US3232517A - Separator for bottle carriers - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 1, 1966 A. J. WEISS SEPARATOR FOR BOTTLE CARRIERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Jan. 13, 1960 Feb. 1, 1966 A. J. WEISS SEPARATOR FOR BOTTLE CARRIERS Original Filed Jan. 13, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ARTHUR J. Wass ATTzuEYs United States Patent 3,232,517 SEPARATOR FDR BOTTLE CARRIERS Arthur J. Weiss, Bergeufield, N..l., assiguor to Continental Can Company, Inc, I ew York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Original application Jan. 13, 1960, Ser. No. 2,225, new Patent No. 3,166,228, dated Jan, 19, 1965. Divided and this application May 19, 1961, Ser. No. 111,391 9 Claims. (Cl. 229-42) This application is a divisional application based upon my copending application Serial No. 2,225, filed January 13, 1960, and entitled: Separator for Bottle Carriers, now Patent No. 3,166,228, granted January 19, 1965.

This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in the container art, and more particularly relates to new and useful separators for use in conjunction with bottle carriers.

The essential requirements of a carrier for bottles, such as soft drink bottles, include a jacket which may be passed around a plurality of bottles and engaged beneath the bottoms thereof, the bottles passing through suitable openings in the top portion of the jacket. The jacket must be provided with a suitable handle to facilitate the carrying of the bottles, and a separator intermediate the bottles to prevent the bottles from striking each other and the resultant chipping or breaking of the bottles. The present invention relates to a jacket of the type which is passed around a series of bottles, for example, six bottles, and secures together the bottles as a unit. In the simplest form, this jacket is merely an elongated blank which is passed down over the necks of the bottles and then is folded beneath the bottoms of the bottles and is connected together. In order to maintain the simplicity of the jacket, it is desirable that the separator for the bottles be separate and independent from the jacket in its initial state. It is to this type of separator that the present invention relates.

It is an object of the invention to provide a separator for use in a bottle carrier, which separator is in the form of a blank having a plurality of partition members out therefrom, the partition members being swingable with respect to the blank to positions normal to the plane of the blank, and the partition members being so arranged and connected to the blank whereby they may be mechanically pushed from the plane of the blank to their bottle separating positions so that the separator may be mechanically formed and positioned automatically with respect to a group of bottles which are to be packaged within a jacket.

Another object of the invention is to provide a very simple separator for use in conjunction with bottle carriers of the jacket type, the separator being in the form of a blank having a cut-out extending a major portion of the length thereof, the cut-out defining two partitions which are hingedly connected to the body of the blank and which may be swung from the plane of the blank to positions normal to the plane of the blank, the partition members having generally zig-zag ends which are complemental so that the combined lengths of the partition members may be greater than the length of the cut-out, thus permitting wider partition members than are normally available.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel separator for use in a bottle carrier for separating the individual bottles within the carrier to prevent the engagement of the bottles with each other, the separator being formed from a folded blank which is divided into two halves, and each of the halves is provided with an elongated cut-out defining a pair of partition members swingable from the plane of the blank half to a position normal 3,232,517 Fatented Feb. 1, 1966 "ice to the plane of the blank half, the partition members of the two halves of the blank being generally aligned with each other and being secured together in the formation of the separator from the blank, and there being a projecting finger on one of the blank halves for each of the partition members whereby when the partition members are swung from the plane of the folded blank, they will be locked in their bottle separating positions by the projecting fingers.

A further object of the invention is to provide a separator for use in separating the bottles disposed within a bottle carrier, the separator being formed from a folded blank which has a pair of similar halves, each of the halves having an elongated cut-out defining two partition members which are hingedly connected to the blank for swinging out of the plane of the blank to planes normal to the plane of the blank, the partition members of the two blank halves being generally aligned and being secured together to form two ply partition members, one of the plies of each of the partition members being of a larger outline than the other ply, whereby swinging of the partition members from the plane of the folded blank is limited to one direction only.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel separator for use within a carrier for bottles for separating the individual bottles from each other, the separator being formed from a folded blank and including a pair of centrally located partition members which are cut from the blank and are hingedly connected to the blank for swinging from the plane of the blank to positions generally normal to the plane of the blank, the ends of the blank halves being spread apart to form stop portions at the ends of the separator to prevent the outward movement of endmost bottles within the bottle carrier.

