US3750363A

US3750363A - Article carrier and method of interlocking a pair of panels in face contacting relation

Info

Publication number: US3750363A
Application number: US00096687A
Authority: US
Inventors: P Wood
Original assignee: Mead Corp
Current assignee: Mead Corp
Priority date: 1969-04-01
Filing date: 1970-12-10
Publication date: 1973-08-07
Anticipated expiration: 1990-08-07

Abstract

An article carrier of the wrap-around type having top, bottom and side walls foldably joined along their side edges to form a tubular structure wherein one wall is a composite panel incorporating a pair of face contacting lap panels is provided with locking means in the form of a locking tab formed in one of the lap panels which is inserted through an opening defined by a retaining tab formed in the other lap panel and disposed in coincidental relationship with respect to the locking tab. Formation of the lock is facilitated by angularly extending slits formed in the lap panel in which the opening is formed. One end of each slit is in communication with one side of the opening. During formation of the lock the laterally projecting shoulders of the arrowhead type locking tab are received by the slits so as to facilitate the formation of the lock. Upon completion of the lock the lateral projections of the locking tab are out of registry with the slits.

Description

United States Patent Wood ARTICLE CARRIER AND METHOD OF INTERLOCKING A PAIR OF PANELS IN FACE CONTACTING RELATION Prentice J. Wood, Jonesboro, Ga.

The Mead Corporation, Dayton, Ohio Filed: Dec. 10, 1970 Appl. No.2 96,687

Related US. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 811,859, April 1, 1969, Pat. No. 3,570,746.

lnventor:

Assignee:

US. Cl. 53/32 Int. Cl B65b 17/02, B65d 71/00 Field of Search 53/32; 206/65 C,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary ExaminerHarold D. Whitehead Assistant Examiner-Neil Abrams Attorney-Walter M. Rodgers ABSTRACT An article carrier of the wrap-around type having top, bottom and side walls foldably joined along their side edges to form a tubular structure wherein one wall is a composite panel incorporating a pair of face contacting lap panels is provided with locking means in the form of a locking tab formed in one of the lap panels which is inserted through an opening defined by a retaining tab formed in the other lap panel and disposed in coincidental relationship with respect to the locking tab. Formation of the lock is facilitated by angularly extending slits formed in the lap panel in which the opening is formed. One end of each slit is in communication with one side of the opening. During fonnation of the lock the laterally projecting shoulders of the arrowhead type locking tab are received by the slits so as to facilitate the formation of the lock. Upon completion of the lock the lateral projections of the locking tab are out of registry with the slits.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED M18 7 I975 3.7 50 36 3 FIG. 3- F164 5 I NVEN TOR. PRENTICE J. WOOD ATTORNEY ARTICLE CARRIER AND METHOD OF INTERLOCKING A PAIR OF PANELS IN FACE CONTACTING RELATION This application is a division of application Ser. No. 81 1,859 filed Apr. 1, 1969 and now U.S. Pat. No. 3,570,746.

US. Pat. No. 2,751,730 issued June 26, 1956 discloses an article carrier having arrowhead type locking tabs which are driven through openings defined by retaining tabs so as to secure the carrier blank about a group of articles to be packaged. This patent discloses and claims a machine and method for driving the locking tabs through the openings defined by the retaining tabs. Since the packaging process of Pat. No. 2,751,730 is performed continuously as the carton wrapper and items to be packaged are moved continuously along a predetermined path, it is necessary to move the locking mechanism in synchronism with the movement of the blank and articles.

According to this invention, arrowhead type locking tabs and their associated retaining tabs and openings are specially adapted for the formation of the lock by static plows. Stated otherwise, slits are formed in one panel of the carton adjacent the locking aperture to facilitate manipulation of the locking tab with reference to the opening defined by the retaining tab.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wrap-around carton constructed according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the blank used in forming the carton shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are fragmentary perspective views showing the insertion of the locking tab into an opening defined by the retaining tab, FIG. 3 depicting an initial stage of the locking operation and FIG. 4 depictihg a later stage of such an operation, portions of the blank being omitted for the sake of clarity, and in which FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged end view of the locking elements in locked condition.

