EP0032127B1

EP0032127B1 - Article carrier and blank therefor

Info

Publication number: EP0032127B1
Application number: EP81300025A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Prentice J. Wood
Original assignee: Mead Corp
Current assignee: Mead Corp
Priority date: 1980-01-07
Filing date: 1981-01-06
Publication date: 1984-04-11
Also published as: EP0077082A2; ES264739Y; CA1164834A; EP0032127A2; DE3162999D1; ES264739U

Description

This invention relates to article carriers which are economical to manufacture and at the same time are well adapted for use in connection with returnable bottles.
Various methods have been utilized in the past in order to render conventional non-returnable article carriers suitable for use in connection with returnable articles such as are currently widely accepted by the consuming public. An example of this type of carrier in one form is disclosed in U.S. Patent 3,356,258. A recurring problem with these carriers is that whenever the carrier is opened to gain access to the articles, it is severely weakened which hampers or renders impossible its use in connection with return- ables. More recently the fully enclosed type carrier had been adopted for use with returnable articles. U.S. patent Re. 29,063 discloses an enclosed returnable carrier which, unlike the present invention, is of the wraparound type and U.S. Patent 3,090,520 discloses a side loading carrier which is not well adapted for use as a returnable carrier.
The article carrier disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,356,258 includes a handle partition which facilitates portage of the carrier after it has been opened. The handle partition is hinged directly to the bottom wall and consequently after repeated use, the carrier is weakened.
The carrier of the present invention also includes a handle partition but in order to maintain carton strength, improve durability, and provide for economical use of material the handle means is hinged to a secondary bottom panel.
According to one aspect of this invention there is provided an article carrier comprising a bottom wall, side wall means secured to the side edges of said bottom wall, a top panel secured to said side wall means and disposed substantially parallel to said bottom wall, characterized by a secondary bottom panel secured to said bottom wall and disposed in flat face contacting relation with the upper surface thereof, and by handle means secured to said secondary bottom panel and disposed substantially perpendicular thereto.
According to another aspect of this invention there is provided an article carrier blank comprising a top panel, a pair of end walls foldably joined respectively to the end edges of said top panel, a bottom wall foldably joined to one of said end walls remote from said top panel, and characterized by a secondary bottom panel foldably joined to said bottom wall remote from said one end wall, and handle means foldably joined to said secondary bottom panel.
Two embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In which:-

Figure 1 is an isometric view of an article carrier formed according to this invention,
Figure 2 is an isometric view of the carrier with a portion of the top panel partially removed,
Figure 3 is an isometric view of the carrier with a portion of the top panel completely removed,
Figure 4 is a plan view of the blank from which the carrier is formed,
Figures 5 and 6 depict intermediate stages through which the blank shown in Figure 4 is manipulated and glued in order to form a complete and collapsed carrier as shown in Figure 7,
Figure 8 is an isometric view of the carrier disposed in a condition appropriate for loading the articles therein.
Figure 1 a is an isometric view of a second article carrier formed according to this invention,
Figure 2a is an isometric view of the second carrier with a portion of the top panel partially removed,
Figure 3a is a plan view of the blank from which the second carrier is formed,
Figures 4a and 5a depict intermediate stages through which the blank shown in Figure 3a is manipulated and glued in order to form the complete and collapsed second carrier shown in Figure 6a,
Figure 7a is an isometric view of the second carrier disposed in a condition appropriate for loading the articles through the open sides thereof,
Figure 8a is a side view taken along the line 8-8 in Figure 1 a,
Figure 9a is a side view taken along the line 9-9 in Figure 1 a,
Figure 10 is a plan view of a portion of the blank from which a modified version of the second carrier is formed, and
Figure 11 is an isometric view of the modified form of the second carrier in condition for loading articles therein.

