US3373897A

US3373897A - Carton holder and container

Info

Publication number: US3373897A
Application number: US488005A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clifford L Haines
Original assignee: Clifford L. Haines
Current assignee: CLIFFORD L HAINES
Priority date: 1965-09-17
Filing date: 1965-09-17
Publication date: 1968-03-19
Anticipated expiration: 1985-03-19

Description

March 19, 1968 c. I HAINES 3,373,897

CARTON HOLDER AND CONTAINER Filed Sept. 17, 1965 S Sheets-Sheet 1 I I I -34 I w I 4'0 I I I l I I FIG I I 7 I I IIIII INVENTOR.

CLIFFORD L. HAINES FlG. 2

BY 4 M ATTORNEY March 19, 1968 c. 'L. HAINES. 3,373,897

CARTON HOLDER AND CONTAINER Filed Sept. 17, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 fza 1 "I I 122\ t ZON- FIG. 4 3 FIG 3 20 HI! IW I 22 I FIG. 5 +7 INVENTOR.

CLIFFORD L. HAINES ATTORNEY March 19, 1968 c. 1.. HAINES 3,373,397

CARTON HOLDER AND CONTAINER Filed Sept. 17, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I 32 F I G. 6

INVENTOR.

CLIFFORD L. HAINES ATTORNEY United States Fatent Qfifrce 3,373,897 Patented Mar. 19, 1968 3,373,897 CARTON HOLDER AND CONTAINER Clifford L. Haines, P.O. Box 3, Bristol, Ind. 46507 Filed Sept. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 488,005 4 Claims. (Cl. 220-85) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A holder for milk cartons and the like having four panels forming a rectangular holder portion with side Walls enclosing a substantial portion of the side walls of the carton. A handle attached to one of the panels extends upwardly above the side walls to a point near the top of the carton, and a lug disposed in the inner wall of one of the panels near the bottom thereof holds the milk carton in the holder.

Disposable milk cartons of treated paper construction have been extensively used for home and store delivery of milk and other potable liquids, such as fruit juices, pancake batters and similar fluid mixes. While there are several different makes and designs used in the trade for each of the various capacity cartons, such as one-half pints and one and two quarts, the cartons by the various manufacturers are approximtely the same size for each corresponding capacity, the horizontal dimensions being substantially the same, and the vertical dimensions being within one to one and one-half inches of each other for the various makes of cartons. The larger size cartons, particularly the two quart size, are difiicult to handle and hold while they are being opened and the contents poured therefrom. The pouring operation usually requires both hands to hold the carton, even though a one-handed pouring operation would be more convenient and practical in order to permit a glass or other receptacle to be held while pouring from the carton. Various types of handles and carton-supporting devices have been used or tried in the past, but these have had certain inherent defects or difficulties which rendered them unsatisfactory, such as difficulty in attaching the handles to the cartons, and damage to the carton by the handle so that the handle does not remain securely in place on the carton or so that a leak or seepage develops in the carton. Further dilficulty is encountered in cleaning, storing and using the prior holding devices for other purposes when they are not being used as a carton holder. Further, theseprior holders usually exposed most of the external surface of the carton and did not give any protection from heat transfer, sweating and dripping. It is therefore one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide a relatively simple, lightweight and attractive holder for milk cartons and the like, into which the carton can be readily inserted and which can conveniently be handled with one hand to pour liquid from the carton, including fully inverting the carton without the cartons becoming dislodged from the holder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a holder for milk cartons and the like which insulates and protects all four sides and the bottom of the carton to assist in maintaining the contents of the carton cool, to minimize condensation of moisture on the outside surface of the carton, and to prevent any condensation which may occur on the carton and drops from the carton spout from dripping from the carton onto the table or other supporting surface.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a holder of the foregoing type which will not damage the carton, and which, if leaks or seepage develop, will prevent the fluid from being lost or contaminated, and which,

in addition to forming an effective holder for the carton, can effectively be used for a general purpose container for either solids or liquids and as a measuring cup or container for the liquids and solids.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the present holder and container device showing a milk carton inserted therein in opened position ready for pouring;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the present holder and container device showing the carton therein in opened position;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the present holder and container device with the milk carton removed therefrom;

FIGURE 4 is a rear elevational view of the device;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the device;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the present holder and container device, the section being taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of the lower portion of the present device, the section being taken on line 7-7 of FIGURE 5.

Referring more specifically to the drawings and to FIGURES l and 2 in particular, numeral 10 designates the present carton holder and container device having a conventional or extensively used type of milk carton 12 therein. The carton is of the type having a tapered top with one end designed to open by folding out in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, thereby forming a spout 14 for the carton. In the illustration shown, the tapered portion of the carton projects above the top of the container portion of the present device, which consists basically of a container or holder portion 20 and handle 22 secured to the rear side of the holder portion.

