WO2007092348A2

WO2007092348A2 - Carrier and method

Info

Publication number: WO2007092348A2
Application number: PCT/US2007/002957
Authority: WO
Inventors: Angelo Cuomo
Original assignee: E-Z Media, Inc.
Priority date: 2006-02-02
Filing date: 2007-02-02
Publication date: 2007-08-16
Also published as: EP2038185A4; CA2644576A1; EP2038185A2; WO2007092348A3

Abstract

A foldable carrier for beverages and other objects has a pair of folding receptacles extending outwardly from a central vertical support panel structure. In a first embodiment, the vertical support panel structure is made of one material as a first component, and an external side wall structure of a second material, preferably of lower cost, and the two components are joined together. In another embodiment, horizontal slits are formed in the side walls across two or four corners of the carrier, and the resulting horizontal strips of material are bent inwardly to form dividers for separating objects from one another in the receptacles. In a third embodiment, the carrier is made from a blank with a structure for use with a variety of different right-angle gluers.

Description

UNITED STATKS RECEIVING OFFICE CARRIER AND METHOD

This invention relates to carriers for beverages, food, liquids in containers and other objects, and to methods of making and using such carriers .

This patent application disclo9ses improvements over the carriers shown in U.S. patent applications Serial No.

10/215,938 filed August 9, 2002; Serial No. 10/652,265, filed

September 15, 2003; Serial No. 10/737,612 filed on December 16, 2003; Serial No. 10/939,264 filed on September 10, 2004,

Serial No. 11/012,440 filed on December 15, 2004, Serial No.

11/012,789, filed December 15, 2004, Serial No. 11/301,913, filed December 13, 2005, and Serial No. 11/301,407, filed

December 13, 2005. The disclosures of those patent applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

In the above-identified prior patent applications are disclosed a number of different general-purpose carriers, and other carriers which are highly advantageous for use in carrying beverages, e.g., in "six packs" of bottles containing soft drinks, beer, etc. Other carriers are specially adapted for use in carrying both beverage cups and solid foods in or from sports arenas, fast-food restaurants, etc.

It is an object of the invention to reduce the cost of manufacturing such carriers by reducing the materials cost and/or by increasing the production rate of the carriers.

Carriers for carrying liquids usually need to have good wet-strength; that is, good strength even when fully or partially soaked with water or other liquids. Thus, such carriers often are made of treated fiberboard materials such as "SUS" plastic-treated fiberboard which retain a good portion of their original strength when wet .

Such treated materials are relatively expensive. One way that this expense has been offset, in part, in the past, is by making some parts of the carriers out of untreated, less expensive materials. However, the resulting carrier is not as strong or inexpensive or easy to use as it could be .

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a carrier having the highly advantageous features described in the above-identified patent applications in which the manufacturing costs are significantly reduced without unduly compromising the strength and durability of the carrier, even when wet. In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing objects are satisfied by providing a carrier with a vertical support panel structure and two foldable receptacles, each extending outwardly from the lower regions of the vertical support panel structure. A bottom structure unfolds automatically as the carrier blank is unfolded in order to erect the carrier.

The cost of making the carrier is reduced by using a combination of relatively high wet- strength, relatively expensive materials for part of the carrier, and relatively less expensive material for the rest .

Selecting the components which can be made of the less expensive materials without unduly weakening the carrier and without overly complicating the manufacturing process and machinery is a difficult problem. In accordance with the invention, the external wall structure of the carrier is made of the treated material and the vertical support panel structure is made of the less expensive material. Preferably, the bottom-forming flanges extending downwardly from the lower edges of the external walls and the vertical support panels are integral with and made of the same material as the panels from which they extend.

Preferably, the vertical support panels form a handle structure which is used to lift and carry the carrier and its load. Preferably, it is covered with a layer of the high-wet-strength material.

The invention makes it possible to reduce the cost of the carrier while giving the carrier maximum wet strength and durability by making the carrier from two separate blanks rather than one and folding and gluing the two blanks in separate processes simultaneously, and then joining the blanks together to finish the folded carrier. This speeds the manufacturing process and, therefore reduces manufacturing cost without sacrificing wet strength and durability.

It also is an object of the invention to provide a carrier with all of the advantages discussed above, but which can be made by the use of machinery which already is used to make' prior carriers, thus minimizing the cost for added manufacturing equipment .

The manufacturing process is relatively simple, even though two separate parts of the carrier are made separately and then secured together. The reduction in material cost and/or manufacturing time reduces overall manufacturing costs significantly, without significantly reducing the strength or durability of the carrier. In the version of the carrier which can be used conveniently at fast-food outlets to carry both beverages and solid foods in an auxiliary tray mounted on the carrier handle, the tray can be made of the less expensive, less liquid-resistant material, because it usually is used to carry dry objects. As with some of the carriers shown in the above- identified patent applications, the vertical support panel structure can be made either with two panels fastened together back-to-back, or with the two panels hinged together so that advertising and/or promotional materials can be located on the inside surfaces of the panels, and the panels can be swung apart to give the customer access to those materials.

It is another object of the invention to reduce the cost of manufacturing such carriers by reducing the number of manufacturing steps and/or by increasing the production rate of the carriers.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carrier which provides greater visibility of objects such as beverage container labels in the carriers.

Carriers used for carrying objects of varying size, shape and type, such as food and beverages from a carry-out restaurant, concession stand in a sports stadium, etc., would benefit from making the carriers convertible or adaptable to better hold objects of a variety of heights and shapes.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the cost of making the carrier is reduced by forming horizontal strips in the corners of the receptacles . The strips can be pushed to fold them inwardly where they serve as dividers to separate obj ects from one another in the receptacles . Advantageously, the removal of material from the side walls makes the objects in the receptacles more visible. This gives the opportunity to add an advertising display to the loaded carrier .

The carriers can have walls of varying height if the horizontal strips are cut with the upper edges used as the upper edges of the strips . The strips can be folded inwardly selectively to reduce the side wall height in one or more areas to accommodate both small or larger beverage cups, etc.

The same conversion simultaneously forms dividers in the receptacles. The strips can be folded inwardly by several different procedures .

Some of the strips can be pre-folded inwardly during the folding of the carrier so that they are in place when the carrier is unfolded later for being filled. Another method is to leave the strips unfolded initially, and then push them or hold them as the carrier is being unfolded, or afterwards, so that the use of the dividers is selective.

When automatic filling equipment is used to fill the carriers, e.g., when they are loaded as six-packs of beverages, it is "preferred to pre-fold the strips as much as possible so that a minimum of action is needed to be taken by the filling equipment to unfold the strips. In fact, all that need be done is to position a barrier near certain of the strips as opposed side edges of the folded carrier are pushed towards one another to unfold it . when the carriers are used to carry take-out food, preferably, the strips are not folded in before hand so that the distributing employee can choose the best position to accommodate the food orders at hand. In the version of the carrier which can be used conveniently at fast-food outlets to carry both beverages and solid foods, an auxiliary tray can be mounted on the carrier handle to hold said foods over the top of the beverages below, as it is disclosed in the above-identified patent applications .

As with some of the carriers shown in the above- identified patent applications, the vertical support panel structure can be made either with two panels fastened together back-to-back, or with the two panels hinged together so that advertising and/or promotional materials can be located on the inside surfaces of the panels, and the panels can be swung apart to give access to the customer.

In the manufacture of fiberboard carriers used in the past as pre-packaged six-pack carriers for bottled beverages, automated manufacturing equipment has been used. Some of such equipment includes straight-line gluing machines and right-angle gluing machines. Both types of equipment are in widespread use. The straight-line gluers usually are capable of handling a longer carrier blank, which has tabs and flaps to be glued predominantly in a straight line along one edge of the blank.

Right-angle gluers often cannot accommodate as long a blank as the straight-line gluers. They typically apply glue in a first step with the blank moving through the gluer in one direction, and then the blank is rotated 90° and goes through the gluer in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. Both types of equipment usually are relatively expensive and therefore should be used for as long as possible in order to amortize the purchase cost over the largest number of units of production possible, and thus maximize manufacturing profit.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a set of blanks particularly adapted for use in right-angle gluers, in order to complement the provision of linear blanks for linear gluers, as shown in my above- identified U.S. patent application Serial No. 11/012,440 filed December 15, 2004, thereby providing a choice of different blanks to produce substantially the same carrier with almost equal facility on either type of equipment.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a blank and a method of using it which is highly adaptable to the locations of glue heads and other configurations of existing right-angle gluers so as to minimize the changes required to manufacture the carriers of the invention and maximize the useful lifetime of such equipment .

It is another object of the invention to maximize the utilization of existing machinery, including both in-line and right-angle gluers, for each of a wide variety of manufactures so as to maximize the utility and profit for the manufactures of the carrier of the invention.

The foregoing objects are met by the provision of right-angle gluer blanks in which a plurality of flanges forming two separate receptacles secured to two vertical support panels are arranged in parallel rows on a blank, together with the vertical support panels . The flanges for the two receptacles, and other foldable parts of the carrier are glued in a first path through the gluing machine in a first direction. Then, the blank is rotated and sent through the gluer in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to finish the gluing operation.

The carrier is folded at appropriate times in the process to insure that the glue-bearing surfaces adhere to the desired areas of the carrier panels when the folds are made.

In accordance with the invention, the manufacturer can select either in-line blanks or right-angle blanks to use on various pieces of equipment the manufacturer already owns. In addition, should the manufacturer need to acquire more equipment, the manufacturer can select among the various types of blanks and make an appropriate gluing machine purchase.

