Carrier for a container

Abstract

A carrier for holding one or more articles can comprise a plurality of panels that at least partially extend around the interior of the carrier and a bottom wall that extends along the interior of the carrier. The bottom wall can comprise a first locking member and a second locking member, and the first locking member and the second locking member engage with each other to form the bottom wall. The first locking member can comprise a first bottom panel and a first bottom flap that are at least partially overlapping, and the second locking member can comprise a second bottom panel and a second bottom flap that are at least partially overlapping. The carrier can further comprise a central wall that is foldably connected to one or more of the plurality of panels.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Reference to Related Applications This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 63 / 394,034 (filed Aug. 1, 2022).

[0002] Incorporation by Reference The disclosure of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 63 / 394,034 (filed Aug. 1, 2022) is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

[0003] Background of the Disclosure The present disclosure generally relates to carriers or cartons for holding and displaying containers. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to basket-type carriers.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] Summary of the Disclosure Generally, one aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a carrier for holding one or more articles. The carrier can include a plurality of panels that at least partially extend around the interior of the carrier and a bottom wall that extends along the interior of the carrier. The bottom wall can include a first locking member and a second locking member that engage with each other to form the bottom wall. The first locking member can include a first bottom panel and a first bottom flap that are at least partially overlapping, and the second locking member can include a second bottom panel and a second bottom flap that are at least partially overlapping. The carrier can further include a central wall that is foldably connected to one or more of the plurality of panels.

[0005] In another aspect, the present disclosure generally relates to a blank for forming a carrier for holding a plurality of articles. The blank can include a plurality of panels for at least partially extending around an interior of the carrier formed from the blank, and a first bottom flap, a first bottom panel, a second bottom flap, and a second bottom panel each foldably connected to a respective one of the plurality of panels. The first bottom panel and the first bottom flap are for at least partially overlapping when the carrier is formed from the blank to at least partially form a first locking member, and the second bottom panel and the second bottom flap are for at least partially overlapping when the carrier is formed from the blank to at least partially form a second locking member. The first locking member and the second locking member can be for engaging with each other to form a bottom wall of the carrier formed from the blank. The blank can further include a central panel foldably connected to one or more of the plurality of panels. The central panel can be for at least partially forming a central wall of the carrier formed from the blank.

[0006] In another aspect, the present disclosure generally relates to a method of forming a carrier for holding a plurality of articles. The method can include obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels, a central panel foldably connected to one or more of the plurality of panels, a first bottom panel, a first bottom flap, a second bottom panel, and a second bottom flap foldably connected to respective ones of the plurality of panels. The method can further include folding the plurality of panels to at least partially form a folded carrier, and forming the carrier by folding the folded carrier and moving the plurality of panels to at least partially extend around the interior of the carrier. By folding the folded carrier, the first bottom panel and the first bottom flap can be at least partially overlapped to at least partially form a first locking member, and the second bottom panel and the second bottom flap can be at least partially overlapped to at least partially form a second locking member. Then, the first locking member and the second locking member can be engaged with each other to form a bottom wall of the carrier.

[0007] On another side, the present disclosure generally relates to a carrier for holding one or more articles. The carrier can comprise a plurality of panels including at least a front panel, side panels, and a central panel. The central panel can extend from the side panels and at least partially divide the carrier into a front portion and a rear portion. The carrier can further comprise a bottom wall comprising at least a bottom panel foldably connected to the front panel and a bottom flap foldably connected to the side panels. The bottom wall can comprise at least a first locking feature extending within the bottom panel and a second locking feature extending within the bottom flap, and the bottom panel and the bottom flap can be in at least partial overlapping relation such that the first locking feature and the second locking feature are at least partially aligned.

[0008] Those skilled in the art will understand the above and other advantages and benefits of various additional embodiments by reading the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the drawings listed below.

[0009] In accordance with convention, the various features of the drawings discussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale. The dimensions of the various features and elements in the drawings may be enlarged or reduced to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure. Corresponding parts are indicated by corresponding reference numerals throughout the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] The present disclosure generally relates to carriers, packages, structures, sleeves, cartons, etc. for holding and displaying articles including containers such as cups, bottles, jars, cans, etc., and / or other suitable articles such as food, cutlery, napkins, etc. The containers can be used, for example, for packaging and / or holding beverages and food. The containers can be made from materials suitable in a composition for packaging and / or holding a particular beverage or food, and the materials include, but are not limited to, plastics such as PET, LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, PP, PS, PVC, EVOH, and nylon, paper-based materials such as paperboard, glass, aluminum and / or other metals, or any combination thereof.