With reference to the drawings and with particular reference to Figure 4, the numeral 1 designates the bottom wall of the carrier to the side edges of which a portion of the side wall means in the form of lower side wall panels 2 and 3 is foldably joined along fold lines 4 and 5. To one end edge of bottom wall 1, secondary bottom panel 6 is foldably joined along fold line 7. In order to facilitate machine manipulation of the blank by eliminating some of the inherent stiffness in the paperboard material, bend lines 6a, 6b and 6c are provided and are formed in secondary bottom panel 6.
Handle means for the carrier is provided in the form of handle panel 8 which is foldably joined to one side of secondary bottom panel 6 along fold lines 9 and 10 and handle panel 11 which is foldably joined to the other side of secondary bottom panel 6 along fold lines 12 and 13.
Although two handle panels are shown in the drawings the handle means can also comprise, only one handle panel. Formed along the lower portions of handle panels 8 and 11 is cushioning means for the purpose of separating the articles disposed in the transverse direction of the carrier. Specifically cushioning panels 14, 15 and 16 are formed along the lower portion of handle panel 8 and cushioning panels 17, 18 and 19 are formed along the lower portion of handle panel 11. As is apparent from Figures 4 and 5, the lower edges of the cushioning panels 14-19 are curved. This feature of the invention facilitates the smooth entry of the articles onto secondary bottom panel 6 during the article loading operation.
To the other end edge of bottom wall 1, end wall 20 is foldably joined along fold line 21. In addition flaps 22 and 23 are foldably joined respectively to end wall 20 along fold lines 24 and 25. Similarly flaps 26 and 27 are foldably joined respectively to end wall 20 along fold lines 28 and 29.
According to this invention in one form, top panel or top wall 30 is foldably joined to the upper edge of end wall 20 along interrupted fold line 31. Carrier side wall means includes upper side wall panel 32 which is joined to top panel 30 along fold lines 33 and 34 as well as along severance lines 35 and 36 and upper side wall panel 37 which is joined to top panel 30 along fold lines 38 and 39 as well as along severance lines 40 and 41. Also severance lines 42 and 43 are formed in top panel 30 at one end thereof and severance lines 44 and 45 are formed in top panel 30 at the other end thereof. In order to facilitate opening of the carrier, thumb tab 46 is formed in top panel 30 and, adjacent to thumb tab 46, cut lines 47 and 48 are formed in the upper portion of end wall 20. For use in connection with the gluing of the carrier, fold lines 49 and 50 are formed respectively in upper side wall panels 32 and 37.
According to another feature of this invention, V- shaped bend lines 51 and 52 are formed in top panel 30. Each of the V- shaped bend lines 51 and 52 comprises side elements A and B. As is apparent from Figure 4, the side elements A and B of each V- shaped bend line 51 and 52 diverge in a direction toward thumb tab 46 which is the point at which removal of carrier top panel 30 is initiated. Additionally corner sections 30a, 30b, 30c and 30d are disposed at the respective corners of top panel 30.
To complete the basic elements of the blank, end wall 53 is foldably joined to an end edge of top panel 30 along fold line 54. Flaps 55 and 56 are foldably joined respectively to end wall 53 along fold lines 57 and 58. Likewise flaps 59 and 60 are foldably joined respectively to end wall 53 along fold lines 61 and 62. In addition glue flap 63 is joined to end wall 53 along fold line 64.
For the purpose of facilitating transport of the carrier, finger gripping apertures 65 and 66 are formed in top panel 30 and are defined by cushioning tabs 67 and 68 which are foldably joined respectively to top panel 30 along fold lines 69 and 70. To receive the necks of the packaged articles, neck receiving apertures 71-76 are provided. For the reason of insuring proper tearing of top panel 30, slits 42a and 43a are formed respectively on the periphery of neck receiving apertures 71 and 74. In order to reduce the amount of light which enters the carrier, a pair of tabs X and Y are associated with each neck receiving aperture.
To properly cushion and separate the heels of adjacent articles disposed in the longitudinal direction of the carrier, cushioning tabs 77-84 are provided and are foldably joined respectively to bottom wall 1 along fold lines 85-92. In addition each cushioning tab is provided with cutaway portion C, the purpose of which is described and claimed in U.S. patent number 4,186,867 filed August 14, 1978 and which is owned by the assignee of this invention.
Finger gripping apertures 93 and 94 are formed in handle panel 8 and, similarly, finger gripping apertures 95 and 96 are formed in handle panel 11. Also cushioning flaps 97 and 98 are foldably joined respectively to handle panel 8 along fold lines 99 and 100. In like fashion, cushioning flaps 101, and 102 are foldably joined respectively to handle panel 11 along fold lines 103 and 104. Cuts 97a, 98a, 101 a, and 102a are formed respectively in cushioning flaps 97, 98, 101 and 102. According to a features of this invention, finger gripping aperture 94 is slightly larger in size than corresponding finger gripping aperture 96 and likewise, finger gripping aperture 95 is slightly larger in size than corresponding finger gripping aperture 93.