As a result, a high level of utilization of existing equipment, efficiency of- manufacturing and relatively low cost are facilitated. A further problem, found primarily in some prepackaged beverage carriers, is that the dividers for separating the two beverage receptacles into compartments often are formed by cut-outs from the vertical support panels. These cut-outs leave sizable holes in the vertical support panels through which beverage bottles can contact other bottles in the other receptacle. Sometimes, the bottles will break due to such contact when the carrier is hit .

This problem is alleviated, in accordance with another feature of the invention, by providing in the carrier blank a flange or panel extending from one side of the blank and having a size and shape adequate to cover one or more such holes in at least one of the vertical support panels, when the panel is folded over during forming of the carrier from the blank . If the two vertical support panels are to be fastened together back-to-back, only one such flange ^' will cover all of the holes in both vertical panels.

If the vertical support panels are to be free to swing apart to display advertising on the inside surfaces, it is preferred to use two of the flanges, one for each vertical panel .

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from or set forth in the following description and drawings.

IN THE DRAWINGS:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, ^■ partially broken- away, of one embodiment of a carrier constructed in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a cross- sectional view taken along line

2-2 of Figure 1;

FIGURES 3 and 4 are plan views of blanks used for forming the carrier of Figure 1

FIGURE 5 is a schematic view illustrating a method which is used to make the carriers of the invention;

FIGURES 6 and 7 are plan views of blanks for forming another embodiment of the carrier of the invention;

FIGURES 8 and 9 are plan views of blanks used to make another embodiment of the carrier of the invention; FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a carrier constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 11 is a side elevation view of the carrier of FIGURE 1, folded flat, in the form in which it is shipped, before it is unfolded at the point of use,- FIGURE 12 is a cross-sectional view take along lines 12-12 of FIGURE 1, with the carrier only partially unfolded;

FIGURE 13 is a plan view of a blank which is used to make a carrier of the invention,- FIGURES 14 and 15 are perspective views of alternative embodiments of the invention;

FIGURES 16 through 20 are plan views of blanks used to make other embodiments of the carrier of the invention,-

FIGURE 21 is a partially broken-away perspective view of a carrier constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 22 is a cross-sectional broken-away view taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 23, 24, 25, and 26 are top plan views of different blanks which can be used to manufacture the carrier shown in FIGURES 21 and 22 with right-angle gluers; and

FIGURE 27 is a top plan view of a blank for another carrier constructed in accordance with the invention.

SIX-PACK CARRIER - GEN-SRAL CONSTRUCTION Figure 1 is a perspective view of a six-pack carrier

20 constructed in accordance with the present invention.

The carrier 20 is very similar to the six-pack carriers described in some of the above-identified pending patent applications . It includes a central vertical support panel structure 22 and an external side-wall structure 24 assembled together to form two receptacles 32 and 34, one extending outwardly from each side of the structure 22.

In accordance with the present invention, the applicant has determined that the vertical support panel structure 22 can be made as a component separately from the remainder of the carrier and thereby increase production rates for the carrier.

Also, the vertical support panel structure 22 can be made of relatively inexpensive, untreated fiberboard, whereas the external wall structure 24 preferably is made of treated fiberboard material which has been made resistant to weakening when wet. This also reduces the cost of the carrier without unduly weakening it . This is achieved despite the fact that the vertical support panel structure is used to lift the carrier and to hold the receptacles together.

The applicant also has found that at least one component of the bottom structure 48 or 50 of each receptacle can be made of the same untreated fiberboard material as the vertical support panel structure 22 without unduly weakening the carrier.

The external side wall structure 24 forming the receptacle 32 comprises a short end wall 36 joined along a fold line to a long side wall 38, with a short side wall 40 secured to the long side wall 38 along a fold line at the opposite end of the long side wall .

Similarly, the external side wall structure 24 forming the receptacle 34 includes a short side wall 46 joined along a fold line to a long side wall 44 which, in turn, is joined along a fold line with a short end side wall 42. CARRIER BIiANKS

Figure 3 shows the blank used to form the external side wall structure 24. In Figure 3, lines along which folds are made are marked ¹¹FODD", and the other lines shown are lines along which the fiberboard material of the blank is cut, with the exceptions noted below. Areas to be glued are marked "GLUE" . As it can be seen in Figure 3 , there is a relatively wide flap or flange 41 extending from the left edge of the panel 40, and a mirror-image flap or flange 43 extending from the right side edge of panel 42. The blank for the vertical support panel structure

22 is shown in Figure 4. This structure 22 includes a pair of vertical support panels 23 and 25 which are joined together at their side edges along a fold line 71 (also see Figure 2) and are folded along that line to form the vertical support panel structure 22. A flap 77 is cut in the panel 23 and is used to fasten the vertical support panel structure 22 to the end wall 36 (see Fig. 1) .

DIVIDERS Bach of the panels 23 and 25 has a pair of fold-out die-cut panels 68 and 70 or 104 and 106 which are used to form dividers for the receptacles . The dividers 68 and 70 have tabs 72 and 74 at one end which are folded over and glued to the inner surface of the long side wall 38 to thereby divide the receptacle 32 into three compartments for objects to be carried, such as beverage bottles or cans.

Referring again to Figure 4 , each of the divider panels 104 and 106 has a tab 108 or 110 which is secured to the inside surface of the long side wall 44, thus dividing the receptacle 34 into three beverage-receiving compartments. The lower ends 76 and 78 of the divider panels 68 and 70 and the lower ends 112 and 114 of divider panels 104 and 106 are relatively long, narrow and flexible so that they provide cushioning between adjacent glass bottles in the compartments of the receptacle, and yet bend temporarily out of the way when the panels 52 and 54 are swinging downwardly from the initial vertical position to the horizontal position. ASSEMBLY

Referring again to Figure 1, when the carrier 20 is finally assembled into a folded carrier, the left edge 105 and the right edge 103 of the blank shown in Figure 4 are folded over onto one another and inserted between folded-over opposing, flanges 41 and 43 (Figure 3} and glued together. This, as well as the flange 77, securely fasten the external side wall structure 24 to the vertical support panel structure 22. HANDLE STRUCTURE

Figure 3 also discloses a handle structure 83 which includes four panels 26 and 28 and 27 and 29, each, of which has a hand hole 32. The handle structure 83 is secured to the top edge of the side wall blank along weak perforation lines 79, 81 which are designed to break easily as the carrier is being unfolded, as it is well known in the art.

The panels 26 and 28 are folded downwardly along a fold line 73 and glued onto the panels 27 and 29, respectively, and then the construction is folded along the vertical center fold line 75 and glued over the top edges 107 and 109 (Figure 4) of the vertical support panel structure 22, when the carrier is being folded and glued. in this manner, a four-ply handle made out of treated fiberboard covers the untreated fiberboard and strengthens the handle and vertical support structure .

BOTTOM STRUCTURE

Referring again to Figure 1, each of the receptacles 32 and 34 has a bottom structure 48 or 50. (Also see Figure 2.) As it is shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the bottom structure is made of a plurality of flanges which extend from the lower edges of the vertical support panels 23 and 25 and the side walls of the external side wall structure 24.

Referring to Figure 3, each of the shorter side walls 36, 40, 42 and 46 has a triangular flange consisting of an inner and an outer part 96, 100 or 90, 95 or 94, 97 or 98,

102. The inner and outer parts are joined along a fold line, and the outer part is a glue tab.

The long side walls 38 and 44 have flanges 92 and 93 extending from their lower edge. Referring now to Figure 4, the lower edges of the panels 23 and 25 have relatively wide panels 52 and 54 extending from their lower edges along a fold line . Each of these panels is wider than either of the panels 92 and 93 and spans the entire width of the receptacle 32 or 34 in which it is located.

As it is described more fully in the above- identified pending patent applications, the tabs 100, 95, 97 and 102 are glued to one of the flanges adjacent to it to form a bottom structure which automatically unfolds to a horizontal orientation as shown in Figure 1 when the carrier is unfolded.

Figure 2 shows the wide panel 52 in the receptacle

32 in a position intermediate its vertical, fully folded position and its horizontal, fully unfolded position, with the carrier resting on a flat horizontal surface 88. When it is in this position, it helps to hold each receptacle 32 or 34 open until it is loaded with beverage containers.

As with the carriers shown in the above-identified patent applications, it should be understood that, as an alternative, the wide flanges can be located along the bottom edges of the long side walls 38 and 44 instead of the bottom edges of the vertical support panels. The receptacle 34 is shown in Figure 2 with a beverage container 84 positioned in the receptacle, and with the bottom wall structure fully unfolded.

LOCK OPEN FEATURE As it can be seen in Figures 3 and 4, as well as in

Figure 1 and 2, each of the wide flanges 52 and 54 has a pair of tabs 60, 62 or 61, 63 extending from its lowermost edge. These tabs fit into slots 66, 64 or Gl₁ 69 (Figure 3) to hold the flanges 52 and 54 down in the horizontal position. Each of the wide flanges 52 and 54 has another tab

59 or 65 extending from one side edge of the flange. This tab is positioned to fit into a slot 56 or 58 in the external side wall 40 or 42 while the flange 52 or 54 is swinging downwardly from its upward folded position to its fully unfolded position. The natural tendency of the unfolded carrier is to fold up again, which urges side walls 40 and 42 towards the tabs 59 or 65.

This arrangement acts as a detent to help hold the receptacles 32 and 34 open until beverages are placed in them, thus facilitating loading of the bottles by machines in a bottling plant, or by hand. This feature is described in greater detail in my above-identified pending U.S. patent application Serial No. 11/301,307 filed December 13, 2005.

