COLLAPSIBLE ARTICLE CARRIER AND BLANK

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an article carrier produced for packaging a plurality of articles, for example bottles. More particularly the invention relates to a carrier of the top gripping type which attaches to the tops of the articles thereby securing the articles in an array.

[0002] It is known to provide top gripping carriers which comprise so called sunburst apertures having a series of circumferencially arranged tabs which enable the bottle top to pass through the apertures which tabs engage on the underside of a bottle top or on a flange of the bottle neck to prevent the removal of the bottle from the aperture. A problem arises when the location at which the tab engages the underside of the bottle top is high up on the bottle neck. This creates a carrier that is unstable. Further, the tabs are weakened by the unstable nature of the bottles within the carrier so reducing their effectiveness.

[0003] A further problem is that a top gripping carrier needs to be of sufficient strength to support the bottle especially where the bottle is large or if the bottles to be packaged vary in size. One example of a top gripping carrier is illustrated in US 3528697 which shows a carrier for gripping bottles with relatively narrow necks, so that the side walls of the carrier are parallel. This carrier is limited to the type of bottles that can be packaged i.e. narrow necked bottles.

[0004] The present invention seeks to overcome or at least mitigate the problems of the prior art.

[0005] One aspect of the invention provides an article carrier for accommodating a plurality of articles, for example, bottles, comprises a top wall, a base and opposed side walls interconnecting the top wall and the base, the top wall comprising a plurality of apertures each of which has at least one foldable retention tab to operatively engage the underside of a radially protruding part of a container present in each aperture, and an internal partition comprising a corresponding plurality of apertures, aligned with the top wall apertures. Each of the internal partition apertures has one or more foldable retention tabs which are located and sized to pass through the aligned top wall aperture operatively to engage another portion of the underside of the radially protruding part. The base comprises a plurality of lower receiving apertures aligned with the corresponding apertures of the internal partition and in the top wall. Each of the lower receiving apertures is provided with one or more stabilising tabs foldably connected to the base to support a portion of an article received in that aperture.

[0006] Preferably, the internal partition is inclined relative to the top wall and its apertures are each provided with opposite retention tabs of different lengths such that, in use, the upper edges of the internal partition retaining tabs are co-planar with the upper edges of said retention tabs of the top wall.

[0007] According to an optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the side walls are arranged in an acute angular relationship with respect to the base, thereby forming a tubular structure of trapezoidal cross-section, the carrier being collapsible along a supplemental hinged connection formed in the base to enable the carrier to move between flat collapsed and set up conditions.

[0008] Preferably, the supplementary hinged connection is disposed at a location diametrically opposed to one of the top comers of the trapezoid, which top comer forms an opposing hinged connection to said supplemental hinged connection when the carrier is moved between flat collapsed and set up conditions.

[0009] A second aspect of the invention provides a blank for forming a tubular article carrier comprising a top wall panel, a first side wall panel, a base and an opposing side wall panel hinged together, in series and an internal partition panel hingedly connected to one of the side wall panels, the internal partition panel including securing means to be secured to the opposing one of the side panels and wherein the top wall panel has a plurality of apertures each of which has at least one foldable retention tab that can engage part of an article present in that aperture when the carrier is set up. The internal partition panel comprises a corresponding plurality of apertures to be aligned with the top wall panel apertures when the carrier is in a set up condition. Each of the partition panel apertures has at least one foldable retention tab which is capable of passing through the corresponding top wall panel aperture to operatively engage another part of the article. The base panel comprises a plurality of lower receiving apertures each of which is provided with stabilising tabs foldably connected to the base panel thereby to support a portion of the article held in that aperture in a set up carrier.

[0010] According to an optional feature of the second aspect of the invention, the partition panel is of greater width than the top panel so that in the set up carrier it is inclined with respect to the top panel and wherein each partition panel aperture is defined in part by opposite retention tabs of different lengths such that, in use, the upper edges of the said internal partition panel retention tabs are co-planar with the upper edges of the retention tabs of the top wall panel.

[0011] According to a further optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the distance between the hinged connections of the base panel is greater than the distance between the hinged connections of the top wall panel, the base panel further comprising a supplemental hinged connection to allow the article carrier formed from the blank to be moved between flat collapsed and set up conditions.

[0012] A third aspect of the invention provides an article carrier for accommodating at least one article comprising a top wall, a base, and opposed side walls hingedly interconnecting the top wall and the base, wherein one or both of the side walls are arranged in an acute angular relationship with respect to the base to form a tubular structure of a trapezoidal cross section, and wherein the carrier is collapsible along a supplemental hinged connection formed in the base thereby to enable the carrier to move between a flat collapsed condition and a set up condition. An internal partition panel extending between the side walls is hingedly connected to one of the side walls along a first fold line and to the other side wall along a second fold line, and the first fold line is disposed at a greater distance from the top wall than the second fold line to allow the carrier to move between the collapsed and set up conditions.

[0013] Preferably, the supplemental hinged connection is disposed at a location closer to the one side wall than to the other side wall, the supplemental hinged connection being disposed diametrically opposed to one of the four comers of the trapezoidal tubular structure, the one corner forming an opposing hinged connection opposite to the supplemental hinged connection when the carrier is in the flat collapsed condition.

[0014] According to an optional feature of the third aspect of the invention, a glue flap is hingedly connected to the internal partition panel along one of the first and second fold lines and secured to an associated one of the side walls, the glue flap extending between the one fold line and the top wall to facilitate positioning of the one fold line with respect to the top wall.

[0015] According to another optional feature of the third aspect of the invention, the total of the width of the top wall and the greater distance is generally equal to the total of the width of the internal partition panel and the distance between the second fold line and top wall.

[0016] According to another optional feature of the third aspect of the invention, the top wall comprises at least one upper aperture, wherein the one upper aperture has at least one foldable retention tab to operatively engage an underside of a radially protruding part of an article present in the one upper aperture, and wherein the internal partition panel comprises at least one medial aperture aligned with the one upper aperture, the one medial aperture has one or more foldable retention tabs which passes through the one upper aperture to operatively engage another portion of the underside of the radially protruding part.

[0017] The one or more foldable retention tabs comprises a pair of opposite retention tabs of different lengths such that, in use, upper edges of the opposite retention tabs are co-planar with an upper edge of the one foldable retention tab of the top wall.

