Patent Publication Number: US-10773870-B2

Title: Package, carton and blank therefor

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a carton, to a blank for forming the carton, and to a package comprising the carton and a number of articles contained therein, and more particularly to a carton having improved locking features for securely retaining articles having a peripheral rim or chime extending beyond at least one end thereof. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the field of packaging it is often required to provide consumers with a package comprising multiple primary product containers. Such multi-packs are desirable for shipping and distribution and for display of promotional information. One common variety of multipack is the wrap-around type in which a carrier blank is formed into a sleeve that wraps around a number of articles. One difficulty associated with wrap-around type carriers is ensuring that the articles are securely held in place by the carrier. It can be particularly difficult to securely hold multiple rows of articles and/or tapered articles with a wrap-around type carrier. Thus, it would be desirable to provide a wrap-around type carrier having improved locking features for securely retaining articles. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a package including a plurality of articles and a wraparound carrier enclosing the plurality of articles. The plurality of articles are arranged in a two-row group. Each of the plurality of articles includes a tapered body and a peripheral chime defining a recessed bottom. The wraparound carrier includes a plurality of chime locks, each of the plurality of chime locks engaging the peripheral chime of a corresponding one of the plurality of articles. 
     Optionally, each of the plurality of chime locks includes a retaining aperture in which the peripheral chime of the corresponding one of the plurality of articles is received, and a retaining tab that sits within the recessed bottom of the corresponding one of the plurality of articles. The retaining aperture is formed in a side wall of the wraparound carrier when the retaining tab is folded out of plane with a remaining portion of the side wall. 
     Optionally, the retaining tab is hinged along an arcuate fold line extending between opposite ends of the retaining aperture. 
     Optionally, each of the plurality of articles further includes a flanged top, and the wraparound carrier further includes a plurality of flange engaging slots, each of the plurality of flange engaging slots engaging the flanged top of a corresponding one of the plurality of articles. 
     Optionally, a bottom wall of the wraparound carrier is formed from a bull-sized bottom panel. 
     Optionally, the wraparound carrier further includes a secondary bottom panel, wherein the full-sized bottom panel and the secondary bottom panel are secured together via a corner lock. 
     Optionally, the corner lock includes a male locking projection hingedly connected to the full-sized bottom panel and a female locking opening formed at or adjacent to a fold line between the secondary bottom panel and a first side panel of the wraparound carrier. 
     Optionally, a bottom wall of the wraparound carrier includes a pair of glued or corner-locked bottom lap panels. 
     According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a wraparound carrier for packaging a plurality of articles arranged in at least a one-row group. Each of the plurality of articles includes a substantially cylindrical body and a peripheral chime defining a recessed bottom. The wraparound carrier includes a plurality of chime locks, each of the chime locks including a retaining aperture for receiving part of the peripheral chime of a corresponding one of the plurality of articles and a retaining tab for placement within the recessed bottom of the corresponding one of the plurality of articles. The wraparound carrier further includes first and second corner-locked bottom lap panels. 
     Within the scope of this application it is envisaged 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 taken independently or in any combination thereof. For example, features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments unless there is incompatibility of features. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of a blank for forming a carton according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 1A  is an enlarged view of the portion of the blank of  FIG. 1  within the circular dash lines labelled  1 A. 
         FIG. 1B  is an enlarged view of the portion of the blank of  FIG. 1  within the circular dash lines labelled  1 B. 
         FIG. 1C  is an enlarged view of the portion of the blank of  FIG. 1  within the circular dash lines labelled  1 C. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the carton formed from the blank of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a close-up view showing a chime locker of the carton of  FIG. 2  engaging a bottom chime of a corresponding article; 
         FIGS. 4A-4E  show various steps in the construction of the carton of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of a blank for forming a carton according to a second embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the carton formed from the blank of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     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 minimised 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. 
     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 container for engaging, carrying, and/or dispensing articles, such as cups, bowls, tins, cans and/or bottles having a peripheral rim of chime extending beyond at least one end thereof. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a first blank  10  for forming a carrier  90  (see  FIG. 2 ). The blank  10  is 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, for example, to provide the carton described in more detail below. 
     In the exemplary embodiment, the blank  10  is configured to form a carrier  90  for packaging an exemplary arrangement of exemplary articles C. In this example, the arrangement is a 2×2 matrix or array, and the articles C are tapered cups having a flanged top lid and recessed bottom. The blank  10  can be alternatively configured to form a carton for packaging other articles and/or different arrangements of articles and articles of different sizes. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the blank  10  includes a plurality of main panels  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20  hinged together in a linear series. In a set-up condition, the main panels form a tubular structure or sleeve that encloses a plurality of articles C. Blank  10  includes a secondary bottom panel  12 , a first side panel  14 , a top panel  16 , a second side panel  18 , and a primary bottom panel  20 . Secondary bottom panel  12  is hingedly connected to first side panel via transverse fold line  13 . First side panel  14  is hingedly connected to top panel  16  via transverse fold line  15 . Top panel  16  is hingedly connected to second side panel  18  via transverse fold line  17 . Second side panel is hingedly connected to primary bottom panel  20  via transverse fold line  19 . 
