US3692346A

US3692346A - Cam operated detachable clamping carton handle

Info

Publication number: US3692346A
Application number: US191178A
Authority: US
Inventors: James B Simms
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-10-21
Filing date: 1971-10-21
Publication date: 1972-09-19
Anticipated expiration: 1989-09-19
Also published as: GB1402614A; CA943108A

Abstract

A cam operated detachable carton handle for use on milk cartons and the like, and which includes an integral rectangular housing adapted to be slidably mounted over the upper end of a carton. A handle is integrally formed on the housing. A plunger provided with retainer clip means is slidably mounted on the handle and a pivotally mounted cam is provided for camming the plunger into a recess in the upper end of the carton for releasably retaining the rectangular housing and handle in place on the carton.

Description

United States Patent Simms [451 Sept. 19, 1972 [5 CAM OPERATED DETACHABLE 3,421,789 1/1969 Klomparens ..294/31.2 CLAMPING CARTON HANDLE 3,615,115 10/1971 Simms ..294/3l.2

[72] Inventor: James B. Simms, 8441 Birch Road, Primary Examiner Evon Bhmk Taylor 48180 Assistant Examiner-Johnny D. Cherry [22] Filed: Oct. 21, 1971 Attorney-Robert G. Mentag [21] Appl. No.: 191,178 [57] ABSTRACT Related US. Application Data A cam operated detachable carton handle for use on milk cartons and the like, and which includes an in- [63] E r of 34510 May tegral rectangular housing adapted to be slidably mounted over the upper end of a carton. A handle is integrally formed on the housing. A plunger provided [52] US. Cl. ..294/31 A, 220/85 H with retainer clip means is slidably mounted on the [51] Int. Cl. ..A47b 95/02 handle and a pivotally mounted cam is provided for Fleld 0f A, cmnming the a recess in the upper end of 220/35 94 R; 224/45 45 P the carton for releasably retaining the rectangular housing and handle in place on the carton. [56] References Cited 5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,073,642 1/ 1963 Barnes ..294/3 1.2

P'A'TENTED EP 19 I972 SHEET 1 OF 2- INVENTOR. James 5. 52172025 :A T T O R N E Y 45 a 9g 0 6 I Quid 9 W ZW PKTENTED P 1 me 3.692.346

SHEET 2 [IF 2 INVENTOR.

il/7765 5. Sim 725 ATTOPNFY CAM OPERATED DETACHABLE CLAMPING CARTON HANDLE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application, Ser. No. 34,310, filed May 4, 1970.

This invention relates to a novel and improved cam operated detachable carton handle, and more particularly to a carton handle which may be quickly and easily mounted on a milk carton or the like.

Coated paperboard cartons are used at the present time for packaging milk, fruit juices and other fluids. Some of these cartons are made in quart sizes, others in half-gallon sizes, and still others in gallon sizes. These cartons are generally made from a suitable paperboard which is coated with a plastic material. While these cartons are economical to make, fill and seal, they have the disadvantage in that they are difficult to handle. Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved cam operated detachable carton handle which may be quickly and easily mounted on a paperboard carton, whereby the carton may be easily handled and the contents thereof poured out in an efiicient and easy manner.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a cam operated detachable carton handle which is simple and compact in construction, economical to manufacture and light in weight.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved cam operated detachable carton handle which is especially adapted for use on large coated paperboard containers and cartons, such as one-half gallon and gallon sizes.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved cam operated detachable carton handle which embodies a cam operated pyramidal shaped retainer member provided with retainer clip means, and a cam means for operating said retainer member for releasably securing the handle to a carton.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved cam operated detachable carton handle which includes an integral rectangular housing, a handle integrally formed thereon, a cam operated retainer means for projecting into a recess on the carton for releasable gripping engagement with the carton, and retainer clip means on said cam operated retainer means for locking the retainer means to the carton.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, appended claims, and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a cam operated detachable carton holder made in accordance with the principles of the present invention, and showing the handle operatively attached to the upper end of a conventional coated paperboard milk carton.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the carton and carton handle structure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken along the line 2-2 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, elevational section view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 2, taken along the line 3-3 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, elevational section view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 2, taken along the line 4-4 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the cam operated detachable carton handle structure of the invention and showing a slight modification.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view, similar to FIGQZ, of a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, elevational section view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 6, taken along the line 77 thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, the numeral 10 generally designates a large size milk carton, as for example a gallon milk carton, on which is operatively mounted an illustrative carton handle made in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The

