US3033377A

US3033377A - Hanger bracket for bottle cartons

Info

Publication number: US3033377A
Application number: US751463A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert M Inman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1958-07-28
Filing date: 1958-07-28
Publication date: 1962-05-08
Anticipated expiration: 1979-05-08

Description

May 8, 1962 R. M. INMAN 3,033,377

HANGER BRACKET FOR BOTTLE CARTONS Filed July 28, 1958 L lr A /o INVENTOR.

44 l Hoef/er M. /NMAM WM FIG. 'Z

A from/Ex arent @dirne 3,033,377 Patented kl't/.iay 8, 1962 3,033,377 HANGER BRACKET 'BTTLE CARTONE Robert M. lnman, 3689 lencoe St., Denver 22, Coin. Filed July 28, 1h53, Ser. No. 751,463 1 ICiaim. (Qi. E11-.96)

This invention'relates `to means for 'the practical and convenient support of carton units of extensively-utilized, conventional type and has as an object tovpro-vide a novel and improved bracket organization particularly applicable to such purpose.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved hanger bracket particularly adapted for the practical and convenient support of bottle cartons of conventional type.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved hanger bracket for bottle cartons that is adapted for installation in any feasible location and position of practical use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hanger bracket for bottle cartons that is adjustable between operative and inoperative dispositions of its carton-supporting elements.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved hanger bracket `for bottle cartons that is susceptible of production in any desired range of sizes and capacities.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved hanger bracket for bottle cartons that is characterized by carton-engaging means of unique practical facility and advantage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved hanger bracket for bottle cartons adapted to support detachably-associated cartons with security against tilting or dislocation thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved hanger bracket for bottle cartons that is susceptible of practical development in a diversity of structural particularity.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved construction and operative correlation of elements constituting a hanger bracket for bottle cartons.

`A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved hanger bracket for bottle cartons that is simple and economical of production, convenient of installation in any appropriate position of use, adjustable ybetween operative and inoperative positions, and positive and eiicient in attainment of the ends for which designed.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention ,consists in the construction, arrangement, and operative combination of elements as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claim, and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE l is a front elevation of a typical embodiment of the invention as installed in position of practical use with certain of the associated elements extended to supporting engagement with a conventional carton, 'represented by broken lines, and corresponding `other such elements retracted to inoperative position.

FIGURE 2 is a transverse section taken substantially on the indicated line 2 2 of FIGURE 1 with an associated carton represented by broken lines.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary, detail view, on a relatively enlarged scale, iso-metrically illustrating a relatively pivotable, interlatchable association of elements advantageously employed in the organization according to the preceding view.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary, detail elevation of the lower .end of the pivotable member shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to the upper Vportion of FIGURE 3 illustrating an alternative, relatively pivotable,

interlatchable association of Aelements within the contemplation of the invention.

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 illustrating yet another relatively pivotable, interlatcha-ble association v of elements adaptable vto use `in and with the invention.

FIGURE 7 is a front elevation, partially in section and with portions broken away to better illustrate structural relationships, of the portions of the improvement represented by FIGURES 5 and 6 as alternatively organized within the contemplation of the invention.

In the merchandising of bottled beverages it has become a very general practice to package and distribute the product in unit packs of six bottles conveniently and compactly assembled in a carrier carton provided with an upwardly-projecting vertical web apertured for the accommodation ofthe human hand. Such packs, despite their acceptance and manifest utility, have certain disadvantages to the ultimate user. A particular problem presented by the conventional six-bottle unit pack is that of practical and convenient storage of the unit during anormally-extended period appropriate for consumption of its initial charge. Quite commonly, individual bottles ofthe pack are successively and selectively removed for refrigeration or for use, and the empty bottles are ultimately returned to the unit package for exchange at some convenient future time. There is hence occasion to store the carbons in position of convenient access for the removal and replacement of the individual bottles, during which storage period the carton may be variously supplied lwith bott-les, either empty or charged, in -a number less than its full capacity and in an yarrangement which will be variable, unbalanced, and non-uniform. Appropriate and convenient storage of the unit package represented lby the six-bottle carton ordinarily requires that the package rest at its base on a shelf or other horizontal surface where the package frequently occupies space desired for other purposes. A conventional unit package is not well adapted to be Suspended from ordinary hooks or to stack with conservation of space, since the unbalanced condition of the cartons resulting from removal of individual bottles precludes a secure disposition and permanent attitude of the package in association with hooks of usual .type or in every possible stacked relation thereof. Designed to meet and to resolve the problem of conventional bottle carton storage above discussed, the instant invention is directed to the provision of a bracket hanger particularly adapted to securely position and Support such cartons for convenient access in any appropriate location, all with facility of carton removal and replacement and with advantageous conservation of space.

