US3767042A - Bottle carrier with gusseted ends - Google Patents

Abstract

A wraparound sleeve-type carton or carrier for bottled goods which is formed of a single blank and wrapped around a cluster of bottles arranged in double row formation, with the bottle tops engaged in apertures in a middle panel of the blank and the blank having end panels which are provided with locking tab formations engaged in cooperating apertures in overlapped panel margins when the blank is folded to bring the end panels into bottom wall formation beneath the cluster of bottles. Relatively small triangular panels for partially closing opposite axial ends of the carton are hinged to the end edges of the side walls, which end panels have integral tabs hinged to bottom edges and connected to the bottom wall forming panels by foldable triangular webs so that the bottom tabs may be folded so as to lie on the top faces of the bottom wall members where they are trapped beneath the end bottles in the carton thereby precluding inadvertent unfolding of the end panels which hold the lower portions of the end bottles against movement out of the ends of the cartons.

Description

United States Patent Ganz [ Oct. 23, 1973 BOTTLE CARRIER WITH GUSSETED ENDS Inventor: Robert H. Ganz, Saddle River, NJ.

Assignee: Federal Paper Board Company, Inc.,

Montvale, NJ.

Filed: Nov. 30, 1971 Appl. No.1 203,156

Primary ExaminerWilliam T. Dixson, Jr. Attorney-Guy A. Greenawalt [5 7] ABSTRACT A wraparound sleeve-type carton or carrier for bottled goods which is formed of a single blank and wrapped around a cluster of bottles arranged in double row formation, with the bottle tops engaged in apertures in a middle panel of the blank and the blank having end panels which are provided with locking tab formations engaged in cooperating apertures in overlapped panel margins when the blank is folded to bring the end panels into bottom wall formation beneath the cluster of bottles. Relatively small triangular panels for partially closing opposite axial ends of the carton are hinged to the end edges of the side walls, which end panels have integral tabs hinged to bottom edges and connected to the bottom wall forming panels by foldable triangular webs so that the bottom tabs may be folded so as to lie on the top faces of the bottom wall members where they are trapped beneath the end bottles in the carton thereby precluding inadvertent unfolding of the end panels which hold the lower portions of the end bottles against movement out of the ends of the cartons.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures BOTTLE CARRIER WITH GUSSETED ENDS This invention relates to packaging and is more specifically concerned with improvements in a packaging unit comprising a carton or carrier which is particularly adapted to accomodate a plurality of cylindrical articles such as bottled beverages arranged in row formation therein.

Various packaging units have been developed for bottled and canned beverages or similar products which are generally designed to be formed from paperboard blanks, cut and scored so as to be set up into container formation in the bottling or canning plant. The most popular type carrier for bottled goods has been one having the form of a basket in which a plurality of open top cells are provided for receiving the bottles. There are a number of recognized disadvantages in the use of this carton. The most popular package for canned beverages hasbeen the wraparound sleeve-type unit in which two rows of cans are encased in a paperboard blank which is wrapped about the same with provision for holding the cans therein. Some effort has been made to employ the sleeve-type wrapper for packaging bottled beverages and like products. In the carriers designed for this purpose a top panel is provided with apertures through which the bottlenecks may be made to protrude or in which the bottle tops are engaged and the ends of the blank have been wrapped around the assembly with the end margins connected in some manner beneath the bottles. Generally some provision is made for separating the bottles in the rows. However the problem of retaining the bottles against endwise movement, so as to prevent the end bottles from falling out of the open ends of the carton, has proven difficult of solution. Full enclosure by employing full end panels requires more than a desirable amount of paperboard stock and partial end flaps are not easily retained in bottle holding position. There has not been provided a fully satisfactory end bottle retention means for this type of carrier which does not unduly increase the amount of stock material required in its manufacture. It is a general object therefore of the present invention to provide a sleeve-type bottle carton or carrier structure having an end panel arrangement which insures that the end bottles will be retained in the carton, which employs a minimum amount of board material and which lends itself to high volume packaging maching operation.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide a wraparound or sleeve-type carrier blank for bottled goods in which the middle panel of the blank is apertured to receive top portions of the bottles in a double row cluster thereof, adjoining panels are folded down about the sides of the bottles and end panels are folded beneath the cluster of bottles and end panels are folded beneath the cluster of bottles and connected by interlocking tab formations, with the side wall panels having integral gusset forming panels on which there are bottom extensions adapted to be locked in position beneath the end bottles so as to partially close the ends of'the carrier and prevent inadvertent removal of the end bottles from the carrier.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wraparound type carrier blank for packaging a cluster of bottles which are arranged in laterally paired and longitudinally aligned row formation wherein the middle panel of the blank is apertured to receive top portions of bottles in a double row assembly thereof, the end panels are provided with interlocking or intcrengaging tab formations in the end margins thereof which are overlapped and connected so as to form a sleeve about the bottle assembly, with the end edges of the side walls having integral gusset forming panels of relatively small size which are folded into planes inclined inwardly relative to the plane of the associated side wall and which gusset forming panels have bottom end extensions hinged thereto which are connected by foldable webs to the bottom wall panels and which are folded so as to rest beneath the end bottles and preclude unfolding of the gusset panels thereby insuring retention of the end bottles in the carrier.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a wraparound sleeve-type carrier blank for packaging a cluster of bottles arranged in laterally paired and longitudinally aligned row formation wherein a top forming panel is provided with apertures for receiving top portions of the bottles with adjoining side wall forming panels and with bottom forming panels on the opposite ends of the blank which are adapted to fold beneath the cluster of bottles and which have interengaging locking tabs, and wherein the side wall panels have on their free edges gusset forming, generally triangular panels, with bottom extensions hinged thereto, which are connected to the bottom wall forming panels by foldable webs so that when the carrier is set up the hinged extensions are disposed inwardly of the end walls and beneath the end bottles where they are trapped and hold the triangular gusset panels against outward movement, thereby restraining the bottles against endwise movement at the opposite ends of the carrier.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the bottle carton or carrier structure which is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a packaging unit comprising two rows of three beverage bottles enclosed in a tubular carton or carrier which embodies the principal features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the bottom portion of the carton with the bottles removed and the top portion of the carrier broken away;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the carton as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the packaging unit in FIG. 1 with portions broken away to show the bottom structure; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a paperboard blank which is cut and scored preparatory to forming the carton of FIG. 1.