With the above, and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a bottle carrier and shows the jacket of the bottle carrier provided with a separator.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the separator of FIGURE 1 removed from the remainder of the bottle carrier, and shows the specific details thereof.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the details of the latch mechanism for retaining one of the partition members of the separator in a position swung from the plane of the body of the separator.

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the section line 44 of FIGURE 1, and shows the specific relationship between the separator and bottles carried by the bottle carrier.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the blank from which the separator of FIGURE 2 is formed.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 1 of a bottle carrier employing another form of separa tor.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the separator removed from the remainder of the bottle carrier, and shows the specific details thereof.

FIGURE 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the section line 88 of FIGURE 6, and shows the specific relationship of the separator with respect to bottles disposed within the bottle carrier.

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of the blank from which the separator of FIGURE 7 is formed.

Reference is first made to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 5, inclusive, of

the drawings. The bottle carrier illustrated in FIGURE 1 is generally referred to by the numeral 50, and is designed for carrying six bottles B. The bottles have been omitted from FIGURE 1 for purposes of clarity, although they are illustrated in FIGURE 4. The bottle carrier 50 is formed of three basic components. These include a jacket 26 which extends about the lower portions of the bottles B. The jacket 26 is not a part of this invention as such, and therefore will not be fully described. The jacket 26 is formed from a single elongated blank which is folded to define an upper portion 27 having two rows of openings 28 formed therein for the reception of necks of bottles B. The upper portion 27 is also provided with an elongated slot 29 through which a handle portion passes.

The jacket 26 also includes a bottom portion 31 which is formed by overlapping flaps 32 and 33, the flaps 32 and 33 being secured together by means of a plurality of tabs 34, ea ch of the tabs 34 underlying andv being in alignment with a pair of the bottles B. Thus, the bot- 'tles B serve to hold the tabs 34. in place.

The bottle carrier 50 also includes a separator 51. As is best illustrated in FIGURE 5, the separator 51 is formed from an elongated, generally rectangular blank 52 The blank 52 is divided into halves 53, 54 by a central transverse fold line 55. The half 53 has a reduced width handle-forming extension 56. projecting therefrom remote from the fold line 55. The half 54 has a similar handle-forming portion 57 projecting therefrom remote from the fold line 55.

The handle-forming portion 56 is provided with a cut-out 58 which defines a finger-receiving opening. A portion of the material within the cut-out 58 is removed, as at 59, and the cut-out 58 defines a flap 60 which is hingedly connected to the remainder of the handle forming portion 56 by a hinge line 61. It is to be noted that the flap 60 is generally rectangular in outline.

A cut-out 62 is formed in the handle-forming portion 57 generally in alignment with the cut-out 58. A portion of the material of the handle-forming portion 57 defined by the cut-out 62 is removed, as at63. The cutout 62 also defines a flap 64 which is connected to the remainder of the handle-forming portion 57 by a fold line 65. It is to be noted that the side edges of the cutout 62 are sinusoidal andthat the flap 64 also has sinusoidal edges. The maximum width of the flap 64 corresponds generally to the width of the flap 60, with parts of the handle-forming portion 57 projecting into the opening defined by the cut-out 62 functioning as stop mem bers 66. The purpose of these stopmembers 66 will be described in detail hereinafter.

The blank half 53 is provided with an elongated, generally rectangular cut-out 67 which terminates adjacent the side edges of the half 53. The cut-out 67 defines a pair of partition member plies 68, 69 which are separated by a zig-zag line 70, the zig-zag line 70 defining complemental fingers 71 on the opposed ends of the plies 68 and 69.

The shape of the cut-out 67 is such as to define a pair of projecting portions 72 which project into the central part of each of the plies 68, 69. The projecting portions 72 of each of the plies are disposed in opposed relation and are generally triangular in outline. Each of the pro= jecting portions 72 terminates in an inwardly projecting finger or tab 73. Each pair of the projecting portions 72 are connected to their respective one of the plies 68, 69 by a pair of aligned fold lines 74. The connection between the plies 68, 69 and the remainder of the blank half 53 is such as to permit swinging of the plies 68, 69 out of the plane of the blank half 53.

