US2433857A - Bottle carrier - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 6, 1948,. Drw. MATTSON 2,433,357

BOTTLE CARRIER Filed Nov. 17, 1944 i 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l 1943- A 15., W. MATTSON 2,433,857 BQTTLE CARRIER Filed Nov. '17, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 DAvm w. Manson Patented Jan. 6, 1948 UNITED} STATES PATENT OFFICE BOTTLE CARRIER David W. Mattson, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application November 17, 1944, Serial No. 563,815

This invention relates to improvements in carriers for beverage and similar bottles.

An object of my present invention is to provide a handy carrier by means of which a group of six, more or less, bottles of beverage may be conveniently carried and with means for concealing and protecting the bottles themselves. It is found that the ordinary carriers, at least all of those with which I am familiar, fail to afiord sufiicient protection to th bottles to permit their use in connection with such malt beverages as beer, in which there is set up a very deleterious action by even a short exposure to sunlight, such as to cause the beverage to take on an unpleasant taste. Up to the present this fact has made it impracticable to market such beverages in six bottle groups, as is so widely the practice with soft drinks, and thus has lost to the manufacturers and distributors the advantages of the sale and distribution of the beverages in such carriers. It is accordingly the primary object of my invention to provide a carrier which affords the bottles coverage and protection to such extent that sunlight cannot reach and spoil their contents, thus providing a carrier well adapted 6 Claims. (Cl. 224-45) to use with beer or other drinks heretofore impracticable to market in this way.

Another object is to provide a carrier of this character in which the actual protective cover for the bottles is well adapted to advertising of the product to be carried and to provide a carrier-cover combination which is inexpensive and durable.

Still a further object is to provide a carrier having an adjustment means adapting it to use with bottles of different sizes and styles.

These and other more detailed and specific objects Will be disclosed in the course of the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved carrier, part of the cover or enclosure member being cut away.

Fig. 2 is an end view.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical sectional view along the line 33 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view, with a part of the carrier broken away to illustrate the enclosure and protectio of the bottles.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the cover or enclosure member of Figs. 1-4 in a partially folded condition.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a carrier having'an adjustment means for adjusting it to use with bottles of diiierent neck sizes and. shapes.

Fig. '7 is detail sectional view along the line 8-8 in Fig. 6.

The present invention is an improvement on the carrier. as disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 548,375 filed August 7, 1944, now Patent No. 2,415,598 granted Feb. 11, 1947, to which attention is invited for comparative purposes.

Referring now more particularly and by reference characters to the drawing, A designates a bottle carrier, adapted to carry a group of six beverage bottles, and which is similar in construction to the carrier disclosed in my prior application aforesaid. The carrier A, with which is embodied a cover or enclosure member designated generally at B, comprises a rectangular flat metal top plate I 0 having downwardly turned marginal stifiening flanges H and for a six bot tle carrier as shown in Figs. 1-4 the top plate is' provided with three elongated openings 12, the ends I3 of which are narrow and rounded in order to receive and engage the necks, C of the bottles D beneath the swells E found in all such bottles, thereby supportably engaging the bottles and at their centers the openings 12 are enlarged laterally as designated at M so that, by moving the bottles inwardly, they may be dropped from the carrier, or the carrier may be lifted from the bottles.

While being carried the bottles D are prevented from thus moving inward to the widened centers [4 of the openings by a, handle member l5 which is formed of a metal strip to a rectangular shape having upright ends i6 which pass slidably through slots I! in the ends of the top plate I0 and a bottom'retainer bar or portion I8 which extends lengthwise and centrally beneath the plate. When the handle is grasped by its upper portion l9 and the carrier and bottles lifted thereby the retainer bar I8 is pulled upwardly against the underside of the plate [0, causing it to span the widened centers M of the openings and, while not actually engaging the bottle necks C, preventing them from moving inward to a point at which they may be disengaged. When the handle is released it will, of its own weight, move downward as seen in Figs. 1 and 2 until stops 20 on its sides engage the rods of the slots l1 and in such position the retainer bar I8 stands well below the plate It so that the bottles may be tilted to swing their necks into the center I of the openings l2, permitting removal of the bottles.

' As thus fare described the carrier is substantially identical to that described in my hereinbefore identified application, and it will be obvious that the six bottles will be supported in a closely spaced group, of two rows of three each. In such position the bottles are, however, exposed to sunlight and as heretofore stated this has made the use of such carrier for beer and similar beverages impractical. In addition, the effects of strong sunlight upon other beverages may cause color fading or other deleterious results, and in either case the cover member or enclosure B now to be described will be of advantage.

This cover B as it will be termed is rectangular; box-like and open ended and may be inexpensive: ly formed from four foldably connected panels of heavy paper which may be folded flat for conven ience in storage and shipping or unfolded to pro.-.

vide sides 2l22 and ends 23'2'4 adapted shape and size to enclose corresponding portions of the group of bottles D. The open end 25 of the cover allows the bottles, supported in the carrier A, to be readily lowered into the cover and the vertical height of the latter is such that it will enter within the flanges II and: will cover the bottles-from their necks cleardown to their bottoms. The open bottoni 26 of the eover,- however; allows the bottles to rest upon their own bottoms when the carrier is released so that there is no strain or collapsing weight on the cover enabling the same to be made of light and inexpensive mateifial. I r

To hold the cover in place it is provided in its ends 2324 below the upper edges thereof with slots 21 which are adapted to engage over inwardly turned hooks 28 which are formed by turning inwardly the lower edges of lugs or eat portions 29 forming downward extensions of the end flanges I I of the carrier plate [0 at their cen- .ters. As the bottles are" lowered into the cover 3 the ends 2 3--24 thereof may be forced inward- 1y so that the hooks Z8 slip over outer sides of these ends until they reach the slots 21 wherenew the natural flexibility of the cover will cause the slots to 5111) Over the hddks l'ioldiflgl and 311spending the cover in place while the carrier is in use.

The" cover B thus is so supported that it will complemy enclose the sides and ends of the group of bottles and by making the cover of ari opaque material the bottles Will be well shielded. from sunlight as required. The shape and dimensions Of the. cover, as Well as the material fromwhich it is made adapt it admirably for-use in advertising as Will be apparent, aiid' due to its inexpensivehess and the advertising value the cover may be" discarded when it becomes were and replaced another. The carrier per'se, isnot of course subject to Wear and will last ihdefihit ly.

Attention called to the fact (Fig. 3) that the'ends lb of the handle iii of the carrier; when the handle is released, willhang downwardly Within the ear portiolis Z9 afid ihwaidly of the cover ends 23 and 24' abovetlle slot's' 27 and in such position will prevent the cover from being forced inwardly above the slots to a degiee sixfficient to release it from; the hooks 28, However, by raising the handle l5 the ends l6 thereof will then be out of theway and the cover" may be readily pressed inward to release it froriithe hooks 28" so thatthe bottles may be liftedou t of the cover, or the cover dropped clear. For conveni'e'nce in' thus pressing the coveriiiwardat each end above the hooks 29 the ear portions 29 thereabove are provided with large oiieriings 3il'thro'ligli which the fingers may be thrust to. push upon the cover, as indicated in Fig. 3.

I have found that in some cases there i a variation in the diameter of the bottle necks such that the adjustment means of Figs. 6 and 7 is of advantage. Here the carrier AI is shown as having only a single opening l2 to receive a pair of bottles (not shown) but obviously the same features are applicable to carriers of larger capacity. The narrow ends I3 of the opening [2 are adjusted as to effective width, to thereby accommodate bottles of varying neck diameter, by a plate 33 having curved portions 34 corresponding with the curvature of one side and end of each narrow portionof the opening. Said plate 33 is attached atep the carrier AI by means of a pair of screws 35" ai'idwlng nuts 36, the former being secured by welds 3'! to the carrier to prevent them from turning and projecting upwardly through slots 38 in plate 33 to receive the wing nuts 36. The slots 38 are so elongated that the plate 33 may be moved toward or away from the adj acent side of the opening, [2 to vary the width thereof and then secured in adjusted position by tightening the wing nurses. The plate 33 has an upwardly turned flange 39" to stiffen it to form a convenient finger grasp in its adjustment.

It will be evident that four of my carriers, for either beer or soft drinks, will readily fit into the shells creases generally used and that, due to the fact that the handle, when released, falls below the" lever of the tops of the bottles,- the case may bereadily s'tacked one upon another.

When the carrier is used for malt beverages or beer the cover or shield must be used to protect the beverage from sunlight, as previously stated. Therefore the cover becomes a part of the carrier.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed,- pro vided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of -theapperidedclaims, Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my inventiori, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by'Letters" Patent is:

l. The" combination with a' bottle carrier havi'rig" means for releasably engaging the upper ends of agroup of bottles and holding them in supported depending relation for carrying, of an open topped box-like cover member adapted to surround the bottles beneath the carrier,and cooperating means on the carrier and cover member for releasably' supporting the latter around the bottles while they are carried.

2; A bottle carrier having a handle member movable from an inoperative position to an operative positionaiid having means for engaging upper ends of a group of bottles and carrying them when the handle is in the latter position,- a box-like cover member supported rom the carnee covering the" group of bottles, means for attaching the cover member to the carrier, and said means being releasable only in the operative position of said handle member".

3-; A bottle carrier' having a handle member movable from an inoperative position to an operative position and having means for engaging upper ends of a group of bottles and carrying themwhen the handle'is in the latter position, a b0)?- like cover member supported from the carrier for covering the'group of bottles; the said carrier having hook means and the cover member havihg' openings to supportably engage the hooks; and the carrier handle ineinber in inoperative pilsition standing in such relation to the hook means and covermemter as to prevent their disengagement.-

4. A bottle carrier having a handle member movable froin' an inoperative position to an operative position and having means for engaging upper ends of a group of bottles and carrying them when the handle is in the latter position, a box-like cover member supported from the carrier for covering the group of bottles, said carrier having depending portions having hooks at lower extremities and openings thereabove, the said cover member having slots spaced from its upper edge for engaging the hooks to support the cover member, the said carrier handle member having portions which are adapted to stand inwardly of the hooks in the inoperative position of the handle but which are raised by movement of the handle to operative position whereby the cover member may be pressed inward by a finger thrust through said openings to release the slots from the hooks.

5. A bottle carrier and cover of the character described, comprising a carrier having means for supportably engaging the upper end of at least one bottle and having hook means, and a cover member adapted to surround and cover the bottle below the carrier and having openings to engage said hook means and thereby support the cover member from the carrier.

6. A bottle carrier and cover comprising a carrier having a handle member movable from an inoperative to an operative position and having means for engaging the upper end of at least one bottle and carrying the bottle when the handle is REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,076,018 Clark Oct. 21, 1913 1,112,300 Ligeour Sept. 29, 1914 1,670,864 Martin May 22, 1928 1,798,612 Malcolmson Mar, 31, 1931 2,031,963 Kundts Feb. 25, 1936 2,049,884 Wurster et al. Aug. 4, 1936 2,252,235 Snelling Aug, 12, 1941 2,264,903 Kruea Dec. 2, 1941 2,287,731 Franks et al June 23, 1942 2,320,440 Kruea et al. June 1, 1943 2,339,598 Burge et a1. Jan. 18, 1944 2,361,926 Brogden Nov 7, 1944 2,385,997 Leggett et a1. Oct. 2, 1945

Images