U.S. patent application number 10/508724 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-29 for basket carrier for bottles and blank therefor.
Invention is credited to Bakx, Martinus C.M..
Application Number | 20050211577 10/508724 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 9933358 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050211577 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bakx, Martinus C.M. |
September 29, 2005 |
Basket carrier for bottles and blank therefor
Abstract
An article carrier (10) of the basket type is adapted to
accommodate a plurality of articles, such as bottles (B). The
carrier (10) comprises a base (22, 36), opposed side (14, 28) and
end (12, 16; 26, 30) walls and a medial partition structure (52,
56, 62, 64) and handle means (H) by which the carrier (10) can be
lifted and carried. The bottles (B) are received on both sides of
the medial partition structure (52, 56, 62, 64) of the carrier
(10). The medial partition structure (52, 56, 62, 64) is formed
from a pair of internal medial partition panels (52, 56) hinged
together along a first fold line (60) and having a pair of
abutments (96) provided internally adjacent the fold line (60). A
pair of external medial partition panels (62, 64) are attached to
the internal medial partition panels (52, 56). The handle means (H)
is formed of a first pair of handle panels (86, 88) hinged together
along a second fold line (90) and having a pair of corresponding
handle apertures (98) therein. The first pair of handle panels (86,
88) are slidably movable within the pair of external medial
partition panels (62, 64) and have a pair of shoulders (94)
arranged to correspond to the pair of abutments (96). The handle
means (H) is therefore movable between a lower retracted position
and an upper, extended position.
Inventors: |
Bakx, Martinus C.M.; (Goes,
NL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MEADWESTVACO CORPORATION
LAW DEPARTMENT
4850 NORTH CHURCH LANE
SUITE D
SMYRNA
GA
30080
US
|
Family ID: |
9933358 |
Appl. No.: |
10/508724 |
Filed: |
May 18, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
March 20, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US03/08495 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/170 ;
206/139; 206/193; 206/200; 206/427 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2571/00388
20130101; B65D 2571/00524 20130101; B65D 2571/0066 20130101; B65D
2571/00512 20130101; B65D 71/0022 20130101; B65D 2571/00487
20130101; B65D 2571/00802 20130101; B65D 2571/00141 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/170 ;
206/139; 206/193; 206/200; 206/427 |
International
Class: |
B65D 075/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 20, 2002 |
GB |
0206565.4 |
Claims
1. An article carrier for accommodating a plurality of articles,
comprising a base, opposed side and end walls, and handle means by
which the carrier can be lifted and carried, the handle means
comprises a pair of opposed parallel upright guide panels and an
upright handle member disposed at least in part between the guide
panels for upward and downward sliding movement, wherein the handle
member has a pair of shoulders and wherein an upper stopper for
engagement with the shoulders is disposed along upper edges of the
guide panels to limit upward movement of the handle member.
2. A carton as claimed in claim 1 wherein a lower stopper for
engagement with the handle member is disposed below the handle
member to limit downward movement of the handle member, by abutment
against a lower edge of the handle member.
3. The carton as claimed in claim 1 wherein a pair of guide strips
are disposed along the opposed side edges of the handle member to
guide upward and downward movement of the handle member.
4. A carton as claimed in claim 1 wherein the handle structure
further comprises an upright primary member which is disposed
between the guide panels, and the primary member provides both the
handle member and the upper stopper.
5. A carton as claimed in claims 2 wherein the handle structure
further comprises an upright primary member which is disposed
between the guide panels, and the primary member provides the
handle member, the upper stopper and the lower stopper.
6. A carton as claimed in claim 3 wherein the handle structure
further comprises an upright primary member which is disposed
between the guide panels, and the primary member provides the
handle member, the upper stopper and the guide strips.
7. An article carrier of the basket type for accommodating a
plurality of articles, comprising at least one base panel, opposed
side and end walls, a medial partition structure and handle means
by which the carrier can be lifted and carried, said articles being
receivable on both sides of said medial partition structure of the
carrier, wherein said-medial partition structure is formed from a
pair of internal medial partition panels hinged together along a
first fold line and having a pair of abutments provided internally
adjacent the fold line and a pair of external medial partition
panels hinged together and attached to the internal medial
partition panels, wherein the handle means is formed of at least a
first pair of handle panels hinged together along a second fold
line and having a pair of corresponding handle apertures therein,
the first pair of handle panels being slidably movable within the
pair of external medial partition panels and having a pair of
shoulders arranged to correspond to the pair of abutments, wherein
the handle means is movable between a retracted position where the
second fold line is substantially collinear with the first fold
line and an extended position where the pair of shoulders abut the
pair of abutments and the handle apertures are further from the
base of the article carrier than in the retracted position.
