Shell Carton

Abstract

A carton for packaging articles such as shells for shotguns comprising a pair of complementary half sections of plastic material detachably interconnected to form a carton with a plurality of shells removably supported on each half section and with tie straps on the ends of each half section for tying a detached half section around a wearer's waist thereby exposing the shells for convenient access and removal by the wearer.

Description

Shotgun ammunition or shells of the well known type widely used for game hunting or the like are commonly packaged by the manufacturer in cardboard cartons and sold to a purchaser by the retailer in these original cartons. One of the most popular sizes of such cardboard cartons is designed to hold approximately 25 shells and these shells are packaged in the carton in a stacked arrangement. Although such cardboard cartons are satisfactory or the marketing of such shells, they are generally discarded by the purchaser when empty. Unless all the shells are to be used, the typical purchaser generally uses the original carton as a storage receptacle removing shells from the carton as needed.

As such present day cardboard cartons are not sturdy enough to withstand the outdoor conditions encountered by the typical user such as a hunter, the common practice is for the hunter to carry loose shells into the field in the pockets of apparel worn by the hunter or in some other convenient place. Thus, not only are the loose shells carried by the hunter subjected to the destructive effects of the conditions encountered in the field, but the loose shells present a problem to the hunter who must often quickly reload in the presence of an abundance of game. Although special hunting apparel is commercially available for shell storage by the hunter, such apparel is quite expensive and not available to the average hunter. At the same time, even such special hunting apparel does not always provide ready access to the shells and leaves something to be desired in adequately protecting the shells from the adverse conditions encountered in the field.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide a new and novel carton for ammunition such as shotgun shells or the like.

Another object of his invention is to provide a new and novel carton which not only may be used by the manufacturer for the packaging of shells for retail but also as a carrier by the purchaser for use in game hunting and the like.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and novel carton which permits ammunition such as shotgun shells as packaged in the original carton to be supported in a convenient and nonrestrictive manner on the body of the purchaser for game hunting or the like while exposing the shells for ready access and quick removal by the hunter.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a new and novel carton for packaging ammunition such as shotgun shells which is of sturdy but rugged construction so as to serve both as an original carton by the manufacturer and as a convenient shell storage device for the purchaser in the field while offering a maximum protection for the shells both during shipment and sale and during use by the purchaser while game hunting or the like.

This invention further contemplates the provision of a new an novel carton for packaging ammunition such as shotgun shells or the like which is simple and durable in construction, which may be inexpensively manufactured at a high production rate utilizing inexpensive plastic material by any well-known plastic molding operation, which permits the packaging of a conventional quantity of such shells in a single package and which not only permits the user to separate the carton in a simple and easy manner into two equal portions to provide shell carriers easily secured about the user's waist for ready access by the user to the shells in each separated portion as described but also permits reassembly of the separated portions for storage of the remaining shells.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new and novel carton for packaging ammunition such as shotgun shells which permits the packaging of shells of a selected variety of shell types such as shells of different pellet sizes for different types of targets such as large game, birds, etc., and in which a regulation quantity of shells may be packaged so that the carton is particularly suitable for skeet shooting both from the standpoint of the quantity of shells in the package and the convenience provided the skeet shooter.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

The objects of this invention and other related objects are accomplished by providing a carton for packaging articles such as shotgun shells which includes a pair of complementary half sections of sheet material such as plastic which are provided with means for detachably interconnecting the half sections together to form a carton of substantially rectangular, cross-sectional shape. Flap means are provided on the ends of the half sections for closing the ends of the carton and means are provided on each of the half sections for removably supporting a plurality of the shells in longitudinally aligned, side-by-side relationship to position the shells within the interior of the carton in adjacent rows. Means are provided for supporting the half sections on the body of a wearer which include tie straps on each end of each of the half sections so that when the half sections are detached with the shells supported thereon, the free ends of tie straps of each of the half sections may be tied together around the waist of a wearer thereby supporting the half section in arcuately shaped, conforming relationship with the wearer's waist and with the shells supported thereon for ready access and removal by the wearer.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristics of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a carton constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2a is a plan view of one section of the carton of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2b is a view similar to FIG. 2a of the other section of the carton of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the carton of FIG. 1 in a partially assembled condition together with the shells packaged in the carton;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the carton of FIG. 1 showing the carton components of FIG. 4 in a further position during the assembly of the carton;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5 showing the carton in the assembled condition;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one section of the carton of FIG. 1 as supported on the body of a wearer;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a modification of the carton of the invention showing the component parts in the separated condition;

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view of the modification of FIG. 8 in the assembled condition together with the shells packaged in the carton; and

FIG. 10 is a view of one section of the modified carton of FIG. 8 as worn on the body of a wearer.

