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EP-4237345-B1 - ARTICLE CARRIER AND BLANK THEREFOR

EP4237345B1EP 4237345 B1EP4237345 B1EP 4237345B1EP-4237345-B1

Inventors

  • CHESNET, Lauren N.
  • STALEY, Margaret B.
  • MERZEAU, JULIEN

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20211029

Claims (15)

  1. An article carrier (90; 190; 290; 390; 490) for engaging at least one article (B), the article carrier (90; 190; 290; 390; 490) comprising: a top panel (12; 112; 212; 312; 412) having at least one article-engaging feature (RT1, RT2); a pair of side panels (18, 20; 118, 120; 218, 220; 318, 320; 418, 420) hingedly connected to the top panel (12; 112; 212; 312; 412); and a pair of end panels (14, 16; 114, 116; 214A/214B, 216A/216B; 314A/314B, 316A/316B; 414, 416), each of the pair of end panels (14, 16; 114, 116; 214A/214B, 216A/216B; 314A/314B, 316A/316B; 414, 416) bridges between the side panels (18, 20; 118, 120; 218, 220; 318, 320; 418, 420) hingedly connected to the top panel(12; 112; 212; 312; 412), wherein at least one of the end panels (14, 16; 114, 116; 214A/214B, 216A/216B; 314A/314B, 316A/316B; 414, 416) is at least partially detachably connected to the top panel (12; 112; 212; 312; 412) along a severance line (13, 15; 113, 115, 213A, 215A; 313A, 315A; 413, 415) characterised in that the severance line (13, 15; 113, 115, 213A, 215A; 313A, 315A; 413, 415) extends partially along an end edge of the top panel (12; 112; 212; 312; 412) so that the at least one end panel (14, 16; 114, 116; 214A/214B, 216A/216B; 314A/314B, 316A/316B; 414, 416) is at least partially separable from the top panel (12; 112; 212; 312; 412).
  2. An article carrier (90; 190; 290; 390; 490), according to claim 1, wherein the partially extending severance line (13, 15; 113, 115, 213A, 215A; 313A, 315A; 413, 415) stops short of the opposite ends of the at least one end panel (14, 16; 114, 116; 214A/214B, 216A/216B; 314A/314B, 316A/316B; 414, 416).
  3. An article carrier (90; 190; 290; 390; 490), according to claim 1, wherein the severance line (13, 15; 113, 115, 213A, 215A; 313A, 315A; 413, 415) comprises at least one line segment which includes a slit passing through a midpoint of the end edge of the top panel (12; 112; 212; 312; 412).
  4. An article carrier (90; 190; 290; 390; 490), according to claim 1, wherein each of the side panels (18, 20; 118, 120; 218, 220; 318, 320; 418, 420) is secured at one of its ends to the at least one end panel (14, 16; 114, 116; 214A/214B, 216A/216B; 314A/314B, 316A/316B; 414, 416).
  5. An article carrier (90; 190; 290; 390; 490), according to claim 1, wherein each of the side panels (18, 20; 118, 120; 218, 220; 318, 320; 418, 420) is connected at one of its ends to the at least one end panel (14, 16; 114, 116; 214A/214B, 216A/216B; 314A/314B, 316A/316B; 414, 416) by a locking feature.
  6. An article carrier (90; 190; 290; 390; 490), according to claim 1, wherein the top panel (12; 112; 212; 312; 412) comprises at least two bevelled corners, and the end edge of top panel (12; 112; 212; 312; 412) extends between the bevelled corners.
  7. An article carrier (90; 190; 290; 390; 490), according to claim 1, wherein the severance line (13, 15; 113, 115, 213A, 215A; 313A, 315A; 413, 415) forms a hinged connection between the at least one of the end panels (14, 16; 114, 116; 214A/214B, 216A/216B; 314A/314B, 316A/316B; 414, 416) and the top panel (12; 112; 212; 312; 412), the hinged connection being severable to facilitate deployment of a carrying handle formed in part by the at least one of the end panels (14, 16; 114, 116; 214A/214B, 216A/216B; 314A/314B, 316A/316B; 414, 416).
