US3807625A

US3807625A - Handled end load carton

Info

Publication number: US3807625A
Application number: US00309775A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Akkerman
Original assignee: DONTAR Ltd
Current assignee: DONTAR Ltd; DONTAR LTD CA
Priority date: 1971-12-21
Filing date: 1972-11-27
Publication date: 1974-04-30
Anticipated expiration: 1991-04-30
Also published as: CA971137A

Abstract

A carton having a central partition foldably connected to a bottom wall having a sliding handle member connected to a tab projecting from the bottom wall by frangible elements spaced outwardly from the foldable connection between the bottom wall and the partition whereby on erection of the carton, the frangible elements are broken thereby freeing the sliding handle member from the projection. Also disclosed is a carton having a central partition with an aperture therethrough and a guide bar formed therein immediately below the aperture. A handle is formed by wrapping a piece of board about the upper end of the partition and securing the free ends of the board to opposite sides of the guide bar. Movement of the handle draws the guide bar into the aperture with the movement of the handle being limited by contact of the guide bar with the partition at the upper end of the aperture.

Description

United States Patent [191 Akkerman 1 HANDLED END LOAD CARTON [75] Inventor: Allardus A. Akkerman, Calgary,

Alberta, Canada [73] Assignee: Dontar Limited, Montreal, Canada [22] Filed: Nov. 27, 1972 [21] Appl. N0.: 309,775

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 21, 1971 Canada 130774 [52] US. Cl. 229/52 B, 220/22.1, 220/105, 229/27, 229/41 B, 229/52 BC [51] Int. Cl B6511 5/46, 365d 5/48 [58] Field of Search... 229/41 A, 41 R, 52 A, 52 B, 229/68 C, 17 SC; 220/104, 105

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,105,608 10/1963 Engel 220 105 3,079,040 2/1963 Vesak 220/105 2,961,124 11/1960 Hunter et al... 220/104 2,252,023 8/1941 Mulnix 229/41 B 3,511,434 5/1970 Dews 220/105 ['11] 3,807,625 5 Apr. 30, 1974 Primary Examineh -william 1. Price v Assistant Examiner-Bruce H. Bernstein 1 e en 15?! r F rmec d W.

A carton having a central partition foldably connected to a bottom wall having a sliding handle member connected to a tab projecting from the bottom wall by frangible elements spaced'outwardly from the foldable connection between the bottom wall and the partition whereby on erection of thecarton, thefrangible elements are broken thereby'freeing the'sliding handle member from the projection.

Also disclosed is a carton having a central partition with an aperture therethrough and a guide bar formed therein immediately below the aperture. A handle is formed by wrappinga piece of board about the upper end of the partition and securing the-.free ends of the board to opposite sides'of the guidebar. Movement of the handle draws the guide bar'into the aperture with the movement of the handle being limited by contact of the guide bar with the-partition at the upper end of the aperture.

10 Claims, 8' Drawing Figures HANDLED END LOAD CARTON FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a handled end load carton, more specifically the present invention relates to an end load carton having a substantially self-freeing handle structure and to a new handle arrangement.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Many types of handled end load cartons incorporating a basic Figure 8 design, i.e. a type of carton having integrally connected in series a partition panel, bottom panel, side panel, top panel, second side panel, and second bottom panel have been proposed (in some cases the bottom panels become the top panels and vice versa). One such carton has a tear-up handle that is formed by a projection extending from the partition panel and secured to the top panel with the top panel scored so that part thereof breaks away to reinforce the handle. In another proposed arrangement, the hand hole is formed in the partition wall and access is provided by an access hole formed in the top wall. It has also been proposed to provide a slide-up type handle as shown for example in Canadian Patent No. 872,656 issued June 8, 197l to Bathurst Paper Limited. The present invention is directedprimarily to the slide-up handle type carton and provides a system of producing a slide-up handle utilizing relative little board.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present invention provides a modification of the box shown in Applicants copending Canadian Application No. 124,245 filed Oct. 1, 1971 that facilitates separation of the handle structure from the partition.