     Blank  10  also includes a corner-locking arrangement consisting of a male locking projection  22  that is shaped for being received in a corresponding female locking opening  30 . Female locking opening  30  (best seen in  FIG. 1A ) is formed from slits  31 ,  32 ,  33 . In the illustrated embodiment, slit  31  is a straight-line cut that extends in a transverse direction across a portion of secondary bottom panel  12 . Slit  31  is disposed closely adjacent to a transverse axis defined by fold line  13 . Slits  32  and  33 , which are shorter in length than slit  31 , extend outwardly and obliquely from opposite ends of slit  31 , interrupting fold line  13  and extending partially into first side panel  14 . Two short, spaced apart slits  35 ,  36  extend longitudinally from slit  31  in the direction of secondary bottom panel  12 . When secondary bottom panel  13  and first side panel  14  are folded out of plane with one another, slits  31 ,  32 ,  33  form female locking opening  30 . 
     Male locking projection  22  (best seen in  FIG. 1C ) is shaped for being received in female locking opening  30  to lock carrier  90  in a sleeve configuration. Male locking projection  22  is foldably connected to primary bottom panel  20  via transverse fold line  21 . In the illustrated embodiment, fold line  21  is generally coincident with an axis defined by the outermost edge of primary bottom panel  20 . Two short, spaced-apart longitudinal slits  38 ,  39  extend from the outermost edge of primary bottom panel  20  towards its interior and define therebetween a narrow neck portion  40  of the locking projection. Male locking projection  22  has shoulders  41 ,  42  that extend laterally outward from narrow neck portion  40 . 
     When carrier  90  is constructed, male locking projection  22  is inserted through the female locking opening  30 . The shoulders  41 ,  42  of the male locking projection  22  engage portions of the carton adjacent to slits  32 ,  33  to prevent disengagement of the male locking projection  22  from the female locking opening  30 . 
     Blank  10  includes four top flange engaging slots  43 , each corresponding to one of the four articles C. Each of top flange engaging slots  43  is formed from a shallow generally U-shaped cut that includes a transversely-extending linear portion and rounded corner portions extending from respective ends thereof. Two of slots  43  are generally disposed between first side panel  14  and top panel  16  so as to interrupt fold line  15 ; and the other two slots  43  are generally disposed between second side panel  18  and top panel  16  so as to interrupt fold line  17 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , a portion of each of the flanged lids of articles C extends through a respective slot  43  formed in the upper side panels  14 ,  18  just beneath the top panel  16 . The portions of the top panel  16  adjacent to slots  43  form outwardly projecting tabs  46  that overlie the portions of the flanged lids that extend through slots  43 . 
     Blank  10  also includes four bottom chime locks  50 ,  52 , each of which corresponds to one of the four articles C. In the illustrated embodiment, two chime locks  50  are generally disposed between second side panel  18  and primary bottom panel  20  so as to interrupt fold line  19 , and two chime locks  52  are generally disposed between secondary bottom panel  12  and first side panel  14  so as to interrupt fold line  13 . Each of the chime locks  50 ,  52  has a generally identical configuration in the illustrated embodiment except that the proportions of chime locks  52  are smaller than those of chime locks  50 . 
       FIG. 1B  shows a close-up view of the portion of blank  10  corresponding to chime lock  50 . Chime lock  50  is defined by a shallow generally U-shaped cut that includes a transversely-extending linear portion  54  and rounded corner portions  55 ,  56  extending from respective ends thereof. An arcuate fold line  57  formed in primary bottom panel  20  extends from an outermost edge of rounded corner portion  55  to an outermost edge of rounded corner portion  56 , and has its center of curvature at a location on second side wall  18  beyond linear portion  54 . Arcuate fold line  57  together with linear portion  54  and rounded corner portions  55 ,  56  form a foldable chime retaining tab  58 . Chime retaining tab  58  includes oblique fold lines  59 ,  60  respectively, one extending between each hinged corner of tab  58  and linear portion  54 . A short cut line  61  formed in second side panel  18  extends in a longitudinal direction from linear portion  54 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a close-up view of a chime lock  50  in the constructed carrier  90 , engaging a chime  70  of an article C. An outer portion of the chime  70  projects out through the aperture of chime lock  50  formed when chime retaining tab  58  is folded out of plane with the remainder of the side panel. Chime retaining tab  58  is seated within the recessed base of article C. Chime retaining tab  58  is sized so as to substantially follow the contour of the portion of the inner face of the cup chime  70  present within the aperture of chime lock  50 , thereby locking the cup chime  70  in the aperture. Fold lines  59  and  60  facilitate this contouring of chime retaining tab  58 . Cut line  61  facilitates contouring of the side panel about the body of the article C. 
