US3111241A

US3111241A - Cartons

Info

Publication number: US3111241A
Application number: US158415A
Authority: US
Inventors: Engel Karl
Original assignee: Unipak Overseas Ltd
Current assignee: Unipak Overseas Ltd
Priority date: 1961-05-10
Filing date: 1961-12-11
Publication date: 1963-11-19
Anticipated expiration: 1980-11-19

Description

K. ENGEL Nov. 19, 1963 CARTONS ll Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 11, 1961 KN mm mm kukm illilll K. ENGEL Nov. 19, 1963 CARTONS ll Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 11, 1961 7 Nov. 19, 1963 K. ENGEL 3,111,241

CARTONS Filed Dec. 11, 1961 Y 11 Sheets-Sheet a K. ENGEL Nov. 19, 1963 CARTONS l1 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 11, 1961 mN E K. ENGEL Nov. 19, 1963 CARTONS ll Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 11, 1961 W 6 wpmgn wm K. ENGEL Nov. 19, 1963 CARTONS ll Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Dec. 11, 1961 K. ENGEL Nov. 19, 1963 CARTONS 11 SheetsSheet 8 Filed Dec. 11, 1961 K. ENGEL Nov. 19, 1963 CARTONS ll Sheets-Sheei 9 Filed Dec. 11, 1961 K. ENGEL Nov. 19, 1963 CARTONS l1 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Dec. 11, 1961 K. ENGEL Nov. 19, 1963 CARTONS ll Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Dec. 11, 1961 This invention relates to cartons and more particularly to an improved carton carrying handle whereby the carton and its contents can be carried.

There are several known types of handles for cartons having an interior assembly which divides the interior of the carton into at least a pair of adjacent compartments, and which acts as a load-bearing member. For such cartons, a favoured type of handle is one which is movable between a first retracted position in which the handle is located within the wall structure of the carton and a second operative position in which at least a portion of the handle projects beyond the wall structure to a position where it can be grasped for carrying purposes.

With some hitherto known types of carton, the wall structure has been formed from a first blank, the interior assembly from another blank, and the handle member from a third blank. The cost of providing three different dies and the labour involved during the assembly of such cartons has not been too advantageous. Moreover, with some known cartons, due to the choice of the design, it has been impossible to provide a top closure integral with the wall structure, which is essential for the transportation of fragile articles such, for example, as glass bottles, within the carton.

Accordingly, it is the object of this invention to overcome the above disadvantages by providing a carton constructed from a one-piece blank capable of forming the wall structure, the handle and the interior assembly, and the top closure.

Accordingly, in one of its aspects, this invention relates to a carton of the type formed from a unitary member and having an integral wall structure comprising a pair of mutually opposed side walls, a pair of mutually opposed end walls and a bottom; said carton including a top closure integral with said wall structure, and an interior assembly; said interior assembly including a load bearing member and a handle member and a pair of partition end flaps; said interior assembly being integrally secured to said wall structure by means of said pair of partition end flaps and extending between a selected pair of said mutually opposed walls so as to divide the interior of the carton into a pair of adjacent compartments and having a main panel and a pair of auxiliary panels each integrally connected thereto along a common upper edge and co-operating therewith to form a pair of aligned slideways; said handle member being integrally and co-operatively connected to said main panel and having a pair of portions each slidably disposed within an associated said slideway and being movable between a first retracted position in which, when said top closure is in its closed operative position, said handle member lies beneath said top closure and a second operative position in which a portion thereof projects above said top closure for carrying purposes; said co-operation between said handle member and said main panel limiting the extent of movement of said handle member; said main and auxiliary panels and said handle member extending at right angles to said partition end flaps.

In another of its aspects, this invention relates to a onepiece blank adapted to form a multi-cell carton having an interior assembly defining partitions within said carton and an extensible handle member integral with said assembly, said blank including a plurality of panels disposed dllldl Patented Nov. 19, 1963 2 in seriatim side-by-side relation and integrally and hingedly connected together; certain of said panels being adapted, on folding of the blank, to form a pair of mutually opposed end walls and a pair of mutually opposed side walls; each of said certain panels being provided with a pair of spaced flaps integrally and hingedly connected thereto, each of said pairs of flaps, on folding of the blank, being adapted to form carton top and bottom closure flaps; an outer one of the remainder of said panels being scored and incised to form, on folding of the blank, a longitudinal partition within the carton extending along the central longitudinal axis of said carton; one end of said outer panel member being integrally and hingedly connected to a partition flap and, at its other end, being integrally connected to a selected one of said wall panels by means of an intermediate partition flap; said flaps, on folding of the blank, each being secured to an adjacent wall panel and being adapted, on erection of the carton, to form a pair of partitions transverse to said longitudinal partition; said outer one panel also being integrally and hinged ly connected to a pair of spaced auxiliary panels, said latter hingeable connection, on folding of the blank forming a common upper edge; said pair of auxiliary panels being adapted, on folding of the blank, to cooperate with said outer one panel to form a pair of aligned slideways and to constitute a load bearing member; said outer one panel having a first handle panel integrally and cooperatively connected thereto which is integrally and hingedly connected to a second handle panel having a pair of portions; each of said portions being adapted, on folding of the blank, to be slidably disposed within an associated one of said slideways, said handle panels thereby forming an extensible handle member movable between a first retracted position in which, when said blank is folded and the carton erected, said handle member lies beneath said top closure flaps, and a second operative position in which a portion thereof projects above said top closure flaps for carrying purposes, said integral co-operation between said handle member and said outer one main panel limiting the extent of movement of said handle member.

This invention is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of one form of one-piece blank adapted to form the wall structure, interior assembly, and handle member of a first type of carton;

FIGURES 2-6 show various stages of assembly of a knock-down carton formed from the blank of FIG. 1;

FIGURE 7 is a detailed end view of an erected carton formed from the blank shown in FIGURE 1, with the end panel removed to show the handle member in retracted position.

