Basket carrier and internesting blanks therefor

Abstract: A basket carrier of the type including a base having a plurality of handles (66,68,86,88) projecting upwardly therefrom, the handles also functioning as partitions so as to divide the base into a plurality of individual spaces for receiving cups, bottles and the like. The same basic basket carrier can be formed from two different blanks. It has been found that by providing two different blanks, a full nesting of the blanks may be obtained so that the blanks may be formed from a web with substantially no loss, thereby reducing the amount of paperboard required to form the blanks. The resultant carriers differ primarily in that one carrier includes one double handle and two single handle arrangements and the other carrier has two double handle arrangements. The carriers differ also in the manner in which the various portions are connected together by way of different arrangements of glue flaps.

Description: The present invention relates to a blank arrangement for forming basket carriers according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a basket carrier in accordance with the preamble of claim 13. It furthermore relates to a blank according to the preamble of claim 10. In particular the invention relates to blanks which can be assembled into a flat carrier which can be erected readily. Blanks for basket carriers and the like are cut from a continuous web so as to have a minimum waste. A previously proposed blank construction (US-A-4782943 forming no prior art) includes four handles or handle portions two of which are arranged in a single formation at opposite ends of the blank with the other two being joined together at the center of the blank. Although the blanks for this basket carriers are generally internested, there is an undesirable certain degree of waste. US-A- 4509640 discloses a basket carrier and a blank for forming same, the carrier having a handle arrangement comprising four handle members interconnected with each other. The cross-shaped handle arrangement is foldably connected to a central divider member of the carrier such that it may be lifted so as to provide for a handle opening between said handle arrangement and said divider member. The blank is of generally rectangular shape. When the blanks shall be cut from a web they are not internested but rather are arranged besides one another. This prior art carrier suffers from the disadvantage that the handle arrangement requires a lot of paperboard. It is an object of the present invention to provide for a carrier of the generic type consuming a minimum of paperboard. This object is solved as indicated in claims 1, 10 and 13 respectively. The invention thus is based on the idea that by providing two different blanks to form the same overall basket carrier, a full nesting between the two different blanks is obtainable, thereby minimizing waste in the formation of the blanks. In accordance with the present invention, the blank also includes four handles, but the handles are provided in sets of twos. As a result, the two-handle arrangement of the first blank will nest exactly between the two sets of handles of the second blank, while the two sets of handles of the second blank will nest between the end handles and the central double handle of the first blank. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a blank arrangement for forming basket carriers from a web with minimum waste, said basket carriers each having four handles, characterised in that the blank arrangement comprising at least two blanks arranged in handle-to-handle relation, one of said blanks having a double handle central projection and two single handle outer projections, and the other of said blanks having two spaced double handle projections, and said one double handle central projection being disposed between said two double handle projections. The new blank of the present invention differs from the previously proposed blank in that it provided with an entirely different arrangement of glue flaps which permit the blank to be readily assembled into a flat carrier which then corresponds substantially to the original carrier and which may be readily erected. With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a schematic plan view showing the different carrier blanks arranged two wide on a web and being disposed in nested relation. Figure 2 is a plan view of a previously proposed basket carrier blank incorporating minor modifications and has indicated thereon a first folding operating. Figure 3 is a plan view of the blank after the first folding operation and shows the manner in which second, third and fourth folding operations may be effected. Figure 4 is a plan view of the blank after the four folding operations and indicates that fifth and final folding operation. Figure 5 is a plan view of the folded blank. Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view with parts broken away of the erected basket carrier. Figure 7 is a schematic top plan view of the basket carrier showing the arrangement of the glue flaps. Figure 8 is an enlarged plan view of the second basket carrier blank and has identified thereon a first folding step. Figure 9 is a plan view similar to Figure 8 with the first folding step being completed and second and third folding steps being identified. Figure 10 is a plan view of the folded blank ready for a final folding step. Figure 11 is a top perspective view of the basket carrier. Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken generally along the line 12-12 of Figure 11 and shows the arrangement of the glue flaps joining together the handles. Referring now to the drawings in detail, reference is first made to Figure 1 wherein there is illustrated a portion only of a web W. That portion of the web W which is illustrated is of sufficient size to receive four basket carrier blanks. The blanks are arranged two wide on the web, the web W being of a prescribed width to generally match the two wide arrangement. It is to be particularly noted that there are two different blanks, one being blank A and one being blank B. The blanks A are arranged in end-to-end relation as are the blanks B. On the other hand, lengthwise of the web W, a blank A is internested with a blank B. At this time it is pointed out that while the blanks A and B are different, the blanks will form basket carriers which are functionally the same although slightly structurally different. The blank A will be discussed first. First of all, it is to be understood that the blank A is basically the subject of the aforementioned U.S.-A-4 782 943 but with slight modifications. The blank A may be broadly divided into two portions, a base portion 20 and a combined handle and partition portion 22. The base portion 20 includes a body portion 24 and a bottom portion 26. The body portion 24 is formed of four body panels or side walls 28, 30, 32 and 34 which are joined together along vertical fold lines 36, 38 and 40, respectively. The bottom portion 26 is defined by bottom panels 42, 44, 46 and 48 which are joined to the lower edges of the respective body panels 28, 30, 32 and 34 along fold lines 50, 52, 54 and 56, respectively. Each of the bottom panels 44, 48 has connected thereto along a diagonal fold line 58 a generally triangular glue flap 60. The body panel 28 is also provided along the free edge thereof with a glue flap 62. The combined handle and partition portion 22 includes a central handle member 64 which includes handles 66, 68, disposed in back-to-back relation and hingedly connected together along an extension of the fold line 38. The handle member 64 includes a cut line 70 which extends transversely of the fold line 38 and is formed equally in the two handles 66, 68. At opposite ends of the cut line 70 are vertical fold lines 72, 74 formed respectively in the handles 66, 68. A weakening line 76 and a companion weakening line 78 are formed in the handles 66, 68, respectively, and together they define a panel 80 which could be removed if desired, to form finger openings. The combined handle and partition portion 22 also includes a pair of single handles 86, 88 which are disposed at opposite ends of the blank A and are integrally connected to the body panels 28 and 34, respectively. The handle 86 is provided with a cut line 90 which extends inwardly from the left edge of the blank A and terminates at a vertical fold line 92. The free edge of the handle 86 is in the form of a glue flap 94 which is a continuation of the glue flap 62. The handle 86 is defined by a straight line 96 which converges towards the adjacent straight line 82 and is joined thereto by a radius 98. The upper end of the straight line 96 terminates in a partial radius 100. The handle 86 has formed in the upper part thereof, generally in alignment with the weakening lines 76, 78, a cut line 102 which defines a finger receiving opening 104. The cut line 102 terminates at the glue flap 94 into weakening lines 106 which define a panel 108 which, like the panel 80, could be removed if so desired. The handle 88, which is at the opposite end of the blank from the handle 86, is merely a mere image of the handle 86 and has formed therein a transverse cut line 110 which extends from the right edge of the blank to a vertical fold line 112. The handle 88 is in part defined by a straight line 114 which converges towards the straight line 82 and is joined thereto by means of a radius 116. The straight line 114 terminates at its upper end in a partial radius 118. The handle 88, along its free side, carries a glue flap 120 which corresponds to the glue flap 94. The upper part of the handle 118 is provided with a cut line 122 which defines a finger receiving opening 124. The cut line 122 terminates at the glue flap 120 in weakening lines 126 which extend across the glue flap 120 and define a panel. As is shown in Figure 3, and in accordance with the arrow 1 of Figure 2, the bottom panels 42, 44, 46 and 48 are folded along their associated fold lines to overlie the side panels. Next, as indicated by the arrow 3, the right portion of the blank is folded into overlying relation to the right hand central portion of the blank with the glue flap 60 thereof bonding to the bottom panel 46. This arrangement is best shown in Figure 4. Thereafter the left