MXPA97002827A - Articu carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an attic carrier characterized in that it comprises: opposite side walls, end walls attached to the opposite side walls, a handle structure extending between the opposite end walls, elevator panels extending between the respective ends of the handle structure and the opposite end walls, cell forming means extending between each side wall and the handle structure, including bands extending between the handle structure and the side wall, and a bifurcated bottom wall having each side of the same foldably joined to a respective side wall, wherein an intersection, where each side wall joins the respective end wall, is bevelled, and where a union of each band and a respective side wall is bevelled

Description

ARTICLE CARRIER DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention relates in general to article carriers and more particularly to a carrier of lower load basket style articles to intimately receive items such as bottles. Carriers of basket style items, such as carriers for non-alcoholic glass bottles, are useful for several reasons. For example, items can be easily removed from the carrier, items can usually be easily replaced in the carrier after removal for transport, scrap or other purposes, the carrier generally has an easy-to-use handle integrally formed, economically with The carrier and carrier is generally perceived to be aesthetically pleasing to consumers. The carriers of the basket type are typically designed to receive items loosely. A carrier of basket-style articles for bottles is generally constructed to loosely receive the bottles, so that glass bottles in particular can be easily loaded and unloaded repeatedly, if desired and also in such a way that Breakable bottles can be better separated one from the other. What is needed, however, is a particularly suitable carrier for intimately receiving items, such as bottles, in a manner that facilitates the production of an airtight package. An adjustment carrier package is particularly useful for packaging non-breakable bottles, such as PET bottles commonly used in the non-alcoholic beverage industry, which do not need to be segregated in a package. Some known basket style carriers have central cells and upper central cells in particular. A central cell is typically used to segregate bottles that can break, as well as help support the bottles. A central cell would be useful in packing bottles that do not break to help produce the tight fit between the carrier and the bottles centrally located in the carrier, as well as to assist bottle support. The present invention provides an article carrier for intimately receiving articles such as bottles. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an article carrier of the compressible basket type has end walls joined at the ends of the opposite side walls. A portion of the side wall is in separate cut to form bands for coupling the articles. Elevator panels extend into the end walls. A handle structure extends between the end walls and the riser panels. A central cell division extends from each respective side wall to the handle structure. The corner formed at each intersection on the side of the carton and the end walls are bevelled. In a similar manner, the corner formed at each intersection of a band of the central cell and its side wall portion is bevelled. The support tabs connect either the elevator panels or the end walls to the bottom wall of the carrier. The lower wall of the carrier is bifurcated. The bottles are loaded vertically upwards through the open lower part of the carrier. In the compressed condition, the carrier has notch members that can be cut, strategically located by the cut lines between the side wall and the center cell in the beveled corner tabs. The preferred embodiment of the invention also provides a preform for forming the embodiment of the carrier described in the foregoing. The preform contains the elements described in the above. The support tabs are foldably connected to the respective lifting panels in a version of the preform. In an alternative version of a preform according to a preferred embodiment, the support tabs are folded to the respective end panels.

