JP3039805B2 - Envelope-type carrier with article holder - Google Patents

Abstract

Integral retaining means in an open-ended wrap-around carrier for preventing the spaced bottom portions of articles such as tapered tubs from engaging each other and escaping the carrier through the open end. The bottom panel (22) is comprised of inner and outer mechanically connected flaps (24, 26). The outer bottom panel flap (26) contains a retainer flap (32) at each end connected along a fold line (40) overlying the inner edge (68) of an opening (56) in the inner bottom panel flap (24). The retainer flaps (32) extend up into the interior of the carrier through the openings (56) in the inner bottom panel flap (24), and include spaced converging fold lines (50) which create angled side walls (54) for engaging the bottom portions of the articles.

Description

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an article carrier, and more particularly to an article carrier having at least partially open ends.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Wrapped goods carriers are generally designed to have partially or fully open ends. In each case, the vehicle must have means to prevent the article from falling off the end. For example, a beverage can is caused by the tension exerted by the very tightly wrapped carrier material and by the engagement of the upper and lower flanges of the beverage can with the edges of the cutouts in the side panels of the vehicle that penetrate these flanges. Partially held in place. Such a carrier can be designed simply. The reason is that the beverage can has a substantially flat top and bottom of the same diameter as the can body,
This is because the carrier material can be tightly wrapped around the can.

Problems arise when the articles do not have uniform dimensions, especially when the bottoms of the articles are tapered to separate the bottoms of the articles. This is particularly troublesome for wrap-around vehicles used with tilt-tubs of the type used as pudding or margarine containers. The reason for this is that it is difficult to wrap the tilted tub container tightly to prevent movement of the tilted tub container when lifting and transporting the package. Even when the vehicle has side slots that allow the flange at the top of the container to protrude, problems with container movement occur. The reason is that even with such a configuration, the bottom part of the inclined tub type container cannot be held tightly in place.

Partial end panels extending upward from the bottom panel, as well as corner end panels or flaps, can provide a function as an article retainer. However, such a solution is not entirely satisfactory because it requires the use of extra material, increases the cost of manufacturing the carrier and does not prevent the relative movement of the bottom part of the container. Furthermore,
Under these conditions, the bottom of the carton becomes unstable. Effectively prevent the relative movement of the spaced bottom part of the article,
There is a need for article spacing and holding means that also prevent the bottom portion of the article at the end in the vehicle from moving toward the open end of the vehicle.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a wrapper having a top panel and side panels includes a bottom panel comprising overlapping inner and outer bottom panel flaps. The inner bottom panel flap has an opening near the end of the carrier and the outer bottom panel flap has an integral article retaining flap adjacent and hinged to an inner edge portion of the opening. In forming the carrier, the retaining flap is pivoted upward, guided through the opening into the interior of the carrier, engaged with the bottom portion of the article at an adjacent end of an adjacent row of articles, and provided with an outer portion of the article. In addition to blocking the forward movement, it also prevents the article from moving forward and backward.

In a preferred form of the invention, the folding line of the holding flap is substantially parallel to the end of the carrier. Further, the retaining flap has spaced apart fold lines extending transversely to the fold line of the retaining flap.
Preferably, the transverse fold lines converge toward each other, forming a tapered retaining flap that can be fitted to the inclined bottom portion of the article.

The formed retaining flap has a three-dimensional shape and has a central section facing the interior of the vehicle and side or side sections extending between adjacent end articles. Preferably, the opening through which the retaining flap passes is narrower than the vertical distance between the side sections, exerting a biasing force on the side sections to erect the flap in the package. The articles are held in place and do not move outward because the retaining flaps fit snugly between the spaced bottom portions of the end articles.

