Wrap-around carrier with latching and spacer means

Claim 2

A blank for a wraparound type carrier comprising a sheet material member divided into a plurality of panels by transverse fold lines, said panels including terminal end panels, said terminal end panels having cooperative latching means adapted for interlocking engagement upon the folding of the blank to a generally tubular configuration, said cooperative latching means being defined by at least a single tab carried by one of said terminal end panels and an aperture formed in the other of said terminal end panels, said tab and aperture being disposed in substantial longitudinal alignment whereby said tab is adapted for insertion into said aperture, said aperture defining a pair of shoulders spaced from each other a predetermined transverse dimension, said tab including an enlarged head portion and a reduced neck portion; said reduced neck portion joining said head portion to said one terminal end panel, and said reduced neck portion having a predetermined transverse dimension greater than said first-mentioned dimension whereby said shoulders are aligned to engage against said reduced neck portion after the latter has been inserted through said aperture thereby preventing the accidental disengagement of said latching means, said other terminal panel includes a terminal edge and said shoulders are defined by edge portions of said aperture converging in a direction toward each other and toward said terminal edge.

Claim 3

The blank as defined in claim 1 including a pair of slits forming continuations of the edge portions defining said shoulders, and the maximum transverse distance between said slits is at least equal to the transverse dimension of said head portion.

Claim 4

The blank as defined in claim 2 wherein said other terminal panel includes a terminal edge, said aperture includes an edge portion more closely adjacent said terminal edge than said shoulders, and said one terminal panel further includes another tab in alignment with said first-mentioned tab and said aperture and being directed toward said aperture

Claim 5

The blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said shoulders are further defined by other edge portions of said aperture converging in a direction toward each other away from said terminal edge and merging with said first-mentioned edge portions.

Claim 6

A blank for a wraparound type carrier comprising sheet material member divided into a plurality of panels by transverse fold lines, said panels including terminal end panels, said terminal end panels having cooperative latching means adapted for interlocking engagement upon the folding of the blank to a generally tubular configuratioN said cooperative latching means being defined by at least a single tab carried by one of said terminal end panels and an aperture formed in the other of said terminal end panels, said tab and aperture being disposed in substantial longitudinal alignment whereby said tab is adapted for insertion into said aperture, said aperture defining a pair of shoulders spaced from each other a predetermined transverse dimension, said tab including an enlarged head portion and a reduced neck portion, said reduced neck portion joining said head portion to said one terminal end panel, and said reduced neck portion having a predetermined transverse dimension greater than said first-mentioned dimension whereby said shoulders are aligned to engage against said reduced neck portion after the latter has been inserted through said aperture thereby preventing the accidental disengagement of said latching means, said other terminal panel includes a terminal edge, said aperture includes an edge portion more closely adjacent said terminal edge than said shoulders, and said one terminal panel further includes another tab in alignment with said first-mentioned tab and said aperture and being directed toward said aperture.

Claim 7

A blank for a wraparound type carrier comprising sheet material member divided into a plurality of panels by transverse fold lines, said panels including terminal end panels, said terminal end panels having cooperative latching means adapted for interlocking engagement upon the folding of the blank to a generally tubular configuratioN said cooperative latching means being defined by at least a single tab carried by one of said terminal end panels and an aperture formed in the other of said terminal end panels, said tab and aperture being disposed in substantial longitudinal alignment whereby said tab is adapted for insertion into said aperture, said aperture defining a pair of shoulders spaced from each other a predetermined transverse dimension, said tab including an enlarged head portion and a reduced neck portion, said reduced neck portion joining said head portion to said one terminal end panel, and said reduced neck portion having a predetermined transverse dimension greater than said first-mentioned dimension whereby said shoulders are aligned to engage against said reduced neck portion after the latter has been inserted through said aperture thereby preventing the accidental disengagement of said latching means, said other terminal panel includes a terminal edge, said aperture includes an edge portion more closely adjacent said terminal edge than said shoulders, and said one terminal panel further includes another tab in alignment with said first-mentioned tab and said aperture and being directed toward said aperture.

Claim 8

A wraparound type carrier comprising a tubular sheet material member divided into a plurality of panels by a plurality of fold lines, said panels including an inner terminal panel and an outer terminal panel in generally overlapped relation, said terminal panels having cooperative interlocked latching means for maintaining said sheet material member in its generally tubular configuration said cooperative latching means being defined by at least a single tab carried by said outer panel and projecting through an aperture of said inner panel, said aperture defining a pair of shoulders spaced from each other a predetermined longitudinal dimension, said tab including an enlarged head portion and a reduced neck portion, said reduced neck portion joining said head portion to said outer panel, said reduced neck portion having a predetermined longitudinal dimension greater than said first-mentioned dimension, and said tab being disposed generally normal to said terminal panels whereby said shoulders overlappingly engage said reduced neck portion thereby preventing the accidental disengagement of said latching means, said inner terminal panel includes a terminal edge, and said shoulders are defined by edge portions of said aperture converging in a direction toward each other and toward said terminal edge.

Claim 9

A wraparound type carrier comprising a tubular sheet material member divided into a plurality of panels by a plurality of fold lines, said panels including an inner terminal panel and an outer terminal panel in generally overlapped relation, said terminal panels having cooperative interlocked latching means for maintaining said sheet material member in its generally tubular configuration said cooperative latching means being defined by at least a single tab carried by said outer panel and projecting through an aperture of said inner panel, said aperture defining a pair of shoulders spaced from each other a predetermined longitudinal dimension, said tab including an enlarged head portion and a reduced neck portion, said reduced neck portion joining said head portion to said outer panel, said reduced neck portion having a predetermined longitudinal dimension greater than said first-mentioned dimension, and said tab being disposed generally normal to said terminal panels whereby said shoulders overlappingly engage said reduced neck portion thereby preventing the accidental disengagement of said latching means, said inner terminal panel includes a terminal edge, and said shoulders are defined by edge portions of said aperture converging in a direction toward each other and toward said terminal edge.

Claim 10

The blank as defined in claim 6 including a pair of slits forming continuations of the edge portions defining said shoulders, and the maximum longitudinal distance between said slits is at least equal to the longitudinal dimension of said head portion.

Claim 11

The wraparound type carrier as defined in claim 6 wherein said shoulders are further defined by other edge portions of said aperture converging in a direction toward each other away from said terminal edge and merging with said first-mentioned edge portions.

Claim 12

A wraparound type carrier comprising a tubular sheet material member divided into a plurality of panels by a plurality of fold lines, said panels including an inner terminal panel and an outer terminal panel in generally overlapped relation, said terminal panels having cooperative interlocked latching means for maintaining said sheet material member in its generally tubular configuration, said cooperative latching means being defined by at least a single tab carried by said outer panel and projecting through an aperture of said inner panel, said aperture defining a pair of shoulders spaced from each other a predetermined longitudinal dimension, said tab including an enlarged head portion and reduced neck portion, said reduced neck portion joining said head portion to said outer panel, said reduced neck portion having a predetermined longitudinal dimension greater than said first-mentioned dimension, and said tab being disposed generally normal to said terminal panelS whereby said shoulders overlappingly engage said reduced neck portion thereby preventing the accidental disengagement of said latching means, said inner panel includes a terminal edge, said aperture includes an edge portion more closely adjacent said terminal edge than said shoulders, and said outer panel further includes another tab in alignment with said first-mentioned tab and said aperture and being directed through said aperture into overlying relation with a portion of said inner panel.

Claim 13

A wraparound type carrier comprising a tubular sheet material member divided into a plurality of panels by a plurality of fold lines, said panels including an inner terminal panel and an outer terminal panel in generally overlapped relation, said terminal panels having cooperative interlocked latching means for maintaining said sheet material member in its generally tubular configuration, said cooperative latching means being defined by at least a single tab carried by said outer panel and projecting through an aperture of said inner panel, said aperture defining a pair of shoulders spaced from each other a predetermined longitudinal dimension, said tab including an enlarged head portion and reduced neck portion, said reduced neck portion joining said head portion to said outer panel, said reduced neck portion having a predetermined longitudinal dimension greater than said first-mentioned dimension, and said tab being disposed generally normal to said terminal panelS whereby said shoulders overlappingly engage said reduced neck portion thereby preventing the accidental disengagement of said latching means, said inner panel includes a terminal edge, said aperture includes an edge portion more closely adjacent said terminal edge than said shoulders, and said outer panel further includes another tab in alignment with said first-mentioned tab and said aperture and being directed through said aperture into overlying relation with a portion of said inner panel.

Claim 14

The wraparound carrier as defined in claim 6 wherein said first-mentioned tab is disposed vertically, and is positioned remote from a longitudinal centerline of the carrier and is immediately adjacent a side panel thereof.

Claim 15

The wraparound type carrier as defined in claim 10 wherein said vertically disposed tab is in sandwiched relationship between said side panel and one of a plurality of articles within said carrier.

Claim 16

A blank for a wraparound type carrier comprising a sheet material member divided into a plurality of panels by transverse fold lines, said panels including terminal end panels, said terminal end panels having cooperative latching means adapted for interlocking engagement upon the folding of the blank to a generally tubular configuration, said cooperative latching means being defined by at least a single tab carried by one of said terminal end panels and an aperture formed primarily in the other of said terminal end panels, said tab and aperture being disposed in substantial longitudinal alignment whereby said tab is adapted for insertion into said aperture, said tab including an enlarged head portion and a reduced neck portion, said reduced neck portion joining said head portion to said one terminal panel, said reduced neck portion having a predetermined transverse dimension smaller than a transverse dimension of said head portion, said aperture being defined by transversely spaced slit portions defining a transverse dimension greater than said transverse dimension of said head portion, a pair of transversely spaced shoulders having edges extending from said slit portions toward a free edge of said other terminal panels, said edges including edge portions converging toward each other and toward said free edge and being spaced from each other a transverse dimension greater than said transverse dimension of said neck, and other portions of said converging edge portions being spaced from each other a transverse dimension less than said transverse dimension of said neck.

Claim 17

A blank for a wraparound type carrier comprising a sheet material member divided into a plurality of panels by transverse fold lines, said panels including terminal end panels, said terminal end panels having cooperative latching means adapted for interlocking engagement upon the folding of the blank to a generally tubular configuration, said cooperative latching means being defined by at least a single tab carried by one of said terminal end panels and an aperture formed primarily in the other of said terminal end panels, said tab and aperture being disposed in substantial longitudinal alignment whereby said tab is adapted for insertion into said aperture, said tab including an enlarged head portion and a reduced neck portion, said reduced neck portion joining said head portion to said one terminal panel, said reduced neck portion having a predetermined transverse dimension smaller than a transverse dimension of said head portion, said aperture being defined by transversely spaced slit portions defining a transverse dimension greater than said transverse dimension of said head portion, a pair of transversely spaced shoulders having edges extending from said slit portions toward a free edge of said other terminal panels, said edges including edge portions converging toward each other and toward said free edge and being spaced from each other a transverse dimension greater than said transverse dimension of said neck, and other portions of said converging edge portions being spaced from each other a transverse dimension less than said transverse dimension of said neck.