US 12,492,055 B2
Article carriers and blanks therefor
Julien D. Merzeau, Chateauroux (FR)
Assigned to WestRock Packaging Systems, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
Appl. No. 18/011,961
Filed by WestRock Packaging Systems, LLC, Atlanta, GA (US)
PCT Filed Jun. 23, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/038700
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 21, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/262858, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 30, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/042,850, filed on Jun. 23, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0234763 A1, Jul. 27, 2023
Int. Cl. B65D 71/44 (2006.01)
CPC B65D 71/44 (2013.01) [B65D 2571/00444 (2013.01); B65D 2571/0066 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A blank for forming an article carrier, the blank comprising at least one panel having at least four article receiving openings and a handle feature, the at least four article receiving openings being arranged in two rows, the handle feature comprising at least one handle opening located at a centre of the at least four article receiving openings, the at least one handle opening being defined at least in part by a pair of first tabs each hingedly connected to the at least one panel by a respective first fold line divergently arranged with respect to one another, each of the first tabs having a height dimension extending between its respective first fold line and a free end of the first tab, the height dimension being equal to or greater than a distance between the centre and the respective first fold line.
 
11. A blank for forming an article carrier, the blank comprising at least one panel having at least four article receiving openings and a handle feature, the handle feature comprising at least one handle opening located at a centre of the at least four article receiving openings, wherein the at least one handle opening is defined in part by a pair of tabs each connected to the at least one panel by a respective fold line divergently arranged with respect to one another, each of the tabs has a height dimension that extends between its respective fold line and a free end of the tab, the height dimension is less than a distance between the centre and the respective fold line.
 
15. An article carrier for packaging a plurality of articles, the article carrier comprising at least one panel having at least four article receiving openings and a handle feature, the at least four article receiving openings being arranged in two rows, the handle feature comprising at least one handle opening located at a centre of the at least four article receiving openings, the at least one handle opening being defined at least in part by a pair of first tabs each hingedly connected to the at least one panel by a respective first fold line divergently arranged with respect to one another, each of the first tabs having a height dimension extending between its respective first fold line and a free end of the first tab, the height dimension being equal to or greater than a distance between the centre and the respective first fold line.