WO2012037541A1

WO2012037541A1 - Wrap-around carrier with locking heel retaining structure

Info

Publication number: WO2012037541A1
Application number: PCT/US2011/052068
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Michel Auclair; Patrick Blin
Original assignee: Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems, Llc
Priority date: 2010-09-17
Filing date: 2011-09-19
Publication date: 2012-03-22
Also published as: AU2011301814A1; RU2013117446A; CN103209903A; CA2808948A1; BR112013006325A2; EP2616357A1; KR20130099082A; MX2013002943A; JP2013540661A

Abstract

A wraparound carrier includes lockable retaining structures (140, 142, 144, 150, 152, 154) for maintaining the security and position of containers (C) in a package (100) during the process of wrapping the carrier around an article group. Each of the retaining structures includes a pair of side flaps (200, 202) that fold inwardly to cradle the heel of a container that is received in an aperture (A) along which the side flaps are hingedly connected. A pair of locking tabs (212, 213, 214, 215) is formed in part from the side flaps and in part from an adjacent carrier panel. The locking tabs cooperate to hold the side flaps in operative positions before the carrier contacts the article group, thereby eliminating the need for special packaging equipment.

Description

WRAP-AROUND CARRIER WITH LOCKING HEEL RETAINING STRUCTURE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to beverage packaging, and more specifically to a wrap-around carrier with a heel retaining structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cartons for holding, storing, and carrying multiple articles are well known in the art. For example, many cartons are useful for grouping and carrying multiple beverage containers while exposing the beverage containers for visibility and economy of material use. Some of these cartons are open-top basket-style carriers that allow beverage containers to be loaded into individual partitioned pockets of the fully erected carrier, for example, the six-pack packaging that is popular for soft drinks and beers. Other carriers are configured to wrap around an arranged group of bottles or other beverage containers.

It is known for a wrap-around bottle carrier to include structures that are configured to retain bottles in position by cradling at least one portion of each respective container, such as the neck or heel of a bottle. Such retaining structures maintain each container in its intended position in the carrier, particularly while the carrier is being manually or robotically positioned around the container group before being wrapped tightly to thereby fix the positions of the containers within the carrier. For example, heel retaining structures are particularly useful for cushioning and spacing glass bottles enclosed within a carrier to prevent clashing of their adjacent heels, as the heel of a glass bottle is often associated with the widest part of the bottle.

As a wrap-around carrier is applied to a pre-arranged group of containers using automatic packaging machinery, the retaining structures are folded into operative i position where they must stay until they engage the intended contact point of the bottles. Accordingly, known carriers with hee! retaining structures require special machinery to hold the heel retaining structures in their operative positions while the carrier is wrapped around the container group.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a wrap-around carrier with at least one heel retaining structure that locks in operative position prior to engaging the contact point. This advantageously permits assembly of the wrap-around carrier package without the need for a special packaging machine that can maintain the deployment of each heel retaining structure at the same time that the machine is applying the carrier to the container group. On the contrary, the present invention is particularly useful with modern packaging processes, which often run multiple configurations, packaging types and containers on a single machine, with minimal retooling and reconfiguration. More specifically, the present invention provides a carrier for enclosing a container group of at least one but generally several containers in any desirable arrangement. The carrier has a side wall that includes at least a side panel and a heel panel. The carrier also includes a bottom wall that supports the container, the bottom wall being hingedly connected to the side wall. To retain the containers in carrier, maintain proper spacing and to cushion the containers from shocks, the carrier includes at least one retaining structure each being configured to cradling a heel of a container. The retaining structure includes an aperture for receiving the heel of the container. The aperture is formed at least in part in the side wall and the bottom wall of the carrier. A pair of side flaps is hingedly connected along an edge of the aperture. Advantageously, a pair of locking tabs is provided to hold the side flaps in an operative position, i.e., folded inwardly with respect to the outside of the carrier, prior to wrapping the carrier around the container group. One of the locking tabs is defined in one of the side and bottom walls of the carrier, and the other locking tab is defined in one of the side flaps. The locking tabs cooperate to brace one another as they hold the retaining structure in its operative position. As the side wall of the carrier is folded with respect to the bottom wall, the locking tabs are brought into a face-contacting arrangement, which positions the locking tabs for cooperative action. In certain embodiments, cooperative action is achieved when the locking tabs are folded further inwardly after the side flaps are folded to lock the side flaps in place. In certain of these embodiments, each of a cooperating pair of locking tabs is defined in part by a free edge that is struck from a carrier blank along a single cut line. In other embodiments, cooperative action is achieved when the locking tabs engage one another as the side wall is further advanced toward the bottom wall.

