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
  • B65D71/40—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 comprising a plurality of articles held together only partially by packaging elements formed by folding a blank or several blanks
  • B65D71/46—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 comprising a plurality of articles held together only partially by packaging elements formed by folding a blank or several blanks formed by folding a single blank into a tubular element

Definitions

• This invention relates to an article carrier of the top-gripping type which is particularly suitable for use with bottles.
• Top-gripping carriers which support a number of bottles by their necks in a group are well known. Usually, such carriers are pre-formed and supplied in completed flat-folded condition ready to be erected and applied to a group of bottles. In order to pre-form the carrier it is customary to form the carrier from a wrapper blank in which a pair of base panels or other panels are secured by gluing.
• the present invention offers a top-gripping carrier, which does not necessarily require to be glued and may or may not be pre-formed but is put into its final erected condition by introduction of the articles which it is to carry.
• Carriers assembled in this way may be prone to misalignment during assembly.
• Top gripping carriers with interlocked panels are known in the multiple packaging art.
• US-A-4 432 579 discloses (Figs. 19 and 20) activating a flap (128a) struck from a base panel (128) by bottle insertion and locking the upper end of the flap (128a) in a top- receiving aperture (140) in a top panel (132).
• US'579 does not disclose an internal stiffening structure using the flaps 128a, 136a.
• Figs. 18-20 illustrate a centre keel structure. However, the centre keel structure is formed by panels 124, 138 located at the opposite ends of the blank, not by the flaps 128a, 136a.
• US-A-6 168 012 discloses a centre keel structure formed out of the flaps 21b struck from the base panel 5 (Fig. 2).
• the flaps 21 define parts of the bottle-receiving apertures 171 in the base panel 5.
• the flaps 21b extend between the top and base panels 13 and 15 to enhance the rigidity of the carrier, the upper ends of the flaps 21b are not received in the top- receiving apertures 31 and 33 in the top of the carrier.
• US-A-4 621 734 discloses a locking tab "ItI” which has a pair of ears “e3" and "e4" and is received in a bottle-receiving aperture "A5" (Figs. 2 and 4). The ears “e3” and “e4" engage beneath “e5" of tab “t3” and thereby lock the tab "ItI” in the aperture "A5" (Column 4, Lines 48 to 51).
• the carrier includes locking tabs which hold the carrier in a set-up tubular form and bracing panels which enhance the rigidity or stiffness of the carrier. Both sets of tabs and panels may be deployed by the articles being introduced into the carrier.
• a carton for one or more articles the carton being formed from a single blank of foldable sheet material having a series of panels joined along fold lines so as to form, when assembled, a top panel, bottom panel, first and second side wall panels and first and second end wall panels together forming a hollow structure with closed ends, the carton being characterised in that the top panel comprises at least one aperture for receiving an article, at least one of the end wall panels having a locking head extending from an edge thereof, the locking head being received in one of the apertures and held in that aperture by the article received therein, thereby to hold the end wall panel in the assembled position.
• the or each aperture has a first portion and a second portion
• the locking head has a tapered width so as to be wider at its free end than at the end adjoining the end wall panel
• the first portion has a maximum width that is larger than the maximum width of the locking head, such that the locking head can pass through the first portion of the associated aperture and move into the second portion of the associated aperture
• the second portion having a width that is smaller than the maximum width of each locking head, so that each locking head will be prevented from moving substantially perpendicularly through, and being dislodged from, the second portion of the associated aperture.
• the second portion of the aperture and locking head together form a complementary locking means.
• locking head of the end wall panel engages the top of the article present in that aperture, the locking head including a central portion for engagement with the top of the article in that aperture, the upper end portion of the one end wall panel including at least one arm portion disposed at one side of the respective locking head, the or each arm portion being sized to engage the underface of the top panel with the respective locking head received in the one aperture.
• the locking head of the or each end wall panel comprises locking means for engaging complementary locking means provided by the one aperture.
