Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ARTICLE CARRIER AND BLANK
Background of the Invention
The invention relates to an article carrier and a blank for forming an article
carrier which are
particularly useful, but not limited to, carrying bottles. More particularly,
the invention
relates to an article carrier with an improved bridging structure for the
strengthening handle
and a reinforcing handle panel.
l0 Bracing structures for bracing handle structures in article carriers are
well known. For
example, GB 480 138 illustrates a wraparound carrier which shows a pair of
tabs 12, 12'
formed from the handle panels spanning the space between the top panels and
connected to
each other by mechanical engagement. Such arrangements were possible because
the cartons
were packed by hand. However, in automated packaging machines, lateral
movement of the
panels to cause mechanical engagement of tabs 12 and 12' is undesirable.
In order to strengthen the handle structure, it is desirable for handle panels
to be in face
contacting relationship. However, in those carriers where the handle panels
are spaced or
diverge away from their point of connection it causes the handle structure to
be weaker.
Other examples of bracing structures are illustrated in EP 0 122 397 and US 5
158 177,
however these structures are required to be constructed in the bottling
machines which is
undesirable because it increases the complexity of the machinery and/or limits
carton
throughput.
A further problem associated with the prior art concerns the stacking of such
carriers which
can interfere with the handles and destroy their integrity.
Summary of the Invention
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The present invention and its preferred embodiments seek to overcome or
attempt to mitigate
the problems associated with the prior art.
One aspect of the invention provides an article Garner for carrying one or
more necked
articles, which article carrier comprises a plurality of panels for forming
the article carrier
including a pair of laterally spaced top panels, a pair of handle panels
extending upwardly
from the top panels to form a carrying handle and bridging means is provided
to span the
space between the top panels. The bridging means is a sheet member formed from
a separate
blank, the opposite ends of the sheet member being attached to the handle
panels.
l0 Preferably, the bridging means may extend between the lower edges of the
handle panels.
By providing the sheet member, the handle can be reinforced by different
material, or which
is a different grade to the board forming the outer panels.
15 According to an optional feature of this aspect of the invention the sheet
member may include
a medial bridging panel and a pair of handle reinforcing panels hingedly
connected to the
medial bridging panel and attached to the inside surfaces of the handle
panels. Preferably,
each handle reinforcing panel may be formed with a hand aperture.
20 A second aspect of the invention provides an article carrier for carrying
one or more necked
articles, which article carrier comprises a plurality of panels for forming
the article Garner
including a pair of laterally spaced top panels, a pair of handle panels
extending upwardly
from the top panels to form a carrying handle and bridging means is provided
to span the
space between the top panels. The bridging means comprises a pair of tabs
formed from the
25 handle panels and secured together in overlapping relationship to span the
space between the
top panels. Preferably, the pair of tabs may be glued together in face
contacting relationship.
Beneficially, the bridging means provides a structure in which the bottles are
maintained in
position due to improved rigidity of the handle structure when it is in use.
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According to an optional feature of the second aspect of the invention the
tabs may be
hingedly connected to a lower edge of hand apertures formed in the handle
panels.
A third aspect of the invention provides an article Garner for carrying one or
more necked
articles comprising a plurality of panels for forming the article carrier
including a pair of
laterally spaced top panels, first and second handle panels extending upwardly
from the top
panels to form a carrying handle, and bridging means provided to span the
space between the
top panels. The bridging means includes a bridging panel hingedly connecting
the handle
panels and the bridging panel and/or the first handle panel being adapted to
allow the carrying
handle to be placed in a collapsed form. Preferably, the carrying handle may
be collapsed to
be folded flat on part of one of the spaced top panels.
The bridging panel may have a fold line extending longitudinally across itself
to allow the
carrying handle to be collapsed so that the handle panels are placed in face
contacting
relationship.
According to another optional feature of the third aspect of the invention the
first handle
panel may be provided with a medial fold line spaced from the hinged
connection between
the bridging means and the first handle panel by a distance approximately
equal to half of the
2o spacing distance between the spaced top panels. The first handle is folded
about the medial
fold line to cause the second handle panel to be placed in flat form with
respect to the
bridging means. Alternatively, the first and second handle panels may each be
provided with
a medial fold line spaced from the hinged connection between the bridging
means and the
respective first and handle panels, whereby the first and second handle panels
can be folded
about the medial fold line to cause the second handle panel to be placed in
flat form with
respect to one of the spaced top panels.
