US3653610A

US3653610A - Container carrier

Info

Publication number: US3653610A
Application number: US885792A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ronald Charles Owen
Original assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Current assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Priority date: 1969-12-17
Filing date: 1969-12-17
Publication date: 1972-04-04
Anticipated expiration: 1989-04-04
Also published as: DE2061296B2; CA931538A; AU2340270A; JPS5120834B1; DE2061296A1; GB1325717A; NL7018203A; SE380438B; FR2073882A5

Abstract

A plastic carrier of a unitary structure for holding bottles in which the carrier includes an integral endless band and bail operating to hold a bottle in substantially vertical position by positioning the carrier about a complementary bottle and pivoting the bail portion about the center line of the complementary bottle.

Description

United States Patent Owen [54] CONTAINER CARRIER [72] inventor: Ronald Charles Owen, Harwood Heights,

[73] Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc., Chicago, 111.

[22] Filed: Dec. 17, 1969 1 [21] Appl. No.: 885,792

52 11.8. c1. ..294/s1.2, 215/100A 5s ..294/31.2, 87.2;-224/45 AA; 215/100 A; 220/94 A, 952 B; 206/65 c [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1961 Jenningsv et a1 ..2l5/100 A Fisher ..294/87.2 X

1451 Apr. 4, 1972 3,269,530 8/1966 Wanderer ..294/87.2 X 3,314,712 4/1967 l-lohl et al.

3,463,536 8/1969 Updegrafi et al. ....215/l00 A 3,119,541 1/1964 Lynn .215/100 A Primary Examiner-Richard E. Aegerter Assistant Examiner-Douglas D. Watts Attorney-Robert W. Beart, Michael Kovac, Barry L. Clark and Jack R. l-lalvorsen [57] I ABSTRACT A plastic carrier of a unitary structure for holding bottles in which thecarrier includes an integral endless band and bail operating to hold a bottle in substantially vertical position by positioning the carrier about a complementary bottle and pivoting the bail portion about the center line of the complementary bottle.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures CONTAINER CARRIER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention is generally concerned with a container carrier, and more particularly with carriers for holding and positioning large bottles.

2. The Description of Prior Art In the prior art of container carriers, the use of integral plastic carriers having endless bands with pivoting bail portions can be seen in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,000,527 to Jennings and U.S. Pat. No. 3,463,536 to Updegraff. Similarly, the use of a single flexible, piece of material for a bottle carrier is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,556,076 to Quincy.

None of these prior art patents disclose structure for accurately positioning the container in a vertical position.

In dispensing solutions from bottles to patients, it is necessary to securely and accurately position an intravenous solution bottle above the patient. This securing and positioning has been done previously by the use of metal'straps and/or bail combinations. One commonly used intravenous solution bottle carrier uses a metal band with an attached wire bail means. The bail means is further clipped to one side of the band when not in use. Similarcarrier construction is found in the apparatus used for transporting large food jars or the like. This metal combination has proven to be undesirable for various reasons. For example, the use of metal generally brings with it sharp edges and the disadvantage of rusting and other deteriorating effects. The metal combination described above also necessitates a certain amount of preassembly. A need, therefore, has existed for a safe and convenient carrier which will accurately and reliably position a glass bottle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is one object of this invention to provide a container carrier which is both light and relatively strong and which will hold and carry a container in a substantially vertical position.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a container carrier which is resilient enough to provide a very snug and 36 as shown in FIG. 2. The strip of containers can then be fit on a complementary container and is of a unitary construction having a configuration which facilitates storage and shipment thereof.

It is another object of the invention to provide a container carrier which requiresno preassembly and is readily adapted for automatic application on bottles, which carrier is also adapted to be mass produced in strip form.

The foregoing and other'objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container carrier constructed in accordance with the present invention, embracing an IV. solution bottle and positioning the bottle in a substantially vertical position.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the carrier.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view taken along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view taken along the lines 4-4.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an alternate embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A series of carrier elements 10 may be punched from a continuous strip and further punched to form

apertures

32, 34

separated from one another by breaking a frangible connection on either side of the container carrier as at 44 on FIG. 2. Although the carrier is preferably made by stamping or cutting from sheet material, it can also be manufactured by other means, such as molding.

