WO2007056765A2 - Article carrier with retention sleeve - Google Patents

Abstract

An article carrier includes a support structure (300) forming an internal sleeve (332) , and an external retention sleeve (400) securely disposed around articles (A, A' ) . The retention sleeve provides optimal visual access to the articles enclosed in the article carrier. A group of articles rests on the bottom wall (314) of the support structure (300) , which includes reinforced cantilevered portions (330a, 330b) to enhance the stiffness of the support structure (300) . The internal sleeve (332) of the support structure (300) provides partitioning, additional article retention, and defines a handle for lifting the article carrier. The retention sleeve (400) and the support structure may be formed from disparate materials, with the retention sleeve being transparent, translucent, windowed, or contoured to reveal an optimal amount of surface area of the articles .

Description

ARHCLg 3ARRIERWfTH RETENTIdNSLESVE

This application claims priority to ϋ. S, Application No. ©0/73§,Q8-2._. filed Nov-βrnberS, 20.G5-.

Carrier siyle eari&n.s are known in the art, and desirably facilitate- a visu&Hy appealing packaging

while providing convenience for carrying, staking, k; and storing articles such as beverage containers. TT^ typical carrier includes a bottom surface tor supporting th© articles in an upright condition, perimeter- wsiis for retajAiπp the articles on" the lsoitorn .surface, and a handle or oδw means for lifting the- carrier, the hancHe extending above the tops of the upright articles.

To adequately retain the articles in the carrier, the perimeter walls of the is carrier ^"rn ust have a. least a certain height, which limits the extent to whictj \t is possibte to display the articles because the perimeter walls obscure the labels or ether surface, omar∞ntøtlbn appli^'ed Ic? the articles, The. outside surfaces of ^'the. perimeter walfe. can be used as a surface for ornanierYtatlan, which typically inciud&s tradernas^'ks, fogαs, marketing fang^age, anςl i.he iiirø. However, «sβ consurrsers §re 2?3 mor^ iikeiy to be.deslroυ^ of s?> attractive product rathsr than attractive packaging, it πtakes-sβπsβ to

arficiβ.as pos$ibi.a.. NbήfeUiele&s_:. conventional carriers are typically formed enUrsiy from qpaqua papeφbsfd or the like,. rnsKing- the -perimeter walls- even more obstructive- of the BUiface βnta;rκantε«iρn applted to ths arUofeø

75. To protect the: labels o^'n the srtides- from scuffing ør όth^f damage, the conveηtlo.naS canisr Is also c&stimoniy .equipped with partitions, b-alweβπ -adjsfienf articles. The partitions; liKeΛhe pβriniβtβv walis, further obscure the articles and do little, to p^r^venl und^slred: egress, øf the artiotes il the. earner is toppled or upturned , Tliere is. a need for :a qanier that ma^irntess visibility of the. articles, contained therein, retains the articles even when the carrier is not Ideally positioned, and allows for easy removal^' of JrVdIvIdUa! -articles when desired.

The present invention addresses the shortcomings inherent in conventional, carriers &y providing. an arilcte earner having a removable retention sleeve for retaining the artiqle^ Instead of the typscai Immovable, perimeter wsalis: øf known, furriers. The rørpovβfoie retention sfeβv-e may bear corresponding graphics, αr may be translucent so as to reveal ail of the graphics on the outward facing surfaces of this articles within. The artid® carrier of the present invention sfeo includes a support structure having a fixed interna! sleeve that retains the eenterrnost artkies In position even when the carrier is subjected Io less than ideal positioning, and that provides partitioning .between the ceniermosi articles and periphera! ssrtictes- disposed around or adjacent to the contermost aftϊcSes. The ρe?ϊpheral articles are snugly secured by the removable retention βieeve, which is formed around. or dropped, down over the support structure and all of ϊh® arficies to form a package.

Tne article carrier osn be ^'loaded =snd assβnibk?d to form a paqKage. containing multiple articles, such as but not limited .to beverage bottles., In the exempiary enibodirπ.βnf.s,_: each. of the øn'Jdss fe substantially αyHndHc^l in shape so. as 16 define &n, article axis_;s and the articles are arranged w?th thøir rgsp&etiv.^ adlcfe; axes pafaliei to eaeh qther.. According to an aspect αjf the ϊπvsπtion, the srtide carrier includes tii^ aforemerrtionecJ. support^' structure that provides; a bottom support surface for supφqrtrng all 'ύf thø artidøs, and also defines the internal steeve that Ls substantially flxød in relation to the arLsdβ carrier and that, servos to p&rti&ϋy enclose at !e@Bt ααe of the articles., iVtor® spedflcally, the exemplary Internal sfe-øva is esseotlaUy a_. rectangular cyilπder ths centra! axis of which extends from_, open ev.ά to open ens! aviύ in parallel to tins-. bottom support surface- of ths article earner- The uppermost portion ot the inter riai slδewi Is a top¹ wall that prssverits? tte artiόles^' w^thiά the. Internal sleeve frppi -escaping If- th© Is. upturned. The bbtlorrtrft&sL portion of the- internal -sleeve is defined by a bottom wail of the support structure that rriate&s up the bottom support surface of the: arucie earner.. M,ore specifically, and in acoorxiaπee with another aspect of the inygnttom, certain of the articles rest upon a :pρrttøτ> of the bottom wall that defines the bottommost portion s of the Internal sleeve, Wm\® other articles a supported on osntϊievered portions of th© bottom wa^'ii that extend outside of the internal si-βeve. The exemplary ernbodkrients described be?ow include two

