JP5450587B2 - Container carrier - Google Patents

Description

[Cross-reference of related applications]
This application claims the benefit of US Provisional Application No. 61 / 040,334, filed March 28, 2008. The entire contents of the provisional application are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in full herein.

  The present disclosure relates generally to packages or carriers for grasping, displaying, and / or transporting containers.

  In general, one aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a carrier for gripping a plurality of containers. The carrier includes a bottom panel with a plurality of bottom openings that at least partially receive each of the plurality of containers. At least two side panels extend upward from the bottom panel. The at least two side panels include a first side panel and a second side panel. The at least two top panels include a first top panel foldably connected to the first side panel and a second top panel foldably connected to the second top panel. The first top panel and the second top panel cooperate to form the top wall of the carrier. The first top panel includes a first handle portion and the second top panel includes a second handle portion. There is a handle to carry the carrier. The handle is foldably connected to at least one of the side panels. The handle includes a first handle portion and a second handle portion. The handle is separable from the top wall and is pivotable between a lowered position and a raised position.

  In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed generally to a blank that forms a carrier for gripping a plurality of containers. The blank includes a bottom panel with a plurality of bottom openings that at least partially receive each of the plurality of containers. At least two side panels include a first side panel and a second side panel. The at least two top panels include a first top panel foldably connected to the first side panel and a second top panel foldably connected to the second top panel. The first top panel includes a first handle portion. The second top panel includes a second handle portion. The blank has a handle component for forming a handle of a carrier formed from the blank. The handle component includes a first handle portion and a second handle portion. The first handle portion and the second handle portion are foldably connected to one of the first top panel and the second top panel, respectively.

  In another aspect, the present disclosure is generally directed to a method of forming a carrier containing a plurality of containers. The method includes a bottom panel having a plurality of bottom openings, at least two side panels including a first side panel and a second side panel, and at least two including a first top panel and a second top panel. Providing a blank having a top panel. The first top panel is foldably connected to the first side panel and includes a first handle portion. The second top panel is foldably connected to the second side panel and includes a second handle portion. The blank includes a handle component that includes a first handle portion and a second handle portion. The method further includes folding each of the at least two side panels and positioning the side panels to extend upward from the bottom panel. The method includes forming an upper wall by placing a first top panel and a second top panel in a substantially face-to-face relationship. Forming the top wall includes forming the handle by placing the first handle portion and the second handle portion in a substantially face-to-face relationship. The method further includes folding the top wall. Folding the top wall includes placing the handle in a lowered position adjacent to one of the side panels.

  In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed generally to a carrier for gripping multiple containers. The carrier includes a first side panel, a second side panel, a first top panel foldably connected to the first side panel, and a second top foldably connected to the second top panel. With panels. The first top panel includes a first handle portion, and the second top panel includes a second handle portion. A handle is foldably connected to at least one of the side panels. The handle includes a first handle portion and a second handle portion. The handle is pivotable between a lowered position and a raised position.

  In accordance with common practice, the various features of the drawings described below are not necessarily drawn to scale. Various configurations and element dimensions in the drawings may be expanded or reduced to more clearly illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure.

2 is a plan view of an outer surface of a blank according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the exemplary steps in assembling a carrier according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the exemplary steps in assembling a carrier according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the exemplary steps in assembling a carrier according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the exemplary steps in assembling a carrier according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the exemplary steps in assembling a carrier according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a detailed view of the end of the carrier of FIG. 6. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the carrier of FIG. 6 with the handle in the raised position. It is a top view of the outer surface of the blank by a 2nd embodiment of this indication. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one exemplary step in assembling a carrier according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one exemplary step in assembling a carrier according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one exemplary step in assembling a carrier according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 12 is an end view of the carrier of FIG. 11. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the carrier of FIG. 11 with the handle in the raised position.

  Corresponding parts are indicated by corresponding reference numerals throughout the drawings.

  The present disclosure relates generally to carriers, components, sleeves, cartons, etc., and packages for grasping and displaying containers such as jars, bottles, cans and the like. The container can be used, for example, to package food and beverage products. The container can be made from a material with a composition suitable for packaging a particular food or beverage product, such as PET, LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, PP, PS, PVC, EVOH, and nylon, etc. Etc., including but not limited to aluminum and / or other metals, glass, or any combination thereof.