It is the main object of the present invention to provide a partitioned box structure incorporating a handle that is at least partially freed from the partition during the erection of the box whereby withdrawing of the handle through the top of the carton into carrying position is facilitated. I

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new handle structure that facilitate guiding of the sliding movement of the handle relative to the partition as it is moved from its inoperative to its carrying position or vice versa.

Broadly, the present invention comprises a carton having a central partition, a fold line connecting said partition to a bottom wall, a sliding handle member connected to a projection extending from said bottom wall by frangible elements spaced outwardly from said fold line relative to said bottom wall.

Broadly, the present invention also relates to a carton having a central partition with an aperture therethrough spaced from the top edge of the partition, a guide bar is formed in the partition immediately below the aperture and is of less length than the aperture whereby the bar may move into the aperture when freed from the partition. A handle member is wrapped around the top edge of the partition and is secured to opposite sides of the bar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further features, objects and advantages will be evident from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one form of blank incorporating a self-freeing handle structure;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the partition and handle structure after the handle has been folded into position relative to the partition; 1

FIG. 3 shows partial view of a partly erected container formed from the blank of FIG. 1 illustrating the freeing of the handle from the bottom of the carton;

FIG. 4 is a partial top view of a modified blank incorporating the break-away feature of the FIG. 1 embodiment with a totally different handle type structure;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a blank from which a handle for use with the carton blank of FIG. 4 may be formed;

FIG. 6 is a partial isometric view illustrating the handle and partition of the blank of FIG. 4 with the handle freed from the partition;

FIG. 7 is a section view along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6 illustrating the handle in retracted position, and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view similar to FIG. 7 but showing the handle in extended operative or carrying position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. I, the blank 10 from right to left is composed of a first bottom panel 12, a first side panel 14, a top panel 16, a second side panel 18, second bottom panel and a partition panel 22 interconnected by a set of substantially

parallel fold lines

24, 26, 28, and 32 respectively. The panels l2, l4, l6, l8 and 20 have

end closure flaps

34, 36, 38, and 42 respectively foldably connected to opposite ends thereof by

fold lines

44 and 46. I I

The'top panel 16 may be provided-with any suitable opening means such as the frangible lines of weakness 48 to permit access to the filled and closed carton. In the illustrated arrangement a pair of thumb holes 50 are formed along the center line of the panel 16 by suitable lines of weakness and fold lines so that they may be punctured into the carton-and the underside of the top panel 16 engaged to tear up along the lines 48 and thereby open the carton.

The top panel 16 is also provided with a slot 52 through which the handle to be described in more'detail hereinbelow may be-withdrawn. To facilitate such withdrawal a pair of flaps 54 are formed on opposite sides of the slot 52 and are foldable on

fold lines

56 and 58 into the carton to permit access to the handle.

The partition 22 in FIG. 1 embodiment is divided into a pair of

panels

60 and 62 by a central handle member 63. Each of these

panels

60 and 62 has a retaining flap 64 foldably connected thereto along a fold line 66. Similarly a glue flap 68 is foldably connected to each of the

panels

60 and 62 by a fold line 70 and is provided with an end flap 72 foldably connected thereto by a fold line 74 substantially perpendicular to the fold line 70. The

fold lines

66 and 70 are substantially parallel to the set of

fold lines

24, 26, 28, 30 and 32'.

The handle member 63 is composed of a retaining section 76 foldably connected to a securing section 78 by a fold line 80. Each of these

sections

76 and 78 is provided with a hand hole 82 which when the two

sections

76 and 78 are folded in face-to-face relationship align to provide a hand hole in the handle member 63. The retaining section 76 is provided with a pair of laterally projecting flanges 84 that limit the movement of low.

the handle member 64 in the finished carton by cooperating with the fold line 66 as will be described hereinbe- The securing section 78 is secured to a projection 86 extending from the bottom panel by a frangible line of weakness 88 having in the illustrated arrangement a pair of

frangible elements

90 and 92 positioned outwardly of the panel 20 relative to the fold line 32.