To maintain the various elements of the blank in the proper relative positions during formation of the carrier, nicks N are provided at the lowermost points of cushioning panels 14-19 as well as along the outer edges of cushioning flaps 97, 98, 101, and 102. Nicks N simply constitute small paperboard connections between adjacent elements of the blank and are easily broken whenever the carrier is loaded or transported.
In order to form the carrier from the blank shown in Figure 4, initially it is necessary to make an application of glue to secondary bottom panel 6 as shown by stippling in Figure 4. Then secondary bottom panel 6 together with handle panels 8 and 11 are elevated and folded over along fold line 7 to occupy the positions shown in Figure 5. By this operation secondary bottom panel 6 is adhered to the upper surface of bottom wall 1.
Following this operation, bottom wall 1 together with secondary bottom panel 6 and handle panels 8 and 11 are all elevated and folded over along fold line 21 to occupy the positions shown in Figure 6. Then an application of glue is made to glue flap 63 as shown by stippling in Figure 6. Thereafter end wall 53 and the associated structure are elevated and folded over along fold line 54 to occupy the positions shown in Figure 7. By this operation glue flap 63 is adhered to bottom wall 1.
In order to set up the carrier from the collapsed condition shown in Figure 6, it is simply necessary to manipulate the blank into a position whereby the end walls are parallel to each other and, likewise, whereby the top panel and bottom wall are also parallel to each other. Following this handle panels 8 and 11 are swung upwardly into vertical positions whereby they are disposed substantially perpendicular to bottom wall 1 and secondary bottom panel 6. Also cushioning tabs 77-84 are elevated into vertical positions. Then upper side wall panels 32 and 37 are swung upwardly into substantially vertical positions and lower side wall panels 2 and 3 are manipulated into horizontal positions. The carrier then appears as shown in Figure 8.
In order to load the carrier, articles are guided into the article cells by means of appropriate article loading machinery. Subsequent to this flaps 22, 23, 26, 27, 55, 56 59 and 60 are swung inwardly of the carrier and glue is applied to flaps 23, 27, 55 and 59. Thereafter lower side wall panels 2 and 3 are elevated and secured to the associated flaps. Then upper side wall panels 32 and 37 are lowered and, generally simultaneously with this operation, the ends thereof are rotated outwardly approximately 180° along fold lines 49 and 50 respectively. Glue is then applied to the exposed end portions of upper side wall panels 32 and 37 which are then rotated into a glued relationship with the respective lower side wall panels 2 and 3. The carrier then appears as shown in Figure 1.
In order to open the carrier for removal of the packaged articles, it is simply necessary to grasp thumb tab 46 and to pull top panel 30 upwardly. By this operation the inner portion of top panel 30 is severed along severance lines 44,45, 36,41, 35, 40, 42 and 43 and slits 42a and 43a. The carrier then appears as shown in Figure 3.
When the inner portion of top panel 30 is removed, tearing thereof in a manner other than along the desired severance lines is prevented by means of V-shaped bend lines 51 and 52. As the removal of top panel 30 is initiated by the lifting of thumb tab 46 and tearing along severance lines 44 and 45, the V-shaped orientation of V-shaped bend line 51 causes the portions of top pane 30 on either side of the side elements A and B to form upwardly diverging relationships therefrom. This in turn causes a tension force at points D and E along the side edges of top panel 30 at which points tearing is caused to occur and then continue along severance lines 36 and 41. Therefore by this invention any undesired tearing of top panel 30 is prevented especially as commonly occurs about the inner edges of the associated neck receiving apertures such as elements 73 and 76. The same structural relationship exist in connection with V-shaped bend line 52.
Therefore after the removable portion of top panel 30 has been discarded, the articles are removed and the contents thereof consumed as desired. The empty articles can then simply be placed into the carrier which is conveniently returned to the point of purchase by proper utilization of the handle means in the form of handle panels 8 and 11. Since at least a portion of the bottom of each article is disposed on secondary bottom panel 6, added reinforcement is achieved when the carrier is lifted by means of handle panels 8 and 11. Further strength is achieved by means of corner sections 30a, 30b, 30c and 30d which operate to connect upper side wall panels 32 and 37 to end walls 20 and 53.
