TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to thin walled, flexible and collapsible containers and associated carriers for such containers, which are useful for holding various materials, including liquid foodstuffs (milk, water, juice, etc.)/ other non-foodstuff liquids (dish and laundry detergent, etc.)/ viscous liquids and non-liquid flowable material (powders, granules, salts, etc.). More specifically, the present invention relates to a relatively rigid reusable container carriers adapted to receive and hold a flexible, collapsible containers in nested relationship, and which enables the consumer to conveniently use and then dispose of an empty thin walled container, and replace it with a similar, filled container, or refill container.

BACKGROUND

There is great concern in government and in the food packaging industry for potential environmental hazards associated with disposable plastic containers used in the packaging and sale of beverages such as milk, water, juice, etc., other liquids or semi-liquids (viscous liquids) such as detergents, ketchup, etc., as well as flowable non-liquids such as powders, granules, and salts, etc. It has been estimated, for example, that in the dairy industry alone, as much as 500 million pounds of plastic are required each year for consumer oriented container

applications, virtually all of which eventually finds its way to landfills and/or other waste sites. Significant amounts of scrap plastic are also produced by the manufacture of such large amounts of plastic, thereby also contributing to the waste problem. The thin walled container assemblies of my co-pending application Serial Nos. 07/432,672 filed November 7, 1989 and 07/576,080 filed August 31, 1990 alleviate this problem to the extent of reducing the plastic required to form, for example, a one-gallon container by about fifty percent.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In order to fully utilize the advantages of the thin walled, flexible and disposable containers as described in my above identified parent application, it is desirable to provide a carrier which will securely hold the thin walled container during use, and particularly during pouring. In other words, while the thin walled containers of my parent application are sufficiently strong as to be sold separately as replacements or refills on the shelf with no supporting carrier, the use of the container and particularly the pouring of contents therefrom is made easier and less prone to spilling, because the user need not directly grasp the flexible sidewall of the container.

In accordance with this invention, therefore, a carrier device with an integral handle is provided for receiving and holding a thin walled, flexible and collapsible container. The carrier may be a one-time purchase, or at least a seldom purchased item for the

consumer, to be used repeatedly with subsequently purchased refills, while the empty thin walled container itself may be disposed of after use in the normal fashion.

In a first main exemplary embodiment of the invention, the carrier includes relatively rigid lower and upper portions. The lower portion includes a generally cylindrical bucket-like member including a peripheral side wall and a bottom wall. The upper end of the lower portion is open and terminates in an upper peripheral edge. An upper portion of the carrier includes a pair of elongated, relatively rigid strap portions which extend from opposite sides of a container neck engaging portion. The free end portions of the respective strap portions are provided with profiled apertures which are adapted to fit over a pair of projections extending from opposite sides of the lower portion of the carrier.

In this first exemplary embodiment, each of the projections extending from the lower carrier portion include elongated stem portions joined to the lower carrier portion at one end and provided with enlarged heads at the other end. The apertures in the upper carrier strap portions each comprise an elongated slot portion and an enlarged circular portion joined to form a single profiled aperture. This arrangement enables the strap portions to be slidably mounted over the enlarged heads of the above described projections, to thereby attach the upper carrier portion to the lower carrier portion in such a way as to permit pivotal movement of the upper carrier portion about a horizontal axis extending between the opposed projections. When the upper carrier portion

has been pivoted to a container neck engaging position, the strap portions may be pulled upwardly slightly to cause locking engagement of the elongated stem portion of the projections within the elongated slot portions of the apertures, to preclude any subsequent pivoting movement of the upper carrier portion relative to the lower carrier portion.

Thus, it may be appreciated that the upper carrier portion, through manipulation of the strap portions, may be pivoted about the oppositely extending projections to permit loading and unloading of a thin walled container within the lower carrier portion. After loading of a thin walled container within the lower portion, the upper carrier portion may then be pivoted into engagement with the container neck, and thereafter pulled upwardly to insure releasable locking engagement of the upper carrier portion relative to the lower carrier portion.

In this exemplary embodiment, the container neck engaging portion of the upper carrier portion is designed to snugly engage the container neck just below an outwardly directed radial flange of the thin walled container.

The upper carrier portion also includes an integral handle portion extending between one side of the container neck engaging portion and the lower end of one of the strap portions, to thereby define a closed loop handle which facilitates lifting and carrying of the assembly, as well as pouring contents from the container.

The above described arrangement provides a unique, easy to use thin walled container carrier which is adapted for relatively permanent use, i.e.,

it is designed to be used repeatedly with thin walled, disposable container refills.

In a variation of the above described first exemplary embodiment of the invention, a container carrier is provided with a lower carrier portion substantially identical to that described above. The upper carrier portion differs to the extent that one of the strap portions extending between the container engaging neck portion and the lower carrier portion is modified to serve as the handle. In addition, the bail elements are modified to assume a simpler shape, cooperable with side opening slots on the lower ends of the strap portions, enabling essentially the same type of pivoting movement as described above. Cooperable detents and projections are also provided on the lower carrier portion and strap portions, respectively, to insure that the upper carrier portion is secure in both the container neck engaging position and in the loading/unloading position.

