Article carrier and blank therefor

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a carton produced for packaging a plurality of articles, for example, bottles. More particularly, the invention relates to a carton which attaches to the tops of the articles thereby securing the articles in an array.

[0002] It is known to provide top gripping cartons which comprise so called "sunburst" apertures having a series of circumferentially arranged tabs which enable a bottle top to pass through the aperture which tabs engage on the underside of a bottle top or on the flange of a bottle neck to prevent the removal of the bottle from the aperture. A problem arises when such sunburst type apertures are used for bottles sealed using so called "crown corks". In this case, the location in which the tab engages on the underside of the bottle top is by its location high up the bottle neck, which creates a carton that is unstable. Further, the tabs are weakened by the unstable nature of the bottles within the carton so reducing its effectiveness.

[0003] In US 3 772 945 there is shown a carrier with a top panel comprising support tabs to support the upper part of an article contained in the carrier.

[0004] A further problem associated with the prior art is that a top gripping carton needs to be of sufficient strength to support the bottles. A rigid structure would address this problem but produces its own difficulties. In particular, the top panel and or base panel does not provide requisite rigidity and sufficient strength to support the bottles.

[0005] The present invention and its preferred embodiments seek to overcome the difficulties by forming a box structure in which both the top and base are engaged on the bottle flanges. Additional support is provided to maintain the top and base panels in a spaced arrangement while additional strength is provided by multi-layering the panels. Therefore, the board can be reduced in thickness without reducing the strength needed to hold the bottles.

[0006] A first aspect of the invention provides a carton of the top gripping type which carton comprises a top panel and a base panel, the base panel having container receiving apertures to accommodate containers received in parallel rows, retaining tabs for each aperture in which each retaining tab is formed from material taken from the base panel to form the associated aperture and folded out of the plane of the base panel to assist, together with like retaining tabs, in holding a container received in that aperture, characterised by an internal panel disposed between the top panel and the base panel and between the container rows, the internal panel having a first bracing tab connected thereto such that the internal panel and the bracing tab together provide a brace between a pair of containers in adjacent rows and a brace between the top and base panel, the internal panel and the bracing tab thereby together enhancing the stability of the carton.

[0007] According to an optional feature of this aspect of the invention, one of the retaining tabs has a notch along the distal edge thereof and the adjacent first bracing tab has an engaging edge received in the notch so as to engage the container.

[0008] According to an optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the top internal panel is connected to a second top panel which second top panel is provided opposed and spaced from the base panel.

[0009] According to an optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the bracing tab is disposed in contact with one of the retaining tabs to hold that retaining tab in engagement with a container held within an article receiving aperture.

[0010] According to an optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the internal panel further comprises a second bracing tab for engaging the underside of a radially protruding part of a container adjacent to said one container, said second bracing tab being oppositely disposed said first bracing tab.

[0011] According to an optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the internal panel is disposed between one container and an adjacent container to minimise relative movement between one and adjacent containers.

[0012] According to an optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the internal panel abuts the base panel to minimise relative movement between the top and base panels.

[0013] According to an optional feature of this aspect of the invention, each aperture is defined by a pair of said retaining tabs struck from the base panel, said retaining tabs being disposed in substantially opposed positions.

[0014] A second aspect of the invention provides a blank for forming a carton of the top gripping type, the carton for accommodating containers received in parallel rows, the blank comprising a top panel and a base panel the base panel having a container-receiving aperture, a retaining tab formed from the material taken from the base panel to form the associated aperture, characterised by an internal panel connected to the top panel, the internal panel having a first bracing tab connected thereto, such that when the blank is set up into a carton, the internal panel and first bracing tab together providing a brace between a pair of containers held in adjacent rows and a brace between the top and base panel, the internal panel and the first bracing tab thereby together enhancing the stability of the carton.

[0015] Preferably, the retaining tab has a notch along a distal edge thereof and the first bracing tab has an engaging edge received in the notch so as to engage the container in a set up condition.