According to a still further optional feature of the third aspect of the
invention the bridging
panel may span the space between the top panels wherein the bridging panel
comprises a pair
of tabs formed from the handle panels and secured together in overlapping
relationship to
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span the space between the top panels. Preferably, the pair of tabs may be
glued together in
face contacting relationship.
The tabs of the third aspect of the invention may be hingedly connected to a
lower edge of
hand apertures formed in the handle panels.
A fourth aspect of the invention provides an article carrier for carrying a
plurality of necked
articles comprising a plurality of panels for forming the article Garner
including a pair of
laterally spaced top panels, first and second handle panels extending upwardly
from the
1o spaced panels hingedly connected to form a carrying handle. The first
handle panel is
provided with means to cause the handle to be moved from an upright position
downwards
and/or to one side to reduce the height of the Garner. Preferably, the height
reduction means
may be provided by a first medial fold line extending longitudinally along
across the first
handle panel adapted to cause the adjacent panel parts to be folded inwardly
towards each
is other to move the handle downwards and to one side of the upright position.
More
preferably, the height reduction means may be provided by a second medial fold
line
extending longitudinally along across the second handle panel adapted to cause
the adjacent
panel parts to be folded inwardly towards each other to move the handle
downwards and to
one side of the upright position.
According to an optional feature of the fourth aspect of the invention the
first and second
handle panels may be formed with registrable third medial fold lines at the
elevation between
the first medial fold line and/or as the case may be the second medial fold
line and the top of
the handle.
2s
According to another optional feature of any preceding aspect of the invention
the handle
panels may be secured together.
According to another optional feature of any preceding aspect of the invention
the handle
3o panels may be hingedly connected together along a common upper edge.
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According to another optional feature there may further comprise article
receiving and
retaining means struck from side and base panels and including an article
retaining flap,
which article retaining flap is adapted to be folded inwardly of the base
panel thereby to
define an aperture for receiving a lower portion of the article wherein the
article retaining flap
abuts a portion to engage and retain the article. Preferably, there may
further comprise a fold
line extending across the article retaining flap such that the flap is folded
to define adjacent
flap portions adapted to abut the side and base of the article at two
positions thereby to
improve article retention.
1o A fifth aspect of the invention provides a blank for forming an article
carrier for carrying one
or more necked articles, which blank comprises a plurality of panels for
forming the article
carrier including a first top panel, a pair of handle panels and a second top
panel hingedly
connected together in series. The first and second top panels are laterally
spaced in use and
bridging means is provided to span the lateral spacing between the top panels
wherein the
15 bridging means is a sheet member formed from a separate blank. The opposite
ends of the
sheet member are adapted to be attached to the handle panels. Preferably, the
sheet member
may include a medial bridging panel and a pair of handle reinforcing panels
hingedly
connected to the medial bridging panel and capable of attaching to the inside
surfaces of the
handle panels. Optionally, each handle reinforcing panel may be formed with a
hand
2o aperture.
A sixth aspect of the invention provides a blank for forming an article
carrier for carrying one
or more necked articles, which blank comprises a plurality of panels for
forming the article
Garner including a first top panel, a pair of handle panels and a second top
panel hingedly
25 connected together in series. The first and second top panels are laterally
spaced in use, and
bridging means is provided to span the lateral spacing between the top panels.
The bridging
means comprises a pair of tabs formed from the handle panels and adapted to be
secured
together in overlapping relationship to span the space between the top panels.
Preferably, the
tabs may be hingedly connected to a lower edge of hand apertures formed in the
handle
3o panels.
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A seventh aspect of the invention provides a blank for forming an article
carrier for carrying
one or more necked articles comprising a plurality of panels for forming the
article carrier
including a first top panel, first and second handle panels and a second top
panel hingedly
connected together in series. Bridging means is provided to span the space
between the top
panels, the bridging means including a bridging panel hingedly connecting the
handle panels
and the bridging panel and/or the first handle panel is adapted to allow the
carrying handle to
be placed in a collapsed form. Preferably, the carrying handle may be
collapsed to be folded
flat on part of one of the spaced top panels.
1o According to an optional feature of the seventh aspect of the invention the
bridging panel may
have a fold line extending longitudinally across itself to allow the carrying
handle to be
collapsed so that the handle panels are placed in face contacting
relationship.
