The present invention relates to carriers for bottles and in particular though not solely bottles having a protuberance provided by a flange, cap or similar on or about their neck.

It is known in the art to carry bottles via various means.

There are known folding boxes which open to form a lattice work for the retainment of bottles, carryable by a handle, such carrying systems utilizing cardboard or similar. Other systems for carrying bottles (such as beer bottles or spirits or other similar shaped bottles) are of complete enclosure of the bottles or substantially complete closure of the bottles in a box which has a carrying handle or aperture on one or more of its surfaces.

Another system known in the art is that of NZ525639 which carries a wine bottle in an upside down configuration by retention of the bottle in a lower loop and retainment of the body of the bottle in an upper loop. Such a bottle holder takes advantage of the transition from the neck to the body of the bottle to retain the bottle in the holder. No advantage is taken of any flange, cap closure or similar for retaining a bottle or bottles or similar shaped container. Furthermore this particular piece of prior art retains the bottle in an upside down configuration. There are further devices known in the prior art that for holding a bottle or container. As described in NZ 332552 a pivotal mounting that engages with the bottle, being strapped to the holder via a belt or similar attachment provides a releasable engageable holding of a bottle.

Also known in the art is New Zealand Design NZ 403981 that holds a bottle that is passed up through a lower aperture to engage with an upper aperture on the flange of the bottle to hold the bottle or bottles via a handle. However such a method for carrying bottles only engages part of the upper part of the neck of the bottle (or a flange thereof)

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a bottle carrier that goes at least some way to overcoming the shortcomings of the prior art or that at least provides the public with a useful choice. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the first aspect the present invention may be said to broadly consist in a carrier for retaining and carrying at least one bottle, whereby said holder is of a substantially closed

hollow form when carrying and retaining said at least one bottle with at least one set of apertures, a first aperture co-axially above the second aperture and aligned substantially perpendicularly to the axis of said substantially closed hollow form, such that said second aperture is adapted to receive at least an upper portion of said bottle and said first aperture is also adapted to receive a further upper portion of said bottle, and at least one of said set of apertures retains said bottle by under engagement of a peripheral protuberance on said bottle.

In a second aspect of the present invention a carrier for retaining and carrying at least one bottle, said carrier comprising: a flexible sheet material including, at least one set of apertures, each set including a first aperture and a second aperture, such that said second aperture is adapted to receive at least a portion of said bottle and said first aperture is also adapted to receive an upper more portion of said bottle, and at least one of said set of apertures retains said bottle by under engagement of a peripheral protuberance on said bottle by said first aperture.

Preferably said peripheral protuberance is substantially about the entire circumference of said bottle, disposed towards the top of said bottle.

Preferably said peripheral protuberance is a lip or flange which is under engageable and integral with said bottle, whether on the neck or body of said bottle.

Preferably said peripheral protuberance is on a cap or closure of said bottle.

Preferably said carrier is formed from a lie flat blank.

Preferably said carrier forms a substantially closed hollow form is which substantially circular in cross section.

Preferably said closed hollow form has an outward presenting surface for location of information.

Preferably said first aperture under engages said protuberance to retain said bottle.

Preferably said first aperture is smaller than the outer size of said peripheral protuberance.

Preferably said first aperture is able to enlargen over said peripheral protuberance.

Preferably said ability to enlarge is imparted by stretching or flexure of at least part of said aperture.

Preferably there is a handle integral with said carrier and said handle is presented on an upper portion of said carrier when carrying and retaining said bottle or bottles.

Preferably said handle is separate to said carrier and engages with said at least one bottle to upwardly present a handle.

Preferably said separate handle engages said upper portion of said at least one bottle between said first and second apertures.

Preferably there is more than one set of apertures so that more than one bottle may be received and retained and carried by said carrier.

Preferably said outward presenting surface presents a substantially planar face parallel to said axis on said substantially closed hollow form.

Preferably there is one linear array of sets of apertures, said array aligned with the axis of said carrier.

Preferably there are two sets of linear arrays each parallel to said axis of said carrier.

Preferably there are only two sets of apertures one either side of said axis.

Preferably said separate handle is formed from a lie flat blank and at each of its distal ends there is one aperture for engagement with said neck of a bottle for location, between said first and second apertures.