• the aperture is defined by an annular series of support tabs which engage beneath the top of an article present in the one aperture and wherein the central portion of the locking head is engaged against one of the support tabs, the locking head further including at least one wing portion which is engaged in a slot between the one support tab and the or each next adjacent support tab to lock the locking head received in the one aperture.
• the central portion of the locking head is disposed in overlapping face to face relationship with the one support tab.
• a blank having a series of panels joined along fold lines so as to form, when assembled into a carton, a top panel, bottom panel, first and second side wall panels and first and second end wall panels together forming a hollow structure with closed ends, the carton being characterised in that the top panel comprise at least one aperture for receiving an article, at least one of the end wall panels has a locking head in the form of a tab extending from an edge of the end wall, the locking head being received in one of said apertures and held in that aperture by the article received therein thereby to hold the end wall panel in an assembled position.
• the or each aperture has a first portion and a second portion, the locking head having a tapered width so as to be wider at its free end than at the end that adjoins the associated end wall panel, the first portion of each aperture having a width that is larger than the maximum width of the locking head, such that the locking head can pass through the first portion and move into the second portion of the associated aperture, the second portion having a width that is smaller than the maximum width of the locking head, so that each locking head will be prevented from moving substantially perpendicularly through, and being dislodged from the second portion of the associated aperture.
• an article carrier of the top- gripping type which connects together and supports a plurality of articles arranged in at least two rows
• the carrier comprising a series of panels which provide a top panel and a base panel interconnected by a pair of spaced side wall panels and which together form a tubular structure, said top and base panels each having a plurality of article receiving apertures arranged in at least two rows, the apertures in the top panel being disposed in vertical registry with the apertures in the base panel respectively, and a keel structure disposed between at least two rows of the apertures in the base panel and extending between the top and base panels, characterized in that the keel structure comprises a bracing panel formed from the base panel and at least partially defining one of the apertures in the base panel, the bracing panel extending from the base panel internally of the tubular structure and being received in one of the apertures in the top panel and engaging the top of an article present in the one aperture.
• each bracing panel comprises locking means which engages with complementary locking means provided by the one aperture.
• the one aperture is defined by an annular series of support tabs which engage beneath the top of an article present in the one aperture and wherein the locking means of the bracing panel includes a locking head having a central portion which is engaged against one of the support tabs, the locking head further having at least one wing portion which is engaged in a slot between the one support tab and the or each next adjacent support tab to lock the bracing panel in the one aperture.
• each bracing panel includes at least one arm portion disposed at one side of the locking head, each arm portion being sized to engage the underface of the top panel with the locking head engaged in its fully locked position thereby enhancing the stiffness of the top panel in the vicinity of the aperture in which the locking head is engaged to fortify the locking connection between that bracing panel and the top panel.
• each bracing panel extends between the base panel and the top panel at an angle inclined to the vertical to absorb and/or transmit both vertical and horizontal components of force thereby to enhance the rigidity of the carrier.
• the keel structure is formed from a multiplicity of pairs of bracing panels with each pair disposed between adjacent rows of articles.
• a locking tab is associated with the one aperture, the locking tab extending from the base panel internally of the tubular structure and being held, to maintain the tubular form of the carrier in its erected condition, by a part of an article received in that aperture, the arrangement of the locking tabs being such that the locking tab and the bracing panel are deployed sequentially by insertion of an article into the aperture.
• the locking tab is sized and configured to pass through a base panel aperture only when the carrier is in its fully erected tubular configuration and extends from the base panel towards, but stops short of, the top panel.
• an article carrier of the top- gripping type which connects together and supports a plurality of articles
• the carrier comprising a series of panels which provide a top panel and a base panel interconnected by a pair of spaced side wall panels and which together form a tubular structure, the top and base panels each having a plurality of article receiving apertures, the apertures in the top panel being disposed in vertical registry with the apertures in the base panel respectively, and a keel structure disposed between at least two rows of the apertures in the base panel and extending between the top and base panels, wherein the keel structure comprises a bracing panel formed from the base panel and extending from the base panel internally of the tubular structure and being received in one of the apertures in the top panel characterised in that each bracing panel comprises locking means which engages with complementary locking means provided by the one aperture.