In the drawings, the numeral I generally designates the top wall of a carrier having side edges 2 and 3. A plurality of can receiving

slits

4, 5 and 6 are formed along the fold line 2 and similar slits 7, 8 and 9 are formed along fold line 3.

To facilitate carrying the package, a pair of tabs 10 and 11 are struck from the top panel 1 and are foldably joined thereto along the fold lines 12 and 13 respectively. These tabs simply are folded inwardly into vacant spaces within the package to form finger gripping apertures as is well known.

In order to facilitate opening of the package, a conventional tear strip 14 is formed in top panel 1 and functions in known manner.

For the purpose of separating the cans such as C1 in one row from the cans such as C2 in the other row, a plurality of tabs such as are indicated at l5, l6 and 17 are struck from top panel I.-Preferably though not necessarily, these tabs are of the type which are doubled back on themselves so that the extreme outer end of each tab rides underneath one of the can chimes so as to hold the top panel 1 into close proximity to the tops of the cans.

The side walls of the carton are designated by the numerals I8 and 19 respectively and such walls are foldably joined to top wall 1 along fold lines 2 and 3 respectively.

The bottom of the carrier is a composite panel made up of a pair of lap panels designated by the

numerals

20 and 21 which are foldably joined respectively to the

side walls

18 and 19 along

fold lines

22 and 23.

For receiving the bottom portions of the cans, a plurality of

slits

24, 25 and 26 are formed along fold line 22 while

similar slits

27, 28 and 29 are formed along fold line 23.

For the purpose of tightening the wrapper as depicted in FIG. 2 about an article group, tightening apertures designated by the numeral 30 are formed in lap panel 20 and similar tightening apertures 31 are formed in lap panel 21. As is well understood in the art, suitable machine elements enter the tightening apertures 30 and 31 and these elements are manipulated so as to draw the wrapper in tight relationship about the articles to be packaged.

With the wrappper tightened about its associated article group, it then is necessary to secure the

lap panels

20 and 21 together. Toward this

end locking tabs

32 and 33 are inserted into the openings defined by retaining

tabs

34 and 35.

The

locking tabs

32 and 33 are identical as are the openings defined by the

retaining tabs

34 and 35. Only one locking tab and one retaining tab and its associated opening are here described.

Locking tab 33 for example is provided with a main part 36 which extends in a direction which is generally parallel to the end edges such as 37 and 38 of the bottom panel comprising

lap panels

20 and 21. In addition, locking tabs such as 33 are provided with

lateral projections

39 and 40.

Retaining tab 35 is formed by two parallel slits defining the side edges of the retaining tab and by a transverse slit connecting the ends of the parallel slits. Of course, when the retaining tab is folded inwardly and out of the plane of its associated panel, an opening is formed wherein the locking tab such as 33 is received.

When the carton is assembled and with the

lap panels

20 and 21 in locked condition, retaining tabs such as 35 extend in the opposite direction from the locking tabs such as 33.

In order to facilitate insertion of the locking tab 33 into the opening defined by retaining tab 35, a pair of slits 41 and 42 are formed in lap panel 21 alongside the sides of the retaining tab and with their inner ends extending into the side edges of the opening defined by V retaining tab 35. As is apparent particularly from FIG.

2, these slits 41 and 42 are disposed at an angle with respect to side edges of the opening defined by the retaining tab 35. Thus

lateral projections

39 and 40 of locking tab 33 are received respectively by slits 41 and 42 during the formation of the lock. Furthermore, the main portion 36 of the locking tab 33 is approximately the same width as is the width of the retaining tab 35. Since the slits 41 and 42 are disposed at an angle to the sides of the opening defined by retaining tab 35, the

lateral projections

39 and 40 of locking tab 33 fall out of registry with the slits after the lock is formed and upon completion of the locking operation.