In the typical, simple embodiment of the invention represented by FIGURES l and 2, the numeral lil represents a straight, substantially rigid, elongated member of appropriate material and structural particularity adapted to engage with its length horizontal against and to be secured, as by means of vfasteners -11 engaged through upper end corners of the member, to any vertically-disposed at surface, such as the face of a wall 12. As illustrated, the member 10 is preferably and expediently of channel form in transverse section and is formed 1with outwardly-directed, surrounding flange -portions 13 fdelining a common plane adapted to bear against the face of the supporting wall 12, from which the channel portion of the member is laterally offset to project from the associated Wall wherewith the anges 13 engage. Manifestly, the member lllmay be a solid strip, or `of other structural particularity, the essential characteristics of the member being those essential to provide a rigid stripy member adapted to lie against and be secured in horizontal disposition on a vertical supporting 4surface with the body yport-ion Vof themember projecting laterally from such surface between spacedly-parallel upper :and

lower edge margins

14 and 15 adapted to lie in horizontal planes when the member is mounted in its intended position of use. In the practical embodiment according to FIGURE 1, opposite ends of the channel portion of the member are formed to merge convergently into the flange portions 13 at the end of the unit, thus completing a sightly organization of the member adapted for expedient and economical production from metal, molded synthetic resins, and the like. In a length adapted to support two carton unit packages in accordance with the principles of the invention as will hereinafter appear, the member 10 conveniently spans the sixteen inch standard spacing between the studding elements of conventional frame construction, whereby to locate the fasteners 11 intersecting upper corners of the member for secure attachment to such studding elements.

As represented by the broken line showing of FIGURES l and 2, the carton primary to the six-bottle unit package adapted to be supported by the improvement of the instant invention is conventionally characterized by a compartmented, rectangular base portion 16 adapted to contain two parallel rows of three bottles 17, and by a longitudinally-bisecting panel 18 upstanding vertically between the two rows of bottles which is formed with an elongated opening 19 parallel to and inwardly adjacent its upper margin for the accommodation of a human hand whereby the package may be carried and manipulated. Conditioning the member 10 to function as a bracket for the support of conventional bottle cartons of the general type illustrated and described, said member is provided with a plurality of identical hook elements 2Q adapted to outstand in operative relation perpendicularly from the plane of the anges 13 engaging the face of the wall 12 in a paired and parallel relationship appropriate for coaction with and adjacent theV ends of the opening 19 of the carton construction in a manner to securely support the unit package. The hook elements 20 are desirably formed from cylindrical rod material to present at one end a straight portion 21 of a length exceeding the transverse dimension of the member 10 between its

parallel edges

14 and 15, and an angularlyrelated arm 22 extending from one end of and in approximately perpendicular relation with the portion 21 which merges at its other end with a hook 23, hereinafter more particularly described. Each hook element 20 is operatively associated with the member 10 through engagement of its straight terminal portion 21 in and through registered holes formed for its reception transversely of the body portion of said member, which holes, in the illustrated embodiment, intersect the parallel edges 14 f and of the channel portion of the member perpendicular to the length of the latter so as to pivotably engage each hook element portion 21 transversely of and through the member in a vertical disposition when the member is mounted with its length horizontal. Pivotably engaged with the member 10 as described, each hook element is disposed with its arm 22 at the upper side of the member 10 where, by virtue of its angular relation with its portion 21, it acts to limit displacement of the hook element relative to the said member in a downward direction and is mounted to swing in a horizontal arc between parallel relation with the adjacent member flange 13, as at the right in FIGURE 1, and extension outwardly and perpendicularly from the plane of said flanges, as shown at the left of FIGURE 1. As above noted, the hook elements 20 are engaged with the member 10 in a paired relationship such as to space the hook elements of each pair apart longitudinally of the member 10 a distance corresponding approximately with the length of the straight side margins of the opening 19 characteristic of the bottle carton to be mounted thereon.