numerals

11 and 12 in FIG. 2 designate the two carton top end closure panels which slope inwardly and upwardly and which are sealed together to make the sealed joint 13 along the upper end of the carton. As viewed in FIG. 1, the left side of the upper end of the carton 10 would be opened in the usual manner to provide a-pouring spout. The right upper side of the upper end of the carton 10 is provided with usual recess formed by the top

end closure panels

11 and 12 and the usual upper end side upwardly sloping closure panel 15 under the joint 13. As shown in FIG. 1, the upper end of said recess is formed bythe lower side 14 of the sealed joint 13 and the outer sur face of panel 15. FIG. 2 illustrates the recess as extending inwardly along the convergingedges l6 and 17 of panel 15.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the detachable carton handle of the present invention includes a plunger or retainer member generally indicated by the numeral 18, which is adapted to be seated inthe aforedescribed recess. As shown in FIG. 5, the cam operated plunger or retainer 18 comprises a retainer means which is provided with a substantial triangularly shaped body, when viewed from the front end thereof, so as to nest into the aforementioned recess and engage the various sloping surfaces of the upper end closure panels of the carton 10 which surround the recess. As shown in FIG. 3, the plunger 18 is provided with a rear horizontal lower rear edge 19, and the lower surface of the plunger slopes upwardly and forwardly from the lower rear edge 19, as indicated by the numeral 20 in FIG. 3. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the plunger retainer 18 is provided with a vertical rear surface or face 21, and a centrally disposed upper ridge 22 which separates the two downwardly, outwardly and forwardly sloping side faces 23 and 24 (FIG. 5). The numeral 25 in FIG. 5 designates the front vertical face of the plunger retainer 18. The

numerals

26 and 27 designate the outer converging sides of the plunger retainer 18.

As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, the plunger retainer 18 is integrally connected to a cam follower or cam operator generally indicated by the numeral 28 which is cylindrical in overall configuration and which is integrally attached to the rear face 21 of the plunger retainer 18. The numerals 29 in FIGS. 3 and designate the ends of a longitudinal slot 30 which is formed in the cam follower 28 and which extends vertically therethrough. As best seen in FIG. 5, the upper face of the cam follower 28 is partially removed to ex pose the slot 30. The numeral 31 in FIGS. 1 and 5 generally designates a handle bracket for attaching a handle generally indicated by the numeral 32 to the rear wall 35 of a handle housing. The handle 32 comprises a vertically disposed portion 34 which extends downwardly from the rear outer end of the bracket 31 and which is attached at its upper end to the lower side 33 of the bracket 31. The handle bracket 31 is integrally connected to a rectangular housing which is square and comprises the rear housing wall 35, the left side wall 36, the front wall 37, and the right side wall 38. It will be understood that the housing, the handle bracket 31 and handle portion 34 may be integrally formed as an integral unit from any suitable material, as for example a suitable plastic material.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the housing is provided with a pair of

seating tabs

40 and 42 which are carried on the upper end of apair of

tab carrier legs

39 and 41, respectively. The

tab carrier legs

39 and 41 are integrally formed with the

housing side walls

36 and 38, respectively. The

seating tabs

40 and 42 slope inwardly and upwardly at an angle commensurate with the slope of the carton

