CA1316152C - Wrap-around article carrier with end panel lock - Google Patents
Wrap-around article carrier with end panel lockInfo
- Publication number
- CA1316152C CA1316152C CA000579386A CA579386A CA1316152C CA 1316152 C CA1316152 C CA 1316152C CA 000579386 A CA000579386 A CA 000579386A CA 579386 A CA579386 A CA 579386A CA 1316152 C CA1316152 C CA 1316152C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- tuck
- carrier
- edges
- center
- flaps
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
- B65D75/04—Articles or materials wholly enclosed in single sheets or wrapper blanks
- B65D75/06—Articles or materials wholly enclosed in single sheets or wrapper blanks in sheets or blanks initially folded to form tubes
- B65D75/08—Articles or materials wholly enclosed in single sheets or wrapper blanks in sheets or blanks initially folded to form tubes with the ends of the tube closed by folding
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D71/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material
- B65D71/06—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers
- B65D71/12—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers the packaging elements, e.g. wrappers being formed by folding a single blank
- B65D71/36—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers the packaging elements, e.g. wrappers being formed by folding a single blank having a tubular shape, e.g. tubular wrappers, with end walls
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2571/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans, pop bottles; Bales of material
- B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
- B65D2571/00129—Wrapper locking means
- B65D2571/00135—Wrapper locking means integral with the wrapper
- B65D2571/00154—Wrapper locking means integral with the wrapper interlocked
- B65D2571/00172—Wrapper locking means integral with the wrapper interlocked by tabs cut within one end and facing towards the other end when blank is unfolded, and co-operting with openings at the other end
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2571/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans, pop bottles; Bales of material
- B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
- B65D2571/00129—Wrapper locking means
- B65D2571/00135—Wrapper locking means integral with the wrapper
- B65D2571/00154—Wrapper locking means integral with the wrapper interlocked
- B65D2571/00185—Wrapper locking means integral with the wrapper interlocked by tabs cut within one end and facing away from the other end when blank is unfolded, and co-operting with openings at the other end
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2571/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans, pop bottles; Bales of material
- B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
- B65D2571/00246—Locating elements for the contents
- B65D2571/00253—Locating elements for the contents integral with the wrapper
- B65D2571/00277—Slits or openings formed along a fold line
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2571/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans, pop bottles; Bales of material
- B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
- B65D2571/00432—Handles or suspending means
- B65D2571/00438—Holes
- B65D2571/00444—Holes for fingers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2571/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans, pop bottles; Bales of material
- B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
- B65D2571/00648—Elements used to form the wrapper
- B65D2571/00654—Blanks
- B65D2571/0066—Blanks formed from one single sheet
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D2571/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans, pop bottles; Bales of material
- B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
- B65D2571/00709—Shape of the formed wrapper, i.e. shape of each formed element if the wrapper is made from more than one element
- B65D2571/00722—Shape of the formed wrapper, i.e. shape of each formed element if the wrapper is made from more than one element tubular with end walls, e.g. walls not extending on the whole end surface
- B65D2571/00759—Shape of the formed wrapper, i.e. shape of each formed element if the wrapper is made from more than one element tubular with end walls, e.g. walls not extending on the whole end surface the end walls having a part tucked between side, top or bottom wall and contents or between two articles
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Packages (AREA)
- Cartons (AREA)
- Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)
- Casings For Electric Apparatus (AREA)
Abstract
Abstract of the Disclosure A wrap-around article carrier having end panels foldably connected to tuck flaps for holding the end panels in position. A
center generally triangular tuck flap is foldably connected to the top panel and to two generally triangular tuck flaps. The fold lines connecting the end tuck flaps to the center tuck flap contain cutouts, one edge of which comprises part of an edge of the center tuck flap and overlies the top of an article in the carrier to lock the tuck flaps and the end panels in place. The other cutout edge comprises part of an edge of the end tuck flaps and is positioned to contact the side of an article to stabilize the structure.
center generally triangular tuck flap is foldably connected to the top panel and to two generally triangular tuck flaps. The fold lines connecting the end tuck flaps to the center tuck flap contain cutouts, one edge of which comprises part of an edge of the center tuck flap and overlies the top of an article in the carrier to lock the tuck flaps and the end panels in place. The other cutout edge comprises part of an edge of the end tuck flaps and is positioned to contact the side of an article to stabilize the structure.
