US2361926A - Package, container, and blank therefor - Google Patents

Description

1944- E. M. BROGDEN PACKAGE, CONTAINER AND BLANK THEREFOR Fil ed Nov. 12, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Ernesf E) Ogden ATTORNEY PACKAGE, CONTAINER AND BLANK THEREFOR Filed Nov. 12, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR I Erne f M. rogden BY h I 12 ATTORNEY Nov. 7, 1944.

file

E. M. BROGDEN PACKAGE, CONTAINER AND BLANK THEREFOR Filed Nov. 12, 1958 a Sheets-Shet :5

INVENTOR Er 5% M. rogden I ATTORNEY Patent ed Nov. 7, 1944 PACKAGE, CONTAINER, AND BLANK THEREFOR Ernest M. Brogden, Orlando,

President and Directors of the pany (sometimes known as hattan Company), trustee,

Fla.. assignor to Manhattan Com- Bankof the Man- New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application November 12, 1938, Serial No. 240,169

13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in packages, containers and blanks therefor, in which the container is adapted for construction principally from fibrous sheet material such as paperboard and the like.

The invention is especially applicable to arrangements for packing a number of articles of merchandise in a single package suitable for purchase as a unit by the consumer, and is effective in promoting the simultaneous sale of a group of articles, such as filled bottles or cans. With merchandise of this type the packaging cost must be held to a very low figure, as the market is highly competitive; and this requirement involves not only the use of inexpensive materials but also the reduction to a minimum of the total amount of such materials employed in the package. A feature of the invention is the provision of a container and package structure which conforms to these requirements, while providing adequate strength and security of packing. Another feature is the arrangement and construction of the container parts to facilitate rapid and economical cutting of the blank and assembling, packing and handling of the container.

A purpose of the invention is to produce a packaging construction of the indicated type which may be arranged to expose a substantial part of the merchandise for display or other purposes, the location and extent of such exposure being capable of substantial variation to conform to different conditions, various types of merchandise and a wide range of advertising designs. I

The invention likewise includes the provision of a package provided with an improved handle ar-- rangement enabling it to be stacked conveniently and without waste space in series and tiers of packages, the handle being capable of being collapsed or telescoped into non-projecting position.

The container according to this invention is of the single tube type, inwhich four sections are connected in series to form a generally rectangular prismatic tube with open sides. A separate handle is provided on the tube or body, and extends in general parallel to the open sides, that is, circumferentially of the tube, so that the handle in use tends to constrict the tube against the merchandise therein. Such merchandise is confined in snugly packed position b band means extending across the sides of the tube, desirably in the form of a continuous band encircling the package and extending across said sides and the end sections of the tube. By approtransverse support priately designing and arranging the tube or tubular body of the container and the confining of these container elements while retaining their efi'ective merchandise-confining functions. This arrangement likewise facilitates extensive expo-j sure of the merchandise where desired. The invention is particularly advantageous for packaging columnar articles that are reduced in diameter toward one vend, such as bottles and cap-sealed cans. Such articles present special problems due to their contour and the danger of chipping and breaking the bottles. A purpose of the invention is to provide a container of the type indicated which is particularly adapted to hold one or more pairs of bottles, cap-sealed cans or the like in a snugly packed group while utilizing the reduced end portions of the articles to simplify the container structure and decrease the amount of material required, as well as to provide a firm and attractive arrangement. This purpose is accomplished in general by locating the top section of the container body between the necks of the bottles in position to provide in a zone located entirely below the bottle mouths, thereby shortening the end sections of the tube and providing an attractive exposure of the bottle necks without, sacrificing the firm retention of the bottles in the package.

In this embodiment an additional feature is the provision of a handle connected at its ends to the tubular body at or adjacent to the end sections and aligned with the space between the necks of the bottles, arranged for collapse of the handle between such necks.

Certain specific features have beenv provided for properly locating and maintaining the confining or retaining band in desired position, and facilitating its application and removal. These include band stops or locking means arranged on registering portions of the container body and the band. A further desirable specific feature is the provision of a'tapered or wedging structure on the body, serving to increase tension on the band as it is slid downwardly'over the packed container, thereby facilitating application and removal of the band and compensating for variations in band length or merchandise proportions.

It is sometimes considered desirable to protect merchandise such as bottled beer against light; and the invention can be embodied in a light-excluding container where this is desirable.

