GB2528293A

GB2528293A - Container carrier

Info

Publication number: GB2528293A
Application number: GB1412647.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rikki Payne
Original assignee: GUERNSEY FLAGSHIP Ltd
Current assignee: GUERNSEY FLAGSHIP Ltd
Priority date: 2014-07-16
Filing date: 2014-07-16
Publication date: 2016-01-20
Also published as: GB201412647D0

Abstract

A foldable bag or carrier 1 for carrying containers of food or drinks (42, 44, 46). The carrier has semi-flexible cardboard-like outer walls 4, 8 and a frame, panel or insert 3 which define at least one aperture 33, 34, 35 for placing the containers. Fastening means secure the first wall to the second wall. A handle 12 allows the carrier to be held in the users hand. The frame part may have an opening for housing cutlery or serving implements 36. The apertured panel may be attached at a higher vertical point (h1) on one wall than the vertical height (h2) on the other wall. The walls and base may be formed from a single sheet of cardboard. The fastening means may be a tab 16 and slot (14).

Description

Container carrier The present invention relates to a container carrier for holding and carrying containers, in particular, but not exclusively, food containers.

Container carriers are used in a variety of businesses such as take-away restaurants, cafes, supermarkets and other shops. Typically, container carriers are necessary when the container itself is awkward or unsafe to handle by a consumer, such as, for example, when the contents of the container are liquid and/or hot.

Known container carriers include wine carrier boxes, paper bags, plastic bags and cup carriers. Bottle carrier boxes and cup carriers are specifically designed for specifically sized bottles and cups and therefore cannot easily be used to carry containers of other shapes, such as pots or boxes. Flexible plastic bags are widely used for carrying products such as containers; however, they are not always suitable for carrying containers safely, particularly when the contents are hot, because the containers are not located securely and can fall over and spill the contents.

According to the present invention there is provided a foldable container carrier for carrying a container for liquids or foods, the carrier comprising a carrier body formed of cardboard or like material arranged to provide a relatively non-flexible body comprising a base with a first wall and a second wall extending from respective opposite sides of the base, container locating means comprising a panel extending between the first and second walls at a distance from the base of the body and containing an opening or openings to receive and locate a container or containers standing on the base, fastening means spaced from the base being arranged to secure the first wall to the second wall in an assembled position, and further including a handle arranged to allow the carrier to be held in a user's hand, the carrier being arranged to fold flat with the first and second walls, the base and the panel being substantially contiguous.

Advantageously, the panel comprises a first flange secured to the second wall at a predetermined distance (h1) from the base, the panel further comprising a second flange secured to the first wall at a distance (h2) shorter than the predetermined distance (hi).

In a preferred embodiment, when the container carrier is in the assembled position the first and second walls have a side profile which tapers from the base towards the handle to enable a further container standing on a container located by the locating means to be gripped between the first and second walls.

In another preferred embodiment, the first wall, the second wall and the base are formed from a single sheet of cardboard, the junctions between the base and the two walls being defined by spaced parallel fold lines in the material.

In a further preferred embodiment, the fastening means comprises a tab integrally formed in the second wall, wherein at least a part of the tab is releasably engageable in a slot in the first wall. Preferably, the tab comprises a first tab element foldable on to the first wall and having therein a projecting tab element releasably engageable in the slot.

Advantageously, the first wall forms a flat surface when the container carrier is in an open position.

In a preferred embodiment, the second wall is substantially perpendicular to the base thereby forming a screen when the container carrier is in an open position.

In another preferred embodiment, the handle comprises a handle element formed integrally on each of the first and second walls by an opening in the respective wall, one of the handle elements having a web formed by the material of the opening arranged to fold onto the handle element on the other wall to form a thicker handle.

In a further preferred embodiment, the panel further includes an opening or openings adapted to accommodate eating or serving implements.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the container locating means is formed of cardboard or cardboard-like material.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side top view of a folded container carrier according to a first aspect of the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the container carrier of Figure 1 in an open position; Figure 3 shows the container carrier of Figure 2 whilst holding disposable cutlery; Figure 4 shows the container carrier of Figure 3 in use; Figure 5 is a side view of the container carrier according to a first aspect of the present invention when the carrier is in use; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the container carrier of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a perspective view according to a second aspect of the present invention in an open position; Figure 8 shows the container carrier of Figure 7 whilst holding disposable cutlery; Figure 9 shows the container carrier of Figure 8 in use.

