NZ247538A

NZ247538A - Cardboard bottle carrier made from unitary blank: grips tops of bottles only

Info

Publication number: NZ247538A
Application number: NZ247538A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: James R Oliff; Will L Culpepper; Bob E Plaxico
Original assignee: Mead Corp
Priority date: 1992-05-04
Filing date: 1993-05-03
Publication date: 1994-09-27
Also published as: JPH08500070A; RU94046459A; IL105588A; CN1037332C; EG19903A; HU216443B; HU9403129D0; HUT71851A; BR9306317A; SK281590B6; CA2134971A1; PL171115B1; KR950701293A; CN1082502A; AU4035293A; RU2114038C1; CZ270194A3; ZA933038B; SK132194A3; CZ285594B6

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> 24753 Priority D-mc's): M'.S.'.ftt, Coi."ipicto Epocificclicn F'c:!: 3 .4"33.. 8hV.Qxd't& Pub!ica;:o„ P.O. Journc!, Wo: . NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 No.: Date: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION TOP GRIPPING BOTTLE CARRIER We, THE MEAD CORPORATION, a corporation organised under the laws of the State of Ohio, United States of America, of Courthouse Plaza, Northeast, Dayton, Ohio 45463, United States of America. hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- v-"v X- -1 - u \ 2 6JUI.I9SS f TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to packaging of bottles containing consumer items and wherein a group of bottles are assembled in a unitary package by top gripping structures of one kind or another. BACKGROUND ART U. S. patent 2,252,235 issued August 12, 1941 discloses an arrangement wherein a bottle carrier of the top gripping type is disclosed and which utilizes structures which include apertures which are of keyhole configuration. U. S. patent 2,320,440 issued June 1, 1943 discloses a top gripping bottle carrier wherein panels include apertures of keyhole configuration and which are disposed about and grip the necks of packaged bottles. U. S. patent 2,337,253 issued December 21, 1943 discloses a top gripping bottle carrier wherein some of the bottle neck receiving apertures are of keyhole configuration. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to this invention in one form, a paperboard blank is manipulated in such manner as to grip the tops of packaged bottles and includes a bottom panel to the side edges of which side panels are foldably joined and wherein a pair of face contacting supplementary panels are disposed above the bottom panel with their side edges foldably joined to the upper edges of the side panels, bottle neck receiving apertures are formed in the bottom panel and bottle neck receiving apertures 2 "';'t %. vt. t"y 2 6 JUL3993 , are formed in each of the supplementary panels together with cutaway areas formed along the edges of the supplementary panels remote from the edges of the supplementary panels which are foldably joined to a side panel, the configuration of the bottle neck receiving apertures is such that the apertures formed in a bottom panel are oversized and the apertures formed in the supplementary panels are arranged with their smaller areas adjacent the side edge of the supplementary panel which is joined to a side panel so that movement of two rows of bottles inwardly toward each other causes the cutaway areas of one supplementary panel to engage the bottle necks held in apertures in the other supplementary panel and vice versa so that tightening of the carrier blank results in upward bowing of the bottom panel and a secure tight gripping relationship with the packaged bottles. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a group of bottles packaged by a top gripping structure formed according to this invention and applied to the bottle groilp as taught by this invention; FIG. 2 is a plan view of a paperboard blank which is manipulated so as to form the assembled package shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a view of a blank such as shown in FIG. 2 applied to a group of bottles which are spaced apart and are subsequently moved longitudinally and inwardly so as. to cooperate and grip the packaged bottles; FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the blank shown in FIG. 3 together with 3 2 6JUUS93 24 7 5 3 8 spaced apart bottles; FIG. 5 is an end view showing the bottom panel underneath and interconnected with one side and supplementary panel folded down into flat face contacting relation with the bottom panel while the bottles are spaced apart; FIG. 6 shows both supplementary panels in assembled position and with the bottles in each row disposed in close juxtaposition to each other; and FIG. 7 simply shows a machine element schematically which manipulates locking parts formed according to this invention arranged so as to secure the assembled structure in condition such as is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION With reference to FIG. 1, a group of bottles is designated individually as B-l; B-2; B-3; B-4; B-5; and B-6. This bottle group is packaged according to this invention by means of the top gripping bottle carrier generally designated at c. As shown in FIG. 3, the bottles B-l, B-2 and B-3 are separated by a schematically represented machine guide G from the bottles B-4, B-5 and B-6. FIG. 3 simply represents the initial stage of forming a package according to this invention wherein the blank in planar form is lowered from above down into enveloping relationship with the bottles B-l - B-6 inclusive. The apertures which receive the bottle necks are oversize so as to accommodate movement of the bottles relative to each other in accordance with one facet of this invention. 4 i \ 2 6 JUL 1993' / r\ ;t The carton blank as shown in FIG. 2 includes bottom panel 1 which is generally rectangular and which includes bottle neck receiving apertures 2-7 inclusive. These apertures as shown for example in connection with aperture 2 are of general keyhole configuration wherein the part 2a nearest to the side edge of bottom panel 1 is of larger configuration than the part 2b which is more remote from the side edge of bottom panel 1. A pair of retaining tabs 8 and 9 are struck from bottom panel 1 and are foldably joined thereto along fold lines 10 and 11. Side panel 12 is foldably joined to the side edge 13 of bottom panel 1 and is foldably joined along its top edge 14 to the side edge 14a of supplementary panel 15. Supplementary panel 15 includes bottle neck receiving apertures 16, 17 and 18. These apertures have smaller areas such as indicated at 16a adjacent the fold line 14a while the larger areas such as 16b are more remote from the side edge 14a of supplementary panel 15. Formed along an edge of supplementary panel 15 are a plurality of cutaway areas 19, 20 and 21. For facilitating carrying of the package and for forming a locked condition of the various elements, a pair of locking apertures 22 and 23 are struck from supplementary panel 15- The other side of the blank includes a side panel 25 foldably joined to a side edge of bottom panel 1 along fold line la. The side panel 25 is foldably joined along fold line 27 to 5 2 6 JULS993 ' a side edge of supplementary panel 28. Bottle neck receiving apertures 30, 31 and 32 are struck from supplementary panel 28. Smaller portion such as 30a of bottle neck receiving apertures 30, 31 and 32 are disposed nearer to the edge 27a of supplementary panel 28. Cutaway areas 35, 36 and 37 are struck from the edge of supplementary panel 28 as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Locking tabs 38 and 39 are struck from supplementary panel 28 and foldably joined thereto along fold lines 40 and 41 respectively. As indicated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, a schematically represented machine guide designated at G is interposed between bottles Bl, B2 and B3 in one longitudinal row and bottles B4, B5 and B6 in the other longitudinal row. During this period of time, the supplementary panel 15 including the side panel 12 are elevated and folded to the left along fold line 14a as viewed in FIG. 5 so as to cause the aperture 18 in supplementary panel 15 to envelope the neck of bottle B3. Following this stage of the packaging operation as represented in FIG. 5, the bottles in the two rows are moved in a longitudinal direction as indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 3 to occupy the positions represented in FIG. 6. During this operation, the supplementary panel 28 is folded toward the right along fold line 27 and ultimately occupies the position represented in FIG. 6. With the supplementary panels 28 and 15 disposed in overlapping relationship with respect to each other as shown for 6 2 6 JUL 19% example in FIG. 6, a cutaway area 19 in supplementary panel 15 is moved into enveloping relationship with the neck of bottle B4 whose neck is disposed in aperture 2. Thereafter supplementary panel 28 is swung upwardly and over into face contacting relationship with the supplementary panel 15 to cause the cutaway area 35 in supplementary panel 28 to envelope the neck of the bottle B3 whose neck is in aperture 5. Thus the folding operation grips the bottle necks in a secure and firm relationship whereby damage to the packaged bottles is minimized or eliminated entirely. Once the panels are manipulated as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a machine element designated by the arrow L drives the locking tabs 38 and 39 through the apertures 22 and 23 and into engagement with the retaining tabs 8 and 9 which hold the locking tabs in braced locked condition. This operation causes the bottom panel 1 to assume an arched condition as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 which contributes mechanical strength and stability. The bottle neck receiving apertures which' are generally described as being of a keyhole configuration are oriented in a manner which is generally the reverse of the orientation of such elements as shown at least some of in the prior art. Thus the structure according to this invention provides an economical and mechanically strong structure . for gripping the tops of packaged bottles so as to facilitate safe handling of such items. 7 2 6 JUU993 </div>

