Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02652181 2009-02-02
NONPROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION
ARTICLE CARRIER HAVING REINFORCED BOTTOM WALL
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.
61/025,640
filed February 1, 2008, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to cartons, and more particularly, the invention
relates to a
tray-style article carrier having a reinforced bottom wall.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Article carriers are useful for transporting and storing articles. Tray-style
article
carriers are particularly useful for transporting and storing multiples of
articles such as
bottles. The designation "tray-style" means that the carrier is open at its
top end. Often
manufacturers and distributors of bottled products such as beverages have a
need to
stack tray-style article carriers that are loaded with bottles. The loaded
carriers may be
stacked for storage at a location such as a warehouse or may be stacked for
transport
in a stacked configuration, such as a stacked array on a pallet.
A problem in stacking carriers including tray-style article carriers is
maintaining
stability of the stacked array of carriers. This problem is made worse when
the contents
of the carriers are weighted articles such as beverage bottles. Instability
arises due to
at least two causes. One cause of instability is that the weight of loaded
carriers can
cause the bottom wall of middle-tier or lower-tier loaded carriers in an array
to give way
under substantial loads. When the bottom wall of a carrier gives way this can
cause the
loaded carriers and/or their contents to shift position and thereby cause the
array to
topple. A second cause of instability that can also ultimately result in the
toppling of a
stacked array is that a loaded carrier stacked on top of another loaded
carrier may slide
laterally and become vertically displaced unless it is restrained from lateral
movement.
The problems described above are particularly applicable to tray-style article
carriers that are loaded with articles such as beverage bottles. It is
convenient to store,
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transport and display beverage bottles in tray-style carriers. Because each
bottle is
individually sealed, it is not necessary to have a fully-closed carrier. Trays
constructed
of heavy-weight, rigid, durable plastic are often used for packaging bottles
for storage,
transport and display. The strength of such trays permits loaded trays of this
nature to
be stacked reliably. However, trays of this type are typically much more
expensive than
trays that are constructed from less substantial materials such as paper-based
materials
in general and paper-based and thin-plastic sheet materials in particular.
Thus it can be
appreciated that manufacturers and distributors often desire to use cartons or
carriers
made of paperboard or thin-plastic sheets of material in order to reduce
packaging
costs.
Packaging costs may often be reduced further by using paperboard, corrugated
board or other sheet material of as low a caliper (thickness) as possible.
Paperboard,
corrugated board or other sheet-material packaging also may be more desirable
to
distributors of bottled beverages than heavier-weight materials because
lighter-weight
packaging materials produce lighter-weight loaded packages thereby reducing
transportation costs and providing a loaded carrier that is easier to handle.
When a carrier or some of its parts are constructed of relatively thin,
flexible
material such as paperboard, corrugated board or thin plastic sheets, the
problem of the
bottom wall giving way (as described above) can occur, particularly if the
upper ends of
bottles of a lower-tier are not optimally aligned with the lower ends of
bottles of an upper
tier.
Therefore, despite the advantages offered by packaging that is light-weight,
the
walls of such packaging, particularly the bottom walls of paperboard,
corrugated board
or thin-sheet plastic material, are inherently weaker than the walls of
heavier plastic
packaging. Thus, it can be appreciated that there is a need to have an article
carrier
made of light-weight material that can be stacked reliably when loaded
articles such as
beverage bottles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An article carrier comprises upstanding walls adjoining a reinforced bottom
wall
according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The reinforced
bottom
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wall has an arrangement of lesser-reinforced regions. Each lesser-reinforced
region
comprises a region of enhanced deformability, that is, a region that is more
susceptible
to being deformed than the remainder of the reinforced bottom wall. In
accordance with
additional exemplary embodiments the reinforced bottom wall comprises at least
a first
bottom-wall panel and a second bottom-wall panel disposed in face-contacting
relationship with respect to one another. In accordance with an aspect of
exemplary
embodiments, each lesser-reinforced region comprises a predetermined pattern
cut into
one of said first bottom-wall panel and said second bottom-wall panel. In
accordance
with another aspect of exemplary embodiments, each lesser-reinforced region
comprises an aperture as a predetermined pattern that is cut into in one of
the first
bottom-wall panel and the second bottom-wall panel. In accordance with a
further
aspect of the exemplary embodiments each lesser-reinforced region comprises an
embossment in one of the first bottom-wall panel and the second bottom-wall
panel. In
accordance with yet another aspect of the exemplary embodiments each lesser-
reinforced region comprises an embossment in one of the first bottom-wall
panel and
the second bottom-wall panel and an aperture in another one of the first
bottom-wall
panel and the second bottom-wall panel in alignment with said embossment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A is an exploded perspective view of an apertured reinforcing panel
aligned with the outer surface of a carrier bottom in accordance with a first
embodiment
of the present invention.
FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the apertured reinforcing panel of FIG. 1A
placed on, or attached to, the outer surface of the carrier bottom.
FIG. 1 C is a cross-sectional side view of a stacked arrangement of loaded
carriers with apertured reinforcing panels positioned as shown in FIGs. 1A-1B.
FIG. 1 D is a partial plan view of the bottom of a carrier showing the
relative
position of an aperture in an apertured reinforcing panel arranged as shown in
FIG. IC,
with respect to the heel of an article loaded in the carrier.
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FIG. 1 E is a close-up of a portion of the cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 C
focusing
upon the interaction between a pair of a bottle in an upper tier and bottle in
a lower tier
and the bottom wall panels interposed between the two bottles.
FIG. 2A is an exploded perspective view of an apertured reinforcing panel
aligned with the inner surface of a carrier bottom in accordance with a second
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the apertured reinforcing panel of FIG. 2A
placed on, or attached to, the inner surface of the carrier bottom.
FIG. 2C is a cross-sectiona'I side view of a stacked arrangement of carriers
with
apertured reinforcing panels positioned as shown in FIGs. 2A-2B.
FIG. 2D is a partial plan view of the bottom of a carrier showing the relative
position of an aperture in an apertured reinforcing panel arranged as shown in
FIG. 2C,
with respect to the heel of an article loaded in the carrier.
FIG. 2E is a close-up of a portion of the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2C
focusing
upon the interaction between a pair of a bottle in an upper tier and bottle in
a lower tier
and the bottom wall panels interposed between the two bottles.
FIG. 3A is an exploded perspective view of an embossed reinforcing panel
aligned with the outer surface of an apertured carrier bottom in accordance
with a third
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the embossed reinforcing panel of FIG. 3A
placed on, or attached to, the outer surface of the apertured carrier bottom,
such that
the embossed portions are inserted into the apertures of the apertured
carrier.
FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional side view of a stacked arrangement of carriers
with
embossed reinforcing panels positioned as shown in FIGs. 3A-3B.
FIG. 3D is a close-up of a portion of the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3C
focusing
upon the interaction between a pair of a bottle in an upper tier and bottle in
a(ower tier
and the bottom wall panels interposed between the two bottles.
FIG. 4A is an exploded perspective view of an embossed reinforcing panel
aligned with the inner surface of a carrier bottom in accordance with a fourth
embodiment of the present invention.
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FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the embossed reinforcing panel of FIG. 4A
placed on, or attached to, the inner surface of the carrier bottom.
FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional side view of a stacked arrangement of carriers
with
embossed reinforcing panels positioned as shown in FIGs. 4A-4B.
FIG. 4D is a close-up of a portion of the cross-sectional view of FIG. 4C
focusing
upon the interaction between a pair of a bottle in an upper tier and bottle in
a lower tier
and the bottom wall panels interposed between the two bottles.
FIG. 5A is an exploded perspective view of an embossed reinforcing panel
aligned with the inner surface of an apertured carrier bottom in accordance
with a fifth
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the embossed reinforcing panel of FIG. 5A
placed on, or attached to, the inner surface of the apertured carrier bottom.
FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional side view of a stacked arrangement of carriers
with
embossed reinforcing panels positioned as shown in FIGs. 5A-5B.
FIG. 5D is a close-up of a portion of the cross-sectional view of FIG. 5C
focusing
upon the interaction between a pair of a bottle in an upper tier and bottle in
a lower tier
and the bottom wall panels interposed between the two bottles.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed
herein.
