Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BASKET-STYLE CARRIER
Background of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to
paperboard carriers for articles such as beverage bottles.
More particularly, it relates to a basket-style carrier in
which the articles are arranged in four parallel rows.
One traditional paperboard carrier for articles
such as beverage bottles is the basket-style carrier. An
example of such a carrier is shown in U.S. patent No.
4,927,009. The carrier includes side, end and bottom
walls, and is typically used with articles grouped in two
rows. Located between the two rows is a medial panel
which connects the end walls and includes an opening to
provide a handle by which the basket may be carried. In
its usual form, this carrier also includes partition
panels extending between the medial panel and the side
walls, to define individual cells into which the articles
may be placed.
Basket-style carriers are normally manufactured
and shipped in a glued but collapsed condition. The end
walls are folded at the medial panel, so that they are
collapsed onto themselves to bring the side walls
together. The medial panel is thus displaced
longitudinally with respect to the side walls. For use,
such as at a beverage bottling facility, the basket is
erected by moving the medial panel back into alignment
with the side walls. The end walls are brought into an
unfolded position, and the set-up basket is available to
be loaded with the articles to be carried.
Attempts have been made to develop basket-style
carriers for larger multiples of articles arranged in more
than two rows. For example, in a carrier for twelve
beverage bottles, the articles may be arranged in four
rows, two rows located on each side of the handle.
However, the large size of such a carrier and the complex
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structure required for the partitions make it difficult to
design such a carrier in which the normal folding from
collapsed to erected condition can be carried out. In
addition, the length of the required bottom wall makes it
difficult to provide a bottom wall with sufficient
rigidity to support the weight of four rows of articles.
One example of a basket carrier for articles
arranged in four rows can be seen in U.S. patent No.
4,146,129. The carrier disclosed therein satisfies the
strength requirements of the bottom carrier panel, since
the bottom wall is connected to both side walls and both
end walls by either fold lines or secured glue flaps.
However, this carton construction is disadvantageous in
that it requires special equipment to set up and glue the
article carrier at the appropriate time. It is not
possible to completely preglue and then collapse the
carrier as with a conventional basket carrier, since the
bottom panel when the carrier is completed is attached on
all four sides.
Accordingly, a need exists for a basket-style
carrier which can be erected from a collapsed condition
using conventional techniques that is capable of carrying
articles arranged in four rows.
Summarv of the Invention
Accordingly, the present invention provides a
carrier for a plurality of objects arranged in four rows,
wherein two bottom walls are provided for the carrier. A
primary bottom wall is connected so as to extend beneath
all four rows of the articles contained within the
carrier, while a secondary bottom wall extends beneath
only the two inner rows of the four article rows.
In accordance with one form of the invention,
the carrier includes substantially parallel first and
second side walls, and substantially parallel first and
second end walls interconnecting the side walls. A medial
panel extends between and connects the first and second
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end walls, the medial panel being disposed between and
substantially parallel to the first and second side walls.
A first primary partition structure extends between and is
~ connected to the first and second end walls, the first
primary partition structure being disposed between and
substantially parallel to the first side wall and the
medial panel. A second primary partition structure
extends between and is connected to the first and second
end walls, the second primary partition structure being
l0 disposed between and substantially parallel to the second
side wall and the medial panel. A primary bottom wall is
connected to and extends between the lower portions of
the first and second side walls. A second bottom wall
connects and extends between the lower portions of the
first and second primary partition structures.
The carrier may further include secondary
partition structure extending between and connected to the
first side wall and the first primary partition structure,
the first primary partition structure and the medial
panel, the medial panel and the second primary partition
structure, and the second primary partition structure and
the second side wall to define therewith a plurality of
cells for receiving the objects.
The first and second bottom walls may be
disposed in substantially face-to-face contact.
Brief Description of the Drawings
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carrier in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, showing the carrier in set-up condition and
with beverage bottles loaded therein.
a
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a blank from which the
carrier of FIG. 1 may be formed.
FIGS. 3-6 are a series of views showing the
manner in which the blank of FIG. 2 may be folded to form
the completed collapsed carrier.
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FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the carrier
shown in an intermediate position during set up from a
collapsed to erected carrier.
FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the carrier of FIG.
