US3232477A

US3232477A - Compartment carrier with additional partition members

Info

Publication number: US3232477A
Application number: US352778A
Authority: US
Inventors: George V Woodling
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-03-18
Filing date: 1964-03-18
Publication date: 1966-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 1983-02-01

Description

Feb. 1, 1966 G. v. WOODLING 3,232,477

CDPIZEARTi-EENT CARRIER WITH ADDITIONAL PARTITION MEMBERS Filed March 18, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet l m5 FIG-3.4 INVENTOR.

GEORGE V. WOODLING Feb. 1, 1966 G. v. WOODLING 3,232,477

COMPARTMENT CARRIER WITH ADDITIONAL PARTITION MEMBERS Filed March 18, 1964. 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR. GEORGE V. WOODLING BY FIGJ WJMMWWM United States Patent 3,232,477 COMPARTMENT CARRIER WITH ADDITIONAL PARTITIQN MEMBERS George V. Woodling, 22077 West Lake Road, Rocky River, Ohio Filed Mar. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 352,778 7 Claims. (Cl. 220-113) My invention relates to compartment carriers and more particularly to compartment carriers for carrying bottles and other similar articles. In the trade there are two general types of compartment carriers, one being referred to as the strap type and the other being referred to as the full-depth type. An example of the full-depth type is shown in US. Patent No. 2,688,421 and the designation is derived from the fact that the partitions which separate the bottles are substantially of full depth to give maximum protection to the bottles or other articles being carried. An example of the strap type is shown in my patent application Serial No. 170,542, filed Feb. 2, 1962, now Pat. No. 3,152,719, and patent application Serial No.249,256, filed Jan. 3, 1963, now Pat. No. 3,151,769, and the designation is derived from the fact that the partitions which separate the bottles or other articles being carried are in the nature of narrow connecting straps.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my applications Serial Nos. 170,542 and 249,256, filed Feb. 2, 1962 and Jan. 3, 1963, now Pat. Nos. 3,152,719 and 3,151,769, respectively, and it is to be understood that the disclosures of these pending applications are incorporated in this application the same as though they were written and shown herein.

An object of my invention is to provide for converting a strap type carrier into a substantially full-depth type carrier.

Another object is to provide for strengthening the handle and the base of the carrier, as well as for providing substantially full-depth partitions to separate the bottles or other articles being carried.

Another object is the provision of a secondary partition structure having a bridging panel extending from one end of the carrier to the other to separate the carrier into two side compartments and having substantially full-depth secondary partitions extending from the bridging panel to the sides of the carrier for separating the side compartments into a plurality of subcornpartments.

Another object is the provision of cutting the secondary partitions out of the sides of the bridging panels.

Another object is the provision of a secondary partition structure having a bridging panel provided with recesses to receive the partitions when the carrier is collapsed so that there are no thick spots interfering with the proper pressing and gluing of the panels together.

Another object is the provision of constructing the entire carrier, except the base, of substantially uniform thickness, preferably six panels, so that in the collapsed condition during the assembly and gluing operations there are no thick spots interfering with the proper pressing and gluing of the panels together.

Another object is to provide a reinforcing flap for the base and then stapling the flap to the end wall rib means or to the secondary partition structure.

Another object is the provision of a combined secondary handle structure and a secondary partition structure adapted to be embodied in a strap type carrier to convert it into a substantially full-depth carrier and to strengthen the handle.

Another object is to strengthen a strap type carrier which is normally used for carrying small size bottles so that the carrier may be made into a large size and used 3,232,4'Z7 Patented F eh. l, 1966 to carry large size bottles, such as quarts and one-half quarts.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view of a blank of paperboard from which the strap type carrier may be constructed;

FIGURE 2 is a view of a blank of paperboard from which the combined secondary handle structure and the secondary partition structure may be constructed;

FIGURE 3 is a view of the blank in FIGURE 2 with a part of the secondary handle structure cut and removed therefrom and with the bridging panels at the opposite ends thereof folded underneath the blank;

FIGURE 4 shows the removed parts of the secondary handle structure in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 shows the blank of FIGURE 1 with the blank shown in FIGURE 3 glued to the left-hand side thereof and with the blank shown in FIGURE 4 glued to the right-hand side thereof, all being preparatory to folding and assembling the carrier;

FIGURE 7 shows the blanks of FIGURE 6 after they have been folded sidewise, this view showing the back of the folded blanks before they are folded back-to-back to form the finished carrier;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a compartment carrier embodying the features of my invention;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 99 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 1010 of FIGURE 9; and

FIGURE 11 is a view taken along the line 1111 of FIGURE 10, showing principally the stapling of the flap of the base to the secondary partition structure and to the bottom portion of the infold rib means of the end walls.