  The carrier according to the present disclosure can accommodate a number of differently shaped containers. For purposes of explanation and not limitation of the scope of the present disclosure, the following detailed description describes beverage product containers (eg, plastic containers) that can be at least partially contained in an embodiment of a carrier. As used herein, the terms “bottom”, “bottom”, “top”, and “top” refer to orientations that are fully assembled and defined with respect to the carrier or package.

  This embodiment is directed to a carrier or package for container attachment and storage. The carrier or package 150 is shown assembled in FIGS. 6 and 7 and is attached to the container C in the figure. In the illustrated embodiment, the container C is illustrated as three beverage containers, each having a top portion that generally comprises an upper neck portion N (FIG. 2), a cap CP, and an annular shoulder S under the cap. Less than or more than three containers C may be held on the carrier 150, and the containers may be other sizes and shapes without departing from the present disclosure. The carrier 150 includes a handle 7 (FIG. 7) for grasping and carrying the carrier.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view of the outer surface 3 of a blank 8 used to form a carrier or package 150. The blank 8 has a vertical axis L1 and a horizontal axis L2. The blank 8 is bent to the first side panel 20 at the first transverse fold line 21 and foldably connected to the first side panel 20 at the second side fold line 31. A first top panel 30 that can be connected, a second side panel 40 that is foldably connected to the bottom panel 10 by a third lateral fold line 41, and a second side by a fourth lateral fold line 51. A second top panel 50 is foldably connected to the panel 40. In the illustrated embodiment, the blank 8 includes an adhesive panel 60 that is foldably connected to the first top panel 30 at a fifth lateral fold line 61.

  Each of the horizontal fold lines 21, 31, 41, 51, 61 may include one or a plurality of cuts to facilitate folding along the fold line. Any number of cuts can be formed in any fold line, and the number and length of cuts can be selected according to, for example, the gauge and / or stiffness of the material used to form the blank 8. The fold lines 21, 31, 41, 51, 61 may be formed by other methods (eg, unbroken crease lines) without departing from the present disclosure.

  The bottom panel 10 includes a pair of opposing holding flaps 12 that are foldably attached to the blank by a part of the fold lines 21 and 41, respectively. The flap 12 is defined by a score line or tear line 13 and separated by a cut 14. Each pair of flaps 12 has an opening 15 (FIG. 2) in the bottom panel that is shaped and sized to receive the upper neck portion N of the container C (FIG. 2) to be at least partially contained within the carrier 150. Open as you want. The blank 8 may comprise more or less than three pairs of flaps 12 and a bottom opening 15 without departing from this disclosure.

  In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 7, the blank 8 has three reinforcing flaps 23, 23 a that are foldably attached to the first side panel 20 and three reinforcements that are foldably attached to the second side panel 40. And flaps 23 and 23a. Each reinforcing flap 23, 23a is foldably connected to the side panels 20, 40 at a respective lateral fold line 25 and is at least partially defined by a longitudinal cut 27 extending from the lateral fold line to the flap edge 29. Is done. An edge 29 of each reinforcing flap 23, 23a is adjacent to a respective opening 33, 33a in the top panel 30, 50. Each reinforcing flap 23, 23 a is longitudinally engaged with a portion of the annular shoulder S of each container C held in the carrier 150 when the flap 23, 23 a is folded around its respective fold line 25. It has a length L3 in the direction L1. When the reinforcing flaps 23 and 23a are bent, the openings 33 and 33a extend to the side panels 20 and 40, and the edges formed by the reinforcing flaps 23 and 23a at the fold line 25 are adjacent to the side openings 33 and 33a. Become. The flaps 23, 23 a cooperate with the respective flaps 12 and side panels 20, 40 to form holding edges 24 (FIG. 5) under both sides of each shoulder S. The flaps 23, 23a may have other shapes, arrangements, and positioning without departing from this disclosure.

