Carrier and method

Abstract

A carrier is provided with vertical support panels, each with a receptacle extending outwardly from its lower region. The vertical support panels are hinged together at their side-edges so that they can be folded together for forming a handle structure to carry the carrier and its contents, and swung apart to expose advertising copy, promotional items and/or books. The motion used is like that used in opening a book, and is very comfortable for the user.

1 . A carrier comprising: 
 (a) a pair of support panels, each having side edges and upper and lower transverse end edges,    (b) a pair of foldable receptacles, each secured to and extending outwardly from one of said support panels, when said carrier is unfolded,    (c) each of said receptacles having three side walls connected along fold lines to one another and to one of said side edges of one of said support panels in series to form two groups of interconnected panels,    (d) each of said receptacles having a bottom wall formed by a flange extending from said lower end edge of one of said support panels and the lower edge of each of said side walls in each of said groups, each of two opposite ones of said flanges in each of said groups being secured to an adjacent one of said flanges to form an automatically unfolding bottom structure for each of said receptacles,    (e) said support panels being hinged together along one of said side edges of each, whereby the user of said carrier can select between bringing said support panels together and pivoting said support panels apart.    
     
     
         2 . A carrier as in  claim 1  in which each of said two flanges has a first section secured to said lower edge of said side wall, and a second section attached to said first section along a diagonal fold line, said second section being secured to said adjacent flange.  
     
     
         3 . A carrier as in  claim 1  in which said groups are connected together in series with said support panels connected at opposite ends of the resulting structure, each of said support panels being folded over and secured to other panels in its group, with said one side edge of each of said support panels being adjacent the other.  
     
     
         4 . A carrier as in  claim 3  in which said groups are connected together along a central fold line at one edge of one of said side wall panels of each group, and said central fold line forms the hinge line between said support panels.  
     
     
         5 . A carrier as in  claim 1  in which said groups are connected together in series with said support panels being joined together integrally along a fold line, with the remaining side wall panels in each group extending outwardly from the side edge of each support panel opposite said one side edge.  
     
     
         6 . A carrier as in  claim 1  including a handle structure adjacent said upper end edge of each of said support panels.  
     
     
         7 . A carrier as in  claim 1  in which the surfaces of said support panels which abut one another when said support panels are swung together bear information in a form selected from the group consisting of graphic matter printed on at least one of said surfaces; a flat record releasably secured to at least one of said surfaces; and a multi-page booklet secured to said surfaces with its spine closely adjacent said fold line between said support panels.  
     
     
         8 . A method of making a carrier comprising 
 (a) providing a blank forming    (i) a pair of support panels, each having side edges and upper and lower transverse end edges,    (ii) first and second linear groups of side-wall panels joined together and to said support panels to form a long series of connected panels for forming two separate receptacles, each connected to and extending from one of said support panels when said carrier is unfolded,    (iii) a plurality of flanges, each flange extending from said lower end edge of one of said support panels and the lower edge of each of said side wall panels in each of said groups,    (iv) each of two opposed ones of said flanges in each of said groups being secured to an adjacent one of said flanges, and including the steps of    (b) folding and gluing said flanges to one another to form said receptacles, folded flat, with one of said side edges of each of said support panels closing adjacent the other with a hinge attaching them together and said support panels otherwise being disconnected from one another,    whereby the user of said carrier can select between having said support panels together and having said support panels apart,    
     
     
         9 . A method as in  claim 8  in which said support panels are connected together in said blank along one side wall of each of said support panels.  
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 8  in which said support panels are connected at opposite ends of said long series and each has a glue flange extending along one of said side edges, and in which said folding and gluing includes folding each of said support panels over towards one another and adhering each of said glue flanges to one of a pair of side wall panels joined together at a fold line, said fold line serving as said hinge.  
     
     
         11 . A carrier blank comprising 
 (a) a pair of support panels, each having side edges and upper and lower transverse end edges,    (b) first and second linear groups of three side wall panels, each secured at one end to one of said side edges of one of said support panels, said side wall panels in each group being joined together in series along fold lines, and said groups being joined together with said support panels to form one long series of panels,    (c) two groups of bottom flanges, one flange in each group extending from the lower edge of one of said side wall panels and one of said support panels in one of said side wall panel groups,    (d) each of said bottom flange groups having two flanges positioned to be located at opposite sides of a bottom structure to be formed by unfolding said carrier, and being shaped to be secured to an adjacent flange along a diagonal fold line;    (e) said support panels being located at positions selected from the group consisting of: at opposite ends of said long series; and in the middle of said long series, with said support panels being joined together along one of said side edges of each.    
     
     
         12 . A blank as in  claim 11  in which each of said support panels has a handle structure adjacent its upper edge.