Carrier

Abstract

We describe a carrier which seeks to prevent containers, such as bottles, located in compartments at open ends of the carrier from slipping out of the carrier. We also describe a carrier in which adjacently located bottles are prevented from contacting into each other. We further describe a carrier in which sliding movement of a loaded carrier across a surface is minimised.

1 . A container carrier wherein the carrier comprises:
 a downwardly extending and substantially vertical dividing wall formed with a handle portion which extends upwardly therefrom and a handle reinforcement portion which extends downwardly from the handle portion adjacent thereto,   a first base portion extending generally laterally away from the dividing wall, and a first sidewall extending generally upwardly therefrom;   a first roof section extending generally upwardly and laterally from the first sidewall towards the handle portions;   a second roof section extending generally downwardly and laterally from the first roof section and the handle portions, wherein the handle portions pass through a slot formed in a ridge dividing first and second roof sections;   a second sidewall extending generally downwardly from the second roof section;   a second base portion extending generally laterally away from the second sidewall and towards the dividing wall and the first base portion; and   a minor dividing wall extending upwardly from the second base portion, adjacent to and adhered to the dividing wall, wherein the roof sections each include container receiving portions.   
   
   
       2 . A container carrier comprising a base and a body defining container-carrying portions, wherein the base comprises feet. 
   
   
       3 . The container carrier as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises feet. 
   
   
       4 . The container carrier as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the feet comprise a serrated edge. 
   
   
       5 . The container carrier as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the feet are square shaped. 
   
   
       6 . The container carrier as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the feet are arcuate shaped. 
   
   
       7 . The container carrier as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the feet are integrally formed with the base. 
   
   
       8 . The container carrier as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is formed from a unitary blank. 
   
   
       9 . The container carrier as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the container receiving portions each comprise a plurality of deformable bottle-engageable flaps. 
   
   
       10 . The container carrier as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the deformable bottle engageable flaps further comprise an aperture. 
   
   
       11 . The container carrier as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising container-retaining barriers, provided at open ends of the carrier. 
   
   
       12 . The container carrier as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the container-retaining barriers are formed with the base portions. 
   
   
       13 . The container carrier as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the carrier further comprises a plurality of separator flaps to prevent adjacently locatable containers from knocking each other whilst the carrier is in transit. 
   
   
       14 . The container carrier as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the separator flaps are formed in the base portions of the carrier. 
   
   
       15 . The container carrier as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is collapsible for storage or transportation. 
   
   
       16 . The container carrier as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the carrier includes locking means to lock the carrier in an expanded form. 
   
   
       17 . The container carrier as claimed in  claim 16 , in which the locking means comprises a tab and a corresponding cut-out and wherein the tab extends from an upper edge of at least one of the roof portions to engage the cut-out in the dividing wall, below the carrier handle. 
   
   
       18 . The container carrier as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is formed from a corrugated board material, suitably cardboard or a plastics equivalent. 
   
   
       19 . A container carrier for carrying containers that can be made from a blank, that can be kept in a flat folded condition and that is foldable to a use condition by means of a simple unfolding operation, during which unfolding operation a number of container receiving portions for receiving containers are arranged in a condition for receiving the containers. 
   
   
       20 . The container carrier according to  claim 19 , comprising pulling means for use during the unfolding operation. 
   
   
       21 . The container carrier according to  claim 20  in which the pulling means comprise flaps or openings in side walls that need to be folded away from each other during the unfolding operation. 
   
   
       22 . The container carrier according to  claim 19 , comprising flaps that are glueable in a folded position for improving strength.