In certain embodiments, the retaining structure in held in its operative position by the cooperative action of the locking tabs until the carrier comes into contact with the container group. The folding of the side wall toward the bottom wall may dictate the degree to which the locking tabs maintain their cooperative action. The foregoing has broadly outlined some of the aspects and features of the present invention, which should be construed to be merely illustrative of various potential applications of the invention. Other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed information in a different manner or by modifying the disclosed embodiments. Accordingly, other aspects and a more comprehensive understanding of the invention may be obtained by referring to the detailed description of the exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a carrier blank according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial plan view of the carrier blank of FIG. 1 . FIGS. 3-7 illustrate an exemplary method of erecting the blank illustrated in HG. 1 into a carrier.

FIG. 8. Is a plan view of a carton blank according to a second exemplary embodiment. FIG. 9 is a partial plan view of the carrier blank of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view illustrating an exemplary method of erecting the carrier blank of FIG. 8.

FIG. 1 1 is a partial plan view of a third exemplary embodiment of a carrier blank.

FIG. 12 is a partial perspective view illustrating an exemplary method of erecting the carrier blank of FIG. 11 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. It will be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples to illustrate aspects of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. In other instances, well-known materials or methods have not been described in detail to avoid obscuring the present invention. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but as a basis for the claims and for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

The various embodiments will be described herein as a carrier for bottles, although the teachings of the invention are applicable to any number of containers, which may or may not be tapered and/or cylindrical, including but not limited to plastic, metallic, or glass bottles, cans, bowling pins, candles, or any other article for which such a carrier is suitable. As used herein, the term "neck" refers to an upper portion of a container, and the term "necked" is used to describe an article having a neck. The neck of a container may be, but is not necessarily, tapered with respect to any portion of the body of the article. As used herein, the term heel refers to the lowest portion of a beverage container (e.g., a bottle), and particularly the region at which its body (the primary content containing portion of the container) begins to curve into its base (the support surface of the container).

Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals represent like elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates a carton blank 10 ("blank") for forming a wrap around carrier in accordance with one embodiment. The blank 10 can be made from a substrate of paperboard, plastic, or any other desired material. One or more surfaces of the substrate can be coated, painted, printed, or treated to achieve desired package characteristics. For example, advertising can be painted on one or both sides of the substrate, and a water-resistant or waterproof sealant can be painted one or more of the substrate sides. As such, the blank 10 can be made into a sleeve-type wraparound carrier as secondary packaging for carrying containers that hold liquid contents. Alternative embodiments are shown in FIGs. 8-12, which will be described in detail below.

The blank 10 is cut from or formed into a substantially unitary or composite foldable sheet material such as paperboard, corrugated board, clear or opaque plastic, laminates, any combination thereof, or the like. The blank 10 includes several panels that are hingedly connected to one another along transverse lines. More specifically, the blank 10 includes a top panel 102 that, in the embodiment shown, is hingedly attached along fold line 104 to a front side panel 108, although it is conceivable that the top panel 102 can be attached rigidly. The front side panel 106 is hingedly connected along fold line 109 to a front heel panel 1 10. Together, the front side panel 108 and the front heel panel 110 define a front side wall of the erected carrier. The front heel panel 1 10 is hingedly connected along fold line 112 to a female lap panel 1 14. Similarly, the top panel 102 is hingedly connected to a rear side panel 1 18 along a fold line 130. The rear side panel 116 is hingedly connected along fold line 1 19 to a rear heel panel 120. The rear side panel 118 and the rear heel panel 120 together define a rear side wall of the erected carrier. The rear heel panel 120 is hingedly connected along fold line 122 to a male lap panel 124. The fold lines 109, 1 12, 119, 122 is interrupted by the retaining structures 140, 142, 144, 150, 152, 154.

Optionally, the front side panel 108 and the rear side panel 1 16 may include one or more contour folds 108, 1 18, 126, 128, which are positioned horizontally to conform the profile of the carrier to contours of the intended container. However, each of the front and rear side walls may be formed without any fold lines even without the fold lines 109 and 119.

Both the front side panel 106 and the rear side panel 116 are hingedly connected along respective fold lines 104, 130 to the top panel 102. Optionally, the top panel 102 includes a front cap 132 panel, a rear cap panel 134, and a handle pane! 136. The cap panels 132, 134 each is hingedly connected to the handle panel 138 along a fold line.

