Abstract:
Embodiments of the present invention provide a carrier that is designed to hold a plurality of beverages, such as but not limited to cans or bottles. In some embodiments, the carrier is designed to also serve as a cooler. For example, the cans or bottles may be loaded into the carrier when the top is opened. Due to the shape and/or configuration of the carrier, the carrier has ample room for not only the beverages, but also ice when in the opened position. As such, the carrier is configured to be a one-time or multi-use cooler.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/802,843, filed Mar. 18, 2013, titled “Cooler Carrier,” the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to a carrier designed to hold and carry a plurality of containers. The carrier can be opened and expanded such that it provides ample room to hold not only the beverages, but to also hold ice and to serve as a cooler. This allows the carrier to be used to contain and transport beverages, and to also serve a one-time (or multi-use) cooler once the carrier has been opened and the carrying function is no longer needed. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Packaging for beverages may play a role in a consumer&#39;s purchasing choice. One example has recently been seen in the beer beverage industry. For example, bottles have been marketed with labels that indicate when the beverage is chilled, with bottle mouths having certain shapes to encourage smooth passage of the beverage from the bottle to the consumer, and with improved bottle caps, among others. 
         [0004]    However, improvements to the actual packaging of the beverages is also desired. For example, if a particular consumer is undecided as to what type of beer to buy, but sees an attractive feature provided by the packaging of one brand of beer, the consumer may be more likely than not to purchase the beer with the attractive packaging. Additionally, consumers loyal to a particular brand may be pleased to see innovative packaging and become even more loyal. This can also be the case for packaging for sodas, juices, water, sparkling water, sports drinks, and any other kinds of beverages or other bottled or canned goods. 
         [0005]    Beverages are typically packaged and sold in paperboard boxes that are formed as a square or rectangular-shaped box around the beverages contained therein. One end of the package may be opened and the user may remove the desired number of beverages contained therein. However, it is desirable to provide more creative packaging options. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Disclosed is a carrier that is designed to hold a plurality of beverages, such as but not limited to cans or bottles. In some embodiments, the carrier is designed to also serve as a cooler. For example, the cans or bottles may be loaded into the carrier when the top is opened. Due to the shape and/or configuration of the carrier, the carrier has ample room for not only the beverages, but also ice when in the opened position. As such, the carrier is configured to be a one-time or multi-use cooler. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  shows a side perspective view of one embodiment of a carrier in a closed position. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  shows the carrier of  FIG. 1  in an opened configuration, in which ice may be added to chill the containers being contained and carried by the cooler carrier. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  shows a top plan view of one embodiment of a blank that may be used to create a cooler carrier. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  shows a top perspective view of one embodiment of a cooler carrier as it is having glue flaps secured to the front and back wall panels. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  shows a top perspective view of one embodiment of a cooler carrier as the inwardly foldable panels are being folded inwardly. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  shows a side perspective view of one embodiment of a cooler carrier as the inwardly foldable panels are being folded inwardly, and showing the middle face panel. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  shows a top perspective view of one embodiment of a cooler carrier as the inwardly foldable panels are folded more tightly inward. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  shows a side perspective view of one embodiment of a cooler carrier as the inwardly foldable panels are folded inward, just prior to sealing the front and back wall panels to one another. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of how a cooler carrier may be prepared for packaging. 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  shows a perspective view of a cooler carrier being loaded with containers and having the inwardly foldable panels folded inwardly. 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  shows a side perspective view of a cooler carrier being opened along a perforated edge. Once expanded, the cooler carrier of  FIG. 11  will generally resemble the configuration of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an improved packaging system that results in a carrier that can be converted to a cooler upon opening. As shown in  FIG. 1 , in some embodiments, the carrier  10  has a generally triangular (from a side view) or pyramidal (from a perspective view) shape when in the shipping configuration shown. The carrier  10  is shown having a body portion  12  that is formed from a front wall panel  14 , a back wall panel  16 , and a base panel  18 . The sides of the carrier  10  are formed from two gusseted side portions  20 , one on either side of the carrier  10 . 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , when the carrier  10  is opened, the gusseted sides  20  of the carrier  10  open to elongate the carrier into a suitable shape with an interior  22  for storing the beverages and/or added ice. 
