The present invention relates to carriers for carrying bottles. More specifically, the present invention relates to structures and assembly of cartons for carrying bottles, the cartons being made of paper board and the like and having a handle for carrying the same.
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will, nevertheless, be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended; any alterations and further modifications of the described or illustrated embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
Generally, one form of the present apparatus is a carrier that holds two bottles, such as those used for craft beer. However, it will be understood that the carrier may be configured to hold any suitable number of bottles and/or size of bottles or other articles. This embodiment, illustrated in
As shown, form 100 includes front panel 110, back panel 120, side panels 130, 135, bottom panels 140, 145, and tab 170 that collectively define a container portion 148. In the embodiment shown, panels 110, 120, 130, 135 define a top edge extending along a line 149. Form 100 further includes risers 150 and handle flaps 160 from which carrying holes 165 are fully or partially cut out, extending substantially from line 149 away from top edge, to define a handle portion 158. In alternative embodiments, portions of handle portion may extend below line 149. For example, segment 180 may extend below line 149, thus causing portions of handle flaps 160 to lie below line 149. It will be understood that in some embodiments, after form 100 is assembled into the assembled configuration, some portions of handle portion 158, such as portions of handle flaps 160, may lie below line 149, due to manufacturing or assembly-related anomalies or inconsistencies. In the embodiment shown, holes 165 are sized and configured to receive at least one finger of a person carrying the carrier in the assembled configuration.
Container portion 148 includes a plurality of fold lines 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 along which portions of form 100 may be folded in order to form the assembled configuration of form 100. More particularly, fold line 10 extends between panels 135, 110, while fold line 12 extends between panels 110, 130. Fold line 14 extends between panels 130, 120, and fold line 16 extends between panel 160 and flap 170. Fold line 18 extends between panels 120 and the adjacent bottom panel 140, while fold line 20 extends between panel 130 and the adjacent bottom panel 145. Fold line 22 extends between panel 110 the adjacent bottom panel 140, and fold line 24 extends between panel 135 and the adjacent bottom panel 145. Fold lines 190 extend between handle flap 160 and riser 150. In the embodiment shown, fold lines 10, 12, 14, 16, 190 are parallel to one another and perpendicular to fold lines 18, 20, 22, 24. As shown, fold lines 18, 20, 22, 24 are co-linear when form 100 is unassembled. In the embodiment shown, fold lines 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24 represent imaginary lines along which form 100 may be folded to form the carrier. However, in some embodiments, any or all of fold lines 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 may be scored, perforated, or otherwise treated or configured in a manner that facilitates later handling or assembly of the form 100. Edges and/or fold lines shown herein as parallel or perpendicular might be substantially (but not precisely) parallel or perpendicular, or may have other relative orientations as will occur to those skilled in the art.
As form 100 is formed by a die cutting process, for example, handle edge segments 180 are also cut, separating each handle flap 160 from its respective neighboring panel 110 or 120. Moreover, in the embodiment shown, fold lines 190 are scored, perforated, or otherwise treated or configured in a manner that facilitates later handling or assembly of the form 100. However, in other embodiments, one or both of fold lines 190 may not include such features such that fold lines 190 represent imaginary lines along which flaps 160 may be folded. Moreover, in other embodiments, segments 180 and creases 190 may be treated before or after form 100 is created through a die cutting process.
After form 100 is cut, it is passed through forming equipment as is known by those skilled in the art. In this case, panels 135, 110, 130, and 120 are folded at approximately 90-degree angles to form a rectangular shape, in cross section, such as in cross section along line 149 (e.g., block 302 of
In order to form the bottom portion of the expanded carrier configuration of form 100, bottom panels 140 and 145 are folded up along their respective fold lines 18, 20, 22, 24 and glued together. In the embodiment shown, in the assembled configuration, bottom panels 140, 145 lie substantially perpendicularly to each of the panels 110, 120, 130, 135. Thus, in the embodiment shown, panels 110, 120, 130, 135, 140, 145 in the assembled configuration define a single compartment extending substantially from bottom panels 140, 145 to line 149 (e.g., block 302 of
Handle flaps 160 are folded at fold lines 190 so that they extend perpendicular to risers 150 and parallel to side panels 130 and 135 (blocks 308, 310 of
In some implementations, before or after form 100 is cut out, form 100 may be passed through a digital printer that selectively applies text and/or graphics to one or both sides of the form 100. In some of these implementations, the text and/or graphics are customized by a third party, automatically computer-generated per a remote customer's request, programmatically and even uniquely generated, or otherwise designed to take advantage of short-run capabilities and/or digital printing technology. Because of the configuration of form 100 as described herein, text and graphics need only be applied to one side of form 100 in its flattened configuration in order to display such text and/or graphics on the surfaces of form 100 that are on the outside when form 100 is in its expanded, carrier configuration.
Form 200 includes front panel 210, back panel 220, side panels 230, 235, bottom panels 240, 245, and tab 270 that collectively define a container portion 248. In the embodiment shown, panels 210, 220, 230, 235 define a top edge extending along a line 249. Form 200 also includes risers 250a, 250b and handle flaps 260a, 260b extending substantially from line 249 away from top edge, that define a handle portion 258. As shown, handle flap 260a and riser 250a extend from panel 230 such that a portion of flap 260a is outboard of panel 230 and flap 270. Handle flap 260b extends from panels 235, 210, and riser 250b extends from panel 235.
