CA2074528C - Wrap-around carrier with article retainer - Google Patents
Wrap-around carrier with article retainer Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2074528C CA2074528C CA002074528A CA2074528A CA2074528C CA 2074528 C CA2074528 C CA 2074528C CA 002074528 A CA002074528 A CA 002074528A CA 2074528 A CA2074528 A CA 2074528A CA 2074528 C CA2074528 C CA 2074528C
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- flap
- bottom panel
- carrier
- panel
- articles
- 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 - Lifetime
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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
- 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
- B65D71/14—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 without end walls
- B65D71/16—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 without end walls with article-locating elements
- B65D71/18—Tabs inwardly folded tabs from the upper or lower wall
-
- 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
- B65D71/14—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 without end walls
- B65D71/16—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 without end walls with article-locating elements
- B65D71/20—Slits or openings along the fold line of the tubular body
-
- 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
- B65D2571/00246—Locating elements for the contents
- B65D2571/00253—Locating elements for the contents integral with the wrapper
- B65D2571/00302—Locating elements for the contents integral with the wrapper consisting of an inward deformation of at least a wall, e.g. embossed, keels
-
- 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
- B65D2571/00716—Shape of the formed wrapper, i.e. shape of each formed element if the wrapper is made from more than one element tubular without end walls
Abstract
Integral retaining moans 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
WO 92/09498 PC'I'/US91/08452 r_ .--_ ~~~~ k~r~~
WRAP-AROUND CARRIER WITH ARTICLE RETAINER
F~P~a oz zne mvenm on This invention relates to article carriers and, more particularly, to article carriers having at least partially open ends.
Aa~ c~nmnd of the Invention Wrap-around article carriers are commonly designed to have ends which are either partially or entirely open. In , either case the carriers must be provided with means for preventing the articles from falling out the ends. Beverage cans, for example, are held in place partly by the tension , IO applied by the carrier blank being wrapped very tightly about them and by the engagement of the top and bottom flanges of the cans with the edges of cutouts in the side panels of the carrier through which the flanges of the cans extend. This design is .
facilitated by the fact that cans have substantially flat tops and bottoms of the same diameter as the body of the can, which allows the carrier blank to be tightly wrapped around the cans.
Problems arise when the articles are not of ,uniform dimensions, and. particularly when the articles are tapered at the bottom so as to cause the bottom portions of.the articles to be spaced apart. Wrap-around carriers for: use with tapered tubs of the type used as pudding. or margarine containers are especially troublesome because of the -difficulty in wrapping.
them .tight,ly enough to" prevent movement of the tubs :when the package is lifted and carried. Movement of:the.containers is a problem even when~the.carrier.includes side slots through which flanges,on. ,the tops of ~ the vtubs protrude,' since' such wan arrangement . ;does not , hold :.the bottom. _~p,ortions of the ' tubs tightly. in place : : ... . .. .. . _ . ~ _ ..
~.,..r , ;;.. .::. Partial end panels:_extending up :'from .ahe-.bottom -panel could be..provided .to function .as article:retainers,' as ~'could corner .end -gusset :panels_ ;orflaps . ~: -. These measures: would' not-~ be entirely.,:,satisfactory, however,...:becauser-they require--extra material to be used, making the carrier more costly to produce, -2- PCT/US91 /08452 .
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and would not be able to prevent movement of the bottom portions of the container toward and away from each other. Moreover, the bottom of the carton is not stable under such conditions. What is needed is an article spacing or retention means which effectively prevents the spaced bottom portions of articles from moving with respect to each other, and also prevents the bottom portions of end articles in a carrier from moving toward the open end of the carrier.
grsPf Summary of the Invention In accordance with the invention, a wrap-around carrier having a top panel and side panels is provided with a bottom panel comprised of overlapping inner and outer bottom panel flaps. The inner bottom panel flap contains an opening.near an end of the carrier, and the outer bottom panel flap includes an integral article retaining flap which is hingedly connected to the outer bottom panel flap adjacent an inner edge portion of the opening. In forming the carrier, the retaining flap is pivoted up through the opening into the interior of the carrier, .
where it engages the bottom portions of adjacent end articles of adjacent rows of articles and prevents outward movement of the articles as well as relative movement of the articles toward and away from each other.
In a preferred form of the invention the retaining flap fold line is~substantially parallel to the. end of~the carrier.
In addition, the retaining .flap includes spaced fold lines extending-transversely of the -retaining flap fold line.
Preferably, the transverse fold line s converge toward each other, producing a tapered retaining flap capable of conforming to th'e sloped bottom portions of the articles.- w~
The resulting°retaining flap-is three dimensional, 'having a central:vsection directed'toward the interior of the carrier and side.faces-.or'sections extending-betweenvadjacent end articles. Preferably, the opening through which the retainer flap_.:extendsw_is narrower than' the normal ' distance .between the side:faces;=thereby exerting a biasing-force on the / side - faces to - cause the : flap = to~ stand upright ~in the 'rpacJcage .
Because the retaining flap fits~snugly between the~spaced bottom , W092/09498 -3- r~ PCT/US91/08452 ~~~? ~:~~'.~8 (_", , . .
portions of the end articles, the articles are held in place against outward movement.
In addition to the retaining flap holding the bottom portions of the end articles in place, it also functions to interconnect the inner and outer bottom panel flaps, thus providing reinforcement 'to any other locking means connecting the bottom panel flaps.
The above and other aspects of the invention, as well as other benefits, will readily be apparent from the more detailed description of the preferred embodiment which follows.
n,-;Pf Description of the Drawinas FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a wrap-around carrier incorporating the article retainng means or zne presem invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial end view of the carrier of FLG. 1, showing the article retaining means and its relationship to the adjacent end articles in more detail;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a blank for forming the carrier of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the inner and outer bottom panel flapsjust prior to being moved into overlapped condition;
FIG. 5. is an enlarged plan view of the inner and outer .
bottom panel flapsin overlapped condition, with docking flap portions shown intermediate. stage of the locking process:
in an FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional.view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5: _ FIG. 7 is ~ a plan view similar to that of FIG. 5, ~ but showing ; the ~. and outer -: bottom =panel ' flaps - in locked inner condition: . .. ...
--. FIG. 8.is..a: transverse sectional view=taken'on'line 8-8 of ~ G. 7~~ . ,.~.- . ;~ _: , ; , ..:. .. . , -,. _:._.
