US3283948A

US3283948A - Handle structure for article carriers

Info

Publication number: US3283948A
Application number: US477123A
Authority: US
Inventors: Homer W Forrer
Original assignee: Mead Corp
Current assignee: Mead Corp
Priority date: 1965-08-04
Filing date: 1965-08-04
Publication date: 1966-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 1983-11-08
Also published as: GB1098762A; AT268991B; ES128737U; DE1536167A1; ES128737Y; NL6610779A; CH443124A; BE681840A; SE314939B

Description

' Filed Aug. 4, 1965 Nov. 8, 1966 H. w. FORRER 3,283,948

HANDLE STRUCTURE FOR ARTICLE CARRIERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FVGI INVENTOR FIG. 2 HOMER w. FORRER ATTO RNEY Nov. 8, 1966 H. w. FORRER 3,283,948

HANDLE STRUCTURE FOR ARTICLE CARRIERS Filed Aug. 4, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HOMER W. FORRER ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,283,948 HANDLE STRUCTURE FOR ARTICLE CARRIERS Homer W. Forrer, Jonesboro, Ga., assignor to The Mead Corporation, a corporation of Ohio Filed Aug. 4, 1965, Ser. No. 477,123 4 Claims. (Cl. 220-113) This invention relates to handle structures for article carriers, and more particularly to multiple-ply handle structures having panels foldably joined at each end of the carrier and extending inwardly of the carrier into overlapping relationship.

One type of handle structure for article carriers which has been used extensively, utilizes a pair of handle panels foldably joined to each end of the carrier and extending toward each other into telescoped overlapping relationship. The handle panels are secured together in face contacting relation so as to form a composite handle structure. An example of this type construction is found in US. Patent 2,537,452Forrer, owned by the assignee of this invention.

Another similar handle structure incorporates a pair of handle panels foldably joined to each end of the carrier, the handle panels at each end being secured to each other in side-by-side relationship rather than in telescoped relationship. This type of construction is normally considerably weaker than the telescoped arrangement due to the fact that it is necessary to utilize slits which form lines of separation between the handle panels at each end of the carrier.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a handle structure of the side-by-side type which approaches the telescoped type of handle structure in strength and sturdiness.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an improved handle structure for side-by-side handles wherein the ends of certain handle panels are configured so as to provide an overlapping relationship which greatly enhances the strength, sturdiness and stability of the handle structure.

The invention in one form as applied to a handle structure of the side-by-side type comprises a main exterior handle panel joined at one end thereof to one end of the carrier and a complementary exterior handle panel joined at the other end of the carrier. The inwardly extending ends of the main and complementary exterior handle panels are arranged in overlapping relationship due to the particular configuration of the inner end edges of such panels. If desired, considerable strength may be added to the handle if a reinforcing panel is foldably joined to the main exterior handle panel and folded into fiat face contacting relation therewith and secured thereto. Where the article carrier provides for two rows of packaged articles, i.e., where the handle structure is disposed medially of the carrier, there would of course be two sets of main and complementary exterior handle panels, one main panel extending from one end of the carrier and the other main panel extending from the other end of the carrier. Similarly, the complementary handle panels would extend from opposite sides of the handle and from opposite ends of the carrier. In this way, the carrier may be formed from a symmetrically formed blank.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a set-up carrier embodying the invention; FIG. 2 is a plan view of a blank from which the carrier depicted in FIG. 1 is formed andin which FIGS. 3, 4 and represent successive gluing and folding operations through which the blank depicted in FIG. 2

'ice

is manipulated, FIG. 5 representing the completed carrier in collapsed form.