. Preferably said substantially planar face is formed by at least one line of weakness on said lie flat blank, running parallel to said axis.

Preferably said substantially planar face is formed by two lines of weakness on said lie flat blank, each running parallel to said axis, one each at the upper and lower vertices of said substantial planar face.

Preferably said hollow closed form is obtained by engagement along an engagement zone.

Preferably said engagement zone is formed along two parallel edges of said blank.

Preferably said edges are parallel with said axis.

Preferably said engagement zone consists of at least one tab and slot engagement, a tab on a first of said edges and a slot opposite on a second said of edges.

Preferably there is a plurality of said tab and slot engagements arrayed along said edges.

Preferably there are two handles integral with said carrier, one each towards an edge of said blank and each substantially co axial with said axis, whereby the two handles are brought together they form said substantially closed hollow form.

In a third aspect of the present invention a carrier for retaining and carrying at least one bottle that includes a body portion and a outlet opening wherein intermediate of the outlet opening and body portion, a protuberance is provided, said carrier comprising: a flexible sheet material including: i) an upper aperture of a size to be retained from upward movement by said protuberance and a) accommodate the bottle at a region below said protuberance and ii) a lower aperture bf a size to accommodate the bottle, at a region below said upper aperture.

Preferably said flexible sheet material includes an upper handled region, and a lower base region, intermediate of which set upper aperture and lower aperture are provided.

Preferably the lower base region is a lower end of the flexible sheet material.

Preferably said lower aperture is of a size to accommodate the body portion of the bottle.

Preferably said flexible sheet material intermediate of said upper aperture and lower aperture is of a continuously curved form.

Preferably said peripheral protuberance is substantially about the entire circumference of said bottle, disposed towards the top of said bottle.

Preferably said peripheral protuberance is a lip or flange which is under engageable and integral with said bottle, whether on the neck or body of said bottle.

Preferably said peripheral protuberance is on a cap or closure of said bottle.

Preferably said carrier is formed from a lie flat blank.

Preferably said carrier forms a substantially closed hollow form is which substantially circular in cross section.

Preferably said closed hollow form has an outward presenting surface for location of information.

Preferably said upper aperture under engages said protuberance to retain said bottle.

Preferably said upper aperture is smaller than the outer size of said peripheral protuberance, and is able to pass over said peripheral protuberance.

Preferably said ability to enlarge is imparted by stretching or flexure of at least part of said aperture.

Preferably said there is a handle separate to said carrier and said handle engages with said at least one bottle to upwardly present a handle.

Preferably said separate handle engages said an upper portion of said at least one bottle between said upper and lower apertures.

Preferably there is more than one set of apertures so that more than one bottle may be received and retained and carried by said carrier.

Preferably said outward presenting surface is presents a substantially planar face parallel to said axis on said substantially closed hollow form.

Preferably there is one linear array of sets of apertures, said array aligned with the axis of said carrier.

Preferably there are two sets of linear arrays each parallel to said axis of said carrier.

Preferably there are only two sets of apertures one either side of said axis.

Preferably said separate handle is formed from a lie flat blank and at each of its distal ends there is one aperture for engagement with said neck of a bottle for location, between said first and second apertures.

Preferably said substantially planar face is formed by at least one line of weakness on said lie flat blank, running parallel to said axis.

Preferably said substantially planar face is formed by two lines of weakness on said lie flat blank, each running parallel to said axis, one each at the upper and lower vertices of said substantial planar face.

Preferably said hollow closed form is obtained by engagement along an engagement zone.

Preferably said engagement zone is formed along two parallel edges of said blank.

Preferably said edges are parallel with said axis.

Preferably said engagement zone consists of at least one tab and slot engagement, a tab on a first of said edges and a slot opposite on a second said of edges.

Preferably there is a plurality of said tab and slot engagements arrayed along said edges. In yet another aspect of the present invention a blank for a carrier as herein described with reference to anyone or more accompanying drawings.

In a further aspect of the present invention a carrier as herein described with reference to anyone or more of the accompanied drawings.

