US2615612A - Carrier for columnar articles - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 28, 1952 o. L. VINES CARRIER FOR COLUMNAR ARTICLES Filed June 21 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l dsaar zf i es Oct. 28, 1952 o. VINES CARRIER FOR COLUMNAR ARTICLES Filed-June 21, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 W L I j g/w FIG. 8

Patented Oct. 28, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT orr-lca CARRIER FOR COLUMNAR ARTICLES Oscar L. Vines, New York, N. Y.

Application June 21, 1951, Serial No. 232,784

This invention relates to carriers for columnar articles and, more particularly, to a blank for such carriers which may be formed of flexible sheet material such as kraft paper.

In my co-pending application Serial No. 84,648, filed March 31, 1949, there is described and claimed a rectangular blank of sheet material capable of being folded into a carrier for columnar articles characterized by two carrier compartments separated by a centrally disposed partition wall. I have now devised a modification of the carrier blank form shown in said application, the new modification providing carrier side walls and center partition having double the thickness of the corresponding parts in the aforementioned application. The inherent strength of double thicknesses of carrier walls and partitions in the present modification is augmented by an intermediate glue layer therebetween which further enhances the structural rigidity and strength of the carrier formed from the blank. The present modification further provides an integrally formed handle comprising a vertical extension of the central partition of the carrier shown in my aforesaid application.

The carrier blank for columnar articles, pursuant to my present invention, comprises a rectangular blank of flexible sheet material having a first horizontal score line spaced inwardly below the upper edge of the blank, a second horizontal score line spaced inwardly above the lower edge of the blank, and a group of three horizontal and equally spaced score lines positioned between the first and second horizontal score lines. Each of these five horizontal score lines extends the full width of the blank. The blank is further provided with a first vertical score line spaced inwardly from one side edge of the blank, a second vertical score line spaced inwardly from the first vertical score line, and a third vertical score line spaced inwardly from the other side edge of the blank substantially the same distance as that between the first and second vertical score lines. A fourth vertical score line is positioned centrally between the second and third vertical score lines, and fifth and sixth score lines are positioned on opposite sides of the fourth vertical score line spaced therefrom substantially the same distance as that between the first and second vertical score lines. Each of these six vertical score lines extends from the upper to the lower edge of the blank. Seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth vertical score lines are positioned centrally between the first and second vertical score lines, between the fourth and fifth vertical score lines, between the 7 Claims. (Cl. 229-28) fourth and sixth vertical score lines, and between the third vertical score line and its proximate side edge of the blank, respectively. Each of the seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth vertical score lines extends from the upper edge of the blank downwardly to the group of three horizontal score lines and preferably only to the upper horizontal score line of this group. Where the blank is to be assembled into a carrier for columnar articles which should be separated from one another by partition members, the blank may be further provided with a plurality of substantially troughshaped cuts positioned axially along the second horizontal score line, a vertical score line being provided across the mouth of each trough-shaped cut with two additional spaced verticalscore lines extending across the trough-shaped out between the mouth and base thereof.

These and other novel features of the carrier blank of my present invention will be further understood by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 represents the cut and scored carrier blank of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows the blank after the first folding 1 step in the assembly of the carrier from the blank;

Fig. 3 shows the next folding step performed on the carrier blank;

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the carrier blank in the form shown in Fig. 3; I

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the carrier inits completely assembled but collapsed form;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the erected carrier;

Fig. '7 is a sectional elevation taken along line 1-1 in Fig. 6; 1

Fig. 8 represents a modification of the blank shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 9 is a partially cut away perspective view of the erected carrier assembled from the blank of Fig. 8.

As shown in Fig. 1, the carrier blank IU of the present invention is a substantially rectangular piece of flexible sheet material such as kraft paper or the like. Spaced inwardly of the blank below the upper edge H of the blank is a first horizontal score line l2, and spaced inwardly of the blank above the lower edge I3 is a second horizontal score line M. A group of three additional horizontal and equally spaced score lines I5, I6 and I! is positioned between the first and second horizontal score lines l2 and 14 but closer to the latter than to the former. That is, the distance between the first horizontal score line l2 and the uppermost score line l5 of the group 3 is greater than the distance between the second horizontal score line M and the lowermost score line I! of the group. Each of the horizontal score lines l2, l4, I5, l-S and I7 extends across the full width of the blank.

