Abstract:
The present invention relates a carrier comprising: (a) a bottom wall; (b) two sidewalls; and (c) a top wall having a first edge that forms an edge of at least one collapsible tab when the tab is uncollapsed and a second edge that forms an edge of at least one other collapsible tab when the tab is uncollapsed, wherein the collapsible tabs are adapted to collapse downward and fold inward and out of the plane of the top wall. 
     The carrier of the present invention provides a grasping and handling feature which eliminates the formation of concentrated stress areas while providing a comfortable grip for the consumer.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention generally relates to a carrier for bottles, cans or the like, more specifically, to a multi-pack wrap-around carrier having a gripping feature. The gripping feature of the subject invention eliminates the formation of stress concentration areas, creates carrier handling strength and provides a comfortable grip feature for the consumer. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Groups of articles, such as bottles and cans, are commonly packaged and sold in multi-pack carriers. Typically, the carrier is formed from a blank of paperboard or similar foldable sheet material, which is then wrapped around the group of articles. The carton generally comprises two sidewalls foldably connected to a top wall and a bottom wall. The ends of the carton are left open. To stabilize the articles within the carton, the sidewalls can contain openings adjacent the top wall for receiving a portion of the tops of the articles and openings adjacent the bottom wall for receiving a portion of the base of the articles. 
     A common concern with existing multi-pack carriers is the need to create a comfortable grip that will also eliminate the formation of stress concentration areas which cause a carton to tear under the weight of the articles. Such cartons may contain finger holes in the top panel for lifting and carrying the carton by the thumb and a finger. One problem associated with carrying the carton in this fashion is the tendency of the carton to tear at or near the finger holes due to the concentration of stress. Alternatively, such cartons may lack finger holes, in which case the carton is picked-up and carried by the flat edges of the top wall of the carton. There are at least two problems with carrying the carton in this fashion. The first problem is the tendency of the corners of the carton to tear due to formation of stress concentration areas at or near the corners of the carton. The second problem is that carrying the carton by the flat edges of the top wall is awkward and uncomfortable. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a carrier with a grasping and handling feature which eliminates the formation of concentrated stress areas while providing a comfortable grip for the consumer. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a carrier comprising: (a) a bottom wall; (b) two sidewalls; and (c) a top wall having a first edge that forms an edge of at least one collapsible tab when the tab is uncollapsed and a second edge that forms an edge of at least one other collapsible tab when the tab is uncollapsed, wherein the collapsible tabs are adapted to collapse downward and fold inward and out of the plane of the top wall. 
     The present invention also relates to a method for grasping a carrier comprising providing a carrier comprising: (a) a bottom wall; (b) two sidewalls; and (c) a top wall having a first edge that forms an edge of at least one collapsible tab when the tab is uncollapsed and a second edge that forms an edge of at least one other collapsible tab when the tab is uncollapsed, wherein the collapsible tabs are adapted to collapse downward and fold inward and out of the plane of the top wall; and collapsing the tabs by applying pressure to the tabs. 
     Other aspects, objects and advantages of the present invention will be understood from the following description according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, specifically including stated and unstated combinations of the various features which are described herein, relevant information concerning which is shown in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the course of this description, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a carrier of the present invention, shown containing four filled bottles, the carrier being in a shelf display state; 
         FIG. 2  is an end elevation plan view of the carrier illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevation plan view of the carrier illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the carrier illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the carrier illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the carrier illustrated in  FIG. 1  being grasped by a thumb and finger; 
         FIG. 7  is an end elevation plan view of  FIG. 1  after the tabs have been collapsed; 
         FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the carrier shown in  FIG. 1  after the tabs have been collapsed; and 
         FIG. 9  is a top planar view of the carrier shown in  FIG. 1  prior to folding. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     For simplification in describing the current invention, the articles contained in the carrier will generally be described as bottles  12 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , carrier  10  comprises top wall  14 , sidewalls  16  and  18 , and bottom wall  24 . Carrier  10  can be any packaging material deemed appropriate for the packaging challenge at hand. Examples of materials useful in the present invention include paper, corrugated paper and fiber board. Corrugated paper is preferably used. Preferably, carrier  10  has a first open end and a second open end. Carrier  10  is preferably wrapped around at least a portion of bottles  12 . 
