Top Engagement Carrier

Abstract

A top engaging carrier for packaging items is provided that enhances the utility of the field of carriers formed from paperboard and the like. The present invention provides an upper engagement carrier 10 with a plurality of panels including a main panel 11 and at least one wing panel 12, 13 hingedly connected to an end or side edge of the main panel. The main panel includes at least one article engagement device ED, the at least one article engagement device including an opening 20 for receiving an article and at least one engagement tab 14 foldably connected to one of the plurality of panels and projecting into the opening. The upper engagement carrier further includes at least one notch for facilitating removal of the article from the at least one article engagement device, the at least one notch 19 being formed along a free edge of the at least one wing panel.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a top-engaging carrier for packaging one or more articles. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, the present invention relates to a top-gripping type article carrier having one or more openings for receiving and holding one or more articles. [Background technology]

[0002] In the packaging art, it is known to provide carton carriers for carrying a plurality of articles. Carriers are well known in the art and are useful for transporting, storing and enabling consumers to access a group of articles for consumption. Cost and environmental considerations dictate that such carriers be formed from as little material as possible and that the materials formed result in as little waste as possible. Further considerations are the strength and convenience of the carrier and its suitability for holding and transporting large weight articles. It is desirable that the contents of the carrier be safely retained within the carrier.

[0003] It is known to provide an upper engaging carrier in which an opening is formed in a panel which comprises the carrier and a tab is punched through the panel to define the opening, such that when an article is received in the opening, the tab moves outwardly from the plane of the panel such that the tab engages the article around a flange or lip of the article. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present invention seeks to improve the utility of the field of carriers, which are typically made from paperboard or the like. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A first aspect of the present invention provides an upper engagement carrier for packaging one or more articles, the upper engagement carrier comprising a plurality of panels including a main panel and at least one wing panel hingedly connected to an end or side edge of the main panel. The main panel includes at least one article engagement device, the at least one article engagement device including an opening for receiving an article and at least one engagement tab foldably connected to one of the plurality of panels and projecting into the opening. The upper engagement carrier further includes at least one notch for facilitating removal of the article from the at least one article engagement device, the at least one notch being formed along a free edge of the at least one wing panel.

[0006] The upper engagement carrier includes at least one article engagement device in the main panel, the article engagement device including an opening for receiving an article and an engagement tab protruding into the opening. When an article is received in the opening, the article engagement device securely holds the article by engaging the at least one engagement tab. Additionally, a notch is formed along a free edge of the at least one wing panel hingedly connected to the main panel to facilitate removal of the article from the article engagement device and to improve the convenience of the upper engagement carrier.

[0007] Additionally, the at least one wing panel may be hingedly connected to the main panel by a fold line, the at least one article engagement device may define an imaginary centerline extending perpendicular to the fold line, and the at least one notch may be disposed on the imaginary centerline.

[0008] Additionally, the imaginary centerline may pass through the center of the opening.

[0009] The imaginary centerline may also be disposed across the at least one engagement tab.

[0010] Additionally, the imaginary centerline may bisect the at least one engagement tab.

[0011] Additionally, the at least one article engagement device may include two or more article engagement devices, the at least one wing panel may include a pair of opposing wing panels hingedly connected to the main panel respectively along parallel fold lines, and two of the two or more article engagement devices may be disposed along an imaginary line extending perpendicular to the fold lines, and the at least one notch may include two or more notches, and two of the two or more notches may be formed along the free edges of the wing panels respectively at locations on the imaginary line.

[0012] The two article engaging devices are arranged along an imaginary line extending perpendicular to the parallel fold lines, and two notches are formed along the free edge of each wing panel at positions on the imaginary line, which makes it easier to remove the article from the article engaging devices and further improves the convenience of the upper engaging carrier. Effect of the Invention

