Carton and blank therefor

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a carrier ( 90 ) for packaging a plurality of flanged articles (B), a blank ( 10 ) for forming the carrier. The carrier comprises a top panel ( 18 ), a bottom panel ( 12/14 ) and first (16) and second ( 20 ) side panels. The bottom panel is hingedly connected to a first side panel along a first fold line ( 15 ) and extends toward the second side panel. A retention feature (H 2 ) is disposed in at least at the second side panel for engaging an article. The bottom panel comprises a proximal panel portion ( 14 ) hingedly connected to a distal panel portion ( 12 ) along a second fold line ( 13 ). The second fold line extends parallel to and is spaced from the first fold line. The bottom panel comprises a retention assisting tab ( 40 ) for engaging an article. The retention assisting tab is formed from at least the proximal panel portion and is hingedly connected to the distal panel portion.

1 . An article carrier for packaging articles comprising a top panel, a bottom panel and first and second side panels wherein the bottom panel is hingedly connected to the first side panel along a first fold line and extending toward the second side panel, wherein a retention feature is disposed in at least the second side panel for engaging an article, wherein the bottom panel comprises a proximal panel portion hingedly connected to a distal panel portion along a second fold line extending parallel to and spaced from the first fold line, wherein the bottom panel comprises a retention assisting tab for engaging an article, the retention assisting tab being formed from at least the proximal panel portion and hingedly connected to the distal panel portion, and wherein the retention assisting tab is disposed in alignment with the retention feature such that the retention assisting tab and the retention feature are disposed on a common notional line perpendicular to the first fold line. 
     
     
         2 . An article carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the common notional line passes through a longitudinal mid-point of the hinged connection between the retention assisting tab and the distal panel portion. 
     
     
         3 . An article carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the common notional line passes through a center of the article being engaged by the retention assisting tab. 
     
     
         4 . A blank for forming a carrier, the blank comprising a plurality of panels for forming walls of the carrier, the plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel and first and second side panels wherein the bottom panel is hingedly connected to the first side panel along a first fold line and extending toward the second side panel, wherein a retention feature is disposed in at least the second side panel for engaging an article, wherein the bottom panel comprises a proximal panel portion hingedly connected to a distal panel portion along a second fold line extending parallel to and spaced from the first fold line, wherein the bottom panel comprises a retention assisting tab for engaging an article, the retention assisting tab being formed from at least the proximal panel portion and hingedly connected to the distal panel portion, and wherein the retention assisting tab is disposed in alignment with the retention feature such that the retention assisting tab and the retention feature are disposed on a common notional line perpendicular to the first fold line. 
     
     
         5 . An article carrier for packaging articles in a first row of one or more articles and a second row of one or more articles disposed adjacent to the first row, the article carrier comprising a plurality of panels forming walls of a tubular structure including a top wall, a first side wall, a first base wall, a second side wall and a second base wall, the carrier comprising:
 a composite base wall formed from two at least partially overlapping layers of sheet material and including an inner layer provided by the second base wall and an outer layer provided by the first base wall;   a first retention feature for engaging an article in the first row and comprising a first retention tab;   a second retention feature for engaging an article in the second row and comprising a second retention tab, wherein the second retention tab is hinged in opposition to the first retention tab;   wherein the first base panel comprises:
 a proximal portion; 
 a distal portion hingedly connected to the proximal portion by a first hinged connection; and 
 a third retention feature; 
   wherein the third retention feature comprises a retention assisting tab for engaging an article, the retention assisting tab being formed from at least the proximal portion and hingedly connected to the distal portion, and wherein the retention assisting tab is hinged in opposition to the second retention tab.   
     
     
         6 . An article carrier according to  claim 5 , wherein the carrier comprises a top engaging device for flanged articles. 
     
     
         7 . An article carrier according to  claim 6 , wherein the articles are disconnected. 
     
     
         8 . An article carrier according to  claim 6 , wherein the articles are connected to each other via their respective flanges. 
     
     
         9 . An article carrier according to  claim 5 , wherein the retention assisting tab is disposed in alignment with the retention feature such that the retention assisting tab and the retention feature are disposed on a common notional line perpendicular to the first fold line. 
     
     
         10 . An article carrier according to  claim 5 , wherein the first retention tab engages with a first article in a radially outward direction with respect to the first article. 
     
     
         11 . An article carrier according to  claim 10 , wherein the retention assisting tab engages with a second article, adjacent the first article, in a radially outward direction with respect to the second article. 
     
     
         12 . An article carrier according to  claim 11 , wherein the second retention tab engages with the second article in a radially outward direction with respect to the second article. 
     
     
         13 . An article carrier according to  claim 5 , wherein the articles comprise an internal surface and wherein the first, second and third retention features engage said internal surface. 
     
     
         14 . A blank for forming an article carrier, the blank comprising a plurality of panels forming walls of a tubular structure including a top wall, a first side wall, a first base wall, a second side wall and a second base wall, the second base wall arranged to provide an inner layer of a composite base wall and the first base wall arranged to provide an outer layer of the composite base wall and configured to be in at least partially overlapping arrangement with the second base wall; the blank further comprising:
 a first retention feature for engaging an article in a first row of one or more articles and comprising a first retention tab;   a second retention feature for engaging an article in a second row of one or more articles, the second row being disposed adjacent to the first row, the second retention feature comprising a second retention tab, wherein the second retention tab is hinged in opposition to the first retention tab;   wherein the first base panel comprises:
 a proximal portion; 
 a distal portion hingedly connected to the proximal portion by a first hinged connection; and 
 a third retention feature; 
   wherein the third retention feature comprises a retention assisting tab for engaging an article, the retention assisting tab being formed from at least the proximal portion and hingedly connected to the distal portion, and wherein the retention assisting tab is hinged in opposition to the second retention tab.