FIGURE 8 is a View similar to FIGURE 7 with the handle member partially elevated;

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 with the handle member fully elevated;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the canton shown in FIGS. 7-9 with part of the wall structure broken away to show the handle completely within the wall structure.

FIGURE 11 is a plan view of a second storm of onepiece blank adapted to lform the wall structure, interior assembly and carrying handle of a second type of carton;

FIGURES 12 and 13 show two stages in the assembly of the second form of carton formed from the blank of FIG. 11;

FIGURE 14 is a perspective view of the second type of carton with part of the wall structure broken away to show the upper and lower interior assemblies and handle member.

FIGURE 15 is a plan view of a third form of a onepiece blank adapted to form the wall structure, interior assembly and carrying handle of a third type of carton;

FIGURE 16 is a perspective view of the third type of 3 carton with part of the wall structure broken away to show the interior assembly and handle member;

FIGURE 17 is a plan view of a fourth type of onepiece blank adapted to form a fourth type of carton;

FIGURES 18 and 19 show two stages in the assembly of the fourth type of carton formed from the blank of FIGURE 17; and

FIGURE 20 is a perspective view of the fourth type of carton with part of the wall structure broken away to show the interior assembly and handle member. Referring to the drawings, and in particular to FIG- URE 1, the one-piece blank shown therein is scored and incised to provide a pair of

side wall panels

1, 2, a pair of

end wall panels

3, 4, a pair of top end closure flaps 5 each having a slot 6 therein, a pair of top side closure flaps 7 each having a recessed portion 8, a pair of bottom end closures 9, and a pair of bottom side closures 10. End wall panel 3 is provided, on one face thereof, with a strip 11 of any suitable pressure sensitive adhesive extending, in depth, from its associated top end closure flap 5 to its associated bottom end closure 9. Moreover, one face of end wall panel 4 is also provided with a shorter strip 12 of pressure sensitive adhesive.

Side wall panel 2 is integrally connected, by means of a common score line 13, to a partition end flap 14 corresponding in area to the area of adhesive strip 11 on end wall panel 3, End flap 14 is integrally connected by a common score line 15 to a subsidiary partition end flap 16 one face of which is coated with pressure sensitive adhesive as is a corresponding area 17 of one face of said end flap 14. As will be seen more clearly from FIG- URE 5, the entire obverse face of the end flap 14 is similarly coated.

The end flap 14 is integrally connected, by means of a common score line 18, to a main panel 19 the other end of which is connected to a partition end flap 20 by means of a common score line 21. The main panel 19 is integrally connected, by means of spaced extensions of score line 15, to a pair of auxiliary panels 22.

A pair of complementary handle panels indicated generally at 23, 24, each provided with a hinged portion adapted to form a hand hole, are integrally connected together along a common score line 26, said handle panel 24 having a pair of spaced intermediate panels 27 each integrally connected thereto by means of a first common score line 28 and each being integrally connected to the main panel 19 by means of a second common score line 29.

Handle panel 23 is provided with a main body portion having a pair of projecting shoulders 31.

As will be seen from FIGURE 1, the right hand auxiliary panel 22 is provided with a partition end flap 32 integrally connected thereto along score line 21, one face of said end flap being coated with pressure sensitive adhesive. Moreover, one face of each of the

handle panels

23, 24 and their hand hole portions 25, is similarly coated.

The upper face, as viewed in FIGURE 1, of the end 'fiap 29 is coated with pressure sensitive adhesive, as is the obverse face, see FIGURE 5.

In assembling the one-piece blank shown in FIGURE 1 to provide a knock-down carton, the intermediate panels 27 are folded along the score lines 28', 29 whereby they are each located between the main panel 19 and the handle panel 24 as is shown in FIGURE 2. The handle panel 23 is then folded along score line 26 so that its coated area will be 'brought into registry with the coated area of handle panel 24 as is shown in FIGURE 3.

Thereafter, the pair of auxiliary panels 22 and their

end flaps

16 and 32 are folded down along the score line 15 so that the coated areas shown in FIGURE 1 of said flaps are brought into registry with the corresponding areas on

end flaps

14 and 20 as is shown in FIGURE 4. Thus the auxiliary panels 22 and the main panel '19 to which they are integrally connected along a common upper edge, cooperate to form a pair of aligned slideways with the shoulder portions 31 of the body 30 of the handle panel 23 located therein.

The assembly thus far formed is then folded along the score line 18 so that it partially overlies end panel 14 and the side wall panel 2 as is shown in FIGURE 5. Thereafter, side wall panel 2 is folded along the common score line 33 integrally connecting it to the adjacent end wall panel 4 so as to bring the remaining coated face of partition end flap 2! into registry with the coated strip 12 on end wall panel 4 and so as to ensure that the remaining coated face of partition end flap 14 faces upwardly. This position is shown in FIGURE 6.

Finally, end wall panel 3 is folded over along the common score line 34 integrally connecting it to the adjacent side wall panel 1 so that the coated strip 11 on said end wall panel 3 will be brought into registry with the remaining coated face of partition end flap 14. Pressure is then brought to bear on the assembly to bring about the necessary adhesion between the components.

When it is desired to fill such a carton, it is duly erected and, in so doing, the combined

partition end flaps

20 and 39 will, due to their adhesion with the end wall panel 4, bend along score line 21 so as to extend at right angles to the main panel 19, auxiliary panels 22, and handle member. Concurrently, due to the adhesion between end wail panel 3 and the combined

partition end flaps

14 and 16, the latter will bend along score line 13 and at right angles to the main panel 19, auxiliary panels '22, and the handle member. Thus, the main panel 19 will extend at right angles along the centre longitudinal axis of the carton between the two mutually opposed

end walls

3 and 4. The bottom closure flaps are sealed in any convenient manner, such as e.g. by pressure sensitive adhesive, staples, or masking tape.

