HK1171177A - Carrier for a box - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention is directed to a carrier for a box, and the like, which allows the box, or a plurality of boxes, to be secured within the carrier and transported in a horizontal position within the carrier. The invention is also directed to a method for securing and carrying a box, or the like, using the carrier.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typically, square or rectangular boxes are used for carrying food items, such as pizza, for which it is necessary to secure and carry the box in a substantially horizontal position while transporting the box containing the food item. Conventional grocery carriers are not useful for this purpose, since the bags are of insufficient size, and the opening of the bag too narrow, to accommodate a pizza box.

Prior art carriers for boxes have thus been adapted by providing cut-out portions in the carrier to accommodate the four corners of the box, typically for boxes which are required to be carried in one particular orientation to prevent the contents of the box from spilling out, or to prevent the contents from moving around inside the box.

One of the shortcomings of the prior art carriers, however, is that the boxes are usually insufficiently secured within the carrier, so that the boxes can easily fall out of the container, especially if one of the carrying handles is accidentally released by the user.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a box carrier which would keep the box or boxes held in the carrier in a secure position.

It is a further objection of the present invention to provide a box carrier which would prevent the box or boxes from falling out of the carrier if one of the handles of the carrier is accidentally let go by the user.

US3727754A describes a carrier for a six pack of bottles stamped from a flat sheet or tubing of plastic so as to provide a first body section having socket means for receiving and gripping bodies of the bottles, a second body section having additional pockets or elements for engaging and retaining neck portions of the bottles, a plurality of strap elements integrally interconnecting the body sections, and integral handle means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a carrier according to claim 1 and to a corresponding method of securing a box using such a carrier according to claim 9. Preferred features of the invention are set-out in the dependent claims.

The present invention comprises a flexible carrier comprising a pair of detachable strips which, when detached at one of their ends from the carrier body, form a means of securing a container within the carrier when the detached ends of the strips are secured together, for example, by means of a knot. Once the item(s) are secured within the carrier, it will be appreciated that the item will not fall from the carrier even if one of the handles of the carrier slips from the user's grasp.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects of the present invention will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention and the following drawings of which: [continued on page 3]

• FIG. 1 is a line drawing of the carrier according to the present invention in an open, unfolded configuration.
• FIG. 2 is a line drawing showing the carrier according to the present invention in a folded, two-layer configuration.
• FIG. 3 is a line drawing showing a user gripping the carrier in connection with transporting items secured within the carrier by the tied strip portions.
• FIG. 4 is a line drawing showing a user accidentally letting go of one handle of the carrier and the pizza box remaining secured in the carrier by the tied strip portions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that the carrier 1 comprises an elongated flexible portion 2 comprising a base 3 having a first side 4 and a second side 5; a first pair of arms 6 extending from the first side 4 of said base 3; a second pair of arms 7 extending from said second side 5 of said base 3; said first pair of arms 6 being joined to a first end portion 8; said second pair of arms 7 being joined to a second end portion 9; a first strip portion 10 having a first end and a second end; said first end of said first strip portion 10 being detachably connected to said first side 4 of said base 3, and said second end of said first strip portion 10 being connected to said first end portion 8; a second strip portion 11 having a first end and a second end; said first end of said second strip portion 11 being detachably connected to said second side 5 of said base, and said second end of said second strip portion 11 being connected to said second end portion 9.

A cut-out 12 is present in said first 8 and second 9 end portions, the end portions 8, 9 with cut-outs serving as carrying handles. When the two halves of the carrier are brought together, the user places his or her fingers through the two cut-outs to grip the carrier in a closed configuration.

A tab 13 having an aperture 14 therein may be detachably connected to said first 8 and second end 9 portions. The tab 13 and aperture 14 combination may be used to hang the carrier from a hook or similar device, and the carrier 1 detached from the tab 13 for use.

On one half of the carrier, the base 3, pair of arms 6, end portion 8, and strip 10 define a pair of cut-outs 15 when the first end of strip portion 10 is detachably connected to the first side 4 of base 3. On the other half of the carrier, the base 3, pair of arms 7, end portion 9, and strip 11 define a pair of cut-outs 16 when the first end of the strip 11 is detachably connected to the second side 5 of base 3.

