DE69711687T2 - SUPPORT FOR ITEMS AND CUTTING THEREFOR - Google Patents

Abstract

An article carrier of the basket type and a blank therefor comprising a base (150, 154), opposing sides and end walls (14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24), medial support means (72, 110), internal partition structure (90, 86, 120, 124) and handle means (42, 44), wherein the internal partition structure is adjacent to said handle panel and is connected thereto by a first fold line (76) and second fold line (78), said first fold line and second fold line being interrupted by a first cut line (80) which defines an upper edge of said handle means.

Description

This invention relates to a basket-type article carrier adapted to accommodate a plurality of articles such as bottles and a blank for forming the carrier. Typically, a basket carrier for bottles comprises a central (centrally located) divider structure including a handle structure by which the carrier can be lifted and carried and the bottles are arranged in rows on each side of the divider structure. Often the bottles are separated from one another by transverse divider panels extending from each side of the centrally located divider structure to the adjacent side wall of the carrier. Thus, in this type of arrangement the bottles are arranged in individual cells of the carrier, although such cells are not essential.

An example of a basket-type carrier is illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 3,326,411. The side and end panels are disposed on opposite sides of handle panels and an internal partition structure. The handle panels are defined in part by cut lines which define their side edges and top edges and interrupt a central drop line.

A problem associated with basket type carriers is that the separator structure must often extend deep into the carrier. A consequence of this requirement is that more paperboard is required. The present invention should be able to be designed with separators that can extend relatively deep into the carrier while minimizing the amount of paperboard required. A blank is also required that can maintain its integrity during the folding process.

One aspect of the invention provides a blank for forming a basket-type article carrier comprising opposed side and end walls foldably connected in series, a base, a centrally disposed support means and an internal partition structure, and a handle means disposed within the blank with a first edge adjacent to the opposed side and end walls. At least one panel forming the opposed side and end walls is connected to the handle means. The centrally disposed The support means and the inner separating structure extend outwardly from an opposite edge of the handle means and are connected to the handle means by a first fold line and a second fold line, the first fold line and the second fold line being separated by a first punch line defining an edge of the handle means.

According to an optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the first punch line may further define a side edge of the handle device.

According to a further optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the position of the first and second fold lines may be selectively located relative to the upper edge of the opposing side and end walls depending on the required depth of the internal partition structure, such that the transverse dimensions of the opposing side and end walls do not change.

Alternatively, the first and/or second fold line may be arranged relative to the side edges of the handle device depending on the required height of the internal separation structure.

According to a further optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the handle means may further comprise a handle panel having an upper edge defined by the first cut line and a lower edge separated from at least one of the side and end walls by a second cut line. Optionally, the handle means may further comprise a second handle panel adjacent to the first handle panel and foldably connected together along a common end edge and disposed between panels forming the centrally located support means and the internal partition structure and the panel(s) forming at least one of the end and side walls.

According to a further optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the handle panel(s) may be connected to opposite end walls.

Where appropriate, the base is foldably connected to a wall surface which forms at least one of the side and end walls.

A second aspect of the invention provides a basket-type article carrier formed from a blank as described herein.

Embodiments of the invention are explained below in a non-limiting manner with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an unfolded single blank of paperboard from which a basket carrier according to the invention is formed;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view from above and from one end of an erected but empty bottle carrier formed from the blank shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial plan view of a second embodiment showing the formation of an alternative handle and internal separating structure; and

Fig. 4 is a partial plan view of a third embodiment showing the formation of an alternative handle and internal separation structure.

Referring to the drawings, and in particular to Figure 1 of the drawings, a bottle carrier is formed from a single blank 10 of paperboard or other suitable foldable sheet material and is adapted to receive six bottles arranged in two rows of six bottles each. The blank comprises a mounting panel 12, a first end panel 14, a first side panel 16, a second end panel 18, a third end panel 20, a second side panel 22, a fourth end panel 24 and a mounting panel 26 hingedly connected one to the other along fold lines 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 and 40 respectively.

An outer handle panel 42 is disposed adjacent the end panel 18 and the side panel 16. The handle panel 42 is separated from the side panel 16 by a cut line 44 and from the end panel 18 by the cut line 46. The handle panel 42 is connected to the first end panel 14 along a side edge of the handle panel 42 by a tapered connecting portion 48. The connecting portion 48 is foldably connected to the handle panel 42 along the fold line 50 and foldably connected to the first end panel 14 along the fold line 30. The cut line 44 separates the connecting portions 48 from the side panel 16 and is shaped to provide a narrow portion adjacent the end panel 14. The end of this narrow portion is sufficient to form the connection between the handle panel 42 and the end panel 14 during handling of the blank prior to folding and gluing.