In the drawings, like parts are denoted by like reference numerals.

Referring now to Figure 1 there is shown a container carrier 1 comprising a foldable body 2 shown here in the folded position; the body blank 2 is made from a single piece of cardboard or any like material sufficiently rigid to maintain its shape when fully assembled and sufficiently flexible to allow it to be folded flat. The body 2 comprises three discrete sections: a first wall 4, a base 6 (not shown) and a second wall 8, the sections being defined by fold lines which form a hinge. As the base 6 and the first and second walls 4, 8 are substantially contiguous, the container carrier folds flat. A first end of the body 2, which in the folded position is shorter relative to the other end of the body 2, comprises the first wall 4 which is substantially rectangular and planar having three free edges and an edge joined by a first paper hinge 5 to a base section described in more detail below. The first wall 4 further comprises, on the distal end of paper hinge 5, an opening 14 arranged to receive a tab projection for fastening the first wall to a second wall 8. The free edge of the distal end of the paper hinge 5 comprises a projecting handle 10 having a tab 11 arranged to be folded to allow a user to hold the handle and to be used as a tab fastening. A further fold line which forms a further paper hinge 20 is provided on the first wall 4 at a distance of about 2 cm from the first paper hinge 5. In the folded position, the base section and the second wall 8 form one section of the flat carrier and therefore appear to be longer than the first wall 4.

The second end of the body comprises a second wall 8 which is also substantially rectangular and planar having three free edges and an edge which is joined to the base section by a second fold line. A projecting portion of material forms a second handle 12 having a cut-out 13 arranged to receive a tab fastening when the carrier is assembled. A second projecting portion of material forms a tab projection 16 which extends from the top edge of the second wall 8 between each arm of the handle to the top section of the handle so as to partially cover the cut-out 13 when the carrier is in the folded position. The tab projection 16 has a tongue or projecting member 18 arranged to cooperate with the opening 14 on the first wall 4 and secure the second wall 8 to the first wall 4 in the assembled position. In addition, the tab projection 16 has a fold line which is parallel to the upper edge of the second wall 8 which allows the projecting member to be engaged or disengaged with the slot in the first wall 4.

Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown the container carrier of Figure 1 in an open position. The body 2 is supported by the base 6 which is joined to the first wall 4 by paper hinge 5 and to the second wall 8 by paper hinge 7. The first and second walls 4, 8 each have an internal surface which is contiguous with an internal surface of the base 6. The first and second walls 4, 8 each have an external surface which is contiguous with the external surface of the base 6. The external surface of the base 6 is arranged to stand on a surface. In this open position, the second wall 8 is substantially perpendicular to the base 6.

Between the internal surfaces of the first and second walls 4, 8 there is provided container holding means 3 arranged to receive at least one container.