  The first top panel 30 and the second top panel 50 include a handle component for forming the handle 7 of the carrier 150. A central opening 33a adjacent to each of the central flaps 23a is a handle opening that is shaped to accept a user's hand when grasping the handle 7 and carrying the carrier 150. The first top panel 30 includes a central opening 33a, a portion of the lateral fold line 31 between the cut line 27 and the central opening 33a, a central portion 64 of the lateral fold line 61, and the lateral outer opening 33. A first handle portion 38 is included that is part of a first top panel that is at least partially defined by two curved tear lines 35, 37 that extend to a transverse fold line 61. The handle component optionally includes a comfort flap 44 that is foldably attached to the handle portion 38 by a curved fold line 47. In one embodiment, the handle component includes a central portion 62 of the adhesive panel 60 that is independently foldable attached to the handle portion 38 at the central portion 64 of the transverse fold line 61. A V-shaped notch 65 in the adhesive panel 60 separates the central portion 62 from the rest of the adhesive panel.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the handle component includes a second handle portion 58 that is part of the second top panel 50 and is similar in shape and functionality to the handle portion 38 of the first top panel 30. . The second handle portion 58 includes a central opening 33 a of the second top panel 50, a portion of the lateral fold line 51 between each of the cuts 27 and the central opening 33 a, and the outer opening 33 to the edge of the blank 8. Two curved tear lines 55, 57 extending at least partially define it. The handle component optionally includes a comfort flap 74 that is foldably attached to the handle portion 58 by a curved fold line 77.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 7, in the blank 8, each neck portion N of the container C is received in the opening 15 of the bottom panel 10, and the flap 12 is folded up in the direction of the arrow A <b> 1 (FIG. 2). As can be done, the blank 8 can be assembled to the carrier 150 by placing it on the container C. Each of the flaps 12 has a respective edge 39 that engages a shoulder S or other suitable component on both sides of the container C to at least partially provide a holding force to hold the container in the carrier. . As shown in FIG. 3, the optional reinforcing flaps 23, 23 a have folding lines 25 in the direction of the arrow A <b> 2 so as to face the corresponding portions of the first side panel 20 and the second side panel 40. Each can be folded around. The reinforcing flaps 23 and 23a may be adhesively fixed (glued) to the first side panel 20 and the second side panel 40, respectively, or may not be attached to the side panel without departing from the present disclosure. Good. The first side panel 20 and the second side panel 40 have their respective fold lines 21, so that the first side panel and the second side panel are each directed at an acute angle with respect to the bottom panel (FIG. 4). 41 along the bottom panel 10. The openings 33 and 33a of the side panels 20 and 40 are aligned with the opening 15 of the bottom panel 10 in the axial direction. In one embodiment, the bottom panel 10 is substantially horizontal, and the side panels 20, 40 tilt inward to form a closed triangular space 105 when viewed in cross-section and cooperate with the bottom panel. Work. In the folded-up position of the side panels 20 and 40, the reinforcing flaps 23 and 23a are engaged with the shoulder S of the container on both sides of the container to supplement the holding force of the flap 12.

  Next, the top panels 30 and 50 are bent in the direction of the arrow A3 and face-to-face so as to form the upper wall 52, and are substantially vertically upward from the first side panel 20 and the second side panel 40. So as to extend. The upper wall 52 has openings corresponding to portions of the openings 33 and 33 a that extend into the top panels 30 and 50. The top panels 30, 50 can be bonded together with glue or other suitable adhesive. The central portion 62 of the adhesive panel 60 is folded in the direction of the arrow A4, and the first handle portion 38 and the second handle portion 58 that overlap the first top panel 30 and the second top panel 50 that are attached to each other. Can be adhered to. Next, the upper wall 52 including the bonded first top panel 30 and second top panel 50 is folded and attached to the second side panel 40 (FIG. 6). The portions of the openings 33 and 33a forming the opening of the upper wall 52 are aligned with the portions of the openings 33 and 33a of the side panels 20 and 40 and the opening 15 of the bottom panel. A portion of the second top panel 50 (eg, portions 50a, 50b (FIG. 5) positioned laterally outward of the tear lines 57, 55, respectively) and / or an outer portion of the adhesive panel 60 (eg, the central portion 62). The upper wall 52 may be fixed at the position shown in FIG. 6 by applying an adhesive to the portions 60a and 60b (FIG. 5), which are respectively positioned outward in the horizontal direction. Care should be taken when applying the adhesive to ensure that the overlapping first handle portion 38 and second handle portion 58 are not adhered to the second side panel 40.

  The handle 7 of the carrier 150 can be activated by grasping the overlapping handle portions 38, 58 at the central portion 64 of the fold line 61 that connects the first top panel 30 to the adhesive flap 60. In the position of FIG. 5, the center portion 62 of the adhesive panel 60 is sandwiched between the second side panel 40 and the second top panel 30 to grasp and activate the handle 7, An edge corresponding to the central portion 64 is created. The combined handle portions 38, 58 are torn along their respective tear lines 35, 37, 55, 57 and overlap the central portion of the fold lines 31, 51 that foldably attach the handle portions to the side panels 20, 40, respectively. Along, the combined handle portions 38, 58 are separated from the first top panel 30 and the second top panel 50, respectively, by pivoting upward in the direction of arrow A5 (FIG. 7). In the lowered position of the handle 7 (FIG. 6), the edges of the overlapping comfort flaps 44, 74 engage part of the shoulder S of the middle container C to supplement the holding power of the carrier 150 and lower the handle. Can be held in. As shown in FIG. 7, the handle 7 is enabled to grip the carrier 150 when the combined handle portions 38, 58 extend upward from the upper edges of the side panels 20, 40.