In addition to holding the bottom portion of the end item in place, the retaining flap interconnects the inner and outer bottom panel flaps and reinforces other locking means connecting the bottom panel flaps. Also fulfills.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wrapping type carrier incorporating the article holding means of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial end view of the carrier of FIG. And FIG. 3 is a plan view of a material for forming the carrier shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is an inner side and an outer side immediately before shifting to an overlapping state. FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the bottom panel flap, FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the inner and outer bottom panel flaps in an overlapping state, and shows a locked state of the flap portion at an intermediate stage of the locking process. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a plan view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the inner and outer bottom panel flaps in a locked state; Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a partial plan view of the bottom panel of the vehicle; Related shows a retaining flap in an intermediate position during insertion into the opening in the Rufurappu, Figure 10 is a partial plan view of the inner surface of the bottom panel of vehicles,
FIG. 9 shows the holding flap in the intermediate position in FIG. 9 and omits the articles for clarity; FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the carrier taken along line 11-11 in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the holding flap in the folded position, and showing the articles in the carrier by dashed lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, a wrap-around vehicle 10 includes an upper panel coupled along a fold line 14 to a side panel 16 that substantially follows the contour of an article T within the vehicle. Consists of twelve. For purposes of illustrating the present invention, the article T is shown as a trough-type container of the type used to house pudding, margarine, and the like. The side panels curve inward at the bottom portion of the vehicle by tightly enclosing the inclined side portions of the trough. The side panel adjacent to the upper panel has a slot 18 through which the upper flange F of the tub T passes. The upper panel 12 also has a short extension 20 covering the flange of the trough.

Bottom panel 22 is a stack of inner and outer bottom panel flaps 2
4, 26 formed. The inner bottom panel flap 24 connects to one of the side panels 16 along a fold line 28, and the outer bottom panel flap 26 connects to the other side panel 16 along a fold line 30.
Connect to A retaining flap 32 extending upwardly from the bottom panel 22 adjacent an end article T in an adjacent row of articles in the carrier is shown in detail in FIG. The retaining flap fits tightly between the inclined bottom portions of the article T, and the bottom portion is
To stop moving away from

As shown in FIG. 3 which shows the same elements as in FIG. 1 with the same reference numbers, the material for forming the carrier 10 is a substantially rectangular sheet made of ball paper or other suitable material. The upper panel section 12 is located at the center of the sheet, and the other panel sections described above are continuously connected along the above-mentioned folding line. Accordingly, the fold lines 14 connecting the upper panel 12 to the side panels 16 are separated from each other by the portions defined by the elongated slits 36 and the short connecting slits 38, and these portions are separated within the carrier formed from the material. Corresponds to the extension of the upper panel that overlaps the flange of the tub. The slot 18 in FIG. 1 through which the flange of the trough penetrates is formed when the side panel is bent from the top panel, the width of which corresponds to the length of the short slit 38.

To form a carrier from the blank 34, the blank is wrapped and packaged around a trough or other article such that the inner bottom panel flap 24 and the outer bottom panel flap 26 overlap. FIG. 4 shows the side panel flaps 24, 26 just before being folded from the side panel 16 about the fold lines 28, 30 and transitioning to the stacked state. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the retaining flap 32 connects to the outer bottom panel flap 26 along a fold line 40 located between the edge 42 of the flap 26 and the center line of the flap. The fold line 40 is shown as being substantially straight and parallel to the edge 42, but may be slightly curved or inclined as will be described in greater detail below. Fold line 40 and edge 42 substantially parallel to outer bottom panel flap 26
The slit 44 located between the two forms the opposite edge of the retaining flap 32. The sides of the holding flaps include slits 46 extending from both ends of the slit 44 in the lateral direction of the edge 42 toward the inside of the carrier, and inclined slits 48 connecting these slits 46 to both ends of the folding line 40. Is defined by The holding flaps 32 further extend from both ends of the fold line 40 and have slits 44.
Also have two fold lines 50 that converge toward and intersect slits 44 at distant points. The holding flap thus configured has a central plane or central section 52 bounded by the fold lines 40, 50 and the slit 44, and a slit 44,
It comprises two sides or side sections 54 bounded by 46, 48 and fold lines 50.

