Article Carrier and Blank Therefor

The present invention relates to carriers and to blanks for forming the same. More specifically, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a carrier having a partition structure feature defining cells or compartments within an interior of a carrier of the basket-style.

In the field of packaging, it is known to provide article carriers or cartons for carrying multiple articles. Cartons are well known in the art and are useful for enabling consumers to transport, store and access a group of articles for consumption. For cost and environmental considerations, such cartons or carriers need to be formed from as little material as possible and cause as little wastage in the materials from which they are formed as possible. Further considerations are the strength of the carton and its suitability for holding and transporting large weights of articles. It is desirable that the contents of the carton are secure within the carton.

It is an object of the present invention to provide to a carrier having a partition structure for separating articles within an interior chamber of the carrier. It is desirable to minimize or reduce the material required to produce the carrier for economic or environmental benefit or both.

The present invention seeks to provide an improvement in the field of cartons, typically formed from paperboard or the like.

A first aspect of the invention provides an article carrier for packaging a plurality of articles. The article carrier comprises a plurality of primary panels for forming a tubular structure and defining an interior of the article carrier. The plurality of primary panels includes a pair of opposed end panels. A primary partition panel is hingedly connected to one of the pair of end panels along a first fold line. The primary partition panel comprises a partition structure. The partition structure comprises at least one lateral partition flap and a glue flap. The at least one lateral partition flap and the glue flap are coupled together by a distal end joint. The distal end joint is adjoined by a tab interrupting the first fold line. The tab protrudes from the end panel into the primary partition panel to be in contact with the distal end joint.

A second aspect of the invention provides an article carrier for packaging a plurality of articles. The article carrier comprises a plurality of primary panels for forming a tubular structure and defining an interior of the article carrier. The plurality of primary panels includes a pair of opposed end panels. A primary partition panel is hingedly connected to one of the pair of end panels along a first fold line. The primary partition panel comprises a partition structure. The partition structure comprises at least one lateral partition flap and a glue flap. The at least one lateral partition flap and the glue flap are coupled together by a distal end joint. The distal end joint is abutted by a tab interrupting the first fold line. The tab protrudes from the end panel into the primary partition panel to be in close proximity with the distal end joint.

Advantageously, the carrier is easier to fold one of the pair of end panels with respect to the primary partition panel along a first fold line, particularly on automated packaging machinery. Additionally, or alternatively it is easier to separate the at least one lateral partition flap and the glue flap from the primary partition panel in the process of erecting the collapsed carton.

Optionally, the plurality of primary panels includes a side panel, the glue flap is secured to the side panel, the at least one lateral partition flap extends substantially between the side panel and the primary partition panel.

Optionally, the at least one lateral partition flap is hingedly connected to the primary partition panel at a proximal end and is secured to the side panel at a distal end by the distal end joint and glue flap.

Optionally, an end edge of the partition structure is offset with respect to the first fold line.

Optionally, an end edge of the partition structure is inset with respect to the first fold line.

Optionally, the distal end joint forms a twisted strip coupling the at least one lateral partition flap and the glue flap in a substantially perpendicular arrangement with respect to each other.

A third aspect of the invention provides an article carrier for packaging a plurality of articles. The article carrier comprises a plurality of primary panels for forming a tubular structure and defining an interior of the article carrier. The plurality of primary panels includes a pair of opposed end panels. A primary partition panel is hingedly connected to one of the pair of end panels along a first fold line. The primary partition panel comprises a partition structure. The partition structure comprises at least one lateral partition flap and a glue flap. The at least one lateral partition flap and the glue flap are coupled together by a distal end joint. The at least one lateral partition flap and the glue flap are formed from the primary partition panel. The at least one lateral partition flap is separated from the glue flap along a cut line. The cut line terminates on a tear stopper element which defines in part a distal end joint between the at least one lateral partition flap and the glue flap. The tear stopper element comprises a first portion extending into the glue flap and a second portion extending into the at least one lateral partition flap. The first portion is greater in length than the second portion.