Referring now to FIGS. 1--7, there is shown one embodiment of the carton of the invention which is designated generally by the letter C. The carton C, which is provided with an interior 10, is formed from a pair of complementary half sections 11, 12 as shown in FIGS. 2a, 2b respectively which are formed from sheet material such as plastic or the like. As the half sections 11, 12 are of substantially planer shape, they may be fabricated from a continuous sheet of plastic material which may be formed by any conventional plastic molding operation such as by extrusion molding or the like.

By b, the continuous strip of plastic material through a suitable die, the strip may be cut into the half sections 11, 12 having the construction illustrated in FIGS. 2a, 2b, wherein like numerals have been used to identify like parts. It can be understood that the severing of the continuous strip of plastic material into the half sections 11, 12 may take place immediately following the molding of the strip or a previously formed supply roll of strip plastic material may be provided. Furthermore, the excess plastic material severed from the strip during the formation of the half sections 11, 12 may be reprocessed for subsequent use thereby effecting a cost savings as is well known.

Each of the half sections 11, 12 include a first panel 13 and a second panel 14 integrally connected to the first panel along a fold line 16 and flap means for closing the ends of the carton C are provided on the half sections 11, 12. More specifically, the second panel 14 on each of the half sections 11, 12 is provided with end flaps 17, 18 at opposite ends, the flaps 17, 18 being of conventional construction having notches 17a, 18a for interlocking engagement of the adjacent flaps on the half sections 11, 12. The end flaps 17, 18 are integrally connected to the ends of the second panel 14 along fold lines 19, 20, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 2a, 2b, the panels 13, 14 are provided with longitudinally extending side edges 21, 22 respectively and the end flaps 17, 18 preferably extend from the fold line 16 to an area closely adjacent to the side edge 22 of panel 14.

The first panel 13 of the half sections 11, 12 is provided with a closure flap 23 at one end and the enclosure flaps 23 of the half sections 11, 12 are arranged at opposite ends of the respective first panels 13 as shown. The closure flaps 23 are also of conventional construction having an outer flap portion 23a hingedly connected to an inner flap portion 23b along the fold line 24 with the inner flap portion 23b hingedly connected to the first panel 13 along a fold line 26.

Means are provided on the half sections 11, 12 for detachably interconnecting the half sections together to form the carton C of FIG. 10. Although any suitable type of detachable interconnecting means may be utilized in the carton of the invention, in the embodiment of FIGS. 7--7, detachable interconnecting means are provided along longitudinally extending, side edges 21, 22 of the first and second panels 13, 14 respectively.

More specifically, a longitudinally extending bead 31 is provide along the side edge 22 of panel 14. A pair of beaded extensions 32 are provided along the side edge 21 of panel 13. The beaded extensions 32 are arranged in spaced parallel relationship and extend at substantially a right angle to the panel 13 to form a slot as shown best in FIGS. 5, 6. Thus, in the assembly of the half sections 11, 12 to form the carton C, the bead 31 on each of the panels 14 is inserted into the slot between the beaded extensions 32 in snug-fitting, retaining engagement therewith with each of half sections 11, 12 folded along the fold line 16 into a substantially L-shaped configuration to form the carton C.

Means are provided on each of the half sections 11, 12 for supporting a plurality of shells such as shotgun shells 36 in longitudinally aligned, side-by-side relationship to position the shells 36 within the carton interior 10 in adjacent rows when the half sections 11, 12 are assembled together as will be described hereinafter to form the carton C. The shells 36 are of the conventional type used for game hunting or the like having a metal rim 36a at one end of a cylindrical body 36b of plastic or the like.

