Carton for packaging containers

An article carrier that is specially designed to permit easy packaging of articles such as pet food containers in a three-tier array. The article carrier is easy to assemble from the formed blank, and when assembled provides a sturdy structure which can be easily transported and stored. The assembled structure is such that substantial portions of the packaged article are exposed to view without degrading the overall structural integrity of the carrier.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates generally to packaging arts. More 
particularly, the invention concerns a paper board carton for use in 
packaging containers containing pet food, wherein the containers are 
stacked in three tiers. 
2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
Numerous types of containers are commonly sold in multiple quantities and 
are packaged in cartons of a wide variety of designs. Common types of 
article packages include wrap around article containers, basket style 
carriers and sleeve type carriers. Basket style carriers are commonly 
employed to package beverage bottles cans and like articles. Such carriers 
typically include a separate cell for each bottle or can and a central 
handle panel for easily carrying the package. Typically, contact between 
adjacent cans or bottles is prevented by partitions which define the cells 
and by the center longitudinal partition. 
Wrap around article carriers are commonly designed to have ends which are 
either partially or entirely open. In either case, the carriers are 
typically provided with some type of securement means for preventing the 
articles from falling out of the ends. Beverage cans, for example, are 
typically held in place partly by the tension of the tightly wrapped 
carrier and by engagement of the top and bottom flanges of the cans with 
the edges of cut outs provided in the side panels of the carrier through 
which the flanges of the cans extend. 
Sleeve type carriers are typically manufactured from an elongated blank 
having a side panel section at one end and either the bottom panel section 
or the top panel section at the other end. The blank is formed into a 
flattened tube by folding the end sections in and adhering them to each 
other by a glue flap on one of the end sections. This flattened tube or 
collapsed carrier, as it is often called, is then shipped to a packaging 
plant where it is erected into a generally tubular shape, filled with the 
articles being packaged and then closed at its ends. The end panels are 
typically formed from end flaps connected to the top and bottom panels. 
When bottles are packaged in sleeve type carriers, the upper portions of 
the end panels are often made to taper inwardly toward the top panel to 
more closely conform to the shape of the bottles. An example of this 
latter type of article carrier is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,704,470 
issued to Sutherland. 
Exemplary of the previously discussed basket style article carriers is the 
article carrier described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,531,319 issued to Harrelson. 
A somewhat different type of basket style carrier is described in U.S. 
Pat. No. 5,538,130 also issued to Harrelson. One type of wrap around 
carrier of the character previously discussed is illustrated and described 
in U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,956 issued to Sutherland. Still another type of 
prior art wrap around carrier for packaging rows of articles is 
illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,431 issued to Harris. 
In some instances, it is desirable to package articles in two tiers. For 
example, on occasion it is desirable to package containers such as cans in 
two tiers rather than in a single layer. An example of such packaging is 
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,030 issued to Baxter. 
A common drawback of many of the prior art article packages is the overall 
complexity of the package and the difficulty in retrieving articles one at 
a time from the package without destroying the integrity of the package. 
This is particularly true in carriers designed to contain articles stacked 
in tiers. Another drawback of certain of the prior art article carriers is 
their inability to protect against article movement and accidental carrier 
collapse. Finally, because of the complexity of manufacture of many of the 
prior art article packages, the cost of the package is often excessive. 
It is these various deficiencies of prior art packaging that the present 
invention seeks to overcome by providing a simple yet sturdy, and easy to 
use article carrier for carrying various types of containers stacked in a 
plurality of tiers. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to provide an article carrier that 
is inexpensive to produce and simple to form from a blank. More 
particularly, it is and object of the invention to provide such a carrier 
which is specially designed to permit easy packaging of articles such as 
pet food containers in a three-tier array. 
Another object of the invention is to provide an article carrier of the 
aforementioned character which is easy to assemble from the formed blank, 
and when assembled provides a sturdy structure which can be easily 
transported and stored. 
Another object of the invention is to provide an article carrier as 
described in the preceding paragraphs in which substantial portions of the 
packaged article are exposed to view while still maintaining the overall 
structural integrity of the carrier. 
Another object of the invention is to provide an article carrier of the 
class described which does not contain individual article cells, but which 
nevertheless the less provides adequate strength and resistance to bowing 
and structural failure as the articles are removed from the container. 