Several heel retaining structures 140, 142, 144, 150, 152, 154 are also defined in the blank 10. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the number of retaining structures depends at least in part on the number and arrangement of containers C that will be enclosed to form a package. In this example, the package 100 (FIG. 6) encloses a 2x3 arrangement of six containers C, which are glass bottles. Consequently, three retaining structures are formed on each side of the package 100 in order to retain the three containers C disposed in each row.

Likewise, the blank 10 optionally includes several cap retaining structures 180, 162, 164, 170, 172, 174. In addition, the blank 10 includes suitable means for interconnecting the lap panels 1 14, 124 to form a bottom surface that supports a group of containers C. In the exemplary embodiments, means for interconnecting the lap panels 1 14, 124 include receiving apertures 180 and locking tabs 182 that mechanically cooperate to lock and tighten the ends of the blank 10 to form a tubular sleeve, although any number of alternative means would suffice, including glue receiving panels and the like.

FIG. 2 shows a detail view of the retaining structures 140, 142, 144 that are formed in the front side panel 106, the front heel panel 1 10 and female lap panel 114. All of the retaining structures are substantially identical in relevant part, so for purposes of teaching, and not of limitation, the components of one of the retaining structures will be described. The retaining structure 140 includes a pair of side flaps 200, 202 that are foldably attached along respective fold lines 204, 206 to the front side panel 106, front heel pane! 110 and female bottom lap panel 1 14. The fold lines 204, 206 extend along portions of an aperture "A" that is configured to receive a heel portion of a container C (as best shown in FIGs. 2 and 3). Each fold line 204, 206 is interrupted by a straight cut line 208, 210, which defines both the free distal edges of a pair of trapezoidal locking tabs 212/213 and 214/215. The locking tabs 212, 214 are formed from part of the female lap panel 114 while the locking tabs 213, 215 are formed from part of the female lap panel 114. The locking tab 212 is hingedly connected to the female lap panel 114 along a fold line 216 that is spaced apart from, but may be substantially parallel to, the cut line 208. The locking tab 213 is hingedly connected to the side flap 200 along a fold line 217 that is spaced apart from, but may be substantially parallel to, the cut line 208. Similarly, the locking tab 214 is hingedly connected to the female lap panel 1 14 along a fold line 218 that is spaced apart from, but may be substantially parallel to, the cut line 210. The locking tab 215 is hingedly connected to the side flap 202 along a fold line 219 that is spaced apart from, but may be substantially parallel to, the cut line 210.

In an alternative embodiment, each fold line 204, 206 may be interrupted by a arched cut line 207, 209 so that the cut lines 207, 209 each defines free distal edges of a pair of locking tabs 212/213 and 214/215. in such an alternative embodiment, the locking tab 212 may be hingedly connected to the heel panel 1 10 along a fold line that is spaced apart from, but may be substantially parallel to, the arched cut line 207. The locking tab 213 may be hingedly connected to the side flap 200 along a fold line that is spaced apart from, but may be substantially parallel to, the arched cut line 207.

Similarly, the locking tab 214 may be hingedly connected to the heel pane! 110 along a fold line that is spaced apart from, but may be substantially parallel to, the arched cut line 209. The locking tab 215 may be hingedly connected to the side flap 202 along a fold line that is spaced apart from, but may be substantially parallel to, the arched cut line 209. The distal edge of each of the pair of flaps 200, 202 is defined by a single cut line 220 that extends longitudinally between the flaps 200, 202, although in alternative embodiments, the flaps 200, 202 may not extend to meet one another as shown.

Each flap 200, 202 includes one or more slits that extend partially across the flap 200, 202 in a substantially transverse, but sloping orientation. The slits are positioned to cooperate with other elements of the blank 10 so as to encourage the flap 200, 202 to fold into the operative position (FIG. 3), as will be described in more detail below.

