Patent Publication Number: US-6341692-B1

Title: Carton carrier

Description:
This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/237,780 filed Jan. 26, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,773 which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     This invention relates to cartons. More particularly, this invention relates to carton carriers. 
     Carriers are widely used in the beverage industry to facilitate transporting beverage packaged in cans and bottles that hold soda and beer. Carriers for cans are seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,197,656; and 5,682,984. The can carriers typically surround a can matrix in a box and hold the matrix tightly therein. Carriers that accommodate bottles are seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,319,682; and 4,505,696. These basket carriers generally support bottle weight from below and compartmentalize each bottle held in the basket. Also, bottle carriers as seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,752,305; 3,860,281; and 3,946,862, carry a matrix of bottles by basically engaging a bead or edge around each bottle&#39;s neck near the bottle&#39;s cap. 
     Applicant&#39;s invention is directed to a carton carrier for traditionally configured paperboard cartons, e.g., with cartons and juice cartons. There is one basic problem associated with the prior art can carriers and bottle carriers which Applicant&#39;s invention is intended to overcome. Specifically, none of the prior art carriers are adapted to carry traditionally configured beverage cartons, that is, paperboard cartons for milk or juice, that have a pair of sloping ceiling panels converging to form a ceiling ridge, and a gable pocket being formed below either end of the ridge by opposing side walls folding inward and attaching to the underside of the ceiling panels. Prior art carriers of the type disclosed in the above cited patents simply are unsuitable to carry these cartons. 
     Accordingly, it has been one objective of this invention to provide a carton carrier adapted for use with gable end cartons of the type traditionally used for milk and juice. 
     It has been another objective of this invention to provide a carton carrier adapted for use with gable end cartons that grips the carton by its gable end. 
     It has been a further objective of this invention to provide a carton carrier adapted for use with gable end cartons, the carrier being connected with the carton&#39;s gable end so that the connection is enhanced under the influence of the weight of the carton contents as the carton is carried by the carrier&#39;s user 
     It has been still a further objective of this invention to provide a carton carrier adapted to hold two gable end cartons located in side by side relation, the carrier cooperating with one gable end of each of the two cartons. 
     In accord with these objectives, the invention contemplates a carton carrier particularly structured for use with gable end cartons such as paperboard cartons of the traditional type used for milk and juice. 
     The carton carrier includes, in preferred form, opposed side walls and opposed end walls, in a generally sleeve type configuration, and a carrier handle attached to those carrier walls. The carrier also includes a ceiling attached to the carrier walls. A deformable latch panel is foldably attached to each of the carrier&#39;s end walls. Each latch panel is generally triangular in shape. At least one web panel connects the latch panel with the carrier&#39;s roof. Each latch panel and web panel is generally coplanar with the associated carrier&#39;s end wall. 
     The carton carrier is adapted to carry cartons having opposed side walls, opposed end walls, and ceiling panels that form a peaked roof above the carton. The end walls are each foldably attached at their respective top edges to a gable panel which is positioned inwardly under and fixed to the carton&#39;s ceiling, thereby forming a gable pocket at each end of the carton. 
     When the carrier is assembled with a carton, the carrier&#39;s sleeve slides down over the carton ceiling so that the carton is located in a relatively close fit with that sleeve. The carton is positioned within the carton carrier so that the latch panel generally overlies the carton&#39;s gable pocket. A latch force erected generally centrally on the latch panel deforms the latch panel inwardly toward the carton&#39;s gable pocket. In other words, as a latch force is erected upon the latch panel to force it to move into the gable pocket, the latch panel and a portion of each web panel cave into the gable pocket. When the carton and its contents is lifted by the carton carrier by its carrier handle, the latch panel and web panels are deformed further inwardly into the gable pocket, i.e., are latched even more firmly in the carton&#39;s gable pocket, thereby, effectively automatically locking the carton carrier with the carton under the carton&#39;s own weight as the carton is carried by the carton carrier. 
    
    
     Other objectives and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carton carrier in accordance with the principles of the present invention, the same being illustrated in a final assembled form two cartons of the traditional paperboard type; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a carrier blank for the carton carrier illustrated in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the carton carrier in a first intermediate assembled stage; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the carton carrier in a second intermediate assembled stage; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a certain carrier positioned above a pair of cartons prior to receiving and locking the cartons in assembly with the carrier; 
     FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the carton carrier fitted to a carton, the carrier being in an intermediate stage of locking to the carton; 
     FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 6 taken along line  7 - 7  of FIG. 6, showing the lock panel in a lock position; 
     FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing an alternative embodiment of the present inventive carton carrier; and 
     FIG. 9 is a view of the carton carrier of FIG. 8 in a first intermediate assembled stage. 
