MXPA06005422A - Article carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates a carrier comprising:(a) a bottom wall;(b) t wo sidewalls;and (c) a top wall having a first edge that forms an edge of at least one collapsible tab when the tab is uncollapsed and a second edge that forms an edge of at least one other collapsible tab when the tab is uncollapsed, wherein the collapsible tabs are adapted to collapse downward and fold inward and out of the plane of the top wall. The carrier of the present invention provides a grasping and handling featu re which eliminates the formation of concentrated stress areas while providing a comfortable grip for the consumer.

Description

ARTICLE CARRIER Field of the Invention The invention relates generally to a carrier for bottles, cans and the like, more specifically to a carrier for a wrap around a multi-pack having a grip section. The grip section of the present invention eliminates the formation of tension concentration areas, creates the handling resistance of the carrier and provides a comfortable grip section for the consumer. Background of the Invention Groups of articles, such as bottles and cans, are commonly packaged and sold with multi-package carriers. Typically the carrier is formed of a cardboard template or a similar foldable laminate, which is then wrapped around the group of articles. The box generally consists of two side walls foldably connected to an upper wall and a lower wall. The ends of the box are left open. In order to stabilize the articles within the box, the side walls hang containing holes adjacent to the top wall to receive a portion of the tops of the articles and the holes adjacent to the bottom wall to receive a portion of the base of the articles. articles. A common concern with existing multi-package carriers is the need to create a comfortable handle that also eliminates the formation of areas of stress concentration that causes a box to be torn by the weight of the items. Those boxes may contain finger holes in the top panel to lift and load the box with your thumb and one finger. A problem associated with loading the box in this manner is the tendency of the box to tear at or near the finger holes due to the concentration of tension. Alternatively these boxes may lack finger holes, in which case the box is lifted and loaded by the flat ends of the top wall of the box. There are at least two problems associated with loading the box in this way. The first problem is the tendency of the corners of the box to tear due to the formation of areas of concentration of tension in or near the corners of the box. The second problem is that loading the box by the flat edges of the top wall is rare and uncomfortable. Accordingly, there is a need for a carrier with a grip and handling characteristic that eliminates the formation of concentrated stress areas while providing a comfortable grip for the consumer.

Summary of the Invention The present invention relates to a carrier comprising: (a) a bottom wall; (b) two side walls; and (c) an upper wall having a first edge forming an edge of at least one collapsible tongue when the tongue is not collapsible and a second edge forming an edge of at least one other collapsible tongue when the tongue is not collapsed, where the collapsible tabs adapt to collapse downward and bend in and out of the plane of the top wall. The present invention also relates to a method for grasping a carrier consisting of providing a carrier consisting of (a) a bottom wall; (b) two side walls; and (c) an upper wall having a first edge forming an edge of at least one collapsible tongue when the tongue is not collapsible and a second edge forming an edge of at least one other collapsible tongue when the tongue is not collapsed, wherein the collapsible tabs adapt to collapse downward and bend inwardly and outwardly from the plane of the top wall; and collapsing the tabs when applying pressure on the tabs. Other aspects, objects, and advantages of the present invention will be understood from the following description in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention, specifically including indicated and unintended combinations of various features described herein, relevant information concerning this. shows in the attached drawings. Brief Description of the Drawings In the course of this description reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a carrier of the present invention shown to contain four full bottles, the carrier is in a been shown on a shelf; Figure 2 is a plan view in extreme elevation of the port illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front elevational plan view of the carrier illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a top plan view of the carrier illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the carrier illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the carrier illustrated in Figure 1 being grasped by a thumb and a finger; Figure 7 is a top elevational plan view of Figure 1 after the tabs have been collapsed; and Figure 8 is a top plan view of the carrier shown in Figure 1 after the tabs have been collapsed. Description of the Preferred Modalities To simplify the description of the present invention, the articles contained in the carrier will generally be described as bottles 12. Referring to Figure 1, the carrier I0 has an upper wall 14, side walls 16 and 18, and a bottom wall 24. The carrier 10 can be any packaging material that is considered appropriate for the packaging challenge. Examples of materials useful in the present invention include paper, corrugated paper and fibreboard. Corrugated paper is preferably used. Preferably the carrier 10 has a first open end and a second open end. The carrier 10 is preferably wrapping a portion of the bottles 12 when smaller. The side walls 16 and 18 can be foldably connected to the top wall 14 by means of fold lines 20 and 22. The side walls can also be connected foldable to the back wall 24 by means of folding lines 26 and 28.

