EMBALLAGE MULTIPLE DE FORME ENVELOPPANTE, COMPRENANT UNE POIGNEE DE TRANSPORT

WRAPAROUND MULTIPACK WITH CARRYING HANDLE

Abrégé français

Carton destiné à contenir une pluralité d'articles tels que des bouteilles. Ce carton comprend un dessus (16, 26), un fond (12, 30) et deux parois latérales (14, 28) qui relient le dessus et le fond pour former une structure tubulaire. Le dessus est pourvu de deux rangées espacées d'ouvertures (54,56, 58, 60, 62, 64) à travers lesquelles sortent les parties supérieures desdits articles et d'un dispositif de poignée de transport (18, 20, 22) s'étendant verticalement depuis le dessus, qui se caractérise par le fait qu'il se situe entre les deux rangées d'ouvertures et qu'il est décalé par rapport à un plan lui-même situé à mi-chemin entre lesdites rangées d'ouvertures.

Abrégé anglais

A carton accomodating a plurality of articles, such as bottles, comprising a
top (16, 26), a base (12, 30) and a pair of side walls (14, 28)
interconnecting said top and base thereby forming a tubular structure, said
top being provided with two spaced rows of apertures (54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64)
through which the top portions of said articles protrude and a carrying handle
means (18, 20, 22) extending upwardly from said top characterised in that said
handle means is located between said two rows of apertures and is off set from
a plane disposed midway between said rows of apertures.

Revendications

-8-
CLAIMS:
1. A carton for accommodating a plurality of articles,
comprises a top, a base and a pair of side walls
interconnecting said top and base thereby forming a tubular
structure, said top being provided with two spaced rows of
apertures through which the top portions of said articles
protrude, and a carrying handle structure including a hand
aperture extending upwardly from said top wherein said handle
structure is located between said two rows of apertures and is
offset from a plane disposed midway between said rows of
apertures.
2. The carton according to claim 1, wherein said handle
structure further comprises a pair of juxtaposed panels hinged
together remote from said carton top to provide an upstanding
handle.
3. The carton according to claim 2, wherein there further
comprises securing means interconnecting lower portions of
said carrying handle structure to prevent said handle panels
from moving apart about said hinged connection thereof.
4. The carton according to claim 3, wherein the securing
means comprises a tab struck from the junction of said top and
one of said handle panels and wherein said tab is engaged in
one of said apertures adjacent said opposing handle panel.
5. The carton according to claim 4, wherein said locking tab
is engaged in one of said apertures in said top and retained
therein by the upper portion of one of said articles.
6. A carton blank for accommodating a plurality of articles
comprises a blank having a first base panel, a first side wall
panel, a first top panel, first and second handle panels each
including hand apertures, a second top panel, a second side
wall panel and a second base panel hinged respectively one to

-9-
the next, said first and second base panels are capable of
being interconnected thereby to form a carton of
tubular structure, wherein said first and second handle panels
for forming an upstanding handle are so arranged to offset the
handle from a transverse centre plane of said carton in a set
up condition.
7. The carton blank according to claim 6, wherein said first
and second top panels include a plurality of apertures each
capable of receiving a top portion of an article retained by
the set up carton.
8. The carton blank according to claim 7, further comprising
a tab struck from the junction of one of said top panels and
one of said handle panels and wherein said tab is adapted to
be engaged in one of said apertures struck from the other said
top panel to form the upstanding handle.

Description

CA 02278238 1999-07-16
WO 98/31601 PCT/US98/00724
- 1 -
WR.APARnUND MULTIPACK WITH CARRYING HANDLE
This invention relates to a carton of the wraparound
type, accommodating a plurality of articles and which
includes an upstanding carrying handle.
One aspect of the invention provides a carton
accommodating a plurality of articles, such as bottles,
comprising a top, a base and a pair of side walls
interconnecting said top and base thereby forming a tubular
structure, said top being provided with two spaced rows of
apertures through which the top portions of said articles
protrude and a c:arrying~ handle means extending upwardly from
said top characterised in that said handle means is located
between said two rows of apertures and is off set from a
plane disposed midway between said rows of apertures.
According '.to an optional feature of this aspect of the
invention, said carrying handle means may further comprise
a pair of juxtaposed panels hinged together remote from said
carton top to provide: an upstanding handle, and tie means
interconnecting lower portions of said carrying handle means
to prevent said handle panels from moving apart about said
hinged connection thereof said tie means comprising a tab
struck from the junction of said top and one of said handle
panels and wherein said tab is engaged in one of said
apertures adjacent said opposing handle panel.
2 5 '~ :c-.-~not:hex
the invention, said :Locking tab may be engaged i a of
said apertures in said top and retained ther y the upper
~ portion of one of said articles.
Another aspect oi~. a invention provides a carton blank
30_ for accommodate. a p:Lurality of articles comprises a blank
having~rst base pardel, a first side wall panel, a first