In yet another aspect still of the present invention the use of a carrier as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

The term 'comprising' as used in this specification and claims means 'consisting at least in part of, that is to say when interpreting independent claims including that term, the features prefaced by that term in each claim will need to be present but other features can also be present.

This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

Where herein the term "bottle" is used it is to be understood to refer to any form of container, regardless of material(s) or shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows (b) a plan view of a blank to form a bottle carrier, and at (a) a handle for engagement with the bottles in the bottle carrier to enable the assembly of the carrier in bottles to be transported by hand,

Figure 2 shows (a) a plan form of a bottle carrier blank for a single bottle and (b) a similar plan form for a four bottle carrier,

Figure 3 shows a similar view to that of figures 1 and 2 but for a three-bottle carrier,

Figure 4 shows an end elevation of the assembled carrier handle and bottle,

Figure 5 shows a side view of a single bottle carrier,

Figure 6 shows a plan view of the assembled single bottle carrier with bottle,

Figure 7 shows a perspective view of an assembled single bottle carrier with bottle,

Figure 8 shows a side view of an assembled bottle carrier for carrying two bottles the plan form as shown in figure 1 (b),

Figures 11 through 13 show similar side plan and perspective views for a three- bottle carrier,

Figures 14 through 16 show similar side plan and perspective views for an assembled four bottle carrier,

Figure 17 shows in plan form a blank for a second embodiment of the present invention,

Figure 18 shows a perspective view of the second embodiment for a one-bottle carrier assembled with a bottle,

Figures 19 and 20 show similar plan forms of a blank and isometric view of an assembled form for a two-bottle carrier,

Figures 21 and 22 show similar plan form and perspective views of a three-bottle carrier,

Figures 23 and 24 show a plan form of a blank and perspective view of an assembled carrier for four bottles,

Figure 25 shows an end elevation of the assembled second embodiment of the present invention attached to a bottle,

Figure 26 shows side elevation of the blank form for the first second and third embodiments,

Figure 27 shows in plan view a blank for a third embodiment of the present invention whereby two bottles are held side by side and the handle forms the substantially closed hollow form,

Figure 28 shows an end elevation of a third embodiment of the present invention for a two-bottle holder,

Figure 29 shows a plan view of the assembled two bottle holder,

Figure 30 shows a perspective view of the bottle holder of the third embodiment,

Figure 31 shows a plan view of a blank of a third embodiment for carrying six bottles with two linear arrays,

Figure 32 shows an end elevation of the assembled carrier of figure 31,

Figure 33 shows a plan view of the assembled carrier of figure 32,

Figure 34 shows a side view of the third embodiment carrier when assembled,

Figure 35 shows a perspective view of the assembled third embodiment.

Figure 36 shows a lie flat form of a further embodiment of the integrated handle bottle carrier (second embodiment), present are two lines of weakness which will form a substantially planar surface when assembling the bottle carrier,

Figure 37 shows an assembled form of the lie flat blank from Figure 36,

Figure 38 shows a two-bottle version of the lie flat blank of Figure 36,

Figure 39 shows an assembled form of the bottle carrier of Figure 38,

Figure 40 shows a lie flat blank of a three-bottle carrier,

Figure 41 shows an assembled form of the lie flat blank of Figure 40,

Figure 42 shows a lie flat blank of a four-bottle carrier,

Figure 43 shows an assembled form of the blank of Figure 42,

Figure 44 shows an assembled side view of Figures 37, 39, 41 and 43

Figure 45 shows an end elevation of the lie flat blank,

Figure 46 shows in side elevation a two aperture bottle holder and bottle therein, the bottle being of a neat form,

Figure 47 shows a similar view to that of Figure 46 with the bottle carrier under engaging a periphery protuberance part way down the bottle collar the bottle being of relatively constant cross section,

Figure 48 shows the under engagement of a peripheral protuberance of a similar relatively constant cross section container, for example a can an engagement under the joining portion of the lid to the can,

Figure 49 shows in plan form the sheet material of a carrier similar to that shown in Figure 46, 47 and 48 whereby the ability to engage under the peripheral protuberance and the flexible ability for the aperture to expand is only around one portion of the aperture,

Figure 50 shows a blank to that of Figure 49 whereby the upper aperture has the ability to expand and contract all the way around its periphery, and,

Figure 51 shows another form of blank with a keyhole engagement for the first aperture.