    
    
     A carton carrier  10  of this invention is particularly structured for use with juice or milk cartons  12  of the traditional paperboard type illustrated in FIGS.  1  and  5 - 7 . The paperboard carton  12  of this type has opposing end walls  14   a,    14   b,  opposing side walls  16   a,    16   b,  a base  18 , a ceiling  19  having opposing ceiling panels  20 ,  22  attached at their bottom margins to the respective top margins of opposing end walls  14   a,    14   b,  and opposing gable panels  24 ,  26 . The gable panels  24 ,  26  are attached at their bottom margins to the opposing end walls  14   a,    14   b.  The ceiling panels  20 ,  22  are joined along their top margins to form a ceiling ridge  28 . The gable panels  24 ,  26  are folded inwardly and under the ceiling panels  20 ,  22 , and attached to the underside of the ceiling panels  20 ,  22 , to form gable pockets  30 . An annular wall (not shown) defines a carton aperture (not shown) in the ceiling panel  20  to form a dispensing spout (not shown). The dispensing spout is sealed by a removable cap  32  so that a user may ultimately use the contents of, and then re-seal the contents within, the carton  12 . 
     A carton carrier blank  34  in accord with the principles of this invention is illustrated in FIG.  2 . As shown therein, the carrier blank  34  has obverse and reverse side  35 ,  37  (FIGS.  3  and  4 ), and comprises first and second side walls  36 ,  38 , first and second end walls  40 ,  42 , and first and second roof panels  56 ,  58 . The first side wall  36  is foldably attached at opposing end margins to first and second end walls  40 ,  42  by score lines  44 ,  46  defined in the blank  34 . In the preferred embodiment, the second side wall  38  is foldably attached at only one of its end margins to the second end wall  42  by a score line  48  defined in the blank  34 . The first end wall  40  is foldably attached at the margin opposite the first side wall  36  to a glue panel  50  by a score line  51 . When the carrier blank  34  is erected into the carrier  10 , the glue panel  50  is joined with the margin of the second side wall  38  opposite the second end wall  42 , see FIG.  3 . 
     The first and second side walls  36 ,  38  are foldably attached by score lines  52 ,  54  along their respective top margins to first and second roof panels  56 ,  58 . In the preferred embodiment, the first roof panel  56  defines a pair of holes  60 ,  62  for receiving the carton cap  32  of the carton&#39;s dispensing spout therethrough. The first roof panel  56  is joined along its top margin by a fold line  64  to first and second handle panels  66 ,  68 . The first and second handle panels  66 ,  68  are joined together by a score line  70  along their respective upper margins. The first and second handle panels  66 ,  68  define first and second finger holes  72 ,  74 , respectively, through which a user may insert fingers to carry an assembled carton carrier  10 . Located within the first finger hole  72  is a first finger panel  76  joined by a fold line  78  along its upper margin to the first handle panel  66 . Located within the second finger hole  74  is a second finger panel  80  joined by a fold line  82  along its upper margin to the second handle panel  68 . In the preferred embodiment, the height P of the first finger panel  76  is substantially equal to the height H of the first finger hole, whereas the height H of the second finger hole  74  is substantially greater than the height P′ of the second finger panel  80 . The second handle panel  68  is joined with a fold line  84  along its bottom margin to a glue panel  86 . When the carrier blank  34  is erected into the carton carrier  10 , the reverse side  37  of the glue panel  86  is joined with the obverse  35  side of the second roof panel  58 , as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. 
     The second roof panel  58  is joined by a score line  87  along the margin opposite the second side wall  38  to a glue panel  88 . The glue panel  88  defines a pair of semi-circular cut out areas  90 ,  92  in the top margin. When the carrier blank  34  is erected into a carrier  10 , the obverse side  35  of the glue panel  88  is joined with the reverse side  37  of the first roof panel  56  so that the semi-circular cut out regions  90 ,  92  underlie the respective holes  62 ,  60  defined in the first roof panel  56 . 
     First and second latch panels  94 ,  96  are joined to the top margin of first and second end walls  40 ,  42  by respective score lines  93 ,  95 . Each latch panel  94 ,  96  which is generally triangular configuration is generally vertically bisected with respective score lines  98   a,    98   b.  Also, each latch panel  94 ,  96  has respective obtuse score line  100   a,    100   b  defined therein, the apex of the score lines  100   a,    100   b  being located generally medially along the vertical score lines  98   a,    98   b.  In the preferred embodiment, each latch panel  94 ,  96  is joined by respective score lines  102   a,    102   b  and  102   c,    102   d  to a pair of web panels  120 ,  122 , and  124 ,  126 , respectively. Each web panel  120 ,  122 , and  124 ,  126  is generally bisected by respective fold lines  104   a,    104   b,  and  104   c,    104   d.    