[0016] Preferably, a second top panel is provided and is spaced from the base panel by a side wall panel.

[0017] Alternatively, there comprises a second bracing tab connected to said internal panel, the second bracing tab is provided to engage the underside of a radially protruding part of an adjacent container in a set up condidon.

[0018] According to an optional feature of this aspect of the invention, each aperture is defined by a pair of said retaining tabs struck from the base panel, said retaining tabs being disposed in substantially opposed positions.

[0019] Exemplary embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of an unfolded single paperboard blank from which a carton according to the invention is formed;

FIGURES 2 and 3 illustrate a carton in part formed condition from the carton blank shown in Figure 1; and

FIGURE 4 shows a carton formed from the blank shown in Figure 1.

[0020] Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a carton blank 10 for forming a top gripping carton and made from paperboard or similar foldable sheet material. The blank 10 comprises an inner top panel 12, a first side panel 14, a base panel 16, a second side panel 18, and an outer top panel 20 hingably connected one to the next along fold lines 22, 24, 26 and 28 respectively.

[0021] Three support tabs 30 or internal panels 30 are struck from inner top panel 12 being laterally aligned and spaced intermediate the side edges of inner top panel 12. Each internal panel 30 is hingably connected to inner top panel 12 along a respective one of fold lines 32, being configured and longitudinally intermediate the end edge of panel 12 and fold line 22.

[0022] Tuming to the detail of one of the support tabs or internal panels 30, it comprises a main portion 34 and a pair of shoulder portions or bracing tabs 36, 38 hingably connected to opposing side edges of main portion 34 along fold lines 40, 42. Each shoulder portion or bracing tab 36, 38 comprises a substantially linear upper edge 44 and 46 respectively each edge 44, 46 being in an angular relationship with main portion 34, and shaped to engage the underside of a radially protruding part of an article when the carton is in a set up condition. It is envisaged that the position and shape of these edges 44, 46 will vary according to the shape of the radially protruding part of the article. Optionally, the main portion 34 is approximately equal in length to side panels 14, 18.

[0023] The two further support tabs (internal panels) 30 each comprise a main portion and shoulder portion (bracing tab) being similar in shape and configuration to the support tab hereinbefore described and are therefore not described in any greater detail.

[0024] As illustrated in Figure 1, base panel 16 is formed with three pairs of receving apertures 74, 75, 76 formed by retaining tabs 48, 50, 80, 82 being struck from base panel 16 adjacent to fold line 24 and laterally spaced intermediate the side edges of base panel 16. Each tab is struck from and hingably connected to base panel 16 along fold line 24 with its distal edge 52 extending inwardly of base panel 16. Tab 48 comprises opposed side edged 54, 56 which curve outwardly to the distal edge 52, such that the distal edge 52 is longer than the edge 60 connected to base panel 16. A second tab 50 is hingably connected to base panel 16 along fold line 62 positioned in a central region of base panel 16. Tab 50 is oppositely disposed to tab 48 with its distal edge 64 juxtaposed the distal edge 52 of tab 48. Likewise, the side edges 66, 68 are curved outwardly towards its distal edge 64 to provide an distal edge 64 which is longer than fold line 62 connected to the base panel 16. The curved side edges 54, 56; 66, 68 of tabs 48 and 50 respectively define a substantially circular aperture 70, shown in Figure 2, when the tabs 48, 50 are in a set up condition. Preferably, an elongate aperture 72 is struck from the central portion of tabs 48 and 50 to provide a small notch N along each of their respective distal edges 52, 64.

[0025] The other two pairs of apertures 75, 76 are substantially identical to the first pair of retaining tabs 74 and are not therefore described in any greater detail.

[0026] Base panel 16 is also formed with three further pairs of receiving apertures being struck from base panel 16 adjacent to fold line 26 and laterally spaced intermediate side edges of base panel 16.

