Container Carrier Apparatus and Methods of Making and Using the Same

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a carrier apparatus primarily for carrying containers having food products therein; but secondarily for carrying containers having any type of products contained therein. Specifically, the carrier apparatus of the present invention allows a user to transport various amounts and types of containers securely, minimizing disturbance to products, such as food products, contained therein. More specifically, the carrier apparatus of the present invention comprises a first configuration for carrying a first amount of containers and a second configuration for carrying a second amount of containers.

1 . A carrier apparatus for carrying items comprising:
 a base panel;   a first wing extending from a first side of the base panel;   a second wing extending from a second side of the base panel; and   a first slotted lock flap extending from a third side of the base panel, wherein the first slotted lock flap has a length, wherein the length of the first slotted lock flap extends parallel to the third side of the base panel section,   wherein the first slotted lock flap comprises a triangular portion, wherein a first side of the triangular portion forms a fold line between the triangular portion and the base panel, a second side of the triangular portion forms a fold line between the triangular portion and the first slotted lock flap, and the third side of the triangular portion is a free edge, wherein the first slotted lock flap is configured to extend perpendicularly from the third side of the base panel by folding the first and second sides of the triangular portion to form a perpendicularly extended first slotted lock flap,   wherein the first wing and the second wing are each foldable along a first fold line disposed in each of the first wing and the second wing, wherein folding at the first fold lines in the first and second wings and engaging the first and second wings with the perpendicularly extended first slotted lock flap in a first location on each of the first and second wings forms a first internal space having a first volume.   
     
     
         2 . The carrier apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first wing and the second wing are each foldable along a second fold line disposed in each of the first wing and the second wing, wherein folding at the second fold lines in the first and second wings and engaging the first and second wings with the perpendicularly extended first slotted lock flap in a second location forms a second internal space having a second volume. 
     
     
         3 . The carrier apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the second fold lines of the first and second wings are configured to fold the first and second wings upwardly roughly perpendicularly, wherein portions of the first and second wings are disposed face-to-face to each other through a slot of the first slotted lock flap,
 wherein the second location of each of the first and second wings comprises a second notch on each of the first and second wings, wherein the second notch engages an end of the slot of the perpendicularly extended first slotted lock flap. 
 
     
     
         4 . The carrier apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the second volume is larger than the first volume. 
     
     
         5 . The carrier apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first wing comprises a second fold line and the second wing comprises a second fold line, wherein the second fold lines of the first and second wings are configured to fold upwardly roughly perpendicular to the base panel. 
     
     
         6 . The carrier apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the second fold lines of the first and second wings are disposed in the first and second wings at the location wherein the first and second wings extend from the base panel. 
     
     
         7 . The carrier apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the first wing comprises a third fold line and the second comprises a third fold line, wherein the third fold lines of the first and second wings are configured to fold the first and second wings roughly horizontally when the first and second wings are disposed upwardly due to the folding of the first and second wings at the second fold lines. 
     
     
         8 . The carrier apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first fold lines of the first and second wings are configured to fold the first and second wings upwardly roughly perpendicularly, wherein portions of the first and second wings are disposed face-to-face to each other. 
     
     
         9 . The carrier apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the perpendicularly extended first slotted lock flap comprises a slot, and further wherein the portions of the first and second wings disposed face-to-face with each other are disposed through the slot of the perpendicularly extended first slotted lock flap. 
     
     
         10 . The carrier apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the first location of each of the first and second wings comprises a notch on each of the first and second wings, wherein the notch engages an end of the slot of the perpendicularly extended first slotted lock flap. 
     
     
         11 . The carrier apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the base panel section is triangular. 
     
     
         12 . The carrier apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the base panel section is a four-sided parallelogram. 
     
     
         13 . The carrier apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a flap extending form a bottom surface of the base panel section. 
     
     
         14 . The carrier apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a second slotted lock flap extending from a fourth side of the base panel section. 
 
     
     
         15 . The carrier apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the first internal volume is formed by engaging the first and second wings with both the perpendicularly extended first slotted lock flap and the second slotted lock flap. 
     
     
         16 . The carrier apparatus of  claim 15  wherein portions of both the first and second wings are disposed through slots in the perpendicularly extended first slotted lock flap and the second slotted lock flap. 
     
     
         17 . The carrier apparatus of  claim 1  comprising:
 a handle extending from at least one of the first and second wings. 
 
     
     
         18 . The carrier apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the first and second wings each comprise a cut-out portion, such that the cut-out portions of the first and second wings form the handle together. 
     
     
         19 . The carrier apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first flap extending from a side of the first internal volume wherein the second flap is configured to open a first window through which a first portion of a container is disposed when contained within the first internal volume. 
 
     
     
         20 . The carrier apparatus of  claim 19  further comprising:
 a second flap extending from a second side of the first internal volume wherein the second flap is configured to open a second window through which a second portion of a container is disposed wherein contained within the first internal volume.