According to another optional feature of the seventh aspect of the invention
the first handle
15 panel may be provided with a medial fold line spaced from the hinged
connection between
the bridging means and the first handle panel by a distance approximately
equal to half of the
spacing distance between the spaced top panels. The first handle is folded
about the medial
fold line to cause the second handle panel to be placed in flat form with
respect to the
bridging means.
According to a further optional feature of the seventh aspect of the invention
the first and
second handle panel may each be provided with a medial fold line spaced from
the hinged
connection between the bridging means and the respective first and second
handle panel,
whereby the first and second handle panels are folded about the medial fold
line to cause the
second handle panel to be placed in flat form with respect to one of the top
panels.
Preferably, the bridging means may span the space between the top panels in a
set up
condition wherein the bridging means comprises a pair of tabs formed from the
handle panels.
More preferably, the tabs may be hingedly connected to a lower edge of hand
apertures
formed in the handle panels.
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An eighth aspect of the invention provides a blank for forming an article
Garner for carrying a
plurality of necked articles comprising a plurality of panels for forming the
article carrier
including a first top panel, first and second handle panels and a second top
panel hingedly
connected together in series. The first handle panel is provided with a first
medial fold line
extending longitudinally along across the first handle panel adapted to cause
the adjacent
panel parts to be folded inwardly towards each other in use to move the
erected handle
downwards and/or to one side of the upright position. Preferably, the height
reduction means
may be provided by a second medial fold line extending longitudinally along
across the
second handle panel adapted to cause the adjacent panel parts to be folded
inwardly towards
l0 each other in use to move the handle downwards and to one side of the
upright position.
According to an optional feature of the eighth aspect of the invention the
height reduction
means may be provided by a first medial fold line extending longitudinally
along across the
first handle panel and a second medial fold line extending longitudinally
across the second
handle panel adapted to cause the adjacent panel parts to be folded inwardly
towards each
other to move the handle downwards and to one side of the upright position.
According to an optional feature of the eighth aspect of the invention the
first and second
handle panels may be formed with registrable third medial fold lines at the
elevation between
2o the first medial fold line and the top of the handle.
According to another optional feature of the eighth aspect of the invention
the handle panels
may be secured together. Preferably, the handle panels may be hingedly
connected together
along a common upper edge.
According to another optional feature there may further comprise article
receiving and
retaining means struck from side and base panels and including an article
retaining flap. The
article retaining flap is adapted to be folded inwardly of the base panel
thereby to define an
aperture for receiving a lower portion of the article in use wherein the
article retaining flap
can abut a portion to engage and retain the article. Preferably, there may
further comprise a
fold line extending across the article retaining flap such that the flap is
folded to define
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adjacent flap portions adapted to abut the side and base of the article at two
positions thereby
to improve article retention when the carrier is in a set up condition.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of
example only,
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a blank for forming a wraparound article carrier
according to a
first embodiment of the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a blank for forming the bridging means to be used
with the blank
shown in Figure 1;
FIGURES 3A and 3B illustrate the formation of the bridging means shown in
Figure 2;
FIGURES 3C, 3D, 3E and 3F illustrate the formation of the handle structure
incorporating the
bridging means shown in Figure 2 of the first embodiment;
2o FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the handle structure of the article
carrier formed from the
blank shown in Figures I and 2;
FIGURE 5 is an end elevation of the handle structure shown in Figure 4;
FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a package having a plurality of articles and
the carrier
formed from the blanks illustrated in Figures l and 2;
FIGURE 7 is a plan view of a blank for forming a wraparound article carrier
according to a
second embodiment of the invention;
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FIGURES 8A, 8B and 8C illustrate the formation of the handle structure
incorporating the
bridging means shown in Figure 7 of the second embodiment;
FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the handle structure of the article Garner
formed from the
blank shown in Figures 7, 8A, 8B and 8C;
FIGURE 10 is an end elevation of the handle structure shown in Figure 9;
FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of a package having a plurality of articles
and an article
carrier formed from the blank illustrated in Figure 7;
FIGURE 12 is a perspective view showing the handle structure of article
carrier in Figure 11,
showing the structure in a stowed position where the height reduction means is
in use;
FIGURE 13 is an end elevation of the handle structure shown in Figure 12;
FIGURE 14 is a plan view of a blank for forming a wraparound article carrier
according to a
third embodiment of the invention;
FIGURES 1 SA, 1 SB and 1 SC illustrate the formation of the handle structure
incorporating the
bridging means shown in Figure 14;
FIGURE 16 is a perspective view of the handle structure of the article Garner
formed from the
blank shown in Figures 14, 15A, 15B and 15C;
FIGURE 17 is an end elevation of the handle structure of Figure 16, showing
the structure in
a stowed position where the height of the structure has been reduced as a
result of activating
the height reduction means; and
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FIGURE 18 is an end elevation of the handle structure of Figure 16, showing
the structure in
an alternative stowed position where the height reduction means has been
activated to fold the
structure to one side.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
Referring to the drawings and, in particular, Figures 1 and 2 thereof, there
is shown a two-part
blank for forming an article carrier which blanks are formed from paperboard
or other
suitable foldable sheet material. The article Garner is adapted to accommodate
a plurality of
1o articles, for example four bottles arranged in two rows of two bottles
each. It is envisaged the
carrier can be adapted to accommodate a different number and/or configuration
of articles
according to user requirements.
