BASKET TYPE CARRIER

Abstract: An article carrier of the basket type and a blank for forming an article carrier adapted to accommodate a plurality of articles, such as bottles, comprises a base (12, 74), opposed side and end walls (14, 16, 18) and an internal medial partition structure (28, 30, 32), a handle (50, 56) wherein top panels (48, 62) are provided substantially to close the top of the carrier and to connect together the handle and each of the side walls, the top panels having separators (110, 112, 114) to separate adjacent articles when present in the carrier, wherein the top panels are frangibly connected to the handle and/or each of the side walls to facilitate removal of articles present in the carrier and wherein the medial partition structure (28, 30, 32) is formed from the side walls and/or end walls (14, 16). Optionally, the medial partition structure is detachably connected to the handle whereby the carrier can be re-used as a basket carrier.

Description: BASKET TYPE CARRIER This invention relates to an article carrier of the basket type adapted to accommodate a plurality of articles, such as bottles and to a blank for forming the carrier. Normally a basket carrier for bottles includes a central (medial) partition structure which incorporates a handle structure by which the carrier can be lifted and carried and the bottles are arranged in rows on either side of the partition structure. More often than not, bottles are separated from one another by transverse partition panels extending from each side of the medial partition structure to the adjacent side wall of the carrier. Hence, in this type of arrangement the bottles are accommodated in individual cells of the carrier although such cells are not essential. The prior art indicates a number of baskets or cartons with partition structures. US Patent Number 2,746,639 to Turner et al discloses a partition structure formed from panels taken from the end walls and the medial panel. French Patent Number 1266616 discloses a partition structure formed from panels taken from the walls of the carton. US Patent Number 4,601,390 to Rosenthal et al discloses a partition structure where panels are formed from the side walls and the end walls . It is noted that the handle panels are attached to the upper edges of the side walls as is the case in the neck through style. A problem with the prior art is the amount of board used to achieve a basket type carrier with individual dividing cells. A further problem is associated with the removal of individual bottles from a multipack carrier. In the present invention, in order to prevent individual bottles from being removed from the carrier, bottles are restrained by cover panels which can be detached after the formed carrier has been purchased. The cover panels also help to keep the bottles dust free. This neck- through style carton also enables an efficient use of board to be achieved as a long rather than wide blank can be used since the blank is joined along the upper ends of the handle panels. Further, carton construction can take place during bottle loading which speeds up the loading process, whereas traditional basket style cartons require a set up condition to be achieved prior to the introduction of articles. A further problem associated with introducing such cover panels is that upon detachment the strength of the carrier is lost, so that it is not possible to carry the carton with articles stored within it. The present invention has sought in a second embodiment to overcome this problem by incorporating hooks into the medial partition structure which attach to the central part of the transverse partition panels. In the event that the top panels are torn either intentionally or accidentally during bottle removal, then the handle of the carrier can continue to be used. US Patent Number 2, 983,406 is an example of a large number of patents which show handles formed as separate pieces from the remainder of the carton structure . US Patent Number 3,465,913 Zorn shows an arrangement wherein the hooks on the handle engage medial partition straps to hold the carton in an erect condition. US Patent Number 3,198,379 Creelman shows an arrangement wherein the entire internal partition structure of the carton is removable and is held in place by locking tabs formed on the outside of the carton. The prior art does not address the problem of retaining the handle on one piece basket style carton in the event that the top panel is torn during bottle removal . One aspect of the invention provides an article carrier of the basket type adapted to accommodate a plurality of articles, such as bottles, comprises a base, opposed side and end walls, an internal medial partition structure, handle means and wherein top panel means is provided substantially to close the top of the carrier and to connect together said handle means and each of said side walls, said top panel means having separating means to separate adjacent articles when present in the carrier, wherein said top panel means is frangibly connected to said handle means and/or each of said side walls to facilitate removal of articles present in the carrier and wherein said medial partition structure is formed from said side walls and/or end walls . According