Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
10'? ~'3~
In order to enhance environmental quality and to
lower the consumption of energy, a reusable article carrier is
required which is both economi.cal and easy to use. By the
utilization of such an article carrier, an effective means is
provided by which nonreturnable multiple primary packages can
be effectively transported and disposed of as refuse or
returnable primary packages can be conveniently returned to
the point of sale.
According to this invention an article carrier is
provided and comprises a bottom wall, a pair of side walls
foldably joined respectively to the side edges of the bottom
wall, a pair of overlapping top panels foldably joined
respectively to the upper edges of the side walls, a securing
aperture formed in one of the top panels and having a securîng
edge, the securing edge being disposed in diagonal relation to
the side edges of the top panels, a securing tab foldably
joined to the other of said top panels and dïsposed in said
securing aperture, and the old line between the securing tab
and the other top wall being disposed in substantial
coincidence with the securing edge.
For a better understanding of the invention,
reference may be had to the followi.ng description taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which FIG. 1 is : :
: a plan view of a blank from which the completed carrier is :~
formed and in which. FIGSo 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 depict intermediate
stages through wh.ich the blank shown in FIG. 1 is manipulated
in order to form the completed carrier as shown in FIG. 7.
In the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the
bottom wall of the carrier to the side edges of which side
walls 2 and 3 are foldably joined respectively along fold
lines 4 and 5. Top panels 6 and 7 are foldably joined
respectively to the upper edges of side walls 2 and 3 along
fold lines 8 and 9. In order to prevent undesirable movement
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of the articles in the completed carxier, separating tabs 10,
11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are struck from bottom wall 1 and are
foldably joined thereto respectively along fold lines 16, 17,
18, 19, 20 and 21.
At one end of bottom wall 1, retaining flap 22 is
foldably joined thereto along fold line 23 and, likewise, at
the other end of bottom wall 1, retaining flap 24 is foldably
joined thereto along fold line 25.
In order to complete the necessary end closure
structure for the carrier, a series of tuck flaps are provided.
More specifically, tuck flaps 26 and 27 are foldably joined
to the opposite ends of retaining flap 22 respectively along
fold lines 28 and 29. The structure at the opposite end of
the carrier is similarly constructed and includes tuck flaps
30 and 31 which are foldably joined to the opposite ends of
retaining flap 24 respectively along fold lines 32 and 33.
In addition tuck flaps 34 and 35 are provided with
flap segments 34a and 35a respectively and are foldably joined
respectively to tuck flaps 26 and 27 along fold lines 36 and
37. In similar fashion tuck flaps 38 and 39 include flap
segments 38a and 39a respectively and are folda~ly joined
respectively to tuck ~laps 30 and 31 along fold lines 40 and
41. Also tuck flaps 34 and 38 are foldably joined to the ends
of side wall 2 along fold lines 42 and 43 respectively. Like-
wise tuck flaps 35 and 39 are folda~ly joined respectively to
the ends of side wall 3 along fold lines 44 and 45.
In order to insure that the tuck flaps are held
securely in place, a series of locking mechanisms are provided.
More specifically, locking apertures 46, 47, 48, and 4~ are
formed respectively in tuck flaps 26, 27, 30 and 31. Also
locking tabs 50, 51, 52 and 53 are struck from tuck flaps 34,
35, 38, and 39 respectively and constitute integral extensions
- of flap segments 34a, 35a, 38a, and 39a.
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In order to allow the end closure structure of the
carrier to easily conform to the natural curvature of the
packaged articles, a series of score lines are provided. More
specifically, score lines 54 and 55 are formed in retaining
flap 22 and, similarly, score lines 56 and 57 are formed in
retaining flap 24.
In order to facilitate formation of the carrier,
score lines 58 and 59 are formed in side walls 2 and 3
respectively and score lines 60, 61, 62 and 63 are formed
respectively in tuck flaps 34, 35, 38, and 39 and define the
edges of flap segments 34a, 35a, 38a and 3~a.
According to one aspect of this invention, carrier
locking means is provided in top panels 6 and 7. More
specifically securing apertures 64 and 65 are formed in top
panel 6 and are defined by holding flaps 66 and 67 which are
foldably joined to top panel 6 respectively along fold lines
68 and 69. Holding portions 64a and 65a are de$ined ~y edges
64b and 65b and by slits 64c and 65c as is apparent in FIG. 1.
The holding flaps 66 and 67 are provided respectively with
holding tabs 70 and 71. Also securing apertures 64 and 65 are
provided respectively with securing edges 72 and 73. At the
opposite end of the blank, securing tabs 74 and 75 are foldably
joined to top panel 7 respectively along fold lines 76 and 77
and locking toes 78 and 7~ are formed on the side edge 8Q of
top panel 7.