Another object of the invention is to provide an article carrier for 
packaging pet food containers in multiple tiers which can be conveniently 
opened at both ends so that the individual pet food containers can be 
easily accessed and removed from either end of the carton. 
Another object of the invention is to provide an article carrier as 
described in the preceding paragraphs in which a convenient carrying strap 
is provided so that the article carrier and the pet food containers 
packaged therewithin can be readily transported from place to place. 
Another object of the invention is to provide choices as to the manner in 
which the carrier is displayed or stored as dictated by the space 
available. For example, the carrier can be laid horizontally in which case 
the articles are removed upright, or alternatively, the carrier can be 
positioned vertically on a side panel so that the articles can be removed 
sideways.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring to the drawings and in particularly to FIGS. 1 through 7, one 
form of the carton of the invention for packaging a plurality of articles 
is there illustrated and generally designated by the numeral 20. In the 
embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the carton is uniquely 
designed to package a plurality of containers such as pet food containers 
22 in a three tier configuration of the character best seen in FIGS. 1 and 
7. As indicated in FIG. 7A, each of the containers 22 comprises a food 
containing body portion 22a and a closure lid 22b. When the containers 22 
are stacked in the manner shown in FIG. 7, the bottom portion 23 of each 
of the stacked containers is received within the centrally concave portion 
25 of the cover of the next adjacent container. 
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 9, the carton of the invention is provided 
with open portions at each corner. These open portions are substantial in 
size so as to enable a clear view of the various containers stacked within 
the carton. As will be better understood by the discussion which follows, 
even though the viewing areas of each corner are of a substantial size, 
the structural integrity of the carton is in no way diminished. 
As is indicated in FIGS. 1, 4, 5, and 9, a highly novel feature of the 
carton of the present invention is the easily openable opposing sides of 
the carton, which enables ready access to the various containers stacked 
within the carton in the three tiered relationship shown in the drawings. 
Another unique feature of the apparatus of the invention resides in the 
fact that the carton can be constructed from a single sheet of paper board 
material which has been cut into the configuration shown in FIG. 8 of the 
drawings. Referring to FIG. 8 and also FIGS. 1 though 6, the carton of the 
present form of the invention can be seen to comprise a bottom wall 24, 
having opposed first and second side edges 26 and 28 respectively. Bottom 
wall 24 also has opposed first and second end edges 30 and 32 
respectively. Foldably connected to the first side edge 26 of bottom wall 
24, is a first side panel 34. In similar fashion, a second side panel 36 
is foldably connected to second side edge 28 of bottom wall 24. Foldably 
connected to side panel 36 is a top wall designated in the drawings by the 
numeral 40. Top wall 40 has opposed first and second side edges 42 and 44 
respectively and first and second end edges 46 and 48 respectively. As 
indicated in FIG. 8, side panel 36 is interconnected with top wall 40 by a 
fold line that is co-extensive with edge 42 of the top wall. 
For reasons presently to be described, top wall 40 is provided with opposed 
first and second foldable connector tabs 50 and 52 respectively. Tab 50 
comprises first and second portions 50a and 50b respectively which are 
interconnected along a fold line 50c. In similar fashion, tab 50 is 
interconnected with the body portion of top wall 40 along a fold line 50d. 
Foldable connector tab 52 also has a first portion 52a and a second 
portion 52b. Portions 52a and 52b are foldably interconnected along a fold 
line 52c. Connector tab 52, like connector tab 50 is interconnected with 
the body portion of top wall 40 along a fold line 52d. 
Foldably connected to the first end edge 30 of bottom wall 24 is a first 
end panel 56. End panel 56 is foldable along edge 30 which forms a fold 
line about which end panel 56 can be folded relative to bottom wall 24. In 
similar fashion, a second end panel 58 is foldably connected to bottom 
wall 24 along edge 32 which also forms a fold line about which panel 58 
can be folded relative to bottom wall 24. For purposes presently to be 
described, end panel 56 includes a foldable connector flap 56a which flap 
is provided with a slit 56b that is adapted to receive portion 50a of 
foldable connector tab 50 of top wall 40. In similar fashion, end panel 58 
is provided with a foldable connector flap 58a which is provided with a 
slit 58b that is adapted to receive portion 52a of connector tab 52. 
