CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/951,297 filed December 20, 2019. The disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to packages, article carriers and to blanks for forming the same. More specifically, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a carrier comprising a top- engaging article device type having an aperture 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 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.

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 a top-engaging device comprising a panel having at least four corners and at least four edges each extending between two respective corners of the at least four corners. The panel comprises a plurality of top-receiving openings each for receiving an upper portion of an article. The panel may comprise a billboard area within which none of the top-receiving openings are located. The top-receiving openings include at least four corner openings located at the at least four corners respectively. The top-receiving openings include a plurality of edge openings disposed alongside the at least four edges. The billboard area may be interposed between first and second openings of the plurality of edge openings. The billboard area is defined by at least two severance lines formed in the panel. Each of the severance lines is spaced apart from the plurality of edge openings and is disposed between the billboard area and one of the first and second openings.

Optionally, the first opening is disposed alongside one of the at least four edges, and the second opening is disposed alongside another one of the at least four edges which is located at a position opposing the one edge.

A second aspect of the invention provides a package comprising a group of articles each having a top and a bottom. An upper engaging member engages with the tops of at least some of the articles of the group. A lower supporting member supports the bottoms of the articles of the group. The upper engaging member is spaced apart from the lower supporting member such that the upper engaging member is connected to the lower supporting member by no part of the package but by the articles of the group.

A third aspect of the invention provides a package comprising a group of articles each having a top and a bottom. An upper engaging member engages with the tops of at least some of the articles of the group. A lower supporting member supports the bottoms of the articles of the group. The upper engaging member is spaced apart from the lower supporting member such that the upper engaging member is connected to the lower supporting member only by the articles of the group.

Optionally, the lower supporting member comprises a pair of carrying handles. Optionally, the upper engaging member is spaced above all parts of the lower supporting member.

Optionally, the upper engaging member has a footprint which is greater than the footprint of the group of articles and generally equal to or less than the footprint of the lower supporting member.

A fourth aspect of the invention provides a blank for forming a top-engaging device. The blank comprises a panel having at least four comers and at least four edges each extending between two respective comers of the at least four corners. The panel comprises a plurality of top receiving openings each for receiving an upper portion of an articles. The panel may comprise a billboard area within which none of the top-receiving openings are located. The top-receiving openings include at least four comer openings located at the at least four corners respectively. The top-receiving openings include a plurality of edge openings disposed alongside the at least four edges. The billboard area may be interposed between first and second openings of the plurality of edge openings. The billboard area is defined by at least two severance lines formed in the panel. Each of the severance lines is spaced apart from the plurality of edge openings and is disposed between the billboard area and one of the first and second openings.

Within the scope of this application it is envisaged or intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples, features and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings may be considered or taken independently or in any combination thereof.

Features or elements described in connection with, or relation to, one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments unless there is an incompatibility of features. One or more features or elements from one embodiment may be incorporated into, or combined with, any of the other embodiments disclosed herein, said features or elements extracted from said one embodiment may be included in addition to, or in replacement of one or more features or elements of said other embodiment.

A feature, or combination of features, of an embodiment disclosed herein may be extracted in isolation from other features of that embodiment. Alternatively, a feature, or combination of features, of an embodiment may be omitted from that embodiment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view from above of a blank for forming a tray according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

Figure 2 is a perspective view from above of a tray formed from the blank of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a plan view from above of a blank for forming a carrier according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 4 is a perspective view from above of a carrier formed from the blank of Figure

3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view from above of a package comprising the carrier of Figure 4, the tray of Figure 2 and a plurality of articles;

Figure 6 is a plan view from above of a blank for forming a carrier according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 7 is a perspective view from above of a package comprising a carrier formed from the blank of Figure 6, the tray of Figure 2 and a plurality of articles;

Figure 8 is a plan view from above of a top-engaging article device according to embodiments of the present disclosure; Figure 9 is a perspective view from above of a portion of a package illustrating the top- engaging article device of Figure 8 engaging an article;

Figure 10 is a perspective view from above of a portion of a package illustrating the top-engaging article device of Figure 8 engaging an article; and