According to another feature of this invention, finger gripping aperture 94 is somewhat larger in size than corresponding finger gripping aperture 96. As cushioning flap 98 is forced into finger gripping aperture 96, it tends to bind against the sides of finger gripping aperture 96 since it is slightly wider. Therefore handle panels 8 and 11 are locked in upright positions and do not separate and interfere with removal and replacement of the articles. Of course if the user's fingers are inserted through the other side of the handle means, the same relationship exists in the opposite direction between finger gripping apertures 95 and finger gripping aperture 93.
A second article carrier embodying the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings and with particular reference to Figure 3a, the numeral 1' designates the bottom wall of the second carrier. Lower side wall panels 2' and 3', forming a portion of the carrier side wall means are foldably joined along fold lines 4' and 5' respectively to the side edges of bottom wall 1'. To one end edge of bottom wall 1', supplementary bottom panel 6' is foldably joined along fold line 7'.
Handle means for the second carrier is provided in the form of handle panels 8' and 9' which are foldably joined together along fold line 10'. In addition handle panel 9' is joined to supplementary bottom panel 6' along spaced parallel fold lines 11' and 12'. Fastening tab 13' is struck from handle panel 9' and is joined to handle panel 8' along spaced parallel fold lines 14' and 15'. Connecting panels 16' and 17' are struck from the handle means and are foldably joined respectively to handle panels 8' and 9' along diagonal fold lines 18' and 19'.
Anchoring tab 20' is also struck from handle means and is formed intermediate connecting panels 16' and 17' and is foldably joined thereto respectively along interrupted fold lines 21' and 22'. Although two handle panels are shown in the drawings, the handle means can also comprise only one handle panel in which case either connecting panel 16' or 17' would be omitted as is obvious.
To the other end edge of bottom wall 1', end wall 23' is foldably joined along fold line 24'. In addition flaps 25' and 26' are foldably joined respectively to end wall 23' along fold lines 27' and 28'. Similarly flaps 29' and 30' are foldably joined respectively to end wall 23' along fold lines 31' and 32'.
Top panel or top wall 33' is foldably joined to the upper edge of end wall 23' along interrupted fold line 34'. Carrier side wall means includes upper side wall panel 35' which is joined to top panel 33' along fold lines 36' and 37' as well as along weakened severance lines 38' and 39' and upper side panel wall panel 40' which is joined to top panel 33' along fold lines 41' and 42' as well as along weakened severance lines 43' and 44'. Also weakened severance lines 45' and 46' are formed in top panel 33' at one end thereof and similar severance lines 47' and 48' are formed in top panel 33' at the other end thereof.
In order to facilitate opening of the carrier, thumb tab 49' is formed in top panel 33' and, adjacent to thumb tab 49', cut lines 50' and 51' are formed in the upper portion of end wall 23'. In order to facilitate gluing of the second carrier, fold lines 52' and 53' are formed respectively in upper side wall panels 35' and 40'.
In addition V-shaped bend lines 54' and 55' as well as corner sections 56', 57', 58' and 59' are formed in top panel 33'. These features are described in detail in relation to the previous embodiment.
To complete the basic elements of the blank, end wall 60' is foldably joined to an end edge of top panel 33' along fold line 61'. Flaps 62' and 63' are foldably joined respectively to end wall 60' along fold lines 64' and 65'. Likewise flaps 66' and 67' are foldably joined respectively to end wall 60' along fold lines 68' and 69'. In addition glue flap 70' is joined to end wall 60' along fold line 71'.
For the purpose of facilitating transport of the carrier, finger gripping apertures 72' and 73' are formed in top panel 33' and are foldably joined respectively thereto along fold lines 74' and 75'. To receive the necks of the packages articles, neck receiving apertures 76'-81' are provided. For the purpose of insuring proper tearing of top panel 33', slits 82' and 83' are formed respectively on the periphery of neck receiving apertures 76' and 79'.
To properly cushion and separate the heels of adjacent articles, cushioning tabs 84'-95' are struck from bottom wall 1'. Cushioning tabs 84'-93' are foldably joined respectively to bottom wall 1' along fold lines 96'-105'. In addition cushioning tab 94' is joined to bottom wall 1' along parallel spaced fold lines 106' and 107' and, likewise, cushioning tab 95' is joined to bottom wall 1' along parallel spaced fold lines 108' and 109'.
Finger gripping apertures 110' and 111' are formed in handle panel 8' and, similarly, finger gripping apertures 112' and 113' are formed in handle panel 9'. Also cushioning flaps 114' and 11 5' are foldably joined respectively to handle panel 8' along fold lines 116' and 117'. In like fashion, cushioning flaps 118' and 119' are foldably joined respectively to handle panel 9' along fold lines 120' and 121'.
