US2878930A

US2878930A - Carrying device for containers

Info

Publication number: US2878930A
Application number: US555042A
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: 1959-03-24
Anticipated expiration: 1976-03-24

Description

E. 0. THEN CARRYING DEVICE FOR CONTAINERS March 24, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 23, 1955 INVENTOR.

EDWARD 0. THEN ATTORNEYS March 24, 1959 O H N 2,878,930

CARRYING DEVICE FOR CONTAINERS I Filed Dec. 25, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

EDWARD 0. THEN BY fxuaz 9 ATTORNEYS United States Patent CARRYING DEVICE FOR CONTAINERS Edward 0. Then, Newark, NJ., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 23, 1955, Serial No. 555,042 18 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 having a snap-on gripper element for clamping engagement over a laterally projecting ledge of the containers for tying the containers together.

An object of the instant invention is the provision of a carrying device which is readily snapped or clamped over adjacent laterally projecting peripheral ledges of a pair of juxtaposed rectangular containers for securing the containers together so that they may be readily carried as a unitary package and yet may be easily separated by the consumer for individual use.

Another object is the provision of such a carrying device which is easily manufactured with a minimum of material and at a minimum cost and which may be readily applied to the containers.

Another object is the provision of such a carrying device which may be readily clamped over lapped side seam sections of the containers to tie them together in a unitary package.

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

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the carrying device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along a vertical plane indicated by the line 3-3 in Fig. 2, the view showing the device applied to a pair of containers as shown in Fig. 1, the containers being shown in section and having portions broken away;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified form of the device;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to Fig. 1 showing a second modified form of carrying device applied to the containers;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially along a plane indicated by the line 6-6 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the carrying device shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view in end elevation of the carrying device of Fig. 7 as applied to the containers as shown in Fig. 5, with portions of the containers being broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a third modified form of the carrying device;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to Figs. 1 and 5, showing the carrying device illustrated in Fig. 9 attached to the containers;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged view in end elevation of the carrying device of Fig. 9 as applied to the containers as shown in Fig. 10, with portions of the containers being broken away and shown in section; and

Patented Mar. 24, 1959 Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of a handle used in the carrying device illustrated in Fig. 9.

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 flat 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. The end seam or ledge G along its upper inner edges overlaps the top member H 'and extends above the top member in a sharp or abrupt step or shoulder K.

In the justaposed relation of the containers B, two side walls E are directly opposite each 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 vertically disposed or upstanding handle 21 having a pair of spaced gripper elements or members 22 secured to its lower edge. The handle 21 preferably is made of heavy paper or cardboard although other suitable materials may be used, and is produced from a rectangular blank folded back on itself to provide two

contiguous layers

23, 24 having a finger opening 25 for carrying purposes. The fold in the handle preferably is disposed along its top edge. The marginal edge portions of the

layers

23, 24 adjacent the bottom edge of the handle are bent outwardly in opposite directions to produce a pair of laterally extending

flanges

26, 27 which extend the full length of the handle.

The gripper elements 22 preferably are made of sheet metal, such as tin plate, black iron, aluminum, plastic or other suitable material. Each gripper element 22 preferably comprises a pair of U-shaped channel members arranged in juxtaposed relation and having oppositely directed, horizontally disposed upper legs 31 (Fig. 3) and similarly directed and horizontally disposed lower legs 32. The upper and

lower legs

31, 32 are connected by spaced and parallel vertical wall members 33. These two lower leg members of each gripper element 22 are connected together to form a unitary structure by a bottom wall section 34 which extends beneath the lower horizontal legs 32 in vertically spaced relation thereto and connects with the outer edges thereof. The spaced vertical wall sections 33 and the bottom wall section 34 and the adjacent lower legs 32 disposed in spaced relation thereto thus set oif or enclose an inverted T-shaped opening for the reception of the bottom portion of the handle 21 and its two oppositely extending horizontal

lateral flanges

26, 27 as shown in Fig. 3.