The blank half 54 is provided with a cut-out 75 which is similar in outline to the cut-out 67, but differs therefrom in that it is slightly smaller than the cut-out 67. The cut-out 75 defines a pair of partition member plies 76, 77 which are separated by azig-Zag line 78, the

zig-zag line 78 defining a plurality of fingers 79 on the opposed ends of the plies 76, 77, the fingers 79 being complementary to each other.

The shape of the cut-out 75 is such as to provide a pair of inwardly projecting portions 80 projecting inwardly into each of the plies 76, 77. The projecting portions 80 are disposed in opposed relation and are generally triangular in outline. It is to be noted that the projecting portions 89 are slightly wider than the projecting portions 72. The projecting portions 86 are integrally connected to their respective plies 76 and 77 along aligned fold lines 81 so that the plies 76 and 77 may swing out of the plane of the blank 52.

The blank 52 is folded along the central fold line 55 and the opposed portions thereof are adhered together. The flaps 60 and 64 are secured together to form a single flap, and the plies 68 and 76 are secured together to form a partition member 82, whereas the plies 69 and 77 are secured together to form a partition member 83.

As is best illustrated in FIGURE 2, the partition members 82 and 83 can be swung from the plane of the separator 51 in one direction only. This is due to the fact that the plies 68 and 69 are larger than the plies 76, 77, respectively. As before, the partition members 82 and 83 will be moved out of the plane of the separator 51 by mechanical fingers which will push on them. Once the partition members 82 and 83 have been swung to positions approximately at right angles to the plane of the separator 51, they will be locked against return by the fingers 73, as is best shown in FIGURE 3. For example, with respect to the partition member 83, it will be seen that as the partition member 83 is swung at right angles to the plane of the separator 51, the ply 77 will pass over the finger 73 and down behind the finger 73, thus precluding the return of the partition member 83 to the plane of the separator 51.

As is best illustrated in FIGURE 4, the separator 51 is intended to separate six bottles B disposed within the jacket 26. The main portion of the separator 51 is disposed between two rows of three bottles each and the partition members 82 and 83 are disposed between adjacent bottles of the individual rows. During the packaging operation, the partition member 51 is first positioned between the six bottles B as they pass along a conveyor. The jacket 26 is then placed down over the bottles and the separator 51 with the handle-forming portions 56 and 57 passing upwardly through the slot 29 in the upper portion of the jacket 26 and defining a handle referred to by the numeral 84-. The jacket 26 is. then wrapped around the bottoms of the bottles B and the bottom portions thereof secured together to complete the package. The flaps 60 and 64, which have been secured together, are then swung out of the plane of the handle 84, with the flap 6%) being disposed behind the ears 66 and thus retaining the flaps in a. suitable carrying position, as is best illustrated in FIGURE 2.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 6 through 9, inclusive, wherein another form of the invention is illustrated, In FIGURE, 6 there is illustrated a bottle carrier, generally referred to by the numeral 90. The bottle carrier is formed of a suitable jacket, such as the jacket 26, and a separator, generally referred to by the numeral 91, the separator 91 being formed in accordance with the invention. The separator 91 is formed from a blank, generally referred to by the numeral 92, the blank 92 being illustrated in FIGURE 9.

The blank 92 is provided in the central portion thereof with three cut-outs 93, 94 and 95. The cut-outs are each of an elongated, rectangular configuration, and the cut-outs are in spaced alignment transversely of the blank 92 along the center line thereof. The spacing of the cutouts 93, 94 and 95 corresponds generally to the spacing of the tabs 34 which lock together the bottom portions of the jacket 26.

Fold lines 97 and 98 extend between the cut-outs 93,

94 and 95 along the center line of the blank 92. A pair of outwardly diverging fold lines 99 extend outwardly from the outer corner of the cut-out 93 to the outer edge of the blank 92 and define a wedge-shaped spreader member 100. Similar outwardly diverging fold lines 101 extend outwardly from the outer corners of the cutout 95 to the opposite edge of the blank 92 and define a wedge-shaped spreader member 102. The fold lines 97, 98, 99, and 101, together with the cut-outs 93, 94 and 95 divide the blank 92 into halves 103 and 104.