When the carton has been filled with the desired contents, the top closure flaps are folded over and sealed in any convenient manner such as just described.

When it is desired to carry the carton, the user inserts his fingers within the recessed portions 8 of the top side flaps 7, grasps the upper edge of the handle member form d by the two

panels

23 and 24 and pulls upwardly.

The lowermost position of the handle member is shown in FIGURE 7, the mid-position in FIGURE 8, and its fully extended position FIGURE 9. As will be seen from reference to FlGURE 8, when the handle member is pulled upwardly, the pair of spaced intermediate panels 27 will hinge about

score lines

28, 29, slightly bowing the main panel 19 and the pair :of auxiliary panels 22 in so doing. Once the intermediate panels 27 ride over dead centre, the main panel 19 ad the auxiliary panels 22 will regain their original position.

Upward movement of the handle member will continue within the pair of aligned slideways until the shoulders 3-1 of the body 3% of the handle panel 23 abuts the underside of the common upper edge of the load bearing memh r and the intermediate panels 27 are in vertical alignment with their associated main panel 19 and handle panel 24.

As will be seen from reference to FIGURE 10 the handle member has a first retracted position in which, when the top closure is in its closed operative position, the handle member lies beneath said top closure. On the other hand, the handle member is movable between its first retracted position to a second operative position, as shown in FIGURE 9, in which a carrying portion projects above the top closure.

From reference to FIGURE 1 0, it will be appreciated that the interior assembly of the carton, which is secured thereto, extends between the pair of mutually

opposed end walls

3, 4 so as to divide the interior of the carton into a pair of adjacent communicating article receiving compartments. Besides the handle member, the interior assembly also includes a load bearing member which is constituted by the main panel 19, the pair of auxiliary panels 22, and the

partition end flaps

14, 16, 2t) and 32,

said load bearing member extending substantially along the longitudinal centre line of the carton so as to form a longitudinal partition. It will be noted too, from FIG- URE 10, that the partition end flap 14 is integrally connected to the side wall and overlaps and is secured, in face-to-face contact, to a portion of end wall 3, whereas partition end flap is secured by adhesive to end wall 4. Accordingly, the partition end flaps form partitions, transverse to the longitudinal partition, which serve to prevent contact between predetermined portions of opposite end articles, in a selected compartment, and the adjacent end wall.

The invention is also applicable to a carton having an additional plurality of mutually transverse partitions therein and reference should now be made to FIGURE 11.

Like parts, insofar as is possible, have been given the same reference numerals; moreover, as will be seen, the one-piece blank shown in FIGURE 11 is almost identical to that shown in FIGURE 1, the actual difference residing in the bottom closure flaps as will now be described.

As will be seen from FIGURE 11, each bottom end closure flap 9, which is integrally connected to the end wall panel by means of a common score line 35, is provided with an extension 40 integrally joined thereto along a common score line 41, a portion 42 of the obverse face (see FIGURE 12) of each of said extensions being coated with pressure sensitive adhesive, as is a portion 39 of the obverse face of each bottom end flap 9. It will be noted that each of the extensions 49 is provided with a bulbous portion 43, the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter.

Each of the bottom side closure flaps 19, which is integrally connected to the side wall panel :along a common score line 36, is provided with a substantially triangular car 44 integrally connected thereto along a common score line 45, both faces of each of said ears being coated with pressure sensitive adhesive. Moreover, each bottom side closure flap 10 is provided with a substantially T-shaped extension indicated generally at 46 and integral- 1y cofiiiected thereto along a common score line 47. Each exte n 46 is provided with a first wing 48, integrally connected thereto along a common score line 49 arranged at right angles to the score line 47, the obverse face (see FIGURE 12) of each of said first wings 48 being coated with pressure sensitive adhesive.

Each extension 46 is also pnovided with a second wing 50 integrally connected thereto along a common score line 51 and provided with a hingeable tip 52 integrally connected thereto along a common score line 53.

As will be seen from FIGURE 11, the line of incision between each first wing 48 and the adjacent limb 5'4 of extension 46 is parallel with the free marginal edge of the latter so as ultimately to form a straight edge 55. On the other hand, the line of incision between each second wing 50 and the adjacent limbr55 of extension 46 is of serpentine form so as ultimately to form a curved edge 57 provided with a notch 58.

In forming the one-piece blank shown in FIGURE 11 into a knock-down carton, the handle member and load bearing member are folded in exactly the same manner as that described above and shown in connection with FIGURES 2-4. Thereafter, the combined handle member and load bearing member is folded along score line 18 so that they partially overlie side panel 2 as is shown in FIGURE 12. Concurrently, the bottom end closure flaps 9 are each folded along score line 35 so that they overlie their associated

end wall panels

3, 4, and the bottom side closure flaps 10 are each folded along score lines 36 so that they overlie their associated

side wall panels

1, 2. At the same time, and as will be noted from FIGURE 12, each car 44 is folded back along its score line 44 so that its coated face is uppermost.

Thereafter, side wall panel 2 is folded over along score line 33 which brings about registry between, (a) the coated face of partition end flap 24) and the strip 12 of adhesive on end wall panel 4, (b) the coated face of the first wing 48, associated with side Wall panel 2, and the coated portion 42 of extension 40 associated with end wall panel 4, and (c) the coated face of the ear 44, associated with side wall panel 4, and the coated portion 39 of bottom end closure flap 9 of end wall panel 4. This position is shown in FIGURE 13.