Carrier 10 is of a generally planar configuration as shown by surface 38in FIGS. 3 and 4. The carrier is comprised of an endless band 14, in the form of an ellipse, which is unitarily connected to a generally U shaped bail element 16. The bail element, in tum,has arms 18 which extend laterally from, and in generally parallel relationship with the endless band. The bail element 16 and the endless band are unitarily connected to one another by connecting portions 20. A secondary connecting portion 24 is provided between the band and the bail. This secondary connecting portion insures that the bail will lie in a flat, non-interfering position prior to the actual use ofthe bottle. g i

The endless band 14, connecting

portions

20 and 24, and arms 18 thereby form elongated apertures 32. Likewise, the endless band and bail element 16, particularly handle portion 22, form another aperture 34. As stated-above, the

apertures

32, 34 and 36 are stamped or otherwise removed from the sheet material 30. This stamped material from the apertures may thereafter be reprocessed for a further use.

The elliptical inner periphery 28 of the band is described by a major and a minor axis. The ellipticalnature of this endless band insures a snug and resilient fit-about a complementary container, such as in groove 50 in'the bottle I2. Upon application of the carrier to the bottle, the minor axis is stretched outwardly and, simultaneously, the major axis is' compressed inwardly until the generally circular configuration of the groove, or any other mating surface, is snugly and continuously received by the endless band 14.

From this, it can be shown in FIG. 1 that the endless band then is pivoted approximately in order to conform with the outer surface of the bottle and the surface 38 is snugly pressed against the surface of the bottle 12.

The container carrier is provided with connecting portion 20 to connect the endless band 14 with the bail element 16. The positioning of this connecting portion on the endless band is very important in that it is necessary to pivot the bail element relative to the endless band and yet maintain the endless band and its complementary container held in a verticalposition. This positioning is insured by the placement of the connecting portion partially on the minor axis of the ellipse, but having a substantial portion of the connecting portion 20 lying on one side of the minor axis. The bail element 16 is positioned on the side of the minor axis opposite the side which the substantial portion of the connecting portions is positioned. Placement of the portion-20 substantially on one side of the minor axis offsets the tendency of the band and bottle to hang at an angle other than perpendicular to a reference surface, i.e. the floor or ground. This configuration will, therefore, insure that the vertical placement of the bottle, as shown in FIG. 1, will be obtained. If the minor axis of the ellipse were positioned at the center of connecting portions 20 there would be a tendency of thecontainer and the carrier combination to tilt and not obtain the substantially vertical position as shown in FIG. 1. This tilting would occur due to the natural resiliency and construction of a unitarily formed plastic member.

- Upon the placement of the carrier on a container, the entire carrier will deform in such a manner that the bail element will pivot about an imaginary center line of a complementary container when said bail element is moved from its horizontal position to a position perpendicular to the endless band. This deformation of the carrier also results in forming a hinge means from the inner periphery of the connecting portion 20. Therefore,=rthe center line of the carrier is effectively, translated a small distance from that shown in FIG. 2 due to the deformation of the material.

A coined groove 40 is provided on the inner marginal portion of the connecting portion 20, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. This coined groove which becomes positioned on a center line of the container after the deformation discussed above, thus essentially becomes a hinge means.

While the natural physical properties of a polyethylene material would insure a relative resistance to tearing, it has become desirable, due to the delicate nature of the use to provide further protection against failure or tearing upon positioning of the bottle. This further protection is accomplished by the coined groove 40 as described above. These coined grooves can be seen more clearly in FIG. 4 as extending from the endless band to its associated arm along an inner marginal portion of each connecting portion 20. FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the container carrier taken through the coined grooves 40. The grooves are shown to extend from the endless band to the arm essentially on the axis of rotation between the two elements. With the addition of these coined grooves, it can be shown that the relatively thin cross-section in FIG. 3 is capable of sustaining the weight which would normally be encountered in a full l.V. solution bottle or an even heavier load which may result in use with a large food jar. It can also be shown that the coining operation orients the molecules of the material and increases the density of the material, thus enhancing the tensile strength.