• one aperture is defined by an annular series of support tabs which engage beneath the top of an article present in the one aperture and wherein the locking means of the bracing panel includes a locking head having a central portion which is engaged against one of the support tabs, the head further having at least one wing portion which is engaged in a slot disposed between the one support tab and the or each next adjacent support tab to lock the bracing panel to the top panel.
• an article carrier of the top- gripping type which connects together and supports a plurality of articles
• the carrier comprising a series of main panels including a top panel and a base panel, the main panels together forming a tubular structure, the top panel having a plurality of article receiving apertures formed therein, each for receiving a portion of an article
• the carrier comprising a bracing panel extending from one of the main panels into one of the article receiving apertures the bracing panel engages the top of an article present in that aperture and comprises locking means which engages with complementary locking means provided by the aperture thereby to maintain the article carrier in an assembled condition and to maintain the article within the aperture.
• the one aperture is defined by an annular series of support tabs which engage beneath the top of an article present in the one aperture and wherein the locking means of the bracing panel includes a locking head having a central portion which is engaged against one of the support tabs, the head further having at least one wing portion which is engaged in a slot between the one support tab and the or each next adjacent support tab to lock the bracing panel to the top panel.
• the or each aperture has a first portion and a second portion
• the tab has a tapered width so as to be wider at its free end than at the end adjoining the end wall panel
• the first portion has a maximum width that is larger than the maximum width of the tab, such that the tab can pass through the first portion of the associated aperture and move into the second portion of the associated aperture
• the second portion having a width that is smaller than the maximum width of each tab, so that each tab will be prevented from moving substantially perpendicularly through, and being dislodged from, the second portion of the associated aperture.
• the main panels further include end panels for forming the end closure walls of the carrier and wherein each end panel comprises the bracing panel, the locking head of the bracing panel is formed as an integral extension of the end panel and is received in an aperture formed in the top panel, adjacent the end wall.
• the bracing panel is formed from and hinged to the base panel and is upstanding therefrom.
• the bracing panel includes at least one arm portion disposed at one side of the locking head, each arm portion being sized to engage the underface of the top panel with the locking head engaged in its fully locked position.
• Figure 1 is a plan view of a wrapper blank for forming a double-row top-gripping bottle carrier for six bottles according to the invention
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of a carrier formed from the blank similar to that of Figure 1, but being shown loaded with four bottles;
• Figure 3 is a perspective view of a carrier also formed from the blank similar to that of Figure 1, but being loaded with nine bottles in three rows of three bottles each;
• Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views of elements of a carton which are common to each of the constructions referred to in relation to Figures 1 and 3, in which:
• Figure 4 is a perspective view of a carton, according to the invention, as seen from one end;
• Figure 5 is a perspective view of a carton, according to the invention, as seen from one end and below;
• Figure 6 is a perspective view of a carton, according to the invention, as seen from one end and above;
• Figure 7 shows a plan view of a blank for forming a carton according to the second embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 8 shows a perspective top, front and side view of a partially assembled carton following a first step in the construction of the blank of figure 7;
• Figure 9 shows a perspective front view of a partially assembled carton following a second step in the construction of the blank of figure 7;
• Figure 10 shows a perspective front view of a partially assembled carton of the second embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 11 shows a perspective front view of a partially assembled carton of the second embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 12 shows a perspective top, front and side view of a partially assembled carton of the second embodiment of the invention
• Figure 13 shows a perspective top, front and side view of an assembled carton of the second embodiment of the invention
• Figure 14 shows a plan view of a blank for forming a carrier according to a third embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 15 shows an end and top view of a carrier formed from the blank of Figure 14, erected and loaded with bottles;
• Figure 16 shows a top, end and side view of the carrier of figure 15.
