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US 7,438,181 B2Granted
Carrier and method
AssigneeE-Z Media, Inc.
InventorAngelo V. Cuomo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A carrier is provided with vertical support panels, each with a receptacle extending outwardly from its lower region. Each receptacle has a bottom panel which unfolds partially when the folded carrier is unfolded. An engagement structure such as a detent is provided to hold each bottom panel temporarily in the partially unfolded position to hold the receptacles open until the bottom panels are pressed downwardly by an object placed in the receptacle.
Claims16
A carrier comprising:
- a vertical support structure having at least one vertical support panel;
- at least one foldable receptacle secured to and foldable flat against said vertical support panel,
- said receptacle having vertical side panels, a vertical front panel foldably secured to said vertical side panels, and a bottom panel having a hinge edge and another edge opposite said hinge edge, and a pair of opposed side edges transverse to said hinge edge and said other edge;
- said bottom panel being hinged at said hinge edge to one of said vertical front panel and said vertical support panel to rotate between a vertical folded position and a horizontal unfolded position;
- said bottom panel being shaped and sized so that at least one of said side edges of said bottom panel engages one of said vertical side panels as it is being unfolded;
- and
- an engagement structure for causing said one side edge of said bottom panel to engage with said one vertical panel to hold said bottom panel in a position intermediate a horizontal and a vertical position until and object is loaded into said receptacle.
4 more elements
A carrier comprising:
- a vertical support structure having first and second vertical support panels secured together;
- a pair of foldable receptacles, each secured to and foldable flat against one of said vertical support panels;
- each of said receptacles having
- vertical side panels and a front panel foldably secured to said vertical side panels;
- a bottom panel having a hinge edge and another edge opposite said hinge edge, and a pair of opposed said edges transverse to said hinged edge and said other edge;
- said bottom panel being hinged at said hinge edge to one of said front panel and said vertical support panel to pivot between a vertical folded position and a horizontal unfolded position when said carrier is being unfolded;
- said bottom panel being shaped and sized so that at least one of said side edges of said bottom panel engages one of said vertical side panels of said receptacles as it is being unfolded;
- said one side edge of said bottom panel having a tab projecting therefrom;
- said one vertical side panel having a slot for receiving said tab;
- said one vertical side panel being an included panel;
- and
- said slot extending along a radius from the pivot point of said bottom panel at said hinge edge;
- said slot being located at an angle of from approximately 10° to 30° to approximately 60° to 80° from the plane of said bottom panel when it is fully unfolded.
10 more elements
A method of packaging beverage containers in carriers, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a vertical support structure having at least one vertical support panel;
- at least one foldable receptacle secured to and foldable flat against said vertical support panel,
- said receptacle having vertical side panels, a vertical front panel foldably secured to said vertical side panels, and a bottom panel having a hinged edge and another edge opposite said hinged edge, and a pair of opposed side edges transverse to said hinge edge and said other edge;
- said bottom panel being hinged at said hinge edge to one of said vertical front panel and said vertical support panel to rotate between a vertical folded position and a horizontal unfolded position;
- said bottom panel being shaped and sized so that at least one of said side edges of said bottom panel engages one of said vertical side panels as it is being unfolded;
- and
- an engagement structure for causing said one side edge of said bottom panel to engage with said one vertical panel to hold said bottom panel in a position intermediate a horizontal and a vertical position until and object is loaded into said receptacle;
- and
- (b) loading a beverage in a container into said receptacle by placing it into said receptacle and driving said bottom panel downwardly to disengage said engagement structure and position said bottom panel at the bottom of said receptacle.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.