portion of the blank is folded along the hinge line 36 into overlying relation with respect to the left central portion of the blank as indicated by the arrow 4 in Figure 4 to complete the forming of the blank into a flat basket carrier identified by the numeral 130 in Figure 5. At this time it is pointed out that the glue flap 120 is bonded to the handle 66, as is shown in Figure 4 and the glue flap 94 is bonded to the handle 88 as shown in Figure 5. Further, the glue flap 62 is bonded to the body panel 34 while the glue flap 60 carried by the bottom panel 44 is bonded to the underside of the bottom panel 42. The basket carrier 130 may be readily erected from its folded state of Figure 5 to its operative state of Figure 6. At this time the respective handles are folded at right angles to the respective sidewalls or side panels as is clearly shown in Figure 6. Further, the bottom panels automatically form the bottom of the carrier. With reference to Figure 7, it will be seen that the handles 66, 68 are disposed at right angles to each other while the handles 86, 88 are at right angles to each other. Further, the glue flap 94 is turned at right angles to the handle 86 while the glue flap 120 forms a straight continuation of the handle 88. In Figure 8 there is illustrated the blank B in greater detail. A comparison of Figures 2 and 8 will show that the blank B corresponds to the blank A except that the glue flaps 94, 120 have been eliminated and the handle 86, the side panel 28 and the bottom panel 42 are no longer connected to the remainder of the blank along the equivalent of the fold or hinge line 36, but are connected to the handle 88 and the side panel 34 along a fold line 132. It is to be noted that the fold line 132 is interrupted by a generally C-shaped cut line 134 formed in the handle 88 to define a glue flap 136. Further, in lieu of the separate cut lines 90, 110, the lower ends of the fold lines 112, 92 are connected by a cut line 138. The upper part of the fold line 132 is further interrupted by a cutout 140 defining a finger receiving opening in both of the handles 88, 86. Inasmuch as the handles 88, 86 are now joined together to form a single projection, the straight line borders 114, 96, thereof are interconnected by a radius 142. At the opposite end of the blank B, the glue flap 62 is connected to the body panel 30 along a fold line 146. Also, the straight lines 82, 96 terminate at their lower ends in partial radii 148, 150. Finally, the fold or hinge line 38 is interrupted by a C-shaped cut 152 in the handle 66 to define a further glue flap 154. The upper part of the fold line 38 is further interrupted by a combined cut and weakening line 156 which defines a hinged flap 158 having adhesive on one half of one side and adhesive on the other half of the other side. The glue flap 158 is to be folded upwardly and initially bonded to the upper part of the handle 66. The first step in folding the blank B into a basket carrier is to fold the bottom panels 44, 46, 48 and 42 up into overlying relation with respect to the respective ones of the side panels 30, 32, 34, 28 as indicated by the arrow 1 in Figure 8 and most specifically illustrated in Figure 9. Then the glue flaps 60 are reversely folded into overlying relation with respect their respective bottom panels 44, 48 as indicated by the arrow 2. Thereafter, the right half of the partially folded blank B is folded along the transverse fold line 40 into overlying relation with respect to the left half of the blank B as indicated by the arrow 3 and as best shown in Figure 10. At this time the glue flap 136 bonds to the handle 68 while the glue flap 154 bonds to the handle 86. In a like manner, the glue flaps 60 bond to the bottom panels 42, 46. Then, as is shown in Figure 10, the glue flap 62 is folded into overlying relation with respect to the side panel 28 to complete the folded basket carrier which is identified by the numeral 160. It is to be noted, however, at this time that when the handle 86 is folded into overlying relation with respect to the handle 68, the right hand side of the glue flap 158, as viewed in Figure 9, becomes bonded to the handle 88 to complete the joint at the top of the basket carrier. It is to understood that the completed basket carrier 160 will be erected in the same manner generally described with respect to the basket carrier 130. The handles 66, 68, 88, 86 now function both as handles and dividers. It is to be noted that the handles 66, 68 are at right anles to one another while the handles 86, 88 are at right angles to one another. This is clearly illustrated in Figure 12. Although the blanks have been Illustrated in a two wide arrangement on the web W, it is to be understood that it is feasible for the web to be wider to accept blanks of a greater number and width, or to be narrower to have only a single blank extending transversely thereon. Although only specific blank arrangements and basket carriers to be formed therefrom have been illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minor variations may be made in the blanks and the resultant carriers without departing from the scope of the claims.

