Article carrier and blank therefor

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to an article carrier ( 90; 190 ) for packaging one or more articles (B) and a blank for forming the carrier ( 90; 190 ). The carrier ( 90; 190 ) comprising a tubular body formed in part from opposing front and rear panels ( 14, 16; 116, 122 ) and an end closure structure comprising a pair of primary end closure panels ( 18, 20; 130, 134 ) and at least one pyramidal structure associated with the primary end closure panels ( 18, 20; 130, 134 ). The pyramidal structure comprises a plurality of hinged panels ( 22 A/ 26 A/ 30 B/ 34 B, 22 B/ 26 B/ 30 A/ 34 A; 142/144/118/120 ).

1 . An article carrier comprising:
 a tubular body formed in part from opposing front and rear panels and   an end closure structure comprising a pair of primary end closure panels and at least one pyramidal structure associated with the primary end closure panels,   wherein the at least one pyramidal structure comprises a plurality of hinged panels.   
     
     
         2 . An article carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the article carrier is collapsible into a flat collapsed form, and is erectable from the flat collapsed form into an expanded a tubular form, the end closure structure is configured to be automatically erectable to close an end of the tubular body when the article carrier is erected into the expanded tubular form. 
     
     
         3 . An article carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pyramidal structure comprises a pair of pyramidal structures at opposite ends of the pair of primary end closure panels. 
     
     
         4 . An article carrier according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one pyramidal structure is automatically erectable when the article carrier is erected into the expanded tubular form. 
     
     
         5 . An article carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pyramidal structure employs an over-center mechanism whereby maintains the end closure structure, in an expanded, closing position. 
     
     
         6 . An article carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of hinged panels of the at least one pyramidal structure comprises a pair of inner corner panels disposed adjacent to each other. 
     
     
         7 . An article carrier according to  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of hinged panels comprises a pair of outer corner panels disposed adjacent to each other. 
     
     
         8 . An article carrier according to  claim 7 , wherein a first one of the outer corner panels is hingedly connected to a second one of the outer corner panels by a hinged connection. 
     
     
         9 . An article carrier according to  claim 8 , wherein the hinged connection may be interrupted by a relief aperture. 
     
     
         10 . An article carrier according to  claim 8 , wherein a corner securing flap is hingedly connected to one of the inner corner panels and is secured in face contacting relationship with the other one of the inner corner panels. 
     
     
         11 . An article carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of hinged panels of the at least one pyramidal structure is hingedly connected to each of the front and rear panels and to each of the pair of primary end closure panels. 
     
     
         12 . An article carrier according to  claim 7 , wherein each of the inner corner panels is hingedly connected to a respective one of the outer corner panels by a web panel. 
     
     
         13 . An article carrier according to  claim 12 , wherein each of the inner corner panels defines a common vertex with respective ones of the outer corner panels and web panels. 
     
     
         14 . An article carrier according to  claim 13 , wherein the vertex is interrupted by a relief aperture. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . An article carrier comprising a spout structure comprising a plurality of hinged panels for defining a spout pathway, the hinged panels being defined at least in part by hinge lines, the hinged panels being hingedly connected to an end closure panel by at least two of said hinge lines, wherein the hinge lines extend from an expansion element, the expansion element provided in the end closure panel such that inner ends of the hinged panels are movable to a location over the expansion element when the spout structure is erected. 
     
     
         18 . An article carrier according to  claim 17 , wherein the expansion element is provided by one selected from the group consisting of a cutaway, an opening, an aperture, a slot, a slit, a cut and a perforation. 
     
     
         19 . An article carrier according to  claim 17 , wherein inner ends of the hinged panels define part of the expansion element. 
     
     
         20 . An article carrier according to  claim 17 , wherein the end closure panel comprises one or more weakening elements to create a weakened area of the end closure panel, wherein the one or more weakening elements comprises one or more features selected from the following group of features: additional openings, slits, fold lines. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A blank for forming an article carrier, the blank comprising a plurality of panels for forming a tubular body including front and rear panels, a pair of end closure panels for forming an end closure structure, and plurality of hinged panels for forming at least one pyramidal structure associated with the end closure panels. 
     
     
         23 . A blank according to  claim 22  wherein the plurality of hinged panels provide a spout structure defining a spout pathway, the hinged panels being defined at least in part by hinge lines, the hinged panels being hingedly connected to one of the pair of end closure panels by at least two of said hinge lines, wherein the hinge lines extend from an expansion element provided in the one of the pair of end closure panels, wherein in a set-up article carrier, inner ends of the hinged panels are movable to a location over the expansion element when the spout structure is erected.