Claims

247538 WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A top gripping bottle carrier comprising a bottom panel, a side panel foldably joined along its bottom edge to each side edge of said bottom panel, a supplementary panel foldably joined to the top edge of each of said side panels and disposed in flat face contacting relation to each other, a pair of spaced bottle neck receiving apertures formed in said bottom panel and disposed respectively closely adjacent to one of said side panels, a bottle neck receiving aperture formed in each of said supplementary panels and arranged to envelope respectively the neck of a bottle disposed in one of said bottle neck receiving apertures, a cutaway area formed on the edge of each of said supplementary panels which is remote from the associated one of said side wall and in transverse alignment with the associated bottle neck receiving aperture so that inward movement of bottles whose necks are disposed within said pair of spaced bottle neck receiving apertures moves each of said cutaway areas in each of said supplementary panels toward' said bottle neck receiving aperture in the other of said supplementary panels thereby to grip the bottle neck securely and to tighten the carrier so as to impart an upwardly bowed condition to said bottom panel, and means for securing said bottom and said supplementary panels in secure bottle gripping relation with the packaged bottles.

2. A top gripping carrier according to claim 1 wherein said spaced bottle neck receiving apertures formed in 247538 said bottom panel are configured so that a part which is adjacent the associated side wall is of greater area than the part which is remote from the associated side wall.

3. A top gripping carrier according to claim 1 wherein said spaced bottle neck receiving apertures formed in said bottom panel are of keyhole configuration.

4. A top gripping carrier according to claim 1 wherein said bottle neck receiving apertures formed in said supplementary panels are of keyhole configuration.

5. A top gripping carrier according to claim 1 wherein said bottle neck receiving apertures in said supplementary panels are configured so that a part which is adjacent the associated side wall is smaller in area than the part which is remote from the associated side wall.

6. A top gripping carrier according to claim 1 wherein said cutaway areas are configured to cooperate with the part of the associated bottle neck receiving aperture which is smaller in area than the part which is remote from the associated side wall.

7. A top gripping carrier according to claim 1 wherein a part of each of said cutaway areas is of circular configuration to facilitate bottle neck gripping action.

8. A top gripping carrier according to claim 1 wherein at least one locking tab is struck from one of said supplementary panels, at least one locking aperture is formed in the other of said supplementary panels through which said 9 247538 locking tab is movable so as to engage a retaining tab struck from said bottom panel and arranged to aid in holding said locking tab in a locking position.

9. A top gripping carrier according to claim 8 wherein said locking tab is arranged to function as finger engaging carrying tab for the carton.

10. A top gripping carrier according to claim 8 wherein a pair of locking tabs are struck from the upper one of said supplementary panels, a pair of complementary locking apertures are struck from the other of said supplementary panels and a pair of retaining tabs are struck from said bottom panel.

11. A top gripping bottle carrier comprising a bottom panel, side panels foldably joined respectively along their bottom edges to opposite side edges of said bottom panel, a pair of supplementary panels foldably joined to the top edges of said side panels respectively and arranged in flat face contacting relation to each other, two longitudinal parallel rows of apertures formed in said bottom panel, a complementary row of apertures formed in each of said supplementary panels, cutaway areas formed along the edge of each of said supplementary panels remote from the associated side panel, each aperture in said bottom panel being disposed and configured to cooperate with a corresponding cutaway area in one of said supplementary panels, said apertures in said bottom panel being dimensioned so that bottles whose necks are disposed in said apertures in said bottom panel when moved in an inward direction are engageable 10 with the associated cutaway area thereby to tighten the carrier so as to impart an upward bowing action to said bottom panel, and locking means struck from said bottom wall and from said supplementary panels for securing said carrier in locked condition.

12. A top gripping bottle carrier comprising a bottom panel having bottle neck receiving apertures arranged in two longitudinal parallel rows, each aperture having a large portion and a small portion and being arranged with the large portion adjacent a side edge of said bottom panel, a side wall foldably joined along its bottom edge to each side edge of said bottom panel, a supplementary panel foldably joined to each of said side walls along the upper edge thereof, each of said supplementary panels having apertures overlying and in general coincidence with the apertures in one row in said bottom panel and each of said overlying apertures having a large portion and a small portion and being arranged with the small portion adjacent the associated side wall, a row of cutaway areas formed along the side edges of said supplementary panels respectively which are remote from the associated side wall so that inward movement of said supplementary panels causes said cutaway areas in each one of said supplementary panels in cooperation with said smaller portions of said apertures formed in the other of said supplementary panels respectively to envelope the associated bottle necks thereby to tighten the carrier about the bottles and to form an upwardly bowed arch in said main panel, 2 6JUL'm3 24 7 53 and means for holding said carrier in bottle gripping relationship with the packaged bottles.

13. A unitary blank for forming a top gripping bottle carrier and comprising a bottom panel, a plurality of bottle neck receiving apertures formed in said bottom panel and arranged in two parallel longitudinal rows, a side panel foldably joined along its bottom edge to each side edge of said bottom panel, a supplementary panel foldably joined to the upper edge of each of said side panels, a plurality of bottle neck receiving apertures formed in each of said supplementary panels and arranged in a single longitudinal row and in transverse alignment respectively with the bottle neck receiving apertures formed in one longitudinal row in said bottom panel, and a plurality of cutaway areas formed along the edge of each of said supplementary panels which is remote from the associated side panel and disposed in transverse alignment with the bottle neck receiving apertures formed in the associated supplementary panel.

14. A unitary blank according to claim 13 wherein said bottle neck receiving apertures formed in said bottom panel are of keyhole configuration with the larger part of each keyhole aperture being disposed adjacent the associated side edge of said bottom panel.

15. A unitary blank according to claim 13 wherein said bottle neck receiving apertures formed in said supplementary panels are of keyhole configuration with the 12 •S ( :2 6JUi^3 ' smaller part of each keyhole aperture being disposed adjacent the upper edge of the associated side panel.

16. A unitary blank according to claim 13 wherein a pair of finger gripping tabs and complementary apertures are struck from said supplementary panels respectively and a pair of retaining tabs are struck from said bottom panel.

17. A method of forming a top gripping bottle carrier having oversized apertures in its bottom panel about the necks of a plurality of bottles arranged in two spaced longitudinal rows comprising the steps of placing the bottom panel of a carrier blank about the necks of the bottles so that the oversized apertures in said bottom panel envelope the bottle necks, moving the bottles in at least one row inwardly toward the bottles in the other row, swinging in sequence the side panels foldably joined to side edges of said bottom panel together with supplementary panels foldably joined to the edges of said side panels respectively which are remote from said bottom panel to cause said supplementary panels to lie in .face contacting relationship to each other so that cutaway areas along the edges of each supplementary panel engage and grip the necks of bottles disposed within apertures formed in the other supplementary panel, and securing said supplementary panels in face contacting relation to each other.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein a retaining tab struck from said bottom panel is arranged to engage and hold a locking tab struck from the upper one of said 13 '-y.f i \< * 247538 supplementary panels in a locked condition.

19. A top gripping bottle carrier substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

20. A unitary blank substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

21. A method of forming a top gripping bottle carrier substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. H&l Bv thf! ailthnritSpH j!riar,fe. By the authorised agents A J PARK & SON 14