JP2013540661A - Winding type carrier with fixing heel holding structure - Google Patents

Abstract

  The wrapping type carrier is a fixed holding structure (140, 142, 144, to maintain the protection and position of the container (C) in the package (100) during the process of winding the group of articles. 150, 152, 154). Each retaining structure includes a set of side flaps (200, 202) that are folded inward to receive the heel portion of the container, the heel portion of the container being received by the opening (A). The side flaps are hinged along the opening (A). The set of securing tabs (212, 213, 214, 215) is partly formed from side flaps and partly from adjacent carrier panels. This securing tab cooperates to hold the side flaps in the working position before the carrier contacts the group of articles, thereby eliminating the need for special packaging equipment.

Description

  The present invention relates to beverage packaging, and more specifically to a wrapping type carrier provided with a heel holding structure.

  Cartons for holding, storing and transporting a plurality of articles are well known in the art. For example, a large number of cartons are useful for uncovering beverage containers for the sake of visibility and savings in material usage, while simultaneously bringing together and carrying multiple beverage containers. Some of these cartons are basket-type carriers with open tops, where beverage containers can be loaded into separate pockets of assembled carriers, for example soft drinks and beer There is a general 6-pack package for use. In addition, there are carriers configured to wrap an ordered group of bottles and other beverage containers.

  Wound bottle carriers are known to include structures configured to hold the bottles in place by receiving at least a portion of each container, such as the bottle neck or heel portion. Such a holding structure maintains each container in its intended position within the carrier, especially while the carrier is manually or automatically positioned around a group of containers before being tightly wound. Each container is maintained in this manner, thereby fixing the position of the container within the carrier. For example, since the heel portion of the glass bottle is often the widest part of the bottle, the heel retention mechanism is particularly useful for cushioning and spacing the impact of the glass bottle enclosed in the carrier. It prevents the adjacent heel parts from colliding.

  Since the wrapping type carrier is applied to the pre-arranged containers using an automatic packaging machine, the holding structure is folded into the working position and the holding structure engages the desired contact point of the bottle. Until then, the holding structure must be in this working position. Thus, known carriers with a heel retaining structure require a special machine in order for the heel retaining structure to be retained in its working position while the carrier wraps around the container group.

  The present invention provides a wrap-around carrier comprising at least one heel retaining structure that is fixed in the working position before engaging the contact point. As a result, the arrangement of the respective heel holding structures can be maintained, and at the same time, the assembly of the wrapping type carrier package can be advantageously made possible without requiring a special packaging machine for assigning the carrier to the container group. is there. On the other hand, the present invention is particularly useful in modern packaging processes, which often operate multiple configurations, packaging types, and containers with a single machine, with minimal mechanical equipment replacement or reconfiguration. It is.

  More specifically, the present invention provides a carrier for enclosing a group of containers, consisting of at least one, but usually a plurality of containers, placed in any desired arrangement. The carrier has side walls including at least a side panel and a heel panel. The carrier also includes a bottom wall that supports the container, the bottom wall being hinged to the side wall. In order to hold the container within the carrier, maintain proper space, and mitigate impact on the container, the carrier includes at least one holding structure each configured to receive a heel portion of the container. The holding structure includes an opening for receiving the heel portion of the container. This opening is at least partly formed in the side wall and the bottom wall of the carrier. A set of side flaps is hinged along the end of the opening. Advantageously, a set of securing tabs are provided to hold the side flaps in the working position before the carrier wraps around the group of containers. In other words, the set of fixing tabs is bent inward as viewed from the outside of the carrier. One of the fixing tabs is formed on one of the side wall and the bottom wall of the carrier, and the other fixing tab is formed on one of the side flaps.

  The locking tabs cooperate to reinforce each other when holding the holding structure in the working position. When the carrier side wall is folded relative to the bottom wall, the securing tabs are placed in a face-contacting arrangement for positioning the securing tabs to cooperate. In one embodiment, a cooperative action is provided when the locking tab is folded further inward after the side flap is folded so that the side flap is locked in place. In one embodiment, each cooperating set of locking tabs is formed in part by a free end cut along a cutting line from a carrier blank. In other embodiments, the side walls further toward the bottom wall provide a cooperative action when the locking tabs engage each other.