portions, although it ^'is ©nvisfoned IhM one or more csntikwered portions- -would suffsoe.

According to yet another aspect of ihe invention, at least ins canlllβvered H) portiQns. -of th« bottom waO are nelhTorc^'ed- to Increase the stiffness and tile integrity of the bottom euppørt surface. To that end., in certain embodiments, reiπfercing panels are hingsdiy connected to the ϊsottofη waif and optionally ^•directly- to the cantlievered porϋQπs, and are foidabte into a face contacting arrangement with at feast the- eanyievejrpd portions to be, secured using hot glue, another adh©aive_t GΓ other means ■ .? for seouπng.

AGcorqing to stiH aϊiofher aspect of the invention, the articles that rest on the cahtlϋever&cl portsoπs are retained in the article carrier by tfie removable retention, skseve which Is fernόypbly dl«φβ3&d around the sniBrπal sϊaevβ $uch that the. axss of the interfial §leeve is substantially perpendicular to the axis c>t the secόnζl siseve. and

20 such that the articles on the csπtHevered portionβ are disposed between ihs sniernβi sleeve and the removable retention sleeve, in. this rmwsβr, the removable retention, sleeve clirøQtly restrains the rftόverheht of the articles on thβ^: canBiβvered portions and cjirectfy or indsrfeptty prevents articles within the. iπteΦai sleeve from escaping through. Its eπds; The_; medial «§xss of the retention siøeve ls>.sυb§ianfjaPy pjarafte! tύ

21 the axis defined by wøh sndlyldual arUεfe

Advahtsgθoύs^v, the retention sleeve is removable and replscθablθ to reveal the artt.qtes, and can b^'ø further .configured to provld© maXfπ^urø exposure fef lhe βurfece. of each arllcte, Iri cerism βrribδtjirrϊgnts at leasα a pQ^'rtføn of iϊi^'β-_: retention sleeve, permits. ^5© passage of light, tbat ss, is transparent, tra.rssfcceni, jft βemitraπspareπt. semfopaqύe, wiπdowes, perforated, or the like, in øηy event, sn these ©πibό-ξiimenis_! ϋ IS; ρ<???8ibi§ tό:δi8β the articles through the retention sleave.. It is. contemplated that trus support, structure may also

In certain other

the retention βteeve may be formed from an opaque material but is contoured along eitHef or both its upper or low&r edge to reveai certain portions of at least some of the artlcies- ^:-n the article earner _: it is envisioned s thai any portion or no portion of ^'jjhe- bottom e.dge of the retention sleeve rests upon, the support, structure, and more specifically along ledges ext nding from the bottom wall, st follows itiat at least a portion of the bottom βdgo or the retention. sleeve may be spaced apart from the e.uppqrt.$tr.uctup-ei.

The support structure of lhs.ø.κ©rnρtery article d formed fφm a Diank that G includes a. bottom pane! with extension portions extending outwardly therefrom,- and a pair of side panels- ^sch hiπ.gediy connected tø the bottom panel along a pair of spaced apart fold lines, it can t?e said that the. extension pcniions, a^tnou^b ars integral part of the bottom panel, are- each sirucfc fror^'n IHe adjacent. one of the skla panels because each extension. portion indude.s the area_. beiween the spaced span. s fold iines and. extends away fronvths main portion of the bottom psnsl and toward the adjacent sid^ psnel beyond ihe hinged conπecMoπ between the bottom pane! and the πrst side panel,

