Article carrier and blank therfor

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a package, an article carrier ( 90; 290; 390; 490 ) for packaging one or more articles (B) and a blank ( 10; 110; 210; 310; 410 ) for forming the carrier ( 90; 290; 390; 490 ). The carrier ( 90; 290; 390; 490 ) comprises at least one engaging panel ( 12; 112; 214 A/ 214 B; 314 A/ 314 B; 412 A/ 412 B/ 412 C/ 412 D/ 412 E/ 412 F) and a pair of side panels ( 14 A/ 14 B, 16 A/ 16 B; 114 A/ 114 B, 116 A/ 116 B; 214 A/ 214 B, 226 A/ 226 B; 314 A/ 314 B, 326 A/ 326 B; 414 A/ 414 B, 426 A/ 426 B) hinged to opposed edges of the at least one engaging panel ( 12; 112; 214 A/ 214 B; 314 A/ 314 B; 412 A/ 412 B/ 412 C/ 412 D/ 412 E/ 412 F). A plurality of end panels is hinged to a first end of the at least one engaging panel ( 12; 112; 214 A/ 214 B; 314 A/ 314 B; 412 A/ 412 B/ 412 C/ 412 D/ 412 E/ 412 F). The plurality of end panels comprises a first end panel ( 18 A/ 18 B, 20 A/ 20 B; 118 A/ 118 B, 120 A/ 120 B; 118 A/ 118 B, 120 A/ 120 B; 218 A/ 218 B, 220 A/ 220 B; 318 A/ 318 B, 320 A/ 320 B; 418 A/ 418 B/ 418 C/ 418 D/ 418 E/ 418 F, 420 A/ 420 B/ 420 C/ 420 D/ 420 E/ 420 F) having a pair of opposed side edges, a corner panel ( 24 A, 28 A, 24 B, 28 B; 124 A, 128 A, 24 B, 128 B; 224 A, 228 A, 224 B, 228 B; 324 A, 328 A, 324 B, 328 B; 424 A, 428 A, 424 B, 428 B) hingedly connected to each of the pair of opposed side edges, a securing panel ( 22 A, 26 A, 22 B, 26 B; 122 A, 126 A, 122 B, 126 B; 222 A, 226 A, 222 B, 226 B; 322 A, 326 A, 322 B, 326 B; 422 A, 426 A, 422 B, 426 B) hingedly connected to each corner panel ( 24 A, 28 A, 24 B, 28 B; 124 A, 128 A, 24 B, 128 B; 224 A, 228 A, 224 B, 228 B; 324 A, 328 A, 324 B, 328 B; 424 A, 428 A, 424 B, 428 B), and a flap ( 30 A, 32 A, 30 B, 32 B; 130 A, 132 A, 130 B, 132 B; 230 A, 232 A, 230 B, 232 B; 330 A, 332 A, 330 B, 332 B; 430 A, 432 A, 430 B, 432 B) hingedly connected to an upper edge of each securing panel ( 22 A, 26 A, 22 B, 26 B; 122 A, 126 A, 122 B, 126 B; 222 A, 226 A, 222 B, 226 B; 322 A, 326 A, 322 B, 326 B; 422 A, 426 A, 422 B, 426 B). The flap ( 30 A, 32 A, 30 B, 32 B; 130 A, 132 A, 130 B, 132 B; 230 A, 232 A, 230 B, 232 B; 330 A, 332 A, 330 B, 332 B; 430 A, 432 A, 430 B, 432 B) comprises a free upper or side edge having a rounded, arcuate or curvilinear shape.

1 . An article carrier for packaging at least one article, the article carrier comprising:
 at least one engaging panel;   a pair of side panels hinged to opposed edges of the at least one engaging panel;   a plurality of end panels hinged to a first end of the at least one engaging panel comprising:   a first end panel having a pair of opposed side edges;   a corner panel hingedly connected to each of the pair of opposed side edges;   a securing panel hingedly connected to each corner panel; and   a flap hingedly connected to an upper edge of each securing panel, the flap comprising a free upper edge having a rounded, arcuate or curvilinear shape.   
     