The first portion of stopper element being greater in length than the second portion may be advantageous in that it may enable the region of the distal end joint between the first portion of stopper element and a free end edge of the distal end joint to bend downwardly instead of allowing a tear to develop when a carrier is erected.

Optionally, at least one of the first and second portions of the tear stopper element is curvilinear in shape.

Optionally, at least one of the first and second portions of the tear stopper element is linear in shape.

Optionally, the tear stopper element is non-linear in shape.

Optionally, at least one of the first and second portions of the tear stopper element diverges away from a free end edge of the distal end joint.

A fourth aspect of the invention provides an article carrier for packaging a plurality of articles. The article carrier comprises a plurality of primary panels for forming a tubular structure and defining an interior of the article carrier. The plurality of primary panels includes a pair of opposed end panels. A primary partition panel is hingedly connected to one of the pair of end panels along a first fold line. A second primary partition panel is hingedly connected to the first primary partition panel along a second fold line. A securing panel is hingedly connected to the first primary partition panel. A connector panel is hingedly connected to the second primary partition panel and to the securing panel. The second primary partition panel comprises a partition structure. The partition structure comprises at least one lateral partition flap and a glue flap. The at least one lateral partition flap and the glue flap are coupled together by a distal end joint. The at least one lateral partition flap and the glue flap are formed from the second primary partition panel. At least a part of the distal end joint is formed from the connector panel.

Optionally, the first primary partition panel comprises a further partition structure, the further partition structure comprises at least one second lateral partition flap and a second glue flap, the at least one second partition flap and the second glue flap being coupled together by a second distal end.

A fifth aspect of the invention provides a blank for forming an article carrier. The blank comprises a plurality of primary panels for forming walls of a tubular structure defining an interior chamber. The plurality of primary panels includes a pair of opposed end panels. A primary partition panel is hingedly connected to one of the pair of end panels along a first fold line. The primary partition panel comprises a partition structure. The partition structure comprises at least one lateral partition flap and a glue flap. The at least one lateral partition flap and the glue flap are coupled together by a distal end joint. The distal end joint is adjoined by a tab interrupting the first fold line. The tab protrudes from the end panel into the primary partition panel to be in contact with the distal end joint.

A sixth aspect of the invention provides a blank for forming an article carrier. The blank comprises a plurality of primary panels for forming walls of a tubular structure defining an interior chamber. The plurality of primary panels includes a pair of opposed end panels. A primary partition panel is hingedly connected to one of the pair of end panels along a first fold line. The primary partition panel comprises a partition structure. The partition structure comprises at least one lateral partition flap and a glue flap. The at least one lateral partition flap and the glue flap are coupled together by a distal end joint. The distal end joint is abutted by a tab interrupting the first fold line. The tab protrudes from the end panel into the primary partition panel to be in close proximity with the distal end joint.

A seventh aspect of the invention provides a blank for forming an article carrier. The blank comprises a plurality of primary panels for forming walls of a tubular structure defining an interior chamber. The plurality of primary panels includes a pair of opposed end panels. A primary partition panel is hingedly connected to one of the pair of end panels along a first fold line. The primary partition panel comprises a partition structure. The partition structure comprises at least one lateral partition flap and a glue flap. The at least one lateral partition flap and the glue flap are coupled together by a distal end joint. The at least one lateral partition flap and the glue flap are formed from the primary partition panel. The at least one lateral partition flap is separated from the glue flap along a cut line. The cut line terminates on a tear stopper element which defines in part a distal end joint between the at least one lateral partition flap and the glue flap. The tear stopper element comprises a first portion extending into the glue flap and a second portion extending into the at least one lateral partition flap. The first portion is greater in length than the second portion.

