Background of the Invention

This invention relates to an article carrier for holding multiple cylindrical objects such as bottles together and carrying them conveniently as one unit. The invention also relates to a package formed from the carrier.

Article carriers have been utilized to carry multiple cylindrical articles such as plastic bottles, glass bottles, steel or aluminum cans or the like. These carriers are formed of paperboard or other foldable material and designed and structured to grip multiple articles at their upper portions (e.g., necks) to bundle the articles into one unit that can be lifted and carried at one time.

Typical cylindrical articles used with these carriers, such as plastic or glass bottles, have parts protruding radially outwardly from their respective upper portions. The radially protruding part is available in different forms including a cap, neck flange, crown, bulged bead portion and the like. Some conventional bottles are provided with a combination of two or more different types of radially protruding parts such as a combination of a plastic cap and a neck flange. Cans also are provided with radially protruding parts. A typical example of the radially protruding parts for cans is a can chime formed along the periphery of the upper end of the can.

A typical article carrier has a top panels formed with a plurality of apertures for receiving and supporting the upper portions of cylindrical articles. Conventional article carriers having article-receiving apertures are shown for example in U.S. Patents Nos. 1,319,902; 1,340,792; 1,479,729; 3,387,879; and 5,323,895. The apertures are provided with means for engaging the radially protruding parts of articles, and thereby articles are held together for the convenience of transportation, storage and displaying. A typical conventional engaging means comprises a plurality of engaging tabs arranged along the perimeter of each aperture so that each article is supported at its radially protruding parts by the multiple engaging tabs. There is a drawback in this type of carrier in that all the engaging tabs must be disengaged firom the respective radially protruding part to remove the associated article from the carrier since.

This invention takes into consideration this and other points and aims to provide a new article carrier and a package formed therefrom that can be easily applied to, and disengaged from, multiple articles.

Summary of the Invention

According to one aspect of the invention, an article carrier for packaging a plurality of cylindrical articles is provided. Preferred cylindrical articles used with the invention are those having radially protruding parts at their respective upper portions. The article carrier comprises a top panel, a side panel hingedly connected to one or each of trie opposed side edges of the top panel, a handle provided for the top panel, article-receiving apertures formed in the top panel to receive the upper portions of the articles respectively, and article-engaging tabs extending from the respective side panel to engage the undersides of the radially protruding parts of the articles to retain said upper portions in the apertures. Each aperture is defined by a generally U-shaped edge and the respective engaging tab. The U-shaped edge of each aperture includes a medial portion and a pair of opposed end portions. Each aperture is disposed between the handle and the respective side panel such that the opposed end portions of the U-shaped edge extend from the respective medial portion toward trie adjacent side panel. The tab for each aperture is joined to the respective side panel and disposed at a position transversely across that aperture from the respective medial portion. The tab for each aperture extends upwardly and inwardly from the respective side panel beyond the adjacent side edge of the top panel.

In a preferred embodiment, the maximum distance between the opposed end portions of the U-shaped edge of each aperture may be greater than the diameter of the upper portion of each article while the distance between the medial portion of the U-shaped edge of each aperture and the upper end of the respective tab may be less than the upper potion of each article when the top and side panels and the respective tab lie in the same plane. In another preferred embodiment, the U-shaped edge of each aperture may include a free, unfolded edge that is free of any additional element of the carrier.

In a further preferred embodiment, the opposed end portions of the U-shaped edge of each aperture may extend from the respective medial portion and terminate at the adjacent side panel

In a still further preferred embodiment, the tab for each aperture may be disposed along the upper edge of the respective side panel at a position transversely opposed to the respective medial portion of the U-shaped edge of that aperture.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a package is formed from a plurality of cylindrical articles and the above carrier. Each article has an upper portion including radially protruding part. The article carrier includes a top panel, a side panel hingedly connected to one or each of the opposed side edges of the top panel, a handle provided for the top panel, article-receiving apertures formed in the top panel to receive the upper portions of the articles respectively, and article-engaging tabs extending from the respective side panel to engage the undersides of the radially protruding parts of the articles to retain the upper portions in the apertures respectively. Each aperture is defined by a generally U-shaped edge and the respective tab. The U-shaped edge of each aperture includes a medial portion and a pair of opposed end portions. Each aperture is disposed between the handle and the respective side panel such that the opposed end portions of the U-shaped edge extend from the respective medial portion toward the adjacent side panel. The tab for each aperture is joined to the respective side panel and disposed at a position transversely across that aperture from the respective medial portion. The tab for each aperture extends upwardly and inwardly from the respective side panel beyond the adjacent side edge of the top panel,