8. A carrier according to claim 7, wherein the handle means further
comprises a pair of external handle panels hinged together and
having a pair of corresponding handle apertures therein, the
external handle panels being attached to the first pair of handle
panels such that the handle apertures are substantially in line
with each other.
9. A carrier according to claim 7, further comprising temporary
connections between said handle means and the medial partition
structure which temporary connections shear when strain is put onto
the handle means with respect to the medial partition
structure.
10. A carrier according to claims 7, further comprising at least
one partition panel provided between each of said side walls and
the medial partition structure.
11. A carrier according to claims 7, further comprising at least
one securing panel hingedly coupled to an end wall and attached to
the medial partition structure to secure the handle means, within
the medial partition structure.
12. A blank for forming an article carrier of the basket type, the
blank comprising a first series of main panels, hingedly coupled
together for forming a first side panel a first pair of end panels
and a first base panel of the carrier, a second series of main
panels hingedly coupled together for forming at least a second side
panel, and a second pair of end panels of the carrier, the blank
including, at a first end thereof, a first internal medial
partition panel hingedly connected to the first series of main
panels and a second internal medial partition panel hingedly
connected to the first internal medial partition panel and to the
second series of main panels, each of the internal medial partition
panels having an internal handle panel struck therefrom having a
handle aperture therein, such that the internal handle panels are
hingedly connected together and to provide a pair of shoulders on
the internal handle panels and a pair of corresponding abutments on
the internal medial partition panels, which abutments are spaced
from the corresponding shoulders the blank further comprising a
pair of external medial partition panels hingedly connected
together and to the internal medial partition panels and being
located, in the blank between the first and second series of main
panels.
13. A blank according to claim 12, wherein each of the external
medial partition panels has an external handle panel struck
therefrom, with each external handle panel having a handle aperture
therein.
14. A blank according to claim 12, further comprising temporary
shearable connections between said internal and external handle
panels) and the respective internal and external medial partition
panels.
15. A blank according to claims 12, further comprising at least one
transverse partition panel struck from each of the internal medial
partition panels.
16. A blank according to of claims 12, wherein the blank comprises,
at a second end thereof remote from the first end, a pair of
securing panels hingedly coupled to the respective first and second
series of main panels for attachment to the internal medial
partition panels.
17. A basket style carton having a composite centre partition
structure, the partition structure comprising a pair of partition
panels and a pair of handle panels struck from the partition
panels, wherein the partition panels are secured together along
their coated sides and wherein the handle panels are secured
together along their uncoated sides, the partition panels are
interconnected along their common upper edge and folded about the
upper edge to have the coated sides secured together, the handle
panels are interconnected along their common upper edge and folded
about the upper edge to have the uncoated sides secured
together.
18. The carton as claimed in claim 17 wherein the handle members
are disposed for movement between extended and stowed positions
with respect to the partition panels, and wherein the upper edges
are aligned with each other when the handle panels are in the
stowed position.
19. (canceled)
20. The carton as claimed in claims 1 wherein the handle structure
further comprises a reinforcing layer member formed from the guide
panels and secured to the handle member.
21. (canceled)
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to an article carrier of the basket
type formed from paperboard or like foldable sheet material, which
carrier is adapted to accommodate a plurality of articles, such as
bottles, and to a blank for forming the carrier.
[0002] Normally a basket carrier for bottles includes a central
(medial) partition structure which incorporates a handle structure
by which the carrier can be lifted and carried and the bottles are
arranged in rows on either side of the central partition structure.
In general, the handle structure ends up being below the level of
the tops of the bottles when the bottles are in the carrier. This
can make it inconvenient or uncomfortable for a user's hand to use
the handle structure, especially if the bottle tops are of the
crown type having fairly sharp edges.
[0003] In other known basket carrier style cartons, the handle
protrudes above the bottle tops, which makes it difficult to stack
the carriers during transit, because the handle arrangement may
become deformed or even tear. Accordingly such known article
carriers are not suited to stacking.