  In one embodiment, the holding structure is held in the working position by the cooperative action of the locking tabs before the carrier contacts the container group. By folding the side wall to the bottom wall, the degree to which the locking tabs maintain cooperating action is determined.

  The foregoing has outlined rather broadly some of the aspects and features of the present invention and is to be construed as merely illustrative of the various possible applications of the present invention. Other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed information in different ways or by modifying the disclosed embodiments. Accordingly, in addition to the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims, additional aspects and a more comprehensive understanding of the present invention can be obtained by reference to the detailed description of the illustrative embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. can get.

1 is a plan view of a carrier blank according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a fragmentary top view of the carrier blank of FIG. FIG. 2 shows an exemplary method for assembling the blank shown in FIG. 1 into a carrier. FIG. 2 shows an exemplary method for assembling the blank shown in FIG. 1 into a carrier. FIG. 2 shows an exemplary method for assembling the blank shown in FIG. 1 into a carrier. FIG. 2 shows an exemplary method for assembling the blank shown in FIG. 1 into a carrier. FIG. 2 shows an exemplary method for assembling the blank shown in FIG. 1 into a carrier. FIG. 6 is a plan view of a carton blank according to a second exemplary embodiment. It is a fragmentary top view of the carrier blank of FIG. FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view illustrating an exemplary method for assembling the carrier blank of FIG. 8. FIG. 6 is a partial plan view of a carrier blank according to a third exemplary embodiment. FIG. 12 is a partial perspective view illustrating an exemplary method for assembling the carrier blank of FIG. 11.

  In the following, detailed examples of the present invention will be described as determined. It will be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples to illustrate aspects of the invention that may be embodied in various alternative forms. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. In other instances, well-known materials and methods have not been described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the present invention. Accordingly, the specific structural and functional details disclosed below should not be construed as limiting, but serve as the basis for the claims and to enable those skilled in the art to use the present invention in various ways. It should be interpreted as a basis for doing this.

  The teachings of the present invention are applicable to any container, which may or may not be tapered and / or cylindrical and may be made of plastic. Including, but not limited to, metal or glass bottles, cans, bowling pins, candles, and any other article suitable for a carrier, various examples are described below. Described as a bottle carrier. As used below, the term “necked portion” refers to the upper portion of the container, and the term “necked” is used to describe an article having a necked portion. The neck portion of the container is not necessarily so, but may be tapered to any part of the body of the article. As used below, the term heel refers to the lowermost part of a beverage container (eg a bottle), in particular the body of the container (the part that contains the main contents of the container) is the bottom (of the container) It refers to the region that begins to bend toward the support surface.

  Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals represent like elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows a carton blank 10 (blank) for forming a wrapping carrier, according to one embodiment. The blank 10 can be made from a substrate of paperboard, plastic, or any other desired material. One or more surfaces of the substrate can be coated, applied, printed, or processed to achieve the desired package characteristics. For example, an advertisement can be printed on one or both sides of the substrate, or a water-resistant or waterproof sealing material can be applied to one or both sides of the substrate. Similarly, the blank 10 can be formed into a sleeve-like wrapping carrier as a secondary package for carrying containers containing liquid contents. An alternative embodiment is shown in FIGS. 8-12 and is described in detail below.

  The blank 10 is cut from or into a substantially single or composite foldable sheet material, such as paperboard, cardboard, transparent or translucent plastic, laminate material, any combination thereof, etc. It is formed. The blank 10 comprises several panels that are hinged to each other along a transverse line. More specifically, the blank 10 includes an upper panel 102 in the illustrated embodiment, and the upper panel 102 could be fixedly mounted, but the front panel along the fold line 104 may be considered. 106 is hinged. The front panel 106 is hinged to the front heel panel 110 along a fold line 109. At the same time, the front panel 106 and the front heel panel 110 form the front side wall of the assembled carrier. The front heel panel 110 is hinged to the female mating panel 114 along the fold line 112. Similarly, the upper panel 102 is hinged to the rear panel 116 along the fold line 130. The rear panel 116 is hinged to the rear heel panel 120 along the fold line 119. The rear panel 116 and the rear heel panel 120 together form the rear side wall of the assembled carrier. The rear heel panel 120 is hinged to the male mating panel 124 along the fold line 122. The broken lines 109, 112, 119, 122 are broken by the holding structures 140, 142, 144, 150, 152, 154.