The inner bottom panel flap 24 has two generally T-shaped openings or slots 56 which, when the inner and outer bottom panel flaps are stacked to form the bottom panel of the vehicle, retainer flaps 32 and slots. It is located to match. Each cutout or slot 56 is a relatively wide and elongated slot portion 58 extending from the lateral slot portion 60.
Having. The slot portion 58 extends laterally away from the nearest panel edge 62 and the slot portion 60 extends outward (inward) of the end of the slot portion 58 furthest from the panel edge. . Slot portion 60 extends substantially parallel to edge 62. The slot portion 58 is defined by an edge 64 extending away from and parallel to the panel edge 62 and an edge 66 that converges toward the interior of the vehicle. The slot portion 60 is defined by an edge 68 parallel to the panel edge 62 and an edge 70 connecting the edge 68 to the slot 66 at the shortest distance. Inner bottom panel flap 24 adjacent the intersection of edges 68, 70
Angled portions constitute opposed tabs 72.

With further reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the bottom panel flap is designed to be mechanically coupled in a manner substantially known in the art. Outer bottom panel flap 26 connects to end flap 74 along fold line 76. The fold line 76 is interrupted at the center by a slit defining a male locking tab 78, and on both sides of the tab 78 by slits 46 that coincide with the fold line 76. The end flap 74 has a centrally located locking aperture 80, the inner edge 82 of which is a substantial distance (some distance) beyond the side edge of the aperture.
Just extending.

Inner bottom panel flap 24 has end slit 86, side slit
88, having an angled slit 90 forming a neck and a centrally located male locking tab 84 defined by a fold line 92. The locking tab 84 forms part of a large tab or flap 94 which connects to the inner bottom flap 30 along a fold line 96 and from both ends of the fold line 96.
Is defined by a slit 98 extending to a slit 90 of

To lock the bottom panel flaps together, they are stacked and the end flaps 74 of the outer bottom panel flaps and the tabs 94 of the inner bottom panel flaps are folded back, as shown in FIGS. As shown, a small portion of the slot 60 is visible below the folded end flap 74. The outer bottom panel flap 26 is then moved so that the locking tabs 78 on the end flaps 74 engage the locking edges of the inner bottom flap 24.
Match to 86. By folding back the end flap 74 to its original position, the locking tab 78 engages the locking lip 86 and the underside of the inner bottom panel flap 24, mechanically holding the bottom panel flap together as the main locking of the bottom panel. To hold. Then tab 94
Is folded back to its original position, and the locking tab 84 is bent around the folding line 92 and guided into the locking opening 80 through the slit 82 to perform the secondary locking. This configuration is shown in FIGS.

As can be seen from FIG. 7, when the bottom panel flaps are locked together, the retaining flaps 32 lie directly on the openings or slots 56. In FIG. 7, the opening 56 is indicated by a broken line, the slit of the holding flap 32 is indicated by a solid line, and the bending line is indicated by a dashed line. An externally movable movable punch or rod member (not shown, but preferably an actuating element of an automatic packaging machine) exerts pressure on the central body section 52 of the holding flap and causes the holding flap to move upward about the fold line 40. Drive and push up through the opening 56 in the inner bottom panel flap 24 into the interior of the vehicle. Typical intermediate positions of the retaining flaps occurring during this exercise are shown in FIGS. FIG. 9 shows the bottom surface of the holding flap, and FIG. 10 shows the upper part of the holding flap as it enters the interior of the carrier. Movement of the retaining flap through the slot in this manner causes the side section 54 of the retaining flap to bend about the fold line 50 as a result of contacting the edge of the elongated slot portion 58. In particular, the side sections 54 of the retaining flaps have tabs 72 formed at the edges of the openings 56.
And slightly bend them rearward as shown in FIGS. When the side section 54 of the retaining flap bends, the rearward bending of the tab 72 stops, but the tab is
Due to the combination of stiffness and flexibility of the paper material, it is still pressed back to its original position. Thus, the tab exerts a biasing force on the side sections.