[0013] The upper engagement carrier according to the present invention is made of a plurality of panels including a main panel and at least one wing panel hingedly connected to the main panel, and is therefore formed with as little material as possible. When an article is received in the opening of the at least one article engagement device provided on the main panel, at least one engagement tab engages with the article, thereby securely holding the article. In addition, a notch is formed along a free edge of the at least one wing panel hingedly connected to the main panel, which facilitates removal of the article from the article engagement device, thereby improving the convenience of the upper engagement carrier. Furthermore, the notch is aligned with the article engagement device, which further facilitates removal of the article from the article engagement device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0015] [Figure 1A] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an upper engagement carrier according to the first embodiment. [Figure 1B]FIG. 13 is a plan view showing an upper engagement carrier according to a second embodiment. [Figure 1C] 2 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the upper engagement carrier of FIG. 1; [Diagram 2] 2 is a perspective view of the upper engagement carrier and the article of FIG. 1, seen obliquely from above. FIG. [Diagram 3] 2 is a top perspective view of the upper engagement carrier and article of FIG. 1; FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the drawings and specific embodiments. Note that the respective embodiments and their features described below can be arbitrarily combined to form new embodiments, unless they are inconsistent.

[0017] It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of how certain aspects of the invention may be implemented, and do not represent an exhaustive list of all ways in which the invention may be implemented. As used herein, the term "exemplary" is used broadly to refer to embodiments that serve as illustrations, specimens, models, or patterns. Indeed, it is to be understood that the carriers described herein may be embodied in a variety of alternative forms. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Well-known components, materials, or methods have not necessarily been described in detail to avoid obscuring the disclosure. Specific structural and functional details disclosed herein should not be construed as limiting the invention, but merely as a basis for the scope of the utility model registration claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to use the invention in various ways.

[0018] 1A and 1B show examples of upper engagement carriers for packaging one or more articles. FIG. 1A shows an upper engagement carrier 10 for packaging six articles as a first embodiment, and FIG. 1B shows an upper engagement carrier 10' for packaging four articles as a second embodiment. FIG. 1C is a plan view showing an enlarged portion of the upper engagement carrier 10 of FIG. 1A. FIGS. 2 and 3 are both perspective views of the upper engagement carrier and articles of FIG. 1 as seen from above.

[0019] The upper engaging carriers 10, 10' are carriers for engaging and carrying primary products such as bottles and cans (hereinafter referred to as, but not limited to, "Item B") as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The upper engaging carriers 10, 10' form a secondary package for packaging at least one container or package of the primary product.

[0020] In the embodiments detailed herein, the term "carrier" refers to a container for engaging and carrying an article, such as a primary product container, for non-limiting purposes of describing various features of the invention. It is contemplated that the teachings of the invention may be applied to a variety of product containers, which may or may not be tapered and / or cylindrical. Exemplary containers include bottles (e.g., metal, glass, or plastic bottles), cans (e.g., aluminum cans), TIN cans, pouches, packets, and the like.

[0021] The upper engaging carriers 10, 10' are formed from sheets of suitable substrate. It should be understood that the term "suitable substrate" as used herein includes any type of foldable sheet material, such as paperboard, corrugated board, cardboard, plastic, combinations thereof, etc. For example, it should be understood that one or more blanks may be used, where appropriate, to provide the carrier structure described in more detail below.

[0022] In the illustrated embodiment, the top engaging carriers 10, 10' are configured to form a carrier for packaging an exemplary arrangement of items B. The embodiment of Fig. 1A is a 2x3 matrix or array arrangement with three items B arranged in two rows, where the items B are beverage cans. The embodiment of Fig. 1B is a 2x2 matrix or array arrangement with two items B arranged in two rows, where the items B are beverage cans.

[0023] An upper engagement carrier 10 according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1A and 1C. Figure 1A is a plan view of the upper engagement carrier 10 that accommodates six articles B arranged in a 2x3 matrix or array, as described above. The upper engagement carrier 10 includes a main panel 11 located at the center, and a first wing panel 12 and a second wing panel 13 that are hingedly connected to both sides of the main panel 11, respectively. The first wing panel 12 and the second wing panel 13 are hingedly connected to the main panel 11 by corresponding fold lines 17, 18, respectively. Also, Figure 1A shows an imaginary center line (XX) that extends perpendicular to the fold lines 17, 18.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1A, the main panel 11 may include six article engagement devices (ED) arranged in a 2×3 matrix or array. The six article engagement devices (ED) are arranged along fold lines 17 and 18, with three EDs aligned on each side. An imaginary center line (XX) extends through the centers of the two bottommost article engagement devices (ED). The main panel 11 includes a pair of handle structures H arranged in its center surrounded by the six article engagement devices (ED).