Finally, end wall panel 3 is folded over along score line 34- which brings about registry between (a) the adhesively coated strip 11 on said end panel 3 and the coated face of partition end flap 14, (b) the coated portion 42 of the extension 49, associated with said end panel 3, and the coated face of the first wing 48 associated with side wall panel 4, and (c) the coated portion 39 of the bottom end flap 9, associated with said end wall panel 3, and the coated face of the ear 44 associated with the side wall panel 4. Pressure is then brought to bear on the assembly to bring about adhesion between the various coated components and to form a knock-down carton.

When it is desired to erect a knock-down carton for filling purposes, pressure is brought to bear on diagonally opposite corners of the knock-down carton whereby, the bottom closure flaps 9, 10 will be caused to take up their operative position to form the bottom wall of the carton.

Due to the adhesion existing between each extension 40 and its associated first wing 48, said extensions will, during erection of the carton, cause the said first wings 48 to fold about their score lines 49 and to extend at right angles between their associated extension 46 and the adjacent side wall. Concurrently, the straight edge of each T-shaped extension 46 will slide along the upper edge of the associated extension 44 until it reaches the commencement of the upper edge of the bulbous portion 43 of said extension so that it is at right angles thereto.

Similarly, during erection of the carton, the bulbous nose 43 of each extension 40 engages a face of an adjacent second wing 50 and will bend it about its score line 51 so that it extends at right angles between its associated extension 46 and the adjacent side wall panel. During such movement of each second wing 50, the tip 52 thereof contacts the adjacent side wall panel and bends about its score line 53 so as further to guide said second wing into its operative position.

The serpentine incision 57 of each second wing 50 'will 'be engaged by the upper edge of each bulbous portion 43 of each extension 40 until the notch 58 engages a notch 59 formed at the junction of the upper edge of the bulbous portion 43 and the upper edge 60 of the remainder of each of said extensions 40.

The erected carton formed from the one-piece blank shown in FIGURE 11 is clearly shown in FIGURE 14 wherein it will be seen that the handle member and load bearing member forms an upper interior assembly, said load bearing member servings as a longitudinal partition, dividing the upper part of said carton into a pair of communicating compartments and the extensions on each of the bottom closure flaps form a lower interior assembly of mutually transverse partitions dividing the lower part of the carton into a plurality of cells inasmuch as the adhesion existing between the components of the lower interior assembly give, what is known in the art :as, an automatic set-up bottom. Morever, as will also be seen from FIGURE 14, the combined end flaps 14, 16 and 20, 32 form additional partitions, each transverse to the longitudinal partition, which serve to prevent contact between predetermined areas of opposite end articles, in a selection compartment, and the adjacent end Wall.

Turning now to the form of one-piece blmk shown in FIGURE 15, it will be seen that it is quite similar to the form of blank shown in FIGURE 1 with the exception that partition end flap 14 has a width substantially equal to half the width of end wall panel 3, and the main panel 19 has a height substantially equal to the height of an erected carton as also has the partition end flap 20. It

will also be noted from FIGURE 15, that the

coated areas

11, 12 respectively on

end wall panels

3, 4 extend from the top end closure flaps to the bottom end closure flaps. In all other respects, the one-piece blank of FIGURE 15 is identical with the blank shown in FIGURE 1, and the folding of said first mentioned blank so as to form a knock-down carton is also the same.

An erected carton formed by the one-piece blank of FIGURE 15 is shown in FIGURE 16 from which it will be noted that the main panel 19 is secured to the wall structure of the carton and extends between the pair of mutually

oppoxd end walls

3, 4 so as to serve as a longitudinal partition and divide the interior of the carton into a pair of adjacent non-communicating article receiving compartments when the top flaps are in closed operative position. The operation and function of the handle member is exactly the same as that described above in connection with the first two embodiments of the invention.

FIGURE 17 shows another form of one-piece blank which is basically similar to the form of blank shown in FIGURE 15. However, as will be seen from FIGURE 16, the main panel 19 of the interior assembly is scored and incised so as to provide an upper series of

secondary panels

60, 61. Secondary panel 60 is integrally connected to the main panel 19 by means of a common score line 62 and a secondary panel 61 is integrally connected to main panel 19 by means of a common score line 63.

The main panel 19 is also scored and incised to provide a lower series of

secondary panels

64, 65 respectively connected thereto along

common score lines

66, 67. It will be noted that the score lines 62 and 66 are spaced apart and are in alignment with one another, as are the score lines 63, 67.

Moreover, it will be noted that score line 63 also forms the integral connection between the main panel 19 and an end tab 68 associated with secondary panel 62, and score line 67 forms the integral connection between said main panel 19 and an end tab 69 associated with secondary panel 64.

The score line 21 connecting end tab 20 to the main panel 19 also serves integrally to connect an end tab 70 to the secondary panel 61 as well as an end tab 71 to the secondary panel 65.

The obverse face, as viewed in FIGURE 17, of each of the end tabs 63 and 70 is coated with pressure sensitive adhesive as are corresponding areas 72 on side wall panel 1. As also viewed in FIGURE 17, the upper face of each

end tab

69, 71 is also coated with pressure sensitive adhesive as are corresponding areas 73 on side wall panel 2.

In forming the one piece blank shown in FIGURE 17 into a knock-down carton, the handle member and load bearing member are folded in exactly the same manner as that described above and shown in connection with FIGURES 2-4. Thereafter, as will be seen from FIG- URE 18, the combined handle member and load bearing member is folded along score line 18 so that they partially overlie side panel 2 and so that the coated face of each

end tab

69, 71 of the lower series of

secondary panels

65, 66 is in registry with the coated areas '73 of said side wall panel 2.

Thereafter, side wall panel 2 is folded along score line 33 which brings about registry between (a) the coated face of partition end flap 20 and the strip of adhesive 12 on end wall panel 4 and (b) the coated face of each end tab 68, 70 of the upper series of

secondary panels

60, 61 with the coated areas 72 on side wall panel 1, such position being shown in FIGURE 19.