The hook 23 constituted from and terminating the free end of each element 20 is uniquely formed for secure support of a carton engaged therewith by means of the hand-accommodating aperture 19 in the relationship represented by FIGURES 1 and 2. To realize the purposes of the invention, the arm 22 of each element 2t) extends from its junction with the associated portion 21 a distance somewhat exceeding the half dimension of the carton base portion 16 perpendicular to the panel 18 and is then bent upwardly at a slight outward inclination as a straight length 24 coplanar with the portion 21 and arm 22. The upper limit of the length 24 is established, in a spacing from the arm 22 slightly exceeding the transverse width of the aperture 19, as an arcuate inwardly-directed bend 25 which inclines toward and in overhanging relation with the associated arm 22 and merges into a reverse curve 26 below the crown of the bend 25 and inwardly of the arm 22 from its junction with the length 24, whence the material of the element 20 is directed upwardly and slightly outwardly as a nger 27 terminating above and inwardly from the crown of the bend 25. Formed and proportioned as illustrated and described, the hook 23 is available, when the associated element 20 is extended perpendicular to the member 10 or the surface supporting said member, for engagement through and coaction with the carton aperture 19 to securely support said carton on a pair of the so-equipped elements 20 in the association clearly shown by FIGURE 2. A pair of the elements 20 being swung to project in parallel relation outwardly from the member 1t), the carton to be supported thereon is presented with its panel 1S parallel to the member 10 in a manner to enter said elements 20 through the spaces between the bottles of the carton and to permit the crown of the bend 2S of both hooks 23 to engage under the upper margin of the panel aperture 19, whereby, through a slight and very natural tilting of the carton, the panel 18 is induced to slip inwardly and downwardly over the bend 25 and inwardly past the junction of the arm 22 and length 24 to engagrnent of its upper portion against the fingers 27 as a stop, in which tinal disposition the closed loop portion of each hook 23 projects through and adjacent each end of the aperture 19, the upper margin of said aperture is seated in or near the low point of the upwardly-opening curve 26, and the lower margin of said aperture is engaged under a portion of the arm 22 adjacent the arm junction with the length 24, in which mounted disposition the carton base portion 16 engages at one long side with the face of the member 10 and the carton, together with its charge, is supported and securely held in a position of convenient access from which there is no tendency to tilt or deviate as the number and disposition of the bottles associated with the carton are varied. As is fully apparent, removal and replacement of the carton relative to the hooks 23 of each pair of elements 20 is a simple and convenient operation requiring no manipulation of elements other than adjustment of the elements 21B to parallel relation perpendicularly of the member 10, and it is further obvious that the elements 20 not in use to support an associated carton may be folded to lie out of the way parallel to the supporting wall 12, and that the organization may be extended through increase in the length of the member 10 and addition of paired elements 20 to accommodate as many separate carton units as may be desired.

As represented by FIGURES l and 2 and hereinabove described, the portions 21 of the elements 20 are pivotably and separably associated with the member 10 to accommodate full and unrestricted swing of each element through a semi-circular arc. While the simple construction of the first embodiment is entirely practical, it may be desirable to secure the portions 21 against separation from their pivotable association with the member 10 and to provide means for yieldably latching each arm 22 in a disposition perpendicular to said member, all of which is feasible of attainment through one or another of the constructions represented by FiGURES 3-7, inclusive. As shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, the portion 21 of each element 20 may be of a length to project below the lower margin of the member 10 a distance suicient to disposed an integral ear or lug 28 projecting radially rfrom and adjacent the free end of the portion 21 in clearing relation below the member margin 15 when the element is operatively associated with the member 10, and to provide slot elongations 29 radially of each of the holes adapted to pivotably seat a portion 21 in the

side margins

14 and 15, which elongations 29` accommodate insertion of the portion 21 with its lug or ear 28 through the member edges 14 and 1'5 in an obvious manner. The ear or lug 28 may be angularly related with the direction of the associated arm 22 for rotation-limiting engagement of the ear or lug 28 against the adjacent member ange 13 when said arm 22 is perpendicular to the plane of the flanges 13, whereby to assist in adjustment of the elements 20` into operative relation with their supporting member.