[0018] According to an optional feature of the third aspect of the invention, the base comprises at least one lower aperture aligned with at least one medial aperture formed in the internal partition panel, and the one lower aperture is provided with one or more stabilizing tabs hingedly connected to the base to support a portion of an article present in the one lower aperture.

[0019] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, by reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a blank for forming an article carrier according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a blank for forming an article carrier according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a blank for forming an article carrier according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the article carrier in set up and collapsed conditions, formed from the blank shown in Figure 1;

FIGURES 4 and 5 are schematic elevational views of the article carrier formed from the blank shown in Figure 1 shown during loading;

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view of the article carrier in set up and collapsed conditions, formed from the blank shown in Figure 2;

FIGURES 7 and 8 are schematic elevations views of the article carrier formed from the blank shown in Figure 2;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the article carrier set up and loaded and formed from the blank of Figure 1; and

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the article carrier set up and loaded and formed from the blank of Figure 2.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

[0020] Referring to the drawings, and in particular Figure 1 thereof, there is shown a blank 10 for forming an article carrier for accommodating a plurality of articles, for example, bottles, comprising a top wall, a base and opposed side walls interconnecting the top and the base and one or more of said side walls is arranged in an acute angular relationship with respect to said base to form a tubular structure of trapezoidal cross section, wherein the carrier is collapsible wall panel 16, base panel 18, a second side wall panel 20, a top wall panel 22 and an outer first side wall panel 24, hingedly connected one to the next along fold lines 30, 32, 34 and 36 respectively. An internal partition structure comprises a partition panel 14 hingedly connected to inner side wall panel 16 along fold line 28.

[0021] In those embodiments with an internal partition structure there further comprises a securing means for securing the internal partition panel to one of the side wall panels. The securing means is provided by a glue flap 12 hingedly connected to internal partition panel 14 along fold line 26. Alternatively, a locking tab arrangement may be used whereby tabs extending from partition panel 14 are received by corresponding apertures in the adjacent side wall panel.

[0022] The base panel 18 includes a fold line 66 extending longitudinally along the length of base panel 18. In use, this fold line 66 enables the carrier to be placed in a flat collapsed condition described in more detail below.

[0023] As illustrated in Figure 1, the partition panel 14 of this embodiment is formed with one or more pairs 38 and 40 of retention tabs which are foldably connected thereto along fold lines 26 and 28 respectively. In this embodiment, four pairs of retention tabs are provided and are laterally spaced intermediate the side edges of retaining panel 14. Each pair 38 and 40 is struck from retaining panel 14 to define an article receiving aperture 47 illustrated partially in Figure 5.

[0024] Turning in detail to the preferred configuration of one pair 38, 40 of retention tabs, there comprises retention tab 38 struck from and hingedly connected to glue flap 12 along fold line 26. Tab 38 extends inwardly of retaining panel 14 to its distal edge. A second retention tab 40 is hingedly connected to side panel 16 along fold line 28 and in this embodiment, tab 40 is oppositely disposed to tab 38 and extends into aperture 47 (Figure 5). The distal edge of tab 40 is juxtaposed the distal edge of tab 38 and is separated therefrom by cut line 42. Tabs 38 and 40 comprise opposed side edges formed from cut lines 44, 46. Each tab 38, 40 may further comprise one or more stress relief fold lines 39, 41 to assist in deforming the retaining tabs without tearing occurring. It will be seen from Figure 1 that stress relief lines diverge outwardly from the distal edges of the retaining tab 38, 40 towards the proximal corners of the respective tabs. The length L1 of retaining tab 38 is longer than the length L" of tabs 40, for the reasons outlined below.

[0025] The base panel 18 includes a plurality of lower article receiving apertures 48 which, in this embodiment, comprises four apertures in spaced collinear arrangement adapted to receive an upper portion of the neck of a bottle. The apertures 48 are positioned to be aligned with the corresponding aperture 47 in the internal partition. Preferably, each aperture 48 is provided with a plurality of tabs 50 in an annular array around the edge of the aperture. Each tab 50 is foldably connected to base panel 18 along fold line 52 and is separated from the next adjacent tab by cut line 53. Of course, in some embodiments, the tabs 50 are spaced apart. The tabs 50 are provided to allow articles of different sizes to be loaded into the article carrier whereby an article with a larger diameter of neck causes the tabs 50 to be moved out of alignment with respect to the base panel 18.

[0026] The top panel 22 also comprises a plurality of apertures 58 that are aligned with a corresponding aperture 48 in the base panel 18, It will be seen from Figure 1 that there are one or more tabs extending inwardly into the aperture 58. In this embodiment there comprises a pair of tabs 54, 56 hinged to opposing side edges of the aperture 58. The hinged connection for each tab 54, 56 is provided by one or more fold lines. Figure 1 illustrates divergent fold lines 60, 62 and 61, 63 respectively to connect to the side edges of the respective aperture 58. Aperture 58 is shaped to receive the corresponding retaining tabs 38, 40 from the internal partition panel 14, discussed in more detail below.

[0027] In this embodiment, the top panel 22 also comprises fold line 64 that extends longitudinally along a central portion of the top panel 22 and is interrupted by apertures 58. In use, fold line 64 assists in causing the retaining tabs to move out of alignment with the top panel 22.

[0028] It is envisaged that suitable handle means generally known may be provided in the top and/or side panels.

[0029] Figure 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention which is similar to the first embodiment and therefore corresponding panels are numbered with the same reference numerals but prefixed with the reference numeral "1". As the blank of the second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment only those differences shall be described in any further detail. The second embodiment further comprises a tear strip 168 struck from second side panel 120 and extending between apertures 148 and 158. The strip 168 is frangibly connected to side panel 20 along tear lines 170 and 172. A tab 174 extends downwardly below the base panel when the carrier is in set up condition to assist in pulling the tear strip from the carrier thereby to provide access to an article so that it can be removed without destroying the overall integrity of the carrier.

[0030] Turning to the construction of the carrier, by reference to Figures 3, 4, 5 and 9, the blank 10 requires a series of sequential folding and gluing operations to form the carrier which can be performed in a straight line machine so that the carrier is not required to be rotated or inverted to complete its construction. The folding process is not limited to that described below and can be altered according to particular manufacturing requirements.