Foldably connected to first end edge 46 of top wall 40 is a third end panel 
60 which is foldable relative to top wall 40 along a fold line which is 
co-extensive with edge 46. In similar fashion, a fourth end panel 62 is 
foldably connected to second edge 48 of top wall 40 and is foldable 
relative to top wall 40 along a fold line that is co-extensive with edge 
48. 
As illustrated in FIG. 8, panel 36 is provided with a pair of spaced apart 
apertures 36a which receive the yieldably deformable ends 64a and 64b of 
an elongated carrier strap 64. (FIG. 1) As shown in FIG. 4, end 64a and 
64b include an enlarged end portion which is of a size and configuration 
so that upon twisting the ends of the carrying strap, the ends can be 
inserted into the apertures 62. Apertures 62 are of a configuration so 
that, upon releasing the ends of the carrying strap, it will remain 
securely anchored within the apertures until being once again twisted into 
a strap removal position. 
Turning once again to FIG. 8, it is to be noted that bottom wall 24 has a 
first width, W1 and each of panels 56 and 58 have a second width W2 which 
is less than width W1. Similarly, top wall 40 has a first width W3 which 
is greater than the width W4 of end panels 60 and 62. With the 
construction thus described, when the precursor panel shown in FIG. 8 is 
folded into the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 through 7 and 9, the open, 
viewing corners are formed to enable a clear viewing of the several 
containers housed within the carton. 
During the folding operation, a foldable stub wall 66, which forms a part 
of top wall 40, is folded so it extends downwardly from top wall 40 in a 
manner so that it can be interconnected as by adhesive bonding with panel 
34 after panel 34 has been folded upwardly relative to bottom wall 24. 
(See for example FIG. 4). When panel 34 is thusly interconnected with stub 
wall 66, a generally tubular shaped structure is formed which is of the 
general character shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. 
In constructing the erected carton of the invention from the planer 
precursor shown in FIG. 8, panel 34 is first folded upwardly along fold 
line 26 so it extends generally perpendicular to bottom wall 24. Next 
panel 36, along with bottom wall 40 is folded upwardly along fold line 28 
so that the assemblage extends generally perpendicularly to bottom wall 
24. This done, top wall 40 is folded about fold line 42 and stub wall 66 
is, in turn, folded downwardly with respect to top wall 40. Stub wall 66 
is then positioned interiorly of vertically extending panel 34 and is 
interconnected therewith by any suitable means such as adhesive bonding. 
The next step in the carrier construction process is to fold panels 60 and 
62 downwardly along fold lines 46 and 48 respectively from the position 
indicated by the phantom lines in FIG. 9 to that indicated by the solid 
lines in FIG. 9. This done, foldable connector flaps 56a and 58a are 
folded along fold lines 59 and 61 so that they extend generally vertically 
downwardly in the manner illustrated in FIG. 9. Next, both panels 56 and 
58 are folded along fold lines 30 and 32 respectively to a position 
wherein the connector flaps can be inserted into slits 63 and 65 formed in 
panels 60 and 62 respectively. (FIG. 8) This done, portions 50a and 52a of 
the connector taps are folded downwardly and inserted into slots 56b and 
58b respectively to complete the construction in the manner shown in FIG. 
1. 
With the precursor carton folded in the manner described in the preceding 
paragraphs, a rigid, sturdy and quite stable carton of the character shown 
in FIG. 1 is formed. When the carton thus constructed is used to store and 
transport containers 22 in the stacked arrays shown in FIG. 1, convenient 
access to the containers can be achieved from either side of the container 
by selectively removing tab portions 50a and 52a from slots 56b and 58b 
and then by removing connector tabs 56a and 58a from slits 63 and 65. This 
done, a selected one of chosen panels 56 or 58 can be folded into an open 
configuration to permit upward folding of panels 60 or 62 and then to 
permit easy removal of the pet food containers from the interior of the 
carton. So long as tabs 56a, 58a, 50a and 52a are in their interlocked 
positions as shown in FIG. 1, the carton can be easily transported from 
place to place with the pet foot containers secured therewithin 
Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with the 
requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will have 
no difficulty in making changes and modifications in the individual parts 
or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirements or 
conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made with out departing 
from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in the following 
claims.