Partition Insert

Abstract

A partition insert (100) includes a longitudinal primary partition panel (12), transverse divider panels (14, 16, 18, 20, 22), and a locking flap (26). The divider panels (14, 16, 18, 20, 22) are rotated to an operative position and the locking flap (26) is rotated toward the primary partition panel (12). The partition insert includes means for engaging (52) such that the divider panels (14, 16, 18, 20, 22) and the locking flap (26) can engage one another to fix the position of the divider panels (14, 16, 18, 20, 22) in the operative position.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 756,148, filed Jan. 3, 2006.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]This invention relates generally to packaging an arrangement of articles and, more specifically, to partition inserts that separate articles in a carton.DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART[0003]Partition inserts separate articles such as bottles in a carton or carrier so as to prevent the bottles from contacting one another. This protects against breakage or damage during shipping and handling. Typically, a partition insert that is used to separate the bottles of two adjacent rows of articles includes a longitudinal primary partition panel that is situated between the adjacent rows of articles, and transverse divider panels each which extends outwardly from the longitudinal primary partition panel and between adjacent bottles of one or more of the rows. Thus, for a package containing six bottles arranged in two adjacent rows...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]The various embodiments of the present invention overcome the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a partition insert that includes means for fixing a transverse divider panel in a folded operative position. The partition insert includes one or more locking flaps having means for engaging that are hingedly connected to the longitudinal primary partition panel and that are foldable toward the primary partition panel to engage one or more of the transverse divider panels. The one or more locking flaps are easily folded manually or by automatic erecting machinery to fix the position of the transverse divider panels before the partition insert is inserted between a group of articles.

[0008]According to an exemplary embodiment, a partition insert includes a longitudinal primary partition panel and transverse divider panels that are formed integrally from the primary partition panel. The divider panels can be folded or rotated out of the plane of the primary partition panel and fixed in an operative position by a locking flap. In the operative position, at least a portion of the divider panel extends from a first side of the primary partition panel to separate articles in a first row of adjacent articles. In the exemplary embodiments, the divider panels are arranged such that a first wing or portion extends from a first side of the primary partition panel and a second wing or portion extends from a second side of the primary partition panel. Using such a divider panel arrangement simplifies the folding operations that are necessary to erect the partition insert.

Problems solved by technology

However, such insert partitions are prone to failure as they are inserted between the articles.

Thereby, the insert partitions, articles, or carton can be damaged so as to interrupt the packaging process, or at minimum the insert partition can be improperly inserted between the articles.

Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

Images