US2866543A

US2866543A - Carrying device for containers

Info

Publication number: US2866543A
Application number: US555041A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward O Then
Original assignee: American Can Co
Current assignee: Primerica Inc
Priority date: 1955-12-23
Filing date: 1955-12-23
Publication date: 1958-12-30
Anticipated expiration: 1975-12-30

Description

Dec. 1958 E. 0. THEN 2,866,543

' *CAfifiYING DEVICE FOR CONTAINERS Filed Dec. 23, 1955 INVENTOR.

EDWARD 0. THEN BY M 55% FZAZw'w/ae 97% ATTORNEYS United States Patent CARRYING DEVICE FOR CONTAINERS Edward 0. Then, Newark, N. J., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 23, 1955, Serial No. 555,041

4 Claims. (Cl. 206-65) The present invention relates generally to devices for carrying a plurality of containers and the like in 'a juxtaposed relation as a unitary package and has particular reference to such a device which includes an overcap having reenforced edges for clamping engagement over a laterally projecting ledge of each of the containers for tying them together.

An object of the instant invention is the provision of extends over the tops of the containers to keep the tops clean.

Another object is the provision of such a carrying device which is economical in material and cost and which may be readily produced at high speed, and which may be made as a flat device which is readily stacked one on top of the other to facilitate shipment and storage.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pair of juxtaposed containers tied together with a carrying device embodying the instant invention;

Pig. 2 is a perspective view of the carrying device shown in Fig. l, with a portion broken away;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along a plane indicated by the line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary. perspective View similar to Fig. 1, and showing a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing a second modified form of the invention; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along a plane indicated by the line 66 in Fig. 5.

As a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the instant invention Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings illustrate a carrying device or carrier A for carrying a pair of fibre milk containers B disposed in juxtaposed relation as a unitary package. The containers B preferably are of the character disclosed in United States Patent 2,085,979, issued July 6, 1937, to John M. Hothersall on Container.

Such a container comprises a rectangular body having fiat side walls E which at their upper ends are formed with necked-in portions F and an immediately adjacent outwardly or laterally projecting peripheral end seam or ledge G surrounding and securing a flat top member H in place on the body. In the juxtaposed relation of the containers B, two side walls E are directly opposite each 2,866,543 Patented Dec. 30, 1958 other in substantially contiguous relation as shown in Fig. 1. The portions of the ledges G for these side walls extend transversely of the package and are substantially coincident. The immediately connecting portions of the ledges G, disposed at right angles to the ends of the transverse ledge portions, extend along the two long outer edges of the package in continuing or endwise alignment and are termed the outer longitudinally aligned ledge portions.

The carrying device A, in its preferred form as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, comprises a flat heavy paper or cardboard top member 22 of rectangular configuration, which lies fiat against the tops of the juxtaposed containers B and bridges across the substantially coincident transverse portions of the ledges G as shown in Fig. 1. The top member 22 although preferably made of fibre material, may also be made of metal, such as tin plate, black iron plate or aluminum, or may be made of plastic or other suitable material.

The carrier top member 22 is provided with opposing channel shaped marginal edge portions 23 (see Fig. 2) which are disposed adjacent the longitudinally aligned portions of the ledges G of the juxtaposed containers for holding the carrier top member 22 in place. These edge portions 23 extend over and beneath the ledges G in close fitting engagement therewith and into and along the adjacent necked-in portions F of the containers, terminating near the lower edge of the portions F as best shown in Fig. 3. These formed marginal edge portions 23 thus provide an internal channel 24 which receives the longitudinally aligned portions of the ledges G of both containers B.

The channel shaped edge portions 23 preferably are reenforced to stiffen them, by opposed pairs of spaced sheet metal clips 26 which conform to the contour of the channel shaped edge portions and which are secured in place on these'edge portions by sharp teeth 27 whichare imbedded into the material of the carrier top member. The clips 26 along each channel shaped edge portion 23 preferably are made as individual elements but may be made as one elongated channel shaped clip toextend along a major portion of the carrier top member if desired.

