Article carrier and blank therefor

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to an article carrier 90 for packaging one or more articles B and a blank 10 for forming the carrier. The article carrier has an at least double-ply strap handle at one or both of the opposed ends thereof. The article carrier comprises an end bridging strap 12a, 12b hingedly connected to a reinforcing strap 14,16 along their respective upper edges. The reinforcing strap is secured at its opposite ends to side panels 18, 20 of the carrier.

1 . An article carrier for packaging one or more articles comprising an at least double-ply strap handle at one or both of the opposed ends of the article carrier, wherein an end bridging strap is hingedly connected to a reinforcing strap along their respective upper edges, the reinforcing strap is secured at its opposite ends to side panels of the carrier. 
     
     
         2 . An article carrier according to  claim 1  formed of a sheet material comprising a first finished surface and a second reverse surface opposing the first surface, the second reverse surface of the end bridging strap is arranged to face the second reverse surface of the reinforcing strap. 
     
     
         3 . An article carrier according to  claim 2  wherein the first finished surface of the end bridging strap is arranged to face inwardly of the interior of the carrier. 
     
     
         4 . An article carrier according to  claim 2  wherein the first finished surface of the reinforcing strap is arranged to face outwardly to provide an external face of the carrier. 
     
     
         5 . An article carrier according to  claim 1  comprising a main panel with openings for receiving at least one article and at least one keel structure for separating a pair of adjacent articles. 
     
     
         6 . An article carrier according to  claim 5  wherein the keel structure comprises a pair of keel panels hingedly connected to each other by a keel fold line, a pair of strut panels hingedly connected to a respective one of the pair of keel panels, and a brace panel coupling a first one of the pair of strut panels to the other one of the pair of strut panels. 
     
     
         7 . An article carrier according to  claim 6  wherein an aperture is struck in part from each of the pair of keel panels, the pair of strut panels and the brace panel. 
     
     
         8 . An article carrier according to  claim 2  wherein the reinforcing strap comprises a corner panel hingedly connected along a first fold line and an end flap hingedly connected to the corner panel along a second fold line. 
     
     
         9 . An article carrier according to  claim 8  wherein at least one of the end flap and the corner panel is secured to an adjacent side panel of the carrier. 
     
     
         10 . An article carrier according to  claim 9  wherein the corner panel is secured to the adjacent side panel to form a beveled or rounded corner of the carrier. 
     
     
         11 . An article carrier according to  claim 9  wherein the end flap is secured to the adjacent side panel to form a beveled or rounded corner of the carrier. 
     
     
         12 . An article carrier according to  claim 11  wherein glue is applied to the first finished surface of the end flap and the first finished surface of the end flap is secured to the second reverse surface of the adjacent side panel. 
     
     
         13 . An article carrier according to  claim 10  wherein glue is applied to the first finished surface of the corner panel and the first finished surface of the corner panel is secured to the second reverse surface of the adjacent side panel. 
     
     
         14 . An article carrier according to  claim 9  wherein an end portion of the adjacent side panel is secured to the corner panel to form the beveled or rounded corner of the carrier. 
     
     
         15 . An article carrier according to  claim 14  wherein the end portion is defined, at least in part, by a third fold line. 
     
     
         16 . An article carrier according to  claim 9  wherein the end bridging strap is hingedly connected to the adjacent side panel by a gusset panel and a web panel, the corner panel being interposed between the gusset panel and the web panel so as to provide a three-ply portion of the at least double-ply strap handle. 
     
     
         17 . An article carrier according to  claim 16  wherein the gusset panel is hingedly connected to the adjacent side panel by a fourth fold line, the fourth fold line and the first fold line defining an obtuse angle therebetween. 
     
     
         18 . An article carrier according to  claim 1  wherein a lower edge of the reinforcing strap is contoured to provide a non-linear engaging edge of a carrying handle. 
     
     
         19 . An article carrier according to  claim 1  wherein a lower edge of the reinforcing strap is recessed to provide a arcuate engaging edge of a carrying handle. 
     
     
         20 . A blank for forming an article carrier, the blank comprising panels for forming an at least double-ply strap handle at one or both of the opposed ends of a setup carrier, opposed side panels, and an end bridging strap, the end bridging strap being hingedly connected to a reinforcing strap an inner edge thereof, the reinforcing strap being secured at its opposite ends to the opposed side panels in a setup carrier. 
     