More specifically, a strip 37 of suitable material its secured at uniformly spaced intervals 38 to the surface of panel 13 adjacent the carton interior 10 and adjacent the fold line 16 by suitable means such as heat sealing, adhesives or the like to define uniformly spaced, substantially identical loops 39. Each of the loops 39 is arranged to removably receive a shell 36 with the shell body 36b in snug-fitting relationship therewith and with the loop 39 in retaining engagement with the shell rim 36a. The strip 37 may be formed of any suitable material and, by way of example, a fiber-reinforced plastic material may be utilized thus permitting the strip 37 to be heat sealed to the plastic material of the panel 13 in the manner shown in FIG. 4. As a result of this loop forming arrangement, removal of a shell 36 from its loop 39 has no effect on the retaining engagement between the other loops and the shells positioned therein as each loop 39 provides an independent receptacle for the shell it received.

Means are provided on the half sections 11, 12 for supporting the half sections on the body of a wearer. More specifically, tie straps 41, 42 are provided on each end of each of the half sections 11, 12. The tie straps 41, 42 on each half section 11, 12 form a pair and are of a length so as to permit the free ends of each pair of tie straps 41, 42 to be tied around the waist of the wearer as will be explained hereinafter. In the preferred embodiment, the tie straps are preferably formed together with the shell-supporting strip 37 in a continuous one-piece construction and the tie strips 41, 42 are arranged to be tucked into the interior 10 of the carton C in the assembled condition of the carton as shown in FIG. 1.

In the assembly of the half sections 11, 12 into the carton C for the packaging of shells, each of the half sections 11, 12 are filled with shells 36, each shell 36 being inserted within a loop 39 as shown in FIG. 4. As has been explained, each shell 36 is inserted into a loop 39 until the loop 39 engages the shell rim 36a. When shells 36 have been positioned within all of the loops 39 of both half sections 11, 12, the shells 36 extend throughout substantially the entire width of the first panel 13 with the rims 36a adjacent the fold lines 16.

In the illustrated embodiment, half section 11 is arranged to support 13 shells 36 in a row extending throughout substantially the entire length of the main panel 13 and half section 12 is arranged similarly to support 12 shells. Thus, the row of shells 36 on half section 11 is arranged in staggered relationship with the row of shells 36 on half section 12 within the interior 10 of the assembled carton C as shown best in FIG. 3.

The half sections 11, 12 are then interconnected by inserting the longitudinal bead 31 on the side edge 22 of panel 14 within the slot defined by the spaced beaded extensions 32 on the side edge 21 of the panel 13 with each of the half sections 11, 12 folded along fold line 16 into a substantially L-shaped configuration to form the carton C. The interconnection of the half sections 11, 12 may be accomplished by simultaneously interconnecting both associated sets of beads 31, and beaded extensions 32 or by first interconnecting one set as shown in FIG. 4 and subsequently interconnecting the other set as shown in FIG. 5 to snugly position the shells 36 within the interior 10 of the carton C as shown in FIG. 6.

Both pairs of tie straps 41, 42 are then tucked within the interior 10 of carton C. The end flaps 17, 18 may then be folded into interlocking relationship and the ends of the carton C subsequently closed by means of the closure flaps 23 to form a carton C for shipment and subsequent marketing by the retailer to the typical purchaser.

When the purchaser desires to utilize the shells 36 packaged in the carton C for game hunting or the like, the half sections 11, 12 are separated by withdrawing the beads 31 out of engagement between the beaded extensions 32 so that each half section is snow ready to be supported on the body of the purchaser.

As shown in FIG. 7, half section 11, for example, is arranged around the waist of the wearer in arcuately shaped, conforming relationship therewith and with second panel 14 folded behind first panel 13 as indicated by the arrows I in FIG. 7. Panel 14 prior to folding behind panel 13 is shown in broken lines in FIG. 7.

The tie straps 41, 42 which now hang free from the ends of the half section 11, are then positioned in encircling relationship with the waist of the wearer with their free ends tied together so that the half section 11 is conveniently and comfortably attached to the wearer's waist with the shells 36 exposed for ready access and removal by the wearer.

Referring now to FIGS. 8--10, there is shown a modification of the carton of the invention which is designated generally in FIG. 9 by the letter C' . As shown best in FIG. 8, the modified carton C' of the invention includes a pair of complementary half sections 46, 47 similarly formed of sheet material such as plastic or the like.