Referring first to FIG. 1 there is illustrated a packaging unit which comprises a group of six beverage bottles B enclosed in a combination container or carton and carrier C of tubular or sleeve-type configuration which incorporates therein the principal features of the invention. The illustrated carrier is formed from a single blank of paperboard or other sheet material of suitable weight or thickness, which material is relatively flexible and bendable and which is capable of being cut and folded so as to form an open ended sleeve about the bottle assembly with sufficient strength and rigidity to support the bottles, which lends itself to high speed or high volume packaging operations and which does not require complex machinery for handling the same.

The paperboard blank 10 which is illustrated in FIG. 5 is cut and scored to provide the walls and associated connecting members for the bottle receiving carton and carrier of FIG. 1. The blank is generally rectangular in shape and is symmetrical about the longitudinal center line a-a. It is divided by longitudinally spaced, transversely extendingscore lines 11, 12, 13, 14 into a plurality of integral, interconnected panels largely of generally rectangular shape which are adapted to be folded into wall forming relation in the completed container. The transverse score lines 12 and 13 define between them the rectangular. panel 15 which is adapted to form the top wall of the carton C as shown in FIG. 1. Thescore lines 11 and 14 cooperate with the score lines 12 and 13, respectively, to define a pair of generally rectangular sidewall forming panels 16 and 17 which in the set-up form of the container are disposed along opposite sides of the bottle assembly. The opposite end portions of the blank 10 are cut and scored to providebottom wall panels 20 and 21 which have marginal end portions adapted to overlap in forming the bottom wall of the carrier and which have interlocking members for connecting thepanels 20 and 21.

At one end of the blank the side margins are cut and scored to provide a pair ofside panels 22, 22' which are relatively narrow and which are subdivided byend extensions 23 and 23' of thetransverse score line 11 to provide small triangularend wall panels 24 and 24 which are disposed on opposite sides of the sidewall forming panel 16 and separated therefrom by hinge formingscore lines 25 and 25' which are extensions of theside edges 26 and 26' of thepanel 16. Theoutside edge lines 27 and 27 of thepanels 24 and 24' extend outwardly to the ends ofscore lines 23 and 23 where they merge into parallelside edge portions 28 and 28' of the blank which constitute outer edges of bottomtab forming panels 30 and 30, which are adapted to hinge on thescore lines 23 and 23', and the end portions of which are freed from thepanel 20 by cutting on the laterally bowed orcurved lines 31 and 31 and the smalldiagonal lines 32 and 32. Thecutting lines 31 and 31 extend from theend edge 33 of the blank approximately two thirds of the distance to thetransverse score line 11 and relativelyshort score lines 34, and 34', 35 extend from the intersection of thescore line 11 with thescorelines 25, 25 to the ends of thecutting lines 32 and 32 so as to define with the latterfoldable webs 36 and 36' connecting thepanels 30 and 30' with the opposite sides or ends of the bottomwall forming panel 20. The marginal portion of the bottomwall forming panel 20 is provided with transversely spacedapertures 37 for cooperation with lockingtongues 38 formed on the marginal edge of thepanel 21 at the opposite end of the blank.