  Optionally, the front panel 106 and the back panel 116 may include one or more contour folds 108, 118, 126, 128 that match the contour of the carrier to the desired container contour, It is positioned horizontally. On the other hand, the front side wall and the rear side wall can be formed without any fold lines and without fold lines 109 and 119, respectively.

  The front panel 106 and the rear panel 116 are both hingedly connected to the upper panel 102 along fold lines 104 and 130, respectively. Optionally, the upper panel 102 includes a front cap panel 132, a rear cap panel 134, and a handle panel 136. The cap panels 132 and 134 are hinged to the handle panel 136 along the fold lines.

  Several heel retaining structures 140, 142, 144, 150, 152, 154 are also formed in the blank 10. One skilled in the art will recognize that the number of retaining structures is determined at least in part by the number and arrangement of containers C that are enclosed to form a package. In this example, the package 100 (FIG. 6) encloses six containers C, which are glass bottles in an array of 2 rows × 3. As a result, three holding structures are formed on each side of the package 100 to hold the three containers C arranged in each row.

  Similarly, the blank 10 optionally includes several cap retaining structures 160, 162, 164, 170, 172, 174. Further, blank 10 includes means suitable for interconnecting mating panels 114, 124 to form a bottom surface that supports a group of containers C. In the exemplary embodiment, the means for interconnecting the mating panels 114, 124 is a cylindrical sleeve, although any alternative means including a receiving panel with adhesive or the like is sufficient. In order to form, the two ends of the blank 10 are fixed and include a receptacle 180 and a locking tab 182 that cooperate mechanically to tighten.

  FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the holding structures 140, 142, 144 formed on the front panel 106, the front heel panel 110, and the female mating panel 114. All of these holding structures are substantially the same in essential parts, and for purposes of teaching and not limitation, the components of one holding structure are described below. The retaining structure 140 includes a set of side flaps 200, 202, which are respectively along the fold lines 204, 206 to the front panel 106, the front heel panel 110, and the female bottoming panel 114, respectively. It is connected so that it can be bent. The fold lines 204, 206 extend along the portion of the opening A configured to receive the heel portion of the container C (shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2 and 3). Each fold line 204, 206 is broken by a straight cut line 208, 210, which together forms the free ends of the trapezoidal fixed tab sets 212/213 and 214/215. The fixing tabs 212, 214 are formed from a portion of the female mating panel 114, while the fixing tabs 213, 215 are formed from the portion of the female mating panel 114. The securing tab 212 is hinged to the knife mating panel 114 along a fold line 216 that may be substantially parallel with a gap from the cutting line 208. The securing tab 213 is hinged to the side flap 200 along a fold line 217 that may be substantially parallel with a gap from the cutting line 208. Similarly, the securing tab 214 is hinged to the female mating panel 114 along a fold line 218 that may be substantially parallel with a gap from the cutting line 210. The securing tab 215 is hinged to the side flap 202 along a fold line 219 that may be substantially parallel with a gap from the cutting line 210.

  In another embodiment, each fold line 204, 206 may be broken by arcuate cutting lines 207, 209 so that the cutting lines 207, 209 are free of the securing tab sets 212/213 and 214/215, respectively. Each end is formed. In another such embodiment, the securing tab 212 may be hinged to the heel panel 110 along a fold line that may be spaced apart from the arcuate cutting line 207 but may be substantially parallel. The securing tab 213 may be hinged to the side flap 200 along a fold line that may be substantially parallel with a gap from the arcuate cutting line 207. Similarly, the securing tab 214 may be hinged to the heel panel 110 along a fold line that may be spaced apart from the arcuate cutting line 209 but may be substantially parallel. The securing tab 215 may be hinged to the side flap 202 along a fold line that may be substantially parallel with a gap from the arcuate cutting line 209.