Finally, end wall panel 3 is folded along score line 34 which brings about registry between the coated strip 11 thereon and the coated face of partition end flap 14. Pressure is then brought to bear on the carton to bring about adhesion between the various components.

An erected carton formed by the blank of FIGURE 17 is shown in FIGURE 20 where, as will be seen, the upper series of

secondary panels

60, 61 project at right angles from the main panel 19 between the latter and side wall 1, and the lower series of

secondary panels

69, 71 project at right angles from the main panel 19 betweenthe latter and the adjacent side Wall 2, said secondary panels serving as a plurality of transverse partitions whilst the main panel 19 also serves as a longitudinal partition. Thus, this carton is provided with a plurality of article receiving compartments and has an integral and extensible carrying handle.

It will be appreciated that, in all cases, the width of each of the partition end flaps 20, 32 can be equal to half of the width of an end wall, as can the width of the partition end flaps 14, 16 throughout their length. Moreover, if desired, the

flaps

20, 32 may extend in a direction opposite to that shown in FIGURES 10, 14, 16 and 20.

I claim:

1. A carton of the type formed from a unitary member and having an integral wall structure comprising a pair of mutually opposed side walls, a pair of mutually opposed end walls and a bottom; said carton including a top closure integral with said wall structure, and an interior assembly; said interior assembly including a load bearing member and a handle member and a pair of partition end flaps; said interior assembly being integrally secured to said wall structure by means of said pair of partition end flaps and extending between a selected pair of said mutually opposed walls so as to divide the interior of the carton into a pair of adjacent compartments and having a main panel and a pair of auxiliary panels integrally connected to opposite ends of said main panel along a common upper edge and co-operating therewith to form a pair of aligned slideways; said handle member being integrally and co-operatively connected, at all times, to an upper edge of said main panel intermediate said ends of said main panel and below said common upper edge and having a pair of portions each slidablydisposed within an associated said slideway and being movable between a first retracted position in which, when said top closure is in its closed operative position, said handle member lies beneath said top closure and a second operative position in which a portion thereof projects above said top closure for carrying purposes; said co-operation between said handle member and said main panel limiting the extent of movement of said handle member; said main and auxiliary panels and said handle member extending at right angles to said partition end flaps.

2. A carton of the type formed from a unitary member and having an integral wall structure comprising a pair of mutually opposed side walls, a pair of mutually opposed end walls, and a bottom; said carton including a top closure integral with said wall structure, and an interior assembly integrally secured to said wall structure and extending between a selected pair of said mutually opposed walls so as to divide the interior of the carton into a pair of adjacent compartments; said interior assembly including a load bearing member, at least one intermediate panel, a pair of partition end flaps adapted to se cure said assembly to said wall structure, and a handle member; said load bearing member having a main panel and a pair of auxiliary panels integrally connected to opposite ends of said main panel along a common upper edge and co-operating therewith to form a pair of aligned slideways; said intermediate panel, at all times, being integrally and hingeably connected, at its lower edge, to an upper edge of said main panel intermediate said ends of said main panel and below said common upper edge and, at its upper edge, to said handle member; said handle member having a pair of portions each slidably disposed within an associated said slideway and being movable between a first retracted position in which, when said top closure is in its closed operative position, said handle member lies beneath said top closure and a second operative position in which a portion thereof projects above said top closure for carrying purposes; said intermediate panel limiting the extent of movement of said handle member,

and said portions, by co-operating with said slideways, additionally limiting the extent of movement of said handle member in one direction; said main intermediate and auxiliary panels and said handle member extending at right angles to said partition end flaps.

3. A carton of the type formed from a unitary member and having an integral wall structure comprising a pair of mutually opposed side walls, a pair of mutually opposed end walls and a bottom; said carton including a top closure integral with said wall structure, and an interior assembly integrally secured to said wall structure and extending between a selected pair of said mutually opposed walls so as to divide the interior of the carton into a pair of adjacent compartments; said interior assembly including a load bearing member, a pair of intermediate panels spaced apart from and in alignment with each other, a pair of partition end flaps adapted to secure said assembly to said wall structure, and a handle member, said load bearing member having a main panel and a pair of spaced auxiliary panels integrally connected to opposite ends of said main panel and co-operating with the latter to form a pair of aligned slideways; each said intermediate panel, at all times, being integrally and hingeably connected, at its lower edge, to an upper edge of said main panel intermediate said ends of said main panel and below said common upper edge and, at its upper edge, to said handle member; said handle member having a pair of portions each slidably disposed within an associated said slideway and being movable between a first retracted position in which, when said top closure is in its closed operative position, said handle member lies beneath said top closure and a second operative position in which a portion thereof projects above said top closure for carrying purposes; said intermediate panels limiting the extent of movement of said handle member, and said portions, by co-operating with their respective slideways, additionally limiting the extent of movement of said handle member in one direction; said main, intermediate and auxiliary panels and said handle member extending at right angles to said partition end flaps.

4. A car-ton of the type formed from a unitary member and having an integral wall structure comprising a pair of mutually opposed side walls, a pair of mutually opposed end walls and a bottom; said carton including a top closure integral with said wall structure, and an interior assembly integrally secured to said wall structure including a load bearing member, :a pair of partition end flaps, and a handle member; said load bearing member being secured to said wall structure, by means of said partition end flaps, between said pair of mutually opposed end walls and extending substantially along the longitudinal center-line of the carton at right angles to said end flaps to form a longitudinal partition, said end flaps forming a pair of transverse partitions; a plurality of further transverse partitions each formed from, and integrally connected, at one end thereof, with said load bearing member, and secured, at the other end thereof, to an adjacent side wall of the carton; said load bearing member having a main panel and a pair of spaced auxiliary panels integrally connected to opposite ends of said main panel and cooperating with the latter to form a pair of mutually opposed slideways; said handle member including a pair of portions each slidably disposed within an associated slideway; and a pair of spaced intermediate panels each, at all times, integrally and hingeably connected at their lower edges to an upper edge of said main panel intermediate said ends of said main panel and below said common upper edge and at their upper edges to the remainder of said handle member, said handle member being upwardly and downwardly movable between said slideways to and.

from a first retracted position in which it lies beneath said top closure, when the latter is in its closed operative position, and a second operative position in which a portion thereof projects above said top closure for carrying purposes, said intermediate panels limiting the extent of upward and downward movement of said handle member, and said portions, by co-operating with the upper ends of their respective slideways, additionally limiting the extent of upward movement of said handle member.