Description
WRAP-AROUND ARTICLE CARRIER ~ITH eND PANEL LOCK
Field of the Invention This invention relates to wrap-around article carriers which have end panels that are unattached to the bottom panel. More particularly, it relates to a wrap-around article carrier of this type which incorporates an improved locking means for holding the end panels in place.
Back~round of the Invention Wrap-around beverage container carriers are available in many different styles and designs, some of which include end panels. End panels offer more area for printed material and also protect the labels on bottles from being scuffed or otherwise damaged during passage of the bottles through the packaging mach;ne and during subsequent handling. In order to provide these functions at a minitnum of expense, end panels have been used which do not fully cover the ends of the carriers and which are llot connected at their bottom edges to the bottom panel of the carrier, thus reducing the amount of paperboard required for each carrier blank. End panels of this type are normally foldably comlected to tuck panels which themselves are foldably connected to the top and side panels of the carrier. This arrangement requires that the carrier be desi~ned so as to prevent the end panels from unfoldillg and springin~ out from their generally vertical position.
A number of different arran~ements have been suggested to provide this function. For example, U.S. Patent No. 3,398,856, issued on August 27, 1968 to Graser, discloses an end panel arrangement comprised of three foldahly connected tuc~ flaps, the central tuck flap having edges which are designed to frictionally -2 ~ 3 ~
engage the necks of beverage bottles to hold the flaps and the end panels in place. While this design works well with beverage bottles havitl~ necks for the central tucX flap to engage, it could not be used effectively with bottles having no necks. Bottles of this type have wide openillgs and are shaped more like a jar, leavin~ little or no room for enga~ement with a tuck flap.
It would be desirable to use wrap-around carriers of the type discussed to package beveraee containers having no necks, and still be able to incorporate locking means for maintaining the end panels of the carriers in place.
Brief Summary of the Invention This invention incorporates end panels which at least partially cover the ends of the carrier and which are foldably connected to tuck flap means. The tuck flap means is foldably connected to the top panel along the end edge thereof, and a portion of the tuck flap means extends between the adjacent article in the carrier and the top panel of the carrier to lock the tuck flap means and the attached end panels itl place.
This arrangement can be carried out with a generally triangular center tuck flap and two generally triangular end tuck flaps connected to the center tuck flap along a fold line. Cutouts in the fold lines produce ed~es on the center tuck flap which are adapted to overlie portions of adjacent articles between the article top and the top panel. The cutouts also produce edges on the end tuck flaps which are adapted to engage the sides of the adjacent articles a short distance below the top of the article to further support the tuck flaps.
Other features and aspects of the invention, as well as its various benefits, will become more clear in the detailed description of the preferred embodiment which follows.
Brief Description of the Invention FIG. 1 is a plan view of a production blank used in forming the carrier of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of a carrier of the present invention in an intermediate stage of formation resulting from wrapping the blank of FIG. 1 around four bottles and securing the bottom panels together;
_3_ ~ 3 ~ J
FIG. 3 is a pictorial view similar to that of FIG. Z, but showing the end panels in the final stage of folding;
FIG. 4A is an enlarged partial longitudinal sectional view taken along line 4~-4~ of FIG. 3, showing the tuck flaps as they are being folded to their final positions;
FIG. 4B is an enlarged partial longitudinal sectional view taken along line 4B-4B of FIG. 6, showing the tuck flaps and the end panel in their final folded positions;
FIG. 5 is a top view of a fully formed carrier, with a portion of the top panel removed to show the tuck flap arrangement with respect to an adjacent bottle;
FIG. 6 is a pictorial view of a fully folded carrier formed from the blank of FIG. l;
FIG. 7 is a partial end view of the carrier of FIG. 6; and FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG.
6.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to FIG. 1, a carrier blank 10 is comprised of a top panel section 12 foldably connected to side panel sections 14 along score lines 16. The top panel section may be provided with a suitable handle, which for purpose of illustration is shown as a finger hole 18. The side panel sections are also provided with cutouts 20 adjacent the score lines 16 for receiving the tops or bottle caps of containers packaged in the carrier. Although in this case the blank is shown as bein~ designed to form a carrier for holding four containers, the invention is not limited to use in a four-pack carrier.