In a second main exemplary embodiment of the invention, the carrier includes relatively rigid lower and upper portions. The lower portion includes a generally cylindrical bucket-like member including a peripheral side wall and a bottom wall. The upper end of the lower portion is open and terminates in an upper peripheral edge.

In this second exemplary embodiment, the upper carrier portion includes an elongated, relatively rigid strap portion (which also serves as a handle) which is pivotally connected at one end to the lower carrier portion, and is provided at its other end with a container neck engaging portion.

The one end of the strap portion includes a pivot pin portion which is received within a bracket provided at the upper end of the lower carrier portion, to thereby permit pivotal movement of the upper carrier portion about a vertical axis between a container loading/unloading position and a container neck engaging position.

The pivot pin portion and bracket configuration includes cooperable stop elements for limiting the pivoting movement of the upper carrier portion to about 90°, (the arcuate distance between the two above noted positions) and for releasably holding the upper carrier portion in either of these positions.

The container neck engaging portion of the upper carrier portion is designed to snugly engage the container neck just below an outwardly directed radial flange of the thin walled container.

The above described arrangement provides a unique, easy to use thin walled container carrier which is adapted for relatively permanent use, i.e., it is designed to be used repeatedly with thin walled ^• container refills.

In a third main exemplary embodiment, the invention provides a carrier which includes cooperable frame and basket components, preferably but not necessarily made .of plastic material. Specifically, a unitary frame member is provided which includes a container neck engaging portion at an upper end, with integrally formed side portions which extend downwardly away from the container neck engaging portion, and a bottom wall portion which connects the side portions. In other words, the frame is in the form of a closed, relatively rigid

loop which substantially completely encircles or surrounds the container in a substantially vertical plane.

The frame component itself has a cross section similar to that of an I-beam, which is particularly advantageous in that it not only rigidifies the frame member, but also provides a convenient surface configuration for supporting the basket component as further described below.

The basket portion of the carrier assembly is a one-piece, cup-like construction, and includes a peripheral side wall, an open top and a closed bottom wall. The side wall is formed with two relatively short and diametrically opposed portions, and two relatively tall diametrically opposed portions. _. This arrangement conserves material and lowers the cost of the assembly. The lower portions facilitate assembly or introduction of the container into the basket, while the taller or upstanding portions provide greater peripheral support for the container. In this exemplary embodiment, in the upstanding portions there are also formed diametrically opposed ears having outwardly facing grooves adapted to receive one of the two flanges of the I-beam like cross section of the frame member. In other words, the diametrically opposed ears are provided with grooves which enable the basket to slide along the side portions of the frame, and to be removably secured to the frame.

The bottom wall portion of the basket is provided with arcuate, diametrically opposed support legs which project downwardly from the bottom wall and which extend about 160° on either side of a

center line of the bottom wall, thereby leaving a recessed center portion which enables the basket to seat on the frame bottom portion member with the supporting legs adapted to engage a supporting surface such as a table or the like. This arrangement permits the frame member to be seated in the recessed area and flush with or slightly offset upwardly from the supporting leg portions so as not to interfere with the stability of the assembly afforded by the support legs.

In a variation of this third main exemplary embodiment, vertical grooves are formed along the length of the upstanding portions of the peripheral side wall of the basket component. The frame component is sized so that the side portions snap into place within the diametrically opposed grooves. The vertical grooves may be formed continuously with a groove extending across the bottom wall of the basket component so that the frame component (when in place) is fully seated in a continuous generally U-shaped groove extending across the bottom of the basket and along diametrically opposed portions of the side wall.

In still another variation of this third main exemplary embodiment, one upstanding peripheral portion is considerably taller than the other, thereby further facilitating insertion of a container within the assembly.

Since, in all variations of the third embodiment, the basket is supported within the frame at the two diametrically opposed, upstanding portions of the basket as well as along the bottom wall of the basket, when a container is in place in the basket

with its neck portion frictionally engaged by the neck support portion of the frame, an overall relatively rigid assembly is provided which facilitates easy pouring of the contents of the container without danger of any relative slipping movement between any of the frame, basket and container.

In accordance with a broad aspect of the invention, a thin walled container carrier is provided which comprises (a) a lower carrier portion including a peripheral sidewall, a bottom wall, and an upper peripheral edge; and (b) a pivotable upper carrier portion including a pair of strap portions detachably secured at first ends to the lower carrier portion at diametrically opposed locations and terminating at a container neck engaging portion integrally formed between second ends of the strap portions.

Thus, in accordance with another broad aspect of the invention, a thin walled container carrier is provided which comprises (a) a lower carrier portion including a peripheral sidewall, a bottom wall, and an upper peripheral edge; and (b) an upper carrier portion including a relatively rigid handle portion pivotally mounted at one end to the lower container carrier portion, and provided with a container neck engaging portion provided at the other end, the upper carrier portion being pivotable about a vertical axis.