With reference to FIG. 1, the numeral 1 designates one side wall, while the

numerals

2 and 3 designate end wall panels at one end of the carrier. The

numerals

4 and 5 designate end wall panels at the opposite ends of the carrier and the remaining side wall is designated by the numeral 6. End wall panel 2 is foldably joined to side wall panel 1 along fold line 7, while end wall panel 4 is foldably joined to the opposite end of side wall panel 1 along fold line 8. In like fashion,

end wall panels

3 and 5 are foldably joined to opposite ends of the side wall panel 6 along

fold lines

9 and 10, respectively. A bottom panel 11 is foldably joined to the bottom edge of side wall 6 along fold line 12. Bottom panel 11 is provided with a medial fold line 13 at the ends of which a pair of

notches

14 and 15 are formed. A glue flap of conventional construction is identified by the numeral 16 and is foldably joined to the bottom edge of side wall 1 along fold line 17.

For the purpose of securing the end panels at each end of the carrier into a composite end structure and also in order to provide means for adjoining the handle structure according to this invention to the body portions of the carrier, conventional riser panels are provided and in the drawings are designated by the

numerals

18, 19, 20 and 21. Riser panel 18 is foldably joined to end panel 2 along fold line 22 while riser panel 19 is foldably joined to the end panel 3 along fold line 23 which is disposed in coincidental relation to fold line 22. Likewise,

fold lines

24 and 25 are provided at the other end of the carrier and serve to interconnect

riser panels

20 and 21 with

end panels

4 and 5, respectively.

Conventional partitioning strips are provided in order to form a plurality of article receiving cells on each side of the handle panel. Such strips in the drawings are designated by the

numerals

26, 27, 28 and 29.

Strips

26 and 27 are foldably joined to the center portion 1A of side wall 1 along the

respective fold lines

30 and 31. Likewise,

partitioning strips

28 and 29 are foldably joined to the elevated center portion 6A of side wall 6 along the

fold lines

32 and 33, respectively. Of course, the structure as described thus far is conventional.

Panel structure according to this invention comprises, at one end of the carrier, a main exterior handle panel 34 which is foldably joined to the riser panel 18 along fold line 22 and to the partition strip 26 along the fold line 35. Complementary exterior handle panel 36 is foldably joined to riser panel 19 along fold line 23 and is foldably joined to partition strip 28 along fold line 37. A reinforcing panel 38 is foldably joined along medial fold line 39 to main exterior handle panel 34. In accordance with one facet of the invention, reinforcing panel 38 is separated from complementary handle panel 36 along the slit designated by the numerals 4t), 41. It will be understood that the

slit

40, 41 could constitute the two elements which are disposed angularly to each other or if desired a single angularly disposed or irregularly configured slit could be provided.

In order to provide hand gripping apertures in the finished handle structure, a pair of

apertures

42 and 43 are provided in the reinforcing panel 38 and in the main exterior handle panel 34, respectively.

The handle structure at the other end of the carrier is identical to that just described and comprises a main exterior handle panel 44 foldably joined to riser panel 21 along fold line 25 and foldably joined to partition strip 29 along fold line 45. In addition, complementary exterior handle panel 46 is foldably joined to riser panel 20 along fold line 24 and to partition strip 27 along fold line 47. Main handle panel 44 and complementary panel 46 are foldably joined to each other along medial fold line 48. As before, a reinforcing panel 49 is provided and is foldably joined along the fold line 48 to the main exterior handle panel 44. In accordance with the invention, the complementary exterior handle panel 46 is separated from the reinforcing panel 49 by a slit identified in the drawing by the

numeral

50 and 51. As already explained, the

slit

50, 51 may be a composite structure as shown or may constitute a single straight line. Furthermore, if desired, this slit could be arranged in some irregular configuration.

For the purpose of providing a hand grip for the carrier, a pair of

hand gripping apertures

52 and 53 are formed in the reinforcing panel 49 and the main exterior handle panel 44, respectively.