Figure 11 is a perspective view from above of a portion of the package of Figure 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Detailed descriptions of specific embodiments of the package, blanks and carriers are disclosed herein. It will be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the way in which certain aspects of the invention can be implemented and do not represent an exhaustive list of all of the ways the invention may be embodied. As used herein, the word “exemplary” is used expansively to refer to embodiments that serve as illustrations, specimens, models, or patterns. Indeed, it will be understood that the packages, blanks and carriers described herein may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The Figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Well-known components, materials or methods are not necessarily described in great detail in order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure. Any specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a plan view of a blank 10 which is capable of forming a carton or carrier 90, as shown in Figure 2, for containing and carrying a group of primary products such as, but not limited to, bottles or cans, hereinafter referred to as articles B, as shown in Figure 2. The blank 10 forms part of a secondary package P, P2 for packaging at least one primary product container or package. The carrier 90 takes the form of an open topped carton, tray or crate.

Referring to Figure 3, there is shown a plan view of a blank 110 which is capable of forming a carton or carrier 180, as shown in Figure 4. The carrier 180 is configured to receive a group of primary products or articles B. The carrier 180 takes the form of a top-engaging carton or cover panel.

Referring to Figure 6, there is shown a plan view of an alternative blank 210 which is capable of forming an alternative carton or carrier 180, as shown in Figure 7. The carrier 280 is configured to receive a group of primary products or articles B. The carrier 280 takes the form of a top-engaging carton or cover panel. Referring to Figure 12, there is shown a plan view of an alternative blank 310 which is capable of forming an alternative carton or carrier not shown. The carrier is configured to receive a group of primary products or articles B. The carrier takes the form of a top-engaging carton or cover panel.

In the embodiments detailed herein, the terms “carton” and “carrier” refer, for the non- limiting purpose of illustrating the various features of the invention, to a container for engaging and carrying articles, such as primary product containers. It is contemplated that the teachings of the invention can be applied to various product containers, which may or may not be tapered and/or cylindrical. Exemplary containers include bottles (for example metallic, glass or plastics bottles), cans (for example aluminum cans), tins, pouches, packets and the like.

The blanks 10; 110; 210; 310 are formed from a sheet of suitable substrate. It is to be understood that, as used herein, the term “suitable substrate” includes all manner of foldable sheet material such as paperboard, corrugated board, cardboard, plastic, combinations thereof, and the like. It should be recognized that one or other numbers of blanks may be employed, where suitable, for example, to provide the carrier structure described in more detail below.

The packaging structures or cartons described herein may be formed from a sheet material such as paperboard, which may be made of or coated with materials to increase its strength. An example of such a sheet material is tear-resistant NATRALOCK® paperboard made by WestRock Company. It should be noted that the tear resistant materials may be provided by more than one layer, to help improve the tear-resistance of the package. Typically, one surface of the sheet material may have different characteristics to the other surface. For example, the surface of the sheet material that faces outwardly from a finished package may be particularly smooth and may have a coating such as a clay coating or other surface treatment to provide good printability. The surface of the sheet material that faces inwardly may, on the other hand, be provided with a coating, a layer, a treatment or be otherwise prepared to provide properties such as one or more of tear-resistance, good glue-ability, heat sealability, or other desired functional properties.

In the illustrated embodiments, the blanks 10; 110; 210; 310 are configured to form a carton or carrier 90; 180; 280 for packaging an exemplary arrangement of exemplary articles B. In the illustrated embodiments, the arrangement is a 4 x 6 matrix or array. In the illustrated embodiments six rows of four articles B are provided, and the articles B are beverage cans. Alternatively, the blanks 10; 110; 210; 310 can be configured to form carriers for packaging other types, number and size of articles and/or for packaging articles in a different arrangement or configuration.

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a blank 10 comprising a plurality of panels 12, 14a, 14b, 16a, 16b, including a main panel 12 for forming base wall of a carrier 90 (see Figure 2). The blank 10 comprises a first end panel 14a hingedly connected to a first end of the main panel 12 by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 13a. The blank 10 comprises a second end panel 14b hingedly connected to a second end of the main panel 12 by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 13b.