An eighth aspect of the invention provides a blank for forming an article carrier. The blank comprises a plurality of primary panels for forming walls of a tubular structure defining an interior chamber. The plurality of primary panels includes a pair of opposed end panels. A primary partition panel is hingedly connected to one of the pair of end panels along a first fold line. A second primary partition panel is hingedly connected to the first primary partition panel along a second fold line. A securing panel is hingedly connected to the first primary partition panel. A connector panel is hingedly connected to the second primary partition panel and to the securing panel. The second primary partition panel comprises a partition structure. The partition structure comprises at least one lateral partition flap and a glue flap. The at least one lateral partition flap and the glue flap are coupled together by a distal end joint. The at least one lateral partition flap and the glue flap are formed from the second primary partition panel. At least a part of the distal end joint is formed from the connector panel.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the specific embodiments illustrated in the drawings and discussed below.

Within the scope of this application, it is envisaged or intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples, features and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings may be considered or taken independently or in any combination thereof.

Features or elements described in connection with, or relation to, one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments unless there is an incompatibility of features. One or more features or elements from one embodiment may be incorporated into, or combined with, any of the other embodiments disclosed herein, said features or elements extracted from said one embodiment may be included in addition to, or in replacement of one or more features or elements of said other embodiment.

A feature, or combination of features, of an embodiment disclosed herein may be extracted in isolation from other features of that embodiment. Alternatively, a feature, or combination of features, of an embodiment may be omitted from that embodiment.

Detailed descriptions of specific embodiments of the package, blanks and cartons are disclosed herein. It will be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the way in which certain aspects of the invention can be implemented and do not represent an exhaustive list of all of the ways the invention may be embodied. As used herein, the word “exemplary” is used expansively to refer to embodiments that serve as illustrations, specimens, models, or patterns. Indeed, it will be understood that the packages, blanks and cartons described herein may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The Figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Well-known components, materials or methods are not necessarily described in great detail in order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure. Any specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the invention.

Referring to, there is shown a plan view of a blankcapable of forming a carton or carrier, for containing and carrying a group of primary products such as, but not limited to, bottles, hereinafter referred to as articles.illustrate alternative blanks;capable of forming a carton or carrier, see, for containing and carrying a group of primary products such as, but not limited to, bottles, hereinafter referred to as articles. The blanks;;each form a secondary package of the basket-carrier style for packaging at least one primary product container or package.

In the embodiments detailed herein, the terms “carton” and “carrier” refer, for the non-limiting purpose of illustrating the various features of the invention, to a containerfor engaging and carrying articles, such as primary product containers. It is contemplated that the teachings of the invention can be applied to various product containers, which may or may not be tapered and/or cylindrical. Other exemplary containers include bottles (for example metallic, glass or plastics bottles), cans (for example aluminum cans), tins, pouches, packets and the like.

The blanks;;are formed from a sheet of suitable substrate. It is to be understood that, as used herein, the term “suitable substrate” includes all manner of foldable sheet material such as paperboard, corrugated board, cardboard, plastic, combinations thereof, and the like. It should be recognized that one or other numbers of blanks may be employed, where suitable, for example, to provide the carrier structure described in more detail below.

The packaging structure or cartondescribed herein may be formed from a sheet material such as paperboard, which may be made of or coated with materials to increase its strength. An example of such a sheet material is tear-resistant NATRALOCK® paperboard made by WestRock Company. It should be noted that the tear resistant materials may be provided by more than one layer, to help improve the tear-resistance of the package. Typically, one surface of the sheet material may have different characteristics to the other surface. For example, the surface of the sheet material that faces outwardly from a finished package may be particularly smooth and may have a coating such as a clay coating or other surface treatment to provide good printability. The surface of the sheet material that faces inwardly may, on the other hand, be provided with a coating, a layer, a treatment or be otherwise prepared to provide properties such as one or more of tear-resistance, good glue-ability, heat sealability, or other desired functional properties. In the illustrated embodiment, the blanks;;are configured to form a carton or carrierfor packaging an exemplary arrangement of exemplary articles. In the illustrated embodiments the arrangement is an m×n matrix or array, having two rows (m=2) and three columns (n=3); in the illustrated embodiment two rows of three articles are provided, and the articles are 11.2 fl. oz. (330 ml) bottles, the bottle may be formed from a suitable material such as, but not limited to, glass, Aluminum or PET (polyester-polyethylene terephthalate). Alternatively, the blanks;;can be configured to form a carrier for packaging other types, number and size of articles and/or for packaging articles in a different arrangement or configuration for example, but not limited to, fully enclosed cartons or wrap-around carriers, the articles may be cups, pouches, pots or cans.