     In the preferred embodiment, the carrier&#39;s roof panel  56  is joined to web panels  122 ,  124  by score line  105  so as to join that roof panel  56  to the latch panels  94 ,  96 . The web panel  120  is joined by a score line  106  along the margin opposite the first latch panel  94  to a glue panel  108 , and the latch panel  96  is joined by a score line  107  to the roof panel  58  so as to also join the roof panel  58  to the latch panels  94 ,  96  when the carrier is erected (FIG.  3 ). When the carrier blank  34  is formed into the carrier  10 , the obverse side  35  of the glue panel  108  is joined with the reverse side  37  of the second roof panel  58  (See FIG.  3 ). 
     In the preferred embodiment, when the carrier blank  34  is formed into the carrier  10 , the carrier  10  defines first, second, third and fourth corner holes  128   a,    128   b,    128   c,    128   d,  as seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, that function as areas of stress relief when the first and second latch panels  94 ,  96 , and first, second, third and fourth web panels  120 ,  122 ,  124 ,  126  are deformed inwardly, as discussed further below. As seen in FIG. 2, before the carrier blank  34  is assembled into the carrier  10 , the first corner hole  128   a  is simply a portion of a gap  130  defined in the carton blank  34  prior to the time when the glue panels  50 ,  108  are glued to the second side wall  38  and second roof panel  58 , respectively. 
     Assembly of the carrier blank  34  of this invention is illustrated in FIGS. 3 to  7 . First, the second side wall  38  and second roof panel  58  are glued to the glue panels  50 ,  108 , respectively, thus providing the carrier  10  with its sleeve configuration as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. Next, the glue panel  88  is attached to the reverse side of the first roof panel  56  so that the pair of semicircles  90 ,  92  substantially underlie the pair of holes  60 ,  62 , respectively in the first roof panel  56  and so that adjacent upper edges  56   a,    58   a  of the first and second roof panels  56 ,  58 , respectively, are joined together to form a carrier ridge line  59 . The second handle panel  68  is then folded over the first handle panel  66  so that the glue panel  88  can be secured to the second roof panel  58 . Note particularly that, as the glue panel  88  is joined with the first roof panel  56 , the first and second latch panels  94 ,  96  with the first and second  120 ,  122 , and third and fourth  124 ,  126  web panels, respectively, attached thereto, are bowed outwardly (see FIG. 4) relative to the respective planes defined by the first and second end walls  40 ,  42  when the carton carrier  10  is erected from the carrier blank  34  but not yet latched with the cartons  12  (see FIG. 5) to allow for insertion of the carton  12  into the carton carrier  10 . 
     The assembled carton carrier  10  is then fitted down over a pair of side by side cartons  12  so that the cap  32  on each respective carton  12  is received through the respective carton carrier roof holes. 
     In order to latch the carton carrier  10  to the cartons  12 , a force, as indicated by the directional arrow  132  in FIGS. 6 and 7, is directed inwardly against the latch panel  94  at a point near the intersection of the vertical score line  98   a  and the obtuse score line  100   a.  The force  130  erected upon the latch panel  98   a  collapses it inwardly into the gable pocket  30 . Also, in the preferred embodiment, the web panels  120 ,  122  simultaneously tuck inwardly and under the carton ceiling panels  20 ,  22 . 
     An alternative embodiment of a carton carrier  10   a  and carton carrier blank  34   a  is seen in FIGS. 8 and 9 in which like reference numerals indicate like elements corresponding with the carton carrier  10 , described above. The carton carrier  10   a  includes a second roof panel  200  which defines a glue panel  202  received against and glued to the reverse side  37  of the first roof panel  56  to prevent the ceiling ridge  28  of carton  12  (FIG. 1) from wedging between and separating the first and second handle panels  66 ,  68  from each other after the carton carrier  10   a  has been fully assembled. 
     A third handle panel  204  is foldably attached to the second roof panel  200  by score line  206 . The glue panel  202  is foldably attached to the third handle panel  204  by score line  206 . The third handle panel  204  defines a third finger hole  208  through which a user may insert fingers to facilitate carrying the carton carrier  10   a  with cartons  12  inserted therein. 
     As seen in FIG. 8, the third finger hole  208  has height P′ substantially equal to the height P′ of the first and second finger holes  72 , 74 . During assembly, the third handle panel  204  is securely sandwiched and preferably glued between the first and second handle panels  66 ,  68  so that the third finger hole  208  is aligned with the first and second finger holes  72 ,  74 . The third handle panel  204  provides further reinforcement and strength to the carton carrier  10   a  when fully assembled, for carrying cartons  12 . 
     From the above disclosure of the detailed description of the present invention and the preceding summary of the preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will comprehend the various modifications to which the present invention is susceptible. Therefore, I desire to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and equivalents thereof.