The blank half 103 is provided with a recess 105 in the upper edge thereof. A similar recess 106 is formed in the blank half 104. It is to be understood that the separator 91 does not have a handle formed integral therewith, as in the case of the separator 51, and therefore, the upper portion of the separator 91 is recessed to provide clearance for a handle 107 which is separate and independent from both the jacket 26 and the separator 91, and which extends upwardly through the upper portion of the jacket 26 through the slot 29 formed therein.

The blank half 103 has a large rectangular cut-out 108 formed therein, the cut-out 108 terminating adjacent the sideedges of the blank half 103. The cut-out 108 defines a pair of partition member forming plies 109 and 110 which are separated by a zig-zag cut line 111 defining a plurality of fingers 112 on opposed edges of the plies 109, 110, the fingers being complemental to each other. The cut-out 108 also defines a pair of generally triangular projecting portions for each of the plies 109, 110, the projecting portions being referred to by the numeral 113 and projecting inwardly into their respective plies. The projecting portions 113 are integrally connected to their respective plies 109, 110 along aligned fold lines 114, which permits the swinging of the plies 109, 110, out of the plane of the blank half 103. The inner portion of each of the projecting portions 113 terminates in a finger or tab 115 which functions as a locking device in a manner to be described in detail hereinafter.

The blank half 104 is also provided with an elongated generally rectangular cut-out 116. The cut-out 116 defines a pair of partition member forming plies 117, 118. The outline of the cut-out 116 is slightly smaller than that of the cut-out 108, with the result that the plies 117 and 118 are slightly smaller than the plies 109, 110. At this time, it is pointed out that the cut-out 108 is aligned with the cut-out 116.

The cut-out 116 defines a pair of inwardly projecting portions 119 for each of the plies 117, 118. The inwardly projecting portions 119 project inwardly into their respective one of the plies and are generally triangular in outline. Each pair of inwardly projecting portions 119 is integrally connected to its associated ply by aligned fold lines 120 which facilitate the swinging of the plies 117, 118 out of the plane of the blank half 104.

It is to be noted that the plies 117, 118 are separated by a zig-zag out line 121 which defines a plurality of complemental fingers on the opposed ends of the plies 117, 118. The fingers defined by the cut line 121 are referred to by the numeral 122.

When it is desired to form the separator 91, the blank 92 is folded along the fold lines 97, 98, 99 and 101. This folding of the blank 92 results in the central portion of the separator 91 being in opposed touching relation whereas the outer portions thereof are spaced apart by the spreader members 100 and 102. Thus, the individual blank halves 103, 104 retain their identity. The ply 109 is aligned with the ply 117 and combines therewith to form a partition member 123. Also, the ply 110 is aligned with the ply 118 and combines therewith to define a partition member 124. When the blank 92 is so folded, the partition members 123, 124 are swung out of the general plane of the folded blank to positions substantially at right angles to the plane of the folded blank, as is best illustrated in FIGURE 7. This is preferably done by mechanical means in an automatic assembly (not shown). When the partition members 123, 124 are swung to the positions illustrated in FIGURE 7, the plies 109, swing past the fingers and the fingers 115 function as stop members or latches against the return of the partition members 123, 124 to the general planes of the blank 92. The partition members 123, 124 now serve to hold together the central portion of the separator 91, as is best illustrated in FIGURE 7. Incidentally, if it is so desired, small quantities of adhesive may be placed generally in alignment with the projecting portions 113 and 119 to accomplish the desired securing together of the central portion of the separator 91.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 8 in particular, wherein it is shown that the separator 91 is to be used in conjunction with six bottles B disposed within the jacket 26. The main body of the separator 91 is disposed between two rows of three bottles each, and the partition members 123, 124 are disposed between adjacent bottles in the individual rows. It is to be noted that the spread ends of the separator 91 function as stops to prevent the outward movement of the outermost bottles within the bottle carrier 90.

In assembling a package utilizing the bottle carrier 90, the separator 91 is positioned with respect to the six bottles as they pass along a conveyor to the packaging station. Then, the jacket 26, equipped with the handle 107, is placed down over the bottles B with the necks of the bottles passing through the openings 28 in the upper portion of the jacket 26. The bottom part of the jacket 26 is then folded inwardly and is locked together by the tabs 34 to complete the package.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that novel and advantageous provision has been made for carrying out the desired end. However, attention is directed to the fact that variations may be made in the example separators disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A separator for use in a bottle carton for separating bottles disposed therein, said separator including an elongated body adapted to extend between two rows of bottles, and partition members each extending transversely from opposite sides of said body for extending between adjacent bottles of the rows of bottles, said partition members being partially struck from and centrally hingedly connected to said body for swinging movement from the general plane of said body to said extended positions, said separator being of a double ply construction and said body and each of said partition members being of a double ply, one of the plies of each of said partition members being of a smaller outline than the outline of the other of said plies, whereby swinging of each of said partition members relative to said body is restricted as to direction, each of said body plies having a single opening therein from which respective ones of said partition plies are formed.

