Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02275703 1999-06-18
i
ART~CL~, CWta~:~ ,~~'~D BL:~~~ Ti3lJl~~f fl~
~:i~ ;n~~~.ntian Peir,'1,fi~5 CO °,I1 ''..~T'~'.1~C1C C~.T::vr ;?f
t.~'lc: ~~~stS~t type 3Clapt~d t0 3CCOi?2311c~G~.~ 3 ~~i:'~3~11~'
~~~~11'.~~ ~~."4~~ iiv. .iv~lLJ ~~'.~ ~ ~~~~~ i.,V ~o~i::1 ~~~ t~~~~.
151::,~L~'y~~~ ~ ~ly~ri ~-3r14'.)~ t~~
ro!tlLs :nciude;t z crr~al ,'medial; pw-=i:ior: st-t.L, ~ r z.~hiCa'~
iiicorpc~rates ~ hurdle strt:,;;rare by
~~vic:~ r ae ca.rtier ca.a be kited arid ca.~ed and the bodes are arranged i.n
mug on cita':er side of
tl:~ parition stt~,:cture. ~Ioro often ~harl nc;t, bottles are 3epu:a~.~?
front one anotr<:: by trans~~eae
partition panels e:~teyd:ng frolr. each side of the meiiai partition s~sc-ur~
ru t't~ae a~jacezt side
wall of ;he curler. ~ience, in this type of ~.~ran'ement ttte bodes are
acco::i.Tnodated in
:0 indir~;dtzal. cells of the carrier although such :ells aim not ~sseatial.
C~n~e exarnnle oi' basket tvgte carriers is ilga~strated is ~.~5 '~ 326 41i.
T:~e side and. eztd will
pane9s are positioned on cppo9ite sides of handle panels and an internal
partition
stnmturr. T6e handle panais are defined in part Fey Cat lines which desnes ita
side and
1~ trpaer edtges end interrupt a ceatraE foltlline.
:~ ptcbl~yn assr~cia;~d with caTiers of :.~:e gasket type is ~aat the jarnt;cn
StfL:C:.r~ is e~nn
rewired !q ~~~nd ceepiy inTo t'ne cari~:. ~ consequence ef this :p~uirement is
loaf more
pap~bca:~ti ;~ ne~d~. 'I"t;e presen: i:rrention Should be capable of beir~
desired wit.~t
2o pertitiGns ~wiuc may ex;e;t:d :elwtively derply into thz carrier. ~~~i!st
minzrrisi.~ Lhe arreunt Of
L~oard required. V~izat is also required is a blank which can retain its
in~,,e~~ty dt:rinC tae 'clcii:-t~
process.
Qne aspect of the invention provides a blank for (orating an article carrier
of the basket
s
25 ape eomprlsimg opposing side and end yvalls foldably connected together in
series, a
base, medial su;pp~ort means and an fwternaI partition structure and handle
means
positioned within the blank with a first edge adjacent the opposing side and
end walls.
wosa~s_W
AMEUCE~ SHEET
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At least one panel forming the opposed side and end
walls is connected to the handle means. The medial support
means and the internal partition structure extend outwardly
of an opposing edge of the handle means and are connected
to the handle means by a first fold line and a second fold
line, the first fold line and second fold line being
separated by a first cut lire which defines an edge of the
handle means.
According to an optional feature of this aspect of the
invention, the first cut line may further define a side
edge of the handle means.
According to another optional feature of this aspect
of the invention, the position of the first and second fold
lines may be selectively located relative the upper edge of
the opposed side and end walls according to the required
depth of partition structure such that the transverse
dimension of the opposed side and end walls remain
unaltered. Alternatively, the first and/or second fold
lines may be positioned relative to the side edges of the
handle means according to the height of the internal
partition structure required.
According to a further optional feature of this aspect
of the invention the handle means may further comprise a
handle panel with an upper edge defined by the first cut
line and a lower edge separated from at least one of the
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side and end walls by a second cut line. Optionally, the
handle means may further comprise a second handle panel
adjacent the first handle panel and foldably connected
together along a common end edge and interposed between the
panels forming the medial support means and the internal
partition structure and the or each panels forming at least
one of the end and side walls.
According to yet another optional feature of this
aspect of the invention the or each handle panel may be
connected to opposing end walls.
Optionally, the base i:~ foldably connected to a panel
forming at least one of the side and end panels.