  In some cases, the handle 7 is initially one of the side panels 20, 40 (eg, the side panel 40 (FIG. 6) so that it is held in a folded position until activated by a consumer who purchases the carrier 150. ). The handle 7 is affixed to one side panel by an adhesive applied between the laterally outer portions of the overlapping top panels 30 and 50 and one laterally outer portion of the side panels 20 and 40 to which the handles are attached. Attached. The overlapping handle portions 38, 58 remain unbonded to the side panels 20, 40 so that they can be separated from the affixed portions of the top panels 30, 50 via tear lines 35, 37, 55, 57. In addition, the dual handle 7 including the first handle portion 38 and the second handle portion 58 that are bonded in an overlapping manner can be torn, bent, or otherwise broken into the carrier 150 when grasping the handle and transporting the container C. A reinforced handle is provided so that the carrier can withstand substantial loads without weakening. The handle 7 may be other shapes, arrangements and positions without departing from the present disclosure.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the carrier 150 includes end portions 152, 154 (FIG. 7) on one side of the carrier (eg, the side that includes the second side wall 40), which are the two ends of the carrier 150. A reinforced holding area that includes quadruple materials (eg, two top panels 30, 50, reinforcing tabs 23, and second side panel 40) to strengthen the area holding the container C. In one embodiment, when the handle 7 is in the lowered position to strengthen the area of the carrier that holds the middle container C, the central portion 156 between the two end portions 152, 154 has a quadruple material ( For example, it includes two handle portions 38, 58, top panels 30, 50, reinforcing tabs 23a, and a second side panel 40). When the handle 7 is raised, the central portion 156 includes a double material (eg, reinforcing tab 23a and second side panel 40) that holds the middle container C. In the illustrated embodiment, the opposite side of the carrier 150 (e.g., the side corresponding to the first side panel 20) is a double material (e.g., to strengthen the area of the carrier 150 that holds the container C end) Side panel 20 and reinforcing tabs 23, 23a). The carrier 150 may have other shapes and arrangements, and may have more or less material on one or both sides of the carrier, double or quadruple.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the carrier 150 is held on the container by engaging the flap 12 and the reinforcing flaps 23, 23 a with the shoulder S portion of the container C. The edge 39 of the flap 12 and the edge of the reinforcing flaps 23 and 23a corresponding to the fold line 25 engage with the lower side of the shoulder S on both sides of each container so that each container can be removed from the carrier. A holding edge 24 is formed that applies a holding force that tends to prevent. The holding force due to the engagement of the holding edge 24 and the shoulder S provides an upward biasing force, which can be overcome or removed by tearing or manipulating the carrier 150 in order to extract the container C from the carrier. There must be. The holding edge 24 that holds the container C at the end portions 152, 154 is complemented by two layers of the upper wall 52 to add additional reinforcement and holding force to the end portion of the carrier 150. Container C may be held in the carrier in other ways without departing from this disclosure.

  FIG. 8 shows a blank 208 for forming a carrier 305 (FIGS. 10-13) according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. The second embodiment is substantially similar to the first embodiment except for the variations noted and variations that will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The blank 208 is foldably connected to the first side panel 220 at the first lateral fold line 221 and foldably connected to the first side panel 220 at the second lateral fold line 231. The second side panel 230 can be folded to the third side panel 240 by the third side panel 240 and the fourth side fold line 251 that can be folded to the bottom panel 210 by the third lateral fold line 241. A first top panel 250 connected, a second top panel 260 foldably connected to the first top panel 250 at a fifth lateral fold line 261, and a second at a sixth lateral fold line 271. A fourth side panel 270 is foldably connected to the top panel 260.

  The bottom panel 210 includes openings 215 that each partially receive the neck portion N of the container C. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the bottom panel 210 does not have a flap that is movably positionable within the opening 215, but the blank 208 of the second embodiment is similar to the flap 12 of the blank 8 shown in FIG. The flap may be provided. The bottom panel 210 includes a lateral fold line 217 positioned on the center line of the bottom panel.