[0027] Their geometry is substantially identical to that of the other three apertures.

[0028] Side panel 14 comprises three apertures 106 struck from fold line 22 being spaced one to next intermediate side edges of side panel 14. Each aperture 106 is "yoke" like in shape to define a portion 108 of panel 12 which extends into side panel 14. Likewise, side panel 18 comprise three apertures 110 struck from fold line 28 each being spaced one to next intermediate side edges of side panel 18. Each aperture 110 is "yoke" like in shape to define a portion 112 of panel 20 which extends into side panel 18.

[0029] As illustrated in Figure 1, a handle tab 114 is struck from and hingably connected to a central portion of outer top panel 20 along fold line 116. In this embodiment, handle tab 114 is substantially aligned with central support tab 30 of inner top panel 12 when the carton is in a set up condition.

[0030] Turning to the construction of carton, as illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the blank requires a series of sequential folding and gluing operations which can be performed in a straight line machine so that the carton is not required to be rotated or inverted to complete its construction. The folding process is not limited to that described below and can be altered according to particular manufacturing requirements. Thus, bottles B are grouped together in two rows of three bottles B and the blank 10 is introduced to the group from above by relative vertical movement between the bottles B and the blank 10 during forward feed movement well known in the art

[0031] Each pair of retaining tabs are folded along their respective fold lines 24, 62; 26, 94 and out of their general plane with respect to base panel 16 to create article receiving apertures 70, 102 shown in Figure 2. The upper portions or neck portions of the bottles enter their respective apertures until the distal edges 52, 64; 86, 96 of the retaining tabs come into contact with the radially protruding parts, e.g., the respective crown corks, of the bottles B associated within each of the apertures. Optionally, the edge of each article receiving apertures are in contact with the neck portion of each of the respective bottles B to provide additional support.

[0032] In this embodiment, the notch formed in the distal edge of each of the tabs 48, 50; 84, 92 engages the underside of the respective crown cork C. It is advantageous to incorporate such notches for more accurate alignment of the tabs and/or to provide a tab which comes into contact with more of the underside of the crown cork than conventional tabs.

[0033] Thereafter, side panel 14 is folded about fold line 24 and inner top panel 12 is folded about fold line 22 so that inner top panel 12 is disposed over the crown corks C and in a substantially parallel and spaced relationship with base panel 16. Support tabs 30 (internal panels) are folded along fold lines 32 out of their general plane and towards base panel 16. In this embodiment, the distal edge of main portions 34 abut base panel 16 to maintain the spacing between panels 12 and 16 thereby to minimize relative movement between bottles and/or base panel 16 and top panels 12,20. Shoulder panels 36 and 38 (bracing tabs) are folded out of alignment with main portion 34 of each tab 30 along fold lines 40, 42 respectively. By this means, the upper edge 44, 46 of each shoulder portion 36, 38 is received in the notch along the distal edge of the respective retaining tab and is thereby allowed to reach the crown cork C of the adjacent bottle to engage the underside of the crown cork C, as shown in Figure 3. Thus, the main portion 34 is maintained in an angular relationship with respect to top panel 12. in addition, the tabs 50, 92 formed from base panel 16 are also held in place by being in a face to face relationship with respective ones of the shoulder panels 36, 38 as shown in Figure 3.

[0034] Side panel 18 is folded about fold line 26 and outer top panel 20 is folded about fold line 28 such that outer top panel 20 is placed in a face to face relationship with inner top panel 12. Inner and outer top panels 12, 20 are secured together by glue or other means known in the art. The carton is in a set up condition as shown in Figure 4.

[0035] By folding inner and outer base panels 12, 20 out of alignment with respective ones of the side walls 14, 18, the extended portions 108, 112 protrude beyond fold lines 22 and 26 respectively. In this embodiment, part of the crown corks C of each bottle protrude through apertures 106, 110 with the extended portions 108, 112 of panels 12 and 20 respectively being in registry with the top of the protruding portions of each respective bottle. Optionally, side panels 14 and 18 are juxtaposed to respective retaining tabs 48, 84 of base panel 16 to assist in maintaining their engagement with the underside of the crown corks.

