Package with carrying handle and blank for forming the handle

Abstract

A package (P) comprising: a group of articles (A) arranged in one or more tiers; an engaging member (F); and a handle attached to the group of articles via the engaging member. The handle comprising: a handle portion (312; 312′; 214a′/214b′) structured and arranged for being grasped by a user and at least one hook (316a/316b; 316c/316d; 316a′/313a′/316b′/313b; 313c′/316c′/316d′/313d; 213a′/216a′/216b′/213b′) coupled to the handle portion and comprising at least one tooth (330; 330; 230′). The at least one hook comprising at least two hook panels (316a, 316b) folded with respect to one another and each comprising at least one tooth (330; 330′; 230′), at least part of the handle being received in an aperture defined in the engaging member such that the at least one tooth of each of the at least two hook panels engages the engaging member and thereby the group of articles, whereby the handle is connected to the group of articles.

1 . A package comprising a group of articles arranged in one or more tiers; an engaging member joined to the group of articles having a lifting surface; and a handle attached to the group of articles via engagement of the handle with the engaging member, the handle comprising a handle portion structured and arranged for being grasped by a user and at least one hook coupled to the handle portion, the at least one hook comprising at least two hook panels folded with respect to one another, each of the at least two hook panels comprising at least one tooth, at least part of the at least one hook being received in an aperture defined in the engaging member such that the at least one tooth of each of the at least two hook panels engages the lifting surface of the engaging member. 
     
     
         2 . A package according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one hook comprises first and second hooks, wherein each of the first and second hooks comprises two hook panels, wherein the first hook is coupled to one of opposed ends of the handle portion, and wherein the second hook is coupled to the other of the opposed ends of the handle portion. 
     
     
         3 . A package according to  claim 1  wherein the at least two hook panels are disposed at an angle relative to one another such that a cross-section through the at least two hook panels is substantially “V”-shaped. 
     
     
         4 . A package according to  claim 3  wherein the at least one tooth of a first one of the at least two hook panels has an engaging edge that is disposed, at least in part, in the same plane as an engaging edge of the at least one tooth of a second one of the at least two hook panels, such that the at least one tooth of the first one of the at least two hook panels and the at least one tooth of the second one of the at least two hook panels simultaneously engage the lifting surface of the engaging member at spaced locations. 
     
     
         5 . A package according to  claim 1  wherein the handle portion is coupled to the at least one hook by one or more gusset panels such that the handle portion is foldable at an angle relative to the at least one hook and into flat face contacting relationship with an upper surface of the group of articles. 
     
     
         6 . A package according to  claim 1  wherein each of the one or more tiers comprises an array of articles having a dimension of at least two articles by at least two articles, wherein each of the articles comprises a flange and wherein each article is frangibly connected to at least two adjacent articles by their respective flanges. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A package according to  claim 1  further comprising a top cover comprising a primary panel having at least one aperture, the at least part of the at least one hook of the handle is received in the at least one aperture of the primary panel, and the top cover is attached to the group of articles by virtue of the connection of the handle to the group of articles. 
     
     
         10 . A package according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one reinforcement panel hinged to each of the at least two hook panels and/or hinged to the handle portion, said at least one reinforcement panel being folded into a substantially flat-face contacting relationship with each of the at least two hook panels and/or said handle portion. 
     
     
         11 . A package according to  claim 10  wherein the at least one tooth of the at least one hook projects from an outer edge of each of the at least two hook panels, wherein the at least one reinforcement panel comprises an outer edge that has a shape similar to the shape of an outer edge of each of the at least two hook panels and wherein the at least one reinforcement panel reinforces the at least one tooth of each of the at least two hook panels. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A package according to  claim 9  wherein the top cover further comprises one or more end panels and/or one or more side panels hinged to the primary panel and wherein the at least one aperture of the primary panel is elliptical in shape. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A carrying handle comprising a handle portion and at least one hook, the handle portion being structured and arranged for being grasped by a user and the at least one hook comprising at least two hook panels each coupled to the handle portion, the at least two hook panels being folded with respect to one another, each of the at least two hook panels having at least one tooth, wherein the at least one tooth extends from a respective one of the at least two hook panels for engaging with an engaging member of an article group such that the carrying handle is suitable for being attached to an article group. 
     
     
         17 . A carrying handle according to  claim 16  wherein the at least one hook comprises first and second hooks, the first hook being coupled to one of opposed ends of the handle portion and the second hook being coupled to the other of the opposed ends of the handle portion and wherein each of the first and second hooks comprises two hook panels, folded with respect one another, each of the two hook panels having at least one tooth. 
     
     
         18 . A carrying handle according to  claim 16  further comprising gusset panels for at least partially coupling the at least one hooks to the handle portion. 
     
     
         19 . A carrying handle according to  claim 16  wherein the at least one tooth of each of the at least two hook panels extends from a respective one of the at least two hook panels to form a ratchet and wherein the carrying handle further comprises one or more reinforcement panels hinged to the at least one hook and/or to the handle portion. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A carrying handle according to  claim 16  wherein the at least one hook comprises two hooks each comprising a pair of hook panels coupled to a respective one of opposed ends of the handle portion, and wherein the one or more reinforcement panels comprises four reinforcement panels, the four reinforcement panels being hinged to the hook panels of the two hooks respectively via respective hinged connections. 
     
     
         22 . A carrying handle according to  claim 21  further comprising a gusset panel coupling each of the hook panels to the handle portion, wherein none of the one or more reinforcement panels overlaps or reinforces said gusset panels. 
     
     
         23 . A blank for forming a carrying handle comprising a handle portion structured and arranged for being grasped by a user and at least one hook coupled to the handle portion, the blank comprising at least two hook panels foldable with respect to one another, each of the at least two hook panels comprising at least one tooth, and a handle portion, at least part of the at least one hook being configured such that the at least one hook can be received in an aperture defined in an engaging member of an article array such that the at least one tooth of each of the at least two hook panels can engage the engaging member. 
     
     
         24 . A blank according to  claim 23  wherein the at least one hook comprises first and second hooks, the first hook being coupled to one of opposed ends of the handle portion, the second hook being coupled to the other of the opposed ends of the handle portion, and wherein each of the first and second hooks comprises two hook panels foldable with respect to one another, each of the two hook panels comprising at least one tooth. 
     
     
         25 . A blank according to  claim 23  further comprising a gusset panel for at least partially coupling the at least one hook to the handle portion. 
     
     
         26 . A blank according to  claim 23  wherein the at least one tooth extends from a free edge of a respective one of the at least two hook panels to form a ratchet and the blank further comprises one or more reinforcement panels hinged to the at least two hook panels and/or to the handle panel. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled)