Article container

July 28, 1942.

2,290,971

H. C. KING

ARTICLE CONTAINER

Filed June 25, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1

<img file="US2290971A_D0001.tif" />

<img file="US2290971A_D0002.tif" />

July 28, 1942

2,290,971

H. C. KING

ARTICLE CONTAINER

Filed June 25, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2

<img file="US2290971A_D0003.tif" />

<img file="US2290971A_D0004.tif" />

July 28, 1942.

H. C. KING

ARTICLE CONTAINER

Filed June 25, 1940

2,290,971

Sheets-Sheet 3

<img file="US2290971A_D0005.tif" />

Patented July 28, 1942

2,290,971

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,290,971

ARTICLE CONTAINER

Herman C. Kii

Application June 25,

Claims.

This invention relates generally to article containers and to carrying handles therefor. More specifically, the invention relates to containers for carrying a plurality of cans or other rigid articles, which can be used as shipping containers holding a large number of cans and which can be separated or divided into two separate containers or cartons holding a lesser number of cans or other articles and to handle arrangements for such containers.

It has long been customary to pack commodities in tin cans and to pack a number of such cans into cases made of paper or fiber board. The number of cans which are customarily placed in such a case depends upon the size of the cans; two dozen ordinary size cans generally has been considered a case lot and the size of the cases or containers has been appropriate for such a number of cans. However, there has been a recent tendency on the part of distributors of certain commodities to reduce the number of cans in each case with the hope that such a reduction will result in increased sales of case lots to individual purchasers. This trend has been particularly noticeable among the distributors of beer and other malt beverages, which are customarily packed in twelve-ounce cans. Many leading brewers now distribute malt beverages in cases containing twelve such cans and there is an increasing tendency on the part of purchasers of malt beverages to purchase complete cases of twelve cans. In some instances, these cases have had their walls weakened along a line extending transversely about the midpoint of the container in order to facilitate separation of the container into two cartons, each containing six cans. In this manner it has been relatively simple to provide a carton of six cans for such individual purchasers as were reluctant to buy a complete case of twelve cans. However, no satisfactory handle arrangement has ever been developed which could be used as a handle for either the complete twelve-can case or for the two six-can cartons.

It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide a highly satisfactory handle arrangement which can be used for either a complete case or a half-case carton.

Another important object of this invention is to provide such a handle arrangement without a substantial increase in the cost of the containers and without making it necessary to materially alter the containers or the equipment used in the manufacture of the containers.

Other objects of my invention will be in part ig, Sweetser, Ind.

1940, Serial No. 342,373 (a. 229—52) apparent and, in part pointed out in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of my invention. In this description, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, 5 wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a complete container showing a handle member being used as a handle for the complete container;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the 10 container shown in Figure 1 with the handle member shown partly in section;

.Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows along the line 3—3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a half-case carton showing a handle member as used for carrying such a half-case carton and showing one form of top closure;

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a half20 case carton with portions of the walls broken away to show a modified form of top closure;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a box blank from which the complete container may be formed;

Figure 7 is a plan view of a suitable handle 25 member;

Figure 8 is a plan view of the top closure shown in Figure 4; and

Figure 9 is a plan view of the type of top closure shown in Figure 5.

so Like reference numerals are used in each of the views to designate the same or similar parts.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the reference numeral 10 designates generally a com-^:plete container, in this instance a container hold35 ing twelve cans. The container 10 is provided with a bottom II, side walls 12, 13, 17 and 18, and a top 14. In the past, it has been customary to provide the top and bottom of such containers with perforations such as those indicated at 16, 40 for the purpose of enabling the container to be carried by the purchaser by inserting his thumb and one finger through the perforations. Since perforations IS form no part of the present invention, they will not be further described.

A line 19 is shown extending transversely around the container at its approximate longitudinal midsection. This line 19 may be either a printed line, or it may be a line of scoring whereby the container may easily be severed or 50 separated into two similar cartons, which I have designated in Figure 1 as A and B. This separation can be done with a knife or any other suitable edged tool. If the line 19 is merely printed, it will serve as a guide for accurately 55 severing the container and if it is a line of per2 ό,ήβο,βΫΐ forations it will facilitate the cutting as well as act as a guide.

The walls 12 and 13 of the container are each shown as being provided with a pair of apertures which are designated by the reference numerals 20, 21, 22, and 23. The apertures 20 and 22 are located midway between the side walls 17 and 18 and approximately midway between the top 14 and the line 19. The apertures 2i and 23 are also located midway between the side walls 17 and 18 and are positioned approximately midway between the bottom ii and the line 19. In a modification of my invention, I contemplate that the apertures need not be punched out at the time that the container is made, but may merely have their out-line scored in order that they may be easily formed in the walls of the container. The apertures 20, 21, 22, and 23 are preferably polygonal in outline and I have shown them in the drawings as octagonal.