And, in accordance with a third broad aspect of the invention, a thin walled container carrier assembly is provided which comprises a closed loop frame component having an upper container neck engaging portion, a pair of opposed side portions and

a bottom portion connecting the opposed side portions; and a basket component supportable within the closed-loop frame component and having a peripheral side wall and a bottom wall, the bottom portion of the frame component extending across the bottom wall of the basket component.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a carrier assembly and thin walled flexible container in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the lower carrier portion of the assembly shown in Figure 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the upper carrier portion of the assembly shown in Figure 1;

FIGURE 4 is a partial plan view of the upper carrier portion shown in Figure 3;

FIGURE 5 is a partial detail showing the upper carrier portion attached to the lower carrier portion in one position permitting pivotal movement of one relative to the other;

FIGURE 6 is a partial detail showing the upper carrier portion attached to the lower carrier portion in a second position where pivotal movement therebetween is prevented;

FIGURE 7 is a partial side elevation of a carrier assembly in accordance with a variation of the first exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 8 is a partial plan view of the upper carrier portion shown in Figure 7;

FIGURE 9 is a partial side elevation illustrating the pivotal movement of the upper carrier portion relative to the lower carrier portion;

FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional detail illustrating the manner in which the upper carrier portion may be releasably secured in one position of movement of the upper carrier portion;

FIGURE 11 is a one side view of the upper carrier portion shown in Figure 7;

FIGURE 12 is the other side view of the upper carrier portion shown in Figure 7;

FIGURE 13 is a side elevation of a container carrier assembly and thin walled flexible container in accordance with a second main exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 14 is a rear elevation of the carrier assembly of Figure 13, but with the container removed;

FIGURE 15 is a perspective view of a mounting bracket provided on the lower carrier portion, but removed therefrom for the sake of clarity;

FIGURE 16 is a partial plan view of the container carrier portion shown in Figure 13;

FIGURE 17 is a perspective view of the upper carrier portion of the assembly shown in Figure 13;

FIGURE 18 is a cross section taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 13;

FIGURE 19 is a partial elevation of the pivot pin portion of the upper carrier portion shown in Figure 17;

FIGURE 20 is a bottom view of the partial elevation shown in Figure 19;

FIGURE 21 is a cross section taken along the line 9-9 shown in Figure 13;

FIGURE 22 is a side elevation of a basket and frame assembly in accordance with a third main exemplary embodiment of the invention, with an associated container inserted therein;

FIGURE 23 is a side elevation of the basket and frame assembly of Figure 22 with the container removed, and illustrating the manner in which the basket is assembled with the frame;

FIGURE 24 is a partial top view of the frame component illustrated in Figure 22;

FIGURE 25 is a cross section of the frame component taken along line 25-25 of Figure 26;

FIGURE 26 is a partial side view of one side portion of the frame component;

FIGURE 27 is a side elevation of the basket component illustrated in Figure 23, rotated 90°;

FIGURE 28 is a top plan view of the basket component illustrated in Figure 27;

FIGURE 29 is a perspective view of a basket and frame assembly in accordance with a variation of the third main exemplary embodiment of the invention; and

FIGURE 30 is a side elevation of a basket and frame assembly in accordance with still another variation of the third main exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference now to Figures 1-6, the container carrier assembly 10 of this invention includes a lower carrier portion 12.and an upper carrier portion 14, specifically adapted to hold a thin walled flexible and collapsible container 15. The lower carrier portion 12 includes a generally cylindrical bucket-like member having a substantially cylindrical peripheral side wall 16, a bottom wall 18, and an upper annular peripheral edge 20. In order to reduce the overall weight of the lower carrier portion 12,

and in order to reduce the amount and hence the cost of material required, relatively large and generally rectangularly shaped cut-outs 22, 24, 26 and 28 are provided substantially symmetrically in the peripheral side wall 16. This arrangement leaves two relatively large solid areas 30 and 32 and two relatively narrow solid areas 34 and 36 of the peripheral wall 16.

The upper open end of the lower carrier portion 12 is provided with an outwardly flared surface 38 terminating at the edge 20.

The upper end of the lower carrier portion is also provided with a pair of outwardly projecting ears 40, 42 located diametrically opposed to each other about the circumference of the peripheral side wall 16. The outwardly molded projections or ears serve to create a pair of U-shaped recesses 44, 46, respectively, which open toward the interior of the lower carrier portion 12. Each of these recessed areas 44, 46 is generally U-shaped and terminates at the upper peripheral edge 20.

Projections 48, 50, project horizontally outwardly or away from the ears 44, 46, respectively. The projections 48, 50 each include elongated stem portions 52, joined at one end to the ears 40 and 42, and at the other end to an enlarged head portion 54. It will be appreciated that the projections 48, 50, comprise bails for detachably securing the upper carrier portion to the lower carrier portion as will be described further hereinbelow.

The lower closed end of the lower carrier portion 12 includes an annular rim 58 depending from

the bottom wall 18 to provide a rigid bottom support for the carrier.

The upper carrier portion 14 includes a pair of elongated flexible strap portions 62, 64 which extend from opposite sides of a container neck engaging portion 66. Lower free ends 68, 70 of the strap portions 62, 64, respectively, are provided with apertures 72, 74 which are adapted to be received over the projections 48, 50, respectively. Each aperture 72, 74 includes an elongated slot portion 76 and an enlarged, circular head portion 78. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, in a first orientation (Figure 5), the elongated slot portion 76 is located below the enlarged head portion 78 so that the strap portions 62, 64 may be fitted over the enlarged head portions 78. As best seen in Figure 5, when the circular portions 78 of the apertures 72, 74 are slipped over the enlarged head portions 54 of the projections 48, 50, respectively, the upper carrier portion 14 is free to pivot about an axis A which extends through the centers of head portions 54 of the projections 48, 50. When the strap portions 62, 64 are pulled upwardly, the elongated stem portions 52 of the projections 48, 50 are received within the slot portions 76 of the apertures 72, 74 to, in effect, lock the upper carrier portion 14 against any rotational movement relative to the lower carrier portion 12. The manner in which the upper carrier portion 14 is manipulated relative to the lower carrier portion 12 during use of the invention is described further below.