to one feature of this aspect of the invention, said medial partition structure may be connected by detachable means to handle means whereby the carrier can be re-used as a basket carrier, and in that said top panel means may be frangibly connected to said handle means and/or each of said side walls to facilitate removal of articles present in the carrier without destroying the integrity of said handle means . According to another feature of this aspect of the invention, said detachable connection means may comprise hook means and a receiving aperture which co-act to facilitate a detachable connection. According to a further feature of this aspect of the invention, said medial partition structure may be formed from said side and end walls and may comprise integral transverse partition panels and central partition panels, and wherein said traverse partition panels may interconnect the central partition panels of the medial partition structure and each of the opposed side and end walls of the carrier, thereby creating a plurality of article receiving cells on both sides of the medial partition structure. According to another feature of this aspect of the invention, said separating means may comprise openings formed in each of said top panel means to restrain movement of at least upper portions of said articles when present in the carrier. According to another feature of this aspect of the invention, said top panel means may comprise a pair of panels each integral but separable from said handle means and respective one of the opposed side walls. According to yet another feature of this aspect of the invention, each of the top panel means may substantially prevent removal of the articles from the open ends of the cells, until said top panel means have, at least partially, been detachable. According to yet a further feature of this aspect of the invention, said base may include panel means adapted substantially to close the bottom of the carrier after the carrier is loaded and wherein said base panel means includes at least one opening by which the carrier can be impaled upon a post providing article separation means in a shipping crate. In another aspect of the invention, there is a blank for forming an article carrier of the basket type comprises a single sheet of foldable material including panels for forming a base, opposed side and end wall panels, a medial partition structure, handle panels and panels for substantially closing the top of the carrier, said top closing panels being formed with openings through which portions of articles to be accommodated in the carrier can be exposed to view, characterised in that said top panel means is frangibly connected to said handle means and/or each of said side walls and in that said medial partition structure is formed from said side walls and/or end walls. According to a feature of this aspect of the invention, said handle means is detachably connected with said medial partition structure . According to another feature of this aspect of the invention, said detachable connection means may comprise hook means and a receiving aperture which co-act to provide detachable connection means. Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - FIGURE 1 is a plan view of an unfolded single blank of paperboard from which a basket carrier according to the invention is formed; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of an erected but unloaded bottle carrier formed from the blank shown in Figure 1 viewed from above and from one end; FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a loaded bottle carrier formed from the blank shown in Figure 1 shown from above and from one end; FIGURE 4 is plan view of a blank according to another embodiment; FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of an erected but unloaded bottle carrier formed from the blank shown in Figure 1 viewed from above and from one end; FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the hook and locking means illustrated in Figure 5; and FIGURE 7 is a plan view of a carton blank according to another embodiment . Referring to the drawings, and in particular to Figures 1 to 3 thereof, a bottle carrier is formed from a single blank 10 of paperboard or other suitable foldable sheet material and is adapted to accommodate six bottles arranged in two rows of three bottles each. The carrier comprises a first base panel 12 hingably connected along fold line 80 to first side panel 14. Two end panel structures 16, 18 are connected to opposed sides of side panel 14 along fold lines 82 and 84 respectively. End panel structure 16 comprises a bevelled corner panel 20, end panel 22 and a securing panel 24 hingably connected one to the next along fold lines 86 and 88 respectively. Upper and lower portions of bevelled corner panel 20 and end panel 22 are each interrupted by a medial partition structure 26. This structure 26 is struck from side panel 14, bevelled corner panel 20 and end panel 22 being hinged to side panel 14 along fold line 90 and hinged to securing tab 24 along fold line 88 being separated from the aforesaid panels by oppositely disposed cut lines 92, 94 extending between fold lines 88 and 90 respectively. Medial partition structure 26 comprises intermediate article support