US 6,041,920 A · Beverage carrier with separate partitions

Abstract

A carrier is provided which is made of a carrier box and a separate partition assembly which is secured in the carrier box. The partition assembly is made from transverse and cross partitions which have interengaging slots and tabs which lock together to form the partition assembly without the use of glue. The carrier box is formed from a simple blank having wall panels and bottom panels. The bottom panels are glued together to form a glued bottom and are shaped so that the outer of the bottom panels meet along a junction that is offset from the center of the carrier bottom. In an alternative, and preferred embodiment, the carrier box is formed from a one piece blank and the partition is formed from a one piece blank. The partition includes a transverse partition or divider and at least one cross-partition or divider. The partition is formed from a blank, which is preferably a one-piece blanks. The blank includes a first body section, a second body section, and a handle forming section. The first and second body sections are hingedly connected to each other at a bottom of the partition and form the transverse divider of the partition. The handle forming section is hingedly connected to the first body section at a top of the first body section. The first and second body portions each include at least one fold-out section to define the at least one cross-divider of the partition. Also shown are two embodiments of the carrier itself which includes locking means for holding the bottom of the carrier in place substantially without the use of glue.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A method for making a bottle carrier, the bottle carrier comprising a carrier box having front and back walls and side walls and a partition assembly having at least one transverse partition and at least one cross-partition, the transverse partition having a length substantially equal to the distance between the side walls of the carrier box and the cross-partition having a length substantially equal to the distance between the front and back walls of the carrier, said transverse and cross partitions having glue tabs, the method comprising

a) forming the carrier box from a single blank;
b) forming the partition assembly and folding the glue tabs of the partition assembly along fold lines;
c) inserting the partition assembly into the carrier box and adhering the partition assembly in the carrier box.

A beverage bottle carrier comprising a carrier box and a separate partition assembly which is secured in said box to divide the box into a plurality of bottle receiving cells;

the box having a front wall, a back wall, side walls, and a bottom;
said bottom being made of a plurality of panels which depend from said walls, two of said panels being inner panels and two of said panels being outer panels;
said inner and outer panels being secured to each other;
said bottom outer panels being sized to meet at a joint, said joint between said bottom outer panels being offset from a center of said carrier box bottom;
said partition being formed from a blank to define a transverse divider having a length substantially equal to the distance between said carrier box side walls and at least one cross-divider having a length substantially equal to the distance between said carrier box front and back walls, said partition blank including:
a first body section, a second body section, and a handle forming section;
said first and second body sections being hingedly connected to each other at a bottom of said partition, said handle forming section being hingedly connected to one of said first body section at a top of said first body section;
said first and second body sections defining the transverse divider;
said first and second body portions each including at least one fold-out section to define the at least one cross-divider.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Beverage carrier with separate partitions

Life of this patent

Beverage carrier with separate partitions

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23