2. The separator of claim 1 wherein said body plies are connected together generally throughout the areas of said body plies.

3. The separator of claim 1 wherein said plies are formed from a single sheet folded upon itself, central portions of said body plies being secured together and side edges of said body plies being free and disposed in diverging relation to define outer bottle stops.

4. The separator of claim 3 wherein said body ply side edges are maintained in spaced relation by integral bottom members.

5. The separator of claim 1 wherein said partition smaller plies are formed from the same body ply.

6. The separator of claim 1 wherein said partitions have lapped opposed edge portions whereby the combined overall length of said partitions is in excess of the length of the portion of said body from which said partitions are formed.

7. The separator of claim 1 wherein said opposed edge portions are of a complementary zig-zag outline.

8. A separator particularly adapted for positioning between articles arranged intwo rows and in transverse alignment, said separator comprising a body adapted," to be positioned between rows of articles and being of a double ply construction, and at least one partition member formed from said body and being separated therefrom except for two opposed double ply hinge portions carried by said body and projecting into central portions of said partition member, said partition member being connected to said hinge portions along aligned hinge lines for swinging movement out of the plane'of said body to a position normal to said body with said partition member projecting to opposite sides of said body for positioning-between two adjacent articles on each side of said body, said pa rtition members being of a double ply construction with the two plies being bonded together, and at least one of said hinge portions having one ply thereof extending beyond the other ply thereof towards said partition member and defining a projecting finger yieldable in the direction-of swinging of the partition member from the planeof said body and being automatically engageable behind "said partition member in the position thereof normal to said body, to define a stop preventing the reverse swinging of said partition member.

9. The separator of claim 8 wherein the ply of said partition member corresponding to said one ply of said one hinge portion is of a greater outline than the other References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,913,655 6/1933 Benoit.

2,158,072 5/1939 Jones 229-29 2,304,683 12/1942 Finn 229-52X 2,402,218 6/1946 We'sselman.

2,527,702 10/1950 Buttery 229-28 2,646,202 7/1955 Gibbons 229 2,769,535 11/1956 Bruce 206 65 2,874,870 2/1959 Collura 206 X 2,965,278 12/1960 Phillips 229-28 'TH'ERON E. c'oNnoNJrim/u Examiner.

EARLE J. DRUMMOND, FRANKLIN T. GARRETT,

' Examiners.

Claims (1)

1. A SEPARATOR FOR USE IN A BOTTLE CARTON FOR SEPARATING BOTTLES DISPOSED THEREIN, SAID SEPARATOR INCLUDING AN ELONGATED BODY ADAPTED TO EXTEND BETWEEN TWO ROWS OF BOTTLES, AND PARTITION MEMBERS EACH EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID BODY FOR EXTENDING BETWEEN ADJACENT BOTTLES OF THE ROWS OF BOTTLES, SAID PARTITION MEMBERS BEING PARTIALLY STRUCK FROM AND CENTRALLY HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID BODY FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT FROM THE GENERAL PLANE OF SAID BODY TO SAID EXTENDED POSITIONS, SAID SEPARATOR BEING OF A DOUBLE PLY CONSTRUCTION AND SAID BODY AND EACH OF SAID PARTITION MEMBERS BEING OF A DOUBLE PLY, ONE OF THE PLIES OF EACH OF SAID PARTITION MEMBERS BEING OF A SMALLER OUTLINE THAN OUTLINE OF THE OTHER OF SAID PLIES, WHEREBY SWINGING OF EACH OF SAID PARTITION MEMBERS RELATIVE TO SAID BODY IS RESTRICTED AS TO DIRECTION, EACH OF SAID BODY PLIES HAVING A SINGLE OPENING THEREIN FROM WHICH RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID PARTITION PLIES ARE FORMED.

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