REINFORCED MULTI-ARTICLE CARRIER

Abstract: A carrier for holding a plurality of articles which includes a shell S formed from a blank B of relatively thin printable sheet material folded to the shell form and maintained in the folded form by a moulded plastic frame F bonded to the underside thereof, apertures in a main panel 10, reinforced by mouldings 24 being provided allowing the shell to be applied open side down to for example bottles A to engage under projections on the bottles so that shell will serve as a carrier for the bottles.

Description: REINFORCED MULTI-ARTICLE CARRIER This invention relates to article carriers, and more particularly to a carrier for receiving and retaining upper portions of packaged articles such as bottles or cans. A prior art search directed to the subject matter of this application in the United States Patent and Trademark Office disclosed the following United States Letters Patent: 2401578; 2441346; 2487109; 2520203; 2892540; 2936070; 3s99908; 3373867; 3443685; 3460863; 3567016; 3621628; 3688899; 3721337; 3757983; 3785484; 3884354; 3923155; 3938656; 4022363; 4139094; 4190149; 4304329 Canadian Patent 655425. According to the present invention there is provided a carrier for articles which have an end portion including laterally outward projecting means, the carrier comprising a blank having a main panel in which are provided article openings into which said end portions may be entered with said projection means passing there through but from which the projection means may not be normally withdrawn, the panel, with end portions in and projection means having passed through the openings serving to carry the articles suspended therefrom by engagement of the projection means and openings. In a preferred arrangement the carrier comprises a blank wherein by fold lines there are defined a main panel and a plurality of spaced side panels extending therefrom, the blank being foldable to a shell defining condition with the side panels folded out of the plane of the main panel, each article opening for receiving an end portion allowing the associated projection means to pass through from that face of the main panel from which the side panels project in the folded condition to the other side of the main panel and normally holding the projection means against return, and the blank being retained in the folder condition by plastic material which has been moulded on and is bonded to the blank to form seams joining the adjacent edges of adjacent side panels. In order that the invention may be well understood there will now be described some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, reference being made to the -accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an embodiment of carrier, according to the present invention applied to a group of six bottles; Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view, as seen from the top, of the carrier of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an underneath view of the carrier of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a plan view- of a blank of foldable sheet material for forming a shellsportion of the carrier illustrated in the other views; Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 3, but illustrating another embodiment according to the invention; ; Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of a reinforced article receiving opening of the embodiment of Figure 5; Figure 7-11 are views similar to that of Figure 6, but illustrating modified forms of reinforced article receiving opening; Figure 12 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, but illustrates another embodiment according to the invention; Figure 13 is a side elevation of a carrier illustrating yet another embodiment according to the invention; Figure 14 is a view similar to that of Figures 3 and 5, illustrating a still further embodiment according to the invention; Figure 15 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the carrier illustrated in Figure 14; Figure 1 6 is a fragmentary underneath view of another arrangement of the embodiment shown in Figure 14; Figure 17 is a fragmentary top plan view of the arrangement of Figure 16; ; Figure 18 is a fragmentary top plan view of another form of reinforced article receiving opening; and Figure 19 is a perspective view of another embodiment of article opening with a bottle engaged therein. It will be understood that, for purposes of clarity, certain elements may have been intentionally omitted from certain views for purpose of better illustration of the embodiments. Referring first to Figure 1, there is illustrated a package, indicated generally at P, for holding a plurality of articles A, here shown as bottles, by means of a carrier, indicated generally at C. Carrier C includes a shell S, which may be formed from a unitary blank B (Figure 4) of printed sheet material, such as paperboard, and a moulded plastic, skeletal frame, indicated generally at F (Figure 3) which is bonded to the interior of the shell in an insert injection moulding process of the type described in United States Letters Patent No. 3154617. As best seen in Figures 1 and 4, shell S includes a relatively flat, generally rectangular main panel 10, which will be the top of the shell a plurality of first openings 11 in the main panel to receive end portions of articles, here the necks of the bottles and a pair of spaced