[0012] Carriers according to the present disclosure can accommodate a number of articles of different shapes. For purposes of illustration and not limitation of the scope of the present disclosure, the following detailed description will be directed to beverage containers and / or food containers (e.g., cups, bottles, and / or other suitable containers made from paperboard, plastic, glass, metal, and / or other suitable materials) and / or other articles (e.g., food, cutlery, napkins, and / or other suitable items) at least partially disposed within embodiments of the carrier. As used herein, the terms “inner”, “inside”, “outer”, “outside”, “lower”, “bottom”, “upper”, “top”, “front”, “forward”, “rear”, “rearward” refer to the orientation determined with respect to a fully assembled carrier and an upright carrier. As described herein, the carrier can be formed from a blank by being adhered with a plurality of panels, parts, tabs, and / or flaps, which may be designated herein by terms such as “first”, “second”, “third”, etc. with respect to each other, for example, in a continuous or discontinuous reference.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the outer side 1 of a blank 3 used to form a carrier 5 (e.g., a basket-type carrier) (FIGS. 5-7) for holding a plurality of containers and / or other articles (not shown) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the carrier 5 is sized to accommodate four containers in respective receiving spaces, with two containers being accommodated in the front portion of the carrier and two containers being accommodated in the rear portion of the carrier. In embodiments, any number of articles can be held in each of the receiving spaces of the carrier. The carrier 5 can be sized and shaped to hold more or fewer than four containers without departing from the present disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the carrier 5 includes a handle 7 (FIGS. 5 and 6) as will be described in more detail below. In the illustrated embodiment, the carrier 5 is the assembled carrier 5 of FIG. 5 that receives containers to form a package. As shown in FIG. 4, the carrier 5 can be in a folded configuration and, in one embodiment, can be referred to as a folded carrier 5a. In the illustrated embodiment, the carrier 5 includes a bottom wall 10 formed from a bottom panel and a bottom flap having locking features that at least partially overlap as will be described in more detail below.

[0014] In the illustrated embodiment, the carrier blank 3 has a longitudinal axis L1 and a transverse or cross-axis L2. The carrier blank 3 includes a front panel 15 foldably connected to a first side panel 17 and a second side panel 19, and a rear panel 21 foldably connected to the second side panel 19. An attachment flap 23 is foldably connected to the rear panel 21 along a transverse fold line 25a. Transverse fold lines 27a, 29a foldably connect the first and second side panels 17, 19 to the front panel 15, respectively, and a transverse fold line 31a foldably connects the rear panel 21 to the second side panel 19.

[0015] In an embodiment, the carrier blank 3 includes a first or front central panel 41 that is foldably connected to the second side panel 19 along a lateral fold line 43. As shown in FIG. 1, the first or front split panel 47 is foldably connected to the front central panel 41 along a lateral fold line 29b (which may be, for example, on the same line as the lateral fold line 29a). In the illustrated embodiment, the front split panel 47 is foldably connected to the front panel 15 along a lateral fold line 49a and is at least partially separable from the front panel 15 and the central panel 41 along respective cut or tear lines 51a, 51b (e.g., a cut line interrupted by one or more cuts). As shown in FIG. 1, the front central panel 41 is connected to the first side panel 17 by a connection panel 53 (e.g., a first connection panel), the first side panel 17 is foldably connected along a lateral fold line 27b (which may be, for example, on the same line as the lateral fold line 27a), and the front central panel 41 is foldably connected along a lateral fold line 49b (which may be, for example, on the same line as the lateral fold line 49a). In an embodiment, the connection panel 53 may be at least partially separable from the front panel 15 along a cut or tear line 51b.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, the carrier blank 3 has a second or rear center panel 55 and a second or rear split panel 57. In the illustrated embodiment, the rear split panel 57 is connected to the rear center panel 55 so as to be foldable along a lateral fold line 25b (which may be on the same line as the lateral fold line 25a for example), and is connected to the rear panel 21 so as to be foldable along a lateral fold line 59a. In an embodiment, the rear split panel 57 is at least partially separable from the rear panel 21 and the rear center panel 55 along respective cut or tear lines 61a, 61b (e.g., a cut line interrupted by one or more cuts). As shown in FIG. 1, the rear center panel 55 is connected to the second side panel 19 by a connection panel 63 (e.g., a second connection panel), and the second side panel 19 is connected to the rear center panel 55 so as to be foldable along a lateral fold line 31b (which may be on the same line as the lateral fold line 31a for example), and the rear center panel 55 is connected to the second side panel 19 so as to be foldable along a lateral fold line 59b (which may be on the same line as the lateral fold line 59a for example). In an embodiment, the connection panel 63 may be at least partially separable from the rear panel 21 along a cut or tear line 61b. In the illustrated embodiment, the carrier blank 3 may further include a rear center flap 65 that is connected to the first side panel 17 so as to be foldable along a lateral fold line 67 and is at least partially separable from the first side panel 17 along a cut or tear line 69 (e.g., a cut line interrupted by one or more cuts).

[0017] Any one of the front panel 15, side panels 17, 19, rear panel 21, attachment flaps 23, center panels 41, 55, split panels 47, 57, connection panels 53, 63, and / or center flap 65 can be omitted or can be of other shapes, arrangements, positions, and / or configurations without departing from the present disclosure.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the carrier blank 3 can include handle features for forming a handle 7 when the carrier 5 is formed from the blank 3. The handle features can include a handle opening 71 that extends into the front central panel 41 and a handle flap 73 (e.g., a first handle flap) that is foldably connected to the front central panel 41 along one or more fold lines 75 (e.g., such that the handle flap 73 extends at least partially into the handle opening 71). In an embodiment, the handle flap 73 can be separable from the front central panel 41 along a cut line or tear line 77 (e.g., a cut line interrupted by one or more cuts). The handle features can further include a handle opening or notch 79 that extends into the rear central panel 55 and a handle notch 81 that extends into the rear central flap 65. In an exemplary embodiment, a handle flap 83 (e.g., a second handle flap) is foldably connected to the rear central panel 55 along one or more fold lines 85 (e.g., such that the handle flap 83 extends at least partially into the handle opening or notch 79). In an embodiment, the handle flap 83 can be separable from the rear central panel 55 along a cut line or tear line 87 (e.g., a cut line interrupted by one or more cuts). Any of the handle features can be omitted or formed, arranged, positioned, and / or configured in another manner without departing from the present disclosure.

