Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
WO 92/09498 PC'I'/US91/08452
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WRAP-AROUND CARRIER WITH ARTICLE RETAINER
F~P~a oz zne mvenm on
This invention relates to article carriers and, more
particularly, to article carriers having at least partially open
ends.
Aa~ c~nmnd of the Invention
Wrap-around article carriers are commonly designed to
have ends which are either partially or entirely open. In ,
either case the carriers must be provided with means for
preventing the articles from falling out the ends. Beverage
cans, for example, are held in place partly by the tension ,
IO applied by the carrier blank being wrapped very tightly about
them and by the engagement of the top and bottom flanges of the
cans with the edges of cutouts in the side panels of the carrier
through which the flanges of the cans extend. This design is .
facilitated by the fact that cans have substantially flat tops
and bottoms of the same diameter as the body of the can, which
allows the carrier blank to be tightly wrapped around the cans.
Problems arise when the articles are not of ,uniform
dimensions, and. particularly when the articles are tapered at
the bottom so as to cause the bottom portions of.the articles to
be spaced apart. Wrap-around carriers for: use with tapered tubs
of the type used as pudding. or margarine containers are
especially troublesome because of the -difficulty in wrapping.
them .tight,ly enough to" prevent movement of the tubs :when the
package is lifted and carried. Movement of:the.containers is a
problem even when~the.carrier.includes side slots through which
flanges,on. ,the tops of ~ the vtubs protrude,' since' such wan
arrangement . ;does not , hold :.the bottom. _~p,ortions of the ' tubs
tightly. in place : : ... . .. .. . _ . ~ _ ..
~.,..r , ;;.. .::. Partial end panels:_extending up :'from .ahe-.bottom -panel
could be..provided .to function .as article:retainers,' as ~'could
corner .end -gusset :panels_ ;orflaps . ~: -. These measures: would' not-~ be
entirely.,:,satisfactory, however,...:becauser-they require--extra
material to be used, making the carrier more costly to produce,
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and would not be able to prevent movement of the bottom portions
of the container toward and away from each other. Moreover, the
bottom of the carton is not stable under such conditions. What
is needed is an article spacing or retention means which
effectively prevents the spaced bottom portions of articles from
moving with respect to each other, and also prevents the bottom
portions of end articles in a carrier from moving toward the
open end of the carrier.
grsPf Summary of the Invention
In accordance with the invention, a wrap-around carrier
having a top panel and side panels is provided with a bottom
panel comprised of overlapping inner and outer bottom panel
flaps. The inner bottom panel flap contains an opening.near an
end of the carrier, and the outer bottom panel flap includes an
integral article retaining flap which is hingedly connected to
the outer bottom panel flap adjacent an inner edge portion of
the opening. In forming the carrier, the retaining flap is
pivoted up through the opening into the interior of the carrier, .
where it engages the bottom portions of adjacent end articles of
adjacent rows of articles and prevents outward movement of the
articles as well as relative movement of the articles toward and
away from each other.
In a preferred form of the invention the retaining flap
fold line is~substantially parallel to the. end of~the carrier.
In addition, the retaining .flap includes spaced fold lines
extending-transversely of the -retaining flap fold line.
Preferably, the transverse fold line s converge toward each
other, producing a tapered retaining flap capable of conforming
to th'e sloped bottom portions of the articles.- w~
The resulting°retaining flap-is three dimensional,
'having a central:vsection directed'toward the interior of the
carrier and side.faces-.or'sections extending-betweenvadjacent
end articles. Preferably, the opening through which the
retainer flap_.:extendsw_is narrower than' the normal ' distance
.between the side:faces;=thereby exerting a biasing-force on the
/ side - faces to - cause the : flap = to~ stand upright ~in the 'rpacJcage .
Because the retaining flap fits~snugly between the~spaced bottom ,
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portions of the end articles, the articles are held in place
against outward movement.
In addition to the retaining flap holding the bottom
portions of the end articles in place, it also functions to
interconnect the inner and outer bottom panel flaps, thus
providing reinforcement 'to any other locking means connecting
the bottom panel flaps.
The above and other aspects of the invention, as well as
other benefits, will readily be apparent from the more detailed
description of the preferred embodiment which follows.
n,-;Pf Description of the Drawinas
FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a wrap-around carrier
incorporating the article retainng means or zne presem
invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial end view of the carrier of
FLG. 1, showing the article retaining means and its relationship
to the adjacent end articles in more detail;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a blank for forming the carrier
of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the inner and outer
bottom panel flapsjust prior to being moved into overlapped
condition;
FIG. 5. is an enlarged plan view of the inner and outer
.
bottom panel flapsin overlapped condition, with docking flap
portions shown intermediate. stage of the locking process:
in an
FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional.view taken on line 6-6
of FIG. 5: _
FIG. 7 is ~ a plan view similar to that of FIG. 5, ~ but
showing ; the ~. and outer -: bottom =panel ' flaps - in locked
inner
condition: . .. ...
