U.S. patent application number 13/680148 was filed with the patent office on 2013-11-28 for article carrier.
This patent application is currently assigned to THE COCA-COLA COMPANY. The applicant listed for this patent is The Coca-Cola Company. Invention is credited to Noel Stewart.
Application Number | 20130313296 13/680148 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49620805 |
Filed Date | 2013-11-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130313296 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stewart; Noel |
November 28, 2013 |
ARTICLE CARRIER
Abstract
An article carrier may include a handle, a collapsible article
holder with a pop-down base, and one or more support columns
vertically connecting the handle to the base of the collapsible
article holder. The collapsible article holder may have a number of
openings for accepting articles. Material cut from the carrier to
form the openings may form the support columns. Moreover, tabs that
are connected to the material from the openings may also be cut
from the carrier so as to provide a surface for gluing or otherwise
affixing the support columns to the base. For openings on the
extreme ends of the article holder, material cut from the carrier
to form the openings may be folded towards the ends of the article
holder so as to form end flaps. The end flaps facilitate preventing
accidental reading of UPC barcodes or other indicia on the articles
carried in the article holder.
Inventors: |
Stewart; Noel; (Cumming,
GA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
The Coca-Cola Company; |
Atlanta |
GA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
THE COCA-COLA COMPANY
Atlanta
GA
|
Family ID: |
49620805 |
Appl. No.: |
13/680148 |
Filed: |
November 19, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61562513 |
Nov 22, 2011 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/218 ;
493/56 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 11/00 20130101;
A45F 3/00 20130101; B65D 2571/0029 20130101; B65D 71/004 20130101;
B65D 2571/00487 20130101; B65D 2571/00339 20130101; B65D 2571/00141
20130101; B65D 2571/00716 20130101; A45F 5/10 20130101; A45C
2200/20 20130101; A45F 2200/0583 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
224/218 ;
493/56 |
International
Class: |
A45F 3/00 20060101
A45F003/00 |
Claims
1. An article carrier, comprising: a handle; and a collapsible
article holder comprising: a base, a surface comprising a defined
area that is adapted to form an opening to support an article when
the collapsible article holder is set up, and a support column
connecting the handle to the base, wherein the support column is
formed from material that is removable from the surface.
2. The article carrier of claim 1, wherein the support column is
formed from material that is removable from the surface within the
defined area.
3. The article carrier of claim 1, wherein the defined area on the
surface is defined by a perforated line in the surface.
4. The article carrier of claim 1, wherein the support column
further comprises a tab, wherein the tab is affixed to the
base.
5. The article carrier of claim 4, wherein the tab is integrally
formed as part of the support column.
6. The article carrier of claim 4, wherein the surface of the
collapsible article is a top surface and the collapsible article
further comprises a side wall.
7. The article carrier of claim 6, wherein the tab is formed from
material removable from the side wall.
8. The article carrier of claim 4, wherein the surface of the
article holder comprises a first area and a second area, wherein
the support column is formed from material removable from the first
area and the tab is formed from material removable from the second
area.
9. The article carrier of claim 8, wherein the surface is a curved
surface coupled between the base and the handle, and wherein the
first area of the surface is between the handle and the apex of the
curved surface and the second area of the surface is between the
base and the apex of the curved surface.
10. The article carrier of claim 1, further comprising: a riser
coupled between the handle and the collapsible article holder.
11. The article carrier of claim 4, wherein the base comprises a
first surface and a second surface foldable with respect to one
another along a central fold line such that exterior surfaces of
the first and second surfaces touch each other when the collapsible
article holder is collapsed.
12. The article carrier of claim 11, wherein the tab is affixed to
the base along the central fold line.
13. The article carrier of claim 1, wherein the surface further
comprises a second defined area at an end of the collapsible
article holder, the second defined area is adapted to form an
opening to support an article when the collapsible article holder
is set up.
14. The article carrier of claim 13, wherein the collapsible
article holder further comprises: an end flap formed from material
that is removable from the second defined area, wherein the end
flap is attached to the surface and rotatable towards the end of
the collapsible article holder.