[0019] In an embodiment, the carrier blank 3 can include a pushing feature 91 that can be pushed into one or more corners of the carrier 5 (FIG. 5). As shown in FIG. 1, each of the pushing features 91 can include a corner panel 93 that is foldably connected to respective panels 15, 17, 19, 21 along respective lateral fold lines 95 and can be separated from the panel along respective cut or tear lines 97. In an exemplary embodiment, one of the corner panels 93 is separable from the front central panel 41 and the front split panel 47 along a cut or tear line 51a. In the illustrated embodiment, the corner panel 93 can be foldable along each one of lateral fold lines 27a, 29a, 31a. Any of the pushing features 93 can be omitted or formed, arranged, positioned, and / or configured in another manner without departing from the present disclosure.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the carrier blank 3 can include a first or front bottom panel 111a foldably connected to the front panel 15, a second or rear bottom panel 111b foldably connected to the rear panel 21, a first bottom flap 113a foldably connected to the first side panel 17, and a second bottom flap 113b foldably connected to the second side panel 19. In the illustrated embodiment, the (first) bottom attachment flap 115a can be foldably connected to the front bottom panel 111a along the diagonal fold line 117a, and the (second) bottom attachment flap 115b can be foldably connected to the rear bottom panel 111b along the diagonal fold line 117b. In an embodiment, the front and rear bottom panels 111a, 111b and the bottom attachment flaps 115a, 115b can be similar or identical to each other, and the first and second bottom flaps 113a, 113b can be similar or identical to each other. As shown in FIG. 1, the bottom panels 111a, 111b and the bottom flaps 113a, 113b extend along the bottom peripheral region of the blank 3 and are foldably connected along a longitudinal fold line 119 that extends along at least a portion of the length of the blank. The longitudinal fold line 119 can, for example, be substantially straight or offset at one or more locations to account for the thickness of the blank or other factors.

[0021] In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom panels 111a, 111b and the bottom flaps 113a, 113b can cooperate to form the bottom wall 10 (Figs. 6 and 7), and when the carrier is moved from the folded configuration 5a (Fig. 4) to the assembled configuration 5 (Figs. 5 - 7), the bottom panels and the bottom flaps can include locking features for at least partially retaining them in the form of the bottom wall 10 extending across the bottom of the carrier 5 (e.g., at least partially perpendicular to panels 15, 17, 19, 21). In an exemplary embodiment, the locking features of the bottom panels 111a, 111b are configured to cooperate with the locking features of the respective bottom flaps 113a, 113b to have a double - thickness locking feature (e.g., the locking feature of the front bottom panel 111a cooperates with the locking feature of the first bottom flap 113a to form a double - thickness locking function that at least partially engages with the double - thickness locking function formed by the cooperating locking features of the rear bottom panel 111b and the second bottom flap 113b). In an embodiment, when the assembled carrier 5 is formed, they cooperate to form the reinforced locking portion 121 (Figs. 6 and 7) of the bottom wall 10. Thereby, compared with a bottom wall without a double - thickness locking feature, the load - bearing capacity of the bottom wall 10, and thus the carrier 5, can be improved.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the front bottom panel 111a and the bottom attachment flap 115a can include a notch 123a (e.g., a first notch) that is at least partially defined by an edge 125a (e.g., a first edge) extending along at least a portion of the front bottom panel 111a and the bottom attachment flap 115a. Additionally, the first bottom flap 113a can include a notch 127a (e.g., a second notch) that is at least partially defined by an edge 129a (e.g., a second edge) extending along at least a portion of the first bottom flap 113a. Similarly, the rear bottom panel 111b and the bottom attachment flap 115b can include a notch 123b (e.g., a third notch) that is at least partially defined by an edge 125b (e.g., a third edge) extending along at least a portion of the rear bottom panel 111b and the bottom attachment flap 115b. Also, the second bottom flap 113b can include a notch 127b (e.g., a fourth notch) that is at least partially defined by an edge 129b (e.g., a fourth edge) extending along at least a portion of the first bottom flap 113b.

[0023] In the embodiment, the cutouts 123a and 123b are arranged along the bottom panels 111a and 111b, and the cutouts 127a and 127b are arranged along the bottom flaps 113a and 113b of the bottom wall 10 of the assembled carrier 5 such that when the bottom panels 111a and 111b overlap with their respective bottom flaps 113a, the edges 125a and 125b are at least partially aligned with the respective edges 129a and 129b. For example, as schematically shown in FIG. 2 which shows in dashed lines the portions of the bottom flaps 113a and 113b hidden behind the bottom panels 111a and 111b, the cutouts 123a, 127a and the edges 125a, 129a of the front bottom panel 11a and the second bottom flap 113a are at least partially aligned so as to form a reinforcing locking member 131a (broadly, a locking member 131a) when the front bottom panel 11a and the first bottom flap 113a overlap within the bottom wall 10 of the assembled carrier 5. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 2, when the rear bottom panel 111b and the second bottom flap 113b overlap within the bottom wall 10, the cutouts 123b, 127b and the edges 125b, 129b of the rear bottom panel 111b and the second bottom flap 113b are at least partially aligned so as to form a reinforcing locking member 131b (broadly, a locking member 131b).