Spaced inwardly from one side edge 18 of the blank is a first vertical score line [9. A second vertical score line 20 is spaced inwardly from the first vertical score line l9, and a third vertical score line 2! is spaced inwardly from the other side edge 22 of the blank. The distance between the first and second vertical score lines (9 and 25 is the same as the space between the third vertical score line 2! and its proximate side edge 22 of the blank. A fourth vertical score line 23 is positioned centrally between the second and third vertical score lines 20 and 2|. On each side of the fourth vertical score line 23 are positioned fifth and sixth vertical score lines 24 and 25, respectively, the lines 24 and 25 being spaced the same distance away from the fourth vertical score line 23 as the distance between the first and second vertical score lines 19 and 20. Each of the vertical score lines 19, 28, 2|, 23, 24 and 25 extends from the upper edge H to the lower edge 13 of the blank.

A seventh vertical score line 26 is positioned centrally between the first and second vertical score lines 19 and 20, an eighth vertical score line 21 is positioned centrally between the fourth and fifth vertical score lines 23 and 24, a ninth vertical score line 28 is positioned centrally between the fourth and sixth vertical score lines 23 and 25, and a tenth vertical score line 29 is positioned centrally between the third vertical score line 2! and its proximate edge 22 of the blank. The vertical score lines 2B, 21, 28 and 29 extend from the upper edge ll of the blank preferably only down to the horizontal score line 15, although they may be extended downwardly as far as the horizontal score line l6.

As will be seen from the following description of the folding and gluing of the blank shown in Fig. l, the portion of the blank between the upper edge II and the horibontal score line l forms the central partition of the carrier. Where the dimensions of this portion of the blank are so chosen that, in the assembled carrier, the distance between the horizontal score lines [2 and I5 approximates but preferably does not exceed the height of the columnar articles to be carried, the blank may be provided with four handle flap cuts 30 symmetrically arranged about the first horizontal score line l2 and the fourth vertical score line 23. Alternatively, the handle flaps may be cut in the partition after part or all of the folding and gluing of the partition structure has been performed during assembly of the carrier from the blank.

When the carrier assembled from the blank of my present invention is to be used for columnar articles such as beverage bottles or the like, it is desirable to provide the blank with partition members which provide divider strips to separate adjacent bottles in each compartiment of the carrier. Such partition members may be provided by trough-shaped cut lines 3| which are positioned axially along the second horizontal score line it. The provision of four such partition members will provide dividers on both sides of the central article of a group of three such articles positioned within each carrier compartment when the carrier is assembled from the blank. Each partition member is provided with three vertical score lines, one score line 32 ex- 4 tending across the mouth of each trough-shaped out line 3| with two additional score lines 33 and 34 positioned between the mouth and base of the cut line.

The sequence of the folding and gluing steps in assembling a carrier from the blank of my present invention is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5. The first step, after the blank has been cut and scored as described hereinbefore, is to apply glue or other suitable adhesive to the dotted areas in Fig. 1. The second step is to fold the upper portion of the blank upwardly and over around the first horizontal score line 12 and to fold the lower portion of the blank upwardly and over about the second horizontal score line I4. The blank will then appear in the shape shown in Fig. 2 wherein the doubled portion of the blank between first horizontal score line l2 and the edge [I of the blank and the doubled portion between the second horizontal score line 14 and the edge 83' of the blank are each reinforced by the intervening layer of glue.

The next step comprises the second gluing stage wherein glue is applied to the dotted areas of the partially folded blank as shown in Fig. 2. When the blank is provided with the troughshaped cut lines 3i, the now double-layered partition members are folded upwardly and back about the score lines 33 so that glue may be further applied to that portion of the partition member between the score line 34 and the end of the cutout section as shown in Fig. 2.

