BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bottle carrier embodying the present invention, wherein the carrier is formed of a molded resin;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the flat molded components of the carrier;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a partially folded carrier shell with the central divider in place;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the interlocking tabs of the carrier shell capturing the central divider therebetween as shown in FIG. 1 and taken along the line 4-4, FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bottom of a carrier illustrating individual recesses for engaging the tops of bottles stored below the carrier.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bottom of a carrier illustrating an alternate configuration for engaging the tops of bottles.
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1. However, one will understand that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. While the present invention has been shown and described in accordance with preferred and practical embodiments thereof, it is recognized that departures from the instant disclosure are fully contemplated within the spirit and scope of the invention. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.
Turning to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a beverage bottle carrier 20 configured to carry six bottles which is one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention and illustrates its various components. Bottle carrier 20 has a rectangularly shaped carrier shell 40 sized to receive six beverage bottles in a two-by-three arrangement. A central divider 30 longitudinally bisects the carrier shell 40 and includes a handle aperture 32 for ease of carrying by an individual. The height of central divider is no higher than the height of the bottles to be carried therein. Secondary dividers 60 further divide the interior of bottle carrier 20 into individual compartments 22 wherein each compartment 22 receives one bottle for carriage.
Referring now to FIG. 2, bottle carrier 20 typically comprises two molded resin pieces, central divider 30 and carrier shell 40. Central divider 30 includes handle aperture 32 proximate to an upper edge 33, and also has formed on each face 31 two vertically oriented guides 36 proximate to bottom edge 38 for receiving and stabilizing secondary dividers 60. Guides 36 are laterally spaced according to the desired lateral spacing of secondary dividers 60. Each side edge 35 has a plurality of holes 34 inset therefrom and extending therealong.
Carrier shell 40 is formed as a generally flat molded resinous sheet with a specific geometry conforming to the dimensions of the desired final carrier. Specifically, as in the case of the six-pack carrier represented by carrier shell 40, the flat pattern includes a bottom section 42 which is connected to opposing sides 46 by bottom-side living hinges 44. Living hinges are well known in the industry and can be formed in numerous geometries. Each of opposing sides 46 are connected to end sections 50 with side-end living hinges 48. Thus, there are two end sections 50 at a left end of carrier shell 40 and two end sections 50 at a right end of carrier shell 40. One of the end sections 50 at each left and right ends has a female tab 54 attached thereto with end-tab living hinges 52, and the other end sections at each left and right ends has a male tab 56 attached thereto with a like end-tab living hinge 52.
Female tabs 54 include a plurality of cups 64 formed therealong defining a receptacle 65 and spaced along female tab 54 to correspond to holes 34 in central divider 30. In like manner, male tabs 56 include a plurality of buttons 66 protruding from one face of male tab 56 and spaced therealong to correspond to holes 34 in central divider 30.
An interior face 58 of each carrier side 46 has two secondary dividers 60 integrally molded thereto and substantially perpendicular to interior face 58. Secondary dividers 60 are laterally space to correspond to the lateral spacing of guides 36 on central divider 30. Each secondary divider 60 includes an interior edge 62 to be received in a corresponding guide 36 at assembly of bottle carrier 20.
Referring now to FIGS. 2-4, bottle carrier is assembled by placing central divider 30 so that it longitudinally bisects bottom section 42 of carrier shell and extends vertically upwards therefrom. Female tabs 54 and male tabs 56 are folded at end-tab living hinges 52 in the direction of arrows “A” (FIG. 2). Correspondingly, end sections 50 are also folded in the direction of arrows “A” (FIG. 2) at side-end living hinges 48 thus yielding the configuration shown in FIG. 3. Opposing sides 46 are then folded upwards at bottom side living hinges 44 in the direction of arrows “B” (FIG. 3) to thereby complete the bottle carrier configuration, as seen in FIG. 1.
Each of buttons 66 on male tabs 56 are aligned with and extend through a corresponding hole 34 in central divider 30 and are aligned with corresponding receptacles 65 in cups 64 of female tabs 54. To complete assembly of bottle carrier 20, buttons 66 are pressed into receptacles 65 of cups 64. As shown in FIG. 4, buttons 66 and cups 64 can include lips 68, 69 respectively for interlocking engagement to maintain bottle carrier 20 in an assembled state and to permit disassembly upon completion of use of bottle carrier 20 for compact transport for reuse.
Where the carrier 20 is intended to be permanently assembled, buttons 66 can be adhesively bonded in receptacles 65 or ultrasonically welded thereto. Alternatively, for permanent assembly of bottle carrier 20, holes 34, cups 64 and buttons 66 can be eliminated and tabs 54, 56 can be permanently bonded or welded to central divider 30.
FIG. 5 illustrates one possible configuration for a bottom surface 43 of bottle carrier 20. Bottom surface can include a plurality of individual retainers 70 formed thereon wherein each of retainers 70 has a central recess 72. Retainers 70 are arranged to correspond to the placement of tops of bottles in a like bottle retainer 20 stored immediately below. Each of the central recesses 72 receives therein the top of a bottle thereby permitting the stacking of multiple bottle carriers 20 one on another for secure and stable storage of multiple bottle filled carriers 20. Those practiced in the art will readily recognize that the geometric shape of retainers 70 and recesses 72 can be varied so long as recesses 72 readily receive therein the tops of bottles stored in a bottle carrier 20 therebelow.
FIG. 6 illustrates an alternate configuration bottle carrier 20 wherein bottom surface 43 has formed thereon elongated retainers 80 wherein each retainer 80 includes a recess 82 which receives a plurality of tops of bottles stored in a bottle carrier therebelow. Retainers 80 and recesses 82 can also be formed in various geometric shapes so long as the bottle tops of bottles stored therebelow are received in recesses 82. Those practiced in the art will also recognize that retainers 70 and 80 can also be configured to be received on prior art cardboard bottle carriers to permit the stable stacking of multiple carriers one on another.
While the above discussion is directed to a rectangular configuration of a six-pack bottle carrier, the concepts disclosed herein are also applicable to other geometries of carriers and other correlations of living hinges interconnecting bottom, side and end panels of a carrier. Correspondingly, those practiced in the art will recognize that the concepts disclose herein are also applicable to carriers for different quantities of bottles such as 4, 12, 24, and 36 bottles.
In the foregoing description those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Such modifications are to be considered as included in the following claims, unless these claims expressly state otherwise.
Patent Application
20080006541