Both side panel sections are connected by score lines 22 to short sloped side panel sections 24, one of which is comlected by score line 26 to an inner bottom panel section 28 and the other of which is connected by score line 30 to an outer bottom panel section 32. Cutouts 34 in the sloped sections 24 allow the heel portions of containers packaged in a carrier formed from the blank to extend therethrough to assist in holding the containers in place. The outer bottom panel section 32 is illustrated as having alternate primary male locking tabs 36, a secondary locking aperture 38 and tertiary locking tabs 40. The inner bottom panel section 28 is ~ 3 ~ g3~ ' , illustrated as having alternate primary locking edges 42, a secondary male lockitlg tab 44 and tertiary female locking openings or notches 46. These locking components do not form a part of the present invention but are used to lock the bottom panel sections together to form the bottom panel of a car~ier i.n a manner understood in the industry. For a more complete description of related locking components and their functions, attention is directed to U.S. Patent No. 4,437,606, issued March 20, 1984 to Graser.
Still refer~ing to FIG. l, the end edges of the top panel section 12 are connected to tuck sections 48 along fold lines 50.
Each tuck section is comprised of a generally triangularly shaped center tuck flap 52 connected to the top panel section along the fold line 50 and two generally triangularly shaped end tuck flaps 54 colmected to the center tuck flap along fold lines 56. It can be seen that the fold lines 56 are interrupted by cutouts 58 bounded by center tuck flap edges 60 and end tuck flap edges 62. Each of the cutout edges is curved to conform to the shape of the bottles or other containers to be carried in the carrier. End paneL sections or flaps 64 are connected to end tuck flaps 54 along fold lines 66 and to the side panel sections 14 along fold lines 68. The fold lines 66 represent the edges of the end tuck flaps 54 and are shown as extending at a slight angle to the score lines 16. The fold lines 68 are extensions of the edges of the side panel sections 14.
In practice, the blanks lO are supplied to an automatic packaging machine which wraps the blanks around the beverage containers and secures the bottom panel sections together to form the intermediate form of carrier shown in FIG. 2. As illustrated, the tuck flaps 52 and 54 extend outwardly from the top panel 12 and the end panel sections or flaps 64 extend outwardly at an an~le to the tuck flaps and to the side panels 14. The bottles B are securely held in the carrier by a combination of pressures, snugly fitting between the side panels 14 and partially extending through the heel cutouts 34. The caps C of the bottles partially extend through the cap cutouts 20 to further assist in holding the bottles in place.
Pressure applied by a packaging machine element (not shown) -5~
against the outermost portion of center tuck flap 52 causes the tuck flap S2 to fold inwardly about score line 50, carrying with it the end tuck flaps 54. This also causes the end panel flaps 64 to fold inwardly about the fold lines 68. The fold lines 66 allow relative folding movement between the end panel flaps 64 and the end tuck flaps 54, and the fold lines 56 allow relative folding movement between the center tuck flap 52 and the end tuck flaps 54, such relative movements taking place as a consequence of the movement of the center tuck flap 52.
A final intermediate stage in the folding of the flaps is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4A. As the center tuck flap is folded inwardly, the edges 60 and 62 of the cutouts separating the center tuck flap 52 and the end tuck flaps 54 SWitlg through an arc carrying them in toward the bottles and up toward the top panel of the carrier.
Eventually, the cutout edges 60 of the center tuck flap 52 engage the sides of the caps C, as best shown in FIG. 4A. At this point the cutout edges 62 of the end tuck flaps 54 have not yet reached the bottles s. Continued folding movement of the tuck flaps finally causes the portions of the center tucX flap 52 immediately adjacent the edges 60 to flex past the upper edges of the caps C and the edges 62 to assume a position abutting or spaced immediately adjacent from the sides of the caps. This final position is shown best in FIGS. 4B and 5. The flexing of the center tuck flap past the bottle cap is possible because the edge 60 extends in only a short distance over the edge of the cap and because the ~aterial of the carrier, preferably paperboard, permits such flexing to take place.