With reference to Figures 1 through 16 there is shown as an example the first embodiment and figures 17 through 26 there is shown as an example the second embodiment of the present invention (and a further embodiment thereof in Figures 36 to 45) and with reference to figures 27 through 35 there is shown as an example the third

embodiment in accordance with the present invention (and a further variation in Figures 45 to 50).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The carrier 1 is formed from a lie flat blank 15. The lie flat blank 15 may be a plastics material, paper, card or other suitable thin material. Alternatively the carrier may be extruded in its closed form or may be moulded in its closed form or near closed form.

In one form of the invention there is a separate handle 10 that also may be made from a lie flat blank 15 or may be moulded or otherwise formed from known manufacturing techniques to its final shape. The carrier 1 has a first aperture 4 and a second aperture 5, 4 and 5 are substantially coaxial with each other when in the assembled form. The carrier 1 and in particular the carrier lie flat blank 15 of this embodiment when formed creates a substantially closed hollow form 3 that in one preferred embodiment is of a circular cross section. However other closed loop cross sections may equally be formed depending upon the desire of the user.

In the embodiments shown in figures 1 through 16 there are holders for carrying one, twθy three or four bottles 2.

Along parallel edges 16 of the blank 15 there are means for creating an engagement zone 13. The engagement zone in one preferred embodiment is created by tabs 17 and slots 18 on the parallel edges 16 so that when the carrier lie flat blank 15 is rolled to form the substantially closed hollow form 3 these are then engaged with each other to retain the carrier lie flat blank against its inherent resilience to maintain the closed loop form.

In assembling the carrier 1 the carrier lie flat blank 15 is rolled to form the substantially closed loop form by bringing the parallel edges 16 together. The engagement zone 13 is created once the tabs 17 are engaged with slots 18. Other forms of engagement means to retain the carrier lie flat blank 15 into a substantially closed loop form 3 are those known in the art such as variations of tab and slot format, or any form of inter engagement known in the art for engaging one parallel edge 16 to the other parallel edge 16.

Once the closed loop form 3 has been formed then a bottle 2 is passed up through the second aperture 5 to lie interior of the closed loop form 3. The separated handle 10 then has the separate handle apertures 4 each in turn passed over the top of the bottle to lie on an upper portion of the bottle 6 for example around the bottle neck 11.

The first aperture 14 is able to expand in size to pass over the peripheral protuberance 7 to under engage it.

The first aperture 14 is of slightly smaller diameter than that of a peripheral protuberance 7. The smaller diameter of the first aperture 4 together with one or more flex slots 24 allows the first aperture 4 to form around the peripheral protuberance 7. Thus once the bottle 2 has the peripheral protuberance 7 pushed past through the first aperture 4 then the first aperture 4 upper surface will come to under engage the peripheral protuberance 7. The flex slots 24 and tabs 17 essentially form a deformed periphery 9 toward the underside of the peripheral protuberance 7 that allows the peripheral protuberance 7 to pass there through and yet be retained by under engagement of the peripheral protuberance by the deformed periphery.

The flex slots 24 when deformed to underlie the peripheral protuberance have effectively a shortened length and therefore are stiffer as they are largely in compression. For them to allow the peripheral protuberance 7 to pass back the way they come they effectively have to be inverted, for a resilient material such as polyethyltetrapthalate (or similar material) this makes this difficult to occur by the bottle weight, but easily achievable by a user removing the bottle. The slots may only be part or full way round the aperture.

In this way a bottle 2 may be securely retained by the carrier 1 so that the handle 8, 10 can be lifted ^' by the user and the bottle is carried away and is securely retained to the carrier 1.

The carrier 1 when assembled may sit about the neck of the bottle, or the body of the bottle. In a necked bottle it is preferable to sit about the neck. However for a bottle of substantially constant cross-section the carrier may sit partially or entirely about the body.

The removal of the bottle 2 is easily facilitated by the application of force downwards of the bottle 2 against the carrier 1. This will invert the tabs to allow the peripheral protuberance to pass through.