A second aspect of the invention provides an article
carrier of the basket type formed from a blank described
herein.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by
way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view of an unfolded single blank of
paperboard from which a basket carrier purporting to the
invention is formed;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of an erected but
unloaded bottle carrier formed from blank shown in figure 1
viewed from above and from one end;
Figure 3 is a partial plan view of a second embodiment
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which illustrates an alternative handle and internal
partition formation;
Figure 4 is a partial plan view of a third embodiment
illustrating a different handle formation and internal
partition structure.
Referring to the drawings, and in particular Figure 1
thereof, a bottle carrier is formed from a single blank 10
of paperboard or other suitable foldable sheet material and
is adapted to accommodate six bottles arranged in two rows
of three bottles each. The blank includes securing panel
12, first end panel 14, first side panel 16, second end
panel 18, third end panel 20, second side panel 22, fourth
end panel 24 and securing panel 26, hingably connected one
to the next along fold lines 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 and 40
respectively.
An outer handle panel 42 is disposed adjacent end
panel 18 and side panel 16. Handle panel 42 is
separated from side panel 16 by a cut line 44a and
from end panel 18 by cut line 46. Handle panel 42 is
connected to first end panel 14 along one side edge
of handle panel 42 by means of a tapered connecting
portion 48. The connecting portion 48 is foldably
connected to handle panel 42 along fold line 50 and
foldably connected to first end panel 14 along fold line
30. Cut line 44a separates connecting portions 48 from side
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panel 16 and is shaped to provide a narrow portion adjacent
end wall 14. The end of this narrow portion is sufficient
to maintain the connection between the handle panel 42 and
end panel 14 during handling of the blank prior to folding
and gluing.
Handle panel 42 includes a hand aperture 52. A hand
cushioning flap 54 is connected along fold line 56 to an
upper edge of hand aperture 42.
A similar outer handle panel 44 is disposed adjacent
third end panel 20 and second side panel 22. Handle panel
44 is separated from side panel 22 by a cut line 58 and from
end panel 20 by cut line 60. Handle panel 44 is connected
to fourth end panel 24 along one side by means of a tapered
connecting portion 62. The connecting portion 62 is
foldably connected to handle panel 44 along fold line 64 and
foldably connected to fourth end panel 24 along fold line
38. Cut line 58 separates connecting portion 62 from side
panel 22 and is shaped to provide a narrow portion adjacent
fourth end panel 24. The end of this narrow portion is
sufficient to maintain the connection between the handle
panel 44 and fourth end panel 24 during handling of the
blank prior to folding and gluing.
Outer handle panels 42 and 44 are hingably connected to
third end panel 20 along their common side edge by an
extension of fold line 34.
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A partition structure P, shown in Figure 2 , for the
article carrier is formed along the upper ends of handle
panels 42 and 44. Specifically, partition panel 72 is
connected to handle panel 42 along fold lines 76 and 78.
Cut line 80 connects one end of fold line 76 to one end of
fold line 78 and defines the upper edge of handle panel 42
and part of its opposing side edges 82,84. A transverse
panel 86 is hingably connected to partition panel 72 along
fold line 88. A second transverse panel 90 is hingably
connected to partition panel 72 by fold line 92.
Transverse panel 86 is separated from partition panel
72 by cut lines 94 and 96 which extend between fold lines 86
and 92. Second transverse partition panel 90 is separated
from partition panel 72 by cut lines 98 and 100 which extend
between fold line 92 and the side edge of partition panel
72.
A glue panel 102 is positioned adjacent to transverse
panel 90: being connected to transverse panels 86 and 90 by
fold lines 104,106 respectively. The glue panel 102 is
separated from transverse panel 90 by cut line 108 which
extends between fold line 92 and fold line 104.
A second partition panel 110 is connected to handle
panel 44 along fold lines 112 and 114. Cut line 115
connects one end of fold line 112 to one end of fold line
114 and defines the upper edge of handle panel 44 and part
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of its opposing side edges 111, 118. A transverse panel
120 is connected to second partition panel 110 along fold
line 122. A second transverse panel 124 is hingably
connected to second partition panel 110 by fold line 126.
Transverse panel 120 is separated from second partition
panel 110 by cut lines 128 and 130 which extend between
fold lines 122 and 126. Transverse panel 124 is separated
from second partition panel 110 by cut lines 132 and 134
which extend between fold line 126 and the side edge of
second partition panel 110.
A glue panel 135 is positioned adjacent to transverse
panel 124 being connected to transverse panels 120 and 124
by fold lines 136, 138 respectively. Glue panel 135 is
separated from transverse panel 124 by cut line 140 which
extends between fold line 126 and fold line 138.