The blank 10 comprises a first side panel 16a hingedly connected to a first side of the main panel 12 by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 15a. The blank 10 comprises a second side panel 16b hingedly connected to a second side of the main panel 12 by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 15b.

A first securing flap 18a is hingedly connected to a first end of the first side panel 16a by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 17a. A second securing flap 18b is hingedly connected to a second end of the first side panel 16a by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 17b.

A third securing flap 20a is hingedly connected to a first end of the second side panel 16b by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 19a. A fourth securing flap 20b is hingedly connected to a second end of the second side panel 20a by a hinged connection in the form of a fold line 19b.

The blank 10 is formed into a carrier 90 by folding the first and second side panels 16a, 16b about fold lines 15 a, 15b respectively. First and second securing flaps 18a, 18b are folded with respect to the first side panel 16a, about fold lines 17a, 17b, to be substantially perpendicular to the first side panel 16a.

Third and fourth securing flaps 20a, 20b are folded with respect to the second side panel 16b, about fold lines 19a, 19b, to be substantially perpendicular to the second side panel 16b. Glue or other adhesive treatment is applied to the first, second, third and fourth securing flaps 18a, 18b, 20a, 20b or to corresponding regions of the first and second end panels 14a, 14b.

The first end panel 14a is folded with respect to the main panel 12 about fold line 13a to be substantially perpendicular to thereto. The first end panel 14a is brought into face contacting relationship with the first and third securing flaps 18a, 20a. The first end panel 14a is secured to the first and third securing flaps 18a, 20a.

The second end panel 14b is folded with respect to the main panel 12 about fold line 13b to be substantially perpendicular to thereto. The second end panel 14b is brought into face contacting relationship with the second and fourth securing flaps 18b, 20b. The second end panel 14b is secured to the second and fourth securing flaps 18b, 20b.

Figure 2 illustrates the carrier 90 formed from the blank 10. The carrier 90 is loaded with a plurality or group of articles B. A cover panel 180 is applied to the articles B as shown in Figure 5.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the cover panel 180. The cover panel is formed form a blank 110 comprising a main or top panel 120. The top panel 120 comprises opposed end edges 130, 134 and opposed side edges 132, 136. The top panel 120 comprises a plurality of openings Al, A2, A3, A4, A5 each for receiving a respective one of the plurality of articles B.

The illustrated blank 110 comprises twenty-four openings Al, A2, A3, A4, A5 arranged in a 4 x 6 matrix or array.

The blank 110 comprises first openings Al which take the form of a circular aperture Al struck from or formed in the top panel 120.

The blank 110 comprises second openings A2, A3, A4, A5 located adjacent to comers of the top panel 120. The comers of the top panel 120 may be beveled, chamfered or filleted. The second openings A2, A3, A4, A5 each form part of a securing device RT for securing the cover panel 180 to the group of articles B. In the illustrated embodiment, the top panel 120 comprises four securing devices RT, in other embodiments one or more securing devices RT may be provided.

Each of the second openings A2, A3, A4, A5 are substantially similar in construction and will be described in further detail with reference to a third second opening A4 illustrated in Figure 8. The third second opening A4 is located adjacent to a comer of the top panel 120 defined by a first end edge 130 and a first side edge 132.

The third second opening A4 comprises an aperture A4. The aperture A4 is at least partially surrounded by a plurality of teeth T, T2, T3.

Each tooth T, T2, T3 is defined in part by a pair of cutaways C, C2 in the form of recesses or notches.

The aperture A4 comprises a perimeter which may approximate, or define, a first notional circle NCI. The first notional circle NCI comprises a radius Ri.

Each securing device RT comprises a plurality of teeth T, T2, T3 disposed about the circumference or perimeter of their respective article receiving opening A2, A3, A4, A5.

The teeth T, T2, T3 are formed in the main panel 120 about the aperture A4.

Each tooth T, T2, T3 comprises an engaging or tooth edge El, E2, as shown in Figure 8. Each tooth edge El may be arcuate. The tooth edges El may be defined by an arc or portion of a circle having a radius substantially larger than the radius Ri of the first notional circle NCI. In one example the circle may have a radius of 50mm (63/32”). The radius of the circle may be in the range 30mm (1.181”) to 75mm (189/64”).