The holder and container portion is rectangular in shape, as can be readily seen from FIGURES 2 and 5, and consists of

side panels

24 and 26 and front and

rear 'panels

28 and 30 and a bottom panel 32, these panels forming a square shape horizontally, similar to most standard or conventional milk cartons. The internal horizontal dimensions of the container portion are such that the carton will slip readily into portion 20 without leaving sufficient space around the sides to permit the container to wobble when the device and carton are moved in their assembled position. It is preferable that a relatively small space be provided around the carton to permit the air to escape and enter when the carton is inserted and removed and to permit any condensation on the surface of the carton to readily flow down into container portion 20. Since most of the cartons for milk and similar liquids provide a type of opening which must be easily reached and pulled outwardly or upwardly, it is desirable to have the top of the holder portion 20 substantially below the top of the carton, so that the tear tab or closure can be readily pulled out or unfolded as illustrated in FIGURES l and 2. The upper edge of the holder portion is reinforced by providing a section of thicker material 34.

In order to prevent the carton from sliding from holder portion 20 when the cart-on is being emptied, a lug or bar 36 of a triangular cross-sectional shape is mounted on the inside of the container near the bottom thereof with an angular lower edge 38 for engaging the side of the carton and causing an indentation of suflicient depth to securely hold the carton in place. The lug is not sufficiently sharp or large to puncture the side of the container, but rat-her merely scores the lower rear side of the container and seats firmly on the carton only a small 3 distance above the bottom, with suificient force to clamp the carton in the holder portion 20.

The handle 22 is secured to the rear side of the container and projects upwardly to a point approximately on a line with the top of the carton. The extension of the handle above the upper edge of holder portion 20 to a point approximately on a line with the top of the carton is important in order to give Optimum balance to the assembled holder and carton when the contents of the carton are being poured therefrom. The holder and container and the handle are preferably formed of plastic material and the handle is preferably formed integrally with the holder and container portion. However, other materials may be used in the construction of the present device, including metal and disposable paper of rigid, non-foldable construction.

One of the advantages of the present holder and container device in addition to the advantages mentioned herein concerning its use in holding cartons, is that it can be effectively used for holding other substances, both liquid and solid. Further, FIGURE 1 illustrates the markings 40 on the side of container portion 20 to permit the device to be used as a measuring cup or container. Most plastics from which the present device would be made are at least partially transparent; consequently, the liquid or solid material, such as flour, sugar or the like, can readily be seen through the sides of the container and thus measured by marks 40. A lid (not shown) having sides overhanging the outside upper edge of the holder portion is preferably provided with the device. Since a device of this type is not always in use, it has a definite advantage over many of the prior types in providing the additional uses.

While the present device has been shown as a combination container and carton holder, one more economically priced may be made by omitting portions of the four panels forming the sides of the holder and container portion. Thus, square or diamond-shaped openings may be provided in one or more of the sides, and thereby enhance the appearance as well as reduce costs of materials used in the production of the devices.

Various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. The combination of a milk carton and a holder therefor, the carton being of rectangular shape horizontally and having an outwardly folding spout near the top,

said holder comprising four wall panels and a bottom forming a rectangular holder portion with the horizontal dimensions being slightly larger than the horizontal dimensions of said carton and the height of the side wall panels being only slightly less than the height of the carton below the lower part of the spout, a handle of looped configuration connected to one of said panels and projecting above the panel on the opposite side to a point substantially on a plane with the top of said carton, and a downwardly tapered, substantially rigid lug on the inside surface of the panel on which said handle is attached, the said lug being of generally triangular cross-sectional shape and in spaced relation to the bottom of the carton in the holder and the respective side wall of said carton having an indentation for said lug and expanding outwardly beneath said lug for releasably retaining said carton in said holder.

2. A carton and holder combination as defined in claim 1 in which said four panels and bottom are imperforate and all of said walls are substantially of the same height.

3. The carton and holder combination as defined in claim 1 in which said holder is constructed of transparent material and said handle is formed integrally with the side wall of the holder.

4. A carton and holder combination as defined in claim 2 in which said holder is constructed of plastic material of a substantially rigid structure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 99,405 4/ 1936 Marschall 222-158 2,670,616 3/ 1954 Schneider 220- 2,810,503 10/1957 Krueger 220-85 2,813,742 11/ 1957 Neugebauer 220-85 2,868,411 1/1959 Kesselman 229-15 2,932,423 4/ 1960 Baumgartner 220-85 2,936,927 5/1960 Peters 220-85 2,961,112 11/1960 Didion. 3,013,691 12/1961 Prentice 220-85 3,148,804 9/1964 James 222-158 3,259,279 7/1966 Nojiri 220-85 FOREIGN PATENTS 596,719 4/1960 Canada.

RAPHAEL H. SCHWARTZ, Primary Examiner.