In the FIG. 1 arrangement, it will be noted that the side edges of the panel member 64 between the fold line 32 and the flanges 84 extend in a substantially straight line which is substantially perpendicular to this fold line 32. This permits relative sliding movement of the handle member 63 and the partition 22 when their interconnecting frangible elements are broken and function to guide such relative movement. If desired, the side edges of the member 63 may be connected to the

panels

60 and 62 by frangible elements 94 and to the flaps 64 by frangible elements 96. These

frangible elements

94 and 96 need not always be provided. However, to facilitate handling it is generally preferred to have at least the frangible elements 94.

The handle structure of the FIG. 1 embodiment is formed by folding the handle section 76 on fold line 80 into overlying relationship with the handle section 78 and if desired securing these two handle sections together. During this folding operation, the elements 96, if present, are broken. The flaps 64 are folded over so that each flap 64 overlies a lateral flange 84 on the section 76 and the flaps 64 are secured to the

panels

60 and 62 respectively in the area laterally beyond the end edges of the flanges 84 so as not to interfere with the movement of the flanges when the handle member 63 is moved to operative carrying position.

After the handle has been formed and the flaps 64 have been secured in position to trap the flanges 84 between these flaps 64 and the panel 22, the remainder of the box is formed in'the conventional manner by folding along the fold line 30 and adhesively securing I the

flaps

68 and 72 to the top panel 16 and end flaps 38 respectively followed by folding along fold line 26 and securing the border section along the free edge of panel 12 and flaps 34 to panel 20 and end flaps 42 respectively thereby to provide a knock-down end load carton incorporating a handle structure.

In the knock-down position, the bottom panel 20 and partition panel 22 are in substantially the same plane and the handle member 64 is held in position by the

frangible elements

90 and 92 connecting the bottom edge of the section 78 to the tab 86 projecting from the bottom panel 20 and by frangible elements 94 (if provided) connecting the section 78 to the panels 60 and panel 22 out of the plane of bottom panel 20. The projection 86 is not foldably connected to the panel 20 and remains substantially in the plane of panel 20 whereby the

frangible elements

90 and 92 are broken to free the panel 78 from the projection 86 (see FIG. 3). Thus the only remaining connection between the handle member 63 and the partition panel 22 are the frangible elements 94 which will be broken when the handle member 63 is pulled from the carton to its operative carrying position.

It will be apparent from the above that the FIG. 1 to 3 embodiment provides a carton having a handle mem ber formed from the same blank as the remainder of the carton and wherein the handle member is substantially freed from the remainder of the carton during the manufacture and erection thereof. After the carton has been erected, the handle member 63 is retained in position between the partition panel 22 and the flaps 64 and is permitted to slide vertically therebetween until the flanges 84 on the handle member 63 engage the fold line 66 connecting the flaps 64 to the partition panel 22. In this position, the handle projects above the top of the carton and the hand hole is freely accessible for carrying the cartonwhether loaded or empty. The arrangement of the frangible elements at least some of which are broken during the manufacture permits formation of a carton having a sliding handle incorporated therein with the handle retained in position and requiring a minimum force to separate same from the partition to permit movement to its operativecarrying position.

In the modified arrangement shown in FIGS. 4 to 8 inclusive, like reference characters followed by a prime have been used to indicate the same elements as in the FIG. 1 to 3 embodiment.

The partition panel 22 of the FIG. 4' to 8 embodiment is quite different from the panel 22 of the previous embodiment. Panel 22' is formed with an aperture 100 which terminates spaced from the fold line 32' and from the top edge 1020f the partition panel 22?. The space between the top edge 102 and the top of the aperture100 provides a retaining bridge 104 to limit the movement of the handle as will be described hereinbelow.