panel 28, traverse partition panel 30 and central partition panel 32 hingably connected one to the next along extensions of fold lines 82 and 86 respectively. Likewise, end panel structure 18, comprises a bevelled corner panel 34, end panel 36 and a securing panel 38 hingably connected one to the next along fold lines 96 and 98 respectively. Upper and lower portions of bevelled corner panel 34 and end panel 36 are each interrupted by a medial partition structure 40. This structure 40 is struck from side panel 14, bevelled corner panel 34 and end panel 36 being hinged to side panel 14 along fold line 100 and hinged to securing tab 38 along fold line 98 being separated from the aforesaid panels by oppositely disposed cut lines 102, 104 extending between fold lines 98 and 100 respectively. Medial partition structure 40 comprises intermediate article support panel 42, traverse partition panel 44 and central partition panel 46 hingably connected one to the next along extensions of fold lines 84 and 96 respectively. Support tabs 77 and 79 are formed from side panel 14 by cut lines 92, 102 and 94, 104 respectively. In a set up condition, tabs 77, 79 assist in providing support for the outer positioned articles . As shown in Figure 1, top panel 48 is frangibly connected to the upper edge of first side panel 14 along score line 106 and is frangibly connected to handle panel along its opposite edge by score line 108. Three neck apertures 110, 112, 114 are formed in adjacent positions from top panel 48. Each aperture 110, 112, 114 is adapted to receive a neck portion of an article when in a set up condition. A pair of handle support panels 52, 54 are disposed along opposite sides of handle panel being connected to the handle panel along fold lines 114 and 116 respectively. A handle aperture 120 is formed in a central portion of handle panel 50 and includes a tab 122 connected to the upper edge of the handle aperture along score line 124 and extending into the handle aperture 120. Handle panel 56, handle support panels 58, 60, top panel 62, medial partition structure 64, 66, second side panel 68, end panel structures 70, 72 and second base panel 74 are symmetrical about fold line 126 with handle panel 50, handle support panels 52, 54, top panel 48, medial partition structure 24, 40, first side panel 14, end panel structure 16, 18 and first base panel 12, whereby these panels are of similar construction and not therefore more specifically described. First base panel contains two locking tabs 126 positioned in the outer edge of the said base panel and two pairs of locking tabs 128 positioned along outer edge central position. The second base panel provides corresponding sockets 130 for the tabs on first base panel suitably positioned to facilitate locking together of first and second base panels when carton is set up. Optionally, apertures 132, 134 are struck from the intersections of fold lines 116, 126 and 118, 126 for ease of folding during the set up process. The construction of the completed carrier in a flat collapsed condition from the blank requires a series of sequential folding and gluing operations. Thus, handle support panels 52, 58 and 54, 60 are folded about fold lines 116, 118 respectively and secured into a face to face relationship with handle panels 50, 56. Securing panels 24, 38 is secured in a face to face relationship with central partition panel 32, 46 to form a part of a central internal structure of the carrier as a continuation of and beneath handle structure H illustrated in Figure 2. Likewise, the securing panels of end panel structures 70, 72 are foldably secured to corresponding central partition panels medial partition structure 64, 66 respectively. The blank is then folded about fold line 126 to bring those panels on either side of this fold line into a face to face relationship. Before this folding operation is effected, the securing panels from end panel structures 16, 18, 70, 72 and those parts of medial partition structures 26, 40, 64, 66 thus associated with the traverse partition panels respectively have adhesive (glue) applied to them so that those areas of the carrier are secured together when the fold about fold line 126 is completed. The carrier is then in a flat collapsed form from which it can be erected for loading. As illustrated in Figure 2, the carton is erected by moving side panels 14 and 16 away from each other in opposing directions. This facilitates the construction of individual cells. Thus, medial partition structure 26 is moved out of alignment with side panel 14, bevelled corner panel 20 and end panel 22 and are folded about fold lines 82 and 86 so that a cell is formed with panels 22 and 28 and panels 14 and 32 forming opposite sides of a cell. Similarly, medial partition structure 40 is moved out of alignment with side panel 14, bevelled corner panel 34 and end panel 36 such that a second cell is formed wherein panels 42 and 36, and panels 46 and 14 form sides of a cell. The construction of medial partition structures 64 and 66 is similar to corresponding medial partition panels 26 and 40 and therefore is not described in any further detail. Figure 2 shows the position of a medial partition structure when the carton is in a set up condition. The carton is then