Container holder means 3 comprises a panel which extends throughout the width of the body 2 and is made from the same material as the body 2. The panel is substantially contiguous with the base, the first wall and the second wall so that the container carrier has a substantially flat profile in the folded position. The panel comprises a central portion 30 having three openings 33, 34, 35 equidistant from each other. Each opening 33, 34, 35 is arranged to receive a container. A cut-out 36 is provided between the central opening 34 and an outer opening 33; the cut-out 36 is arranged to receive cutlery or other food serving implements. The cut-out 36 could alternatively be used to receive sachets of sugar, salt, pepper, seasonings or any other disposable sachets or condiments. The central portion 30 of the container holder means 3 is contiguous with two flanges which extend the length of the container holder means 3 (i.e. the width of the body 2). Fold lines 31, 32 are provided between the central portion 30 and the flanges. One of the flanges is secured with any suitable means, for example adhesive, to the second wall 8 at a predetermined height (hi). The other flange is secured to the first wall at a shorter distance (h2) from the base 6; in this embodiment h2 is about 1.90 cm. Part of the first wall 4 protrudes outwards from the profile of the body 2 by folding over the further paper hinge 20; this allows a container holding means 3 to be easily accessible to a user. When the first wall 4 projects away from the central portion 30, the first wall 4 creates a flat surface i.e. a surface which functions as a tray, for convenience of access and to allow a user to consume food from containers 42, 44, 46, 48 and/or any additional containers. In addition, when the body is in this open position, the second wall 8 stands substantially perpendicular to base 6 thereby acting as a privacy screen for personal comfort so that the user may consume food from containers 42, 44, 46, 48 and/or any additional containers in a more private manner.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4 there is shown the container carrier of the present invention being used to hold cutlery 40 and container pots or cartons 42, 44, 46. The container pots are provided with lids 43, 45, 47. As the first wall 4 is arranged to project away from the central portion 30 of the container holder means 3 by folding over further paper hinge 20, the cutlery 40 and container pots 42, 44, 46, 48 are easily accessible to a user when the carrier is in the open position. As shown specifically in Figure 4, a further container 48 of a smaller size than those containers 42, 44, 46 held by the container holding means 3 is placed above the lid 45 covering the central container pot 44. Additional containers could be placed above the other container 42, 46 with lids 43, 47.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, the carrier 1 is shown in a fully assembled, position in which the tab projection 16 is folded on to the first wall and the projecting member 18 releasably engaged in the opening 14. To secure the first wall 4 to the second wall 8, the tab projection 16 is first brought into contact with the external surface of the first wall 4; the tab projection 16 is then bent on the fold line causing the projecting member 18 to protrude at an angle from the tab projection 16 and finally the projecting member 18 is brought into cooperating engagement with the opening 14 thereby releasably securing the first wall 4to the second wall 8.

This causes the tab projection 16 to abut the external surface of the first wall.

In this configuration, the first handle 10 and the second handle 12 abut one another and the tab 11 is folded over the second handle 12 to keep both handles 10, 12 aligned; this allows a user to hold the handles 10, 12 as a single component. When assembled, the profile of the first and second walls 4, 8 tapers from the base 6 towards the handles 10, 12. As a result, the internal surfaces of the first and second walls 4, 8 become closer at the top of the carrier. The angle of inclination is predetermined to allow the top of a container of a smaller size 48 and its lid 49 to be frictionally secured by the internal surfaces of the first and second walls 4, 8. This feature ensures that additional containers or pots can be carried above the three containers 42, 44, 46 held by the container holder means 3.

Flanges 37, 38 are shown secured to the second wall 8 and first wall 4 respectively. This figure shows that the height at which each flange 37, 38 is secured to the first and second walls 4, 8 is different and, as a result, the central portion 30 has a curved gradient. The height (h1) at which flange 37 is secured to the second wall 8 is determined by the height of the container 42, 44, 46, 48 which the carrier 1 is designed to carry and should be approximately 30 to 70% of the height of the container. By contrast, the height (h2) at which flange 38 is secured to the first wall 4 is determined by the distance between the first paper hinge S and the further paper hinge 20 so that height h2 is at least marginally smaller than the distance between the first paper hinge 5 and the further paper hinge 20. If the distance between these paper hinges 5, 20 is adjusted, the distance between the base 6 and the fold line 32 must also be adjusted. The width of the panel 30 is larger than the width of the base and is such that when the carrier is in the folded position shown in Figure 1, the panel is contiguous with the base part of the wall 8 and the wall 4.

When the carrier is erected the panel 30 adopts the curved position illustrated in Figure 5 so that in plan view the width of the panel is substantially the same as that of the base 6. The difference in height between the two flanges 37, 38 of the panel is arranged so that the opening or openings in the panel are as close to the horizontal as practicable to ensure that containers located in the openings are held securely.

