Article carrier and blank therefor
Aspects of the disclosure relate to a package, an article-engaging carrier for packaging one or more articles and a blank for forming the carrier. Then carrier comprises a top panel with at least one article-engaging feature. At least one shoulder panel is hingedly connected to the top panel and is disposed obliquely with respect to the top panel. The at least one engaging feature comprises an article-receiving aperture and an annular series of engaging tabs formed around the article-receiving aperture. The annular series of engaging tabs comprises at least one first tab and at least one second tab. The at least one first tab is hingedly connected in part to the top panel and in part to the at least one shoulder panel. The at least one first tab has a first radial length. The at least one second tab is hingedly connected only to the top panel and has a second radial length. The first radial length is greater than the second radial length.
1 . An article carrier for packaging at least two articles, the carrier comprising:
a main panel having at least two article retention structures, each for engaging one of the at least two articles, wherein the at least two article retention structures are disposed substantially adjacent to an end edge of the main panel, wherein each of the at least two retention structures comprises an article receiving aperture and an annular series of engaging tabs formed around a respective one of the article-receiving apertures;
wherein the main panel includes a first area defined between a perimeter region of the article receiving apertures in the respective one of the two article retention structures and a second area continuous with the first area and defined in part by the end edge and in part by the perimeter region, each of the engaging tabs of the two article retention structures being hingedly connected to the main panel such that the second area is adjoined by at least one of the engaging tabs of each of the two article retention structures; and
a recess is formed in the second area along the end edge of the main panel, wherein the recess and the first area are disposed along a notional line extending perpendicularly to the end edge.
2 . The article carrier of claim 1 , further comprising an end panel severable from, or at least partially separable from the main panel by at least one cut line or severable line, wherein the recess is in the form of an aperture disposed along the at least one cut line or severable line such that the aperture is struck in part from the main panel and in part from the end panel.
3 . The article carrier of claim 2 , further comprising a securing panel hingedly connected to the end panel, wherein the securing panel is separated from the main panel.
4 . The article carrier of claim 2 , further comprising:
a pair of opposed side panels; and
an end strap hingedly connected between the pair of side panels,
wherein the end strap comprises the end panel, and
wherein the end strap is free of direct connection to the main panel.
5 . The article carrier of claim 4 , wherein the end strap comprises a plurality of panels hingedly connected to each other, the plurality of panels comprising: the end panel, a securing panel, and a corner panel hingedly connected to each of the securing panel and the end panel, wherein each of the securing panel and the corner panel is separated at least in part from the main panel.
6 . The article carrier of claim 5 , further comprising a gusset panel hingedly interconnected between the securing panel and an end of a side panel of the pair of opposed side panels.
7 . The article carrier of claim 1 , wherein the annual series of engaging tabs of at least one of the two article retention structures is interrupted by a cutaway such that the first area includes the cutaway.
8 . The article carrier of claim 7 , wherein the second area is free from the cutaway.
9 . The article carrier of claim 1 , wherein the annual series of engaging tabs of each of the two article retention structures is interrupted by a cutaway, such that the first area is defined between respective cutaways of the two article retention structures.
10 . A blank for forming an article carrier, the blank comprising:
a main panel having at least two article retention structures, wherein the at least two article retention structures are disposed substantially adjacent to an end edge of the main panel, wherein each of the at least two retention structures comprises an article receiving aperture and an annular series of engaging tabs formed around a respective one of the article-receiving apertures;
wherein the main panel includes a first area defined a perimeter region of the article-receiving apertures in the respective one of the two article retention structures; and a second area continuous with the first area and defined in part by the end edge and in part by the perimeter region, each of the engaging tabs of the two article retention structures being hingedly connected to the main panel such that the second area is adjoined by at least one of the engaging tabs of each of the two article retention structures; and
a recess is formed in the second area along the end edge of the main panel, wherein the recess and the first area is disposed along a notional line extending perpendicularly to the end edge.
11 . The blank of claim 10 , further comprising an end panel severable from, or at least partially separable from the main panel by at least one cut line or several line, wherein the recess is in the form of an aperture disposed along the at least one cut line or severable line such that the aperture is struck in part from the main panel and in part from the end panel.
12 . The blank of claim 10 , further comprising a securing panel hingedly connected to the end panel, wherein the securing panel is spaced apart from the main panel such that securing panel free of direct connection to the main panel.
13 . The blank of claim 10 , further comprising:
two side panels, each hingedly connected to the main panel; and
an end strap hingedly connected between the two side panels and partially separable from the top panel via one of a frangible line and a cut line,
wherein the end strap comprises the end panel, and
wherein the end strap is free of direct connection to the main panel.
14 . The blank of claim 13 , wherein the end strap comprises a plurality of panels hingedly connected to each other, the plurality of panels comprising the end panel, a securing panel, and a corner panel hingedly connected to each of the securing panel and the end panel, wherein each of the securing panel and the corner panel is separated at least in part from the main panel.
15 . The blank of claim 10 , wherein the annual series of engaging tabs of at least one of the two article retention structures is interrupted by a cutaway such that the first area includes the cutaway.
16 . The blank of claim 15 , wherein the second area is free from the cutaway.
17 . The blank of claim 10 , wherein the annual series of engaging tabs of each of the two article retention structures is interrupted by a cutaway such the first area is defined between respective cutaways of the two article retention structures.
18 . A blank for forming an article carrier, the blank comprising
a main panel comprising four article engaging features arranged in two rows, each of the four article engaging features comprising an article-receiving aperture, a series of engaging: formed around the article-receiving aperture, and a pair of recesses that interrupt the series of engaging tabs,
wherein the series of engaging tabs of each of the four article engaging features comprises a first set of engaging tabs disposed between the pair of recesses,
wherein a medial area of the main panel is provided by an uninterrupted portion of the main panel that is surrounded by the four article engaging features, which define a perimeter of the medial area of the main panel having four edges, each of which is adjoined by a respective one of the four article engaging features,
wherein the first set of engaging tabs of each of the four article engaging features is hingedly connected to a respective one of the four edges of the perimeter of the medial area of the main panel.
19 . A blank according to claim 18 , wherein the medial area of the main panel is connected to a remainder of the main panel via four portions of the main panel, each of which is defined to extend between a respective pair of the four article engaging features.
20 . A blank according to claim 18 , wherein the medial area of the main panel is defined in part by the article-receiving aperture of each of the four article engaging features.