Carrier and blank therefor
Aspects of the disclosure relate to a carrier for packaging one or more articles. The carrier is formed from a set of connected blanks each of which form a top engaging carrier, wherein the blanks are detachably connected together in a matrix fashion wherein each blank has a plurality of top-receiving apertures wherein a first distance (D 1 ) between the respective centres of two adjacent ones of the apertures of a first blank is less than a second distance (D 2 ) between the centre of a corner aperture of the first blank and the centre of the adjacent corner aperture of a second blank and wherein the first distance (D 1 ) is less than a third distance (D 3 ) between the centre of the corner aperture of the first blank and the centre of the adjacent corner aperture of a third blank.
1. A set of connected blanks each for forming a top engaging carrier,
wherein the blanks are detachably connected together in a matrix fashion wherein each blank has a plurality of top-receiving apertures wherein a first distance (D 1 ) between the respective centres of two adjacent ones of the apertures of a first blank is less than a second distance (D 2 ) between a centre of a corner aperture of the first blank and a centre of an adjacent corner aperture of a second blank and wherein the first distance (D 1 ) is less than a third distance (D 3 ) between the centre of the corner aperture of the first blank and a centre of an adjacent corner aperture of a third blank.
2. The set of claim 1 wherein the first distance (D 1 ) is generally equal to the maximum diameter (D c ) of a generally cylindrical article adapted to be engaged by the first blank.
3. The set of claim 1 wherein a corner radius (R b ) of each blank is greater than a half of the maximum diameter (D c ) of a generally cylindrical article adapted to be engaged by that blank.
4. The set of claim 3 wherein the corner radius (R b ) is at least ⅛ inch (3.175 mm) greater than a half of the maximum diameter (D c ) of a generally cylindrical article adapted to be engaged by that blank.
5. The set of claim 1 , wherein the second distance (D 2 ) is generally equal to the third distance (D 3 ).
6. The set of claim 5 wherein each of the second and third distances (D 2 , D 3 ) is generally equal to twice a corner radius (R b ) of each blank.
7. The set of claim 1 wherein a fourth distance (R s ) is defined between an outer end of a tab-defining element and a center of a respective aperture about which the tab-defining element is disposed, the fourth distance (R s ) is equal to or less than a half of the maximum diameter (D c ) of a generally cylindrical article adapted to be engaged by that blank.
8. The set of claim 1 wherein any point on the outline of a finger aperture formed in each blank is disposed outside an area defined by a radius equal to half of the maximum diameter (½ Dc) around the center of any one of the apertures which surround the finger aperture.
9. The set of claim 1 , wherein the second blank is detachably connected to the first blank along a first edge thereof, and
wherein the third blank is detachably connected to the first blank along a second edge, the second edge being adjacent to the first edge.
10. The set of claim 1 , wherein each blank of the set is for forming a top engaging carrier applicable to articles of a sleek design.
11. A blank for forming a top engaging carrier, the blank comprising a plurality of apertures each for receiving a portion of a generally cylindrical article wherein a first distance (D 1 ) between the centres of two adjacent ones of the apertures is generally equal to the maximum diameter (D c ) of the article and a corner radius (R b ) of the blank is greater than a half of the maximum diameter (D c ) of the article.
12. The blank of claim 11 wherein the corner radius (R b ) is at least ⅛ inch (3.175 mm) greater than a half of the maximum diameter (D c ) of the article.
13. The blank of claim 11 wherein a fourth distance (R s ) is defined between the outer end of each tab-defining element and the centre of the respective aperture, the fourth distance (R s ) is equal to or less than a half of the maximum diameter (D c ) of a generally cylindrical article adapted to be engaged by that blank.
14. The blank of claim 11 wherein the maximum diameter (D a ) of each aperture is less than the upper end diameter (D n ) of the article.
15. The blank of claim 11 wherein any point on the outline of a finger aperture formed in the blank is disposed outside an area defined by a radius equal to half of the maximum diameter (½ Dc) around the centre of any one of the apertures which surround the finger aperture.