In Figure 7,1 have shown a handle member 24 having enlargements 25 at each end thereof. These enlargements provide inwardly facing shoulders 26 and 27 on opposite sides of the handle member and at each end thereof. The enlargements 25 are of such width that they will pass through any one of the apertures designated by the reference numerals 20 to 23 in the zone of the greatest horizontal width of the apertures. After an entire enlargement 25 has been inserted through one of the apertures, the handle member is turned upwardly In parallel relationship to the side walls in such manner that the shoulders 26 and 27 engage the walls of the aperture in a region of lesser horizontal length of the aperture, whereby the enlargement 25 will be retained within the aperture in a manner which it Is believed will be clearly understood by reference to the drawings and particularly to Figures 2 and 4 thereof.

Before the container is separated or severed, the handle member 24 may have its end enlargements 25 inserted in opposed apertures 20 and 22 in the manner just described and a handle will thus be provided for the entire container. After separation of the container into two cartons A and B, one of the cartons, for example, carton A, which must be inverted, is available as a carton for a half case of cans. The handle member 24 is then inserted through apertures 20 and 22 in much the same manner as previously described except that the handle member 24 is so inserted that it extends over and around the open end of the carton A. If two of the handle members 24 are provided for each complete container, it will thereby be possible to provide a handle arrangement for each carton after separation of the container.

In Figures 2 and 3,1 have shown a convenient manner for transporting the handle member 24 without their interfering in any way with the shipment of the complete containers or increasing the overall dimensions of such containers during shipment. The handle member 24 is merely folded upon itself at its midsection, indicated by the reference numeral 28 in Figure 7, and is then inserted through one of the apertures and between adjacent cans within the container.

In Figure 6,1 have shown a suitable blank for making the complete container shown in Figure 1. In this figure, I have designated by the same reference numerals as previously used, the side walls 12, 13, 17, and 18, the bottom 11 and the top 14. The flaps 29, 38, 31, and 32 may he folded under the side walls 17 and 13 in the manner well understood in this art. The flap 33 is adapted to be secured to the side wall 12 in the manner shown in Figure 2 by any suitable means, as, for example, staples 34.

Although they are not entirely necessary, I prefer to provide closures for the open upper ends of the individual cartons after severance of the complete container. In Figure 4, I have 10 shown one type of suitable closure in position on a carton. A detailed plan view of this closure is also shown in Figure 8 and is designated by the reference numeral 38. As is best shown in Figure 8, opposite ends of the closure member 38 15 are provided with recesses 38 adapted to receive the body portion of the handle member 24. If the closure member 35 is merely placed in position over the top of the open end of the carton, it will be held in such position by engagement of 2Q the handle member 24 with the recesses 36.

In Figure 5, I have shown a modified form of the closure member in position on a carton and this closure member is shown in detail on Figure 9 and is designated by the reference numcr₂₅ al 37. The closure member 37 is of the proper dimensions to fit Inside the open end of the carton and to rest upon the contained cans. To permit ready withdrawal of the closure member 37, I preferably provide it with a finger hole 38 in 30 order to enable it to be grasped and withdrawn.

The foregoing description is believed to be sufficient to enable those skilled in this art to practice my invention and to derive the benefits therefrom. It will be apparent that cans may be 35 packed in the containers which I have described and the pair of handle members may be inserted through the apertures in the described manner. In this way, the container occupies no more space during shipping than does a conventional con40 tainer. In the event that a purchaser desires to buy a complete container or case, the retailer may merely withdraw one of the handle members 24 and insert its large ends 28 in any two of the oppositely disposed apertures 28 to 23. A convenient and inexpensive handle member will thus 45 fie provided for the complete carton. In the event that a purchaser desires to buy only a half case, or even a lesser number of cans, the retailer may easily sever the complete container into two similar cartons and insert one of the handle mem⁵⁰ bers 24 in the proper apertures in such a manner that the body portion of the handle extends over the open end of the carton. In this way, a convenient handle is provided for either or both of the individual cartons.

⁵⁵ If desired, the closure members of the type indicated by the reference numeral 37 in Figure 5 may be included in the complete container when it is packed to thus obviate the necessity of separate shipment of closure members. However, as ⁶⁰ above indicated, the use of closure members may be entirely dispensed with without departing from the teachings of my invention.

The apertures 20 to 23 inclusive do not detract 65 from the appearance or strength of the container and facilitate the circulation of air through the container when it is placed in a cooling zone such as a refrigerator.

While I have illustrated what I believe to be 70 the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be distinctly understood that various modifications may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the fol75 lowing claims.