In FIGURE 5, the arrangement according to FIGURES 1 and 2 is moderately modied through the provision of a semi-circular trough or channel 30 leading perpendicular to the adjacent flange 13 from each of the holes for accommodating of the element portion 21 intersecting the member edge 14 to open through the outer margin of and upwardly from said edge in a size and disposition to seat the inner end of each arm 22 when the latter is extended to operative position; it being fully apparent that each hook element 20 will drop slightly to latching engagement with the associated trough or channel 30, and that shift of the element 20 to inoperative position entails a slight lifting of the element in its mounting on the member 10.

In FIGURE 6, an alternative arrangement for yieldable latching of each element 20 in operative position is represented as an abrupt, downward bend or kink 31 formed in the arm 22 at a spacing from the associated portion 21 such as to engage the olfset thereby provided over the free margin of the member edge 14 when the associated arm is perpendicular to the plane of the flange 13. The arrangement according to FIGURE 6 is operatively very similar to that described in connection with FIGURE 5, and requires for shift of the arm to inoperative position a slight lifting of the arm assembly in its pivotable mounting.

Functionally analogous to the arrangements according to FIGURES 5 and 6, FIGURE 7 typiies the provision of rounded bosses 32 upstanding from the member edge 14 to dene therebetween a recess wherein the arm 22 may rest when in perpendicular extension from the plane of the anges 13; it being obvious that the so-disposed arm may ride upwardly on and over either of the bosses 32 when pressure is applied to swing the arm in its mounting away from its operative position.

Since changes, variations, and modifications in the form, construction and arrangement of the elements shown and described may be had without departing from the spirit of my invention, l wish to be understood as being limited solely by the scope of the appended claim, rather than by any details of the illustrative showing and foregoing description.

I claim as my invention:

In a hanger bracket of the character described having a straight, rigid, elongated member of substantial thickness furnished with coplanar, laterallyand oppositelydirected flanges whereby it is adapted to be secured to a vertical surface with its length horizontal to dispose spacedly-parallel, long edge margins thereof in perpendicular projection from a surface, said member being formed with a series of like, spacedly-parallel holes opening transversely thereof through said long edge margins, and an L-shaped hook unit of rod material having a shorter leg exceeding in length the width of said member and a longer leg terminating in an integral hoo-k element svvivelled by means of its shorter leg in each of said holes to swing relative to said member about a vertical axis for adjustment of its longer leg through a horizontal arc superjacent the member between perpendicularly-projecting and parallel-overlying relation therewith, means for detachably and interchangeably coupling each said hook unit to said member and for simultaneously limiting hook unit swing in one direction to perpendicular disposition of the hook unit longer leg relative to the member, said means comprising a radial slot extension of each of said series of holes opening transversely of the member, each said slot extension traversing the full length to the hole from which it radiates, and an integral ear reciprocable through said slot extension formed on and projecting radially from the free end of the hook unit shorter leg for exposure beneath the member operatively mounting the unit in an angular relation with the unit longer leg such as to engage adjacent flange areas of the member as a stop when said longer leg is perpendicular to said member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 190,497 Kelly May 8, 1877 568,905 Holmes Oct. 6, 1896 716,214 Gagnon Dec. 16, 1902 725,678 Cullum Apr. 21, =3 1,097,755 Goldsmith May 26, 1914 1,179,286 Crimmel Apr. 11, 1916 1,518,824 Smith Dec. 9, 1924 1,682,855 Rose Sept. 4, 1928 2,059,445 Eastman Nov. 3, 1936 2,085,969 Gedeonoff July 6, 1937 2,259,663 Rosenthal Oct. 21, 1941 2,369,978 Papalexis Feb. 20, 1945 2,409,152 Rundell Oct. 8, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 14,866 Switzerland Nov. 10, 1897