The cutaways C, C2 are substantially “U” shaped, the cutaways C, C2 each define a portion of a second notional circle NC2, concentric with the first notional circle NCI, and which is in tangential contact with the base or floor (radial extremity) of the cutaways C, C2. The second notional circle NC2 comprises a radius R2. The cutaways C, C2 extend radially outward from the first notional circle NCI defined by the teeth T.

The cutaways C, C2 form relief elements extending radially away from the center C _E of the first notional circle NCI.

The blank 110 comprises first cutaways C defining first teeth T.

The cutaways C are defined by or formed from a portion of a circle; the circle may have a radius of about 2.38mm (3/32”), the radius may be in the range 1.59mm (1/16”) to 4.76mm (3/16”).

The blank 110 comprises a pair of second cutaways C2, the second cutaways C2 are disposed adjacent to each other to define a second tooth T2 therebetween. The second cutaways C2 defined by or formed from a portion of a circle; the circle may have a radius which is larger than that of the first cutaways C.

Second tooth T2 occupies a larger arc or segment of the first notional circle NCI than each first tooth T. The second tooth T2 comprises a second engaging edge E2 which is longer than the first engaging edge El of the first teeth T.

The second notional circle NC2 has a radius R2 which is greater than the radius Ri of the first notional circle NCI defined by the apertures A2, A3, A4, A5. A gap, space or distance is defined radially therebetween, and may be considered to be the depth or radial dimension of the cutaways C, C2.

Optionally, the second notional circle NC2 defined by the cutaways C, C2 is arranged to be substantially equal to, or slightly greater than a circle defined by a rim, chime or uppermost end of the article B to be received therein. That is to say the diameter of the rim, chime or uppermost end of the article B is substantially equal to, or slightly less than the twice the radius

R ₂ . Optionally, the securing device RT comprises fold line F surrounding the plurality of teeth in the top panel 120. The fold line F may be circular and concentric with the first nans second notional circle NCI, NC2.

In the illustrated embodiment the second tooth T2 is oriented to face towards or be proximate to the corner of the top panel 120. In this way the second tooth T2 extends between and end edge and a side edge of the top panel 120.

Optionally, the securing device RT comprises a pair of third teeth T3, the third teeth T3 are disposed on opposing side of the second tooth T2. Each third tooth T3 is defined in part by a first cutaway C and a second cutaway C2. The third teeth T3 may have a different dimension to the first teeth T and the second tooth T2. In the illustrated embodiment the third teeth are shorter, circumferentially, than the first teeth T; that is to say they occupy a smaller arc or segment of the first notional circle NCI than the first teeth T.

Figure 5 illustrates a package P formed from the carrier 90 a group of article B loaded into the carrier 90 and a cover panel 180 mounted to the articles B. The articles B couple the cover panel 180 to the carrier 90; that is to say no part of the cover panel 180 is connected directly to the carrier 90.

Figure 9 and 10 illustrate the securing device RT engaging an article B, at least a portion of the top panel 120 surrounding the article receiving opening A2, A3, A4, A5 may be displaced or folded out of the plane of the top panel 120. A comer region of the top panel 120 substantially between the corner of the top panel 120 and the adjacent article B may be folded or deformed out of the plane of the top panel 120 and may be displaced or folded downwardly as shown in Figure 10.

Referring now to Figures 6, 7, 11 and 12, there are shown additional embodiments of the present disclosure. In the second and third illustrated embodiments like numerals have, where possible, been used to denote like parts, albeit with the addition of the prefix “200”, “300” to indicate that these features belong to the second and third embodiments respectively. The additional embodiments share many common features with the first embodiment and therefore only the differences from the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3 will be described in detail. Figure 6 illustrates a second embodiment and shows a blank 210 for forming a cover panel 280 as shown in Figure 7.

The cover panel 280 is configured to be employed with the carrier 90 of Figure 2 and is adapted to be connected to articles B loaded into the carrier 90 to form a package P2 as shown in Figure 7. The carrier 90 comprises twenty-four articles B arranged in a 4 x 6 matrix or array. Optionally, the carrier 90 comprises at least one carrying handle H, in some embodiments the carrier 90 comprises a pair of carrying handles disposed in opposes walls, side or ends, of the carrier 90. In still other embodiments comprises a carrying handle H in each of the side and end walls.

