ARTICLE CARRIER

Abstract: An article carrier of the top gripping type for accommodating articles such as bottles (B) is disclosed. The carrier includes a tubular central portion (K) and first and second panels (12, 20, 116, 124) extending outwardly from the tubular portion (K). The first and second panels (12, 20, 116, 124) have apertures (50, 52, 54, 152, 154, 156) each operatively engaging the underside of a radially protruding part of an article (B) present in that aperture by the abutment of tabs (56, 158) provided around the aperture. The tabs (56, 158) are foldable to stand out of the general plane of the aperture. The carrier also includes at least one locking panel (22) disposed in a face-to-face relationship with the first and second panels (12, 20, 116, 124) and having corresponding apertures (58, 60, 166, 168, 170) in registry with selected ones of those apertures of the first and second panels (12, 20, 116, 124). The tubular portion (K) is maintained only by the presence of at least one article (B) received in the respective registering apertures of the first, second and locking panel (12, 20, 22, 116, 124, 122).

Description: ARTICLE CARRIER Background of the Invention The invention relates to a carrier which is used for packaging a plurality of articles such as bottles. More particularly, it relates to a carrier of the top gripping type which attaches to the tops of articles thereby to secure the articles in an array. It is known to provide top gripping carriers which comprise so-called sun-burst type apertures having a series of circumferentially arranged tabs which enable a bottle top to pass through the aperture which tabs engage on the underside of the bottle top or on the flange on the bottle neck to prevent removal of the bottle from the aperture. One problem with top gripping carriers is that they need to be of sufficient strength to support the articles. A rigid structure would address this problem but produces its own difficulties. The prior art requires locking means or an adhesive in order to construct the carrier. A further difficulty associated with this type of carrier is the problem of being able to lift and carry these top gripping carriers. Summary of the Invention The present invention seeks to overcome the difficulties by forming a box structure which provides the requisite rigidity and sufficient strength to support the bottles located either side of this box structure. Further, a commercial advantage is achieved by a reduction in board and decreased construction time. One aspect of the present invention provides an article carrier of the top gripping type for accommodating a plurality of articles, for example bottles, which carrier has a central portion being tubular and comprises a first panel and a second panel extending outwardly from the tubular portion, said first and second panel having a plurality of apertures each of which operatively engages the underside of a radially protruding part of an article present in the aperture by the abutment of a plurality of tabs provided around said aperture and foldable to stand out of the general plane thereof and at least one locking panel in a face to face relationship with the first and second panels and having corresponding apertures in registry with selected ones of those apertures of the first and second panel and wherein the tubular portion is maintained only by the presence of at least one article received in the respective registering apertures of the first, second and locking panels. In one feature of the present invention, the first and second panels may be maintained in their position relative to the tubular portion by the presence of a plurality of articles received in the respective registering apertures of the first, second end locking panels. In another feature, the locking panel may be positioned to extend from one of the opposing ends of the carrier. In yet another feature the locking panel may be positioned to extend beyond the first, second panels, when the carrier is in its unformed position. Another aspect of the present invention provides an article carrier blank for forming an article carrier of the top gripping type comprises a first and second panel each having a plurality of apertures with a plurality of tabs provided around each said aperture and foldable to stand out of the general plane thereof and at least one locking panel having a plurality of apertures, said locking panel being hinged to at least one of said first and second panels so that the apertures thereof can be brought into registry with a number of those apertures of the said first and second panels when the blank is set up. A further feature of this aspect of the invention in which the article carrier blank may further comprise a plurality of panels for forming a tubular structure when the carrier has been set up to form an upstanding keel by which the carrier can be carried. Another aspect of the invention provides an article carrier of the top gripping type for holding a plurality of articles, such as bottles, which carrier comprises an upstanding keel structure by which the carrier can be carried and first and second panels hinged at opposite sides of said keel structure and adapted to receive top portions of the articles, and at least one locking panel adapted to be brought into overlapping relationship with said first and second panels, each said locking panel including at least one aperture for registry with an aperture of each of the first and second panels whereby a top portion of an article received in the registering apertures of the locking panel and the first and second panels maintains the carrier in its set up condition. Brief Description of the Drawings in the drawings, FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a carrier blank according to one embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 2 shows a carrier formed from a blank as shown in Figure 1; FIGURE 3 shows a plan view of a carrier blank according to another embodiment of the invention; and FIGURE 4 shows a carrier formed from a blank as shown in Figure 3. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a carrier blank 10 for forming a top gripping carrier and made from paperboard or similar foldable sheet material. The blank comprises a first panel 12 attached to a keel structure K, illustrated in Figure 2. The keel structure consists of a first side panel 14, a top panel 16 and a second side panel 18 hingably connected one to the next along fold lines 32 and 34, first panel 12 being hingably connected to the first side panel 14 along fold line 30. A second panel 20 is foldably attached to the keel structure along the outer edge of second side panel 18 by fold line 36. Locking panel 22 is attached to top panel 16 by intermediate panel 26 being hingably connected to both top panel 16 along fold line 38 and locking panel 22 along fold line 40. Positioned on the opposing side of top panel 16 is intermediate panel 28, hingably connected to the top panel 16 by fold line 42. Along the opposing edge of intermediate panel 28 is fold line 44 which hingably connects locking panel 24 and intermediate panel 28. As illustrated in Figure 1, first panel 12 and second panel 20 are each formed with a row of three substantially circular tab apertures 50,52,54 having eight circumferentially arranged tabs 56. These tabs 56 are so shaped to provide a substantially circular surface for abutment with an article to be received in the aperture. Locking panel 22 is formed with a pair of substantially circular support apertures 58 and locking panel 24 is formed with a pair of substantially circular support apertures 60. The diameter of apertures 58 and 60 is preferably similar to the diameter of the apertures formed on panels 12 and 20. In a set up condition, the support apertures 58 on panel 22 will be in registry with apertures 50 formed in panels 12 and 20. Likewise, the support apertures 60 on panel 24 will be in registry with apertures 54 formed in panels 12 and 20. Top panel 18 is formed with two opposing D-shaped finger holes 62. Figure 2 illustrates the carrier in a substantially set up condition with tabs 56 on panels 12 and 20 engaged on the underside of the bottle tops. The carrier is constructed by folding panels 14 and 18 along fold lines 32 and 34 to produce an angular relationship with top panel 16. Then panels 12 and 20 are folded along fold lines 30 and 36 respectively until panels 12 and 20 are substantially parallel with, but in a different plane to top panel 16. Intermediate panels 26 and 28 are folded along fold lines 38, 42 respectively. Then, locking panels 22 and 24 are folded along fold lines 40 and 44 into a face to face relationship with panels 12 and 20, so that apertures 58 and 60 are in registry with apertures 50 and 54 respectively. The carrier is maintained in the box-like condition shown in Figure 2 when said articles are inserted through the support apertures 58, 60 and pass through tab apertures 50, 52, 54 moving the tabs 56 out of their general plane until the distal edges of the tabs come into contact with the undersides of the bottle tops. Tabs 56 hold the articles in position while apertures 58,60 maintain the keel structure K in a set up condition. Figure 3 shows another embodiment of the invention wherein a keel structure K is formed from first side panel 110, top panel 112 and second side panel 114 hingably connected one to the next along fold lines 130 and 132 respectively. Hingably connected to first side panel 110 along fold line 134 is first panel 116. Along the opposite side of first panel 116 is fold line 136, which hingably connects locking panel 120. A panel 118 is hingably connected to second side panel 114 along fold line 138. Panel 118 comprises locking panel 122 and second panel 124 hingably connected together along fold line 140. As illustrated in Figure 3, the first panel 116 and second panel 124 are each formed with a row of three substantially circular tab apertures 152,154,156 having eight circumferentially arranged tabs 158. These tabs are arranged so that they provide a substantially circular surface for abutment with an article to be received in the aperture. Locking panel 122 is formed with two rows of three circular support apertures 160,162,164, and locking panel 120 is formed with one row of three substantially circular support apertures 166,168,170; the diameter in each case being preferably similar to the diameter of apertures 152,154,156 formed in panels 116 and 124. In a set up condition the support apertures 160,162,164 in locking panel 122 would be in registry with apertures 152,154,156 respectively. In addition, the support apertures 166,168,170 in locking panel 120 would be in registry with the apertures 152,154,156 formed in panel 116, respectively. Top panel 112 is formed with two opposing D- shaped finger holes 150. As illustrated in Figure 4, the carrier is in a substantially set up condition with the tabs 158 on first and second panels lie