MANUFACTURING METHOD Figure 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the method of manufacturing the carrier 20. Two separate sources 116 and 118 of fiberboard sheet material are provided. In one embodiment, the source 116 is a roll of untreated fiberboard, and the source 118 is a roll of treated fiberboard. In another embodiment, the material in both rolls can be the same, both being untreated or treated material. The sheet material is supplied from rolls, but it also can be supplied in the form of cut sheets .

The sheet material travels from the source 116 to die-cutting equipment 120. The blanks shown in Figures 3 and 4 are cut out from the sheet material in a nested pattern which maximizes usage of the material . The blanks then are conveyed to folding equipment 124, where by are folded.

The other sheet material moves from the source 118 to printing and die-cutting equipment 122, which prints and die-cuts the external side wall blanks, and the blanks then are conveyed to folding and gluing equipment 126.

The vertical support panel blanks are then transported along a path indicated by the arrow 128 in Figure 5 to joining equipment 130 where the support panel blanks are overlaid onto the external side wall blank shown in Figure 3, with the center fold lines 71 and 101 and the bottom edges of the panels aligned with one another, and pressed together to securely fasten the glued areas to the desired panel portions.

Then, both blanks are folded along the fold lines 71 and 101 and other gluing and folding is done at a station 132 to form the finished carrier.

It is preferred that the separate carrier components in the two processing lines move in synchronism with one another. That is, a particular vertical support structure cut from one sheet preferably moves in synchronism with a specific external side wall structure cut from the other sheet so that when they finally meet to be joined, they will arrive at the joining equipment simultaneously. This synchronism is maintained by use of known computer-controlled equipment which now is in use in making prior dual-component carriers. The folded carriers then can be boxed and shipped to remote bottling plants where they are removed from the boxes , pressed along the side edges to open them, and filled with beverages before being shipped to stores or other distribution points .

ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT

Figures 6 and 7 show blanks for another bi-material carrier which is the same as that shown in Figures 1-4 except for the handle structure. The handle structure of the carrier shown in Figures

6 and 7 differs from that shown in Figures 1-4 in that instead of having handle panels foldable upon one another along horizontal fold lines, additional handle panels 45 and 47 with hand holes 51- and 49, respectively, are secured to the handle panels 27 and 29 along vertical fold lines to form a four-ply handle structure. Weak perforations 83 and 85 join the handle structure to the side wall blank upper edge .

This arrangement is advantageous, in some manufacturing circumstances, in that the blank 24 in Figure 7 is not as tall as that shown in Figure 3. This can provide improved nesting of the blanks on a sheet and improved utilization of the sheet material.

"SADDLE BAG" EMBODIMENT

Figures 8 and 9 show the blanks for the external wall structure 140 and the vertical support panel structure 142 of what is called the "saddle bag" embodiment of the carrier.

As with the other embodiments described above, the vertical support panel structure 142 can be made of the same material as that of the external wall structure 140. However, for further economy of manufacture, the structure 142 is made of untreated, relatively inexpensive fiberboard, whereas the external wall structure 140 is made of fiberboard which has been treated to give it good wet-strength.

The "saddle bag" term refers to the fact that the vertical support panels 143 and 145 (Figure 9) are not necessarily secured together back-to-back with adhesive, but instead are hinged at the top along a fold line 156 so that, if desired, the two receptacles of the carrier can be swung apart to give the user access to the advertising material and prizes, etc., which may be located on the inside surfaces of the panels 143 and 145.

Another advantage of the "saddle bag" structure is that, when filled with bottles or cans, it can be stacked on store shelves or in floor displays compactly so as to minimize the amount of space it occupies. This is accomplished by inserting the upstanding handle structure of one carrier into the gap between vertical support panels of the carrier above it. This also tends to stabilize stacks of the carriers forming floor displays. Corresponding parts in the structures shown in

Figures l, 8 and 9 are given the same reference numerals, and will not be described in detail here.

The external wall structure blank 140 in Figure 8 also folds along a central fold line 146. Four flanges 158, 160, 162 and 164 extend from the side edges of the panels 40, 42, 36 and 46, respectively.

When the blank 140 is being folded and glued, it is folded along the line 146, the flanges 158, 160, 162 and 164 are folded inwardly and glued. The flanges 158 and 160 are secured together, and the flanges 162 and 164 are secured together. When those flanges are secured together, they cover and are glued to the side edges 143 and 145 and 147 and 149 so as to firmly secure the vertical support panel structure to the external side wall structure.

The handle panels 148 and 150 then are folded downwardly and over holes 152 and 154 in the vertical support panels 143 and 145 and secured to the top edge of the two vertical support panels . They are attached to the upper edges of the side wall panels by means of weak perforations 87, 89. The bottom flanges are glued and folded to form bottom structures for two separate receptacles, each having two dividers and three compartments .

The carrier depicted in Figures 8 and 9 enjoys the same cost advantages of construction as those described above, but can be made to leave the two halves of the carrier free to swing apart from one another for the purposes described above. Of course, if preferred, the vertical support panels can be secured to one another back-to-back, thus making the carrier even stronger.

MANUFCTURING METHOD The method of manufacturing the carrier represented by the blanks 140, 142 is depicted in Figure 5. The difference between the method of manufacturing the carrier of Figs. 1-4, 6 and 7 and that of Figs. 8-9 is that the carrier of Figs. 1-4, 6 and 7 uses linear folding and gluing equipment, and that of Figs. 8-9 uses right-angle folding and gluing equipment .

One very significant feature of the invention is that the carriers of the invention can be made using equipment made by several different manufacturers and which is presently in use for manufacturing prior carriers. Therefore, little or no modification of existing equipment is required in adapting the equipment to making the carriers of the invention.

HAND-LOADED CARRIERS

As it was noted above, carriers of substantially the same construction as those described above can be used in fast-food outlets, sports arenas and stadiums, coffee shops, conventions, etc., to be used by customers to carry food or other objects away with them. Such carriers, unlike the six- pack carriers described above, usually are loaded by a sales clerk or other person by hand. The six-pack carriers usually are loaded by machines .

The hand-loadable carriers made in accordance with this invention have the same combination of external side wall structure and central vertical support panel structure made of different materials.

Such carriers tend to be taller than the six-pack carriers to carry some very tall beverage containers, and some use an optional tray with a slotted bottom which can be used by slipping it onto the vertical support structure. Such a tray usually is used to carry solid, dry food. Thus, it can be made of untreated fiberboard to save cost.

A detailed description of such carrier is not necessary to an understanding of this embodiment but is incorporated herein by reference, from my above-described pending patent applications.

MATERIALS

The treated material used to form the exterior side wall structure of the carrier can be one of a variety of available materials but preferably is 0.20 gauge SUS board. This material is believed to be made of virgin wood fiber coated with polyethylene before forming the board to give it greater wet strength; that is, to give it greater strength when wet than, it would have without the treatment.

Alternative materials which can be used instead are those made with recycled fibers treated in the same way, or treated using other methods to give the material good wet- strength.

The untreated fiberboard material can be any of a number of known materials, such as chip-board, Kraftpack, clay-coated news board, etc. The thickness of this material, when used for the vertical support panel, can be .16 to .20 gauge .

Of course, the thickness of the materials will depend, in part, upon the load to be carried in the carriers.

SIX-PACK CARRIER - WITH PUSH-IN DIVIDERS Figure 10 is a perspective view of a six-pack carrier 200 constructed to have push-in dividers in accordance with the present invention.

The carrier 200 is very similar to the six-pack carriers described in some of the above-identified pending patent applications. It includes a central vertical support panel structure 222 and an external side-wall structure 225 assembled together to form two receptacles 224 and 226, one extending outwardly from each side of the structure 222.

The external side wall structure forming the receptacle 224 comprises a short end wall 240 joined along a fold line to a long side wall 242 , with a short side wall 244 secured at one end to the long side wall 42 along a fold line. Similarly, the external side wall structure forming the receptacle 226 includes a short side wall 246 joined along a fold line to a long side wall 248 which, in turn, is joined along a fold line with a short end side wall 242. Each of the receptacles 224 and 226 has a foldable bottom structure 250 or 252.

In accordance with the present invention, a divider structure is formed by portions of the side wall panels so as to divide each of the two receptacles into three compartments for receiving three beverage containers such as the bottle

278.

Preferably, the divider structures such as 258, 270 are made by slitting the side wall panels to form horizontal strips 262,264 and 274,276 which are folded inwardly, as shown in Figure 10.

SIX-PACK CARRIER BIAMK

Figure 13 shows the blank used to form the carrier

200. In Figure 13, lines along which folds are made are marked "FOLD", and the other lines shown are lines along which the fiberboard material of the blank is cut, or perforated, as needed.

In general, the carrier 200 and its blank shown in Figure 13 are the same as the carrier and blanks shown in one or more of the above-identified prior patent applications, except for the divider structure .

Instead of dividers formed from the material of the vertical support panels, the carrier 200 has dividers formed by horizontal strips of material cut from the side walls of the carriers .

The divider structures 258 and 270 are cut as shown in Figure 13 so that each spans a corner fold line for the carrier. The length "L" of the cut from the corner fold line into the side wall 242 is equal to the distance of the side wall 242 from the vertical support panel 228 when the carrier is fully unfolded so that the innermost part 262 or 276 of the divider structure lies against the vertical support panel 228 when the carrier is unfolded.

The divider structures 260 and 290 are mirror images of the divider structures 258 and 270. The parts 266 and 268 of divider structure 260 and the parts 292 and 94 of divider structure 290 (not shown in Figure 1) are cut to have the same lengths as the corresponding parts of the divider structures 258 and 270.