Blank 210 comprises a main or top panel 220. The top panel 220 comprises opposed end edges and opposed side edges. The top panel 220 comprises a plurality of article receiving openings Al, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7 each for receiving a respective one of the plurality of articles B.

The illustrated blank 210 comprises twenty article receiving openings Al, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7 arranged to receive a respective article B in the carrier 90.

The blank 210 comprises a first row of article receiving openings A4, Al, A5, the first row is disposed adjacent a first end edge 230 of the top panel 220. The first row of article receiving openings A4, Al, A5 comprises four article receiving openings A4, Al, A5. A pair of first article receiving openings Al is disposed between a pair of second article receiving openings A4, A5.

The blank 210 comprises a second row of article receiving openings Al, the second row is disposed adjacent to the first row. The second row of article receiving openings Al comprises four first article receiving openings Al.

The blank 210 comprises a third and fourth rows of third article receiving openings A6, A7. Each of the third and fourth rows of first article receiving openings Al comprises two third article receiving openings A6, A7. The third article receiving openings A6, A7 are disposed or located adjacent or proximate to the side edges 232, 236 of the top panel 220. A display panel 222 or billboard area is provided in the top panel 220. The display panel 222 is disposed between the pairs of third article receiving openings A6, A7 in each of the third and fourth rows. The display panel 222 may be located centrally within the top panel 220. Article receiving openings are omitted or removed from the billboard area, that is to say the billboard area is free from article receiving openings.

The display panel 222 may be defined at least in part by one or more cut or severance lines 223a, 223b, 223c, 223d. In the illustrated embodiment four severance lines 223a, 223b, 223c, 223d are provided. Each of the severance lines 223a, 223b, 223c, 223d may be generally “L” shaped. Each severance line 223a, 223b, 223c, 223d may comprise a first portion and a second portion, the second portion being disposed substantially perpendicular to the first portion. The first and second portions may be connected or contiguous with each other or as illustrated in Figure 6 the first and second portions may be coupled by a third portion to form a continuous severance line. The third portion may be curvilinear or arcuate in shape.

Each of the severance lines 223a, 223b, 223c, 223d may comprise a severable nick or bridging portion which is severed or broken when the blank 210 is mounted to a group of articles B.

Each of the severance lines 223a, 223b, 223c, 223d is spaced apart from each of its neighboring severance lines 223a, 223b, 223c, 223d by a connection portion 224a, 224b, 224c, 224b.

The connection portions 224a, 224b, 224c, 224b remain intact when the blank 210 is mounted to a group of articles B and maintain the display panel 222 in communication or connection to the top panel 220.

When the blank 210 is mounted to a group of articles B, portions of the display panel 222 may be displace out of the plane of the top panel 220. Said portions are displaced upwardly and are disposed over articles B located therebelow, as shown in Figures 7 and 11.

Optionally, the third article receiving openings A6, A7 comprise a single securing tab T4 interrupting an otherwise circular aperture. The securing tabs T4 may facilitate securing the cover panel 280 to the group of articles B. Engaging the securing tabs T4 with the respective articles B may facilitate or lead to displacement of the display panel 222, or portions thereof, upwardly and/or hold marginal regions of the top panel 220 adjacent to the display panel 22 at a lower elevation than the display panel 222 or upper ends of the articles B.

The blank 210 comprises a sixth row of article receiving openings A2, Al, A3, the sixth row is disposed adjacent a second end edge 234 of the top panel 220. The sixth row of article receiving openings A2, Al, A3 comprises four article receiving openings A2, Al, A3. A pair of first article receiving openings Al is disposed between a pair of second article receiving openings A2, A3.

The blank 210 comprises a fifth row of article receiving openings Al, the fifth row is disposed adjacent to the sixth row, between the fourth and sixth rows. The fifth row of article receiving openings Al comprises four first article receiving openings Al.

The blank 210 comprises first openings Al which take the form of a circular aperture Al struck from or formed in the top panel 220.