[0031] The first stage of construction is for the carrier to be formed into a flat collapsed condition. This is achieved by folding partition panel 14 and glue flap 12 about fold line 28 to bring the aforesaid panels into face contacting relationship with first inner side wall panel 16 and part of base panel 18 respectively. Thereafter, the blank is folded about fold line 66 whereby panels 12, 14, 16 and 18 are folded so as to bring glue flap into face contacting relationship with second side wall panel 20 and secured together by glue or other suitable means known in the art. Outer first side wall panel 24 is folded along fold line 36 into overlapping relationship with inner side wall panel 16 and is secured together by glue or other suitable means known in the art. Thus the carrier is in flat collapsed condition as illustrated in Figure 3. It will be seen that the hinged connection formed by fold line 66 is diametrically opposed to the hinged comer 36 formed by top panel 22 and side wall 16/24 such that dimension D5 is substantially equal to the total of dimension of D6 and D7 (Figure 1) to enable the carrier to collapse.

[0032] In those embodiments with an internal partition, the partition panel 14 tilts with respect to the top panel 22 so that it can collapse without its' integrity being damaged by unwanted folding. To achieve this, the panel is tilted so that the distance D1 of top panel 22 and the distance D2 of the side wall 20 is equal to total of the distance D3 of the partition panel 14 and the distance D4 of side wall 24, shown in Figure 3. inner side wall panel 16 and is secured together by glue or other suitable means known in the art. Thus the carrier is in flat collapsed condition as illustrated in Figure 3. It will be seen that the hinged connection formed by fold line 66 is diametrically opposed to the hinged comer 36 formed by top panel 22 and side wall 16/24 such that dimension D5 is substantially equal to the total of dimension of D6 and D7 (Figure 1) to enable the carrier to collapse.

[0033] In those embodiments with an internal partition, the partition panel 14 tilts with respect to the top panel 22 so that it can collapse without its' integrity being damaged by unwanted folding. To achieve this, the panel is tilted so that the distance D1 of top panel 22 and the distance D2 of the side wall 20 is equal to total of the distance D3 of the partition panel 14 and the distance D4 of side wall 24, shown in Figure 3.

[0034] The carrier is supplied to a bottler for final erection and loading. This first stage of the loading process: the carrier is erected by compressing the edges formed by the hinged connection 66 and 36. Thereafter the bottles A are grouped together in a row of articles, for example 1x4 and the erected carrier is introduced to the group from above by relative vertical means between the bottles and the blank preferably during forward feed movement as is well known in the art.

[0035] As the carrier is lowered it is erected whereby the side wall panels 16/24, 20 are moved apart and the base 18 is folded out of alignment with respective side wall panels. Those portions of base panel 18 either side of fold line 66 are placed in a collinear relationship, as shown in Figure 4. Similarly, the top panel 22 is folded along fold lines 34 and 36 into a spaced arrangement with the base panel 18 and the carrier is thus erected as shown in Figure 4.

[0036] The articles are then inserted into apertures 48 in the base panel 18 and for the larger articles, tabs 50 are moved out of alignment with base panel 18. As the articles move in direction X, the retaining tabs 38, 40 in the partition panel 14 are folded out of alignment about fold lines 26 and 28 respectively to reveal aperture 47 and are pushed upwardly through aperture 58 together with the upper portion of the article. As shown in Figure 5, the article continues to move through aperture 58 and tabs 54 and 56 are folded out of alignment with top panel 22 such that retention tabs 54, 56 and 38, 40 are folded upwardly to come into contact with and engage with the underside of a protruding portion P 1 of the bottle associated within each of the apertures 48 and 58. To assist this, the tabs 38, 40 are different lengths L1, L2 respectively, so that the tilted arrangement does not affect the relative positions of the upper edges of the tabs.

[0037] In the embodiment illustrated the tabs 54, 56 are shaped to include recesses 55,57 (Figure 1) on each side so as to allow tabs 38, 40 to be engaged in the recesses, thereby to minimise movement of these tabs, once erected.

[0038] Optionally, the edge of each article receiving aperture 48, 58 is in contact with a neck portion of each of the respective bottles B to provide additional support. Thus, the distal edges of tabs 38, 40 and 54, 56 are engaged with the underside of the protruding portion PI. Beneficially, partition panel 14 serves as a brace between the opposing side panels as shown in Figure 5. In use, the partition panel 14 provides a support to better maintain the bottles in an upright position. Thus, the carrier is provided in a fully loaded and erected condition as shown in Figure 9.

[0039] The construction of the second blank to form the carrier shown in Figure 10 is substantially the same as the first blank, which is illustrated in Figures 6, 7, 8 and 10, and is not, therefore described in any more detail. However, the pull tab 174 is clearly illustrated.

[0040] It will be recognised that as used herein, directional references such as "top", "base", "end", "side", "inner", "outer", "upper" and "lower" do not limit the respective panels to such orientation, but merely serve to distinguish these panels from one another. Any reference to hinged connection should not be construed as necessarily referring to a single fold line only: indeed it is envisaged that hinged connection can be formed from one or more of one of the following, a score line, a frangible line or a fold line, without departing from the scope of invention.

[0041] The present invention and its preferred embodiments relate to an article carrier which is shaped to provide satisfactory strength to hold bottles securely but with a degree of flexibility so that the load transferred through the retention tabs is absorbed by the carrier. The shape of the blank minimises the amount of paper that would be required and the carrier can be applied to an array of bottles for hand automatic machinery. It is anticipated that the invention can be applied to a variety of carrier and is not limited to those of the top-gripping type. In particular it is possible to use the invention for wraparound or end loaded carriers, in which case the base would not have apertures and the internal partition may be dispensed with. Importantly, the hinged connection in the base panel would be provided to ensure the carrier could be placed in a flat collapsed condition.

[0042] Furthermore it is envisaged that the invention can be applied to a carrier with a different arrangement of articles, for example two rows of three articles without departing from the scope.