As illustrated in Figure 3, the side wall 16 can be divided into an upper side wall 30 by means of a marked line 36. The side wall 16 can be divided into the lower side wall 34 by means of a marked line 38. The wall side 18 can be divided into upper side wall 40 by means of a marked line. The side wall 18 can be divided into the main side wall by marked lines 46 or 48. Additionally the side wall 18 can be divided into a lower side wall 44 by means of a marked line 48. The lines marked 36, 38, 46 and 48 they can be formed by any method known in the art. Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the upper side walls 30 and 40 may also include holes 50 located adjacent to the top wall 14. The holes may have any shape but are preferably semi-circle-shaped. The holes 50 can have the shape of a truncated horn when viewed from above, as shown in Figures 4 and 8. Referring to Figure 12 the plugs in the bottles 12 can protrude through the holes 50. Additionally the bottom side walls 34 and 44 may include one or more holes 52 substantially adjacent to the bottom wall 24. The holes 52 may have any shape but are preferably in the shape of a half-circle. The holes 52 may have the shape of a truncated horn when viewed from below, as shown in Figure 5. Referring again to Figure 2, the base 15 of each bottle 12 may protrude through each respective hole 52. The main side walls 32 and 42 may contain one or more grooves 54. The grooves generally refer to a cut or open portion of another shape of the carrier 10. The grooves 54 preferably extend transversely to the marked lines 38 and 40. Additionally. the grooves preferably bisect at least one hole 52. The grooves 54 allow the size variation of the bottles 12 to be packed and (or accommodate the bottles with bottom walls that are tapered downwards of the type illustrated in the drawings. The purpose of this arrangement is to stabilize the bottles 12 and retain them in place.The slots 54 can be formed in a carrier by any method known in the art. ca. As shown in figure 4, the background wall 24 of the carrier 10 can be formed by connecting bottom wall sections 23 and 25. For example, the bottom wall 24 can be formed by mechanically joining and counter-locking the sections 23 and 25 together. The lower wall sections 23 can include openings 56 receiving and mechanically engaging tabs 58 (shown in dotted lines) protruding from the bottom wall section 25. The slots 60 located in the section 25 then receive a portion 62 of the section 23 to form a counter coupling that they prevent the tabs 58 from coming out of the apertures 56. It should be understood that although the described mechanical coupling mechanism sufficiently connects the sections to form the bottom panel, any arrangement can be used to adequately form the bottom wall. Referring to Figures 1 to 4, the upper wall 14 has at least two collapsible tabs 64 and 64A. "Collapsible tabs" refers to one or more portions of the carrier 10 capable of collapsing or bending under stress. The effort that is applied can be in the form of a force, weight or pressure. The collapsible tongue 64 is formed from a first edge of an upper wall 14. Preferably the collapsible tongue 64 is placed on an edge of the upper wall 14 substantially adjacent a first open end of the carrier 14. The collapsible tongue 64 is preferably extends inwardly of a first edge of the top wall 14. The collapsible tab 64 is adapted to collapse downward and bend in and out of the plane of the top wall 14. The collapsible tab 64A is formed from a second edge of the wall 14. Preferably, the collapsible tongue 64A is located on one edge of the upper wall 14 substantially adjacent to a second open end of the carrier 14. The collapsible tongue 64a preferably extends inwardly from a second edge of the side wall 14. The tongue collapsible 64A adapts to collapse downward and bend in and out of the plane of the top wall 14. Preferably the collapsible tabs 64 and 64A include at least two non-adjacent portions adapted to collapse downward and bend in and out of the plane of the top wall 14, wherein the adjacent portions or not have at least two perforations each of such The perforations are separated from each other with uncut or intact portions of the upper wall 14. More preferably, the collapsible tabs 64 and 64A are formed by providing at least three adjacent portions adapted to collapse downward and bend in and out of the plane of the upper wall 14, wherein the adjacent potions have at least two perforations each in such a way that the perforations are separated from each other with uncut or intact portions of the upper wall 14. "Piercing" generally refers to a portion cut or open of the carrier 10. The perforations are formed in the carrier 10 by means of any known method in the téncica. The uncut segments or the intact portions of the upper wall 14 easily break or tear when an effort is applied. The collapsible tabs 64 and 64A have an initial or non-collapsed configuration in which the tongue is substantially joined to the portions of the upper wall 14 that surround it. Preferably the collapsible tongues 64 and 64A are coplanar to the portions of the upper wall 14 that surround them. The collapsible tabs 64 and 64A can have any size and shape. Preferably, the collapsible tongues 64 and 64A have a generally trapezoidal shape. To provide flexibility in the collapsible tabs 64 and 64A, the tabs may contain a pair of fold lines 72 extending transversely and outwardly from the fold line 70 toward the base of the tab. The fold lines 72 can divide the collapsible tongues 64 and 64A preferably trapezoidal in three sections, including a section of rectangular shape 74 located between two sections of triangular shape, each generally designated 76. Each fold line 72 may also contain a small perforation 80 located in the center of the fold line and extending into the same direction as the fold line. As described in more detail below. It may be desirable for the carrier to include flexible tabs in order to prevent the upper parts of the bottles from interfering with the collapsing and folding of the tabs. During the operation as illustrated in the figures 6 to 8, the consumer grasps the carrier 10 and preferably applies a downward force on the collapsible tabs 64 and 64A. Preferably the thumb and at least one finger are used to apply the effort. In one embodiment, the stress peels off the uncut segment of cardboard 68 and collapses the collapsible tabs 64 and 64A out of the plane of the top wall. As illustrated in Figure 7, in one embodiment of the present invention, the triangular sections 76 on the tongue come into contact with the upper parts of the bottle 13 forcing the tabs to bend along the fold lines 72. The rectangular section 74 of the collapsible tabs 64 and 64A passes between the upper portions of the bottles 14 and the continuous tab is bent inwardly until the rectangular section is bent back against the underside of the upper wall 14. In this embodiment , a double layer of cardboard is formed around the fold line 70, which reinforces the carrier 10 in place of the collapsed tabs 64 and 64A, thus creating a comfortable grip surface for the consumer.