15. A method of making an article carrier, comprising: cutting a
perforation in a single sheet of material for each of a plurality
of pairs of openings, each pair of openings being equidistant from
a central fold line in the sheet of material; wherein the
perforation for at least one of the plurality of pairs of openings
comprises a pair of tabs integral with material within the
perforation; folding the sheet of material about a first fold line
in a z-fold; affixing a first of the pair of tabs to the folded
sheet of material along the central fold line; folding the folded
sheet of material in half; and affixing a second of the pair of
tabs to the sheet of material along the central fold line.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: knocking out a
portion of the material within one or more of the plurality of
pairs of openings.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the perforation for at least
one of the plurality of pairs of openings is at an end of the
article carrier and is perforated such that material within the
perforation folds toward the end of the article carrier when
removed from the pair of openings.
18. The method of claim 15, further comprising: cutting a pair of
perforations in the sheet of material for a hand hold on a handle
of the article carrier.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the pair of perforations for
the hand hold are at a point further from the central fold line
than the perforation for each of the plurality of pairs of
openings.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein the perforation in the sheet of
material for each of the plurality of pairs of openings defines an
open shape.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a non-provisional application
claiming priority to provisional application Ser. No. 61/562,513,
filed on Nov. 22, 2011. Provisional application Ser. No. 61/562,513
is incorporated herein by reference in full.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a collapsible article
carrier. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a
collapsible article carrier formed of a single sheet of paperboard
with a pop-down base and a support column between the handle and
the base.
BACKGROUND
[0003] To aid with the transport of multiple small articles,
various types of carriers have been proposed. Some carriers may be
folded into a flat or collapsed form so as to aid in shipping or
transport of the carriers. The carriers may later be manipulated so
as to establish a constituted three dimensional form ready for
acceptance of articles such as beverage containers, food items, or
the like. For some carriers, in the process of manipulating the
collapsed carrier so as to carry articles, one or more portions of
the folded carrier may cooperatively interfere with one another so
as to form a base on which the articles may be placed.
SUMMARY
[0004] In one aspect, the present application provides an article
carrier. The article carrier may include a handle and a collapsible
article holder. The collapsible article holder may include a base,
a surface, and a support column. The surface may include a defined
area that is adapted to form an opening to support an article when
the collapsible article holder is set up. The support column
connects the handle to the base, wherein the support column is
formed from material that is removable from the surface.
[0005] The present application further provides that the support
column further may include a tab, wherein the tab is affixed to the
base.
[0006] The present application further provides that the tab is
integrally formed as part of the support column.
[0007] The present application further provides that the base may
include a first surface and a second surface foldable with respect
to one another along a central fold line such that exterior
surfaces of the first and second surfaces touch each other when the
collapsible article holder is collapsed.
[0008] The present application further provides an end flap formed
from material that is removable from a second defined area, wherein
the end flap is attached to the surface and rotatable towards the
end of the collapsible article holder.
[0009] The present application provides a method of making an
article carrier, including the steps of cutting a perforation in a
single sheet of material for each of a number of pairs of openings,
each pair of openings being equidistant from a central fold line in
the sheet of material. The perforation for at least one of the
number of pairs of openings may include a pair of tabs integral
with material within the perforation. The method further may
include folding the sheet of material about a first fold line in a
z-fold. The method further may include affixing a first of the pair
of tabs to the folded sheet of material along the central fold
line. The method further may include folding the folded sheet of
material in half. The method further may include affixing a second
of the pair of tabs to the sheet of material along the central fold
line.
[0010] These and other features will be more clearly understood
from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure,
reference is now made to the following brief description, taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings and detailed description,
wherein like reference numerals represent like parts.
[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates perspective view of an exemplary carrier
in a collapsed form.
[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the carrier in an
intermediate form.
[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the carrier in a
constituted form.
[0015] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the carrier with
multiple beverage containers contained therein.
[0016] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the carrier with
the handle folded down.
[0017] FIG. 6 illustrates a blank that when constructed forms the
carrier.
[0018] FIG. 6A illustrates the blank after a first gluing and
z-fold operation.
[0019] FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a carrier according
to a second aspect of the disclosure in a collapsed form.
[0020] FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of the carrier
according to the second aspect of the disclosure in an intermediate
form.