Flaps 254 and 256 are provided at the left and right edges, respectively, of the carrier blank to fasten to the side walls 240 and 249, respectively. Sections 255 and 257 are formed by two cuts to create tabs in the flaps to fold with the dividers .

As with the carriers shown in the above-identified patent applications, each of the preferred bottom structures 250 and 52 includes four flanges 298, 300, 306 and 310, or 302, 304, 316 and 320, each extending downwardly from the lower edge of one of the side walls and vertical support panel 228 or 230. Each bottom structure includes a broad flange 298 or

304 secured to a vertical support panel, a narrower flange 100 or 102 secured to the opposite side wall and two shorter triangular flanges 306, 310 or 316, 320. Tabs 308, 312, or 314, 318 are folded over along diagonal fold lines and glue applied, preferably using automated folding and gluing machines so that they are glued to adjacent flaps to provide a smoothly folding and unfolding bottom for each receptacle.

Each of the broad flaps 298 and 304 extends completely across the bottom structure 250 or 252, and has a pair of tabs 280, 282 or, 288, 296 which fit into slots 328, 330 or 332, 334 when the carrier is fully unfolded. Each broad flap 298 and 304 has another tab 284 or 286 which fits into a vertical slot 322 or 336 when the carrier is folded, and fits into a horizontal slot 326 or 340 when the carrier is fully unfolded. The flap 284 or 286 fits into a slot 324 or 338 when the carrier is partially unfolded, so as to help hold the receptacle open until articles such as beverages in containers are loaded into the receptacle. Also, the edge of each broad flap from which each tab 284 or 286 extends is positioned to bear against the side wall 244 or 246 to help hold the receptacles open, or to perform the entire task, if needed.

When the blank is folded, the upper handle panels 238 and 234 are glued to the upper portions of the vertical support panels 228 and 230, and the panels 228 and 230 are glued to one another back-to-back to form a four-ply thickness for the handle. The portions 238, 234 are secured to the tops of the side walls 242, 244 and 246, 249 by very weak perforations which break readily when the panels of the carrier are folded. ONFOLDING SIX-PACK CARRIER

Figure 11 shows the folded blank 342 in the form in which it is flattened to occupy a minimum of space for packing and shipping to the bottling plant where it is to be unfolded and loaded with beverage bottles or cans. In folding the carrier, the divider structures 270 and 290 are held in place while the side walls are folded so that the divider structures are folded inwardly when the carrier is folded flat . This leaves a pair of rectangular gaps 244 in the right-hand edge of the folded carrier. Referring now to Figure 12, when the carrier is unfolded for loading it, the automatic loading equipment presses on the right side edges of the folded carrier in the directions indicated by the arrows 348, 350, while holding the opposite edges, as indicated schematically by the barrier 346. Simultaneously, additional barriers, indicated schematically at 352, 354, hold the inner sections 262, 266 of the divider structures 258, 260 so that they fold inwardly instead of outwardly.

Thus, all four divider structures are properly positioned to divide the two receptacles into a total of six beverage-receiving compartments.

As it is shown in Figure 10, the beverage containers in four of the six compartments are more visible and expose at least a portion of the labels of the bottles. This gives an opportunity to create exposure of the brand name, or advertising slogans, etc., in addition to that on the outside of the carrier.

Also, the divider structures shown give the opportunity to reduce the number of glue spots required to construct the carrier. This can speed the manufacture of the carrier and reduce manufacturing costs. Also, the strength of the vertical support structure 222 can be increased and may allow the use of lower cost materials for that structure, without adversely affecting the overall strength of the carrier. If preferred, the divider structures portions 262,

266 and/or 276 and 296 (see Figure 12) can be glued to the vertical support structure to avoid the necessity for holding these parts in place during folding or unfolding.

In another variation on the unfolding process, all or some of the divider structures can be left free to fold outwardly as the carrier is unfolded, and then pushed to fold inwardly to their final positions . The folded position of the divider structure 270 is indicated by line 345 in Figure 11.

HEIGHT-VARYING DIVIDERS

Figure 14 shows a carrier 360 of the invention in which the divider structure is used to vary the height or depth of one of more of the compartments of the carrier, while simplifying the manufacture of the carrier.

The carrier 360 is functionally the same as the carrier 20 of Figure 10 except that the horizontal strips forming the divider structures are formed by making a single cut at a distance ^ΛΗ" (Fig. 14) below the upper edge of each side wall, thus using the upper edges of the side walls as edges of the divider strips. The gussets at the junctions between the side walls 240, 244, 246 and 249 and the vertical support structure 222 also are eliminated.

This forms four corner compartments of a depth less than that of the two center compartments. This can be useful in forming six-packs of bottles of different heights or in exposing different parts of the containers to view. HAND-LOADED CARRIER

Figure 15 shows a four-compartment carrier 370 which typically is used for hand-loading such objects as beverage cups of varying size and food objects to be carried away from a concession stand in a sports arena or stadium, or from a fast-food restaurant or the like.

Although the carrier can have six or more compartments, it normally has no more than four, as does the carrier 370 shown in Figure 15. Only two divider structures 70 and 290 are used. Although the divider structures can be the same as those shown in Figure 1, advantageously, they may be of the top-edge type shown in Figure 14. Preferably, each of the divider structures is not folded inwardly during manufacture, but is left in the outwardly-extending position as indicated at 345 in Figure 11.

Then, when the carrier is unfolded at the concession stand or restaurant, the food handler either leaves the divider structures folded out, as is the divider structure

290, or folds the divider structures inwardly, as is the divider structure 270 shown in Figure 15, so as to divide one receptacle into two compartments and leave the other undivided. Thus, for example, one receptacle can accommodate two beverage cups side-by-side, with a divider to help support them, and the other receptacle can be used to hold food articles, souvenirs, etc., without the imposition of a divider. Of course, both divider structures can be folded in, or can be left folded outwardly, as desired.

If needed, a tray, part of which is shown in slashed, lines at 372, which has a slotted bottom (not shown) can be mounted on the handle structure to carry more solid items .

Not only does this embodiment of the invention make the carrier 370 convertible, according to the requirements of each carrying job, but it provides compartments of different depths to facilitate the support and removal of beverage containers of varying heights, such as large and small beverage cups . ALTERNATIVE CARRIERS

Figures 16 and 17 show blanks for one type of a two- piece six-pack carrier using the invention, and Figures 19 and 20 show blanks for another type of two-piece six-pack carrier using the invention. Figure 18 shows the blank for another single-piece six-pack carrier, similar to that shown in Figures 1-4, which uses the invention.

The blank 380 of Figure 16 forms the side walls and the majority of the bottom walls of a carrier when assembled with a blank 382 shown in Figurel7 forming the central support structure for the carrier when joined with the blank 380.

As it is explained in greater detail above, with reference to Figures 3 and 4, the blank 382 of Figure 17 can be made of less expensive material than the blank 380 to reduce the cost of the carrier without degrading the load- carrying capabilities of the carrier.

The only significant differences between the carrier and the blanks shown in Figures 16 and 17 and that shown in Figure 3 and 4 above is that the divider structures 258, 260, 270 and 290 replace the divider structures shown in Figures 3 and 4. The divider structures are used in the same way as in the embodiment of Figures 1-4.

Other differences are that there are two small tabs 388, 390 in Figure 17 to serve the same purpose as the single large tab 277 of Figure above, and two panels 384 and 386 have been added in Figure 16 to further reinforce the handle structure of the carrier.

Because the carrier shown in Figures 16 and 17 otherwise functions in the same way as the one shown above in Figures 3 and 4, further detailed description of the Figures 16-17 embodiment of this invention is not necessary.

The two-piece embodiment of Figure 19-20 is essentially the same as that of Figures 8-9 above, except that the divider structures 258, 260, 270 and 290 are substituted for the divider structure of the carrier shown in Figures 8-9. The one-piece embodiment of Figure 18 is essentially the same as the two-piece embodiment of Figures 19-20 except that the vertical support structure 392 of Figure 18 is made of the same material as that of the rest of the carrier, and is attached to the remainder of the blank along a fold line 394. In addition, a pair of handle reinforcement panels 396 and 398 is provided to strengthen the handle structure.

It is possible to form divider structures using a pair of cut horizontal strips, one vertically above the other, and selectively using the strips to give greater variability to the depth of the compartments, or for other purposes. In fact, the strips of side wall above the divider structures 258, 270, etc., can be folded inwardly and used as a second set of dividers, if desired. Although it is preferred to provide two receptacles each with its own separate automatic folding and unfolding bottom structure as described above, it is possible to replace that bottom structure with a conventional sling bottom, when the carriers are to be pre-filled at a bottling plant with a predetermined number of beverage cans or bottles of a predetermined size. The claims of this patent application are intended to cover the use of such a bottom structure as well as any equivalent bottom structure, unless it is specifically stated to the contrary therein. RIGHT-ANGLE GLUER BIiANKS

The carrier shown in Figures 21 and 22 is substantially the same as that shown in my above-identified U.S. patent applications, and particularly U.S. Serial No. 10/929,264 filed September 10, 2004, in Figures 48 and 55 of the drawings . The carrier 400 shown in Figure 21 includes a vertical support structure 412 including two back-to-back support panels 418 and 420, with reinforcement panels 422 and 24 glued onto their upper portions. A hand-hole 426 with a hand guard 428 are provided in the reinforced upper region of the vertical support structure 412.

Two separate receptacles 414 and 416 are provided. One is secured to the support panel 418, and the other to the support panel 420.

