CA1320183C

CA1320183C - Sleeve-type carrier handle

Info

Publication number: CA1320183C
Application number: CA000566986A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Richard Lee Schuster
Original assignee: Riverwood International Corp
Current assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC
Priority date: 1987-06-11
Filing date: 1988-05-17
Publication date: 1993-07-13
Anticipated expiration: 2010-07-13
Also published as: WO1988009750A1; FI890636A; DE3884764D1; FI93935C; NZ224704A; DE3884764T2; NO174541B; NO890512L; DK173895B1; KR930004965B1; JPH02500663A; IE63024B1; EP0318573A1; DK56589A; NO174541C; FI890636A0; IE881481L; FI93935B; NO890512D0; ZA884009B

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure A sleeve-type beverage can carrier with a handle opening in the top panel extending transversely of the folds connecting the top panel and the side panels. Tabs foldably connected to the transversely extending edges of the handle opening meet at the midpoint of the top panel, and slits extend from one of the handle opening edges through the folds and into the upper portions of the side panels. When the carrier is lifted, the top panel between the slits and the end panel nearest to the handle edge being grasped is caused to bow upwardly, and the lifting stresses are distributed through the top and side panels to prevent tearing.

Description

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~LEEVE~TYPE CARRIER HA~DLE
Field of the Invention This invention relates to a sleeve-type article carrier, and more particula~ly to a sleeve-type article carrier having an improved handle.
Back~round of the Invention Sleeve-type carriers used to package beverage cans are typically formed from paperboard blanks which are opened into sleeve form in order to receive the cans, after which the end paneis of the blanks are folded and glued together. The resulting packa~e completely encloses the cans and has a handle incorporated in the top panel to allow a user to more readily lift and carry the package.
~any different handle designs have been used in sleeve-;~ type carriers over the years, the most common probably being the suitcase type of handle. This comprises two handle openings in the top panel extending Iengthwise of the carrier and being spaced from each other so that the top panel portion between them forms a strap.
The carrier is lifted by inserting the fingers in one of the openings and liftin~ up on the strap portion. One problem with this desi~l is that the edges of the strap are often uncomfortable to the hand,, particularly if the package is carried for any length of time. Another problem is that the concentration of lifting stresses ; at the ends of the strap has necessitated the use of relatively thick paperboard to prevent tearin~ at these locations.
To overcome these problems it has been suggested to employ a transversely extending handle instead. Such a handle comprises a - transverse opening in the top panel of the carrier through which the fingers are inserted. The user then lifts up against the underside ~, :~., . - ~ - . , . ,., :

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of the top panel to lift and carry the package. Althou~h this arrangement makes the lifting and carryin~ process more comfortable, packa~es still need some provision to distribute the liftin~
stresses in order to prevent tearin~. If no provision is made, such as in the handle arrangement disclosed in U.S. Patent ~umber 2,718,301, issued to F. D. Palmer, the packa~e is susceptible to tearing at the ends of the handle opening. Since the only way to prevent tearin~ in a design such as Palmer's is to use relatively thick paperboard, the production costs increase as a result.
To combat the tendency to tear, the carrier disclosed in U.S. Patent ~umber 4,558,816, issued to P.J. Wood, incorporates a centrally located slit that exkends into the side panels of the carrier and also contains a series of fold lines connected to the slit. This arrangement is for the purpose of distributin~ the liftin~ stresses generated when the pacXage is lifted by its handle. Even this design, however, permits more concentration of lifting stresses adjacent the ends of the transverse slit than desired, forcin~ relatively ri~id design parameters to be followed and causing the top panel to be pulled up too abruptly when lifted.
It would be desirable to provide a carrier havin~ a transverse handle design which resists the tendency to tear at the ends of the handle and which permits a reduction in the caliper of the paperboard without resultin~ in an excessively flexible handle structure .
Brief Summary of the Invention This invention provides an improved handle design which overcomes the problems discussed above. The top panel contains a handle openin~ comprising two spaced edges extending transversely of the folds connecting the side panels to the kop panel. Each spaced edge of the handle opening is foldably connected to a flap or tab covering a portlon of the handle opening, and one of the spaced edges is located ~etween the midpoint of the top panel and one of ~`~ the end panels. The top panel further contains slits extending from the ends of the latter mentioned spaced edge, throu~h the folds connecting the side panels to the top panel, and terminating in the ~ upper portions of the side panels.
;~ By this arrangement the slits are offset from the midpoint -~

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When the carrier is lifted the weight is thus substantiall~
evenly distributed on either side of the handle opening, but the offset slit arrangement acts to decrease the lifting skresses, thus reducing the tendency to tear and permitting the use of thinner paperboard.
Accordingly the invention provides a sleeve-type article carrier, comprising: a top panel; a bottom panel; two side panels connected to the top and bottom panels along fold lines; and two end panels between the top, bottom and side panels. The top panel containing a handle opening comprising two spaced substantially parallel edges extending transversely of the fold lines connecting the side panels to the top panel, the spaced edges having ends located in the top panel; each ~paced edge of the handle opening being foldably connected to a tab covering a portion of the handle opening, the tahs terminating adjacent each other between the spaced edges of the handle opening so that the tabs cover substantially the entire handle opening; one of the spaced edges of th~ handle opening being located between a point equidistant from the end panels and one of the end panels;
the top panel containing a slit extending from each end of said one spaced edge, each slit being substantially aligned with said one spaced edge and extending transversely of and through the nearest of the fold lines connecting the side panels to the top panel, each slit terminating in the upper portion of the nearest side panel; and the side panels being devoid of stress relief lines.

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3a These design features can readily be implemented in tile standard type of sleeve-type carrier production blank, requiring only minor changes to the blank forming die to provide for ne~ sLit and fold lines.
Other features and aspects of the invention will be made clear, as well as the various benefits of the invention, in the more detailed description of the invention which follows.
Br~ 5~E~tion of the ~rawin~.s FIG. l is a plan view of a production blan~ used to form the carrier of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a pictorial representation of a carrier ~oL-med from the blank of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial plan view of the handle . portion of the top panel of the carrier of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an enlar~ed partial sectional view taken along tha length of the carrier through the handle portion, along line 4-4 of FIG. 2, showing ths fingers of a user pushing down the tabs covering the handle opening;
FIG. 5 is a vie~ similar to that of FIG. 4, but showing the fingers lifting up on the package after the tab adjacent the fingeLs has been folded back;
FIG. 6 is a pictorial representation of the ~pper portion of the carrier of the present invention, showing the distortion of the handle portion and the upper portions of the side pallels when the carrier is lifted along one of the edges of the handle openillg;
and FIG. 7 is a pictorial representation similar to that of FIG. 6, but shoLYing the carrier being lifted along the other edge of the handle opening.
De cription of the Invention Referriny7 to FIG. 17 a production blank 10 has a central , ~.~

