Abstract:
A carrier for carrying rectangular items is disclosed, the carrier including: a generally elongate handle portion which can be grasped by a user; holding portions are provided at either end of the handle portion; each holding portion includes at least one aperture arranged to receive and support respective opposite corners of an item so that the item may be carried by way of the handle portion.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a carrier for carrying items. The invention has particular application to rectangular carrying boxes, and in a preferred embodiment the boxes are square pizza boxes. 
       BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    When carrying items such as rectangular pizza boxes, it is common practice to stack the items one on top of the other and carry them with two hands under the stack. However, this method is often unsatisfactory, and the person carrying the boxes does not have any free hands with which to manipulate or carry other items. In the case of pizza boxes, it can be difficult to carry additional food or drink items such as salads or drink bottles such as when picking up a take away order of food from a pizza restaurant. Further, the undersides of pizza boxes are often extremely hot to handle and a person carrying them from beneath risks being burnt. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In a first aspect the present invention provides a carrier for carrying rectangular items, the carrier including: a generally elongate handle portion which can be grasped by a user; holding portions are provided at either end of the handle portion; each holding portion includes at least one aperture arranged to receive and support respective opposite corners of an item so that the item may be carried by way of the handle portion. 
         [0004]    Each aperture may be provided with at least one flange which in use stabilises the item being carried. 
         [0005]    Each aperture may be provided with at least two flanges which in use stabilise the item being carried. 
         [0006]    The at least one flange may be hingedly connected to the holding portions. 
         [0007]    The at least one flange may be hingedly connected to the holding portions by way of a creased or scored joint 
         [0008]    The flanges may be textured to grip the item being carried in use. 
         [0009]    Each holding portion may include multiple apertures. 
         [0010]    Each holding portion may include three apertures. 
         [0011]    The carrier may be constructed from a number of interlocking pieces. 
         [0012]    The carrier may be is constructed from a pair of carrier halves. 
         [0013]    The carrier may be constructed from two carrier ends joined by a handle portion. 
         [0014]    The carrier may further include at least one strap for carrying an additional item. 
         [0015]    The at least one strap may be arranged to be pressed out of the handle portion and includes a lug which engages with at least one shoulder to form a loop for carrying the additional item. 
         [0016]    The carrier may be rigid to be stretched apart to fit about an item. 
         [0017]    In a second aspect the present invention provides a method of carrying a rectangular item including the steps of: providing a device according to the first aspect of the invention; engaging respective opposite corners of at least one item with an aperture provided in each holding portion; and carrying the item by way of the handle portion. 
         [0018]    The item may be rectangular. 
         [0019]    The item may be a box. 
         [0020]    The box may be a pizza box. 
         [0021]    The method may further include the step of engaging one or more additional items with an aperture in each holding portion. 
         [0022]    The additional items may be engaged with additional apertures. 
         [0023]    Multiple apertures may be provided in each holding portion, and multiple items are carried in a stack, each item being engaged with a respective aperture in each holding portion. 
         [0024]    Three apertures may be provided in each holding portion, and three items are carried in a stack, each item being engaged with a respective aperture in each holding portion. 
         [0025]    The step of engaging the corners of the item with an aperture in each holding portion may causes flanges associated with each aperture to be folded outwardly. 
         [0026]    The carrier may be provided as a flat blank. 
         [0027]    The carrier may be provided as a number of components that are assembled at the time of use. 
         [0028]    A square is a special type of rectangle with all four sides of equal length. The term rectangle in this specification includes square items. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0029]    An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0030]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a carrier according to the invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the carrier of  FIG. 1  shown in engagement with three boxes to carry the boxes; 
           [0032]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the arrangement of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the arrangement of  FIG. 2  with engaged corners of the boxes in the foreground; 
           [0034]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the arrangement of  FIG. 2  with free corners of the boxes in the foreground; 
           [0035]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of the carrier of  FIG. 1  shown laid out flat; 
           [0036]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of carrier; 
           [0037]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of a still further embodiment of a carrier; 
           [0038]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0039]      FIG. 10  shows the carrier of  FIG. 9  in use. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a carrier  10  is shown for carrying items. The carrier  10  includes a handle portion in the form of band  12  and holding portions  14  which are provided at each end of band  12 . Each holding portion includes three apertures  16  which are each provided with four flanges in the form of flaps  18 . The flaps are hingedly attached to the holding portion by way of score lines. 