The blank 210 comprises second openings A2, A3, A4, A5 located adjacent to comers of the top panel 220. The comers of the top panel 220 may be beveled, chamfered or filleted. The second openings A2, A3, A4, A5 each form part of a securing device for securing the cover panel 280 to the group of articles B. In the illustrated embodiment the top panel 220 comprises four securing devices RT, in other embodiments one or more securing devices RT may be provided.

Each of the second openings A2, A3, A4, A5 are substantially similar in construction to those of the previous embodiment and as illustrated in Figure 8 described above.

Figure 12 illustrates a third embodiment and shows a blank 310 for forming a cover panel to be employed with the carrier of Figure 2 and is adapted to be connected to articles B loaded into the carrier 90. The carrier 90 comprises twenty-four articles B arranged in a 4 x 6 matrix or array. Blank 310 comprises a main or top panel 320. The top panel 320 comprises opposed end edges and opposed side edges. The top panel 320 comprises a plurality of article receiving openings Al, A2, A3, A4, A5 each for receiving a respective one of the plurality of articles B.

The illustrated blank 310 comprises twenty-four article receiving openings Al, A2, A3, A4, A5 arranged in a 4 x 6 matrix or array to receive a respective article B in the carrier 90.

The blank 310 comprises first openings Al which take the form of a circular aperture Al struck from or formed in the top panel 320.

The top panel 320 includes at least one securing device RT. In the embodiment of Figure 12 the top panel 320 comprises a plurality of securing device RT, specifically four article securing devices RT disposed at comer of the top panel 320. Each of the article securing devices RT comprise an aperture A2, A3, A4, A5.

Each securing device RT comprises an article receiving opening defined in part by a respective one of the apertures A2, A3, A4, A5.

The apertures A2, A3, A4, A5 comprises a perimeter which may approximate, or define, a first notional circle having a first radius.

Each securing device RT comprises a plurality of teeth T disposed about the circumference or perimeter of their respective article receiving opening.

The teeth T are formed in the top panel 320 about the apertures A2, A3, A4, A5.

Each tooth T comprises an engaging or tooth edge. Each tooth edge may be arcuate. The tooth edges may be defined by an arc or portion of a circle.

The top panel 320 comprises cutaways C in the form of recesses or notches. The cutaways C are substantially “U” shaped, the cutaways C each define a portion of a second notional circle having a second radius.

The cutaways C extend radially outward from the first notional circle defined by the teeth T. The teeth T are each defined, at least in part, by a pair of cutaways C. The cutaways C form relief elements extending radially away from the center of the first notional circle.

In the embodiments of Figure 12 the teeth T surround the apertures A2, A3, A4, A5, optionally twelve teeth T surround the apertures A2, A3, A4, A5. The teeth T are equal in dimension to each other, the securing device RT of Figure 12 is symmetrical about two orthogonal axes.

The present disclosure provides a top-engaging device 180; 280 comprising a panel 120; 220; 320 having at least four comers and at least four edges 130, 132, 134, 136; 230, 232, 234, 236. Each edge extends between two respective corners of the at least four corners. The panel 120; 220; 320 comprises a plurality of top-receiving openings Al, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7 each for receiving an upper portion of an article B.

At least one of the plurality of top-receiving openings Al, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7 may form part of a securing device for securing the top-engaging device 180; 280 to one or more articles B.

At least one of the plurality of top-receiving openings Al, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7 may be adapted to receive an article B without being in securing engagement with the article B.

The panel 220 may comprise a billboard area 222 within which none of the top-receiving openings Al, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7 are located. The top-receiving openings Al, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7 include at least four comer openings A2, A3, A4, A5 located at the at least four corners respectively. The top-receiving openings Al, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7 include a plurality of edge openings Al, A6, A7 disposed alongside the at least four edges. The billboard area 222 is interposed between first and second openings A6, A7 of the plurality of edge openings Al, A6, A7. The billboard area 222 is defined by at least two severance lines 223a, 223b, 223c, 223d formed in the panel 220. Each of the severance lines 223a, 223b, 223c, 223d is spaced apart from the plurality of edge openings Al, A6, A7 and is disposed between the billboard area 222 and one of the first and second openings A6, A7. The first opening A6, A7 is disposed alongside one 232 of the at least four edges 230, 232, 234, 236, and the second opening A6, A7 is disposed alongside another one 236 of the at least four edges 230, 232, 234, 236 which is located at a position opposing the one edge 232.