  Each distal end of the set of flaps 200, 202 is formed by a single cut line 220 extending longitudinally between the flaps 200, 202, but in another embodiment, the flaps 200, 202 are illustrated. As such, they do not have to extend to contact each other.

  Each flap 200, 202 includes one or more slits that extend partially in a direction that inclines while substantially traversing the flaps 200, 202. This slit is positioned to cooperate with the other elements of the blank 10, and thus assists in folding the flaps 200, 202 into the working position (FIG. 3), as will be described in more detail below. is there.

  Specifically, the flap 200 includes a slit 222 that extends across the fold line 204 (which forms the proximal end of the flap 200) and the entire blank 10 and mates with the front heel panel 110. It extends from a point near the intersection with the broken line 112 connecting the panel 114. The slit 222 is angled so that when the flap 200 is folded inward with respect to the outer surface of the blank 10 and the blank is folded along the fold line 112, as described below. In addition, the slit 222 allows the lower portion 224 of the flap 200 and the inner surface of the female mating panel 114 to be arranged in substantial surface contact. Due to the substantially surface contact arrangement between the lower portion 224 of the flap 200 and the female mating panel 114, the substantial mating of the distal end (formed by the cutting line 208) and the substantial mating of the fold lines 216, 217. With this, the inner surfaces of the fixing tabs 212 and 213 are also arranged to be in surface contact.

  Similarly, the flap 202 includes a slit 232 that extends across the fold line 206 (which forms the proximal end of the flap 202) and the entire blank 10, and includes a front heel panel 110 and a female mating panel 114. Extending from a point close to the intersection with the broken line 112 connecting the two. The slit 232 is angled so that when the flap 200 is folded inward with respect to the outer surface of the blank 10 and the blank is folded along the fold line 112, as described below. In addition, the slit 232 allows the lower portion 234 of the flap 202 and the inner surface of the female mating panel 114 to be in substantially surface contact arrangement. This also provides a substantial surface between the inner surfaces of the securing tabs 214, 215, with substantial mating of the distal ends (formed by the cutting line 210) and substantial mating of the fold lines 218, 219. A contact arrangement is realized.

  The flap 200 further includes a slit 228 extending from a point near the intersection of the fold line 204 and the transverse fold line 109. The angle of the slit 228 is selected to be at least an angle that cooperates with the fold line 204, the fold line 109, and the slit 222 so that the flap 200 can achieve a contour assembled inside the carrier. The Similarly, the flap 202 further includes a slit 238 that extends at an angle toward the cutting line 220 from a point near the intersection of the fold line 206 and the transverse fold line 109.

  As previously mentioned, the blank 10 is configured to allow a pre-arranged group of containers C to be wound to form the package 100 shown in FIG. With reference to FIGS. 2-7, an exemplary method for assembling the exemplary blank 10 shown in FIG. 1 to form a package 100 is described below. It is understood that the steps described below are not necessarily presented in any particular order, and that several or all of the steps may be performed in a different order and are contemplated. Should. The steps are presented in a demonstrated order to facilitate explanation and illustration. Steps can be added, omitted and / or performed simultaneously without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

  The containers to be packaged are arranged in a 2 × 3 configuration as shown in FIG. The blank 10 is partially assembled in advance and the holding structures 140, 142, 144, 150, 152, 154 are folded into their working position, as shown in FIG. By doing so, the side flaps 200, 202 are in contact until the inner surface of the lower portion of the side flaps 200, 202 contacts the inner surface of the female mating panel 114 and the locking tabs 212, 213 are in surface contact and mating. Are folded inward along fold lines 204 and 206, respectively. In order to achieve inward rotation of the side flaps 200, 202, it is necessary to fold the blank slightly along at least the transverse fold lines 112 and 109. In simultaneous or subsequent operations, each set of locking tabs 212, 213 and locking tabs 214, 215 are moved together along fold lines 216, 217 to a fixed position that secures the side flaps 200, 202 in the working position, respectively. The side flaps 200, 202 are fixed in the working position as they are rotated or folded inward. After the securing tabs 212, 213 and the securing tabs 214, 215 are folded inward to secure the side flaps 200, 202 in their working position, the lower portions 224, 234 of the side flaps 200, 202 are mated together The panel 114 can be slightly lifted, with the outermost fixing tabs 212, 214 further reinforcing the structure by reinforcing the innermost fixing tabs 213, 215. The securing tabs 213, 215 provide a notch in each side flap 200, 202 for receiving the associated securing tabs 212, 214 when the securing tabs 212, 213, 214, 215 are in their respective secured positions. It works to form. When in this notch, the securing tabs 212, 214 engage the respective side flaps 200, 202 at their respective lateral ends and hold the side flaps 200, 202 in their working positions.

