Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6189687
-
Patent Number
6,189,687
-
Date Filed
Friday, June 18, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, February 20, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Sewell; Paul T.
- Arnold; Troy
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 206 175
- 206 180
- 206 190
- 206 186
- 206 170
- 206 162
- 206 427
- 229 11714
- 229 12009
- 229 12011
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
The present invention and its preferred embodiments relate to an article carrier which is shaped to provide satisfactory strength to hold the bottles securely but with a degree of flexibility so that the load transferred to the handle is absorbed by a carrier. The shape of the blank minimises the amount of paperboard required. 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 basket carrier type.
Description
This invention relates to an article carrier of the basket type adapted to accommodate a plurality of articles, such as bottles and to a blank for forming the carrier. Normally a basket carrier for bottles includes a central (medial) partition structure which incorporates a handle structure by which the carrier can be lifted and carried and the bottles are arranged in rows on either side of the partition structure. More often than not, bottles are separated from one another by transverse partition panels extending from each side of the medial partition structure to the adjacent side wall of the carrier. Hence, in this type of arrangement the bottles are accommodated in individual cells of the carrier although such cells are not essential.
One example of basket type carriers is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,326,411. The side and end wall panels are positioned on opposite sides of handle panels and an internal partition structure. The handle panels are defined in part by cut lines which define its side and upper edges and interrupt a central foldline.
A problem associated with carriers of the basket type is that the partition structure is often required to extend deeply into the carrier. A consequence of this requirement is that more paperboard is needed. The present invention should be capable of being designed with partitions which may extend relatively deeply into the carrier, whilst minimising the amount of board required. What is also required is a blank which can retain its integrity during the folding process.
One aspect of the invention provides a blank for forming an article carrier of the basket type comprising opposing side and end walls foldably connected together in series, a base, medial support means and an internal partition structure and handle means positioned within the blank with a first edge adjacent the opposing side and end walls.
At least one panel forming the opposed side and end walls is connected to the handle means. The medial support means and the internal partition structure extend outwardly of an opposing edge of the handle means and are connected to the handle means by a first fold line and a second fold line, the first fold line and second fold line being separated by a first cut line which defines an edge of the handle means.
Accordingly to an optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the first cut line may further define a side edge of the handle means.
According to another optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the position of the first and second fold lines may be selectively located relative the upper edge of the opposed side and end walls according to the required depth of partition structure such that the transverse dimension of the opposed side and end walls remain unaltered. Alternatively, the first and/or second fold lines may be positioned relative to the side edges of the handle means according to the height of the internal partition structure required.
According to a further optional feature of this aspect of the invention the handle means may further comprise a handle panel with an upper edge defined by the first cut line and a lower edge separated from at least one of the side and end walls by a second cut line. Optionally, the handle means may further comprise a second handle panel adjacent the first handle panel and foldably connected together along a common end edge and interposed between the panels forming the medial support means and the internal partition structure and the or each panels forming at least one of the end and side walls.
According to yet another optional feature of this aspect of the invention the or each handle panel may be connected to opposing end walls.
Optionally, the base is foldably connected to a panel forming at least one of the side and end panels.
A second aspect of the invention provides an article carrier of the basket type formed from a blank described herein.
FIG. 1
is a plan view of a blank for forming a basket carrier, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2
is an isometric illustration of a bottle carrier formed from the blank of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is a plan view of a blank for forming a basket carrier, according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention, which includes an alternative handle and internal partition formation; and
FIG. 4
is a plan view of a blank for forming a basket carrier, according to a third preferred embodiment of the invention, which includes another alternative handle formation and internal partition structure.
Referring to the drawings, and in particular
FIG. 1
thereof, a bottle carrier is formed from a single blank
10
of paperboard or other suitable foldable sheet material and is adapted to accommodate six bottles arranged in two rows of three bottles each. The blank includes securing panel
12
, first end panel
14
, first side panel
16
, second end panel
18
, third end panel
20
, second side panel
22
, fourth end panel
24
and securing panel
26
, hingably connected one to the next along fold lines
28
,
30
,
32
,
34
,
36
,
38
and
40
respectively.
An outer handle panel
42
is disposed adjacent end panel
18
and side panel
16
. Handle panel
42
is separated from side panel
16
by a cut line
41
and from end panel
18
by cut line
46
. Handle panel
42
is connected to first end panel
14
along one side edge of handle panel
42
by means of a tapered connecting portion
48
. The connecting portion
48
is foldably connected to handle panel
42
along fold line
50
, and foldably connected to first end panel
14
along fold line
30
. Cut line
44
separates connecting portions
48
from side panel
16
and is shaped to provide a narrow portion adjacent end wall
14
. The end of this narrow portion is sufficient to maintain the connection between the handle panel
42
and end panel
14
during handling of the blank prior to folding and gluing.