Specifically, the flap 200 includes a slit 222 that extends from a point that is near the intersection between the fold line 204 (that defines the proximal edge of the flap 200) and the fold line 1 12 that extends transversely across the entire blank 10 to connect the front heel panel 1 10 to the female lap panel 1 14. The slit 222 is angled such that when the flap 200 is folded inwardly with respect to the outer surface of the blank 10 and the blank is folded along fold line 112, as will be described below, the slit 222 allows a lower section 224 of the flap 200 to approach a substantially face- contacting arrangement with the inside surface of the female lap panel 114. This substantially face-contacting arrangement between lower section 224 of the flap 200 and the female lap panel 1 14 brings the inside surface of the locking tabs 212, 213 into a face-contacting arrangement as well, with substantial alignment of the distal edges (that were defined by cut line 208) and of the fold lines 216, 217. In like fashion, the flap 202 includes a slit 232 that extends from a point that is near the intersection between the fold line 208 (that defines the proximal edge of the flap 202) and the fold line 112 that extends transversely across the entire blank 10 to connect the front heel panel 1 10 to the female lap panel 1 14. The slit 232 is angled such that when the flap 200 is folded inwardly with respect to the outer surface of the blank 10 and the blank is folded along fold line 112, as will be described below, the slit 232 allows a lower section 234 of the flap 202 to approach a substantially face- contacting arrangement with the inside surface of the female lap panel 1 14, thereby achieving a substantially face-contacting arrangement between the inside surface of the locking tabs 214, 215, with substantial alignment of the distal edges (that were defined by cut line 210) and of the fold lines 218, 219. The flap 200 further Includes a slit 228 that extends from a point that is near the intersection between the fold line 204 and the transverse fold line 109. The angle of the slit 228 is selected to cooperate with at least the fold line 204, the fold line 109 and the slit 222 to cause the flap 200 to achieve a curved and erect profile on the inside of the carrier. Similarly, the flap 202 further includes a slit 238 that extends at an angle away from a point near the intersection between the fold line 208 and the transverse fold line 109, and toward the cut line 220.

As previously mentioned, the blank 10 is constructed so that it can be wrapped around a pre-arranged group of containers C to form the package 100 of FIG. 6.

Referring now to FIGs. 2-7, an exemplary method for erecting the exemplary blank 10 of FIG. 1 to form the package 100 will now be described. It should be understood that the steps described herein are not necessarily presented in any particular order, and that performance of some or all the steps in an alternative order(s) is possible and is contemplated. The steps have been presented in the demonstrated order for ease of description and illustration. Steps can be added, omitted and/or performed

simultaneously without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

The containers to be packaged are arranged in the 2x3 formation shown in FIG. 4. The blank 10 is partially assembled in advance, in that the retaining structures 140, 142, 144, 150, 152, 154 are folded into the operative position shown in FIG. 3. To do so, the side flaps 200, 202 are folded inward along respective fold lines 204, 206, until the inside surfaces of the lower portions of the side flaps 200, 202 contact the inside surface of the female lap panel 114, and the locking tabs 212, 213 are face-contacting and in alignment. To achieve this inward rotation of the side flaps 200, 202, it may be necessary to fold the blank at least slightly along the transverse fold lines 112 and 126. In a simultaneous or subsequent operation, the side flaps 200, 202 are locked into their operative positions, because each pair of locking tabs 212, 213 and locking tabs 214, 215 is rotated or otherwise folded together inwardly along the respective fold lines 216, 217 to their locking positions where they lock the side flaps 200, 202 in the operative positions. After the locking tabs 212, 213 and locking tabs 214, 215 are inwardly folded to lock the side flaps 200, 201 in their operative positions, the lower sections 224, 234 of the side flaps 200, 202 may spring away from the female lap panel 1 14 slightly, which further locks the configuration, as the outermost locking tabs 212, 214 brace the innermost locking tabs 213, 215. Locking tabs 213, 215 also serve to define cutouts in the respective side flaps 200, 202 in which the associated locking tabs 212, 214 are received when the locking tabs 212, 213, 214, 215 are brought into their respective locking positions. When in the cutouts, the locking tabs 212, 214 are engaged at their respective side edges with the respective side flaps 200, 202 to hold the side flaps 200, 202 in their operative positions.

It follows that each pair of locking tabs 212/213 and locking tabs 214/215 becomes a two-ply locking element that locks the retaining structure 140 in its operative position so that the blank 10 can be wrapped around a group of containers C without requiring the intervention of machine elements to maintain this configuration. It should be noted that the locking elements formed by the locking tabs 212, 213 and locking tabs 214, 215 need only hold the retaining structure 140 in its operative position until it is contacted by the heel of a container C. Once this occurs, the creation of the package 100 is substantially complete, and the retaining structure 140 may be held in its operative position by the container C itself.