hi a preferred embodiment, the maximum distance between the opposed end portions of the U-shaped edge of each aperture may be greater than the diameter of the upper portion of each article while the distance between the medial portion of the U-shaped edge of each aperture and the upper end of the respective tab may be less than the upper potion of each article when the top and side panels and the respective tab lie in the same plane. According to the carrier of the invention, the blank of the carrier (or the carrier in its flat form) may be lowered onto a group of cylindrical articles so that upper portions of the cylindrical articles are inserted into the apertures. The respective side panel is folded down with respect the top panel while the carrier is further lowered to allow the upper portions of the articles to be further inserted. During the course of the insertion, the engaging tabs are thrust aside by the upper portions and they slide along the sides of the radially protruding parts until they clear the radially protruding parts. Upon clearance of the radially protruding parts, the tabs resiliently move back into a position where they engage the undersides of the respective radially protruding parts. After the engagement, lifting the carrier by the handle brings the medial portion of the U-shaped edge of each aperture into abutment on the side of the upper portion of the associated article. The medial portion in fact is pressed against the respective upper portion due to the load of the article itself. This ensures that the engaging tabs are held in their engaging positions under the respective radially protruding parts while the carrier is lifted by the handle.

To disengage the articles from the carrier, the respective side panel is folded upwardly with respect to the top panel. By this means, the associated engaging tabs are pivoted downwardly to be removed from the engaging positions. The carrier is then moved upwardly with the side panel folded up. This allows the upper portions of the articles to come out of the respective apertures so that the articles are released from the restraint of the carrier.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a package according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view taken along the line A-A of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the blank of a carrier from which the package in Figure 1 is formed.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross section of the package in Figure 1, showing one of the engaging tabs in engagement with the underside of the radially protruding part. Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross section of the paclkage in Figure 1, showing one of the side panels folded up to have the associated article disengaged from the carrier.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring now to Figures 1 to 5, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is described herein after. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a package 1 is formed of cylindrical articles in the forms of six (6) plastic bottles 2. Each plastic bottle 2 includes a container 3 that contains liquid such as a beverage and a radially protruding part in the form of a bottle cap 5. Container 3 has a cylindrical main body 3 c of a uniform diameter which include a bottom 3b. The main body 3c is provided at its upper end with* a shoulder 3d that tapers to a cylindrical neck 3e the diameter of which is considerably smaller than that of the main body 3c. The upper end of the neck is open. The cap 5 is design. ed to close the open top of the container 3 by threadedly attached detachably to the neck 3e. The cap 5 radially protrudes outwardly from the associated neck 3e to provide a radially pzrotruding part while the lower edge of the cap 5 provides the underside of the radially protruding part.

The package 1 also includes an article carrier 7 wbάch is made of paperboard or any other foldable sheet material such as corrugated board, plastic sheet or the like. The carrier 7 is designed to hold six bottles 2 together in one unit. The article carrier 7 has a rectangular top panel 8 as shown in Figure 3. The size of the top panel 8 is dimensioned such that the top panel 8 covers all the necks 3e of the bottles arranged in a 2 x 3 configuration. In this embodiment more particularly, the width "Wl" (see Figure 3) of the top panel 8 is greater than the diameter of the main body 3c and less thaαi twice the diameter of the main body 3c. The length "Ll" of the top panel 8 is about three times the diameter of the main body 3c.

In the center of the top board 8 along the width, a ;pair of finger inserting holes 9, which act as a handling means, are formed, facing each other in a longitudinal direction of the top board 8.

A pair of side panels are hingedly connected to the opposite side edges of the top panel 8 respectively. Each side panel include a first paneL portion 12 hingedly connected to the top panel 8 along a folding line 11 and a second panel portion 14 hingedly connected to the first panel portion 12 along a folding line 13. The width "W2" of each first panel portion 12 is generally equal to the vertical size of the shoulder 3d.

The top panel 8 is provided with a pair of finger openings each defined by a fmger tab 9 struck from the top panel 8 and hingedly connected thereto. A handle is defined between the finger tabs 9. Article-receiving aperture 16 are formed in the top panel 8. hi the present embodiment, three apertures 16 in one longitudinally disposed row are located between the handle and one of the side edges of the top panel 8 while the other three aperture in the other longitudinally disposed row are between the handle and the other side edge of the top panel 8. These apertures 16 are designed to receive the upper portion of the bottles including the caps 5.

Each aperture 16 is defined by a generally C- or U-shaped free, unfolded edge 16c. the U- shaped edge is free of any additional element of the carrier such as engaging tabs. The U- shaped edge of each aperture 16 consists of a medial portion 16a located close to the notional longitudinal center line of the top panel and a pair of opposed end portions 16b, 16b extending from the medial portion 16a to the adjacent one of the side edges of the top panel 8.