Other objects, advantages and desirable features of the invention will appear from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a desirable practical form of package embodying the invention, comprising a container packed with six bottles;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a blank for forming the tubular body of the container shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a similar package showing a modified band arrangement and a narrowed body construction;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of container in which the band engages the margin of the bottom section and closed apertures for the intermediate bottle necks are provided;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a blank for the tubular body of the container shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of package showing another type of band and body end construction;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation of the lower part of one end of the package shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of another modified package showing a different type of band connection;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section on line I0-l0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of another form of package showing a difierent type of band stop and a container suitable for two large bottles;

Fig. 12 is a vertical transverse section on line 52-[2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of still another modified form of package arranged "o exclude light from the bottles;

Fig. 14 is a vertical transverse section on line i l-48 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the tubular body portion of the container shown in Fig. 13 with the light-excluding flaps in raised position;

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of another modification of the container structure including a band positioned within the tubular body memher; and

Fig. 17 is a vertical transverse section on line 11-41 of Fig. 16.

While certain features of the invention are applicable to the packaging of various types of merchandise, the invention is particularly advantageous when employed for packing columnar articles, that is, articles more or less elongated and having substantial symmetry about a longitudinal axis. Such articles include particularly cans (the flat end type as well as the cap-sealed type with projecting necks) and bottles, the various specific embodiments illustrated and de scribed herein being applied to the packaging of the latter. The package is applicable to merchandise arranged to form a prismatic group. preferably generally rectangular in contour. which may be made up of columnar articles compactly arranged side by side in parallel alignment. In the preferred form such articles are arranged in one or more pairs, forming two parallel series of articles constituting the group.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1-3 the container consists of a normally upright tubular body member 30 of sheet material and a retaining band or tube 3| encircling said'body member horizontally and likewise formed of the same or some different sheet material. Said body member comprises generally a top section 32, end sections 33 and bottom section 34 connected in series. Bottom section 34 is arranged in supporting engagement with the bottom face of the merchandise group, in this case the bottoms of bottles B; end sections 33 are in confining engagement with the ends of said group, in this instance the side faces of the bodies 35 of the end bottles B; and top section 32 is in confining engagement with the upper side of said group, in this instance the upper portions or necks 36 of bottles B.

While contiguous body sections may be connected along sharp bends normally approximating right angles, they may advantageously be contoured in the connecting zones to conform to the subadjacent surfaces of the merchandise group. Where the container is employed with bottles having the usual sloping necks 36, the top section 32 and end sections 33 may be joined by a connecting portion 31 curved to conform to the merchandise and preferably merging with the generally flat central areas of said sections 32 and 33. While connecting portion 31 may in certain instances be considered part of the end section 33, it is preferably taken as part of top section 32 in the embodiments illustrated herein, since-its functions are substantially those of said top section. Each connecting portion 31 may be provided with transverse bending lines suitable for facilitating the smooth and ready bending of said portion to the contour of the merchandise.

In the form shown in Fig. 1 the top section 32 is provided. at each margin with a series of apertures 38 (recesses in this instance, 1. e., apertures which are laterally open) registering with the necks 36 of bottles B and having margins formed and arranged to so engage the necks as to prevent transverse movement thereof towards each other, as well as upward movement of any bottle in the direction of its axis. Preferably such engagement is provided at both the inner and side faces of said necks to prevent movement thereof in any direction except substantially outward parallel to end sections 33. For this purpose recesses 38 are arranged to form marginal tongues 39 each projecting between a pair of bottles substantially to a line joining the central axes of the bottles. The tongues may terminate at this point leaving recesses 38 open along the lateral margins of the top section 32 for free lateral introduction and removal of the bottle necks 36, as in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. However, where the material is sufficiently strong, stiff and flexible, tongues 39 may project outwardly beyond such center and the margins of recesses 38 forming the sides of such tongues may be curved for a short distance beyond such center about the bottle necks 36 to provide yieldable retention of such necks as indicated in the end recesesses 38b of Fig. 5, the bottles being nevertheless readily removable by an outward pull which will flex slightly the projecting lateral margins of tongues 39 at the outer ends of the tongues.

The portions of the container body interposed between the bottle necks may be proportioned to hold said necks at a sufficient distance from each other so that the upper portions of adjacent bottles will be spaced apart and the bottles willbe in contact only at or near their bottoms where they are held firmly by the end body sections and the retaining band. In this arrangement the bottles are appropriately spaced transversely by the central portion of the top section 32 between the rows of apertures 38 and are longitudinally spaced at each side of the package by tongues 39. This is highly desirable as tending to minimize breakage.