     Sidewalls  16  and  18  may be foldably connected to top wall  14  by fold lines  20  and  22 . Sidewalls  16  and  18  may also be foldably connected to bottom wall  24  by fold lines  26  and  28 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , sidewall  16  may be divided into upper sidewall  30  by score line  36 . Sidewall  16  can be divided into main sidewall  32  by score lines  36  or  38 . Additionally, sidewall  16  can be divided into lower sidewall  34  by score line  38 . Sidewall  18  may be divided into upper sidewall  40  by score line  46 . Sidewall  18  may be divided into main sidewall  42  by score lines  46  or  48 . Additionally, sidewall  18  can be divided into lower sidewall  44  by score line  48 . Score lines  36 ,  38 ,  46  and  48  can be formed by any method known in the art. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , upper sidewalls  30  and  40  may also include openings  50  located adjacent top wall  14 . Openings  50  can be any shape but preferably are in the shape of a semi-circle. Openings  50  may take on the form of a truncated crescent when viewed from above, such as is shown in  FIGS. 4 and 8 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , closures  13  on the bottles  12  may protrude through openings  50 . Additionally, lower sidewalls  34  and  44  may include one or more openings  52  substantially adjacent bottom wall  24 . Openings  52  can be any shape but preferably are in the shape of a semi-circle. Openings  52  may take on the form, when viewed from below as in  FIG. 5 , of truncated crescents. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 2 , base  15  of each bottle  12  may protrude through each respective opening  52 . Main sidewalls  32  and  42  may contain one or more slit(s)  54 . “Slits” generally refers to a cut or otherwise open portion of carrier  10 . Slits  54  preferably extend transversely of score lines  38  and  48 . Additionally, slits  54  preferably bisect at least one opening  52 . Slits  54  allow for variation in the size of the bottles  12  to be packaged and/or accommodate bottles with outwardly tapering bottom sidewalls of the type illustrated in the drawings. The purpose of this arrangement is to stabilize the bottles  12  and hold them in place. Slits  54  can be formed in the carrier by any method known in the art. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , bottom wall  24  of carrier  10  can be formed by connecting bottom wall sections  23  and  25 . For example, bottom wall  24  can be formed by Mechanically locking and counter-locking together sections  23  and  25 . Bottom wall section  23  can include apertures  56  which receive and mechanically interlock with tabs  58  (shown in  FIG. 9 ) protruding from bottom wall section  25 . Slits  60  located in section  25  then receive a portion  62  of section  23  to form a counter-lock which prevents tabs  58  from disengaging apertures  56 . It should be understood that, although the mechanical interlocking mechanism described sufficiently connects the sections to form the bottom panel, any arrangement for suitably forming the bottom wall could be used. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , top wall  14  comprises at least two collapsible tabs  64  and  64 A. “Collapsible” tabs refer to a portion or portions of carrier  10  capable of collapsing or folding under stress. Stress that is applied can be in the form of force, weight or pressure. Collapsible tab  64  is formed from a first edge  65  of top wall  14 . Preferably, collapsible tab  64  is located at an edge of top wall  14  substantially adjacent a first open end of carrier  14 . Collapsible tab  64  preferably extends inwardly from a first edge  65  of top wall  14 . Collapsible tab  64  is adapted to collapse downward and fold inward and out of the plane of top wall  14 . 
     Collapsible tab  64 A is formed from a second edge  65  of top wall  14 . Preferably, collapsible tab  64 A is located at an edge of top wall  14  substantially adjacent a second open end of carrier  14 . Collapsible tab  64 A preferably extends inwardly from a second edge  65  of top wall  14 . Collapsible tab  64 A is adapted to collapse downward and fold inward and out of the plane of top wall  14 . 
     Preferably, collapsible tabs  64  and  64 A include at least two non-adjacent portions adapted to collapse downward and fold inward and out of the plane of top wall  14 , wherein the non-adjacent portions have at least one perforation each. More preferably, collapsible tabs  64  and  64 A are formed by providing at least two non-adjacent or adjacent portions adapted to collapse downward and fold inward and out of the plane of top wall  14 , wherein the non-adjacent or adjacent portions have at least two perforations each such that the perforations are spaced from one another with uncut or otherwise intact portions of top wall  14 . Most preferably, collapsible tabs  64  and  64 A are formed by providing at least three adjacent portions adapted to collapse downward and fold inward and out of the plane of top wall  14 , wherein the adjacent portions have at least two perforations each such that the perforations are spaced from one another with uncut or otherwise intact portions of top wall  14 . “Perforation” generally refers to a cut or otherwise open portion of carrier  10 . Perforations are formed on carrier  10  by any method known in the art. Uncut segments or otherwise intact portions of top wall  14  readily brake down or tear when stress is applied. 
     Collapsible tabs  64  and  64 A have an initial or uncollapsed configuration in which the tab is substantially unsevered from the surrounding portions of top wall  14 . Preferably, collapsible tabs  64  and  64 A are co-planar with the surrounding portions of top wall  14 . Collapsible tabs  64  and  64 A can be any size or shape. Preferably, collapsible tabs  64  and  64 A comprise a generally trapezoidal shape. 
     To provide flexibility in collapsible tabs  64  and  64 A, the tabs may contain a pair of fold lines  72  extending transversely and outwardly from fold line  70  to the base of the tab. Fold lines  72  can divide preferred trapezoidal shaped collapsible tabs  64  and  64 A into three sections, including a rectangularly shaped section  74  located between two triangularly shaped sections, each generally designated  76 . Each fold line  72  may also contain a small perforation  80  located in the center of the fold line and extending in the same direction as the fold line. As described in more detail below, it may be desirable for the carrier to include flexible tabs in order to prevent the tops of the bottles from interfering with the collapsing and folding of the tabs. 
     In operation, as illustrated in  FIGS. 6-8 , a consumer grasps carrier  10  and preferably applies downward stress on collapsible tabs  64  and  64 A. Preferably, the thumb and at least one finger are used to apply the stress. In one embodiment, the stress tears the uncut or frangible paperboard segment  68  and collapses collapsible tabs  64  and  64 A out of the plane of the top wall. As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , in one embodiment of the present invention, triangular sections  76  of tab  64  come in contact with bottle tops  13  forcing the tabs to fold along fold lines  72 . The rectangular section  74  of collapsible tabs  64  and  64 A passes between the tops of the bottles  13  and the tab continues to fold inwardly until the rectangular section  74  is bent back up against the underside of top wall  14 . In this embodiment, a double layer of paperboard forms about fold line  70  which both strengthens carrier  10  at the location of collapsed tabs  64  and  64 A, thereby creating a comfortable gripping surface for the consumer. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the consumer may grasp and carry away carrier  10  by placing a thumb and at least one finger at the locations where collapsed tabs  64  and  64 A fold. The methods set forth in this invention eliminate stress concentration areas by diverting stress away from the corners of carrier  10  and redirecting the stress towards the center of the top wall and towards the sidewalls of carrier  10 . 
     It will be understood that the embodiments of the present invention which have been described are illustrative of some of the applications of the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, including those combinations of features that are individually disclosed or claimed herein.