         [0020]    One embodiment of a blank  24  that may be used to form such a carrier  10  is shown in  FIG. 3 . It should be understood, however, that other blank shapes and designs may be used to form a cooler carrier design that may fall within the scope of the claims. The blank  24  is shown as having a series of dotted lines, which represent either pre-creased fold lines and/or small perforations. These may be score lines, fold lines, lines of weakness, or other features that ease the folding process. In some instances, scores, which may be lines of weaknesses or area where the blank has been thinned from pressing or rolling or cutting, may be provided to keep the blank from cracking or being difficult to create a fold between panels during assembly. The material may be generally corrugated paperboard, laminated paperboard, or any other material suitable for containing and storing items in a container-like structure. 
         [0021]    Referring now specifically to the embodiment of the blank  24  shown in  FIG. 3 , there is provided a front wall panel  14 , a back wall panel  16 , and an base panel  18  therebetween. Pre-creased fold lines  26  may be provided to divide the panels from one another and to ease erection of the carrier  10 . Each of the front wall panel  14  and the back wall panel  16  may have a base-contacting edge  28  and an upper edge  30 . The upper edge  30  may generally feature a securement flap  32 . In a specific embodiment, one (or both) of the securement flaps may have a double-faced adhesive  34 , with one face of the adhesive secured to the securement flap  32  and a removable strip on the other face that can be removed for the securement flap  32  of one panel to be secured to the securement flap  32  of another panel. 
         [0022]    The upper edge  30  may also feature a handle-shaped opening  36  at or near the upper edge. The handle-shaped opening  36  is generally formed as a curved cut out-portion  38  and a creased fold line  40 . To erect the carrier  10 , the front and back wall panels  14 ,  16  are drawn toward one another. The curved cut out portion  38  of the handle-shaped opening  36  can be pushed away from the panels to provide a carrying opening  42  on the carrier, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0023]    Referring back to  FIG. 3 , the blank  24  also has two side gusseted portions  20 . Only one of the side gusseted portions  20  is described in detail here, but it should be understood that the other side gusseted portion  20  has like elements with like reference numerals. In a specific embodiment, the side gusseted portion  20  is formed from nine panels. When the carrier is closed, only a middle face panel  52  is viewable and the remainder of the panels are folded inwardly, out of view. When the carrier  10  is opened, one or more of the remaining panels can expand open in order to provide a carrier with increased interior space  22 . 
         [0024]    In the embodiment shown, two of the left-most panels form a first and second glue flap panels  44 ,  46 . The first glue flap panel  44  can be glued to the front wall panel  14 . The second glue flap panel  46  can be glued to the first glue flap panel  44 . One example of the gluing of the glue panels is illustrated by  FIG. 4 . It should be understood that it may be possible to design a blank  24  that does not have such glue flap panels  44 ,  46 . This may be done by, e.g., providing the blank in more than one piece and gluing separate panels to one another. Other options are possible. However, it has been found that the embodiment described and shown can save material and time by providing a flat one-piece blank with such glue flap panels. 
         [0025]    The next two panels on the blank  24  are inwardly foldable panels  48 ,  50 . As shown in  FIGS. 5-9 , the first inwardly foldable panel  48  can folded against the second glue flap panel  46  and against the second inwardly foldable panel  50 . A side view of this folding is shown in  FIG. 8 . The next panel is the middle panel  52 . This is actually the only one of the side panels that is viewable when the carrier  10  is in its closed configuration (as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 8 ). The remainder of the panels are folded into the carrier  10 . 
         [0026]    The next two panels form a second set of inwardly foldable panels  54 ,  56 . The third inwardly foldable panel  54  can be folded against the fourth inwardly foldable panel  56 , as shown in FIGS. and  8 . When the carrier  10  is in the closed configuration, the second inwardly foldable panel  50  and the third inwardly foldable panel  54  abut one another. The final set of panels is a second set of glue flap panels  58 ,  60  formed as the right-most panels. The fourth glue flap panel  60  can be glued to the back wall panel  16 . The third glue flap panel  58  can be glued to the fourth glue flap panel  60 . A partially assembled figure of the carrier showing glue flaps  44 ,  46 ,  58 ,  60  secured to one another and the front and back panels is shown in  FIG. 5 . The nine panels that form the gusseted side portions  20  are generally separated from one another via pre-formed crease lines  26 , which allow easy assembly of the carrier  10  once it has been loaded with product. The panels may also have one or more perforated portions along the crease lines  26  that ease folding. A perforated edge  66  may also be provided along one of the front or back wall panels  14 ,  16  or both, in order to ease opening of the carrier  10 . 
