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AssigneeWestRock Packaging Systems, LLC
InventorsMatthew E. Zacherle, Alex N. Barrette, Cullen B. Rosenbrien, Tsugihiko Suzuki
Estimating the term…
Aspects of the disclosure relate to an article top engaging device, a carrier for packaging one or more articles and a blank for forming the carrier. The article top engaging device comprises an engaging panel (12; 112; 212; 312; 412; 512; 612; 712) having at least one top-receiving opening (A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8) defined by a perimeter which defines a notional circle (NC). The perimeter is interrupted by at least three relief elements (C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8, C9, C10, C11) each extending radially away of the center of the notional circle. The perimeter comprises a toothed segment (S1) and a toothless segment (S2). The toothed segment comprises at least two tooth edges (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36; 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236) for bearing a substantially vertical load.
A blank for forming an article carrier configured to engage an article having a diameter, the blank comprising an engaging aperture having an engaging edge, wherein the engaging edge is defined between a pair of adjacent notches and the engaging edge is curved, the bottom of each notch is curved, a radius of curvature (RC) of each notch is considerably less than a radius of curvature (RCT) of the engaging edge, wherein the radius of curvature (RCT) of the engaging edge is greater than half the diameter of the article that the article carrier formed from the blank is configured to engage.
An article top engaging device for an article carrier comprising an engaging panel having at least one top-receiving opening defined by a perimeter which defines a notional circle, the perimeter being interrupted by at least two relief elements each extending radially away from the center of the notional circle, the perimeter comprising a toothed segment and a toothless segment, the toothed segment comprising at least one tooth edge for bearing a substantially vertical load, at least one tooth edge being defined between two adjacent ones of the at least two relief elements, the at least one tooth edge subtending a first angle having a vertex at a center of the notional circle, the toothless segment comprising at least one continuous supporting edge for bearing a substantially vertical load, the at least one continuous supporting edge being defined between two adjacent ones of the at least two relief elements, the at least one continuous supporting edge being arcuate in shape and subtending a second angle having a vertex at the center of the notional circle, the second angle being substantially greater than the first angle.
A blank for forming an article carrier, the blank comprising a main panel including at least one top engaging device having at least one top-receiving opening defined by a perimeter which defines a notional circle, the perimeter being interrupted by at least two relief elements each extending radially away from the center of the notional circle, the perimeter comprising a toothed segment and a toothless segment, the toothed segment comprising at least one tooth edge for bearing a substantially vertical load, the at least one tooth edge being defined between two adjacent ones of the at least two relief elements, the at least one tooth edge subtending a first angle having a vertex at a center of the notional circle, the toothless segment comprising at least one continuous supporting edge for bearing a substantially vertical load, the at least one continuous supporting edge being defined between two adjacent ones of the at least two relief elements, the at least one continuous supporting edge being arcuate in shape and subtending a second angle having a vertex at the center of the notional circle, the second angle being substantially greater than the first angle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.