upper end walls

11 and 12.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, a plunger rest guide 43 is integrally formed on the upper end of the housing rear wall 35, and this guide extends rearwardly toward the handle bracket 31. A vertical cam slot is formed through the handle bracket 31, and the numeral 46 in FIG. 3 designates the bottom of this slot. The numeral 47 in FIG. 3 designates the rear end of the cam slot. A cylindrical or round, longitudinally extended slot 48 (FIG. 5) is formed through the handle bracket 31 in a position above the rest guide 43. The round slot 48 is adapted to slidably receive the cylindrical cam follower or operator 28. The numeral 49 in FIG. 5 designates a recess or slot formed in the rest guide 43 for movement therethrough of an operator cam 54. The numeral 50in FIG. 1 designates a slot which communicates the cam slot in the bracket 31 with a handle slot 52 which is formed in the rear or outer face of the handle portion 34. The numeral 53 designates the lower end of the cam operator handle slot 52. The numeral 54in FIGS. 3 and 5 designates generally a pivotally mounted, round-nose cam for moving the plunger retainer 28 inwardly and outwardly relative to a carton 10. The numeral 55 in FIGS. 3 and 5 designates the radial clamping nose or point on the front end of the cam 54. The numeral 56 designates the lower forward rounded end of the cam 54. A cam operator handle 57 is integrally formed on the rear end of the cam 54. A pivot pin 60 extends through suitable pin holes 59in the bracket 31 and a pin hole 58 in the cam 54 for pivotally mounting the cam 54 in the bracket 31. The numerals 61 in FIG. 4 designate the front vertical faces of the bifurcated portions of the bracket 31.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, the plunger 18 is provided with a pair of retainer clip members, generally indicated by the numeral 62, which are adapted to be slidably mounted over the edges of the container top

end closure panels

11 and 12 to releasably lock the retainer plunger 18 in the recess in the top end of the container 10. Each of the retainer clip members 62 includes a vertically disposed attachment plate 63 which is releasably secured to the plunger 18 by any suitable means, as by a retainer screw 64. Each of the retainer clip members 62 further includes a flange member 65 which has its rear end integrally attached to the upper end of its mating attachment plate 63. The flanges 65 extend over the plunger upper faces 23 and 24, in a spaced apart position, for the reception of the outer edges of the container top

end closure panels

11 and 12 when the plunger 18 is cammed into the aforementioned recess.

The handle of the invention is used by first swinging the cam operated handle 57 in a counterclockwise direction to move it to the broken line position shown in FIG. 3 so as to move the plunger retainer 18 to a retracted position relative to the housing back wall 35. The housing is then slipped over the upper end of a carton 10 until the

seating tabs

40 and 41 engage the carton

upper end walls

11 and 12 which limit the downward movement of the housing over the carton. The cam operated handle 57 is then swung clockwise or downwardly to the solid line position shown in FIG. 3, whereby the retainer plunger 18 is cammed by the cam 54 to the left as viewed in FIG. 3 into the recess at the rear end of the carton 10 below the joint member 13 and into a clamping engagement therewith. The plunger 18 may be withdrawn from the recess in the container 10 by moving the handle 57 upwardly whereby the radially inward directed straight surface on the rear end of the cam adjacent the curved lower end 56 engages the rear wall 29 of the slot in the plunger 18 and moves the plunger 18 backwardly to the broken line position shown in FIG. 3.

The clip flanges 65 slide over the outer edges of the container top

end closure panels

11 and 12 and securely lock the plunger 18 to the container 10. The retainer clip members 62 may be made from any suitable material, as for example, plastic or metal. The clip flanges 65 are spaced from the upper surfaces of the plunger 18 so that the

carton closure panels

11 and 12 must be slightly forced into the space between the plunger 18 and the flanges 65. It will be seen that the clip members 62 are disposed on opposite sides of the center line 13 of the container 10 when in the operative position shown in FIG. 2. After the plunger 18 has been cammed into position in the recess in the upper end of the container, the user may then easily lift the container 10 for transporting and pouring purposes with safety and efficiency.