With reference to FIGURES-8 and 9 of the drawings, the strap type carrier comprises a collapsible box-cornpartment identified by the reference character 20 having a centrally disposed handle 21 with

strap partitions

22, 23, 24 and 25 extending from the handle 21 which divide the box-compartment 20 into six subcornpartrnents disposed in two rows of three each on each side of the handle. The box-compartment 29 has a base comprising two

panels

26 and 27.

The blank from which the carrier is made is shown in FIGURE 1. The box-compartment has two side wall means and two end wall means. The two side wall means comprise first and second

opposed side walls

30 and 31 having lower edges respectively connected to the outer edges of the

base panels

26 and 27. As illustrated, the

base panels

26 and 27 have end portions or

flaps

28 and 29, respectively, the portion or flap 28 being glued to the marginal edge portion of the base panel 27, whereas the portion or flap 29 extends upwardly as a reinforcing member to strengthen the base. The strap type carrier is made of one piece and all the folded lines (shown dotted) constitute integral hinges whereby the carrier may be foldable from a collapsed condition to an erected condition.

The end wall means comprises first and second pairs of end panels. The first pair of end panels comprise two

panels

32 and 33 and the second pair of end panels comprise two

panels

34 and 35. The first pair of

end panels

32 and 33 have inner

adjacent edges

36 and 37. A first pair of

infold ribs

40 and 41 are respectively connected to the inner

adjacent edges

36 and 37 of the first pair of

end panels

32 and 33. The first pair of infold ribs 40 3 and 41 extend inwardly in face-contacting relation and are secured together, such as by glue, to connect the inner

adjacent edges

36 and 37 of the first pair of

panels

32 and 33. The first pair of

infold ribs

40 and 41 has a bottom portion 33 and a riser portion 42 which extends above the first pair of

end panels

32 and 33.

The second pair of

end panels

34 and 35 have inner

adjacent edges

43 and 44. A second pair of infold ribs and 46 are respectively connected to the inner

adjacent edges

43 and 44 of the second pair of end panels 34 and 35'. The second pair of

infold ribs

45 and 46 extend inwardly in face-contacting relation and are secured together, such as by glue, to connect the inner

adjacent edges

43 and 44 of the second pair of

end panels

34 and 35. The second pair of

infold ribs

45 and 46 has a bottom portion 39 and a riser portion 47 which extends above the second pair of

end panels

34 and 35.

The handle 21 comprises first and second telescopic handle means 50 and 51. The first telescopic handle means 5t comprises first and

second handhold panels

52 and 53 each having first (outer) and second (inner)

ends

54 and 55. The first (outer) end 54 of the first and

second handhold panels

52 and 53 are joined along integral vertical fold lines to the riser portion 42 of the first pair of

infold ribs

40 and 41. The second (inner) end 55 of the first and second

handheld panels

52 and 53 extends toward and substantially reaches the riser portion 47 of the second pair of

infold ribs

45 and 46.

The second telescopic handle means 51 comprises third and fourth handhold panels and 61 each having first (outer) and second (inner)

ends

62 and 63. The first (outer) end 62 of the third and

fourth handhold panels

60 and 61 are joined along integral vertical fold lines to the riser portion 47 of the second pair of

infold ribs

45 and 46. The second (inner) end 63 of the third and

fourth handhold panels

60 and 61 extends toward and substantially reaches the rise-r portion 42 of the first pair of

infold ribs

40 and 41. The first and

second handhold panels

52 and 53 are substantially identical with each other and are joined together at their top edges along an integral horizontal fold line 66. The first and

fourth handhold panels

60 and 61 are substantially identical with each other and are joined together at their top edge along an integral horizontal fold line 67. In assembly, the blank is folded about its central fold. lines 66. and 67 with the upper half as if raised from the patent drawing sheet and then folded down over the lower half.