In order to form the second carrier from the blank shown in Figure 3a, initially it is necessary to make an application of glue to supplementary bottom panel 6', cushioning tabs 94" and 95' and fastening tab 13' as shown by stippling in Figure 3a. Then supplementary bottom panel 6' together with handle panels 8' and 9' and the associated structure are elevated and folded over along fold line 7' to occupy the positions shown in Figure 4a. By this operation, supplementary bottom panel 6' and fastening tab 13' are adhered to the upper surface of bottom wall 1'. Also cushioning tabs 94' and 95' are adhered respectively to handle panels 9' and 8'.
Following this operation, an application of glue is made to the exposed surface of anchoring tab 20' as shown by stippling in Figure 4a. Then bottom wall 1' together with supplementary bottom panel 6' and handle panels 8' and 9' are all elevated and folded over along fold line 24' to occupy the positions shown in Figure 5a. Anchoring tab 20' is then adhered to the inner surface of end wall 23'.
Then an application of glue is made to glue flap 70' as shown by stippling in Figure 5a. Thereafter end wall 60' and the associated structure are elevated and folded over along fold line 61' to occupy the positions shown in Figure 6a. By this operation, glue flap 70' is adhered to bottom wall 1'.
In order to set up the second carrier from the collapsed condition shown in Figure 6a, it is simply necessary to manipulate the blank into a position whereby the end walls are parallel to each other and whereby the top panel and bottom wall are also parallel to each other. Simultaneously with this, handle panels 8' and 9' and cushioning tabs 94' and 95' are pulled upwardly automatically into vertical positions by connecting panels 16' and 17' and anchoring tab 20' whereby they are disposed substantially perpendicular to bottom wall 1' and in overlapping relationship respectively with connecting panels 16' and 17'. Also cushioning tabs 84'-93' are elevated into vertical positions. Cushioning tabs 88' and 89' in effect fill the void formed by connecting panels 16' and 17' when set up. Then upper side wall panels 35' and 40' are swung upwardly into substantially vertical positions and lower side wall panels 2' and 3' are manipulated into horizontal positions. The second carrier then appears as shown in Figure 7a and is in condition for loading through its sides.
In order to load the second carrier, articles are guided into the article cells from both sides by means of appropriate article loading machinery. Subsequent to this flaps 25', 26', 29', 30', 62', 63', 66' and 67' are swung inwardly of the carrier and glue is applied to flaps 26', 30', 63' and 67'. Thereafter lower side wall panels 2' and 3' are elevated and secured to the associated flaps. Then upper side wall panels 35' and 40' are lowered and, generally simultaneously with this operation, the ends thereof are rotated outwardly approximately 180° along fold lines 52' and 53' respectively. Glue is then applied to exposed end portions of upper side wall panels 35' and 40' which are then rotated into a glued relationship with the respective lower side wall panels 2' and 3'. The second carrier then appears as shown in Figure 1a.
In order to open the second carrier for removal of the packaged articles, it is simply necessary to grasp thumb tab 49' and to pull top panel 33' upwardly as shown in Figure 2a. By this operation the inner portion of top panel 33' is severed along weakened severance lines 47', 48', 39', 44', 38', 43', 45' and 46' and slits 82' and 83'.
A modification of the second carrier is depicted in Figures 10 and 11. Corresponding elements of the second carrier are identified in Figures 10 and 11 with the subscript "a". From Figure 10 it is apparent that cushioning tabs 88', 89', 94' and 95' as shown in the blank of Figure 3a are omitted. Also fastening tab 13' is omitted and supplementary bottom panel 6' is extended in order to provide a greater amount of material to be adhered to bottom wall 1'. Additionally cushioning tabs 122' and 123' are integrally formed respectively along the lower portions of connecting panels 16' and 17'. As shown in Figure 11 cushioning tabs 122' and 123' in effect replace cushioning tabs 88' and 89' of the version of this invention shown in Figures 1 a-9.
Thus, a strong carrier is provided since handle panels 8' and 9' are directly secured to the carrier bottom and are secured to one of the carrier end walls by means of connecting panels 16' and 17' and anchoring tab 20'. As a result any tendency for the handle structure to separate from the bottom wall is greatly reduced.
Also, in the completed carrier, spaced parallel fold lines 11' and 12' are disposed in coincidence respectively with spaced fold lines 106' and 107'. Likewise spaced fold lines 14' and 15' are disposed respectively in coincidence with spaced fold lines 109' and 108'. A double thickness of paperboard is provided at the various points of article contact and these spaced parallel fold lines facilitate manipulation and folding of cushioning tabs 94' and 95' at the points where the carrier paperboard is of double thickness and particularly difficult to bend.

