Article carriers and blanks therefor

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to article carriers ( 90; 190; 290 ) for forming a package and blanks ( 10; 110; 210; 310 ) for forming the article carriers ( 90; 190; 290 ). The article carrier ( 90; 190; 290 ) comprises a first panel ( 12; 112; 212; 312 ) and a second panel ( 14; 114; 214; 314 ) hinged to the first panel ( 12; 112; 212; 312 ) and folded at an angle with respect to the first panel ( 12; 112; 212; 312 ). The article carrier ( 90; 190; 290 ) comprises an article-engaging feature (RT) formed from at least one of the first and second panels ( 12, 14; 112, 114; 212, 214; 312, 314 ). The article carrier ( 90; 190; 290 ) comprises a locking feature (L; L 1, L 2 ) including a locking tab ( 50; 150; 250; 350 ) formed from the first and second panels ( 12, 14; 112, 114; 212, 214; 312, 314 ) and a locking edge ( 56; 156; 256; 356 ) provided by one of the first and second panels ( 12, 14; 112, 114; 212, 214; 312, 314 ). The locking tab ( 50; 150; 250; 350 ) is hinged to the other of the first and second panels ( 12, 14; 112, 114; 212, 214; 312, 314 ). The locking tab ( 50; 150; 250; 350 ) engages with the engaging edge ( 56; 156; 256; 356 ) locking the first and second panels ( 12, 14; 112, 114; 212, 214; 312, 314 ) in the folded position.

1 . An article carrier for packaging a plurality of articles, the article carrier comprising:
 a first panel and a second panel hingedly connected to the first panel and disposed at a folded position where the second panel is disposed at an angle with respect to the first panel;   an article-engaging feature for engaging an article and formed from at least one of the first and second panels; and   a locking feature for locking the second panel in the folded position, the locking feature comprising:
 a locking tab formed from the first and second panels; and 
 a locking edge provided by one of the first and second panels, the locking tab being hingedly connected to the other of the first and second panels and disposed at an angle with respect to each of the first and second panels, 
   wherein the locking tab is in engagement with the locking edge such that the first and second panels are locked in the folded position.   
     
     
         2 . An article carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking tab is obliquely disposed with respect to the other of the first and second panels. 
     
     
         3 . An article carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking feature comprises a cushioning tab. 
     
     
         4 . An article carrier according to  claim 3 , wherein the cushioning tab is hingedly connected to said one of the first and second panels by a first hinged connection. 
     
     
         5 . An article carrier according to  claim 3 , wherein the cushioning tab is detachably connected to the locking tab along a severance line. 
     
     
         6 . An article carrier according to  claim 5 , wherein the severance line is broken before the tab is activated. 
     
     
         7 . An article carrier according to  claim 3 , wherein the cushioning tab is fully separated from the locking tab by a cut. 
     
     
         8 . An article carrier according to  claim 4 , wherein the cushioning tab is hingedly connected to the locking tab by a second hinged connection. 
     
     
         9 . An article carrier according to  claim 4 , wherein the cushioning tab is folded either upwards or downwards about the first hinged connection to the first or second panel so as to yield the locking tab. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . An article carrier according to  claim 3 , wherein the cushioning tab remains unfolded to provide a stopper edge on which the locking tab is brought into abutment to limit its pivotal movement. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . An article carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking feature comprises an engaging protrusion for engaging said one of the first and second panels. 
     
     
         14 . An article carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking feature comprises an opening defined at least in part by the locking tab, the opening comprises a receiving region, the receiving region being defined by a portion of the locking tab. 
     
     
         15 . An article carrier according to  claim 14 , wherein the portion of the locking tab defining the receiving region is provided by a first end of the locking tab, the first end opposing a second end, the second end being defined by a hinged connection to the other of the first and second panels. 
     
     
         16 . An article carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking tab comprises an engaging region, the engaging region being provided by a portion of the locking tab which would otherwise form said one of the first and second panels and by a portion of the locking tab which would otherwise form the other of the first and second panels. 
     
     
         17 . An article carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking tab is hingedly connected to the other of the first and second panels by a third hinged connection, the third hinged connection being disposed a first distance from a fourth hinged connection between the first and second panels, and wherein the locking tab comprises a detent providing an edge for engaging said one of the first and second panels, the detent being disposed a second distance from the third hinged connection, the second distance being equal to or greater than the first distance. 
     
     
         18 . An article carrier according to  claim 14 , wherein the opening comprises a constriction having a first width dimension, and the locking tab comprises an engaging region, the engaging region having a second width dimension, the second width dimension being greater than the first width dimension. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A blank for forming an article carrier, the blank comprising:
 a first panel and a second panel hingedly connected to the first panel, the second panel being foldable to take a folded position where the second panel is disposed at an angle with respect to the first panel;   an article-engaging feature for engaging an article and formed from at least one of the first and second panels; and   a locking feature for locking the second panel in the folded position, the locking feature comprising:
 a locking tab formed from the first and second panels; and 
 a locking edge provided by one of the first and second panels, 
 the locking tab being hingedly connected to the other of the first and second panels such that the locking tab is pivotable to a locking position in which the locking tab is disposed at an angle with respect to each of the first and second panels and is in engagement with the locking edge. 
   
     
     
         21 . A method of forming a package comprising:
 applying an article carrier to a plurality of articles arranged in a group, the article carrier comprising a first panel and a second panel hingedly connected to the first panel, the first panel comprising a plurality of article-engaging features, each of the plurality of article-engaging features receiving a respective one of the plurality of articles,   folding the second panel with respect to the first panel, to be disposed at an angle with respect to the first panel, about a side of the group of articles, the group of articles inhibiting further folding of the second panel; and   engaging a locking feature, the locking feature comprising a locking tab formed from the first and second panels and a locking edge provided by one of the first and second panels, the locking tab being hingedly connected to the other of the first and second panels, the step of engaging the locking feature comprises folding the locking tab to be disposed at an angle with respect to each of the first and second panels.   
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 21 , further comprising pre-folding the locking tab prior to folding the second panel with respect to the first panel by at least temporarily displacing the locking tab out of the plane of the other of the first and second panels. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A blank according to  claim 20 , wherein the locking feature comprises a cushioning tab that is hingedly connected to said one of the first and second panels by a first hinged connection,
 wherein the cushioning tab is: (i) detachably connected to the locking tab along a severance line, or (ii) fully separated from the locking tab by a cut, or (iii) hingedly connected to the locking tab by a second hinged connection.