Carton and blank therefor

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a carton for packaging a plurality of flanged articles (B), a blank for forming the carton and a method of packaging articles. The carrier comprises a top panel ( 18 ) and a pair of side panels ( 14,22 ) coupled to the top panel ( 18 ) to define an interior space for receiving at least part of each article. The carrier may comprise a first stabilizer ( 52 a, 54 a ) struck from the top panel such that the first stabilizer defines at least in part a handle aperture in the top panel. The first stabilizer is hingedly connected to the top panel so as to be foldable inwardly into the interior space to provide a finger cushion. The first stabilizer comprises a pair of hooking panels hingedly connected together along a center fold line. The hooking panels comprise engaging edges respectively for engaging the undersides of the flanges of a pair of adjacent flanged articles.

1 . An article carrier for a plurality of flanged articles, the carrier comprising a top panel and a pair of side panels coupled to the top panel to define an interior space for receiving at least part of each article, the carrier further comprising a first stabilizer struck from the top panel such that the first stabilizer defines at least in part a handle aperture in the top panel, the first stabilizer being hingedly connected to the top panel so as to be foldable inwardly into the interior space to provide a finger cushion, the first stabilizer comprising a pair of hooking panels hingedly connected together along a center fold line, each of the hooking panels comprising an engaging edge for engaging an underside of a flange of a respective one of a pair of adjacent flanged articles. 
     
     
         2 . An article carrier according to  claim 1  wherein the top panel comprises a second stabilizer struck from the top panel such that the second stabilizer partially defines the handle aperture in the top panel, the second stabilizer being hingedly connected to the top panel, in opposition to the first stabilizer, so as to be foldable inwardly into the interior space to provide a second finger cushion, the second stabilizer comprising a second pair of hooking panels hingedly connected together along a center fold line, each of the second pair of hooking panels comprising an engaging edge for engaging an underside of a flange of a respective one of a second pair of adjacently disposed flanged articles. 
     
     
         3 . An article carrier according to  claim 1  wherein the first stabilizer comprises a triangular panel coupling the pair of hooking panels to the top panel. 
     
     
         4 . An article carrier according to  claim 1  wherein each of the hooking panels comprises a wing portion defining at least in part one of said engaging edges. 
     
     
         5 . An article carrier according to  claim 4  wherein each of the hooking panels comprises a recess along a side edge thereof and the recess defines at least in part the wing portion. 
     
     
         6 . An article carrier according to  claim 1  wherein each of the hooking panels comprises a recess along a side edge thereof and the recess defines at least in part one of said engaging edges. 
     
     
         7 . An article carrier according to  claim 5  wherein the recess is formed from an aperture struck from the top panel. 
     
     
         8 . An article carrier according to  claim 1  wherein the top panel comprises a second finger cushion struck from the top panel such that the second finger cushion partially defines the handle aperture in the top panel, the second finger cushion being hingedly connected to the top panel, in opposition to the first stabilizer, so as to be foldable inwardly into the interior space. 
     
     
         9 . An article carrier according to  claim 2  wherein the top panel comprises a second handle aperture in the top panel, the third stabilizer being hingedly connected to the top panel, so as to be foldable inwardly into the interior space to provide a third finger third connected together along a center fold line, each of the third pair of hooking panels comprising an engaging edge for engaging an underside of a flange of a respective one of a third pair of adjacently disposed flanged articles. 
     
     
         10 . An article carrier according to  claim 9  wherein the top panel comprises a fourth finger cushion struck from the top panel such that the fourth finger cushion partially defines the second handle aperture in the top panel, the fourth finger cushion being hingedly connected to the top panel, in opposition to the third stabilizer, so as to be foldable inwardly into the interior space. 
     
     
         11 . An article carrier for at least one flanged article, the carrier comprising a top panel and a pair of side panels coupled to the top panel to define an interior space for receiving at least part of the at least one flanged article, the carrier further comprising a first article-retainer comprising a first aperture struck at least from one of the side panels, the first aperture being defined at least by a lower edge which comprises a pair of engaging edges for engaging a flange of a first flanged article and a recess extending between the engaging edges for receiving part of the first flanged article. 
     
     
         12 . An article carrier according to  claim 11  wherein the carrier comprises a bevel panel interconnecting the top panel and said one of the side panels and wherein the at least in part from the bevel panel. 
     
     
         13 . An article carrier according to  claim 11  wherein the first article-retainer comprises a protrusion defined in part by the first aperture and wherein the protrusion interrupts a hinged connection between the top panel and said one of the side panels so as integral with the top panel, the protrusion arranged to cover a portion of the first flanged article received in the first aperture. 
     
     
         14 . An article carrier according to  claim 11  wherein the carrier further comprises a second article-retainer comprising a second aperture struck at least from the other one of the side panels, the second aperture opposes the first aperture, the second aperture is defined at least by a lower edge which comprises a pair of engaging edges for engaging the flange of a second flanged article and a recess extending between the engaging edges for receiving part of the second flanged article. 
     
     
         15 . An article carrier according to  claim 14  wherein the carrier further comprises a stabilizer struck from the top panel such that the stabilizer defines a handle aperture in the top panel, the stabilizer is hingedly connected to the top panel so as to be foldable inwardly into the interior space to provide a finger cushion, the stabilizer comprises a pair of hooking panels hingedly connected together along a center fold line, the hooking panels comprising engaging edges respectively for engaging the undersides of the flanges of each of the first and second flanged articles. 
     
     
         16 . An article carrier according to  claim 15  wherein the stabilizer encourages each of the first and second flanged articles into engagement with the respective one of the first and second article retainers. 
     
     
         17 . An article carrier according to  claim 15  wherein the stabilizer maintains each of the first and second flanged articles in engagement with the respective one of the first and second article retainers. 
     
     
         18 . A blank for forming a carrier, the blank comprising a plurality of panels for forming walls of the carrier, the plurality of panels for defining an interior space for receiving at least part of each article, the plurality of panels including a top panel, a first side panel and a second side panel, the first and second side panels being coupled to the top panel, the blank comprising:
 a first stabilizer struck from the top panel such that the first stabilizer defines at least in part a handle aperture in the top panel, the first stabilizer being hingedly connected to the top panel so as to be foldable inwardly into the interior space to provide a finger cushion, the first stabilizer comprising a pair of hooking panels hingedly connected together along a center fold line, the hooking panels comprising engaging edges respectively for engaging the undersides of the flanges of a pair of adjacent flanged articles.   
     
     
         19 . A blank for forming a carrier, the blank comprising a plurality of panels for forming walls of the carrier, the plurality of panels for defining an interior space for receiving at least part of each article, the plurality of panels including a top panel, a first side panel and a second side panel, the first and second side panels being coupled to the top panel, the blank comprising:
 a first article-retainer comprising a first aperture struck at least from one of the first and second side panels, the first aperture being defined at least by a lower edge which comprises a pair of engaging edges for engaging a flange of a first flanged article and a recess extending between the engaging edges for receiving part of the first flanged article.