It must be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of
the
invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms, and
combinations
thereof. As used herein, the word "exemplary" is used expansively to refer to
embodiments that serve as illustrations, specimens, models, or patterns. The
figures
are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized
to
show details of particular components. In other instances, well-known
components,
systems, materials, or methods have not been described in detail in order to
avoid
obscuring the present invention. Therefore, specific structural and functional
details
disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis
for the
claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to
variously
employ the present invention.
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Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like elements
throughout the several views, the drawings illustrate certain of the various
aspects of
exemplary embodiments of an article carrier having a reinforcing panel with
product
alignment features.
In the this description of the present invention, various exemplary
embodiments
of a tray-style article carrier having a reinforcing panel with product
alignment features
will be described in the context of utilization in the transportation of
beverage bottles for
retail distribution; however, it is contemplated that such an article carrier
can be used for
any suitable application. Generally, the article carrier that is illustrated
and described is
a lighter-weight, lower-cost and potentially disposable alternative to heavy-
weight, rigid,
reusable plastic trays that are commonly used store, transport and display
beverage
bottles.
As an overview, the invention provides a carrier having upstanding walls
attached to a reinforced bottom wall. The reinforced bottom wall includes an
arrangement of regions of lesser reinforcement (or lesser-reinforced regions).
The
invention further teaches that each region of lesser-reinforcement may
comprise a
region of enhanced deformability. That is, the material from which the bottom
wall is
constructed is made to be more susceptible to deformation from perpendicularly-
applied
forces. For example, paperboard, corrugated board or thin-sheet plastic
material
sandwiched between two vertically-aligned bottles is subject to deformation.
When a
region of the bottom wall is effectively weakened in a manner as described
herein it is
thereby made less reinforced and susceptible to greater deformation than the
remainder
of the bottom wall. These regions of lesser reinforcement or enhanced
deformability are
also referred to herein as deformable areas. The invention is particularly
useful for
packaging PET-type bottles that can withstand substantial axial loads when
filled with a
liquid.
In exemplary embodiments described herein, the invention contemplates that the
reinforced bottom wall comprises a multiple-ply structure of at least two
panels, namely,
a first bottom wall panel and a second bottom wall panel. As will be described
in
greater detail herein, each region of lesser reinforcement is created by
modifying either
or both of the bottom wall panels at a selected location so that its
resistance to
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deformation is lessened at that location.
A tray-style article carrier 100 includes either an apertured reinforcing
panel 108
or an embossed reinforcing panel 310, and an apertured tray-style article
carrier 300
includes an embossed reinforcing panel 310, that enhances structural integrity
and
provides carrier and product alignment and locking features, as will be
described in
more detail below. This basic configuration of an article carrier formable
from a blank
as taught by the invention is applicable to articles designated by both
numerals "100"
and "300" in this description and accompanying drawings.
Referring first to FIG. 1A, the exemplary article carrier 100 (shown bottom
side
up) is formed from a blank (not shown) that is preferably struck from a single
sheet of
foldable substrate material, such as, but not limited to, paperboard,
cardstock,
cardboard, corrugated board, plastic sheet, and the like. A blank used to form
the
article carrier 100 can include a number of panels, each foldably or hingedly
connected
one to another as needed to define the features of the article carrier 100
once the blank
has been folded, secured, and otherwise configured into the erected form as
shown.
The illustrated erected article carrier 100 includes a bottom wall 102
foldably or hingedly
connected to side walls 104 and end walls 106. The side walls 104 and end
walls 106
are foldably or hingedly connected one to another.
A reinforcing panel 108 having apertures 110 can be formed from paperboard,
cardstock, cardboard, corrugated board, plastic sheet, and the like. The
apertured
reinforcing panel 108 is aligned with the outer surface of the bottom wall 102
of the
article carrier 100. The apertured reinforcing panel 108 is placed on, or
attached to, the
outer surface of the bottom wall 102, as illustrated in FIG. 1 B. Glue or
other means for
securing sheet material may be applied between the bottom surface of the
apertured
reinforcing panel 108 and the outer surface of the bottom wall 102 to attach
the
apertured reinforcing panel 108 to the outer surface of the bottom wall 102.