The following step comprises folding the partially assembled blank about the group of three horizontal score lines l5, l5 and I! so as to form an inwardly folded gusset with the central score line I6 of this group at the innermost position within the folded blank as shown in Fig. 3. As further appears in Fig. 3, the glued portion of the extreme ends of the partition members will be aifixed to the surface of the blank adjacent the edge H. Actually, however, in the automatic mechanical folding and gluing of the blank, it will be advantageous to fold the blank from its form shown in Fig. 2 to the form shown in Fig. 4 by folding the upper portion of the blank in Fig. 2 upwardly and over on top of the lower portion of the blank. In this manner, the third gluing stage, indicated by the dotted areas in Fig. 4, can again be performed on the upper face of the partially assembled carrier blank.

Preparatory to the third gluing stage indicated in Fig. 4, the portion of the blank between the side edge l8 and the first vertical score line if! is folded upwardly and over on the blank about the score line l9. Glue is then applied to those portions of the folded blank indicated by the dotted areas in Fig. 4, whereupon the partially assembled blank is folded about the fourth vertical score line 23 so as to bring the glued area of the aforementioned fiap between the score line H! and the blank edge l8 into contact with that portion of the blank between the score line 29 andthe other edge 22 of the blank. The resulting structure, when turned over about its horizontal axis, will be that shown in Fig. 5.

The completely assembled carrier shown in Fig. 5 is flat and is amenable to compact stacking in this flat condition for shipment and for charging to an automatic loading machine. The carrier in its flat or collapsed state, as represented in Fig. 5, is also readily amenable to erection in automatic loading machines or by simple manual operation merely by compressing the carrier between the score line 23 and the opposite edge 22. Compressive pressure between these two sides ofthe folded blank will effect erection of the carrier to the form shown in plan view in Fig. 6. The rigidity of the carrier in its erected form will be fully apparent upon consideration of the sectional-view of the erected carrier shown in Fig. '7. It will there be seen that the upper edge of the two outer side walls 35 of the carrier comprise a fold about the score line I2 and that the major portion of each side wall 35 comprises a double layer of the blank material reinforced with an intervening layer of glue. It will also be noted that the central partition 36 comprises at least a double layer of the blank material reinforced with an intervening layer of glue, this latter structure being clearly apparent in the lower portion of the partition. The upper portion of the-:partition 36, comprising the handle portion of the carrier, comprises two double layers of the blank material with three intervening glue layers. The divider strips 3'! connecting the side walls 35 and the central partition 36 are also formed of a double thickness of the blank material reinforced by the intervening layer of glue, and this same reinforced structure prevails in the end walls 38. Thus, all edges of the carrier which might be subjected to tearing stresses when the carrier is being loaded or is being used in service comprise a fold of at least two thicknesses of the blank material reinforced by an intervening layer ofglue or other adhesive material.

It will also be apparent upon consideration of the erected carrier shown in Fig. '7 that each of the exposed surfaces of the assembled carrier comprises the same surface of the original blank.

Thus, in Fig. 1 wherein glue is indicated to have been applied to the top surface of the blank, the bottom surface of this blank will represent all exterior surfaces of the assembled carrier. Accordingly, the carrier blank of my invention is particularly amenable to printing eitherbefore or after the blank has been cut and scored as previously described. It will be appreciated, accordingly, that my novel carrier blank can be produced by continuous feed from a roll of suitable fibrous sheet material such as kraft paper with continuous printing, scoring and cutting, gluing and folding until the ultimate carrier structure is obtained.

y it will also be noted from a consideration of the stages in the assembly of the carrier as represented by Figs. 1, 2 and 4 that the three gluing steps may be performed on the same upper surface of the blank at its various stages of assembly. This feature facilitates assembly of the carrier in an automatic machine; In this connection, an advantageous optional feature of the blank is to be noted in the cutout sections 39 at each end of the blank between the outermost horizontal score lines l5 and I! in the group of three such lines.

'The depth of the cutout section 39 is less than the distance between the side edges 18 and 22 of the blank and their respective proximate vertical score lines [9 and 29. The function of this cutout section can be seen by reference to Figs. 2 and 3.