Receptacle 416 includes relatively short side wall 430, a long side wall 32, and a short side wall 34. Similarly, receptacle 414 includes side walls 436, 438, and 440, with side walls 436 and 440 being relatively shorter than side wall 438.

A bottom wall structure is provided for each of the receptacles. The top panel of the bottom wall structure for receptacle 414 is panel 442, and the top panel for the bottom of the receptacle 416 is panel 444. Each receptacle has a pair of dividers. The receptacle 416 has dividers 452 and 454, and receptacle 14 has dividers 478 and 480 (Figure 23) . The dividers for the receptacle 414 are not shown in Figure 21 for the sake of clarity in the drawings . Each of the four dividers has a glue tab 456 or 458 or 486 and 488 (Figure 23) and a tapered, downwardly-extending lower portion 460 or 462, or 484 or 486 (Figure 23) . The glue tabs are glued to the inside of the long side wall 432 or 38 to hold them in place . As it is described more fully in my above-identified prior patent applications, the top panel 442 or 444 in the bottom wall of each receptacle is a broad panel which spans the entire width of the bottom structure; that is, the width of the bottom structure from the panel 418 or 420 out to the long side wall 432 or 438 of each receptacle. Preferably, each panel 442 or 444 engages with a narrow side wall 430 or 440 of one of the receptacles, as the carrier is being unfolded. Thus, the receptacle is held open so as to prevent it from relapsing into a folded condition.

Three slots are provided at 466, 468, and 470 in the wall 430, and at 472, 474, and 476 in the wall 440 (see Figure 23) . Also, a tab 508 or 530 extends from the side of the top bottom panel 444 or 442 (see Figure 23) . This tab rests in the vertical slot 466 or 472 when the carrier is folded up, and, as the carrier is unfolded, the tab slips into the slot 468 or 474, which is in an angular position such as that shown by the panel 44 in Figure 22. In this position it remains until a bottle or other object placed in the carrier forces the panel 442 or 444 down completely. When it reaches the bottom position, the tab 508 or 530 slips into the slot 470 or 476 which extends horizontally. This helps to hold the panel 442 or 444 in place without shifting when the loaded carrier is moved about.

Also holding the panels 442 and 444 in place are tabs 446 and 448 and 532 and 534 which extend outwardly from the outer edges of the panels through slots 498, 500 or 518, 520.

As it is described in greater detail in my above- identified patent application Serial No. 10/939,264, filed September 10, 2004, the material forming the dividers 452, 454, 478, and 480 is cut out of the two vertical support panels 418 and 420, and, in some embodiments, a small amount of adjacent panels as well.

In the blank shown in Figure 3, the glue tabs 456, 458, or 486, 488 of the dividers extend away from the main body of the divider in a direction towards the right in Figure 3. For convenience, the blanks shown in Figures 23, 24, 25, and 26 will be designated with direction arrows indicating North, South, West and East as reference directions. Thus, the divider structures in Figure 3 extend from West to East . Advantageously, the glue tab ends 456 and 486 of the centralIy-cut-out divider panels 452 and 478 extend into the material forming the other divider 454 or 480. Thus, the panels forming these dividers can be said to be "nested" within one another. This is highly advantageous and allows the provision of integral, one-piece foldout dividers which are difficult to provide within the size limitations dictated by the sizes of the normal beverage bottles to be carried. The tabs 458 and 488 can be seen to extend beyond the East edges 539, 541 of the support panels 418 and 420. At the left or West end of the blank shown in Figure

3 are provided two fairly wide glue flaps or flanges 464 and 465 joined along fold line 467. The flanges 64 and 65 are secured to the West edges of the panels 434, 436 along fold lines 542 and 544. The flanges forming the two bottom structures for the receptacles 414 and 416 also are shown in Figure 23. In the bottom structure for the receptacle 416, a flange extends downwardly from each of the three side walls 432, 434, and 430 as well as the vertical panel 418. Thus, flange 44 is secured to the bottom edge of the panel 418 along a fold line 445, and flange 442 is secured to the bottom edge of panel 420 along fold line 441.

Attached along the bottom edge of panel 434 along a fold line 491 is a triangular flange 490 with a truncated triangular glue tab 494, with the two being attached together along a fold line 492.

Similarly, attached along fold line 503 is a triangular flange 502 with a truncated triangular glue tab 506, attached to flange 502 along a fold line 504. A relatively narrow but longer flange 96 is attached to the lower edge of side wall panel 432 along a fold line 497.

Similarly, a triangular flange 110 is connected along fold line 111 to the bottom edge of side wall panel 36, and a truncated triangular glue tab is joined to the flange 510 along a fold line 512.

Another triangular flange extends from the bottom edge of the side wall panel 440 along_. a fold line 523, and has a truncated triangular glue tab 528 secured to it along a fold line 524.

Finally, another relatively narrow but long flange 516 like flange 496 is secured to the bottom edge of panel 438 along a fold line 517.

The reinforcing panels 422 and 424 are secured at their East edges to the vertical panels 420 and 518, respectively/ along fold lines 150 and 552. A fold line 540 between the two panels 422 and 424 is provided so as to form the upper edge of the handle structure when the carrier is assembled, as shown in Figure 21. The area 536 is open space. The reinforcement panels 422 and 424 are cut to be separate from the upper edges of panels 438, 440, 430, and 432.

In manufacturing a carrier from the blank shown in Figure 23 using a right-angle gluer, the blank, after being die cut from a sheet, is fed into the gluer in a westerly- direction,- that is, from East to west. Prior to that, the flanges and other surfaces to be glued in the first step are folded over as necessary. Specifically, the flanges 44, 502, 496, and 490 are folded upwardly to the North, towards the horizontal center line 138 of the blank. The flanges 442, 522, 516, and 510 are folded towards the center line 538.

The flanges 464 and 465 are not folded at this time.

Then, the glue tabs 494, 506, 514, and 528 are folded along fold lines 492, 504, 512, or 524 towards the centerline 538 so that the under surface of each of the glue tabs is facing upwardly to receive glue .

Then, the blank is moved through the right-angle gluer from East to West, at which time properly pre-positioned glue heads apply adhesive to the proper areas, thus placing glue upon the tabs 486 and 488, 456 and 458 of the dividers; the tabs 506, 494, 514, 528 of the bottom structures, the flanges 464 and 65, and the reinforcement panels 22 and 24.

Glue is not applied to the portions of the flanges 464, 465 that will contact the divider cutouts later in a subsequent folding step .

Next, the blank is folded from East to West along fold lines 550 and 552. This causes the glue tabs 486, 488,

456, 458, 506 and 528, and panels 422 and 424 to adhere at the proper locations on the panels to which they are to be secured. Next, the panels 434 and 436, with the flanges 464, 465 are folded from West to East along fold lines 546, 548, so that glue tabs 494, 514 adhere to panels 496 and 516, respectively, and flanges 464, 465 adhere to the panels 418 and 420 at the East edges 539 and 541, but do not adhere to the divider cut-outs.

Next, the blank shown in Figure 3 is rotated 90° counter-clockwise, and then is moved from North to South, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the original direction of movement, during which glue is applied to the panels 418 and 420. Then, the two halves of the blank are folded along the line 538 so that the two vertical panels are glued together back-to-back. The folded carrier now is complete and ready to pack and ship to a bottler or other user. In accordance with the present invention, accommodation is made for a variety of different glue head configurations in right-angle gluers. For example, Figure 24 shows the same blank as in Figure 23 , except that the flanges 464 and 465 on the West edge of the blank have been replaced by flanges 554 and 556 on the East edges of the blank. This accommodates the needs of gluers in which it is easiest to ^aPPly glue to the various locations where it is required by having the flanges at the East edge instead of the West edge.

The process of folding and gluing the Figure 24 blank is the same as for the Figure 23 blank, except that the flanges 554, 556 are not glued before the first fold along lines 549, 551. However, the backs of the flanges are glued after the first fold so that, after the second fold, along lines 546, 548, the flanges 554, 556 will adhere, respectively to the West edges 553, 555 of the panels 436 and 434. Figures 25 and 26 show two additional embodiments of the blank structure. These blanks are the same as that shown in Figure 23 except that the bottom flanges are reversed in direction, the slot groups 574 and 576 are changed in position, and the four divider cut-outs 558, 560, 562, and 564 point to the West instead of to the East. The flanges 554 and 556 are on the East edge of the blank, as in the Figure 24 embodiment .

The folding and gluing of the Figure 25 blank is different from those described above.

The flanges 554 and 556 are folded and glued in the first step in which the bottom flanges are folded and glued, and the divider glue tabs and reinforcement panels 424, 422 are glued. In the first fold, the panels 418, 420, etc., are folded from East to West along lines 557, 559 , and the flanges 554, 556 adhere near the West edges of panels 436, 434, and the bottom and divider tabs are adhered to their target areas .

In the second fold, the reinforcement panels 422, 424 are folded from West to East along lines 550, 552 to adhere to the panels 418 and 420, respectively.

Then the blank is rotated and the panels 418, 420 are glued and folded together along line 138 to finish the carrier. The Figure 26 blank is the same as the Figure 5 blank except that the flanges 464, 465 are folded and glued during the first step instead of the flanges 554 and 556.

The end flanges and panels are given different shapes, in some cases, in order to avoid covering parts which are not intended to be covered. If it is not desired to secure the support panels 418, 420 back-to-back but to leave them hinged along line 538 so as to allow them to carry advertising and promotional matter on the surfaces, one merely omits the rotating step, the support panel gluing step, and if shipment of the carriers in partially-folded form is either desired or acceptable, the final fold step along line 538 also can be omitted.