Claims

1. An article carrier for accommodating a plurality of articles (A), for example, bottles, comprises a top wall (22, 122) , a base (18, 118) and opposed side walls (16, 20; 116, 120) interconnecting the top wall (22, 122) and the base (18, 118), the top wall comprising a plurality of apertures (58, 158) each of which has at least one foldable retention tab (54, 56: 154, 156) to operatively engage the underside of a radially protruding part (P1) of a container (A) present in each said aperture (58,158), and an internal partition (14, 114) comprising a corresponding plurality of apertures (47), aligned with said top wall apertures, wherein each of the internal partition apertures has one or more foldable retention tabs (38, 40; 138, 140) which are located and sized to pass through the aligned top wall aperture (58, 158) operatively to engage another portion of the underside of said radially protruding part (P1), characterised in that the base (18, 118) comprises a plurality of lower receiving apertures (48, 148) aligned with the corresponding apertures of the internal partition (14, 114) and in the top wall (22, 122), each of which lower receiving apertures (48, 148) is provided with one or more stabilising tabs (50, 52; 150,152) foldably connected to the base (18, 118) to support a portion of an article (A) received in that aperture (48, 148).

2. An article carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein said internal partition (14, 114) is inclined relative to the top wall (22, 122) and its apertures are each provided with opposite retention tabs (38, 40; 138, 140) of different lengths such that, in use, the upper edges (42, 142) of the said internal partition retaining tabs (38, 40; 138, 140) are co-planar with the upper edges of said retention tabs (54, 56; 154, 156) of said top wall (22, 122).

3. An article carrier according to claims 1 or 2, wherein said side walls (16, 20; 116, 120) are arranged in an acute angular relationship with respect to said base (18, 118), thereby forming a tubular structure (18, 20, 22, 24; 118, 120, 122, 124) of trapezoidal cross-section, the carrier being collapsible along a supplemental hinged connection (66, 166) formed in the base (18, 118) to enable the carrier to move between flat collapsed and set up conditions (Figures 3 and 6).

4. An article carrier according to claim 3, wherein the supplementary hinged connection (66, 166) is disposed at a location diametrically opposed to one of the top comers (36, 136) of the trapezoid, which top comer (36, 136) forms an opposing hinged connection to said supplemental hinged connection (66, 166) when the carrier is moved between flat collapsed and set up conditions (Figures 3 and 6).

5. A blank (10, 110) for forming a tubular article carrier comprising a top wall panel (22, 122), a first side wall panel (16, 116), a base (18, 118) and an opposing side wall panel (20, 120) hinged together, in series and an internal partition panel (14, 114) hingedly connected to one of the side wall panels (16, 116), the internal partition panel (14, 114) including securing means (12, 112) to be secured to the opposing one of said side panels (20, 120) and wherein the top wall panel (22, 122) has a plurality of apertures (58, 158) each of which has at least one foldable retention tab (54, 56; 154, 156) that can engage part (P1) of an article (A) present in that aperture (58, 158) when the carrier is set up and wherein said internal partition panel (14, 114) comprises a corresponding plurality of apertures to be aligned with said top wall panel apertures (58, 158) when the carrier is in a set up condition, characterized in that each of the partition panel apertures has at least one foldable retention tab (38, 40; 138, 140) which is capable of passing through the corresponding top wall panel aperture (58, 158) to operatively engage another part (P1) of said article (A), and wherein the base panel (18, 118) comprises a plurality of lower receiving apertures (48, 148) each of which is provided with stabilising tabs (50, 52; 150, 152) foldably connected to the base panel (18, 118) thereby to support a portion of the article (A) held in that aperture (48, 148) in a set up carrier.

6. A blank as claimed in claim 5, wherein the partition panel (14, 114) is of greater width than said top panel (22, 122) so that in the set up carrier it is inclined with respect to the top panel (22, 122) and wherein each said partition panel aperture is defined in part by opposite retention tabs (38, 40; 138, 140) of different lengths such that, in use, the upper edges (42, 142) of the said internal partition panel retention tabs (38, 40; 138, 140) are co-planar with the upper edges of said retention tabs (54, 56; 154, 156) of said top wall panel (22, 122).

7. A blank according to claim 5 or 6 wherein the distance between the hinged connections (30, 32; 130, 132) of the base panel (18, 118) is greater than the distance between the hinged connections (34, 36; 134, 136) of the top wall panel (22, 122), the base panel (18, 118) further comprising a supplemental hinged connection (66, 166) to allow the article carrier formed from the blank (10, 110) to be moved between flat collapsed and set up conditions (Figures 3 and 6).

8. An article carrier for accommodating at least one article (A), comprising a top wall (22, 122), a base (18, 118), and opposed side walls (16, 20, 24; 116, 120, 124) hingedly interconnecting the top wall and the base, wherein one or both of said side walls are arranged in an acute angular relationship with respect to said base to form a tubular structure (18, 20, 22, 24; 118, 120, 122, 124) of a trapezoidal cross section, and wherein the carrier is collapsible along a supplemental hinged connection (66, 166) formed in said base (18, 118) thereby to enable the carrier to move between a flat collapsed condition and a set up condition (Figures 3 and 6), characterised in that an internal partition panel (14, 114) extending between said side walls (16, 20, 24; 116, 120, 124) is hingedly connected to one (20, 120) of said side walls along a first fold line (26, 126) and to the other side wall (16, 116) along a second fold line (28, 128), and said first fold line is disposed at a greater distance (D2) from said top wall (22, 122) than said second fold line to allow the carrier to move between said collapsed and set up conditions.

9. An article carrier as claimed in claim 8, wherein said supplemental hinged connection (66, 166) is disposed at a location closer to said one side wall (20, 120) than to said other side wall (16, 116), said supplemental hinged connection being disposed diametrically opposed to one (36, 136) of the four comers of said trapezoidal tubular structure, said one comer (36, 136) forming an opposing hinged connection opposite to said supplemental hinged connection (66, 166) when the carrier is in said flat collapsed condition (Figures 3 and 6).

10. An article carrier as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, wherein a glue flap (12, 112) is hingedly connected to said internal partition panel (14, 114) along one (26, 126) of said first and second fold lines and secured to an associated one (20, 120) of said side walls, said glue flap (12, 112) extending between said one fold line (26, 126) and said top wall (22, 122) to facilitate positioning of said one fold line with respect to said top wall.

11. An article carrier as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the total of the width (D1) of said top wall (22) and said greater distance is generally equal to the total of the width (D3) of said internal partition panel (14) and the distance (D4) between said second fold line (28) and said top wall (22).

