Bottle carrier

Abstract

A method of constructing a carrier for bottles (such as two or four craft beer bottles), wherein the layout fits through a digital printer, is disclosed. A flat of beverage board is printed upon (on one side or both, though all exterior surfaces of the finished package are derived from one side of the board) with individualized and/or short-run graphics. The flat is die-cut and folded into a square or rectangle container closed by a tab that is glued on the back of one of side panels, and bottom flaps are folded and glued into place. A riser extends up from each of a pair of opposite sides to support a handle flap that extends across the top of the container, and the handle flaps are glued to the opposite riser and together across the top of the container.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A unitary flat for forming a carrier configured to hold bottles, the flat comprising:
 (a) a container portion, comprising:
 (i) a first side panel; 
 (ii) a front panel adjacent to the first side panel, 
 (iii) a second side panel adjacent to the front panel, 
 (iv) a rear panel adjacent to the second side panel, wherein the first side panel, the front panel, the second side panel, and the rear panel define a top edge, and 
 (v) at least one bottom panel, wherein the front panel, the rear panel, the first and second side panels, and the at least one bottom panel are foldable relative to one another to form the container portion; and 
   (b) a handle portion extending from the top edge of each of the first and second side panels, each handle portion comprising a riser, a handle flap extending from the riser, and a handle tab extending from the handle flap;   wherein the handle flap of each handle portion is foldable to extend across the container portion, and the handle tab is foldable relative to the handle flap to extend parallel to the riser of the other handle portion; and   wherein the handle portion extending from the top edge of the first side panel extends beyond an end of the container portion along the top edge.   
     
     
         2 . The flat of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the handle tab extends below the top edge into the container portion. 
     
     
         3 . The flat of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the handle flap extends beyond the end of the container portion in the direction of the top edge. 
     
     
         4 . The flat of  claim 3 , wherein a portion of the handle flap extends below the top edge and beyond an extent of the container portion. 
     
     
         5 . The flat of  claim 1 , wherein the front and rear panels are substantially the same width. 
     
     
         6 . The flat of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second side panels are substantially the same width. 
     
     
         7 . The flat of  claim 6 , wherein the first and second side panels, the front panel, and the rear panel are substantially the same width. 
     
     
         8 . The flat of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one bottom panel comprises four bottom panels, where each of the side panels, the front panel, and the rear panel has one of the four bottom panels extending therefrom. 
     
     
         9 . The flat of  claim 8 , wherein each of the bottom panels is foldable along an axis that is parallel to the top edge. 
     
     
         10 . The flat of  claim 1 , wherein each of the risers has a generally triangular configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The flat of  claim 1 , wherein the top edge of the first and second side panels extends along a line, wherein a portion of the top edge of the front and rear panels extends below the line. 
     
     
         12 . The flat of  claim 1 , wherein each handle flap is foldable to extend perpendicular to the riser of the same handle portion, and wherein each handle tab is foldable to extend perpendicular to the handle flap of the same handle portion. 
     
     
         13 . A carrier configured to hold bottles, the carrier comprising:
 (a) a container portion, comprising:
 (i) a front panel, 
 (ii) a rear panel, 
 (iii) a pair of side panels extending between the front and rear panels, and 
 (iv) at least one bottom panel configured to close a bottom opening of the container portion; and 
   (b) a handle portion extending from a top edge of the container portion, wherein the handle portion comprises:
 (i) a first handle comprising a first riser, a first handle flap adjacent to the first riser, and a first handle tab adjacent to the first handle flap, and 
 (ii) a second handle comprising a second riser, a second handle flap adjacent to the second riser, and a second handle tab adjacent to the second handle flap, 
 wherein the second handle tab is positioned to against the first riser, the second handle flap is positioned against the first handle flap, and the second riser is positioned against the first handle tab. 
   
     
     
         14 . The carrier of  claim 13 , wherein the first riser extends upward from a first side panel, and wherein the second riser extends upward from an opposing, second side panel. 
     
     
         15 . The carrier of  claim 14 , wherein the first riser and the first handle tab are each perpendicular to the first handle flap, and wherein the second riser and the second handle tab are each perpendicular to the second handle flap. 
     
     
         16 . A method of forming a flat into a carrier configured to hold bottles, wherein the flat comprises a first side panel, a front panel, a second side panel, and a rear panel; wherein the first side panel, the front panel, the second side panel, and the rear panel define a top edge; a bottom panel; a first handle portion extending from one of the first side panel, the front panel, the second side panel, and the rear panel; and a second handle portion extending from another one of the first side panel, the front panel, the second side panel, and the rear panel; the method comprising:
 (a) folding the first side panel, the front panel, the second side panel, the rear panel, and the bottom panel relative to one another to form a container portion;   (b) folding a first flap of the first handle portion along a first fold line such that the first flap is generally perpendicular to another portion of the first handle portion;   (c) folding a first tab of the first handle portion along a second fold line such that the first tab is generally perpendicular to the first flap;   (d) folding a second flap of the second handle portion along a third fold line such that the second flap is positioned generally perpendicular to another portion of the second handle portion;   (e) folding a second tab of the second handle portion along a fourth fold line such that the second tab is positioned generally perpendicular to the second flap; and   (f) attaching the first and second flaps to form a handle.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising attaching the first tab to the second handle portion and attaching the second tab to the first handle portion. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second tabs extend into the container portion, wherein the first tab is attached to the second side panel and the second tab is attached to the first side panel. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the handle extends centrally between the first and second side panels.