When the gripper elements 22 are applied to a pair of juxtaposed containers B as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the lower legs 32 of the oppositely extending U-shaped channel member of the gripper elements are disposed in the transverse necked-in portions F of the containers and engage beneath the adjacent laterally projecting transverse container ledge portions G to support the weight of the containers. The vertical wall sections 33 of the gripper members extend up between the coincident or transverse container ledges G and the upper legs 31 of the members extend laterally over the top of and in engagement with the top faces of such transverse ledge portions. The outer edges of the upper legs 31 preferably are bent or curled under to provide hooks which engage against the inner edges or shoulders K of the transverse portions of the end scams or ledges G. These hooks 35 secure the channel members to the transverse ledge portions of the end seams, while the bottom wall section 34 unites the members and thus holds the two juxtaposed containers B against separation.

The handle 21, with its bottom marginal edge portion and the

adjacent flanges

26, 27 engaged in the inverted T-shaped space between the

wall sections

33, 34 and lower legs 32, extends above the containers as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 where it is readily accessible for carrying the two tied together containers as a unitary package.

In the preferred form of the invention the handle 21 extends for nearly the full length of the transverse portions of the ledges G, and carries at each end one of the gripper elements 22 for engagement over the transverse portions of the ledges G at a point closely adjacent the longitudinally aligned portions of the ledges. When so utilized, the gripper elements 22 preferably are connected together by a bridge member or connecting link 37 to retain them in properly spaced and endwise aligned relation at the bottom edge of the handle. For this purpose the connecting link 37 preferably comprises a lateral extension or continuation of the channel member bottom wall section 34 and the lower legs 32'formed integrally therewith as best shown inFig. -So made the connecting link 37 extends beneath the transverse container ledges G and assists in supporting the containers.

Where a flexible handle is desired for arrangement on top of the juxtaposed containers B of the package to permit stacking of the packages on top of each other, a cord, twine or ribbon handle 41 (Fig. 4) is provided as a modified form of the invention. This modified form of handle 41 is made as a loop which extends above the containers with the ends of the handle imbedded in the connecting link 37. In this form of the invention the lower legs 32 and the bottom wall portion 34 of the channel members of the gripper elements 22 are squeezed together in tight contact and the vertical wall sections 33 thereof are similarly in tight contact, to securely hold the ends of the flexible handle 41 in place on the connecting link 37.

Figures 5, 7 and 8 disclose a second modified form of the invention wherein a single gripper element 22 is utilized to tie the juxtaposed containers B together in a unitary package. This modified gripper element 22 is similar to that shown in the preferred form except that the handle 21 is a narrow double layer band of a width substantially equal to the width of the gripper element and the outer edges of the upper legs 31 of the gripper element channel members are depressed and bent under and back on themselves to produce a thin narrow hem 43 which is engageable against the flat top H of the containers while simultaneously engaging against the inner edge or shoulder K of the transverse container ledges G. These depressed and hemmed edges of the gripper elements 22 provides a broader base for the elements through greater contact with the containers and thereby increase the hold on the containers to better retain them in proper position against separation.

In a further modified form of the invention, as disclosed in Figs. 9, l0, l1 and 12, the structure of the gripper element 22 is modified to firmly fit over a side seam portion (Fig. 11) of the containers B. The body of a container B preferably is made from a single flat blank which is bent into tubular shape to produce the flat sides E of the body; the ends of the blank being overlapped and secured together in one side E of the body to form the side seam 45 which holds the body together. In this side E of the body there are two thicknesses of body material at the side seam and only one thickness on either side of the seam. This double thickness of the seam extends through the necked-in portion F and the ledge G of the body, and terminates at the shoulder K of the end seam.

Where a gripper element 22 engages the ledges G so as to extend partially over the side seam 45, the double thickness of body material in the seam is compensated for by a modified form of channel member in which the horizontal upper and lower legs are spread further apart in one portion than in an immediately adjacent portion'thereof. For this purpose the legs and vertical wall section of each channel member preferably are cut through at right angles to the handle 21 to produce two separate adjacent channel members extending from each side of the handleas shown in Fig. 9.

