Abstract:
A paperboard partitionless carrier is provided for containing filled beverage bottles. The carrier comprises a pair of spaced side walls joined by a pair of end walls to form a box structure which, in combination with a base, forms a tray which supports the bottles. The carrier also has bottle restraining means overlying and contacting the sealed necks of the bottles thereby preventing the bottles being opened and the bottles being extracted from the carrier without the material forming the carrier being visibly interfered with.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to paperboard carriers for use in packaging articles and, more particularly, sealed bottles containing a liquid, especially, a beverage such as beer or soft drinks. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Carriers are secondary containers which are widely used in the beverage industry to facilitate transporting beverages such as soda and beer packaged in primary containers, usually cans and bottles. Many carriers are of the fully enclosed type, that is the carrier totally encloses the primary containers is one such container shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,554,402. Carriers of this type provide, inter alia, protection for the beverage against possible adverse effects of light and also security against product tampering since it can readily be noticed if the secondary package has been interfered with in order to gain access to one of the enclosed primary containers. However many carriers especially those which accommodate bottles, are what are known as “basket carriers” which are generally fully open at the top thereby exposing the bottles which are supported from below and, generally, each bottle has its own compartment or cell. If such a carrier is tipped, it is possible for one or more of the bottles to fall out moreover since some or all of the bottles may be extracted and re-inserted without leaving any indication, this could pose a security risk as far as possible tampering of product is concerned. Examples of such cartons are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,721,001 and 4,319,682. Another type of carrier is called a “wrap-around” since it is formed by folding a strip of material around a number of bottles and its ends are then secured to form a sleeve enclosing the bottles. The ends of the package may be open and this can cause various problems and, in particular, bottles may be relatively easily dislodged or extracted from the package without the package material being noticeably changed. A carrier of this type is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,027. The loss of a bottle from the pack and thereby loss of a sale of the unit is a problem but also there is a possible lack of security in that there is increased risk that an extracted bottle may be deliberately tampered with and returned to the package leaving no indication it has happened. 
     Unlike cans, conventional beverage bottles are typically of substantially the same diameter from the base to the midsection or shoulder and then tape into a smaller diameter neck. This design allows a bottle to be relatively readily eased out of the carrier vertically or horizontally and, to some extent, it can be angled as it exists a cell or the sleeve. 
     The question of product integrity is of increasing concern especially in view of the increased use of bottle closures which, for convenience, are more easily removed and without obvious visible signs and can be re-applied more evenly than for example, the traditional “crimped on” crown closures. Traditionally applied crown using crimped-on crowns or capsules has rendered each individual bottle somewhat secure. As indicated, closed carriers by their nature also guard against this possibility. 
     However, it is highly desirable in the beverage industry in some instances to use a package which provides that substantial portions of the bottled beverage are exposed to the consumer. This allows the consumer to see the neck and the whole or part of the body label which, in combination with the bottle colour and shape, are esthetically pleasing. The ability to do this is considered very important by marketters since a distinctly shaped bottle, perhaps in combination with colour and design elements, associated with the product, can readily and immediately impart the desired message of product identification to the consumer. 
     In addition, there are a number of situations when it is necessary or desirable to produce retail packages of beverages by hand, for example, to produce four-packs of beer in small amounts for special promotions or in small amounts which are not produced economically on present day high volume equipment. 
     It is an objective of the present invention to provide a carrier for filled and sealed beverage bottles which carrier provides easier visual access to the bottles whilst rendering removal and reinsertion of a bottle from a filled carrier without leaving a visible indication thereof very difficult. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide simple an inexpensive bottle carrier which can easily be filled manually and which provides wide visual exposure to the enclosed bottles and the associated graphics and other indicia carried thereon. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a bottle carrier which includes a tray-like base which can support a complement of filled and sealed bottles which, in combination with a bottle restraining system, which can comprise one or more straps which overlies each bottle and prevents each bottle top from being accessed, and each bottle from being extracted from the carrier, without the carrier being damaged in a manner which is readily visible. The restraining system is also designed to allow wide visual expose to the bottles. The carrier can readily and inexpensively be produced in one piece and manually filled rapidly and easily. 
     The carrier of the invention lends itself to use with small numbers of bottles for example six or less but especially four or less. The circumference defined by the side and end walls is chosen so that, when the full complement of bottles is placed in the carrier, they are held tightly and essentially precluded from moving laterally. 
     The height of the side or end walls may vary provided, of course, it fills the required function namely, prevents lateral movement of the bottles. It is preferably less than half the height and especially less than one third of the bottles to be enclosed in the carrier. In this way, a significant proportion of the enclosed bottles and indicia and the like they carry are able to be viewed. 
     The bottle restraining means is preferably a strap extending from a side wall or end wall in combination with a panel or panels which overlies or overlie the sealed openings of bottles in the carrier. For convenience, a single panel overlying all the bottles is preferred but this is not essential. For example, in a carrier for four bottles arranged in two rows of two, there might be two narrow top panels, each overlying two bottles, the top panels being maintained in position by one strap connected to opposing side walls or end walls or two pairs of straps, each pair maintaining one top panel in place. 