[0036] In use, handle tab 114 is folded inwardly along fold line 116 to create a hand aperture to receive a user's finger to enable the carton to be carried. Because the retaining tabs 74, 75, 76, 78, 80 and 82 engage the crown corks C of the packaged bottles, the load of the bottles is transferred directly to the top wall when the carton is lifted by the hand aperture.

[0037] The present invention and its preferred embodiment relate to an article carrier which is shaped to provide satisfactory strength to hold bottles securely but with a degree of flexibility so that load transferred to the handle is absorbed by the carrier. The shape of the blank minimizes the amount of paperboard required and the carrier can be applied to an array of bottles by hand or automatic machinery. It is anticipated that the invention can be applied to a variety of carrier and not limited to those of the top gripping sort.

Claims

1. A carton of the top gripping type which carton comprises a top panel (12) and a base panel (16), the base panel having container receiving apertures (74, 75, 76, 78, 80, 82) to accommodate containers (B) received in parallel rows, retaining tabs (48, 50, 84, 92) for each aperture in which each retaining tab is formed from material taken from the base panel to form the associated aperture and folded out of the plane of the base panel (16) to assist, together with like retaining tabs, in holding a container received in that aperture, characterised by an internal panel (30) disposed between the top panel (12) and the base panel and between the container rows, the internal panel having a first bracing tab (36) connected thereto such that the internal panel and the bracing tab together provide a brace between a pair of containers in adjacent rows and a brace between the top and base panel, the internal panel and the bracing tab thereby together enhancing the stability of the carton.

2. A carton as claimed in claims 1, wherein one of the retaining tabs has a notch (N) along the distal edge (52) thereof and the adjacent first bracing tab (36) has an engaging edge (44) received in the notch (N) so as to engage the container (B).

3. A carton as claimed in any of claims 1 or 2 wherein said top panel (12) is connected to a second top panel (20) which second top panel is provided opposed and spaced from the base panel (16).

4. A carton as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the bracing tab (36) is disposed in contact with one of the retaining tabs to hold that retaining tab in engagement with a container (B) held within an article receiving aperture.

5. A carton as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the internal panel (30) further comprises a second bracing tab (38) for engaging the underside of a radially protruding part of a container (B) adjacent to said one container (B), said second bracing tab (38) being oppositely disposed said first bracing tab (36).

6. A carton as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the internal panel (30) is disposed between one container (B) and an adjacent container (B) to minimise relative movement between said one and adjacent containers.

7. A carton as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 wherein said internal panel abuts the base panel to minimise relative movement between said top and base panels.

8. A carton as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each said aperture is defined by a pair of said retaining tabs (48, 50) struck from the base panel (16), said retaining tabs being disposed in substantially opposed positions.

9. A blank for forming a carton of the top gripping type, the carton for accommodating containers received in parallel rows, the blank comprising a top panel (12) and a base panel (16), the base panel having a container-receiving aperture (74, 75, 76, 78, 80, 82), a retaining tab (48) formed from the material taken from the base panel to form the associated aperture, characterised by an internal panel (30) connected to the top panel (12), the internal panel (30) having a first bracing tab (36) connected thereto, such that when the blank is set up into a carton, the internal panel and bracing tab together provide a brace between a pair of containers held in adjacent rows and a brace between the top and base panel, the internal panel and the bracing tab thereby together enhancing the stability of the carton.

10. A blank as claimed in claim 9, wherein the retaining tab has a notch (N) along a distal edge (52) thereof and the first bracing tab (36) has an engaging edge (44) received in the notch (N) so as to engage the container (B) in a set up condition.

11. A blank as claimed in claim 10 wherein a second top panel (20) is provided and is spaced from the base panel (16) by a side panel (18).

