Article top engaging device, article carrier and blank therefor

Abstract

An article top engaging device, a carrier ( 90 ) for packaging one or more articles (B) and a blank ( 10 ) for forming the carrier. The article carrier comprises an engaging panel ( 112 ) having at least one top-receiving opening (A 1 -A 8 ). The article top engaging device comprises at least four engaging members (T 1 -T 6 ). The at least four engaging members comprise at least one pair of diametrically opposed engaging members. At least one of the at least four engaging members (T 1 , T 5 ) is hingedly connected to the article carrier by a linear fold line ( 21 ). At least two of the at least four engaging members (T 2 , T 4 , T 6 , T 8 ) are hingedly connected to the article carrier by a respective nonlinear fold line ( 46 a/ 46 b ).

1 . An article top engaging device for an article carrier comprising an engaging panel having at least one top-receiving opening, the article top engaging device comprises at least four engaging members, the at least four engaging members comprise at least one pair of diametrically opposed engaging members, at least one of the at least four engaging members is hingedly connected to the article carrier by a linear fold line, and at least two of the at least four engaging members are hingedly connected to the article carrier by a nonlinear fold line. 
     
     
         2 . An article top engaging device according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one of the at least four engaging members is provided by a marginal band portion of the engaging panel. 
     
     
         3 . An article top engaging device according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one of the at least four engaging members comprises a first engaging member hinged to the carrier by a first linear fold line and second engaging member hinged to the carrier by a second linear fold line. 
     
     
         4 . An article top engaging device according to  claim 3  wherein the second linear fold line is oriented perpendicularly to the first fold line. 
     
     
         5 . An article top engaging device according to  claim 1  wherein the at least two of the at least four engaging members comprises a third engaging member hinged to the carrier by a first nonlinear fold line and a fourth engaging member hinged to the carrier by a second nonlinear fold line. 
     
     
         6 . An article top engaging device according to  claim 5  wherein the first nonlinear fold line comprises a first linear segment and the second nonlinear fold line comprises a second linear segment. 
     
     
         7 . An article top engaging device according to  claim 6  wherein the first linear segment is oriented perpendicularly to the second linear segment. 
     
     
         8 . An article top engaging device according to  claim 1  wherein the at least two of the at least four engaging members comprises three engaging members each hingedly connected to the carrier by a respective nonlinear fold line. 
     
     
         9 . An article top engaging device according to  claim 8  wherein each of the nonlinear fold lines comprises a linear segment. 
     
     
         10 . An article top engaging device according to  claim 9  wherein a first one of the linear segments is oriented perpendicularly to a second one of the linear segments, and a third one of the linear segments is oriented perpendicularly to the second one of the linear segments. 
     
     
         11 . An article top engaging device according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one top-receiving opening comprises at least two diametrically opposed linear edges. 
     
     
         12 . An article top engaging device according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one top-receiving opening comprises at least one pair of diametrically opposed linear edges. 
     
     
         13 . An article top engaging device according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one top-receiving opening comprises at least two pairs of diametrically opposed linear edges. 
     
     
         14 . An article carrier for packaging at least one article, the article carrier comprising a top panel including at least one a top engaging device having at least one top-receiving opening, the article top engaging device comprises at least four engaging members, the at least four engaging members comprise at least one pair of diametrically opposed engaging members, at least one of the at least four engaging members is hingedly connected to the article carrier by a linear fold line, and at least two of the at least four engaging members are hingedly connected to the article carrier by a nonlinear fold line. 
     
     
         15 . An article carrier according to  claim 14  comprising a pair of opposed sides walls hinged to marginal side portions of the top panel by a hinged connection. 
     
     
         16 . An article carrier according to  claim 15  wherein said at least one of the at least four engaging members is provided by one of the marginal side portions of the top panel. 
     
     
         17 . An article carrier according to  claim 14  comprising a pair of opposed end walls hinged to marginal end portions of the top panel by a hinged connection. 
     
     
         18 . An article carrier according to  claim 17  wherein said at least one of the at least four engaging members is provided by one of the marginal end portions of the top panel. 
     
     
         19 . A blank for forming an article carrier, the blank comprising a main panel including at least one a top engaging device having at least one top-receiving opening, the article top engaging device comprises at least four engaging members, the at least four engaging members comprise at least one pair of diametrically opposed engaging members, at least one of the at least four engaging members is hingedly connected to the article carrier by a linear fold line, and at least two of the at least four engaging members are hingedly connected to the article carrier by a nonlinear fold line.