In order to form the carrier from the blank depicted in FIG. 2, an application of glue is first made to the blank as indicated by stippling in FIG. 2. Following the application of glue, the

end panels

4 and 5 together with

riser panels

20 and 21 are swung upwardly and toward the left along the

fold lines

8 and 10. When so folded the blank appears as depicted in FIG. 3. During this folding operation, the handle structure comprising main outer panel 44, reinforcing panel 49, and complementary exterior handle panel 46 swing upwardly and to the left to occupy a position of partial overlapping relationship to the main handle panel 34 with the part of the complementary exterior handle panel 46, which is immediately adjacent to the diagonal fold line 50, disposed immediately above in overlapping relationship with the upper right hand corner of main exterior panel 34. In this manner, these panels are secured together and constitute a sturdy composite handle panel extending end to end of the carrier. The reinforcing panel 38 is subsequently swung upwardly and over along the fold line 39 into face contacting relation with the main exterior handle panel 34 and with a portion of the panel 46, so that a secure reinforced structure is provided. If desired, reinforcing panel 38 could be folded fiat against panel 34 before panel 46 is swung over to the left and panel 46 could beslipped under panel 34. Such a folding operation exposes the line 50 as shown in FIG. 5. During this operation, main handle panel 44 is afiixed at its lower left hand corner to the complementary exterior handle panel 36. If desired, the corner of panel 44 could be slipped under panel 36 so as to capture panel 36 between

panels

44 and 49. Simultaneously, the reinforcing panel 49 is folded downwardly along the fold line 48 into fiat face contacting relation with the main exterior handle panel 44 and, of course, the

riser panels

20 and 21 become affixed to the complementary exterior handle panel 46 and to the main exterior handle panel 44, respectively. Upon completion of this operation the blank appears as depicted in FIG. 3.

In order to affix the

riser panels

18 and 19 to the main exterior handle panel 34 and to the complementary handle panel 36, an application of glue is made as indicated by stippling in FIG. 3. Thereafter, the

riser panels

18 and 19 are swung upwardly and toward the right along the fold lines 22 and 23 and thereafter occupy positions as depicted in FIG. 4.

In order to complete the carrier, glue is applied to the blank as depicted by stippling in FIG. 4 and thereafter the blank is folded along the

medial fold lines

39 and 48 by swinging forwardly and upwardly along these lines of the side wall structure 1,

end panels

2 and 4, main exterior handle panel 34 and the complementary exterior handle panel 46 and associated structure so that the glue flap 16 is thus secured to the edge of the bottom panel 11 and so that reinforcing panel 38 is secured in face contacting relation with the reinforcing panel 49. The lower left hand corner of the main exterior handle panel 44 is deposed in overlapping relation with the complementary handle panel 36 due to the angular disposition of the

slit

40,41. Thus a secure junction between main exterior handle pantfil 44 complementary handle panel 36 is formed. Upon completion of the folding operation along the

lines

39 and 48, the carrier appears in collapsed form as depicted in FIG. 5.

In order to set up the carrier as depicted in FIG. 5 to the condition depicted in FIG. 1, it is simply necessary to press inwardly on the

end panels

2 and 3 and if desired 0n the bottom panel 11.

In order to maintain the carrier in set up condition, a plurality of locking notches 52-55 are formed respectively in the riser panels 1821. Of course, when the folding operation along the

medial fold line

39, 48 is performed notch 52 coincides with notch 53 and in similar fashion notch 54 coincides with notch 55. These notches in the riser panels simply engage the

notches

14 and 15 in the bottom panels and hold the carrier in set up condition in known manner.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto and that it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Handle structure for an article carrier comprising a main exterior handle panel joined at the outer end thereof to one end of the carrier, the inner end edge of said main exterior panel being generally vertically disposed, a complementary exterior handle panel joined at the outer end thereof to the other end of the carrier along a substantially vertical fold line, the inner end edge of said complementary exterior handle panel being diagonally disposed with respect to the outer end edge thereof and the inner end of said complementary handle panel being secured in flat face contacting overlapping relation to at least a part of the inner end of said main exterior handle panel and one end of said diagonally disposed innerend edge of said complementary exterior handle panel being approximate registry with the inner end edge of said main exterior handle panel, and an interior reinforcing panel having an inner end in substantial coincidence with the inner end edge of said main exterior handle panel and foldably joined to the upper edge of said main exterior handle panel and folded into fiat face contacting relation therewith.

