Two piece carrier for articles of different sizes

Abstract

A carrier for transporting a plurality of articles is formed from two identical wrap-around cartons fixed together in side-by-side relationship. A panel is formed at one end of each carton and is adapted to be pivoted from a position aligned with a carton wall to a position spanning the end of the carton to define an open cell adapted to receive an article therein. The two cartons are each wrapped around a group of articles and the assembled cartons are secured together in side-by-side fashion. An end cell of either or both of the cartons can be left empty and opened by pivoting the adjacent panel in order to receive an article therein. A finger grip is provided on an outside wall of the cartons to aid in transporting the filled carrier. The carrier may be used, for example, to transport six 1 quart cans of oil, or five 1 quart cans of oil and an oil filter.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. The Field of Invention:

The present invention relates to an article carrier formed by a pair of identical carton blanks, of the so-called wrap-around style, each of which is wrapped around a plurality of articles and the two cartons secured together in side-by-side fashion. More particularly, the present invention relates to an article carrier which is capable of holding either a plurality of first articles or a combination of first and second articles.

2. Description of the Prior Art:

There has long been a need for an article carrier which may be used to transport either a plurality of like articles of the same size and shape or a first plurality of like articles and at least one second article of different size and shape. A well known example of a package for holding articles of different size and shape is U.S. Pat. No. 3,424,301 which shows a package of the type frequently used for premium, bonus, or introductory sales. The package shown encloses a first regular size article as well as a second sample article which is of the same general shape but smaller in size. However, the package shown in this patent cannot be adapted to hold either a plurality of identical articles all of the same size or the different sized articles as shown.

It is well known to package a number of articles in a single carton, for example, "six packs." However, the well known "six pack" cartons are not adaptable for situations which require packaging of, for example, five of one type of article and one of a second type of article.

This exemplary five and one arrangement is particularly useful in the field of auto maintainance wherein the manufacturers recommend periodic replacement of oil and oil filters. Most American cars require 5 quarts of oil when both the oil and oil filter are replaced, which suggests the need of a carrier having a capacity of five 1 quart cans of oil as well as a replacement oil filter. The rising costs of having such regular maintainance performed by a garage or a service station, as well as the attendant inconvienance, has lead to increasing numbers of car owners doing their own routine auto maintanence and has thus further amplified the need for such a carrier.

It would appear that the most likely solution to the above packaging dilemma would be to simply gather five 1 quart cans of oil and a single oil filter package together and enclose them in a fairly conventional wrap-around carton. However, this is a highly impractical solution since the wide variety of makes and models of automobiles, as well as variety of engine sizes, call for a wide range of filters. Thus it would require an extraordinarily large amount of storage for a dealer to have on hand carriers filled with oil-oil filter combinations for even only the most popular makes and models of cars.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention fulfills the above discussed need for a carrier for transporting a plurality of articles and is characterized by two identical cartons of the wrap-around type each formed from a single sheet of material, such as cardboard, and held closed by conventional locking means. One end of each carton is provided with a flap which is movable between a first position in alignment with a wall of the carton to a second position spanning an end of the carton to form an open cell capable of receiving an article therein. The two cartons are fixed together in a side-by-side relation by any well known means, such as glue.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is therefor an object of the present invention to produce an article carrier which is convertable for carrying either a plurality of articles of identical size and shape or a plurality of articles of a first size and shape along with at least one further article of a different size and shape.

It is also an object of the present invention to construct an article carrier having two identical cartons of the wrap-around type which are fixedly attached together in side-by-side fashion.

It is a further object of the present invention to produce an article carrier formed by two identical wrap-around cartons fastened together side-by-side and with each carton being adapted to form an open cell at one end to hold therein an article of different size and shape from those wrapped in the cartons.

It is still another object of this invention to construct a two piece carrier for related articles of different sizes and shapes in which two identical wrap-around cartons are secured together in side-by-side fashion and enclose a number of containers, such as five 1 quart cans of oil, while leaving an open cell for receiving a second related article, such as an oil filter.

It is a still further object of the present invention to teach a method for producing a two piece multiple article carrier formed by two identical wrap-around cartons secured together in side-by-side fashion.

The means for accomplishing the foregoing objects and other advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the subject two-piece carrier showing two wrap-around cartons enclosing five containers and prior to being fastened together; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 1, showing a fully assembled and filled carrier according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, the reference numerals 10 and 12 indicate two identical wrap-around cartons each of which is utilized to encircle a plurality of like articles to form a package in well-known fashion. The assembled cartons 10 and 12 are each wrapped around a plurality of identical containers all of which can be alike or, as in the present example, one carton can be wrapped around a lesser number of containers in order to leave room in the carrier for another article of different size and shape. The illustrated preferred embodiment shows an article carrier holding two identical containers in carton 10 and three identical containers in carton 12. Thus this arrangement would satisfy the above discussed need for an article carrier capable of transporting five 1 quart cans of oil and an oil filter.

Since the present invention is concerned with an entire article carrier for transporting a plurality of different types of containers, the details of cartons 10 and 12 which are conventional features of a wrap-around carton blank will be described only to the extent necessary for identification. Only carton 10 will be referred to and referenced in this description since cartons 10 and 12 are identical.