In like manner the sides of the blank at the other end thereof are cut and scored to form generallyrectangular panels 42 and 42' which are subdivided byend extensions 43 and 43 of thetransverse score line 14 to provide small triangularend wall panels 44 and 44' which are disposed on opposite sides of the sidewall forming panel 17 and separated therefrom by hinge formingscore lines 45 and 45 which are extensions of the side edges 46 and 46' of thepanel 17. The outside edge lines-47 and 47 of thepanels 44 and 44 extend outwardly to the ends of thescore lines 43 and 43' where they merge into parallelside edge portions 48 and 48' of the blank which constitute the outer edges of bottomtab forming panels 50 and 50', the latter being adapted to hinge on thescore lines 43 and 43' and having the end portions thereof freed from thepanel 21 by cutting on the laterally bowed orcurved lines 51, 51' and the small or shortdiagonal lines 52, 52. Relativelyshort score lines 54, and 54', 55' extend from the intersection of thescore line 14 with thescore lines 45 and 45 to the opposite ends of theshort cutting lines 52 and 52' so as to define with the latter,foldable webs 56 and 56'. Thefoldable webs 56 and 56' connect thepanels 50 and 50' with'the opposite sides or ends of the bottomwall forming panel 20. The end margin of the blank is cut out as shown to form the locking tabs ortongues 38 which are part of a locking strip portion 60 of thebottom wall panel 21. Thepanel 21 is divided by the hinge formingtransverse score line 61, which extends between the inner ends of thecutting lines 52 and 52' where they intersect with the ends of thecutting lines 51 and 51'. This enables the panel 60 to be swung about thetransverse score line 61 in locking thepanels 20 and 21 to form the bottom wall. Thescore line 62 is interrupted by small C-shaped cuts opposite each of thelocking tab members 38 which C- shaped cuts are provided so as to formsmall tabs 63 extending in the direction of the opposite end of the blank for cooperation with the straightouter edge portions 64 of theapertures 37 in order to lock thepanels 20 and 21 together. The panel'60 is swung about thehinge line 62 to inserttabs 63 through theapertures 37, after which thetab members 38 are passed through theapertures 37 and the panel 60 is seated against the bottom face ofpanel 20 with thetab members 38 upstanding between the bottom portions of transversely aligned pairs of the bottles.

Each of thepanels 16 and 17 is provided at its bottom forming edge, which is defined by thescore line 11 or 14, with a series ofapertures 65, extending on both sides of the score line and aligned with the bottom edges of the bottles or spaced in accordance with the bottle spacing in the rows, so as to enablethe bottles to be supported on small laterally reciprocable support fingers inmachine packaging operations.

The center panel 15 is subdivided by parallel transverse score lines and 71 which are spaced longitudinally of the blank a distance determined by the diameter of the bottles-Thescore lines 70 and 71 divide the top wall forming panel 15 into amedian panel 72 andside panels 73 and 74. Each of thescore lines 70 and 71 has spaced therealong a series ofapertures 75 corresponding to the number and spacing of the bottles in the two oppositely disposed rows thereof. Theapertures 75 are formed to receive portions of the bottle tops or caps thereon and are designed to hold the tops of the bottles in position and prevent endwise move ment thereof. Themedian panel 72 is also provided with a pair of cut-outs 76 which define. finger receiving openings from which dependingtabs 77 are forced. The panel 15 is provided at opposite sidesof the blank with pairs ofparallel score lines 80, 81 and 80., 81' which are aligned with thetransverse score lines 70 and 71 and which extend from opposite ends of parallellongitudinal score lines 82 and 82' to projectingside edge portions 83 and 83' of the blank so as to defineidentification panels 84 and 84'.Diagonal score lines 85, 85' and 86, 86 extend from the intersecting points of the score lines and 81 with thescore lines 82 and 82' and, with outer edge portions of the blank andscore lines 80, 81 and 80', 81, define connectingwebs 87, 87' and 88, 88' extending between theend identification panels 84, 84' and thepanels 73 and 74. Theapertures 75 in the top wall forming panel are of known configuration and likewise theapertures 37 in thebottom wall panel 20 and thelocking tab members 38 and 63 are of well known configuration. The oneside wall panel 17 may be provided with tear out lines indicated at 90.