     Each bottle is restrained by engaging means on the top panel, the means being, for example, a cut-out or a “dome” or bulge in the material which receives a bottle top preventing unsealing of the bottle unless the restraint is visibly tampered with. Essentially, the bottle would need to be removed from the carrier and the system ensures this is not possible with irreparably damaging the carrier. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
     In one aspect the present invention provides a paperboard carrier for sealed beverage bottles said carrier comprising: a pair of spaced substantially parallel side walls; a pair of spaced end walls connected to ends of said side walls to form a preferably rectangular continuous perimeter member; a base member connected to a lower edge said side and/or end walls so as to form a tray member to support the bottles and maintain adjacent bottles in contact; and bottle restraining means comprising a strap member extending from an upper edge of each side wall or each end wall away from the base member to a top member which overlies and contacts each sealed bottle opening, each said strap members having a width less than a length of its associated side wall or end wall, said bottle restraining means being adapted, in combination with said base to engage and prevent unsealing of a little when in, and extraction of a bottle from, the filled carrier without causing visible change, and in particular, damage, to the carrier. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a paperboard carrier for four sealed beverage bottles, said carrier comprising; a pair of spaced substantially parallel side walls; a pair of spaced substantially parallel end walls connected to ends of said side walls to form a rectangular perimeter; a base member connected to said side and/or end walls so as to form a tray member to support the bottles; and bottle restraining means comprising a strap member extending from an upper edge of each side wall or each end wall away from the base member to a member which overlies and contacts each sealed bottle opening, each said strap members having a width less than a length of its associated side or end wall, said bottle restraining means being adapted, in combination with said base to engage and prevent unsealing of a bottle in, and extraction of a bottle from, the filled carrier without causing visible change, and in particular, damage, to the carrier. 
     In another aspect, the invention provides a one piece blank for producing the carrier of the invention. 
     The present invention further provides a retail beverage pack comprising a carrier of the invention containing a full compliment of sealed bottles filled with a beverage and sealed. Finally, according to the present invention, there is provided a retail beverage package including a paperboard carrier comprising a pair of spaced substantially parallel side walls; a pair of spaced end walls connected to ends of said side walls to form a continuous perimeter; a base member connected to a lower edge of said side walls or end walls so as to form a tray member which supports a full complement of whose openings are sealed bottles filled with a beverage and which maintains immediately adjacent bottles in contact and bottle restraining means comprising a strap member extending from an upper edge of each side wall or end wall to a top member which overlies and contacts a sealed opening of each bottle, each of such strap members having a width less than a length of it&#39;s associated side wall or end wall, said bottle restraining means being adapted in combination with said base to engage and prevent unsealing of a bottle in and extraction of a bottle from, said carrier without causing visible change such as damage, to the carrier. 
    
    
     Other advantages and objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. 
     In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a carrier according to the invention for use to contain four beer bottles; 
     FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the carrier of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view from above of the carrier of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of the base of the carrier of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view of a carrier blank according to the present invention as initially found; and 
     FIG. 6 is a plan view of the blank of FIG. 5 partially assembled and in the “knocked down” or “flat” condition ready, following set-up, to received full bottles. 
    
    
     Turning to the FIGS., the carrier of the present invention, generally designated  10 , has opposing side panels or walls  12  and opposing end panels or walls  14 . Extending upwards from upper edge  16  of side panel  12 , over and contacting the crowns  18  sealing bottles  20 , to the upper edge  16  of the opposing side wall  12  is bottle restraining member generally designated  22 . The latter comprises arms or straps  24  and top  26 . Cut out of arms  24  at about their juncture with top  26  are V-shaped cut-outs  28 , the width of the base of the V being chosen to allow entry of and engage part of the crown  18  of an enclosed bottle  20 . Bottle restraining member  22  is tightly drawn over the bottles  20  as can be shown by the fact the arms  24  are angled from the vertical to take into account the fact the bottle shoulders are narrower than the bottle neck. It will be appreciated that the interior height from the base to the top of the bottle-retaining member is carefully chosen to ensure that this tight fit occurs. As a consequence, the crowns  18  are securely engaged within cutouts  28 . 