With reference now particularly to Figures 1, 3 and 4, the strap portion 62 has a handle 80

integrally formed therewith. Specifically, in this exemplary embodiment, the upper end 82 of the handle is joined to the container neck engaging portion 66 immediately above the merger of the strap portion 62 with the neck engaging portion 66. The lower end 84 of the handle includes a reverse curve 86 which merges into the strap portion 62. The intermediate or gripping portion 88 of the handle 80 is spaced away from the strap portion 62 to thereby form a closed loop which defines a handle opening 90.

The gripping portion 88 is formed by a relatively smooth surface 92 and a plurality of ribs or vanes 94 which extend substantially perpendicularly away from the surface 92. It will be appreciated that the handle 80 may have various other surface configurations which are nevertheless to be considered within the scope of this invention.

The other strap portion 64 is generally channel shaped, including a pair of upstanding side walls 96 extending along either side of the strap portion 64, and terminating at the lower end, above the aperture 74. These side wall surfaces terminate at the upper end of the strap portion 64 where they join with the container neck engaging portion 66.

The container neck engaging portion 66 is of generally inverted U-shape, depending on the direction of observation. For purposes of consistency, the container neck engaging portion will be considered to have a substantially inverted U-shape in plan, as viewed in Figure 4. It is important to note that the neck engaging portion 66 opens in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis A. This arrangement permits the upper

carrier portion 14 to be rotated about the axis A into and out of a container neck engaging position as described below.

The neck engaging portion 66 is formed with a tapered collar portion 98 which joins to a substantially vertical wall 100. The interior surface of the wall 100 is provided with three vertically spaced, horizontal ribs 102, 104 and 106. The upper and lower ribs 102, 106 have substantially identical shapes, corresponding substantially to the curvature of the vertical wall 100.

As best seen in Figure 4, the intermediate rib 104 has a first arcuate portion 108 which has an arcuate surface, the radius of curvature of which substantially corresponds to the adjacent radius of curvature of the container neck. At opposite ends of the arcuate portion 108 are flared portions 110, 112 with bevelled entry portions 114, 116, respectively, which serve as guide edges during pivotal movement of the upper carrier portion 14 into the container neck engaging position. As will be appreciated from Figure 4, the rib 104 extends radially inwardly a greater extent than either of the upper and lower ribs 102, 106. This arrangement permits the series of ribs 102, 104, 106 to .generally conform to the container neck as best seen in Figure 1. In addition, the arcuate portion 108 extends circumferentially greater than 270° so that, upon engagement with a container neck of similar diameter, the upper carrier portion 14 may be snapped into place about the container neck.

The container 15 includes a peripheral side wall 118, a bottom wall 120 and a tapered or domed

shoulder 122 terminating at an upstanding neck or dispensing portion 124. The container may include a textured reinforcing area 126 extending about the periphery of the container where the side wall 118 merges with the shoulder 122. The neck 124 includes a pronounced radially outwardly directed flange 126 (which may be solid or hollow). From Figure 1, it may be appreciated that the ribs 102, 104 and 106 engage the neck 124 below the flange 126, with the upper rib 106 providing some support for the container 15 as a whole by engaging the underside of the flange 126.

It will further be appreciated that the firm engagement of stems 54 in slots 76 in combination with the snug engagement of neck 124 in the container neck engaging portion 66 of the upper carrier 14 will result in a secure holding arrangement between the container 15 and container carrier 10, permitting easy pouring without fear of any undesirable relative movement between the container and carrier. The neck portion 124 terminates at a closure receiving area 128 which may include exterior threads for receiving a conventional screw-on type closure (not shown) .

In use, it will be appreciated from the above description that, when the upper carrier portion 14 is attached to the lower carrier portion 12 with head portions 54 of projections 48, 50 in the enlarged portions 78 of apertures 72, 74, the upper carrier portion may be pivoted about axis A to a container loading/unloading position. Upon insertion of a filled container 15 into the lower carrier portion 12, the upper carrier portion may then be pivoted to a container engaging position, with the container

neck engaging portion 66 in full engagement with the container neck 124 as shown in Figure 1. The upper carrier portion 14 may then be pulled or flexed upwardly, sufficiently to engage stems 52 of projections 48, 50 in the slot portions 76 of apertures 72, 74 to thereby temporarily lock the upper carrier portion into place, precluding any pivotal movement of the upper carrier portion relative to the lower carrier portion.

Turning now to Figures 7-12, a variation of the first exemplary and preferred embodiment of the subject invention is illustrated. Elements in common with the first described embodiment, are referred to in Figures 7-12 of the drawings with the same numerals but with a "prime" designation attached.

