, the fourth fold line arranged to be aligned with a fourth void between a pair of articles disposed in adjacent rows and to facilitate folding of said other one of the first and second side panels of the second carton into said fourth void. 
     
     
         13 . A package according to  claim 8  wherein the articles are substantially cylindrical in shape, said void being defined at least in part by a recess between a portion of the cylindrical wall of each of a pair of adjacent articles, and wherein the fold line forms a valley fold, extending substantially vertically, the valley fold being received in the void so as to tighten the first carton about the two or more articles. 
     
     
         14 . A package according to  claim 1  comprising at least two inner carriers and an outer carrier, each of the at least two inner carriers having a first tubular axis, and the second outer carrier being disposed, at least in part, on the outside of each of the at least two inner carriers such that the first tubular axes of each of the inner carriers are disposed substantially perpendicular to the second tubular axis of the second carrier. 
     
     
         15 . A package according to  claim 1  the package comprising a group of articles arranged in two or more rows, each row comprising at least two articles and wherein the package of the second outer carrier is asymmetric, the second outer carrier being configured such that diagonally opposite articles in the group are exposed to view. 
     
     
         16 . A package according to  claim 15  wherein at least a portion of the diagonally opposite articles are visible through a respective open end of the first inner carrier. 
     
     
         17 . A package according to  claim 15  wherein the second outer carrier comprises: a top panel, first and second side panels, a bottom wall, and wherein the second outer carrier comprises a partition panel hinged to at least one of the first and second side panels, the partition panel being folded into a void between two adjacent articles, whereby exposing to view one of said two adjacent articles. 
     
     
         18 . A package according to  claim 17  wherein the hinge partition panel is hinged to an end edge of the at least one of the first and second partition panels. 
     
     
         19 . A package according to  claim 1  or  claim 2  wherein the bottom wall of the first inner carrier is formed by a first bottom panel and a second bottom panel disposed in at least partial overlapping relationship, and wherein a second aperture is defined in the first bottom panel and a third aperture is defined in the second bottom panel, the second and third apertures being disposed in vertical registry with one another. 
     
     
         20 . A package according to  claim 19  wherein the first bottom panel comprises at least one securing tab defining in part said second aperture and wherein the at least one securing tab is received in the third aperture whereby securing the first and second panel together. 
     
     
         21 . A package according to  claim 19  and  claim 4  wherein the at least one locking tab provided by the second outer carrier is received in the second and third apertures provided by the first inner carrier. 
     
     
         22 . A package according to  claim 1  wherein the or each at least one first inner carrier comprises a first tubular structure formed from a first top panel, first and second side panels, a first composite bottom wall formed from a first bottom panel disposed in at least partial overlapping relationship with a second bottom panel, and wherein the or each at least one second outer carrier comprises a first tubular structure formed from a second top panel, third and fourth side panels, a second composite bottom wall formed from a third bottom panel disposed in at least partial overlapping relationship with a fourth bottom panel, wherein one of the first and second bottom panels comprises a first alignment aperture for facilitating assembly of the first inner carrier about a group of articles, wherein one of the third and fourth bottom panels comprises an alignment aperture for facilitating assembly of the second outer carrier, the first alignment aperture configured to allow movement of a machine component in two directions during assembly of the package. 
     
     
         23 . A package according to  claim 22  wherein the first alignment aperture is shaped to allow movement of a machine component in two substantially perpendicular directions during assembly of the package. 
     
     
         24 . A package according to  claim 22  wherein the first alignment aperture is shaped such that a machine component is moveable in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the tubular axis of the first inner carrier so as to facilitate assembly of the first inner carrier and in a second direction substantially parallel with the tubular axis of the first inner carrier so as to facilitate assembly of the second outer carrier. 
     
     
         25 . A package according to  claim 22  wherein the first alignment aperture is shaped to facilitate alignment of the third and fourth panels of the second outer carrier with respect to each other and to facilitate alignment of the third and fourth panels of the second outer carrier with respect to the first bottom panel of the first inner carrier. 
     
     
         26 . A two part package comprising at least one first inner carrier and a second outer carrier, the first inner carrier comprising:
 a first tubular axis;   a top panel having at least one slot therein for receiving a portion of at least one article;   the second outer carrier comprising:   a second tubular axis;   wherein the second outer carrier is disposed, at least in part, about the at least one first inner carrier, the first and second tubular axes being arranged substantially perpendicular.   
     
     
         27 . A package according to  claim 26  further comprising a group of articles, wherein the at least one first inner carrier is of the wraparound type and comprises: a top panel, first and second side panels, a bottom wall and two opposite open ends, wherein the first tubular axis extends between the two opposite open ends and defines a longitudinal direction; wherein the second outer carrier is of the wraparound type and comprises: a top panel, first and second side panels, a bottom wall and two opposite open ends, wherein the second tubular axis extends between the two opposite open ends; wherein the at least one first inner carrier is wrapped about the group of articles, and wherein the second outer carrier is wrapped around the at least one first inner carrier and group of articles. 
     
     
         28 . A package according to  claim 27  wherein the bottom wall of the at least one first inner carrier is disposed in overlying relationship with the bottom wall of the second outer carrier. 
     
     
         29 . A package according to  claim 27  wherein the top panel comprises a first slot for receiving a portion of at least one article in a first row of articles, and a second slot for receiving a portion of at least one article in a second row of articles, the top panel comprising a spacer keel disposed between the first and second rows of articles. 
     
     
         30 . A package according to  claim 29  wherein the spacer keel comprises a first portion defining in part the first slot and a second portion defining in part the second slot, the first and second portion being arranged to form a valley trough or “V” shape. 
     
     
         31 . A package according to  claim 29  wherein the spacer keel comprises a first portion defining in part the first slot and a second portion defining in part the second slot, the first and second portion being arranged to form an inverted “V” shape. 
     
     
         32 . A package according to  claim 26  wherein the top panel comprises a first slot for receiving a portion of at least one article in a first row of articles, and a second slot for receiving a portion of at least one article in a second row of articles, the first and second slots extending transversely to the longitudinal direction, the top panel comprising a spacer keel disposed between the first and second rows of articles. 
     
     
         33 . A package according to  claim 32  wherein the spacer keel comprises a first portion defining in part the first slot and a second portion defining in part the second slot, the first and second portion being arranged to form a valley trough or “V” shape, the first portion being hinged to the second portion by a hinged connection. 
     
     
         34 . A package according to  claim 26  wherein the top panel comprises a first slot for receiving a portion of at least one article in a first row of articles, and a second slot for receiving a portion of at least one article in a second row of articles, the first and second slots extending longitudinally in the top panel. 
     
     
         35 . A package according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one first inner carrier comprises first and second side wall panels each of the first and second side wall panels comprising an oblique fold line in each of the upper corners thereof, whereby facilitating folding of the first and second side wall panels about a shoulder portion of an adjacently disposed article. 
     
     
         36 . A package according to  claim 1  wherein the outer shell is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of: paperboard, cardboard, coated board, plastics material and polymeric substrates.