5. A carton 'of the type formed from a unitary memher and having an integral wall structure comprising a pair of mutually opposed side walls, a pair of mutually opposed end walls, and extensions on the lower ends of all of said walls, said extensions by the mutual bending and engagement thereof, forming a bottom wall of the carton and mutually transverse cell partitions within said carton; said carton including a top closure integral with said wall structure, a lower interior assembly integral with said bottom wall and comprising said cell partitions, and an upper interior assembly including a handle member, a pair of partition end flaps, and a load bearing member; said upper interior assembly being integrally secured to said wall structure, by means of said partition end flaps, between said pair of mutually opposed end walls and extending substantially along the longitudinal centerline of the carton at right angles to said end flaps to form a longitudinal partition, said end flaps forming a pair of further transverse partitions; said load bearing member having a main panel and a pair of spaced auxiliary panels integrally connected to opposite ends of said main panel and co-operating with the latter to form a pair of mutually opposed slideways; said handle member ineluding a pair of portions each slidably disposed within an associated slideway, and a pair of spaced intermediate panels each, at all times, integrally and hingeably connected at its lower edge to an upper edge of said main panel intermediate said ends of said main panel and below said common upper edge and at its upper edge to the remainder of said handle member, said handle member being upwardly and downwardly movable between said slideways to and from a first retracted position in which it lies beneath said top closure, when the latter is in its closed operative position, and a second operative position in which a portion thereof projects above said top closure for carrying purposes, said intermediate panels limiting the extent of upward and downward movement of said handle member, and said portions, by co-operating with the upper ends of their respective slideways, additionally limiting the extent of upward movement of said handle member.

6. A one-piece blank adapted to form a multi-cell carton having an interior assembly defining partitions within said carton and an extensible handle member, said blank including a plurality of panels disposed in seriatim sideby-side relation and integrally and hingeably connected together; certain of said panels being adapted, on folding of the blank, to form a pair of mutually opposed end walls and a pair of mutually opposed side walls; each of said certain panels being provided with a pair of spaced flaps integrally and hingeably connected thereto, each of said pairs of flaps, on folding of the blank, being adapted to form carton top and bottom closure flaps; an outer one of the remainder of said panels being scored and incised to form, on folding of the blank, a longitudingal partition within the carton extending along the central longitudinal axis of said carton; one end of said outer panel member being integrally and hingeably connected to a partition flap, and at its other end, being integrally connected to a selected one of said wall panels by means of an intermediate partition flap; said flaps, on folding of the blank, each being secured to an adjacent Wall panel and being adapted, on erection of the carton, to form a pair of partitions transverse to said longitudinal partition; opposite ends of said outer one panel also being integrally and hingeably connected to a pair of spaced auxiliary panels, said latter hingeable connection, on folding of the blank, forming a common upper edge; said pair of auxiliary panels being adapted, on folding of the blank, to cooperate with said outer one panel to form a pair of aligned slideways and to constitute a load bearing member; said outer one panel having a first handle panel integrally and cooperatively connected, at all times, thereto and which is integrally and hingeably connected to a second handle panel having a pair of portions; each of said portions being adapted, on folding of the blank, to be slidably disposed within an associated one of said slide- Ways, said handle panels thereby forming an extensible handle member movable between a first retracted position in which, when said blank is folded and the carton erected, said handle member lies beneath said top closure flaps, and a second operative position in which a portion thereof projects above said top closure flaps for carrying purposes, said integral cooperation between said handle member and said outer one main panel limiting the extent of movement of said handle member.

7. A one-piece blank adapted to form a multi-cell carton having an interior assembly defining partitions Within said carton and an extensible handle member, said blank including a plurality of panels disposed in seriatim side-byside relation and integrally and hingeably connected together; certain of said panels being adapted, on folding of the blank, to form a pair of mutually opposed end Walls and a pair of mutually opposed side Walls; each of said certain panels being provided with a pair of spaced flaps integrally and hingeably connected thereto, each of said pairs of flaps, on folding of the blank, being adapted to form carton top and bottom closure flaps; an outer one or" the remainder of said panels being scored and incised to form, on folding of the blank, a longitudinal partition within the carton extending along the central longitudinal axis of the carton; one end of said outer panel member being integnally and hingeably connected to a partition flap and, at its other end, being integrally connected to a se lected one of said Wall panels by means of an intermediate partition flap; said flaps, on folding of the blank, each being secured to an adjacent wall panel and being adapted, on erection of the carton, to form a pair of partitions transverse to said longitudinal partition; opposite ends of said outer one panel also being integrally and hingeably connected to a pair of spaced auxiliary panels, said latter hingeable connection, on folding of the blank, forming a common upper edge; said pair of auxiliary panels being adapted, on folding of the blank, to co-operate with said outer one panel to form a pair of aligned slide-Ways and to constitute a load bearing member; said outer one panel having at least one intermediate panel integrally and hingeably connected to an upper edge thereof, intermediate said ends of said main panel and below said common upper edge; a first handle panel integrally and co-operatively connected, at all times, to said intermediate panel and integrally and hingeably connected to a second handle panel having a pair of portions; each of said portions being adapted, on folding of the blank, to be slidably disposed within an associated one of said slideways; said hingeable connection between said intermediate panel and said outer one panel, on folding of the blank, being located at the lower edge of said intermediate panel; said hingeable connection between said intermediate panel and said first handle panel, on folding of the blank, being located at the upper edge of said intermediate panel; said handle panels thereby forming an extensible handle member movable between a first retracted position in which, when said blank is folded and the carton erected, said handle member lies beneath said top closure flaps, and a second operative position in which a portion thereof projects above said top closure flaps for carrying purposes, said intermediate panel limiting the extent of movement of said. handle member, and said portions, by cooperating with said slideways, additionally limiting the extent of movement of said handle member in one direction.