At the bottom of the aperture 100 is a guide bar 106 which in the illustrated arrangement is substantially the same width as the aperture 100 and is held in the partition panel 22 by frangible elements and 92 and if desired frangible elements'94'. The aperture is so sized relative to the bar 106 that the bar 106 can be received in the aperture 100 by moving the bar 106 substantially perpendicular to the fold line 32'.

To form the handle for the FIG. 4 embodiment, a second blank 108 (see FIG. 5) is used. This blank 108 may be formed from boxboard or the like and is provided by a pair of

panels

110 and 112 foldably interconnected by fold line 114. The panel 110 is provided with a hand hole 1 16 which in the illustrated arrangement has a flap 1 18 formed therein. This flap 118 is foldably connected to the panel 110 by a fold line 120 and is provided with a further pair of fold lines 122 substantially parallel to foldline 120 which are adapted to facilitate folding of the flap 118 through a hand hole 124 formed in the panel 112 when the handle is in operation thereby to protect the fingers.

The handle 126 (see FIGS. 6, 7 or 8) is formed by wrapping the blank 108 about the partition panel 22' so that the fold line 114 is located substantially parallel to the top of the panel 22' and the

panels

110 and 112 overlie opposite sides of the bar 106. These

panels

110 and 112 are secured in any suitable manner to opposite faces of the bar 106. Preferably, the

panels

110 and 112 are slightly wider than the length of the bar 106 whereby side portions of the

panels

110 and 112 overlap the sections of panel 22' bordering the ends of the bar 106 and the aperture 100 (see FIG. 6). This arrangement aids in guiding the handle 126 when it is slid to and from its operative carrying position.

The top edge 102 of the partition panel 22' is provided with suitable notches 128 to accommodate the fingers projecting through the holes 50 in the top panel during the opening operation and with a notch 130 to facilitate engagement of the handle for lifting same out of the carton.

As with the FIG. 1 to 3 embodiment, the box of FIGS. 4 8 is formed into a knock-down container and then during erection the frangible elements 90' and 92' are fractured in the same manner as described hereinabove with respect to the FIG. 1 to 3 embodiment whereby the bar 106 is retained in position only by the frangible elements 94 if such elements are used. These elements are fractured when the handle member 126 is drawn upwardly and the bar 106 slides in the aperture 100 until the top edge 132 of the bar 106 contacts the bottom edge 134 of the bridge 104 thereby limiting the upward movement of the handle 126.

The side edges of the apetture 100 tend to guide the movement of the bar 106 while the overlap of the border sections of the panels 1 10 and 112 of the blank 108 with the partition panel 22' on opposite sides of the aperture 100 and bar 106 further ensures that the handle member l26slides substantially in the desired plane (see FIGS. 6, 7 and 8). If desired the aperture 100 may taper and wider than the bar 106 at its bottom end.

The handle structure of the FIG. 4 to 8 embodiment incorporates the self-freeing feature of the FIG. 1 to 3 embodiment. Obviously, if desired, the fold line 32' could extend the full length of the carton and no tab 86 be provided. In this particular case the bar 106 could be provided with substantially parallel top and bottom edges formed bylines of severance and be connected to the panel 22' only by a pair of frangible elements 94. v I

Further modifications will be evident to those skilled in the art without departing from the theory of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A carton comprising a central partition, a fold line connecting said partition to a bottom wall, a handle member in part formed from said partition, a projection extending from said bottom wall across said fold line, frangible element means connecting said part of said handle member to said projection, means retaining said handle member in position adjacent said partition while permitting relative sliding motion therebetween, said handle member moving with said partition when said carton is set up from a knock-down condition whereby said frangible element means are broken.

2. A carton comprising in seriatum a first bottom wall, a first side wall, a top wall, a second side wall, a second bottom wall, and a partition foldably interconnected by a set of substantially parallel fold lines, a handle member, means retaining said handle member in position adjacent said partition while permitting sliding movement of said handle member relative to said partition from an inoperative position within said carton to an operative carrying position, a projection extending from said second bottom wall across the fold line connection between said bottom wall and said partition panel, frangible element means connecting said handle member to said projection, said frangible element means breaking upon relative movement between said second bottom wall and said partition during erection of said carton from its knock-down condition to its set up condition.

