BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is an isometric cut away view of a wheelbarrow kit disposed in a carton.
FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a wheelbarrow kit in a carton.
FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the flat that is folded to become a carton.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional isometric view of a wheelbarrow carton stack.
FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a wheelbarrow carton stack with an outer carton.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As used herein, an opening that “conforms to the shape” of another component has the same cross-sectional shape as the component, but is slightly larger so that the opening allows the component to pass therethrough while engaging the component in a snug manner.
As shown in FIG. 1 a wheelbarrow kit 1 includes a hopper 2, a frame assembly 3 having elongated handles 100, 102, a wheel 4, and a plurality of coupling devices 5 (shown schematically). The hopper 2, shown inverted, includes a base plate 6 and a depending sidewall 7. The sidewall 7 has an upper rim portion 8 that is generally planar. The base plate 6 is disposed at an angle relative to the plane of the hopper rim portion 8. Thus, the front portion of the sidewall 7 is longer than the rear portion of the sidewall 7. Further, the sidewall 7 is angled outwardly relative to the base plate 6. Thus, the portion of the sidewall 7 below the rim portion 8 forms a generally tapered bucket portion 9 having a wider cross-sectional area adjacent to the hopper rim portion 8 and a narrower cross-sectional area adjacent to the base plate 6.
A carton 10 is structured to enclose substantially all of the wheelbarrow kit 1, except for the hopper bucket portion 9. That is, the carton 10 includes a first generally planar member 12, a second generally planar member 14, and a sidewall 16. The first planar member 12 has a first opening 20 and a perimeter 22. The second planar member 14 has a second opening 24 (FIG. 3) and a perimeter 26. The sidewall 16 extends from the first planar member perimeter 22 to the second planar member perimeter 26. In this configuration, the first planar member 12, the second planar member 14, and the sidewall 16 define an enclosed carton space 30. The enclosed carton space 30 is sized to enclose the hopper rim portion 8 as well as other elements of the kit 1, as described below. The first opening 20 and the second opening 24 are each sized to allow a hopper bucket portion 9 to pass therethrough, as described in more detail below. In this configuration, a hopper 2 may be disposed with the hopper rim portion 8 within the enclosed carton space 30 and with the hopper bucket portion 9 extending through the first opening 20.
As shown in FIG. 2, the hopper 2 is preferably disposed in the carton 10 in an inverted orientation. That is, the hopper rim portion 8 is preferably disposed on the interior side of the second planar member 14. In this orientation, the hopper bucket portion 9 passes upwardly through the first opening 20. The first opening 20 conforms to the shape of the hopper bucket portion 9. The second opening 24 (FIG. 3) also conforms to the shape of a hopper bucket portion 9, but, as described below, the second opening 24 may be slightly smaller than the first opening 20 as the second opening 24 is structured to engage a hopper bucket portion 9 of a hopper 2 disposed in another carton 10.
In the preferred embodiment, the first planar member 12 and the second planar member 14 each have a generally rectangular shape. That is, the first planar member 12 and the second planar member 14 each have a front edge 40, 41 (respectively) and a rear edge 42, 43 (respectively) which extend generally parallel to each other. Further, the first planar member 12 and the second planar member 14 each have a first lateral edge 44, 45 (respectively) and a second lateral edge 46, 47 (respectively) which extend generally parallel to each other and generally perpendicular to the front edges 40, 41 and the rear edges 42, 43. The size of the first planar member 12 and the second planar member 14 depend upon the size of the wheelbarrow packaged within the carton 10. For example, for a small toy-like wheelbarrow having a 6 gallon hopper 2, the first planar member 12 and the second planar member 14 have a length of between about 28 and 36 inches, and more preferably about 32.5 inches and a width of between about 15 and 21 inches, and more preferably about 17.25 inches. The sidewall 16 has a height of between about 2.5 and 5 inches, and more preferably about 3.15 inches. Thus, the carton 10 is generally a thin, flat container. For larger wheelbarrows, the size of the carton 10 may be increased, but the dimensions will remain proportional. That is, the carton 10 will always be a generally longer and wider than it is deep, regardless of the size of the wheelbarrow.
In the preferred embodiment, the carton 10 is structured to enclose the wheel 4 and coupling devices 5 as well as, substantially enclose the wheelbarrow handles 100, 102. That is, the smaller components of the wheelbarrow kit 1, e.g., the wheel 4 and coupling devices 5 may be disposed in a container(s) 50 such as, but not limited to, a box 52 or a bag (not shown). The container(s) 50 are sized to fit within the enclosed carton space 30, preferably immediately adjacent to the rear side of the hopper 2. The wheelbarrow handles 100, 102, which are preferably elongated and have a greater length than the hopper 2, are disposed within the enclosed carton space 30, preferably immediately adjacent to a lateral side of the hopper 2.
