Returnable wrap-around carrier

Abstract

A returnable wrap-around carrier for a plurality of objects such as beer bottles or the like of the type wherein the purchaser of the beer bottles places a deposit on the bottles for the return thereof to the storekeeper. The carrier and the bottles contained therein are completely enclosed affording protection to the bottles from light rays and protection from the bottles dropping out of the carrier. The carrier contains a built-in handle formed partly in the top panel of the carrier and partly in the central interior partition formed within the carrier. When the full pack of bottles .[.are.]. .Iadd.is .Iaddend.transported in the carrier to the purchaser's home, both handle means are used. Thereafter the top panel of the carrier may be completely removed from the side panels to expose the central partition handle which may be used to return the carrier and the empty bottles to the store for deposit. Thereafter the returned carrier may be used and reused as a simple basket carrier for distribution to other sources.

Having described my invention, I claim: 
     
       1. A returnable wrap-around carrier for a plurality of full or empty objects comprising: a. a bottom .[.panel.].;   b. a pair of side .[.panels.]. .Iadd.walls, .Iaddend. fixedly attached to opposite ends of said bottom .[.panel.].;   c. a pair of end .[.panels.]. .Iadd.walls.Iaddend., fixedly attached to said bottom .[.panels.]. and said side .[.panels.]. .Iadd.walls.Iaddend.;   d. a partition member, fixedly attached to said end .[.panels.]. .Iadd.walls .Iaddend.and said bottom .[.panels.]., said partition member having formed on the upper portion thereof a partition handle opening; and   e. a top cover having sloping sides attached to said side .[.panels.]. .Iadd.walls .Iaddend.and having at least one tear cut opening means formed on the top cover and having formed in the central portion therein a top cover handle opening in proximity to said partition handle opening, said top cover handle serving as a means for transporting the carrier and the full objects from a store to the consumer, said tear cut opening means serving as the means for rapidly opening the carrier to expose the partition handle opening.Iadd., .Iaddend.and said partition handle opening serving as the means for transporting the carrier and the empty objects from the consumer to the store.Iadd., .Iaddend.thereby providing a returnable, reusable wraparound carrier.   
     
     
       2. The returnable wrap-around carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein said tear cut opening means are positioned near the lower portion of the sloping sides of the top cover.  .[.3. The returnable wrap-around carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein said tear cut opening means are positioned near the central portion of the sloping sides of the top cover..]. .[.4. The returnable wrap-around carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein said tear cut opening means are positioned near the top portion of the sloping sides of the top cover..].  .[.5. The returnable wrap-around carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein said tear cut opening means are positioned on the non-sloping portion of the top cover in proximity to the top cover handle 
     
     
        opening..]. 6. The returnable wrap-around carrier as defined in claim 1 further comprising said sloping sides each having formed thereon tear cut opening means positioned near the lower portion of the sloping sides of the top cover. .Iadd. 7. A wrap-around carrier for a plurality of containers comprising: a. a bottom;   b. a pair of opposed side walls attached to said bottom;   c. a pair of end walls attached to said bottom and said side walls;   d. an internal partition member attached to said bottom and said end walls and having a fixed upper portion; and   e. a top cover comprising a central portion and lateral portions connecting said top portion to said side walls, wherein at least the major portion of said top cover is detachably connected to said side walls, said partition member having a fixed handle defined by an opening provided in said upper portion of said partition member in proximity to but always below the central portion of said top cover, and the central portion of said top cover having at least one opening, the total length of said opening(s) spanning at least a length substantially equal to the width of the human hand and having a width along its total length greater than the thickness of the fingers of the human hand, through which said handle is accessible to the fingers of the human hand; said top cover opening and partition handle serving as the means for transporting the carrier and the full containers from a store to a consumer, and at least a major portion of said top cover serving as a means for rapidly opening the wrap-around carrier to completely expose the partition handle opening, the partition handle opening then serving alone as the means for transporting the carrier and the empty containers from the consumer back to the store, thereby providing a returnable, reusable wrap-around carrier. .Iaddend..Iadd. 8. A wrap-around carrier, according to claim 7, wherein both said openings are of at least generally the same size and configuration. .Iaddend..Iadd. 9. A wrap-around carrier according to claim 7, wherein said top cover is formed with the lateral portions thereof sloping downwardly from said central portion and is detachably connected to said side walls by tear strips defined by a plurality of tear cuts positioned in the lower lateral portions of said top cover. .Iaddend..Iadd. 10. A wrap-around carrier according to claim 7, wherein said top cover is detachably connected to said side walls by tear strips provided in said lateral portion of said top cover. .Iaddend..Iadd. 11. A wrap-around carrier according to claim 10, wherein said tear strips are a pair of opposed, parallel tear strips extending at least substantially the full length of the carrier. .Iaddend..Iadd. 12. A wrap-around carrier according to claim 7, wherein said partition member is formed integrally with the remainder of said carrier in a one piece construction. .Iaddend..Iadd. 13. A wrap-around carrier according to claim 7, wherein said bottom, said side walls, said end walls, and said top cover are formed from a single blank and said partition member is formed as a separate member attached to said bottom and said end walls.