CARRIER FOR HOLDING ONE OR MORE CONTAINERS

Abstract

A carrier for holding one or more containers includes a front portion having a front attachment panel comprising one or more openings for at least partially receiving a respective container of the one or more containers and at least one reinforcement tab that extends at least partially around a respective one of the one or more openings for reinforcing the carrier.

Claims

1. A carrier for holding one or more containers comprises: a front portion having a front attachment panel comprising one or more openings for at least partially receiving a respective container of the one or more containers and at least one reinforcement tab that extends at least partially around a respective one of the one or more openings for reinforcing the carrier.

2. The carrier according to claim 1 wherein the carrier is configured to hold two or more containers.

3. The carrier according to claim 1 wherein the carrier further comprises a second panel comprising one or more openings that are coaxially with the front attachment panel one or more openings, forming a bi-folded arrangement and the one or more reinforcement tabs are interposed between the carrier panels near the one or more container holding openings.

4. The carrier according to claim 3 wherein the carrier further comprises a third panel comprising one or more openings that are coaxially with the front attachment panel one or more openings, forming a tri-folded arrangement and the one or more reinforcement tabs are interposed between the carrier panels near the one or more container holding openings.

5. The carrier according to claim 4, wherein the one or more openings comprises inwardly extending portions for better gripping the respective container therein.

6. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the one or more openings comprises inwardly extending portions for better gripping the respective container therein.

7. A method for fabricating a carrier for holding one or more containers comprising: providing a carrier blank having a front portion having a front attachment panel comprising one or more openings for at least partially receiving a respective container of the one or more containers and a second panel comprising one or more openings that are coaxially with the front attachment panel one or more openings, forming a bi-folded arrangement and the one or more reinforcement tabs are interposed between the carrier panels near the one or more container holding openings; providing at least one reinforcement tab that extends at least partially a respective one of the one or more openings for reinforcing the carrier; folding the panels of the carrier such the reinforcement tabs are interposed between the panels; and applying the carrier to the one or more containers.

8. The method for fabricating a carrier for holding one or more containers comprising: a third panel comprising one or more openings that are coaxially with the front attachment panel one or more openings, forming a tri-folded arrangement and the one or more reinforcement tabs are interposed between the carrier panels near the one or more container holding openings.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements wherein:

[0013] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of one preferred blank which comprises a carrier in accordance with the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the carrier of FIG. 1

[0015] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a partially folded carrier of FIG. 1

[0016] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a folded carrier of FIG. 1

[0017] FIG. 5 shows cross-sectional view of the carrier taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

[0018] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a folded carrier of FIG. 1 in use.

[0019] FIG. 7 shows a second preferred carrier in accordance with the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 8 shows a third preferred carrier in accordance with the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 9 shows a third preferred carrier in accordance with the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 10 shows an alternate carrier blank in accordance with the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 11 shows a second alternate carrier blank in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] As best seen in FIGS. 1-6, the invention relates to a carrier 10 for holding containers and more specifically, a bottle neck carrier. The invention relates to a carrier device for one or more containers, instead of a plastic holder, that does not break when subjected to various strength tests or loads. Normally the strength tests are conducted by lifting the bottle(s) to chest height and then lowering your arm rapidly and stopping suddenly in an effort to break the carrier. For multiple pack bottles the handle can be hung over the handle of a shopping cart and left hanging while the cart is wheeled around a test area.

[0025] Paper board carriers were tested and failed the above tests. Through the addition of reinforcement portion 36, described in greater detail below, within the paper board carrier layers the carrier 10 passed the strength tests.

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the carrier 10. The carrier 10 comprises a tri-fold blank 12. The carrier blank 12 comprises a front container retention panel or front attachment panel 14 foldably connected to an intermediate panel 16 at respective portions of a lateral fold line 20 that is interrupted by handle aperture 22. The carrier blank 12 further includes a back panel 18 which is similarly foldably connected to the intermediate panel 16 at respective portions of a lateral fold line 24 that is interrupted by a handle apertures 26.