         [0041]    Carrier  10  is preferably formed as a blank from a sheet of plastic material (see  FIG. 6 ). The outline shape of the holding portions and apertures are stamped out. The flaps are stamped out and scored for later folding along the score lines. The flat blanks may then be transported and stored in a stack until required for use. 
         [0042]    Carrier  10  works by receiving and supporting respective opposite projecting formations of items in the apertures  16  so that the item may be carried by way of a user grasping the band  12  as will now be described with reference to carrying three identically sized square boxes  20  of the type that are typically used to transport cooked pizzas. 
         [0043]    In order to carry the pizza boxes  20 , opposite corners  22 ,  24  of the boxes  20  are engaged with an aperture  16  in each holding portion  14  by inserting the box corner  22 ,  24  into the aperture and pushing the corner  22 ,  24  into the aperture so as to cause the flaps  18  to fold outwardly. The box corners  22 ,  24  are fully inserted into apertures  16  as far as they will go to achieve a snug fit. The flaps  18  serve to support, grip and stabilise the box corners  22 ,  24 . The resulting assembly is shown in  FIGS. 2 to 5 . 
         [0044]    The assembly is carried by a user grasping and lifting band  12 . During carrying, the tension in band  12  brought about by the weight of the boxes  20  acts to urge the holding portions  14  towards one another and thus reinforces the gripping action of the carrier  10  about the boxes to provide a secure carrying arrangement. 
         [0045]    By use of the carrier of the invention, it can be seen that three pizza boxes may be carried by a user in one hand. This leaves another hand free for carrying or manipulating other items. 
         [0046]    The flaps  18  may be provided with a textured finish to provide further increased frictional grip on the boxes  20 . 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , an alternative embodiment of carrier  30  is shown. This embodiment is made up of two identical carrier halves  32 . A formation  34  is provided on each half which can engage securely with another like formation. Thus, two carrier halves  32  may be joined to form carrier  30 . This embodiment of carrier requires less room to store as the carrier halves  32  are shorter than an assembled carrier  30 . The halves  32  may be stored in a stack and assembled together at the time of use. Further, in the case of moulding the carrier, a smaller mould may be used. 
         [0048]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , yet another alternative embodiment of carrier  40  is shown. This version utilises identical carrier ends  42  which are joined by a handle portion  46 . Again, formations  44  are used to engage the carrier portions. This version requires even less storage space for assembly at the time of use. 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , a further embodiment of carrier  50  is shown in perspective view. This embodiment differs to those already described in that this embodiment includes press out straps  60  which can be used to carry additional items, such as garlic breads which are often provided at pizza take away outlets and are shaped as small baguettes. 
         [0050]    The straps  60  end in widened lugs  66 . As seen in detail A, near the base of each of straps  60  is provided a pair of cut-out shoulders  62 . The distance between the shoulders  62  is less than the width of lugs  66 . The lugs  66  are inserted into engagement with shoulders  62  to form a loop to hold an item, such as a garlic bread as shown in  FIG. 10 . In  FIG. 10 , a garlic bread is held in each of straps  60  and the carrier is also carrying three pizza boxes as previously described. 
         [0051]    Although it can be seen that one size of carrier can accommodate items of various sizes, other carriers may be made in smaller or larger sizes as required to suit the particular items to be transported. 
         [0052]    The carrier is preferably formed from plastic, but can be formed from other sheet materials such as cardboard. 
         [0053]    In the embodiment described above the carrier was stamped from a sheet of material. Other manufacturing process can be used such as injection moulding. 
         [0054]    The carrier  10  may be made in various colours and can have graphics. The graphics can suited be for branding, promotional or decorative purposes. 
         [0055]    In the embodiments described above, three apertures were provided in each of holding portions  14 . On other embodiments, different numbers of apertures can be provided. 
         [0056]    In some embodiments, the carrier may be provided with a degree of rigidity so that it must be stretched apart to fit about the item. This sets up a degree of tension in the carrier, particularly the carrier handle portion, which biases the holding portions towards the item to further secure the grip on the item. 
         [0057]    In the embodiment described above, the carrier was described in use carrying rectangular pizza boxes. Similarly, other items with projecting formation can be carried with the carrier such as oval boxes, airline meals in pre-packaged containers, and other shaped items. 
         [0058]    Any reference to prior art contained herein is not to be taken as an admission that the information is common general knowledge, unless otherwise indicated. 
         [0059]    Finally, it is to be appreciated that various alterations or additions may be made to the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the present invention.