Carton and blank therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10836550-B2
Application number	US-201815887021-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 2, 2018
Priority date	Feb 3, 2017
Publication date	Nov 17, 2020
Grant date	Nov 17, 2020

Abstract

A top engaging carrier includes a main panel which has an aperture for receiving a portion of an article. The main panel includes an annular series of tabs formed around the aperture. The aperture defines a first edge of each of the tabs of the annular series. The tabs are hingedly connected to the main panel such that they yield out of the plane of the main panel when an article is received in the aperture. One of the tabs of the annular series is defined at least in part by a first cutline extending from the aperture into the main panel. The first cutline separating at least a portion of the one tab from an adjacent tab. The main panel also includes a second cutline. The second cutline defines a portion of a second edge of each of the one tab and the adjacent tab, wherein the second edge opposes the first edge.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A top engaging carrier for packaging one or more articles comprising a main panel which comprises at least one aperture for receiving a portion of an article, the main panel further comprising an annular series of tabs formed around the at least one aperture, the at least one aperture defining a first edge of each of the annular series of tabs, the annular series of tabs being hingedly connected to the main panel such that the annular series of tabs yield out of the plane of the main panel when an article is received in the at least one aperture so as to bear against the article, wherein at least one first tab of the annular series of tabs is defined at least in part by a first cutline extending from the at least one aperture into the main panel, the first cutline separating at least a portion of the at least one first tab from a first adjacent tab of the annular series of tabs, the main panel further comprising a second cutline, the second cutline defining a portion of a second edge of each of the at least one first tab and the first adjacent tab, wherein the second edge opposes the first edge of each of the at least one first tab and the first adjacent tab, wherein the second cutline is spaced apart from the first cutline, wherein the second cutline is arcuate in shape.

2. A top engaging carrier according to claim 1 wherein the first cutline extends substantially radially from the at least one aperture.

3. A top engaging carrier according to claim 1 wherein the second cutline is circumferentially arranged with respect to the at least one aperture.

4. A top engaging carrier according to claim 1 wherein the at least one first tab is connected to the first adjacent tab by a connecting portion proximate the second cutline.

5. A top engaging carrier according to claim 1 wherein the second cutline forms a stress relief mechanism.

6. A top engaging carrier according to claim 1 wherein at least two tabs of the annular series of tabs are spaced apart from one another by a cutout placed between the at least two tabs, the cutout being defined by a pair of opposing side edges and by a curved end edge extending between the side edges, the curved end edge being disposed at a location furthermost from a center of the at least one aperture.

7. A top engaging carrier according to claim 1 wherein at least one first tab is defined in part by a third cutline defining a fold line about which the at least one first tab yields when folded out of the plane of the main panel by insertion of an article into the aperture.

8. A blank for forming a carrier, the blank comprising a main panel which comprises at least one aperture for receiving a portion of an article, the main panel further comprising an annular series of tabs formed around the at least one aperture, the at least one aperture defining a first edge of each of the annular series of tabs, the annular series of tabs being hingedly connected to the main panel such that the annular series of tabs yield out of the plane of the main panel when an article is received in the at least one aperture so as to bear against the article, wherein at least one tab of the annular series of tabs is defined at least in part by a first cutline extending from the at least one aperture into the main panel, the first cutline separating at least a portion of the at least one tab from an adjacent tab of the annular series of tabs, the main panel comprising a second cutline, the second cutline being spaced apart from the first cutline and defining a portion of a second edge of each of the at least one tabs and the adjacent tab, wherein the second edge opposes the first edge, wherein the second cutline is arcuate in shape.

9. A blank according to claim 8 wherein the first cutline extends substantially radially from the at least one aperture.

10. A blank according to claim 9 wherein the second cutline is circumferentially arranged with respect to the at least one aperture.

Assignees

• Westrock Packaging Systems Llc

Inventors

• Zacherle Matthew E

Classifications

• B65D71/42 Primary

  formed by folding a single blank into a single layer element · CPC title

• B65D71/50

  comprising a plurality of articles held together only partially by packaging elements formed otherwise than by folding a blank · CPC title

• B65D2571/00444

  for fingers · CPC title

• B65D2571/0066

  formed from one single sheet · CPC title

• B65D2571/00771

  the end walls being locked to at least a part of the contents · CPC title