Carrier and blank therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11230403-B2
Application number	US-202016943171-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 30, 2020
Priority date	Aug 1, 2019
Publication date	Jan 25, 2022
Grant date	Jan 25, 2022

Abstract

Aspects of the invention are directed toward a carrier (90) for containing a product. The carrier comprises first, second and third connected side panels (16a/16b, 116a/116b, 216a/216b, 316a/316b; 14, 114, 214, 314; 12, 112, 212, 312) which define a three-sided tubular structure having a triangular cross-section. The carrier has a substantially triangular-shaped, crash-bottom-style, bottom wall. Parts (24b/26b, 20b/32, 22b; 124b/126b, 120b/132, 122b; 224b/226b, 220b/232, 222b; 324b/326b, 320b/332, 322b) of the bottom wall are coupled to the first, second and third side panels. The carrier has a mechanical interlocking feature (T1, T2, S1, S2); and a multi-part mechanical locking mechanism. A first top-end closure panel (16a/16b 116a/116b; 215a/215b; 315a/315b) comprises a first part (A1) of said multi-part mechanical locking mechanism. A second top-end closure panel (20a; 120a; 220a; 320a) and a first handle panel (34; 134; 234; 334) coupled thereto, comprise a second part (N2; 334) of the multi-part mechanical locking mechanism; and a third top end closure panel (22a; 122a; 222a; 322a) and a second handle panel (36; 136; 236; 336) coupled thereto, comprise a third part (N1; 336) of said multi-part mechanical locking mechanism.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A carrier for a food or beverage product, the carrier comprising first, second and third connected side panels which together define a three-sided tubular structure having a triangular cross-sectional shape, the carrier further comprising:
(i) a substantially triangular-shaped, crash-bottom-style, bottom wall for supporting one or more food or beverage products when contained in the carrier, a part of the bottom wall being directly coupled to each of the first, second and third side panels;
(ii) a mechanical interlocking feature for maintaining the bottom wall in a set-up condition;
(iii) a multi-part mechanical locking mechanism;
(iv) a first top-end closure panel comprising a first part of said multi-part mechanical locking mechanism;
(v) a second top-end closure panel and a first handle panel coupled thereto, comprising a second part of said multi-part mechanical locking mechanism; and
(vi) a third top end closure panel and a second handle panel coupled thereto, comprising a third part of said multi-part mechanical locking mechanism, whereupon interconnection of said first, second and third parts of the multi-part mechanical locking mechanism, a top-end of the carrier is releasably secured into a closed and locked condition; and upon disconnection of said first, second and third parts of the multi-part mechanical locking mechanism, the carrier is released into an open-topped condition wherein access to the interior of the carrier is gained.

2. A carrier according to claim 1 , wherein the bottom wall comprises: a first bottom-end closure panel hinged to the first side panel; a second bottom-end closure panel hinged to the second side panel; and a third bottom-end closure panel hinged to the third side panel.

3. A carrier according to claim 2 wherein, the third bottom-end closure panel is disposed outermost; wherein the second bottom-end closure panel is folded such that first and second sections of the second bottom-end closure panel overlay at least part of the third bottom-end closure panel with the second section being affixed to the third end closure panel; and wherein the first bottom-end closure panel is disposed innermost and overlays at least part of the second and third bottom-end closure panels.

4. A carrier according to claim 3 , wherein a first part of said mechanical interlocking feature for maintaining the bottom wall in a set-up condition is provided by a first slot formed proximate to or within a hinged connection between the second bottom-end closure panel and the second side panel.

5. A carrier according to claim 4 , wherein said first bottom-end closure panel has a generally triangular shape having a base defined by a hinged connection between the first bottom-end closure panel and the first side panel and wherein a first upstand flap is connected to a first edge of said first bottom-end closure panel.

6. A carrier according to claim 5 , wherein a second part of said mechanical interlocking feature for maintaining the bottom wall in a set-up condition is provided by a first tab formed proximate to a hinged connection between the first bottom-end closure panel and the first upstand flap.