The blank when out and scored is assembled with and wrapped around a double row assembly of bottles B so as to form the bottle closing tube or sleeve shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. In the formation of the package unit theidentification panels 84 and 84' are folded down into the position shown in FIG. 1 and the endwall forming panels 24, 24' and 44, 44' are folded into planes which are diagonal relative to the longitudinal center line or vertical center plane of the carrier with the hingedly attached bottom tabs orpanels 30, 30' and 50, 50' being folded inwardly beneath the bottoms of the bottles prior to the folding of the bottomwall forming panels 20 and 21 so that the latter are trapped between the bottom wall forming panels when the locking panel 60 is manipulated to lock the twopanels 20 and 21 together with thetabs 63 and 38 being inserted through theapertures 37 and thetabs 38 remaining in upstanding relation relative to the bottom wall thereby forming small partitions between the bottom edges of the pairs of bottles in the two rows thereof. Thefoldable webs 36, 36' and 56, 56' which integrally connect thebottom tabs 30, 30' and 50, 50 with the bottom wall panels are disposed beneath the end bottles in the rows and the bottom extensions ortab members 24, 44 and 24', 44 have their end portions lodged against the inner edge of upstandingend tab members 38 thereby insuring that the endwall forming panels 24, 24 and 44, 44 will remain in position to hold the end bottles against movement out of the ends of the tubular carrier.

I claim:

1. A package comprising a double row assembly'of bottles in a tubular carton, said bottles being arranged in transversely aligned pairs, said carton being fabricated from bendable sheet material so as to provide a top wall with apertures for receiving portions of the bottle tops, depending integral side walls and a bottom wall with relatively small, upstanding divider panel members arranged between the bottles of each pair thereof for separating bottom portions of the bottles, said side walls having relatively small end panels hinged to the bottom portions of the vertical edges thereof which are in the form of gussets and which are folded into engagement with vertical wall portions of the end bottles so as to retain the bottles against movement of the bottom portions thereof out of the ends of the carton, said end wall gusset panels having integrally hinged bottom panels which are integrally connected to the associated bottom wall panels by generally triangular foldable webs adjacent the junction of the side and bottom wall panels which webs are infolded so that they are disposed between the top face of the bottom wall and the bottom faces of said gusset bottom panels, said gusset bottom panels having free end portions extending inwardly a sufficient distance to engage in edge abutment with an upstanding divider panel thereby to hold said gusset bottom panels in position and prevent unfolding of said gusset forming panels.

2. A package as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said gusset bottom panels are hinged to the bottom edges of said gussets and include end extensions which are disposed in overlapped and paired relation with their outer edges in engagement with the endmost upstanding divider panel members.

3. A blank for fabricating an open ended tubular carton which is adapted to enclose, when set up, a plurality of bottles arranged in double row forming relation and in longitudinal and transverse alignment, said blank comprising a generally rectangular sheet of relatively stiff, bendable material which is divided by longitudinally spaced, transversely extending crease lines into a center top wall forming panel, adjoining side wall forming panels at opposite edges thereof, and bottom wall forming panels at opposite ends of the blank, said blank end panels having marginal portions at the ends of the blank which are provided with locking tabs and apertures adapted to be interengaged to lock the panels beneath the bottles and to form the bottom wall of the carton when set up, said side wall forming panels being creased along opposite side edges to provide relatively small integral gusset forming panel members of generally triangular configuration which are adapted to be folded, when the carton is set up, into generally vertical and transverse planes so as to snugly engage bottom portions of the vertical walls of the end bottles in the rows thereof and said end panels being cut to provide relatively narrow panels which are integral with the gusset forming panels and connected to said end panels by integral web portions which are adapted to be folded so that they are disposed between bottom portions of the end bottles and the top faces of the bottom wall forming panels with the outer edge portions of said narrow panels adapted to be disposed in edge abutting relation with endmost locking tabs.

4. A blank as set forth in claim 3 wherein said side wall forming panels have side marginal extensions separated therefrom by score lines which converge in the direction of the ends of the blank so as to provide said gusset forming panels.

5. A'blank as set forth in claim 4 wherein said bottom wall forming end panels are subdivided by a pair of triangularly related score lines and a cutting line at each side of the blank soas to provide said narrow panels.

6. A blank as set forth in claim 3 wherein said bottom wall forming end panels have side marginal portions scored and cut to provide said narrow panels which are adapted to hinge into flat engagement with the bottom wall and edge abutting relation with the endmost locking tabs when the carton is set up into tubular form.