Other advantages and objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, the attached drawings and the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is an isometric illustration of a carrier article according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the carrier of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a plan illustration of a preform for forming the carton of Figure 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is a plan view showing an intermediate step of folding the preform of Figure 3. Figure 5 is a plan view of the compressed carrier corresponding to the erect carrier of Figure 1, formed from the preform of Figure 3. Figure 6 is a plan view of an alternate preform to form the carrier of Figure 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The characteristics of an upright carrier article 2 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, will first be described with reference simultaneously to the isometric illustration of Figure 1 and the side elevation view of Figure 2. The illustrated carrier 2 is generally designed to house two rows of three bottles each, although the invention is also easily practiced to accommodate rows of other multiples of bottles. For example, two rows of four bottles per row. Both sides of the carrier are the same. In this way, the features described with respect to the side shown in Figure 2 in particular and Figure 1 in general, are equally applicable to the side that is not observed. The side wall 20, 30 has a separate cutting portion which generally defines a lower side wall strip 21, 31 and an upper side wall strip 23, 33. The fold connecting the lower bands 21, 31 and the upper bands 23 , 33 to the respective end walls 40, 42, 50, 52 are respective corner tabs 22, 32, 24, 34. The corner tabs 22, 32, 24, 34 respectively form beveled corners at the intersections of the side walls 20, 30 and the end walls 40, 42, 50, 52. The separate cutting area also defines a central portion 28, 38 left, intact in the side wall 20, 30. A central cell is formed on each side of the carrier by the cell strips 25, 35 of the corner tabs 26, 36 connected in bent form to the cell strips and a portion of central cell 27, 37 formed integrally with side wall 20, 30. The elevating panels 60, 62, 70, 72 extend between the lower part of the carrier 2 and the handle structure formed by the panels 80, 82, 90, 92-. A manual flap 84 is also visible from the side view shown. The cutting lines between the central cell portions of the respective side walls 20, 30 and the handle structure 80, 82, 90, 92 terminate in respective curved cutting lines 86, 88 96, 98. The cutting lines between the upper bands 23, 33 of the respective side walls 20, 30 and the corresponding central cell portions terminate in respective curved cutting lines 87, 89, 97, 99. In the compressed state the carrier 2 has notch members strategically located on the cutting lines between the side wall and the center cell in the beveled corner tabs. This feature is not evident from the fully erect carrier, but will be discussed in greater detail in the context of the preforms to form the carrier, following. Now with reference to Figure 3 there is illustrated a preform 4, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention for forming the erect carrier of Figure 1. The preform 4 is essentially symmetric about a perforated bending line that divides the handle panels 80, 82, 90, 92 and the carrier halves one from the other. One of the two walls 1012 lower is wider than the other and for convenience is designated for a lower wall 10 greater. The other lower wall is suitably designated the lower lower wall 12. Each side wall 20, 30 has an ejected cutting area or a separate cut, which helps to define a lower side wall band 21, 31 and the adjacent corner tabs 22, 32 and an upper band 23, 33 and tabs of adjacent corner 24, 34. The elements for forming a central cell are central cell strips 25, 35, central cell corner tabs 26, 36 and central center cell portions 27, 37, which are integral with the side walls 20, 30. A solid notch member 29, 39 is placed along one of the respective cut lines between the corresponding bands of the upper bands 23, 33 and the respective central cell strips 25, 35 and which are they adjoin the central cell corner tabs 26, 36. The notch member 29, 39 joins an adjacent, upper side wall band. "23, ~ 33 and the central cell corner tab 26, 36. The end walls 40, 42, 50, 52 are positioned adjacent the respective side walls 20, 30 connected thereto by the side wall corner tabs 22, 32, 24, 34. The support tabs 41, 43, 51, 53 are connected to the respective end walls 40, 42, 50, 52 along the fold lines. respective end walls 40, 42, 50, 52 along the perforated fold lines The central cell strips 25, 35 are connected at 1"length of the perforation lines to the lower portions of the handle panels 80, 82, 90, 92. The hand holes 81, 83, 91, 93 are formed in respective handle panels 80, 82, 90, 92. The cutting lines separating the central cell bands 25, 35 and the central cell corner tabs 26, 36 appended from the respective hand panels terminate in curved cutting lines 86, 88, 96, 98. The cutting lines separating the upper bands 23, 33 and the adjacent corner tabs 24, 34, from the respective central cell bands 25, 35 and the tabs 26, The attached central cell corner 36 terminates in curved cutting lines 87, 89, 97, 99 in the respective side walls, 20, 30. The fins 84, 94 for the hand are connected along bending lines perforated to the edges. respective gripping panels 80, 90, within the holes 81, 91 for the respective hand thereof. The lines 86, 87, 88, 89, 96, 97, 98, 99 of curved cut help in directing the tension separating them from the strategic termination points of the cutting lines in the carrier and the preforms for it. The stitching shown in the preform 4 represents glue applied in the preparation for the first step of folding the preform into a carrier 2.