second openings 13 which are designed to facilitate grasping and lifting of the package by a user. Shell S also includes side panels here shown as opposed pairs of side panels 14 and end panels 16 which are foldably joined along fold lines 15 and 17 to side and end edges, respectively, of panel 10 to form therewith a cover for enclosing portions of the packaged articles adjacent the end portions. In order to permit the shell to be formed of sheet material which is relatively thin so as to be less expensive than thicker materials, the first openings and the corners of the shell,are reinforced by the skeletal type moulded plastic frame indicated generally at F. The frame is formed by inserting the blank into an injection mould and then injecting plastics material to form and bond the blank to the frame. As best seen in Figures 2 and 2, frame F includes a plurality of reinforcing ring elements 24 which are disposed around the article first openings 11. Each ring element or collar 24 is shown as including a plurality of radially inwardly extending, circumferentially spaced fingers or tabs 26 which project into the opening to form article restrainirgmeans for engagement with outward projection means on the ends of the articles, in this case the caps of bottles. In the case of packaging cans the projection means would be chimes on the cans. The frame F also includes a reinforcing ring element or collar 20 surrounding each second or lifting opening. As best seen in Figure 3, reinforcing rings 20 are preferably connected to each other by a strut 22 of the frame and are connected to the other reinforcing rings 24 by means of other struts 28. It should be understood, however, that it is not essential for all of the reinforcing rings to be interconnected. Although not shown, an acceptable alternate arrangement could omit certain of the struts. Still referring to Figure 3 it will be seen that the frame includes a connecting rim 30 which surrounds top panel 10 at the junctures of the top panel with the side and end panels and seams the top panel to the side and end panels adjacent each corner. Extending downwardly from rim 30 at each corner of the shell is a corner rib 32 which serves to seam adjacent edges of the adjacent side and end panel at the corner. Formed integrally with the lower end of each corner rib 32 is a horizontal bar 34, which extend short distance in opposite directions from the lower end of rib 32 to form with the rib a generally T-shaped structure reinforcing the shell at the outer edge of the adjacent side and end panel. In Figure 5 and other views illustrating other embodiments of the invention, portions of the structure therein corresponding to portions of the already illustrated embodiment are designated by related numerals. The structure of Figure 5 differs in several respects from the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4. A connecting rim 130 of frame F1 is not solid, but is provided with a plurality of openings 131 which permit the use of a lesser quantity of plastic material in forming the rim. As seen in Figure 6, in the center article receiving openings the radially inner portion of each ring or collar 124 is shown as projecting above the plane of the panel 10, and the ends of the fingers 126 are squared off, rather than being rounded as in the case of the other collars 24. This provides for a more snug engagement between the carrier ring and the end portion of the engaged article. To accommodate the upward projection of the collars 124, the overlying area of the panel 10 may be provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced V-shaped notches 119. Referring to Figures 7 and 8 the openings 227 between the fingers 226 of ring 224 have been enlarged to relieve stress and make it easier to remove an article from the opening, but still prevent the article from coming out accidentally. In Figures 9 and 10, it will be seen that the fingers 326 of ring 324 extend inwardly well beyond the edge of the first openings and also that the slots 327 between adjacent fingers is larger than in previous embodiments of the invention. As best seen in Figure 11, every other finger 426 of ring 424 is larger than the adjacent finger 426a In the embodiment of Figure 12 shell S2 is provided in the main panel with weakened lines of tear 509 which extend diagonally outward from second finger openings 13 to first article receiving openings 11. The struts (not shown) of the frame under the top panel 510 may also be provided with aligned weakened lines or notches to facilitate tearing of structure to remove the packaged articles. In Figure 13, side panels 614 are provided with contoured weakened lines of tear 609 to facilitate-opening the carrier and removing the packaged articles. In Figures 14 and 15 the shell S is the same as that of the first described embodiment, but the frame F2 differs in certain respects. In this embodiment, the article receiving rings 724 on each side of the carrier are interconnected by a pair of struts 734, and the struts on opposite sides of the carrier are, in turn, connected to each other by cross struts 734a , which are again in turn connected to each other by a center strut 734b. Reinforcement of second finger holes 13 is accomplished by a pair of semi-circular loops 720 extending outwardly from cross struts 734a around second finger openings 13. The embodiment illustrated in Figures 16 and 17 