• Figure 1 shows an elongate blank 10 formed from paperboard or similar foldable sheet material which comprises, in series, an internal first side wall panel 11 , a base panel 12, a second side wall panel 14, a top panel 16 and an external first side wall panel 18, the panels being hinged one to the next along transverse fold lines 22, 24, 26 and 28 respectively.
• the top panel 16 is formed with a first row TRl of spaced apertures TAl, TA2 and TA3 disposed adjacent the second side wall panel 14 and a second row TR2 of spaced apertures TA4, TA5 and TA6 disposed adjacent the external first side wall panel 18.
• Each of the apertures (TAl to TA6) is adapted to receive the top of a bottle and includes an annular series of support tabs "t" (see TA4) foldably connected to the top panel 16.
• TA4 annular series of support tabs "t"
• the base panel 12 of the blank is formed with two rows BRl and BR2 of spaced bottle neck receiving apertures BAl to B A3 and BA4 to BA6, which are disposed so as to be in vertical register with apertures TAl to TA3 and TA4 to TA6, respectively, when the blank is formed into a tubular structure in which the base panel underlies the top panel.
• each aperture in the base panel is in register with one of the apertures in the top panel.
• a set of locking tabs LTl, LT2 and LT3 is integral with and hinged to the external first side panel 18 along fold lines 18a, 18b and 18c respectively.
• each of the locking tabs LT is substantially equal to, or slightly greater than, the maximum width "a" of a base panel aperture "BA”, see for example base apertures BAl, and the width of the root "y" of a locking tab is less than the width "b" of a base aperture "BA” adjacent side wall panel 14.
• each of the locking tabs can readily pass through a respective base aperture because initial insertion is in the vicinity of the maximum width "a" of the base aperture.
• the blank may be pre-assembled, without the use of any adhesive, into a tubular form before its application to a group of articles such as bottles. In one embodiment, the pre-assembling process is carried out as follows:
• Each locking tab LT is introduced into an associated base panel aperture BA such that each locking tab LT displaces an associated bracing panel ST and leans against the distal end of the associated bracing panel ST.
• each locking tab is restrained, at least in part, from disengaging from its associated base aperture and retained within the associated base aperture.
• each locking tab LT is retained in the associated base aperture because the dimension "x" of the locking tab is greater than the minor width "b" of the base locking aperture in which it is engaged. The pre-assembling process allows the carrier to be ready for application to a group of bottles.
• each of the locking tabs LTl, LT2 and LT3 is held substantially flat against the internal first side wall panel 14 by a portion of the bottleneck below its bottle cap ( Figures 2 and 3). Indeed it is a primary feature of the present invention that the bottles themselves, not only maintain the tubular structure of the carton but also set up the internal bracing panels extending between the bottom and top wall panels.
• the top panel is brought into spaced overlapping relationship with the base panel.
• the second side wall panel 14 is put into an upright position and likewise the first side wall panels 11 and 18 are put into overlapping upright position with panel 11 internal of the tubular structure and panel 18 providing an external side wall.
• each of the locking tabs LTl, LT2 and LT3 initially overlie respective ones of the bracing panels ST4, ST5 and ST6 on the base panel 12.
• a bottleneck that is inserted into each of the base apertures "BA" of the partially-formed carrier first engages a locking tab "LT” which is displaced inwardly and thereby pushes against a head portion P of a bracing panel "ST” which is at its free end remote from its hinged root as indicated by fold line "h".
• the bracing panel "ST” is raised further towards the top wall panel 16 until it disengages from the locking tab which then becomes trapped against the internal side wall panel 14.
• the bracing panel continues to be raised and as the top of the bottle pushes through the top wall aperture displaces the bottle crown support tabs "t” (see for example reference “t” in Figure 1).
• the head P of the bracing panel engages under the crown or other top flange of a bottle.