FI . . _ . . . .....
v, FIG.~.9_is-a. partial plan view of:the bottom panel of the carrier-,-.-showing~..the retaining: flap in~an intermediate=position as ;it .is~ being inserted.:into:ahe associated opening -in~ the =iarier bottom panel:; . . .. _ _ . . ~. . .
flap: -_... . _..:-:FIG.:: partial pictorial view= of the inner surface lO v is ~. a of the bottom panelof: the carrier;--.showing the retaining flap W092/09498 -9- ~ PCT/US91/08452 r_ ..
in the intermediate position of FIG. 9, with the ar~icles omitted for the sake of clarity; and FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the carrier taker. along line 11-11 of FIG. 1, showing the retainer flap in its fully open position, with the articles contained in the carrier shown in phantom.
Dera Wed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to FIG. 1, a wrap-around carrier 10 comprises a top panel 12 connected along fold lines 14 to side panels 16 which generally follow the contour of the articles T in the carrier. For purpose of illustrating the invention, the articles T are shown as comprising tubs of the type used to contain pudding or margarine or the like. It can be seen that the side panels are inwardly curved at the bottom portion of the carrier as a result of being tightly wrapped around the sloped side portions of the tubs. The side panels adjacent the top panel are provided with slots 18 through which the top flanges F
of the tubs T extend. The top panel 12 is also provided with .
short extensions 20 which cover the flanges of the tubs.
A bottom panel 22 is formed by overlapped inner and outer bottom panel flaps 24 and 26. The inner bottom panel flap 29 is connected to one of the side panels 16 along fold line 28 while the outer bottom panel flap..26 is connected to the other side panel 1,6 along fold .line _30. .:'Extending up from the bottom panel .22 adjacent . the. end articles T. :in the adjacent rows'- of articles in the carrier is a retainer flap 32, which is shown in greater detail in FIG. 2. It can be seen that the retainer flap fits snugly between the angled bottom portions. of the articles T, preventing the bottomwportions from 'moving :-in -~a= direction away from the side panels 16. w -. L_; As shown -in . FIG. ; 3, wherein.: like :reference numerals to those used in FIG. i denote like elemen~s, a blank for forming the carrier 10 comprises~a substantially;rectangular sheet,34 of paperboard _or .-;other :suitable ' material; with- '-the"~~top panel section. 12, being in the .center. of~the.aheet :.and. the. other panel .
sections described above being successively connected.along-the fold lines referred;to above. . Thus thevfold.lines:l9~connecting the top 'panel 12 to the side panels 16 are separated"from each .
WO 92/09498 -5- ~~"'~ ~. ~'S .' ~ ,.' PCT/US91/08452 ,: ~ ...
other by portions defined by the elongated slits 36 and the short connecting slits 38 which correspond to the extension of the top panel overlying the tub flanges in a carrier formed from the blank. The slots 18 of FIG. 1 through which the tub flanges protrude are formed when the side panels are folded down from the top panel, and the width of the slot corresponds to the length of the short slit 38.
In order to form a carrier from the blank 39, the blank is wrapped around the tubs or other articles to be packaged with the inner and outer bottom panel flaps 24 and 26 in overlapping relationship. The bottom panel flaps 24 and 26 are shown in FIG. 4 as they would appear after being folded in from side panels 16 about the fold lines 28 and 30 just prior to being moved into overlapping relationship. Referring to both FIGS. 3 and 4, the retaining flaps 32 are connected to the outer bottom panel flap 26 along fold lines 40 which are located between the end edges 42 of the flap 26 and the midpoint of the flap. The fold lines 40 are shown as being substantially straight and , parallel to the end edges 42, although they-may be slightly curved or angled as discussed in greater detail hereinafter. A
slit 44 which is also substantially parallel to the end edges 42 of the outer bottom panel flap 26 and which is located between the fold lines 90 and the_end edges 42, forms the opposite edge of the. retainer flap 32.. The sides of the:.retainer flap are defined by slits 46_which extend from the ends of-slit 44 transversely of the end edges 42.toward the interior of the carrier, and by angled slits-48 connecting.the slits 46 and the ends of the fold lines 40. The. retainer flap 32 further includes two- fold -lines 50 ..which extend from the ends of the fold.line 90.and converge.to.the slit 44;.:intersecting the slit ~-44.~. at spaced; ~ points . :' . It.;.._ can be . seen w .that the resulting retaining flap ..;is.;,made... up of 'a central- : face or -: section =-'~52 bounded by, the. fold .lines.,-40 and 50 : and . the slit 44, and of ~ two side ,facesl..or..sections-;.54_ bounded by the s?,-its 44; 46- and 48 and ~_ : .. , _ . . , , the fold lines 50.. . :~' , ._: .. ._,.. __.__ _.._. ..::~,-~ ...
.,..The inner_.bottompanel , flap x24 includes :two modified ~T-shaped .openings or slots 56_.located -so :as.. o be aligned with the retainer flaps 32 when the inner and outer bottom panel flaps WO 92/09498 :i r-~:
are overlapped to form the bottom panel of the carrier. Each cutout or slot 56 comprises a relatively wide elongated slot , portion 58 extending from a transverse slot portion 60.. The slot portion 58 is spaced from and extends transversely of the nearest panel end edge 62, while the slot portion 60 extends outwardly of the slot portion 58 at the end thereof farthest from the panel end edge 62. The slot portion 60 extends generally parallel to the end edge 62. The slot portion 58 is defined by an edge 64 which is spaced from and parallel to the panel end edge 62 and by edges 66 which converge toward the interior of the carrier. The slot portion 60 is defined by an ' edge 68 which~is also parallel to the panel end edge 62 and by edges 70 which connect the edge 68~to the slots 66 at their closest spacing. The angular portion of the inner bottom panel flap 24 adjacent the intersection of edges 66 and 70 comprises opposing tabs 72.
Still referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the bottom panel flaps are designed to be mechanically connected in a manner generally known.in the prior art. The outer bottom panel flap 26 is connected to an end margin flap 79 along fold line 76. The fold line 76 is interrupted in the central portion by a slit defining a male locking tab 78 and on either side of the tab 78 by the , slits 46 which.coincide.with the fold-line 76. The margin flap 74 also.contains a centrally located~locking opening~~80 the interior edge-_82 .of which extends a substantial distance beyond the. side .edges of :the .opening.
The inne r:bottom panel'flap 24-'contains a centrally located_male locking tab 89.'~defined by end slit 86, side slits 88, ~ angled slits r90 whichrforin ~a neck portions,' ~andr foldline '92 .