The side wall 30 has first and second pivotal

vertical edges

72 and 73. The side wall 31 has third and fourth pivotal

vertical edges

76 and 77. The vertical side edges 72 and 73, and 76 and '77, are disposed respectively at the one-third points along the length of the side walls. For a carrier having eight compartments, the vertical side edges would be disposed at the one-fourth points along the length of the side walls. The location of these points depends upon the number of compartments in a single row and the point location for each partition may be designated as (l/n), Where (n) is the number of compartments in a single row.

The third handhold panel 60 has first and second pivotal handle

vertical edges

80 and 84. The fourth handhold panel 61 has third and fourth. pivotal handle

vertical edges

81 and 85. The vertical handle edges 80 and 81, and 84 and 85 are disposed respectively at the one-third points along the combined length of the first and second telescopic handle means 50 and 51. For a carrier having eight compartments, the vertical handle edges would be disposed at the one-fourth points along the combined length of the first and second telescopic handle means 50 and 51. The location of these points depends upon the number of compartments in a single row and the point location for each partition may be designated as (l/n) where (n) is the number of compartments in a single row.

In my assembled strap type carrier, the vertical side edges have a top terminal end which registers with the top of the side walls and a bottom terminal end which extends downwardly into the body or the side walls. The vertical handle edges have avbottom terminal end which registers with the bottom of the third and

fourth handhold panels

60 and 61 and a top terminal end which extends upwardly into the

respective handhold panels

60 and 61. The top terminal ends of the vertical side edges 72 and '73, and 76 and 77 are substantially on the same level as the bottom terminal ends of the vertical handle edges and 81, and 84 and 85. The four

partitions

22, 23, 24 and 25 each have outer ends respectively connected to the vertical side edges 72, 73, 76 and 77 and have inner ends respectively connected to the vertical handle edges 80, 81, 84 and 85.

The combined length of the first and

third handhold panels

52 and 60, when telescoped in the finished carriers, is substantially the same as the length of the side walls. The two panels may therefore be referred to as a first primary handle panel means. The same condition is true for the second and fourth handhold panels 53' and 61 and they may be referred to as a second primary handle panel means.

The description thus far has been devoted to that of my strap type carrier which may be converted into a substantially full-depth partition carrier. The conversion may be used to effect at the same time the reinforcement of the handle. The full-depth partition conversion and the handle reinforcement conversion are accomplished by means of a combined secondary handle structure and a secondary partition structure. The blank from which the combined secondary handle structure and secondary partition structure may be made is shown in FIGURE 2. The secondary partition structure comprises two identical end portions indicated by the reference characters A and B, and the secondary handle structure comprises the central portion indicated by the reference character C. The portion A comprises two

partition bridging panels

88 and 89, of which the panel 39 ha two partition members and 91 cut therefrom. The panel 88 is folded underneath the panel 89 and glued back-to-back thereto except for the area occupiedby the two

partition members

90 and 91 which hinge respectively along dotted

lines

92 and 93 to the panel 89 (see FIGS. 3 and 5). The two

partition members

90 and 91 have respectively

tab portions

94 and 95 which are later adapted to be glued to the side 30 of the carrier. The structure of the portion B is identical to the structure of the portion A and comprises two

partition bridging panels

96 and 97, of which the panel 97 has two

partition members

98 and 99 cut therefrom. The panel 96 is folded underneath the panel 97 and glued back-to-back thereto except for the area occupied by the two

partition member

98 and 99 which hinge respectively along dotted

lines

100 and 101 to the panel 97. The two

partition members

98 and 99 have respectively

tab portions

102 and 103 which are later adapted to be glued to the side wall 31. The portion C comprises a first handle panel means comprising two

parts

104 and 106 and a second handle panel means comprising two

parts

105 and 107. The parts 194 and 105 have been cut from the blank in FIGURE 2 with a clearance space as indicated so that there are adequate tolerances along the edges of the assembled panels when they are folded into the finished carrier. In assembly, the two

