Article carrier and blank therefor

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a package, a carrier (90) for packaging one or more articles B and a blank (10) for forming the carrier. The package comprises an article carrier and one or more articles. The carrier comprises an engaging panel (18) having one or more top-receiving openings A2, A3. Each of the one or more articles is received in a respective one of the top-receiving openings so as to be secured to the engaging panel. The carrier further comprises at least one wing panel (20). The at least one wing panel is hinged to the engaging panel and the wing panel is adhered to at least one article.

1 . An article carrier for packaging at least one article, the carrier comprising a main panel having at least one top-engaging article device for receiving a respective article to secure the main panel to the respective article, the at least one top-engaging article device comprising at least one engaging feature comprising at least one of: a plurality of teeth, a slit, and an opening,
 wherein the at least one engaging feature provides an engaging edge configured to at least partially engage with an upper portion of the respective article;   the carrier further comprising at least one wing panel, the at least one wing panel being hingedly connected to a side edge of the main panel.   
     
     
         2 . An article carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the wing panel is adherable to the at least one article. 
     
     
         3 . An article carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one top-engaging article device comprises at least one top-receiving opening for at least partially receiving the respective article to secure the main panel to said article. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . An article carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wing panel comprises a side panel hinged directly to the main panel and hinged to an end panel, wherein the end panel is adherable to the at least one article. 
     
     
         6 . An article carrier according to  claim 5 , wherein the end panel comprises a securing portion, the securing portion being disposed in an overlapping relationship with the side panel. 
     
     
         7 . An article carrier according to  claim 6 , wherein the securing portion is: (i) adhered to the at least one article, or (ii) adhered to the side panel, or (iii) adhered to both the at least one article and the side panel. 
     
     
         8 . An article carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein a maximum length of the at least one wing panel is less than a maximum length of the main panel, and wherein the at least one article comprises a generally cylindrical can. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A package comprising an article carrier and at least one article, the carrier comprising an engaging panel having at least one top-receiving opening, each of the at least one article being received in each of the at least one top-receiving openings, respectively, so as to be secured to the engaging panel,
 wherein the at least one top-receiving opening provides an engaging edge configured to at least partially engage with an upper portion of the respective article;   the carrier further comprising at least one wing panel, the at least one wing panel being hingedly connected to a side edge of the engaging panel.   
     
     
         11 . A package according to  claim 10 , wherein the carrier comprises at least one lap panel disposed in face-to-face relationship with the engaging panel. 
     
     
         12 . A package according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one lap panel comprises at least one opening for receiving a portion of the at least one article, respectively. 
     
     
         13 . A package according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one wing panel comprises a pair of wing panels in the form of a pair of opposing side panels hinged directly to opposing side edges of the engaging panel. 
     
     
         14 . A package according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one lap panel is either hingedly connected directly to the engaging panel by a fold or crease line or hingedly connected to the main panel by at least one further panel. 
     
     
         15 . A package according to  claim 10 , wherein the wing panel is adhered to the at least one article. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . An article carrier according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one top-receiving opening comprises a an engaging aperture that is at least partially toothed around its periphery, having a toothed perimeter section and a toothless perimeter section, wherein the toothless perimeter section has a radius of curvature (R 2 ) that is greater than the radius (R 1 ) of a notional circle (N C1 ) defined by the engaging aperture. 
     
     
         18 . An article carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wing panel is hingedly connected to a side edge of the main panel by a corner fold line, wherein the carrier comprises a handle structure including a pair of handle openings disposed on opposite sides of the corner fold line between the main panel and the wing panel. 
     
     
         19 . An article carrier according to  claim 18 , wherein the at least one wing panel comprises a pair of wing panels in the form of opposing side panels, and wherein the carrier comprises a handle opening in each of the pair of wing panels. 
     
     
         20 . An article carrier according to  claim 19 , wherein the carrier comprises a further handle opening in the main panel. 
     
     
         21 . An article carrier according to  claim 20 , wherein the further handle opening in the main panel comprises a pair of foldable tabs forming cushioning flaps hinged to the top panel, the foldable tabs hinged in opposition to each other and one of the pair of foldable flaps being foldable towards the handle openings in one of the pair of wing panels and the other one of the pair of foldable flaps being foldable towards the handle opening in the other of the pair of wing panels. 
     
     
         22 . An article carrier according to  claim 19 , wherein the handle opening in each of the pair of wing panels is defined, at least in part, by a foldable tab that is either hinged to the respective wing panel or hinged to the main panel. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A blank for forming an article carrier configured to hold a plurality of generally cylindrical cans, the blank comprising an engaging panel having at least one top-receiving opening for receiving a respective article to secure the engaging panel to the respective article, the at least one top-receiving opening comprising at least one engaging feature comprising at least one of: a plurality of teeth a slit and an opening,
 wherein the at least one engaging feature provides an engaging edge configured to at least partially engage with an upper portion of the respective article;   the blank further comprising at least one wing panel, the at least one wing panel being hingedly connected to a side edge of the engaging panel.