--. FIG. 8.is..a: transverse sectional view=taken'on'line 8-8
of ~ G. 7~~ . ,.~.- . ;~ _: , ; ,
..:. .. . , -,. _:._.
FI . . _ . . . .....
v, FIG.~.9_is-a. partial plan view of:the bottom panel of the
carrier-,-.-showing~..the
retaining: flap
in~an intermediate=position
as ;it .is~ being
inserted.:into:ahe
associated opening
-in~ the =iarier
bottom panel:; . . .. _ _ . . ~. . .
flap: -
_... . _..:-:FIG.:: partial pictorial view= of the inner surface
lO v is ~. a
of the bottom panelof: the carrier;--.showing the retaining flap
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in the intermediate position of FIG. 9, with the ar~icles
omitted for the sake of clarity; and
FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the carrier taker. along
line 11-11 of FIG. 1, showing the retainer flap in its fully
open position, with the articles contained in the carrier shown
in phantom.
Dera Wed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Referring to FIG. 1, a wrap-around carrier 10 comprises
a top panel 12 connected along fold lines 14 to side panels 16
which generally follow the contour of the articles T in the
carrier. For purpose of illustrating the invention, the
articles T are shown as comprising tubs of the type used to
contain pudding or margarine or the like. It can be seen that
the side panels are inwardly curved at the bottom portion of the
carrier as a result of being tightly wrapped around the sloped
side portions of the tubs. The side panels adjacent the top
panel are provided with slots 18 through which the top flanges F
of the tubs T extend. The top panel 12 is also provided with .
short extensions 20 which cover the flanges of the tubs.
A bottom panel 22 is formed by overlapped inner and
outer bottom panel flaps 24 and 26. The inner bottom panel flap
29 is connected to one of the side panels 16 along fold line 28
while the outer bottom panel flap..26 is connected to the other
side panel 1,6 along fold .line _30. .:'Extending up from the bottom
panel .22 adjacent . the. end articles T. :in the adjacent rows'- of
articles in the carrier is a retainer flap 32, which is shown in
greater detail in FIG. 2. It can be seen that the retainer flap
fits snugly between the angled bottom portions. of the articles
T, preventing the bottomwportions from 'moving :-in -~a= direction
away from the side panels 16. w -
. L_; As shown -in . FIG. ; 3, wherein.: like :reference numerals to
those used in FIG. i denote like elemen~s, a blank for forming
the carrier 10 comprises~a substantially;rectangular sheet,34 of
paperboard _or .-;other :suitable ' material; with- '-the"~~top panel
section. 12, being in the .center. of~the.aheet :.and. the. other panel .
sections described above being successively connected.along-the
fold lines referred;to above. . Thus thevfold.lines:l9~connecting
the top 'panel 12 to the side panels 16 are separated"from each .
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other by portions defined by the elongated slits 36 and the
short connecting slits 38 which correspond to the extension of
the top panel overlying the tub flanges in a carrier formed from
the blank. The slots 18 of FIG. 1 through which the tub flanges
protrude are formed when the side panels are folded down from
the top panel, and the width of the slot corresponds to the
length of the short slit 38.
In order to form a carrier from the blank 39, the blank
is wrapped around the tubs or other articles to be packaged with
the inner and outer bottom panel flaps 24 and 26 in overlapping
relationship. The bottom panel flaps 24 and 26 are shown in
FIG. 4 as they would appear after being folded in from side
panels 16 about the fold lines 28 and 30 just prior to being
moved into overlapping relationship. Referring to both FIGS. 3
and 4, the retaining flaps 32 are connected to the outer bottom
panel flap 26 along fold lines 40 which are located between the
end edges 42 of the flap 26 and the midpoint of the flap. The
fold lines 40 are shown as being substantially straight and ,
parallel to the end edges 42, although they-may be slightly
curved or angled as discussed in greater detail hereinafter. A
slit 44 which is also substantially parallel to the end edges 42
of the outer bottom panel flap 26 and which is located between
the fold lines 90 and the_end edges 42, forms the opposite edge
of the. retainer flap 32.. The sides of the:.retainer flap are
defined by slits 46_which extend from the ends of-slit 44
transversely of the end edges 42.toward the interior of the
carrier, and by angled slits-48 connecting.the slits 46 and the
ends of the fold lines 40. The. retainer flap 32 further
includes two- fold -lines 50 ..which extend from the ends of the
fold.line 90.and converge.to.the slit 44;.:intersecting the slit ~-
44.~. at spaced; ~ points . :' . It.;.._ can be . seen w .that the resulting
retaining flap ..;is.;,made... up of 'a central- : face or -: section =-'~52
bounded by, the. fold .lines.,-40 and 50 : and . the slit 44, and of ~ two
side ,facesl..or..sections-;.54_ bounded by the s?,-its 44; 46- and 48 and
~_ : .. , _ . . , ,
the fold lines 50.. . :~' ,
._: .. ._,.. __.__ _.._. ..::~,-~ ...