Handle panel
42
includes a hand aperture
52
. A hand cushioning flap
54
is connected along fold line
56
to an upper edge of hand aperture
52
.
A similar outer handle panel
44
is disposed adjacent third end panel
20
and second side panel
22
. Handle panel
44
is separated from side panel
22
by a cut line
58
and from end panel
20
by cut line
60
. Handle panel
44
is connected to fourth end panel
24
along one side by means of a tapered connecting portion
62
. The connecting portion
62
is foldably connected to handle panel
44
along fold line
64
and foldably connected to fourth end panel
24
along fold line
38
. Cut line
58
separates connecting portion
62
from side panel
22
and is shaped to provide a narrow portion adjacent fourth end panel
24
. The end of this narrow portion is sufficient to maintain the connection between the handle panel
44
and fourth end panel
24
during handling of the blank prior to folding and gluing.
Other handle panels
42
and
44
are hingably connected to third end panel
20
along their common side edge by an extension of fold line
34
.
A partition structure P, shown in
FIG. 2
, for the article carrier is formed along the upper ends of handle panels
42
and
44
. Specifically, partition panel
72
is connected to handle panel
42
along fold lines
76
and
78
. Cut line
80
connects one end of fold line
76
to one end of fold line
78
and defines the upper edge of handle panel
42
and part of its opposing side edges
82
,
84
. A transverse panel
86
is hingably connected to partition panel
72
along fold line
88
. A second transverse panel
90
is hingably connected to partition panel
72
by fold line
92
.
Transverse panel
86
is separated from partition panel
72
by cut lines
94
and
96
which extend between fold lines
88
and
92
. Second transverse partition panel
90
is separated from partition panel
72
by cut lines
98
and
100
which extend between fold line
92
and the side edge of partition panel
72
.
A glue panel
102
is positioned adjacent to transverse panel
90
: being connected to transverse panels
86
and
90
by fold lines
104
,
106
respectively. The glue panel
102
is separated from transverse panel
90
by cut line
108
which extends between fold line
92
and fold line
104
.
A second partition panel
110
is connected to handle panel
44
along fold lines
112
and
114
. Cut line
115
connects one end of fold line
112
to one end of fold line
114
and defines the upper edge of handle panel
44
and part of its opposing side edges
116
,
118
. A transverse panel
120
is connected to second partition panel
110
along fold line
122
. A second transverse panel
124
is hingably connected to second partition panel
110
by fold line
126
. Transverse panel
120
is separated from second partition panel
110
by cut lines
128
and
130
which extend between fold lines
122
and
126
. Transverse panel
124
is separated from second partition panel
110
by cut lines
132
and
134
which extend between fold line
126
and the side edge of second partition panel
110
.
A glue panel
135
is positioned adjacent to transverse panel
124
being connected to transverse panels
120
and
124
by fold lines
136
,
138
respectively. Glue panel
135
is separated from transverse panel
124
by cut line
140
which extends between fold line
126
and fold line
138
.
First and second partition panels are hingably connected together along their common side edge by fold line
34
which is interrupted by cut line
141
defining medial support panel
142
.
An inner handle panel
144
is hingably connected to second partition panel
110
along fold line
146
. Handle panel
144
comprises a hand aperture
148
which is positioned to be aligned with hand apertures
52
,
66
when the carton is constructed.
Turning to the construction of the base, a first base panel
150
is hingably connected to first side wall
16
along fold line
152
. A second base panel
154
is foldably connected to second side wall
22
along fold line
156
. A glue flap
158
is connected to the opposite edge of base panel
154
.
The construction of the completed carrier in a flat collapsed condition from the blank requires a series of sequential folding and gluing operations.
Thus, the folding of the blank of
FIG. 1
to form the completed article carrier is begun by applying glue to glue flaps
102
,
142
,
135
,
158
and panels
12
,
40
. In addition, glue may be applied to the surface of either or both sides of inner handle panel
142
.
The blank is then folded along fold lines
76
,
78
and
112
,
114
so that partition panels
72
and
110
are in a face to face relationship with respective one of handle panels
42
and
44
and may be secured thereto by glue or other means known in the art. Glue flaps
102
and
135
are secured to respective side panels
16
and
22
. Inner handle panel
142
is folded about fold line
146
and into a face to face relationship with outer handle panel
44
and connected together. Tab
142
is connected to end panel
20
by glue or other known means and provides additional support to the connection between the partition structure and outer panels.