The half sections 46, 47 wherein like numerals have been used to identify like parts include an intermediate panel 48 and a pair of side panels 51, 52 each integrally connected hingedly to the intermediate panel 48 on opposite sides along longitudinally extending fold lines 53, 54 respectively. The side panels 51, 52 are of substantially the same width terminating at their free ends in longitudinally extending side edges 56, 57 respectively. Each of the half sections 46, 47 are thus foldable along the fold lines 53, 54 into a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional area as shown in FIG. 8 with the side panels 51, 52 extending substantially perpendicular to the intermediate panel 48.

As in the embodiment of FIGS. 1--7, means are provided for detachably interconnecting the half sections 46, 47 to form the carton C' which is substantially rectangular in cross-sectional shape as shown in FIG. 9. More specifically, a plurality of uniformly spaced tabs 58 are formed integrally with the side panels 52 along the panel side edge 57. The tabs 58 are outwardly flared so as to be received in detachable retaining relationship within corresponding openings 59 in the opposite side panels 51 adjacent the fold lines 53 of each of the half sections 46, 47 with the adjacent side panels 51, 52 in overlying relationship as shown in FIG. 9.

As in the previous embodiment, means are provided for removably supporting a plurality of shells 36 in longitudinally aligned, side-by-side relationship on each of the half sections 46, 47 to position the shells 36 within the interior 61 of the carton C' . More specifically, the side panels 51 of each of the half sections 46, 47 are provided with a plurality of openings 62 arranged in uniformly spaced, longitudinally extending relationship. Each of the openings 62 is arranged to accommodate one of the shells 36 with the marginal edge portion of the panel 51 defining the opening 62 in retaining engagement with the shell rim 36a as shown in FIGS. 9, 10. Additionally, for a purpose to be explained hereinafter, a plurality of longitudinally spaced slits 63 are provided within the side panels 51 of each of the half sections 46, 47 which extend inwardly from the panel side edge 56 transversely of the panel to a limited extend.

As in the previous embodiment, each of the half sections 46, 47 are provided with end flaps 66, 67 integrally connected to the side panel 52 by fold lines 68, 69 respectively and closure flaps 71, 72 integrally connected by fold lines 73 and 74 respectively to the opposite ends of the intermediate panel 48 for closing the ends of the carton C' . Additionally, tie straps 76, 77 are connected to each end of each of the half sections 46, 47 in associated pairs and are arranged to be tucked within the interior 61 of the carton C' after the shells 36 have been packed therein.

The use of the embodiment of FIGS. 8--10 is similar to that of the embodiment of FIGS. 1--7 wherein the carton C' containing shells 36 arranged as shown in FIG. 9 is opened by separating the half sections 46, 47 with each row of shells 36 supported on its respective half section as shown in FIG. 10. The half section 46 in FIG. 10 with the row of shells 36 supported within the openings 62 is positioned on the wearer's waist in arcuately shaped, conforming relationship therewith and the tie straps 76, 77 encircling the wearer's waist have their free ends tied together to support the half section 46 on the wearer's waist with the shells 36 exposed for easy access and ready removal. It will be noted that the side panel 51 extends laterally outward from the intermediate panel 48, the other side panel 52 being folded behind panel 48 as shown in FIG. 10, the slits 63 permitting the panel 51 to assume the arcuate configuration as shown.

It can be seen that there has been provided with the novel arrangement of the invention a carton particularly adapted for the packaging of shells such as shotgun shells by the manufacturer which not only permits the packaging of shells for retail sale of the like in conventional quantities but permits the use of the original package as a carrier for the shells by the purchaser in a convenient, readily accessible manner for immediate use such as in game hunting, skeet shooting or the like. Not only does the carton construction permit division of the carton into two sections each containing shells and with each section being independently attachable to the wearer's waist by self-contained attaching means but the rugged and inexpensive construction of the carton securely retains the shells for access and ready removal by the wearer while strongly resisting the destructive forces usually encountered in the field. Furthermore, the carton of the invention is capable of being reused repeatedly if desired. In addition, the carton of the invention lends itself readily to the use of plastic material formed by any conventional plastic molding operation thereby permitting the production of a low cost but highly attractive carton at a high production rate.

