GB2248604A - Basket-style carrier - Google Patents

Description

2_ 2-7- 0 G_ L) _ 1 IMPROVED LOCKING MEANS FOR BASKET-STYLE CARRIERS This

invention relates to a bottle carrier and in particular to a basket- style bottle carrier having a special locking feature for maintaining the carton erect and for reducing the likelihood of disengagement of the carrier base from detachment from internal carrier components so that the carrier can sit square, once erected, ready for loading.

It is well known for basket-style bottle carriers to incorporate locking means to support one or both ends of the bottom of the carrier thereby to maintain the carrier in set-up condition ready for loading. For example, U.S. Patent No 3,997,051 (Graser et al) utilizes conventional tab and notch locks. Such locks comprise end locking tabs one at each end of the carton to engage into adjacent locking 15 notches recessed into each end of the carrier bottom panel.

It is also well known in the art to provide a locking projection which locks into a locking hole provided in the carrier bottom panel. For example U.S. Patent No 2,783,916 (Hodapp) includes such an arrangement where the locking 2 projection centrally 3,997,051 arrangement locking hole and used in and notches.

and cooperating locking hole are of the carrier base. Also, U.S.

previously referred to includes where the locking projection and are positioned centrally of the combination with conventional end positioned Patent No a similar cooperating carrier base locking tabs Another type of known construction is disclosed in U.S.

Patent No 3,857,483 (Wood) in which a locking projection and cooperating locking hole are positioned adjacent one end of the carrier whilst a conventional locking tab and notch are provided at the opposite end of the carrier.

The primary need for providing locking means at both ends of a bottle carrier (as opposed to one end), regardless of the particular arrangement adopted, is in connection with those carriers suitable for use in the soft-drink industry. For economic reasons most soft-drink bottle carriers are intended for use with returnable bottles and hence the carriers are re- used on a number of occasions. These returnable-use carriers are stored in collapsed condition during the off-season in the trade. As is well known, the carriers can be collapsed in either of two directions and consequently the paperboard is apt to develop a "set" or bias, particularly under the influence of ambient moisture, against being erected into a squared-up condition. It is therefore extremely desirable to provide for the carrier to be locked at either one of its ends so that it is unnecessary to ensure that collapsing for storage is limited to a particular direction of collapse.

In contrast, carriers for use in the beer industry jare required for a one-time use only. Consequently there is no necessity to provide locking means at both ends of the carton since the problems arising from collapsed storage do not arise. As a result the vast majority of carton erecting devices are adapted to cause engagement of locking means at only one end of the carton. This normally is achieved by use of the "over travel" technique in which, during carton set-up, the carton end walls are caused to be displaced past their squared-up position so that the locking tab can be mated with the cooperating notch by inward pressure applied to the carton base, whereafter the displacement force applied to the end walls is relieved so allowing the carton to return to a square set-up condition with the locking means engaged.

However, there is a marked movement in some segments of the beer industry, using in line loading, towards higher bottling and carton line speeds. High speed operation has given rise to a greater necessity to ensure that the carton sits squarely on the line conveyor ready for loading. High 4 speed operation also leads to the problem of some cartons being inadvertently collapsed prior to loading by striking hard against one another and so disengaging the locking means. The known locking arrangements are not able adequately to overcome these problems while at the same time remain suitable for use with standard carrier erecting devices. For compatibilities with such devices the requirement is for a locking arrangement which can be engaged by the "over-travel" technique. Thus the invention seeks to solve the problems relating to high speed bottling operations and which at the same time provides a carton suitable for use with existing machinery. A carton according to the present invention has a pair of similar locking devices one disposed substantially centrally of the carrier and a second disposed intermediate the central locking device and one end wall of the carrier. Two such locking devices substantially reduces the risk of disengagement leading to carton collapse.

This invention provides a basket-style carrier comprising a pair of spaced side walls, a pair of end walls joining the ends of the side walls, a central section extending between the end walls substantially parallel to the side walls, a bottom panel attached to both the side walls and a locking assembly comprising a locking projection depending from said central section for engagement with a locking hole formed in - 5 said bottom panel said locking projection including a fist locking edge which engages a f irst edge part at one end of the locking hole and a second locking edge which is aligned for engagement with an opposed second edge part of the locking hole characterized in that said second edge part is provided by an end edge of a hinged tab which at least partially closes said locking hole and is displaced out,of the plane of said bottom panel consequent upon engagement between said locking projection and said locking hole to 10 hold the carrier in a set up condition.