  The blank 208 includes an opening 225 between the first side panel 220 and the second side panel 230 aligned with the lateral fold line 231, a third side panel 240 aligned with the lateral fold line 251, and the first side panel 240. Openings 245, 245 a between the top panel 250 and openings 265, 265 a between the second top panel 260 and the fourth side panel 270 aligned with the lateral fold line 271 are included. When the carrier 305 is assembled from the blank 208, the outer and middle openings 215, 225, 245, 245a and 265, 265a are each axially aligned to receive a corresponding container C, respectively. Intermediate fold lines 232 and 233 are located on both sides of the fold line 231 to define a portion 224 of the first side panel 220 and a portion 226 of the second side panel 230, respectively.

  The first top panel 250 includes a handle component for forming a handle 307. The handle component includes a handle portion 258 that is at least partially defined by openings 245, curved tear lines 235, 237 extending from the respective openings 245 to the transverse fold line 261, and a portion of the transverse fold line 251. . In some cases, a comfort flap 256 is foldably attached to the handle portion 258 at a curved tear line 259.

  The second top panel 260 includes a second handle portion 268 similar to the first handle portion 258. The handle portions 258, 268 are substantially C-shaped for gripping by the user.

  The blank 208 may be formed on the carrier 305 by placing the bottom panel 210 on the three container rows such that the upper portion N of the container C protrudes through the opening 215. As shown in FIG. 9, the first side panel 220 is folded up with respect to the bottom panel 210 along the fold line 221 in the direction of the arrow A6. The second side panel 230 is such that the bottom panel 210 and the first and second side panels substantially align the openings 215, 225 in the axial direction to form a substantially triangular configuration. The first side panel 220 is folded at folding lines 231, 232 and 233. The top portion N of the container extends through the axially aligned openings 215, 225. Also in FIG. 9, the second top panel 260 and the fourth side panel 270 are folded with respect to the fold line 261 in the direction of the arrow A <b> 7 so as to face each other with the first top panel 250 and the third side panel 240. To do. The first top panel 270 and the second top panel 250 form an upper wall 251. Next, as shown in FIG. 10, the fourth side panel 270 is folded around the folding line 271 in the direction of the arrow A <b> 7 to substantially contact the second handle panel 260. In one embodiment, the third side panel 240 is folded at a fold line 241 in the direction of arrow A8 with respect to the bottom panel 210 so as to be substantially in contact with the second side panel 230. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the three layers of the first top panel 250, the second top panel 260, and the fourth side panel 270 are further folded along the folding line 251 in the direction of arrow A9. Lowered to contact the first side panel 220. In the assembled position of the carrier 305, the top of the container C extends through overlapping openings 245, 265 that are substantially axially aligned with the other openings 225, 215 of the blank 208. The carrier 305 may be formed by alternative folding steps and / or other panel arrangements without departing from the present disclosure.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the laterally outer portions 260a, 260b of the second top panel 260 are secured to the handle 307 (FIG. 13) to the fourth side panel 270 in the folded position of FIGS. An adhesive can be applied. Alternatively, adhesive may be applied to the laterally outer positions 270a, 270b of the fourth side panel 270 to secure the handle 307 in the folded position. In addition, an adhesive may be applied to the second side panel in order to fix the third side panel 240 to the second side panel 230 as shown in the position of FIG. In order to fix the fourth side panel 270 to the first side panel 220 at the position shown in FIG. 12, an adhesive may be applied to the first side panel. Adhesives may alternatively be applied to other surfaces, panels, etc. without departing from this disclosure.

  In the assembled position, the carrier 305 is substantially triangular having a bottom 309 (FIG. 12), a first side 311 and a second side 313. In the illustrated embodiment, the first side 311 includes a first side panel 220, a folded top wall 251 (ie, the first top panel 250 and the second top panel 260), and a fourth. A side panel 270 is included. The second side 313 includes a second side panel 230 and a third side panel 240. The bottom portion 309 includes a bottom panel 210. The carrier 305 may have other shapes and arrangements. The edge of the blank 208 that forms the openings 245, 265 engages the shoulder S to hold the container in the carrier 305. The bonded portions of the top panels 250, 260 and the side panels 220, 270 are reinforced holding regions 252 having four or four layers of material to strengthen the region of the carrier 305 for gripping the two end containers C. 254 at the end of the side 311. The central portion 257 of the carrier between the end portions 252 and 254 also includes four or four layers of material when the handle is in the lowered position. Side 313 is double (eg, second side panel 230 and third side panel 240) over the length of the carton.