parts

104 and 105 of FIGURE 4 are glued to the two

infold ribs

40 and 41 of my strap type blank in FIGURE 1 (see the entire assembly in FIG. 6). The

parts

106 and 107 remain integral with the two secondary partition structures A and B (see FIG. 3)v The right-hand edge portion of the entire blank of FIGURE 3, which includes the two

parts

106 and 107, is glued to the two

infold ribs

45 and 46. The next step in the assembly is shown in FIGURE 7 where the blanks of FIGURES 3 and 4 which are now glued to the infold ribs of my strap type blank are folded along with their respective infold ribs over the face of my strap type blank, while at the same time the handle portions are telescoped. FIGURE 7 ShOWs the back of the folded blanks and it will be noted that clearance spaces are provided by the adjacent matching edges of the folded panels so as to provide clearance in assembly. In the final assembly, the folded parts of FIGURE 7 are folded about the center fold line 108 with the upper half as if raised from the patent drawing sheet and then folded down over the lower half, gluing the back-to-back parts together a well as the base. In the final folding and gluing operations, the

partition tabs

94 and 95 are glued to the side wall 30 and the partition tabs 1G2 and 103 are glued to the side wall 31. Also the outer ends of the

secondary partition members

90 and 91 are glued at 110 and 111, respectively, to the outer ends of the

strap partitions

23 and 22 and the outer ends of the

secondary partitions

98 and 99 are glued respectively at 112 and 113 to the outer end of the strap partitions 25 and 24 (see FIG. 9).

Except for the two

partition members

90 and 91, the

partition bridging panels

88 and 89 are glued together and constitute a first bridging panel means. The end marginal edge portions of the bridging panel 89 are connected to the

bottom portions

38 and 39 of the

infold ribs

40 and 45. The bridging panel 88 extends with a small clearance on each side thereof between the inner edges of infold ribs 4% and 45. By a similar construction, the

partition bridging panels

96 and 97 are glued together except for the two

partition members

93 and 99 and they constitute a second bridging panel means. The end marginal edge portions of the bridge panel 97 are connected to the

bottom portions

38 and 93 of the

infold ribs

41 and 46. The bridging panel 96 extends with a small clearance on each side thereof between the inner edges of the

infold ribs

41 and 46. In final assembly, the two bridging

panels

88 and 96 are glued together back-to-back. The bridging panel structure ties the bottom portion of the infold ribs together and thereby reinforces the structure of the box-compartment, whereby the carrier may be made in large sizes to carry larger bottles. The first bridging panel means comprising the

panels

88 and 89 and the second bridging panel means comprising the

panels

96 and 97, when glued together comprise a unit which may be referred to as secondary partition structure means. The opposite sides of the secondary partition structure means are identical and each include an outer raised surface portion and a recessed surface portion, the latter of which is adapted to receive the partition members in the collapsed condition of the carrier, whereby the exposed surfaces of the collapsed partition members are substantially on the same level as the outer raised surface portion. the box-compartment is in its collapsed condition, the secondary partition structure means is disposed between the side walls, making a six-panel thickness throughout since the

partition members

90 and 91, and 98 and 99 occupy the recessed spaces in the bridging panels 83 and 97 from which they were out (see FIG. Thus there are no thick spots to interfere with the pressing and gluing of the panels together as is the case with most carriers.

With respect to the reinforcing of the handle structure of my strap type carrier, the portion C of FIGURE 2 may be considered as of one unit, even though the parts 104 and 195 are cut and separated therefrom. The separation is for the purpose of assembly. In the final assembly, the separated parts are, however, reunited as one unit and may be referred to as secondary handle structure means. The unit actually comprises first and second reinforcing handle panel means foldable about the fold line 103. Both of the folded reinforcing handle panel means have end marginal edge connection portions connected respectively to the riser portions of the infold rib means and an intermediate portion sandwiched between the first and second primary handle panel means.

When

The primary handle panel means and the secondary handle structure means comprise a thickness of six panels substantially throughout the entire reinforced handle. The secondary handle structure means has the efiect of making the primary handle panel means thicker, in which case the combined thickness of the four thickened handheld panels in my application Serial No. 249,256 would be equivalent to the six panels in this application. In other words first and second primary handle panel means are still considered to be back-to-back, even though the primary handle panel means is reinforced by the secondary handle structure means.