8. A one-piece blank adapted to form a multi-cell carton having an interior assembly defining partitions within said carton and an extensible handle member, said blank including a plunality of panels disposed in seriatim sideby-side relation and integrally and hingeably connected together; certain of said panels being adapted, on folding of the blank, to form a pair of mutually opposed end Walls and a pair of mutually opposed side Walls; each of said certain panels being provided With a pair of spaced flaps integrally and hingeably connected thereto, each of said pairs of flaps, on folding of the blank, being adapted to form carton top and bottom closure flaps; an outer one of the remainder of said panels being scored and incised to form, on folding of the blank, a longitudinal partition within the carton extending along the central longitudinal axis of said carton; one end of said outer panel member being integrally and hingeably connected to a partition flap and, at its other end, being integrally connected to a selected one of said wall panels by means of an intermediate partition fiap; said flaps, on folding of the blank, each being secured to an adjacent wall panel and being adapted, on erection of the carton, to form a pair of partitions transverse to said longitudinal partition; opposite ends of said outer one panel also being integrally and hingeably connected to a pair of spaced auxiliary panels, said latter hingeable connection, on folding of the blank, forming a common upper edge; said pair of auxiliary panels being adapted, on folding of the blank, to co-operate with said outer one panel to forum a pair of aligned slideways and to constitute a load bearing member; said outer one panel having a pair of intermediate panels each integrally and hingeably connected to an upper edge thereof, intermediate said ends of said main panel and below said common upper edge; a first handle panel integrally and co-operatively connected, at all times, to each of said intermediate panels and integrally and hingeably connected to a second handle panel having a pair of portions; each of said portions being adapted, on folding of the blank, to be slidably disposed Within an associated one of said slideways; each said hingeable connection between each said intermediate panel and said outer one panel, on folding of the blank, being located at the lower edge of each said intermediate panel; each said hingeable connection between each said intermediate panel an said first handle panel, on folding of the blank, being lided at the upper edge of each said intermediate p 1; said handle panels thereby forming an extensible handlQnember movable between a first retnacted position irn'which, when said blank is folded and the carton erected, said handle member lies beneath said top closure flaps and a second operative position in which a portion thereof projects above said top closure flaps for carrying purposes, said intermediate panels limiting the extent of movement of said handle member, and said portions, by co-operating with said slideways, additionally limiting the extent of movement of said handle member in one direction.

9. A one-piece blank adapted to form a multi-cell carton having an interior assembly defining partitions Within said carton and an extensible handle member integral with said assembly, said blank including a plurality of panels disposed in seriatim side-by-side relation and integrally and hingeably connected together; certain of said panels being adapted, on folding of the blank, to form a pair of mutually opposed end walls and a pair of mutually opposed side Walls; each of said certain panels being provided with a pair of spaced flaps integrally and hingeably connected thereto, each of said pairs of flaps, on folding of the blank, being adapted to form carton top and bottom closure flaps; an outer one of the remainder of said panels being scored and incised to form, on folding of the blank, a longitudinal partition Within the carton extending along the central longitudinal axis of said carton; one end of said outer panel member being integrally and hingeably connected to a partition liap and, at its other end, being integrally connected to a selected one of said Wall panels by means of an intermediate partition flap; said flaps, on folding of the blank, each being secured to an adjacent end wall panel and being adapted, on erection of the carton, to form a pair of partitions transverse to said longitudinal partition; said outer one panel being scored and incised to provide a plurality of secondary panels each integrally and hingeably secured, at one end thereof, to said outer one panel and adapted, on folding of the blank and erection of the carton, to form a plurality of transverse partitions each secured, at the other end thereof, to an adjacent side wall of the carton; said outer one panel also being integrally and hingeably connected to a pair of spaced auxiliary panels, said latter hingeable connection, on folding of the blank, forming a common upper edge; said pair of auxiliary panels being adapted, on folding of the blank, to co-operate with said outer one panel to form a pair of aligned mutually opposed slide- Ways and to constitute a load bearing member; said outer one panel having a pair of intermediate panels each integrally and hingeably connected thereto; a first handle panel integrally and co-openatively connected, at all times, to each of said intermediate panels and integrally and hingeably connected to a second handle panel having a pair of portions; each of said portions being adapted, on folding of the blank, to be slidably disposed within an associated one of said slideways; each said hingeable connection between each said intermediate panel and said outer one panel, on folding of the blank, being located at the lower edge of each said intermediate panel; each said hingeable connection between each said intermediate panel and said first handle panel, on folding of the blank, being located at the upper edge of each said intermediate panel; said handle panels thereby forming an extensible handle member movable between a first retracted position in which, when said blank is folded and the carton erected, said handle member lies beneath said top closure flaps, and a second operative position in which a portion thereof projects above said top closure flaps for carrying purposes, said intermediate panels limiting the extent of movement of said handle member, and said portions, by co-operating with said slideways, additionally limiting the extent of movement of said handle member in one direction.