In the
multiple-ply bottom wall that is formed, the apertures 110 define deformable
areas (or
regions) in what is now the inner bottom wall 102, which areas/regions are in
registry
with the apertures 110. It should be noted that the deformable areas are
deformable
according to the characteristics of the substrate. A radial pattern of stress
relieving slits
or other means for encouraging or promoting deformation may be formed in the
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substrate as needed to obtain the desired degree of controlled deformation.
Referring now to FIG. 1 C, two article carriers 100 are illustrated in a
stacked
configuration. A base article carrier 100 (which may also be considered a
lower-tier
article carrier) is first loaded with beverage bottles 114. Each beverage
bottle 114 has
an upper end terminating in a top portion 118 and a lower end terminating in
base or
heel 120. Another loaded article carrier 100 (which may also be considered an
upper-
tier article carrier) is placed on top of the base/lower-tier article carrier
100 such that a
top portion 118 of each of the beverage bottles 114 is guided by the apertures
110 to
press upwardly against one of the deformable areas of the inner bottom wall
102
defined by the apertures 110, thereby forming deformed areas 116. The top
article
carrier 100 is also loaded with beverage bottles 114. The weight of the
bottles 114 in
the carrier 100 of an upper tier of the stacked carriers 100 creates a
downward force
upon the bottom wall of that carrier 100. The net effect is that an upward,
perpendicular force is directed against the bottom wall of the upper tier
carrier by the
bottle tops 118 of the adjacent lower-tier carrier 100. The interaction
between the
carriers and bottles of adjacent tiers described above occurs in each of the
embodiments of the invention described herein.
Reference now is made simultaneously to FIGs. 1 C, 1 D and 1 E. A typical
beverage bottle suitable for use with the invention is a so-called "PET"
plastic bottle.
The base, or heel, at the lower end of a PET bottle is a support structure
typically
formed from legs (that also may be considered pedestals) that are spaced
around the
periphery of the lower end. The base of the bottle may also be an annular
structure.
Either type of bottle base structure typically tapers inwardly and upwardly to
form a
central concavity. Those skilled in the art will recognize that particularly
with respect to
a bottle having a pedestal base/heel, the substantially concave bottom is
often referred
to as a "kick-up K (denoted in the drawings by the letter "K")." The
concavity, or kick-up
K, accommodates deformation of the deformed areas 116 such that the heels 120
of
the top beverage bottles 114 encircle (as shown by the real circle (in the
case of an
annular heel) or notional circle (in the case of pedestal type heel) in FIG. 1
D) and
thereby guide and control deformation of the deformed areas 116. That is, the
deformed areas 116, formed by the upward force exerted by the top portion 118
of the
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bottom beverage bottles 114, extend upwardly into the concavity defined by the
heels
120 of the top bottles 114. This further secures the base beverage bottles 114
between
the bottom wall 102 of base article carrier 100 and the bottom wall 102 of the
top article
carrier 100 and the apertured reinforcing panel 108. It should be understood
that the
present invention does not limit the number of article carriers that may be
stacked.
Referring now to FIGs. 2A and 2B, the article carrier 100 is positioned such
that
the interior of the carrier 100 is exposed. A reinforcing panel 108 having
apertures 110
is placed on, or attached to, the inner surface of the bottom wall 102. Glue
or other
means for securing sheet material may be applied between the bottom surface of
the
apertured reinforcing panel 108 and the inner surface of the bottom wall 102
to attach
the apertured reinforcing panel 108 to the inner surface of the bottom wall
102.
Alternatively, the weight of the bottles 114 may keep the apertured
reinforcing panel 108
in place without the need for means for securing sheet material. In the
multiple-ply
bottom wall that is formed, the apertures 110 define deformable areas (or
regions) in
what is now the outer bottom wall 102, which areas/regions are in registry, or
alignment,
with the apertures 110.