  Therefore, each set of fixing tabs 212/213 and fixing tabs 214/215 becomes a two-layer fixing element that fixes the holding structure 140 in the working position, so that the blank 10 does not have to intervene mechanical elements, Wrapped around the group of containers C, it becomes possible to maintain the structural shape. It should be noted that this locking element formed by the locking tabs 212, 213 and the locking tabs 214, 215 holds the holding structure 140 in its working position until the holding structure 140 contacts the heel portion of the container C. All you have to do is. Once contacted, the creation of the package 100 is almost complete and the holding structure 140 can be held in its working position by the container C itself.

  The flaps and securing tabs associated with each of the other retaining structures 142, 144, 150, 152, 154 are operated in a similar manner.

  As shown in FIG. 3, after all the holding structures 140, 142, 144, 150, 152, 154 have been folded into their working positions, the blank 10 is replaced with the optional cap holding structures 160, 162 shown in FIG. 164, 170, 172, 174 is placed on top of the container C group so that the upper panel 102 contacts a cap of the container C that can also be engaged. The mating panels 114, 124 are folded under the container C group, and receptacles 180 and securing tabs 182 are used to connect and tighten the mating panels 114, 124 as is well known in the art (see FIG. (Shown in most detail in FIG. 7). At the same time, the mating panels 114, 124 form the bottom wall of the carrier.

  Hereinafter, another embodiment of the carrier according to the present invention will be described. The exemplary blank 20 shown in FIG. 8 is constructed and assembled in the same manner as described above, with the following exceptions. The blank 20 includes heel retaining structures 240, 242, 244, 250, 252, 254 that hold each retaining structure 240, 242, 244, 250, 252, 254 until the package is complete. The same principle is used to realize a two-ply fixing element that locks in the working position. Thereby, the blank 20 can be wound around the container C group without the function of the mechanical element for maintaining the structural shape.

  With further reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the structural form of the retaining structures 240, 242, and 244 is shown in greater detail for purposes of illustrating the common points and differences that demonstrate various embodiments of the principles of the present invention. . Specifically, the flaps 200, 202 formed in the blank 20 are connected along fold lines 204, 206, respectively, which are broken by substantial transverse cutting lines 308, 310. This cutting line forms one free end of each set of substantially triangular securing tabs 312/313 and 314/315. The securing tab 312 is hinged to the female mating panel 114 along the fold line 316, and the fold line 316 is inclined to extend from the end of the cutting line 308 to the intersection of the bottom edge 346 of the flap 200 and the fold line 204. Yes. The securing tab 313 is hinged to the flap 200 along the fold line 316, and the fold line 316 is inclined and extends from the opposite end of the cutting line 308 to the same intersection. Thus, similar to the previous embodiment, both free ends of each set of securing tabs 312/313 are cut out from the blank 20 along a single cutting line 308. The other set of fixing tabs 314/315 are similarly configured and formed by a cutting line 310, a bottom edge 348, and respective folding lines 318, 319.

  The holding structures 240, 242, 244, 250, 252, 254 are folded into the working position in substantially the same manner as in the previous embodiment. Similarly, the blank 20 is partially assembled in advance and the retention structures 240, 242, 244, 250, 252, 254 are folded into their working positions as shown in FIG. By doing so, the inner surface of the lower portion of the flaps 200, 202 is in contact with the inner surface of the female mating panel 114, and the set of securing tabs 312/313 and 314/315 (with the cutting lines 308 and 310, respectively). The side flaps 200, 202 are folded inward along fold lines 204, 206, respectively, until they are in surface contact with and mating with the free end. For simultaneous or subsequent operation, the locking tabs 312/313 and 314/315 both rotate further inward along each fold line 216, 217 to lock the flaps 200, 202 in place. The holding structure 240 is fixed to its working position.