As shown in FIG. 3, the first planar member 12, the second planar member 14 and the sidewall 16 are, preferably, formed from a single planar sheet of corrugated material or blank 60 which is folded to define the enclosed carton space 30. As is known in the art, the blank 60 includes a plurality of fold lines 62 and cuts 64 which allow the single blank to be folded into the desired shape. That is, the fold lines 62 define the edges of the first planar member 12, the second planar member 14 and certain edges of the sidewall 16. Additionally, the blank 60 includes a number of slots 66 and tabs 68 which act as a coupling device 5. When the blank 60 is folded into the proper shape, each tab 68 is aligned with, and may be inserted into a slot 66. Alternatively, the carton 10 may be made from two or more sheets of a material, preferably a corrugated material, wherein the various sections are coupled together by one or more coupling devices 5 such as, but not limited to, glue, staples, or tape.
The carton 10 is, preferably, incorporated into a carton system 70 having at least two cartons, a first carton 10A and a second carton 10B, and may have an outer carton 72. The cartons 10A, 10B are as described and are distinguished from each other by the letters “A” and “B.” Similarly, the components or elements of the cartons 10A, 10B shall be identified by the letters “A” and “B.” For example, the first carton 10A has a first carton first planar member 12A and the second carton 10B has a second carton first planar member 12B.
The cartons 10A, 10B are structured to enclose separate wheelbarrow kits, a first wheelbarrow kit 1A and a second wheelbarrow kit 1B, each having hoppers 2A, 2B. The first carton 10A encloses the first hopper 2A with the first hopper bucket portion 9A extending upwardly through the first carton first opening 20A. The second carton 10B encloses the second hopper 2B with the second hopper bucket portion 9B extending upwardly through the second carton first opening 20B. As shown in FIG. 4, the first carton 10A is disposed above, and generally aligned with, the second carton 10B. That is, the first carton 10A is stacked on the second carton 10B with the first carton second planar member 14A disposed against the second carton first planar member 12B. Thus, the second hopper bucket portion 9B also extends upwardly through the first carton second opening 24A. The first carton second opening 24A conforms to the shape of the second hopper bucket portion 9B. As the second hopper bucket portion 9B is tapered, as discussed above, the cross-sectional area of the second hopper bucket portion 9B at the location of the first carton second opening 24A is slightly smaller than the cross-sectional area of the second hopper bucket portion 9B at the location of the second carton first opening 20B. Accordingly, the first carton second opening 24A may be slightly smaller, that is, have a smaller cross-sectional area, than the second carton first opening 20B.
By having the first carton second opening 24A conform to the shape of the second hopper bucket portion 9B, the first carton 10A is maintained in alignment with the second carton 10B. That is, by having the first carton second opening 24A fit snugly against the second hopper bucket portion 9B, the first carton 10A resists sliding longitudinally or laterally relative to the second carton 10B. When the cartons 10A, 10B are aligned, the hoppers 2A, 2B are spaced from each other and are less likely to impact upon each other.
To further ensure that the cartons 10A, 10B are aligned, the carton system 70 may include the outer carton 72. As shown in FIG. 5, the outer carton 72 has a generally rectangular top planar member 74 (shown in ghost), a generally rectangular bottom planar member 76, a front planar member 78, a rear planar member 80, a first lateral planar member 82 and a second lateral planar member 84. The outer carton top planar member 74 and the outer carton bottom planar member 76 are disposed generally parallel to each other. The front planar member 78, the rear planar member 80, the first lateral planar member 82 and the second lateral planar member 82 extend between, and generally perpendicular to, the top planar member 74 and the bottom planar member 76. The outer carton top planar member 74 and the outer carton bottom planar member 76 have a slightly larger cross-sectional area than the first carton first planar member 12A, the first carton second planar member 14A, the second carton first planar member 12B, and the second carton second planar member 14B. Thus, the cartons 10A, 10B may be disposed within the outer carton 72. While the cartons 10A, 10B are disposed within the outer carton 72, the outer carton front planar member 78 contacts the first carton and second carton front edges 40A, 41A, 40B, 41B and the outer carton rear planar member 80 contacts the first carton and second carton rear edges 42A, 43A, 42B, 43B. Thus, because the outer carton front planar member 78 and outer carton rear planar member 80 are generally planar, the first carton first planar member front edge 40A and the second carton first planar member front edge 40B are generally disposed in the same plane. In this configuration, the outer carton 72 maintains the alignment of the cartons 10A, 10B.
The outer carton 72 may also be structured to be a display. That is, the outer carton 72 may have a removable top planar member 74 and a removable portion 90 on the front planar member 78. Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, when the first carton 10A and the second carton 10B are disposed in the outer carton 72 and when the outer carton top planar member 74 and the front planar member removable portion 90 are removed, the first carton 10A and the second carton 10B are visible within said outer carton 72.
While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of invention which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.
Patent Application
20080041740