The carton 10 is formed from a single sheet of material, such as cardboard or the like, and includes panels 14 and 16, which form a bottom wall, side walls 18 and 20, and top wall 22. A carton lock structure, indicated by the general reference numeral 24, is formed along the length of panels 14 and 16. The locking structure is of a well known type and is similar to the arrangement disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,098,583, issued July 23, 1963.

Tabs 26 and 28 in both side walls form sockets adapted to receive the top and bottom, respectively, peripherial edges of containers held in the assembled carton. These sockets serve the well known function of preventing the enclosed containers from falling out of the open ends of the cartons.

A carrying grip 30 is formed in side wall 18 to provide finger access by which one may grasp and carry the complete package. The carrying grip includes two parallel, spaced cutouts which are formed by die cuts 32 and 34 and score lines 36 and 38.

One end of the carton has first score lines 40 and 42 extending upwardly at a first angle from the bottom corner of side walls 18 and 20, respectively. Second score lines 44 and 46 are formed on side walls 18 and 20, respectively, extending upwardly at a second angle with respect to the bottom wall from a point on the edge of each side wall until intersecting with the first score lines 40 and 42. The first and second score lines define generally triangular first tuck panels 48 and 50. Die cuts 52 and 54 form continuations of first score lines 40 and 42, respectively, and are connected across the top wall 22 by die cut 56. Die cuts 52, 54 and 56 together with score lines 44 and 46 define a channel shaped panel 58 which includes end panel 60 and second tuck panels 62 and 64. The panel 58 is pivotable about the points defined by the intersections of the first and second score lines and upon hinges formed by the score lines between the side walls and first tuck panels 40, 42 and between the first and second tuck panels 44, 46. The panel 58 is movable from a first position in alignment with the top wall, as shown in FIG. 1, to a second position spanning the end of the carton, as shown in FIG. 2, and defining an open cell.

Die cuts 66 and 68, together with score line 70, define a further panel 72 which servies a double purpose. First, this panel can bend inwardly to allow insertion of large size articles into the open cell and, secondly, in its inwardly bent position, the panel serves to prevent the articles inserted in the cell from accidently falling out.

The top wall 22 may be provided with a plurality of annular openings, such as openings 74, 76 and 78, which allow both visual assurance that the carrier is filled with the right number of containers and as an aid for opening of the carrier. Alternatively, the carton can be provided with a conventional weakened area or tear strip (not shown) to facilitate easy opening.

The subject carrier is formed by wrapping a first group of containers, in this case two containers 80 and 82, in carton 10 and securing the carton in an assembled condition by lock structure 24. The carton 12 is wrapped about a second group of containers in this case three containers 84, 86, and 88, and the lock structure secured. The wrapping of the containers in the body blanks is accomplished in well-known fashion to develop two almost identical packages. The packages are then secured together, as shown in FIG. 2, in a side-by-side configuration by glue 90 (only a small patch of which has been shown in FIG. 1) or any other suitable securing means.

To continue the example of an oil/oil filter carrier, the completed carrier filled with five 1 quart cans of oil is shipped to a dealer. At the time of sale to a customer, the dealer determines the customer's preference for quantity of oil and required oil filter size. Either a sixth can of oil or an appropriate oil filter is then inserted into the end cell and the transaction completed.

While the present preferred embodiment has been described with reference to a carrier holding five 1 quart cans of oil and an oil filter, the present invention is not limited to this arrangement since it is forseen that a wide variety of modifications of the present invention may be devised without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A carrier for transporting a plurality of articles comprising

first and second cartons, each carton being formed of a single sheet and having top, bottom and side walls and locking means holding said carton together;

means securing said cartons together in side-by-side relationship; and

a pivotal panel formed on one of said cartons including first and second tuck panels formed on opposite walls of said carton and an end panel formed from a wall intermediate said opposite walls of said carton,

said first tuck panels being defined by first and second intersecting score lines, said second tuck panels being defined by said second score lines and intersecting first die cuts,

said end panel being defined by a second die cut interconnecting said first die cuts,

such that said pivotal panel is movable from a first position in alignment with the wall intermediate said opposite walls to a second position spanning an end of said carton.

2. A carrier according to claim 1 further comprising a second panel in said intermediate wall adjacent said pivotal panel, said second panel being defined by said second die cut, a third score line parallel to and spaced from said second die cut, and third and fourth parallel die cuts extending between said second die cut to said third score line.

3. A method of packaging for transporting a plurality of articles of related nature but of different size and shape comprising the steps of

wrapping a first plurality of like articles in a first wrap-around carton and securing said first carton to itself;

wrapping a second plurality of like articles in a second wrap-around carton and securing said second carton to itself;

fastening said first and second cartons to each other in side-by-side relationship;

folding a pivotal panel of said first carton from a first position parallel to the top wall of the first carton to a position spanning the end of the first carton to form a cell open in the direction of the top wall of the carton; and

inserting into said open cell from the direction of the top wall of the carton a further article of different size and shape than said articles.

4. A method of packaging articles as recited in claim 3 further comprising the step of folding a second panel down from the top wall of said first carton to retain said further article in the open cell in said carton.