[0004] The present invention and its preferred embodiments seek to
overcome or at least mitigate the problems of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A first aspect of the invention provides an article carrier
adapted to accommodate a plurality of articles, for example bottles
comprising a base, opposed side and end walls, and handle means by
which the carrier can be lifted and carried. The handle means
comprises a pair of opposed parallel upright guide panels and an
upright handle member disposed at least in part between the guide
panels for upward and downward sliding movement. The handle member
has a pair of shoulders and wherein an upper stopper for engagement
with the shoulders is disposed along a first common edge of the
guide panels to limit upward movement of the handle member.
[0006] Preferably, the handle member is provided with a lower
stopper to limit downward movement of the handle, by abutment
against a second edge of the guide panels. A limit stop for
engagement with the lower stopper may be disposed below the handle
member to limit downward movement of the handle member.
[0007] In some embodiments, the handle member is provided with
guide strips to guide the handle member between the guide
panels.
[0008] The handle structure may further comprise a reinforcing
layer member formed from the guide panels and secured to the handle
member.
[0009] According to a second aspect of the invention, an article
carrier is adapted to accommodate a plurality of articles, for
example bottles, comprising a base, opposed side and end walls, a
medial partition structure provided by a pair of medial panels and
handle means by which the carrier can be lifted and carried, with
articles being receivable on both sides of the medial partition
structure of the carrier. At least a portion of the handle means is
slidably movable within the pair of medial partition panels, so
that the handle means is movable between a retracted position and
an extended position with the handle means positioned above the
article tops. The upper edge of that part of the handle means
contained within the medial partition panels abuts a limit stop
within the medial panels in the extended position.
[0010] A third aspect of the invention provides an article carrier
of the basket type adapted to accommodate a plurality of articles,
such as bottles, comprising at least one base panel, opposed side
and end walls, a medial partition structure and handle means by
which the carrier can be lifted and carried, the articles being
receivable on both sides of the medial partition structure of the
carrier, wherein the medial partition structure is formed from a
pair of internal medial partition panels hinged together along a
first fold line and having a pair of abutments provided internally
adjacent the fold line and a pair of external medial partition
panels hinged together and attached to the internal medial
partition panels, wherein the handle means is formed of at least a
first pair of handle panels hinged together along a second fold
line and having a pair of corresponding handle apertures therein,
the first pair of handle panels being slidably movable within the
pair of external medial partition panels and having a pair of
shoulders arranged to correspond to the pair of abutments, wherein
the handle means is movable between a retracted position where the
second fold line is substantially collinear with the first fold
line and an extended position where the pair of shoulders abut the
pair of abutments and the handle apertures are further from the
base of the article carrier than in the retracted position.
[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the handle means further
comprises a pair of external handle panels hinged together and
having a pair of corresponding handle apertures therein, the
external handle panels being attached to the first pair of handle
panels such that the handle apertures are substantially in line
with each other.
[0012] Preferably, temporary connections are provided between the
handle means and the medial partition structure, which temporary
connections shear when strain is put onto the handle means with
respect to the medial partition structure.
[0013] At least one partition panel is preferably provided between
each of the side walls and the medial partition structure.
[0014] In one embodiment, the carrier further comprises at least
one securing panel, hingedly coupled to an end wall, and attached
to the medial partition structure to secure the handle means,
within the medial partition structure.
[0015] According to a fourth aspect, the invention provides a blank
for forming an article carrier of the basket type, which blank
comprises a first series of main panels, hingedly coupled together
for forming a first side panel, a first pair of end panels, and a
first base panel of the carrier, a second series of main panels
hingedly coupled together for forming at least a second side panel,
and a second pair of end panels of the carrier, the blank
including, at one end thereof, a first internal medial partition
panel hingedly connected to the first series of main panels and a
second internal medial partition panel hingedly connected to the
first internal medial partition panel and to the second series of
main panels, each of the internal medial partition panels having an
internal handle panel struck therefrom having a handle aperture
therein, such that the internal handle panels are hingedly
connected together and to provide a pair of shoulders on the
internal handle panels and a pair of corresponding abutments on the
internal medial partition panels, which abutments are spaced from
the corresponding shoulders, the blank further comprising a pair of
external medial partition panels hingedly connected together and to
the internal medial partition panels and being located, in the
blank, between the first and second series of main panels.
[0016] In a preferred embodiment, each of the external medial
partition panels has an external handle panel struck therefrom,
with each external handle panel having a handle aperture
therein
[0017] Temporary shearable connections are preferably provided
between the internal and external handle panels and the respective
internal and external medial partition panels.