     
         2 . An article carrier for packaging at least one article, the article carrier comprising:
 at least one engaging panel;   a pair of side panels hinged to opposed edges of the at least one engaging panel, at least one of pair of side panels comprising a handle structure including a handle opening;   a plurality of end panels hinged to a first end of the at least one engaging panel comprising:
 a first end panel having a pair of opposed side edges; 
 a corner panel hingedly connected to each of the pair of opposed side edges; 
 a securing panel hingedly connected to each corner panel; and 
 a flap hingedly connected to an upper edge of each securing panel, the flap comprising a cutaway, the cutaway disposed in registry with at least a portion of the handle opening, such that the flap forms part of a two-ply structure reinforcing the handle structure. 
   
     
     
         3 . An article carrier for packaging at least one article, the article carrier comprising:
 an engaging panel hingedly connected between a pair of side wall panels by first and second hinged connections respectively; and   at least one end panel;   wherein the engaging panel comprises:
 at least two article receiving devices, and 
 a panel portion disposed therebetween, the panel portion being hingedly connected between a pair of side wall panels by third and fourth hinged connections respectively, and 
   wherein the panel portion is indented such that a medial region thereof is disposed at an elevation below marginal regions of the panel portion.   
     
     
         4 . An article carrier according to  claim 3 , wherein the panel portion may be automatically configured in the indented condition upon assembly of the carrier. 
     
     
         5 . An article carrier according to  claim 3 , wherein the first and second hinged connections are disposed a first distance apart, the third and fourth hinged connections are disposed a second distance apart, the second distance may be greater than the first distance. 
     
     
         6 . An article carrier for packaging at least one article, the article carrier comprising a pair of engaging panels hingedly connected to each other along a fold line to form a ridge, the carrier comprising at least a pair of top-receiving devices struck in part from each of the pair of engaging panels so as to be disposed along the ridge, wherein at least one end panel is coupled to the engaging panels. 
     
     
         7 . An article carrier for packaging at least one article, the article carrier comprising a pair of side panels hingedly connected to each other along a fold line to form a ridge, the carrier comprising at least a pair of top-receiving devices struck in part from each of the pair of side panels so as to be disposed along the ridge, wherein an end panel is coupled to both of the pair of side panels. 
     
     
         8 . An article carrier according to  claim 7 , wherein the end panel is coupled to each of the engaging panels by a respective connecting panel. 
     
     
         9 . An article carrier for packaging at least one article, the article carrier comprising a multi-ply engaging panel having at least one article retention structure therein for receiving and supporting an article therefrom, the multi-ply engaging panel comprising a plurality of top panels connected to a common end panel. 
     
     
         10 . A blank for forming an article carrier, the blank comprising:
 at least one engaging panel;   a pair of side panels hinged to opposed edges of the at least one engaging panel;   a plurality of end panels hinged to a first end of the at least one engaging panel comprising:   a first end panel having a pair of opposed side edges;   a corner panel hingedly connected to each of the pair of opposed side edges;   a securing panel hingedly connected to each corner panel; and   a flap hingedly connected to an upper edge of each securing panel, the flap comprising a free upper edge having a rounded, arcuate or curvilinear shape.   
     
     
         11 . A blank according to  claim 10 , wherein the flap extends between the securing panel to which it is hinged and a side edge of one of the pair of side panels. 
     
     
         12 . A blank according to  claim 11 , wherein the flap is separated from the side edge of said one of the pair of side panels by a cutline line. 
     
     
         13 . A blank according to  claim 11 , wherein the flap is separated from the side edge of said one of the pair of side panels by a severable line. 
     