ready to receive articles A as shown in Figure 3, which are loaded by relative vertical movement between bottles and carrier during forward feed movement, well known in the art, by which bottles enter their respective cells through the open bottom of the carrier. Thereafter, first and second base panels 12, 74 are folded into a substantially perpendicular relationship with side panels 14, 68 respectively and the free edge of each base panel is then secured in an overlapping relationship to enable tabs 126 and 128 to lock with their corresponding sockets 130 to form the base of the carrier. Handle tabs 122 are folded about handle panel 50, 56 to further secure the handle panel structure H as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. Thereafter, the position of each of the top panels 48, 62 is relatively fixed. A second embodiment is described by referring to the drawings, and in particular to Figures 4 to 6 thereof, a bottle carrier is formed from a single blank 210 of paperboard or other suitable foldable sheet material and is adapted to accommodate six bottles arranged in two rows of three bottles each. The carrier comprises a first base panel 212 hingably connected along fold line 280 to first side panel 214. Two end panel structures 216, 218 are connected to opposed sides of side panel 214 along fold lines 282 and 284 respectively. End panel structure 216 comprises a bevelled corner panel 220, end panel 222 and a securing panel 224 hingably connected one to the next along fold lines 286 and 288 respectively. Upper and lower portions of bevelled corner panel 220 and end panel 222 are each interrupted by a medial partition structure 226. This structure 226 is struck from side panel 214, bevelled corner panel 220 and end panel 222 being hinged to side panel 214 along interrupted fold line 290 and hinged to securing tab 224 along fold line 288 being separated from the aforesaid panels by oppositely disposed cut lines 292, 294 extending between fold lines 388 and 390 respectively. Medial partition structure 226 comprises intermediate article support panel 236, traverse partition panel 238 and central partition panel 240 hingably connected one to the next along fold lines 283 and 285 respectively. Locking aperture 259 is struck from part of traverse partition panel 238 and central partition panel 232, being positioned in a central region to interrupt fold line 285. Likewise, end panel structure 218, comprises a bevelled corner panel 234, end panel 236 and a securing panel 238 hingably connected one to the next along fold lines 296 and 298 respectively. Upper and lower portions of bevelled corner panel 234 and end panel 236 are each interrupted by a medial partition structure 240. This structure 240 is struck from side panel 214, bevelled corner panel 234 and end panel 236 being hinged to side panel 214 along fold line 300 and hinged to securing tab 238 along fold line 298 being separated from the aforesaid panels by oppositely disposed cut lines 302, 304 extending between fold lines 298 and 300 respectively. Medial partition structure 240 comprises intermediate article support panel 242, traverse partition panel 244 and central partition panel 246 hingably connected one to the next along fold lines 305 and 306 respectively. Locking aperture 247 is struck from part of traverse partition panel 244 and central partition panel 246, being positioned in a central region to interrupt fold line 306. Support tabs 277 and 279 are formed from side panel 214 and extend into but separate from medial partition structure 226, 240 by cut lines 293, 295 respectively. In a set up condition, tabs 277, 279 assist in providing support for the outer positioned articles. As shown in Figure 4, top panel 248 comprises lower top panel 248a and upper top panel 248b being connected together by fold line 249. Thus, lower top panel 248a is frangibly connected to the upper edge of first side panel 214 along score line 307 and upper top panel 248b is frangibly connected to handle panel 250 along the top panel's opposite edge by score line 308. Three neck apertures 310, 312, 314 are formed in adjacent positions from top neck panel 248 and part of side panel 214. Each aperture 310, 312, 314 is adapted to receive a neck portion of an article when in a set up condition. Tabs 311, 313 are struck from score line 307, to assist with removal of the top panel when the carton is in use. A pair of handle support panels 252, 254 are disposed along opposite sides of handle panel being connected to the handle panel along fold lines 316 and 318 respectively. A handle aperture 320 is formed in a central portion of handle panel 250 and includes a tab 322 connected to the upper edge of the handle aperture along score line 324 and extending into the handle aperture 320. Hook panel 253 is attached to handle support panel 252 along the outer portion of its lower edge along fold line 255 with the hook portion being configured to face inwards towards the centre of the blank. Hook panel 253 is positioned adjacent to securing panel 224 but separated from it cut line 326. Likewise, hook panel 257 is attached to the oppositely positioned handle support panel 254 along fold line 259 with the hook portion being configured to face inwards towards the centre