12. An article carrier as claimed in claim 8 wherein the top wall (22, 122) comprises at least one upper aperture (58, 158), wherein said one upper aperture has at least one foldable retention tab (54, 154) to operatively engage an underside of a radially protruding part of an article present in said one upper aperture, and wherein said internal partition panel (14, 114) comprises at least one medial aperture (47) aligned with said one upper aperture, said one medial aperture (47) has one or more foldable retention tabs (38, 40; 138, 140) which passes through said one upper aperture to operatively engage another portion of said underside of said radially protruding part.

13. An article carrier as claimed in claim 12 wherein said one or more foldable retention tabs comprises a pair of opposite retention tabs (38, 40; 138, 140) of different lengths such that, in use, upper edges of said opposite retention tabs are co-planar with an upper edge of said one foldable retention tab (54, 154) of said top wall (22, 122).

14. An article carrier as claimed in claim 8 wherein said base (18, 118) comprises at least one lower aperture (48, 148) aligned with at least one medial aperture (47) formed in said internal partition panel (14, 114), and said one lower aperture is provided with one or more stabilizing tabs (50, 150) hingedly connected to the base (18, 118) to support a portion of an article present in said one lower aperture.

Ansprüche

1. Gegenstandsträger zum Unterbringen einer Vielzahl von Gegenständen (A), beispielsweise von Flaschen, wobei der Gegenstandsträger eine Deckenwand (22, 122), einen Boden (18, 118) und gegenübetilegende Seitenwände (16, 20; 116, 120) umfasst, die die Deckenwand (22, 122) und den Boden (18, 118) miteinander verbinden, wobei die Deckenwand eine Vielzahl von Öffnungen (58, 158) umfasst, von denen jede wenigstens eine faltbare Rückhaltelasche (54, 56; 154, 156) aufweist, um funktionsfähig die Unterseite eines radial abstehenden Teils (P1) eines Behälters (A) in Eingriff zu nehmen, der in jeder der Öffnungen (58, 158) anwesend ist, sowie eine innere Trennwand (14, 114), die eine Vielzahl von entsprechenden Öffnungen (47) aufweist, die mit den Deckenwandöffnungen ausgerichtet sind, wobei jede der Öffnungen der inneren Trennwand eine oder mehrere faltbare Rückhaltelaschen (38, 40; 138, 140) aufweist, die angeordnet und dimensioniert sind, um durch die ausgerichtete Deckenwandöffnung (58, 158) durchgeführt zu werden, um funktionsfähig einen weiteren Abschnitt der Unterseite des radial abstehenden Teils (P1) in Eingriff zu nehmen, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Boden (18, 118) eine Vielzahl von unteren aufnehmenden Öffnungen (48, 148) umfasst, die mit den entsprechenden Öffnungen der inneren Trennwand (14, 114) und in der Deckenwand (22, 122) ausgerichtet sind, wobei jede der unteren aufnehmenden Öffnungen (48, 148) mit einer oder mehreren Stabilisierungslaschen (50, 52; 150, 152) bereitgestellt ist, die faltbar mit dem Boden (18, 118) verbunden sind, um einen Anschnitt eines Gegenstands (A) zu stutzen, der in dieser Öffnung (48, 148) aufgenommen ist.

2. Gegenstandsträger nach Anspruch 1, wobei die innere Trennwand (14, 114) relativ zu der Deckenwand (22, 122) geneigt ist und deren Öffnungen jeweils mit gegenüberliegenden Rückhaltelaschen (38, 40; 138, 140) unterschiedlicher Länge bereitgestellt sind, so dass im Gebrauch die oberen Kanten (42, 142) der Rückhaltelaschen (38, 40; 138, 140) der Inneren Trennwand mit den oberen Kanten der Rückhaltelaschen (54, 56; 154, 156) der Deckenwand (22, 122) in einer Ebene liegen.

3. Gegenstandsträger nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei die Seitenwände (16, 20; 116, 120) in einer spitzwinkligen Beziehung hinsichtlich zum Boden (18, 118) angeordnet sind, um somit eine röhrenförmige Struktur (18, 20, 22, 24; 118, 120, 122, 124) mit einem trapezförmigen Querschnitt auszubilden, wobei der Träger entlang einer zusätzlichen gelenkigen Verbindung (66, 166) zusammengeklappt werden kann, die in dem Boden (18, 118) ausgebildet ist, um dem Träger zu ermöglichen, zwischen dem flachen, zusammengefalteten Zustand und dem aufgerichteten Zustand (Figuren 3 und 6) bewegt zu werden.

4. Gegenstandsträger nach Anspruch 3, wobei die zusätzliche gelenkige Verbindung (66, 166) an einer Position angeordnet ist, die diametral einer der Deckenecken (36, 136) des Trapez gegenüberliegt, wobei die Deckenecke (36, 136) eine zu der zusätzlichen gelenkigen Verbindung (66, 166) gegenüberliegende gelenkige Verbindung ausbildet, wenn der Träger zwischen einem flachen, zusammengeklappten Zustand und einem aufgerichteten Zustand (Figuren 3 und 6) bewegt wird.