The flaps and locking tabs associated with each of the other retaining structures 142, 144, 150, 152, 154 are operated in the same manner. After all of the retaining structures 140, 142, 144, 150, 152, 154 are folded into the operative position shown in FIG. 3, the blank 10 is lowered onto the group of containers C in such manner that the top panel 102 contacts the caps of the containers C, which may be engaged by optional cap retaining structures 160, 182, 184, 170, 172, 174, as shown in FIG. 5. The lap panels 114, 124 are folded underneath the group of containers C, and receiving apertures 180 and the locking tabs 182 are used to connect and tighten the lap panels 1 14, 124 as is well known in the art (best shown in FIG. 7). Together, the lap panels 1 14, 124 form a bottom wall of the carrier.

An alternative embodiment of a carrier in accordance with the present invention will now be described. The exemplary blank 20 that is shown in FIG. 8 is configured and is erected in the same fashion as described, with the following exceptions. The blank 20 includes heel retaining structures 240, 242, 244, 250, 252, 254 that utilize the same principles to achieve a two-ply locking element that locks each retaining structure 240, 242, 244, 250, 252, 254 in its operative position until the package is complete, so that the blank 20 can be wrapped around a group of containers C without the action of machine elements to maintain this configuration.

With further reference to F!Gs. 9 and 10, the configurations of the retaining structures 240, 242, 244 are shown in greater detail, for purposes of explaining the commonalities and distinctions that evidence the variety of manifestations of the principles of the invention. Specifically, the flaps 200, 202 that are formed in the blank 20 are connected along respective fold lines 204, 206, which are interrupted by a substantially transverse cut line 308, 310, which defines as single free edge of each of a pair of substantially triangular locking tabs 312/313 and 314/315. The locking tab 312 is hingedly connected to the female lap panel 114 along a fold line 318 that extends at an angle from an end of the cut line 308 to the intersection of the bottom edge 346 of the flap 200 and the fold line 204. The locking tab 313 is hingedly connected to the flap 200 along a fold line 316 that extends at an angle from the opposite end of the cut line 308 to the same intersection. Accordingly, as with the previous embodiment, a free edge of both of each pair of locking tabs 312/313 is struck from the blank 20 along a single cut line 308. The other pair of locking tabs 314/315 is similarly constructed and defined by cut line 310, bottom edge 348 and respective fold lines 318, 319.

The retaining structures 240, 242, 244, 250, 252, 254 are folded into operative position in much the same manner as with the prior embodiment. Similarly, the blank 20 is partially assembled in advance, in that the retaining structures 240, 242, 244, 250, 252, 254 are folded into the operative position shown in FIG. 10. To do so, the flaps 200, 202 are folded inward along respective fold lines 204, 206, until the inside surfaces of the lower portions of the flaps 200, 202 contact the inside surface of the female lap panel 1 14, and pairs of the locking tabs 312/313 and 314/315 are face-contacting with their free edges (once defined by respective cut lines 308 and 310) in alignment. In a simultaneous or subsequent operation, the retaining structure 240 is locked into this operative position, because each pair of locking tabs 312/313 and 314/315 is rotated together further inwardly along the respective fold lines 216, 217 to lock the flaps 200, 202 in place.

An alternative embodiment of a carrier in accordance with the present invention will now be described. The exemplary blank 30 that is partially shown in FIG. 1 1 is configured and is erected in the same fashion as described, with the following

exceptions. The blank 30 includes heel retaining structures 440, 442, 444 and 450, 452, 454 (not shown) that utilize the same principles to achieve a locking element that is formed from a portion of the flap that is restrained and from a portion of an adjacent panel.

With further reference to FIGs. 1 1 and 12, the configurations and operation of the retaining structures 440, 442, 444 are shown in greater detail. Specifically, lower sections 224, 234 of the flaps 200, 202 that are formed in the blank 30 can be brought into face-contacting arrangement with respect to the inside surface of the female lap panel 1 14 by rotating the flaps 200, 202 inward along respective fold lines 204, 206. By doing so, and by folding the blank 30 at least slightly along the fold lines 109, 1 12, and more particularly - by folding the blank 30 along fold line 460, the bottom edges 346, 348 of the flaps 200, 202 engage the locking tabs 412, 414 so as to be captured beneath distal edges 462, 464. The locking tabs 412 , 414 are hingedly connected to the female lap panel 1 14 along the fold line 460 that extends transversely partially across the blank 30, and is interrupted by the apertures A.

The retaining structures 440, 442, 444, 450, 452, 454 are folded into the operative position shown in FIG. 12 when the blank 30 is partially assembled. To do so, the flaps 200, 202 are folded inward along respective fold lines 204, 206, until the inside surfaces of the lower portions of the flaps 200, 202 contact the inside surface of the female lap panel 1 14. In a simultaneous or subsequent operation, the retaining structure 442 is locked into this operative position as the blank 30 is folded along fold lines 109, 1 12, 460. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that each blank 10, 20 and 30 can be erected using automatic or manual means that operate to deploy the heel retaining structures prior to bringing them into contact with the containers. In other words, each heel retaining structure advantageously is locked in the deployed position by its respective locking mechanism before completing the process of wrapping the blank around the container group.