; ..The _ locking :, tab .84 . is part of a la=ger"tab' or flap 94 vwhich is connected to the . inner =bottom ~ flap 30 -along ~~fold.,-hine 96 'and _ which.~,further is ~defined:by slits 98 extending from the ends'-of the fold line 96 to=the:slits 90 ofvthevlocking tab 84. ~' ,;~ To ; lock -.the ~. bottom panel ~~ flaps = together; ''wthey-'~are positioned in overlying relationship, with the end~wmargin flap _v-74 .of. the outer'_bottom panel-flap ~aind'the"tab'~99 of 'the inner ...bottom panel .flap being ~-folded%back=a's =illustrated'~in FIGS:' S
and 6. As shown, a smallportion of one end ~of the slot 60 is -xr..;.~
.-.
visible below the folded-back margin 79. The outer bottom flap 26 is then moved to align the locking tab 78 of the margin 74 with the locking edge 86 of the inner bottom flap 24. By folding the margin flap 74 back to its original position the locking tab 78 engages the locking edge 86 and the underside of the inner bottom panel flap 24 to mechanically hold the bottom panel flaps together as the primary lock of the bottom panel.
Th tab 94 is then folded back to its original position and the locking tab 89 is folded about its fold line 92 into the locking opening 80 through the slit 82 to effect a secondary lock. This arrangement is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8.
It can be seen in FIG. 7 that when the bottom panel flaps are locked together, the retaining flaps 32 are positioned directly over the openings or slots 56. .Note that the openings _ '15 56 are shown in dotted lines in FIG. 7 while the retainer. flaps 32 are shown in solid lines, 'depicting the slits, and in dot-dash lines, depicting the fold lines of the retaining flaps.
Pressure exerted on the central body sections 52 of the retainer flaps by an externally located movable punch or rod element, not shown but which will be understood by those skilled in the art preferably to be an operating element in an automatic packaging machine, will cause the retainer flaps to be pivoted up about their fold.lines 40 and pushed up into the interior of the carrier through the openings 56 in the inner bottom.panel flap 29. A typical intermediate position of the retaining flap as it would.appear, during this movement.is illustrated in FIG. 9, ' which shows - the. bottom of .ahe . retaining flap, and in .FIG : 10, ,which. shows.,,the. upper.portion.of the retaining .flap as it ' - emerge.s,_-into the interior. of:~the carrier.v.: It: will-.be seen that movement,.of~the-.retainer~flaps through.the~wslots in this manner .causes.the~.side retainer:; sections 59. to <fold,about:their fold ' .lines 50=:as -a :result ~of:;their contact with . he.-edges -~of =the . elongated,; slot portions .58 .- In .particular,': it~ swill . be seen '-that .
;,,the ~ side retaining flap .-.sections v.54 - contact ~ahe stabs ?2 :.formed -,by:the:edges. of.:thev.openings!.56_:and bend ahem:~back slightlyaas ~=' _ ~-shown-: in FIGS-: 9 ,and .-10 .r,: As; the :;side ~~retainer ections: 54 =are -::folded in,_-,the. bending.:; back o~.the tabsv:72 .will have ceased-but the tabs will still be urged back to their original position due WO 92/09498 -8- PCT/US91 /08452 .
~S~'~ k.r;;~f,~
to the combination of stiffness and flexibility o~ the paperboard material. The tabs thus exert a biasing force against the side sections.
Continued pivoting movement of the retaining flaps about the fold lines 90 will continue to fold the side sections 54 of the retaining flap until the retaining flap reaches its fully extended position in the interior of the carrier. This position, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 11, can be seen to be substantially vertical. The continued urging of the tabs 72 .
against the side sections 54 helps to maintain the retaining flaps in their fully elevated position. As best shown in FIG.
11, the side sections 54 are located so as to contact the sides of the tubs or other articles T so that the tubs are securely held between the side panels of the carrier and the retaining flap. The articles are thus divided and separated and at the same time the carrier bottom is stabilized.
It_was previously stated that the fold line$ 90 of the retaining flaps could be other than.straight, as for example, curved or angled. If desired, the fold lines could be curved or angled slightly facing the end edges of the bottom panel. This tends to bias the central section 52 of the retaining flap in the direction toward its original position in the plane of the outer bottom panel flap, and in so.doing the central section is biased against the ~intervening~articles.~
_. ..... The.:dimensions..of the. retaining flap are-selected to cause the side flap sections to engage.adjacent articles in the carrier:.: The converging. fold 'lines separating -the central section_of the retaining: flaps from the side sections arevangled so that entry. of: ahe leading .-narrow end ~ of the' retainingflap ._.:: into the.: space .between adjacent articles is 'facilitated:-' r ~ ~
° "
.,__.. . _ :-. It°.can~ be_ appreciated -that 'the ' article ' retaining -means ~of the ;invention : provides ~an effective 'retainer which engages - ;substantial . portions ::of.. the send tubs '~or . other = articles in a .:carrier which=have spaced bottom :portions, =and - does so -iaithout ~:;adding:to the,:material.:cost'.of-.the: carrier: blank.~~~~In' addition, ~ -..-the retaining vmeans : _provides ~ an . additional mechanical-lock -.;between ~ the.: flaps =forming .-:the bottom .--panel; ' -thus -further W092/09498 -9- ~~r,~;.~~.,~, ~~~ , . ,, v ensuring against the accidental escape of articles from the carrier through failure of the bottom panel.
Although the mechanical locking means for the bottom panel flaps need not be limited to the type shown, it is S preferred because of its proven ability to hold the panel flaps in locked condition against severe stresses and because it is especially suitable for use with the retaining means of the invention. For example, even though the retaining flaps are required to be located at a point in the outer bottom panel flap immediately adjacent the locking margin, by making the outer edge of the retaining flap coincide with the fold line of the locking margin 74 of the outer bottom panel flap, both the retaining flap elements and the locking tabs can be properly located with respect to each other.
Although not illustrated, it will be understood that the top panel may be provided, with handle openings if desired, to facilitate lifting and carrying.
It should now be apparent that the invention need not be limited to all the specific details described in connection with the preferred embodiment, but that changes to certain features of the preferred embodiment which do not alter the overall basic function and concept of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the claims. ..
WRAP-AROUND CARRIER WITH ARTICLE RETAINER
F~P~a oz zne mvenm on This invention relates to article carriers and, more particularly, to article carriers having at least partially open ends.
Aa~ c~nmnd of the Invention Wrap-around article carriers are commonly designed to have ends which are either partially or entirely open. In , either case the carriers must be provided with means for preventing the articles from falling out the ends. Beverage cans, for example, are held in place partly by the tension , IO applied by the carrier blank being wrapped very tightly about them and by the engagement of the top and bottom flanges of the cans with the edges of cutouts in the side panels of the carrier through which the flanges of the cans extend. This design is .
facilitated by the fact that cans have substantially flat tops and bottoms of the same diameter as the body of the can, which allows the carrier blank to be tightly wrapped around the cans.