1, shown with the articles removed.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a carrier in
accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present
invention, taken along the line 9--9 in FIG. 8.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Referring generally now to FIG. 1, the present
invention provides an article carrier 10 for carrying
articles such as beverage bottles 12. While the carrier
10 is described therein generally in connection with the
carrying of beverage bottles 12, it will be recognized
that the carrier is suitable for the carrying of other
products, such as non-beverage products packaged in
bottles, beverage and non-beverage products packaged in
cans, and other liquid and non-liquid products.
The carrier 10 includes a first side wall 14 and
a second side wall 16. Connecting the side walls are a
first end panel 18, formed of end panel 20 and end panel
22, and second end wall 24, formed of end panels 26 and
28. Extending between end walls 18 and 24, disposed
between the second and third rows of bottles 12, is a
medial panel 30. Medial panel 30 is provided near its
upper end with an opening 32 that provides a handle by
which the carrier 10 may be lifted.
A blank from which the carrier 10 may be formed
is shown in FIG. 2, the blank being shown with the inner
surface visible. Side wall 14 is connected to end panel
0
22 along a fold line 34, and at an opposite end to end
panel 28 along a fold line 36. Side wall 16 is connected
at one end to end panel 20 along a fold line 38, and at an
opposite end to end panel 26 along a fold line 40. Side
wall 16 is also connected to primary bottom wall panel 42
along a fold line 44. Panel 42 is in turn connected along
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fold line 46 to primary bottom wall panel 48. Panel 48 is
in turn connected along fold line 50 to a glue flap 52.
End panel 26 is connected along a fold line 54
to a medial panel 56. Medial panel 56 is connected along
fold line 58 to a medial panel 60. Panel 60 is also
connected to end panel 28 along a fold line 62. Fold line
58 includes a plurality of cutouts 64. Such cutouts ~64
are included for relieving the accumulation of folded
material during the folding and gluing of the blank, as is
typical in the art. Additionally, medial panels 56 and 60~
include openings 66 and 68, respectively, such openings
cooperating to form a portion of the carton handle.
Connected along a fold line 70 at the lower end
of medial panel 56 is an attachment panel 72. Attachment
panel 72 is connected by fold line 74 to a secondary
partition panel 76. Partition panel 76 includes fold°
lines 78 which connect the outer end of partition panel 7
to an anchoring flap 80. Also, partition panel 76 is
connected by fold lines 82 and 84 to primary partition
straps 86 and 88, respectively. Straps 86 and 88 are
connected by fold lines 90 and 92, respectively, to an
anchoring flap 94.
Formed between secondary partition panel 76 and=
medial panel 56 is an aperture 96 that defines along the
edge of medial panel 56 a hook 98 used for temporarily
retaining the carrier in an erected position during bottle
loading. Such a hook structure is well known in the art,
and cooperates with a notch 100 formed in bottom wall
panels 42 and 48. ,
An alternate hook structure wherein a hook%
having two retention tabs is disposed along the erected
medial. panel intermediate its ends, and cooperates with an
aperture formed in the bottom wall panels, may be seen by
reference to co-pending Canadian Application No. 2,228,045
filed on July 26, 1996.
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Connected along a fold line 102 at the lower end
of medial panel 60 is an attachment panel 104. Attachment
panel 104 is connected by fold line 106 to a secondary
partition panel 108. Partition panel 108 includes fold
lines 110 which connect the outer end of partition panel
108 to an anchoring flap 112. Also, partition panel 108
is connected by fold lines 114 and 116 to primary
partition straps 118 and 120, respectively. Straps 118
and 120 are connected by fold lines 122 and 124,
respectively, to an anchoring flap 126.
Formed between secondary partition panel 108 and
medial panel 60 is an aperture 128 that defines along the
edge of medial panel 60 a hook 130 used in cooperation
with hook 98 and notch 100 for temporarily retaining the
carrier in an erected position during bottle loading.
End panel 20 is connected along the fold line
132 to partial medial panel 134. Partial medial panel 134
is in turn connected along a fold line 136 to partial
medial panel 138, which is also connected along fold line
140 to end panel 22. Disposed between partial medial
panels 134 and 138 is a relief aperture 142 for relieving
material during the folding of the blank into the
completed carrier.
Also connected to partial medial panel 134 is
outer handle panel 144, connected along fold line 146.