12. A blank as claimed in claim 10 wherein there comprises a second bracing tab (38) connected to said internal panel (30), said second bracing tab (38) is provided to engage the underside of a radially protruding part of an adjacent container (B) in a set up condition.

13. A blank as claimed in any of claims 9 to 12 wherein each said aperture is defined by a pair of said retaining tabs (48, 50) struck from the base panel (16), said retaining tabs being disposed in substantially opposed positions.

14. A package having a plurality of articles arranged in an array and carried by a carton as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8.

Ansprüche

1. Schachtel des oberteilgreifenden Typs, wobei die Schachtel eine Deckenwandfläche (12) und eine Bodenwandfläche (16) umfasst, wobei die Bodenwandfläche (16) behälteraufnehmende Öffnungen (74, 75, 76, 78, 80, 82) aufweist, um Behälter (B) unterzubringen, die in parallelen Reihen aufgenommen werden, Rückhaltelaschen (48, 50, 84, 92) für jede Öffnung, wobei jede Rückhaltelasche aus Material ausgebildet ist, das aus der Bodenwandfläche genommen ist, um die dazugehörige Öffnung auszubilden, sowie aus der Ebene der Bodenwandfläche (16) herausgefaltet ist, um zusammen mit gleichartigen Rückhaltelaschen dabei behilflich zu sein, einen Behälter, der in dieser Öffnung aufgenommen ist, zu halten, gekennzeichnet durch eine innere Wandfläche (30), die zwischen der Deckenwandfläche (12) und der Bodenwandfläche und zwischen den Behälterreihen angeordnet ist, wobei die innere Wandfläche eine erste Strebenlasche (36) aufweist, die mit dieser verbunden ist, so dass die innere Wandfläche und die Strebenlasche zusammen eine Strebe zwischen einem Paar von Behältern in angrenzenden Reihen und eine Strebe zwischen der Deckenwandfläche und der Bodenwandfläche bereitstellen, wobei die innere Wandfläche und die Strebenlasche dadurch zusammen die Stabilität der Schachtel verbessern.

2. Schachtel nach Anspruch 1, wobei eine der Rückhaltelaschen eine Kerbe (N) entlang der distalen Kante (52) davon aufweist und die angrenzende erste Strebenlasche (36) eine in Eingriff nehmende Kante (44) aufweist, die in der Kerbe (N) aufgenommen ist, um den Behälter (B) in Eingriff zu nehmen.

3. Schachtel nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei die Deckenwandfläche (12) mit einer zweiten Deckenwandfläche (20) verbunden ist, wobei die zweite Deckenwandfläche gegenüber und beabstandet von der Bodenwandfläche (16) bereitgestellt ist.

4. Schachtel nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, wobei die Strebenlasche (36) in Berührung mit einer der Rückhaltelaschen angeordnet ist, um diese Rückhaltelasche in In-Eingriffnahme mit einem Behälter (B) zu halten, der in einer behälteraufnehmenden Öffnung gehalten wird.

5. Schachtel nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die innere Wandfläche (30) ferner eine zweite Strebenlasche (38) umfasst, um die Unterseite eines radial abstehenden Teils eines Behälters (B) angrenzend an den Behälter (B) in Eingriff zu nehmen, wobei die Strebenlasche (38) gegenüber von der ersten Strebenlasche (36) angeordnet ist.

6. Schachtel nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die innere Wandfläche (30) zwischen einem Behälter (B) und einem angrenzenden Behälter (B) angeordnet ist, um die relative Bewegung zwischen dem einen und dem angrenzenden Behälter auf ein Mindestmaß zu beschränken.

7. Schachtel nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die innere Wandfläche an die Bodenwandfläche anstößt, um die relative Bewegung zwischen der Deckenwandfläche und der Bodenwandfläche auf ein Mindestmaß zu beschränken.