All of the handle panels and the riser portions of the infold ribs are glued together making a six-panel thickness throughout the handle with no thick spots to interfere with the pressing and gluing of the panels together. The six-panel handle is strong and sturdy. The conversion of my strap type carrier handle to a stronger handle and the conversion of the box-compartment into one with substantially full-depth partitions makes my converted carrier useful in the design of larger size carriers whereby it may be used for carrying heavier bottles such as quarts and one-half quarts.

The

secondary partition members

91, 90, 99 and 98, respectively, are located substantially directly underneath the strap

type partition members

22, 23, 24 and 25, so that the combined effect of the strap type partition and the additional secondary partitions make substantially full-depth partitions.

As shown in FIGURES l0 and 11, the center portion of the base reinforcing flap 29 may be connected to the

partition panels

88 and 97 by means of a staple 114 and the outer ends of the base reinforcing flap 29 may be connected respectively to the infold ribs 4546 and the infold ribs 4041 by means of staples 115416. The

base is thereby made strong to carry heavy bottles.

Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the detail of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a strap type compartment carrier having a plura ity of compartments disposed in two rows with the number of compartments in each row being equal to (n) which is equal to one-half of said plurality of compartments, said compartment carrier being foldable from a collapsed condition to an erected condition and comprising centrally disposed handle means, a base having outer edges, wall means defining a collapsible box-compartment having first and second opposed side walls and first and second opposed end walls, said first and second opposed side walls having lower edges respectively connected to the outer edges of said base, said first and second opposed end walls having respectively first and second end wall rib means, said first and second endwall ri'b means respectively having a lower portion disposed adjacent said base and a riser portion extending above said respective end walls, said handle means comprising first and second telescopic primary handle panel means both of which have end marginal edge connection portions connected respectively to said riser portions of said end wall rib means and constituting load-carrying connection means between said handle means and said first and second opposed end walls, said first telescopic primary handle panel means comprising first and second handho'ld panels defining a two-panel thickness, said second telescopic primary handle panel means comprising third and .fourth handheld panels defining a two-panel thickness, said third and fourth handheld panels being telescopically dispose-d within said first and second handheld panels with all said handhold panels defining a iour panel thickness, a first aesaavv plurality of strap partitions having inner ends hingedly connected at (1/11) spaced point to said first handheld panel and having outer ends hin-gedly connected at (1/ n) spaced points to said first sidewall, a second plurality of strap partitions having inner ends hingedly connected at (1/11) spaced points to said second handheld panel and having outer ends hingedly connected at (1/ n) spaced points to said second side wall, said strap partitions dividing. said box-compartment into an (11) number of compartments on each side of said centrally disposed handle means, secondary partition structure means having end marginal edge connection portions connected respectively to said lower portion of said end wall rib means and dividing said box-compartment into two side compartments, said secondary partition structure means having first and second bridging panel means extending longitudinally between said lower portions of said end wall nib means of said first and second opposed end walls, said first bridging panel means comprising first and second bridging panels, said second bridging panel means comprising third and fourth bridging panels, said third and fourth bridging panels being secured together with said first and second bridging panels constituting first and second exposed sides, a first plurality of secondary partition members having inner ends hingedly connected at (1/11) spaced points to said first side of said secondary partition structure means and having outer ends fixedly secured with reference to said first side wall at (1/11) spaced points therealong, a second plurality of secondary partitions having inner ends hingedly connected at (1/ n) spaced points to said second sid of said secondary partition structure means and having outer ends fixedly secured with reference to said second side wall at (1/ n) spaced points therealong, said first and second sides of said secondary partition structure means having outer raised surface portions and recessed surface portions, said recessed surface portions receiving respectively said first and second plurality of secondary partition members whereby when the partition members are collapsed against said recessed surface portions, the exposed surfaces of said collapsed partition members are substantially on the same level as said outer raised surface portions of said secondary partition panel means.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein there is secondary handle structure means reinforcing said handle mean-s, said secondary handle structure means comprising first and second reinforcing handle panel means sandwiched between said third and fourth handhold panels and having end marginal edge connection portions connected respectively to said riser portions of said end wall rib means.