Outer handle panel 144 is connected to a second outer
handle panel 148 along fold line 150. Outer handle panel
148 is also connected to partial medial panel 138 along
fold line 152. Outer handle panels 144 and 148 are
disposed generally between, but are separated from, end
panels 20 and 22.
Partial medial panels 134 and 138 are provided
with apertures 154 and 156, respectively, which form a
part of the handle for the completed carrier. Handle
panels 144 and 148 are also provided with apertures 158
and 160, which form a portion of the handle, and further
include cushioning flaps 162 and 164, respectively, which
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extend partially into the apertures 158 and 160,
respectively, to cushion the hand of a person carrying the
carrier by the handle.
A secondary partition panel 166 is connected to
partial medial panel 134 along fold line 168. An
anchoring flap 17o is connected at the opposite end of
secondary partition panel 166 by fold lines 172. An upper
primary partition strap 174 is connected to secondary
partition panel 166 along fold line 176. Strap 174
includes an anchoring flap 178 connected at one end along
fold lines 180, and an anchoring panel 182 connected at an
opposite end along fold line 184. A lower primary
partition strap 186 is also connected to secondary
partition panel 166 along fold line 188. Anchoring flap
190 is connected to strap 186 along fold lines 192, while
the opposite end of strap 186 is connected to anchoring
panel 182 along fold line 194.
A secondary bottom panel 196 is connected to the
lower edge of primary partition strap 186 along fold line
198. Secondary bottom panel 200 is connected to bottom
panel 196 along fold line 202.
A secondary partition panel 204 is connected to
partial medial panel 138 along fold line 206. An
anchoring flap 208 is connected at the opposite end of
secondary partition panel 204 by fold lines 210. An upper
primary partition strap 212 is connected to secondary
partition panel 204 along fold line 214. Strap 212
includes an anchoring flap 216 connected at one end along
fold lines 218, and an anchoring panel 220 connected at an
opposite end along fold line 222. A lower primary
partition strap 224 is also connected to secondary
partition panel 204 along fold line 226. Anchoring flap
228 is connected to strap 226 along fold lines 230, while
the opposite end of strap 226 is connected to anchoring
panel 220 along fold line 232.
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A secondary bottom panel 234 is connected to the
lower edge of primary partition strap 224 along fold line ,
236.
To assemble the blank of FIG. 2 into the ,
completed, collapsed carrier, glue is first applied to
attachment panels 72 and 104 and anchoring flaps 94 and
126 as shown generally by cross hatching in FIG. 2.
Attachment panel 72, secondary partition panel 76, straps
86 and 88 and anchoring flap 94 are then rotated along
fold line 70 and positioned on medial panel 56 and end
panel 26, as shown in FIG. 3. As a result of the glue
which has been applied, attachment panel 72 is secured to
medial panel 56, and anchoring flap 94 is secured to end
panel 26.
Similarly, attachment panel 104, secondary
partition panel 108, straps 118 and 120 and anchoring flap
126 are all pivoted about fold line 102 and placed in
position on medial panel 60 and end panel 28 as shown in
FIG. 3. Attachment panel 104 is thereby secured to medial
panel 60, and anchoring flap 126 is secured to end panel
28.
Continuing to refer to FIG. 3, glue is next
applied to outer handle panels 144 and 148, and to
anchoring flaps 170, 178, 190, 208, 216 and 228. The
right hand portion of the blank as shown in FIG. 3,
including partial medial panels 134 and 138, is pivoted
about fold lines 132, 146, 152 and 140. The folded
portion of the blank is then generally positioned on end
panels 20 and 22 and partially on side panels 14 and 16,
as shown in FIG. 4. Because of the glue previously
applied, anchoring panel 170 is secured to side panel 16,
anchoring panels 178 and 190 are secured to end panel 20,
anchoring flap 208 is secured to side panel 14, and
anchoring flaps 216 and 228 are secured to end panel 22.