To secure a box 19 within the carrier 1, the box 19 is first placed on the carrier 1 with the carrier 1 in the unfolded configuration, with opposing corners of the box 19 pointing towards opposing end portions 8, 9. Then the first end of strip portions 10, 11 are detached from base 3 and secured together by any suitable means, preferably by tying the detached first ends of the strip portions 10, 11 together in a knot 18. The carrier 1 with box(es) 19 secured therein can then be picked up by the user by means of the cut-outs 12 and the carrier transported (FIG. 3). If the user accidentally lets one handle of the carrier slip from their grasp, the box 19 will remain secured in the carrier 1 by the knot 18 securing the strip portions 10, 11 (FIG. 4).

For transporting a single or a plurality of boxes of various sizes and various shapes in a horizontal position. More particularly, the device may be used to transport boxes containing baked goods, including pizza, floral arrangements, cartons of beverages, and the like.

The carrier may be used for transporting a single or a plurality of boxes of various sizes and various shapes in a horizontal position. More particularly, the carrier may be used to transport boxes containing baked goods, including pizza, floral arrangements, cartons of beverages, and the like.

The carriers may be made of any flexible, deformable, material, including fabrics, including cotton, Nylon, and other polymers. Preferably, the carriers are manufactured from standard materials used to make traditional carrier bags for transporting grocery items, including plastic of the Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) or High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) type. The carriers may also be manufactured from biodegradable polythene.

The carrier may be of different colors and textures, and have printed material thereon.

The carrier may be cut from a single layer sheet of material and then folded about its midpoint to form the carrier. In this way, the strips are integrally formed with the rest of the carrier. In a preferred embodiment, the carrier is cut from a double layer sheet so that the carrier is ready for use after being cut without the need for folding.

The carrier may be dimensioned to accommodate boxes or articles of different sizes.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (9)

1. A carrier (1) comprising:

   an elongated flexible portion (2) comprising a base (3) having a first side (4) and a second side (5);

   a first pair of arms (6) extending from the first side (4) of said base (3);

   a second pair of arms (7) extending from said second side (5) of said base (3);

   said first pair of arms (6) being joined to a first end portion (8) having a central area;

   said second pair of arms (7) being joined to a second end portion (9) having a central area;

   a first strip portion (10) having a first end and a second end; said second end of said first strip portion (10) being connected to said first end portion (8);

   a second strip portion (11) having a first end and a second end; said second end of said second strip portion being connected to said second end portion (9);

   wherein:

   said first end of said first strip portion (10) being detachably connected to said first side (4) of said base (3);

   said first end of said second strip portion (11) being detachably connected to said second side (5) of said base (3);

   wherein said first side (4) of said base (3), said first pair of arms (6), said first end portion (8), and said first strip portion (10) define a first pair of cut-outs (15) on said first side (4) of said carrier (1);

   wherein said second side (5) of said base (3), said second pair of arms (7), said second end portion (9), and said second strip portion (11) define a second pair of cut-outs (16) on said second side (5) of said carrier (1);

   wherein the first and second pair of cut-outs (15; 16) are dimensioned to receive corner portions of a box (19); and

   wherein said first end of said first strip portion (10) and said first end of said second strip portion (11), when detached, form free ends of said strip portions and are adapted to be secured together to retain a box (19) within the carrier (1).
2. A carrier (1) according to claim 1, wherein a cut-out (12) is present in said first and second end portions (8; 9).
3. A carrier (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first and second strip portions (10; 11) are integral with the carrier (1).
4. A carrier (1) according to claim 1 manufactured from a polymer.
5. A carrier (1) according to claim 4, wherein the polymer is low density polyethylene.
6. A carrier (1) according to claim 4, wherein the polymer is high density polyethylene.
7. A carrier (1) according to claim 1 wherein the carrier (1) is manufactured from a single sheet of material.
8. A carrier (1) according to claim 1, wherein a tab (13) having an aperture (14) therein is detachably connected to said first and second end portions (8; 9).
9. A method of securing a box (19) within a carrier, comprising:

   providing a box (19);

   providing a carrier (1) according to any preceding claim for supporting the box (19);

   detaching said first end of each of said first and second strip portions (10; 11) from said first and second end portions (8; 9); and

   securing said two first ends of said strip portions together to secure the box (19) within the carrier (1).