  8. An article carrier (90; 190; 290; 390; 490), according to claim 1, wherein the severance line (13, 15; 113, 115, 213A, 215A; 313A, 315A; 413, 415) forms a hinged connection between the at least one of the end panels (14, 16; 114, 116; 214A/214B, 216A/216B; 314A/314B, 316A/316B; 414, 416) and the top panel (12; 112; 212; 312; 412), the hinged connection being severed upon deployment of a carrying handle formed in part by the at least one of the end panels (14, 16; 114, 116; 214A/214B, 216A/216B; 314A/314B, 316A/316B; 414, 416).
  9. An article carrier (90; 190; 290; 390; 490), according to claim 1, wherein the severance line (13, 15; 113, 115, 213A, 215A; 313A, 315A; 413, 415) forms a hinged connection between the at least one of the end panels (14, 16; 114, 116; 214A/214B, 216A/216B; 314A/314B, 316A/316B; 414, 416) and the top panel (12; 112; 212; 312; 412), the hinged connection being severable in consequence of deployment of a carrying handle formed in part by the at least one of the end panels (14, 16; 114, 116; 214A/214B, 216A/216B; 314A/314B, 316A/316B; 414, 416).
  10. An article carrier (90; 190; 290; 390; 490), according to claim 1, wherein the article carrier (90; 190; 290; 390; 490) further comprises a bundling structure for encircling the at least one article (B), the bundling structure comprises a first segment and a second segment, the first segment includes: a first side panel (18, 20; 118, 120; 218, 220; 318, 320; 418, 420) hingedly connected to the top panel (12; 112; 212; 312; 412); and a bridging portion hingedly connected to the first side panel (18, 20; 118, 120; 218, 220; 318, 320; 418, 420), wherein the second segment includes: an outer end panel (14, 16; 114, 116; 214, 216, 314, 316) at least partially severably connected to the top panel (12; 112; 212; 312; 412); an inner end panel (64A, 64B, 66A, 66B; 164A, 164B, 166A, 166B; 264A, 264B, 266A, 266B; 364A, 364B, 366A, 366B) hingedly connected to the outer end panel (14, 16; 114, 116; 214, 216, 314, 316) and disposed in an overlapping position with the outer end panel (14, 16; 114, 116; 214, 216, 314, 316); and a bridge-engaging feature in engagement with the bridging portion of the first segment, wherein the bridge-engaging feature is provided at least by the inner (64A, 64B, 66A, 66B; 164A, 164B, 166A, 166B; 264A, 264B, 266A, 266B; 364A, 364B, 366A, 366B) and outer (14, 16; 114, 116; 214, 216, 314, 316) end panels such that at least part of the bridging portion is disposed between the inner (64A, 64B, 66A, 66B; 164A, 164B, 166A, 166B; 264A, 264B, 266A, 266B; 364A, 364B, 366A, 366B) and outer (14, 16; 114, 116; 214, 216, 314, 316) end panels in face-contacting arrangement with the inner (64A, 64B, 66A, 66B; 164A, 164B, 166A, 166B; 264A, 264B, 266A, 266B; 364A, 364B, 366A, 366B) and outer (14, 16; 114, 116; 214, 216, 314, 316) end panels.
  11. An article carrier (90; 190; 290; 390; 490), according to claim 1, wherein the article carrier further comprises a bundling structure for encircling the at least one article (B), the bundling structure comprises a first segment and a second segment, the first segment includes: a first side panel (18, 20; 118, 120; 218, 220; 318, 320; 418, 420) hingedly connected to the top panel (12; 112; 212; 312; 412); and a bridging portion hingedly connected to the first side panel (18, 20; 118, 120; 218, 220; 318, 320; 418, 420), wherein the second segment includes: an end panel (14, 16; 114, 116; 214A/214B, 216A/216B; 314A/314B, 316A/316B; 414, 416) at least partially severably connected to the top panel (12; 112; 212; 312; 412); wherein the bridging portion of the first segment is secured to the end panel (14, 16; 114, 116; 214A/214B, 216A/216B; 314A/314B, 316A/316B; 414, 416) in face-contacting arrangement therewith.