• the locking head P at the free end is T-shaped or barbed to provide a central portion "CP" flanged by a pair of integral wing portions "W.”
• the central portion has a leading edge Pl and the wing portions "W” have trailing edges P2.
• the T-shaped projection is fully inserted through the top wall aperture so that the leading edge Pl of the T-shaped projection engages beneath the crown cork or other top of the bottle and the central portion "CP" of the head P is positioned against an internal face of a support tab "t" in face to face relationship.
• the engagement of a bracing panel in the top wall 16 of the carrier requires the leading edge P of the bracing panel head P to engage beneath the crown cork or other top portion, e.g. a neck flange of a bottle so that the head is in face to face contact with the internal surface of the support tab 't'.
• the trailing edges 'P2' of the bracing panel head engage in slots 's' between the engaged support tab and each of its flanking support tabs.
• Each locking tab is also formed with a pair of arms ' 'a 1 ', 'a 2 ', each of which are sized to engage the underface of the top panel when the head P is fully engaged and thereby locked thus enhancing the stiffness of the top panel in the vicinity of the top panel aperture in which the head is engaged to fortify the locking connection between that bracing panel and the top panel.
• bracing panels "ST" ( Figure 4), extend from the bottom wall panel of the tubular structure and through the top wall to engage the bottle top and are thus disposed at an angle inclined to the vertical.
• the bracing panels as a group form a central keel within the carrier and thereby enhance the rigidity of the carrier. Also, by virtue of their inclined attitude the bracing panels are able to absorb and/or transmit forces which have both vertical and horizontal components.
• Figures 17-13 show a second embodiment of the present invention, in which figure 7 shows a flat blank 110 from which a carrier can be erected.
• the carrier is, as in the first embodiment, constructed from paperboard or other similar foldable material.
• the blank 110 and carrier are designed for, but not limited to, packaging articles B, such as bottles, of an identical configuration arranged in two rows of two.
• Figure 7 shows the blank 110, which comprises four primary panels for forming walls of the carrier, including a top panel 114, a first side wall panel 116, bottom panel 118 and a second side wall panel 120 hinged one to the next along fold lines 142, 144, 146.
• a glue flap 112 is hinged to the top panel 1 14 along a fold line 140.
• the blank 110 further includes first and second bracing panels in the form of end wall panels 122, 124 which are hinged to opposed edges 152 and 150 of the bottom panel 118.
• a series of flaps 126a, 126b, 126c, 126d are hinged to opposed edges of the first and second end wall panels 122, 124 along fold lines 148a, 148b, 148c, 148d.
• Locking head in the form of tabs 134, 134 are disposed in spaced relationship on the free end of second end panel 124 whilst similar tabs 134, 134 are disposed in spaced relationship on the free end of first end wall panel
• the bottom panel 118 comprises four apertures 132 each for receiving an article (B).
• the apertures 132 are arranged in two rows of two of substantially equidistant separation.
• the top panel 114 comprises four article retaining apertures known in the art as "Sunburst” apertures for retaining an article. It will be appreciated however that the present invention is not limited to “Sunburst” apertures.
• the “Sunburst” apertures 130 are positioned so as to be in registry with the apertures 132 when the carrier is assembled.
• Each of the "Sunburst" apertures 130 is of substantially the same design and therefore only one will be described in detail.
• Each "Sunburst" aperture 130 comprises a generally circular aperture whose circumference is surrounded by a series of seven annular tabs. This series of seven annular tabs is defined by the aperture, seven cut lines 137 extending radially away from the aperture and by seven arcuate cut lines 138.
• each "Sunburst" aperture 130 is further provided with a side cut-out 136 extending from the "Sunburst" aperture 130 towards the free end of the top panel 114.
• Each of the cut-outs 136 is of a width so as to be able to receive one of the tabs or locking head 134 therethrough in a substantially perpendicular orientation, as will be further described below.
