Article carriers, multipack packages and blanks, and methods for forming the same

Abstract

An article carrier includes a stack that includes layers of a cellulosic material and article-retention structures formed by the layers of the stack. Each one of the article-retention structures is configured to receive and to retain an article.

1 . An article carrier comprising:
 a stack comprising layers of a cellulosic material; and   article-retention structures formed by the layers of the stack,   wherein each one of the article-retention structures is configured to receive and to retain an article.   
     
     
         2 . The article carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the stack comprises three layers of the cellulosic material. 
     
     
         3 . The article carrier of  claim 1 , further comprising a longitudinal axis, wherein the article-retention structures comprise two article-retention structures that are spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The article carrier of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each one of the article-retention structures comprises:
 an article-receiving aperture formed through a first one of the layers; 
 an article-retention aperture formed through a second one of the layers; and 
 article-retention tabs formed by the second one of the layers and arranged around the article-retention aperture; 
   the article-receiving aperture and the article-retention aperture are aligned with each other and are configured to receive a portion of the article; and   the article-retention tabs are configured to engage the article.   
     
     
         6 . An article carrier comprising:
 panels arranged in a stacked configuration; and   article-retention structures formed by the panels,   wherein each one of the article-retention structures is configured to receive and to retain an article.   
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The article carrier of  claim 6 , wherein the panels comprise:
 a first panel;   a second panel aligned with the first panel; and   a third panel aligned with the second panel, opposite the first panel, such that the second panel is situated between the first panel and the third panel.   
     
     
         9 . The article carrier of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the second panel is hingedly coupled to the first panel and is folded relative to the first panel to the stacked configuration; and   the third panel is hingedly coupled to the first panel, opposite the second panel, and is folded relative to the first panel to the stacked configuration.   
     
     
         10 . The article carrier of  claim 8 , wherein each one of the article-retention structures comprises:
 an article-receiving aperture formed through the first panel;   a first article-retention aperture formed through the second panel and aligned with the article-receiving aperture;   first article-retention tabs arranged around the first article-retention aperture;   a second article-retention aperture formed through the third panel and aligned with the article-receiving aperture and the first article-retention aperture; and   second article-retention tabs arranged around the second article-retention aperture.   
     
     
         11 . The article carrier of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the article-receiving aperture has a first dimension;   the first article-retention aperture has a second dimension;   the second article-retention aperture has a third dimension;   the second dimension is smaller than the first dimension; and   the third dimension is smaller than the second dimension.   
     
     
         12 . The article carrier of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the first article-retention tabs are arranged in an annular series around the first article-retention aperture; and   the second article-retention tabs are arranged in an annular series around the second article-retention aperture.   
     
     
         13 . The article carrier of  claim 12 , wherein:
 each one of the first article-retention tabs comprises a first retention edge;   each one of the second article-retention tabs comprises a second retention edge; and   the second retention edge extends past the first retention edge.   
     
     
         14 . The article carrier of  claim 12 , wherein a directly adjacent pair of the second article-retention tabs is interrupted by a recess. 
     
     
         15 . The article carrier of  claim 12 , wherein each one of the second article-retention tabs is aligned with one of the first article-retention tabs. 
     
     
         16 . The article carrier of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the first article-retention tabs comprise a first number of first article-retention tabs;   the second article-retention tabs comprise a second number of second article-retention tabs; and   the first number of first article-retention tabs and the second number of second article-retention tabs are different.   
     
     
         17 . The article carrier of  claim 16 , wherein the second number of second article-retention tabs is less than the first number of first article-retention tabs. 
     
     
         18 . The article carrier of  claim 17 , wherein the second number of second article-retention tabs is at most one-half of the first number of first article-retention tabs. 
     
     
         19 . The article carrier of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a locking tab hingedly coupled to the first panel;   a first receiver opening formed in the second panel; and   a second receiver opening formed in the third panel that is aligned with the first receiver opening,   wherein the locking tab is folded relative to the first panel to be received in the first receiver opening and the second receiver opening.   
     
     
         20 . A multipack package comprising:
 an article carrier comprising:
 panels arranged in a stacked configuration; and 
 article-retention structures formed by the panels; and 
   articles received in and retained by the article-retention structures.   
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A blank for forming an article carrier, the blank comprising:
 a first panel comprising article-receiving apertures;   a second panel connected to the first panel along a first panel fold line and comprising:
 first article-retention apertures formed through the second panel; and 
 first article-retention tabs arranged around each one of the first article-retention apertures; 
   a third panel connected to the first panel along a second panel fold line, opposite the second panel, and comprising:
 second article-retention apertures formed through the third panel; and 
 second article-retention tabs arranged around each one of the second article-retention apertures. 
   
     
     
         23 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A method for packaging articles, the method comprising:
 receiving articles in article-retention structures of an article carrier, wherein the article-retention structures are formed by panels of the article carrier that are arranged in a stacked configuration; and   retaining the articles in the article-retention structures of the article carrier.   
     
     
         33 - 36 . (canceled)