The end recesses 38 extend into the connecting portions 31 of the top section 32 and have margins in said portions which should be suitably contoured to maintain adequate engagement with the bottle necks 36 when connecting portions 31 are curved downwardly to merge with end sections 33.

The retaining band 3| may vary considerably in height or width, contour and location, depending upon the characteristics of the merchandise and the preference of the manufacturer or packer regarding package appearance and merchandise exposure. In the form shown the band extends vertically across a substantial portion of the bottle bodies 35, engaging bottles B adjacent the top and bottom portions of said bodies. This type of band is especially useful with bottles of the hour glass type such as those illustrated in Fig. 2, since it engages the bottle bodies above and below the constricted portion thereof and serves to cover the sides, which ordinarily do not carry labels and are not especially sightly. Band 3| extends across the outer faces of end sections 33 and is sufliciently tight to hold said end sections in firm engagement with the bottles B while simultaneously pressing bottles at opposite sides of the container inwardly into rigid relationship to each other and the necks 36 into firm engagement with the margins of recesses 33 in top section 32.

Band 3! may consist of an integral or one-piece strip of material with substantially parallel top and bottom edges and with ends connected to each other, as by overlapping said ends and securing them together by glue or the like.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1-3 the band 3| may advantageously be constructed of relatively stiff fibrous material, such as paperboard, and is applied by sliding the band downwardly over the container and merchandise. Means for arresting the downward movement of the band when constructed and applied in this manner is preferably provided so that the band is accurately located in desired position and cannot be forced below bottom section 34. In the form shown in said figures, end sections 33 taper inwardly from their junctions with the bottom section 34, the angle of taper being selected relative to the circumferential length of the band 3| so that the band will readily slide downwardly over the upper portions of end sections 33 and bottle bodies 35, but will be gradually pressed outwardly by the side margins 40 of end sections 33, I increasing the tension on the band and its constricting effect'on the package.

The width of end sections 33 adjacent their junctions with bottom section 34 is sufficient to prevent forcing the lower edge of band 3| downwardly to the level of bottom section 34, the stiffness of the material and the reinforcement thereof provided by the angular intersections between end sections 33 and bottom section 34 providing a stiffening effect on the marginal portions of end sections 33 adjacent the bottom section sufficient to retain the lower ends of margins 40 in position projecting outwardly from the adjacent faces of the bottle bodies 35 to serve as stops preventing further progress of the band 3|.

To produce this construction it is necessary that the margins 40 of end sections 33 and the connecting margins of bottom section 34 shall extend toward the sides of the packages a substantial distance beyond the lines of contact between end sections 33 and the bottle bodies 35, which lines will be opposite the vertical centers or axes of the bottles when the bodies 35 are approximately cylindrical. In this embodiment therefore the width of the lowermost portion of each end section 33 is substantially greater than the distance between the axes of the bottles engaged by the section, while the width of the upper portion of said section is substantially less, and may advantageously be approximately the distance between said axes. With this arrangement bottom section 34 preferably has a width throughout substantially equal to the width of the lower ends of the end sections 33.

The container is provided with a suitable handle extending in a circumferential direction transversely to the axis of the tubular bodymember 30 and generally parallel to the open sides of said member, so that the tension exerted by the handle in use will tend to draw end sections 33 and bottom section 34 inwardly against the merchandise. In the preferred form illustrated the handle 4| is adapted to be made from sheet material of the type indicated and is connected at its ends preferably to the upper portions of the end sections 33.

The handle 4| is arranged for collapsing into a position in which it will not interfere with the stacking of the packages or their insertion in a narrow space. Forthis purpose the handle is arranged so that it may be forced inwardly toward the container body. Where the package is of the type illustrated in which the bottle necks or other article projections extend above the top section 32 the handle 4| is arranged in alignment with the space between parallel series of bottle necks and is constructed so that itmay be forced downwardly between such necks into a position in which it will not project beyond the outer faces of the package.

While this may be accomplishedby providing a suiliciently flexible handle, in the preferred form at least one end of the handle is slidably mounted on the container body in such manner that by sliding the handle end into the body said handle may be depressed between the bottle necks or other projections, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, or may even be forced inwardly until it lies fiat along the outer surface of the body, the latter arrangement being particularly appropriate for packages in which the merchandise does not project through the top section.