[0024] When formed within the carrier 5 with the bottom wall 10 assembled, the reinforcing locking members 131a and 131b can cooperate with each other (e.g., combine, engage, etc.) to at least partially lock and / or fix the bottom wall 10 in its extended configuration (FIGS. 6 and 7). Any of the bottom panels 111a and 111b, the bottom flaps 113a and 113b, the bottom attachment flaps 115a and 115b, the cutouts 123a and 123b, 127a and 127b, the edges 125a and 125b, 129a and 129b, and / or the reinforcing locking members 131a and 131b can be omitted or otherwise shaped, arranged, positioned, and / or configured without departing from the present disclosure.

[0025] Without departing from the present disclosure, any of the panels, flaps, fold lines, cuts, or other features may be omitted or otherwise formed, arranged, positioned, and / or configured in blank 3. Blank 3 may be sized and / or shaped to accommodate more than four or fewer containers without departing from the present disclosure.

[0026] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in an exemplary assembly method, carrier 5 may be formed from blank 3 (e.g., by a packaging system and / or manually) by positioning panels 15, 17, 19, 21, central panels 41, 55, central flap 65, connecting panels 53, 63, dividing panels 47, 57 and positioning attachment flaps 23 relative to each other to form front portion 141 and rear portion 143 of carrier 5 (FIGS. 5-7). Bottom panels 111a, 111b and bottom flaps 113a, 113b may further be folded and adhered along longitudinal fold line 119 to form bottom wall 10. The carrier may have a folded configuration 5a (FIG. 4) and an assembled configuration 5 (FIGS. 5-7).

[0027] In an exemplary embodiment, the blank 3 can be positioned such that its inner surface 2 faces upward, and as shown in FIG. 3, the bottom panels 111a, 111b and the bottom flaps 113a, 113b can be folded along the longitudinal fold lines 119 to overlap the inner surfaces 2 of the respective front panel 15, rear panel 21 and side panels 17, 19. As shown in FIG. 3, the bottom attachment flaps 115a, 115b can be folded along the respective diagonal fold lines 117a, 117b such that the outer surfaces of the bottom attachment flaps 115a, 115b are in surface contact with the outer surfaces of the respective bottom panels 111a, 111b. As shown by the hidden lines in FIG. 1, an adhesive G (e.g., an adhesive strip) can be applied to the inner surfaces 2 of the bottom attachment flaps 115a, 115b, the attachment flaps 23, and the central panels 41, 55. Also, as shown by the hidden lines in FIG. 1, an adhesive G can be applied to the connection panels 53, 63 and / or the side panels 17, 19 to attach the connection panels 53, 63 to the respective side panels 17, 19. The adhesive strip G is shown in FIG. 1 by dashed / hidden lines since the outer side 1 of the blank 3 is shown and the adhesive strip G is applied to the inner side 2 of the blank 3. Alternatively or additionally, the adhesive G can be applied to portions of the outer surface 1 of the blank 3 (e.g., for different overlapping arrangements of the panels / flaps of the blank). In an embodiment, one or more adhesive strips G can be applied to the blank 3 at any suitable stage of the forming process.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 4, the first side panel 17 can be bent along the lateral fold lines 27a, 27b such that the first side panel 17 at least partially overlaps the front panel 15, the front split panel 47, and the connection panel 53, and such that the rear central flap 65 overlaps the front central panel 41 (e.g., such that the inner surfaces of the panel / flap are in surface contact). The adhesive strips G on the central panel 41 and the connection panel 53 and / or on the first side panel 17 and the rear central flap 65 can adhere / fix the connection panel 53 to the first side panel 17 and the front central panel 41 to the rear central flap 65. In the illustrated embodiment, the front panel 15 and the front split panel 47 remain unfixed to the first side panel 17. Also, the first bottom flap 113a at least partially overlaps the bottom attachment flap 115a and the first bottom panel 111a of FIG. 4. The adhesive strip G on the bottom attachment flap 115a (and / or on the first bottom flap 113a) can adhere / fix the first bottom flap 113a and the bottom attachment flap 115a in surface contact with each other (e.g., the inner surface of the bottom attachment flap 115a is in contact with the outer surface of the first bottom flap 113a).