[0027] Additional edge apertures 28 are provided to form a carrying handle portion 40 for the user disposed between container holding portions 42 and 44, as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 6.

[0028] Container holding openings 30 are formed on the front panel 14. Container holding openings 32 are formed on intermediate panel 16. And, container holding openings 34 are formed on rear panel 18. When the panels are folded along fold lines 20 and 24 the container openings 30, 32, and 34 align and are coaxially disposed to form a carrier to hold or support two containers 101 and 102 within the aligned container opening 30, 32, 34 being held by the folded carrier 10, as best seen in FIG. 6. In the illustrated embodiment, the containers 101 and 102 may be medicament bottles, beverage bottles, or could be any other suitable type and size of container without departing from the disclosure. In some embodiments, the containers may have an upper rim or other top portion corresponding to a diameter of the holder openings 30, 32, and 34.

[0029] The carrier 10 may be sized and shaped to hold more or less than two containers without departing from the scope of the invention, such as by extending or reducing the blank 12 to include additional or fewer sets of container opening 30, 32, 34, for example. The carrier 10 may be provided together with one or more containers as a package (FIG. 6). In some applications, such as when the containers are lighter in weight, the carrier 10 may be in the form of a two panel bottle neck carrier having only two of the panels 14, 16, or 18, included.

[0030] Reinforcement portions 36 are provided as illustrated to provide reinforcement to strengthen the carrier 10 as described above. Referring now to FIG. 2, each reinforcement portion 36 has a rectangular body 37 and a laterally extending portion 38 which extends therefrom toward either opening 30 or 34 respectively. The laterally extending portion 38 comprises a curved edge 39 having a diameter that is slightly larger than the diameter of the opening it is adjacent to. The laterally extending portion 38 extends partially around the opening it is adjacent to as well.

[0031] The material used for the reinforcement portion 36 can vary, but the presently preferred materials suitable in composition for packaging the products, and the materials include, but are not limited to, paper products such as paper, paperboard, corrugated cardboard, glass; plastics such as PET, LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, PP, PS, PVC, EVOH, and Nylon; and the like; aluminum and/or other metals; or any combination thereof. Preferably the materials are also biodegradeable or biorecyclable.

[0032] The presently preferred configuration for the reinforcement portion is a die cut tab which is about 0.00429 inch (+/10%) caliper gloss filmed stock having a white liner.

[0033] The carrier 10 is preferably made from 0.024 or 24 pt. paper. The panels may be blank or printed with indicia or the like on the outwardly facing panels when the carrier 10 is in use. The 24 pt. paper is die cut to a one up blank 12 as shown in FIG. 1. In a separate operation the reinforcement portions 36 are placed on the flat carrier blank 12 as shown and then the carrier 10 is folded along the fold lines 20 and 24. First one of front panel 12 and back panel 18 is folded up and over to cover the intermediate panel 16 (FIG. 3). Then the final fold brings the other of front panel 12 and back panel 18 over on top of the other two panels to make one, three panel solid carrier 10. (FIG. 4)

[0034] Adhesive may be applied to the panels prior to the folding process to affix the panels together after the folding process has been completed. The above embodiments may be described as having one or more panels adhered together by adhesive during erection of the carrier embodiments. The term adhesive is intended to encompass all manner of adhesives commonly used to secure carrier panels in place. The adhesives can vary depending on temperatures/applications.

[0035] While the reinforcement tab 36 is described in the illustrated embodiment as a single portion, it will be understood that such tab can be formed from multiple cooperating panels/flaps/structures and can have a different configuration without departing from the disclosure.

[0036] The cooperating container openings may include inwardly extending rounded tabs 50 such as those disposed around the circumference of opening 34 and inwardly extending radial slits or cuts forming radial segments 52 such as those disposed around the circumference of opening 30 to better grasp the neck or the like of the respective container 101, 102, as best seen in FIG. 3

[0037] Any of the panels, flaps, fold lines, cuts, or other features could be otherwise shaped, arranged, and/or omitted from the blank 12 without departing from the disclosure. The blank 12 could be sized and/or shaped to accommodate more or less than two containers without departing from this disclosure.