The completed carrier resulting from continued folding movement of the tuck flaps and end panel flaps is sho~l in FIGS. 4B, 5, 6, 7 and 8. The end panel flaps 64 are substantially vertical and the cutout edges 62 are adjacent the lower portion of the caps C. The cutout edges 62 may be in actual abutting contact with the caps C or may be slightly spaced therefrom. In either case, when the carrier is lifted by the finger hole 18 or other handle means which may be provided on the top panel, the lifting stresses tend to pull the end tuck flaps 54 and the cutout edges 62 in toward the caps C. As a result at least parts of the cutout edges 62 abut the caps C of the ~ ~ ~ J~
esld bottles during lifting and carrying of the carrier to provide firm support for the end tuck flaps and the end panels and to provide additional stabilizing SUppoLt to hold the bottles in place. The portions of the center tuck flap overlying the bottle caps C are trapped in the small space between the top panel 12 and the bottle caps and are thus locked in place. Since they cannot move from this position the tuck panels ~nd attached end panels cannot be moved from their final positions, and the carrier retains its desired shape until the consumer removes the bottles from the carrier.
A number of modifications may be made to the carrier of the present invention if desired. For example, tear strips can be provided to facilitate removal of the bottles. In addition, score lines can be provided in the side panels to cause the side panels to conform more readily to the sloped shape of the bottles between the caps and the barrel portion of the bottles, although the side panels will normally conform to the. bottle outline even without such fold lines if properly dimensioned. Further, the length of the end panels may be varied as desired, since the locking means of the invention will function to hold any length of end panel in place at substantially right angles to the top and bottom panels of the carrier.
~ lthough the invention has been disclosed in connection with bottles or jars having little or no neck portions, it should be understood that it can be used in contlection with any container or article which extends substantially completely from the bottom panel to the top panel and which does not extend upwardly through a support opening in the top panel.
It should now be obvious that although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, changes to specific details of the embodiment, including but not limited to the modifications mentioned above, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Field of the Invention This invention relates to wrap-around article carriers which have end panels that are unattached to the bottom panel. More particularly, it relates to a wrap-around article carrier of this type which incorporates an improved locking means for holding the end panels in place.
Back~round of the Invention Wrap-around beverage container carriers are available in many different styles and designs, some of which include end panels. End panels offer more area for printed material and also protect the labels on bottles from being scuffed or otherwise damaged during passage of the bottles through the packaging mach;ne and during subsequent handling. In order to provide these functions at a minitnum of expense, end panels have been used which do not fully cover the ends of the carriers and which are llot connected at their bottom edges to the bottom panel of the carrier, thus reducing the amount of paperboard required for each carrier blank. End panels of this type are normally foldably comlected to tuck panels which themselves are foldably connected to the top and side panels of the carrier. This arrangement requires that the carrier be desi~ned so as to prevent the end panels from unfoldillg and springin~ out from their generally vertical position.
A number of different arran~ements have been suggested to provide this function. For example, U.S. Patent No. 3,398,856, issued on August 27, 1968 to Graser, discloses an end panel arrangement comprised of three foldahly connected tuc~ flaps, the central tuck flap having edges which are designed to frictionally -2 ~ 3 ~
engage the necks of beverage bottles to hold the flaps and the end panels in place. While this design works well with beverage bottles havitl~ necks for the central tucX flap to engage, it could not be used effectively with bottles having no necks. Bottles of this type have wide openillgs and are shaped more like a jar, leavin~ little or no room for enga~ement with a tuck flap.
It would be desirable to use wrap-around carriers of the type discussed to package beveraee containers having no necks, and still be able to incorporate locking means for maintaining the end panels of the carriers in place.
Brief Summary of the Invention This invention incorporates end panels which at least partially cover the ends of the carrier and which are foldably connected to tuck flap means. The tuck flap means is foldably connected to the top panel along the end edge thereof, and a portion of the tuck flap means extends between the adjacent article in the carrier and the top panel of the carrier to lock the tuck flap means and the attached end panels itl place.