As mentioned -above, th^ side p:an^ls ean be f^'oldecl out of the plane defined by the bottom panel te be

pargsie! to one another, A top panel iβ: 0 hi^g^diy connected to one or both of the side panels so as t© hsπgedly connect Ihe δide pansis together when th«^« §Icie pane!s_: have b&φ folded out. of the plane, thereby forming the internal .steeve, in certain embodiiτ;βnts, the distal end of each extension portion is hinged^y_. oonnijcted to a reiήfόϊc-lhg panel each of which Is fόidabie into a face con-taoιlπ§ s

also at feast partially overlap the main p rtion of ihe bottom ppn&i ^s wfeii. In certain άib&? erπ.bocljmants, the- reinforcing panel or panels_* ane biπge^fy connected, to lft& mam portion of th© feottorn panel jteeif_? anϋ ere foidabieJnto face sontaotiπg arrangement ihe

pόrtioαs ^'m IiKs fascism ~ S -

According to another aspect of t^e invention, the retention sleeve Is maintained In p'iøcs ground £nβ artitles in the article earners, in. certain βfτibσdjr-7iersts^'» the position of the retention sleeve is removably establish©^ by snugly wrapping it ®roυn.d the artteiβs such that ing surface tension between the -article and s the sleeve prevent relative motion thembetwββπ, ^'in other embodiments, retention tabs extend from the side paneis so as to engage either or both the upper and Lower edge of the retention sleeve. The. user may easily remove the retention sleeve by squeezing or otherwise deforming the retention sleeve to overcome the retention tabs..

^■•a According to yet another .aspect of !h$ invention, a handle is formed in or integrally to the lop waif for lifting the pad-cage, in the exemplary embodiments, a top' gripping handle is formed from handle tabs struck from and πinge^'diy- attached to ϊh& top wsi! along opposing free edges of the top wail. The top wall may be qoujjle ply, being formed from top panels each connected to a respective side wall, and i-5 overlapped to form a composite fap wall^', Ih these -embodiπ^ents, each ply inciqεies c-orresp.ondlπQ nandte tabs that are secured together to form composite handle tabs. Ta operate the top gripping Iia.ndte_< the user engages- the handle tabs ami folds, them inwardly, pπ-rf@rab;y with -one hand, to span the top .wafi of the αarton sn a gripping fashion.

20 The foregoing hasijroadly outSlπed :8ό?ne of i:he aspects and features, of the present invention, ^hieh should. &e construed to be merely- ^'iliqstrstlve of various potential appHcations of the (ηvβ?itjpn. Other beneficial røsulis car^ be obiair>©>d by applying the disclosed Information in a. different manner or by combining various aspects of the dselosδcl embodiments. Acccrdiπg!y> other aspects and a more

25 c-omprehensive. understanding of the invention .may t>β obiained by referring Io the d©tsi⁽sd Ascription o? the. exemelsry ernpc^iments. taken in conjynctian with the accompanying drawings, in. addition, tp tsiβ. seops of the Invention cJetl.ne-;d by the ctekhs..^' BRIEF DESCFMPTION. Of THB DRAWINGS

Fiβ, 1 is ss plan view of a bisnk for fbfming a support structure according to an .exemplary embbdknenl^'of the preset invention.

Fiβ.2 is a plan view of a panel for forming- a retention sleeys, according to an exemplary erfsbodJrηeni of the present invention,

F iø. 3 Is a perspective view of support structure ferrrsecS form the blank .of FiG,

FiGv 4 is a perspective vte_;w of the support structure of FiG. 3, the support; structure being loaded with articles;. 0 RO. § is a perspective view αf a retention sleeve .θrβcted from the panel of

FlG, S is a perspective view of a package indudinα en arifcie carrier formed from the support, structure. of F^G., 3. In contbiπatlbπ with the retention sleeve of FIG, S, the arUeis canter being- loaded With arises. 5 FIG, ? Is a pian view of an alternative support structure blank, according to an aiternative embodiment of the pi'&setΫ, in^entiαn,

FfG, 8 is a plan view ύf sn alternative pansj for terming a retention sleeve according to another embodiment of the present, invention.

Flβ, 9 is a persp.edtlv® view qf a package; iπ^'dqding an alternative artbip δ carrier formed from the island of FI& 7 in ∞mbin^tioπ_. w|fh the retentiøn βleeve of

DETAILED O.ESCR}FTIQU

As required, detaiietl embodiments βf the present invention are disclosed 5 liβrβin. It wif] be understood that the diβolαsad βmboclimentδ are mβrøiy examples to- Illustrate aspects of the. inverition tnat may fee embodied m various and alternative forms. The figures..ar$ not neceespf ify to soaie, and some features ^'m&y be exaggerated or minimized to sliow detaHs of particular Gomponeπts; in CMΪΘΪ instances, well-known materials or rnethods have not been described i^'π deiaii to avoid dbseuπng the present invention. Thar&fkrø;, specific structural and functions! deta^'Hs olsokssed herein are not Io be hiter^'pretød _:as limiting, but :as a basis for ift&. clams and for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ IDe present invention. Referring now to the drawings: in vvhic.h IiKs nothersis indicate ;ϊke elements throughput the several yiβws., the drawings illustrate- cβrtasaof the various aspects of exemplary embodiments of an article carrier.. CSeπersϋy described, the article .carder inciudes a support sirueU-re and a removable retention sleeve. The support .structure lπdαde.s a bottom waH that has: caπiitevsrβci portions for supporting ihe bottom portten of srtldβs and the retention sleeve wraps¹ around the support structure to secure the articles \n pjace within the artble. carrier.