7. A carrier according to claim 6 , wherein said first tab is engaged with the first slot and wherein the first upstand flap is disposed in face contacting relationship with an inside surface of the second side panel.

8. A carrier according to claim 7 , wherein a third part of said mechanical interlocking feature for maintaining the bottom wall in a set-up condition is provided by a second slot formed proximate to or within a hinged connection between the second bottom-end closure panel and the second side panel.

9. A carrier according to claim 8 , wherein a second upstand flap is connected to a second edge of said first bottom-end closure panel.

10. A carrier according to claim 9 , wherein a fourth part of said mechanical interlocking feature for maintaining the bottom wall in a set-up condition is provided by a second tab formed proximate to a hinged connection between the first bottom-end closure panel and the second upstand flap.

11. A carrier according to claim 10 , wherein said second tab is engaged with the second slot and wherein the second upstand flap is disposed in face contacting relationship with an inside surface of the third side panel.

12. A carrier according to claim 1 , wherein said first part of the multi-part mechanical locking mechanism comprises an aperture.

13. A carrier according to claim 12 , wherein said second part of the multi-part mechanical locking mechanism comprises a hooked portion formed as an appendage of the second top-end closure panel.

14. A carrier according to claim 13 , wherein said third part of the multi-part mechanical locking mechanism comprises a hooked portion formed as an appendage of the third top-end closure panel.

15. A carrier according to claim 1 wherein, a first retention feature for retaining an ancillary item is provided as a pocket, defined by: a first pocket panel hingedly connected to the second top-end closure panel; a second pocket panel hingedly connected to the second side panel; and a third pocket panel hinged between the first and second pocket panels, wherein the first pocket panel provides a back wall of a pocket and wherein the second pocket panel forms a bottom wall of the pocket.

16. A carrier according to claim 15 wherein, the first pocket panel is generally trapezoidal in shape, with tapered edges and wherein a recess provided along an edge of the first top end closure panel has a similar shape and size to the shape and size of the first pocket panel.

17. A carrier according to claim 1 wherein, to facilitate the collapse of the formation of a flat-form collapsed carrier, the first side panel and its associated first bottom-end closure panel comprise a medial fold line.

18. A flat-form collapsed carrier formed from the carrier of claim 17 , wherein said mechanical interlocking feature for maintaining the bottom wall in a set-up condition is disengaged; wherein said multi-part mechanical locking mechanism is disengaged; and wherein the carrier has been folded about said medial fold line.

19. A blank for forming a carrier suitable for containing a food or beverage product, the blank comprising first, second and third side panels for forming a three-sided tubular structure having a triangular cross-sectional shape, the blank further comprising:
(i) first, second and third bottom-end closure panels for forming a substantially triangular-shaped, crash-bottom-style, bottom wall, said first, second and third bottom-end closure panels being directly coupled to the first, second and third side panels respectively;
(ii) features for forming a mechanical interlocking feature for maintaining the bottom wall in a set-up condition;
(iii) features for forming a multi-part mechanical locking mechanism;
(iv) a first top-end closure panel comprising a first part of said multi-part mechanical locking mechanism;
(v) a second top-end closure panel and a first handle panel coupled thereto, comprising a second part of said multi-part mechanical locking mechanism; and
(vi) a third top end closure panel and a second handle panel coupled thereto, comprising a third part of said multi-part mechanical locking mechanism, whereupon assembly of the blank into a carrier and upon interconnection of said first, second and third parts of the multi-part mechanical locking mechanism, a top-end of the carrier is releasably secured into a closed and locked condition; and upo

Assignees

• Westrock Shared Services Llc

Inventors

• Valencia John

Classifications

• B65D5/46096

  two opposite closure flaps being provided with handle elements which are in contact with each other · CPC title

• B65D5/3628

  collapsed along median lines of two opposite sides of the rectangular tubular body · CPC title

• B65D5/029 Primary

  the tubular body presenting a special shape (pyramidal B65D5/008) · CPC title

• B65D5/106

  the opening being a slot · CPC title