This arrangement can be carried out with a generally triangular center tuck flap and two generally triangular end tuck flaps connected to the center tuck flap along a fold line. Cutouts in the fold lines produce ed~es on the center tuck flap which are adapted to overlie portions of adjacent articles between the article top and the top panel. The cutouts also produce edges on the end tuck flaps which are adapted to engage the sides of the adjacent articles a short distance below the top of the article to further support the tuck flaps.
Other features and aspects of the invention, as well as its various benefits, will become more clear in the detailed description of the preferred embodiment which follows.
Brief Description of the Invention FIG. 1 is a plan view of a production blank used in forming the carrier of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of a carrier of the present invention in an intermediate stage of formation resulting from wrapping the blank of FIG. 1 around four bottles and securing the bottom panels together;
_3_ ~ 3 ~ J
FIG. 3 is a pictorial view similar to that of FIG. Z, but showing the end panels in the final stage of folding;
FIG. 4A is an enlarged partial longitudinal sectional view taken along line 4~-4~ of FIG. 3, showing the tuck flaps as they are being folded to their final positions;
FIG. 4B is an enlarged partial longitudinal sectional view taken along line 4B-4B of FIG. 6, showing the tuck flaps and the end panel in their final folded positions;
FIG. 5 is a top view of a fully formed carrier, with a portion of the top panel removed to show the tuck flap arrangement with respect to an adjacent bottle;
FIG. 6 is a pictorial view of a fully folded carrier formed from the blank of FIG. l;
FIG. 7 is a partial end view of the carrier of FIG. 6; and FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG.
6.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to FIG. 1, a carrier blank 10 is comprised of a top panel section 12 foldably connected to side panel sections 14 along score lines 16. The top panel section may be provided with a suitable handle, which for purpose of illustration is shown as a finger hole 18. The side panel sections are also provided with cutouts 20 adjacent the score lines 16 for receiving the tops or bottle caps of containers packaged in the carrier. Although in this case the blank is shown as bein~ designed to form a carrier for holding four containers, the invention is not limited to use in a four-pack carrier.
Both side panel sections are connected by score lines 22 to short sloped side panel sections 24, one of which is comlected by score line 26 to an inner bottom panel section 28 and the other of which is connected by score line 30 to an outer bottom panel section 32. Cutouts 34 in the sloped sections 24 allow the heel portions of containers packaged in a carrier formed from the blank to extend therethrough to assist in holding the containers in place. The outer bottom panel section 32 is illustrated as having alternate primary male locking tabs 36, a secondary locking aperture 38 and tertiary locking tabs 40. The inner bottom panel section 28 is ~ 3 ~ g3~ ' , illustrated as having alternate primary locking edges 42, a secondary male lockitlg tab 44 and tertiary female locking openings or notches 46. These locking components do not form a part of the present invention but are used to lock the bottom panel sections together to form the bottom panel of a car~ier i.n a manner understood in the industry. For a more complete description of related locking components and their functions, attention is directed to U.S. Patent No. 4,437,606, issued March 20, 1984 to Graser.
Still refer~ing to FIG. l, the end edges of the top panel section 12 are connected to tuck sections 48 along fold lines 50.
Each tuck section is comprised of a generally triangularly shaped center tuck flap 52 connected to the top panel section along the fold line 50 and two generally triangularly shaped end tuck flaps 54 colmected to the center tuck flap along fold lines 56. It can be seen that the fold lines 56 are interrupted by cutouts 58 bounded by center tuck flap edges 60 and end tuck flap edges 62. Each of the cutout edges is curved to conform to the shape of the bottles or other containers to be carried in the carrier. End paneL sections or flaps 64 are connected to end tuck flaps 54 along fold lines 66 and to the side panel sections 14 along fold lines 68. The fold lines 66 represent the edges of the end tuck flaps 54 and are shown as extending at a slight angle to the score lines 16. The fold lines 68 are extensions of the edges of the side panel sections 14.
In practice, the blanks lO are supplied to an automatic packaging machine which wraps the blanks around the beverage containers and secures the bottom panel sections together to form the intermediate form of carrier shown in FIG. 2. As illustrated, the tuck flaps 52 and 54 extend outwardly from the top panel 12 and the end panel sections or flaps 64 extend outwardly at an an~le to the tuck flaps and to the side panels 14. The bottles B are securely held in the carrier by a combination of pressures, snugly fitting between the side panels 14 and partially extending through the heel cutouts 34. The caps C of the bottles partially extend through the cap cutouts 20 to further assist in holding the bottles in place.