• Each tab 134 is maintained in such a perpendicular orientation by a bottle (B) contained therein.
• the tabs 134 are tapered; each tab being narrower at its lower edge, adjoining the first and second end wall panels 22 and 24, than at its upper edge.
• the side cut-outs 136 each have a width that is smaller than the maximum width of the tabs 134, such that the tabs 134 will be restricted from moving perpendicularly through the cut outs and hence remain engaged therewith.
• the tabs 134 are arranged such that in the erected carrier they form an eighth tab which compliments the series of seven annular tabs defined by cut lines 137 and arcuate cut line 138.
• the "Sunburst" aperture 130 is thereby completed such that an article (B) is supported, around substantially the entire periphery, beneath the radial protrusion of the article (B).
• the top panel 114 further comprises a finger gripping aperture 128 which comprises a substantially semi-circular cut line 156 and a fold line 154 extending between the terminations of the cut line 156, thus forming a flap that can be folded along the fold line 154 when in operation.
• the finger gripping aperture 128 is disposed approximately in the centre of the arrangement of the four "Sunburst" apertures 130 such that the finger gripping aperture is approximately equidistant from the four "Sunburst" apertures 130.
• a series of sequential folding and gluing operations are required, which preferably can be performed in a straight line machine, so that the carton and/or blank 110 are not required to be rotated or inverted to complete the construction.
• the folding process is not limited to that described below and can be altered according to particular manufacturing requirements.
• FIG 8 there is shown the carrier in the process of being erected about a group of four articles (B) in this case bottles.
• the carton is erected by arranging the group of articles (B) in a configuration matching that of the apertures 132 of the carrier: in this case two rows of two.
• the apertures 132 of the bottom panel 118 are then brought into registry and receive a portion of the articles (B) in this case the necks of the bottles (B).
• the first and second end wall panels 122, 124 are then folded upward to be disposed against the articles (B) by folding about fold lines 150, 152.
• the first and second end wall panels 122, 124 are folded to incline inwardly of the bottom panel 118 about an angle greater than 90°; such that the tabs 134 are moved into a position proximate the top of the articles (B), in preparation for the "Sunburst" apertures 130 to be brought into registry with the articles (B).
• the flaps 126a, 126b, 126c, 126d are folded about fold lines 148a, 148b, 148c, 148d so that they can be placed in flat face contact with the first and second side walls 122, 124 when the first and second side walls 122, 124 are folded about fold lines 144, 146, as illustrated in figure 9.
• the first side wall 116 is folded about the articles (B) along fold line 144.
• the top panel 114 is folded about fold line 142 such that each of the four cut ⁇ outs 136 receives one of the upwardly extending tabs 134. Due to the inclination of the first and second end wall panels 122, 124, the tabs 134 pass through the central aperture portion of the "Sunburst" aperture 130 and then, due to the tapering of the tabs or locking head, can easily pass into the cut-outs 136 in a substantially perpendicular configuration.
• the cut-outs 136 allow the tabs 134 to protrude through the top panel 114 and facilitate alignment of the carton.
• the top panel 114 is then brought further into registry with the articles B, such that the "Sunburst" apertures 130 are folded out of the plane of the top panel 114 such that the annular tabs of the "Sunburst” apertures 130 and respective tabs 134 engage the articles (B).
• the article (B) is a bottle, especially one with a crown cork closure, the annular tabs and the respective tab 134 engage under a radial protrusion of the bottle in this case the radial protrusion is a crown cork. It will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited in its application to such closures.
• the tabs 134 When an article (B) is received by the "Sunburst" aperture, the tabs 134 are thus held in place within the cut-outs 136 by the articles, thereby preventing the tabs from moving back towards the central portion of the "Sunburst" aperture and being released therethrough.
• the first and second side walls 122, 124 are secured and held in an erected position by the co-operation of tab arrangement and the bottle tops. It can also be seen in figures 11 to 13 that the tabs 134 additionally provides support to the article B and facilitates the retention of the article by the carrier.