[0021] FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of the carrier
according to the second aspect of the disclosure in a constituted
form.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] It should be understood at the outset that although
illustrative implementations of one or more embodiments are
illustrated below, the disclosed systems and methods may be
implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known
or in existence. The disclosure should in no way be limited to the
illustrative implementations, drawings, and techniques illustrated
below, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims
along with their full scope of equivalents.
[0023] Spatially relative terms, such as "left", "right",
"beneath", "below", "bottom", "lower", "above", "upper", "top", and
the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe
one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or
feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood
that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass
different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation
depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures
is turned over, elements described as "below" or "beneath" other
elements or features would then be oriented "above" the other
elements or features.
[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1-9, views of an exemplary article
carrier 100 are shown. As described in more detail below, the
carrier 100 may be formed from a single piece of paperboard. The
paperboard may be folded and glued together into a flat or
collapsed form so as to facilitate shipping or transport of the
carrier 100. The collapsed carrier 100 may be manipulated so as to
form a constituted three dimensional form that is ready for
acceptance of articles 126. As described in detail below, the
carrier 100 may have a pop-down base that is vertically connected
to the handle 102 of the carrier 100 via one or more support
columns 110.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view of the carrier 100
is shown in a collapsed form. The carrier 100 includes a handle 102
and a hand hold 104 to facilitate carrying of the carrier 100 when
articles 126 are loaded into the carrier 100. When the carrier 100
is set up to accept articles 126 and/or after articles 126 have
been loaded into the carrier 100, the handle 102 may be folded
down, as best seen in FIG. 5. The hand hold 104 may be perforated
so as to enable an end-user to punch out the paperboard in the hand
hold 104 and insert their hand, as best seen in FIG. 4. The hand
hold 104 may only perforated around three of the four sides so that
the paperboard in the hand hold 104 may be folded down upon a user
inserting their hand into the hand hold 104. Alternatively, the
hand hold 104 may have the fold be at the top of the hand hold 104
so that the perforated portions of the hand hold 104 fold up,
rather than folding down. As a further alternative, the hand hold
104 may be perforated around all four sides so that the paperboard
in the handle 102 may be removed from the carrier 100.
[0026] While the hand hold 104 is shown with the paperboard in the
hand hold 104 affixed to the carrier 100, one or more portions of
the hand hold 104 may be knocked out during the die cut process. In
some embodiments, the hand hold 104 may not have any perforated
portions affixed to the carrier, but instead may simply have the
desired areas of the hand hold 104 knocked out during the die cut
process when manufacturing the carrier 100.
[0027] While the hand hold 104 is shown with a rectangular shape,
one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that any
shape may be used. For example, contoured shapes may be used to
ergonomically fit the contours of a person's hand and/or
fingers.
[0028] The carrier 100 also includes a riser 106. When the carrier
100 is loaded with articles 126, such as beverage containers, the
riser 106 acts as a spacer so as to reduce interference between a
user's hand in the hand hold 104 and the articles 126 carried by
the carrier 100. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the carrier 100
may be loaded with beverage containers, such as beverage cans. The
riser 106 may be sized such that the top of the riser 106
corresponds with the top of the beverage cans. For other intended
articles 126, the riser 106 may similarly be sized. Accordingly,
upon insertion of a user's hand into the hand hold 104 of the
handle 102, the user's hand may not interfere or minimally
interfere with the articles 126 in the carrier 100. While handle
102 may be foldable at the intersection of the handle 102 and the
riser 106, in some embodiments the handle 102 may not be foldable
at the intersection of the handle 102 and the riser 106. When the
handle 102 is not foldable at the intersection of the handle 102
and the riser 106, the riser 106 may be considered part of the
handle 102. In some embodiments, the carrier 100 may not include a
riser 106.
[0029] As shown in FIGS. 2-5, the carrier 100 may be manipulated so
as to form an article holder 107. The article holder 107 is
connected to the handle 102 and/or riser 106. The article holder
107 may include a first top surface 108, a second top surface 124,
a first side surface 114, a second side surface 116, a first bottom
surface 118, and a second bottom surface 120. The bottom surfaces
118, 120 may collectively form a base 121 of the article holder
107. In some embodiments each of the surfaces 108, 124, 114, 116,
118, 120 of the article holder 107 may be equally sized surfaces.