[0025] The first and second wing panels 12, 13, each hinged to the main panel 11, are each formed with a free edge extending laterally from fold lines 17, 18. The free end (left edge) of the first wing panel 12 is formed with three notches 19 along its side edge, and the free end (right edge) of the second wing panel 13 is also formed with three notches 19 along its side edge. That is, three notches 19 are formed along each of the free ends of the first wing panel 12 and the second wing panel 13. The three notches 19 formed in each of the free ends of the first wing panel 12 and the second wing panel 13 are preferably positioned in alignment with the six article engaging devices (ED).

[0026] As shown in FIG. 1A, the lowest notch 19 of the three notches 19 formed in the first wing panel 12 is located on the imaginary centerline (XX). Similarly, the lowest notch 19 of the three notches 19 formed in the second wing panel 13 is located on the imaginary centerline (XX). In this manner, the three notches 19 of the first wing panel 12 are preferably aligned with the three article engagement devices (ED) located along the fold line 17, and the three notches 19 of the second wing panel 13 are preferably aligned with the three article engagement devices (ED) located along the fold line 18. The notches 19, 19 formed along the side edges of the first wing panel 12 and the second wing panel 13 are preferably aligned with the corresponding article engagement devices (ED), which facilitates removal of articles from the article engagement devices (ED) and improves the convenience of the upper engagement carrier 10.

[0027] 1A and 1C, six article engaging devices (EDs) are provided on the main panel 11, with each ED having an article receiving opening 20 defined by a web punched out from the main panel 11. Each ED also has a plurality of engagement tabs (14, 15a, 15b) disposed about the opening 20.

[0028] Each of the engagement tabs 15a, 15b is punched out from and hingedly connected to the main panel 11. The engagement tab 14 is integral with the first wing panel 12 or the second wing panel 13 and interrupts the hinge connection between the first wing panel 12 or the second wing panel 13 and the main panel 11. Each of the engagement tabs 14, 15a, 15b is defined by a pair of cut lines CL that extend radially outward from the opening 20.

[0029] 1C, the article engagement device (ED) includes eight engagement tabs 14, 15a, 15b defined around an opening 20. Each engagement tab 14, 15a, 15b has a free engagement edge that defines a portion of the opening 20, with the opening 20 being substantially octagonal in shape.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 1C, the engagement tab 14 is integral with the first wing panel 12 and interrupts the hinge connection between the first wing panel 12 and the main panel 11. The two engagement tabs 15a are connected to the main panel 11 by linear fold lines 16l. The linear fold lines 16l are non-parallel to the opposing free engagement edges of the engagement tabs 15a. The five engagement tabs 15b are partially cut off from the main panel 11 by non-linear, arcuate cut lines 16c. When the item B is received in the opening 20, each of the engagement tabs 14, 15a, 15b moves outwardly from the main panel 11 and the free engagement edges of the engagement tabs 14, 15a, 15b engage the flanges or lips of the item B to securely hold the item B.

[0031] An imaginary centerline (XX) shown in FIG. 1A extending perpendicular to fold lines 17, 18 passes through the center of opening 20 of article engagement device (ED) and intersects engagement tabs 14, 15b (see FIG. 1C), bisecting engagement tabs 14, 15b.

[0032] Fig. 1B is a plan view of an upper engagement carrier 10' based on a second embodiment, which accommodates four articles B arranged in a 2 x 2 matrix or array. The upper engagement carrier 10' based on the embodiment shown in Fig. 1B has four article engagement devices (ED) arranged in a 2 x 2 matrix or array on a main panel 11', but has basic features in common with the upper engagement carrier 10 based on the first embodiment shown in Fig. 1A. Explanation of the common features will be omitted, and only the differences from the upper engagement carrier 10 of the first embodiment will be explained.

[0033] 1B, main panel 11' includes three article engagement devices (ED) arranged in a 2x2 matrix or array. The four article engagement devices (ED) are arranged along fold lines 17', 18' with two article engagement devices (ED) aligned on each side. Main panel 11' includes a pair of handle structures H at its center that are sandwiched between the article engagement devices (ED).

