Package, article carrier and blank therefor

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a package, a carrier (90) for packaging one or more articles and a blank (210) for forming the carrier. The package comprises a cover panel (220) having at least four corners and at least four edges each extending between two respective corners of the at least four corners. The panel comprising a plurality of top-receiving openings A1-A7 each for receiving an upper portion of an article and a billboard area (222) within which none of the top-receiving openings are located. The top-receiving openings include at least four corner openings located at the at least four corners respectively for securing the cover panels to a group of articles. The billboard area is defined by at least two severance lines (223a-223d) formed in the panel.

1 . A top-engaging device comprising a panel having at least four corners and at least four edges each extending between two respective corners of the at least four corners, the panel comprising:
 a plurality of top-receiving openings each for receiving an upper portion of an article; and   a billboard area within which none of the top-receiving openings are located, the top-receiving openings including at least four corner openings located at the at least four corners respectively, and a plurality of edge openings disposed alongside the at least four edges, the billboard area being interposed between first and second openings of the plurality of edge openings, wherein the billboard area is defined by at least two severance lines formed in the panel, wherein each of the at least two severance lines is spaced apart from the plurality of edge openings and is disposed between the billboard area and one of the first and second openings.   
     
     
         2 . The top-engaging device of  claim 1  wherein the first opening is disposed alongside one of the at least four edges, and the second opening is disposed alongside another one of the at least four edges which is located at a position opposing the one edge. 
     
     
         3 . The top-engaging device of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the plurality of top-receiving openings comprises a part of a securing device for securing the top-engaging device to one or more articles. 
     
     
         4 . A package comprising a group of articles each having a top and a bottom, an upper engaging member in engagement with the tops of at least some of the articles of the group, a lower supporting member supporting the bottoms of the articles of the group, wherein the upper engaging member is spaced apart from the lower supporting member such that the upper engaging member is connected to the lower supporting member by no part of the package but by the articles of the group. 
     
     
         5 . A package comprising a group of articles each having a top and a bottom, an upper engaging member in engagement with the tops of at least some of the articles of the group, a lower supporting member supporting the bottoms of the articles of the group, wherein the upper engaging member is spaced apart from the lower supporting member such that the upper engaging member is connected to the lower supporting member only by the articles of the group. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 4  or  5  wherein the lower supporting member comprises a pair of carrying handles. 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 4  or  5  wherein the upper engaging member is spaced above all parts of the lower supporting member. 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 4  or  5  wherein the upper engaging member has a footprint which is greater than the footprint of the group of articles and generally equal to or less than the footprint of the lower supporting member. 
     
     
         9 . A blank for forming a top-engaging device, the blank comprising a panel having at least four corners and at least four edges each extending between two respective corners of the at least four corners, the panel comprising:
 a plurality of top-receiving openings each for receiving an upper portion of an articles; and   a billboard area within which none of the top-receiving openings are located, the top-receiving openings including at least four corner openings located at the at least four corners respectively, and a plurality of edge openings disposed alongside the at least four edges, the billboard area being interposed between first and second openings of the plurality of edge openings, wherein the billboard area is defined by at least two severance lines formed in the panel, wherein each of the at least two severance lines is spaced apart from the plurality of edge openings and is disposed between the billboard area and one of the first and second openings.