The ease of handling of this container carrier is furthered by the provision of the slits 26 and the secondary connecting portions 24. These secondary portions insure that the carrier retain its planar configuration when packed, stored and when the container is being prepared for automatic installation on a bottle. After the container has been placed on the bottle and after the bottle is ready for use, the secondary portion can very easily be severed by small twisting motions which will enable the bail element to be pivoted about the connecting portion 20. The positioning of the bail on the same plane as the band facilitates the storage of the bottle carrier combination. This frangible connection is made possible by the slits 26 which completely puncture a large portion of the secondary connecting portion 24.

The aperture 34 provides a convenient hand hold for separating the frangible connection and for temporarily carrying and holding a bottle, and in the case of an l.V. solution bottle, for attaching to a hook such as 40 in FIG. 1.

The concave inner groove portion 42 in the handle portion 22 is located substantially on the extension of the major axis of the endless band when the carrier is at rest position and provides a seating arrangement which insures a relatively unshiftable bearing between the hook 48 and the carrier 10. This insurance against shifting on the hook is a very desirable feature because the immobility of the bottle is required for uniform and continuous control of the solution to a patient.

The bail element 16 with arms 18 and handle 22 will remain in a substantially planar position when at rest. Upon the pivoting of the handle about the connecting portion 20 it will attain and sustain the bottle in a substantially vertical position. The bail portion will ultimately return to the rest position, the substantially planar relationship with the endless band 14.

FIG. 2 discloses a generally swept-wing configuration for the container carrier. That is, portions of the arms are shown to extend laterally of and substantially parallel with the endless band while the remaining portions of the arms extend generally parallel to the major axis of the endless band and the handle portion 22 extends generally parallel to the minor axis of the ellipse forming the endless band. It can be seen that this configuration will conserve material while at the same time providing the necessary aperture for grasping the handle means 22.

A modified form of the carrier is shown in FIG. of the drawings, and is generally similar to the above described embodiment as indicated by the application of identical reference numerals with the suffix 0" employed to designate like parts.

In carrier 10a, an endless band 14a is unitarily connected to a bail element 16a which is of a generally U" shaped configuration having arms 18a and a handle portion 22a. The bail portion and the endless band as stated above, are unitarily connected and this unitary structure results from a connecting portion 201:. As in the above described embodiment, the connecting portions 20a lie partially on the minor axis of the ellipse, but having a substantial portion of the connecting portion lying on one side of the minor axis.-

The blunt nose portion 47 forms a part of connecting portion 260, thus insuring that a substantial portion of connecting portion 200 lies on one side of the minor axis. It should be understood that the connecting portion 200 could be of the continuous form as shown in container 10. FIG. 2, rather than the blunt, partially disconnected configuration as shown in FIG. 5.

Again similar to the above embodiment, the bail element, while at rest position, extends and is positioned on the side of the minor axis opposite the side upon which the major portion of the connecting portion 200 is placed. The carrier 10a includes coined grooves 40a positioned on an inner marginal portion of each connecting portion similar to that in the preferred embodiment element 10. The container carrier 10a also has a bail element 16a which is shaped in a generally semi-elliptical form, which elliptical form has major and minor axes coinciding with the major and minor axes of the endless band.

This embodiment also is made from a strip of sheet material 30a with

apertures

34a and 36a punched from the material. The bail element 16a is completely disconnected from the band at all portions except connection portions 20a. The bail element 16a is also in a co-planar relationship with the endless band when at rest position. The bail is retained in this position primarily by the elastic memory of the material a and partially by the frictional engagement between the inner portion of the U-shape of the bail 16a and the end portion of the major axis of the endless band, as shown in FIG. 5. This configuration, although being disconnected, presents a contact 46 which will retain the bail element in the same plane as the endless band at all times except when physically separated.

The operation of this container carrier is similar in all respects to the operation of the embodiment of the container carrier 10. Carrier 10a, as a result of a positioning of the connecting portion 16a, will enable the endless band to snugly and uniformly engage a complementary container, similar to that shown in FIG. 1, and maintain the container in a substantially vertical position.