.,..The inner_.bottompanel , flap x24 includes :two modified ~T-
shaped .openings or slots 56_.located -so :as.. o be aligned with the
retainer flaps 32 when the inner and outer bottom panel flaps
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are overlapped to form the bottom panel of the carrier. Each
cutout or slot 56 comprises a relatively wide elongated slot ,
portion 58 extending from a transverse slot portion 60.. The
slot portion 58 is spaced from and extends transversely of the
nearest panel end edge 62, while the slot portion 60 extends
outwardly of the slot portion 58 at the end thereof farthest
from the panel end edge 62. The slot portion 60 extends
generally parallel to the end edge 62. The slot portion 58 is
defined by an edge 64 which is spaced from and parallel to the
panel end edge 62 and by edges 66 which converge toward the
interior of the carrier. The slot portion 60 is defined by an
' edge 68 which~is also parallel to the panel end edge 62 and by
edges 70 which connect the edge 68~to the slots 66 at their
closest spacing. The angular portion of the inner bottom panel
flap 24 adjacent the intersection of edges 66 and 70 comprises
opposing tabs 72.
Still referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the bottom panel flaps
are designed to be mechanically connected in a manner generally
known.in the prior art. The outer bottom panel flap 26 is
connected to an end margin flap 79 along fold line 76. The fold
line 76 is interrupted in the central portion by a slit defining
a male locking tab 78 and on either side of the tab 78 by the ,
slits 46 which.coincide.with the fold-line 76. The margin flap
74 also.contains a centrally located~locking opening~~80 the
interior edge-_82 .of which extends a substantial distance beyond
the. side .edges of :the .opening.
The inne r:bottom panel'flap 24-'contains a centrally
located_male locking tab 89.'~defined by end slit 86, side slits
88, ~ angled slits r90 whichrforin ~a neck portions,' ~andr foldline '92 .
; ..The _ locking :, tab .84 . is part of a la=ger"tab' or flap 94 vwhich is
connected to the . inner =bottom ~ flap 30 -along ~~fold.,-hine 96 'and
_ which.~,further is ~defined:by slits 98 extending from the ends'-of
the fold line 96 to=the:slits 90 ofvthevlocking tab 84. ~'
,;~ To ; lock -.the ~. bottom panel ~~ flaps = together; ''wthey-'~are
positioned in overlying relationship, with the end~wmargin flap
_v-74 .of. the outer'_bottom panel-flap ~aind'the"tab'~99 of 'the inner
...bottom panel .flap being ~-folded%back=a's =illustrated'~in FIGS:' S
and 6. As shown, a smallportion of one end ~of the slot 60 is
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visible below the folded-back margin 79. The outer bottom flap
26 is then moved to align the locking tab 78 of the margin 74
with the locking edge 86 of the inner bottom flap 24. By
folding the margin flap 74 back to its original position the
locking tab 78 engages the locking edge 86 and the underside of
the inner bottom panel flap 24 to mechanically hold the bottom
panel flaps together as the primary lock of the bottom panel.
Th tab 94 is then folded back to its original position and the
locking tab 89 is folded about its fold line 92 into the locking
opening 80 through the slit 82 to effect a secondary lock. This
arrangement is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8.
It can be seen in FIG. 7 that when the bottom panel
flaps are locked together, the retaining flaps 32 are positioned
directly over the openings or slots 56. .Note that the openings _
'15 56 are shown in dotted lines in FIG. 7 while the retainer. flaps
32 are shown in solid lines, 'depicting the slits, and in dot-
dash lines, depicting the fold lines of the retaining flaps.
