Growler Carrier

Abstract

A pyramidal shaped growler carrier comprised of four sides, a bottom and an opening at the top wherein the growler is situated during transport. The growler carrier is made from a single sheet of heavy stock material that can be folded into the pyramidal shape with the various folds made upon creased lines. Stability wedges placed upon the four corners of the bottom of the carrier to increase the friction between the carrier and the floor or seat upon with the carrier sits. In the opening of the carrier, there are four security flaps attached to each side panel that fold into the opening when the growler is placed within.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/984,705 Inventor claims the benefit of the earlier filed provisional patent application in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 119; right of priority.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

None

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

After a typical work day, a person might want to go and fill their beer growler at a growler station or pub on their way home. The origins of the term growler is not exactly known and there is speculation it is derived from sound made when fresh beer was carried from the local pub to one's home in a covered pail. As the beer was agitated, the carbonation escaped and the when escaping from the pail created a sound similar to a growl. Other folks associate the name from the term of providing beer in pails, buckets or other containers when people's stomachs starting growling. Whatever the origins of the term growler, it is well understood today that a growler is typically a half gallon or two liter glass jug and is designed to carry beer with a screw on top.

Growler stations or locations to fill one's growler are located throughout the country and are typically a store or commercial enterprise that has one or more kegs tapped. A person can purchase a growler and then have the growler filled with the beer of their choice. Once a person purchases the growler, it is typically re-used by returning to the growler station with the empty jug and having the jug refilled. The jug, once filled is usually capped with a screw on lid. The beer is typically consumed shortly after filling as the beer loses its flavor and carbonation within a few days.

A typical growler is usually made of glass and is much taller than it is wide. The sides are rounded and the bottle while sitting on a table is usually stable. Because the growler is returned to be re-used, the growler is often times transported by the user in their car or other mode of transportation, such as a bus, train or trolley. While transporting one or more growlers and based on the typical design of the growler, it is not uncommon for the growler to roll around or be tipped over onto its side. Because the growler is made of glass, it has been known that growlers have been broken during the transportation of the growler from either home to the growler station or from the station to the home.

The inventor has seen some people place the growler in boxes or similar carrier devices but the carriers used are often times not stable or often times allow for the growler to freely move around. Placing the growler on the floor is not an option as most growlers will tip over when the vehicle makes a turn. Additionally, the inventor has seen the use of commercial carriers that are bulky and cumbersome and cannot be stowed away in one's car or mode of transportation after carrying a growler. There is a need for a lightweight collapsible growler carrier.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A pyramidal shaped growler carrier comprised of four sides, a bottom and an opening located at the top of said carrier wherein the growler is situated during transport. The growler carrier is made from a single sheet of heavy stock material, such as cardboard, that can be folded into the desired shape by imprinting or impressing upon the material creases such that the various folds are made upon the creased lines. A means for securing at least one edge of the pyramidal shaped carrier and sizing said carrier such that the opening at the top of the carrier securely holds the growler during transport. There are four stability wedges located at the four corners of the bottom of the carrier to increase the friction between the carrier and the floor or seat upon which the carrier sits. In the opening of the carrier, there are four security flaps attached to each side panel that fold into the opening when the growler is placed within. The four security flaps provide a smooth façade for easing the growler into the carrier and they provide additional compression between the growler and the top of the four side panels as the growler sits within said carrier.

Another use of the carrier is the use of the side panels for advertising the location of various growler fill locations or advertising brewery names or beers. A growler fill station, pub or commercial enterprise for filling growlers can put their logo or trademark on the sides of the carrier as a reminder as to where to refill the growler. Finally, detachable redeemable coupons located on the ends of the security flaps can be used by commercial vendors to increase the sale of their product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a growler located inside a growler carrier.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a single sheet of stiff flat foldable material from which the growler carrier is formed.