Shown in figure 8 through 10 there is shown the two bottle form 25 of the first embodiment of the carrier. This has essentially the same engagement of the bottle and handle with the carrier but allows two bottles to be carried.

In this embodiment, whilst it is preferred that there is a separate handle 10 rather than an integral one 8 in other embodiments, the handle may be integral.

Figures 11 through 13 shows a three bottle form 26 of the carrier where the bottles are arranged similarly to that of a two bottled form in a linear array along the axis 28 of the closed loop form 3. Figures 14 through 16 show a four bottle form 27 of the first embodiment of the present invention.

The bottles of the first embodiment are arrayed along the axis 28 of the closed loop form. The axis 28 (referred to being the longitudinal axis of the carrier) essentially runs through the centre of the closed loop form 3.

A second embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to figures 17 through 26. The second embodiment relies upon the same engagement principle of the bottle 2 to the carrier 3 in that a peripheral protuberance 7 is engaged by a first aperture 4 which forms a deformable periphery 9 about the peripheral protuberance 7 of the bottle 2. Again the second embodiment carrier 1 relies upon the forming of a closed loop form 3 by the rolling or otherwise of a carrier lie flat blank 15 into the closed loop form 3.

The engagement zone is formed in a different way to the first embodiment, rather there is a third aperture 20 for each, of the first aperture 4 and second apertures 5. The closed loop form 3 formed by rolling of the carrier lie flat blank 15 creates an overlap 19 so that the third aperture 20 underlies the first aperture 4. The bottle 2 has its upper portion 6 then passed up through the second aperture 5 through the third aperture 20 and then is pushed through the reduced diameter first aperture 4 so that a deformed periphery 9 or engages a peripheral protuberance 7 on the upper portion of the bottle 6 as per the first embodiment. The main difference between the first embodiment and second embodiment is that the engagement zone, rather than being created by engaging tabs and slots for example rather, is created by the retention of the third aperture 20 on the upper portion of the bottle 6 to retain the carrier 1 in its closed loop form 3.

The first aperture 4 again has flex slots 24 and tabs 17 to allow the deformable periphery to be formed. In another embodiment the deformable periphery 9 may be created other than with flex slots 24 and tabs 17. For example the material immediate of the deformed periphery 9 may be of a more flexible or elastic material to allow the peripheral protuberance 7 to pass there through and thereafter deform back to under engage the peripheral protuberance 7. Again the second embodiment may be configured to be a two

bottle form 25, three bottle form 26 or a four bottle form 27. Again the number of bottles that may be carried is only limited by the user's desire, the strength of the material forming the lie flat blank 15 and the weight of the bottles to be carried. Therefore for example more bottles may be carried if they are of a lesser weight and less bottles may be carried if they are of a greater weight.

A third embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to figures 27 through 35. Another method of maintaining the closed hollow form 3 of the carrier 1 is via handles. The same method of retaining the bottles is present whereby a second aperture 5 exists coaxially below a first aperture 4. The bottle 2 is pushed up through the second aperture 5 and the upper part of the bottle is then pushed through a deformable periphery 9 of the first aperture 4, the deformed periphery 9 to then underlie and under engage the peripheral protuberance 7.

For example, such forms as disclosed in figure 1 to form the engagement zone may be used to retain the two handles in close proximity or the presence of a third aperture (not shown) such as in the second embodiment may be used to keep the handles in close proximity and thus retain the closed hollow form 3. Again the carrier lie flat blank 15 allows a varying number of bottles to be carried such as a two form 25 or a six form 29 or any amount there between or greater.

For example in the situation where beer bottles of a small displacement (e.g. 330ml) are to be carried then a six pack of such bottles may be desirable.

Where the bottles are lighter still it may be applicable to carry eight, ten, twelve or more bottles in such a configuration of two linear arrays 12 which are substantially coaxial with the axis 28 of the closed hollow form 3.