The blank 10 comprises a plurality of panels for forming the top, sides and
base of an article
15 carrier. In this embodiment there comprises a first base panel 12, a side
wall structure 14, a
top panel 46, a handle structure H (Figures 1 and 4), a second top panel 56, a
second side wall
structure 20 and a second base panel 22 hingedly connected one to the next
along fold lines
24, 50, 26, 30, 60 and 32 respectively. In the embodiment illustrated in
Figure 1, it will be
seen that the base panel 12 may include an inclined heel (or slope) panel 34
intermediate base
20 panel 12 and side wall structure 14 and hingedly connected thereto along
fold lines 36 and 24
respectively. There may further comprise a second heel panel 38 intermediate
side wall
structure 20 and base panel 22 and hingedly connected thereto along fold lines
32 and 40
respectively.
25 Preferably, each side wall structure 14 and 20 comprise upper and lower
side wall panels 44,
42 and 54, 52 respectively so that the side walls better conform to the shape
of the articles
contained. Each upper and lower side wall panel 44, 42 and 54, 52 is hingedly
connected
together along fold line 48 and 58 respectively to allow the side walls to
flex, thereby to better
conform to the shape of the articles contained in the article carrier.
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There may further comprise article receiving and retaining means 62, 62a, 62b
and 62c which
are struck from the lower side wall panels 42, 52, base panels 12, 22 and, as
the case may be,
the intermediate heel panel 34, 38. Each article receiving and retaining means
is identical and
therefore only one of the article receiving and retaining means 62 is
hereinafter described.
In this embodiment, the retaining means 62 comprises a retaining aperture 70
struck from the
heel panel 38 and extending into base panel 22. It is shaped to receive a
lower part of the
article A, as shown in Figure 6. The article receiving and retaining means 62
may further
comprise one or more retaining flaps 72 which in a formed carton provide
internal flap
l0 portions to retain the base of an article. More preferably, there comprises
a pair of flaps 72
hingedly connected to the opposite edges of aperture 70. Each flap 72
comprises upper and
lower flap portions 64, 66 hingedly connected together along fold lines 68 to
enable the upper
and lower flap portions to be folded out of alignment with respect to each
other and to better
conform to the shape of that part of the article A engaged by the flap 72 and
in the aperture
15 70.
It will be seen that there may further comprise a plurality of apertures 74
formed in the top
panel which are adapted to be aligned in vertically spaced registry with the
corresponding
article receiving and retaining means 62 in a set-up condition. These
apertures 74 are
20 provided to support a neck portion of the article and may, optionally,
include a pair of
substantially "V" shaped fold lines (not shown) struck from the upper side
panels 44 and 54
to define fold lines to support tabs that protrude outwardly of the side wall
structures 14, 20 in
a similar manner to those illustrated in the second embodiment.
25 The handle structure H is provided with first and second handle panels 16,
18 hingedly
connected together along their common lateral edge by fold line 28 to define
the top of the
handle. First handle panel 16 is secured to top panel 46 by fold line 26 and
second handle
panel 18 is secured to top panel 56 by fold line 30.
30 First and second handle panels 16, 18 are provided with hand apertures 76
and, optionally,
hand support flaps 80 improve the handling characteristics of the article
carrier.