The locking tabs such as 32 and 33 first must be swung out of the plane of the lap panel 2111. Thereafter the lap panel 20 and locking tabs such as 32 and 33 are plowed for instance by static means into cooperative relationship with the lap panel 21 and the openings defined by the

retaining tabs

34 and 35. As is apparent from FIG. 4, locking tab 33 assumes temporarily a slightly curved configuration when its lateral projections pass through the angular slits 41 and 42. However after the locking tab is fully inserted and seated within the opening defined by retaining tab 35, the locking tab returns due to the resilience of the material to its initial flat condition whereby the lateral projections become positioned out of registry with the slits 41 and 42. It will be noted also that during the formation of the lock, locking tab 33 pushes the retaining tab 35 upwardly and out of the plane of panel 21 and inwardly so that the retaining tab assumes an angle to the lap panel 21 and in effect props the locking tab 33 at an angle to lap panel 20 and thereby aids in securing the lock as shown in FIG. 5. Movement of the lap panels is such that when the lock is completed lap panel 20 is in face contacting relation to lap panel 21 and locking

tabs

33 and 34 are fully inserted within the openings defined by retaining

tabs

34 and 35. The width of the main portion of the locking tab is approximately equal to the width of the associated retaining tab and the lateral projections on the locking tab extend in a lateral direction a distance substantially equal to the lateral components of the slits.

It will be understood that the angular slits such as 41 and 42 provide a clear passage for the lateral projections of the locking tab without weakening these projections. At the same time the formation of the lock is greatly simplified in that simple plow means can be employed.

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

1. A method of interlocking a pair of panels in face contacting relation comprising the steps of arranging the panels in close but spaced apart relation to each other, forcing an arrowhead type locking tab having lateral projections thereon and formed integral with one of said panels out of the plane thereof in the general direction of the other of said panels and subsequently moving said one panel into flat face contacting relation with the other of said panels and simultaneously inserting the arrowhead end of said locking tab into an opening formed in said other panel, said lateral projections of said locking tab being received by angularly related slits formed in said other panel and in communication with opposite sides of said opening to impart a slightly curved configuration to said locking tab during insertion of said locking tab into said opening and said lateral projections being swung out of registry with said slits as said one panel engages said other panel in flat face contacting relation therewith 2. A method of interlocking a pair of panels in face contacting relation comprising the steps of arranging the panels in close but spaced apart relation to each other, forcing an arrowhead type locking tab having lateral projections thereon and formed integral with one of said panels out of the plane thereof in the general direction of the other of said panels and subsequently moving said one panel into flat face contacting relation with the other of said panels and simultaneously inserting the arrowhead end of said locking tab into an opening defined by a retaining tab and formed in said other panel and having angularly related slits extending outwardly from opposite sides of said opening, said lateral projections of said locking tab being received by said slits so as to impart a slightly curved configuration to said locking tab and said lateral projections being swung out of registry with said slits as said one panel engages said other panel in flat face contacting relation therewith and said projections complete their passage through said slits due to the resilience of said locking tab.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein said retaining tab is pushed out of the plane of said other panel by said locking tab during locking movement thereof to an angular position wherein said retaining tab props said locking tab to a position wherein said lateral projections are held out of registry with said slits.

Claims

1. A method of interlocking a pair of panels in face contacting relation comprising the steps of arranging the panels in close but spaced apart relation to each other, forcing an arrowhead type locking tab having lateral projections thereon and formed integral with one of said panels out of the plane thereof in the general direction of the other of said panels and subsequently moving said one panel into flat face contacting relation with the other of said panels and simultaneously inserting the arrowhead end of said locking tab into an opening formed in said other panel, said lateral projections of said locking tab being received by angularly related slits formed in said other panel and in communication with opposite sides of said opening to impart a slightly curved configuration to said locking tab during insertion of said locking tab into said opening and said lateral projections being swung out of registry with said slits as said one panel engages said other panel in flat face contacting relation therewith.

2. A method of interlocking a pair of panels in face contacting relation comprising the steps of arranging the panels in close but spaced apart relation to each other, forcing an arrowhead type locking tab having lateral projections thereon and formed integral with one of said panels out of the plane thereof in the general direction of the other of said panels and subsequently moving said one panel into flat face contacting relation with the other of said panels and simultaneously inserting the arrowhead end of said locking tab into an opening defined by a retaining tab and formed in said other panel and having angularly related slits extending outwardly from opposite sides of said opening, said lateral projections of said locking tab being received by said slits so as to impart a slightly curved configuration to said locking tab and said lateral projections being swung out of registry with said slits as said one panel engages said other panel in flat face contacting relation therewith and said projections complete their passage through said slits due to the resiliencE of said locking tab.