FIG. 3 illustrates a first step for transforming the single sheet into the carrier.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the partially constructed growler carrier illustrating the next step in the transformation of the single sheet into the carrier wherein side panel A and side panel D are to be connected.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the carrier, top down, illustrating the next step in making the carrier after securing side panels A and D, and is the first step in forming the bottom side of the carrier, the folding of bottom panel H.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the carrier, top down, illustrating the next step in forming the bottom side of the carrier, the folding of bottom panels E and G over panel H.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the carrier, top down, illustrating the next step in forming the bottom side by folding bottom panel F over panels E and G.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the carrier, top down, illustrating the insertion of a tongue on bottom panel F into a slot formed between bottom panel H and the two bottom panels E and G the stability wedges are formed at this point.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the carrier, top side up, illustrating the folding of the security flaps for easing the insertion of the growler through an opening at the top of the carrier.

FIG. 10 illustrates how a growler is inserted into the carrier.

DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments of the methods and apparatus will now be described. The following descriptions provide specific details for a thorough understanding and enabling description of these embodiments. It should be noted, however, that the above “Background” describes technologies that may enable aspects and embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant arts will understand, however, that the invention may be practiced without many of these details. Additionally, some well-known structures or functions may not be shown or described in detail, so as to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the relevant description of the various aspects and embodiments of the invention.

The terminology used in the description presented below is intended to be interpreted in its broadest reasonable manner, even though it is being used in conjunction with a detailed description of certain specific embodiments of the invention. Certain terms may even be emphasized herein; however, any terminology intended to be interpreted in any restricted manner will be overly and specifically defined as such in this Detailed Description section.

FIG. 1 depicts a growler 20 situated inside a growler carrier 30. The growler carrier 30, hereinafter carrier 30, is a blank single piece of stiff foldable material such as cardboard, corrugated plastic or similar material known to those skilled the art of container design. The folded and final shape of the carrier is pyramidal with an opening located at a top of said pyramidal shaped carrier and the opening is sized to securely fit the growler within. Like a pyramid, the carrier has four side panels and a bottom side. The folding of the carrier from the single piece results in four raised stability wedges that provide additional friction between the carrier and the flooring upon which the carrier is placed during transport, such as a car seat or floor. The opening at the top of the pyramidal shape carrier is sized to tightly fit the growler and limit the movement of the growler within the carrier during transport.

The unfolded carrier 30 is depicted in FIG. 2. The carrier consists of four side panels; side panel A, 31, side panel B, 32, side panel C, 33, side panel D, 34. The bottom of the carrier is comprised of four bottom panels; bottom panel E, 35, bottom panel F, 36, bottom panel G, 37, and bottom panel H, 38. When the four bottom panels are folded during the process of making the carrier, they form one bottom side, reinforced by the four separate bottom panels. At an outer edge of side panel A, there is an overlap panel 42 which has a slot 43 cut through the material. The slot is sized such that a tab 39 connected to an outer edge of side panel D can be inserted through the slot when side flaps 40 and 41 are folded flat upon the surface of tab 39 when side panels A and D are brought together.

From FIG. 2, longer dotted lines on the drawing depict creases in the material demarking where the material is folded into the carrier. The creases are placed upon the blank sheet to assists in the assembly of the carrier by providing locations where a user is to fold the carrier and to make it easier to fold. The solid lines seen between the solid pieces, such as line 52, depicts where a through cut of the material has been made. For example, the slot 43 is a cut through the material to receive the tab 39 during the assembly of the carrier, see FIG. 4. The smaller dotted lines denoted on FIG. 2 depict locations where the single sheet has partial cuts made in the material. The partial cuts are used to detach and separate the material as will be explained later.

To assemble the carrier 30 from the single sheet of blank material as depicted in FIG. 2, side panel D is folded towards side panel A as depicted in FIG. 3. The outer edges of side panel A and D are brought together with the overlap panel 42 being placed inside the carrier or the inner side of panel D, as depicted in FIG. 4. Side panel D has tab 39 attached to the outer edge of panel D. When side panel D is drawn toward side panel A, the side flaps 40 and 41 are folded flat against the tab 39 and the tab and flaps are inserted through the slot 43 located between side panel A and the overlap panel 42. Once the tab and flaps have been inserted through the slot, the flaps are unfolded and the tab and flaps are secured inside the slot as the slot is sized to receive the tab and flaps only if the flaps are folded flat against the tab. Once the flaps are unfolded, the tab and flaps cannot be withdrawn from the slot unless the flaps are again folded flat against the tab.

The connecting of side panel A to side panel D at their outer edges produces the pyramidal shape. The above description of joining side panels A and D is just one means for forming the pyramidal shape. Instead of using a flap inserted into a slot as described above, other means, such as stapling, gluing or using other shapes known to those in the art of making cardboard products can be used to connect the outer edge of side panel A to side panel D to form the pyramidal shape. The inventor has found the slot and flap method of joining the outer edges of side panel A and D described above provides for the easiest and quickest means for connecting the sides together. The above description also provides a quick and easy means for unfolding the carrier back into a flat piece for easy storage.

When side panel A and side panel D are brought together, the carrier has the pyramidal shape. The next step in the assembly is to form a bottom side of the carrier, see FIG. 5. Bottom panel H, 38, which is attached to a bottom edge 44 of side panel D, is folded over first. Bottom panel H has two prongs 45 projecting out from the outer edge of bottom panel H near the sides. The two prongs will assist in securing the bottom panels when all four bottom panels are folded over. After bottom panel H, 38, is folded over, the two bottom panels E and G are folded over next. Bottom panel E, 35, is attached to a bottom edge 46 of side panel A and bottom panel G is attached to a bottom edge 47 of side panel G. See FIG. 2 and FIG. 7.

The shape of bottom panels E and G are roughly rectangular with most of the panel projecting out from one half of the side panel. When bottom panel E and G are folded perpendicular with the side panels, they create a partial floor or bottom to the carrier covering approximately one half of the floor—each extends out from the bottom edge of the side panels A and C such that they cover one quarter of the bottom of the pyramid shape, see FIG. 7.

Attached to the bottom panels E and G is a covering flap 55 which tapers approximately half way along an inside edge of the bottom panels toward panel H when folded. The covering flaps 55 provide another interlocking piece to the four bottom panels when the four bottom panels are folded over. The covering flaps extend from approximately half way up the inner side of bottom panel E and G and taper toward the outer edges of side panel A on bottom panel E and toward the crease between side panel C and D for bottom panel G. The shape of bottom panels E and G are such that when they are perpendicular to the side panels, the rectangular shape covers approximately half of the bottom of the pyramidal shaped carrier with the covering flaps 55 extending out for interlocking and support of the other two bottom panels F and H.

Once the three bottom panels H, E, and G are folded over as shown in FIG. 7 with the bottom panels roughly perpendicular to the side panels, a bottom panel F, 36, is folded over. Bottom panel F, 36, is attached to a bottom edge 48 of side panel B. Bottom panel F is shaped such that a tongue 49, attached to an outer edge of bottom panel F, can be pushed under the outer edge of bottom panel H, 50, on the inside of the carrier, see FIG. 8.

The pyramidal shape has been made at this point; see FIG. 8 and FIG. 9. Another aspect of the present invention is the creation of stability wedges 51 located at the bottom corners of each side panel and on the bottom side, see FIGS. 8 and 9. The stability wedges 51 are formed by placing the bottom edges of side panels A, B, C, and D inset from the edges of each side. The stability wedges are made making small wedge cuts 52 at the inset from the bottom edge of the side panels. At the end of the cut furthest from the bottom edge is a tip. When the bottom panels are folded over at the creases 44, 46, 47, and 48, made between the tips of each cut, the stability wedges 51 are formed and project out of the bottom side of the carrier at the four corners of the pyramidal shaped carrier. It has been found by placing the stability wedges at the four corners of the pyramidal shaped carrier, the carrier is less likely to slide when transporting a growler. After the tongue 49 has been tucked under the outer edge 50 of bottom panel H, the carrier is placed upon a flat surface, see FIG. 9.

The four side panels A, B, C and D have a security flap 53 located at the top of each side panel, see FIG. 2 and FIG. 9. The security flaps 53 project out the top of each side panel and there is a crease at the top edge of each side panel that allows the security flaps to be folded from the top edge of the side panels to an inside of the carrier when the growler is placed inside the carrier as seen in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10. The security flaps 53 provide a smooth thickened edge inside an opening of the pyramidal shaped carrier when folded inside the carrier as the growler is placed inside the carrier. The smooth façade makes it easier to insert the growler, provides additional compression between the opening and the growler and adds additional durability to the carrier as the insertion and removal of the growler will tend to wear and tear the openings edges of the carrier.

