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 .- 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A package for holding a group of articles comprising:
 a first inner carrier and a second outer carrier, the 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 tubular axis is substantially perpendicular to the second tubular axis,   wherein the first inner carrier comprises a composite first bottom wall comprising more than one bottom panel and the second outer carrier comprises a composite second bottom wall comprising more than one bottom panel,   wherein the second outer carrier comprises a locking tab formed in the second bottom wall and the first inner carrier comprises an aperture formed in the first bottom wall, the locking tab configured to mate with the aperture to form a connection between the first inner carrier and the second outer carrier.   
     
     
         38 . A package according to  claim 37 , further comprising the group of articles,
 wherein the first inner carrier is of wraparound type to be wrapped around the group of articles and comprises:
 a top panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and two opposite ends that are at least partially open, 
   wherein the first tubular axis extends between the two opposite open ends of the first inner carrier;   wherein the second outer carrier is of the wraparound type and comprises:
 a top panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and two opposite open ends that are at least partially open, 
   wherein the second tubular axis extends between the two opposite open ends of the second outer carrier;   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 the group of articles.   
     
     
         39 . A package according to  claim 37 , wherein the first inner carrier and the second outer carrier are configured such that when the package is formed, the locking tab of the second outer carrier is received in the aperture of the first inner carrier for connecting the first inner carrier and the second outer carrier together. 
     
     
         40 . A package according to  claim 39 , wherein the second outer carrier comprises an article engaging structure configured to receive, at least in part, a top of at least one of the articles of the group of articles in the first inner carrier. 
     
     
         41 . A package according to  claim 37 , 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 of the group of articles to be held in the package.   
     
     
         42 . A package according to  claim 37 , wherein the first 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 first bottom panel comprises a first aperture defined therein and the second bottom panel comprises a second aperture defined therein, the first aperture and the second aperture being disposed in vertical registry or alignment with one another.   
     
     
         43 . A package according to  claim 37 , wherein the first 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,
 wherein the first bottom panel comprises a securing tab defining in part a first aperture formed in the first bottom panel, and   wherein the securing tab is configured to be received in a second aperture formed in the second bottom panel to secure the first bottom panel and the second bottom panel together.   
     
     
         44 . A package according to  claim 37 , wherein the first inner carrier comprises a first tubular structure comprising:
 a first top panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel, the composite first bottom wall formed from a first bottom panel disposed in at least partial overlapping relationship with a second bottom panel,   wherein the second outer carrier comprises a second tubular structure comprising:   a second top panel, a third side panel and a fourth side panel, the composite second bottom wall formed from a third bottom panel disposed in at least partial overlapping relationship with a fourth bottom panel,   wherein at least one of the first bottom panel and the second bottom panel comprises a first alignment aperture for facilitating assembly of the first inner carrier about the group of articles,   wherein at least one of the third and fourth bottom panels comprises a second alignment aperture for facilitating assembly of the second outer carrier,   wherein the first alignment aperture is configured to allow movement of a machine component within the first alignment aperture in two directions during assembly of the package.   
     
     
         45 . A package according to  claim 44 , wherein the first alignment aperture is shaped such that the 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. 
     
     
         46 . A package according to  claim 44 , wherein the first alignment aperture is shaped to facilitate alignment of the third side panel and the fourth side panel with respect to each other and to facilitate alignment of the third side panel and the fourth side panel with respect to the first bottom panel of the first inner carrier. 
     
     
         47 . A package according to  claim 37 , wherein the at least one first inner carrier comprises a first side wall panel and a second side wall panel, each comprising an oblique fold line in each of upper corners thereof, each of the oblique fold lines facilitating folding of the respective first side wall panel or second side wall panel about a shoulder portion of an article of the group of articles that is disposed adjacent to the respective first side wall panel or second side wall panel. 
     
     
         48 . A package according to  claim 37 , wherein the first inner carrier comprises a top panel having at least one slot therein that is configured to receive a portion of at least one article of the group of articles. 
     
     
         49 . A package according to  claim 48  further comprising the group of articles,
 wherein the first inner carrier is of wraparound type to be wrapped around the group of articles and further comprises:
 a first side panel, a second side panel, and two opposite ends that are at least partially open, 
 
 wherein the first tubular axis extends between the two opposite open ends of the first inner carrier and defines a longitudinal direction; 
 wherein the second outer carrier is of the wraparound type and comprises:
 a top panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and two opposite open ends that are at least partially open, 
 
 wherein the second tubular axis extends between the two opposite open ends of the second outer carrier; 
 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 the group of articles. 
 
     
     
         50 . A package according to  claim 49  wherein the at least one slot in the top panel comprises a first slot arranged and configured to receive a portion of at least one article in a first row of articles, and a second slot arranged and configured to receive a portion of at least one article in a second row of articles, each of the first slot and the second slot extending in the top panel in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         51 . A package according to  claim 37 , further comprising a second inner carrier having the first tubular axis, the second outer carrier being disposed, at least in part, on the outside of each of the first inner carrier and the second inner carrier such that the first tubular axes of the first inner carrier and the second inner carrier are disposed substantially perpendicular to the second tubular axis of the second outer carrier. 
     
     
         52 . A package according to  claim 37 , further comprising the group of articles arranged in two or more rows, each row comprising at least two articles,
 wherein the second outer carrier is configured such that diagonally opposite articles in the group of articles are exposed to view.   
     
     
         53 . A package according to  claim 52 , wherein at least a portion of the diagonally opposite articles are visible through a respective open end of the first inner carrier that is at least partially open. 
     
     
         54 . A package according to  claim 52 , wherein the second outer carrier comprises:
 a top panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and an inset panel hinged to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel, the inset panel being folded into a void between two adjacent articles.   
     
     
         55 . A package according to  claim 54 , wherein the inset panel is hinged to an end edge of the at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel, and wherein the inset panel being folded into the void between two adjacent articles exposes to view one of said two adjacent articles. 
     
     
         56 . A package comprising:
 a first inner carrier and a second outer carrier, the 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 tubular axis is substantially perpendicular to the second tubular axis,   wherein the first inner carrier comprises a top panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a composite first bottom wall comprising more than one bottom panel, and two opposite ends that are at least partially open,   wherein the first tubular axis extends between the two opposite open ends of the first inner carrier;   wherein the second outer carrier comprises a top panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a composite second bottom wall comprising more than one bottom panel, and two opposite open ends that are at least partially open,   wherein the second tubular axis extends between the two opposite open ends of the second outer carrier;   wherein the first inner carrier is configured to be wrapped about a group of articles and the second outer carrier is configured to be wrapped around the first inner carrier and the group of articles;   wherein the second outer carrier comprises a locking tab and the first inner carrier comprises an aperture, the locking tab being configured to be received in the aperture to connect the first inner carrier and the second outer carrier together,   wherein the composite first bottom wall comprises a first bottom panel and a second bottom panel,   wherein the first bottom panel and the second bottom panel are 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.