The present invention has been illustrated in relation to a particular embodiment which is intended in all respects to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention is capable of many modifications and variations without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, as used herein, directional references such as "top", "base", "bottom", "end", "side", "inner", "outer", "upper", "middle", "lower", "front" and "rear" do not limit the respective to such orientation, but merely serve to distinguish these panels from one another. Any reference to hinged connection should not be construed as necessarily referring to a single fold line only; indeed, it is envisaged that hinged connection can be formed from one or more of one of the following, a score line, a frangible line or a fold line, without departing from the scope of invention. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the shapes and sizes of cap, heel and handle apertures and of the handle are only examples of the various configurations that will be suitable for implementation of the various embodiments of the invention.

It should be understood that various changes may be made within the scope of the present invention, for example, the size and shape of the panels and apertures may be adjusted to accommodate articles of differing size or shape, and alternative shapes, sizes, and configurations for retention means may be used. The carrier may

accommodate one or more articles in different arrangements, including in multiple rows or levels.

Claims

CLAIMS We claim:

1 . A carrier for packaging at least one container, the carrier comprising:

a side wall:

a bottom wall hingedly connected to the side wall; and

a retaining structure for cradling a heel of a container, the retaining structure comprising:

an aperture for receiving a heel of a container, the aperture being formed in the side wall and the bottom wall;

a side flap hingedly connected along an edge of the aperture so as to be foldable inward of the carrier to an operative position where the side flap forms a cradle for engaging a heel of a container; and

a first locking tab defined in one of the side and bottom walls such that the first locking tab is engageable to hold the side flap in the operative position when the side flap is folded inward.

2. The carrier of claim 1 , wherein the side wall includes a side panel and a heel panel hingedly connected together along fold line, and wherein the bottom wall is hingedly connected to the heel panel.

3. The carrier of claim 2, wherein the aperture is formed in the side panel and the heel panel.

4. The carrier of claim 1 , wherein the first locking tab is formed from a part of the bottom wall and is joined to the bottom wall, the first locking tab having inside and outside surfaces, the side flap having inside and outside surfaces, and the first locking tab is engaged at the outside surface thereof with the outside surface of the side flap when the side flap is folded into the operative position.

5. The carrier of claim 1 , wherein the first locking tab is formed from a part of the one of the side and bottom walls and is hingediy connected to the one of the side and bottom walls so as to be foldable inward of the carrier into a locking position where the first locking tab engages the side flap that has been brought to the operative position.

6. The carrier of claim 5, wherein the first locking tab is formed from the bottom wall and is hingediy connected to the bottom wall.

7. The carrier of claim 5, wherein the side flap is provided with a cutout defined along the edge of the aperture along which the side flap is hingediy connected, the cut out is configured and positioned to receive and engage the first locking tab when the side flap and the first locking tab are in the operative position and the locking position, respectively.

8. The carrier of claim 1 , wherein the retaining structure further comprises a second locking tab defined in the side flap.

9. The carrier of claim 8, wherein the first locking tab and the second locking tab are configured and positioned to engage one another to hold the side flap in the operative position.

10. The carrier of claim 8, wherein the second locking tab is formed from a part of the side flap and is hingediy connected to the side flap to be foldable with respect to the side flap.

1 1 . The carrier of claim 10, wherein the first locking tab comprises a first free edge and the second locking tab comprises a second free edge, and the first free edge and the second free edge are defined by a single cut line when the carrier is in a blank form.

12. The carrier of claim 10, wherein the second locking tab defines an cutout in the side flap when the second locking tab is folded out of the plane of the side flap, the cut out being configured and positioned to receive and engage the first locking tab when the side flap and the first locking tab are in the operative position and the locking position, respectively.

13. The carrier of claim 12, wherein the first locking tab is configured to brace the second locking tab to hold the second locking tab out of the plane of the side flap when the first locking tab is in the locking position.

14. The carrier of claim 10, wherein the first locking tab and the second locking tab are connected together along a fold line.

15. The carrier of claim 7, wherein the first locking tab has a pair of opposed side edges and a free edge extending between the side edges, the first locking tab is engaged at the side edges thereof with the side flaps when received in the cutout.