Thus, in Fig. 2 it will be seen that the glue applied to the end portions of the partially assembled blank shown therein covers a portion of the gusset sections defined by the group of three horizontal score lines I5, 16 and Il, this glued portion extending from the base of each cutout. section 39 to the respective proximate vertical score lines is and 29. When the partially assembled blank shown in Fig. 2 is further folded into the form shown in either Fig. 3 or Fig. 4,

wherein the gusset sections are folded inwardly into. the blank, the glued portion of these gusset sections causes them to adherecat this point and the glued portions of the blank above and below the horizontal score lines l5 and l! (in Fig. 2) are brought into juxtaposition by virtue of the elimination of that portion of the blank represented by the cutout section 39. In this manner the ends of the folded blank adjacent the ends of the gusset sections will be glued together without requiring an additional step of applying glue to the underneath surface of the gusset adjacent its extreme ends as may be required if the cutout sections 39 are, not provided in the blank.

If it is desired to provide the assembled carrier with a stronger bottom portion along the gusset sections or to provide maximum rigidity to-the entire length of the central partition 36, or both, this may be done by modifying the proportions of the blank as shown in Fig. 8. Thus, the first horizontal score line [2 may be positioned substantially centrally between the upper edge I l of the blank and the uppermost horizontal score line l5 of the group of three such lines. Accordingly, when the upper portion of the blank is folded over about the score line I2, the resulting double layer of the folded blank will extend substantially the full height of the central partition panel which comprises that portion of the blank extending from the horizontal score line I5 to the horizontal score line I 2. Also as shown in Fig. 8, the proportions of the blank may be so chosen that the distance between the lower edge l3 of the blank and the second horizontalscore line H is at least as great as the distance between the horizontal score line l4 and the horizontal score line l5.

With the blank so proportioned and with the lower portion of the blank further provided with an additional group of three horizontal score lines l5, l6 and I1 so positioned as to coincide with the first-mentioned group of three horizontal score lines [5, I6 and I! when the lower portion of the blankis folded upwardly about the horizontal score line Hi, the resulting overlapping of portions of the blank along the gusset sections defined by the horizontal score lines I5, l6 and I! will afford the desired reinforcement of the bottom of the carrier when the folded carrier is erected. It should be understood, of course, that the overlapping portion for the reinforced gusset section may be provided by an extension of the upper portion of the blank rather than by an extension of the lower portion of the blank as indicated in Fig. 8. In order to facilitate folding and unfoldin of the overlapping gusset sections, I have found it advantageous to provide each of the gusset sections with the diagonal score lines 40. The aforementioned reinforcement of both the central partition member and of the bottom or gusset sections of the carrier are clearly shown in Fig. 9.

Regardless of whether the blank conforms to the modification shown in Fig. 1 or the modification shown in Fig. 8, the maximum strength of the assembled carrier is obtained by so cutting the blank that the grain of the paper runs in the direction of the score lines referred to herein as thehorizontal score lines. The grain direction in the assembled and erected carrier will consequently run horizontal so as to afford maximum tear resistance in the vertical direction.

Further advantage of the greater tear resistance across the grain may be taken in connection'with the cutting outof the trough-shaped portions of the blank whenever it is desired to provide dividers in the assembled carrier. In the substantially channel-shaped configuration of these cuts 31 in Fig. 1, it will be observed that the cuts terminate in the direction of the grain. If, however, as shown in Fig. 8, the sides of the trough-shaped cuts 3 la and 3 lb are provided with an outward flare so as to permit them to terminate in at least a somewhat converging direction, the ends of the cut will terminate at least partially directed across the grain of the paper. When the ends of the cuts 31a and SH) terminate in a direction across the grain, as in Fig. 8, the tendency to tear adjacent the terminal ends of the cuts is considerably less than when the cuts 3| terminate in a direction along the grain as in Fig. 1. The flared portion of each divider cutout line in the blank of Fig. 8 thus provides increased strength as well as a somewhat more decorative appearance in the assembled and erected carrier.

Two such dividers may be provided in close proximity to one another on each side of the centerline of the assembled carrier by positioning one out line outside of the other. Thus, in Fig. 8 the cuts 3la are wider than the cuts 3 I b and the former is positioned at least in part around the outside of the latter. In effect, the divider cut sections thus overlap one another without in any way weakening their own structure or that of the carrier.

