Article carrier

Abstract

A tubular carrier for a number of articles. The carrier may include a pair of side walls with upper and lower ends and a handle formed by the upper ends of the side walls. A first one of the side walls may include an access opening and a second one of the side walls may include a retention aperture for engaging one of the articles.

1 . A tubular carrier for articles, comprising: 
 a pair of side walls with upper and lower portions;    said upper portions are secured together to form a handle extending from a tubular structure formed by said lower portions to accommodate articles;    one of side walls comprising an access opening of a size such that an article may be loaded into and unloaded from the carrier through said access opening; and    the other side wall comprising a plurality of article-engaging apertures each for engaging an article, said access opening being disposed at a location opposing at least one of said engaging apertures such that an article loaded into the carrier through said access opening may be engaged by said at least one engaging aperture.    
   
   
       2 . The tubular carrier of  claim 1 , further comprising an open first end and an open second end such that articles may be loaded into and unloaded from the carrier through the first and second open ends.  
   
   
       3 . The tubular carrier of  claim 1 , wherein said access opening is defined at least in part by a handle reinforcing piece that is formed from said one side wall, and wherein said handle reinforcing piece is positioned between said upper portions of said side walls.  
   
   
       4 . The tubular carrier of  claim 1 , further comprising a base interconnecting lower portions of the side walls, wherein said base comprises a center fold line such that the carrier may be folded along said center fold line into a collapsed form wherein said side walls are disposed in alignment with each other in face-contacting relationship.  
   
   
       5 . The tubular carrier of  claim 1 , wherein said handle is pivotable with respect to said tubular structure between an upright position wherein said handle extends upwardly from said tubular structure and a folded position wherein said handle extends laterally from the tubular structure, said handle comprises at least one retaining tab for engaging a top of an article, said at least one retaining tab extending from said handle into said tubular structure when said handle is in said upright position.  
   
   
       6 . The tubular carrier of  claim 5 , wherein said at least one retaining tab is joined to said handle such that said at least one retaining tab pivots with respect to said tubular structure in response to pivotal movement of said handle.  
   
   
       7 . The tubular carrier of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said article-engaging apertures has an angled bottom edge.  
   
   
       8 . The tubular carrier of  claim 4 , wherein said base further comprises article-retention means for retaining bottoms of articles.  
   
   
       9 . A carrier for a plurality of articles, comprising: 
 a base panel;    a first wall with a first and a second end, said first end of said first wall adjoining said base panel;    a second wall with a first and a second end, said first end of said second wall adjoining said base panel;    said second end of said first wall and said second end of said second wall being fixedly attached and forming a first open side and a second open side;    said first open side and said second open side sized such that articles may be positioned in the carrier through said first open side or said second open side; and    said first wall comprising an aperture therein;    said aperture sized such that articles may be positioned in the carrier through said aperture.    
   
   
       10 . The carrier of  claim 9 , wherein said second end of said first wall and said second end of said second wall form a handle.  
   
   
       11 . The carrier of  claim 10 , wherein said handle comprises a handle cutout portion.  
   
   
       12 . The carrier of  claim 10 , wherein said aperture comprises a cutout portion and wherein said cutout portion is positioned between said second end of said first wall and said second end of said second wall within said handle.  
   
   
       13 . The carrier of  claim 10 , wherein said first wall comprises a tab positioned about said second end and wherein said tab is positioned between said second end of said first wall and said second end of said second wall within said handle.  
   
   
       14 . The carrier of  claim 9 , wherein said first wall and said second wall both comprise a plurality of article-engaging apertures therein, each of said plurality of article-engaging apertures sized to accommodate a portion of one of the articles.  
   
   
       15 . The carrier of  claim 9 , wherein said base panel comprises a plurality of article retainers positioned therein, each of said plurality of article retainers sized to accommodate a portion of one of the articles.  
   
   
       16 . The carrier of  claim 9 , wherein said base panel comprises a center fold line such that base panel, said first wall, and said second wall may be folded and aligned with each other.  
   
   
       17 . The carrier of  claim 16 , wherein said base panel comprises a plurality of additional fold lines.  
   
   
       18 . The carrier of  claim 10 , wherein said first wall and said second wall comprise a fold line about said handle and wherein said first wall and said second wall comprise a plurality of tabs extending from said handle, said plurality of tabs being pivotable about said fold line.  
   
   
       19 . The carrier of  claim 18 , wherein said first wall and said second wall each comprise a plurality of article-engaging apertures positioned about said plurality of tabs.  
   
   
       20 . The carrier of  claim 19 , wherein each said plurality of article-engaging apertures comprises an angled bottom edge.  
   
   
       21 . The carrier of  claim 9 , wherein the articles comprises a number of bottles.  
   
   
       22 . A carrier for accommodating at least one article, comprising: 
 a front wall including a first end defined by a fold line;    a rear wall including a first end defined by a fold line;    said first end of said front wall and said first end of said rear wall being fixedly attached together to bring said fold lines into substantial alignment with each other so that a handle is formed from said first ends and a tubular structure depending from said handle is formed from remainder of the front and rear walls;    said handle comprising at least one engaging tab extending away from said handle beyond the fold lines, said handle being pivotable about said fold lines between an upright position and a tilted position such that when said handle is in said upright position, said at least one tab extends into said tubular structure to engage an article in the tubular structure, and when said handle is in said tilted position, said at least one tab lies in a position wherein said at least one tab allows an article to move into or out of said tubular structure.    
   
   
       23 . A method for inserting one or more articles into a carrier including a tubular structure, a handle pivotally connected to the tubular structure and having one or more engaging tabs which extend into the tubular structure when the handle in an upright position, the method comprising: 
 pivoting the handle from the upright position to a tilted position such that the one or more engaging tabs are pivoted toward the outside of the tubular structure in response to the pivotal movement of the handle;    inserting one or more articles into the tubular structure; and    pivoting the handle to the upright position such that the one or more engaging tabs are brought into engagement with the one or more articles.