The carrier top member 22, and its channel shaped edge portions 23 extending along twooppcsing edges thereof, preferably are made, shipped and'stored' asa flat unit with the metal clips 26 in a fiat condition and secured in place to the marginal edge portions of the top member. When the carrier is applied to a pair of juxtaposed containers B, the carrier top member 22 is positioned on top of the containers and the overhanging marginal edge portions 23, contained the clips 26, are bent downwardly and inwardly over and beneath the longitudinally aligned ledges G to make these marginal edge portions 23 and the clips 26, conform-to the contour of the projecting ledges to hold the top mtmber 22 in place thereon. The clips 26 being bent with the marginal edge portions 23, retain these edge portions in their channel shaped bent position and thus reenforce these edge portions and lock them against the ledges G. Crease lines 23, 29 (Fig. 2) may be provided in the channel shaped edge portions 23 to facilitate bending these edges over the ledges G.

Thus the top member 22 is secured tightly to the containers B and ties them together as a unitary package for easy carrying. In order to facilitate carrying of the package, the top member 22 is provided with an upstanding handle 31 having a finger opening 32. This handle extends vertically above the carrier top member 22 and may be bent down flat against the top member to facilitate stacking for shipment and storage.

The handle 31 preferably is made of fibre material,

pending tabs 34 (Fig. 2) which extend from the lower edge of the handle and. project through a slit 35 in the top member, the tabs being bent upwardly against the inner face of the top member and secured against displacement by a suitable adhesive or other medium.

Separation of the containers B from the carrier A for use individually is readily effected by pulling the con tainers out and longitudinally of the. channel shaped edge portions 23 of the carrier.

In a modified form of the invention as shown in Fig. 4, the carrier toprnember 22 is enlarged to cover the .entire top area of the two containers B and thus additionally serves as an overcap for keeping the tops of the containers free from foreign matter. Where parts of the. containers overlap the longitudinally aligned portionsof the ledges G, as in the. case of a bendable friction plug closure member I (Figs. 1 and 4) carried on such containers, the channel shaped marginal edge portions 23 of the carrier preferably are cut away to provide a' clearance recess .or notch 37 as shown in Fig. 4.

In a further modified form of the invention as shown .irrFigs. 5 and 6, reenforcement of the channel shaped marginal edge portions 23 to keep them in engagement securely tie the containers together and serve to secure them to the carrier against accidental displacement.

Although the drawings show only two juxtaposed containers B tied together with. and by the carrier A, it

should be understood that more than two containers can be so tied together and. carried by the carrier illustrated by elongating the. carrier to span the plurality of containers desired to be carried. The weight of the containers is supported by the reenforced channel shaped marginal edge portions 23. To balance this weight the handle 31 preferably is connected to the carrier top member .22, midway between its end edges as shown in the drawings.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that-various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A unitary carrying package comprising a plurality of juxtaposed rectangular containers having at their top ends laterally projecting peripheral ledges portions of which are disposed in substantially coincident transverse relation and other portions of which are disposed in longitudinally aligned relation, a flat flexible top member of rectangular configuration overlying the top surfaces of said juxtaposed containers and having oppositely disposed integral channel shaped marginal portions overhanging said longitudinally aligned ledge portions of said juxtaposed containers, said channel shaped marginal portions of said top member thence extending horizontally inwardly and closely beneath said longitudinally aligned ledge portions and conforming to the cross sectional configuration thereof to support said containers thereby, a bendable clip member attached to the outer surface and conforming to the configuration of said channel shaped marginal portions to reenforce the latter and to hold them in container supporting and connecting position, and an upstanding handle member secured to said top member for carrying said package.

2. A unitary carrying package as defined in claim 1 wherein said bendable reenforcing clip member includes a plurality of sharp marginal teeth for securing the same to said channel shaped marginal portions of said top member.

3. A unitary carrying package as defined in claim 1 wherein said carrier top member overlies the entire top surfaces of said containers to serve as an overcap for protecting said container top surfaces and maintaining the same sterile.

4. A unitary carrying package as defined in claim 3 wherein the channel shaped marginal portions of said carrier top member are provided with recesses for clearing obstructions on the containers adjacent the longitudinally aligned ledge portions thereof covered by said channel shaped marginal portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,449,275 Feist Mar. 20, 1923 2,057,946 Harris Oct. 20, 1936 2,557,801 Shapiro June 19, 1951 2,680,040 Gribskoy June 1, 1954 2,693,385 Cavalli Nov. 2, 1954