5. Zuschnitt (10, 110) zum Ausbilden eines röhrenförmigen Gegenstandsträgers, wobei der Zuschnitt eine Deckenwandfläche (22, 122), eine erste Seitenwandfläche (16, 116), einen Boden (18, 118) und eine gegenüberliegende Seitenwandfläche (20, 120) umfasst, die eine an die andere gelenkig miteinander verbunden sind, sowie eine innere Trennwandfläche (14, 114), die gelenkig mit einer der Seitenwandflächen (16, 116) verbunden ist, wobei die innere Trennwandfläche (14, 114) Befestigungsmittel (12, 112) umfasst, um an die gegenüberliegende Seitenwandfläche (20, 120) befestigt zu werden, und wobei die Deckenwandfläche (22, 122) eine Vielzahl von Öffnungen (58, 158) aufweist, von denen jede wenigstens eine faltbare Rückhaltelasche (54, 56; 154, 156) aufweist, die einen Teil (P1) eines Gegenstands (A) in Eingriff nehmen kann, der in der Öffnung (58,158) anwesend ist, wenn der Träger aufgerichtet ist, und wobei die innere Trennwandfläche (14, 114) eine Vielzahl von entsprechenden Öffnungen umfasst. um mit den Deckenwandflächenöffnungen (58, 158) ausgerichtet zu werden, wenn der Träger sich in einem aufgerichteten Zustand befindet, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass jede der Trennwandflächenöffnungen wenigstens eine faltbare Rückhaltelasche (38, 40; 138, 140) aufweist, die dazu geeignet ist, durch die entsprechende Deckenwandflänchenöffnung (58, 158) geführt zu werden, um funktionsfähig einen weiteren Teil (P1) des Gegenstands (A) in Eingriff zu nehmen, und wobei die Bodenwandfläche (18, 118) eine Vielzahl von unteren, aufnehmenden Öffnungen (48, 148) umfasst, von denen jede mit Stabilisierungslaschen (50, 52; 150, 152) bereitgestellt Ist, die faltbar mit der Bodenwandfläche (18, 118) verbunden sind, um somit einen Abschnitt des Gegenstands (A) zu unterstützen, der in dieser Öffnung (48, 148) in einem aufgerichteten Träger gehalten wird.

6. Zuschnitt nach Anspruch 5, wobei die Trennwandfläche (14, 114) einen größere Breite als die Deckenwandfläche (22, 122) aufweist, so dass diese in dem aufgerichteten Träger hinsichtlich der Deckenwandfläche (22, 122) geneigt Ist, und wobei jede der Trennwandflächenöffnungen teilweise durch gegenüberliegende Rückhaltelaschen (38, 40; 138, 140) unterschiedlicher Länge definiert ist, so dass im Gebrauch die oberen Kanten (42, 142) der Rückhaltelaschen (38, 40; 138, 140) der inneren Trennwandfläche mit den oberen Kanten der Rückhaltelaschen (54, 56; 154, 156) der Deckenwandfläche (22, 122) in einer Ebene liegen.

7. Zuschnitt nach Anspruch 5 oder 6, wobei der Abstand zwischen den gelenkigen Verbindungen (30, 32; 130, 132) der Bodenwandfläche (18, 118) größer ist, als der Abstand zwischen den gelenkigen Verbindungen (34, 36; 134, 136) der Deckenwandfläche (22, 122), wobei die Bodenwandfläche (18, 118) ferner eine zusätzliche gelenkige Verbindung (66, 166) umfasst, um dem aus dem Zuschnitt (10, 110) ausgebildeten Gegenstandsträger zu erlauben, zwischen einem flachen, zusammengefalteten Zustand und einem aufgerichteten Zustand (Figuren 3 und 6) bewegt zu werden.

8. Gegenstandsträger zum Unterbringen wenigstens eines Gegenstands (A), wobei der Gegenstandsträger eine Deckenwandfläche (22, 122), einen Boden (18, 118) und gegenüberliegende Seitenwände (16, 20, 24; 116, 120, 124) umfasst. die gelenkig die Deckenwand und den Boden miteinander verbinden, wobei eine oder beide der Seitenwände in einer spitzwinkligen Beziehung hinsichtlich zum Boden angeordnet sind, um eine röhrenförmige Struktur (18, 20, 22, 24; 118, 120, 122,124) mit einem trapezförmigen Querschnitt auszubilden, und wobei der Träger entlang einer zusätzlichen gelenkigen Verbindung (66, 166) zusammengeklappt werden kann, die in dem Boden (18, 118) ausgebildet ist, um somit dem Träger zu ermöglichen, zwischen einem flachen, zusammengefalteten Zustand und einem aufgerichteten Zustand (Figuren 3 und 6) bewegt zu werden, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass eine innere Trennwandfläche (14, 114), die sich zwischen den Seitenwänden (16, 20, 24; 116, 120, 124) erstreckt, mit einer (20, 120) der Seitenwände entlang einer ersten Faltlinie (26, 126) und mit der anderen Seitenwand (16, 116) entlang einer zweiten Faltlinie (28, 128) gelenkig verbunden ist, wobei die erste Faltlinie in einem größeren Abstand (D2) von der Deckenwand (22, 122) als die zweite Faltlinie angeordnet ist, um dem Träger zu ermöglichen, zwischen dem zusammengefalteten Zustand und dem aufgerichteten Zustand bewegt zu werden.

9. Gegenstandsträger nach Anspruch 8, wobei die zusätzliche gelenkige Verbindung (66, 166) an einer Position angeordnet ist, die der einen Seitenwand (20, 120) näher ist, als der anderen Seitenwand (16, 116), wobei die zusätzliche gelenkige Verbindung diametral gegenüberliegend zu einer (36, 136) der vier Ecken der trapezförmigen, röhrenförmigen Struktur angeordnet ist, wobei die eine Ecke (36, 136) eine gegenüberliegende, gelenkige Verbindung ausbildet, die der zusätzlichen gelenkigen Verbindung (66, 166) gegenüberliegt, wenn sich der Träger in dem flachen, zusammengefalteten Zustand (Figuren 3 und 6) befindet.

10. Gegenstandsträger nach Anspruch 8 oder 9, wobei eine Klebeklappe (12, 112) gelenkig mit der inneren Trennwandfläche (14, 114) entlang einer (28, 126) der ersten und der zweiten Faltlinie verbunden ist und an einer dazugehörigen (20,120) Seitenwand befestigt ist, wobei sich die Klebeklappe (12, 112) zwischen der einen Faltlinie (26, 126) und der Deckenwand (22, 122) erstreckt, um das Positionieren der einen Faltlinie hinsichtlich der Deckenwand zu erleichtern.

11. Gegenstandsträger nach einem der Ansprüche 8 bis 10, wobei die gesamte Breite (D1) der Deckenwand (22) und des größeren Abstands im allgemeinen der gesamten Breite (D3) der inneren Trennwandfläche (14) und des Abstands (D4) zwischen der zweiten Faltlinie (28) und der Deckenwand (22) entspricht.