  As in the previous embodiment, the handle 307 tears the overlapping handle portions 258, 268 at the respective tear lines 235, 237 and folds the handle portions around the overlapping folding lines 251, 271 in the direction of arrow A9. Is activated by positioning the handle in the raised position (FIG. 13). After raising the handle 307, the central portion 257 includes two layers or dual materials (eg, side panels 220, 270). As in the previous embodiment, the handle 307 can be lowered and held in the lowered position by engaging the edge of the overlapping comfort flap 265 with the shoulder S of the middle container C.

  As in the previous embodiment, the carrier 305 includes retaining edges 324 that engage on both sides of the shoulder S of each container. In the illustrated embodiment, the retaining edges 324 of the side 311 of the carrier 305 are the respective edges of the top panel 250 adjacent to the openings 245, 245a and the respective edges of the top panel 260 adjacent to the openings 265, 265a. , Each edge of the side panel 270 adjacent to the openings 265, 265 a, and each edge of the side panel 220 adjacent to the opening 225. In one embodiment, the retaining edge 324 of the side 313 of the carrier 305 includes a respective edge of the side panel 240 adjacent to the openings 245, 245 a and a respective edge of the side panel 230 adjacent to the opening 225. The carrier 305 may have other shapes and arrangements and may have other holding or reinforcement components without departing from this disclosure.

  In general, a blank may be composed of paperboard having at least about 13 calipers, for example, so that it is heavier and harder than regular paper. The blank can also be composed of other materials, such as cardboard, or any other material that has properties suitable to allow the carton to function at least substantially as described above.

  The blank can be coated with, for example, a clay coat. Subsequently, products, advertisements, and other information or images may be printed on the clay coat. Subsequently, the blank may be coated with a varnish to protect the information printed on the blank. One or both sides of the blank may be coated with a moisture-proof layer, for example. The blank can also be laminated or coated with one or more sheet-like materials on selected panels or panel sections.

  The above embodiments may be described as having one or more panels that are glued together. The term “glue” is intended to encompass any type of adhesive commonly used to secure a paperboard carton panel in place, and can the adhesive material be replaced with any suitable fastening device? Or it may be supplemented.

  As used herein, the term “line” includes not only straight lines but also other types of lines such as curved lines, curved lines, or angularly displaced lines.

  According to an exemplary embodiment, the fold line can be any weakened form that is not necessarily linear but substantially linear to facilitate folding along it. More specifically, but not to narrow the scope of the present disclosure, the fold line is a score, such as a line formed with a blunt scoring knife or the like that creates a collapsed or recessed portion of the material along the desired line of weakness. Lines, cuts that do not penetrate the material along the desired line of weakness, and / or a series of cuts that do not penetrate the material along the desired line of weakness and / or a series of cuts that penetrate the material, and various configurations of these Includes combinations. In situations where cutting is used to create a fold line, the cutting is usually not overly extensive so that a rational user can misinterpret the fold line as a tear line.

  As an example, the tear lines may be slits that do not penetrate the material along the desired line of weakness and / or a series of spaced slits that do not penetrate the material along the desired line of weakness and / or a series of spaced apart that penetrate the material. It may include slits or various combinations of these configurations. As a more specific example, one type of tear line is between slits adjacent to each other by a notch (eg, a piece of material somewhat similar to a bridge) to temporarily connect the material across the tear line. In the form of a series of spaced slits through the material, spaced slightly apart as defined in FIG. The score is broken along the tear line when tearing. Indentations usually occupy a relatively small percentage of the tear line; alternatively, the indentation is omitted from the tear line so that it is a continuous score line, i.e., omitted from the tear line. or torn in a tear line). That is, it is within the scope of this disclosure to replace each tear line with a continuous slit, score line, or the like. For example, the cuts may be continuous slits or wider than the slits without departing from the present disclosure.

  The above description of the disclosure shows and describes various embodiments. Since various modifications can be made to the above configuration without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, all matters contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings are not meant to be limiting. It is intended to be interpreted as Further, the scope of the present disclosure encompasses various modifications, combinations, substitutions, etc. of the above-described embodiments that are within the scope of the claims. Moreover, although the present disclosure illustrates and describes only selected embodiments of the present disclosure, the present disclosure can be used in various other combinations, modifications, and environments and is described herein. Variations or modifications may be made within the scope of the inventive concept as described, and are equivalent to the above teachings and / or within the skill or knowledge of the related art. Furthermore, the specific features and characteristics of each embodiment can be selectively exchanged and applied to other shown or not shown embodiments of the present disclosure.