F1Q< 1 shows .-sn exemplary blank 1-00 from which the support structure ZQQ (best øhown sn F Iβ. 3} is formed. The fcfiank 100 Induces various eu! out portions, fold lines, severance lines ;that :clefir^ a number of primary panels that. are hsngecHy s connected on® to another, and which can be folded together to for the support structure 38θ. More specif icaSly, tha biaπk iδβ incfudes a first top panel 110_s a first side panel 112, a bottom panel 114, a second sϋde pane! 1.16, and a second top panel 118. The first top pane! 110 is hifiøedi^'y :c^'αnn&cteti Its the first side panel 112 along foki. ϋne ISl), the first βkie paπe! 112 is hingedly connected to the bottom. pane! 0 114 along foid line 122_; the bottom panel 114 is- hingocϋy ooπnesteo. to the second .s*cto pane! iiβ alone- fold Hήe 1.24. and lbs ββeόrui side pane! IIS Js hhigecJly conπ^'ected to !h© second top.

fold line: 130..

The bottom pane! 114 may hβ sϊaed anci shaped te> suppόrflngfy en^ag^ a portion of the lower edge of the external sheave and tø support the articles A as 5 desoπbiecl in further detail below, Jn the exsmpiary embodiment, ths transverse wssiih Wi of bottOrπ panel 114 b greater thsπ. th© transverse v^iclih V^2 of sid^ panels- 112, 116- and sd^ss ES of Ihβ bottom p.snβj 114 :arβ cøniour-ød accgrdiπg to ihe? shape and sixe of the^' Intended artteies A, ?n th^ Hluatrated, βrribodi^'meπls,. the intended articles A are glass bevgrag^ bαtllss,. aithougn ttis- principles of the -ρ ϊnv_?sntion are equally appOsable to. any typB of ar&ci® having oonipatib4e crrssracteristicSi incJudVig slz.e_r

©riøπtetfeή_s. arid the ilk©. The bottom panel 114 inolgd.es .csntiievsfd^'d panels 1-3Oa, WQh &nti reinforcing, panels 132a, 13_*lb that are tiingedfy connected to th® feottora pane! 114 along fold. line 134s. 1 Mb and that are. at least psrtiaϋy formed_, from materia! struck; from side panels 11.2, 116, respectively. The size and shape of the extension panels 1SOa,

5 130b and ifiβ reinforcing panels 132a, 1.32b are detarrniπed such that each cantllevβred pane! ISOa₁ 130b and_. respective reinforcing pene$ iZZm, 132b can be secured .together to create a caπtilevered portion having the necessary surface area and stiffness to suppo^'ft the δottαm portion of so -article A. jn tile exemplary embodiment, severance Ones iSβa, 13Sa₁ 140a, 142a,. 1.3Sb, 138b, 140t>₅ 142fe and io aperture® 144«, 148$, 14S;a_f 14413, 146b, MSb. are. formed in side panels 112, 110 :tα at^' feast partia-iy define the extension portions IBQa, ISOb and ^'ih-e. reinforcing panels 132a, 18213. In- alternatives embodiments, the reinforcing panels 132&, 132b may ext€ncl further along Side panel 112. HS suc-h that. apertures 148a, 140b are smaller or nonexistent. i j As uB&ύ h&fain, the terrv^-s "fold line" and "severance line" refer to ail manner of lines mdisaiiπg optima! respective fold or eϋl lόea^ons, A fold line ss typically a scored Kne_> an embossed line or a debosssd !?ne>. S&v&tBtsob lines, aπύ sometimes fold lines,, may be frangible or otherwise weakened hnes... perforations, a line of perforations, a fine of short si its;_. -a. Line or half-cuts., or ?5 single hajf-cui. A severance 0 line may also be. a out line or slit. Esther or both a fosd line and a severance line may Inϋludβ same oomblnaiiόn-of thfe a^ώve lines, and the lifes. For ease αf differentiaiioπ. fold lines are .shown. In the figures as feiokøn liπas._s wfhsite solid ilries indicate severance, lines end edges.

The biank 10P includes means for HfB π§ or carrying the support structure SCO.