10. A one-piece blank adapted to form a multi-cell carton having an integral Wall structure and an interior assembly defining partitions within said carton and an extensible handle member, said blank including a plurality of panels disposed in seriatim side-by-sicle relation and integnaily and hingeably connected together; certain of said panels being adapted, on folding of the blank and erection of the carton, to form a pair of mutually opposed end Walls and a pair of mutually opposed side walls; each of said certain panels being provided with a pair of spaced flaps integrally and hingeably connected thereto; one flap of each pair thereof being adapted, on folding of the blank and erection of the carton, to form a carton top closure flap; the remaining flap of each pair thereof being adapted, on folding of the blank and erection of the carton, to form a carton bottom closure flap; said bottom flaps each having an extension integrally and hingeably connected thereto; said extensions by the mutual bending and engagement thereof, on folding of the blank and erection of the carton, forming a plurality of mutually transverse partitions Within said carton and constituting a lower interior assembly; an outer one of the remainder of said panels being scored and incised to form, on folding of the blank, a longitudinal partition within the carton extending along the central longitudinal axis of said canton; one end of said outer panel member being integrally and hingeably connected to a partition flap, and, at its other end, being integrally connected to a selected one of said wall panels by means of an intermediate partition flap; said ilaps, on folding of the blank, each being secured to an adjacent wall panel and being adapted, on erection of the carton, to form a pair of partitions transverse to said longitudinal partition; opposite ends of said outer one panel also being integrally and hingeably connected to a pair of spaced auxiliary panels, said latter hingeable connection, on folding of the blank, forming a common upper edge; said pair of auxiliary panels being adapted, on folding of the blank, to co-operate with said outer one panel to form a pair of aligned mutually opposed slideways and to constitute a load bearing member; said outer one panel having a pair of intermediate panels each hingeably and integrally connected to an upper edge thereof, intermediate said ends of said main panel and below said common upper edge; a first handle panel integrally and co-operatively connected, at all times, to each of said intermediate panels and integrally and hingeably connected to a second handle panel having a pair of portions; each of said portions being adapted, on folding of the blank, to he slidab-ly disposed within an associated one of said slideways; each said hingeable connection between each said intermediate panel and said outer one panel, on folding of the blank, being located at the lower edge of each said intermediate panel; each said hingeable connection between each said intermediate panel and said first handle panel, on folding of the blank, being located at the upper edge of each said intermediate panel; said handle panels thereby forming an extensible handle member movable between a first retracted position in which, when said blank is folded and the carton erected, said handle member lies beneath said top closure flaps, and a second operative position in which a portion thereof projects above said top closure flaps for carrying purposes, said intermediate panels limiting the extent of movement of said handle member, and said portions, by co-operating 'with said slideways, additionally limiting the extent of movement of said handle member in one direction; said load bearing member and said handle member forming an upper interior assembly.

Reierences Cited in the file of this patent UNiTED STATES PATENTS 2,609,137 Toensmeier Sept. 2, 1952 2,700,486 Arneson Jan. 25, 1955 2,909,311 Levitt Oct. 20, 1959 2,943,762 Richardson July 5, 1960 3,059,828 Giora Oct. 23, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 843,718 Great Britain Aug. 10, 1960

Claims

1. A CARTON OF THE TYPE FORMED FROM A UNITARY MEMBER AND HAVING AN INTEGRAL WALL STRUCTURE COMPRISING A PAIR OF MUTUALLY OPPOSED SIDE WALLS, A PAIR OF MUTUALLY OPPOSED END WALLS AND A BOTTOM; SAID CARTON INCLUDING A TOP CLOSURE INTEGRAL WITH SAID WALL STRUCTURE, AND AN INTERIOR ASSEMBLY; SAID INTERIOR ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A LOAD BEARING MEMBER AND A HANDLE MEMBER AND A PAIR OF PARTITION END FLAPS; SAID INTERIOR ASSEMBLY BEING INTEGRALLY SECURED TO SAID WALL STRUCTURE BY MEANS OF SAID PAIR OF PARTITION END FLAPS AND EXTENDING BETWEEN A SELECTED PAIR OF SAID MUTUALLY OPPOSED WALLS SO AS TO DIVIDE THE INTERIOR OF THE CARTON INTO A PAIR OF ADJACENT COMPARTMENTS AND HAVING A MAIN PANEL AND A PAIR OF AUXILIARY PANELS INTEGRALLY CONNECTED TO OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID MAIN PANEL ALONG A COMMON UPPER EDGE AND CO-OPERATING THEREWITH TO FORM A PAIR OF ALIGNED SLIDEWAYS; SAID HANDLE MEMBER BEING INTEGRALLY AND CO-OPERATIVELY CONNECTED, AT ALL TIMES, TO AN UPPER EDGE OF SAID MAIN PANEL INTERMEDIATE SAID ENDS OF SAID MAIN PANEL AND BELOW SAID COMMON UPPER EDGE AND HAVING A PAIR OF PORTIONS EACH SLIDABLY DISPOSED WITHIN AN ASSOCIATED SAID SLIDEWAY AND BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN A FIRST RETRACTED POSITION IN WHICH, WHEN SAID TOP CLOSURE IS IN ITS CLOSED OPERATIVE POSITION, SAID HANDLE MEMBER LIES BENEATH SAID TOP CLOSURE AND A SECOND OPERATIVE POSITION IN WHICH A PORTION THEREOF PROJECTS ABOVE SAID TOP CLOSURE FOR CARRYING PURPOSES; SAID CO-OPERATION BETWEEN SAID HANDLE MEMBER AND SAID MAIN PANEL LIMITING THE EXTENT OF MOVEMENT OF SAID HANDLE MEMBER; SAID MAIN AND AUXILIARY PANELS AND SAID HANDLE MEMBER EXTENDING AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID PARTITION END FLAPS.