Problems arise when the articles are not of ,uniform dimensions, and. particularly when the articles are tapered at the bottom so as to cause the bottom portions of.the articles to be spaced apart. Wrap-around carriers for: use with tapered tubs of the type used as pudding. or margarine containers are especially troublesome because of the -difficulty in wrapping.
them .tight,ly enough to" prevent movement of the tubs :when the package is lifted and carried. Movement of:the.containers is a problem even when~the.carrier.includes side slots through which flanges,on. ,the tops of ~ the vtubs protrude,' since' such wan arrangement . ;does not , hold :.the bottom. _~p,ortions of the ' tubs tightly. in place : : ... . .. .. . _ . ~ _ ..
~.,..r , ;;.. .::. Partial end panels:_extending up :'from .ahe-.bottom -panel could be..provided .to function .as article:retainers,' as ~'could corner .end -gusset :panels_ ;orflaps . ~: -. These measures: would' not-~ be entirely.,:,satisfactory, however,...:becauser-they require--extra material to be used, making the carrier more costly to produce, -2- PCT/US91 /08452 .
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and would not be able to prevent movement of the bottom portions of the container toward and away from each other. Moreover, the bottom of the carton is not stable under such conditions. What is needed is an article spacing or retention means which effectively prevents the spaced bottom portions of articles from moving with respect to each other, and also prevents the bottom portions of end articles in a carrier from moving toward the open end of the carrier.
grsPf Summary of the Invention In accordance with the invention, a wrap-around carrier having a top panel and side panels is provided with a bottom panel comprised of overlapping inner and outer bottom panel flaps. The inner bottom panel flap contains an opening.near an end of the carrier, and the outer bottom panel flap includes an integral article retaining flap which is hingedly connected to the outer bottom panel flap adjacent an inner edge portion of the opening. In forming the carrier, the retaining flap is pivoted up through the opening into the interior of the carrier, .
where it engages the bottom portions of adjacent end articles of adjacent rows of articles and prevents outward movement of the articles as well as relative movement of the articles toward and away from each other.
In a preferred form of the invention the retaining flap fold line is~substantially parallel to the. end of~the carrier.
In addition, the retaining .flap includes spaced fold lines extending-transversely of the -retaining flap fold line.
Preferably, the transverse fold line s converge toward each other, producing a tapered retaining flap capable of conforming to th'e sloped bottom portions of the articles.- w~
The resulting°retaining flap-is three dimensional, 'having a central:vsection directed'toward the interior of the carrier and side.faces-.or'sections extending-betweenvadjacent end articles. Preferably, the opening through which the retainer flap_.:extendsw_is narrower than' the normal ' distance .between the side:faces;=thereby exerting a biasing-force on the / side - faces to - cause the : flap = to~ stand upright ~in the 'rpacJcage .
Because the retaining flap fits~snugly between the~spaced bottom , W092/09498 -3- r~ PCT/US91/08452 ~~~? ~:~~'.~8 (_", , . .
portions of the end articles, the articles are held in place against outward movement.
In addition to the retaining flap holding the bottom portions of the end articles in place, it also functions to interconnect the inner and outer bottom panel flaps, thus providing reinforcement 'to any other locking means connecting the bottom panel flaps.
The above and other aspects of the invention, as well as other benefits, will readily be apparent from the more detailed description of the preferred embodiment which follows.
n,-;Pf Description of the Drawinas FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a wrap-around carrier incorporating the article retainng means or zne presem invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial end view of the carrier of FLG. 1, showing the article retaining means and its relationship to the adjacent end articles in more detail;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a blank for forming the carrier of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the inner and outer bottom panel flapsjust prior to being moved into overlapped condition;
FIG. 5. is an enlarged plan view of the inner and outer .
bottom panel flapsin overlapped condition, with docking flap portions shown intermediate. stage of the locking process:
in an FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional.view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5: _ FIG. 7 is ~ a plan view similar to that of FIG. 5, ~ but showing ; the ~. and outer -: bottom =panel ' flaps - in locked inner condition: . .. ...
--. FIG. 8.is..a: transverse sectional view=taken'on'line 8-8 of ~ G. 7~~ . ,.~.- . ;~ _: , ; , ..:. .. . , -,. _:._.
FI . . _ . . . .....
v, FIG.~.9_is-a. partial plan view of:the bottom panel of the carrier-,-.-showing~..the retaining: flap in~an intermediate=position as ;it .is~ being inserted.:into:ahe associated opening -in~ the =iarier bottom panel:; . . .. _ _ . . ~. . .
flap: -_... . _..:-:FIG.:: partial pictorial view= of the inner surface lO v is ~. a of the bottom panelof: the carrier;--.showing the retaining flap W092/09498 -9- ~ PCT/US91/08452 r_ ..
in the intermediate position of FIG. 9, with the ar~icles omitted for the sake of clarity; and FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the carrier taker. along line 11-11 of FIG. 1, showing the retainer flap in its fully open position, with the articles contained in the carrier shown in phantom.
Dera Wed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to FIG. 1, a wrap-around carrier 10 comprises a top panel 12 connected along fold lines 14 to side panels 16 which generally follow the contour of the articles T in the carrier. For purpose of illustrating the invention, the articles T are shown as comprising tubs of the type used to contain pudding or margarine or the like. It can be seen that the side panels are inwardly curved at the bottom portion of the carrier as a result of being tightly wrapped around the sloped side portions of the tubs. The side panels adjacent the top panel are provided with slots 18 through which the top flanges F
of the tubs T extend. The top panel 12 is also provided with .
short extensions 20 which cover the flanges of the tubs.
A bottom panel 22 is formed by overlapped inner and outer bottom panel flaps 24 and 26. The inner bottom panel flap 29 is connected to one of the side panels 16 along fold line 28 while the outer bottom panel flap..26 is connected to the other side panel 1,6 along fold .line _30. .:'Extending up from the bottom panel .22 adjacent . the. end articles T. :in the adjacent rows'- of articles in the carrier is a retainer flap 32, which is shown in greater detail in FIG. 2. It can be seen that the retainer flap fits snugly between the angled bottom portions. of the articles T, preventing the bottomwportions from 'moving :-in -~a= direction away from the side panels 16. w -. L_; As shown -in . FIG. ; 3, wherein.: like :reference numerals to those used in FIG. i denote like elemen~s, a blank for forming the carrier 10 comprises~a substantially;rectangular sheet,34 of paperboard _or .-;other :suitable ' material; with- '-the"~~top panel section. 12, being in the .center. of~the.aheet :.and. the. other panel .
sections described above being successively connected.along-the fold lines referred;to above. . Thus thevfold.lines:l9~connecting the top 'panel 12 to the side panels 16 are separated"from each .