3. A carton defined in claim 1 wherein said handle member comprises a retaining section and a securing section foldably interconnected, said means retaining including a pair of flaps'foldably connected to said partition on a fold line substantially parallel to the fold line connection between said partition and said bottom wall, each said flaps overlying a flange projecting laterally of said retaining section.

. 4. A carton defined in claim 2 wherein said handle member comprises a retaining section and a securing section foldably interconnected, said means retaining including a pair of flaps foldably connected to said partition on a fold line substantially parallel to the 'fold line connection between said partition and said bottom wall, each said flaps overlying a flange projecting laterally of said retaining section.

5. A carton as defined in claim 3 further comprising further frangible elements connecting said handle member to said partition.

6. A carton as defined in claim 4further comprising further frangible elements connecting said securing section to said partition.

7. A carton as defined in claim 2 wherein said handle member comprises a retaining bar formed in said partition, a separate handle element wrapped about said partition and'secured to opposite side faces of said bar, and aperture in said partition into which said bar may be moved during said relative sliding movement between said handle member and said partition.

8. A carton comprising a partition panel, an aperture in said partition panel having a top edge spaced from the top edge of said partition, a guide bar formed in said partition panel at the bottom of said aperture, frangible elements temporarily holding said guide bar in position in said partition, a handle forming element wrapped about said top edge of said partition and secured to opposite faces of said guide bar, said aperture and said guide bar relatively dimensioned so that said guide bar may be lifted, breaking said frangible elements into said aperture and-into contact with said top edge of said aperture thereby to limit the movement of said guide bar and thus of said handle forming element.

bar.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No: 3,807, 625 Dated: April 30, 1974 ALLARDUS A. AKKERMAN It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent is hereby corrected as shown below:

Title Page: Below [75] Inventor: Allardus A. 'Akkerman, Calgary,

Alberta, Canada Correct: [73] Assignee: "Dontar Limited, Montreal,

Canada To read: [73] Assignee: Domtar Limited, Montreal, Canada Signed and sealed this 24th day of September 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

3. A carton defined in claim 1 wherein said handle member comprises a retaining section and a securing section foldably interconnected, said means retaining including a pair of flaps foldably connected to said partition on a fold line substantially parallel to the fold line connection between said partition and said bottom wall, each said flaps overlying a flange projecting laterally of said retaining section.

4. A carton defined in claim 2 wherein said handle member comprises a retaining section and a securing section foldably interconnected, said means retaining including a pair of flaps foldably connected to said partition on a fold line substantially parallel to the fold line connection between said partition and said bottom wall, each said flaps overlying a flange projecting laterally of said retaining section.

6. A carton as defined in claim 4 further comprising further frangible elements connecting said securing section to said partition.

7. A carton as defined in claim 2 wherein said handle member comprises a retaining bar formed in said partition, a separate handle element wrapped about said partition and sEcured to opposite side faces of said bar, and aperture in said partition into which said bar may be moved during said relative sliding movement between said handle member and said partition.

8. A carton comprising a partition panel, an aperture in said partition panel having a top edge spaced from the top edge of said partition, a guide bar formed in said partition panel at the bottom of said aperture, frangible elements temporarily holding said guide bar in position in said partition, a handle forming element wrapped about said top edge of said partition and secured to opposite faces of said guide bar, said aperture and said guide bar relatively dimensioned so that said guide bar may be lifted, breaking said frangible elements into said aperture and into contact with said top edge of said aperture thereby to limit the movement of said guide bar and thus of said handle forming element.

9. A carton as defined in claim 8 wherein said aperture and said guide bar each has its length in the direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which said bar is lifted substantially equal whereby end edges of said apertures may cooperate with end edges of said bar to guide movement of said bar.

10. A carton as defined in claim 9 wherein said handle forming element is wider than the length of said guide bar and projects from opposite ends of said guide bar.