In this variation of the first main exemplary embodiment, the container carrier 130 includes a lower carrier portion 12' which is substantially identical to the lower carrier portion 12 of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1-6 with certain exceptions noted below. Thus, the lower carrier 12' includes a peripheral side wall 16' , an upper peripheral edge 20' and an outwardly flared surface 38' terminating at the edge 20' . The lower carrier portion 12' is also provided with a pair of outwardly projecting ears 40', 42' .located diametrically opposed to each other about the circumference of the peripheral side wall 16' . These outwardly molded projections or ears serve to create a pair of U-shaped recesses similar to those shown at 44, 46 in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1-6.

A pair of pivot pins 132, 134 (see Figures 7 and 10) project horizontally outwardly or away from the

ears 40', 42', respectively. The pivot pins 132, 134 each include a round stem portion 136 and an enlarged head 138.

The projecting ears 40', 42' are also formed with a pair of detents or depressions 140 which, as shown in Figure 9, are located at the 12 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions. The projections 132, 134 and the detents or depressions 140 are intended for use in the attachment of the upper carrier portion 14' as will be described further hereinbelow.

The upper container carrier portion 14' includes a pair of elongated flexible strap portions 142, 144 which extend from opposite sides of the container neck engaging portion 146. Lower free ends 148, 150 of the strap portions 142, 144, respectively, are provided with slots 150, 152 which are adapted to be slidably engaged behind the head portions 138 of the pivot buttons 132, 134, respectively. Each slot 150,- 152 includes an entry portion 154 opening to one side of the respective strap, and an arcuate inner portion 156, into which the round stem portions 136 of pins 132, 134 may be snapped in a snug friction fit. Directly above the slots 150, 152, there is formed on the inner surface of each strap 142, 144 a bump or projection 158 for a purpose described below.

As best seen in Figures 7, 9 and 10, when the slots 150, 152 are slidably engaged behind the heads 138 of the pivot pins 132, 134, respectively, and when the upper carrier portion 130 is in an upright and container engaging position, the bumps or projections 158 will be engaged within the depressions 140 at the 12 o'clock position to thereby secure the upper carrier portion in place.

It will be appreciated, however, that with the exertion of force against the upper carrier portion 130, the upper carrier portion may be pivoted to a second container loading/unloading position wherein the container neck engaging portion 146 has been rotated away from the container 15 (not shown in Figs. 7-12) to facilitate loading and unloading of the latter.

In rotating the upper carrier portion 130 to the container loading/unloading position, the bumps or projections 158 will disengage from the depression 140 at the 12 o'clock position and will engage a similar depression 140 at the 3 o'clock position to thereby hold the upper carrier portion in the container loading/unloading position.

With reference now particularly to Figures 7 and 11, it will be appreciated that the strap 142 also comprises an integral handle. In order to provide sufficient room for the user to insert his/her fingers between the handle and the container, the strap portion 142 is curved away from the container 15 at its lower portion, as indicated at numeral 160 in Figure 7. The remainder of the strap 142, with the exception of the use of slots 150, 152 and projections 158, is otherwise similar in construction to the handle portion 92 of the strap 62 illustrated in the embodiment of Figures 1-6, including the utilization of vertical ribs 94' .

The other strap portion 144 is similar to the strap portion 64 of the first described embodiment, again with the exception of the use of slots 150, 152, and projections 158 rather than apertures 72, 74.

The container neck engaging portion 146 is substantially identical in construction to the container neck engaging portion 66 of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1-6. The principal difference lies in the reorientation of the container neck engaging portion 146 to face in the opposite direction from that of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1-6. The construction is otherwise identical and need not be described in further detail.

In use, the variation of the first described embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in the manner of attachment of the upper carrier portion 14' to the lower carrier portion 12'. In this exemplary embodiment, after the stems 136 of the pivot buttons 132, 134 have been snapped into the curved portions 156 of slots 150, 152, the upper carrier portion 14' may be pivoted between the container loading/unloading position and the container neck engaging position as in the first . described embodiment. Here, however, it is the cooperation between projections 158 and detents 140 which releasably retain the upper carrier portion in either of the two above described positions.

With reference now to Figures 13-21, a second main exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a container carrier assembly 210 which includes a lower carrier portion 212 and an upper carrier portion 214, specifically adapted to hold a thin walled flexible and collapsible container 215. The lower carrier portion 212 includes a generally cylindrical bucket-like member having a substantially cylindrical peripheral side wall 216, a bottom wall 218, and an upper annular peripheral edge 220. In

order to reduce the overall weight of the lower carrier portion 212, and in order to reduce the amount and hence the cost of material required, four relatively large and generally rectangularly shaped cut-outs, three of which are shown at 222, 224 and 226, are provided substantially symmetrically in the peripheral side wall 216. This arrangement leaves two relatively large solid areas 228 and 230 and two relatively narrow solid areas 232 and 234 of the peripheral wall 216.

The upper open end of the lower carrier portion 212 is provided with an outwardly flared surface 236 terminating at the edge 220. The lower end of the lower carrier portion has an annular rib 237 depending from the bottom wall 218 to thereby provide a rigid support for the lower carrier portion.

The upper end of the lower carrier portion is also provided with a bracket 238 located just below the peripheral edge 220 on the peripheral side wall 216.