Pressure applied by a packaging machine element (not shown) -5~
against the outermost portion of center tuck flap 52 causes the tuck flap S2 to fold inwardly about score line 50, carrying with it the end tuck flaps 54. This also causes the end panel flaps 64 to fold inwardly about the fold lines 68. The fold lines 66 allow relative folding movement between the end panel flaps 64 and the end tuck flaps 54, and the fold lines 56 allow relative folding movement between the center tuck flap 52 and the end tuck flaps 54, such relative movements taking place as a consequence of the movement of the center tuck flap 52.
A final intermediate stage in the folding of the flaps is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4A. As the center tuck flap is folded inwardly, the edges 60 and 62 of the cutouts separating the center tuck flap 52 and the end tuck flaps 54 SWitlg through an arc carrying them in toward the bottles and up toward the top panel of the carrier.
Eventually, the cutout edges 60 of the center tuck flap 52 engage the sides of the caps C, as best shown in FIG. 4A. At this point the cutout edges 62 of the end tuck flaps 54 have not yet reached the bottles s. Continued folding movement of the tuck flaps finally causes the portions of the center tucX flap 52 immediately adjacent the edges 60 to flex past the upper edges of the caps C and the edges 62 to assume a position abutting or spaced immediately adjacent from the sides of the caps. This final position is shown best in FIGS. 4B and 5. The flexing of the center tuck flap past the bottle cap is possible because the edge 60 extends in only a short distance over the edge of the cap and because the ~aterial of the carrier, preferably paperboard, permits such flexing to take place.
The completed carrier resulting from continued folding movement of the tuck flaps and end panel flaps is sho~l in FIGS. 4B, 5, 6, 7 and 8. The end panel flaps 64 are substantially vertical and the cutout edges 62 are adjacent the lower portion of the caps C. The cutout edges 62 may be in actual abutting contact with the caps C or may be slightly spaced therefrom. In either case, when the carrier is lifted by the finger hole 18 or other handle means which may be provided on the top panel, the lifting stresses tend to pull the end tuck flaps 54 and the cutout edges 62 in toward the caps C. As a result at least parts of the cutout edges 62 abut the caps C of the ~ ~ ~ J~
esld bottles during lifting and carrying of the carrier to provide firm support for the end tuck flaps and the end panels and to provide additional stabilizing SUppoLt to hold the bottles in place. The portions of the center tuck flap overlying the bottle caps C are trapped in the small space between the top panel 12 and the bottle caps and are thus locked in place. Since they cannot move from this position the tuck panels ~nd attached end panels cannot be moved from their final positions, and the carrier retains its desired shape until the consumer removes the bottles from the carrier.
A number of modifications may be made to the carrier of the present invention if desired. For example, tear strips can be provided to facilitate removal of the bottles. In addition, score lines can be provided in the side panels to cause the side panels to conform more readily to the sloped shape of the bottles between the caps and the barrel portion of the bottles, although the side panels will normally conform to the. bottle outline even without such fold lines if properly dimensioned. Further, the length of the end panels may be varied as desired, since the locking means of the invention will function to hold any length of end panel in place at substantially right angles to the top and bottom panels of the carrier.
~ lthough the invention has been disclosed in connection with bottles or jars having little or no neck portions, it should be understood that it can be used in contlection with any container or article which extends substantially completely from the bottom panel to the top panel and which does not extend upwardly through a support opening in the top panel.