3. Ina compartment carrier having a plurality of compartments disposed in two rows with the number of compartments in each row being equal to (n) which is equal to one-half of said plurality of compartments, said com-- partment carrier being foldable from a collapsed condition to an erected condition and comprising centrally disposed handle means, a base having outer edges, wall means defining a collapsible box-compartment having first and second opposed side walls and first and second opposed end walls, said first and second opposed side walls having lower edges respectively connected to the outer edges of said base, said first and second opposed end walls having respectively first and second end Wall rib means, said first and second end wall rib means respectively having a lower portion disposed adjacent said base and a rise-r portion extending above said respective end walls, said handle means comprising first and second telescopic primary handle panel means both of which have end marginal edge connection portions connected respectively to said riser portions of said end wall rib means and constituting loadcarrying connection means between said handle means and said first and second opposed end walls, said first telescopic primary handle panel means comprising first and second handheld panels defining.

8. a two-panel thickness, said second telescopic primary hand-1e panel means comprising third and fourth handheld panels defining a two-panel thickness, said third and fourth handhold panels being telescopically disposed within said first and second handhold panels with all said handhold panels defining a four-panel thickness, secondary partition structure means having end marginal edge connection portions connected respectively to said lower portion of said end wall rib means and dividing said box-compartment into two side compartments, said secondary partition structure means having first and secand bridging panel means extending longitudinally beween said lower portions of said end Wall rib means of said first and second opposed end walls, said first bridging panel means comprising first and second bridging panels, said second bridging panel means comprising third and fourth bridging panels, said third and fourth bridging panels being secured together with said first and second bridging panels constituting first and second exposed sides, a first plurality of secondary partition members having inner ends hingedly connected at (1/11) spaced points to said first side of said secondary partition structure means and having outer ends fixedly secured with reference to said first sidewall at (1/11) spaced points therealong, a second plurality of secondary partitions having inner ends hingedly connected at (l/n) spaced points to said second side of said secondary partiton structur means and having outer ends fixedly secured with reference to said second side wall at (1/ n) spaced points therealong, said first and second sides of said secondary partition structure means having outer raised surface portions and recessed surface portions, said recessed surface portions receiving respectively said first and second plurality of secondary partition members whereby when the partition members are collapsed against said recessed surface portions, the exposed surfaces of said collapsed partition mernbers are substantially on the same level as said outer raised surface portions of said secondary partition panel means.

4. The structure of claim 3, .wherein said base has centrally disposed and longitudinally extending reinforcing flap means projecting toward said handle means, and means connecting said reinforcing flap means to said secondary partition structure means.

5. The structure of claim 3, wherein said base has centrally disposed and longitudinally extending reinforcing fiap means projecting toward said handle means, and means connecting said reinforcing flap means to said lower portions of said end wall rib means.

6. The structure of claim 3, wherein said base has centrally disposed and longitudinally extending reinforcing flap means projecting toward said handle means, and staple means connecting said reinforcing flap means to said lower portions of said end wall rib means.