This result may be obtained by providing -a suitable tongue and slot connection between one or both of the handle ends and the container body. In the form illustrated each side section 33 is provided adjacent its upper end with a transverse slot 42 through which an end or tongue portion 43 of handle 4| extends and is held in suitable manner against retraction as by barbs 44 and laterally bent web 44a engaging the upper wall of slot 42, the handle end being provided with a longitudinal slit 45 to permit transverse contraction of said end for insertion in slot 42.

- While a special form of connecting structure is illustrated, its characteristics are not set forth in detail nor claimed herein, since they are dis closed in detail and. claimed in the copending application of Ernest M. Brogden, Ser. No. 240,167, filed November 12, 1938, now Patent No. 2,289,824.

The body member 30 may be cut from a single blank of sheet material, and the latter may desirably be positioned so that the grain or principal direction of the fibers in said material runs transversely across the member generally parallel to the lines defining or separating the sections. The connected ends of the blank may be located at various points of the tube, the arrangement disclosed providing a lap joint at the intersection between an end section 33 and the bottom section 34, thus giving a certain amount of reinforcement along said line. The blank illustrated in said figure is provided with bending lines 46 between end sections 33 and top section 32, lines 46 in the connecting portions 31 between the side and top sections being parallel to line 41, and preferably being located approximately at the top of the bodies 35 of bottles B.

It will be understood, however, that bending lines 46 are for the purpose of providing a smooth curvature to the connecting portions 31 and may be dispensed with where the contour of said portions and the flexibility of the material permit the material to curve smoothly between the top and end sections. Bending line ll is provided at the intersection of one end section 33 and the bottom section 34, the opposite end of the latter being defined by bending line 48 at the intersection with flap 49, which is suitable for attachment as by gluing to the lower portion of the end section at the opposite end of the blank, whereby to form the body member as a permanently continuous tube.

As already indicated, the width of band 3| may be varied and it may be located at various distances from the bottom of the package. For certain types of merchandise it may be positioned near the bottom, while for others, and particularly where side labels are to be exposed, it may extend across the upper portions of the bottle bodies in position to expose labels normally located on said bodies. While packages may be provided with a single band in either location, the form illustrated in Fig. 4 shows for convenience a band in each position, with the lower band 3Ia registered and held in place by notches 5! in the side margins of end sections 33, and the upper band 3") held against downward movement by shoulders 52 on said margins. The width, stiifness and tension of the bands preferably is such that when the upper band 31b is removed the bottles B can readily be extracted from the package by lateral deflection of a bottle neck to clear the top section 32, followed by upward withdrawal of the bottle. The bottles may be replaced in a similar manner.

Another method of arresting the downward movement of band 3| is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, in which the bottom section 34a is extended at the sides to a position beneath band 3|, serving as a stop and support therefor. This arrangement provides a. complete coverage of the bottom of the package, which is advantageous for certain types of merchandise and conditions of use While recesses 38 in top section 32 may be proportioned to permit easy and rapid lateral insertion of the bottle necks 36, a construction which, incidentally, facilitates machine packing, it may be desirable under certain conditions to provide more positive retention of the bottle necks or other projecting portions of articles in the package. For this purpose said recesses may be either partially or wholly closed, since said necks can readily be inserted upwardly into closed apertures before the base of the bottle is swung inwardly onto bottom section 33. A container of this type is illustrated in Fig. 5, designed for packaging six bottles and including completely closed asenoae apertures 38a for the intermediate or central bottle necks. The marginal portion or flap 53 extending beyond apertures 38a at each side is integral with the tongues 39 and may be deflected downwardly into contact with the bottle necks 3B. The end recesses 38b have lateral margins curved around the bottle necks 36 beyond the center, as already described, said margins terminating at the ends of flaps 53, which may be inclined or curved relative to the straight outer edges of said flaps.

This form of construction has been found to be especially advantageous in providing strong retention of the upper portions of the bottles when it is desired to use a relatively loose, weak or narrow band 3|, since it largely eliminates any strain on the band due to outward pressure on the bottle necks. Moreover, it will be understood that the package is not limited to three bottles or similar articles at each side; and when three or more articles are thus packaged, bottles intermediate the ends of the container may have a greater tendency toward lateral deflection than the end bottles. This tendency is substantially eliminated by the aperture arrangement indicated, in which the apertures engaging such intermediate articles are closed at least to an extent suflicient substantially to prevent outward defiec tion of the necks or projections during use, while the end apertures may or may not be arranged to produce this result, depending upon conditions and the characteristics of the bottles or other articles in the package.