In order to form the completed carrier ~rom the blank
shown in FIG. 1, initially it is necessary to fold separating
tabs lQ-15 into vertical positions and then to position the
articles to be packaged on the blank, the articles being
omitted from FIGS. 1-4 for purposes of clarity. Then it is
necessary to fold retaining flap 22 together with tuck flaps
26, 27, 34 and 35 upwardly along fold lines 23, 42 and 44.
Simultaneously the end closure structure at the opposite side
-- 3
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of the blank including retaining flap 24 and tuck flaps 30, 31,
38 and 39 is folded upwardly along fold lines 25, 43, and 45,
The carrier then appears as shown in FIG. 2.
Then side wall 2 together with top panel 6 and side
wall 3 together with top panel 7 are elevated and folded
; respectively along fold lines 4 and 5 to occupy positions
substantially perpendicular to bottom wall 1. This causes
tuck flaps 34 and 38 to swing into substantial face contacting
relation with the inner surface of side wall 2. At the same
time tuck flaps 35 and 39 swing into substantial face contac-
ting relation with the inner surface of side wall 3.
Following this operation, side wall 2 and tuck
flaps 34 and 38 are folded outwardly with respect to the carrier
along fold lines 58, 60 and 62 respectively. During this
folding operation, fold lines 60 and 62 are in virtual
coincidence with fold lines 58 and flap segments 34a and 38a
are in face contacting relation with the part of side wall 2
which.is a~ove fold line 58. Also side wall 3 and tuck flaps
35 and 39 are folded outwardly with respect to the carrier along
fold lines 59, 61 and 63 respectively. This operation is
performed with fold lines 61 and 63 in substantial coincidenee
with fold line 5~ and with flap segments 35a and 3~a in face
contaeting relation wi.th the part o side wall 3 whieh is above
fold line 59. This eauses lock.ing tabs 50, 51, 52 and 53 to
remain in the planes of flap s~egments 34a, 35a, 38a and 39a
respectively and to swing out of the plane of their associated
tuck flaps 34, 35, 38 and 3~ respectiveIy as best shown in
FIG. 3.
Then side walls 2 and 3 and associated structure are
swung inwardly with respect to the carrier. This forces
locking tabs 50, 51, 52 and 53 into interlocked relationship
respectively with lock.ing apertures 46, 47, 48 and 4~. The
carrier then appears as shown in F~G. 4.
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Following this, side walls 2 and 3 are elevated
along fold lines 58 and 59 respectively. In addition top
panels 6 and 7 are folded over along fold lines 8 and 9
respectively to positions substantially perpendicular to side
walls 2 and 3 and top panel 7 is moved into overlapping face
contacting relation with top panel 6 while locking toes 78
and 79 are inserted into securing apertures 64 and 65 respec-
tively. Side edge 80 of top panel 7 moves into slits 64c and
65c and holding portions 64a and 65a overlie top panel 7 and
are adjacent the apertures defined by securing tabs 74 and 75.
Finally securing tabs 74 and 75 are driven through securing
apertures 64 and 65 respectively. The carrier then appears
as shown in FIG. 7 which represents the completed carrier.
Therefore it can be seen that, in the completed
carrier, securing edges 72 and 73 of securing apertures 64 and
65 respectively are diagonally disposed with respect to the ''
side edges of top panels 6 and 7. In addition, fold lines 76
and 77 of securing tabs 74 and 75 are disposed in su~s,tantial
coincidence with securing edges 72 and 73 respectively. This
'- 20 structural feature causes securing edges 72 and 73 to resist
any premature unlocking of top panels 6 and 7 and securely hold
locking toes 78 and 79;in locked condition. In addition
securing tabs 74 and 75 are held in the locked position b,y
means of the holding tabs 70 and 71 of holding flaps 66 and
67 respectively as shown in FIG. 7. Thus securing tabs 74
and 75 are held snugly against securing edges 72 and 73
respectively and any tendency for securing tabs 74 and 75 to
swing back into the plane o~ top panel 7 is prevented.
Therefore since no adhesive is used in the construc-
tion of this carrier, it is conveniently reusable. Also when
it is desired to open the carrier, securing tab,s 74 and 75
simply are manually wi,thdrawn from securing apertures 64 and
65 respectively and top panels 6 and 7 are swung apart
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sidewise and then upwardly to s]ide locking toes 78 and 79
out of their apertures and to allow for convenient access to
the packaged articles. ~fter use, the empty articles are
simply replaced in the original carrier for disposal or
storage as required.
When the top panels of the carrier are unlocked, the
overall integrity of the carrier is maintained by the tuck
flap structure at each end of the carrier and the associated
locking apertures and locking tabs which securely maintain the
carrier in set up condition. Therefore by this invention an
article carrier is provided which is economical to produce,
convenient to use, and available for reuse as necessary in
connection with modern returnable primary packages.