Claims (33)

A carrier for holding a plurality of containers,
A bottom panel having a plurality of bottom openings for receiving each of the plurality of containers;
At least two side panels extending upward from the bottom panel, the first side panel including a first side panel and a second side panel; and
At least two top panels including a first top panel foldably connected to the first side panel and a second top panel foldably connected to the second side panel, The first top panel and the second top panel cooperate to form an upper wall of the carrier, the first top panel comprises a first handle portion, and the second top panel is At least two top panels comprising a second handle portion;
A handle for transporting the carrier, wherein the handle is foldably connected to at least one of the side panels, includes the first handle portion and the second handle portion, and is separable from the upper wall. And a handle that is pivotable between a lowered position and a raised position,
With a career.   The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the upper wall is attached in face-to-face contact with one of the side panels.   The first side panel includes a plurality of first side openings, and the second side panel includes a plurality of second side openings for receiving each of the plurality of containers. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the side opening and the second side opening are aligned with the bottom opening.   The upper wall includes a plurality of top openings, and for receiving each of the plurality of containers, the plurality of top openings includes one of the plurality of first side openings and the plurality of second side openings. The carrier of claim 3, wherein the carrier is aligned.   A plurality of first reinforcing flaps foldably connected to the first side panel; and a plurality of second reinforcing flaps foldably connected to the second side panel; The reinforcing flaps have edges adjacent to each one of the first side openings, and the second reinforcing flaps have edges adjacent to each one of the second side openings, The carrier according to claim 4.   The carrier of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of retaining flaps foldably connected to the bottom panel, each retaining flap adjacent to a respective one of the bottom openings.   The reinforcing flaps are in contact with each one of the holding flaps and one of the first side panel and the second side panel, and the holding flaps, the reinforcing flaps, and the side panels are attached to the container. 7. A carrier according to claim 6, cooperating to form a plurality of retaining edges of the carrier that engage to retain the container within the carrier.   At least one of the retaining edges of the carrier includes four layers of material, the four layers being a retaining flap, a reinforcing flap, a portion of one of the first side panel and the second side panel, The carrier according to claim 7, further comprising a part of one of the first top panel and the second top panel.   The first handle portion and the second handle portion are adjacent to respective handle openings of the first top panel and the second top panel, and the first top panel and the second cross section at tear lines. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the carrier is separable from each of the top panels.   10. The first handle portion and the second handle portion are secured to each other by an adhesive flap that is foldably connected to one of the first handle portion and the second handle portion. Career.   The carrier of claim 9, wherein the first handle portion and the second handle portion each include a comfort flap foldably connected to the handle portion and adjacent to a respective handle opening.   The carrier of claim 11, wherein the comfort flaps of the first handle portion and the second handle portion engage one of the plurality of containers to hold the handle in the lowered position.   The carrier of claim 1, comprising a reinforced holding region that contacts and holds each of the plurality of containers, the reinforced holding region comprising four layers of material.   The carrier of claim 1, having a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape. Said first side panel and the second side panel, said foldably connected to each of the bottom panel, the first top panel is foldably connected to the first side panel, the second The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the top panel is foldably connected to the second side panel. A blank for forming a carrier for holding a plurality of containers,
A bottom panel comprising a plurality of bottom openings for receiving each of the plurality of containers;
At least two side panels including a first side panel and a second side panel;
At least two top panels including a first top panel foldably connected to the first side panel and a second top panel foldably connected to the second side panel, The first top panel and the second top panel cooperate to form an upper wall of the carrier formed from the blank, the first top panel comprising a first handle portion; At least two top panels, wherein the second top panel comprises a second handle portion;
A handle component for forming a handle of the carrier formed from the blank, comprising the first handle portion and the second handle portion, wherein the first handle portion is the first handle portion. The second handle portion is foldably connected to a side panel, the second handle portion is foldably connected to the second side panel, and the handle is separable from the upper wall of the carrier formed from the blank. A handle arrangement that is pivotable between a lowered position and a raised position; and