and 124 engaged on the undersides of the bottle tops. The carrier is constructed by folding side panels 110 and 114 along fold lines 130 and 132 respectively to produce an angular relationship with top panel 112. End panels 170 and 172 are folded along fold lines 142 and 144 respectively, so that they form an angular relationship with top panel 112 and panels 174,176 form face to face relationship with side panels 110,114 respectively. First and second panels 116 and 124 are folded along fold lines 134 and 138 respectively until panels 116 and 124 are substantially parallel with, but in a different plane to, top panel 112. Locking panel 122 is then folded along fold line 140 into a face to face relationship with panels 116 and 124 so that support apertures 160,162,164 are in registry with the corresponding apertures 152,154,156 in panels 116 and 124. Locking panel 120 is then folded along fold line 136 into a face to face relationship with locking panel 122. Alternatively, locking panel 120 may be folded along fold line 136 prior to folding of locking panel 122 so that locking panel 122 is folded into a face to face relationship with panels 116 and 124 while locking panel 120 is interposed between panels 116 and 122. The carrier is maintained in a box-like condition as shown in Figure 4, when said articles are inserted respectively, through the support apertures 160,162,164,166,168,170 and pass through tab apertures 152,154,156, moving tabs 158 out of their general plane until the distal edges of tabs 158 come into contact with the undersides of the bottle tops. Tabs 158 hold the articles in position while apertures 160,162,164,166,168,170 maintain the keel structure in its set up condition. The present invention and its preferred embodiments relate to a carrier shaped to provide sufficient rigidity and by forming a double layer of board where strength is required. The shape of the blank ensures a minimum width is obtained which reduces the amount of board required. This carrier can be applied to an array of bottles by hand or by automatic machinery.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An article carrier of the top gripping type for accommodating a plurality of articles, for example bottles, which carrier has a central portion being tubular and comprises a first panel and a second panel extending outwardly from the tubular portion, said first and second panels having a plurality of apertures each of which operatively engages the underside of a radially protruding part of an article present in the aperture by the abutment of a plurality of tabs provided around said aperture and foldable to stand out of the general plane thereof and at least one locking panel in a face to face relationship with the first and second panels and having corresponding apertures in registry with selected ones of those apertures of the first and second panels and wherein the tubular portion is maintained only by the presence of at least one article received in the respective registering apertures of the first, second and locking panel. 2. An article carrier according to claim 1 wherein the first and second panels are maintained in their position relative to the tubular portion by the presence of a plurality of articles received in the respective registering apertures of the first, second end locking panels. 3. An article carrier according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said at least one locking panel is positioned to extend from one of opposing ends of the carrier. 4. An article carrier according to claim l or claim 2 wherein said at least one locking panel is positioned to extend beyond the first and second panels when the carrier is in its flat unformed condition. 5. An article carrier blank for forming an article carrier of the top gripping type comprises a first and second panel each having a plurality of apertures with a plurality of tabs provided around each said aperture and foldable to stand out of the general plane thereof and at least one locking panel having a plurality of apertures, said locking panel being hinged to at least one of said first and second panels so that the apertures thereof can be brought into registry with a number of those apertures of the said first and second panels when the blank is set up. 6. A blank according to claim 5 further comprising a plurality of panels for forming a tubular structure when the carrier has been set up to form an upstanding keel by which the carrier can be carried. . An article carrier of the top gripping type for holding a plurality of articles, such as bottles, which carrier comprises an upstanding keel structure by which the carrier can be carried and first and second panels hinged at opposite sides of said keel structure and adapted to receive top portions of the articles, and at least one locking panel adapted to be brought into overlapping relationship with said first and second panels, each said locking panel including at least one aperture for registry with an aperture of each of the first and second panels whereby a top portion of an article received in the registering apertures of the locking panel and the first and second panels maintains the carrier in its set up condition.

Inventors: AUCLAIR JEAN-MICHEL, SAULAS ALAIN, AUCLAIR, JEAN-MICHEL, SAULAS, ALAIN
Applicants: AUCLAIR JEAN MICHEL, MEAD CORP, SAULAS ALAIN, AUCLAIR, JEAN-MICHEL, SAULAS, ALAIN, THE MEAD CORPORATION
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B65D71
IPC codes: B65D67, B65D71