The two sides of the basket carrier are then brought into face to face relationship by folding about fold line
34
with outer handle panel
42
being secured to inner handle panel
142
by glue or other means known in the art.
End panel
14
and support panel
12
are folded into a face to face relationship with respective end panel
24
and support panel
26
about fold lines
30
,
38
respectively. Each support panel
12
,
26
is then connected together with the hooks
160
shown in
FIG. 1
facing the partition structure and the end panels connected to connecting portions
48
,
62
by glue or other known means.
Support panels
12
/
26
are connected to handle structure H (shown in
FIG. 2
) by glue or other means known in the art. It is to be expected that some tearing to the narrow parts of the connecting portions
48
,
62
may occur. Any such tearing will be aesthetically unnoticeable. Further, because the carrier has been glued, the connection portions to hold the blank together are no longer needed for this purpose.
In use, the article carrier is erected by moving the outer edges of the collapsed carrier defined by fold lines
30
,
38
and
34
inwardly towards each other. This moves end panels
14
,
24
and
18
,
20
and side panels
16
and
22
into a rectangular configuration. This facilitates the construction of individual cells. Thus, transverse partition panels
86
,
90
are moved out of alignment with first side panel
16
and partition panel
72
and are folded about fold lines
88
,
106
and
92
,
104
respectively so that three cells are formed as illustrated in FIG.
2
. Similarly, transverse partition panels
120
,
124
are moved out of alignment with second side panel
22
and partition panel
110
and are folded about fold lines
122
,
136
and
126
,
138
respectively so that three cells are formed.
FIG. 2
shows the position of the cells and medial panels when the carton is in a set up condition.
The carton is then ready to receive articles (not shown) which are loaded by relative vertical movement between the bottles and carrier during forward feed movement, well known in the art, by which bottles enter their respective cells through the open bottom of the carrier. Thereafter, the base is formed by folding first and second base panels
150
,
154
into a substantially perpendicular relationship with side walls
16
,
22
respectively and the free edge of each base panel is then secured together with the glue flap
158
to form the base of the carrier and held in place by hooks
160
.
Handle tabs
54
,
68
are folded about handle panels
42
,
44
to further secure handle panel structure H and the carton as shown in
FIG. 2
of the drawings.
FIGS. 3 and 4
illustrate further embodiments which are similar in construction to the embodiment hereinbefore described, as will be understood by those in the skilled art.
The depth of the internal partition structure can be reduced or increased, in accordance with specific requirements, by moving fold lines
76
,
78
,
112
,
114
towards or away from the side and end walls. Likewise, the invention enables the handle shape to be altered easily by changing the profile of cut lines
80
,
115
, for example.
Claims
- 1. A blank for forming an article carrier of the basket type, the blank comprising:a plurality of wall panels, each of said wall panels having a top edge, a bottom edge, and opposed side edges, said wall panels being foldably connected in a series along said side edges; handle means comprising at least one handle panel having a lower edge disposed adjacent to said top edge of at least one of said wall panels, said handle panel being connected to at least one of said wall panels, said handle panel further including an upper edge disposed opposite said lower edge thereof and remote from said wall panel; medial support means and internal partition structure comprising at least one medial support panel, said medial support panel disposed adjacent said upper edge of said handle panel; said medial panel being connected to said handle panel by a first fold line and a second fold line, said first fold line and said second fold line being separated by a first cut line that defines said upper edge of said handle panel.
- 2. A blank according to claim 1, wherein said first fold line and said second fold line are disposed in an offset relationship with respect to said upper edge of said handle panel.
- 3. A blank according to claim 1, wherein said first cut line further defines a side edge of said handle panel, and wherein said first fold line terminates at said side edge of said handle panel.
- 4. A blank according to claim 1, wherein said lower edge of said handle panel is defined by a second cut line separating said handle panel from the one of said wall panels having a top edge adjacent to said handle panel.
- 5. A blank according to claim 1, wherein said first fold line and said second fold line are disposed between and generally parallel to said upper edge of said handle panel and said second cut line.
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
102e Date |
371c Date |
PCT/US97/24240 |
|
WO |
00 |
6/18/1999 |
6/18/1999 |
Publishing Document |
Publishing Date |
Country |
Kind |
WO98/28200 |
7/2/1998 |
WO |
A |
US Referenced Citations (11)