It should now be obvious that although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, changes to specific details of the embodiment, including but not limited to the modifications mentioned above, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims (7)
1. A wrap-around article carrier, comprising:
a top panel having side edges and end edges;
side panels foldably connected to the side edges of the top panel;
a bottom panel connecting the side panels;
the carrier being adapted to contain two adjacent rows of articles the tops of which extend substantially to the top panel;
end panels at least partially covering the ends of the carrier;
tuck flap means foldably connected to the end edges of the top panel and to the end panels;
each tuck flap means comprising a generally triangular center tuck flap foldably connected to the associated end edge of the top panel and two generally triangular end tuck flaps connected to the center tuck flap along fold lines;
and the fold lines of each tuck flap means being interrupted by edge portions of the center tuck flap which engage the tops of adjacent contained articles and extend between the article and the top panel to lock the tuck flap means and the end panels in place.
a top panel having side edges and end edges;
side panels foldably connected to the side edges of the top panel;
a bottom panel connecting the side panels;
the carrier being adapted to contain two adjacent rows of articles the tops of which extend substantially to the top panel;
end panels at least partially covering the ends of the carrier;
tuck flap means foldably connected to the end edges of the top panel and to the end panels;
each tuck flap means comprising a generally triangular center tuck flap foldably connected to the associated end edge of the top panel and two generally triangular end tuck flaps connected to the center tuck flap along fold lines;
and the fold lines of each tuck flap means being interrupted by edge portions of the center tuck flap which engage the tops of adjacent contained articles and extend between the article and the top panel to lock the tuck flap means and the end panels in place.
2. A wrap-around article carrier according to claim 1, wherein the generally triangular end tuck flaps include edge portions located below the locking edge portions of the center tuck flap for contacting the sides of adjacent contained articles a short distance below the tops of the articles.
3. A wrap-around article carrier according to claim 2, wherein the end panels are foldably connected to the generally triangular end tuck flaps and to the side panels of the carrier.
4. A wrap-around article carrier according to claim 2, wherein the edge portions of the center tuck flap comprise the edges of cutouts, at least portions of the cutouts being defined by the edge portions of the center tuck flap, and other portions of the cutouts being defined by the edge portions of the end tuck flaps.
5. A production blank for forming a wrap-around carrier adapted to carry two adjacent rows of articles, comprising:
a top panel section having end edges and side edges;
side panel sections foldably connected to the side edges of the top panel section and to bottom panel sections;
generally triangular center tuck flaps foldably connected to the end edges of the top panel section;
generally triangular end tuck flaps connected to the center tuck flaps along fold lines;
the fold lines containing cutout portions defining opposed edges, one of the opposed edges of the cutout portion comprising an edge of the center tuck flap and the other opposed edge comprising an edge of the foldably connected end tuck flap;
the cutout edges of the center tuck flap being adapted to extend between the top panel of a carrier formed from the blank and the tops of adjacent articles carried by the carrier; and the cutout edges of the end tuck flaps being adapted to terminate adjacent the sides of adjacent articles carried in the carrier.
a top panel section having end edges and side edges;
side panel sections foldably connected to the side edges of the top panel section and to bottom panel sections;
generally triangular center tuck flaps foldably connected to the end edges of the top panel section;
generally triangular end tuck flaps connected to the center tuck flaps along fold lines;
the fold lines containing cutout portions defining opposed edges, one of the opposed edges of the cutout portion comprising an edge of the center tuck flap and the other opposed edge comprising an edge of the foldably connected end tuck flap;
the cutout edges of the center tuck flap being adapted to extend between the top panel of a carrier formed from the blank and the tops of adjacent articles carried by the carrier; and the cutout edges of the end tuck flaps being adapted to terminate adjacent the sides of adjacent articles carried in the carrier.
6. A production blank according to claim 5, wherein the blank includes end panel sections foldably connected to the end tuck flaps and to the side panel sections adjacent the top panel section, the end panel sections being adapted to at least partially cover the ends of a carrier formed from the blank.