FIG. 5 illustrates a slight modification of the invention wherein the sealing

tabs

40 and 42 have been omitted. The slightly modified structure shown in FIG. 5 functions in the same manner as the aforementioned described structure of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a second embodiment of the invention wherein the clip retainer members have been formed integrally with the plunger 18. The clip retainer members have been marked with the numerals 62a and they function in the same manner as the retainers 62 of FIGS. 1 through 5. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the clip retainers 62a are provided with the integral attachment plate portion 63a which has its lower end integrally formed with the plunger 18 and its upper end integrally attached to the clip flanges 65a.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments of the invention herein disclosed are well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change.

What is claimed is:

l. A detachable carton handle for mounting on the upper end of a carton having a sealed top end formed by closure panels, and a recess formed under the sealed top end, comprising:

a. a rectangular housing including a back wall, a left side wall, a right side wall, and a front wall;

b. an integral handle bracket formed on the back wall of said housing;

c. a handle integrally attached to the outer end of said handle bracket;

d. a retainer plunger slidably mounted on said handle bracket for inward and outward movement perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of a carton;

e. retainer clip means carried on said retainer plunger for releasable locking engagement with the edges of the carton closure panels; and,

f. cam means operatively mounted on said handle bracket for camming said retainer plunger in one direction to an inoperative position to permit said LII LII

housing to be slidably mounted over the upper end of a carton, and to an operative position to be seated in said recess in a clamping engagement with the carton to relcasably secure the housing and handle on a carton.

2. A detachable carton handle as defined in claim 1,

wherein said cam means includes:

a. a cam follower attached to said retainer plunger and being provided with a cam slot; and,

b. a rotatable cam pivotally mounted on said handle bracket and extended into said slot for operative engagement with said cam follower for moving said retainer plunger between said operative and inoperative positions.

3. A detachable carton handle as defined in claim 2,

wherein said retainer clip means includes:

a. a pair of separately formed retainer clips attached to said retainer plunger.

4. A detachable carton handle as defined in claim 2,

wherein said retainer clip means includes:

a. a pair of integrally formed retainer clips on said retainer plunger.

5. A detachable carton handle as defined in claim 2,

including:

a. a seating tab carried on each of said side walls for locating said housing on the upper end of a carton.

Claims

1. A detachable carton handle for mounting on the upper end of a carton having a sealed top end formed by closure panels, and a recess formed under the sealed top end, comprising: a. a rectangular housing including a back wall, a left side wall, a right side wall, and a front wall; b. an integral handle bracket formed on the back wall of said housing; c. a handle integrally attached to the outer end of said handle bracket; d. a retainer plunger slidably mounted on said handle bracket for inward and outward movement perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of a carton; e. retainer clip means carried on said retainer plunger for releasable locking engagement with the edges of the carton closure panels; and, f. cam means operatively mounted on said handle bracket for camming said retainer plunger in one direction to an inoperative position to permit said housing to be slidably mounted over the upper end of a carton, and to an operative position to be seated in said recess in a clamping engagement with the carton to releasably secure the housing and handle on a carton.

2. A detachable carton handle as defined in claim 1, wherein said cam means includes: a. a cam follower attached to said retainer plunger and being provided with a cam slot; and, b. a rotatable cam pivotally mounted on said handle bracket and extended into said slot for operative engagement with said cam follower for moving said retainer plunger between said operative and inoperative positions.

3. A detachable carton handle as defined in claim 2, wherein said retainer clip means includes: a. a pair of separately formed retainer clips attached to said retainer plunger.

4. A detachable carton handle as defined in claim 2, wherein said retainer clip means includes: a. a pair of integrally formed retainer clips on said retainer plunger.

5. A detachable carton handle as defined in claim 2, including: a. a seating tab carried on each of said side walls for locating said housing on the upper end of a carton.