It can be seen that both embodiments l0 and 10a include bail elements with arms which extend laterally from the endless band portions 14 and 14a respectively. This arrangement enables the ease of pivoting the bail element to the operational configuration as shown in FIG. 1.

It will now be appreciated that a superior plastic carrier has been provided for transporting and holding glass-like containers in a substantially vertical position.

The unique positioning of connecting

portions

20 and 20a insure an effective and true control for the vertical positioning of the bottle. The provision of coined grooves 40 and 40a also give the carrier added strength along the hinge portion about which the bail element pivots. The handle 22 is also designed to facilitate both the gripping by hand and the seating on a complementary hook for ultimate use.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it is obvious that many structural details may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A container carrier of resilient, elastic and deformable low density flat plastic sheet material of substantially uniform thickness comprising, an endless elliptically shaped band which defines major and minor axes thereof, the aperture defined by said band having a continuous and uninterrupted inner peripheral edge and formed for association with the container so that said band is stretched and deformed to circumferentially grip said container with said band substantially flat against the circumferential surface of said container, a substantially U"-shaped integral bail element having a pair of arms and a connecting handle which extend laterally of the band and are co-planar with the band in rest position, the arms of said bail element being integrally attached to the opposite sides of said band across connecting positions which are located in the vicinity of the minor axis of said band, each connecting portion being located at least partially on the minor axis of the band but substantially on one side of the minor axis, the handle being positioned, in rest position, on the side of the minor axis opposite the substantial portion of the connecting portion, said container carrier, when assembled to a complementary container, being stretched and deformed to permit gripping of said container with said container in a substantially vertical position, and the connecting handle including a groove portion on its inner periphery located substantially on the extension of the major axis of the endless band when the carrier is at rest position.

2. A container carrier of resilient, elastic and deformable low density flat plastic sheet material of substantially uniform thickness comprising, an endless elliptically shaped band which defines major and minor axes thereof, the aperture defined by said band having a continuous and uninterrupted inner peripheral edge and formed for association with the container so that said band is stretched and deformed to circumferentially grip said container with said band substantially flat against the circumferential surface of said container, a substantially U"-shaped integral bail element having a pair of arms and a connecting handle which extend laterally of the band and are co-planar with the band in rest position, the arms of said bail element being integrally attached to the opposite sides of said band across connecting positions which are located in the vicinity of the minor axis of said band, each connecting portion being located at least partially on the minor axis of the band but substantially on one side of the minor axis, the handle being positioned, in rest position, on the side of the minor axis opposite the substantial portion of the connecting portion, said container carrier, when assembled to a complementary container, being stretched and deformed to permit gripping of said container with said container in a substantially vertical position, and an inner marginal portion of each connecting portion having a coined groove means extending from the endless band to its associated arm for increasing the tear resistance of said connecting portion, said coined groove means comprising an indentation sufficient to orient the molecules about said indentation.

3. A container carrier according to claim 2 wherein the coined groove means is positioned relative to said band and said bail element so that upon the defonnation of the material when the bail element is pivoted about an imaginary center line of a complementary container the coined groove means is intersected by the line of greatest stress between said band and against the circumferential surface of said container, a substantially U"-shaped integral bail element having a pair of arms and a connecting handle which extend laterally of the band and are co-planar with the band in rest position, the arms of said bail element being integrally'attache'd to the opposite sides of said band across connecting positions which are located in the vicinity of the minor axis of said band, each connecting portion being located at least partially on the minor axis of the band but substantially on one side of the minor axis,

the handle being positioned, in rest position, on the side of the minor axis opposite the substantial port on of the connecting portion, said container carrier, when assembled to a complementary container, being stretched and deformed to permit gripping of said container with said container in a substantially vertical position, and the bail element being of a generally semi-elliptical form with its major and minor axes coinciding with the major and minor axes in the endless band.