The flex slots 24 in effect produce tabs 17 that define the deformable periphery. Thus in pushing through peripheral _ protuberance 1 past the deformed periphery these tabs 17 will deform out of the way of the peripheral protuberance 7 and then will pass under the peripheral protuberance 7 to under engage the peripheral protuberance 7. The desired form of the deformable periphery 9 is that it is present around the entire circumference or periphery of the first aperture 4. However it may be possible that only a small section or part thereof of the periphery of the first aperture 4 is required to have such a deformable periphery 9 which will still retain a bottle 2 securely. The peripheral protuberance 7 may be

in the form of a flange or lip that exists on the upper portion 6 of the bottle 2 or on the neck Il ofthe bottle 2.

However there may also be a peripheral protuberance 7 provided by a cap or closure 22.

Caps common in the trade are crimp caps.

Alternatively screw cap closures 22 for bottles 2 may also define a peripheral protuberance 7 either by their very form and nature themselves or by there covering of a lip or similar already present on the bottle 2.

On the outer facing surfaces (and or optionally inner facing surfaces) of the carrier 1 there is sufficient space for the location of information 30. Such information may be in the form of advertising or instructions for use of other such information useful or pertinent to the user as may be required. The requirement of a closed hollow form 3 provides at least two such outer facing surfaces for the location of such information 30. Furthermore any handles 8 or 10 may additionally be printed with or supplied with information 30.

A refinement of the second embodiment is shown with reference to Figures 36 through 45. The bottle carrier 1 is formed from a carrier lie flat blank 15. Present on the carrier lie flat blank 15 is a first line of weakness 31 and a second line of weakness 32. The bottle carrier 1 when formed from the carrier lie flat blank 15 attaches to a bottle 2 in a similar way to that of Figure 18 of the second embodiment. The same integers refer to the same features in this refinement as they do in the second embodiment. However the first and second lines of weakness 31 and 32 respectively form, upon a assembly of the bottle carrier (and not substantially necessarily with the bottle 2) a substantially planar face 33. Due to the bending that occurs of the lie flat blank 15 upon assembly, and the lines of weakness 31 and 32 a further bending occurs at each of these lines of weakness resulting in tiie substantiaUyjplanar face 33. It is to be noted Λat some_furtherjbending_may_bej«quired upon the lines of weakness to affect the substantially planar face 33. The lines of weakness may be by scoring, perforations, melt lines, or other means known in the art for creating a line of weakness into such a substrate material. If for example the substrate material is plastic then the line of weakness may be formed by anyone or more of the above, if for example the substrate material is card or paper then the line of weakness may be formed by scoring and/or by perforations. Indeed the perforations if they are present may form a tear

off style panel of the substantially planar surface 33 for whatever reason. The substantially planar surface 33 in a preferred embodiment is used for the presentation of advertising material or naming, or other infoπnation as maybe desired. This presents to a user a planar surface which is easily read or recognised. Again such a refinement of the bottle carrier of embodiment 2 is scalable and may hold one, two, three, four or more bottles as maybe required. The lines of weakness, 31 and 32 may be formed alternatively by strengthening (rather than weakening by scoring, perforating etc) of the area immediately either side of the line of weakness. For example the substantially planar area 33 may be reinforced as flat.

A further refinement is shown in Figures 49 through 50 whereby there are the first 4 and second 5 apertures present. However this refinement does not form a closed hollow form, but is similar to that shown in Figure 35, but is only one half of that form. The first aperture 4 underengages the peripheral protuberance 7 of the bottle 2. The second aperture 5 engages about the bottle also. Depending on the bottle 2 form the carrier may lie about the neck 6 or the body (as per Figure 47) or a combination thereof. Shown in Figure 49 in the first aperture 4 is a partial array of flex slots 24 rather than a full array. Other forms of providing a reduced diameter of the first aperture are the provision of a key hole slot 100 as shown in Figure 51. This allows passage of the peripheral protuberance 7 through the hole 101 and then underengagement thereof by the key part 102. Flexible areas 103 allow the secure engagement and retainment of the key 102 in location under the peripheral protuberance. The key 102 may be of lesser diameter then the part of the bottle it embraces and may have additional flex slots 24 to provide the upward underengagement required. Whilst there is shown only a single bottle carrier 1 in these Figures it is under stood to be scalable and may carry any number of bottles.

The forgoing description of the invention includes preferred forms thereof. Modifications may be made thereto_withoμt departing frorrLthe_scope of Jhe _. invention.