2:> In the ρxempls?y embodiment. th« means for Hftfng «r oarrylπø include handle apertures- Iδfe, ifOri that ..are rfispssed in lh® side panels 112, 11 β a«d handle tabs iø2s, iδ:Sb thai are defined by severance. ύnβs 1S4m_: 1S4fo,. fpl.d .liπ^s-1δøa, 1S^, and apsrteres ISOa, ISOb, respectively. In sHe.rnstlvβ erπbodtmsπts. i^e apertures 1§jQ®s,_: .1SQb may be tabs or flaps thai are fσidβέl inward. The fosaήk iiiø fnεluøes

3«3 pptiDfi&i fold Nries i§Ea, iS8!x I6øa_s IfOb that vylil be sfesoπbeci |_π furiti^'sr deiaH Fiøs 2 stiows an ex^mp'ary retention slfsβye panel ;S0^'0 prior to being effected Io fejfrti a retention -sleeve 400 (shown

RG_V S), The- retention sleeve panel .200 may be formed of any suitable m.alehai including, but πot-ji^'miied to. papβrboarcJ, plastic, msstsl, or the^' like and is preferabliy formed of an at least. partially transparent, 5 translucent; frosted, webbed, or otherwise visually permeable material such that a greater portion of the articles in the package 10 are v«swat?ie. Furihøϊfπer^ the retention sie&ve panei 200 is preferably formed from a material that resists

psrϊβl 200 includes «ey«i^:al sections :2i0_; 212a, 212b, with the seςtion 210. bemg hirϊgedl-y connected to H> tita. sections 212a, 212b along fold lines 214, 216^', respectively. Additionally, the rdtøήtijSn siøe.v© panel 200 includes fold lmes 220_:.222, 224 _f 22B_t which confroϊ the shape of the ratentfoπ sleeve 40δ, The retention -sieeva panel 2δø has a cDntoured top. edge £3 and a substantially straight bottom eιiga.E4_s and hag a rnsπin-um height. HI and a maximum height. Hl.

55 According to. an exemplary method_v a package 10 «s shown In HG^', β₅ ss assembled by first farming the support structure 300 (shown in FiG, 3} from the support structure: blank 13.0. The side paπete Ii 2_^ iiø are folded along the fold Hne§ 1:22, 124 ®ι£ of the planed detined by the extension paneis i$ύ%_. iSOfo and the reinforcing panels 13!ss, 132b, respectively, to forrn side- walls 312, 31 β, !t should ba

20 fiofeci ths3tsince the eantifeyeracf panels I^δa, 130b arid, reinforcing paπeϊs 132a, 1.32b are struck from <a respecth^e side pane! 112, I fS, th^ extension panels 130s, 130& and the reinforcing panete 132a,. T3Sib are configured and arranged such that any corresponding void or window f^l that remains in each side/wasi 31.2, 31. S {shown In FIG, 3) has a βtee av^d. shape that dqes πot compromise the weight bearing

^3 capscfty and other structural integrity of the: $Opp.orit structure 300 as th.e support slruGture 3SO. te ioaqed with articlβB A= A', stacked, or <s^:oiherwise made operational- The flmt top panel IiO and second top pane! IiE are folded along the fold isnøs f£&,

such Lhal th« fsrstlόp pane! 11-0 and^' sβάorysJ top psnβi 118 at feast paffelh/ overlap one another -&nϋ are^: sβαirβd tόg^lh^'^r to form . osrhpos&s Ibp wall 30 3IiK thereby forming a partially enclosed ^'tu&uiar structure. The; tubular siruεfurø U. •- ΪO - thereby

into, a fixed sleeve 332 haying an axis thai extends between the open :ønc3s of live fixed sfeove 3-32,

To continue forming the support siruelure 300 from, the blariH 1CI0, the reinforcing pansls 132a-_; ISSIs era folded along fold lines. IMa, 1,14b to. at least.

$^■ partially overlap the extension panels 130a, 13øb_f respectively to create reinforced ^•eantilevered portions 33OsL 33øb.. in the embedment shown, the. reinforcing panels 132a_> 132b furthør βxten:d onto ifr® bottom pan§\ 114, of bottom waii 314. The reinforcing parsels 132a, 132b ftt&y extend even further such that the drsta! ends of each are overlapped and rnaw be interlocked or .otherwise secured to one arsøthør. o Each of the caπHiβvered portions 33ϋa_: 33δfe. includes a support- iedQS EI for efiαagincf the reijsnLion sleeve 4dO as YΛ?! be described. The primary suppori siructυrs SOS is thereby formed¹ as shown in F1G> 3 and may be loaded with ariϊciβs Λ< A^* as shown in FIS, 4, where some artlcies A⁵ are at least partially enclosed in the fsxed siøeve :332 portion oHhβ support structure 300 and supported by the bottorn S wall 314, While otlt^r articles A srβ disposed on the caniifevβrβd portions 330a, 33øfe, The side wa^iB 312, 31 €> may feeπ^'d or flex in the region. of fold lines ISBa, iS8t>, iSOa, ISCIb, which may be positioned to coincide with the shcukiers of the ^•articles A", sucr^ that fixed- sleeve 332 conforms to She shape of .or oliieovise more tightly wraps around the articles. A^*'i'hereih. The reiehtsor? sleeve 400 Is erected, by 0 fanning the. ftaiten^d rei-sπtlQn sleeve 200 Into a :somewha.t eyifnciπe&f structure such that tlie: panels 212a, 212Ss st.ieast paritøliy overlap. The panels S.1i&_< 212b are secured to one another to form composite ski© wsli 410 and opposing side wsjfi 412. Similarly, the cylindrical structure Ie more specifically described as the removable retention sleeve 4CI0. havsrvg an axis^' that extends in Ib^ iorigitlsdiπaj direction between S the øpan ends of the Steele and is