     Turning to the construction of the carrier  90  as shown in  FIG. 2 , the carrier  90  can be formed by a series of sequential folding operations. The assembly process is not limited to that described below and may be altered according to particular manufacturing requirements. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4A , blank  10  is positioned with its interior surface facing up. Articles C are positioned top down over the interior surface of top panel  16  so that an outermost edge of their respective top lids is aligned with a corresponding top flange engaging slot  43 . As shown in  FIG. 4B , blank  10  is then folded inwardly about fold lines  15 ,  17  and outwardly about fold lines  13 ,  19 . The outward folding of blank  10  about fold lines  13 ,  19  causes the free edges of chime retaining tabs  58  of chime locks  50 ,  52  to break away from the adjacent edges of respective chime retaining apertures. As shown in  FIG. 4C , this enables each of the chime retaining tabs  58  to be positioned over a corresponding cup chime  70  as the first and second side panels  14 ,  18  are brought into contact with the articles&#39; side walls via continued folding of blank  10  about fold lines  15 ,  17 . As shown in  FIG. 4D , secondary bottom panel  12  is then folded inwardly about fold line  13 , bringing secondary bottom panel  12  into contact with the bottom surfaces of a first row of articles C. This also causes chime retaining tabs  58  of chime locks  52  to fold down into the recessed bases of their corresponding articles C so as to engage the inner surfaces of corresponding cup chimes  70 . Primary bottom panel  20  is then folded inwardly about fold line  19  bringing primary bottom panel  20  into contact with the bottom surfaces of the articles C. This also causes chime retaining tabs of chime locks  50  to fold down into the recessed bases of their corresponding articles C so as to engage the inner surfaces of corresponding cup chimes  70 . Male locking projection  22  is folded inwardly about fold line  21  and inserted into female locking opening  30 . This results in the fully-constructed carrier  90  as shown in  FIG. 4E . 
     Advantageously the combination of the corner lock (male locking projection  22  and female locking opening  30 ) with a full-size bottom panel (primary bottom panel  20 ) and chime locks  50 ,  52  permits the carrier  90  to securely retain two rows of tapered articles without the use of a central keel or spacer between the two adjacent rows of articles. In alternative embodiments, a pair of glued or corner-locked bottom lap panels may be used in place of primary and secondary bottom panels  20 ,  12 . 
       FIG. 5  is a plan view of a blank  210  used to form a carrier  290  (see  FIG. 6 ) according to a second embodiment of the invention. Blank  210  and corresponding carrier  90  can be generally similar to the blank  10  and carrier  90  discussed above, and like or similar reference numbers in the figures indicate like or similar elements. The primary difference between the first and second embodiments is that the second embodiment is configured to accommodate a single row of two articles C. 
     It can be appreciated that various changes may be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, the size and shape of the panels may be adjusted to accommodate articles of differing size or shape. 
     It will be recognized that as used herein, directional references such as “top”, “base”, “front”, “back”, “end”, “side”, “inner”, “outer”, “upper” and “lower” do not limit the respective panels to such orientation, but merely serve to distinguish these panels from one another. Any reference to “hinged connection” should not be construed as necessarily referring to a single fold line only; indeed it is envisaged that a hinged connection can be formed from one or more of the following: a short slit, a frangible line or a fold line, without departing from the scope of the invention. It can be appreciated that various changes may be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, the size and shape of the panels and chime lock apertures may be adjusted to accommodate articles of differing size or shape. 
     As used herein, the terms “hinged connection” and “fold line” each refers to all manner of lines that define hinge features of the blank or substrate of sheet material, facilitate folding portions of the blank or substrate of sheet material with respect to one another, or otherwise indicate optimal panel folding locations for the blank or substrate of sheet material. Any reference to “hinged connection” should not be construed as necessarily referring to a single fold line only; indeed a hinged connection can be formed from one or more fold lines. 
     As used herein, the term “fold line” may refer to one of the following: a scored line, an embossed line, a debossed line, a line of perforations, a line of short slits, a line of half-cuts, a single half-cut, an interrupted cut line, aligned slits, a line of short scores and any combination of the aforesaid options, without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     As used herein, the terms “weakened line of severance”, “severance line” and “frangible line” each may refer to all manner of lines formed in the blank or substrate of sheet material that facilitate separating portions of the blank or substrate of sheet material from one another, or otherwise that indicate optimal separation locations on the blank or substrate. As used herein, the terms “weakened line of severance”, “severance line” and “frangible line” each may refer to one of the following: a single cut line, a single partial-depth cut line (e.g., a single half-cut line), an interrupted cut line, a score line, an interrupted score line, a line of perforations, a line of short cuts, a line of short slits, a line of short partial-depth cuts (e.g., a line of short half cuts), and any combination of the aforementioned options. 
     It should be understood that hinged connections, fold lines, weakened lines of severance, frangible lines and severance lines can each includes elements that are formed in the blank or substrate of sheet material, including perforations, a line of perforations, a line of short slits, a line of half-cuts, a single half-cut, a cut line, an interrupted cut line, slits, scores, any combination thereof, and the like. The elements can be dimensioned and arranged to provide the desired functionality. For example, a line of perforations can be dimensioned or designed with degrees of weakness to define a fold line and/or a frangible line. The line of perforations can be designed to facilitate folding and resist breaking to provide a fold line, to facilitate folding and facilitate breaking with more effort to provide a frangible fold line, or to facilitate breaking with little effort to provide a frangible line.