Stackable basket-style article carrier with ergonomic side handle

Abstract

A basket-style article carrier ( 200 ) that is collapsible when empty, and stackable when loaded with articles (C). A handle (H) is disposed on the side of the carrier ( 200 ) and includes an angled handle aperture (O). The handle aperture (O) defines a axis of elongation (Y), which is at an angle (A) with tubular axis (X) of the basket style carrier ( 200 ). The angle of the handle aperture (O) allows one to hold the basket-style carrier ( 200 ) at one's side with one's arm hanging substantially toward the floor such that the articles (C) remain in the carrier ( 200 ).

1 . An ergonomic basket-style article carrier, comprising: 
 a tubular structure comprising a plurality of walls, the tubular structure defining a tubular axis;    a bottom wall hingedly connected to the tubular structure so as to enclose the lower end of the tubular structure; and    a handle panel hingedly connected to the tubular structure and extending outwardly therefrom, the handle panel comprising an elongate handle aperture having an axis of elongation, the axis of elongation being angled toward an upper open end of the tubular structure so as to be disposed at an acute angle with respect to the tubular axis.    
   
   
       2 . The article carrier of  claim 1 , the plurality of walls comprising: 
 a first end wall;    a first side wall hingedly connected to one side of the first end wall;    a second side wall hingedly connected to an opposite side of the first end wall;    a second end wall hingedly connected to the first side wall and to the second side wall;    wherein the bottom wall is hingedly connected to the first and second side walls.    
   
   
       3 . The article carrier of  claim 2 , the second end wall comprising a first end wall panel and a second end wall panel hingedly connected to one another, wherein the handle panel is hingedly connected to the first end wall panel and to the second end wall panel so as to be connected to the second end wall.  
   
   
       4 . The article carrier of  claim 1 , the axis of elongation of the handle aperture being defined by a weight bearing edge of the handle aperture.  
   
   
       5 . A blank for forming a basket-style carrier for receiving a plurality of articles, the blank comprising: 
 an upper transverse section having a first longitudinal axis along its upper edge, the upper transverse section having formed therein a plurality of panels hingedly connected one to another along the first longitudinal axis, the plurality of panels including an upper handle panel, the upper handle panel comprising an elongate handle aperture with an axis of elongation disposed at an acute angle with respect to the first longitudinal axis.    
   
   
       6 . The carrier blank of  claim 5 , the plurality of panels comprising: 
 a first upper end wall panel;    an upper side panel; and    a second upper end wall panel;    wherein the upper side panel is hingedly connected to the first upper end wall panel, the second upper end wall panel is hingedly connected to the upper side panel, and the upper handle panel is hingedly connected to the second upper end wall panel    
   
   
       7 . The carrier blank of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 a lower transverse section disposed alongside and hingedly connected to the upper transverse section, the lower transverse section having a second longitudinal axis along its lower edge, the lower transverse section having formed therein a plurality of panels hingedly connected one to another along the second longitudinal axis, the plurality of panels including a lower handle panel, the lower handle panel comprising an elongate handle aperture with an axis of elongation disposed at an acute angle with respect to the second longitudinal axis.    
   
   
       8 . The carrier blank of  claim 7 , the plurality of panels comprising: 
 a first lower end wall panel;    an lower side panel; and    a second lower end wall panel;    wherein the lower side panel is hingedly connected to the first lower end wall panel, the second lower end wall is hingedly connected to the second lower end wall panel.    
   
   
       9 . The carrier blank of  claim 7 , wherein the upper and lower handle panels are hingedly connected to respective upper and lower reinforcing panels for, when the blank is erected into a finished carrier, forming a composite handle structure by which said carrier is lifted.  
   
   
       10 . The carrier blank of  claim 9 , wherein the upper and lower reinforcing panels are hingedly connected to respective upper and lower partition wall panels for, when the blank is erected into a finished carrier, forming a composite partition panel for subdividing the interior of the carrier.  
   
   
       11 . The carrier blank of  claim 10 , wherein the upper and lower partition wall panels comprise partially detachable partition flaps for, when the blank is erected into a finished carrier, forming additional partitions substantially perpendicular to the composite partition panel for further subdividing the interior of the carrier.  
   