The bracket 238, which may be molded integrally with the side wall 216, or made of individual components separately welded or glued together and to the side wall 216, is best seen in Figure 15 and includes a substantially -hollow housing portion 240 including a rear wall 242, side walls 244, 246, a top wall 248 and an open lower end 250. The top wall 248 is formed with an opening 252 which merges with a substantially cylindrical sleeve 254 depending therefrom. Sleeve 254 has a lower end 256 with an aperture 258 centrally located therein. The sleeve 254 thus forms a recess in the bracket 238 for a purpose described in more detail below. An elongated

rib or stop 260 extends along the length of the recess, on an interior surface of the sleeve.

As may be appreciated from Figures 13, 14 and 15, the bracket 238 is joined to the peripheral side wall 216 along the forward edges of walls 244 and 246, and along a contoured edge of the top wall 248 which joins to the peripheral side wall along the flared surface 236. A further point of attachment is provided by an intermediate wall 262 extending between the sleeve 254 and the side wall 216 intermediate the walls 244, 246. The wall 262 serves not only to assist in the secure engagement of the bracket 238 to the side wall 216, but also to brace the sleeve 254 against any lateral movement.

The upper carrier portion 214 comprises a handle portion 64, a pivot pin portion 266 and a container neck engaging portion 268.

The container neck engaging portion 268 has a generally inverted U-shape, depending on the direction of observation. For consistency, and with reference to Figure 16, the container neck engaging portion 268 will be referred to as having a substantially inverted U-shape in plan. It is important to note that the neck engaging portion 268 opens in a direction which permits the upper carrier portion 214 to be rotated about a vertical axis A (Figure 16) which extends through the center of sleeve 254, into and out of a container neck engaging position as described further below. The axis A extends parallel to a center axis of the carrier, i.e., both axes lie in a vertical plane.

The neck engaging portion 268 of the upper carrier portion 214 is formed with a substantially

vertical wall 270 which is joined to one end (the upper end) of the handle portion 264. The interior surface 272 of the wall 270 is provided with two vertically spaced, horizontal ribs 274, 276. The upper rib 274 has a shape corresponding substantially to the curvature of the vertical wall 270. The lower rib 276 has a first portion 278 which has an arcuate surface, the radius of curvature of which substantially corresponds to the adjacent radius of curvature of an associated container neck. At opposite ends of the arcuate portion 278 are flared portions 280, 282 with bevelled entry portions 284, 286, respectively, which serve as guide edges during pivotal movement of the upper carrier portion 214 into the container neck engaging position as described below. As will be appreciated from Figure 16, the lower rib 276 extends radially inwardly a greater extent than the upper rib 274. This arrangement permits the ribs 274, 276 to generally conform to the container neck as best seen in Figure 13.

The handle portion 264 of the upper carrier portion 214 is formed by a relatively smooth main wall surface 288 and a pair of side walls 290, 292 which are molded to provide a first channel shaped area 294 on the underside of the handle portion, as best seen in Figures 14, and 16 through 18. Extending perpendicularly from the underside of wall surface 288, beyond the side walls 290, 292, are a set of three ribs or vanes 298 which extend from the pivot pin portion 266 to the container neck engaging portion 268. While the above described handle portion provides for secure gripping of the carrier

by the user, it will be appreciated that the handle portion 264 can have a variety of surface configurations which are intended to be within the scope of this invention.

Of significance, however, is the projection 300 formed on each of the three interior ribs or vanes 298 at the upper end thereof adjacent the vertical wall 270. These projections 300 are designed to engage a shoulder portion of the container 215 as best seen in Figure 13. This arrangement serves to provide stability and support to the shoulder area of the container, particularly during pouring, so as to prevent undue stresses on the container neck.

The lower end of the handle portion 264 of the upper carrier portion 14 terminates at the pivot pin portion 266 which is adapted to be received within the sleeve 254 of the bracket 238. Specifically, the pivot pin portion 266 is molded to include a pair of vertically extending ribs 302, 304 disposed at right angles to one another, and with a plurality of disk-like horizontal members 306, 308, 310 vertically spaced along the ribs 302, 304.

The disk-like members 306, 308, 310 each have annular peripheral edges 312 which are flush with the edges of ribs 302, 304 with the exception of segments 314, best seen in Figures 17, 18 and 19, which are recessed from the edges of ribs 302, 304. Segments 314 are each provided with detents 316 at either end of the substantially 90° arcuate surface defining the segments. The segments 314 insure that edges of the ribs 302, 304 will serve as limit stops during rotation of the upper carrier portion between

container loading/unloading and container neck engaging positions as described below.

The lowermost end of pivot portion 266 terminates with a small diameter pivot pin 318. Thus, by inserting the pivot pin portion 266 of the upper carrier 214 into the mounting bracket 238 so that pin 318 sits in hole 258, and segments 314 straddle the rib or stop 260, swinging movement of the upper carrier portion may be effected through about 90° from a first container loading/unloading position (with rib 302 engaging rib 260) to a container neck engaging position (with rib 304 engaging rib 260). The detents 316 which resiliently receive the rib or stop 260, serve to releasably hold the upper carrier portion in either of the two above noted positions. As best seen in Figure 13, the pin 318 may be retained in hole 258 by means of a conventional retainer cap 319.