Alternatively, one or more of the surfaces 108, 124, 114, 116, 118,
120 of the article holder 107 may be differently sized. For
example, the first side surface 114 and second side surface 116 may
be smaller or larger than the first top surface 108, second top
surface 124, first bottom surface 118, and second bottom surface
120, which in turn may all be about the same size.
[0030] In some aspects of the disclosure, the top surfaces 108, 124
and the side surfaces 114, 116 of the article holder 107 may form a
contiguous surface. For example, as best seen in FIGS. 7-9, arched
surfaces 134 may connect the handle 102 or riser 106 with the
bottom surfaces 118, 120 of the article holder 107 and support the
articles 126. Similarly, other shapes and contours may be used to
form a supporting structure for the articles 126 that connects the
handle 102 and/or riser 106 with the bottom surfaces 118, 120 of
the article holder 107.
[0031] The article holder 107 also includes a number of openings
122 on each of the top surfaces 108,124 that are sized and shaped
for holding desired articles 126. For example, as shown in the
figures, the openings 122 may be circular openings 122 sized for
holding a beverage can. One of ordinary skill in the art will
readily recognize that the shape of the openings 122 may be varied
as needed to accept desired articles 126. For example, the openings
122 may be oval, rectangular, or any other shape that would
correspond or otherwise support desired articles 126. For example,
the openings 122 may have more complex shapes such as stars, sun
bursts, waves, or other complex shapes that partially or otherwise
sufficiently interface, contact, or frictionally interfere with the
articles 126 so as to support the articles 126 in the carrier
100.
[0032] For the openings 122 along the interior of the top surfaces
108, 124 (e.g. openings 122 that are not on an extreme end of the
top surfaces 108, 124), the paperboard material from the interior
of the openings 122 form support columns 110. The support columns
110 vertically connect the handle 102 and/or riser 106 to the base
121 of the article holder 107. The support columns 110 may be
connected to the base 121 at the middle of the base 121 along a
fold line, as will be described in more detail below. Therefore,
when articles 126 are loaded into the article holder 107 and the
carrier 100 is lifted by the handle 102, the weight of the articles
126 is supported by the base 121 which is in turn supported by the
support columns 110 and the handle 102 and/or riser 106. By
connecting the base 121 to the handle 102 via the support columns
110, the base 121 is prevented from substantially deforming when
the carrier 100 is lifted by the handle 102. In other words, while
the base may deform to a certain extent when the carrier 100 is
lifted by the handle 102, the base 121 will largely retain its
shape and will not bow or otherwise deform in the middle of the
base 121. Therefore, the articles 126 may be supported by the base
121 and may be prevented from moving around in the openings 122 or
falling out of the bottom of the openings 122 due to deformation of
the base 121.
[0033] For the openings 122 at the extreme ends of the top surfaces
108, 124, the paperboard material from the interior of the openings
122 may fold down towards the end of the top surfaces 108, 124 as
best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 and form end flaps 112. Alternatively,
the paperboard material from the openings 122 at the extreme ends
of the top surfaces 108, 124 may form additional support columns
110.
[0034] The end flaps 112 may fully or partially block machine
readable codes or indicia that may be printed on the articles 126
so as to prevent reading of the codes or indicia on the articles
126. For example, the articles 126 may have a barcode, a 2-D
barcode, or other such machine readable printed indicia that may
represent numbers or codes that identify the articles 126. For
example, a bar code may represent a universal product code (UPC)
that identifies the articles 126 as being a particular product,
such as 12 oz. cans of Coca-Cola.RTM..
[0035] If the carrier 100 is used in a retail environment, the
carrier 100 may include its own UPC barcode or other indicia. The
cost for purchasing a single one of the articles 126 will likely be
less than the cost for purchasing the group of articles 126 carried
in the carrier 100. Therefore, when checking out, it is desired to
ensure that the machine readable code or indicia on the carrier 100
is read and the codes or indicia on the articles 126 are not read
so that the correct amount may be charged to a customer. The end
flaps 112 may facilitate preventing of reading the codes or indicia
printed on the articles 126 so that the customer is not
undercharged for the articles 126 in the carrier 100.