Another outstanding feature of the invention is the suitability of the carton for use by an individual in skeet shooting. The regulation number of shots in skeet shooting is 25 and in addition to being ideally adapted for positioning on the skeet shooter's waist for ready access to the shells by the shooter in an exceptionally convenient manner, the precise number of shells required in the skeet competition is contained in the carton permitting the total number of shells required to be carried by the shooter in the detached half section supported on opposite sides of the shooter's waist. Furthermore, if only a portion of the shells packaged in the carton are used, the two half sections may be readily reconnected together and placed in a suitable storage facility for future use.

While there has been described what at present is considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. A carton for packaging articles such as shells for shotguns or the like comprising, in combination, a pair of complementary half sections of sheet material, means for detachably interconnecting said half sections together to form a carton of substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape having an interior, flap means on the ends of said half sections for closing the ends of said carton, means for removably supporting a plurality of said shells in longitudinally aligned, side-by-side relationship on each of half sections to position said shells within the interior of said carton in adjacent rows, means on each of said half sections for supporting a detached half section on the body of a wearer with said detached half section in arcuately shaped, conforming relationship with said wearer's waist thereby exposing the shells supported on said detached half section for ready access and removal by the wearer.

2. A carton in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for supporting said detached half sections on the body of a wearer includes a tie strap on each end of each of said half sections forming a pair and arranged to be stored within said carton, said tie straps on each of said half sections having free ends for tying said pair of tie straps together in encircling relationship with the waist of a wearer.

3. A carton in accordance with claim 2 wherein said shell supporting means include a longitudinally extending strip of material secured to said half section at uniformly spaced integrals to form a plurality of loops for removably receiving said shells.

4. A carton in accordance with claim 3 wherein said strip and said tie straps on each of said half sections are formed in a continuous one-piece construction.

5. A carton in accordance with claim 2 wherein each of said half sections together with said flap means are formed from plastic material in a one-piece construction.

6. A carton in accordance with claim 2 wherein each of said half sections comprises a first panel and a second panel integrally connected to said first panel along a fold line, each of said first and second panels on said half sections being provided with longitudinally extending side edges and wherein said interconnecting means are associated with each of said panel side edges each of said half sections being foldable along said fold line into a substantially L-shaped cross-sectional area for interconnection of said half sections together by said interconnecting means with said first panels forming the sidewalls of said carton and said second panels forming the top and bottom walls of said carton.

7. A carton in accordance with claim 6 wherein said detachable interconnecting means include a longitudinally extending, integrally formed bead on the side edge of the second panel of each of said half sections and a pair of longitudinally extending, integrally formed beaded extensions on the side edge of the first panel of each of said half section, said pair of beaded extensions on each of said half section being arranged in spaced parallel relationship for detachably accommodating said bead on the other half section to interconnect said complementary pair of half sections together into said carton.

8. A carton in accordance with claim 2 wherein each of said half sections comprises an intermediate panel and a pair of side panels each integrally connected hingedly to said intermediate panel on opposite sides thereof along a fold line, each of said half sections being foldable along said fold line into a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional area for interconnection of said half sections together by said interconnecting means to form said carton with said intermediate panels forming the sidewalls of said carton and with adjacent side panels on said interconnected half sections in overlying relationship to form the top and bottom walls of said carton.

9. A carton in accordance with claim 8 wherein said means for supporting said shells on said half sections include a plurality of openings in one of said side panels on each of said half sections arranged in uniformly spaced, longitudinally extending relationship, each of said openings being arranged to accommodate one of said shells with the marginal edge portion of said side panel defining said opening in retaining engagement with the rim of said shell to position said shells on each of said half sections in said longitudinally aligned, side-by-side relationship.

10. A carton in accordance with claim 9 wherein the other side panel on each of said half sections is provided with a longitudinally extending side edge and wherein said interconnecting means include a plurality of outwardly extending integrally formed tabs on said other side panel side edge arranged in longitudinally spaced relationship and a plurality of openings in said one side panel adjacent said outside panel fold line arranged in longitudinally spaced relationship corresponding to the spacing of said tabs for detachably accommodating said tabs to interconnect said complementary pair of half sections together into said carton.