7. A carrier for bottles and other similar articles, said carrier being foldable from a collapsed condition to an erected condition, said carrier comprising centrally disposed handle means, wall means defining a box-compartment with four corners, said wall means having opposed side wall means each having end corner edges and 0pposed end wall means each having end corner edges, said end corner edges of said side wall means and of said end wall means being joined together to define said four corners, said opposed side wall means having bottom edges, base Wall means having outer edges respectively connected to the bottom edges of said opposed side wall means, said end wall means comprising first and second pair of end panels, said first pair of end panels having inner adjacent edges and having a first pair of infold reinforcing flaps respectively connected along vertical fold lines to the inner adjacent edges thereof, said first pair of infold reinforcing flaps extend ing inwardly of the box-compartment in face-contacting relation and being fixedly secured together to join the inner adjacent edges of the first pair of end panels, said first pair of infold reinforcing flaps constituting first end wall rib means, said second pair of end panels having inner adjacent edges and having a second pair of infold reinforcing flaps respectively connected along vertical fold lines to the inner adjacent edges thereof, said secnd pair of infold reinforcing flaps extending inwardly of the box-compartment in face-contacting relation and being fixedly secured together to join the inner adjacent edges of the second pair of end panels, said second pair of in-fold reinforcing flaps constituting second end wall rib means, said first and second end wall rib means respectively having first and second riser portions extending respectively abov the first and second pair of end panels, said handle means extending lengthwise of said carrier and having first and second load-carrying end-connection portions respectively secured to said first and second riser portions and constituting first and second load-carrying connections between said handle means and said first and second pair of end panels, said base Wall means having first and second end edges and base wall rib means extending lengthwise thereof from one end edge to the other and projecting upwardly towards said handle means, said base wall rib means having first and second loadcarryin-g end connection portions, said first and second end wall rib means having respectively first and second load-carrying bottom connection portions, said base wall means in the erected condition of said carrier being disposed at a first position substantially longitudinally coextensive w-ith said handle means and in the collapsed condition of the carrier being disposed at a second position longitudinally ofi-set with respect to said first position for a distance substantially equal to one-half the width of a pair of end panels, said first and second loadcarrying end connection port-ions of said base 'wall rib means and said first and second load-carrying bottom connection portions of said end Wall rib means being disposed respectively alongside each other in face-contact ing relationship for securement with each other in the erected condition of said carrier, and load-carrying securecment means comprising staple means securing said first and second load-carrying end connection portions of said base wall rib means respectively to said first and second load-carrying bot-tom connection portions of said end Wall rib means, said handle means, said base wall rib means and said end wall rib means in the erected condition of said carrier lying substantially in the same plane and separating said box compartment into two half-compartmerits.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,418,350 4/ 1947 Holy 220- 2,563,620 8/1951 Ringler 220-113 2,630,264 3/1953 Holy 220-111 2,820,572 1/1958 Ringler 220-113 2,932,424 4/ 1960 Arneson 220-113 3,053,411 9/1962 Struble et a1. 