According to a feature of the invention said hinged tab may normally cover a portion of said locking hole and is hinged to an end thereof remote f rom said f irst peripheral edge part. Preferably, opposed side edges of said locking tab are defined by cut lines extending between said first peripheral edge part and the hinged connection between said hinged tab and the bottom panel.

In locking arrangements where the opposed side edges of the locking tab are def ined by cut lines said cut lines may be divergent in a direction extending away from said f irst peripheral edge part toward said hinged connection.

According to yet another feature of the invention, the extremities of said locking projection as measured 6 - C; longitudinally of the carrier may comprise a toe portion and an opposed heel portion, said locking projection further comprising a throat portion located intermediate said toe and heel portions and inwardly of said toe portion, said throat portion including an edge adjacent said heel portion which edge constitutes said first locking edge, and said heel portion being disposed substantially at right angles,to the plane of said bottom panel to provide said second locking edge.

According to a still further feature of the invention, said locking hole may be substantially of key hole configuration.

For a better understanding of the invention an embodiment 15 thereof will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a basket-style carrier as seen from below and from one end thereof showing a pair of similar locking assemblies comprising bottom panel locking holes engaged by locking projections; and FIGURE 2 shows a detailed view of both a locking projection and a complementary locking hole (B).

Referring to the drawings, a basket-style carrier 10 has a bottom panel 12 hinged to one of the carrier side walls (not shown) and joined to the opposite carrier side wall 14 by means of a glue flap 16 hinged thereto. The bottom panel 12 has a central longitudinal fold line 18 along which the bottom panel is folded into two overlapping sections when the carrier is in a collapsed condition.

As is well known in the art, the carrier has an upr-ght central section 'C' (Figure 2) extending between the end walls parallel to the side walls the upper extremity of which is formed to provide a handle structure 20. The central section 'C' may comprise a number of internal panels e.g. riser panels, extending medially inwardly from opposite ends of the carrier. The opposite ends of the central section are hinged to foldable end walls 22, 22a and 24, 24a respectively.

The central section is formed at its lower end with a pair of spaced locking projections 'W' and "Al" and the bottom panel 12 is formed with a pair of similarly spaced locking apertures 'B' and 'B1'.

Locking projection A1 and locking aperture Bl provides a locking assembly disposed substantially centrally of the carrier bottom panel, while locking projection A and locking aperture B provide a second locking assembly disposed intemediate locking assembly Al, B1 and the adjacent end wall 22, 22a. As previously mentioned the provision of two similar locking assemblies reduces the chances of the bottom panel becoming disengaged from the central section C leading to distortion and/or collapse of the carton. Since both locking assemblies are of similar construction, assembly A,B only will be described in detail below.

I Locking projection "A" is located adjacent end wall 20, 20a and comprises a toe portion 26, an opposed heel portion 28 and a throat portion 30 located intermediate the toe and heel portions and above said toe portion. The throat portion 30 is formed by a recessed part of the central section 'C'. The lowermost edge of the central section between the toe and heel portions provides a foot 32 of locking projection "A". The length of the foot 32, that is, the length between the extremities of the locking projection "A" as measured longitudinally of the carrier is designated reference 'b'.

The internal edge of throat portion 30 constitutes a first locking edge 34 of the locking projection "A". A second locking edge of the locking projection 'W' is provided by the heel portion 28. As shown this second locking edge 28 is stepped up sharply at right angles to the foot 32 and is, in the set-up carrier, disposed substantially at right angles to the plane of the bottom panel. The distance between the first and second locking edges is designated reference 'a'.