%& 8,nά cerstereq on a lateral cress section.

The exemplary package 10 is formed by fitting ftxe erected removable s-øierstron sieeve 400 over !he support structure 300 after the support structure 300 has been toasted

relβntb^'π siøsve O is brought down over the upper portion of the -support structure: 300 which is: Irrøreby received by the retention sleeve.40D ..Alternatively, the. flaltsπed sleeve pan©ϊ,2øø may be wrapped around ihe sides of the; support structure SOS. and secured in place, in its cylindrical condition. Mors speclfic^Uy, th.s .fi.x«^ βsøevefaiid the reπiovsbte sleeve are dtepo^eά such. that the medial axis of the fixed, sleeve ss substantially perpendicular to the fx?e.dϊ&! axis of the..removable retention sleeve 400, As such, the :^•• package 10 includes the combination of iiie arϋotes A. A^* sand the .^'article carrier 20.

In the exemplary ^•eαibodimenξ, th<s sleeve 400 wraps arαuπ^'d the primary support, structure 300. and articles A, A^s such that a.l least a portion of its bottom edge E4 engages, each support isdgβ E1. A portion of the bottom edge E4 may additionally engage- eiach edge £2, The sfeeve 400 is positioned relative to the ! support structure 8CK) sucfi that.ihβ rrήphϊsυm height Hi ύf contoured edgβ ES provides adequate support and maximum visual exposure to the sides of articles thst are enclosed in and supported by the. tubular fixed sieevs portion of support strυcty re. 30Q. The maximum height H2 of contoured edge E3 provides Increased support lo articles that, are disposed on cantiievsrød portions 330a., 330b and that would i s otherwise no! be enelosed. The rnaiieabMy of the shape of lhe retention sfeeve 400 Is controlled in. part by fold lines 22©, 222, 224_S 22β wherein a portion ©f the retention .sleeve 4δ.O

to thg> shape of adjacent articteδ th.at are disposed on- .cantlkϊver.ed porikws: 130a, 130b. Further., in itsβ..exemplary embodiment, the articles A that are partissNy enclosed in the tubuiar fixed slseve portion of support o slrueture: SOD are eng^gød by.an adjacent portion of the fβtsntion sleeve 400 to .hold the articles in. place and to shape the retention sleeve 400, It should be nofed however; that In the exemplary smbGdirneπt, th<a edges ES of trie t^'obυiar pάrtsoπ o? the. support struclure ZW. me spaced spart from the retention sleeve 4(iθ to give the retention sleeve a smoother- shape- and allow the_. retention sleeve 40.9 to increasingly

25 tighten afourid th@ artfeles A, A\ in alternative embodiments, the .width of the side w.afe SlS₁ 318 may be Incre^s&d or otherwss^ altered to as s. ciesigrs choice to change thø shape- of t^'nt> retention sleeve 4SO..

F^G. 7 Is sπ alternative eoπiiguraiior? of .a. bfaπk .TCip from which fs support structure -^'900 (shάvvh in Fiβ- §:} is fcrmed, accofdiπd to another embodiment .of the 30 bventlon. The blank. ?00 1$ tomsiwkai similar to tKe-bisihk 100; aα<i thus αniy c^rlaiπ. non-dupOeaf;Vβ^: aspects of the blank >^;00 wiH be described- as fpildws. Hørβ., each; of a pair of reinforcing panels 732a, 732b fe hmgediy com\&cA%d ΪQ- opposing outer edges of bottom, pane! 714 along fold lines 734s, 734Ij sugh that the reinforcing, panels ?32&, 7326 n$s$ not foe struck from the side panels- ?1.^'2_> IIP, Trre bottom pa^'nei 71-4 is. enlaced relative to the bottom panel 114 to support s greater πurvshsr

.? of -art ide$. More sp.sofieaOy,. bottom panel ?14 Is designed, to support six articles- and. bottom pane! 114- is -.designed to support four arϋ.cieSL H&πd.fe fabs ?S2a, 752b and 7S2&", 752b' are defined by severance lines and fold llnesh in a similar rηanπer as are the handle tabs 152a,_. ISSb. b.ύt are in contrast positioned adjacent, to. opposing outer eclgøs. of fop pane! 710 ^'and top tiap TIB. The support structure βiank io Tø&furtfter includes- reisnfJon ϊφs 7β0a< 76®b, 762a, 7β2b; vvhfch will be described, in fusthesf detail below..