220-113 3,083,865 4/1963 {Eon-er 220-113 3,084,831 4/1963 Arneson 220-113 3,115,273 12/1963 Gish 220-115 GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A STRAP TYPE COMPARTMENT CARRIER HAVING A PLURALIITY OF COMPARTMENTS DISPOSED IN TWO ROWS WITH THE NUMBER OF COMPARTMENTS IN EACH ROW BEING EQUAL TO (N) WHICH IS EQUAL TO ONE-HALF OF SAID PLURALITY OF COMPARTMENTS, SAID COMPARTMENT CARRIER BEING FOLDABLE FROM A COLLAPSED CONDITION TO AN ERECTED CONDITION AND COMPRISING CENTRALLY DISPOSED HANDLE MEANS, BASE HAVING OUTER EDGES, WALL MEANS DEFINING A COLLAPSIBLE BOX-COMPARTMENT HAVING FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSED SIDE WALLS AND FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSED END WALLS, SAID FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSED SIDE WALLS HAVING LOWER EDGES RESPECTIVELY CONNECTED TO THE OUTER EDGES OF SAID BASE, SAID FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSED END WALLS HAVING RESPECTIVELY FIRST AND SECOND END WALL RIB MEANS, SAID FIRST AND SECOND END WALL RIB MEANS RESPECTIVELY HAVING A LOWER PORTION DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID BASE AND A RISER PORTION EXTENDING ABOVE SAID RESPECTIVE END WALLS, SAID HANDLE MEANS COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND TELESCOPIC PRIMARY HANDLE PANEL MEANS BOTH OF WHICH HAVE END MARGINAL EDGE CONNECTION PORTIONS CONNECTED RESPECTIVELY TO SAID RISER PORTIONS OF SAID END WALL RIB MEANS AND CONSITUTING LOAD-CARRYING CONNECTION MEANS BETWEEN SAID HANDLE MEANS AND SAID FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSED END WALLS, SAID FIRST TELESCOPIC PRIMARY HANDLE PANEL MEANS COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND HANDHOLD PANELS DEFINING A TWO-PANEL THICKNESS, SAID SECOND TELESCOPIC PRIMARY HANDLE PANEL MEANS COMPRISING THIRD AND FOURTH HANDHOLD PANELS DEFINING A TWO-PANEL THICKNESS, SAID THIRD AND FOURTH HANDHOLD PANELS BEING TELESCOPICALLY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID FIRST AND SECOND HANDLHOLD PANELS WITH ALL SAID HANDHOLD PANELS DEFINING A FOUR-PANEL THICKNESS, A FIRST PLURALITY OF STRAP PARTITIONS HAVING INNER ENDS HINGEDLY CONNECTED AT (1/N) SPACED POINT TO SAID FIRST HANDHOLD PANEL AND HAVING OUTER ENDS HINGEDLY CONNECTED AT (1/N) SPACED POINTS TO SAID FIRST SIDE WALL, A SECOND PLURALITY OF STRAP PARTITIONS HAVING INNER ENDS HNGEDLY CONNECTED AT (1/N) SPACED POINTS TO SAID SECOND HANDHOLD PANEL AND HAVING OUTER ENDS HINGEDLY CONNECTED AT (1/N) SPACED POINTS TO SAID SECOND SIDE WALL, SAID STRAP PARTITIONS DIVIDING SAID BOX-COMPARTMENT INTO AN (N) NUMBER OF COMPARTMENTS ON EACH SIDE OF SAID CENTRALLY DISPOSED HANDLE MEANS, SECONDARY PARTITION STRUCTURE MEANS HAVING END MARGINAL EDGE CONNECTION PORTIONS CONNECTED RESPECTIVELY TO SAID LOWER PORTION OF SAID END WALL RIB MEANS AND DIVIDING SAID BOX-COMPARTMENT INTO TWO SIDE COMPARTMENTS, SAID SECONDARY PARTITION STRUCTURE MEANS HAVING FIRST AND SECOND BRIDGING PANEL MEANS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY BETWEEN SAID LOWER PORTIONS OF SAID END WALL RIB MEANS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSED END WALLS, SAID FIRST BRIDGING PANEL MEANS COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND BRIDGING PANELS, SAID SECOND BRIDGING PANEL MEANS COMPRISING THIRD AND FOURTH BRIDGING PANELS, SAID THIRD AND FOURTH BRIDGING PANELS BEING SECURED TOGETHER WITH SAID FIRST AND SECOND BRIDGING PANELS CONSTITUTING FIRST AND SECOND EXPOSED SIDES, A FIRST PLURALITY OF SECONDARY PARTITION MEMBERS HAVING INNER ENDS HINGEDLY CONNECTED AT (1/N) SPACED POINTS TO SAID FIRST SIDE OF SAID SECONDARY PARTITION STRUCTURE MEANS AND HAVING OUTER ENDS FIXEDLY SECURED WITH REFERENCE TO SAID FIRST SIDE WALL AT (1/N) SPACED POINTS THEREALONG, A SECOND PLURALITY OF SECONDARY PARTITIONS HAVING INNER ENDS HINGEDLY CONNECTED AT (1/N) SPACED POINTS TO SAID SECOND SIDE OF SAID SECONDARY PARTITION STRUCTURE MEANS AND HAVING OUTER ENDS FIXEDLY SECURED WITH REFERENCE TO SAID SECOND SIDE WALL AT (1/N) SPACED POINTS THEREALONG, SAID FIRST AND SECOND SIDES OF SAID SECONDARY PARTITION STURCTURE MEANS HAVING OUTER RAISED SURFACE PORTIONS AND RECESSED SURFACE PORTIONS, SAID RECESSED SURFACE PORTIONS RECEIVING RESPECTIVELY SAID FIRST AND SECOND PLURALITY OF SECONDARY PARTITION MEMBERS WHEREBY WHEN THE PARTITION MEMBERS ARE COLLAPSED AGAINST SAID RECESSED SURFACE PORTIONS, THE EXPOSED SURFACES OF SAID COLLAPSED PARTITION MEMBERS ARE SUBSTANTIALLY ON THE SAME LEVEL AS SAID OUTER RAISED SURFACE PORTIONS OF SAID SECONDARY PARTITION PANEL MEANS.