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Figure 2 illustrates the bridging means 82 which, in this embodiment, is a
sheet member
formed from a separate blank. In other embodiments, the bridging means could
be integral
with and formed from the Garner blank 10. The opposite ends of the sheet
member 82 are
attached to the handle panels 16, 18 of the outer blank 10 as described in
more detail below.
Preferably, the bridging means 82 comprises a first handle reinforcing panel
84, a medial
bridging panel 87 and a second handle reinforcing panel 90 hingedly connected
together one
to the next along fold lines 92 and 96 respectively. Handle reinforcing panels
84, 90 may
l0 further comprise hand apertures 98 or recesses. Preferably, the medial
bridging panel 87
comprises two panel parts 86 and 88 hingedly connected together along a common
lateral
edge by fold line 94. In use, fold line 94 allows the bridging panel 87 and
handle structure H
to be collapsed thereby enabling the article carrier to be supplied in a flat
collapsed condition.
Turning to the construction of the article carrier of the present invention,
it is envisaged that it
can be formed by a series of sequential folding and gluing operations in a
straight line
machine so that the carrier is not required to be rotated or inverted to
complete its
construction. The folding process is not limited to that described below and
may be altered
according to particular manufacturing requirements.
Figures 3A to 3F illustrate the handle forming process. The first step is for
the bridging
means 82 to be folded along fold line 94 in direction R whereby opposing
handle reinforcing
panels 84 and 90 and medial bridging panel parts 86 and 88 are folded into
face contacting
relationship with each other so that the bridging means 82 is in the position
shown in Figure
3B. In those embodiments with hand apertures 98, the apertures are aligned.
Thereafter, the bridging means 82 is secured to the handle panels 16, 18. In
this embodiment,
the handle reinforcing panels 84, 90 are secured to handle panels 16 and 18
respectively by
glue or other suitable means known in the art. It will be seen from Figure 3C
that glue is
applied to one or more parts of the handle panels 16 and 18 designated by the
letter G and the
bridging means 82 is placed on handle panel 16 such that handle reinforcing
panel 84 is in
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face contacting relationship with panel 16 and hand apertures 98 and 76 are
aligned as shown
in Figure 3D.
The panels forming one side of the carrier comprising handle panel 18, top
panel 56, side wall
structure 20 and base panel 22 are then folded about central fold line 28 in
direction S and
handle reinforcing panel 90 is secured in face contacting relationship with
handle panel 18
(see Figure 3E). Thereafter, top panel 56, side wall structure 20 and base
panel 22 are folded
along fold line 30 in direction T so that top panel 56 is in face contacting
relationship with
handle panel 18 shown in Figure 3F. The carrier is in a part-constructed
condition with the
to handle structure H formed, but in a flat collapsed condition ready to be
supplied to the end
user.
In order to erect the article carrier, the top panels 46 and 56 are folded out
of alignment with
their next adjacent handle panels 16 and 18 respectively along fold lines 26
and 30 and are
15 pulled in an outward direction away from each other to cause the medial
bridging panel 87 to
be erected and to span the space between the top panels 46, 56. It will be
seen from Figure 4
that panel parts 86 and 88 are folded out of face contacting relationship
along fold line 94 and
handle panels 16 and 18 are pulled apart so as to pivot about their common
hinged connection
28 to form a tubular structure.
Thereafter, the top panels 46, 56 are applied to the tops of a group of
articles to be packaged
by the article carrier. The side wall structures 14 and 20 are folded
downwardly and the upper
and lower side wall panels 44, 42 and 54, 52 are folded out of alignment along
fold line 48
and 58 so as to be disposed in flanking relationship with the side walls of
the articles. The
neck portion of the or each article A is engaged in the aperture 74 as shown
in Figure 5.
The heel retention flaps of the article heel retention means 62, 62a are then
formed to receive
a heel portion of the articles A as is well known. Base panel 22 and heel
panel 38 are folded
inwardly and upwardly into engagement with base portions of the articles. A
similar
operation on the other side of the group of articles is also performed and the
wraparound
carrier can be completed by securing the overlapping base panels 12, 22
together by suitable
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means known in the art, for example by gluing or, preferably, by the use of
locking and
retaining tabs.