[0018] Preferably, at least one transverse partition panel is
struck from each of the internal medial partition panels.
[0019] In one embodiment, the blank comprises, at a second end
thereof remote from the first end, a pair of securing panels
hingedly coupled to the respective first and second series of main
panels for attachment to the internal medial partition panels.
[0020] In a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a
basket style carton having a composite centre partition structure
which comprises a pair of partition panels and a pair of handle
panels struck from the partition panels. The partition panels are
secured together along their coated sides and the handle panels are
secured together along their uncoated sides. The partition panels
are interconnected along their common upper edge and folded about
the upper edge to have the coated sides secured together, the
handle panels are interconnected along their common upper edge and
folded about the upper edge to have the uncoated sides secured
together.
[0021] Preferably, the handle members are disposed for movement
between extended and stowed positions with respect to the partition
panels, and the upper edges may be aligned with each other when the
handle panels are in the stowed position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be
described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0023] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an unfolded single blank from which
a bottle carrier according to one embodiment of the invention can
be formed;
[0024] FIGS. 2 to 5 show sequential steps in forming the carrier
from the blank of FIG. 1; FIG. 6 shows a completed and (partly)
loaded carrier with the handle structure in a lower position;
[0025] FIG. 7A shows the carrier of FIG. 6 with the handle
structure in an upper position; and
[0026] FIG. 7B shows an enlarged cut-away view of part of the
handle structure of FIG. 7A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1
thereof, an article carrier is formed from a single blank 10 of
paperboard or other suitable foldable sheet material, for example
plastics material or the like. In the illustrated embodiments, a
unitary blank is used to make a single carton, although it is
envisaged that two or more blanks may be employed, for example to
provide the handle structure. In this embodiment, the set up carton
is adapted to accommodate six bottles "B" (FIG. 6) arranged in two
rows of three bottles each. The carrier can be adapted, without
departing from the scope of invention, to accommodate a different
number and/or configuration of articles according to user
requirements.
[0028] In this embodiment, the carrier comprises a series of panels
which are provided for forming the base, sides, ends and handle
structure. In this embodiment, there comprises a first series of
outer panels consisting of first side wall panel 28, a first base
panel 36 hinged to the upper edge of first side wall panel 28 along
a fold line 38, and first end panels 26 and 30 hinged to either
side of the first side wall panel 28 along respective fold lines 32
and 34. Similarly, a second series of main panels consists of a
second side wall panel 14, a second base panel 22 hinged to the
lower edge of second side wall panel 14 along a fold line 24, and
second end panels 12 and 16 hinged to either side of the second
side wall panel 14 along respective fold lines 18 and 20.
[0029] The first and second series of outer panels are connected to
each other at both ends of the blank 10. At a first end of the
blank 10, panels 50 for forming a medial partition structure are
hinged to first and second end wall panels 30 and 16 along
respective fold lines 58 and 54, as will be further described
below. At the second end of the blank 10, a pair of securing panels
44 and 40 are hinged to first and second end wall panels 26 and 12
along respective fold lines 46 and 42, the securing panels 44 and
40 being hinged together along fold line 48.
[0030] As mentioned above, the first and second series of outer
panels are connected to each other at the first end of the blank 10
by panels 50 for forming a medial partition and handle structure.
These panels 50 include a first internal medial partition panel 56
hinged to the first end wall panel 30 along fold line 58 and a
second internal medial partition panel 52 hinged to the second end
wall panel 16 along fold line 54 and to the first internal medial
partition panel 56 along fold line 60. In those embodiments holding
two rows of three articles, each of the internal medial partition
panels 52 and 56 have a pair of transverse partition panels 70 and
78 struck therefrom. First transverse partition panels 70 are
hinged to the respective internal partition panel along fold line
74 and are provided with securing end portions 72 hinged to the
rest of the transverse partition panel along fold line 76.
Similarly, second transverse partition panels 78 are hinged to the
respective internal partition panel along fold line 82 and are
provided with securing end portions 80 hinged to the rest of the
transverse partition panel along fold line 84.
[0031] The first internal medial partition panel 56 has a first
internal handle panel 86 struck therefrom at a central area thereof
along transverse cut 92 and end cuts 93, but leaving shearable
connections 91 at several locations along transverse cut 92 to
maintain a connection between first internal handle panel 86 and
first internal medial partition panel 56 during manufacture of the
carrier. Each of the end cuts 93 has a staggered configuration to
provide a shoulder 94 at each side of the first internal handle
panel 86. A pair of abutments 96 are cut in the first internal
medial partition panel 56 to correspond to the shoulders 94, but
spaced therefrom, so as to be adjacent the fold line 60.