[0029] As further shown in FIG. 4, the folded carrier 5a is formed when the rear panel 21, the split panel 57, and the connection panel 63 are folded along the lateral fold lines 31a, 31b such that at least a portion thereof overlaps the second side panel 19 (e.g., the inner surfaces of the panels / flaps are in surface contact). The rear panel 21 and the connection panel 63 (together with the rear central panel 55, the rear split panel 57, and the attachment flap 23) are folded along the lateral fold lines 31a, 31b. The adhesive strips G on the central panel 41, the connection panel 63, and / or the second side panel 19 and the rear central panel 55 can bond / fix the rear central panel 55 to the front central panel 41 and the connection panel 63 to the second side panel 19. In an embodiment, the rear panel 21 and the rear split panel 57 remain unfixed to the second side panel 19. Additionally, the rear central panel 55 and the attachment flap 23 can at least partially overlap the respective rear central flap 65 and the first side panel 17 (e.g., the inner surfaces of the rear central panel 55 and the attachment flap 23 are in surface contact with the outer surfaces of the rear central flap 65 and the first side panel 17, respectively). The adhesive strips G on the inner surfaces of the rear central panel 55 and the attachment flap 23 (and / or on the rear central flap 65 and the first side panel 17) can bond / fix the rear central panel 55 to the rear central flap 65 and the attachment flap 23 to the first side panel 17. Also, as shown in FIG. 4, the second bottom flap 113b is in an overlapping relationship with the bottom attachment flap 115b and the second bottom panel 111b. The adhesive strip G on the bottom attachment flap 115b (and / or on the second bottom flap 113b) can bond / fix the second bottom flap 113b and the bottom attachment flap 115b to each other in surface contact (e.g., the inner surface of the bottom attachment flap 115b contacts the outer surface of the second bottom flap 113b).

[0030] In the illustrated embodiment, the central panels 41, 55 and the central flap 65 are all fixed / adhered together to form the central wall 145 of the carrier 5, and the handle 7 is formed in the central wall 145. In the embodiment, the handle opening 71 of the front central panel 41 is at least partially aligned with the handle cutouts 79, 81 of the rear central panel 55 and the rear central flap 65, so that the handle 7 can be formed in the folded / flattened carrier 5a (and the assembled carrier 5). Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 4 - 6, the handle flaps 73 and 83 can be at least partially aligned and / or can overlap in surface contact.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 5, the folded / flattened carrier 5a can be formed into the assembled carrier 5 (e.g., by a packaging system and / or manually). For example, the first side panel 17 and the second side panel 19 can be positioned such that they are generally in a spaced - apart parallel planar relationship, and the front panel 15 and the rear panel 21 can be positioned such that they are generally in a spaced - apart parallel planar relationship with the central wall 145 that divides the interior 147 of the carrier 5 into a front portion 141 and a rear portion 143. When the carrier 5 is assembled, the rear central flap 65 and the front central panel 41 are separated from their respective side panels 17, 19 along their respective tear lines 69, 51a, and the connecting panels 53, 63 are separated from their respective front panel 15 and rear panel 21 along their respective tear lines 51b, 61b. Such movement of the side panels 17, 19 and the front panel 15 and rear panel 21 separates the dividing panels 47, 57 from their respective front panel 15 and rear panel 21 along their respective tear lines 51a, 61a and from their respective central panels 41, 55 along their respective tear lines 51b, 61b, and positions them generally perpendicular to the central wall 145 (e.g., the respective central panels 41, 55) and to their respective front panel 15 and rear panel 21, thereby dividing each of the front portion 141 and the rear portion 143 into two storage spaces (FIGS. 5 and 6).

[0032] In the illustrated embodiment, the assembly of carrier 5 can be formed by pulling bottom panels 111a, 111b and bottom attachment flaps 115a, 115b together to form locking members 131a, 131b (FIG. 2) and bottom wall 10 that are reinforced together on the bottom panels / flaps. For example, when carrier 5 is assembled, bottom attachment flaps 115a, 115b are bent away from their respective bottom panels 111a, 111b and remain attached in surface contact with their respective bottom flaps 113a, 113b, and bottom panels 111a, 111b and bottom flaps 113a, 113b are pulled until they extend across the bottom of carrier 5. As the bottom panels / flaps are pulled and bottom attachment flaps 115a, 115b are bent away from bottom panels 111a, 111b, bottom flaps 113a, 113b move to overlapping positions relative to their respective bottom panels 111a, 111b to form their respective reinforcement locking members 131a, 131b. Additionally, as the bottom panels / flaps are pulled across the bottom of carrier 5, notches (e.g., notches 123a, 127a and 123b, 127b) in reinforcement locking members 131a, 131b cooperate and engage, and edges (e.g., edges 125a, 129a and 125b, 129b) of reinforcement locking members 131a, 131b can slide along each other until they lock together (FIGS. 6 and 7). In the embodiment, the engaged reinforcement locking members 131a, 131b support the article within carrier 5 and prevent the article from falling through the bottom of the carrier because a downward force (e.g., due to the weight of an article disposed within carrier 5) on at least bottom wall 10 presses the notches of reinforcement locking members 131a, 131b together. And the edges extending along the notches are pressed together to resist relative movement between reinforcement locking members 131a, 131b and prevent the bottom panels / flaps from bending downward.

[0033] In an exemplary embodiment, articles including containers such as take-out beverage cups, coffee cups, bottles, cans, jars, French fry containers, and / or other suitable articles such as food, seasonings, cutlery, napkins, etc. can be placed in the accommodation space of the carrier 5 to form a package. For example, the carrier 5 can be used to hold articles for removal. For example, a beverage container can be held in two of the accommodation spaces of the accommodation space, food can be held in the other two accommodation spaces, and the articles (e.g., beverage containers and food) can be supported on the reinforced bottom wall 10. In another example, containers can be held in each of the accommodation spaces in a retail situation. The bottom of the container is supported by the reinforced bottom wall 10. In some embodiments, the carrier 5 can be flattened / folded, for example, by reversing the above steps. The carrier 5 can be assembled and / or folded in other ways without departing from the present disclosure.