Thus, the Garner is in a set up condition as shown in Figure 6 whereby there
is shown an
article carrier 98 for carrying necked articles, comprising a plurality of
panels for forming the
article carrier including a pair of laterally spaced top panels 46, 56, a pair
of handle panels 16,
18 extending upwardly from the top panels to form a carrying handle H and
bridging means
82 provided to span the space between the top panels. The bridging means 82 is
a sheet
member formed from a separate blank, and the opposite ends of the sheet member
are
1o attached to the handle panels 16, 18.
In use, the user will insert his hand in the hand apertures 76 and fold the
flaps 80 for
improved cushioning during handling. As the carrier is moved the handle panels
are
prevented from separation by the bridging means. Furthermore, each handle wall
is two ply
15 and is therefore strengthened to avoid any unwanted tearing which is
unsightly and can lead
the user to question the strength characteristics of the carrier.
Turning to the second embodiment of the invention illustrated by reference to
Figures 7, 8, 9,
10, 11 and 12, there is shown a carrier that is similar to the article carrier
of the first
20 embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 and therefore like reference
numerals have been used
with the prefix "1".
In Figure 7 there is shown a unitary blank 110 made from paperboard or like
foldable sheet
material. The blank 110 comprises a first base panel 112, a side wall
structure 114, a top
25 panel 146, a handle structure H1 (Figures 7 and 9), a second top wall panel
156, a second side
wall structure 120 and a second base panel 122 hingedly connected one to the
next along fold
lines 124, 150, 126, 130, 160 and 132 respectively. In the embodiment
illustrated in Figure 1,
it will be seen that the base panel 112 may include an inclined heel (or
slope) panel 134
intermediate base panel 112 and side wall structure 114 and hingedly connected
thereto along
3o fold lines 136 and 124 respectively. There may further comprise a second
heel panel 138
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intermediate side wall structure 120 and base panel 122 and hingedly connected
thereto along
fold lines 132 and 140 respectively.
Like the first embodiment, the first and second side wall structures 114 and
120 preferably
comprise upper and lower side wall panels 144, 142 and 154, 152 hingedly
connected
together along fold line 148 and 158 respectively.
In one class of embodiments, there may further comprise article receiving and
retaining
means 162, 162a, 162b and 162c are struck from the lower side wall panels,
base panels and
to the intermediate heel panels. Each article receiving and retaining means is
identical to the
article receiving and retaining means 62 of the first embodiment and is not
therefore
described in any greater detail.
A plurality of apertures 174 formed in the top panel which are adapted to be
aligned in
15 vertically spaced registry with the article receiving and retaining means
162 in a set-up
condition. These apertures 174 are provided to support a neck portion of the
article and may
optionally include a pair of substantially "V" shaped fold lines 175 struck
from the upper side
panels 144 and 154 to define fold lines to support tabs 173 separated by cut
line 179 that
protrude outwardly of the side wall structures 114, 120.
The handle structure H is provided with first and second handle panels 116,
118 hingedly
connected together along their common lateral edge by fold line 128. First
handle panel 116
is secured to top panel 146 by fold line 126 and second handle panel 118 is
secured to top
panel 156 by fold line 130. First handle panel 116 comprises an upper handle
panel 179 and a
lower handle panel 177 hingedly connected together along interrupted fold line
181.
Likewise, second handle panel 118 comprises upper handle panel 183 and lower
handle panel
187 hingedly connected together along fold line 191. Alternatively, the second
handle panel
118 may comprise an intermediate handle panel 185 hingedly connected to upper
handle
panel 183 along fold line 191 and to lower handle panel 187 along interrupted
fold line 193.
3o In use, fold line 193 can be used to assist in folding the handle structure
into a flat collapsed
condition for storage. A second, or alternative, function of the fold line 193
and intermediate
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panel 185 and lower handle panel 187 is to reduce the vertical height of the
erected handle
structure which is described in more detail below.
First and second handle panels 116 and 118 are provided with hand apertures
176 and,
optionally, hand support flaps 180a, 180b, 180c improve the handling
characteristics of the
article carrier.
Bridging means 178 are provided, which in this embodiment is formed by a pair
of tabs 195,
197 struck from and extending into hand aperture 176. Tab 195 is hingedly
connected to top
to panel 146 along fold line 126 and likewise tab 197 is hingedly connected to
top panel 156
along fold line 130.