5. A container carrier comprising a container-encircling body member and a handle member formed integrally therewith, said body member and its associated handle member being formed from a sheet of resilient and deformable polyethylene-like plastic material, said container encircling body member and said handle member being formed as flat ribbon-like shapes of substantially uniform thickness and having substantial width, said handle member being generally U-shaped, connecting portion means joining each leg of said handle member to said container encircling body member along its marginal edge, and groove means impressed along a portion of said marginal edges and across each said connecting portions into a portion of each leg to provide an area of reduced thickness in the vicinity of said junctions to span the areas of substantially greater stress, said groove means comprising coined indentations having a width and depth sufficient to orient the molecules about said indentations.

Claims

1. A container carrier of resilient, elastic and deformable low density flat plastic sheet material of substantially uniform thickness comprising, an endless elliptically shaped band which defines major and minor axes thereof, the aperture defined by said band having a continuous and uninterrupted inner peripheral edge and formed for association with the container so that said band is stretched and deformed to circumferentially grip said container with said band substantially flat against the circumferential surface of said container, a substantially ''''U''''shaped integral bail element having a pair of arms and a connecting handle which extend laterally of the band and are coplanar with the band in rest position, the arms of said bail element being integrally attached to the opposite sides of said band across connecting positions which are located in the vicinity of the minor axis of said band, each connecting portion being located at least partially on the minor axis of the band but substantially on one side of the minor axis, the handle being positioned, in rest position, on the side of the minor axis opposite the substantial portion of the connecting portion, said container carrier, when assembled to a complementary container, being stretched and deformed to permit gripping of said container with said container in a substantially vertical position, and the connecting handle including a groove portion on its inner periphery located substantially on the extension of the major axis of the endless band when the carrier is at rest position.

2. A container carrier of resilient, elastic and deformable low density flat plastic sheet material of substantially uniform thickness comprising, an endless elliptically shaped band which defines major and minor axes thereof, the aperture defined by said band having a continuous and uninterrupted inner peripheral edge and formed for association with the container so that said band is stretched and deformed to circumferentially grip said container with said band substantially flat against the circumferential surface of said container, a substantially ''''U''''-shaped integral bail element having a pair of arms and a connecting handle which extend laterally of the band and are co-planar with the band in rest position, the arms of said bail element being integrally attached to the opposite sides of said band across connecting positions which are located in the vicinity of the minor axis of said band, each connecting portion being located at least partially on the minor axis of the band but substantially on one side of the minor axis, the handle being positioned, in rest posiTion, on the side of the minor axis opposite the substantial portion of the connecting portion, said container carrier, when assembled to a complementary container, being stretched and deformed to permit gripping of said container with said container in a substantially vertical position, and an inner marginal portion of each connecting portion having a coined groove means extending from the endless band to its associated arm for increasing the tear resistance of said connecting portion, said coined groove means comprising an indentation sufficient to orient the molecules about said indentation.

3. A container carrier according to claim 2 wherein the coined groove means is positioned relative to said band and said bail element so that upon the deformation of the material when the bail element is pivoted about an imaginary center line of a complementary container the coined groove means is intersected by the line of greatest stress between said band and said bail element when the container is carried in said band and supported from said handle.

4. A container carrier of resilient, elastic and deformable low density flat plastic sheet material of substantially uniform thickness comprising, an endless elliptically shaped band which defines major and minor axes thereof, the aperture defined by said band having a continuous and uninterrupted inner peripheral edge and formed for association with the container so that said band is stretched and deformed to circumferentially grip said container with said band substantially flat against the circumferential surface of said container, a substantially ''''U''''-shaped integral bail element having a pair of arms and a connecting handle which extend laterally of the band and are co-planar with the band in rest position, the arms of said bail element being integrally attached to the opposite sides of said band across connecting positions which are located in the vicinity of the minor axis of said band, each connecting portion being located at least partially on the minor axis of the band but substantially on one side of the minor axis, the handle being positioned, in rest position, on the side of the minor axis opposite the substantial portion of the connecting portion, said container carrier, when assembled to a complementary container, being stretched and deformed to permit gripping of said container with said container in a substantially vertical position, and the bail element being of a generally semi-elliptical form with its major and minor axes coinciding with the major and minor axes in the endless band.