Pressure exerted on the central body sections 52 of the retainer
flaps by an externally located movable punch or rod element, not
shown but which will be understood by those skilled in the art
preferably to be an operating element in an automatic packaging
machine, will cause the retainer flaps to be pivoted up about
their fold.lines 40 and pushed up into the interior of the
carrier through the openings 56 in the inner bottom.panel flap
29. A typical intermediate position of the retaining flap as it
would.appear, during this movement.is illustrated in FIG. 9,
' which shows - the. bottom of .ahe . retaining flap, and in .FIG : 10,
,which. shows.,,the. upper.portion.of the retaining .flap as it
' - emerge.s,_-into the interior. of:~the carrier.v.: It: will-.be seen that
movement,.of~the-.retainer~flaps through.the~wslots in this manner
.causes.the~.side retainer:; sections 59. to <fold,about:their fold
' .lines 50=:as -a :result ~of:;their contact with . he.-edges -~of =the
. elongated,; slot portions .58 .- In .particular,': it~ swill . be seen '-
that .
;,,the ~ side retaining flap .-.sections v.54 - contact ~ahe stabs ?2 :.formed
-,by:the:edges. of.:thev.openings!.56_:and bend ahem:~back slightlyaas ~='
_ ~-shown-: in FIGS-: 9 ,and .-10 .r,: As; the :;side ~~retainer ections: 54
=are
-::folded in,_-,the. bending.:; back o~.the tabsv:72 .will have ceased-but
the tabs will still be urged back to their original position due
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to the combination of stiffness and flexibility o~ the
paperboard material. The tabs thus exert a biasing force
against the side sections.
Continued pivoting movement of the retaining flaps about
the fold lines 90 will continue to fold the side sections 54 of
the retaining flap until the retaining flap reaches its fully
extended position in the interior of the carrier. This
position, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 11, can be seen to be
substantially vertical. The continued urging of the tabs 72 .
against the side sections 54 helps to maintain the retaining
flaps in their fully elevated position. As best shown in FIG.
11, the side sections 54 are located so as to contact the sides
of the tubs or other articles T so that the tubs are securely
held between the side panels of the carrier and the retaining
flap. The articles are thus divided and separated and at the
same time the carrier bottom is stabilized.
It_was previously stated that the fold line$ 90 of the
retaining flaps could be other than.straight, as for example,
curved or angled. If desired, the fold lines could be curved or
angled slightly facing the end edges of the bottom panel. This
tends to bias the central section 52 of the retaining flap in
the direction toward its original position in the plane of the
outer bottom panel flap, and in so.doing the central section is
biased against the ~intervening~articles.~
_. ..... The.:dimensions..of the. retaining flap are-selected to
cause the side flap sections to engage.adjacent articles in the
carrier:.: The converging. fold 'lines separating -the central
section_of the retaining: flaps from the side sections arevangled
so that entry. of: ahe leading .-narrow end ~ of the' retainingflap
._.:: into the.: space .between adjacent articles is 'facilitated:-' r ~ ~
° "
.,__.. . _ :-. It°.can~ be_ appreciated -that 'the ' article '
retaining -means
~of the ;invention : provides ~an effective 'retainer which engages
- ;substantial . portions ::of.. the send tubs '~or . other = articles in a
.:carrier which=have spaced bottom :portions, =and - does so -iaithout
~:;adding:to the,:material.:cost'.of-.the: carrier: blank.~~~~In' addition, ~ -
..-the retaining vmeans : _provides ~ an . additional mechanical-lock
-.;between ~ the.: flaps =forming .-:the bottom .--panel; ' -thus -further
PCT/US91 /08452
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ensuring against the accidental escape of articles from the
carrier through failure of the bottom panel.
Although the mechanical locking means for the bottom
panel flaps need not be limited to the type shown, it is
S preferred because of its proven ability to hold the panel flaps
in locked condition against severe stresses and because it is
especially suitable for use with the retaining means of the
invention. For example, even though the retaining flaps are
required to be located at a point in the outer bottom panel flap
immediately adjacent the locking margin, by making the outer
edge of the retaining flap coincide with the fold line of the
locking margin 74 of the outer bottom panel flap, both the
retaining flap elements and the locking tabs can be properly
located with respect to each other.
Although not illustrated, it will be understood that the
top panel may be provided, with handle openings if desired, to
facilitate lifting and carrying.
It should now be apparent that the invention need not be
limited to all the specific details described in connection with
the preferred embodiment, but that changes to certain features
of the preferred embodiment which do not alter the overall basic
function and concept of the invention may be made without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined
in the claims. ..