12. Gegenstandsträger nach Anspruch 8, wobei die Deckenwand (22,122) wenigstens eine obere Öffnung (58, 158) umfasst, wobei die eine obere Öffnung wenigstens eine faltbare Rückhaltelasche (54, 154) aufweist, um funktionsfähig eine Unterseite eines radial abstehenden Teils eines Gegenstands in Eingriff zu nehmen, der in der einen oberen Öffnung anwesend ist, und wobei die innere Trennwandfläche (14, 114) wenigstens eine mittlere Öffnung (47) umfasst, die mit der einen oberen Öffnung ausgerichtet ist, wobei die eine mittlere Öffnung (47) eine oder mehrere faltbare Rückhaltelaschen (38, 40; 138, 140) aufweist, die durch die eine obere Öffnung geführt sind, um funktionsfähig einen weiteren Abschnitt der Unterseite des radial abstehenden Teils in Eingriff zu nehmen.

13. Gegenstandsträger nach Anspruch 12, wobei die eine oder die mehreren faltbaren Rückhaltelaschen ein Paar von gegenüberliegenden Rückhaltelaschen (38, 40; 138, 140) unterschiedlicher Länge umfassen, so dass im Gebrauch obere Kanten der gegenüberliegenden Rückhaltelaschen mit einer oberen Kante der einen faltbaren Rückhaltelasche (54, 154) der Deckenwand (22, 122) in einer Ebene liegen.

14. Gegenstandsträger nach Anspruch 8, wobei der Boden (18, 118) wenigstens eine untere Öffnung (48, 148) umfasst, die mit wenigstens einer mittleren Öffnung (47) ausgerichtet ist, die in der inneren Trennwandfläche (14,114) ausgebildet ist, und wobei die eine untere Öffnung mit einer oder mit mehreren Stabilisierungslaschen (50, 150) bereitgestellt ist, die gelenkig mit dem Boden (18, 118) verbunden sind, um einen Abschnitt eines Gegenstands zu unterstützen, der in der einen unteren Öffnung anwesend ist.

Revendications

1. Porte-articles destiné à recevoir une pluralité d'articles (A), par exemple des bouteilles, qui comprend une paroi supérieure (22, 122), une base (18, 118) et des parois latérales opposées (16, 20 ; 116, 120) qui relient la paroi supérieure (22, 122) et la base (18, 118), la paroi supérieure comprenant une pluralité d'ouvertures (58, 158), chacune d'entre elles comportant au moins une patte de rétention pliable (54, 56 ; 154, 156) destinée à coopérer de manière fonctionnelle avec la face inférieure d'une partie faisant saillie radialement (P1) d'un récipient (A) présent dans chacune desdites ouvertures (58, 158), et une cloison interne (14, 114) comprenant une pluralité d'ouvertures correspondantes (47), alignées avec lesdites ouvertures de la paroi supérieure, où chacune des ouvertures de la cloison interne comporte une ou plusieurs pattes de rétention pliables (38, 40 ; 138, 140) qui sont localisées et dimensionnées de manière à passer dans l'ouverture de paroi supérieure alignée (58, 158) de manière fonctionnelle afin de coopérer avec une autre partie de la face inférieure de ladite partie faisant saillie radialement (P1), caractérisé en ce que la base (18, 118) comprend une pluralité d'ouvertures de réception inférieures (48, 148) alignées avec les ouvertures correspondantes de la cloison interne (14, 114) et de la paroi supérieure (22, 122), chacune desdites ouvertures de réception inférieures (48, 148) étant munie d'une ou plusieurs pattes stabilisatrices (50, 52 ; 150, 152) connectées de manière pliable à la base (18, 118) pour supporter une partie d'un article (A) reçu dans cette ouverture (48, 148).

2. Porte-articles selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ladite cloison interne (14, 114) est inclinée par rapport à la paroi supérieure (22, 122) et ses ouvertures sont munies chacune de pattes de rétention opposées (38, 40 ; 138, 140) de différentes longueurs, de sorte que, en utilisation, les bords supérieurs (42, 142) desdites pattes de retenue (38, 40 ; 138, 140) de la cloison interne sont coplanaires avec les bords supérieurs desdites pattes de rétention (54, 56; 154, 156) de ladite paroi supérieure (22, 122).

3. Porte-articles selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel lésdites parois latérales (16, 20 ; 116, 120) sont agencées de manière à former un angle aigu avec ladite base (18, 118), formant ainsi une structure tubulaire (18, 20, 22, 24 ; 118, 120, 122, 124) de section trapézoïdale. le porte-articles étant pliable le long d'une connexion articulée supplémentaire (66, 166) formée dans la base (18, 118) afin de permettre au porte-articles d'être manipulé entre un état plié à plat et un état dressé (Figures 3 et 6).

4. Porte-articles selon la revendication 3, dans lequel la connexion articulée supplémentaire (66, 166) est placée en un endroit diamétralement opposé à l'un des angles supérieurs (36, 136) du trapèze, lequel angle supérieur (36, 136) forme une connexion articulée opposée à ladite connexion articulée supplémentaire (66, 166) lorsque le porte-articles est manipulé entre l'état plié à plat et l'état dressé (Figures 3 et 6).

5. Découpe (10, 110) pour former un porte-articles tubulaire comprenant un panneau de paroi supérieure (22, 122), un premier panneau de paroi latérale (16, 116), une base (18, 118) et un panneau de paroi latérale opposée (20, 120) articulés entre eux, en série, et un panneau de cloison interne (14, 114) connecté de manière articulée à l'un des panneaux de paroi latérale (16, 116), le panneau de cloison interne (14, 114) comportant un moyen de fixation (12, 112) destiné à être fixé au panneau opposé parmi lesdits panneaux latéraux (20, 120) et où le panneau de paroi supérieure (22, 122) comporte une pluralité d'ouvertures (58, 158), chacune d'entre elles comportant au moins une patte de rétention pliable (54, 56 ; 154, 156) qui peut coopérer avec une partie (P1) d'un article (A) présent dans l'ouverture (58, 158) quand le porte-articles est dressé, et où ledit panneau de cloison interne (14, 114) comprend une pluralité d'ouvertures correspondantes destinées à être alignées avec lesdites ouvertures (58, 158) du panneau de paroi supérieure lorsque le porte-articles est dans un état dressé, caractérisée en ce que chacune des ouvertures du panneau de cloison comporte au moins une patte de rétention pliable (38, 40 ; 138, 140) qui est apte à passer dans l'ouverture correspondante (58, 158) du panneau de paroi supérieure afin de coopérer de manière fonctionnelle avec une autre partie (P1) dudit article (A), et où le panneau de base (18, 118) comprend une pluralité d'ouvertures de réception inférieures (48, 148), chacune d'entre elles étant munie de pattes stabilisatrices (50, 52 ; 150, 152) connectées de manière pliable au panneau de base (18, 118) afin de supporter une partie de l'article (A) tenu dans cette ouverture (48, 148) dans un porte-articles dressé.