WO 92/09498 -5- ~~"'~ ~. ~'S .' ~ ,.' PCT/US91/08452 ,: ~ ...
other by portions defined by the elongated slits 36 and the short connecting slits 38 which correspond to the extension of the top panel overlying the tub flanges in a carrier formed from the blank. The slots 18 of FIG. 1 through which the tub flanges protrude are formed when the side panels are folded down from the top panel, and the width of the slot corresponds to the length of the short slit 38.
In order to form a carrier from the blank 39, the blank is wrapped around the tubs or other articles to be packaged with the inner and outer bottom panel flaps 24 and 26 in overlapping relationship. The bottom panel flaps 24 and 26 are shown in FIG. 4 as they would appear after being folded in from side panels 16 about the fold lines 28 and 30 just prior to being moved into overlapping relationship. Referring to both FIGS. 3 and 4, the retaining flaps 32 are connected to the outer bottom panel flap 26 along fold lines 40 which are located between the end edges 42 of the flap 26 and the midpoint of the flap. The fold lines 40 are shown as being substantially straight and , parallel to the end edges 42, although they-may be slightly curved or angled as discussed in greater detail hereinafter. A
slit 44 which is also substantially parallel to the end edges 42 of the outer bottom panel flap 26 and which is located between the fold lines 90 and the_end edges 42, forms the opposite edge of the. retainer flap 32.. The sides of the:.retainer flap are defined by slits 46_which extend from the ends of-slit 44 transversely of the end edges 42.toward the interior of the carrier, and by angled slits-48 connecting.the slits 46 and the ends of the fold lines 40. The. retainer flap 32 further includes two- fold -lines 50 ..which extend from the ends of the fold.line 90.and converge.to.the slit 44;.:intersecting the slit ~-44.~. at spaced; ~ points . :' . It.;.._ can be . seen w .that the resulting retaining flap ..;is.;,made... up of 'a central- : face or -: section =-'~52 bounded by, the. fold .lines.,-40 and 50 : and . the slit 44, and of ~ two side ,facesl..or..sections-;.54_ bounded by the s?,-its 44; 46- and 48 and ~_ : .. , _ . . , , the fold lines 50.. . :~' , ._: .. ._,.. __.__ _.._. ..::~,-~ ...
.,..The inner_.bottompanel , flap x24 includes :two modified ~T-shaped .openings or slots 56_.located -so :as.. o be aligned with the retainer flaps 32 when the inner and outer bottom panel flaps WO 92/09498 :i r-~:
are overlapped to form the bottom panel of the carrier. Each cutout or slot 56 comprises a relatively wide elongated slot , portion 58 extending from a transverse slot portion 60.. The slot portion 58 is spaced from and extends transversely of the nearest panel end edge 62, while the slot portion 60 extends outwardly of the slot portion 58 at the end thereof farthest from the panel end edge 62. The slot portion 60 extends generally parallel to the end edge 62. The slot portion 58 is defined by an edge 64 which is spaced from and parallel to the panel end edge 62 and by edges 66 which converge toward the interior of the carrier. The slot portion 60 is defined by an ' edge 68 which~is also parallel to the panel end edge 62 and by edges 70 which connect the edge 68~to the slots 66 at their closest spacing. The angular portion of the inner bottom panel flap 24 adjacent the intersection of edges 66 and 70 comprises opposing tabs 72.
Still referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the bottom panel flaps are designed to be mechanically connected in a manner generally known.in the prior art. The outer bottom panel flap 26 is connected to an end margin flap 79 along fold line 76. The fold line 76 is interrupted in the central portion by a slit defining a male locking tab 78 and on either side of the tab 78 by the , slits 46 which.coincide.with the fold-line 76. The margin flap 74 also.contains a centrally located~locking opening~~80 the interior edge-_82 .of which extends a substantial distance beyond the. side .edges of :the .opening.
The inne r:bottom panel'flap 24-'contains a centrally located_male locking tab 89.'~defined by end slit 86, side slits 88, ~ angled slits r90 whichrforin ~a neck portions,' ~andr foldline '92 .
; ..The _ locking :, tab .84 . is part of a la=ger"tab' or flap 94 vwhich is connected to the . inner =bottom ~ flap 30 -along ~~fold.,-hine 96 'and _ which.~,further is ~defined:by slits 98 extending from the ends'-of the fold line 96 to=the:slits 90 ofvthevlocking tab 84. ~' ,;~ To ; lock -.the ~. bottom panel ~~ flaps = together; ''wthey-'~are positioned in overlying relationship, with the end~wmargin flap _v-74 .of. the outer'_bottom panel-flap ~aind'the"tab'~99 of 'the inner ...bottom panel .flap being ~-folded%back=a's =illustrated'~in FIGS:' S
and 6. As shown, a smallportion of one end ~of the slot 60 is -xr..;.~
.-.
visible below the folded-back margin 79. The outer bottom flap 26 is then moved to align the locking tab 78 of the margin 74 with the locking edge 86 of the inner bottom flap 24. By folding the margin flap 74 back to its original position the locking tab 78 engages the locking edge 86 and the underside of the inner bottom panel flap 24 to mechanically hold the bottom panel flaps together as the primary lock of the bottom panel.
Th tab 94 is then folded back to its original position and the locking tab 89 is folded about its fold line 92 into the locking opening 80 through the slit 82 to effect a secondary lock. This arrangement is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8.
It can be seen in FIG. 7 that when the bottom panel flaps are locked together, the retaining flaps 32 are positioned directly over the openings or slots 56. .Note that the openings _ '15 56 are shown in dotted lines in FIG. 7 while the retainer. flaps 32 are shown in solid lines, 'depicting the slits, and in dot-dash lines, depicting the fold lines of the retaining flaps.
Pressure exerted on the central body sections 52 of the retainer flaps by an externally located movable punch or rod element, not shown but which will be understood by those skilled in the art preferably to be an operating element in an automatic packaging machine, will cause the retainer flaps to be pivoted up about their fold.lines 40 and pushed up into the interior of the carrier through the openings 56 in the inner bottom.panel flap 29. A typical intermediate position of the retaining flap as it would.appear, during this movement.is illustrated in FIG. 9, ' which shows - the. bottom of .ahe . retaining flap, and in .FIG : 10, ,which. shows.,,the. upper.portion.of the retaining .flap as it ' - emerge.s,_-into the interior. of:~the carrier.v.: It: will-.be seen that movement,.of~the-.retainer~flaps through.the~wslots in this manner .causes.the~.side retainer:; sections 59. to <fold,about:their fold ' .lines 50=:as -a :result ~of:;their contact with . he.-edges -~of =the . elongated,; slot portions .58 .- In .particular,': it~ swill . be seen '-that .
;,,the ~ side retaining flap .-.sections v.54 - contact ~ahe stabs ?2 :.formed -,by:the:edges. of.:thev.openings!.56_:and bend ahem:~back slightlyaas ~=' _ ~-shown-: in FIGS-: 9 ,and .-10 .r,: As; the :;side ~~retainer ections: 54 =are -::folded in,_-,the. bending.:; back o~.the tabsv:72 .will have ceased-but the tabs will still be urged back to their original position due WO 92/09498 -8- PCT/US91 /08452 .
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to the combination of stiffness and flexibility o~ the paperboard material. The tabs thus exert a biasing force against the side sections.
Continued pivoting movement of the retaining flaps about the fold lines 90 will continue to fold the side sections 54 of the retaining flap until the retaining flap reaches its fully extended position in the interior of the carrier. This position, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 11, can be seen to be substantially vertical. The continued urging of the tabs 72 .
against the side sections 54 helps to maintain the retaining flaps in their fully elevated position. As best shown in FIG.
11, the side sections 54 are located so as to contact the sides of the tubs or other articles T so that the tubs are securely held between the side panels of the carrier and the retaining flap. The articles are thus divided and separated and at the same time the carrier bottom is stabilized.
It_was previously stated that the fold line$ 90 of the retaining flaps could be other than.straight, as for example, curved or angled. If desired, the fold lines could be curved or angled slightly facing the end edges of the bottom panel. This tends to bias the central section 52 of the retaining flap in the direction toward its original position in the plane of the outer bottom panel flap, and in so.doing the central section is biased against the ~intervening~articles.~
_. ..... The.:dimensions..of the. retaining flap are-selected to cause the side flap sections to engage.adjacent articles in the carrier:.: The converging. fold 'lines separating -the central section_of the retaining: flaps from the side sections arevangled so that entry. of: ahe leading .-narrow end ~ of the' retainingflap ._.:: into the.: space .between adjacent articles is 'facilitated:-' r ~ ~
° "
.,__.. . _ :-. It°.can~ be_ appreciated -that 'the ' article ' retaining -means ~of the ;invention : provides ~an effective 'retainer which engages - ;substantial . portions ::of.. the send tubs '~or . other = articles in a .:carrier which=have spaced bottom :portions, =and - does so -iaithout ~:;adding:to the,:material.:cost'.of-.the: carrier: blank.~~~~In' addition, ~ -..-the retaining vmeans : _provides ~ an . additional mechanical-lock -.;between ~ the.: flaps =forming .-:the bottom .--panel; ' -thus -further W092/09498 -9- ~~r,~;.~~.,~, ~~~ , . ,, v ensuring against the accidental escape of articles from the carrier through failure of the bottom panel.
Although the mechanical locking means for the bottom panel flaps need not be limited to the type shown, it is S preferred because of its proven ability to hold the panel flaps in locked condition against severe stresses and because it is especially suitable for use with the retaining means of the invention. For example, even though the retaining flaps are required to be located at a point in the outer bottom panel flap immediately adjacent the locking margin, by making the outer edge of the retaining flap coincide with the fold line of the locking margin 74 of the outer bottom panel flap, both the retaining flap elements and the locking tabs can be properly located with respect to each other.
Although not illustrated, it will be understood that the top panel may be provided, with handle openings if desired, to facilitate lifting and carrying.
It should now be apparent that the invention need not be limited to all the specific details described in connection with the preferred embodiment, but that changes to certain features of the preferred embodiment which do not alter the overall basic function and concept of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the claims. ..
Claims (12)
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A wrap-around article carrier containing a plurality of adjacent rows of articles the bottom portions of which are spaced apart, comprising:
a top panel;
opposite side panels connected to the top panel;
a bottom panel having two end edges and two side edges, the bottom panel comprising an inner bottom panel flap connected at one of the side edges of the bottom panel to one of the side panels and an outer bottom panel flap overlying the inner bottom flap and being connected at the other side edge of the bottom panel to the other side panel, the end edges of the bottom panel connecting the side edges thereof and extending transversely thereof;
the inner bottom panel flap containing an opening located near one of the end edges of the bottom panel, the opening having an inner edge portion and an outer edge portion, the outer edge portion being located closer to the associated end edge of the bottom panel than is the inner edge portion; and the outer bottom panel flap including an integral article retaining flap hingedly connected thereto adjacent the inner edge portion of the opening along a fold line extending substantially parallel to the adjacent end edge of the bottom panel of the carrier, the article retaining flap extending through said opening between end articles in the adjacent rows to maintain the bottom portions of the end articles spaced apart.
a top panel;
opposite side panels connected to the top panel;
a bottom panel having two end edges and two side edges, the bottom panel comprising an inner bottom panel flap connected at one of the side edges of the bottom panel to one of the side panels and an outer bottom panel flap overlying the inner bottom flap and being connected at the other side edge of the bottom panel to the other side panel, the end edges of the bottom panel connecting the side edges thereof and extending transversely thereof;
the inner bottom panel flap containing an opening located near one of the end edges of the bottom panel, the opening having an inner edge portion and an outer edge portion, the outer edge portion being located closer to the associated end edge of the bottom panel than is the inner edge portion; and the outer bottom panel flap including an integral article retaining flap hingedly connected thereto adjacent the inner edge portion of the opening along a fold line extending substantially parallel to the adjacent end edge of the bottom panel of the carrier, the article retaining flap extending through said opening between end articles in the adjacent rows to maintain the bottom portions of the end articles spaced apart.
2. A wrap-around article carrier containing a plurality of adjacent rows of articles the bottom portions of which are spaced apart, comprising:
a top panel;
opposite side panels connected to the top panel;
a bottom panel having end edges and side edges, the bottom panel comprising an inner bottom panel flap connected at a side edge to one of the side panels and an outer bottom panel flap overlying the inner bottom flap and being connected at a side edge to the other side panel;
the inner bottom panel flap containing an opening located near one of the end edges of the bottom panel, the opening having an inner edge portion and an outer edge portion, the outer edge portion being located closer to the associated end edge of the bottom panel than is the inner edge portion; and the outer bottom panel flap including an integral article retaining flap hingedly connected thereto adjacent the inner edge portion of the opening along a fold line extending substantially parallel to the adjacent end edge of the bottom panel of the carrier, the article retaining flap containing spaced fold lines extending transversely of the retaining flap fold line and extending through said opening between end articles in the adjacent rows to maintain the bottom portions of the end articles spaced apart.
a top panel;
opposite side panels connected to the top panel;
a bottom panel having end edges and side edges, the bottom panel comprising an inner bottom panel flap connected at a side edge to one of the side panels and an outer bottom panel flap overlying the inner bottom flap and being connected at a side edge to the other side panel;
the inner bottom panel flap containing an opening located near one of the end edges of the bottom panel, the opening having an inner edge portion and an outer edge portion, the outer edge portion being located closer to the associated end edge of the bottom panel than is the inner edge portion; and the outer bottom panel flap including an integral article retaining flap hingedly connected thereto adjacent the inner edge portion of the opening along a fold line extending substantially parallel to the adjacent end edge of the bottom panel of the carrier, the article retaining flap containing spaced fold lines extending transversely of the retaining flap fold line and extending through said opening between end articles in the adjacent rows to maintain the bottom portions of the end articles spaced apart.
3. The wrap-around carrier of claim 1, including interconnected mechanical lock means on the inner and outer bottom flaps for assisting the retaining flap in locking the inner and outer bottom panel flaps together.
4. The wrap-around carrier of claim 1, wherein the carrier includes a retaining flap adjacent each end of the carrier.
5. The wrap-around carrier of claim 2, wherein the transversely extending fold lines in the retainer flap divide the retainer flap into a central section and two side sections extending at an angle to the central section, the opening in the inner bottom panel flap having side edge portions in contact with the side sections of the retainer flap, said side edge portions being spaced apart a distance such that they exert a biasing force on said side sections.
6. The wrap-around carrier of claim 2, wherein the transverse fold lines converge in a direction away from the retaining flap fold line.
7. A substantially rectangular blank for forming a wrap-around article carrier adapted to carry a plurality of adjacent rows of articles the bottom portions of which are spaced apart, comprising:
a top panel section;
side panel sections connected to opposite sides of the top panel section;
an inner bottom panel flap connected to one of the side panel sections along a first fold line and an outer bottom panel flap connected to the other side panel section along a second fold line, the outer bottom panel flap being adapted to overlie the inner bottom panel flap in the bottom panel of a carrier formed from the blank, the inner and outer bottom panel flaps having end edges extending transversely of the first and second fold lines;
the inner bottom panel flap containing an opening located near an end edge of the inner bottom panel flap, the opening including inner and outer edge portions, the outer edge portion being located closer to said end edge than the inner edge portion; and the outer bottom panel flap including an integral article retaining flap hingedly connected thereto adjacent the inner edge portion of the opening along a fold line extending substantially parallel to the adjacent end edge of the outer bottom panel flap, the article retaining flap being pivotable through said opening between end articles in adjacent rows of articles in a carrier formed from the blank to maintain the bottom portions of the end articles spaced apart.
a top panel section;
side panel sections connected to opposite sides of the top panel section;
an inner bottom panel flap connected to one of the side panel sections along a first fold line and an outer bottom panel flap connected to the other side panel section along a second fold line, the outer bottom panel flap being adapted to overlie the inner bottom panel flap in the bottom panel of a carrier formed from the blank, the inner and outer bottom panel flaps having end edges extending transversely of the first and second fold lines;
the inner bottom panel flap containing an opening located near an end edge of the inner bottom panel flap, the opening including inner and outer edge portions, the outer edge portion being located closer to said end edge than the inner edge portion; and the outer bottom panel flap including an integral article retaining flap hingedly connected thereto adjacent the inner edge portion of the opening along a fold line extending substantially parallel to the adjacent end edge of the outer bottom panel flap, the article retaining flap being pivotable through said opening between end articles in adjacent rows of articles in a carrier formed from the blank to maintain the bottom portions of the end articles spaced apart.
8. A substantially rectangular blank for forming a wrap-around article carrier adapted to carry a plurality of adjacent rows of articles the bottom portions of which are spaced apart, comprising:
a top panel section;
side panel sections connected to opposite sides of the top panel section;
an inner bottom panel flap connected to one of the side panel sections and an outer bottom panel flap connected to the other side panel section, the outer bottom panel flap being adapted to overlie the inner bottom panel flap in the bottom panel of a carrier formed from the blank;
the inner bottom panel flap containing an opening located near an end edge of the inner bottom panel flap, the opening including inner and outer edge portions, the outer edge portion being located closer to said end edge than the inner edge portion; and the outer bottom panel flap including an integral article retaining flap hingedly connected thereto adjacent the inner edge portion of the opening along a fold line extending substantially parallel to the adjacent end edge of the outer bottom panel flap, the retaining flap containing spaced fold lines extending transversely of the retaining flap fold line, the article retaining flap adapted to be pivoted through said opening between end articles in adjacent rows of articles in a carrier formed from the blank to maintain the bottom portions of the end articles spaced apart.
a top panel section;
side panel sections connected to opposite sides of the top panel section;
an inner bottom panel flap connected to one of the side panel sections and an outer bottom panel flap connected to the other side panel section, the outer bottom panel flap being adapted to overlie the inner bottom panel flap in the bottom panel of a carrier formed from the blank;
the inner bottom panel flap containing an opening located near an end edge of the inner bottom panel flap, the opening including inner and outer edge portions, the outer edge portion being located closer to said end edge than the inner edge portion; and the outer bottom panel flap including an integral article retaining flap hingedly connected thereto adjacent the inner edge portion of the opening along a fold line extending substantially parallel to the adjacent end edge of the outer bottom panel flap, the retaining flap containing spaced fold lines extending transversely of the retaining flap fold line, the article retaining flap adapted to be pivoted through said opening between end articles in adjacent rows of articles in a carrier formed from the blank to maintain the bottom portions of the end articles spaced apart.
9. The wrap-around carrier blank of claim 7, including mechanical locking means on the inner and outer bottom panel flaps, the mechanical locking means being adapted to be interlocked in a carrier formed from the blank to assist the retaining flap in locking the inner and outer bottom panel flaps together.
10. The wrap-around carrier blank of claim 7, wherein the carrier blank includes a retaining flap adjacent each end of the outer bottom flap.
11. The wrap-around carrier blank of claim 8, wherein the transversely extending fold lines in the retaining flap divide the retaining flap into a central section and two side sections extending at an angle to the central section, the opening in the inner bottom panel flap having side edge portions adapted to be in contact with the side sections of the retaining flap in a carrier formed from the blank, said side edge portions being spaced apart a distance such that they exert a biasing force on said side sections.
12. The wrap-around carrier blank of claim 8, wherein the transverse fold lines converge in a direction away from the retaining flap fold line.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US61711390A | 1990-11-21 | 1990-11-21 | |
| US617,113 | 1990-11-21 | ||
| PCT/US1991/008452 WO1992009498A1 (en) | 1990-11-21 | 1991-11-12 | Wrap-around carrier with article retainer |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2074528A1 CA2074528A1 (en) | 1992-05-22 |
| CA2074528C true CA2074528C (en) | 2003-05-13 |
Family
ID=24472301
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002074528A Expired - Lifetime CA2074528C (en) | 1990-11-21 | 1991-11-12 | Wrap-around carrier with article retainer |
Country Status (16)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0515648B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP3039805B2 (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE121362T1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU638622B2 (en) |
| BR (1) | BR9106210A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2074528C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69109097T2 (en) |
| DK (1) | DK0515648T3 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2071482T3 (en) |
| FI (1) | FI923301A0 (en) |
| IE (1) | IE914036A1 (en) |
| MY (1) | MY108678A (en) |
| NO (1) | NO922873D0 (en) |
| NZ (1) | NZ240669A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1992009498A1 (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA919180B (en) |
Families Citing this family (19)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5094347A (en) * | 1990-08-29 | 1992-03-10 | Riverwood Natural Resources Corporation | Wrap-around carrier with article retainer |
| MA23035A1 (en) * | 1992-11-20 | 1994-07-01 | Mead Corp | KERNEL STRUCTURE IN WRAPPING PACKAGES. |
| US5484059A (en) * | 1994-08-18 | 1996-01-16 | Riverwood International Corporation | Carrier with bottom panel lock |
| DE29909000U1 (en) * | 1999-05-25 | 1999-09-09 | Vg Nicolaus Gmbh | Cardboard packaging |
| JP2001080670A (en) * | 1999-09-06 | 2001-03-27 | Soc Prod Nestle Sa | Pet food package |
| US9022217B2 (en) | 2011-05-06 | 2015-05-05 | Graphic Packaging International, Inc. | Carton with article protection feature |
| WO2012154297A1 (en) | 2011-05-06 | 2012-11-15 | Graphic Packing International, Inc. | Carton with article protection feature |
| EP3028949B1 (en) | 2011-10-19 | 2017-08-02 | Graphic Packaging International, Inc. | System and method for activating article protection features of a carton |
| US9187206B2 (en) * | 2012-02-16 | 2015-11-17 | Graphic Packaging International, Inc. | Carton with reinforced handle |
| NZ628435A (en) * | 2012-03-14 | 2016-06-24 | Graphic Packaging Int Inc | Carton with article protection feature |
| BR112015000304A2 (en) | 2012-07-17 | 2017-06-27 | Graphic Packaging Int Inc | packaging for holding at least one article, blanket for containing at least one article, and method of forming a package |
| US9840358B2 (en) | 2013-03-14 | 2017-12-12 | Graphic Packaging International, Inc. | Carton with article protection feature |
| CA2900923C (en) * | 2013-03-14 | 2018-01-02 | Graphic Packaging International, Inc. | Carton with article protection feature |
| AU2014251065B2 (en) | 2013-04-10 | 2017-08-24 | Graphic Packaging International, Llc | Carton with article protection feature |
| US9701436B2 (en) | 2013-04-10 | 2017-07-11 | Graphic Packaging International, Inc. | Carton with article protection feature |
| ES2827316T3 (en) | 2014-01-07 | 2021-05-20 | Graphic Packaging Int Llc | Container transport device |
| EP3212523B1 (en) | 2014-10-27 | 2019-08-21 | Graphic Packaging International, LLC | Carton for articles |
| KR101653804B1 (en) * | 2015-04-28 | 2016-09-05 | 배정희 | Excavator ripper equipped with a rotary blade |
| USD993016S1 (en) | 2021-04-22 | 2023-07-25 | Graphic Packaging International, Llc | Carton |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2207903B (en) * | 1987-08-11 | 1991-01-30 | Mead Corp | Package with foldable separator tabs for spacing rows of articles |
| FR2637571B1 (en) * | 1988-10-07 | 1991-01-11 | 4 P Emballages France | SHEATH-TYPE PACKAGING FOR A GROUP OF POTS OR THE LIKE, COMPRISING MEANS OF SETTING |
-
1991
- 1991-11-12 JP JP04501075A patent/JP3039805B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1991-11-12 EP EP92901959A patent/EP0515648B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1991-11-12 WO PCT/US1991/008452 patent/WO1992009498A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1991-11-12 AT AT92901959T patent/ATE121362T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1991-11-12 ES ES92901959T patent/ES2071482T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1991-11-12 DK DK92901959.4T patent/DK0515648T3/en active
- 1991-11-12 CA CA002074528A patent/CA2074528C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1991-11-12 BR BR919106210A patent/BR9106210A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1991-11-12 AU AU90764/91A patent/AU638622B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1991-11-12 DE DE69109097T patent/DE69109097T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1991-11-19 MY MYPI91002139A patent/MY108678A/en unknown
- 1991-11-20 NZ NZ240669A patent/NZ240669A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1991-11-20 ZA ZA919180A patent/ZA919180B/en unknown
- 1991-11-20 IE IE403691A patent/IE914036A1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
1992
- 1992-07-20 NO NO922873A patent/NO922873D0/en unknown
- 1992-07-20 FI FI923301A patent/FI923301A0/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2074528A1 (en) | 1992-05-22 |
| NO922873L (en) | 1992-07-20 |
| EP0515648A1 (en) | 1992-12-02 |
| ES2071482T3 (en) | 1995-06-16 |
| JPH05508140A (en) | 1993-11-18 |
| JP3039805B2 (en) | 2000-05-08 |
| DE69109097T2 (en) | 1995-08-31 |
| WO1992009498A1 (en) | 1992-06-11 |
| BR9106210A (en) | 1993-03-30 |
| DK0515648T3 (en) | 1995-07-03 |
| DE69109097D1 (en) | 1995-05-24 |
| ZA919180B (en) | 1992-08-26 |
| AU9076491A (en) | 1992-06-25 |
| NO922873D0 (en) | 1992-07-20 |
| NZ240669A (en) | 1993-05-26 |
| MY108678A (en) | 1996-10-31 |
| AU638622B2 (en) | 1993-07-01 |
| IE914036A1 (en) | 1992-06-03 |
| FI923301A (en) | 1992-07-20 |
| FI923301A0 (en) | 1992-07-20 |
| EP0515648B1 (en) | 1995-04-19 |
| ATE121362T1 (en) | 1995-05-15 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed | ||
| MKEC | Expiry (correction) |
Effective date: 20121202 |