The construction of the handle structure H 1 of the second embodiment is
illustrated in
Figures 8A, 8B, 8C whereby the panels forming one side of the carrier
comprising handle
panel 116, top panel 146, side wall structure 114 and base panel 112 together
with upper and
intermediate handle panels 183 and 185 are folded about fold line 193 in the
direction
designated by the letter X (Figure 8A), so that the aforementioned panels are
placed in face
contacting relationship with the panels forming the other side of the Garner
as shown in
Figure 8B.
In this embodiment upper handle panels 179, 183 are secured together by glue
or by other
suitable means known in the art. The tabs 195, 197 forming the bridging means
are also
secured together. One way to achieve this, is for glue to be applied to those
parts of tab 197
and upper handle panel 183. Those panels forming one side of the carrier 112,
114, 146 and
116 are folded about central fold line 128 in the direction designated by the
letter Y (Figure
8B) such that the tabs 195, 197 and upper handle panels 179 and 183 are
secured together in
face contacting arrangement as shown in Figure 8C. Thus the handle H 1 is in a
flat collapsed
condition and the blank 110 is ready to be supplied to a user for final
erection and loading of
the carrier.
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In order to erect the article carrier of the second embodiment, the handle
panel 116 and the
upper and intermediate handle panels 183 and 185 are folded out of the plane
of the top
panels 146, 156 to make the top panels 146, 156 to be ready to receive a group
of articles and
are pulled upwardly to cause the handle structure H 1 to be erected from a
flat collapsed
condition. The bridging panel formed from tabs 195, 197 spans the space
between top panels
146 and 156. The lower and intermediate handle panels 177, 185 separate from
each other
and pivot about their common hinged connection 181 / 191 shown in Figures 9
and 10.
The top panels 146 and 156 are applied to the tops of a group of articles to
be packaged by the
to article carrier, shown in Figure 10, and the side walls are folded
downwardly to be disposed
in flanking relationship with the side wall structures 114, 120 of the
articles so that a neck
portion of each article A is engaged by the apertures 174. The heel retention
means 162,
162a, 162b, 162c is formed as described above and the base wall is formed in
like manner,
the base panels are secured together to complete the construction of the
article Garner as
15 shown in Figure 11.
A third embodiment of article carrier is shown in Figures 14 and 15 in the
form of a unitary
blank which blank is formed from paperboard or other suitable foldable sheet
material. The
article carrier is adapted to accommodate a plurality of articles, for example
four bottles
2o arranged in two rows of two bottles each. It is envisaged the carrier can
be adapted to
accommodate a different number and/or configuration of articles according to
user
requirements.
The blank of the third embodiment is similar to the second. embodiment with
like parts being
25 designated by the same numerals as the first and second embodiments but
prefixed with the
numeral "2" instead of "1 ". As the third embodiment is structurally similar
to the second
embodiment, only the differences will be described in any greater detail.
In one class of embodiments there may further comprise a pair of intermediate
handle panels
30 284, 285 hingedly connected to upper handle panels 279, 283 along fold
lines 281, 291 and to
lower handle panel 277, 287 along interrupted fold line 293, 294. In use, fold
lines 293, 294
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can be used to assist in folding the handle structure into a flat collapsed
condition for storage.
A second, or alternative, function of the fold lines 293, 294, intermediate
panels 284, 285
and lower handle panels 277, 287 is to reduce the vertical height of the
erected handle
structure H2 which is described in more detail below.
The construction of the article carrier of the third embodiment is similar to
the second
embodiment, and the construction of the handle structure H2 of the third
embodiment is
illustrated in Figures 1 SA, 1 SB, 15C whereby the panels forming one side of
the carrier
comprising handle panel 216, top panel 246, side wall structure 214 and base
panel 212
1o together with upper and intermediate handle panels 283 and 285 are folded
about fold line
294 in the direction designated by the letter X' (Figure 1 SA), so that the
aforementioned
panels are placed in face contacting relationship with the panels forming the
other side of the
carrier as shown in Figure 15B.
15 In this embodiment upper handle panels 279, 283 are secured together by
glue or by other
suitable means known in the art. The tabs 295, 297 forming the bridging means
are also
secured together in like manner to the second embodiment whereby those panels
forming one
side of the Garner 212, 214, 246 and 216 are folded about central fold line
228 in the direction
designated by the letter Y (Figure 1 SB) such that the tabs 295, 297 and upper
handle panels
20 279 and 283 are secured together in face contacting arrangement as shown in
Figure 15C.