• the glue flap 112 is folded about fold line 140 and glue (G) is applied.
• the second side wall 120 is brought up into contact with the glue flap 112 by folding about fold line 146 and is secured to the glue flap 112.
• the third embodiment is illustrated in figures 14 to 16.
• a blank 210 for forming a carrier according to the third embodiment is illustrated.
• the layout of the blank 210 is similar to the carrier of the second embodiment, and therefore only the differences will be described in detail.
• the blank 10 illustrated in figure 14 comprises main panels which are hinged together.
• the main panels include a bottom panel 218, first side panel 216, panels 220 and 212 which together form a composite second side panel, a top panel 214 and first and second bracing panels in the form of end closure panels 224, 222.
• the bottom panel 218 comprises a series of article receiving apertures 232.
• the exemplary carton blank 210 is shown having six article receiving apertures 232 arranged in two rows of three.
• the top panel 214 is provided with a complementary arrangement of apertures TA7, TA8, TA9, TAlO, TAl 2, TA 14 are arranged to be vertically aligned with the apertures 232 of the bottom panel when the blank 210 is folded around a group of bottles and assembled into a carrier, as shown in figures 15 and 16.
• the bracing panels i.e., the first and second end panels 224, 222, are each provided with two integrally formed locking heads ST9, STlO, ST7 and ST8.
• the locking heads are arranged to be received and locked within an adjacent top panel aperture TA9, TA14, TAlO, TA7 respectively.
• each locking head engages under the crown or other top flange of a bottle (B) held in the adjacent aperture.
• Each locking head at the free end is T-shaped or barbed to provide a central portion (P3) flanged by a pair of integral wing portions (W2).
• the central portion (P3) has a leading edge and the wing portions "W" have trailing edges.
• the T-shaped projection In order to lock a locking head "ST" in position, the T-shaped projection is fully inserted through the top wall aperture so that the leading edge of the T-shaped projection engages beneath the crown cork or other top of the bottle and the central portion of the locking head is positioned against an internal face of a support tab in ace to face relationship.
• the wing portions engage respective ones of the slots 237 between a pair of immediately neighbouring supporting tabs on either side of the locking head as can be seen in figure 15. In this position the trailing edges engage the upper face of top panel 214.
• the arms, along with engaging edge 292 enhance the stiffness of the top panel 214 in the vicinity of the top panel aperture TA7, TA9, TAlO, TA14 in which the locking head is engaged to fortify the locking connection between that locking head and the top panel.
• the locking heads "ST" extend from the bracing panels (or first and second end wall panels) 224, 222 of the tubular structure and through the top wall to engage the bottle top and are thus disposed at an angle inclined to the vertical.
• the bracing panels are disposed at either end of the carrier and thereby enhance the rigidity of the carrier. Also, by virtue of their inclined attitude the bracing panels are able to absorb and/or transmit forces which have both vertical and horizontal components.
• locking tabs LT4, LT5 and LT6 are inserted into apertures 232 on the bottom wall 218 adjacent fold line 246 and are held in place by a bottle inserted into the aperture 232.
• the locking apertures LT4, LT5 and LT6 enable the carrier to be locked together without the need for gluing.
• the end walls are also held in place without the need for glue and provide a sturdy and rigid edge to the carrier.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)
• Cartons (AREA)

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• 2005
  • 2005-09-07 WO PCT/US2005/031932 patent/WO2006031579A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2005-09-07 AU AU2005285170A patent/AU2005285170B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2005-09-07 EP EP05795196A patent/EP1812308A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2005-09-07 RU RU2007113161/12A patent/RU2381971C2/ru not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2005-09-07 NZ NZ554404A patent/NZ554404A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2005-09-07 NZ NZ586810A patent/NZ586810A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2005-09-09 TW TW94131093A patent/TWI290119B/zh not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2005-09-09 AR ARP050103783A patent/AR050735A1/es unknown

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