7. A production blank according to claim 6, wherein the opposed edges of the cutouts contain curved portions for use with articles having curved side portions, at least part of the curved edge portions of the center tuck flaps being adapted to contact and slide up the curved side portions of adjacent articles as the center and end tuck flaps are folded inwardly during the forming of a carrier around the adjacent rows of articles.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US11258287A | 1987-10-26 | 1987-10-26 | |
| US112,582 | 1987-10-26 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1316152C true CA1316152C (en) | 1993-04-13 |
Family
ID=22344704
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000579386A Expired - Fee Related CA1316152C (en) | 1987-10-26 | 1988-10-05 | Wrap-around article carrier with end panel lock |
Country Status (14)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0339077B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH0659901B2 (en) |
| KR (1) | KR930007728B1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU605008B2 (en) |
| BR (1) | BR8807272A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1316152C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3883752T2 (en) |
| DK (1) | DK168946B1 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2011861A6 (en) |
| FI (1) | FI92678C (en) |
| IE (1) | IE61561B1 (en) |
| NZ (1) | NZ226439A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1989003792A1 (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA887979B (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB9005223D0 (en) * | 1990-03-08 | 1990-05-02 | Mead Corp | Wrap-around carton with end closure panels |
| JP5588192B2 (en) * | 2010-02-19 | 2014-09-10 | サッポロビール株式会社 | Multipack and multipack deployment |
| US9073680B2 (en) * | 2012-05-03 | 2015-07-07 | Graphic Packaging International, Inc. | Carton with article protection features |
Family Cites Families (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2571833A (en) * | 1948-10-23 | 1951-10-16 | Container Corp | Can holder |
| US2690839A (en) * | 1950-06-10 | 1954-10-05 | Armour & Co | Package |
| US2684759A (en) * | 1951-04-09 | 1954-07-27 | Container Corp | Package with integral handle |
| US3168194A (en) * | 1960-05-25 | 1965-02-02 | Continental Can Co | Carrier for containers with means for retaining containers therewithin |
| US3294280A (en) * | 1965-07-20 | 1966-12-27 | Olin Mathieson | Wrap-around article carrier with floating internal partition |
| US3398856A (en) * | 1966-11-17 | 1968-08-27 | Olinkraft Inc | End panel lock for wrap-around carrier |
| US4437606A (en) * | 1982-03-26 | 1984-03-20 | Manville Service Corp. | Beverage package and production blank with improved locking features |
| US4597523A (en) * | 1984-06-13 | 1986-07-01 | Manville Service Corporation | Carrier lock |
-
1988
- 1988-09-30 JP JP63509315A patent/JPH0659901B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1988-09-30 AU AU27837/89A patent/AU605008B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1988-09-30 WO PCT/US1988/003348 patent/WO1989003792A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1988-09-30 DE DE88910292T patent/DE3883752T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1988-09-30 KR KR1019890701168A patent/KR930007728B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1988-09-30 BR BR888807272A patent/BR8807272A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1988-09-30 EP EP88910292A patent/EP0339077B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-10-04 NZ NZ226439A patent/NZ226439A/en unknown
- 1988-10-05 CA CA000579386A patent/CA1316152C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1988-10-18 ES ES8803154A patent/ES2011861A6/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-10-25 ZA ZA887979A patent/ZA887979B/en unknown
- 1988-10-25 IE IE322288A patent/IE61561B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
1989
- 1989-06-22 FI FI893064A patent/FI92678C/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1989-06-23 DK DK311789A patent/DK168946B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| FI92678B (en) | 1994-09-15 |
| ES2011861A6 (en) | 1990-02-16 |
| NZ226439A (en) | 1990-04-26 |
| DK311789D0 (en) | 1989-06-23 |
| KR890701446A (en) | 1989-12-20 |
| JPH0659901B2 (en) | 1994-08-10 |
| AU2783789A (en) | 1989-05-23 |
| KR930007728B1 (en) | 1993-08-18 |
| EP0339077A4 (en) | 1990-12-05 |
| JPH02501728A (en) | 1990-06-14 |
| EP0339077B1 (en) | 1993-09-01 |
| FI893064A (en) | 1989-06-22 |
| BR8807272A (en) | 1989-10-31 |
| IE61561B1 (en) | 1994-11-16 |
| IE883222L (en) | 1989-04-26 |
| ZA887979B (en) | 1989-07-26 |
| AU605008B2 (en) | 1991-01-03 |
| DE3883752D1 (en) | 1993-10-07 |
| DE3883752T2 (en) | 1993-12-16 |
| FI893064A0 (en) | 1989-06-22 |
| DK168946B1 (en) | 1994-07-18 |
| DK311789A (en) | 1989-08-23 |
| EP0339077A1 (en) | 1989-11-02 |
| WO1989003792A1 (en) | 1989-05-05 |
| FI92678C (en) | 1994-12-27 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |