Abstract: A carton containing two tiers of necked bottles. The bottles in the upper tier are inverted from the bottles in the lower tier, with the bottle necks of the upper tier extending between the bottle necks of the lower tier. The bottle necks extend through spaced separator sheets containing flaps that prevent contact between adjacent bottle necks. Partitions prevent contact between adjacent bottles in each tier. The carton is sloped in to a relatively small top panel, and the top panel is provided with a handle.

Abstract: A method for producing articles comprised of reinforced composite materials including primarily wood or cellulosic fiber and plastic is disclosed.. The wood fibers are comminuted to substantially a specific thickness and classified according to length. Plastic is comminuted and mixed with wood fibers to form a reinforced composite mixture in predetermined ratios. The composite materials form the main structural or bonding components of the finished article. Other chemicals, such as a coupler can be added, as can other structural components, such as fiberglass. The mixture is deposited onto a mold when forming articles having deep drawn portions, and subjected to sufficient temperature and pressure to cause the composite mixture substantially to assume the mold form. The process variables disclosed can be selectively modified to produce predetermined physical characteristics in the finished article, such as strength, thickness or prestressed qualities.

Abstract: A method to form stacked article groups utilizing packaged carton structures. The method utilizes first and second streams of packaged article groups, each packaged article group having predetermined graphic arrangements. The first and second streams are directed onto each other whereby the united packages form stacked article carriers having a unitary packaging graphic display.

Abstract: A carrier having an end panel construction that snaps into place during formation of the carrier and has the ability to follow the contour of adjacent curved or beveled packaged articles. Gusset tabs foldably connected to the lower end panel flap and adjacent lower glue flaps cause the flaps to snap into place. The lower glue flaps are continuations of the lower portion of the side panels and follow the contour of adjacent curved packaged articles. Bevel panels between the lower glue flaps and the top panel enable the carrier to fit tightly about the upper tapered portions of the corner articles in the carrier.

Abstract: A carrier for articles such as beverage cans of the type that grip the top portions of the cans so as to suspend them from the carrier. The upper ends of the cans extend through apertures in the bottom panel of the carrier, and the chimes or lips of the cans are engaged by locking tabs surrounding the aperture. One of the tabs of each aperture is foldably connected along the fold line connecting the bottom panel to the adjacent side panel, and the fold lines connecting the top panel to the side panels include slits through which portions of the can chimes protrude.

Abstract: A shipping container formed by wrapping a slotted flexible sheet about rigid end panels having upper corner projections that extend through the slots. The side panels of the container are of multi-ply construction, with retaining tabs foldably connected to the inner plies. The retaining tabs are for the purpose of contacting the lower portion of smaller containers packaged within the shipping container and preventing the smaller containers from shifting toward the side panels during shipment and handling.

Abstract: A container formed by wrapping a slotted flexible sheet about rigid end panels having upper corner projections that extend through the slots. The sheet is attached to the end panels by locking tabs extending from inwardly sloped portions of the side panels. By using locking tabs instead of upper panel flaps the side panels of the container may be of multi-ply construction when required by anticipated loading and shipping stresses.

Abstract: A method to form and package stacked article groups utilizing cardboard trays. The method provides first and second streams of article groups which are initially formed in first and second cardboard tray structures and subsequently stacked and united into packaged stacked units.

Abstract: A bottle neck carrier with partial side and end panels. The end panels extend around the corner bottles in the package and underlie the side panels. Gusset panels connecting the side and end panels to assist in holding the panels in place and to facilitate folding of the side panel flaps. The outer support tabs at the bottle openings are connected to the support panel of the carrier by fold lines which are coincident with the fold lines connecting the support panel to the side and end panels.

Abstract: A basket-style carrier having a pilfer-proof handle. The carrier has an external handle panel and an internal handle panel directly beneath it. Intermediate panels, containing openings through which the tops of articles extend, connect the side panels Of the carrier to the external handle panel and prevent individual articles from being removed from the carrier. When the intermediate panels and the external handle panel are removed along easily severed lines, the internal handle panel is exposed and can be used to lift the carrier.

Abstract: A wrap-around carrier including partial end panels for covering the pricing code on the end articles in the package. The partial end panels are comprised of flaps connected to the side panels and to the end tuck flaps of a set of three triangularly shaped tuck flaps. The three tuck flaps interact with the end articles in the carrier to act as a locking mechanism which holds the end panel flaps in place.

Abstract: A wrap-around carrier containing means for covering the pricing code on the end articles in the package. Straps connected to the side panels extend between the end articles and the side panels and across the end of the carrier to both conceal the article price code and to act as a restraint against outward movement of the articles. The straps are formed from cutouts in the top and side panels of the carrier, leaving a handle strip in the top panel.

Abstract: A package transport mechanism having a plurality of phase adjustable lug-type flights. The mechanism is incorporated in a continuous motion packaging assembly for loading article groups into cartons or other carriers which comprises an article infeed mechanism supplying at least one stream of articles; an article group selection and transport mechanism intersecting the article infeed mechanism to form and transport a longitudinal stream of article groups of a predetermined pattern; a package supply mechanism synchronized and moving parallel with the article group selecting mechanism to provide packages with open ends facing the moving article groups; and an article group transfer mechanism which is constructed and arranged to move the article groups into the open ends of the packages.

Abstract: A clip-type carrier is provided with an outer wrap having a top panel overlying and adhered to the support body of the carrier. Side panels of partial or full height are connected to the top panel of the outer wrap and either end panels or a bottom panel or both connect the side panels. Other package variations are formed by wrapping a plurality of carrier units together, including packages formed by wrapping stacked carrier units. The basic carrier unit may be formed in a first module or packaging station from which the units are sent by conveyor to one of a plurality of other wrapping modules, depending on the style of package desired.

Abstract: A wrap-around carrier with end panels. Folded gusset panels connecting the end panel flaps and the bottom panel are located between the bottoms of the packaged articles and the bottom panel, thereby locking the end panel flaps in closed position. Transverse and upwardly extending fold lines in the end panel flaps fallow the end panel flaps to flex so as to better conform to the shape of adjacent articles.

Abstract: A carrier having an end panel construction that snaps into place during formation of the carrier and has the ability to follow the contour of adjacent curved or beveled packaged articles. Gusset panels or tabs foldably connected to the lower end panel flap and adjacent glue flaps cause the flaps to snap into place. A bevel panel between the glue flaps and the side panels or dual angled fold lines connecting the glue flaps to the side panels enable the carrier to tightly follow the contour of curved corner articles in the carrier.

Abstract: An article clip packaging machine for applying carton members to the article rims of preselected article groups. The machine has a conveyor with an infeed end for receiving preselected article groups. At least two carton member feeding structures are synchronized with the conveyor for placing carton base and carton top members, respectively, on the preselected article groups. A securing assembly attaches the carton base and top members to the rims of the article groups to provide article group carriers.

Abstract: A clip-type carrier especially suited for carrying beverage cans. The carrier is comprised of a panel having slots in a folded, wedge-shaped inner support section and in outer support sections for receiving the can chimes. In addition, short side panels and end panels assist in holding the cans in place. Webs foldably connected to end panel flaps and to extensions of the side panels cause the end panel flaps to snap into place. The end panel flaps, the webs and the side panel extensions are glued together to hold the carrier in locked condition.

Abstract: A neck clip carrier comprised of two carrier units separated by a handle structure. Each carrier unit is comprised of a bottom panel and two angled side panels. The bottom panels and side panels contain openings for receiving two bottles, the lower edge of the side panel openings engaging the underside of the bottle flanges to support the bottles. The handle structure comprised of spaced panels hinged together at their upper edges, and the bottom and side panels of the carrier units are of two-ply construction. Tear strips may be provided in the plies of the outer side panels to facilitate access to the bottles. The carrier is formed from a single blank of material.

Abstract: A neck clip bottle carrier having angled side panels of two-ply construction. The lower edges of openings in the side panels engage the underside of bottle flanges to support the bottles. The inner and outer plies of the side panels contain tear lines which are aligned with and overlie each other. The tear lines extend at an angle to the vertical from the lower edge of the side panels to a point on the lower support edge of the nearest bottle neck opening. Severance of overlying tear lines in a side panel permits the associated bottle to be removed through the side panel.