[0034] The above-described exemplary embodiments of the carrier accommodate four containers arranged in two rows, but the present disclosure is not limited to these numbers. As an example, additional containers can be accommodated by increasing the size of the blank 3 and forming additional container accommodation spaces therein. Also, the carrier 5 can have fewer than four container accommodation spaces.

[0035] Any of the features of the various embodiments of the present disclosure can be combined, replaced, or otherwise configured with other features of other embodiments of the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Further, the panels, flaps, and other features illustrated and described in connection with the blank 3 and the carrier 5 are included by way of example.

[0036] Generally, the blank can be constructed from cardboard having a thickness such that it is heavier and more rigid than normal paper. The blank can also be constructed from other materials such as thick paper, or any other material having properties suitable to enable the carrier or carton to at least generally function as described above. The blank can, for example, be coated with a clay coating. The clay coating can then be printed with products, advertisements, and other information or images. The blank can then be coated with varnish to protect the information printed on the blank. The blank can also be coated on one or both sides with, for example, a moisture barrier layer. The blank can also have one or more sheet-like materials laminated or coated thereon in selected panels or panel sections.

[0037] By way of example, a tear line can include slits that partially extend into the material along a desired line of weakness, and / or a series of spaced slits that partially extend into and / or completely penetrate the material along a desired line of weakness, or various combinations of these features. As a more specific example, one type of tear line is in the form of a series of spaced slits that extend completely through the material, with adjacent slits being slightly spaced such that a cut (e.g., a somewhat bridge-like small piece of the material) is defined between adjacent slits to typically temporarily connect the material across the tear line. The cut is broken during tearing along the tear line. The cut is typically a relatively small percentage of the tear line, and alternatively, the cut can be omitted from or disposed within the tear line such that the tear line is a continuous cut line. That is, replacing each of the tear lines with continuous slits or the like is within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the cut line can be a continuous slit or wider than a slit without departing from the present disclosure.

[0038] According to an exemplary embodiment, the score line can be a weakening in any substantially straight form that facilitates folding along it, although it is not necessarily a straight line. More specifically, and not for the purpose of limiting the scope of the present disclosure, the score line can be a score line such as a line formed by a knife or the like that makes a blunt cut to create a crushed or indented portion in the material along a desired weak line, a cut that extends partially into the material along a desired weak line, and / or a series of cuts that extend partially into the material and / or completely through the material along a desired weak line, and various combinations of these features. In situations where cutting is used to create the score line, typically the cut does not spread overly widely in the ground such that a reasonable user would be caused to mistakenly view the score line as a fracture line.

[0039] The above embodiments can be described as having one or more panels that are adhesively bonded together by an adhesive during the assembly of the carrier embodiment. The term "adhesive" is intended to encompass any manner of adhesive commonly used to secure the carrier panel in place.

[0040] The foregoing description of the present disclosure has illustrated and described various exemplary embodiments. Without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, various additional, modifications, changes, etc. can be made to the exemplary embodiments. All matters included in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings are intended to be construed as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Additionally, the present disclosure shows and describes only selected embodiments of the present disclosure, but the present disclosure can be used in various other combinations, modifications, and environments, and within the scope of the concepts of the invention represented herein, can be changed or modified in accordance with the above teachings and / or within the scope of the skills or knowledge of the related art. Further, certain features and characteristics of each embodiment can be selectively exchanged and applied to other illustrated and non-illustrated embodiments of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A carrier for holding one or more items, comprising: a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carrier; a bottom wall extending along the interior of the carrier; a central wall foldably connected to one or more of the plurality of panels; The carrier, characterized in that the bottom wall comprises a first locking member and a second locking member, the first locking member and the second locking member engaging with each other to form the bottom wall, the first locking member comprising a first bottom panel and a first bottom flap in at least partial overlapping relationship, and the second locking member comprising a second bottom panel and a second bottom flap in at least partial overlapping relationship.

2. 2. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the first locking member and the second locking member interengage in their respective notches to resist downward force on the bottom wall.

3. 3. The carrier of claim 2, wherein the first bottom panel and the first bottom flap overlap along the notch of the first fastening member, and the second bottom panel and the second bottom flap overlap along the notch of the second fastening member.

4. 10. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the first bottom panel has a first edge that at least partially defines a first cutout, the first bottom flap has a second edge that at least partially defines a second cutout, and the first bottom panel and the first bottom flap at least partially overlap such that the first cutout and the second cutout are at least partially aligned within the bottom wall.

5. 5. The carrier of claim 4, wherein the second bottom panel has a third edge that at least partially defines a third notch, the second bottom flap has a fourth edge that at least partially defines a fourth notch, and the second bottom panel and the second bottom flap at least partially overlap such that the third notch and the fourth notch are at least partially aligned within the bottom wall.

6. 6. The carrier of claim 5, wherein at least one of the first edge of the first bottom panel and the second edge of the first bottom flap contacts at least one of the third edge of the second bottom panel and the fourth edge of the second bottom flap.

7. 6. The carrier of claim 5, wherein the bottom wall further comprises a first attachment flap foldably connected to the first bottom panel and a second attachment flap foldably connected to the second bottom panel, the first cutout extending along at least a portion of the first bottom panel and the first attachment flap, and the second cutout extending along at least a portion of the second bottom panel and the second attachment flap.

8. 2. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the bottom wall further comprises a first attachment flap foldably connected to the first bottom panel and a second attachment flap foldably connected to the second bottom panel, the first attachment flap being attached in face-to-face contact with the first bottom flap and the second attachment flap being attached in face-to-face contact with the second bottom flap.

9. 2. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the plurality of panels includes at least a front panel and side panels, the front panel being foldably connected to the side panels, and the central wall including at least a central panel foldably connected to the side panels.

10. 10. The carrier of claim 9, further comprising a dividing panel foldably connected to said central panel and said front panel, said dividing panel extending from said central wall to said front panel.

11. 10. The carrier of claim 9, wherein the side panel is a second side panel, the plurality of panels including a first side panel foldably connected to the front panel, a connecting panel foldably connected to the central panel and the first side panel, and the connecting panel and the first side panel at least partially overlap.

12. 10. The carrier of claim 9, wherein the plurality of panels further comprises a back panel foldably connected to the side panel.

13. 13. The carrier of claim 12, wherein the central panel is a first central panel, the central wall further comprising a second central panel in overlapping relationship with the first central panel, a first dividing panel foldably connected to the first central panel and the front panel, and a second dividing panel foldably connected to the second central panel and the rear panel.

14. 13. The carrier of claim 12, wherein the central panel is a first central panel, the central wall further comprising a second central panel in overlapping relationship with the first central panel, and a connecting panel foldably connected to the second central panel and the side panel, the connecting panel in overlapping relationship with the side panel.

15. 15. The carrier of claim 14, wherein the side panel is a second side panel, the connecting panel is a second connecting panel, and the plurality of panels further comprises a first side panel foldably connected to at least the front panel, the first connecting panel foldably connected to the first central panel and the first side panel, and the first connecting panel is in an overlapping relationship with the first side panel.

16. 1. A blank for forming a carrier for holding a plurality of articles, comprising: a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carrier formed from the blank; a first bottom panel, a first bottom flap, a second bottom panel, and a second bottom flap foldably connected to each panel of the plurality of panels; a central panel foldably connected to one or more of the plurality of panels for at least partially forming a central wall of the carrier formed from the blank; the first bottom panel and the first bottom flap at least partially overlap to form a first locking member when the carrier is formed from the blank, the second bottom panel and the second bottom flap at least partially overlap to form a second locking member when the carrier is formed from the blank, and the first locking member and the second locking member engage with each other to form a bottom wall of the carrier formed from the blank.

17. 17. The blank of claim 16, wherein the first bottom panel has a first edge that at least partially defines a first cutout, the first bottom flap has a second edge that at least partially defines a second cutout, and the first bottom panel and the first bottom flap at least partially overlap such that the first cutout and the second cutout are at least partially aligned in the bottom wall when the carrier is formed from the blank.

18. 18. The blank of claim 17, wherein the second bottom panel has a third edge that at least partially defines a third cutout, the second bottom flap has a fourth edge that at least partially defines a fourth cutout, and the second bottom panel and the second bottom flap at least partially overlap such that the third cutout and the fourth cutout are at least partially aligned within the bottom wall when the carrier is formed from the blank.

19. 19. The blank of claim 18, wherein at least one of the first edge of the first bottom panel and the second edge of the first bottom flap contacts at least one of the third edge of the second bottom panel and the fourth edge of the second bottom flap when the carrier is formed from the blank.

20. 20. The blank of claim 18, further comprising a first attachment flap foldably connected to the first bottom panel and a second attachment flap foldably connected to the second bottom panel, wherein the first cutout extends along at least a portion of the first bottom panel and the first attachment flap, and the second cutout extends along at least a portion of the second bottom panel and the second attachment flap.

21. 17. The blank of claim 16, further comprising a first attachment flap foldably connected to the first bottom panel and a second attachment flap foldably connected to the second bottom panel, the first attachment flap being attached in face-to-face contact with the first bottom flap when the carrier is formed from the blank, and the second attachment flap being attached in face-to-face contact with the second bottom flap when the carrier is formed from the blank.

22. 17. The blank of claim 16, wherein the plurality of panels includes at least a front panel and side panels, the front panel being foldably connected to the side panels, and the central panel being foldably connected to the side panels.

23. 23. The blank of claim 22, further comprising divider panels foldably connected to the central panel and the front panel and separable from the central panel and the front panel along respective cut or tear lines.

24. 23. The blank of claim 22, wherein the side panel is a second side panel, the plurality of panels includes a first side panel foldably connected to the front panel, a connecting panel foldably connected to the central panel and the first side panel, the connecting panel being at least partially separable from the front panel along a cut or tear line.

25. 23. The blank of claim 22, wherein the plurality of panels further comprises a back panel foldably connected to the side panels.

26. the central panel is a first central panel; 26. The blank of claim 25, further comprising a second central panel in overlapping relationship with the first central panel to at least partially form the central wall of the carrier formed from the blank, wherein a first dividing panel is foldably connected to the first central panel and the front panel, and a second dividing panel is foldably connected to the second central panel and the rear panel.

27. the central panel is a first central panel; 26. The blank of claim 25, further comprising a second central panel in overlapping relationship with the first central panel to at least partially form a central wall of the carrier formed from the blank, a connecting panel foldably connected to the second central panel and the side panels, the connecting panel being at least partially separable from the back panel along a cut or tear line.