For still greater handle strength, the blank may be provided, as shown in Fig. 8, with a pair d short vertical cut lines 4| positioned between vertical score lines 20 and 24 and lines 25 and 2|, respectively, and bisected by the first horizontal score line I2. By connecting the ends of each pair of cut lines 41 with horizontal score lines 42, a major portion of the upper edge of the handleforming partition 36 may be folded over about the score lines 42 and glued in place during the third (last) gluing step.

It will be seen that the collapsible carrier of my present invention, when folded as described in connection with the Figs. 3 and 4, comprises a carrier blank folded longitudinally thereof so as to form two extended side panels joined together along the fold. The side panels are joined together transversely thereof adjacent each end and adjacent a section thereof substantially intermediate these ends. In this form, the side panels and the connecting fold of each portion of the folded blank between one joined end and the joined intermediate portion form two carrier sections for columnar articles capable of being brought into juxtaposition by folding the one portion around on the other about a fold line extending transversely across the folded blank substantially centrally of the intermediate joined section of the side panels. When the two carrier sections of the longitudinally folded carrier blank are folded as aforesaid about the central transverse score line so as to bring into juxtaposition the two portions of one side panel between the intermediate and end sections thereof, the juxtaposed portions, when adhesively secured to one another, provide a carrier for columnar articles on each side of the joined juxtaposed side panel portions.

It will be appreciated, accordingly, that the carrier blank of my invention may be cut directly from a roll of kraft paper or the like with virtually no waste, the end of one blank forming the beginning of the next blank off the roll. By using for this purpose either water-resistant, wet-strength or waterproof paper, the carrier formed therefrom will have increasing strength,

in the order named, when the carrier is wetted with condensate dripping from a beverage bottle therein, or from some other source. The carrier formed from this blank may be used for any substantially columnar articles such as beverage bottles, cans, jars, and the like. When the carrier is designed for beverage bottles, such as those distributed in cases of twenty-four bottles, the carrier should advantageously be of such size as to carry say six or twelve bottles, as shown herein, in order that the loaded carriers may be inserted in the same case as used heretofore. It will be appreciated, of course, that the carrier of my invention may be designed to carry any other number of columnar articles.

Although the carrier blanks shown in the drawings have been provided with cut lines for forming divider strips in the assembled carrier, it will be understood that this variation may be omitted wherever it is unnecessary to separate the columnar articles in the carrier by means of such divider strips. Moreover, in lieu of providing a handle cut out in the central partition of the carrier, the handle structure may be provided by an extraneous handle blank, string, wire loop, or the like, secured to the carrier during or after its complete assembly.

It will be further appreciated that each of the side walls, end walls, and center partition members in the carrier assembled from the blank of my invention will be characterized by at least a double layer of the blank sheet material reinforced by an intervening layer of glue. This glue layer not only increases the strength of the carrier wall surfaces but also imparts a considerable degree of rigidity thereto. Thus, where the glue layer is cracked along score lines of the blank during assembly of the carrier therefrom, the portions of the carrier between these score lines will remain rigid even when the extreme ends of the carrier are compressed to effect erection of the carrier for loading. The rigidity of the end walls is particularly advantageous in affording protection for the end articles in the loaded carrier against mechanical shock. Moreover, inasmuch as the center partition extends to the very bottom of the carrier, it affords complete separation of articles loaded into opposite sides of the partition so as to protect them from mechanical contact during loading and shipment. The feature of the center partition extending to the bottom of the carrier, where it divides the articles into two groups, thus distributes the lifting force between these two groups and thereby reduces structural stresses.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my aforementioned co-pending application Serial No. 84,648, filed March 31, 1949.

I claim:

1. A carrier blank for columnar articles comprising a rectangular blank of flexible sheet material, a first horizontal score line spaced inwardly below the upper edge of the blank, a second horizontal score line spaced inwardly above the lower edge of the blank, a group of three horizontal and equally spaced score lines positioned between the first and second horizontal score lines, each of said five horizontal score lines extending the full width of the blank, a first vertical score line spaced inwardly from one side edge of the blank, a second vertical score line spaced inwardly from the first vertical score line, a third vertical score line spaced inwardly from the other side edge of the blank substantially the same distance as that between the first and second vertical score lines, a, fourth vertical score line positioned centrally between the second and third vertical score lines, fifth and sixth vertical score lines positioned on opposite sides of thefourth vertical score line and spaced therefrom substantially the same. distance as that between the first and second vertical score fourth and fifth vertical score lines, between the fourth and sixth vertical score lines and between the third vertical score line and its proximate side edge of the blank, respectively, each of said seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth vertical score v lines extending from the upper edge of the blank downwardly to the group of three horizontal scorelines.