[0036] As noted above, the carrier may initially be in a collapsed
or flat form and may be manipulated so as to be in a constituted
form ready for acceptance of articles 126. In the flat form, the
top surfaces 108, 124 are folded together and have inside surfaces
that touch one another. Similarly, the bottom surfaces 118, 120 are
folded together and have external surfaces that touch one another.
The side surfaces 114, 116 are folded together with the bottom
surfaces 118, 120 such that the inside surfaces of the side
surfaces 114, 116 touch the inside surfaces of the bottom surfaces
118, 120. In the collapsed form, the handle 102 is in line with the
riser 106, which is in turn in line with the folded top surfaces
108, 124, which is in line with the folded side and bottom surfaces
114, 116, 118, 120.
[0037] For clarity, an inside surface refers to a surface that is
internal to or enclosed by or inside the cross-sectional shape
formed by the article holder 107 when it is set up to receive
articles 126. In contrast, an external surface refers to a surface
that is external to or outside of the cross-sectional shape formed
by the article holder 107 when it is set up to receive articles
126.
[0038] In the aspect of the disclosure shown in FIG. 7, the carrier
100 does not have side surfaces 114,116. However, a first area of
the arched surfaces 134 that correspond to the top surfaces 108,
124 are folded together and have inside surfaces that touch one
another. Similarly, a second area of the arched surfaces 134 that
correspond to the side surfaces 114, 116 are folded together such
that the inside surfaces of the arched surface 134 touch the inside
surfaces of the bottom surfaces 118, 120. In some instances, the
first area of the arched surfaces 134 may be the area between the
connection with the handle 102 and/or riser 106 and the apex of the
curve formed by the arched surfaces 134 or otherwise at a halfway
point along the arched surfaces 134. As shown in FIG. 9, the first
area of the arched surfaces 134 is generally horizontal. Similarly,
the second area of the arched surfaces 134 may be the area between
the connection with the base 121 and the apex of the curve formed
by the arched surfaces 134 or otherwise at a halfway point along
the arched surfaces 134. As shown in FIG. 9, the second area of the
arched surfaces 134 is generally vertical.
[0039] In order to facilitate setting up the article holder 107 of
the carrier 100, the base 121 may be formed as a pop-down base or
vertically forming base. From the collapsed form shown in FIG. 1,
the carrier 100 may be manipulated so as to form the article holder
107 by separating the line of intersection between the first side
surface 114 and the first bottom surface 118 from the line of
intersection between the second side surface 116 and the second
bottom surface 120. In other words, the carrier 100 may be unfolded
so as to separate each of the surfaces 108, 124, 114, 116, 118, 120
of the article holder 107 away from each other so that none of the
interior or exterior surfaces of the article holder 107 are
touching. Note that while the interior or exterior surfaces are no
longer touching, each of the surfaces is still joined together at a
corner or along a line.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 2, a perspective view of the carrier 100
in an intermediate form is shown. When in an intermediate form, the
article holder 107 has a concave hexagon cross-sectional shape. In
some embodiments, the article holder 107 in the intermediate form
has a concave equilateral hexagon cross-sectional shape. The top
surfaces 108, 124 and the bottom surfaces 118, 120 parallel each
other and are at an acute angle to the plane of the handle 102.
Moreover, the side surfaces 114, 116 and the top surfaces 108, 124
are joined together at an obtuse angle, whereas the side surfaces
114, 116 and the bottom surfaces 118, 120 are joined together at an
acute angle.
[0041] Similarly, in the aspect of the disclosure shown in FIG. 8,
the article holder 107 has a roughly concave quadrilateral
cross-sectional shape in the intermediate form. However, due to the
lack of side surfaces 114, 116 and due to the arched surfaces 134
being longer than the bottom surfaces 118, 120, the cross-sectional
shape takes on a curved shape along two of the sides such that the
cross-sectional shape in the intermediate form may also be
described as an arrow-head shape. More generally, as applied to all
of the aspects of the disclosure, the cross-sectional shape of the
article holder 107 in the intermediate form may be a concave
polygon or other concave closed shape.
[0042] Referring to FIGS. 3-5, perspective views of the carrier 100
in a constituted form are shown. In the constituted form, the top
surfaces 108, 124 are parallel to each other and parallel to the
bottom surfaces 118, 120. The top surfaces 108, 124 may be joined
to the handle 102 and/or riser 106 at approximately right angles.