The handle panel 42 includes a hand opening 52. A hand cushion tab 54 is connected to an upper edge of the hand opening 42 along the fold line 56.

A corresponding outer handle panel 44 is disposed adjacent the third end panel 20 and the second side panel 22. The handle panel 44 is separated from the side panel 22 by a cut line 58 and from the end panel 20 by the cut line 60. The handle panel 44 is connected to the fourth end panel 24 along one side by a tapered connecting portion 62. The connecting portion 62 is foldably connected to the handle panel 44 along the fold line 64 and to the fourth end panel 24 along the fold line 38. The cut line 58 separates the connecting portion 62 from the side panel 22 and is shaped to provide a narrow portion adjacent the fourth end panel 24. The end of this narrow section is sufficient to maintain the connection between the handle panel 44 and the fourth end panel 24 during handling of the blank prior to folding and gluing.

Outer handle panels 42 and 44 are hingedly connected to the third end panel 20 along their common side edge by an extension of the fold line 34.

As shown in Fig. 2, an article carrier partition structure P is formed along the upper ends of the handle panels 42 and 44. In particular, a partition panel 72 is connected to the handle panel 42 along fold lines 76 and 78. The die cut line 80 connects one end of fold line 76 to one end of fold line 78 and defines the upper edge of the handle panel 42 and a portion of its opposite side edges 82, 84. A transverse panel 86 is hingedly connected to the partition panel 72 along fold line 88. A second transverse panel 90 is hingedly connected to the partition panel 72 along fold line 92.

The transverse wall panel 86 is separated from the partition panel 72 by the cut lines 94 and 96 which extend between the fold lines 86 and 92. The second transverse wall panel 90 is separated from the partition panel 72 by the cut lines 98 and 100 which extend between the fold line 92 and the side edge of the partition panel 72.

An adhesive panel 102 is arranged adjacent to the transverse panel 90 and is connected to the transverse panels 86 and 90 by fold lines 104 and 106, respectively. The adhesive panel 102 is separated from the transverse panel 90 by the punch line 108, which extends between the fold line 92 and the fold line 104.

A second partition panel 110 is connected to the handle panel 44 along fold lines 112 and 114. The cut line 115 connects one end of the fold line 112 to one end of the fold line 114 and defines the upper edge of the handle panel 44 and a portion of its opposite side edges 116, 118. A transverse panel 120 is connected to the second partition panel 110 along fold line 122. A second transverse panel 124 is hingedly connected to the second partition panel 110 by fold line 126. The transverse panel 120 is separated from the second partition panel 110 by cut lines 128 and 130 which extend between fold lines 122 and 126. The transverse wall panel 124 is separated from the second partition panel 110 by the cut lines 132 and 134 which extend between the fold line 126 and the side edge of the second partition panel 110.

An adhesive wall panel 135 is arranged adjacent to the transverse wall panel 124 and is connected to the transverse wall panels 120 and 124 by the fold lines 136 and 138, respectively. The adhesive wall panel 135 is separated from the transverse wall panel 124 by the punch line 140, which extends between the fold line 126 and the fold line 138.

The first and second partition panels are hingedly connected to one another along their common side edge by the fold line 34, which is interrupted by the punch line 141, which defines the centrally arranged support panel 142.

An inner handle panel 144 is hingedly connected to the second partition panel 110 along the fold line 146. The handle panel 144 includes a hand opening 148 that is positioned to align with the hand openings 52, 66 when the carton is erected.

The structure of the base is explained below. A first base wall panel 150 is hingedly connected to the first side wall 16 along the fold line 152. A second base wall panel 154 is foldably connected to the second side wall 22 along the fold line 156. An adhesive tab 158 is connected to the opposite edge of the base wall panel 154.

The construction of the complete carrier from a flat folded state of the blank requires a series of sequential folding and gluing operations.

Folding the blank of Fig. 1 to form the complete article carrier begins with the application of adhesive to the adhesive tabs 102, 141, 135, 158 and the panels 12, 40. In addition, adhesive may be applied to the surface of one side or both sides of the inner handle panel 142.

The blank is then folded along fold lines 76, 78 and 112, 114 so that the divider panels 72 and 110 are in face-to-face relationship with respective handle panels 42 and 44 and can be secured thereto by adhesive or other known means. Adhesive tabs 102 and 135 are secured to respective side panel panels 16 and 22. Inner handle panel 142 is folded about fold line 146 and into face-to-face relationship with outer handle panel 44 and secured thereto. Tab 142 is secured to end panel 20 by adhesive or other known means and provides additional support to the connection between the divider structure and the outer panels.

The two sides of the basket carrier are then folded into face-to-face relationship about fold line 34, with outer handle panel 42 secured to inner handle panel 142 by adhesive or other known means.