is the same as that of Figures 14 and 15, except for the omission of loops around openings 13. Figure 18 shows a reinforced first opening where there are no interruptions in the ring to define fingers, the radially innermost edge being sufficiently flexible to alosçthe projection on the article to be pulled through. Referring to Figure 19 a ring element 824 has radially inwardly projecting fingers 828, which will engage the projection means on an article cap T, ring 824 being integral with a ring 827 through a weakened zone (not shown), preferably being formed by thin interconnecting webs. Ring 822 is bonded to the main panel M. A pull ring or tab 830 integral with ring 824 is moulded overlying the free ends of the fingers until an article end portion (here cap T and bottle neck) is thrust through ring 822 (from below as viewed in the drawing) which will displace the ring 830 and carry the projection means on the bottle cap past the finger ends. The projection means cannot return along the path by which they entered because of the fingers but pull on the ring 830 will rupture the ring 824, itself suitably weakened,for the purpose and the weakened connection to ring 822 allowing the fingers to be removed and the projections to pass back through ring 822 to release the article from the carrier. Thus, it will be appreciated that the invention provides a unique way to form a composite carrier for a group of articles wherein the carrier may be formed from a sheet material which can be printed, which may be reinforced in the critical areas by a moulded plastic frame and to which articles can readily be applied.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A carrier (C) for articles (A) which have an end portion including laterally outward projecting means, the carrier comprising a blank (B) having a main panel (10) in which are provided article openings (11) into which said end portions may be entered with said projection means passing there through but from which the projection means may not be normally withdrawn, the panel, with end portions in and projection means having passed through, the openings, serving to carry the articles suspended therefrom by engagement of the projection means and openings. 2. A carrier according to claim 1 in which the carrier comprises a blank (B) wherein by fold lines (15,17) there are defined a main panel (10) and a plurality of spaced side panels (14,16) extending therefrom, the blank being foldable to a shell (S) defining condition with the side panels folded out of the plane of the main panel, each article opening (11) for receiving an end portion allowing the associated projection means to pass through from that face of the main panel (10) from which the side panels (14,16) project in the folded condition to the other side of the main panel (10) and normally holding the projection means against return, and the blank being retained in the folded condition by plastic material (32) which has been moulded on and is bonded to the blank to form seams joining the adjacent edges of adjacent side panels. 3. A carrier according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the article openings are reinforced by plastic material (24) moulded on and bonded to the blank. 4. A carrier according to claim 3 in which the reinforcement (24) at each article opening (11) forms means (26) to receive said article end portion and allow the projection means to pass there through and hold them against return there through. 5. A carrier according to any of the preceding claims including lifting means comprise lifting openings (13) in the blank. 6. A carrier according to claim 5 in which the lifting openings are reinforced by plastic material (20) moulded on and bonded to the blank. 7. A carrier according to claim 2 and claim 3 and claim 6 in which the seams (32), article opening reinforcements (24) and lifting opening reinforcements (20) are parts of a one piece moulding (F). 8. A carrier according to claim 7 in which the moulding includes a rim (30) extending around the main panel (10) and reinforcing elements (22, 28) interconnecting some at least of the article opening reinforcements (20,24). 9. A carrier according to claim 2 or claim 7 in which a moulded reinforcing member (34) extends from each seam along the region of each associated side panel (14,16) adjacent the free edge of that associated panel. 10. A carrier according to claim 4 in which a reinforcement of an article opening (24) has inwardly radially inwardly projecting means (26) to engage the projection means after receiving the end portion of an article. 11. A carrier according to claim 10 in which the inwardly projecting means (26) are inclined out of the plane of the main panel in the direction of entry movement of an end portion of an article into the opening. 12. A carrier according to claim 10 or claim 11 in which means (830) are provided to rupture each reinforcement to release the projection engaging part of the projecting means from the main panel to allow the projection means to pass back through the article opening in the direction opposite to that by which the projection means entered that opening.

Inventors: BOUSUM, JOHN VANCE, CARR, WILLIAM HUNTER, HELMS, CHARLES ROBERT, WALTER, RICHARD THOMAS
Applicants: PATENT DEVELOPMENTS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Application year: 1983
Main classification: B65D71
IPC codes: B65D71