  12. An article carrier (90; 190; 290; 390; 490), according to claim 1, further comprising a bundling structure for encircling the at least one article (B), the bundling structure comprises a first segment and a second segment, the first segment includes: a first end panel (14, 16; 114, 116; 214A/214B, 216A/216B; 314A/314B, 316A/316B; 414, 416) at least partially severably connected to the top panel (12; 112; 212; 312; 412); and a bridging portion hingedly connected to the first end panel (14, 16; 114, 116; 214A/214B, 216A/216B; 314A/314B, 316A/316B; 414, 416), wherein the second segment includes: a side panel (18, 20; 118, 120; 218, 220; 318, 320; 418, 420) hingedly connected to the top panel (12; 112; 212; 312; 412); wherein the bridging portion of the first segment is secured to the side panel (18, 20; 118, 120; 218, 220; 318, 320; 418, 420) in face-contacting arrangement therewith.
  13. A package comprising a top-engaging carrier (90; 190; 290; 390; 490), according to claim 1, and at least one article (B), the carrier (90; 190; 290; 390; 490) comprising: a top panel (12; 112; 212; 312; 412) having at least one article-engaging feature (RT1, RT2) retaining a respective article; a pair of side panels (18, 20; 118, 120; 218, 220; 318, 320; 418, 420) hingedly connected the top panel (12; 112; 212; 312; 412); and a pair of end panels (14, 16; 114, 116; 214A/214B, 216A/216B; 314A/314B, 316A/316B; 414, 416), each of the pair of end panels (14, 16; 114, 116; 214A/214B, 216A/216B; 314A/314B, 316A/316B; 414, 416) bridges between the side panels (18, 20; 118, 120; 218, 220; 318, 320; 418, 420), wherein at least one of the end panels (14, 16; 114, 116; 214A/214B, 216A/216B; 314A/314B, 316A/316B; 414, 416) is at least partially detachably connected to the top panel (12; 112; 212; 312; 412) along a severance line and wherein the at least one of the end panels (14, 16; 114, 116; 214A/214B, 216A/216B; 314A/314B, 316A/316B; 414, 416) forms part of a carrying handle and the severance line (13, 15; 113, 115, 213A, 215A; 313A, 315A; 413, 415) comprises at least one frangible connection element, characterised by the at least one frangible connection element being intact prior to initial use of the carrying handle.
  14. A blank (10; 110; 210; 310; 410) for forming a top-engaging carrier (90; 190; 290; 390; 490), the blank (10; 110; 210; 310; 410) comprising: a top panel (12; 112; 212; 312; 412) having at least one article-engaging feature (RT1, RT2); a pair of side panels (18, 20; 118, 120; 218, 220; 318, 320; 418, 420) hingedly connected the top panel (12; 112; 212; 312; 412); and a pair of end panels (14, 16; 114, 116; 214A/214B, 216A/216B; 314A/314B, 316A/316B; 414, 416), each of the pair of end panels (14, 16; 114, 116; 214A/214B, 216A/216B; 314A/314B, 316A/316B; 414, 416) bridges between the side panels (18, 20; 118, 120; 218, 220; 318, 320; 418, 420), wherein at least one of the end panels (14, 16; 114, 116; 214A/214B, 216A/216B; 314A/314B, 316A/316B; 414, 416) is at least partially detachably connected to the top panel (12; 112; 212; 312; 412) along a severance line (13, 15; 113, 115, 213A, 215A; 313A, 315A; 413, 415), characterised in that the severance line is frangible such that it remains unbroken upon formation of the top-engaging carrier (90; 190; 290; 390; 490).