8. Schachtel nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei jede Öffnung durch ein Paar der Rückhaltelaschen (48, 50) definiert wird, die aus der Bodenwandfläche (16) ausgestanzt sind, wobei die Rückhaltelaschen in im wesentlichen gegenüberliegenden Positionen angeordnet sind.

9. Zuschnitt zum Ausbilden einer Schachtel des oberteilgreifenden Typs, wobei die Schachtel für das Unterbringen von Behältern ausgestaltet ist, die in parallelen Reihen aufgenommen werden, wobei der Zuschnitt eine Deckenwandfläche (12) und eine Bodenwandfläche (16) umfasst, wobei die Bodenwandfläche eine behälteraufnehmende Öffnung (74, 75, 76, 78, 80, 82) aufweist, sowie eine Rückhaltelasche (48), die aus dem Material ausgebildet ist, das aus der Bodenwandfläche genommen ist, um die dazugehörige Öffnung auszubilden, gekennzeichnet durch eine innere Wandfläche (30), die mit der Deckenwandfläche (12) verbunden ist, wobei die innere Wandfläche (30) eine erste Strebenlasche (36) aufweist, die mit dieser verbunden ist, so dass, wenn der Zuschnitt zu einer Schachtel aufgerichtet worden ist, die innere Wandfläche und die Strebenlasche zusammen eine Strebe zwischen einem Paar von Behältern, die in angrenzenden Reihen gehalten werden, und eine Strebe zwischen der Deckenwandfläche und der Bodenwandfläche bereitstellen, wobei die innere Wandfläche und die Strebenlasche dadurch zusammen die Stabilität der Schachtel verbessern.

10. Zuschnitt nach Anspruch 9, wobei die Rückhaltelasche eine Kerbe (N) entlang einer distalen Kante (52) davon aufweist und die erste Strebenlasche (36) eine in Eingriff nehmende Kante (44) aufweist, die in der Kerbe (N) aufgenommen ist, um den Behälter (B) in einem aufgerichteten Zustand in Eingriff zu nehmen.

11. Zuschnitt nach Anspruch 10, wobei eine zweite Deckenwandfläche (20) bereitgestellt ist und durch eine Seitenwandfläche (18) von der Bodenwandfläche (16) beabstandet ist.

12. Zuschnitt nach Anspruch 10, wobei eine zweite Strebenlasche (38) umfasst wird, die mit der inneren Wandfläche (30) verbunden ist, wobei die zweite Strebenlasche (38) bereitgestellt ist, um die Unterseite eines radial abstehenden Teils eines angrenzenden Behälters (B) in einem aufgerichteten Zustand in Eingriff zu nehmen.

13. Zuschnitt nach einem der Ansprüche 9 bis 12, wobei jede Öffnung durch ein Paar der Rückhaltelaschen (48, 50) definiert ist, die aus der Bodenwandfläche (16) ausgestanzt sind, wobei die Rückhaltelaschen in im wesentlichen gegenüberliegenden Positionen angeordnet sind.

14. Verpackung mit einer Vielzahl von Gegenständen, die in einem Array angeordnet sind und von einer Schachtel nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 8 getragen werden.

Revendications

1. Carton du type à accrochage supérieur, lequel carton comprend un panneau supérieur (12) et un panneau de base (16), le panneau de base (16) ayant des ouvertures de réception de récipient (74, 75, 76, 78, 80, 82) pour loger des récipients (B) reçus en rangs parallèles, des pattes de retenue (48, 50, 84, 92) pour chaque ouverture dans laquelle chaque patte de retenue est formée à partir de matériau pris à partir du panneau de base pour former l'ouverture associée et pliée hors du plan du panneau de base (16) pour aider, conjointement avec des pattes de retenue similaires, à retenir un récipient reçu dans cette ouverture, caractérisé par un panneau interne (30) disposé entre le panneau supérieur (12) et le panneau de base et entre les rangs de récipients, le panneau interne ayant une première patte de support (36) reliée à celui-ci de sorte que le panneau interne et la patte de support fournissent conjointement un support entre une paire de récipients dans des rangs adjacents et un support entre les panneaux supérieur et de base, le panneau interne et la patte de support améliorant ainsi conjointement la stabilité du carton.