[0038] FIGS. 7-11 show alternate designs as contemplated by the present invention. Similar primed reference numerals will be used to reference similar structure. FIGS. 7-9 show alternate reinforcement portions 36, while FIGS. 10 and 11 show alternate carrier blank 12 designs.

[0039] Turning now to FIG. 7, an alternate preferred reinforcement portion 36 is shown. The reinforcement portion 36 is disposed above the openings 30. The reinforcement portion 36 has a rectangular body 62 and a circular opening 64 formed in the center of the of body 62. The opening 64 has a center that is coaxial with the center of opening 30. The diameter of circular opening 64 is slightly larger than the opening 30. The rectangular body 62 comprises a laterally extending tab 64 which extends toward the other opening 30 of the carrier blank. This design permits the use of only two reinforcement portions 36 per carrier blank 12 if desired. This configuration provides more significant tear and cracking protection to front panel 14.

[0040] Turning now to FIG. 8, a second alternate preferred reinforcement portion 36 is shown. The reinforcement portion 36 is disposed similarly as reinforcement portion 36 as best seen in FIG. 1. The reinforcement portion 36 has a rectangular body 37 and a pair of laterally extending portions 38 which extend thereform toward either opening 30 or 34 respectively. The laterally extending portion 38 comprises a curved edge 39 having a diameter that is slightly larger than the diameter of the opening it is adjacent to. The laterally extending portion 38 extends about halfway around the opening it is adjacent to as well. This configuration provides more surface area to protect the carrier 10 from cracks and tears.

[0041] Turning now to FIG. 9, a third alternate preferred reinforcement portion 36 is shown. The reinforcement portion 36 is similar to the reinforcement portion 36 shown in FIG. 7 except that bodies 62 are connected by an intermediate neck portion 68 to protect the entire carrier 10 from cracking and tearing. The reinforcement portion 36 has a rectangular body 62 and a circular opening 64 formed in the center of the of body 62. The opening 64 has a center that is coaxial with the center of opening 30. The diameter of circular opening 64 is slightly larger than the opening 30. The rectangular body 62' comprises a laterally extending tab 64 which extends toward the other opening 30 of the carrier blank. The intermediate neck portion 68 connects the bodies 62. This design permits the use of only one reinforcement portion 36 per carrier blank 12 if desired.

[0042] Referring now to FIG. 10, a fourth alternate preferred carrier.sup.iv is shown having a slightly smaller openings 30.sup.iv and 32.sup.iv. Openings 30 and 32 of carrier 10 (FIG. 1) preferably have a diameter of about 2 inches. Openings 30.sup.iv and 32.sup.iv of carrier 10.sup.iv preferably have a diameter of about 1.75 to 1.895 inches. With this configuration, the number of slits 50.sup.iv may be reduced. Opening 34.sup.iv similarly uses a star configuration of inwardly extending radial slits or cuts forming radial segments 52.sup.iv to apply pressure to the slits 50.sup.iv, locking the carrier.sup.iv to a container.

[0043] Referring now to FIG. 11, a fifth alternate preferred carrier 10.sup.v is shown in which opening 32.sup.v also includes a star configuration of inwardly extending radial slits or cuts forming radial segments 52 to apply pressure to the slits 50.sup.v, locking the carrier.sup.v to a container.

[0044] It will be understood that the alternate designs shown in FIGS. 1-11 can be mixed and matched depending on the requirements of the carrier being used.

[0045] It will be understood that the blanks and carriers described herein can be provided in different configurations without departing from the disclosure. For example, the blanks and carriers described herein can be sized and provided with a corresponding number of features suitable to engage a desired number and configuration of containers.

[0046] In general, the blank may be constructed from paperboard having a caliper so that it is heavier and more rigid than ordinary paper. The blank can also be constructed of other materials, such as cardboard, or any other material having properties suitable for enabling the carrier to function at least generally as described above.

[0047] Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.