Figure 4 shows the preform of Figure 3 partially folded and stuck additionally applied, as indicated by stippling, in the preparation for another fold. Figure 5 illustrates the preform 4 glued and folded into a compressed form of the carrier 4 of Figure 1. Figure 6 illustrates an alternate preform 6 to form the carrier 2 of Figure 1. The preform of Figure 6 differs from the preform of Figure 3, in which the support tabs 161, 163, 171, 173, of the preform of Figure 6 are located by the respective lifting panels 160, 162, 170, 172 in place of the end walls. The other characteristics of the two preforms are essentially the same. In this way, the numbers used to identify features in the preform of Figure 6 are the same as those used in Figure 3 in a series 100. That is, the numbers in Figure 3 are represented by a "1" in the Figure 6. Particularly in the case of the contoured bottle such as the contoured proprietary bottle in which the non-alcoholic beverage brand Coca Cola® R is sold, the bands couple the wider lower circumferences and the central portion of the bottle. The upper band 23 also serves to hide the UPC symbol that is placed in individual bottles of the product, so that only the price symbol on the carrier can be scanned in a store recorder. The combination of the bands 21, 23 and the central portion 28 provides product support and visibility, while also facilitating a hermetically packaged package. The central portion 28, 30 helps maintain the structural stability of the carrier and provides a display surface. Although the carrier 2 can be constructed without the cutting portion facing outwards, the bands 21, 23 formed by the cut outward more definitely engage the walls of a bottle placed on the carrier at the locations of the bands. In the drawings of the preforms 4, 6 the dotted lines represent perforated fold lines. The solid lines represent cut lines, except that the solid lines between the respective support tabs 41, 43, 51, 53, 161, 163, 171, 173 and the rest of the preform 4, 6 represent bent fold lines. Each preform 4, 6 can be bent as described above to form the carrier of Figure 1. Although the carrier 2 can be used to pack many different types of articles, it is particularly suitable for packing flexible PET bottles in a package airtight. This particular suitability is even more applicable in the case of contoured plastic bottles, which have a tapered segment between a lower area and an upper area of larger diameter. The beveled corners of the side walls and end walls, which function together with the beveled corners of the central cell, allow the packing formed by the carrier to be hermetically loaded. For example, the invention contemplates that a suitable method for creating a package with the carrier 2 is to open the carrier of the compressed position indicated in Figure 5, then either push the carrier down on a group of bottles or push the bottle up inside the carrier, or some combination of these two methods. In this form, once the carrier 2 is generally opened in the tapered upper portions of the bottles (like most bottles that are configured) it fits easily through the lower opening of the carrier. As the bottles are moved upward in the open carrier, the walls of the carrier are engaged by the bottles and pushed outward creating a snap fit. The beveled corners of each side wall 20, 30 and the bevelled corners of the tandem central cell network for intimately receiving the curved bottles and thus ensuring a tight package of bottles. The beveled corners of the central cell add the desired pressure setting, because a more hermetic package is achieved when each corner of the carrier, which engages a bottle is diagonally aligned to accommodate the circumference of the bottle. The lower sidewall bands 21, 31 of the respective sidewalls 20, 30 effectively couple the base of the bottles. The bands of the upper sidewall 23, 33 and the bands of the central cell are strategically located to couple the upper portions of the bottles. The invention anticipates the opening of the carrier 2 of a compressed condition (as illustrated in Figure 5) by pulling each side panel panel 20, 30 perpendicularly outward from the plane of the handle structure 90, 29 until the carrier achieves essentially the erect structure represented in Figure 1. As mentioned previously, the carrier 2 can produce an extremely tight package. In loading the carrier 2 with the bottles, once the side walls 20, 30 are pulled out, the bottles are loaded vertically through the bottom thereof. Because the bottles loaded inside the carrier are received intimately by the walls of the carrier, it is important that the upper parts of the bottles are not obstructed by the carrier during loading. The notch members 29, 39 provide sufficient junction between the central cell portion and the side wall to retard the formation of one of the bevelled corners of the central cell. Since the beveled corners of the carrier facilitate a snap fit, which retards the formation of one of the beveled corners, it also delays achieving an intimate fit. A loaded bottle is more easily received by the central cell and provides less of an obstruction to load before the formation of both beveled corners. The notch members 29, 39 in this way facilitate the loading of the carrier 2 by delaying the formation of one of the beveled corners of the central cell, until a bottle is at least partially placed in the cell. The notch members 29, 39 are positioned on the side walls 20, 30 on either side of the carrier. The load of the carrier 2 is made easier and achievable symmetrically, when the notch members 29, 39 are placed at the same end of the carrier. Each notch member 29, 39 is a solid point of material on the cutting line between an upper band of the side wall 23, 33 and the junction of a corresponding diagonal corner tab 26, 36 and the band 25, 35 of the central cell. The notch member 29, 39 is of a sufficiently small dimension, which remains intact initially through the opening of the carrier, but subsequently tears easily when the carrier is subjected to the tension of receiving and fully encompassing the loaded bottles. When the notch member 29, 39 tears the bevelled corner tabs 26, 36 spaced apart from the upper wall band 23, 33 and forms one of the bevelled corners of the central cell. An example of a dimension of the suitable notch member is a notch member having a length of 0.01 cm (0.004 inches) in a cardboard carrier having a thickness of between 0.04 cm to about 0.06 cm (from 0.018 inches to about 0.024). inches). The support tabs of the preform 4 shown in Figure 3 (41, 43, 51, 53) and the preform 6 of Figure 6 (161, 163, 171, 173) are fixed to the respective, adjacent, bottom wall panels. (10, 12, 110, 112) of the upright carrier to provide additional support for the bottom wall constructed. As previously mentioned, the preforms 4, 6 differ only in the location of the respective support tabs. The selection of the support tabs can be made by the choice of the machinery used to erect and load the carriers in a package. The use of two support tabs at each end of the carrier helps to increase the stability of the carrier either empty or full. In the preform 4 of Figure 3, the support tabs 41, 51 at one end of the preform 4 (and thus finally the carrier 2) are illustrated larger than the support tabs 43, 53 at the opposite end of the preform 4 to demonstrate a distinction in the length to be used in the handling of the carrier formed from the preform 4. Because the carrier is symmetrical the distinction in length also facilitates easy identification of one end of the preform 4 of the other. Rapid and easy identification of each end of the preform 4 and the carrier formed therefrom, is particularly important for identifying the location of the end of the preform 4 and the carrier containing the notch members 29, 39. In the preform 6 of Figure 6, the tabs 171, 173 associated with a side wall 130 of the carrier, are shown larger than the tabs 161, 163 in the other side wall 120 of the preform 6. When the preform 6 is more bent to create a compressed carrier, a longer and shorter support tab is formed in pairs in front relation. The difference in the lengths of each of the support tabs in a pair facilitates the engagement of each tab, such that each can be bent in the position for attachment to a respective bottom wall. Although the support tabs discussed in the foregoing are shown to be associated with the carrier preforms 4 and 6 respectively, the characteristics of the tabs discussed above may be combined with either or both of the preforms and together in one or both of the preforms. The support tabs are adhered to either the interior or exterior of the lower walls 10, 12, 110, 112 of the upstanding carrier by known adhesion means.