A blank for the tubular body member 30a illustrated. in Fig. 5 is shown in Fig. 6, and in general is formed and arranged similarly to the blank shown in Fig. 3. If desired, bending lines 54 may be provided at the junctions of flaps 53 with the central portion of top section 32, lines 54 preferably being located along the outer margins of aperture 38a, or slightly inward from said margins, and in the form illustrated in Fig. 5 they extend to the junctions between the margins of recesses 38b and the ends of flaps 53.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 7 and 8, other modifications of the band structure and support are illustrated. In'this embodiment the band 31a is relatively wide, preferably of the type shown in Figs. 1 and 5, but is provided with horizontal openings or cut-away portions 55 arranged to provide adequate exposure and display of side portions of the merchandise, while upper and lower webs 5B of the band provide the necessary confining engagement with the merchandise. Obviously the contour and proportions of opening s 55, and the number of openings employed, may be varied within wide limits according to the type of merchandise packaged and the portion thereof which is to be exposed. The illustrated arrangement, in which the openings 55 are positioned to expose the principal portion of labels or the like on the bottles B, includes openings which may extend at their ends substantially to the lateral margins of end sections 33 to provide adequate exposure of the labels on the comer bottles.

Band 31c may be provided at its ends with suitable means engageable by the fingers of the user to facilitate upward withdrawal of the band from the package. In the form shown in Figs. 7 and 8, particularly the latter, this is accomplished by providing upwardly curved or recessed lower marginal portions 51 of band Bic at each end of the package arranged to provide suflicient clearance V band cause of the firm contact between above the surface on which the package is placed to permit the fingers to press inwardly on the subjacent portions of the end sections 33 and obtain a firm grip on the lower edges of the band.

These figures also illustrate another form of band stop comprising shoulders 58 on the lateral margins of end sections 33, positioned for engagement by the lower edge of the band when the latter has been slipped downwardly into desired position. A positive stop arrangement such as the one just described is of particular value when the band is'designed to register with or expose predetermined portions of the packaged articles.

In some cases, the retaining band may desirably be connected to end sections 33 of the container body in appropriate manner to maintain said band and end sections in the desired relationship. The connecting structure, when employed, preferably is readily separable for application and removal of the band, and may be of a type which can be engaged during band application and which will serve as a stop arresting the downward movement of the band. A structure of this type is illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 and includes a locking tongue 59 excised from the portion of band 3lc overlying an end section 33 of the body member, said tongue sliding into a transverse slot 60 in said end member, the engagement of the lower slot wall with the base of tongue 59 serving to arrest the downward movement of the band 3m in the desired position. This arrangement permits the location of the band around the package with the lower margin of the band flush with the lower face of bottom section 34, and the use of a relatively narrow bottom section whose width need not be greater than the transverse distance between the axes of the outermost bottles or other articles engaging each end section 33.

Another type ofband stop and support is illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12. In thi arrangement the tubular body member 30b is arranged with overlapping end portions '6! located intermediate the ends of a side section 33 and constituting a part of said section, the portion 6| extending upwardly from the bottom section 34 being on the outside and having an upper edge forming a stop and support for the band 3Id.

While this arrangement is illustrated at only one side of the container body, a construction which permits the formation of the body member 301) from a single strip of sheet material, it will be apparent that the arrangement is not necessarily limited to location at one side only.

Figs. 11 and 12 also illustrate the application of the invention to a two-bottle package which is particularly suitable for handling relatively large bottles, whose weight and size make them generally awkward to carry. In this arrangement the top section 32 may be completely curved to merge smoothly with the side sections 33, the top section consisting in eiTect solely of the connecting portions 31. Where the bottles B have substantially cylindrical bodies 35, Or at. least are of equal diameter adjacent the upper and lower portions of said bodies, the bottles can exceptional firmness even when 31d encircling-the upper portions of said bodies is relatively narrow, since the bottle necks 38 are firmly held against inward movement by the margins of the curved top section 32, and are restrained against outward movement bethe bottle bases which prevents such movement without rupture of band 3 I d. A generally similar principle applies to the various types of banded packages containing multiples of two bottles or other similar articles, as will be apparent from Fig. 2.