2. Handle structure for an article carrier comprising a first main exterior handle panel joined at the outer end thereof to one end of the carrier medially thereof, a first complementary exterior handle panel foldably joined to said first main exterior handle panel along the upper edges thereof, said first complementary exterior handle panel being narrower than said first main exterior handle panel with the fold line therebetween being adjacent the outer ends thereof and the inner end edge of said first complementary exterior handle panel being diagonally disposed relative to the outer end edge thereof, a first reinforcing interior panel foldably joined to said first main exterior handle panel along the upper edges thereof and the fold line therebetween extending from the inner end of said first main exterior panel for a portion only of the length thereof and said first reinforcing interior handle panel being disposed inwardly of said first complementary exterior handle panel, one end edge of said first reinforcing interior panel being in substantial coincidence with the inner end edge of said first main exterior handle panel and the other end edge of said first reinforcing interior panel being in substantial coincidence with the inner end edge of said first complementary exterior handle panel, a second main exterior handle panel having its outer end joined to the other end of the carrier medially thereof, and a second reinforcing interior panel foldably joined to said second main exterior handle panel along the upper edges thereof and the fold line therebetween extending from the inner end of said second main exterior handle panel for a portion only of the length thereof, said first and second reinforcing panels being secured together in fiat face contacting relation and being disposed between and secured to said first and second main exterior handle panels respectively and at least parts of the inner ends of said second main exterior handle panel and of said second interior reinforcing panel respectively being disposed interiorly of at least a part of said first complementary exterior handle panel in overlapping relation thereto.

3. Handle structure according to claim 2 wherein a second complementary exterior handle panel is foldably joined to the upper edge of said second main exterior handle panel adjacent the outer end thereof with the inner end edge thereof disposed diagonally relative to the outer end edge thereof and wherein said second complementary exterior handle panel is exterior to said first main exterior handle panel and to said first interior reinforcing panel and in overlapping relationship With at least parts of the inner end edges thereof respectively, one end of said second reinforcing interior handle panel being in substantial coincidence with the inner end edge of said second main exterior handle panel and the other end edge of said 20 second reinforcing interior panel being in substantial coincidence with the inner end edge of said second complementary exterior handle panel.

4. Handle structure according to claim 2 wherein one end of each of said diagonal end edges of said complementary exterior handle panels is in approximate registry with the adjacent inner end edge of one of said main exterior handle panels.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,537,615 1/1951 Arneson 220l11 2,919,829 1/1960 Forrer 220-115 3,202,313 8/1965 Wainberg 220113 3,203,585 8/1965 Wood 22011l X FOREIGN PATENTS 663,694 5/1963 Canada.

GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. HANDLE STRUCTURE FOR AN ARTICLE CARRIER COMPRISING A MAIN EXTERIOR HANDLE PANEL JOINED AT THE OUTER END THEREOF TO ONE END OF THE CARRIER, THE INNER END EDGE OF SAID MAIN EXTERIOR PANEL BEING GENERALLY VERTICALLY DISPOSED, A COMPLEMENTARY EXTERIOR HANDLE PANEL JOINED AT THE OUTER END THEROF TO THE OTHER END OF THE CARRIER ALONG A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL FOLD LINE, THE INNER END EDGE OF SAID COMPLEMENTARY EXTERIOR HANDLE PANEL BEING DIAGONALLY DISPOSED WITH RESPECT TO THE OUTER END EDGE THEREOF AND THE INNER END OF SAID COMPLEMENTARY HANDLE PANEL BEING SECURED IN FLAT FACE CONTACTING OVERLAPPING RELATION TO AT LEAST A PART OF THE INNER END OF SAID MAIN EXTERIOR HANDLE