Referring now to FIG. 2C and 2E, two article carriers 100 are illustrated in a
stacked configuration. A base article carrier 100 (which may also be
considered a
lower-tier article carrier) is first loaded with beverage bottles 114. Another
loaded article
carrier 100 (which may be considered an upper-tier carrier) is placed on top
of the base
(lower-tier) article carrier 100 such that a top portion 118 of the beverage
botties 114 in
the lower tier pushes into the deformable areas/regions, thereby forming
deformed
areas 116. The apertures 110, on the interior of the article carrier 100,
guide the
deformable areas 116 as formed by the top portions 118 of the beverage bottles
114
below. The top article carrier 100 is loaded with beverage bottles 114 such
that the
concavity of the top beverage bottles 114, as defined by annular or pedestal
heel 120,
are positioned substantially over and encircle the deformed areas 116 of the
base
beverage bottles 114, as shown in FIG. 2D. That is, the deformed areas 116,
formed by
the top portion 118 of the bottom beverage bottles 114, extend upwardly into
the
concavity or kick-up K, guided by the downward pressure of the heels 120 of
the top
bottles 114 in combination with the apertures 110. This further secures the
base
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beverage bottles 114 between the bottom wail 102 of the base article carrier
100 and
the bottom wall 102 of the top article carrier 100. It should be understood
that the
present invention does not limit the number of article carriers that may be
stacked.
Referring now to FIG. 3A, an exemplary apertured article carrier 300 is formed
from a blank (not shown) that is preferably struck from a single sheet of
foldable
material, such as, but not limited to, paperboard, cardstock, cardboard,
plastic sheet,
and the like. A blank used to form the article carrier 300 can include a
number of
panels, each foldably or hingedly connected one to another as needed to define
the
features of the article carrier 300 once the blank has been folded, secured,
and
otherwise configured into the erected form as shown. The bottom panel of the
blank
used to form the bottom wall 302 of the erected article carrier 300 is cut so
as to provide
a plurality of apertures 304. The illustrated erected article carrier 300
includes a bottom
wall 302 foldably or hingedly connected to side walls 306 and end walls 308.
The side
walls 306 and end walls 308 are foldably or hingedly connected one to another.
An embossed reinforcing panel 310 having a, plurality of embossed portions 312
is also illustrated. The embossed reinforcing panel 310 can be formed from
paperboard, cardstock, cardboard, plastic sheet, any combination thereof, and
the like.
The embossed reinforcing panel 310 is in alignment with the outer surface of
the bottom
wall 302 of the apertured article carrier 300. As illustrated in FIG. 3B, the
embossed
reinforcing panel 310 is placed on, or attached to, the outer surface of the
bottom wall
302 such that the plurality of embossed portions 312 are inserted into the
plurality of
apertures 304 in the bottom wall 302. Glue or other means for securing sheet
material
may be applied between the top surface of the embossed reinforcing panel 310
and the
outer surface of the bottom wall 302 to attach the embossed reinforcing panel
310 to the
outer surface of the bottom wall 302.
Referring now to FIGs. 3C and 3D, two article carriers 300 are illustrated in
a
stacked configuration. A base article carrier 300 (which may also be
considered a
lower-tier article carrier) is first loaded with beverage bottles 114. Another
loaded article
carrier 300 (which may be considered an upper-tier article carrier) is then
placed on top
of the base (lower-tier) article carrier 300 such that a top portion 118 of
the beverage
bottles 114 is guided by the interior of the embossed portions 312. The
embossed
CA 02652181 2009-02-02
portions 312 can be sized appropriately so as to secure the top portions 118
of the
beverage bottles 114. It should be understood that the present invention does
not limit
the number of article carriers that may be stacked.
Referring now to FIGs. 4A and 4B, the article carrier 100 is positioned such
that
the interior of the carrier 100 is exposed. An embossed reinforcing panel 310
is placed
on, or attached to, the inner surface of the bottom wall 102. Glue or other
means for
securing sheet material may be applied between the bottom surface of the
embossed
reinforcing panel 310 and the inner surface of the bottom wall 102 to attach
the
embossed reinforcing panel 310 to the inner surface of the bottom wall 102.