Claims: A blank arrangement for forming basket carriers from a web (W) with minimum waste, said basket carriers each having four handles, characterised in the blank arrangement comprises at least two blanks (A, B) arranged in handle-to-handle relation, one (A) of said blanks having a double handle central projection and two single handle outer projections, and the other (B) of said blanks having two spaced double handle projections, and said one double handle central projection being disposed between said two double handle projections. A blank arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said blanks are separated by a single continuous cut line. A blank arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein each of said blanks also include body panels (28, 30, 32, 34) forming extensions of said handle projections, and bottom forming panels (42, 44, 46, 48) and flaps (60) carried by said body panels. A blank arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein one (30) of said body panels has a glue flap (62) for bonding said body panels together and each of said double handle projections has an interior glue flap (136, 154) for joining handles of said double handle projections together. A blank arrangement as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein one (28) of said body panels has a glue flap (62) for bonding said body panels together and each of said single handle projections has a glue flap (94, 120) for joining said single handle projections together. A blank arrangement as claimed in claim 5 wherein said body panel glue flap (62) is longitudinally aligned with one of said handle glue flaps (94). A blank arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each double handle projection has two sloping sides (82, 96, 114) joined by a first radius (84, 142), and at least one sloping side of each double handle projection is joined to a sloping side of a next adjacent handle projection by a second radius (116). A blank arrangement as claimed in claim 7 wherein said first radius (84, 142) and said second radius (116) are the same. A blank arrangement as claimed in claim 7 wherein one (B) of said blanks (A, B) has two of said first radius (84, 142) and one of said second radius (116), and the other (A) of said blanks has one of said first radius (84) and two of said second radius (98, 116). A blank for a basket-like carrier, said blank comprising a lower portion (26), an intermediate portion (24) and an upper portion (22), said lower portion (26) being in the form of a plurality of separate bottom forming panels (42, 44, 46, 48) and flaps (60), said intermediate portion (24) being in the form of a plurality of body forming panels (28, 30, 32, 34) connected by fold lines to each other and to the lower portion, and said upper portion (22) being in the form of a plurality of handles (66, 68; 86, 88) for defining a combined separator and handle structure, said handles being connected by a combination of fold lines and cut lines to the intermediate portion, characterized in that said handles include two sets of handles separated by space or void from each other, each set of handles including two of said handles (66, 68; 86, 88) wherein at least one set presents two handles joined together along a fold line, and wherein the configuration of the space or void between said sets of handles corresponds to the configuration of each of said sets of handles. A blank as claimed in claim 10, wherein one handle of each set of handles has a glue flap (136, 154) for joining to a like handle of the other set of handles. A blank claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein a single one (30) of said body forming panels (28, 30, 32, 34) carries a glue flap (62) for completing a body from said body forming panels. A basket-like carrier comprising a base (20) having a bottom (26) said base being defined by side walls (28, 30, 32, 34), and combined separator and handle structure (22) extending upwardly from central portions of said side walls, said combined separator and handle structure (22) including a handle (66, 68, 86, 88) extending from each of said side walls (28, 30, 32, 34) and intersecting like handles in a centrally located vertical line, said handles being arranged in sets with each set including two handles joined along a fold characterized in that the two handles of a set together have a rounded tip (84, 100, 118) and partially rounded base portions (98, 116) wherein an edge of one of said two adjacent handles and an edge of a next adjacent further one of said handles define a configuration which is identical to the configuration of said two adjacent panel members but inverted. A carrier as claimed in claim 13 wherein said base at two opposite corners is square cut between handles between which web corners are located, and said base at two other opposite corners slopes upwardly in diverging relation towards adjacent ones of said handles for defining support panels for said handles. A carrier as claimed in claim 14 wherein each of said two other opposite corners is defined by downwardly converging sloping handle edges (82, 96, 114). A carrier as claimed in any of claims 13-15, wherein one handle of each set of handles has a glue flap (136, 154) joined to a like handle of the other set of handles. A carrier as claimed in claim 16 wherein each glue flap (136, 154) is bonded to the other handle of a respective one of said handle sets. A carrier as claimed in any of claims 13-17 wherein each set of handles has a finger receiving opening (140) in an upper portion thereof, one of said finger receiving openings resulting from a folded glue flap (158) bonded to one handle of each set of handles. A blank as claimed in claim 10 wherein one of said sets of handles has a finger receiving opening therein defined by a foldable displacement of a glue flap (158) having adhesive thereon for bonding to one handle of each of said sets of handles.

Inventors: BLACKMAN STEPHEN M, BLACKMAN, STEPHEN M.
Applicants: RIVERWOOD INT CORP, RIVERWOOD INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
Application year: 1988
Main classification: B65D5
IPC codes: B65D5, B65D71