Method and apparatus for stacking cartons

• US 5,305,883 A
• Filed: 09/21/1992
• Issued: 04/26/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bruce S. Bialor
• Original Assignee: Bruce S. Bialor
• Inventors: Gage, A. Mark, Gage, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US07/947,556
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 229/DIG. 11, 229/915, 206/509, 206/511, 206/512
• US Class Current: 206/511
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/006 Separate corner posts and like elements B65D5/0065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 229/915 Stacking feature

Abstract

A method and apparatus for stacking cartons for transport. The apparatus includes a plurality of straddles that engage with stacked cartons. Each straddle attaches to a top edge of a wall on an upper stacked carton and a bottom portion that extends from the top portion to a wall on a lower stacked carton. A cover fits over the upper stacked carton and contacts the straddles in a manner where the bottom portion engages with the upper and lower stacked cartons to prevent the cartons from slipping during transport. In another embodiment straps engage with handles on the side of the carton.

Claims

1. A method for stacking cartons for transport comprising the steps of:

providing a first and a second carton, each having a bottom and a first, a second, a third, and a fourth side wall, each of said side walls having an outside surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, and a height;

stacking the second carton onto the first carton, extending the side walls of the second carton substantially coplanar to the side walls of the first carton;

providing a first and a second straddle, each having an elongated base portion having a length larger than the height of one of the side walls and a top portion having a length shorter than the height of one of said side walls;

placing the first straddle on the first side wall of the second carton such that said top portion contacts the top edge of the first side wall of the second carton and the elongated portion extends parallel to the first side wall of the second carton along the outside surface from the top edge of the first side wall past the bottom edge of the first side wall of the second carton;

placing the second straddle on the second side wall of the second carton such that said top portion contacts the top edge of the second side wall of the second carton and the elongated portion extends parallel to the second side wall of the second carton along the outside surface form the top edge of the second side wall of the second carton past the bottom edge of the second side wall of the second carton; and

placing a cover having a ceiling and four side walls, each having an inside surface, over both the outside surfaces of the side walls of the second carton and the straddles such that the inside surfaces of the side walls of the cover engage the straddles to hold the straddles against the outside surfaces of the second carton side walls,

the straddles extending over the outside surfaces of the first carton side walls to prevent the second carton from sliding off the first carton during transport.

2. A straddle for preventing stacked cartons from slipping during transport, each of said cartons having a height, an inside, and an outside, the straddle comprising

an elongated base portion having a length longer than the height of one of the stacked cartons and further having an end;

a top portion integrally connected to said base portion with a fold portion, said top portion extending parallel to said base portion and having a length less than the height of one of the stacked cartons and further having an end; and

said fold portion having a length greater than the height of one of the stacked cartons such that when said fold portion is placed on one of said stacked cartons said top portion engages with the inside of one of the stacked cartons and said base portion engages the outside of the stacked cartons to prevent the stacked cartons from slipping during transport.

3. The straddle as reviewed in claim 2 further comprising a lateral score extending laterally along said straddle from the end of the base portion through said fold portion to the end of said top portion.

4. The straddle as reviewed in claim 3 further comprising a notch cut out of said fold portion along said lateral score to provide ease in folding said straddle along said lateral score.

5. The straddle as recited in claim 3 wherein said lateral score bisects said straddle laterally.

6. A system for stacking cartons for transport comprising:

a first carton and a second carton, each having four vertically oriented walls, each of said walls having an outside surface and an inside surface, and a horizontally oriented floor, said cartons being stacked on top of each other with the first carton on bottom and the second carton on top;

a plurality of straddles engaging opposite ones of said walls on said top carton, said straddles each having an elongated bottom portion that extends vertically along the outside surface of one of the walls on the top carton and partially along the outside surface of one of the walls of the bottom carton, said bottom portion meeting a top portion at a fold portion which extends over a top edge of one of the walls, the top portion extending parallel to said bottom portion along the inside surface of one of said walls;

a cover having four vertically oriented walls, each of said walls having an inner and an outer surface, and a horizontally oriented ceiling, said cover extending over said top carton such that said cover'"'"'s vertically oriented walls enclose walls of said top carton, enclosing the outer surface of the walls of the top carton, engaging each of said straddles to hold said bottom portion against the inner surface of one of the top cover'"'"'s walls and the outer surface of one of the walls of the bottom container to prevent the top carton from siding off the bottom carton during transport.

7. The system as recited in claim 6 wherein said fold portion extends perpendicularly between said bottom portion and said top portion.

8. The system as recited in claim 7 wherein each of said straddles includes a score that extends laterally along said straddle substantially bisecting said bottom portion, said fold portion, and said top portion.

9. A method for stacking cartons for transport comprising the steps of:

providing a first and a second carton, each having a bottom and a first, a second, a third, and a fourth side wall, each of said side walls having an outside surface, a to edge, a bottom edge, and a height, the first and the second carton each having a first, a second, a third, and a fourth corner formed by the for side walls;

stacking the second carton onto the first carton, extending the side walls of the second carton substantially coplanar to the side walls of the first carton, so that the first corner of the second carton substantially aligns with the first corner of the first carton and the second corner of the second carton substantially aligns with the second corner of the first carton;

providing a first and a second straddle, each having an elongated base portion having a length larger than the height of one of the side walls and a top portion having a length shorter than the height of one of the side walls, the first and the second straddle each having an inner surface;

forming a first fold in the first straddle, folding the top portion onto the base portion of the first straddle, such that the inner surface of the first straddle is at the interior of the first fold;

`forming a second fold in the first straddle laterally, such that the top portion of the first straddle is at the interior of the second fold;

forming a first fold in the second straddle, folding the top portion onto the base portion of the second straddle, such that the inner surface of the second straddle is at the interior of the first fold;

forming a second fold in the second straddle laterally, such that the top portion of the second straddle is at the interior of the second fold;

lacing the top portion of the first straddle over the top edge of the second carton at the first corner of the second carton, aligning the second fold along the first corner of the second carton and extending the base portion of the first straddle along the first corner of the second carton and over the first corner of the first carton;

placing the top portion of the second straddle over the top edge of the second carton at the second corner of the second carton, aligning the second fold along the second corner of the second carton and extending the base portion of the second straddle along the second corner of the second corner and over the second corner of the first carton; and

placing a cover having a ceiling and four side walls, each having an inside surface, over both the outside surfaces of the side walls of the second carton and the straddles such that the inside surfaces of the side walls of the cover engage the straddles to hold the straddles against the outside surfaces of the second carton side walls, the straddles extending over the outside surfaces of the first carton side walls to prevent the second carton from sliding off the first carton during transport.