6. Découpe selon la revendication 5, dans laquelle la largeur du panneau de cloison (14, 114) est supérieure à celle dudit panneau supérieur (22, 122), de sorte que dans le porte-articles dressé, le panneau de cloison est incliné par rapport au panneau supérieur (22, 122), et dans laquelle chacune desdites ouvertures du panneau de cloison est définie en partie par des pattes de rétention opposées (38, 40 ; 138, 140) de différentes longueurs, de sorte que, en utilisation, les bords supérieurs (42, 142) desdites pattes de rétention (38, 40 ; 138, 140) du panneau de cloison interne sont coplanaires avec les bords supérieurs desdites pattes de rétention (54, 56 ; 154, 156) dudit panneau de paroi supérieure (22, 122).

7. Découpe selon la revendication 5 ou 6, dans laquelle la distance ente les connexions articulées (30, 32 ; 130, 132) du panneau de base (18, 118) est supérieure à la distance entre les connexions articulées (34, 36 ; 134, 136) du panneau de paroi supérieure (22, 122), le panneau de base (18, 118) comprenant en outre une connexion articulée supplémentaire (66, 166) destinée à permettre au porte-articles formé à partir de la découpe (10, 110) d'être manipulé entre un état plié à plat et un état dressé (Figures 3 et 6).

8. Porte-articles destiné à recevoir au moins un article (A), comprenant une paroi supérieure (22, 122), une base (18, 118) et des parois latérales opposées (16, 20, 24 ; 116, 120, 124) qui relient de manière articulée la paroi supérieure et la base, dans lequel l'une desdites parois latérales ou les deux sont agencées de manière à former un angle aigu avec ladite base afin de former une structure tubulaire (18, 20, 22, 24 ; 118, 120, 122, 124) de section trapézoïdale, et dans lequel le porte-articles est pliable le long d'une connexion articulée supplémentaire (66, 166) formée dans ladite base (18, 118) afin de permettre au porte-articles d'être manipulé entre un état plié à plat et un état dressé (Figures 3 et 6), caractérisé en ce qu'un panneau de cloison interne (14, 114) s'étendant entre lesdites parois latérales (16, 20, 24 ; 116, 120, 124) est connecté de manière articulée à l'une (20, 120) desdites parois latérales le long d'une première ligne de pliage (26, 126) et à l'autre paroi latérale (16, 116) le long d'une deuxième ligne de pliage (28, 128), et ladite première ligne de pliage est placée à une plus grande distance (D2) de ladite paroi supérieure (22, 122) que ladite deuxième ligne de pliage afin de permettre au porte-articles d'être manipulé entre ledit état plié et ledit état dressé.

9. Porte-articles selon la revendication 8, dans lequel ladite connexion articulée supplémentaire (66, 166) est placée en un endroit situé plus près de la première paroi latérale (20, 120) que de ladite autre paroi latérale (16, 116), ladite connexion articulée supplémentaire étant placée diamétralement opposée à l'un (36, 136) des quatre angles de ladite structure tubulaire trapézoïdale, ledit angle (36, 136) formant une connexion articulée opposée à ladite connexion articulée supplémentaire (66, 166) lorsque le porte-articles est dans ledit état plié à plat (Figures 3 et 6).

10. Porte-articles selon la revendication 8 ou 9, dans lequel un rabat à colle (12, 112) est connecté de manière articulée audit panneau de cloison interne (14, 114) le long d'une (26, 126) desdites première et deuxième lignes de pliage et fixé à une paroi associée (20, 120) parmi lesdites parois latérales, ledit rabat à colle (12, 112) s'étendant entre ladite une (26, 126) desdites lignes de pliage et ladite paroi supérieure (22, 122) afin de faciliter le positionnement de ladite une desdites lignes de pliage par rapport à ladite paroi supérieure.

11. Porte-articles selon l'une quelconque des revendications 8 à 10, dans lequel le total de la largeur (D1) de ladite paroi supérieure (22) et de ladite distance supérieure est globalement égal au total de la largeur (D3) dudit panneau de cloison interne (14) et de la distance (D4) entre ladite deuxième ligne de pliage (28) et ladite paroi supérieure (22).

12. Porte-articles selon la revendication 8, dans lequel la paroi supérieure (22, 122) comprend au moins une ouverture supérieure (58, 158), dans lequel ladite ouverture supérieure comporte au moins une patte de rétention pliable (54, 154) destinée à coopérer de manière fonctionnelle avec une face inférieure d'une partie faisant saillie radialement d'un article présent dans ladite ouverture supérieure, et dans lequel ledit panneau de cloison interne (14, 114) comprend au moins une ouverture médiane (47) alignée avec ladite ouverture supérieure, ladite ouverture médiane (47) comporte une ou plusieurs pattes de rétention pliables (38, 40; 138, 140) qui passent par ladite ouverture supérieure pour coopérer de manière fonctionnelle avec une autre partie de ladite face inférieure de ladite partie faisant saillie radialement.

13. Porte-articles selon la revendication 12, dans lequel ladite une ou plusieurs patte(s) de rétention pliable(s) comprend une paire de pattes de rétention opposées (38, 40 ; 138, 140) de différentes longueurs, de sorte que, en utilisation, les bords supérieurs desdites pattes de rétention opposées sont coplanaires avec un bord supérieur de ladite patte de rétention pliable (54, 154) de ladite paroi supérieure (22, 122).

14. Porte-articles selon la revendication 8, dans lequel ladite base (18, 118) comprend au moins une ouverture inférieure (48, 148) alignée avec au moins une ouverture médiane (47) formée dans ledit panneau de cloison interne (14, 114), et ladite ouverture inférieure est munie d'une ou plusieurs pattes stabilisatrices (50, 150) connectées de manière articulées à la base (18, 118) afin de supporter une partie d'un article présent dans ladite ouverture inférieure.

Drawing