US 11,987,433 B2
Article carrier and blank therefor
Matthew E. Zacherle, Chesterfield, VA (US); and Julien D. Merzeau, Châteauroux (FR)
Assigned to WestRock Packaging Systems, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Appl. No. 17/431,023
Filed by WestRock Packaging Systems, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
PCT Filed Feb. 11, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/017605
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 13, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/167719, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 20, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/806,166, filed on Feb. 15, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0119178 A1, Apr. 21, 2022
Int. Cl. B65D 71/58 (2006.01)
CPC B65D 71/0022 (2013.01) [B65D 2571/00141 (2013.01); B65D 2571/00197 (2013.01); B65D 2571/00388 (2013.01); B65D 2571/00487 (2013.01); B65D 2571/0066 (2013.01); B65D 2571/00753 (2013.01); B65D 2571/00845 (2013.01); B65D 2571/0087 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An article carrier comprising a collapsible tubular structure which comprises a first primary panel, a second primary panel, a third primary panel and a fourth primary panel wherein the first and second primary panels are hingedly connected, the second and third primary panels are hingedly connected, the third and fourth primary panels are hingedly connected, the fourth and first primary panels are hingedly connected, and wherein either: (i) a first hinged connection between the first and second primary panels is greater in fold resistance than each of a second hinged connection between the second and third primary panels and a fourth hinged connection between the fourth and first primary panels, or (ii) the first hinged connection is less in fold resistance than the second hinged connection and substantially equal in fold resistance to the fourth hinged connection.
 
16. An article carrier comprising a collapsible tubular structure which comprises a first primary panel, a second primary panel, a third primary panel and a fourth primary panel wherein the first and second primary panels are hingedly connected, the second and third primary panels are hingedly connected, the third and fourth primary panels are hingedly connected, the fourth and first primary panels are hingedly connected, wherein the second primary panel comprises a first corner panel portion and a main panel portion, the first corner panel portion being hingedly connected to the first primary panel by a first hinged connection and to the main panel portion by a first corner hinged connection, and wherein: (i) the first hinged connection comprises a working fold line and the first hinged connection is greater in fold resistance than the first corner hinged connection, or (ii) the first hinged connection comprises a non-working fold line and the first hinged connection is lesser in fold resistance than the first corner hinged connection.
 
17. A blank for forming an article carrier, the blank comprising a plurality of primary panels for forming walls of a tubular structure, the plurality of primary panels including: a first primary panel, a second primary panel, a third primary panel and a fourth primary panel wherein the first and second primary panels are hingedly connected, the second and third primary panels are hingedly connected, the third and fourth primary panels are hingedly connected, the fourth and first primary panels are hingedly connected, and wherein either: (i) a first hinged connection between the first and second primary panels is greater in fold resistance than each of a second hinged connection between the second and third primary panels and a fourth hinged connection between the fourth and first primary panels, or (ii) the first hinged connection is lesser in fold resistance than the second hinged connection and substantially equal in fold resistance to the fourth hinged connection.