The thin walled container 215 includes a peripheral side wall 320, a bottom wall (not shown) and a tapered or domed shoulder 322 terminating at an upstanding neck or dispensing portion 324. The container may include a textured reinforcing area 326 extending about the periphery of the container where the side wall 320 merges with the shoulder 322. The neck 324 includes a pronounced radially outwardly directed flange 326 (which may be solid or hollow) . From Figure 13, it may be appreciated that the ribs 274, 276 are adapted to engage the neck 324 below the flange 326. At the same time, when fully engaged, the lower edge of wall 270 as well as the projections 300 rest on the shoulder 322, as best seen in Figure 1.

With reference to Figures 13 and 16, it will be appreciated that the container neck 324 is engaged by rib 276 by, in effect, snapping the upper carrier portion into place by reason of the fact that arcuate portion 278 of the rib 276 extends arcuately slightly more than 270°. This snug engagement permits easy pouring without fear of any undesirable relative movement between the container 215 and carrier 210. The neck portion 324 terminates at a closure receiving area 328 which may include exterior threads for receiving a conventional screw-on type closure (not shown) .

In use, it will be appreciated from the above description that, when the upper carrier portion 214 is attached to the lower carrier portion 212 with the pivot pin portion 266 secured within the bracket 238, the upper carrier portion may be pivoted about axis A to a container loading/unloading position wherein the upper carrier portion is rotated out of the area of the lower cylindrical carrier portion. Upon insertion of a filled container 215 into the lower carrier portion 212, the upper carrier portion 214 may then be rotated to a container neck engaging position, with the container neck engaging portion 268 in full engagement with the container neck 324 as shown in Figure 13. By reversing the above described movement, the upper carrier portion 214 can be moved back to a container loading/unloading position when the container 215 is empty to facilitate removal of the empty container and loading of a refill.

With reference now to Figures 22 and 23, a third main exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown which relates to an assembled container and

supporting frame and basket assembly at 410. The assembly includes a frame member or component 412, a basket component 414, and a thin walled container 416 separably held therein. The frame component 412 is a one-piece, relatively rigid plastic member which includes relatively narrow side portions 418, 420, integrally connected by a bottom portion 422. Upper areas of the frame side portions 418, 420 are tapered upwardly as at 424 to a container neck supporting portion 426. The neck supporting portion 426. is substantially U-shaped in plan so as to permit sideward movement of the container neck into frictional engagement therewith.

The neck engaging portion 426 includes a substantially vertical U-shaped wall 428, the interior surface of which is formed with a horizontal rib or flange 430. As best seen in Figure 24, the horizontal rib or flange 430 has a first arcuate portion 432 which corresponds substantially to an adjacent radius of curvature of the container neck. At opposite ends of the arcuate portion 432, there are outwardly flared edges 434, 436 which serve as guide edges during movement of the container neck into the opening 437 in the container neck engaging portion 426 of the frame -412.

In a preferred arrangement, the arcuate portion of the horizontal rib extends circumferentially greater than 180° so that the container neck may be snapped or pushed into place, and releasably held within the container neck engaging portion.

With reference now to Figures 25 and 26, the frame component 412 throughout side and bottom portions 418, 420 and 422 is formed with a

substantially I-shaped cross section including flanges 438, 440 interconnected by a web 442. The inner flange 440 (the flange facing inwardly towards the container) is formed of a slightly lesser width than the outer flange 440. The inner flange 440 increases in width at a pair of shoulders 441 located approximately midway along the side portions 418, 420. As a result, the assembly of the basket component 414 within the frame component 412 is facilitated, as explained in greater detail below.

It will be noted that the side portions 418, 420 and tapered portions 424 of the frame component are symmetrical to each other and to the container 416. The thin walled container construction and resultant flexible, collapsible container wall nevertheless permit easy grasping of the frame component in the area where, for example, tapered portion 424 merges with side extension 420. This arrangement permits easy storage of the assembly within a refrigerator or the like, without having to provide space for an otherwise protruding handle.

Nevertheless, as shown in phantom in Figure 23, an asymmetrical handle portion 425 may be integrally formed as part of the frame component to permit even greater ease in grasping the basket and frame assembly. When such a handle is provided, the shoulder 441 on side portion 420 will, of course, be moved downwardly to a location where the handle 425 merges with side portion 420.

The basket component 414 is formed with a peripheral side wall 444 and a bottom wall 446. The basket component 414 as shown is circular in plan, although other shapes (square, rectangular, etc.) are

possible, depending on the shape of the container per se.

The basket component 414 in the exemplary embodiment is a cup-like, generally cylindrical member which includes a peripheral side wall 448 and a bottom wall 450. The side wall includes diametrically opposed lower portions 452, 454 and upstanding portions 456, 458. The lower portions 452, 454 terminate at edges 460, 462 which are spaced sufficiently vertically above the bottom wall 450 to provide some degree of lateral support for the container 416. At the same time, however, these lower portions 452, 454 provide open areas which facilitate the loading of a container 416 into the basket, particularly when the basket component 414 is assembled with the frame component 412.

With additional reference to Figures 27 and 28, radially outwardly facing grooves 464, 466, each of which is defined by a pair of ears which comprise substantially L-shaped projections 468, 468', 470 and 471', respectively, are formed in the upstanding portions 456, 458. These grooves are preferably located immediately adjacent upper edges 472, 474 of the upstanding portions 456, 458, respectively, but could be located in spaced relationship to such edges. Grooves 464, 466 are designed to receive flanges 440 of the frame side portions 418, 420, below shoulders 441, as described further below.