FIO- 0 is an alternative, slesv^ panel BOO shown here in iiattenβct condition prior to being formed, into a cylindrical removable steøve 910 oόfidHsόπ (as ^bόwr; in FIG. §}, The sleeve panel.80δ is somewhat similar to^: the sleeve panel.200. and thus i 5 only certain nonniuplicative aspects of the sleeve panel 80S will be described as follows. The steøve. panel .8.00 includes a contoured lower edge Eβ that optionally mirrors or otherwise maintains: S; cosistsnt distance S from contoured top edge E? for increased visibility- of articles as described m further detail be4øw, in £\t&ρ.θXw® embodiments,, the sleeve panel BOO may include apedures trtat _.sirηHariy ali_.ow

:ϊo increased visibility of articles:

F IG.,. -S i.s a p.ssrspeqt!v^ view of -øπ gsitenialive- packaαe 950 deluding the support structure 900 and the seieniAoπ sleeve 910. The s-uppprt stroctum 900 is formed from the support struclur^. blank ?00 and loaded with jarfictes A₁ A^r'ujsϊng subsξaπtiaJjy the same method as described above for fonrang lhe support structure

25 3δQ from th© support istruoture blank 1 QS), including folding the reihforøiπg panels 732a, 7§2b to overlap the bottom panel 714 in a face cøhtaciiπg arrangement to torn" the- jboitαφ. wall Si4 «,nd.t[iβ canO levered portions 93δ_*s< 83C)Is sn<| f^'okilπg the paήβls^'7iθ, 712, ?1^β; TtS te form a tubular siructure such that, the panels- 71^{" (}Qi₁ 710 overlap ssnd.anes secured to. one aπoiher to form a top wall S10. Mac® spsciffeaiiy_.;

30 panels 7 W, TW overlap such thsf handb tabs 752a,

75^a^f: 752i5\ respectivelf , to fbrrn composite: bsnoiai tabs H. TIi^ retention slsεsyβ SiD is formed from th^ sleeve psn.eϊ 800 using subs.tentisHy the same- method s& described above fcsf erectfos thcs retention siesve 480 from Its flattened condition including securing psne)s^:S12a_? 81 S> to. one another to fomi ^substantially cylindrical structure. Tftδr retention sleeve §10 is wrapped around ihe support structure §00 aπti ?«nides A, A' to. enclose the loaded artiώtø earner §.60 and fofni the. package 950, aβ shown in F)G. §,

The package BBU is somewhat sϊrofer to the packages 10, srni thus only certain non~dupf!cat)ve aspects of the package SSO vvifi be desoriba.d as fόllovvsi in the alternative ernbodim_.^nt.. the package 9SO snciudes six artfcies A₁, A* wherein four articles A_v A^* are included in the tubular interna! sie-sve portion 932 of support structure 000 anϋ two articles arø disposed on caπtilevereci portions øSøa, i30b. Further, the upper edge ET of reieruion sleeve § lϊl is ^rssaged tsy retention tabs- 760a, 760b, T62a, ?S2.b to secure the retention sleeve 010 to the support stfuolαre; 9S0 or otherwise impede the: retention sleeve 91 d from being sHdaI% removed. The composite handle tabs H &r& disp>Dsed on the outer edge of top. wall i^'10 where each outer edge Is sdJse&rU io a FespeofJv« open end of the iufeuiar portion of support βtf uclurβ 9Dβ such that the. package SSO may be more easily graced by a user. Additionally, -.the contoured bottom edge. ES of the retention sleeve 010 provides windows 1^2 in whsεkartictes A <3rø additionally visible.

U must bessmph-asteed that the 3&ove~desstibeeJ ssmbscllments are me^ly exemplary Hlustratrøns of impfemenlations set fo?th far a clear o?xJerstaπd!hQ øf the pnncipi.es e>f tha invention.. Many sanations and rnodificstlons may fae_: msdβ to the s'oove-descnbeϊJ embodiαiants. withoul departing frorT'- the scαps^: of ^'the c!a]ni$. All B-UGh røodificatiθπs_? combiπstions, and variation are included herein by ihδ scope of £hi$ di«ofp«ur*5- and i^"h.e.-fo.llDwing claims.