9 In order to cooperate with the locking projection 'W' so as to maintain the carrier in a squared "set-up" condition, the bottom panel 12 of the carrier is formed with a substantially 'key-hole' locking hole 'B'. The locking hole 'B' is positioned adjacent the end edge 36 of bottom panel 12. Locking hole 'B' is formed symmetrically about central fold line 18 and the hole is def ined in part by a hinged tab 40. Tab 40 comprises a free locking edge 42 parallel to and remote from the hinged connection, provided by transverse fold line 44 between the tab and the bottom panel 12. The locking edge and fold line 44 are connected by cut lines from the locking edge which provide side edges 46 and 48 of the tab. A leading 'nose' 50 of the locking hole provides a first edge part for engagement with the first locking edge 30 of the locking projection A, and the locking edge 42 of the hinged tab 40 provides a second edge part for engagement with the second locking edge 28. The distance between the first and second edge parts is designated reference "d" and the overall length of the locking aperture is designated reference 'c'.

It will be appreciated that the dimensional relationships between the locking projection W and locking hole B is such as to ensure correct and secure locking and is as follows:

91 c">"b">"d">'a' Hence, the maximum longitudinal dimension of the locking projection 'W' is less than that of the locking hole B and the distance between the first and second locking edges is substantially equal to or less than the distance between the first and second peripheral edge parts. Thus, in order for the locking projection A to become properly engaged in the locking hole B, the hinged tab must be displaced out of the plcne of the bottom panel.

The locking of the bottom panel 12 to the locking projection 'W' is effected during the setting-up procedure of the carrier as follows:- As the collapsed carrier is expanded by moving side walls 14 and 16 apart from each other, pressure is applied to end wall 24, 24a so that the latter is displaced inwardly somewhat past its squared-up position. This displacement causes the central section 'C' and the locking projection "A" associated therewith to move relative to the bottom panel 12 so that the locking hole B will be aligned with foot 32 of locking projection "A". Inward pressure is then applied to the bottom panel 12 to cause the bottom panel to be displaced inwardly whereby foot 32 displaces the hinged tab 40 outward of the carton so that the locking projection enters the locking hole. Immediately thereafter, the force against end wall 24, 24a is relieved so that the carrier is relaxed whereby the first edge part 50 is received in the throat portion 30 whereby first locking edge 34 of locking projection 'W' engages the first edge part 50.of locking hole B. At the same time, the natural resiliency of locking tab 40 causes it to hinge back towards a closing position relative to the locking hole so that the locking edge 42 is aligned behind the heel 28. Thus, movement of the bottom panel relative to the central section 'C' is restricted between edge parts 42 and 50.

Hence, displacement of the bottom panel 12 relative to the central section 'C' is arrested in one direction by engagement between first edge part 50 and first locking edge 34 and in the opposite direction by engagement between second edge part 42 and the second locking edge 28.

The locking projection Al and complementary locking aperture 15 B1, are engaged substantially simultaneously in like manner to that described above.

12

Claims (6)

1. A basket-style carrier comprising a pair of spaced side walls, a pair of end walls joining the ends of the side b7alls, a central section extending between the end walls substantially parallel to the side walls, a bottom panel attached to both the side walls and a locking assembly comprising a locking projection depending from said central section for engagement with a locking hole formed in said bottom panel said locking projection including a first looking edge which engages a first part at one end of the locking hole and a second locking which is aligned for engagement with an opposed second edge part of the locking hole characterized in that said second edge part is provided by an end edge of a hinged tab which at least partially closes said locking hole and is displaced out of the plane of said bottom panel consequent upon engagement between said locking projection and said locking hole to hold the carrier in a set-up condition.

edge 10 edge

2. A basket-style carrier according to Claim 1 wherein said hinged tab normally covers a portion of said locking hole and is hinged to an end thereof remote from said first peripheral edge part.

3. A basket7style carrier according to Claim 2 wherein opposed side edges of said locking tab are defined by cut lines extending between said first peripheral edge part and the hinged connection between said hinged tab and the bottom panel.

4. A basketstyle carrier according to Claim 3 wherein said cut lines are divergent in a direction extending away from said first peripheral edge part toward said hinged connection.

5. A basket-style carrier according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the extremities of said locking projection as measured longitudinally of the carrier comprises a toe portion and an opposed heel portion, said locking projection further comprising a throat portion located intermediate said toe and heel portions and inwardly of said toe portion, said throat portion including an edge adjacent said heel portion which edge constitutes said first locking edge, and said heel portion being disposed substantially at right angles to the plane of said bottom panel to provide said second locking edge.

6. A basket-style carrier according to any of the preceding claims wherein said locking hole is substantially of key hole configuration.