It should be evident that various permutations and combinations of locations of parts can be selected, in accordance with the present invention, to facilitate the utilization of specific glue head orientations of existing equipment, to maximize the through-put through the machines, or for other beneficial manufacturing reasons. The flexibility of the blank structure permits making these changes.

CARRIER WITH DIVIDER HOLE COVER

Figure 27 shows another carrier blank which is the same as that shown in Figure 3, except that, in place of the relatively narrow glue flaps 64, 65 there are two wide panels 580, 582, each having a narrower portion 583 or 585, which has approximately the same width as one of the glue flaps 64, 65.

Each of the panels 580, 582 has a length L and a height H sufficient so that the panel will cover both of the openings in the vertical panel 18 or 20 when glue is applied to cause it to adhere to the areas of the panel 18 or 20 around the openings. When the panel 580 or 582 is folded along line 142 or 144 onto the inner surface of one of the vertical panels 18 or 20.

When the panels 580 and 582 are glued in place in this manner, the holes in the vertical panels are closed so that glass bottles in different receptacles will not clash against one another through the holes and possibly break. That is, the fiberboard of which the panels 580, 582 are made provides cushioning to absorb some of the force with which adjacent bottles might strike one another. It is not necessary to use two panels 580 and 582 to achieve the desired cushioning if the vertical panels are to be glued together back-to-back. In that case, only one panel 580 or 582 will be sufficient to provide adequate cushioning.

When the vertical panels 18 and 20 are not glued together and left to swing apart to view advertising on the inside surfaces of the vertical panels 18 and 20, it is preferred to use both panels 580, 582 in order to maximize the surface area available on the back surfaces of those panels to display advertising or booklets, or CD's, etc. If only one of the panels 580, 582 is used, the additional fiberboard used to provide the cushioning is reduced because the blanks can be nested together to occupy less area on a sheet of material .

The blank shown in Figure 27 is glued and folded in the same way as that shown in Figure 3 in order to form a completed carrier, folded flat.

The modifications of the Figure 23 blank necessary to cover the divider cut-out holes can be extended to the blanks shown in Figures 24-26 in order to extend the benefits of this invention to those blanks as well. All that need be done is to use at least one side flange which is of a size and shape sufficient to cover the divider cut-out holes when it is folded over onto the inner surface of one of the vertical support panels 18, 20. The above description of the invention is intended to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes or modifications in the embodiments described may occur to those skilled in the art . These can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: IN THE CEAIMS;

1. A foldable carrier comprising (a) a vertical support panel structure made of a first material,

(b) an external side wall structure made of a second material,

(c) said external side wall structure being secured to said vertical support structure and having a plurality of panels foldably secured together to form a pair of folding receptacles extending from opposite sides of said vertical support panel structure when said carrier is unfolded,

(d) said vertical support panel structure and said panels of said external side wall structure having lower edges and flanges extending from at least some of said lower edges and foldably secured together to form a bottom structure for each of said receptacles,

<e) said second material being substantially more resistant than said first material to weakening due to wetness .

2. A carrier as in Claim 1 in which said vertical support panel structure includes a pair of vertical support panels each having an upper portion and being secured to the other of said vertical support panels, and a handle structure adjacent said upper portions of said vertical support panels.

3. A carrier as in Claim 1 in which said vertical support panel structure includes a pair of vertical support panels and in which each of said vertical support panels has at least one fold-out portion extending into one of said receptacles and secured to one of said external side wall panels to form a divider for said receptacle .

4. A carrier as in Claim 1 in which one of said flanges forming said bottom structure for each of said receptacles is a wide flange spanning said bottom structure and positioned, when said carrier is partially unfolded for use to tend to hold said receptacle open before receiving any objects to be carried.

5. A carrier as in Claim 2 in which one of said side wall panels adjacent one end of said wide panel has a slot and said end of said wide panel has a tab positioned to engage with said slot when said carrier is being unfolded, said slot being positioned to releasably lock said wide flange in place to further hold said receptacle open while being filled.

6. A foldable carrier, said carrier comprising (a) a first component comprising an external side wall structure, said external side wall structure comprising

(1) a pair of long side panels, each having first and second ends,-

(2) a first pair of shorter side panels, equal to one another in length, interconnecting one end of each of said long side panels together along fold lines; and

(3) a second pair of shorter panels, each being of the same length as said first shorter panels and being connected to one of said ends of said long side panels opposite the end connected to one of said first pair of shorter side panels,

(4) each of said side panels having a lower edge and a bottom-forming flange connected to said lower edge along a fold line, and (b) a second component comprising an internal support structure, said internal structure comprising: (1) a pair of central support panels, each having a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges; and

(2) each of said central support panels having a bottom-forming flange connected to said bottom edge along a fold line;

(c) said internal support structure being secured to said external side wall structure.

7.

A carrier as in Claim 6 in which said first component and said second component are made of materials having different wet -strength characteristics.

8. A carrier as in Claim 7 including a handle structure adjacent said top edges of said central support panels, and including a pair of side flanges, each extending from the outermost side edge of one of said second pair of shorter panels, said side flanges being secured together and to said handle structure, and to said central support panels.

9. A carrier as in Claim 6 in which said flanges extending from said lower edges of said shorter side wall panels are triangular, and each is foldable diagonally and is secured to an adjacent one of said flanges extending downwardly from one of said long side wall panels and one of said central support panels .

10 A foldable carrier, said carrier comprising (a) an external side wall structure, said side wall structure comprising

(1) two external side wall panel constructions, each comprising a long side wall panel with two opposed ends and a pair of shorter side wall panels each having a first side edge attached to one of said opposed ends along a fold line, (2) each of said shorter panels having a second side edge opposite said first side edge,

(b) an internal structure, initially constructed separately from said external wall structure, said internal structure comprising

(1) a pair of central support panels, each having a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges,

(2) each of said central support panels being approximately the same length as one of said long side panels of said external side wall structure

(c) said second side edge of each of said shorter panels in each of said external sidewall panel constructions being secured to one side edge of one of said central support panels, and (d) a plurality of flanges extending form the bottom edges of said external side wall panels and said central support panel structure and secured together to form a bottom structure for each of two receptacles formed by said external side wall structure and central support panel structure.

11. A carrier as in Claim 10 including a handle structure comprising a pair of handle panels secured to one of said external side wall constructions, said handle panels being joined along a fold line, said central support panels being joined together along a fold line along said top edge, each of said central support panel structures and said handle panels having a handle hole, each of said central support panel structures being secured to one of said handle panels with said handle holes aligned, said central support panel structure being joined together only along said fold line at said top edges of said central support panel structures .

12 A method of making a carrier comprising:

(a) providing a first source of fiberboard sheet material ;

(b) providing a second source of fiberboard sheet material,

(c) die-cutting external side wall blanks from said second source of sheet material;

(d) die-cutting vertical support panel structure blanks from said first source of sheet material, (e) folding and gluing said vertical support panel structure blanks,

(f) ^' folding and gluing said external side wall structure blanks, and

(g) overlaying each of said vertical support panel structure blanks onto one of said external side wall blanks and adhering said blanks together.

13 A method as in Claim 12 in which each of said vertical support panel structure blanks and said external side wall blanks is moved from said sources of said materials to separate locations for said die cutting, gluing, folding, overlaying and adhering steps in synchronism with one another.

14. A method as in Claim 12 in which said sheet material from said first source has substantially less wet strength than said sheet material from said second source .

15. A pair of blanks for forming a carrier, said blanks comprising

(a) a first blank for forming vertical support panel structure made of a first material,

(b) a second blank for forming external side-wall panel structure made of a second material, (c) said external side-wall structure being adapted to be secured to said vertical support structure and having a plurality of panels adapted to be secured together to form a pair of folding receptacles extending from opposite sides of said vertical support panel structure when said carrier is unfolded,

(d) said vertical support panel structure and said panels of said external side-wall structure having lower edges and flanges extending from said lower edges, said flanges being adapted to be selectively foldably secured together to form an automatically-unfolding bottom structure for each of said receptacles,

(e) said second material being substantially more resistant than said first material to weakening due to wetness.

16. A pair of blanks as in Claim 15 in which said vertical support panel structure blank includes a pair of vertical support panels each having an upper edge and a lower edge and two side edges, and being secured to the other of said vertical support panels along a fold line selected from the group consisting of two of said side edges and said upper edges .

17. A pair of blanks as in Claim 15 in which said vertical support panel structure includes a pair of vertical support panels and in which each of said vertical support panels has at least one fold-out portion positioned to extend into one of said receptacles and to be secured to one of said external side-wall panels to form a divider for said receptacle .

18. A pair of blanks as in Claim 15 in which one of said flanges for each of said receptacles is a wide flange of a width sufficient to span said bottom structure and positioned so as to hold said receptacle open for receiving any objects to be carried when said carrier is assembled and unfolded.

19. A pair of blanks as in Claim 15 in which said second blank comprises two groups of side-wall panels joined end-to-end along fold lines, said side-wall panels forming a pattern selected from the group consisting of (1) joined end- to-end, with said flanges in a linear array along one edge of said blank, and (2) parallel to one another with said flanges extending in two parallel arrays on opposite edges of said blank.

20. A carrier as in Claim 15 in which each of said flanges at opposite sides of said bottom structure is secured to an adjacent one of said flanges to automatically unfold said bottom structure when said carrier is unfolded.