[0032] Similarly, the second internal medial partition panel 52 has
a second internal handle panel 88 struck therefrom at a central
area thereof along transverse cut 92 and end cuts 93, but leaving
shearable connections 91 at several locations along transverse cut
92 to maintain a connection between second internal handle panel 88
and second internal medial partition panel 52 during manufacture of
the carrier. Again each of the end cuts 93 has a staggered
configuration to provide a shoulder 94 at each side of the second
internal handle panel 88. A pair of abutments 96 are cut in the
second internal medial partition panel 52 to correspond to the
shoulders 94, but spaced therefrom, so as to be adjacent the fold
line 60.
[0033] The first and second internal handle panels are hinged
together along fold line 90, which is, preferably, collinear with
fold line 60. Each of the internal handle panels 86 and 88 has a
handle aperture 98 cut out from them at corresponding locations
opposite the fold line 90.
[0034] Located, in the blank 10, between the first and second
series of main panels are first and second external medial
partition panels 62 and 64. The first external medial partition
panel 62 is hinged to the first internal medial partition panel 56
along fold line 68 and has a first external handle panel 100 struck
therefrom, at a central area thereof along cut 112, but leaving
shearable connections 110 at several locations along cut 112 to
maintain a connection between first external handle panel 100 and
first external medial partition panel 62 during manufacture of the
carrier.
[0035] Similarly, the second external medial partition panel 64 is
hinged to the second internal medial partition panel 52 along fold
line 68 and has a second external handle panel 102 struck
therefrom, at a central area thereof along cut 112, but leaving
shearable connections 110 at several locations along cut 112 to
maintain a connection between second external handle panel 102 and
second external medial partition panel 64 during manufacture of the
carrier. The first and second external medial partition panels 62
and 64 are hinged along fold line 66 and first and second external
handle panels 100 and 102 are hinged together along fold line 104,
which is, preferably, collinear with fold line 66. Each of the
external handle panels 100 and 102 have a handle aperture 106 cut
out from them at corresponding locations opposite the fold line
104, with a handle support panel 108 hinged to the respective
external handle panel extending into each handle aperture 106.
[0036] In order to form the completed carrier in flat collapsed
condition from the blank, a series of sequential folding and gluing
operations are required and will be described further with
reference to FIGS. 2 to 5 of the drawings. The folding and gluing
operations can be performed in one or more straight line machines,
so that the carrier is not required to be rotated or inverted to
complete its construction. The folding process is not limited to
that described below and can be altered according to particular
manufacturing requirements.
[0037] First, inner handle panel 88 is folded along fold line 90 in
direction X into face contacting arrangement with inner handle
panel 86, as shown in FIG. 2, and secured thereto. Glue is applied
to shaded areas G on securing end portions 72 and 80 of first and
second transverse partition panels 70 and 78. Preferably, glue is
also applied to peripheral edges of first and second external
medial partition panels 62 and 64 and, optionally, of first and
second external handle panels 100 and 102.
[0038] The medial partition structure 50, that is first and second
internal medial partition panels 52 and 56, including first and
second internal handle panels 86 and 88 and transverse partition
panels 70 and 78 are then folded inwardly (to the left as shown)
about fold line 68 into face to face relationship with first and
second series of main panels and with the first and second external
medial partition panels 62 and 64 and the first external handle
panel 100, and secured thereto as shown in FIG. 3.
[0039] As further shown in FIG. 3, glue is then applied to one
peripheral shaded edge G of first and second internal medial
partition panels 52 and 56 away from fold line 68, and securing
panels 40 and 44 and first and second end wall panels 26 and 12 are
folded inwardly (to the right) about fold lines 32 and 18 to bring
the securing panels 40 and 44 into face to face relationship with
first and second internal medial partition panels 52 and 56. The
part assembled blank is now in the form shown in FIG. 4.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 4, the internal structure is completed by
applying glue to shaded areas G comprising side and transverse
portions of first internal medial partition panel 56 and first
securing panel 44, as well as transverse portions of second
internal handle panel 86 and second external handle panel 102.