, 2. A carrier blank for columnar articles comprising a rectangular blank of flexible sheet material, a-first horizontal score line spaced inwardly below the upper edge of the blank, 3, second horizontal score line spaced inwardly above the lower edge of the blank, a group of three horizontal and equally spaced score lines positioned between the first and second horizontal score lines, each of said five horizontal score lines extending the full width of the blank, a first vertical score line spaced inwardly from one side edge of the blank, a second vertical score line spaced inwardly from the first vertical score line, a third vertical score line spaced inwardly from the other side edge of the blank substantially the same distance as that between the first and second vertical score lines, a, fourth vertical score line positioned centrally between the second and third vertical score lines, fifth and sixth vertical score lines positioned on opposite sides of the fourth vertical score line and spaced therefrom substantially the same distance as that between the first and second vertical score lines, each. of said six vertical score lines extending from-the upper to the lower edge of the blank,

and seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth vertical score lines positioned centrally between the first and second vertical score lines, between the fourth and fifth vertical score lines, between the fourth and sixth vertical score lines and between the third vertical score'line and its proximate side edge of the blank, respectively, each of said seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth vertical score lines extending from the upper edge of the blank downwardly to the uppermost of the group of three horizontal score lines.

3. A carrier blank for columnar articles comprising a rectangular blank of flexible sheet material, a first horizontal score line spaced inwardly below the upper edge of the blank, a second horizontal score line spaced inwardly above the lower edge of the blank, a group of three horizontal and equally spaced score lines positioned between the first and second horizontal score lines, each of said five horizontal score lines extending the full width of the blank, a first vertical score line spaced inwardly from one side edge of the blank, a, second vertical score line spaced inwardly from the first vertical score line, a third vertical score line spaced inwardly from the other side edge of the blank substantially the same distance as that between the first and second vertical score lines, a fourth vertical score line positioned centrally between the second and third vertical score lines, fifth and sixth vertical score lines positioned on opposite sidesof the fourth vertical score line and spaced therefrom substantially the same distance as that bee tween the first and second vertical score lines, each of said six vertical score lines extending from the upper to the lower edge of the blank, 1 seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth vertical score lines positioned centrally between the first and second vertical score lines, between'the fourth and fifth vertical score lines, between the fourth and sixth vertical score lines and between the third vertical score line and its ,proximateside edge of the blank, respectively, each of said eventh, eighth, ninth and tenth vertical sco extending from the upper edge of the downwardly to the group of three horizontal score 3 lines, a plurality of substantiallytrough shaped cuts positioned axially along the second horizcntal score line, a vertical scoreline, extending across the mouth 1 of each trough-shaped cut,i and two additional spaced vertical score linesextending across the trough-shaped cut and pos itioned between the mouth and base thereof,

4. A carrier blank for columnar articles com-1 prising a rectangular blank of flexible sheetmaterial, a first horizontal score line spaced inwardly'below the upper edge of the blank, ascoond horizontal score line spaced inwardlyabove the lower edge of the blank, a group of ;three horizontal and equally spaced score lines positioned between the first and second horizontal score lines, each of said five horizontal score lines extending the full width of the blank,'a first vertical score line spaced inwardly from one side edge of the blank, a second vertical score line spaced inwardly from the first'verticalscor'e line, a third vertical score line spaced inwardly from the other side edge of the blank substantially the same distance as that between the first and second vertical score lines, a fourth vertical score line positioned centrally between the second and third'vertical score lines, fifth and sixth vertical score lines positioned on op-' posite sides of the fourth vertical scoreline and spaced therefrom substantially the same distance I the first and second vertical score lines, between the fourth and fifth vertical score lines, between the fourth and sixth vertical score-lines and between the third vertical score line and its proximate side edge of the blank, respectivelyeach of said seventh,. eighth, ninth and tenth; vertical score lines extending from the upper edge of the blank downwardly to the group of three horizontal score lines, the blank being cutout between the outermost of said group of 'three horizontal score lines from each side edge of the blank to the proximate vertical score line.