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section 12 connected to intermediate sections 14 by score lines 16.
End sections 18 are connected to the intermediate sections 14 by score lines 20. When the blank is folded about the score lines 1~, the central section 12 becomes the top panel of the carrier and the intermediate sections 14 become the side panels of the carrier The end sections are dimensioned so that upon being folded about the score lines 20, they overlap each other. Upon bein~ ~lued in the overlappin~ region, the attached end sections become the bottom panel of the carrier.
Dust flaps 2Z are connected to the central section 12 by score lines 24, and dust flaps 26 are connected to the end sections 18 by score lines 28. End flaps 30 are connected to the întermediate sections 14 by score lines 32 which are ali~ned with and form a continuation of the score lines 24 and 28. In formin~
the carrier, the dust flaps 22 and 26 are folded toward each other after the blank has been folded about score lines 16 and 20. Then the end flaps 30 are folded toward each other and adhered by ~lue to the dust flaps to form the end panels of the carrier.
The resultin~ carrier 34 is shown in FIG. 2, wherein the top panel 12 corresponds to the central section 12 of the blank 10, the side panels 14 correspond to the intermediate sections 14, and the end panel is formed from end flaps 30. The folds 16, 20, 24 and 32 correspond to score lines 16, 20, 2b and 32 of the blank 10. The bottom panel correspondin~ to the end sections 18 is not visible in this view.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the top panel is provided with a handle openin~ 36. Prior to the carrier bein~ lifted by the handle, the openin~ is covered by flaps or tabs 38 and 40 which are joined to the top panel by fold lines 42 and 44, respectively. As shown best in FIG. 3, the adjacent ed~es of the tabs 38 and 40 are connected by spaced narrow se~ments of paperboard 46 which are adapted to be readily broken by downward pressure of the fingers of ` a user so as to fold the tabs downwardly into the interior of the` carrier about their fold lines 42 and 44. The handle openin~ is thus preferably covered by the combined tabs to prevent entry of dust and dirt into the carrier.
Still referrin~ to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, and particularly to 1~2~

YIG. 3, the ends of the fold lines 42 and 44 are connected by slits 48 extending transversely of the handle opening 36. The handle opening is thus defined by the fold lines 42 and 44 and the slits 48. Extending from the ends of the fold line 42 and connected to the adjacent ends of the slits 48 are slits 50. The slits 50 extend through the folds 16 and terminate in the upper portions of the side panels 14. If desired, the ends of the slits 50 may terminate in a small arcuate portion, as indicated at 52 in FIGS. 1 and 2, to resist any tendency of the side panels to tear at the ends of the slits 50 upon lifting and carrying the carrier.
As shown in FIG. 1, the adjacent edges of the flaps or tabs 38 and 40 are substantially aligned with the transverse centerline of the carrier. In other words, the adjacent edges of the tabs pass throu~h the midpoint of the top panel 12. Thus the edge 42 of the handle opening and the slits 50 extending therefrom are offset from the midpoint of the top panel, as is the edge 44 of the handle opening.
Referrin8 to FIG. 4, the interior of the carrier 34 is shown as containing beverage cans C. Since the handle opening 36 is located centrally of the carrier, it can be understood that the carrier should be designed so that the row of cans immediately beneath the top panel 12 contains an even number of cans. In this way the handle opening is assured of being located between cans to permit the fingers of a user to penetrate into the space between adjacent cans. For example, the carrier of FIG. 4 could be designed to hold twelve cans arranged in three rows of four cans each, or twenty-four cans arranged in four rows of six cans each. The two cans shown immediately subjacent the handle opening 36 would thus be the two innermost cans in the top row immediately beneath the top panel 12.
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Still referring to FIG. 4, the fingers of a user have pressed down against the tabs 38 and 4Q sufficiently to breaX the weaX connection between them, resultin~ in the tab 38 being folded - down about its fold line 42 by the tips of the fingers. At the same time the backs of the fingers have folded the tab 4~ down about its fold line 44. As can be seen, because of the offset location of the fold line 42 the tab 38 would striXe the nearest can C as the tab is ,...
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bein~ pivo~ed about its fold line. At about this point, ho~ever, the user lifts upward while at the same time csntinuing the tab ~
folding action. This produces the result shown in FIG. 5, wherein the top panel adjacent the fold line 42 has been raised and the tab 38, in ths space created by the raised panel, has been folded bacX
under the ~anel 12. The fingers are cushioned by the d~uble thickness of paperboard created by the top panel 12 and the tab 38.
The tab 40 simply remains bent down out of the plane of the top panel.
As illustrated in FIG. 6, when the carrier is lifted in the manner shown in FIG. 5, the lifting stresses cause the folds 16 in the portion of the top panel being upwardly bowed to move inwardly toward each other. This inward movement is made possible by the sli.ts 50 in the side panels 14. Stresses caused by lifting are thus uniformly distributed into the side panels 14 and the folds 16 as evidenced by the upper panel 12 being bowed upwardly in a smooth and uniform manner between the slits 50 and the end panel nearest to the edge 42.
Although it is easier to lift the carrier from the edge. 42 than from the edge 44, because the distance from the slits 50 to the nearest end panel is less than the distance from the slits 50 to the opposite end panel, it is of course possible to lift the carrier from the edge 44 as well. In such case, as shown in FIG. 7, the fingers of the user would engage the edge 44, and the folds 16 between the slits 50 and the end panel nearest the edge 44 would be drawn toward each other by the stresses of lifting. In a manner similar to the bowing of the top panel in the example described above, the top panel 12 between the slits 50 and the end panel nearest to the edge 44 would be bowed upwardly, and the stresses of lifting would be distributed throughout the side panels 14 and the ; folds 16. In the event the carrier is lifted at the edge 44, theaction of the fingers of the user in first depressing the tabs or flaps 40 and 38, then foldin~ tab 40 back up a~ainst the underside ; of the top paneL 12 is the same as explained in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5, except that tab 40 is the main tab involved instead i of tab 38. In either c~se, the smooth uniform upward bowing of the top panel indicates a unifoL~ distribution of the lifting strasses, .

