Comestible product carrier and/or handle and associated methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9380914-B2
Application number	US-201213667702-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 2, 2012
Priority date	Aug 24, 2012
Publication date	Jul 5, 2016
Grant date	Jul 5, 2016

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are directed to a sandwich carrier handle and carrier for transporting a sandwich, including a plurality of wall portions hingedly joined at a plurality of fold lines. The plurality of wall portions are configured and dimensioned to fold at the plurality of fold lines to form a structure which wraps around the sandwich carrier. The exemplary sandwich carrier handle includes a first end including a first handle portion and a second end including a second handle portion. The first and second handle portions are configured and dimensioned to releasably interlock. The exemplary sandwich carrier handle includes a first open end and an opposing open end of the structure configured and dimensioned to permit the passage of the sandwich carrier therethrough. Exemplary embodiments are further directed to a method of transporting a sandwich carrier.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for transporting a comestible product carrier, the system comprising:
a comestible product carrier defining a U-shaped configuration, the comestible product carrier including (i) a bottom wall defining a surface for supporting a length of a comestible product, (ii) two side walls extending from the bottom wall, the two side walls extending a length of the comestible product carrier, and each of the two side walls defining a height, and (iii) an open top opposing the bottom wall;
an apparatus comprising:
(i) a bottom wall, (ii) two side walls each defining a height and extending substantially perpendicularly from the bottom wall, each of the two side walls defining a continuous uninterrupted surface, and the two side walls are hingedly joined relative to the bottom wall by a first set of score lines, and (iii) two top walls extending inwardly towards each other from the respective two side walls, the two top walls extending substantially parallel to the bottom wall, and the two top walls are hingedly joined to the respective two side walls by a second set of score lines, wherein the bottom wall, the two side walls and the two top walls are configured and dimensioned to form a structure which wraps around the comestible product carrier;
a first end hingedly joined to a first of the two top walls and including a first handle portion and a second end hingedly joined to a second of the two top walls and including a second handle portion, the first handle portion including a first opening and a flap joined to the first handle portion by a connector portion, the second handle portion including a second opening with a groove complementary to the connector portion of the first handle portion, the connector portion and the groove being configured to releasably interlock the first and second handle portions to define an inner passage; and
a proximal open end and an opposing distal open end of the structure configured and dimensioned to permit passage of the comestible product carrier through the inner passage;
wherein the height of the two side walls of the comestible product carrier is greater than the height of the two side walls of the apparatus such that the side walls of the comestible product carrier engage the bottom wall and the two top walls of the apparatus to form a friction fit to restrict or limit movement of the comestible product carrier relative to the apparatus.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the bottom wall of the apparatus supports the comestible product carrier.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the two side walls of the apparatus are parallel relative to each other.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first handle portion is hingedly joined to the first of the two top walls of the apparatus and the second handle portion is hingedly joined to the of the two top walls of the apparatus.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first handle portion comprises a third set of score lines for creating the first opening and the second handle portion comprises a fourth set of score lines for creating the second opening and the groove.

6. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the first opening and the second opening are configured and dimensioned to receive a hand.

7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the flap of the first handle portion is configured to be inserted into the second opening of the second handle portion to position the connector portion within the groove of the second handle portion.

8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the groove prevents the flap from receding out of the second opening and prevents separation between the first and second handle portions.

9. A method of transporting a comestible product carrier, comprising:
providing a comestible product carrier defining a U-shaped configuration, the comestible product carrier including (i) a bottom wall defining a surface for supporting a length of a comestible product, (ii) two side walls extending from the bottom wall, the two side walls extending a length of the comestible product carrier, and each of the two side walls defining a height, and (iii) an open top opposing the bottom wall;
folding an apparatus, the apparatus including (i) a bottom wall, (ii) two side walls each defining a height and extending substantially perpendicularly from the bottom wall, each of the two side walls defining a continuous uninterrupted surface, and the two side walls are hingedly joined relative to the bottom wall by a first set of score lines, (iii) two top walls extending inwardly towards each other from the respective two side walls, the two op walls extending substantially parallel to the bottom wall, and the two top walls are hingedly joined to the respective two side walls by a second set of score lines, wherein the bottom all, the two side walls and the two top walls are configured and dimensioned to form a structure which wraps around the comestible product carrier, (iv) a first end hingedly joined to a first of the two top walls and including a first handle portion and a second end hingedly joined to a second of the two top walls and including a second handle portion, the first handle portion including a first opening and a flap joined to the first handle portion by a connector portion, the second handle portion including a second opening with a groove complementary to the connector portion of the first handle portion, and (v) a first open end and an opposing second open end of the structure configured and dimensioned to permit the passage of the comestible product carrier therethrough;
wrapping the apparatus around the comestible product carrier; and
interlocking the first handle portion and the second handle portion by interlocking the connector portion of the first handle portion with the groove of the second handle portion;
wherein the height of the two side walls of the comestible product carrier is greater than the height of the two side walls of the apparatus such that the side walls of the comestible product carrier engage the bottom wall and the two top walls of the apparatus to form a friction fit to restrict or limit movement of the comestible product carrier relative to the apparatus.

10. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising positioning the comestible product in the comestible product carrier.

11. The method according to claim 9 , wherein interlocking the first handle portion and the second handle portion comprises inserting the flap of the first handle portion into the second opening of the second handle portion, and positioning the connector portion within the groove of the second handle portion.

12. A system for transporting a comestible product, the system comprising:
a comestible product carrier defining a U-shaped configuration, the comestible product carrier including (i) a bottom wall defining a surface for supporting a length of a comestible product, (ii) two side walls extending from the bottom wall, the two side walls extending a length of the comestible product carrier, and each of the two side walls defining a height, and (iii) an open top opposing the bottom wall; and
two handle structures, each handle structure including (i) first and second opposing open ends, (ii) an interior area accessible through the first and second open ends, (iii) a bottom wall, (iv) two side walls each defining a height and extending substantially perpendicularly from the bottom wall, each of the two side walls defining a continuous uninterrupted surface, and the two side walls are hingedly joined relative to the bottom wall by a first set of score lines, (v) two top walls extending inwardly towards each

Assignees

• Wal Mart Stores Inc

Inventors

• Oblisk David T

Classifications

• B65D2571/00716

  tubular without end walls · CPC title

• B65D75/02

  Articles partially enclosed in folded or wound strips or sheets, e.g. wrapped newspapers · CPC title

• B65D71/30

  unitary {, i.e. integral} with the tubular packaging elements · CPC title

• B65D61/00 Primary

  External frames or supports adapted to be assembled around, or applied to, articles · CPC title

• B65D25/28

  Handles (of containers made by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/46; of bottles or jars B65D23/10 {; holders for glasses, bottles, cartons, plastic bags, cans A47G23/02}) · CPC title