     The base  30 , refer FIG. 4 is made up of two straps  32 , each extending from the lower edge  34  and of an associated side panel  14 . The straps  32  being shown slightly displaced i.e. out of exact register. As can be seen, the base formed by members  32  does not extend across the full area of the carrier but leaves parts of the base area open leaving a part of each of the four enclosed bottles visible. However the base  30  formed by members  32  contacts a sufficient amount of each bottle to support them maintain that they are in contact with the carrier top  26 . Where the straps  32  overlap, they are secured via an adhesive not visible. It should be noted that the interior of the carrier is not divided into cells or compartments. Immediate adjacent the bottles fit snugly with immediately adjacent bottles being in contact with each other and consequently all are unable to move. In the four pack shown, diagonally related bottles do not contact each other. As a consequence of the combination of the secure engagement of each crown  18  in an associated cut-out  28  and the bodies of the bottles essentially being immobilized by the side walls/end walls/base combination, each crown  18  cannot be removed from the carrier without tearing of the carrier material. Moreover, a major portion of each bottle is clearly visible. Turning to FIG. 5, this shows a one piece blank, generally designated  50 , which comprises an elongate panel  52  carrying along one edge, glue tab  54 . Tab  54  can be secured via an adhesive to the other side of panel  52  adjacent edge  56  to form the formed flat carrier ready for use. Panel  52  provides the two side walls  12  and two end walls  14  although such walls are not specifically delineated via hinge lines, lines of weakness or the like. 
     Extending perpendicularly from one edge  58  of panel  52  are two strips  59  which when secured together in an overlapping relationship form the bottle support base member. Also extending perpendicularly from panel  52  but from its edge  60  are two strap members  62 , each of which carries at another and opposite edge part top member  64 . Each member  64  is provided with two V-shaped cutouts  28 , one for each bottle to be contained within the four-bottle carrier. One part top member  64  is provided with a tab  66  which, in combination with adhesive, allows the two part top members  64  to be seamed together to complete formation of top member  26  in the set up carrier. It will be noted that in this embodiment, one base strip  58  and one strap  62  extend from edges  58  and  60  of panel  52  and directly opposite each other. In fact the area directly between each pair of straps  58  and  62  will constitute an end wall in the set-up carrier whilst the panel area between those side wall areas will constitute one end panel, the other will be formed by the securing of tab  54  to the (not shown) side of panel  52  adjacent edge  56 . 
     Essentially, to convert the blank  50  to the flat version shown in FIG. 6, the manufacturer applies adhesive to the shaded areas of tabs  54  and  66 ; these tabs are rotated about their respective hinge lines  55  and  67  and the panel  52  is bent and rotated above line  52  so as to have the glued areas of tabs  54  and  66  lie against the other sides of panel  52  adjacent edge  56  and part top member  62  adjacent edge  65  of the other part top member  62 . The end result is shown in FIG.  6 . Note that the panel  52  has been converted into a continuous loop of board. Also the two-part top members  64  are now joined to form the complete top member  26 . It should be noted that the two base strips  59  are not joined to each other. 
     To set-up the carrier and prepare the retail beverage package of the present invention, the flat carrier as shown in FIG. 6 is squeezed in the direction of the arrows. This action opens the flattened loop consisting of the side walls and end walls and, simultaneously separates and spaces the strap  62  and form the top  26 . The so prepared carrier is then inverted and filled with a full complement of four sealed bottles containing the desired beverage, the bottles being in an inverted orientation at that time. Finally, adhesive to one surface of a strip  59  which will abut a surface of the other base strip  59  bottom folded when over in sequence about the line of attachment to their associated side wall edge  58  so as to overlie—refer FIG.  4 —and become secured together. It is important that strip  59  is pulled tightly so as to contact the bottoms of the bottles prior to the strips being secured together to ensure that a part of each sealed bottle top which is seated in its associated cut-out  28  cannot disengage because the bottles cannot move sufficiently from the top  26 . This makes the extradition of a bottle without effecting visible change, especially damage, the material of the carrier as difficult as possible. Further, it would be clear if an attempt had been made to open and reseal a bottle in the carrier. 
     The one-piece blank  50  is made of paperboard namely regular carton board obtained from Mead Packaging Company, Canada. It may be noted that using this type of relatively flexible paperboard, the side and end walls will automatically conform to the shape of the bottles as they are inserted into the erected carrier and retain same in a tightly bunched contacting relationship. There is no need to provide lines of weakness, score lines or the like. 
     The height of the side walls  12  and end walls  14  is critical only insofar as, when the carrier is erected, there is a “tray” formed by the said walls and the base which tightly holds the bottles together when held in place in the “tray” by the bottle retaining member  24  preventing bottle movement sideward away from the base  32 . As described above, movement upwardly from the base is also prevented upon the base being formed from strips  59 . The blank is conveniently formed by cutting in the usual manner from a single sheet of paperboard. Subsequently sealing using a regular adhesive of tabs  54  and  66  complete formation of the side and end wall perimeter and the bottle restraining strap  62  and top  26  respectively. The collapsed blank is provided to the customer in that condition. The filled carrier is then turned over so as to lie in its normal orientation with the contents resting on the secured bottom strips  59  forming the base  32 . It may be left in this condition for a period to ensure the adhesive fully sets. Obviously, the type of adhesive (eg. hot melt adhesives are common in this field) used would dictate the period required to form the desired bond between the various secured board members and this would be readily apparent to one skilled in the art. 
     The present invention has been described in detail with respect to beverages. However it will be appreciated that the carrier can be used to advantage with respect to primary containers containing other liquids etc. where similar concerns exist. 
     It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.