Referring to Figure 6, the consumer can grip and load the carrier 10 by placing a thumb and at least one finger in the places where the collapsible tabs 64 and 64A fold. The methods indicated in this invention eliminate the areas of concentration of tension by moving the forces away from the corners of the carrier 10 and redirecting the tension towards the center of the upper wall and towards the side walls of the carrier 10. It will be understood that the modalities of the present invention which have been described are illustrative of some applications of the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and actual scope of the invention.

Claims (26)

1. CLAIMS 1. A carrier consisting of: (a) a bottom wall; (b) two side walls; and (c) an upper wall having a first edge forming an edge of at least one collapsible tongue when the tongue is not collapsible and a second edge forming an edge of at least one other collapsible tongue when the tongue is not collapsed, where the collapsible tabs adapt to collapse downward and bend in and out of the plane of the top wall. A carrier of claim 1 wherein the first edge of the top wall is substantially adjacent to a first open end of the carrier. 3. A carrier of claim 1 wherein the second edge of the top wall is substantially adjacent to a second open end of the carrier. 4. A carrier of claim 1 in which the marked line is connected in a foldable manner with at least one side wall of the upper wall. 5. A carrier of claim 1 in which the marked line is connected in a foldable manner with at least one side wall to the lower wall. 6. A carrier of claim 1 wherein the marked line is foldably connected with at least one side wall to the upper and lower walls. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the collapsible tabs are hingedly connected to the top wall. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the collapsible tabs have a generally trapezoidal shape. 9. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the collapsible tabs have two non-adjacent portions each having a bore. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the collapsible tabs have adjacent portions or not having at least two perforations each such that the perforations are separated from each other with uncut or intact portions. The carrier of claim 1 wherein a slot extends transversely to a marked line connecting the side wall of the bottom wall. The carrier of claim 1 wherein at least one side wall consists of at least one hole adapted to receive at least a portion of at least one article. The carrier of claim 1 wherein at least one slot bisects an orifice. 14. A method for grasping a carrier consisting of: providing a carrier having: (a) a bottom wall; (b) two side walls; and (c) an upper wall having a first edge forming an edge of at least one collapsible tongue when the tongue is not collapsible and a second edge forming an edge of at least one other collapsible tongue when the tongue is not collapsed, wherein the collapsible tabs adapt to collapse downward and bend inwardly and outwardly from the plane of the top wall; Collapse the tabs when applying pressure to the tabs. The method of claim 14, wherein the first edge of the top wall is substantially adjacent to a first open end of the carrier. 16. A carrier of claim 14 wherein the second edge of the top wall is substantially adjacent to a second open end of the carrier. 17. A carrier of claim 14 in which the marked line is connected in a foldable manner to at least one side wall of the upper wall. 18. A carrier of claim 14 wherein the marked line is foldably connected with at least one side wall to the lower wall. 19. A carrier of claim 14 in which the marked line is foldably connected with at least one side wall to the upper and lower walls. 20. The carrier of claim 14 wherein the collapsible tabs are hingedly connected to the top wall. 21. The carrier of claim 14, wherein the collapsible tabs have a generally trapezoidal shape. 22. The carrier of claim 14, wherein the collapsible tabs have two non-adjacent portions each having a bore. 23. The carrier of claim 14 wherein the collapsible tabs have adjacent portions or not having at least two perforations each such that the perforations are spaced apart with uncut or intact portions. The carrier of claim 14 in which a slot extends transversely to a marked line connecting the side wall of the bottom wall. 25. The carrier of claim 14 wherein at least one sidewall consists of at least one orifice adapted to receive at least a portion of at least one article. 26. The carrier of claim 1 wherein at least one slot bisects an orifice.