The side surfaces 114, 116 are joined together with each of the top
and bottom surfaces 108, 124, 118, 120 at approximately right
angles. While various surfaces of the article holder 107 in the
constituted form are described above as being joined at
approximately right angles, there may be small variations in the
angles between surfaces of about 5.degree. to 10.degree. or less
due to bending or flexing of the paperboard. In other words, the
cross-sectional shape of the article holder 107 in the constituted
form is rectangular. Similarly, in the aspect of the disclosure
shown in FIG. 9, the article holder 107 in the constituted form has
a cross-sectional shape of a semi-circle.
[0043] Referring to FIG. 6 a blank is shown that, when glued and
folded together, forms the carrier 100. As shown in FIG. 6, the
carrier 100 may be formed of a single sheet of paperboard or other
material and assembled or manufactured with just two gluing
operations and two folding operations. Each of the solid lines
represents a fold point and each of the dotted lines represents a
perforation.
[0044] As best seen in FIG. 6, each of the support columns 110 may
have a tab 132 cut out from a portion of the side surfaces 114, 116
or the arched surface 134. The tab 132 is integrally formed as part
of the paperboard material cut from the openings 122 to form the
support columns 110. While not shown, in some embodiments, a
corresponding tab may also be cut out and knocked out during the
die cut process from the end flaps 112 so as to present a uniform
look to the carrier 100. While shown as a generally square shape,
the tabs 132 may take any shape, such as a semi-circle, a wave, or
the like. As described in more detail below, each of the tabs 132
may be glued or otherwise affixed to the corresponding one of the
bottom surfaces 118, 120 about or along the center point fold line
127. Accordingly, the tabs 132 secure the support columns 110 to
the base 121.
[0045] In some embodiments, the support columns 110 and/or the end
flaps 112 may not have a perforation along the dotted line, but
instead may be cut free from the blank so as to freely move within
the openings 122 and rotate about the solid lines connecting the
support columns 110 and the end flaps 112 to the carrier 100.
[0046] In some embodiments, one or more portions of the support
columns 110 and/or end flaps 112 may be knocked out during the die
cut process. For example, various knockout patterns for the support
columns 110 and end flaps 112 are shown with dash-dot lines. The
portion(s) of the support columns 110 and end flaps 112 separated
from the solid lines connecting the support columns 110 and the end
flaps 112 to the carrier 100 by the dash-dot lines may be knocked
out during the die cut process. For example, the support columns
110 may have knockout patterns such that on one or both sides of
the tabs 132 portions of the paperboard material from the openings
122 may be knocked out. Similarly, portions along the bottom edge
and/or along one and/or both side edges of the end flaps 112 may be
knocked out during the die cut process. While the knockout patterns
shown in FIG. 6 are illustrated with straight lines, one of
ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the knockout
patterns may follow curved or other complex paths or contours.
Moreover, while different knockout patterns are shown in FIG. 6 for
illustrative purposes for each of the support columns 110, the same
knockout pattern may be used for all of the support columns 110 to
simplify the die used to form the carrier 100. Similarly, the same
knockout patter may be used for all of the end flaps 112.
[0047] As noted above, the carrier 100 may be constructed or
manufactured from the blank with just two gluing operations and two
folding operations, representing a significant cost savings from
both the lower complexity and the shorter amount of time required
to manufacture the carrier 100. Following the die cut process, a
first gluing operation may place glue or other adhesive on the tabs
132 of the support columns 110. After the first gluing operation, a
first folding operation may fold the center point fold line 127
about the three-eighths point fold line 128 so as to join the
center point fold line 127 and the one-quarter point fold line 130.
At the same time the remaining portions of the blank to the right
of the center point fold line 127 may be folded back so as to
remain parallel to the portions of the blank to the left of the
three-eighths point fold line 128. In some embodiments, the first
folding operation may be referred to as a z-fold operation.