7. A carton for a row of cylindrical articles which are adapted to be disposed in upright position in said carton, said carton being fabricated from a blank of foldable sheet material which is cut and creased so that it may be folded into tubular form with a top wall forming panel, depending side wall panels and bottom wall forming panels having upstanding members for separating the bottom portions of the articles, said side wall panels having relatively small panels hinged to the lower portions of the vertical edges thereof which are folded against portions of the vertical walls of the end articles when the latter are positioned therein so as to form gusset members which restrain the bottom portions of the articles against movement out of the carton, and said gusset members having relatively small, integrally hinged panels at the bottom thereof which integrally hinged panels having free end portions positioned in edge abutting engagement with said upstanding artiele separating members whereby said gusset members are held against movement outwardly of the carton ends.

Claims (7)

1. A package comprising a double row assembly of bottles in a tubular carton, said bottles being arranged in transversely aligned pairs, said carton being fabricated from bendable sheet material so as to provide a top wall with apertures for receiving portions of the bottle tops, depending integral side walls and a bottom wall with relatively small, upstanding divider panel members arranged between the bottles of each pair thereof for separating bottom portions of the bottles, said side walls having relatively small end panels hinged to the bottom portions of the vertical edges thereof which are in the form of gussets and which are folded into engagement with vertical wall portions of the end bottles so as to retain the bottles against movement of the bottom portions thereof out of the ends of the carton, said end wall gusset panels having integrally hinged bottom panels which are integrally connected to the associated bottom wall panels by generally triangular foldable webs adjacent the junction of the side and bottom wall panels which webs are infolded so that they are disposed between the top face of the bottom wall and the bottom faces of said gusset bottom panels, said gusset bottom panels having free end portions extending inwardly a sufficient distance to engage in edge abutment with an upstanding divider panel thereby to hold said gusset bottom panels in position and prevent unfolding of said gusset forming panels.

2. A package as set forth in claim 1 wherein said gusset bottom panels are hinged to the bottom edges of said gussets and include end extensions which are disposed in overlapped and paired relation with their outer edges in engagement with the endmost upstanding divider panel members.

3. A blank for fabricating an open ended tubular carton which is adapted to enclose, when set up, a plurality of bottles arranged in double row forming relation and in longitudinal and transverse alignment, said blank comprising a generally rectangular sheet of relatively stiff, bendable material which is divided by longitudinally spaced, transversely extending crease lines into a center top wall forming panel, adjoining side wall forming panels at opposite edges thereof, and bottom wall forming panels at opposite ends of the blank, said blank end panels having marginal portions at the ends of the blank which are provided with locking tabs and apertures adapted to be interengaged to lock the panels beneath the bottles and to form the bottom wall of the carton when set up, said side wall forming panels being creased along opposite side edges to provide relatively small integral gusset forming panel members of generally triangular configuration which are adapted to be folded, when the carton is set up, into generally vertical and transverse planes so as to snugly engage bottom portions of the vertical walls of the end bottles in the rows thereof and said end panels being cut to provide relatively narrow panels which are integral with the gusset forming panels and connected to said end panels by integral web portions which are adapted to be folded so that they are disposed between bottom portions of the end bottles and the top faces of the bottom wall forming panels with the outer edge portions of said narrow panels adapted to be disposed in edge abutting relation with endmost locking tabs.

4. A blank as set forth in claim 3 wherein said side wall forming panels have side marginal extensions separated therefrom by score lines which converge in the direction of the ends of the blank so as to provide said gusset forming panels.

5. A blank as set forth in claim 4 wherein said bottom wall forming end panels are subdivided by a pair of triangularly related score lines and a cutting line at each side of the blank so as to provide said narrow panels.

6. A blank as set forth in claim 3 wherein said bottom wall forming end panels have side marginal portions scored and cut to provide said narrow panels which are adapted to hinge into flat engagement with the bottom wall and edge abutting relation with the endmost locking tabs when the carton is set up into tubular form.

7. A carton for a row of cylindrical articles which are adapted to be disposed in upright position in said carton, said carton being fabricated from a blank of foldable sheet material which is cut and creased so that it may be folded into tubular form with a top wall forming panel, depending side wall panels and bottom wall forming panels having upstanding members for separating the bottom portions of the articles, said side wall panels having relatively small panels hinged to the lower portions of the vertical edges thereof which are folded against portions of the vertical walls of the end articles when the latter are positioned therein so as to form gusset members which restrain the bottom portions of the articles against movement out of the carton, and said gusset members having relatively small, integrally hinged panels at the bottom thereof which are connected to the bottom wall panels by integral webs folded so as to lie on the bottom wall forming panels where they are between bottom portions of the end articles and the bottom wall forming panels, and said integrally hinged panels having free end portions positioned in edge abutting engagement with said upstanding article separating members whereby said gusset members are held against movement outwardly of the carton ends.

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