As the pivoting movement of the holding flap about the fold line 40 continues, the folding of the side section 54 of the holding flap also continues,
The retaining flap reaches a fully extended position within the carrier. This position is substantially vertical, as shown in FIGS. The continuous pressing of the tab 72 against the side section 54 helps to keep the retaining flap in its fully raised position.
As shown in FIG. 11, the side section 54 contacts the side of the trough or other article T so as to securely hold the trough between the side panel of the carrier and the holding flap. positioned. Thus, the articles are split apart and at the same time the bottom of the carrier stabilizes.

It has been mentioned above that the holding flap fold line 40 is not straight, but can be, for example, curved or angled. If necessary, these fold lines may be slightly curved or angled to face the edge of the bottom panel. This biases the central section 52 of the retaining flap toward its original position in the plane of the outer bottom panel flap, thereby biasing the central section against the intervening article.

The dimensions of the retaining flap are selected to engage the side sections of the flap with adjacent articles in the vehicle. The convergent fold lines dividing the central and side sections of the retaining flap are sloped so that the narrow front end of the retaining flap can easily enter the space between adjacent articles.

The article holding means of the present invention effectively engages a substantial portion of an end trough or other article having a spaced bottom portion within the carrier without increasing the material costs of the carrier material. A retainer (holding tool) is provided. In addition, the retaining means provide additional mechanical locking between the flaps forming the bottom panel, further assuring that accidental removal of articles from the vehicle due to damage to the bottom panel.

The mechanical locking means for the bottom panel flap is not limited to the type shown, but has the ability to hold the panel flap against severe stresses in the locked state and may be used together with the holding means of the present invention. Locking means of the type shown are preferred, as they are particularly suitable for use with For example, even when the retaining flap needs to be located immediately adjacent to the locking edge in the outer bottom panel flap, the outer edge of the retaining flap coincides with the fold line of the outer bottom panel flap locking edge 74 By doing so, both the holding flap element and the locking tab can be relatively properly positioned.

Although not shown, if necessary, a handle opening may be provided in the upper panel to facilitate lifting and carrying of the carrier.

The present invention is not limited to what has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without changing the gist of the present invention.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B65D 71/24

Claims (12)