Thereafter, the partially formed carrier is folded about the now
central fold line 104 to bring those parts on either side of the
central fold line 104 into face to face relationship whereby first
and second internal medial partition panels 52 and 56 and first and
second securing panels 40 and 44 are adhered together, as are the
first internal handle panel 86 and the second external handle panel
102. The carrier is then in a flat collapsed form, as best shown in
FIG. 5, from which it can be erected for loading.
[0041] In order to erect the carrier, side walls 14 and 28 are
moved outwardly with respect to the medial partition structure so
that end walls 12, 26, 16 and 30 pivot about their respective fold
lines 18, 20, 32 and 34, while transverse partition panels 70 and
78 pivot about their respective fold lines 74 and 82. Loading is
accomplished by relative vertical movement between bottles and
carrier during common forward feed movement, well known in the art,
by which bottles enter their respective cells through the open
bottom of the carrier. Thereafter, the bottom panels 22 and 36 are
folded upwards to close the lower ends of the bottle cells and can
be either glued together or otherwise fastened together by various
means, as known in the art.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 6, during the loading operation, and before
the carrier is lifted by handle structure H, the handle structure H
is still in a retracted, lower position, with the first and second
internal handle panels 86 and 88 and the first and second external
handle panels 100 and 102 still being connected to the first and
second internal medial partition panels 52 and 56 and the first and
second external medial partition panels 62 and 64, respectively by
shearable connections 91 and 110.
[0043] When, however, the carrier is lifted by handle structure H,
as shown in FIG. 7A, the handle structure H moves to an extended,
upper position. As best shown in FIG. 7B, being a cut-away enlarged
view of part of the handle structure H, when a strain is put on the
handle structure H relative to the rest of the carrier, the first
and second internal handle panels 86 and 88 and the first and
second external handle panels 100 and 102, being fastened together,
shear the frangible connections 91 and 110 so that the handle
panels 86, 88, 100 and 102 move upwards relative to the medial
partition panels 52, 56, 62 and 64 until the shoulders 94 on the
first and second internal handle panels 86 and 88 abut against the
abutments on the first and second internal medial partition panels
52 and 56. Thus the abutments 96 function as limit stops to limit
upward movement.
[0044] This abutting relationship provides the strength for the
handle structure to carry the rest of the carrier, whilst the
formation of the medial partition panels 52, 56, 62 and 64 together
with the securing panels 40 and 44 serves to hold the slidable
handle structure within the medial partition structure.
[0045] One advantage is that a new handle structure is provided
which, in use, is arranged above the level of the tops of bottles
within the carrier, but otherwise the handle structure is retained
at lower position until the first time a basket with bottles
therein is lifted, whereupon the handle structure shears from the
retaining connections and moves upwards to its upper position.
[0046] A further advantage of the invention is that in those basket
style cartons having a center partition panels hingedly connected
directed to one of the end walls, the coated side of the paperboard
are exposed for the handle panels 86, 88 and still yet allow the
lower part of the partition panels 52, 56 to remain intact or to be
available for the other structures such as lateral partitions. The
internal handle panels 86, 88 with their coated sides exposed as
shown in FIG. 7A not only enhance the appearance of the carrier but
also provide an additional graphic area for promoting sales of the
bottled product packaged in the carrier.
[0047] It will be recognised that as used herein, directional
references such as "top", "base", "end", "side", "inner", "outer",
"upper" and "lower" do not limit the respective panels to such
orientation, but merely serve to distinguish these panels from one
another. Any reference to hinged connection should not be construed
as necessarily referring to a single fold line only: indeed it is
envisaged that hinged connection can be formed from one or more of
one of the following, a score line, a frangible line or a fold
line, without departing from the scope of invention.
[0048] It should be understood that various changes may be made
within the scope of the present invention, for example, the size
and shape of the panels and apertures may be adjusted to
accommodate articles of differing size or shape, alternative top
and base closure structures may be used. The carton may accommodate
more than one article in different armys.
[0049] Whilst only one particular embodiment of the invention has
been described above, it will be appreciated that a person skilled
in the art can make modifications and improvements without
departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the
glue areas could clearly be varied and replaced by other areas, so
long as the appropriate panels were attached to each other, as
desired. It is also possible to perform some of the gluing and
folding operations in a different order. For example, the first and
second internal handle panels 86 and 88 could be glued together
after first and second internal medial partition panels 52 and 56
are folded over to glue the transverse partition panels 70 and 78
to the side walls 14 and 28. Furthermore, the configuration of the
main panels can also be varied, for example by having only one base
panel, rather than two, as described above.
* * * * *