28. 28. The blank of claim 27, wherein the side panel is a second side panel, the connecting panel is a second connecting panel, and the plurality of panels further comprises a first side panel foldably connected to at least the front panel, the first connecting panel foldably connected to the first central panel and the first side panel, and the first connecting panel is at least partially separable from the front panel along a cut or tear line.

29. obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels, a central panel foldably connected to one or more of the plurality of panels, and a first bottom panel, a first bottom flap, a second bottom panel, and a second bottom flap foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels; folding the plurality of panels to at least partially form a folded carrier; and forming the carrier by folding the folded carrier, wherein moving the plurality of panels to extend at least partially around an interior of the carrier, folding the folded carrier causes the first bottom panel and the first bottom flap to at least partially overlap to at least partially form a first locking member, and the second bottom panel and the second bottom flap to at least partially overlap to at least partially form a second locking member, and the first and second locking members to engage with each other to form a bottom wall of the carrier.

30. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein folding the folded carrier causes the first locking member and the second locking member to engage each other at their respective notches to resist downward force on the bottom wall.

31. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the first bottom panel includes a first edge that at least partially defines a first cutout, the first bottom flap includes a second edge that at least partially defines a second cutout, and at least partially overlapping the first bottom panel and the first bottom flap includes at least partially aligning the first cutout and the second cutout in the bottom wall.

32. 32. The method of claim 31, wherein the second bottom panel includes a third edge that at least partially defines a third cutout, the second bottom flap includes a fourth edge that at least partially defines a fourth cutout, and at least partially overlapping the second bottom panel and the second bottom flap includes at least partially aligning the third cutout and the fourth cutout with the bottom wall.

33. the blank further comprises a first attachment flap foldably connected to the first bottom panel and a second attachment flap foldably connected to the second bottom panel; folding the first bottom panel, the first bottom flap, the second bottom panel, and the second bottom flap over respective panels of the plurality of panels; and folding the first and second attachment flaps over the respective first and second bottom panels; 30. The method of claim 29, wherein folding the plurality of panels to at least partially form the folded carrier includes at least partially overlapping the first bottom flap and the first attachment flap and at least partially overlapping the second bottom flap and the second attachment flap.

34. 34. The method of claim 33, wherein at least partially overlapping the first bottom flap and the first attachment flap comprises attaching the first bottom flap and the first attachment flap in surface contact, and at least partially overlapping the second bottom flap and the second attachment flap comprises attaching the second bottom flap and the second attachment flap in surface contact.

35. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the plurality of panels includes at least a front panel and side panels, the front panel foldably connected to the side panels, the central panel foldably connected to the side panels, and the blank further comprises dividing panels foldably connected to the central panel and the front panel, and wherein folding the folded carrier further separates the dividing panels from the front panel and the central panel along respective cut or tear lines, extending from the central panel to the front panel along the interior of the carrier.

36. 36. The method of claim 35, wherein the side panel is a second side panel, the plurality of panels includes a first side panel foldably connected to the front panel, the blank further comprises a connecting panel foldably connected to the central panel and the first side panel, and folding the folded carrier further separates the connecting panel from the front panel along a cut or tear line.

37. the central panel is a first central panel and the blank further includes a second central panel; 30. The method of claim 29, further comprising at least partially forming a central wall during folding of the plurality of panels to at least partially form the folded carrier by at least partially overlapping the first central panel and the second central panel.

38. A carrier for holding one or more items, comprising: a plurality of panels including at least a front panel, side panels, and a center panel; the central panel extends from the side panels and at least partially divides the carrier into a forward portion and an aft portion; a bottom wall including at least a bottom panel foldably connected to the front panel and bottom flaps foldably connected to the side panels; the bottom wall includes at least a first locking feature extending into the bottom panel and a second locking feature extending into the bottom flap, the bottom panel and the bottom flap being in an at least partially overlapping relationship such that the first locking feature and the second locking feature are at least partially aligned.

39. 39. The carrier of claim 38, wherein each of the center panel and the front panel is foldably connected to a side panel.

40. further comprising a dividing panel foldably connected to the central panel and the front panel; 40. The carrier of claim 39, wherein the dividing panel extends from a central wall at least partially formed by the central panel to the front panel.

41. 41. The carrier of claim 40, wherein the side panel is a second side panel, the plurality of panels including a first side panel foldably connected to the front panel, a connecting panel foldably connected to the central panel and the first side panel, and the connecting panel and the first side panel at least partially overlap.

42. 40. The carrier of claim 39, wherein the side panel is a second side panel, the plurality of panels including a first side panel foldably connected to the front panel, a connecting panel foldably connected to the central panel and the first side panel, and the connecting panel and the first side panel at least partially overlap.

43. 40. The carrier of claim 39, wherein the plurality of panels further comprises a back panel foldably connected to the side panels, the central panel being a first central panel, a second central panel being in overlapping relationship with the first central panel, a first dividing panel foldably connected to the first central panel and the front panel, and a second dividing panel foldably connected to the second central panel and the back panel.

44. 40. The carrier of claim 39, wherein the plurality of panels further comprises a back panel foldably connected to the side panels, the central panel being a first central panel, a second central panel being in overlapping relationship with the first central panel, and a connecting panel being foldably connected to the second central panel and the side panels, the connecting panel being in overlapping relationship with the side panels.

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