2. Carton selon la revendication 1, dans lequel une des pattes de retenue a une encoche (N) le long du bord distal (52) de celle-ci et la première patte de support adjacente (36) a un bord de prise (44) reçu dans l'encoche (N) afin d'entrer en prise avec le récipient (B).

3. Carton selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 ou 2, dans lequel ledit panneau supérieur (12) est relié à un second panneau supérieur (20), lequel second panneau supérieur est fourni en face et espacé du panneau de base (16).

4. Carton selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, dans lequel la patte de support (36) est disposée en contact avec une des pattes de retenue pour retenir cette patte de retenue en prise avec un récipient (B) maintenu à l'intérieur d'une ouverture de réception d'article.

5. Carton selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le panneau interne (30) comprend en outre une seconde patte de support (38) pour entrer en prise avec la sous-face d'une partie en saillie de façon radiale d'un récipient (B) à côté dudit récipient (B), ladite seconde patte de support (38) étant disposée de façon opposée à ladite première patte de support (36).

6. Carton selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, dans lequel le panneau interne (30) est disposé entre un récipient (B) et un récipient adjacent (B) pour minimiser le mouvement relatif entre ledit premier récipient et ledit récipient adjacent.

7. Carton selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, dans lequel ledit panneau interne est contigu au panneau de base pour minimiser le mouvement relatif entre lesdits panneaux supérieur et de base.

8. Carton selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel chaque dite ouverture est définie par une paire desdites pattes de retenue (48, 50) frappées à partir du panneau de base (16), lesdites pattes de retenue étant disposées dans des positions sensiblement opposées.

9. Flanc pour former un carton du type à accrochage supérieur, le carton logeant des récipients reçus en rangs parallèles, le flanc comprenant un panneau supérieur (12) et un panneau de base (16), le panneau de base ayant une ouverture de réception de récipient (74, 75, 76, 78, 80, 82), une patte de retenue (48) formée à partir du matériau pris à partir du panneau de base pour former l'ouverture associée, caractérisé par un panneau interne (30) relié au panneau supérieur (12), le panneau interne (30) ayant une première patte de support (36) reliée à celui-ci, de sorte que lorsque le flanc est assemblé pour former un carton, le panneau interne et la patte de support fournissent conjointement un support entre une paire de récipients maintenus en rangs adjacents et un support entre les panneaux supérieur et de base, le panneau interne et la patte de support améliorant ainsi conjointement la stabilité du carton.

10. Flanc selon la revendication 9, dans lequel la patte de retenue a un encoche (N) le long d'un bord distal (52) de celle-ci et la première patte de support (36) a un bord de prise (44) reçu dans l'encoche (N) afin d'entrer en prise avec le récipient (B) dans une condition assemblée.

11. Flanc selon la revendication 10, dans lequel un second panneau supérieur (20) est fourni et est espacé du panneau de base (16) par un panneau de paroi latérale (18).

12. Flanc selon la revendication 10, dans lequel il est compris une seconde patte de support (38) reliée audit panneau interne (30), ladite seconde patte de support (38) est fournie pour entrer en prise avec la sous-face d'une partie en saillie de façon radiale d'un récipient adjacent (B) dans une condition assemblée.

13. Flanc selon l'une quelconque des revendications 9 à 12, dans lequel chaque dite ouverture est définie par une paire desdites pattes de retenue (48, 50) frappées à partir du panneau de base (16), lesdites pattes de retenue étant disposées dans des positions sensiblement opposées.

14. Emballage ayant une pluralité d'articles agencés en série et transportés par un carton selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8.

Drawing