     
         14 . A blank according to  claim 10 , wherein the free upper edge forms an inner edge facing towards a portion of the first end panel and is separated therefrom by an aperture. 
     
     
         15 . A blank for forming an article carrier, the blank comprising:
 at least one engaging panel;   a pair of side panels hinged to opposed edges of the at least one engaging panel;   a plurality of end panels hinged to a first end of the at least one engaging panel comprising:   a first end panel having a pair of opposed side edges;   a corner panel hingedly connected to each of the pair of opposed side edges;   a securing panel hingedly connected to each corner panel; and   a flap hingedly connected to an upper edge of each securing panel, the flap comprising a free side edge having a rounded, arcuate or curvilinear shape.   
     
     
         16 . A blank according to  claim 15 , wherein the flap extends between the securing panel to which it is hinged and a side edge of one of the pair of side panels. 
     
     
         17 . A blank according to  claim 16 , wherein the flap is separated from the side edge of said one of the pair of side panels by a cutline line. 
     
     
         18 . A blank according to  claim 16 , wherein the flap is separated from the side edge of said one of the pair of side panels by a severable line. 
     
     
         19 . A blank according to  claim 15 , wherein the free side edge forms an inner edge facing towards a portion of the first end panel and is separated therefrom by an aperture. 
     
     
         20 . An article carrier for packaging at least one article, the article carrier comprising:
 at least one engaging panel;   a pair of side panels hinged to opposed edges of the at least one engaging panel;   a plurality of end panels hinged to a first end of the at least one engaging panel comprising:   a first end panel having a pair of opposed side edges;   a corner panel hingedly connected to each of the pair of opposed side edges;   a securing panel hingedly connected to each corner panel; and   a flap hingedly connected to an upper edge of each securing panel, the flap comprising a free side edge having a rounded, arcuate or curvilinear shape.   
     
     
         21 . A blank for forming an article carrier, the blank comprising:
 at least one engaging panel;   a pair of side panels hinged to opposed edges of the at least one engaging panel, at least one of pair of side panels comprising a handle structure including a handle opening;   a plurality of end panels hinged to a first end of the at least one engaging panel comprising:
 a first end panel having a pair of opposed side edges; 
 a corner panel hingedly connected to each of the pair of opposed side edges; 
 a securing panel hingedly connected to each corner panel; and 
 a flap hingedly connected to an upper edge of each securing panel, the flap comprising a cutaway, the cutaway configured to be disposed in registry with at least a portion of the handle opening in a setup condition, such that the flap forms part of a two-ply structure reinforcing the handle structure. 
   
     
     
         22 . A blank for forming an article carrier, the blank comprising:
 an engaging panel hingedly connected between a pair of side wall panels by first and second hinged connections respectively; and   at least one end panel;   wherein the engaging panel comprises:
 at least two article receiving devices; and 
 a panel portion disposed therebetween, the panel portion being hingedly connected between a pair of side wall panels by third and fourth hinged connections respectively; and 
   wherein the panel portion is indented such that a medial region thereof is disposed at an elevation below marginal regions of the panel portion.   
     
     
         23 . A blank for forming an article carrier, the blank comprising a pair of engaging panels hingedly connected to each other along a fold line to form a ridge, the blank comprising at least a pair of top-receiving devices struck in part from each of the pair of engaging panels so as to be disposed along the ridge, wherein at least one end panel is coupled to the engaging panels. 
     
     
         24 . A blank for forming an article carrier, the blank comprising a pair of side panels hingedly connected to each other along a fold line to form a ridge, the blank comprising at least a pair of top-receiving devices struck in part from each of the pair of side panels so as to be disposed along the ridge, wherein an end panel is coupled to both of the pair of side panels. 
     
     
         25 . A blank for forming an article carrier, the blank comprising a multi-ply engaging panel having at least one article retention structure therein for receiving and supporting an article therefrom, the multi-ply engaging panel comprising a plurality of top panels connected to a common end panel.