Each aperture 16 is further defined by an engaging tab 18 that joined integrally to the adjacent one of the first panel portion 12 and extends into the respective aperture 16 when the carrier is in blank form as best shown in Figure 3. The tabs 18 for the apertures in the one row are disposed along the longitudinal edge that is coincidental with the fold line 11 of one of the first panel portions 12 while the tabs 18 for the apertures in the other one row are disposed along the longitudinal edge that is coincidental with the fold line 11 of the other first panel portion 12. Each tab 18 is located at the position transversely across the associated aperture 16 from the medial portion 16a of the U-shaped edge 16c of that aperture 16 and thereby it is transversely opposed to the medial portion 16a. hi the illustrated embodiment, the opposite side edges of each tab 18 are positioned adjacent respectively to the terminal ends of the associated end portions 16b, 16b that are on the adjacent fold line 11. In this embodiment, each aperture 16 is dimensioned such that the maximum distance "Dl" between the opposed end portions 16b, 16b is greater than the diameter of the cap 5, and the distance "D2" between the medial portion 16a and the tip end 18a of the engaging tab 18 is less than the diameter of the cap 5 when the carrier is in blank form (Figure 3). In addition, the distance "D3" between the medial portion 16a and the base of the engaging tab 18 is greater than the diameter of the cap 5.

How to form a package using the carrier 7 is described below:

First, the blank of the carrier 7 is lowered onto a group of bottles while both the side panels are folded along the fold lines 11 with respect to the top panel 8. The folding of the side panels causes the associated tabs 18 to project upwardly in inwardly of the side edges (or fold lines 11) of the top panel 8. Each side panel may be folded along its fold line 13 so that the second panel portion 14 is somewhat folded down with respect to the first panel portion 12.

As the carrier is further lowered, the caps 5 of the bottles are inserted into the apertures 16. Here, although the distance D2 is less than the diameter of the cap 5 of each bottle, the tabs 18 are easily thrust aside by the caps 5 and slide along the sides of the caps 5 until the top panel 8 reaches down to the shoulders 3d of the bottles. As soon as the top panel 8 reaches the shoulders 3d or the tabs 18 clear the lower ends of the caps 5, the tabs 18 resiliency move inwardly toward the respective necks 3e so that the upper ends of the tabs 18 come into engagement with the undersides of the caps 5. By this means, the package 1 is complete, hi this package 1, the first panel portions 12 are disposed along the shoulders 3d of the respective bottles 2 while the second panel portions 14 are disposed along the upper parts of the main bodies 3c of the respective bottles 2.

The package 1 may be lifted and carried by the handle as best shown in Figure 4. A user's fingers are pressed against the finger tabs 9 to thrust them aside and thereby inserted into the finger apertures. During the course of the lifting of the carrier 7, the top panel 8 is bowed somewhat upwardly convexly as shown in Figure 4 wherein the areas of the top panel 8 along the opposite side edges are located at a lower elevation than the central area of the top panel 8 where the finger tabs 9 are located. This brings the medial portion 16a of the U-shaped edge of each aperture into abutment with the side of the respective cap 5 such that the underside 5 a of the same cap 5 is pressed against the respective engaging tab 18. This ensured that the engaging tabs 18 are held in their engaging positions while the package is lifted and carried by the user.

To remove the bottles 2 from the carrier 7, the package 1 is placed on a supporting surface such as a table top and then the side panels 12, 14 are folded upwardly along the fold lines 11 as best shown in Figure 5. hi response to this folding action, the engaging tabs 18 are swung downwardly and are thereby disengaged from the respective undersides 5a of the caps 5. The carrier 7 with the upturned side panels is then raised to be separated from the group of bottles 2. As the carrier 7 is raised, the bottles 2 easily move out of the respective apertures and are released from the carrier 7 because the tabs 18 are directed downwardly and the distances "Dl" and "D3" are greater than the diameter of the cap 5.

hi the carrier 7, each bottle 2 is supported by only one engaging tab 18, which is located on, and projecting from, the side panels. Thus, removal of the bottles from the carrier 7 may be easily achieved by folding or otherwise rotating the side panels upwardly to cause the each engaging tab 18 to disengaged from the respective cap 5.

This invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be altered in various ways if desired.

For example, bottles 2 may be replaced by those having neck flanges projecting radially outwardly from the bottle necks or those having bulging bead portions along the necks.

It should be readily appreciated that the finger openings may be replaced by a strap handle or upright handle panel(s) with hand holes.

It should be also appreciated that the present invention is not limited to a carrier or package designed for a 2 by configuration. More specifically, the invention may be used with a carrier or package of a 1 by configuration wherein a handle such as a hand aperture or slot or even a upright handle panel is formed along one side edge of a top panel and a row of article- receiving apertures are arranged along the other side edge of the top panel.