With a blank. The blank according to claim 16 , wherein the first side panel includes a plurality of first side openings, and the second side panel includes a plurality of second side openings. The first top panel and the second top panel have a plurality of top openings, and when the blank is formed in the carrier, each of the plurality of top openings has the plurality of first side openings. The blank of claim 17 , aligned with one of the plurality of second side openings and one of the bottom openings. A plurality of first reinforcing flaps foldably connected to the first side panel; and a plurality of second reinforcing flaps foldably connected to the second side panel; The blank of claim 17 , wherein a plurality of reinforcing flaps are adjacent to each one of the first side openings, and the second reinforcing flaps are adjacent to each one of the second side openings. The blank of claim 19 , further comprising a plurality of retention flaps foldably connected to the bottom panel, wherein each of the retention flaps is adjacent to a respective one of the bottom openings. The first handle portion and the second handle portion are adjacent to respective handle openings of the first top panel and the second top panel, and the first top panel and the second cross section at tear lines. 20. The blank of claim 19 , wherein the blank is separable from each one of the top panels. The blank of claim 21 , further comprising an adhesive flap foldably connected to at least one of the first handle portion and the second handle portion. 23. The blank of claim 22 , wherein the first handle portion and the second handle portion each include a comfort flap that is foldably connected to the handle portion and is adjacent to a respective handle opening. Said first side panel and the second side panel, said foldably connected to each of the bottom panel, the first top panel is foldably connected to the first side panel, the second The blank according to claim 16 , wherein the top panel is foldably connected to the second side panel. A method of forming a carrier for containing a plurality of containers,
A bottom panel having a plurality of bottom openings; at least two side panels including a first side panel and a second side panel; and at least two top panels including a first top panel and a second top panel. Provide a blank,
The first top panel is foldably connected to the first side panel and includes a first handle portion, and the second top panel is foldably connected to the second side panel. And the blank comprises a handle component including the first handle portion and the second handle portion,
The at least two side panels are each folded up so as to be positioned so as to extend upward from the bottom panel,
An upper wall is formed by disposing the first top panel and the second top panel in a substantially face-to-face relationship, and the formation of the upper wall includes the first handle portion and the second handle portion. Forming a handle by placing the two substantially in a face-to-face relationship,
The handle includes the first handle portion and the second handle portion, is foldably connected to at least one of the side panels, is separable from the upper wall, and has a lowered position and a raised position. Pivotable between,
The method includes: folding the upper wall, and folding the upper wall includes disposing the handle in a lowered position adjacent one of the side panels. 26. The method of claim 25 , further comprising gluing and attaching the upper wall to the one of the side panels. 27. The method of claim 26 , further comprising separating the handle from the top wall and pivoting the handle from a lowered position adjacent to the one of the side panels to a raised position. 26. The method of claim 25 , further comprising inserting each of the plurality of containers into a respective bottom opening. The blank further includes a plurality of first side openings of the first side panel and a plurality of second side openings of the second side panel, and the two side panels are folded up according to the first side opening. Aligning the side opening and the second side opening with the bottom opening, respectively,
30. The method of claim 28 , further comprising inserting each of the plurality of containers into one of the plurality of first side openings and one of the plurality of second side openings. Method. The blank further comprises a plurality of top openings in at least one of the first top panel and the second top panel,
The folding of the upper wall includes aligning the top opening with the first side opening, the second side opening, and the bottom opening, respectively.
30. The method of claim 29 , wherein the method further comprises inserting each of the plurality of containers into one of the plurality of top openings. The blank is foldably connected to the first side panel and a plurality of first reinforcing flaps adjacent to each one of the first side openings, and bendable to the second side panel. A plurality of second reinforcing flaps connected and adjacent to each one of the second side openings, and a plurality of holdings foldably connected to the bottom panel and adjacent to each one of the bottom openings With a flap,
The method includes the first reinforcing flap, the second reinforcing flap, the holding flap, and the side so as to form a plurality of reinforcing holding regions that engage each container inserted in the carrier. Further comprising folding each of at least one of the panels;
The reinforced holding region includes four layers of material, the four layers of material including a holding flap, a reinforced flap, a portion of one of the first side panel and the second side panel, and the first layer. 31. The method of claim 30 , comprising a top panel of one and a portion of one of the second top panels. The first handle portion and the second handle portion are respectively connected to the first top panel and the second top panel at respective tear lines;
26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the method includes separating the handle from the top wall by tearing along the tear line and pivoting the handle from the lowered position to the raised position. Said first handle portion and the second handle portion each comprise a comfort flap adjacent said handle engages one of said plurality of containers to the handle opening for holding the lowered position, according to claim 25 The method described in 1.

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