  Hereinafter, another embodiment of the carrier according to the present invention will be described. The exemplary blank 30 shown in part in FIG. 11 is constructed and assembled in the same manner as described above, with the following exceptions. The blank 30 includes heel retaining structures 440, 442, 444 and 450, 452, 454 (not shown), which are fixed formed from a portion of the flap that is restrained and a portion of the adjacent panel. The same principle is used to realize the element.

  With further reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, the structural form and operation of the retaining structures 440, 442, 444 are shown in more detail. Specifically, the lower portions 224 and 234 of the flaps 200 and 202 formed on the blank 30 are rotated by the flaps 200 and 202 inwardly along the fold lines 204 and 206, so that the inner surface of the female mating panel 114 is rotated. It is arranged to contact the surface. By doing so, and by folding the blank 30 at least slightly along the fold lines 109, 112, more specifically, by folding the blank 30 along the fold lines 460, the bottom of the flaps 200, 202 The ends 346, 348 engage the locking tabs 412, 414 so that they are captured under the distal ends 462, 464. The securing tabs 412, 414 are hinged to the female mating panel 114 along the fold line 460, which extends partially across the blank 30 and is broken by the opening A.

  The holding structures 440, 442, 444, 450, 452, 454 are folded into the working position as shown in FIG. 12 when the blank 30 is partially assembled. By doing so, the flaps 200, 202 are folded inward along the fold lines 204, 206, respectively, until the inner surface of the lower portion of the flaps 200, 202 contacts the inner surface of the female mating panel 114. In a simultaneous or subsequent operation, the blank 30 is folded along the fold lines 109, 112, 460, so that the holding structure 442 is fixed to its working position.

  Those skilled in the art will assemble each blank 10, 20, 30 using mechanical or manual means that operate to deploy the heel retaining structure before the heel retaining structure contacts the container. It will be easy to understand. In other words, each heel portion holding structure is advantageously fixed to the deployed position by the respective fixing mechanism before the process of winding the blank around the container group is completed.

  While this invention has been described in connection with a specific embodiment, this embodiment is for purposes of illustration only and is not intended to be limiting. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is capable of many modifications and variations without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the direction indications used herein, for example, top, foundation, bottom, end, side, inside, outside, top, middle, bottom, front, back, etc., each in such direction It is not intended to be limiting, but merely used to distinguish these panels from other panels. References to a hinge connection should not necessarily be construed as indicating only a single broken line; in fact, a hinge connection may be part of a dividing line, a weak line, or a broken line without departing from the scope of the present invention. Of these, it is assumed that it is formed from one or more. Those skilled in the art will also recognize that the shape and size of the cap opening, heel opening, handle opening, handle shape and size are merely examples of various structural shapes that are suitable for implementing various embodiments of the present invention. You will understand that.

  It should be understood that various modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention, for example, the size and shape of the panels and openings may be adjusted to accommodate articles of different sizes and shapes. It is possible to use other shapes, sizes and structural shapes for the holding means. A carrier can contain one or more items in different arrangements, including multiple rows or hierarchies.