One of these channel members is formed with the reg ular lower leg '32 (Fig. 9) and a high vertical wall section 47 to accommodate a double thickness ledge portion G at the side seam 45 as shown at the left in Fig. 11. The upper edge of the vertical wall section 47 merges into a horizontal upper leg 48 which extends over the side seam 45 and terminates in the described hook 35 for engagement against the shoulder K of the top layer of the side seam also shown in Fig. 11.

The adjacent channel member is formed to fit the single regular thickness ledge G immediately adjacent the side seam 45. However the regular upper and

lower legs

31, 32 and their connecting vertical wall section 33 are located as shown at the right in Fig. 11, at an elevation between the upper and

lower legs

48, 32 of the adjacent channel member to compensate for the extra thickness of the side seam. Compensating for this thickness is effected by adding an extra thickness to a portion of the handle flange 27 for incorporation under the lower leg 32. For this purposethe flange 27 is provided with a lateral extension 51 which is folded upwardly and in wardly against the top of the flange to provide a double layer portion as shown in Figs. 9, 11 and 12.

Sincethe side seam 45 usually is located in the middle of one side E of the container, the seams in two juxtaposed containers B are preferably disposed directly opposite each other but slightly offset laterally so as to locate the steps in the edges of the lapped seams in longitudinal alignment. To fit this situation the gripper elements 22 as modified are made with the portions of the channel members for the regular single thickness ledges G, extending from opposite sides of the handle 21 but in diagonal relation to each other and similarly, the two special portions for the double thickness side seam sections of the ledges G extend from opposite sides of the handle but in diagonal relation to each other, as best shown in Fig. 9. In a similar manner each of the

flanges

26, 27 of the handle 21 are formed with a double thickness portion 51 as shown in Fig. 12 to properly elevate the regular single thickness channel portions relative to the double thickness portions.

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 scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In combination a pair of independent rectangular containers having at their upper ends laterally project ing peripheral ledges having vertical shoulders thereon, said containers being disposed in juxtaposed relation with portions of said ledges arranged in transverse parallel relation, and gripper means clamped over and connecting adjacently opposed portions of said transverse parallel ledge portions for coupling said containers together as a unitary package, said gripper means having oppositely disposed integral downwardly turned hooks thereon for abutting engagement against said ledge shoulders to maintain the gripper means in position on said containers.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said gripper means comprises a pair of opposed channel members arranged in juxtaposed relation, each channel member having oppositely extending horizontally disposed vertically spaced upper and lower legs connected by a vertical Wall for tightly embracing opposed vertically spaced surfaces of said transverse ledges, and means connecting said channel members to secure said containers in a unitary package.

3. The combination defined in claim 2 wherein the outer ends of the lower channel member legs are connected together by an integral bottom wall section extending in spaced relation beneath said lower legs.

4. A combination of the character defined in claim 2 wherein said gripper element is provided with a flat upstanding handle disposed between said vertical walls of said channel members and extending above said containers for carrying them as a unitary package, said handle having oppositely extending lateral flanges at its lower end confined beneath said lower channel member legs.

5. A combination of the character defined in claim 4 wherein the outer edges of the lower horizontal legs of said channel members are connected together by an integral bottom wall portion extending beneath and joining said lower legs.

6. A combination of the character defined in claim 2 wherein the outer marginal edge portion of said upper horizontal channel legs are depressed and hemmed to extend over a shoulder on the inner edges of said transverse ledges and to lie flat against the tops of said juxtaposed containers to provide a broad contacting base on said gripper element to retain said containers in place against separation.

7. A combination of the character defined in claim 2 where a plurality of said gripper elements are secured together in spaced relation for simultaneous engagement along said transverse ledges of said containers to tie said containers together in a unitary package.

