Opening Feature For Bottle Carrier

Abstract

A carrier for a plurality of similar articles such as bottles is formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard to provide a carton sleeve having opposed side walls and opposed end walls, the side walls extending over the tops of the articles and being joined to define a top wall. The end walls have indented upper portions maintained in position by gusset elements flanking the inner sides of upper portions of the side walls. A line of weakness extends from each edge of the top panel in convergent directions to intersect at a pull tab in one of the side walls, there by defining a tear panel which when removed exposes the tops of the bottles for easy removal from the carrier.

Description

PRIOR ART

This application is an improvement over the carrier structure disclosed in Charles R. Helms application Ser. No. 30,917, filed Apr. 22, 1970, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,627,193 for Carriers Formed From Sleeves and Gusset Folded Bottom Closure Panels.

The structure according to the present invention comprehends a bottle carrier which is substantially closed to light, and featured by the provision of structure enabling the carrier to be opened readily for removal of the contents thereof without destroying completely its usefulness or integrity.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cut and scored blank for forming an article carrier according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a completed carton formed from the blank of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view thereof; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 4--4 of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a blank 10 for forming an article carrier 10A for enclosing a group of bottles B and having the opening feature according to the present invention. Blank 10 has a first lower enclosure flap 12 connected to a front panel 13 along a fold line 14. An opposing closure flap 16 is connected to a back panel 17 along a continuation of the fold line 14. Closure flap 12 has a glue patch GP thereon, so that closure flap 12 may be placed into overlapping relationship with respect to closure flap 16 to close the bottom of the carton 10A seen in FIG. 2.

The first end panel 18 of carrier 10A has gusset flap elements 19 and 21 extending from the lower end thereof, these flap elements being capable of being folded upon themselves along an individual score line 20 in each. Gusset flap elements 19 and 21 are also defined by a continuation of score lines 22 and 23 defining first end panel 18 and a continuation of the score line 14 of front panel 13. Likewise, an opposed end panel 24 has gusset flap elements 26 and 27 foldably upon themselves along an individual score line 28 in each. One pair of such gusset flap elements is defined by the continuation of a score line 29 and by a continuation of the score line 14, while the other pair of such gusset flap elements is defined by a continuation of a fold line 31 and a continuation of the fold line 14.

Carton blank 10 includes a pair of inclined end panels 32 foldable with respect to the first and second end panels 18 and 24 along a fold line 33. Inclined end panels 32 converge towards each other, and each is defined by converging gusset fold lines 34 and by triangular gusset panels 36 also defined by a continuation of the score lines 22, 23, 29 and 31 as the case may be.

An underlapping top flap 37 extends from the front panel 13, and is foldable with respect thereto along a score line 35. An overlapping top flap 38 which extends from the back panel 17 is foldable with respect thereto along a continuation of the score line 35.

The overlapping and underlapping top flaps 38 and 37 are glued together in a conventional gluing operation.

The two flaps 37 and 38 are each provided with fold-down tabs 39 defined by an essentially semi-circular cut line 40 and a score line 41. When tabs 39 are folded down, they are in register and define a pair of spaced finger holes for the transport of the filled container 10A.

The top panels 37 and 38 may also be provided with converging lines of weakness 42, which extend from each free edge of the top wall as defined by top flap 38, the line of weakness commencing at the ends of flap 38. These extend into the top portion of panel 17 and terminate at their intersection in a tear tab 43. The precise configuration of the line of weakness 42 or the tear tab 43 may be as chosen, but irrespective of the form thereof they define a tear panel 44, which when removed enables the contents of carrier 10A to be removed readily.

It should be noted that the top panels 37 and 38 are free from attachment from the end panels 18 and 24 so that the contents of the carrier to be readily removed by the tearing at the lines of weakness 42. Moreover, the top panels 37 and 38 rest upon the tops of the end walls 18 and 24 to thereby provide a carrier which is substantially light tight.

Claims

I claim:

1. A carrier carton, for packaging a plurality of similar articles, formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard, comprising: a. opposed pairs of end and side walls foldably joined by fold lines to form a rectangular carton structure i. said opposed pair of side walls each having a height equal to the height of said articles; ii. said opposed pair of end walls, each being hinged at opposite sides thereof to respective side walls and having a height equal to the height of said side walls; b. each of said end walls including an upper portion defined by; score lines therein extending in converging directions from adjacent corners of said rectangular carton structure; ii. gusset panels defined by said score lines and said fold lines whereby each of the upper areas of said end walls may be folded inward; c. each of said side walls extending in convergent directions with respect to each other near the upper portions thereof upon folding of said gusset panels; d. a flat bottom wall including a pair of panels hinged to lower edges of respective side walls and secured to each other in overlapped relationship; e. a flat top wall parallel to said bottom wall and including a pair of panels hinged to upper edges of respective side walls and secured to each other; f. a continuous tear panel in said top wall and the upper portion of one of said side panels; i. said tear panel being defined by a line of weakness extending from each free edge of said top wall in a convergent direction to the other line of weakness and intersecting in the upper portion of said one side panel. ii. whereby upon opening of said tear panel the structural integrity of said tubular structure is unimpaired.

2. A carrier carton according to claim 1 wherein a tear tab is provided in said one side panel at one intersection of said lines of weakness.

3. A carrier carton, for packaging a plurality of similar articles, formed from a unitary blank of foldable paperboard, comprising: a. opposed pairs of end and side walls foldably joined by fold lines to form a rectangular carton structure; i. said opposed pair of side walls each having a height equal to the height of said articles; ii. said opposed pair of end walls being hinged at opposite sides thereof to respective side walls and having a height equal to the height of said side walls; b. each of said end walls including an upper portion defined by; i. score lines therein extending in converging directions from adjacent corners of said rectangular carton structure; ii. gusset panels defined by said score lines and said fold lines whereby each of the upper areas of said end walls may be folded inward; c. each of said side walls extending in convergent directions with respect to each other near the upper portions thereof upon folding of said gusset panels; d. a flat bottom wall including a pair of panels hinged to lower edges of respective side walls and secured to each other in overlapped relationship; e. a flat top wall parallel to said bottom wall and including a pair of panels hinged to upper edges of respective side walls and secured to each other; i. said flat top wall being free from attachment from said end walls but having bearing contact with upward folded in portions thereof; f. a continuous tear panel in said top wall and the upper portion of one of said side panels; i. said tear panel being defined by a line of weakness extending from each free edge of said top wall in a convergent direction to the other line of weakness and intersecting in the upper portion of said one side panel; ii. whereby upon opening of said tear panel the structural integrity of said tubular structure is unimpaired.

4. A carrier carton according to claim 3, wherein a tear tab is provided in said one side panel at an intersection of said lines of weakness.