of the blank. Hook panel 257 is positioned adjacent to securing panel 224 but separated from it but line 328. Handle panel 256, handle support panels 258, 260, hook panels 259, 261, top panel 262, medial partition structure 264, 266, second side panel 268, end panel structures 270, 272 and second base panel 274 are symmetrical about fold lines 326 with handle panel 250, handle support panels 252, 254, hook panels 253, 257 top panel 248, medial partition structure 224, 240, first side panel 214, end panel structure 216, 218, and first base panel 212 whereby these panels are of similar construction and not therefore more specifically described. First base panel contains two locking tabs 328 positioned in the outer edge of the said base panel and two pairs of locking tabs 330 positioned along outer edge central position. The second base panel provides corresponding sockets 332 for the tabs on first base panel suitably positioned to facilitate locking together of first and second base panels when carton is set up. Optionally, apertures 334, 336 are struck from the intersections of fold lines 316, 326 and 318, 326 for ease of folding during the set up process. In this embodiment, crate support tabs 338 are provided in each base panel to locate the carton in a crate. The construction of the completed carrier in a flat collapsed condition from the blank requires a series of sequential folding and gluing operations. Thus, handle support panels 252, 258 and 254, 260 are folded about fold lines 316, 318 respectively and secured into a face to face relationship with handle panels 250, 256. Securing panels 224, 138 are then secured in a face to face relationship with central partition panels 232, 246 respectively to form part of a central internal structure of the carrier as a continuation of and beneath handle structure H illustrated in Figure 5. Likewise, the securing panels of end panel structures 270, 272 are foldably secured to corresponding central partition panels medial partition structure 264, 266 respectively. The blank is then folded about fold line 326 to bring those panels on either side of this fold line into a face to face relationship. Before this folding operation is effected, hook panels 253, 257, 259, 261, the securing panels from end panel structures 216, 218, 270, 272 and those parts of medial partition structures 226, 240, 264, 266 thus associated with the traverse partition panels respectively have adhesive (glue) applied to them so that those areas of the carrier are secured together when the fold about fold line 326 is completed. The carrier is then in a flat collapsed form from which it can be erected for loading. As illustrated in Figure 5, the carton is erected by moving side panels 214 and 216 away from each other in opposing directions. This facilitates the construction of individual cells. Thus, medial partition structure 226 is moved out of alignment with side panel 214, bevelled corner panel 220 and end panel 222 and are folded about fold lines 282 and 286 so that a cell is formed with panels 222 and 228 and panels 214 and 232 forming opposite sides of a cell. Similarly, medial partition structure is moved out of alignment with side panel 214, bevelled corner panel 234 and end panel 236 such that a second cell is formed wherein panels 242 and 236, and panels 246 and 214 form sides of a cell. The construction of medial partition structures 264 and 266 is similar to corresponding medial partition panels 226 and 240 and therefore is not described in any further detail. Figure 2 shows the position of a medial partition structure when the carton is in a set up condition. Hook panels 253, 259 and 257, 261 are lowered into position by lowering the handle structure H. The hooks are then inserted into their respective apertures 259, 247 as shown in Figure 6. The carton is then ready to receive articles (not shown) which are loaded by relative vertical movement between bottles and carrier during forward feed movement, well known in the art, by which bottles enter their respective cells through the open bottom of the carrier and bottles are inserted through the cells and neck apertures 310, 312, 314 thereby moving lower and upper top panels 248 and 262 out of alignment. Thereafter, first and second base panels 212, 274 are folded into a substantially perpendicular relationship with side panels 214, 268 respectively and the free edge of each base panel is then secured in an overlapping relationship to enable tabs 328 and 330 to lock with their corresponding sockets 332 to form the base of the carrier. Handle tabs 322 are folded about handle panel 250, 256 to further secure the handle panel structure H. Thereafter, the position of each of the top panels 248, 262 is relatively fixed. Figure 7 illustrates a third embodiment of the invention wherein the blank is substantially as described above. The major differences between this embodiment and the second embodiment are in the shape of the hook panels 402, 404 and in that slots 406, 408 replace the apertures 259,247 illustrated in the second embodiment. It is apparent that the blank is not symmetrical about central fold line C, for example hook panels 402, 404 and securing panels 410, 412 are positioned in one side of the blank only. The construction