Claims

1. An article ,carrier comprising a bottom wall (1), side walls means (2, 3, 32, 37) secured to the side edges of said bottom wall, a top panel (30) secured to said side wall means and disposed substantially parallel to said bottom wall, characterized by a secondary bottom panel (6) secured to said bottom wall (1) and disposed in flat fact contacting relation with the upper surface thereof, and by handle means (8, 11) secured to said secondary bottom panel (6) and disposed substantially perpendicular thereto.

2. An article carrier according to claim 1, further characterized in that said handle means comprises a pair of handle panels (8, 11).

3. An article carrier according to claim 2, further characterized by a pair of finger gripping apertures (93, 94, 95, 96) formed in each of said handle panels, a pair of cushioning flaps (97, 98, 101, 102) foldably joined to each of said handle panels and disposed respectively in said finger gripping apertures, and in that one of said finger gripping apertures in each of said handle panels is larger in size than the corresponding finger gripping aperture in the other handle panel.

4. An article carrier according to claim 2 or claim 3, further characterized by cushioning means (14-19) formed along the lower portion of each of said handle panels.

5. An article carrier according to claim 4, further characterized in that the lower edges of said cushioning means are curved.

6. An article carrier according to claim 4 or claim 5, further characterized by a plurality of nicks (N) interconnecting said cushioning means and adjacent portions of the carrier.

7. An article carrier according to claim 1, further characterized by an article disposed on one side of said handle means and in that at least a portion of the bottom of said article is disposed on said secondary bottom panel.

8. An article carrier according to claim 1, further characterized in that said secondary bottom panel is foldably joined to an edge of said bottom wall.