The invention is likewise applicable to containers and packages constructed to exclude light from the contents, a characteristic sometimes considered desirable in connection with bottled beer. An embodiment of the invention which provides protection of this type to beer bottles and the like is illustrated in Figs. 13-15. In this arrangement, in which the bottles illustrated are of the so-called steinie type, all of the apertures 380 in the top section 32 are closed, the lateral margins of said section being connected to flaps 64, preferably integral therewith, which extend downwardly around the merchandise and at least to the adjacent margins of the end sections 33 and the band 3le.

In the preferred embodiment shown, each flap 64 consists of a. sidesection 65 extending downwardly over the sides of the merchandise and beneath the side portion of band 3 le which serves to hold said flap firmly in position against the subjacent bottles B or the like. The corner spaces between the ends of the side sections 65 of the flaps 64 and the end sections 33 of the body member are similarly spanned by corner flaps 66, which preferably are integral with side sections 65 at the ends thereof and are arranged to extend beneath end sections 33 and the adjacent portions of band 3Ie when th package is in closed position. For convenience in shaping and arranging flaps 34 the side section 65 of each flap may be connected to a lateral margin of the top section 32 of the body member along a bending line 61, and may be provided with a plurality of bending lines 68 parallel to line 61 and arranged to facilitate the flexing of said side section to follow the contour of the bottles. Corner flaps 65 may be connected to side sections 65 along bending lines 69, and may be provided with crease lines 10 suitably arranged to facilitions 31 of the top section 22, and the adjacent parts of the band 3le. 'With a construction of the type illustrated it has been found that lines 10 will be effective if arranged parallel to bending lines 69, the material of which these parts are constructed being sufficiently flexible to permit reasonably close conformity to the general bottle contour when arranged in the manner described, and providing a particularly neat and attractive package when assembled and packed.

This construction is also designed to facilitate rapid packing, since the bottles may easily be inserted while flaps B4 are in alignment with top section 32 of the body member (see the rear flap in Fig. 15), the flaps 64 being then readily curved downwardly and the. corner flaps 66 inserted simultaneously beneath end sections 33 of the body (see front flap B4 in Fig. 15). By sliding band 3|e downwardly over the package the flaps 64 are forced inwardly into final position without further manipulation.

In this arrangement there are certain advantages in employing a bottom section 34a of the type already described (see Figs. 5 and 6), provided with margins registering with the lower margins of the band 3le'to provide a stop and support therefor, completing the enclosure of all the merchandise except the upper portions of the necks of the bottles. Such upper portions are of such slight extent that their exposure cannot have any appreciable effect upon the contents; whereas the arrangement permits the purchaser to note from the caps the nature of the contents. The apertures 380 may be designed to fit the bottle necks 36a close to the upper ends thereof to reduce the amount of exposure of said necks. This structure is particularly applicable to bottles of the steinie type provided with bulges or the like adjacent the upper ends of the necks suitable for firm engagement by the margins of apertures 38a (Fig. 14)

Band (He is provided with recessed marginal portions 51 at both the upper and lower edges of the band, an arrangement that not only facilitates the application of the band with either edge downward, but also permits the use of a deeper band without covering the connections between the ends of handle 4| and end sections 33.

While it is generally preferable and in some instances particularly advantageous to locate the retaining band outside of end sections 33, the invention is not limited to such a construction. An arrangement in which the band is located inside of the body member is illustrated in Figs. 16 and 17. While the band in this position may be held in place to a substantial extent by frictional engagement with the merchandise and the body member, means preferably is provided for holding the band in proper position, and should include means for preventing substantial vertical shifting of the band as well as material lateral movement relative to the body member. In the arrangement illustrated, the band 3|), which in general is of the relatively deep type similar to bands 3| and 3|c, has lower edge portions 1| resting on the ends of the bottom section 34, and an upper edge portion 12 at each end located substantially in aligmnent with slot 62 so that when the tongue portion 43 of the handle is inserted inwardly through said slot the lower end of the tongue portion will be located within and against the inner face of the band, the upper edge portion of which bears against the outer face of the tongue portion at slot 42 and is held against upward movement thereby. The lower edge portion ll of the band 3|;f at each end of the container is provided with shoulders 13 engaging the lateral margins of the bottom section 34 and preventing lateral movement of the band.