of the carton has likewise already been substantially described, although the end panels 414, 418 and 420, 422 are hingably connected to base panels 424, 426 respectively by means of pairs of gusset panels 430. Thus, when the base panels are folded, the additional step of folding and tucking the gusset panels is required. The present invention and its preferred embodiments relate to an article carrier which is shaped to provide satisfactory strength to hold the bottles securely but with a degree of flexibility so that the load transferred to the handle is absorbed by carrier. The shape of the blank minimises the amount of paperboard required. The carrier can be applied to an array of bottles by hand or automatic machinery. It is anticipated that the invention can be applied to a variety of carriers and not limited to those of the basket carrier type.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An article carrier of the basket type adapted to accommodate a plurality of articles, such as bottles, comprising a base, opposed side and end walls, an internal medial partition structure, handle means, and wherein top panel means is provided substantially to close the top of the carrier and to connect together said handle means and each of said side walls, said top panel means having separating means to separate adjacent articles when present in the carrier, wherein said top panel means is frangibly connected to said handle means and/or each of said side walls to facilitate removal of articles present in the carrier and wherein said medial partition structure is formed from said side walls and/or end walls. 2. An article carrier according to claim 1 wherein said medial partition structure is connected by detachable means to said handle means whereby the carrier can be re-used as a basket carrier and in that said top panel means is frangibly connected to said handle means and/or each of said side walls to facilitate removal of articles present in the carrier without destroying the integrity of said handle means . 3. An article carrier according to claim 2 wherein said detachable connection means comprise hook means and a receiving aperture which co-act to facilitate a detachable connection. 4. An article carrier according to any of claims 1 to 3 , wherein said medial partition structure is formed from said side and end walls and comprises integral transverse partition panels and central partition panels, wherein said transverse partition panels interconnect the central partition panels of the medial partition structure and each of the opposed side and end walls of the carrier, thereby - 18 - creating a plurality of article receiving cells on both sides of the medial partition structure. 5. An article carrier according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said separating means comprises openings formed in each of said top panel means to restrain movement of at least upper portions of said articles when present in the carrier. 6. An article carrier according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein said top panel means comprises a pair of panels each integral but separable from said handle means and a respective one of the opposed side walls. 7. An article carrier according any of claims 1 to 3 wherein each of said top panel means substantially prevents removal of the articles from the open ends of the cells, until said top panel means have, at least partially, been detached. 8. An article carrier according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein said base includes panel means adapted substantially to close the bottom of the carrier after the carrier is loaded and wherein said base panel means includes at least one opening by which the carrier can be impaled upon a post providing article separation means in a shipping crate. 9. A blank for forming an article carrier of the basket type comprises a single sheet of foldable material including panels for forming a base, opposed side and end wall panels, a medial partition structure, handle panels and panels for substantially closing the top of the carrier, said top closing panels being formed with openings through which portions of articles to be accommodated in the carrier can be exposed to view, characterised in that said top panel means is frangibly connected to said handle means and/or each of said side walls and in that said medial partition structure is formed from said side walls and/or end walls. 10. A blank according to claim 9 wherein said handle means is detachably connected with said medial partition structure. 11. A blank according to claim 10 wherein said detachable connection means comprises hook means and a receiving aperture which co-act to provide said detachable connection means. 12. An article carrier substantially as hereinbefore described by reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 or Figures 4 to 6 or Figure 7. 13. A blank for forming an article carrier substantially as hereinbefore described by reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 or Figures 4 to 6 or Figure 7.

Inventors: LE BRAS PHILIPPE, LE BRAS, PHILIPPE
Applicants: LE BRAS PHILIPPE, MEAD CORP, LE BRAS, PHILIPPE, THE MEAD CORPORATION
Application year: 1997
Main classification: B65D71
IPC codes: B65D71