(57) [Claims] 1. A wrapped article carrier for accommodating a plurality of adjacent rows of articles with a bottom portion spaced apart, comprising an upper panel (12) and an opposing panel connected to the upper panel (12). A side panel (16), an inner bottom panel flap (24) having an edge (42, 62) and a side edge and connected to one of the side panels (16) by a side edge; And a bottom panel (22) consisting of an outer bottom panel flap (26) overlapping the other side panel (16) at the side edge and an integral article holding hinged to said outer bottom panel flap (26). An article carrier of the type comprising: said outer bottom panel flap (26) having a flap (32); and means for holding said article holding flap at a location between end articles. 24) is located near the edge (62) of the goods carrier An opening (56), said opening (56) having an inner edge portion (60) and an outer edge portion (58), said outer edge portion (58) and an associated said end of said bottom panel (22). The distance from the edge (42, 62) is
0) and the distance between the associated edge of the bottom panel and the article retaining flap is substantially parallel to the adjacent edge (42, 62) of the bottom panel (22) of the article carrier. Connected along the extended fold line (40) to the inner portion (60) of the opening (56) such that the article retaining flap (32) passes through the opening (56) to the adjacent row. An article carrier that extends between the inner end articles and maintains the bottom portions of the end articles apart. 2. A wrapped article carrier according to claim 1, wherein said inner and outer bottom panel flaps (24, 26) lock said inner and outer bottom panel flaps together. Interconnected mechanical locking means (78, 80, 82, 8) to assist said retaining flap (32)
An article carrier characterized by having 4). 3. A self-contained article carrier according to claim 1, wherein the article carrier has a retaining flap (32) adjacent each end of the article carrier. Goods carrier. 4. A wrap-around article carrier according to claim 1, wherein said holding flaps (32) are spaced apart from each other by a folding line (40) extending transversely to the folding line (40) of said holding flaps. 50) An article carrier comprising: 5. A wrap-around article carrier according to claim 4, wherein said spaced-apart fold lines (50) of said holding flap (32) divide said holding flap into a central section (5).
2) and two side sections (5) which are part of the article holding flap holding means and extend at an angle to this central section.
4), wherein the opening (56) of the inner bottom panel flap (24) has a side edge portion (72) that contacts the side section (54) of the retaining flap (32); An article carrier, characterized in that the side edge portions (72) are separated by a distance such that they exert a biasing force on said side sections (54). 6. A wrapped article carrier as claimed in claim 4, wherein said laterally extending spaced apart fold lines (50) are formed by said fold lines (4) of said holding flaps (32).
An article carrier characterized by being converged in a direction away from 0). 7. A substantially rectangular material for forming a self-contained article carrier adapted to carry a plurality of adjacent rows of articles with spaced apart bottom portions, comprising a top panel (12). ), An opposing side panel (16) connected to both sides of the upper panel (12), an inner bottom panel flap (24) connected to one of the side panels (16), and an article conveyance formed from the material. An outer bottom panel flap (26) overlapping with the inner bottom panel flap (24) and connected to the other side panel (16) in the bottom panel of the fixture; and an integral hinged connection to the outer bottom panel flap (26). The article holding flap (3) is located between the outer bottom panel flap (26) having the article holding flap (32) and the article on the end side in the article carrier formed of the material.
2. An article carrier of the type comprising means for retaining 2), wherein said inner bottom panel flap (24) is located near an edge (62) of said inner bottom panel flap (24).
The opening (56) has inner and outer edge portions (60, 5).
8), wherein the distance between the outer edge portion (58) and the edge (62) is less than the distance between the inner edge portion (60) and the edge; Outer bottom panel flap (26)
The inner edge portion (60) of the opening (56) along a fold line (40) extending substantially parallel to an adjacent edge (42) of the
And the article holding flaps (32) pivot through the apertures (56) between the end articles in adjacent rows in an article carrier formed from the material. To keep the bottom part of the side article apart,
Material characterized by that. 8. A material for a wrapped article carrier as claimed in claim 7, wherein said inner and outer bottom panel flaps (24, 26) are interconnected by mechanical locking means (78). , 80, 82, 84) wherein the mechanical locking means assists the retaining flap (32) in locking the inner and outer bottom panel flaps (24, 26) together. A material characterized in that it is interlocked in an article carrier formed from. 9. A material for a wrap-around article carrier according to claim 7, wherein said material for said article carrier is provided at each end (4) of said outer bottom panel flap (26).
A material characterized by having a retaining flap (32) adjacent to 2). 10. A material for a wrapped article carrier as claimed in claim 8, wherein said holding flaps (32) are spaced apart extending laterally of the folding line (40) of said holding flaps. A material having a bending line (50). 11. The material for a wrapped article carrier according to claim 10, wherein said spaced-apart fold lines (50) of said holding flap (32) divide the holding flap into a central section (50). 52) and a part of the article holding flap holding means, which is divided into two side sections (54) extending at an angle to this central section (52), The side section (5) of the holding flap (32) in an article carrier in which an opening (56) is formed from a material.
4) having side edge portions (72) adapted to come into contact with each other, such that these side edge portions (72) are separated by a distance so as to exert a biasing force on said side section (54). Characteristic material. 12. The material for a wrapped article carrier according to claim 10, wherein said laterally extending spaced apart fold lines (50) are formed by folding said holding flaps (32). A material characterized by being converged in the direction away from the line (40).