8. A combination of the character defined in claim 7 wherein said gripper elements are tied together by a connecting link comprising integral extensions of the bottom wall section and the lower horizontal legs of said channel members.

9. A combination of the character defined in claim 8 wherein a flexible handle is connected to longitudinally spaced portions of said connecting link for carrying said containers.

10. A combination of the character defined in claim 8 wherein a fiat upstanding handle is provided for carrying said containers and said handle is provided with oppositely and laterally extending coplanar flanges ex tending the full length of and secured within said connecting link.

11. A combination of the character defined in claim 2 wherein a portion of at least one of said channel members has its upper and lower horizontal legs spaced apart for engagement over a maximum layer side seam portion of increased thickness on said transverse ledges and an adjacent channel member portion has its upper and lower horizontal legs spaced apart to a less degree for engagement over a minimum layer portion of said ledges adjacent said side seam portion to compensate for the extra thickness of the side seam portion of a said container.

12. A combination of the character defined in claim 11 wherein a handle having laterally projecting flanges disposed beneath said lower horizontal channel legs is provided for carrying said containers, and wherein a portion of said flange underlying the lower leg of the portion of said channel member adapted to clamp over said reduced layer section of said ledges, is elevated relative to its adjacent portion to compensate for the increased multiple layer thickness of the side seam portions of said transverse container ledge portions.

13. A unitary carrying package comprising a pair of juxtaposed rectangular containers having at their top ends laterally projecting peripheral ledges having vertical shoulders thereon, portions of said ledges being disposed in transverse parallel relation, and a gripper member clamped over adjacent opposed transverse parallel ledge portions of said containers for coupling the containers together in said unitary package, said gripper member including a pair of oppositely disposed integral downwardly turned hooks arranged in horizontally spaced parallel relation for abutting engagement of the free ends of said hooks against said vertical ledge shoulders to hold the gripper member in position on said containers, and a handle secured to said gripper member for carrying said package.

14. A unitary carrying package as defined in claim 13 wherein said gripper member comprises a pair of oppositely facing channel members arranged in juxtaposed relation and each including oppositely extending horizontally disposed vertically spaced upper and lower legs connected by a vertical channel wall portion, Whereby said channel members are tightly engaged with vertically spaced surfaces of said transverse container ledge portions, and an integral horizontal wall portion connected to said channel members and extending therebetween to secure said containers as a unitary package, said handle having oppositely extending lateral flanges at its lower end respectively confined between said lower channel member legs and said connecting horizontal wall portion.

15. A carrying device of the character defined in claim 14 wherein the outer marginal edge portion of said upper horizontal channel member legs are depressed and hemmed to extend over a shoulder on the inner edges of said transverse container ledge portions so as to lie flat against the tops of said containers to provide a broad contacting base on said gripper means to retain said containers against separation.

16. A carrying device as defined in claim 14 wherein at least one of said channel members contains a portion having its upper and lower legs spaced apart for engagement over a multiple layer side seam section of said transverse ledges and further contains an adjacent portion having its upper and lower legs spaced apart for engagement over a reduced layer section of said ledges to compensate for the extra thickness of a side seam section in a container.

17. A unitary carrying package as defined in claim 14 wherein said handle is disposed between said vertical wall portions of said channel members, said handle having oppositely and laterally extending coplanar flanges disposed between said bottom wall portion and said lower horizontal channel member legs for locking said handle in place on said gripper member.

18. A unitary carrying package as defined in claim 14 wherein a plurality of said gripper elements are provided in endwise aligned and spaced relation and are secured together for simultaneous engagement with spaced portions of said transverse container ledges to tie the containers together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,200,849 Katzinger Oct. 10 1916 1,973,568 Keith Sept. 11, 1934 2,117,405 Curtis May 17, 1938 2,646,911 Holmberg July 28, 1953 2,680,040 Gribskov June 1, 1954 2,709,618 Melville May 31, 1955