   
       12 . A package, comprising: 
 a plurality of articles of substantially uniform height; and    a stackable basket-style article carrier for enclosing the articles, comprising; 
 a first end wall;  
 a first side wall hingedly connected to one side of the first end wall;  
 a second side wall hingedly connected to an opposite side of the first end wall;  
 a second end wall hingedly connected to the first side wall and to the second side wall, and the second end wall comprising a first end wall panel and a second end wall panel hingedly connected to one another;  
 a bottom wall hingedly connected to at least two of the first and second end walls and the first and second side walls so as to enclose one end of the article carrier;  
 a partition panel extending across from the first end wall to the second end wall; and  
 a handle panel hingedly connected to the first end wall panel and the second end wall panel so as to be connected to the second end wall, the handle panel being extendable outwardly with respect to the second end wall;  
   wherein the maximum height of any one of the end walls, the side walls, and the partition panel is no greater than the height of the plurality of articles.    
   
   
       13 . The package of  claim 12 , wherein the handle panel has an uppermost edge that extends no higher with respect to the bottom wall than the height of the plurality of articles.  
   
   
       14 . The package of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 the article carrier defines a tubular axis; and    the handle panel comprises an elongate handle aperture having an axis of elongation, the axis of elongation being angled toward the open end of the article carrier so as to be disposed at an acute angle with respect to the tubular axis.    
   
   
       15 . A package, comprising: 
 a plurality of articles of substantially uniform height; and    a stackable basket-style article carrier for enclosing the articles, comprising; 
 a tubular structure comprising a plurality of walls;  
 a bottom wall hingedly connected to the tubular structure so as to enclose the lower end of the tubular structure; and  
 a handle panel hingedly connected to the tubular structure and extending outwardly therefrom;  
   wherein the maximum height of any one of the plurality of walls is no greater than the height of the articles.    
   
   
       16 . The package of  claim 15 , wherein the handle panel has an uppermost edge that extends no higher with respect to the bottom wall than the height of the plurality of articles.  
   
   
       17 . The package of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 the tubular structure defines a tubular axis; and 
 the handle panel comprises an elongate handle aperture having an axis of elongation, the axis of elongation being angled toward the upper open end of the tubular structure so as to be disposed at an acute angle with respect to the tubular axis.  
   
   
   
       18 . A package, comprising: 
 a plurality of articles; and    a stackable basket-style article carrier for enclosing the articles, comprising; 
 a first end wall;  
 a first side wall hingedly connected to one side of the first end wall;  
 a second side wall hingedly connected to an opposite side of the first end wall;  
 a second end wall hingedly connected to the first side wall and to the second side wall, and the second end wall comprising a first end wall panel and a second end wall panel hingedly connected to one another;  
 a bottom wall hingedly connected to at least two of the first and second end walls and the first and second side walls so as to enclose one end of the article carrier;  
 a partition panel extending across from the first end wall to the second end wall; and  
 a handle panel hingedly connected to the first end wall panel and the second end wall panel so as to be connected to the second end wall, the handle panel being extendable outwardly with respect to the second end wall;  
   wherein any two of the end walls, the side walls, and the partition panel have the same maximum height, which is at least the height of the plurality of articles, and form a weight bearing structure.    
   
   
       19 . The package of  claim 18 , wherein the handle panel has an uppermost edge that extends no higher with respect to the bottom wall than the height of the weight bearing structure.  
   
   
       20 . The package of  claim 18 , wherein: 
 the article carrier defines a tubular axis; and    the handle panel comprises an elongate handle aperture having an axis of elongation, the axis of elongation being angled toward the open end of the article carrier so as to be disposed at an acute angle with respect to the tubular axis.    
   
   
       21 . A package, comprising: 
 a plurality of articles of substantially uniform height; and    a stackable basket-style article carrier for enclosing the articles, comprising; 
 a tubular structure comprising a plurality of walls;  
 a bottom wall hingedly connected to the tubular structure so as to enclose the lower end of the tubular structure; and  
 a handle panel hingedly connected to the tubular structure and extending outwardly therefrom;  
   wherein any two of the end walls, the side walls, and the partition panel have the same maximum height, which is at least the height of the plurality of articles, and form a weight bearing structure.    
   
   
       22 . The package of  claim 21 , wherein the handle panel has an uppermost edge that extends no higher with respect to the bottom wall than the height of the weight bearing structure.  
   
   
       23 . The package of  claim 21 , wherein: 
 the tubular structure defines a tubular axis; and    the handle panel comprises an elongate handle aperture having an axis of elongation, the axis of elongation being angled toward the upper end of the tubular structure so as to be disposed at an acute angle with respect to the tubular axis.