  15. A blank according to claim 14, wherein the severance line extends partially along an end edge of the top panel (12; 112; 212; 312; 412) so that the at least one end panel is at least partially separable from the top panel (12; 112; 212; 312; 412) to form at least part of a carrying handle.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to article carriers and to blanks for forming the same. More specifically, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a carrier of the top-gripping type having one or more apertures for receiving and retaining an article therein. BACKGROUND In the field of packaging, it is known to provide cartons for carrying multiple articles. Cartons are well known in the art and are useful for enabling consumers to transport, store and access a group of articles for consumption. For cost and environmental considerations, such cartons or carriers need to be formed from as little material as possible and cause as little wastage in the materials from which they are formed as possible. Further considerations are the strength of the carton and its suitability for holding and transporting large weights of articles. It is desirable that the contents of the carton are secure within the carton. It is well known to provide top gripping article carriers in which an aperture is formed in a panel of the carrier, wherein tabs are struck from said panel and are arranged about the aperture. The tabs are displaced out of the plane of said panel when an article is received in the aperture, wherein said tabs engage the article generally about a flange or lip of the article. WO2020/210562 to Zacherle et al discloses an article top engaging device comprising an engaging panel having at least one top-receiving opening defined by a perimeter which defines a notional circle. The perimeter is interrupted by at least three relief elements each extending radially away of the centre of the notional circle. The perimeter comprises a toothed segment and a toothless segment. The toothed segment comprises at least two tooth edges for bearing a substantially vertical load. It is desirable to provide a carrying handle to facilitate transportation of the package. The present invention seeks to provide an improvement in the field of cartons, typically formed from paperboard or the like. SUMMARY A first aspect of the invention provides an article carrier for engaging at least one article, the article carrier comprising a top panel having at least one article-engaging feature; a pair of side panels hingedly connected to the top panel; and a pair of end panels, each of the pair of end panels bridges between the side panels hingedly connected to the top panel, wherein at least one of the end panels is at least partially detachably connected to the top panel along a severance line characterised in that the severance line extends partially along an end edge of the top panel so that the at least one end panel is at least partially separable from the top panel. Optionally, the partially extending severance line stops short of the opposite ends of the at least one end panel. Optionally, the severance line comprises at least one line segment which includes a slit passing through a midpoint of the end edge of the top panel. Optionally, each of the side panels is secured at one of its ends to the at least one end panel. Optionally, each of the side panels is connected at one of its ends to the at least one end panel by a locking feature. Optionally, the top panel comprises at least two bevelled corners, and the end edge of top panel extends between the bevelled corners. Optionally, the severance line forms a hinged connection between the at least one of the end panels and the top panel, the hinged connection being severable to facilitate deployment of a carrying handle formed in part by the at least one of the end panels. Optionally, the severance line forms a hinged connection between the at least one of the end panels and the top panel, the hinged connection being severed upon deployment of a carrying handle formed in part by the at least one of the end panels. Optionally, the article carrier further comprises a bundling structure for encircling the at least one article, the bundling structure comprises a first segment and a second segment, the first segment includes: a first side panel hingedly connected to the top panel; and a bridging portion hingedly connected to the first side panel, wherein the second segment includes an outer end panel at least partially severably connected to the top panel; an inner end panel hingedly connected to the outer end panel and disposed in an overlapping position with the outer end panel; and a bridge-engaging feature in engagement with the bridging portion of the first segment, wherein the bridge-engaging feature is provided at least by the inner and outer end panels such that at least part of the bridging portion is disposed between the inner and outer end panels in face-contacting arrangement with the inner and outer end panels. Optionally, the article carrier further comprises a bundling structure for encircling the at least one article, the bundling structure comprises a first segment and a second segment, the first segment includes a first side panel hingedly connected to the