9. An article carrier according to claim 1, further characterized by a pair of end walls (23', 60') secured respectively to the ends of said bottom wall and in that said handle means (8', 9') is interconnected with one of said end walls (23').

10. An article carrier according to claim 9, further characterized in that said handle means comprises a pair of handle panels (8', 9').

11. An article carrier according to claim 10, further characterized in that said pair of handle panels are foldably joined to respective ones of a pair of connecting panels (16', 17') and in that said connecting panels are secured to said one end wall (23') and disposed in overlapping relationship respectively with said pair of handle panels (8', 9').

12. An article carrier according to claim 11, further characterized in that an anchoring tab (20') is secured to said one end wall (23') and in that said pair of connecting panels (16', 17') are joined to said anchoring tab along the edges thereof remote from said pair of handle panels.

13. An article carrier according to any of claims 9 to 12, further characterized in that said handle means is joined to said secondary bottom panel by means of parallel spaced fold lines (11', 12').

14. An article carrier according to claim 13, further characterized in that a fastening tab (13') is joined to said handle means by a pair of parallel spaced fold lines (14', 15').

15. An article carrier according to claim 14, further characterized in that a pair of cushioning tabs (84'-95') are each joined to said bottom wall by means of a pair of parallel spaced fold lines (96'-105').

16. An article carrier according to claim 15, further characterized in that said pairs of parallel fold lines associated with said bottom wall are disposed in coincidence with the corresponding pairs of parallel spaced fold lines associated with said handle means.

17. An article carrier according to claim 1, further characterized by a pair of end walls (23', 60') secured respectively to the ends of said bottom wall, in that a connecting panel (16' or 17') is struck from and foldably joined to, the handle means (8' or 9'), and in that an anchoring tab (20') is foldably joined to said connecting panel and secured in flat face contacting relation to the inside surface of one of said end walls (23'), at least a portion of said top panel (33') being removable to afford access to said handle means.

18. A carrier according to claim 17, further characterized in that said connecting panel is disposed in flat face contacting relation to said handle panel.

19. A carrier according to claim 17 or claim 18, further characterized in that said connecting panel is joined to said handle panel along a diagonal fold line (18', 19') and to said anchoring tab (20') along a substantially vertical fold line (21', 22').

20. An article carrier according to claim 11, further characterized in that a pair of cushioning tabs (122' or 123') are integrally formed respectively along the lower portions of said pair of connecting panels (16', 17').

21. An article carrier according to claim 17, further characterized in that a cushioning tab (122' or 123') is formed along the lower portion of said connecting panel (16' or 17').

22. An article carrier blank comprising a top panel (30), a pair of end walls (20, 53) foldably joined respectively to the end edges of said top panel, a bottom wall (1) foldably joined to one of said end walls remote from said top panel, and characterized by a secondary bottom panel (6) foldably joined to said bottom wall remote from said one end wall, and handle means (8, 11) foldably joined to said secondary bottom panel.

23. An article carrier blank according to claim 22, further characterized in that said handle means comprises one handle panel (8) foldably joined to said secondary bottom panel (6) along one side thereof and another handle panel (11) foldably joined to said secondary bottom panel along the other side (12, 13) thereof.

24. An article carrier blank according to claim 22, or claim 23, further characterized by a pair of upper side wall panels (32, 37) foldably joined respectively to the side edges of said top panel and a pair of lower side wall panels (2, 3) foldably joined respectively to the side edges of said bottom wall.

25. An article carrier blank according to any of claims 22 to 24, further characterized by a V-shaped bend line (51, 52) formed in said top panel.

26. An article carrier blank according to any of claims 22 to 25, further characterized by a pair of connecting panels struck (16', 17') from the handle means (8', 9') and foldably joined thereto.

27. An article carrier blank according to claim 26, further characterized in that an anchoring tab (20') is struck from the handle means (8', 9') and interposed between and foldably joined to said connecting panels (16', 17').

28. An article carrier blank according to claim 26, further characterized in that a fastening tab (13') is struck from said handle means and joined thereto by means of a pair of parallel spaced fold lines (14', 15').