[0034] The first wing panel 12' and the second wing panel 13', which are hingedly connected to the main panel 11', respectively, are formed with free ends extending laterally from the fold lines 17', 18'. The free end (left edge) of the first wing panel 12' is formed with two notches 19', 19' along its side edge, and the free end (right edge) of the second wing panel 13' is also formed with two notches 19', 19' along its side edge. That is, two notches 19', 19' are formed along the free end of the first wing panel 12' and the free end of the second wing panel 13', respectively. The two notches 19', 19' formed in the free end of the first wing panel 12' and the free end of the second wing panel 13', respectively, are preferably aligned with corresponding article engaging devices (ED).

[0035] That is, similar to the first embodiment, the two notches 19', 19' of the first wing panel 12' are aligned with the two article engaging devices (ED) located along the fold line 17', and the two notches 19', 19' of the second wing panel 13' are preferably aligned with the two article engaging devices (ED) located along the fold line 18'. In this manner, the notches 19', 19' formed along the side edges of the first wing panel 12' and the second wing panel 13' are aligned with the corresponding article engaging devices (ED), facilitating removal of articles from the article engaging devices (ED) and improving the convenience of the upper engagement carrier 10'.

[0036] Also, as previously described, the upper engagement carrier 10, 10' may include a handle structure H. The handle structure H may include a pair of spaced apart handle openings (first and second handle openings). For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, the handle openings are defined in part by one or more foldable tabs 30 stamped out of the main panel 11. Each of the one or more foldable tabs 30 may be hinged to the main panel 11 by a fold line. One foldable tab 30 is hinged opposite the other foldable tab 30. The first handle opening is disposed in the center of a first group of four article engagement devices (EDs), and the second handle opening is disposed in the center of a second group of four article engagement devices (EDs).

[0037] The above-mentioned embodiments are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention, and do not limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will understand that any insubstantial changes and replacements obtained based on the present invention fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 10, 10' Upper engagement carrier 11, 11′ Main Panel 12, 12' 1st wing panel 13, 13' Second wing panel 14, 14', 15a, 15b Engagement tabs 16c Arc-shaped cut line 16l Straight fold line 17, 18 Fold lines 19, 19' notch 20, 20' Receptor opening 30 Variable Tab B Goods CL Cut Line ED article engagement device H-handle structure XX Virtual center line

Claims

1. An upper engaging carrier for packaging one or more articles, comprising a plurality of panels including a main panel (11) and at least one wing panel (12, 13) hingedly connected to an end or side edge of the main panel (11), The main panel (11) includes at least one article engagement device (ED), the at least one article engagement device (ED) includes an opening (20) for receiving an article, and at least one engagement tab (14, 15) foldably connected to one of the plurality of panels (11, 12, 13) and projecting into the opening (20); The upper engagement carrier further includes at least one notch (19) for facilitating removal of an article from the at least one article engagement device (ED), the at least one notch (19) being formed along a free edge of the at least one wing panel (12, 13).

2. 2. The upper engagement carrier of claim 1, wherein the at least one wing panel (12, 13) is hingedly connected to the main panel (11) by the fold lines (17, 18), the at least one article engagement device (ED) defines an imaginary centerline (X-X) extending perpendicular to the fold lines (17, 18), and the at least one notch (19) is disposed on the imaginary centerline (X-X).

3. The upper engagement carrier of claim 2, wherein said imaginary centerline (XX) passes through the center of said opening (20).

4. The upper engagement carrier of claim 2, wherein said imaginary centerline (XX) is disposed across said at least one engagement tab (14).

5. The upper engagement carrier of claim 2, wherein said imaginary centerline (XX) bisects said at least one engagement tab (14).

6. 2. The upper engagement carrier of claim 1, wherein the at least one article engagement device (ED) comprises two or more article engagement devices (ED), the at least one wing panel comprises a pair of opposing wing panels (12, 13) hingedly connected to the main panel (11) along parallel fold lines (17, 18), two of the two or more article engagement devices (ED) are arranged along an imaginary line (X-X) extending perpendicular to the fold lines (17, 18), and the at least one notch (19) comprises two or more notches (19, 19), two of the two or more notches (19, 19) are each formed along a free edge of the wing panel (12, 13) at a position on the imaginary line (X-X).

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