Within the bottom wall 450, there are a pair of downwardly projecting, arcuate leg portions 476, 478, each of which extends about 160° in arcuate length. As best seen in Figure 28, these leg portions 476, 478 establish a centrally located recessed portion

480 which receives the bottom portion 422 of the frame, as shown in phantom in the Figure. The downward extent of the legs 476, 478 is such that the bottom portion 422 of the frame component 412 will not protrude beyond the supporting legs when the basket component 414 is fully seated on the frame (see Figure 1). This arrangement preserves the stability of the assembly. Legs 476, 478 may be undercut at 481, 483 (as well as at the opposite ends of each leg - not shown) so that bottom portion 422 may snap into and be separably retained by the recessed portion 480. This feature may also be incorporated into the alternative embodiments described below.

In use, the basket component 414 can be assembled within the frame component 412 by locating the flanges 440 of the side portions 418, 420 within the grooves 464, 466 as shown in Figure 23. This can be achieved by initially locating the basket in the upper portion of the frame component, above the shoulders 441. The basket component may then be moved downwardly so that the side extensions below shoulders 441 are slidably received within the grooves 464, 466. Downward movement of the component continues until the basket is seated on the bottom portion 422 of the frame .component. A filled container 416 can then be inserted into the basket component 414 by tilting it to one side and slipping the bottom of the container into the basket 414, and then rotating the neck area 482 of the container into engagement within the neck engaging portion 426 of the frame component 412 via the opening 437.

By reversing the above described manipulations, an empty container 416 may be removed from the basket and frame assembly, and later replaced with a container refill.

Referring now to Figure 29, a frame component 512 and basket component 514 are provided for interfitting relationship. The frame component includes side extensions 518 and 520 which are connected by a bottom portion 522. The upper portion of the one side extension 518 is provided with a tapered portion 524 leading to a container neck engaging portion 526. The side extension 520 is formed asymmetrically relative to the side extension 518 via the incorporation of an integral handle portion 525. The width of the frame component 512 is slightly greater than the earlier described embodiment but otherwise has a similar I-beam like cross-section. It will be appreciated that the width of the frame component may vary depending on the size of the container, strength requirements, and so on. It will further be appreciated that the construction of the neck engaging portion 526 is otherwise identical to the neck engaging portion 426 of the earlier described embodiment.

The basket component 514 also comprises a cup-like, generally cylindrical member which includes a peripheral side wall 548 and a bottom wall 550. The side wall 548 includes diametrically opposed * lower portions 552, 554 and diametrically opposed upstanding portions 556, 558. The lower portions 552, 554 terminate at edges 560, 562 which are spaced slightly above the bottom wall 550 but nevertheless

provide some degree of lateral support for the container.

In the upstanding portions 556, 558, there are provided radially outwardly facing grooves 564, 566 which extend vertically the full length of the upstanding portions 556, 558 and which merge in an unbroken manner with groove 580 across the bottom wall 550. Groove 580 may be formed with an undercut (not shown) which functions in the same manner as undercuts 481, 483 described above. The bottom wall 550 is also provided with upwardly projecting support pads 582, 584 which are substantially flush with the interior surface of the groove 580 to thereby provide a stable support base for the container. At the same time, by recessing the groove 580, when the basket component 514 is fully seated on the bottom portion 522 of the frame component 512, the bottom wall 550 of the basket component 514 rests on a supporting surface such as a table top or the like without interference from the bottom portion 522 of the frame component 512.

In assembling the basket component 514 and the frame component 512, the basket component 514 may be located in the upper portion of the closed loop frame component 512, adjacent the handle portion 525 and then moved downwardly so .that the side extensions 518 and 520 are fully seated within the grooves 564, 566. This movement is continued until the basket component is fully seated on a bottom 522 of the frame component. Alternatively, the inherent flexibility of the frame and basket components 512, 514 will permit the frame component to be snapped or

flexed into assembled relationship with the basket component.

The variation of the third exemplary embodiment illustrated in Figure 30 is similar to that illustrated in Figures 22 and 23 with two significant exceptions. The frame component 612 in Figure 30 includes an integrally formed handle portion 625 to further facilitate the grasping of the frame component and the basket component, particularly when the container is in place. The second major difference lies in the basket component 614 wherein one of the upstanding portions of the basket component, i.e., 656, extends upwardly beyond the midway point of the side extension 618. At the same time, the other upstanding portion 658 extends . upwardly to a height well below the midway point. In fact, in the exemplary embodiment shown, the upstanding portion 656 extends above the midway point' a distance approximately equal to the distance between the midway point to the upper edge 674 of the upstanding portion 658. As a result of the differential heights of the respective upstanding portion 656, 658, a similar height differential exists with respect to the location of the shoulders 641 on the interior flanges 640 of the frame component 612.

The above described variation of the third main exemplary embodiment may be assembled in the same manner as described hereinabove with respect to the embodiments illustrated in Figures 22 and 23 but provides even greater ease of assembly not only with respect to the frame and basket components but also

with respect to the installation of the container within the basket frame assembly.

It will be understood that a number of different cooperating surface arrangements may be provided to hold the basket component in assembled relationship with the frame component and that the embodiments described hereinabove are merely exemplary.

While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.