The various arrangements illustrated and described, together with other variations falling within the scope of the invention, are suitable for construction from relatively inexpensive fibrous sheet material. It has been found that paperboard or boxboard posssesses the requisite combination of tensile strength. stiffness, bending and folding capability and low cost which render them suitable for use in containers used for packaging merchandise such as bottles, cans and similar articles of the sizes ordinarily sold in retail stores; but various other types of fibrous sheet material, such as those known as pasteboard, cardboard and the like, and even certain types of particularly stiff and strong paper, may be employed for certain types of merchandise and conditions of use. The handle 4!, the body member 30 and the band 3| may be made of the same or different materials, or of difierent weights or qualities thereof. Specifically, since in most instances the strain on band 3| is exclusively ten sile, said band may be made of lighter material than the body member 30 and in particular need not have the same stiffness for many types of package. For instance, band it may be made of kraft paper or other flexible material having substantial tensile strength.

The container is especially adapted to be cut economically from sheet material, and the blanks may be rapidly and readily assembled, the body member 3|! being assembled by folding the blank into tubular form and attaching the ends, while the blank for band 3| is assembled in the same rapid and efficient manner, an operation easily performed at the packing plant; though said body member and band are likewise adapted to be assembled, folded flat by bending at opposite points, and packed for shipment in knocked-down form.

The container is likewise designed for rapid and efficient packing. In the preferred forms, the articles may be simultaneously inserted in the body member from opposite sides in the manner already indicated, and band 3|, when made of relatively stiff material, may be slid downwardly over the body member and contents to complete the package, without requiring the manipulation of any flaps, looks or other devices which tend to delay the closure of ordinary containers. The handle 4| may be applied rapidly by inserting its ends in the slots in the body member, either before or after packing, and is adapted to be inserted in the body member. at the box factory and folded flat with said member for shipment. To unload the packed container, it is only necessary to move the band upwardly out of the way and remove the bottles or other articles laterally. a combined outward tilting of the bottle base and downward movement of the bottle as a whole being employed where the neck aperture is completely closed. Where the container is in the form of a bottle carrier, therefore, the consumer can readily re-load it with the empty bottles for convenient return to the store and refund of the bottle deposit which is customary in the distribution of bottled soft drinks.

It will be noted that in the preferred forms illustrated the tongue ends 43 of handle 4| extend into a space between the adjacent faces of articles at opposite sides of the package, facilitating the downward movement of said ends and collapse of the handle 4| toward or against the top section 32.

While the invention has certain special advantages for the packaging of bottles and has been illustrated and described in connection therewith, it will be apparent that it is applicable likewise to various other types of merchandise. The features set forth herein are largely applicable to the packaging of various types of columnar articles such as cans, the cap-sealed type being packaged substantially the same as bottles, while the ordinary fiat-end cans require simply that top section 32 be suitably contoured to engage and restrain the upper ends of the cans, the apertures 38 naturally being unnecessary for this use. Moreover, while reference is made in the specification and claims to articles of merchandise, it will be understood that in its broadest significance, this term is intended to describe not simply unitary articles such as bottles or cans, but also composite articles made up of a plurality of individual pieces of merchandise of generally similar contour piled one on the other for packaging, providing a columnar unit to which certain fea tures of this invention are applicable. For instance, containers embodying the invention may be employed for packaging some kinds of fruit arranged in the manner indicated.

For convenience of description reference has been made to top, bottom, end and side sections or faces; and while these terms have specific significance in connection with packages and containers which inherently must be maintained in a certain vertical position, it will be understood that for the broader phases of the invention these terms are employed primarily for convenience and clearness of description.

The bending lines described herein may be of various types. They preferably include a construction facilitating the accurate bending of the material at the desired point, and such a line may consist of a crease in which the material is defiected to form a trough on one side and a ridge on the opposite side extending along the desired line; a score, in which the material is cut partially through along said line, usually on the outer or convex side of the bend; or perforated lines in which closely spaced shortcuts or perforations extending through thematerial are provided along the line.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, and various modifications thereof have been indicated, it will be understood that this disclosure is intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive, and that the invention includes other arrangements and constructions embodying the underlying principles thereof and falling within the scope of the claims. a

What is claimed is:

1. A display and carrying package for consumer units of merchandise comprising a prismatic merchandise group of columnar articles compactly arranged with their axes substantially parallel and a sheet material container snugly conforming to and confining the group comprising a body formed as a permanently continuous tube from one piece of stiffiiexible sheet material and having an integral top section and a bottom section extending transversely of the longitudinal axes of said columnar articles and in such restraining engagement with opposite faces of the merchandise group as to prevent substantial movement of any such columnar article parallel to its axis, together with endsections connecting the ends of the top and bottom sections and in restraining engagement with opposite ends of the merchandise group, the body having open opposite sides; and band means extending across portions of said sides in confining engagement with the merchandise at said sides and engaging said end sections, the band means being spaced at said sides from the top section and movable to permit removal of articles without injuring the container. 2. A package as set forth in claim 1 in which the merchandise comprises articles having portions projecting in parallel series beyond the top of the container.

3. A display and carrying package for consumer units of merchandise comprising a rectangular prismatic merchandise group and a container confining the group including a tubular body of stiff flexible sheet material having opposed top and bottom sections, opposed end sections and open sides, a continuous band of relatively stiff sheet material extending across the end sections and open sides of the package in confining engagement with the merchandise, said band being axially slidable over the merchandise group and end sections; and means for restraining downward movement of the band over said sides and end sections, comprising lateral marginal portions of said end sections diverging downwardly to portions projecting laterally from the merchandise and into wedging engagement with the band.

4. A display and carrying package for consumer units comprising a container having a body formed as a permanently continuous tube from one piece of stiif flexible sheet material and including opposed top and bottom sections and opposed end sections; a plurality of columnar articles arranged compactly in parallel rows with their bottoms resting on the bottom section and the end articles of the rows engaged by the end sections, each article being reduced in diameter toward an end to form a neck, said top section beingprovided with parallel rows of apertures adapted and arranged to receive said necks and permit them to project beyond said top section while preventingsubstantial movement of said articles axially away from said bottom section; and a band, extending across the sides and the end sections or the container body in confining engagement with said articles, thereby holding said necks in firm edgewise engagement with said top section.

5. A package as set forth in claim 4 in which the top section includes a portion substantially parallel to the bottom section and in transverse bracing engagement with the article necks.

6. A package as set forth in claim 4 in which the top section includes portions extending between and spacing adjacent article necks, and maintaining the upper portions of adjacent articles out of contact with each other by engagement with said necks.

7. A display and carrying container for consumer units of merchandise including articles each reduced in diameter toward an end to form a neck, which comprises a body formed as a permanently continuous tube from one piece of stiff flexible sheet material and having opposed top and bottom sections, opposed end sections and open sides; merchandise-confining band means engaging the body end sections and extending across the open sides; and a handle connected at its ends to the body at circumferentially spaced points; the top section of the body being provided along opposite margins with apertures arranged to receive the necks of said articles.

8. A container as set forth in claim 7 in which some of said apertures are laterally open for lateral insertion of necks of the articles.

9. A container as set forth in claim 7 in which some of the apertures are laterally open for lateral insertion of the necks of the articles, and have margins which include flexible neck-retaining projections yieldable for insertion and removal of said necks.

10. A container as set forth in claim 7 in which the apertures are arranged in a rectilinear row along each'side margin of the top section of the body, and each row includes end apertures laterally open to form neck-receiving recesses, and an intermediate aperture with margins arranged to restrain an article neck in said aperture against outward lateral movement.

11. A display and carrying package comprising a container having a body formed as a permanently continuous tube from one piece of stiif flexible sheet material, such tubular body including opposed top and bottom sections, the top section being provided with neck-receiving apertures and opposed upright sections both slotted for connection of a handle thereto, all said sections being formed integrally from a sheetot relatively stiif flexible fibrous material, a plurality of columnar articles each reduced in diameter toward an end to form a tapering neck, said articles resting on the bottom section and extending above said top section with their necks held within said apertures in the top section, said articles being firmly confined by said top and bottom' sections.

12. A display and carrying'container for consumer units of merchandise comprising a body formed as a permanently continuous tube from one piece of stiff flexible sheet material and having opposed top and bottom sections, opposed end sections and open sides; a continuous mer chandise-confining band extending across the end sections and the open sides of the body; and a handle connected at its ends to the body at circumferentially spaced points; the upper margin of said band being spaced from the lateral fining position extending across the open sides and end sections of the body; the lateral mar gins of at least one of said end sections diverging downwardly in wedging engagement with the band to limit downward movement thereof.

ERNEST M. BROGDEN.

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