First and second partition panels are hingably
connected together along their common side edge by fold
line 34 which is interrupted by cut line 141 defining
medial support panel 142.
An inner handle panel 144 is hingably connected to
second partition panel 110 along fold line 146. Handle
panel 144 comprises a hand aperture 148 which is positioned
to be aligned with hand apertures 52, 66 when the carton is
constructed.
Turning to the construction of the base, a first base
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panel 150 is hingably connected to first side wall 16 along
fold line 152. A second base panel 154 is foldably
connected to second side wall 22 along fold line 156. A
glue flap 158 is connected to the opposite edge of base
panel 154.
The construction of the completed carrier in a flat
collapsed condition from the blank requires a series of
sequential folding and gluing operations.
Thus, the folding of the blank of Figure 1 to form the
completed article carrier is begun by applying glue to glue
flaps 102, 141, 135, 158 and panels 12, 40. In addition,
glue may be applied to the surface of either or both sides
of inner handle panel 144.
The blank is then folded along fold lines 76, 78 and
112, 114 so that partition panels 72 and 110 are in a face
to face relationship with respective one of handle panels
42 and 44 and may be secured thereto by glue or other means
known in the art. Glue flaps 102 and 135 are secured to
respective side panels 16 and 22. Inner handle panel 144
is folded about fold line 146 and into a face to face
relationship with outer handle panel 44 and connected
together. Tab 142 is connected to end panel 20 by glue or
other known means and provides additional support to the
connection between the partit=ion structure and outer
panels.
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The two sides of the basket carrier are then brought
into face to face relationship by folding about fold line
34 with outer handle panel 42 being secured to inner handle
panel 144 by glue or other means known in the art.
End panel 14 and securing panel 12 are folded into a
face to face relationship with respective end panel 24 and
securing panel 26 about fold lines 30, 38 respectively.
Each securing panel 12, 26 is then connected together with
the hooks 160 shown in Figure 1 facing the partition
structure and the end panels connected to connecting
portions 48, 64 by glue or other known means.
Securing panels 12/26 are connected to handle
structure H (shown in Figure 2) by glue or other means
known in the art . It is to be expected that some tearing
to the narrow parts of the connecting portions 48, 64 may
occur. Any such tearing will be aesthetically
unnoticeable. Further, because the carrier has been glued,
the connection portions to hold the blank together are no
longer needed for this purpose.
In use, the article carrier is erected by moving the
outer edges of the collapsed carrier defined by fold lines
30, 38 and 34 inwardly towards each other. This moves end
panels 14, 24 and 18, 24 and side panels 16 and 22 into a
rectangular configuration. This facilitates the
construction of individual cells. Thus, transverse
partition panels 86, 90 are moved out of alignment with
first side panel 16 and partition panel 72 and are folded
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about fold lines 88,106 and 92,104 respectively so that
three cells are formed as illustrated in Figure 2.
Similarly, transverse partition panels 120, 124 are moved
out of alignment with second side panel 22 and partition
panel 110 and are folded about fold lines 122,136 and
126,138 respectively so that three cells are formed.
Figure 2 shows the position of the cells and medial
panels when the carton is in a set up condition.
The carton is then ready to receive articles (not
shown) which are loaded by relative vertical movement
between the bottles and carrier during forward feed
movement, well known in the art, by which bottles enter
their respective cells through the open bottom of the
carrier. Thereafter, the base is formed by folding first
and second base panels 150, 154 into a substantially
perpendicular relationship with side walls 16, 22
respectively and the free edge of each base panel is then
secured together with the glue flap 42 to form the base of
the carrier and held in place by hooks 160.
Handle tabs 54, 68 are folded about handle panels 42,
44 to further secure handle panel structure H and the carton
as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.
Figures 3 and 4 illustrate further embodiments which
are similar in construction to the embodiment hereinbefore
described, as will be understood by those in the skilled
art.
The depth of the internal partition structure can be
reduced or increased, in accordance with specific
requirements, by moving fold lines 76,78,112,114 towards or
away from the side and end walls. Likewise, the invention
enables the handle shape to be altered easily by changing
the profile of cut lines 80,115, for example.
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The present invention and its preferred embodiments
relate to an article carrier which is shaped to provide
satisfactory strength to hold the bottles securely but with
a degree of flexibility so that the load transferred to the
handle is absorbed by a carrier. The shape of the blank
minimises the amount of paperboard required. The carrier
can be applied to an array of bottles by hand or automatic
machinery. It is anticipated that the invention can be
applied to a variety of carrier and not limited to those of
the basket carrier type.
*rB