[0048] After the first gluing operation and the z-fold operation,
the construction or manufacture of the carrier 100 may be completed
in a second gluing and a second folding operation. FIG. 6A
illustrates the blank after a first gluing and z-fold operation. In
the second gluing operation, glue or other adhesive is applied to
the left of the three-eighths fold line 131 on the entire surface
of the handle 102, hand hold 104, and riser 106, and the portions
of the support columns 110 that were not knocked out during the die
cut process. Glue or other adhesive is also applied to the right of
the three-eighths fold line 131 on the tabs 132, the portions of
the support columns 110 that were not knocked out during the die
cut process, and the entire surface of the handle 102, hand hold
104, and riser 106. In some embodiments, the glue or other adhesive
may not be applied to the portions of the support columns 110 that
were not knocked out during the die cut process, but instead is
only applied to the tabs 132. After the second gluing operation, in
the second folding operation, the blank is simply folded in half
about the three-eighths point fold line 131.
[0049] While the carrier 100 is shown in the figures as having
openings 122 for carrying four articles 126 on each side of the
carrier 100, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily
recognize that the carrier 100 may be modified to carry any number
of articles 126 on each side of the carrier 100 and still be
considered to be within the spirit and scope of this disclosure.
For example, for more than four articles 126 on each side of the
carrier 100, additional support columns 110 and corresponding
openings 122 may be added to the carrier. As shown in FIGS. 7-9,
for three or fewer articles 126 on each side of the carrier 100,
there may only be support columns 110 and no end flaps 112.
Alternatively, for three articles 126 on each side of the carrier,
there may be only one support column 110 and two end flaps 112 on
each side of the carrier 100.
[0050] While the support columns 110 are described above as being
formed from the paperboard material cut out of the openings 122 and
the tabs 132, in some embodiments, the support columns 110 may be
formed from paperboard material cut out from between the openings
122 or along any other portion or combination of portions of the
top and side surfaces 108, 124, 114, 116 or along any other portion
of the first and second areas of the arched surfaces 134. In
further embodiments, the support columns 110 may be formed of
separate pieces of paperboard that are glued or otherwise affixed
to the carrier 100 so as to connect the base 121 with the handle
102 and/or riser 106.
[0051] While the blank shown in FIG. 6 corresponds to the carrier
100 shown in FIGS. 1-5, one of ordinary skill in the art will
readily recognize that the features of the blank described above
may equally be applied to blanks to form the aspect of the
disclosure shown in FIGS. 7-9. For example, a blank for the aspect
of the disclosure shown in FIGS. 7-9 may be similarly formed, but
without the one-quarter point fold line 130 on either side of the
center point fold line 127.
[0052] While the carrier 100 is described herein as being glued
together at certain locations on the paperboard, one of ordinary
skill in the art will readily recognize that the carrier may
otherwise be adhered or affixed together using any glue, resin,
epoxy, clip, fastener, rivet, or other mechanical and/or chemical
agent.
[0053] Although the carrier 100 is described herein as being formed
of paperboard, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily
recognize that the carrier may be formed of any material such as
paper, cardboard, plastic, metal, or any other rigid or semi-rigid
foldable material. For some rigid materials such as metals, the
carrier 100 may be formed of multiple sheets of material affixed
together at fold points by one or more hinges or other attachment
mechanisms that facilitate rotation relative to two sheets of
material.
[0054] Although several aspects of the disclosure have been
provided above, it should be understood that the disclosed systems
and methods may be embodied in many other specific forms without
departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. The
present examples are to be considered as illustrative and not
restrictive, and the intention is not to be limited to the details
given herein. For example, the various elements or components from
one or more of the above described aspects of the disclosure may be
combined or integrated together or in another system or certain
features may be omitted or not implemented. Similarly, any of the
various element or components described in conjunction with one of
the above aspects of the disclosure may be combined with or replace
corresponding elements or components of any of the other aspects of
the disclosure. Other replacement or swapping of components or
elements of the various aspects of the disclosure will be readily
apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and are fully
contemplated by this disclosure.
[0055] Also, techniques, systems, subsystems, and methods described
and illustrated in the various embodiments as discrete or separate
may be combined or integrated with other systems, modules,
techniques, or methods without departing from the scope of the
present disclosure. Other items shown or discussed as directly
coupled or communicating with each other may be indirectly coupled
or communicating through some interface, device, or intermediate
component, whether electrically, mechanically, or otherwise. Other
examples of changes, substitutions, and alterations are
ascertainable by one skilled in the art and could be made without
departing from the spirit and scope disclosed herein.
* * * * *