Special receptacle or package – For plural beverage-type receptacles
Patent
1995-05-15
1997-09-16
Sewell, Paul T.
Special receptacle or package
For plural beverage-type receptacles
206153, 206158, 294 872, B65D 7100
Patent
active
056670702
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a device for carrying two or more containers each having an annular shoulder. One particular but not exclusive application is in the carrying a number of PET (Polyethyleneterephthalate) bottles containing beverages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a carrier device for carrying two or more containers each having an annular shoulder projecting from the neck portion, said carrier device being formed from paperboard and comprising a base having two or more apertures for receiving the respective neck portions of the containers, two side walls which in use are angled relative to the base and extend toward each other from opposite sides of the base, a cut away portion being formed for each container in each side wall such that opposite side portions of an annular shoulder of a container are a snap fit between a cooperating pair of cut away portions, each aperture being defined at least in part by a pair of oppositely disposed flaps hingedly connected at the junction of the base and the respective side walls, which flaps in use are folded upwardly to be disposed against the respective side walls, said annular shoulder also being a snap fit above said pair of flaps. In some embodiments of the invention at least parts of the periphery of the aperture engage the container.
Preferably each aperture is generally circular and each flap is generally semi-circular having a straight edge opposite the diametral edge, which straight edge constitutes the hinge line of the flap. In preferred embodiments the distance between the hinge and the diametral edge of each flap is such that when folded back against the side wall it just protrudes above the active edge of its associated cut away portion in the side wall and the active edge of each cut away portion is constituted by an edge generally parallel to the side wall/base junction which edge has generally upwardly angled end portions.
In further preferred embodiments of the inventions the side walls are hingedly connected to upwardly projecting handle portions which incorporate a handle. Conveniently the cut away portions of the side walls extend into the handle portions to accommodate the container caps. In addition the handle portions may be glued together immediately above the hinge line with the side walls. A further securing flap extending from one handle portion and folded over the free edge of the other handle portion and adhesively secured thereto may also be provided.
In one embodiment the handle is formed by cutting out slot-shaped elements which remain hingedly connected to the handle portion along an upper edge which is generally parallel to the hinge between the handle portions and the side walls. Preferably the handle aperture and cut out elements are located and dimensioned such that when in use the handle portions can be folded down so as to lie adjacent one side wall, the cut out elements being a snap fit below the annular shoulders of the containers.
The base may also have a central, lengthwise extending fold to enable the device to be stored flat. Another preferred feature is that the grain of the paperboard extends in a direction perpendicular to the hinge lines, thus improving the strength of the device.
Accordingly, a second aspect of the present invention is provided by a paperboard blank for forming the device described above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail. The descriptions makes reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a carrier of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an end view of the carrier blank of FIG. 1 formed into a carrier device.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the carrier device of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the carrier device of FIG. 2. in an alternate position.
FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the carton blank of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In FIG. 1 there is shown a paperboard blank 10 for p
REFERENCES:
patent: 2222211 (1940-11-01), Arneson
patent: 3161344 (1964-12-01), Spery
patent: 4218086 (1980-08-01), Klygis
patent: 4244617 (1981-01-01), Manizza
patent: 4326628 (1982-04-01), Wood
patent: 5273156 (1993-12-01), Harris
Bui Luan K.
Fails Charles H.
Riverwood International Corporation
Sewell Paul T.
Vaughan James F.
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