21. A carrier having a vertical support panel structure, a pair of foldable receptacles, each extending outwardly from and secured to said vertical support panel structure, each of said receptacles having a plurality of side walls and a foldable bottom wall structure secured to said side walls, said side walls including a first side wall which, when unfolded, extends away from said vertical support panel structure and which is linked along a vertical fold line to a second side wall which extends substantially parallel to and spaced from said vertical support panel structure when unfolded, said first and second side walls having at least two vertically-spaced horizontal parts, one of said parts having first and second sections, said first section extending from said vertical support panel along said first side wall to said fold line, and said second section extending from said fold line along said second wall to a distance from said fold line substantially equal to the distance of said second wall from said vertical support panel structure.

22. A carrier as in Claim 21 in which each of said receptacles includes a third side wall linked to said second side wall along a second vertical fold line and extending outwardly from said vertical support panel structure when unfolded, said second and third side walls having at least two vertically-spaced horizontal parts, one of said parts having first and second sections, said first section extending along said third wall from said vertical support panel structure to said second vertical fold line, and along said second wall from said second fold line to a distance from said second fold line substantially equal to the distance of said second wall from said vertical support panel structure.

23. A carrier as in Claim 21 in which said one horizontal part is folded inwardly when said carrier is unfolded so that said second section forms a divider for said receptacle.

24. A carrier as in Claim 21 in which said one horizontal part forms at least a portion of the upper edge of each of said first and second side walls, whereby said one part can be folded inwardly to form a divider for said receptacle, and to reduce the heights of said first and second side walls.

25. A carrier as in Claim 21 in which said vertical support panel structure includes a pair of panels secured together, the lower portion o£ each forming one of the side walls of one of said receptacles, each of said panels having a handle hole in its upper portion.

26. A carrier as in Claim 21 in which each of said receptacles has four of said side walls, and said bottom wall structure includes a flange extending outwardly from the lower edge of each of said side walls and being linked to said side wall along a fold line, adjacent ones of said flanges being secured to one another and the ones of said flanges located in two opposite corners of said bottom wall structure being folded along diagonal fold lines .

27. A carrier as in Claim 26 in which one of said flanges extends a substantial portion of the distance across said bottom wall structure and is positioned, during unfolding of said carrier, so that one of its side edges bears against one of said side walls so as to hold said receptacle open to receive objects to be carrier.

28. A carrier as in Claim 27 in which said one flange has a tab extending from said side edge and said one side wall has a slot positioned to receive said tab when said bottom wall structure is partially unfolded.

29. A carrier as in Claim 21 in which each of said first and second side walls is separated into at least three vertically disposed parts, an upper part, a lower part, and an intermediate part, said intermediate part being formed by a second horizontal line, spaced from and parallel to the first horizontal line and having the same length as said first horizontal line.

30. A carrier as in Claim 27 in which said one flange extends completely across said bottom wall structure and has at least one tab extending outwardly from one edge in a direction perpendicular to said vertical support panel structure, and a slot in the one of said side walls towards which it extends to receive said tab to hold said one flange in place.

31. A carrier as in Claim 21 in which each of said vertically spaced parts is folded along said fold line when said carrier is folded, the upper part being folded inwardly to form a folded divider, and the other of said vertically spaced parts being folded outwardly to form said first and second side walls when said carrier is unfolded.

32. A method of erecting a folded carrier to receive objects to be carried, said carrier comprising a vertical support panel structure, a pair of foldable receptacles, each extending outwardly from and secured to said vertical support panel structure, each of said receptacles having a plurality of side walls and a foldable bottom wall structure secured to said side walls, said side walls including a first side wall which when unfolded, extends away from said vertical support panel structure and which is linked along a vertical fold line to a second side wall which extends substantially parallel to and spaced from said vertical support panel structure when unfolded, said first and second side walls having at least two verticalIy-spaced horizontal parts, one of said parts having first and second sections, said first section extending from said vertical support panel along said first side wall to said fold line, and said second section extending from said fold line along said second wall to a distance from said fold line substantially equal to the distance of said second wall from said vertical support panel structure, comprising the step of unfolding said carrier by- pushing opposite side edges of the folded carrier towards one another, and selectively performing a further step selected from the group consisting of (a) holding the upper one of said two vertically spaced apart parts while pushing said opposite side edge to prevent said one part from unfolding outwardly;

(b) allowing a pre-folded one of said parts to remain folded inwardly while unfolding said carrier; and (c) pushing said one part to fold it inwardly during or after unfolding said carrier.

33. A method as in Claim 32 in which said holding step is selected from the group consisting of placing a barrier in the way of said upper part and leaving said first section of said one part secured to said vertical support panel structure .

34. A method as in Claim 32 in which each of said receptacles includes a third side wall linked to said second side wall along a second vertical fold line and extending outwardly from said vertical support panel structure when unfolded, said second and third side walls having at least two vertically-spaced horizontal parts, one of said parts having first and second sections, said first section extending along said third wall from said vertical support panel structure to said second vertical fold line, and along said second wall from said second fold line to a distance from said second fold line substantially equal to the distance of said second wall from said vertical support panel structure, the upper . one of said two vertically spaced parts of said second and third side walls being bent over, one atop the other, when said carrier is folded, and said one part of said vertically spaced parts of said first and second side walls being co-planar with one another when said carrier is folded, said parts forming dividers forming compartments in each of said receptacles.

35. A method as in Claim 34 including the step of using automatic filling equipment to fill said compartments with beverage containers .

36. A method as in Claim 32 in which each of said receptacles has four of said side walls, and said bottom wall structure includes a flange extending outwardly from the lower edge of each of said side walls and being linked to said side wall along a fold line, adjacent ones of said flanges being secured to one another and the ones of said flanges located in two opposite corners of said bottom wall structure being folded along diagonal fold lines, in which one of said flanges extends a substantial portion of the distance across said bottom wall structure and is positioned, during unfolding of said carrier, so that one of its side edges bears against one of said side walls so as to hold said receptacle open to receive objects to be carried, including the step of using automatic filling equipment to fill said receptacles with beverage containers .

37. A method as in Claim 32 in which the step of holding said one of said parts is selected from the steps of

(a) aligning the two' sections of said one part in the same plane with one another when said carrier is folded, and placing a barrier to block the outward bending of said upper part during unfolding;

(b) aligning the two sections of said one part in the same plane with one another when said carrier is folded, and leaving secured to said vertical support panel structure the first section of said one part when folding said carrier; and

(c) folding said upper part inwardly at the edge of the folded carrier at which said second side wall is folded over onto said first side wall.

38. A method of serving beverages in containers of varying heights, said method comprising

(a) providing a carrier with a vertical support panel structure, (b) providing a pair of foldable receptacles, each extending outwardly from and secured to said vertical support panel structure, each of said receptacles having a plurality of side walls and a foldable bottom wall structure secured to said side walls, said side walls including a first side wall which, when unfolded, extends away from said vertical support panel structure and which is linked along a vertical fold line to a second side wall which extends substantially parallel to and spaced from said vertical support panel structure when unfolded, said first and second side walls having at least two vertically-spaced horizontal parts, one of said parts having first and second sections, said first section extending from said vertical support panel along said first side wall to said fold line, and said second section extending from said fold line along said second wall to a distance from said fold line substantially equal to the distance of said second wall from said vertical support panel structure, in which said one part provides the upper edges of at least a portion of said first and second side walls, and including the steps of causing said one part to be bent inwardly to reduce the height of a portion of said side walls, and placing a beverage container in one of said receptacles in the portion which has side walls of reduced height .

39. A method as in Claim 38 in which said one part, when bent inwardly, forms a divider to hold beverage containers laterally in place in said receptacle, and placing another beverage container in the space beside the first mentioned space.

40. A blank for forming a foldable carrier, said blank comprising

(a) a pair of support panels each having opposed side edges extending in a first direction, and first and second opposed transverse end edges extending in a second direction transverse to said first direction, said support panels being arranged with said side edges aligned with one another, and the first of said transverse end edges of each panel adjacent and parallel to the first of said transverse end edges of the other of said support panels,

(b) a pair of side-wall structures for forming two receptacles, each secured to one of said support panels,

(c) each of said side-wall structures comprising a plurality of side-wall panels joined together in series with one of said support panels along fold lines, (d) each of said side-wall panels and said support panels having a bottom flange extending outwardly from one edge, said flanges forming two linear groups of four bottom flanges extending outwardly from opposite sides of said blank, (e) at least two of said flanges in each of said groups having an attachment corner with a diagonal fold line, whereby said corner can be attached to an adjacent one of said flanges to form an automatically-opening bottom structure of one of said receptacles. •

41. A blank as in Claim 40 including a pair of side flanges, each extending along a fold line from one end of each said linear groups, said end being selected from the group consisting of the west end and the east end, when said linear groups are aligned in an east-west direction.

42. A blank as in Claim 40 in which said first end edges of said support panels are joined together along a fold line .

43. A blank as in Claim 40 in which the length of each of said side-wall panels in said first direction on said blank is substantially less than the length of said support panels in said first direction and said linear groups are spaced from one another, and including a pair of reinforcement panels formed in the space between said two linear groups of sidewall panels, each of said reinforcement panels being connected at one side edge to one of said side edges of one of said support panels along a fold line, whereby each of said reinforcement panels can be folded over and secured to one of said support panels.

44. A blank as in Claim 40 in which each of said support panels includes at least one divider cut-out therefrom, said divider being secured at one end to the support panel from which it is cut out, said cut-out having an end opposite said one end, with an attachment tab at said opposite end for attachment to one of said side-wall panels to form a divider when said carrier is unfolded.

45. A blank as in Claim 40 in which each of said corners has a shape selected from the group consisting of substantially triangular and truncated triangular.

46. A blank as in Claim 40 in which each of said two flanges has a shape selected from the group consisting of substantially triangular, truncated triangular, and substantially rectangular.