     
         21 . A blank for forming an article carrier, the blank comprising a main panel and an adjacent side panel, the main panel comprising an end bridging strap and a keel structure, the keel structure comprising at least one keel panel, the blank comprising a gusset panel coupling the end bridging strap to the adjacent side panel, the gusset panel being hingedly connected to the end bridging strap by a fourth fold line, the keel panel being coupled to the adjacent side panel by a strut panel, the strut panel being hingedly connected to the keel panel by a fifth fold line, wherein the fourth fold line is offset from the fifth fold line. 
     
     
         22 . A blank for forming an article carrier, the blank comprising a main panel and an adjacent side panel, the main panel comprising an end bridging strap and a keel structure, the keel structure comprising at least one keel panel, the blank comprising a gusset panel coupling the end bridging strap to the adjacent side panel, the gusset panel being hingedly connected to the end bridging strap by a fourth fold line, the keel panel being coupled to the adjacent side panel by a strut panel, the strut panel being hingedly connected to the keel panel by a fifth fold line, wherein the fourth fold line is non-collinear with the fifth fold line. 
     
     
         23 . An article carrier for packaging one or more articles, the article carrier comprising a rounded or beveled corner and comprising an end bridging strap comprising a corner panel hingedly connected thereto by a fourth fold line, wherein the article carrier further comprises a connector panel hingedly connected to the corner panel by a sixth fold line, the connector panel being hingedly connected to an adjacent side strap by a seventh fold line, wherein the corner panel is secured to the adjacent side strap. 
     
     
         24 . An article carrier according to  claim 23  wherein the article carrier is formed of a sheet material comprising a first finished surface and a second reverse surface opposing the first surface, and wherein the second reverse surface of the corner panel is secured to the second reverse surface of the adjacent side strap. 
     
     
         25 . An article carrier according to  claim 23  wherein lower edge of the end bridging strap is contoured to provide an arcuate engaging edge of a carrying handle. 
     
     
         26 . An article carrier according to  claim 23  wherein lower edge of the end bridging strap is recessed to provide a non-linear engaging edge of a carrying handle. 
     
     
         27 . A blank for forming an article carrier comprising a rounded or beveled corner, the blank comprising an end bridging strap comprising a corner panel hingedly connected thereto by a fourth fold line, wherein the blank comprises a connector panel hingedly connected to the corner panel by a sixth fold line, the connector panel being hingedly connected to an adjacent side strap by a seventh fold line, wherein the corner panel is securable to the adjacent side strap in a setup carrier. 
     
     
         28 . A package comprising the article carrier of  claim 23  and one or more articles held by the article carrier. 
     
     
         29 . A package according to  claim 28 , wherein the adjacent side strap comprises a free edge to which no other part of the article carrier is connected. 
     
     
         30 . A package according to  claim 28 , wherein the adjacent side strap comprises a free edge beyond which at least a portion of the one or more articles extends. 
     
     
         31 . A package according to  claim 28 , wherein the adjacent side strap is secured at an end portion thereof to at least a portion of the corner panel by an adhesive. 
     
     
         32 . A package comprising the article carrier of  claim 1  and one or more articles held by the article carrier. 
     
     
         33 . A package according to  claim 32 , wherein the side panels each comprise a free edge to which no other part of the article carrier is connected. 
     
     
         34 . A package according to  claim 32 , wherein one or more of the side panels comprise a free edge beyond which at least a portion of the one or more articles extends. 
     
     
         35 . A package comprising the article carrier formed from the blank of  claim 21  or  22  and one or more articles held by the article carrier. 
     
     
         36 . A package according to  claim 35 , wherein the adjacent side panel comprises a free edge to which no other part of the article carrier is connected. 
     
     
         37 . A package according to  claim 35 , wherein the adjacent side panel comprises a free edge beyond which at least a portion of the one or more articles extends. 
     
     
         38 . A package according to  claim 35 , wherein the adjacent side panel is secured at an end portion thereof to at least a portion of an outer end panel of the article carrier by an adhesive. 
     
     
         39 . A package according to one of  claims 28 ,  32 , or  35 , wherein at least one of the one or more articles are bonded to the article carrier by an adhesive.