The present disclosure also provides a package P, P2 comprising a group of articles B each having a top and a bottom. The package P, P2 comprises an upper engaging member or cover panel 180, 280 in engagement with the tops of at least some of the articles B of the group. A lower supporting member, carrier or tray 90 supports the bottoms of the articles B of the group. The upper engaging member 180, 280 is spaced apart from the lower supporting member 90 such that the upper engaging member 180, 280 is connected or coupled to the lower supporting member 90 only by the articles B of the group.

The lower supporting member 90 may comprise at least one carrying handle, optionally pair of carrying handles.

The upper engaging member 180, 280 is spaced above all parts of the lower supporting member 90.

The upper engaging member 180, 280 may have a footprint which is greater than the footprint of the group of articles B and generally equal to or less than the footprint of the lower supporting member 90.

It will be recognized that as used herein, directional references such as "top", "bottom", “base”, "front", "back", "end", "side", "inner", "outer", "upper" and "lower" do not necessarily limit the respective panels to such orientation, but may merely serve to distinguish these panels from one another.

As used herein, the terms “hinged connection” and “fold line” refer to all manner of lines that define hinge features of the blank, facilitate folding portions of the blank with respect to one another, or otherwise indicate optimal panel folding locations for the blank. Any reference to “hinged connection” should not be construed as necessarily referring to a single fold line only; indeed, a hinged connection can be formed from two or more fold lines wherein each of the two or more fold lines may be either straight/linear or curved/curvilinear in shape. When linear fold lines form a hinged connection, they may be disposed parallel with each other or be slightly angled with respect to each other. When curvilinear fold lines form a hinged connection, they may intersect each other to define a shaped panel within the area surrounded by the curvilinear fold lines. A typical example of such a hinged connection may comprise a pair of arched or arcuate fold lines intersecting at two points such that they define an elliptical panel therebetween. A hinged connection may be formed from one or more linear fold lines and one or more curvilinear fold lines. A typical example of such a hinged connection may comprise a combination of a linear fold line and an arched or arcuate fold line which intersect at two points such that they define a half moon-shaped panel therebetween.

As used herein, the term “fold line” may refer to one of the following: a scored line, an embossed line, a debossed line, a line of perforations, a line of short slits, a line of half-cuts, a single half-cut, an interrupted cutline, a line of aligned slits, a line of scores and any combination of the aforesaid options.

It should be understood that hinged connections and fold lines can each include elements that are formed in the substrate of the blank including perforations, a line of perforations, a line of short slits, a line of half-cuts, a single half-cut, a cutline, an interrupted cutline, slits, scores, embossed lines, debossed lines, any combination thereof, and the like. The elements can be dimensioned and arranged to provide the desired functionality. For example, a line of perforations can be dimensioned or designed with degrees of weakness to define a fold line and/or a severance line. The line of perforations can be designed to facilitate folding and resist breaking, to facilitate folding and facilitate breaking with more effort, or to facilitate breaking with little effort.

Referring to Figure 6, the illustrated display panel 222 has a footprint which would cover four receiving openings in a 2x2 configuration. However, the display panel 222 may be expanded to have a larger footprint which would cover six or more receiving openings. To create such an expanded display panel, at least two of the severance lines 223a, 223b, 223c, 223d may be relocated to positions closer to their adjacent end edges. For example, the severance lines 223a, 223b may be moved toward the second end edge 234 to take their respective new positions immediately next to the edge openings A1 alongside the second end edge 234. Such an expanded display panel has a footprint that would cover six receiving openings of a 2x3 configuration. In a similar way, the severance lines 223c, 223d may be moved toward the first end edge 230 to take their respective new positions immediately next to the edge openings A1 alongside the first end edge 230. Such a relocation may provide an expanded display panel having a footprint which would cover either six receiving openings of a 2x3 configuration or eight receiving openings of a 2x4 configuration. The size of the display panel may vary depending on the size of the blank of the top-engaging device or the arrangement or formation of the receiving openings.