The elevating panels 60, 62, 70, 72 are shown having a nested configuration for ease in manufacturing the preform. Other modifications can be made in the foregoing without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention claimed. For example, as previously mentioned, although the carrier 2 and the preforms 4, 6, are generally illustrated by housing a 3 X 2 carrier with the central cell portion capable of housing a bottle, the invention is equally applicable to other dysfunctions of articles, particularly a 4 X 2 arrangement with the central cell that houses two bottles.

Claims (12)

1. CLAIMS 1. An article carrier characterized in that it comprises: opposite side walls; opposite end walls joining the opposite side walls; a handle structure extending between the opposite end walls; elevator panels extending between the respective ends of the handle structure and the opposite end of the end walls; cell forming means extending between each opposite side wall and the handle structure including a band extending between the handle structure and the opposite side wall; and a bifurcated inner wall having each side thereof joined in a folded form to a respective opposite side wall; wherein a junction of each opposite side wall and the opposite wall end, respectively, is bevelled; and wherein a joint of each band and a respective side wall is bevelled. The carrier according to claim 1, characterized in that each opposite side wall includes a separate cutting portion defining a lower band and an upper band. 3. The carrier according to claim 2, characterized in that the separate cutting portion further defines a central member that is; extends between the lower band and the upper band. 4. The carrier in accordance with the claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises at least one support tab having a bendable end attached to a respective opposite end wall. The carrier according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises at least one support tab having an end attached in a folded form to a respective lift panel. The carrier according to claim 1, further characterized in that it comprises at least one notch member that can be cut, positioned between the beveled connection of the band and a respective side wall and an adjacent side wall, when the carrier is in a compressed condition. 7. A preform for forming an article carrier, characterized in that it comprises: side wall panels; end wall panels; first corner tabs joined in bent form respectively between the side wall panels and the end wall panels; elevating panels having a lower portion attached in a folded form respectively to the end wall panels; handle structure panels attached in folded form respectively to an upper portion of the riser panels; bands forming the cell each having a central portion joined in a folded form respectively, to one of the side wall panels and having opposite ends joined in a folded form respectively to the handle structure and having second corner tongues joined to each other. shape folded respectively to the central portion. 8. The preform in accordance with the claim 7, characterized in that the side wall panel includes a separate cutting portion defining a lower band and an upper band. 9. The preform in accordance with the claim 8, characterized in that the separate cutting portion further defines a central member extending between the lower band and the upper band. The preform according to claim 7, further characterized in that it comprises at least one support tongue having an end attached in a folded form to a respective opposite end wall. 11. The preform according to claim 7, further characterized in that it comprises at least one support tab having an end attached in a folded form to a respective riser panel. The preform according to claim 7, further characterized in that it comprises at least one notch member positioned respectively between one of the second corner tabs and an adjacent side wall.