Referring now to Figures 7, 8 and 9, there is shown a second embodiment of the foldable container carrier of the present invention. In this second embodiment, the body 2 of the container is functionally equivalent to the body described in Figures 1 to 6 in relation to the first embodiment. Accordingly, the body 2 comprises three discrete sections: a first wall 4, a base 6 and a second wall 8 joined together at fold lines forming paper hinges 5 and 7. In this second embodiment, the container holder means 3 also extends the throughout the width of the body 2 and is made from the same material as the body 2. However, the width of the body 2 is smaller than the width of the body of the first embodiment. Container holder means 3 comprises a central portion 30 having three openings 33, 34, 35 and each opening 33, 34, 35 is arranged to receive a container. A cut-out 36 arranged to receive cutlery or other food serving implement, including but not limited to any other disposables or condiments, is also provided on the central portion 30. In this embodiment, the central portion 30 is adapted to receive two larger containers 42, 44 with lids 43, 45 and one smaller container 48 with lid 49. A flange contiguous with the central portion is secured to the second wall 8 at a height equivalent to approximately 30 to 70% of the height of the larger container by any suitable means. A second flange contiguous with the central portion 30 is secured to the first wall 4 at a distance which is marginally smaller than the distance between the first paper hinge 5 and further paper hinge 20. The handles 10, 12 in this embodiment are secured by a tab 11 in the same way as that described in relation to the first embodiment. To secure the first wall 4 to the second wall 8, the tab projection 16 having a projecting member is also brought into cooperating engagement with the opening 14 thereby releasably securing the first wall 4 to the second wall 8. When assembled, the profile of the first and second walls 4, 8 tapers from the base 6 towards the handles 10, 12 so that the internal surfaces of the first and second walls 4, 8 are closer at the top of the carrier.

This allows additional smaller containers or pots to be placed above large containers 42, 44 held by the container holder means 3.

Although the body of the carrier of the present invention has been described as made of a single piece of material, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that the body could be constructed of two or more pieces of material secured together, for example, with an adhesive or an adhesive tape.

In addition, it should be clear that the internal configuration of the carrier could be changed in a number of different ways in order to allow a different number of containers or containers of a different size to be carried. Additional openings adapted to hold sachets or additional cutlery or any other disposables or condiments could also be added to the internal holder. The carrier could also be adapted to hold containers of different shapes such as four and three sided boxes.

Moreover, it should also be apparent that although the embodiments described have two handles arranged to be secured by a tab, it would also be possible to have a single handle on either side wall of the carrier. Although described as being formed of a cardboard material, it will be understood that other materials may be used such as a semi rigid plastics material.

Claims

Claims 1. A foldable container carrier for carrying a container for liquids or foods, the carrier comprising a carrier body formed of cardboard or like material arranged to provide a relatively non-flexible body comprising a base with a first wall and a second wall extending from respective opposite sides of the base, container locating means comprising a panel extending between the first and second walls at a distance from the base of the body and containing an opening or openings to receive and locate a container or containers, fastening means spaced from the base being arranged to secure the first wall to the second wall in an assembled position, and further comprising a handle arranged to allow the carrier to be held in a user's hand, the carrier, when not in use, being arranged to fold flat with the first and second walls, the base and the panel being substantially contiguous.
2. A container carrier according to claim 1, wherein the panel comprises a first flange secured to the second wall at a predetermined distance (h1) from the base, the panel further comprising a second flange secured to the first wall at a distance (h2) shorter than the predetermined distance (h1).
3. A container carrier according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in the assembled position the first and second walls have a side profile which tapers from the base towards the handle to enable a further container standing on a container located by the locating means to be gripped between the first and second walls.
4. A container carrier according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first wall, the second wall and the base are formed from a single sheet of cardboard, the junctions between the base and the first and second walls being defined by spaced parallel fold lines in the material.
5. A container carrier according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fastening means comprises a tab integrally formed in the second wall, wherein at least a part of the tab is releasably engageable in a slot in the first wall.
6. A container carrier according to claim 5, wherein the tab comprises a first tab element foldable on to the first wall and having therein a projecting tab element releasably engageable in the slot.
7. A container carrier according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first wall forms a flat surface when the container carrier is in an open position.
8. A container carrier according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second wall is substantially perpendicular to the base thereby forming a screen when the container carrier is in an open position.
9. A container carrier according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the handle comprises a handle element formed integrally on each of the first and second walls by an opening in the respective wall, one of the handle elements having a web formed by the material of the opening arranged to fold onto the handle element on the other wall to form a thicker handle.
10. A container carrier according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the panel further comprises an opening or openings adapted to accommodate eating or serving implements.
11. A container carrier according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container locating means is formed of cardboard or cardboard-like material.
12. A container carrier substantially as described herein with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.