Referring now to FIGs. 4C and 4D, two article carriers 100 are illustrated in
a
stacked configuration. A base article carrier 100 (which may also be
considered a
lower-tier article carrier) is first loaded with beverage bottles 114. Another
loaded article
carrier 100 (which may be considered an upper-tier article carrier) is placed
on top of
the base (lower-tier) article carrier 100. The interaction between the bottles
of the two
loaded article carriers causes the top portion 118 of the beverage bottles 114
of the
lower-tier carrier to push into the deformable areas (or regions) on the outer
wall 102 of
the upper-tier carrier 100 which deformable areas are defined by and in
alignment with
the reverse of the embossments 312 of inner wall 310 of the upper-tier carrier
100,
thereby forming deformed areas 116. The deformed areas 116 extend into the
recessed portions 314 of the embossed portions 316. It should be understood
that the
present invention does not limit the number of article carriers that may be
stacked.
Referring now to FIGs. 5A and 513, the apertured article carrier 300 is
positioned
such that the interior of the carrier 300 is exposed. The embossed reinforcing
panel
310 is placed on, or attached to, the inner surface of the bottom wall 302
such that the
embossed portions 312 substantially cover the apertures 304. Glue or other
means for
securing sheet material may be applied between the bottom surface of the
embossed
reinforcing panel 310 and the inner surface of the bottom wall 302 to attach
the
embossed reinforcing panel 310 to the inner surface of the bottom wall 302,
thereby
forming recessed portions 314 (best shown in FIG. 5C).
Referring now to FIG. 5C and 5D, two article carriers 300 are illustrated in a
stacked configuration. A base article carrier 300 (which may also be
considered a
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lower-tier article carrier) is first loaded with beverage bottles 114. Another
loaded article
carrier 300 (which may be considered an upper-tier article carrier) is placed
on top of
the base (lower-tier) article carrier 300 such that the top portions 118 of
the beverage
bottles 114 of the lower-tier article carrier are guided by the apertures 304
and the
interior of the embossed portions 312. The embossed portions 312 can be sized
appropriately so as to secure the top portions 118 of the beverage bottles
114. It should
be understood that the present invention does not limit the number of article
carriers
that may be stacked.
The invention is particularly useful with tray-style article carriers for
bottles
wherein the upper ends of the bottles extend at least slightly above side and
end walls
(the upstanding walls) of the carrier in the manner illustrated. The bottles
are thus able
to serve as the axial load-bearing structures of the invention as well as
serve as a
nesting component for substantially interlocking vertically-adjacent packages.
The
regions of lesser reinforcement are disposed to correspond with the
overlapping upper
ends and lower ends of bottles of respective adjacent tiers of carriers. The
interaction
between the upper end of a bottle (the bottle top) and the centrally-disposed
concavity
of the lower end of an adjacent bottle causes the lesser-reinforced carrier
material that
is sandwiched between the two to be upwardly embossed. This action, in turn
promotes
nesting (and thereby stabilization) between adjacent tires of loaded, stacked
carriers.
Thus, the bottom walls of the carriers 100, 300 are reinforced but also
promote nesting
(and thereby stabilization) when loaded with articles such as bottles.
As described and herein, the invention provides a carrier having a reinforced
bottom wall that resists undesirable deformation and degradation when loaded
carriers
are stacked upon one another. At the same time, the reinforced bottom wall
provides
"weakened" regions (lesser-reinforced regions or regions of enhanced
deformability)
that can be made nestable with respect to tops of bottles and the central
concavities of
PET-type bottles. The nesting promoted by the carriers enables the axial load
of a
stack of loaded carriers to be distributed along columns of bottles. This
weight
distribution enhances the strength and stability of a stack or stacked array
of loaded
carriers that are constructed in accordance with the teachings of the
invention. Nesting
promoted by the carriers also help inhibit lateral movement of stacked
carriers with
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respect to one another.
Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described
embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims. For example,
although
the exemplary article carriers 100, 300 are designed to carry eight bottles
114, as
shown in the Figures, it is contemplated that the article carrier can be
modified to hold
more or fewer bottles 114, or to divide the bottles in to one or more groups.
The article
carrier may be constructed from disposable material or may be reusable. As an
example of an additional variation, the bottom wall may be integrally formed
so as to
produce the regions of lesser reinforcement or enhanced deformability. AIl
such
modifications, combinations, and variations are included herein by the scope
of this
disclosure and the following claims.
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