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avoiding a concentration of stresses in any one area or point and thus avoiding tearing of the paperboard.
~ ote that score lines such as those disclosed in the Wood patent need not be included. The slits extending from the offset edge of the handle opening into the upper portions of the side panels permit the uniform distribution of stresses to a degree which makes the ~se of stress distribution score lines unnecessary.
Although in the preferred embodiment of the invention the adjacent edges of the handle flaps are centrally located in the top 2anel, it is possible to incorporate the handle arrangement of the present invention in carriers designed to hold an odd number of containers immediately beneath the top panel. In such a case the ; adjacent flap edges would be located above the space betwzen the cylindrical~side walls of adjacent containers and would therefore be offset from the centerline of the top panel. The normal way of lifting the carrier would thus be by the edge which is closest to the end panel nearest the handle opening.
It should now be obvious, after reading the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, that changes ta certain specific features of the preferred embodiment can be made without departin~ from the spirit and scope o~ the invention.

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Claims

1. A sleeve-type article carrier, comprising:
a top panel;
a bottom panel;
two side panels connected to the top and bottom panels along fold lines; and two end panels between the top, bottom and side panels;
the top panel containing a handle opening comprising two spaced substantially parallel edges extending transversely of the fold lines connecting the side panels to the top panel, the spaced edges having ends located in the top panel;
each spaced edge of the handle opening being foldably connected to a tab covering a portion of the handle opening, the tabs terminating adjacent each other between the spaced edges of the handle opening so that the tabs cover substantially the entire handle opening;
one of the spaced edges of the handle opening being located between a point equidistant from the end panels and one of the end panels;
the top panel containing a slit extending from each end of said one spaced edge, each slit being substantially aligned with said one spaced edge and extending transversely of and through the nearest of the fold lines connecting the side panels to the top panel, each slit terminating in the upper portion of the nearest side panel; and the side panels being devoid of stress relief lines.

2. A sleeve-type article carrier according to claim 1, wherein the other spaced edge of the handle opening is located between a point equidistant from the end panels and the other end panel.

3. A sleeve-type article carrier according to claim 2, wherein the distance between one of the spaced edges and the end panel nearest thereto is substantially equal to the distance between the other spaced edge and the end panel nearest thereto.

4. A sleeve-type article carrier according to claim 1, wherein adjacent edges of the tabs are weakly connected to each other so as to be readily separated when the fingers of a user press down against one of the tabs.

5. A sleeve-type article carrier according to claim 1, wherein each end of the other spaced edge terminates in the top panel, the top panel containing additional slits extending from the ends of the other spaced edge to the aforesaid transversely extending slits.

6. A sleeve-type article carrier according to claim 5, wherein the additional slits are connected to the transversely extending slits adjacent the ends of the one spaced edge.