CA 02278238 1999-07-16
2
According to another optional future of this aspect of the invention, said
locking tab
may be engaged in one of said apertures in said top and retained therein by
the uppex
portion of one of sai~~ articles.
Another aspect of th~~ invention provides a carton blank for accozxxmodating a
plurality
of articles comptlses a blank Itavixag a ~zst base panel, a first side wall
panel, a first
top panel, first and second handle panels each including hand apertures, a
second top
panel, a second side wall panel and a second base panel hinged respecti4~ely
one to the
next, said first and second base panels are capable of being interconnected
thereby to
i 0 forn a carton of tuhular structure, wherein said first and second handle
panels for
forming an upstanding handle are sc arranged to off set the handle &orn a
transvezse
centre plane of said <;arton in a set up condition.
According to an optional feature of this aspect of the invention said first
and second
top panels include a ;plurality of apertures each capable of receiving a top
portion of an
article retained by the set up Carton.
According to another optional feature of this aspect of the invention there
may further
comprise a tab stzuc:k from the junction of one of said top panels and one of
said
handle panels and wherein sad tab is adapted to be engaged in ore of said
apertures
struck from the other sand top panel to form the upstanding handle.
An embodiment of tine invention will z~ow be described by way of example only
with
reference to the accompanyir:g drawings in which:
ZS
FIGU~ 1 is a pleat view of a carton blank forming a carton according to the
invention;
F1GU1ZE 2 is a ~~erspective view showing the central portion of the carton
incorporating an upsr:anding handle; and
wo8949_w
ArAEPdDED S~-iEET

' CA 02278238 1999-07-16
2a
FIGURE 3 is a per3peetive view of completed carton according to the invention
but
with ore bottle removed to revreal one of the locking tabs.
Referring to the drawings, azad in particular higure I thereof, there
comprises an
elongate blank 10 foz~n,ed frozr paperboard or like foldable sheet material
comprises
in series, a base structure 12, first side panel 14, intermediate panel I5,
first top panel
16. first handle paael 18, a second handle panel 20, third handle panel 22,
fourth
handle panel 24, a second top .panel 26, intermediate panel 27, a second side
panel 28
and a second bye structure 30 hingeably connected one to the xzext along
cransvexse
fold lines 32, 34.) 36, :38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, ~0 and 52 respectively.
The Power portions of the side panels 14, 28 and base panels forming the base
structures 12, 30 am not described in any greater detail since they are nor
concerned
with the present invention and are carton features well known in the axt_
W GS4a9.
1 ~~,C;~ nl~
~hi'lit:itiJ~.J .i1 ot:i:.l

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WO 98/31601 PCT/US98/00724
- 3 -
a
_ _ _
lines 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48
50 d 52
n
,
respectively.
J
The lower portions of t a.de panels 14, 28 and base
panels forming the ba ructures 12, 30 are not described
~
in any greater . since
they
are not
concerned
with
the
presen vention
and are carton
features well
known in the
A series of three spaced bottle neck receiving
apertures 54, 56 and 58 is struck from top panel 16 each of
the apertures being shaped to provide a locking zone 54a,
56a and 58a respectively, adjacent the lower part of handle
panel 18. Likewise) a series of three similarly spaced
bottle neck receiving apertures 60, 62 and 64 is struck
partially from top panel 26 but do not include locking
zones.
Locking tabs 66, 68 and 70 are struck from handle panel
24 and are hinged to the lower end of handle panel 18 along
the hinge line 9:6 and include D-shaped locking heads which
have locking edgres 66a, 68a and 70a respectively.
Handle panels 20 and 22 are each formed with handle
apertures 72 and 74 which have hand cushioning flaps 76 and
78 respectively.
Reinforcing panel 80 is positioned adjacent to handle
panels 18 and 20, being connected to handle panel 20 along
fold line 82. Reinforcing panel 80 is separated from handle
panel 18 by cut :line 84 extending from fold line 40 to one
of the side edge. of handle panel 18. Reinforcing panel 86
is positioned adjacent to handle panels 22 and 24, being
hingeably connected to handle 22 along fold line 88.
Reinforcing pane:L 86 is separated from handle panel 24 by
cut line 89 extending from fold line 44 to side edge of