Turning to, there is illustrated a blankfor forming a carton (not shown) according to a first embodiment. The blankcomprises a plurality of main panels,,,,for forming a tubular structure. The plurality of main panels,,,,comprises a first outer end panel(or outer layer), a first side panel, a second end panel, a second side panel, and a first inner end panel or securing panel (or inner layer). The plurality of panels,,,,may be arranged in a linear series hinged one to the next by corresponding fold lines,,,.

The blankcomprises a first base panelhinged to the first side panelby a hinged connection in the form of a fold lineThe blankcomprises a second base panelhinged to the second side panelby a hinged connection in the form of a fold line

The first and second base panelsare engageable with one another in an overlapping relationship to form a composite base wall/of the carrier. The blankmay comprise a complementary locking mechanism for securing the first base panelto the second base panelThe first base panelmay comprise at least one first part M of the complementary locking mechanism. The second base panelmay comprise at least one second part F of the complementary locking mechanism. In the illustrated embodiment, the first base panelcomprises four male tabs M struck therefrom so as to be defined within the first base panelEach of the male tabs M is hingedly connected to the first base panelby a hinged connection in the form of a fold line.

The second part F of the complementary locking mechanism forms a receiver. The receiver comprises an opening or slot for receiving the male tab M.

The second base panelcomprises four optional female tabs each defining an opening or slot in the second base panelthe female tabs forming at least part of the receiver.

The openings in the second base panelare configured to receive respective ones of the male tabs M. The female tabs are arranged to be displaced out of the second base panelto form said openings and to bear against the respective male tab M when received therein. In some embodiments the complementary locking mechanism M/F may be omitted, the first and second base panelsmay be secured to each other by other means, such as but not limited to adhesive or staples.

Optionally, the first and second base panelsmay comprise at least one first aperture A. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the first and second base panelscomprises four first apertures A. The first apertures Amay be employed to facilitate construction of the carton. A packaging machine component or tool may engage with the first apertures Ato facilitate alignment of the first and second base panelswith respect to each other or to align the first part M of the complementary locking mechanism with the second part F of the complementary locking mechanism. The complementary locking mechanism illustrated and described is entirely optional.

The blankcomprises a medial structure including a first medial paneland a second medial panel.

The first medial panelis hingedly connected at a first end to the first inner end panelby a hinged connection in the form of a fold line.

The second medial panelis hingedly connected to the first medial panelalong a lower edge thereof by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line.

The first and second medial panels,form a divider extending longitudinally between the first inner and outer end panels,and the second end panel.

The first medial panelprovides a first handle structure H. The second medial panelprovides a second handle structure H. Together the first and second medial panels,provide a two-ply handle structure, the second ply reinforcing the first ply.

The first handle structure Hcomprises a first handle opening.

The first handle opening may be defined in part by a first handle aperture Astruck from an upper portion of the first medial panel.

The first handle structure Hmay comprise one or more optional cushioning flaps,,struck from the first medial paneland hinged thereto by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line. The cushioning flaps,,define at least a part of the first handle opening. The illustrated embodiment comprises three cushioning flaps,,.

The second handle structure Hcomprises a second handle opening.

The second handle opening may be defined in part by a second handle aperture Astruck from, or defined within, an upper portion of the second medial panel.