5. A carrier blank for columnar articles comprising a rectangular blank of flexible sheet material, a first horizontal score line spaced inwardly below the upper edge of the blank, a second horizontalscore line spaced inwardly above the lower edge of the blank, a first group of three horizontal and equally spaced score lines positioned between the first and second horizontal score lines, a second group of three horizontal and equally spaced score lines positioned adjacent the lower edge of the blank, the two groups of three horizontal score lines being equally spaced on opposite sides of said second horizontal score line, each of the aforementioned eight horizontal score lines extending the full width of the blank, a first vertical score line spaced inwardly from one side edge of the blank, a second vertical score line spaced inwardly from the first vertical score line, a third vertical score line spaced inwardly from the other side edge of the blank substantially the same distance as that between the first and second vertical score lines, a fourth vertical score line positioned centrally between the second and third vertical score lines, fifth and sixth vertical score lines positioned on opposite sides of the fourth vertical and its proximate side edge of the blank, respectivly, each of said seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth vertical score lines extending from the upper edge of the blank downwardly to the group of three horizontal score lines.

6. A carrier blank for columnar articles com- 1 prising a rectangular blank of flexible sheet material, a first horizontal score line spaced inwardly below the upper edge of the blank, a second horizontal score line spaced inwardly above the lower edge of the blank, a first group of three horizontal and equally spaced score lines positioned between the first and second horizontal score lines, a second group of three horizontal and equally spaced score lines positioned adjacent the upper edge of the blank, the two groups of three horizontal score lines being equally spaced on opposite sides of said first horizontal score line, each of the aforementioned eight horizontal score lines extending the full width of the blank, a first vertical score line spaced inwardly from one side edge of the blank, a second vertical score line spaced inwardly from the first vertical score line, a third vertical score line spaced inwardly from the other side edge of the blank substantially the same distance as that between the first and second vertical score lines, a fourth vertical score line positioned centrally between the second and third vertical score lines, fifth and sixth vertical score lines positioned on opposite sides of the fourth vertical score line and spaced therefrom substantially the same distance as that between the first and second vertical score lines, each of said six vertical score lines extending from the upper to the lower edge of the blank, and seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth vertical score lines positioned centrally between the first and second vertical score lines, between the fourth and fifth vertical score lines, between the fourth and sixth vertical score lines and between the third vertical score line and its proximate side edge of the blank, respectively, each of said seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth vertical score lines extending from the upper edge of the blank downwardly to the group of three horizontal score lines.

7. A carrier blank for columnar articles comprising a rectangular blank of flexible sheet material, a first horizontal score line spaced inwardly below the upper edge of the blank. a second horizontal score line spaced inwardly above the lower edge of the blank, a group of three horizontal and equally spaced score lines positioned between the first and second horizontal score lines, each of said five horizontal score lines extending the full width of the blank, a first vertical score line spaced inwardly from one side edge of the blank, a second vertical score line spaced inwardly from the first vertical score line, a third vertical score line spaced inwardly from the other side edge of the blank substantially the same distance as that between the first and second vertical score lines, a fourth vertical score line positioned centrally between the second and third vertical score lines, fifth and sixth vertical score lines positioned on opposite sides of the fourth vertical score line and spaced therefrom. substantially the same distance as that between the first and second vertical score lines, each of said six vertical score lines extending from the upper to the lower edge of the blank, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth vertical score lines positioned centrally between the first and second vertical score lines, between the fourth and fifth vertical score lines, between the fourth and sixth vertical score lines and between the third vertical score line and its proximate side edge of the blank, respectively, each of said seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth vertical score lines extending from the upper edge of the blank downwardly to the group of three horizontal score lines, and a plurality of pairs of substantially trough-shaped cuts positioned axially at spaced intervals along the second horizontal score line, one trough-shaped cut of each pair thereof being of greater width than the other and partially surrounding same, each cut of each pair thereof being provided with a vertical score line extending across the mouth of each trough and with two additional vertical score lines extending across the trough positioned at spaced intervals between the mouth and base of the trough.

OSCAR L. VINES.

No references cited.

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