The end panel 14 and the support panel 12 are folded about the fold lines 30 and 38, respectively, into a face-to-face relationship with the respective end panel 24 and support panel 26. Each support panel 12, 26 is then connected to the hooks 160 shown in Fig. 1 toward the separating structure and the end panels are connected to the connecting portions 48, 64 with adhesive or other known means. The support panels 12/26 are connected to the handle structure H (shown in Fig. 2) with adhesive or other known means. Tearing is expected to occur at the narrow parts of the connecting portions 48, 64. However, such tearing will be aesthetically unobtrusive. Furthermore, the connecting portions for holding the blank together are no longer needed for this purpose since the carrier has been glued.

In use, the article carrier is erected by moving the outer edges of the folded carrier defined by fold lines 30, 38 and 34 inwardly and toward each other. This moves the end panels 14, 24 and 18, 24 and the side panels 16 and 22 into a rectangular configuration. This facilitates the construction of individual cells. Consequently, the transverse partition panels 86, 90 are moved out of alignment with the first side panel 16 and the partition panel 72 and folded about fold lines 88, 106 and 92, 104, respectively, to form three cells as illustrated in Figure 2. Accordingly, the transverse partition panels 120, 124 are moved out of alignment with the second side panel 22 and the partition panel 110 and folded about the fold lines 122, 136 and 126, 138, respectively, so that three cells are formed.

Fig. 2 shows the position of the cells and the centrally arranged wall panels when the box is in an erected state.

The carton can then receive articles (not shown) introduced in a manner known per se by relative vertical movement between the bottles and the carrier during a forward feeding movement by which bottles enter their respective cells through the open bottom of the carrier. Thereafter, the base is formed by folding the first and second base panels 150, 154 into a substantially perpendicular relationship with the side walls 16, 22 respectively and the free edge of each base panel is then connected to the adhesive tab 42 and held in position by the hooks 160 to form the base of the carrier.

The handle tabs 54, 68 are folded around the handle panels 42, 44 to further secure the handle panel structure H and the carton, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

It is clear to those skilled in the art that Figs. 3 and 4 show further embodiments which are similar in structure to the embodiment described above.

The depth of the internal partition structure can be reduced or increased according to specific requirements by moving the fold lines 76, 78, 112, 114 toward or away from the side and end walls. Accordingly, the invention enables the handle shape to be easily changed, for example, by changing the profile of the punch lines 80 and 115, respectively.

The present invention and its preferred embodiments are directed to an article carrier shaped to provide a strength sufficient to securely hold the bottles, but with a degree of flexibility such that the load transferred to the handle is absorbed by the carrier. The shape of the blank minimizes the amount of cardboard required. The carrier can be applied to a grouping of bottles by hand or by an automatic device. It is understood that the invention can be applied to a variety of carriers and is not limited to basket-type carriers.

Claims (9)

1. A blank (10) for forming a basket-type article carrier, comprising opposing side and end walls (16, 22, 14, 24, 18, 20) foldably connected in series, a base (150, 154), a centrally located support means (72, 110) and an internal divider structure (90, 86, 120, 124) and a handle means (42, 44) disposed within the blank, a first edge adjacent to the opposing side and end walls, at least one panel (20) forming the opposing side and end walls being connected to the handle means, characterized in that the centrally located support means and the internal divider structure extend outwardly from an opposing edge of the handle means and are connected by a first fold line (76) and a second fold line (78) is connected to the handle device, wherein the first fold line and the second fold line are separated by a first punch line (80) which forms an edge of the handle device. 2. A blank according to claim 1, wherein the first cutting line (80) further defines a side edge of the handle device. 3. A blank according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the position of the first and second fold lines (76, 78) is selectively located relative to the upper edge of the opposing side and end walls depending on the required depth of the internal partition structure, such that the transverse dimensions of the opposing side and end walls do not change. 4. Blank according to claim 2, wherein the first and/or the second fold line (76, 78) is/are arranged relative to the side edges of the handle device depending on the required height of the inner separating structure. 5. Blank according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the handle means comprises a handle panel (42) having an upper edge defined by the first punch line (80) and a lower edge separated from at least one of the side and end walls (16, 22, 14, 24, 18, 20) by a second punch line (44, 58). 6. A blank according to claim 5, wherein the handle means further comprises a second handle panel (44) adjacent to and foldably connected to the first handle panel (42) along a common end edge and disposed between panels forming the centrally disposed support means and the internal partition structure and the panel(s) forming at least one of the end and side walls. 7. A blank according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the handle panel(s) (42, 44) is/are connected to opposite end walls (20, 24). 8. A blank according to any preceding claim, wherein the base (150, 154) is foldably connected to a panel forming at least one of the side and end walls (16, 22). 9. A basket-type article carrier formed from a blank according to claims 1 to 8.