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- 4 -
handle panel 24. Reinforcing panels 80 and 86 are hingeably ~.
connected together along their common side edge by fold line
90.
Reinforcing panel 92 is positioned adjacent to the
opposite side edge of handle panels 18 and 20, being
connected to handle panel 20 along fold line 94.
Reinforcing panel 92 is separated from handle panel 18 by
cut line 96 extending from fold line 40 to the side edge of
handle panel 18. Reinforcing panel 98 is positioned
adj acent to the opposite side of handle panels 22 and 24 ,
being hingeably connected to handle 22 along fold line 100.
Reinforcing panel 98 is separated from handle panel 24 by
cut line 102 extending from fold line 44 to side edge of
handle panel 24. Reinforcing panels 92 and 102 are
hingeably connected together along their common side edge
along fold line 104.
Optionally, apertures 110, 112 are struck from the
common edges of reinforcing panels 80, 86 and 92, 98
respectively, thereby interrupting folding line 42 to make
the folding easier during carton set up process described in
greater detail below.
The construction of a completed carrier of the
invention shown in Figures 1 to 3 requires a series of
sequential folding and gluing operations. The folding
process is not limited to that described below and can be
altered according to particular manufacturing requirements.
Thus, the blank is adapted to be wrapped about a group
of six bottles arranged in two rows of three bottles each so
that the neck portions 114 of the bottles shown in Figure 3
protrude through the neck receiving apertures of the handle
panels together form an upstanding handle H between the rows
of bottles.

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WO 98/31601 PCT/US98/00724
- 5 -
In order to apply the carton blank to the bottles,
handle reinforcing panels 80, 86 are folded about fold lines
82, 88 respectively and into a face to face relationship
with handle panels 18, 20 and 22, 24 respectively.
Likewise, reinforcing panels 92, 98 are folded about fold
lines 94, 100 and into a face to face relationship with
handle panels 18, 20 and 22, 24 respectively.
Thereafter, the handle panels 18, 20 are erected into
a juxtaposition. out of the plane of the blank so that the
handle apertures more or less are brought into registry with
one another. In particular, locking tabs 66, 68 and 70 are
folded about fold line 46 through 180 degrees and into a
face to face re:Lationship with top panel 26. Handle panels
18, 20 are folded about fold line 42 and brought into a face
to face to relationship with handle panels 22, 24
respectively. '.Chus, locking tabs 66, 68 and 70 are aligned
with apertures 54, 56 and 58.
The tabs are then interengaged with the apertures such
that the heads of locking tab 66, 68 and 70 appear in
respective ones of apertures 54, 56 and 58 with locking
edges 66a, 68a and 70a, in locking engagement with locking
zones 54a, 56a and 58a respectively.
Top panels 16 and 26 are folded out of alignment with
the handle structure about fold lines 38 and 46
respectively. The blank is then applied to a group of
bottles to be packaged so that handle H, shown in Figure 3,
formed from handle panels 18, 20 and 22, 24 is disposed
between the rows of bottles being off set from a plane
disposed mid-way' between said rows of apertures.
At the position when the bottle neck receiving
apertures are located above the tops of the associated
bottles, the heads of the locking tabs 66, 68 and 70,
interfere with t:he relative path of movement between the
carton blank and rows of bottles to have their necks

CA 02278238 1999-07-16
WO 98/31601 PCT/L1S98/00724
- 6 -
received in apertures 54, 56 and 58. The carton blank is
then applied over the bottle necks whereby the heads of the
locking tabs 66, 68 and 70 are outwardly displaced and
disposed between handle panel 18 and the neck of an adjacent
bottle. In Figure 3, the first bottle of the nearest row is
removed to show the general disposition of locking tab 66.
Thus, handle panels 18 and 24 are tied together by locking
tabs 66, 68, 70 so that they are maintained in virtually
upright attitude for use.
It will be appreciated that by off-setting the handle
H from a centre plane disposed midway between said rows of
apertures, the stress placed on the locking tabs is
decreased: extra handle strength is thereby provided. It
will be understood by those skilled in the art that the
invention is not limited to use with a carton incorporating
locking tabs. Indeed, an "off-centre" handle can be applied
to cartons of this type without locking tabs. Handle
strength can be improved by using an "off-centre" handle.
The carton is completed into the form shown in Figure
3, by causing side walls 14, 28 to be folded downward and
the base structures 12 and 30 to be secured in an
overlapping relationship beneath the base of the bottles.
A hand cushioning structure S shown in Figure 2 is provided
between the registering handle apertures by flaps which are
brought into overlapping relationship with two handle
panels. Optionally, handle panels 20, 22 are folded about
fold line 40/44 and into a substantially perpendicular
relationship illustrated in Figure 2 to improve comfort for
the user. For convenience purposes, the top of the handle
is located above the bottle caps. Therefore, for stacking
purposes handle panels 20, 22 are folded about fold line
40/44 and clipped against bottle cape C illustrated in
Figure 3.

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In the arrangement described above, additional handle
strength is provided by reinforcing panels 80, 86 and 92,
98.
The present invention and the preferred embodiment
relates 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 the 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 ant=icipated that the invention can be
applied to a variety carriers and not limited to those of
the type hereinbefore: described.

Dessin représentatif