         [0027]    Assembly of the carrier is shown in  FIGS. 4-10 . First, the blank  24  may be printed with the desired colors and graphics, die-cut, and pre-folded along the desired pre-formed crease lines  26 . These steps may occur in any desired order. The front and back wall panels  14 , 16  are folded up and away from the base panel  18 . The glue flaps  44 ,  46  and  58 ,  60  of the gusseted side portions  20  may be folded and panels  44  and  46  glued to one another, panels  58  and  60  glues to one another, and then the left-most panel  44  and the right-most panel  60  may be glued to the front and back wall panels  14 ,  16 , respectively. This provides a basic shape of the carrier as it will be provided in the open position. One example of this is shown in  FIG. 4 . An inner tray  62  may then be placed against the base panel  18 . One embodiment of an inner tray  62  shown in position against the base panel  18  is illustrated by  FIG. 5 . The inner tray  62  is provided to hold and support beverages or other items to be contained within carrier  10 . For example, in one embodiment, beverage bottles may be laid end-to-end in the inner tray  62  and stacked in a pyramidal shape so that the folding of the carrier over the beverage bottles can be accomplished. Examples are shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
         [0028]    Once the carrier  10  has been loaded, the gusseted side portions  20  may be folded inwardly. In a specific embodiment, the inwardly foldable panels  48 ,  50  are folded inwardly and inwardly foldable panels  54 ,  56  are folded inwardly. The two sets of inwardly foldable panels abut one another, as shown in  FIG. 10 . This folding causes the middle face panel  52  to form the side of the carrier  10  and to be the only side panel that is viewable when the carrier  10  is closed. Once the gusseted side portions  20  are folded such that the middle face panel  52  will be the only panel visible from the side, the front and back wall panels  14 ,  16  are secured to one another in order to effect securement of the carrier  10  in a closed position. 
         [0029]    In one embodiment, the front and back wall panels  14 ,  16  may be secured to one another via a double-faced or double-sided tape  34 . In another embodiment, they may be glued to one another, heat sealed to one another, or secured via any other appropriate method. The general concept is that bringing together of the front and back wall panels  14 ,  16  creates a pyramid-like shape for the carrier  10  (or a triangular shape from the side view). Once the panels  14 ,  16  are secured to one another, the handle/carrying opening  42  can be formed by pressing the curved cut-out portions  38  of each panel  14 ,  16  (which now abut one another) to one side. 
         [0030]    Once the carrier  10  has been delivered to its desired location and is ready for opening, a user may tear along the perforated edge  66 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . Perforated edge  66  is shown as being located on the back wall panel  16  in  FIG. 3 , but it should be understood that it may be positioned on the front wall panel  14 , or other than at the top of one of these panels. One benefit of positioning the perforated edge  66  near the upper edge  30  of one of these panels is that the graphics on the entire panel are not destroyed upon opening, and the integrity of the interior space  22  can be maintained for use of the carrier  10  as a cooler, as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0031]    For example, in some embodiments, the carrier blank  24  may have promotional or other graphics printed thereon so that the carrier  10  also serves as a promotional cooler. In one specific example, the graphic on middle face panel  52  may be designed so that it meets up visually with the graphics at the edge of the front and back wall panels  14 ,  16 . However, the graphics on the remainder of the gusseted side wall  20  panels that are viewable when the carrier  10  is opened may also be designed to visually flow with the middle panel  52 , as well as the front and back wall panels  14 ,  16 . In one specific embodiment, the graphics can depict a cold scene, such as mountains or snow. Once opened, the design may be such that the carrier looks like an avalanche occurred and the consumer can add ice so the carrier serves as a cooler. In another specific embodiment, the graphics can depict a warm scene, such as a beach or pool. 
         [0032]    The design can be carried as a “purse” in some embodiments. In one aspect, larger handle-shaped openings may be provided than those shown in the figures. 
         [0033]    It is also possible to provide the carrier with an internal coating to render the carrier resistant to leakage when containing ice. For example, the internal coating may be a laminated layer, a chemical treatment, or any other coating. It is also possible to package the carrier with an internal plastic bag so that the bag can be laid in the interior of the carrier once opened and contain any ice that may be added. 
         [0034]    Changes and modifications, additions and deletions may be made to the structures and methods recited above and shown in the drawings without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention and the following claims. For example, although the carrier is shown as forming a generally pyramid-like shape in the closed position, one or more additional panels may be added to create a more traditional box-shaped container/carrier. Although nine panels are shown to form the gusseted side portions, it should be understood that fewer or more panels may be used. It has been found that the panels fold inwardly in a particularly desirable way when the panels are formed as having a triangular shape. However, it is possible for the side panels to have varied shapes. Other modifications that re within the scope of the following claims may be possible.