US 12,258,190 B2
Article carrier and blank therfor
Bradford J. Walling, Chesterfield, VA (US); and Matthew E. Zacherle, Moseley, VA (US)
Assigned to WestRock Packaging Systems, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Appl. No. 17/625,761
Filed by WestRock Packaging Systems, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
PCT Filed Jul. 7, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/041003
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 9, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/007206, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 14, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/885,990, filed on Aug. 13, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/885,445, filed on Aug. 12, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/871,407, filed on Jul. 8, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0297912 A1, Sep. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. B65D 71/42 (2006.01)
CPC B65D 71/42 (2013.01) 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A blank for forming an article carrier, the blank comprising:
a first main panel, having a first area, for forming an upper layer of the article carrier;
a second main panel, having a second area, for forming a lower layer of the article carrier;
wherein the first main panel comprises a plurality of notches and an engaging aperture comprising an engaging edge defined between a pair of the notches, wherein the plurality of notches define a notional circle in tangential contact with an endpoint of each of the plurality of notches, wherein the notional circle concentric with a circle corresponding to the engaging aperture;
wherein the first main panel and the second main panel are arranged to be disposed in face to face contacting relationship with each other when formed as the article carrier;
wherein an article receiving opening is formed in the second main panel for forming the lower layer,
wherein the article receiving opening of the second main panel comprises a first diameter,
wherein the circle corresponding to the engaging aperture of the first main panel comprises a second diameter,
wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter,
wherein the second area of the second main panel is greater than or equal to one-half of the first area of the first main panel.
 
11. A package comprising an article carrier and one or more cans, the article carrier comprising an engaging panel having an upper panel and a lower panel disposed in face to face contacting relationship with each other, the article carrier comprising a top engaging device comprising a first article receiving opening in the lower panel and a second article receiving opening in the upper panel, the first article receiving opening comprising a first diameter, the second article receiving opening comprising a second diameter, the first diameter being greater than the second diameter, the one or more cans comprising an upper end having an end diameter, a main body having a body diameter and a neck disposed therebetween and having a neck diameter, wherein the first diameter is equal to or greater than the end diameter, wherein the end diameter is greater than the neck diameter and wherein the neck diameter is greater than the second diameter.
 
14. An article carrier for packaging one or more articles, the article carrier comprising an upper panel having a first area and a lower panel having a second area disposed in face to face contacting relationship with each other, the article carrier comprising a top engaging device comprising a first article receiving opening in the lower panel and a second article receiving opening in the upper panel,
wherein the upper panel comprises a plurality of notches and the second article receiving opening comprises an engaging edge defined between a pair of the notches, wherein the plurality of notches define a notional circle in tangential contact with an endpoint of each of the plurality of notches, wherein the notional circle is concentric with a circle corresponding to the second article receiving opening,
wherein the first article receiving opening has a first diameter, the circle corresponding to the second article receiving opening has a second diameter, the first diameter being greater than the second diameter, and
wherein the second area of the lower panel is greater than or equal two one-half of the first area of the upper panel.