47. A blank as in Claim 40 in which at least one of said flanges in each of said linear groups has a width, measured in said first direction, substantially equal to the width of the narrowest of said side wall panels, measured in said transverse direction, so that said one "flange spans the width of said bottom structure when said blank is formed into a carrier and unfolded.

48. A blank as in Claim 44 in which there are two of said cut-outs forming two dividers for each of said support panels, each being secured to said panel along a longitudinal fold line, said cut-outs extending in said transverse direction.

49. A blank as in Claim 48 in which each of the attachment tabs of one of each pair of said dividers is substantially narrower than the base of the other of said pair of dividers, and extends into and is cut out of the material of said base of said other divider.

50. A blank as in Claim 49 in which said blank has side flanges extending from one of the east and west ends of said blank, and each of the attachment tabs of said other dividers extends into and is cut out of the material of one of said side flanges .

51. A blank as in Claim 48 in which each of said divider cut-outs has an elongated tapered lower extremity to serve as a cushion between beverage containers in adjacent compartments formed by said dividers.

52. A method of making a foldable carrier, comprising the steps of :

(a) providing a blank having (i) a pair of support panels each having opposed side edges extending in a first direction, and first and second opposed transverse end edges, said support panels being arranged with said side edges aligned with one another and the first of said end edges of each panel adjacent and parallel to the first of said transverse end edges of the other of said support panels,

(ii) a pair of side-wall structures for forming two receptacles, each secured to one of said support panels,

(iii) each of said side-wall structures comprising a plurality of side-wall panels joined together in series with one of said support panels along fold lines,

(iv) each of said side-wall panels and said support panels having a bottom flange extending outwardly from one edge, said flanges forming two linear groups of four bottom flanges extending outwardly from opposite sides of said blank, at least two of said flanges in each of said groups each having an attachment corner with a diagonal fold line, whereby said corner can be attached to an adjacent one of said flanges to form an automatically-opening bottom structure of one of said receptacles, (v) a pair of side flanges, each extending from one side of said blank and positioned to fasten said side wall and support panel together in each of said groups to form enclosures for each of said receptacles, (b) folding over said flanges and attachment corners to be glued, and moving said blank in a first direction through a gluer to apply glue to said corners and flanges, and

(c) folding said blank along at least one pre- ^' determined longitudinal fold line to adhere said tabs and flanges to desired attachment surfaces of said blank.

53. A method as in Claim523 including the further step of

(d) rotating said blank by about 90°, (e) moving said blank in a second direction orthogonal to said first direction and applying adhesive to at least one of said support panels, and

(f) folding said support panels one on top of the other to adhere them together.

54. A method as in Claim 52 in which said providing step includes the step of selecting said blank from a group consisting of (1) a blank having side flanges at the west end thereof, and (2) a blank having side flanges at the east end thereof .

55. A method as in Claim 52 in which said providing step includes the step of selecting said blank from a group consisting of (1) a blank in which each of said support panels has at least one cut-out divider structure connected at one end to said support along a fold line and having a glue tab at the end opposite said one end, said cut-out being positioned with said glue tab extending away from said fold line in a direction selected from the group consisting of east and west.

56. A method as in Claim 55 in which the blank provided has side flanges at one end of said blank, said one end being selected from the group consisting of the east end and the west end, and the direction in which said divider cutouts point, the end at which said securing flanges are located and the direction in which said cut-outs point being selected to fit the structure of the particular gluer being used to make the carrier.

57. A method of making carriers on automated equipment including in-line and/or right-angle gluers, the steps of

(a) selecting a construction for said carrier including a pair of vertical support panels, a pair of foldable receptacles, each being formed on and extending outwardly from one of said vertical side panels, each of said receptacles having four side walls, one of which is formed by a portion of one of said vertical side panels, and a foldable flange extending from the lower edge of each of said side walls, two opposed ones of said flanges each being secured to an adjacent one of said flanges to form an automatic unfolding bottom structure for said rectangle,

(b) selecting between an in-line blank and a right- angle blank for use in making said carriers, in accordance with the availability of either in-line or right-angle gluers to the manufacturer of said carriers,

(c) said in-line blanks each having said vertical support panels and said side walls connected together in series with all of said flanges arranged along one edge of said blank, and (d) said right-angle blanks each having two vertical support panel, each with the side walls for one of said receptacles connected to it, and the flanges for one of said receptacles extending in a first linear array along a first edge of said blank, and the flanges for the other of said receptacles extending in a second linear array -along the opposite edge of said blank, parallel to said first linear array.

58. A carrier blank comprising: (a) a pair of support panels,

(b) two groups of side-wall panels, each connected in series to one of said support panels so as to form, together with said support panels, a walled enclosure for a receptacle, (c) a plurality of flanges, one extending from the lower edge of each of said side wall panels and the attached support panel in each of said groups, said flanges adapted to be selectively secured to one another to form a bottom wall for one of said receptacles, and (d) at least two cut-outs from the material of each of said support panels forming two dividers for each of said receptacles, each of said cut-outs being attached along a fold line at one end to support the panel from which it is cut, and having an attachment tab at the end opposite said one end, one of said dividers having a width at said attachment end which is substantially narrower than the width of said one end of the other divider, with said attachment end being nested within an cut out of the material of said other divider.

59. A blank as in Claim 58 in which said other divider has an attachment tab at the end opposite said one end, the latter attachment tab extending beyond one side edge of said support panel, the latter attachment tab extending into and being cut out of the material of one of said side wall panels which spans the gap left by the cut-out of said other divider.

60. A blank for forming a foldable carrier, said blank comprising

(a) a pair of support panels each having opposed side edges extending in a first direction, and first and second opposed transverse end edges extending in a second direction transverse to said first direction, said support panels being arranged with said side edges aligned with one another, and the first of said transverse end edges of each panel adjacent and parallel to the first of said transverse end edges of the other of said support panels, (b) a pair of side-wall structures for forming two receptacles, each secured to one of said support panels,

(c) each of said side-wall structures comprising a plurality of side-wall panels joined together in series with one of said support panels along fold lines, (d) each of said side-wall panels and said support panels having a bottom flange extending outwardly from one edge, said flanges forming two linear groups of four bottom flanges extending outwardly from opposite sides of said blank,

(e) at least two of said flanges in each of said groups having an attachment corner with a diagonal fold line, whereby said corner can be attached to an adjacent one of said flanges to form an automatically-opening bottom structure of one of said receptacles,

(f) each of said support panels having at least one divider cut-out therefrom and forming a hole in said support panel, and (g) at least one end panel extending outwardly from one end of at least one of said linear groups, said end panel having .a size and shape to substantially cover said hole in said vertical support panel when said end panel is bent over one edge of said one linear group and secured to one surface of said vertical panel .

61. A blank as in Claim 1 including one of said end panels for each of said linear groups.'

62. A blank as in Claim 1 in which there are two of said cut-outs forming two dividers for each of said support panels, and leaving two holes in each of said vertical support panels, each of said dividers being secured to said vertical support panel along a longitudinal fold line, said cut-outs extending in said transverse direction, said end panel having a size and shape sufficient to cover both of said holes.

63. A method of making a foldable carrier, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a blank having

(i) a pair of support panels each having opposed side edges extending in a first direction, and first and second opposed transverse end edges, said support panels being arranged with said side edges aligned with one another and the first of said end edges of each panel adjacent and parallel to the first of said transverse end edges of the other of said support panels,

(iii) each of said side-wall structures comprising a plurality of side-wall panels joined together in series with one of said support panels along fold lines, (iv) each of said side-wall panels and said support panels having a bottom flange extending outwardly from one edge, said flanges forming two linear groups of four bottom flanges extending outwardly from opposite sides of said blank, at least two of said flanges in each of said groups each having an attachment corner with a diagonal fold line, whereby said corner can be attached to an adjacent one of said flanges to form an automatically-opening bottom structure of one of said receptacles, (v) each of said support panels having at least one hole formed by a divider cut-out,

(vi) a pair of side flanges, each extending from one side of said blank and positioned to fasten said side wall and support panel together in each of said groups to form enclosures for each of said receptacles, at least one of said side flanges being of a size and shape sufficient to cover at least one of said holes when folded over,

(b) folding over said flanges and attachment corners to be glued, and moving said blank in a first direction through a gluer to apply glue to said corners and flanges, and

(c) folding said blank along at least one predetermined longitudinal fold line to adhere said tabs and flanges to desired attachment surfaces of said blank.

64. A method as in Claim 4 including the further step of

(d) rotating said blank by about 90° ,

(e) moving said blank in a second direction orthogonal to said first direction and applying adhesive to at least one of said support panels, and (f) folding said support panels one on top of the other to adhere them together.

65. A carrier blank comprising:

(a) a pair of vertical support panels, (b) two groups of side-wall panels, each connected in series to one of said support panels so as to form, when assembled together with said support panels, a walled enclosure for a receptacle,

(c) a plurality of bottom flanges, one extending from the lower edge of each of said side wall panels and the attached support panel in each of said groups, said flanges adapted to be selectively secured to one another to form an automatically-opening bottom wall for one of said receptacles, and (d) at least one cut-out from the material of each of said support panels forming at least one divider for each of said receptacles, and

(e) at least one side flange extending from one end of one of said side wall panel groups and having a size and shape to substantially cover the hole in said one support panel created by said cut-out when folded over on to one side of said one support panel in assembling a carrier from said blank.

66. A blank as in Claim 6 in which there are at least two divider cut-outs forming at least two holes in each of said support panels, and said side flange being of a size and shape sufficient to cover both holes .