As form 200 goes through the die-cutting process, handle edge segments 280a, 280b are also cut, separating handle flap 260a from panel 230, and separating handle flap 260b from panels 235, 210. In the embodiment shown, fold lines 290 are scored, perforated, or otherwise treated or configured to facilitate later handling or assembly of the form 200 during the die cutting process. However, in other embodiments, one or both of fold lines 290 do not include such features, so fold lines 290 represent imaginary lines along which flaps 260a, 260b may be folded relative to risers 250a, 250b. Moreover, in other embodiments, segments 280a, 280b and fold lines 290 may be treated before or after form 200 is created through a die cutting process. In the embodiment shown, handle flaps 260a, 260b each include carrying holes 265 that are cut out from handle flaps 260a, 260b. As shown in the present embodiment, holes 265 are sized and configured to receive at least one finger of a person carrying the carrier in the assembled configuration. In the embodiment illustrated in
In alternative embodiments, portions of handle portion 258 may extend below line 249. For example, segments 280a, 280b may extend below line 249, thus causing portions of handle flaps 260a, 260b to lie below line 249. It will be understood that in some embodiments, after form 200 is formed into the assembled configuration, some portions of handle portion 258, such as portions of handle flaps 260a, 260b, may lie below line 249, due to manufacturing or assembly related anomalies or inconsistencies.
Container portion 248 comprises a plurality of fold lines 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 along which portions of form 200 may be folded in order to form the assembled configuration of form 200. As shown, fold line 26 extends between panels 220, 235, while fold line 28 extends between panels 235, 210. Fold line 30 extends between panels 210, 230, and fold line 32 extends between panel 230 and flap 270. Fold line 32 extends between panel 230 and the adjacent bottom panel 240, while fold line 36 extends between panel 210 and the adjacent bottom panel 245. Fold line 38 extends between panel 235 and the adjacent bottom panel 240, and fold line 40 extends between panel 220 and the adjacent bottom panel 245. Fold lines 290 extend between handle flap 260a, 260b and riser 250a, 250b. In the embodiment shown, fold lines 26, 28, 30, 32, 190 are parallel to one another and perpendicular to fold lines 34, 36, 38, 40. As shown, fold lines 34, 36, 38, 40 are collinear when form 200 is unassembled. In the embodiment shown, fold lines 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 represent imaginary lines along which form 200 may be folded to form the carrier. However, in some embodiments, any or all of fold lines 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 may be scored, perforated, or otherwise treated or configured in a manner that facilitates later handling or assembly of the form 200.
After form 200 is cut, it is passed through forming equipment as is known by those skilled in the art. In this case, panels 230, 210, 235, and 220 are folded at approximately 90-degree angles with each other to form a rectangle, in cross section, such as in cross section along line 249 (e.g., block 302 of
In order to form the bottom portion of the expanded carrier configuration of form 100, bottom panels 240 and 245 are folded up along their respective fold lines 34, 36, 38, 40 and glued together. In the embodiment shown, in the assembled configuration, bottom panels 240, 245 lie substantially perpendicularly to each of the panels 210, 220, 230, 235. Thus, in the embodiment shown, panels 210, 220, 230, 235, 240, 245 in the assembled configuration define a single compartment extending substantially from bottom panels 240, 245 to line 249 (block 302 of
Handle flaps 260a, 260b are folded at fold lines 290 so that they extend perpendicular to risers 250a, 250b, and parallel to front and rear panels 210, 220 (blocks 308, 310 of
In some implementations, before or after form 200 is cut out, form 200 may be passed through a digital printer that selectively applies text and/or graphics to one or both sides of the form 200. In some of these implementations, the text and/or graphics are customized by a third-party, automatically computer-generated per a remote customer's request, programmatically and even uniquely generated, or otherwise designed to take advantage of short-run capabilities. Due to the configuration of form 200 as described herein, text and graphics need only be applied to one side of form 200 in its flattened configuration in order to display such text and/or graphics on the front or outer portion of form 200 in its expanded, carrier configuration.
Form 300 includes an exemplary alternative handle portion 358. Particularly, handle portion 358 includes an alternative segment (cut) 380 that includes a substantially straight, horizontal portion 380a and a curved portion 380b, as seen best in
Form 400 includes an exemplary alternative handle portion 458. Particularly, handle portion 458 includes an alternative segment 480 that includes a horizontal portion 480a and a curved portion 480b, as seen best in
As shown, segment 480 is cut along horizontal portion 480a and curved portion 480b. Including the radius of curved portion in segment 480 may decrease the tendency of handle portion 458 to tear at the junction between the risers 250a, 250b and adjoining panels 230 and 210, 235, respectively. Form 400 also includes an alternative fold line 490. Fold line 490 comprises an upper portion 490a, middle portion 490b, and lower portion 490c. As shown, middle portion 490b is scored, perforated, or otherwise treated or configured in a manner that facilitates later handling or assembly of the form 400, such as folding of the handle flaps 260a, 260b. As shown, upper and lower portions 490a, 490c represent imaginary lines along which form 100 may be folded to form the carrier. However, in other embodiments, upper and lower portions 490a, 490c may be scored, perforated, or otherwise treated or configured in a manner that facilitates later handling or assembly of the form 400. Such a configuration may provide for additional strength of handle portion 458. For example, such a configuration may decrease the tendency of handle portion 458 to tear at the junction between the risers 150 and adjoining panels 110, 120, respectively. Other suitable configurations of handle portion 458 will be apparent to persons skilled in the art in view of the teachings herein.
All publications, prior applications, and other documents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety as if each had been individually incorporated by reference and fully set forth. While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/117,193, filed Feb. 17, 2015, with title BOTTLE CARRIER, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62117193 | Feb 2015 | US |