Special receptacle or package – Portable segregating carrier for plural cylindrical... – Pendent from handle
Utility Patent
1999-03-11
2001-01-02
Sewell, Paul T. (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
Portable segregating carrier for plural cylindrical...
Pendent from handle
C206S180000, C206S193000
Utility Patent
active
06168013
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to a basket-style carrier for carrying articles, such as beverage bottles. In particular, the invention relates to a compact carrier blank for making such a carrier.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
One of the types of carriers commonly employed to package beverage bottles is the so called “basket-style” carrier. These carriers typically include a number of partitions for defining separate cells for the bottles and a handle for carrying. They are easily lifted and carried, most have good strength, and the cell partitions tend to protect the bottles against contact with one another. If the bottles are not of the disposable type, they can be returned in the original carrier for recycling since the carrier is not destroyed by removal of the bottles therefrom.
In order to strengthen the handle of the basket-style carrier, it is common in the industry to make the handle of multiple plies or panels. This is the preferred way of strengthening a handle. It is known in the art that one can strengthen a carrier handle by increasing the paperboard thickness (caliber). However, this has the disadvantage of driving up the cost of the carrier, inasmuch as one of the predominate costs in malking a carrier is the cost of the paperboard itself.
In the making of basket-style carriers, it is common that the blank used to assemble the carrier has an irregular shape, such as having a large protuberance extending off to one side. Indeed, some carrier blanks for making basket-style carriers are generally L-shaped. Furthermore, some carrier blanks include large open spaces. An example of such is shown in international published patent application WO 98/28200 for an ARTICLE CARRIER AND BLANK THEREFOR, published Jul. 2, 1998. As can be seen in FIG. 1 of WO 98/28200, a large unused region is present in one corner of the blank. This leads to substantial inefficiency and unnecessarily high costs in the manufacture of such a blank and a basket-style carrier assembled therefrom.
Accordingly, it can be seen that a need yet remains for a carrier blank for a basket-style carrier which minimizes the amount of paperboard necessary to make such a blank, and therefore keeps manufacturing costs thereof to a minimum. It is to the provision of such a carrier blank that the present invention is primarily directed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly described, in a first preferred form the present invention comprises a compact carrier blank for forming a basket-style carrier for containing and carrying a plurality of articles. The carrier blank includes an elongate central section having an axis of elongation and having formed therein side panels and end panels. The carrier blank also includes a first exterior section formed alongside the elongate central section and having formed therein a plurality of handle panels. The carrier blank also includes a second exterior section formed alongside the elongate central section opposite the first exterior section. The first and second exterior sections flank the elongate central section, with the second exterior section having first and second bottom panels formed therein.
Preferably, the first and second bottom panels are sized, shaped, and spaced from one another to create open spaces adjacent the first and second bottom panels to allow bottom panels of an adjacent carrier blank to be nestably received therein. Preferably, the bottom panels are tapered to facilitate the nesting.
Also preferably, the plurality of handle panels are hingedly attached to one another about an axis which is transverse to the axis of elongation. In other words, the handle panels fold one against another lengthwise in the direction of the elongation of the carrier blank.
Preferably, the first exterior section also includes a divider flap formed therein for dividing an interior of the basket-style carrier when assembled from the carrier blank. Also preferably, one of the handle panels is formed in a full-height divider panel which spans the elongate central section and the first exterior section. Preferably, the full-height divider panel includes a partition for, when the carrier blank is assembled into a finished carrier, extending from the full-height divider panel to one of the side panels.
Preferably, the carrier blank has a peripheral edge along the first exterior section which is substantially straight and has a peripheral edge along the second exterior section which is substantially shaped like a series of teeth. Preferably, the carrier blank, with the exception of the bottom panels, has a substantially rectangular overall shape, thereby maximizing the utilization of the paperboard and minimizing waste.
Carrier blanks according to the present invention are very advantageous. Firstly, such carrier blanks are more economical. Carrier blanks made in accordance with the invention have been found to use between about 2% and 15% (or more) less paperboard than prior designs. This allows carrier blanks to be made at a lower cost and is a better, more efficient use of limited natural resources. Such carrier blanks are also compatible with older style in-line gluing machinery without modifying the machinery.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a carrier blank for making a basket-style carrier, which carrier blank is more economical to manufacture.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a carrier blank for making a basket-style carrier, which carrier blank makes more efficient use of paperboard.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a carrier blank which can be used to make a basket-style carrier, which carrier blank can be used with existing in-line gluing machinery.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2772020 (1956-11-01), Kramer
patent: 3011677 (1961-12-01), Struble
patent: 3721368 (1973-03-01), Arneson
patent: 3850292 (1974-11-01), Manizza et al.
patent: 4782944 (1988-11-01), Engdahl, Jr.
patent: 5531319 (1996-07-01), Harrelson
patent: 98/28200 (1998-07-01), None
Bui Luan K.
Riverwood International Corporation
Sewell Paul T.
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