10 blank 20 blank 30 blank 100 package 102 upper panel 104 fold line 106 front panel 108 contour fold 109 fold line 110 front heel panel 112 fold line 114 female mating panel 116 rear panel 118 contour fold 119 fold line 120 rear heel panel 122 fold line 124 male mating Panel 126 Contour crease
128 Contour Crease 130 Fold Line 132 Front Cap Panel 134 Rear Cap Panel 136 Handle Panel 140 Heel Part Holding Structure 142 Heel Part Holding Structure 144 Heel Part Holding Structure 150 Heel Part Holding Structure 152 Heel Part Holding Structure 154 Heel Part Holding Structure 160 Cap Holding Structure 164 Cap holding structure 170 Cap holding structure 172 Cap holding structure 174 Cap holding structure 180 Receptor 182 Locking tab 200 Side flap 202 Side flap 204 Folding line 206 Folding line 207 Arcuate cutting line 208 Cutting line 209 Arcing cutting line 210 Cutting line 212 Fixing tab 213 Fixing tab 214 Fixing tab 215 Fixing tab 216 Folding line 217 Folding line 219 Folding line 220 Cutting line 222 Slit 224 Lower part 232 Slit 23 Lower part 228 Slit 238 Slit 240 Heel holding structure 242 Heel holding structure 244 Heel holding structure 252 Heel holding structure 254 Heel holding structure 308 Cutting line 310 Cutting line 312 Fixing tab 313 Fixing tab 314 Fixing tab 315 Fixing tab 316 Fold line 318 fold line 319 fold line 346 bottom edge 348 bottom edge 440 heel holding structure 442 heel holding structure 444 heel holding structure 452 heel holding structure 454 heel holding structure 412 fixing tab 414 fixing tab 460 fold line 462 end 464 end

C Container A Opening

Claims (15)

A carrier for packaging at least one container, the carrier comprising:
Side walls,
A bottom wall hinged to the side wall;
A holding structure for receiving a heel portion of a container, the holding structure comprising:
An opening for receiving a heel portion of the container, the opening formed in the side wall and the bottom wall;
A side flap hinged along the end of the opening, which folds inside the carrier into a working position where the side flap forms a cradle for engaging the heel portion of the container With side flaps, which can
A first securing tab formed on one of the side wall and the bottom wall, which can be engaged to hold the side flap in the working position when the side flap is folded inward; A retaining structure comprising the first securing tabs;
Career with.   The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the side wall includes a side panel and a heel panel hinged together along a fold line, and the bottom wall is hinged to the heel panel. The carrier according to claim 2, wherein the opening is formed in the side panel and the heel panel.   The first securing tab is formed from a portion of the bottom wall and connected to the bottom wall, the first securing tab having an inner surface and an outer surface, and the side flaps being an inner surface and an outer surface. The first securing tab is engaged with the outer surface of the side flap at the outer surface of the first securing tab when the side flap is folded into the working position. The carrier according to claim 1.   The first fixing tab is formed from a part of one of the side wall and the bottom wall, and is hinged to one of the side wall and the bottom wall. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the carrier is bent inside the carrier to a fixed position where the side flap is engaged.   The carrier according to claim 5, wherein the first fixing tab is formed from the bottom wall and is hinged to the bottom wall.   The side flap includes a notch portion formed along an end portion of the opening along which the side flap is hinged, and the notch portion includes the side flap and the first fixing tab. 6. The carrier of claim 5, wherein the carrier is configured and positioned to receive and engage a first locking tab when in a working position and a locking position, respectively.   The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the holding structure further includes a second fixing tab formed in the side flap.   9. The first securing tab and the second securing tab are configured and positioned to engage each other to hold the side flaps in the working position. Career.   9. The carrier according to claim 8, wherein the second fixing tab is formed from a part of the side flap and is hinged to the side flap so as to be bent with respect to the side flap.   The first fixing tab has a first free end, the second fixing tab has a second free end, and the first free end and the second free end are one when the carrier has a blank shape. The carrier according to claim 10, wherein the carrier is formed by a cutting line.   The second fixing tab forms a notch in the side flap when the second fixing tab is bent from the side flap surface, and the notch is formed between the side flap and the first fixing tab. 11. A carrier according to claim 10, wherein each tab is configured and positioned to receive and engage the first locking tab when in the working position and the locking position.   The first securing tab is configured to reinforce the second securing tab to hold the second securing tab formed from the side flap surface when the first securing tab is in the secured position. The carrier according to claim 12, wherein   The carrier according to claim 10, wherein the first fixing tab and the second fixing tab are connected to each other along a fold line.  The first fixing tab has a pair of opposite side end portions and a free end extending between the side end portions, and the first fixing tab is received in the notch portion. The carrier according to claim 7, wherein the carrier is engaged with the side flap at the side end portion of the first fixing tab.

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