Claims

1. A. package , corn psi sfng :. a piuraiiiy of articles ; s an ariide carrier tot supporting said artietøs. comprising; a support structure, comprising: a pair -of opposed, lop ami bottom walls- hirrgsdSy sniercoπnβsfecj t?y ® pair of opposed first and second side wails^' to define an interna) sleeve for accommodating at least one of so said articles, sεsid bottom v^sll comprising at (east qh^'β cantllevered. portion that extends beyond a Nnge^'cf connecliøn between saiid potiom waB snd one of sajci side walla and ihsiat feast partially supports at least one of said articles.; and a retention steeve for retaining said articles together an^ with the 'Λ support .structure, said retention sleeve being disposed around said articles .

2. The. package of claim 1. wherein saki at least one caπtϋβvsrβd pόsiJon of said bottom wall furthsrconiprises at (east, one reinforcing ρar*si sseured to an «xtβns5αn paπeL

20

3, The package of claim 2_S wherein said reinforcing panes and said eκla.ns(on panel &r® ..struck from an adfaeent one of said side w^ϋs,-

4. The. package of oiaϊm 1 _? said caπtilβΫβrβd portion, further ββmøπsiπg -a 2i support ledge wherein said retention siaeve Is at least parti<~i!iγ supported- upon said r. 13 -

S. The package of claim 1 _rsairi at least one of said side walls further comprising at lea&t one f&t&fsilσn tab wherein said al teas! one retention- tab engages an upper edge of ssiki retention sleeves,

j 6. The package of claim i , wherein said top wall further comprises means tor lifting said package.

7, The package of ciairπ iX wherein saki mosπs comprises handle tabs..

o ^• 8, The package of . claim 1, wherein ai least one of said sRie wails Is disposed between said at feast one article accommodated in said internal sløeve and an article resting on sak! at least. one cantiieverβd portion of said bottom wsii.

9. Thfe paαkag© of claim i , wherein at least a portion of said retention s sleeve permits the passage of light therethrough.

10. A biaπk, comprislnn: a bottom panel ine-ludUig ύ first extension pottioo; and a first side panel hingβdiy connected to said bottom pane! along a. pair of 0 spaced apart fold ϋπsss.;: wherein said firs!. es<tβn$ioπ portion of said bollom p'arse! i^xiøncis toward said first, side panel and beyood the hinged^' connection be.ivv&er?. said, bottom p^nei arid said first side pan®!.

11 . The blank of plairn 1.0, further eofnpnsihg a: s^gond side pane! hiήgadiy connected to said bottom panes afong e pair of 'spaced apart foid Ones; wherein; βasci boliorπ panel further includes <s s@co.nd extension portion; and s said second extension portion of said bottom psnøi extends toward safd second side panel and beyond the hinged connection between said bottom pane! and said second side panel

12. The blank of claim 1 ^•!, wherein said first side panel and said second ^O side oaπai can be -folded eutof the plane defined by βsid botf.om panel io. be substantially parallel to øne another^'

13. The; blank of eia*m 12. further comprising a top parrel hingediy connected to at 'east one of said side paneis, said top pane! being for- πingediy is connecting said aide panels wfefi «aid ^scie. panels nave besn foided out of said piaπe.

14^ The bianK of cfesm 11 , therein each said first pnd second, extension portqr- Is hihgediy cpnnsctecf to a reinforcing psnei, raspaotiVβiy_: each of whiαπ i&. ?.o foldable into a face- contacting arrangement with .eafin said fkst and ^scond >n par

15. The blnnK of cfeiπr 11, further comprising at least one reinforcing iJanβi hføgβdiy connecte.d to said bottom

bsiόQ^' 25 foldabfe into a ^ace contacting srrangs.φβnt with -each safd first anrJ søcoπd extension portion. ^■• 1 ? -

Tδ. A package, com pricing: a ptυr&iity of articles; and a .support structure for supposing said plurality of articles and for defining a first sieevs. r.he first, sleeve- beirvq -substantially- fixedly disposes! arcund al less! one of the articles; and a second sleeve: removably disposed around the first sleeve such, that the axis of the first sleeve is cHsposec βu&stantiaily peφendteyter to the axrs of the second sleeve and such that. at ieasi oπø: other aritele is disposed between the first sleeve and the- second sleeve..

17. The package of claim IS₅ wherein at legssi a portion of said second sleeve permits: the passage of Hght therethrough.

IS. The package of claim 18, said second. sleeps having a bottom edge at ^east a portion of which rests upon said, support structure.

i 9. The package of claim 1.6, said ββcόnci sleeve having a bottom e4lge at teas! s portion of is. spaced apart from eaid support structure.

20. The package of clasπi 1β^:. whe-rejn each of said artiqies is .substsntjaily ςyϋndricai in shape βυch thatsaki each article defines. an article axis, said arliales ^■are afrang^'ed with said arti&ie axes paraifei to asgch otha/V sncl.said axfe of %®iύ second siβave §s disposed sub^tantisϋy p^raltet w1ih;§ald srtJcia axes,