Thus, the handle structure H2 is in a flat collapsed condition and the blank
210 is ready to be
supplied to a user for final erection and loading of the carrier. The medial
fold lines 293, 294
ensure that the handle structure H2 can be folded forward or backward of the
leading edge of
the blank.
In order to erect the article carrier, the handle panel 216 and the upper and
intermediate
handle panels 283, 285 are folded out of the plane of the top panels 246, 256
to make the top
panels 246, 256 to be ready to receive a group of articles and are pulled
upwardly to cause the
handle structure H2 to be erected from a flat collapsed condition. The handle
structure H 1 in
an erected condition is shown in Figure 16 where the bridging panel formed
from tabs 295,
297 spans the space between top panels 246 and 256. During the erection of the
handle
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structure H2, the lower and intermediate handle panels 277, 284 separate from
the
intermediate handle panel 285 and pivot about their common hinged connection
281/291.
The top panels 246 and 256 are applied to the tops of a group of articles to
be packaged by the
article Garner, shown in Figure 17, and the side wall structures 214, 220 are
folded
downwardly to be disposed in flanking relationship with the side walls of the
articles so that a
neck portion of each article A is engaged by the apertures 274 shown in Figure
17.
The heel retention flaps of the article heel retention means 262, 262a, 262b,
262c are then
formed to receive a heel portion of the articles A as described above and the
base wall is
formed in a like manner. The base panels 212, 222 are secured together to
complete
construction of the article Garner.
Thus, it will be seen from Figures 11 and 16 the carrier of the second and
third embodiments
are in a set up condition whereby there is shown an article Garner for
carrying one or more
necked articles. The article carrier comprises a plurality of panels for
forming the article
Garner including a pair of laterally spaced top panels 146, 156; 246, 256, a
pair of handle
panels 116, 118; 216, 218 extending upwardly from the top panels to form a
carrying handle.
Bridging means 178, 278 is provided to span the space between the top panels
wherein the
bridging means comprises a pair of tabs 195, 197; 295, 297 formed from the
handle panels
and secured together in overlapping relationship to span the space between the
top panels.
1n use, the user will insert his hand in the hand apertures 176; 276 and fold
the flaps 180; 280
for improved cushioning during handling. As the Garner is moved the handle
panels are
prevented from separation by the bridging means. Furthermore, the upper handle
wall is two
ply and is therefore strengthened to avoid any unwanted tearing which is
unsightly and leads
the user to question the strength characteristics of the carrier.
In one class of embodiments, the handle structure H1 or H2 is at an elevation
above the tops
of the articles, shown in Figures 11 or 16 which allows easier access to the
hand apertures
176, 276. However, if these packages are stored in a stacked condition then
the handle
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structure H1, H2 may be damaged. To solve this problem, the handle structure
H1, H2 is
provided with means to cause the handle to be moved from an upright erected
position
downwards and/or to one side to reduce the height of the carrier. In the
preferred
embodiment, one or more of the handle panels 118; 216, 218 is provided with a
medial fold
line 193, 293, 294 that is adapted to collapse at least one side of the handle
structure so as to
lower the carrying handle H1, H2 into a stowed position as shown in Figures
12, 13, 17 and
18. It will be seen that the top of the handle is moved downwardly (Figures 17
and 18) and/or
to one side (Figures 12, 13 and 18) so that the vertical height of the carrier
is lower than the
height of the bottle to be packaged.
One advantage of employing this approach is that the loaded carriers can be
stored or shipped
by stacking the carriers without destroying the integrity of the handle
structure. It is intended
that this aspect of the invention is not limited to article carriers described
above. It is
envisaged that the handle collapsing means can be applied to other carriers
with a similar
handle structure without the bridging means. Further, the other handle panel
could also
include a medial fold line to cause it to collapse downwardly by inwardly
folding those panels
either side of the medial fold line.
It will be recognised that as used herein, directional references such as
"top", "base", "end", and
"side" do not limit the respective panels 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.
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, alternative top and base
closure structures
may be used. A single article receiving structure may be provided in some
embodiments, and
in other embodiments a linear array of additional apertures may be provided in
each of the
article receiving structures such that the carton may accommodate more than
one article.
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Additional panels) may be provided between the main and transverse article
receiving panels
so as to form a curved interface therebetween.