For the next step in the folding and gluing of
the blank, glue is applied to anchoring flaps 80 and 112
as shown in FIG. 4. Additionally, glue is applied to a
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portion of anchoring panels 182 and 220, and to partial
medial panels 134 and 138 in the vicinity of apertures 154
and 156. After the application of glue, the left hand
portion of the blank as shown in FIG. 4 is folded along
fold lines 36 and 40, thereby folding end panels 26 and 28
and medial panels 56 and 60 into overlapping relationship
with side panels 14 and 16 and partial medial panels 134
and 138. As a result of the glue previously applied,
anchoring flap 80 is secured to side panel 16, while
anchoring flap 112 is secured to side panel 14. Anchoring
panel 182 is secured to a portion of secondary partition
panel 76, and anchoring panel 220 is secured to a portion
of secondary partition panel 108. Additionally, medial
panels 56 and 60 are secured to partial medial panels 134
and 138, respectively. The partially completed carrier
then appears as shown in FIG. 5.
As the final step in the gluing and folding
process, glue is applied as shown in FIG. 5 to medial
panel 56 and partial medial panel 134. Glue is also
applied to secondary bottom panel 200 and glue flap 52.
The upper portion of the partially completed carton shown
in FIG. 5 is then folded along fold line 58 to secure
medial panel 60 to medial panel 56 and partial medial
panel 138 to partial medial panel 134. Secondary bottom
panel 200 is then folded along fold line 202 to secure
bottom panel 200 to secondary bottom panel 234. Finally,
primary bottom panel 48 is folded along fold line 46 to
secure glue flap 52 to the outer surface of side panel 14.
The completed and collapsed carton is shown in
FIG. 6.
. The carton may be erected as shown in FIG. 7.
Side walls 14 and 16 are moved longitudinally with respect
to the medial panel structure 30. As a result, end panels
20, 22, 26 and 28 are moved into position to form the end
walls 18 and 24 as shown in FIG. 1. Such a method of
erecting is typical of basket-style carriers of the prior
art.-
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As shown in FIG. 7, however, the carrier of the
present invention forms a double bottom structure. A
primary bottom wall is formed from primary bottom panels
42 and 48, connected to side walls 14 and 16. Panels 42
and 48 move into a planar relationship as the carton is
erected, thereby forming the primary bottom wall.
In a similar manner, the secondary bottom wall
is formed from secondary bottom panels 196 and 200. These
panels are connected to the primary partition structure
(refer back, for example, to FIG. 2). Set up of the
carrier causes panels 196 and 2D0 to move into a planar
position, thereby creating a secondary bottom wall which
extends between the primary partition structures. As a:
result, bottles or other articles which are loaded into .
the carton into the~outermost rows will be positioned only
on the primary bottom wall, on one of the panels 42 and
48. Bottles or other articles, positioned, on the innermost
two rows will be supported by the secondary bottom
w structure, and will be disposed on either panel 196 or
::20 200, ~ which -will in turn lae positioned in contact with
pane1:42 or 48, respectively.
Further reference. may be made to FIG. 8, which
v shows the erected carrier in top plan view. From FIG. 8,
it can be seen that the first primary partition structure
238 is positioned between side wall 14 and medial panel
structure 30, and is comprised of strap 212 (and strap
224, not shown) and strap 120 (and strap 118, not shown).
A second primary partition structure 240 is disposed
between.medial panel structure 30 and side wall 16, and
comprises strap 174 (and strap 186, not shown) and strap
86 (and strap 88, not shown). Secondary partition
structure 242, comprised of secondary partition panel 2D4
and secondary partition structure 244, comprised of
secondary partition panel 108, interconnects side wall 14,
primary partition structure 238, and medial panel
structure 30. Secondary partition structure 246,
comprised of.secondary partition panel 166, and secondary
z
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partition structure 248, comprised of secondary partition
panel 76, interconnects side wall 16, primary partition
structure 240 and medial partition structure 30. The
primary and secondary partition structures together define
a plurality of cells for receiving the bottles or other
articles to be packaged within the carrier.
A number of variations may be made to the
preferred embodiment as described herein. For instance,
the primary partition structure could have a height which
is less than that of the side and end walls. An example
of such a carrier can be seen in FIG. 9. In such a case,
the secondary bottom wall 196a, 200a could be positioned
somewhat above the primary bottom wall 42, 48. As a
result, the bottles held within the innermost rows would
be presented in a raised, tiered configuration with
respect to the outermost bottles.
Other variations, such as providing full height
end and side walls, could be made using techniques
generally known in the art.
Still other variations will be readily apparent
to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description
of the preferred embodiment, the accompanying drawings and
the appended claims.
What is claimed is:
r