As noted in FIG. 2, the smaller dotted lines represent partial cuts in the blank sheet. The partial cuts, located across the security flaps 53, allow the ends of the flaps to be separated by pulling or tearing along the partial cut line. The detachable piece 54 is typically a coupon redeemable at the location where the carrier is distributed.

It would work like this; a carrier is made from a blank stock foldable material, like cardboard. A growler station, tavern, pub or commercial enterprise that sells and refills growlers could place the name of their growler station, pub or commercial enterprise upon the outer side of the side panels of the carrier. The displayed information is marketing material and can be the business name, logo or trademark name of the growler station, pub or commercial enterprise that provides or distributes the carrier. In addition to marketing the name of the commercial enterprise that provided the carrier, the detachable end of the security flap could function as a coupon or rebate tool that could be redeemed through some reward system for getting frequent refills. Commercial enterprises that refill growlers could provide the carrier with the coupon to their customers to for additional incentive to return to have their growler refilled at the same location. All the while, the carrier is being used to stabilize the growler during transient.

Claims

1. I claim a growler carrier made from a single sheet of heavy foldable material comprising:

four side panels A, B, C, and D defined by an outer edge of a single sheet on one side of panel A and a second outer edge on an opposite side of panel D and a crease between panel A and B, a crease between panel B and C; and a crease between panel C and D with means for connecting side panels A and D, wherein the folding at the creases formed between side panels A and B, B and C, and C and D, make a pyramidal shape when side panels A and D are connected together; a bottom side made from a bottom panel H connected to a bottom edge of side panel D with a crease demarking the bottom edge between side panel D and bottom panel H and two prongs projecting out a bottom edge of bottom panel H near the side edges of bottom panel H, a rectangular shaped bottom panel E and a rectangular shaped bottom panel G connected to the bottom edge of side panels A and C respectively demarked by a crease line between said side panels and said bottom panels, wherein bottom panel H is folded roughly perpendicular to the pyramidal shaped side panels followed by the folding of bottom panels E and G such that the bottom panel E and G cover approximately one half of the bottom of the pyramidal shaped carrier and bottom panel H covers approximately the other half of the bottom of the pyramidal shape carrier with the prongs overlapping between the bottom panels H and the bottom panels E and G and a gap formed between the three bottom panels E, G and H when folded perpendicular with the side panels, with a fourth bottom panel F, approximately rectangular in shape with a projecting tongue at the bottom edge of bottom panel F, connected to a bottom edge of side panel B with a crease line between said side panel B and bottom panel F and when bottom panel F is folded over after the folding of bottom panel H, E, and G, the tongue is inserted into the gap securing the four bottom panels into a bottom side; an opening at the top of the pyramidal shaped carrier formed from the top edges of the four side panels and sized to securely fit a growler within said opening.

2. The growler carrier of claim one further comprising; a tab located on the outer edge of side panel D and an inside flap located on the outer edge of side panel A with a slot in the material between side panel A and the inside flap wherein the tab has two foldable flaps located on a bottom and top edge of the tab wherein the tab and flaps are sized and shaped to be inserted into the slot when the flaps are folded upon the tab and the tab is inserted into the slot with the side panel and A and side pane D when the side panels A and D are connected with the flaps unfolded securing the tab within the slot and securing the outer edge of side panel A to the outer edge of side panel D.

3. The growler carrier of claim 1 further comprising four stability wedges located at each corner on the bottom side and formed by making small wedge cuts perpendicular and inset from the bottom edges of the side panels with a tip at the end of the cut furthest from the bottom edge and the four corners made between side panels A and B, side panels B and C, side panel C and D, and side panels A and D and making the crease line between said side panels and said bottom panels between the tips of each wedge cut.

4. The pyramidal shaped growler carrier of claim 1 further comprising four security flaps creased into the top of each side panel such that when a growler is placed into said opening the security flap is folded into the space with said growler.

5. The pyramidal shaped growler carrier of claim 1 further comprising advertisements placed upon an outer side of said side panels.

6. The pyramidal shaped growler carrier of claim 4 further comprising detachable tabs at the end of the four security flaps for the placement of redeemable coupons.