EP1157939B1 - Top gripping carrier for bottles - Google Patents

Top gripping carrier for bottles Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1157939B1
EP1157939B1 EP01120341A EP01120341A EP1157939B1 EP 1157939 B1 EP1157939 B1 EP 1157939B1 EP 01120341 A EP01120341 A EP 01120341A EP 01120341 A EP01120341 A EP 01120341A EP 1157939 B1 EP1157939 B1 EP 1157939B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
articles
pair
partition
carrier
skirt
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP01120341A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1157939A1 (en
Inventor
Jean-Michel Auclair
Philippe Le Bras
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
WestRock Packaging Systems LLC
Original Assignee
Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems LLC filed Critical Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems LLC
Publication of EP1157939A1 publication Critical patent/EP1157939A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1157939B1 publication Critical patent/EP1157939B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D71/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D71/40—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material comprising a plurality of articles held together only partially by packaging elements formed by folding a blank or several blanks
    • B65D71/42—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material comprising a plurality of articles held together only partially by packaging elements formed by folding a blank or several blanks formed by folding a single blank into a single layer element
    • B65D71/44—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material comprising a plurality of articles held together only partially by packaging elements formed by folding a blank or several blanks formed by folding a single blank into a single layer element characterised by the handle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D71/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D71/40—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material comprising a plurality of articles held together only partially by packaging elements formed by folding a blank or several blanks
    • B65D71/42—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material comprising a plurality of articles held together only partially by packaging elements formed by folding a blank or several blanks formed by folding a single blank into a single layer element

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an article carrier which is used for securing a plurality of articles such as bottles in a group. More particularly, the invention relates to an article carrier of the top gripping type which attaches to the tops of articles thereby to secure the articles in one or more arrays.
  • US 3 674 136 illustrates an article carrier of the top gripping type comprising a top panel and a side panel having a bottle receiving aperture.
  • the bottle receiving aperture having a lower edge for engagement with an upper portion of the bottle and the top panel includes a flap for engaging the top of the bottle.
  • Articles carried by article carriers of this type are difficult to release from such a carrier.
  • WO 96/02436 shows a carrier in line with the preamble of claim 1.
  • the present invention and its preferred embodiments seeks to overcome or at least mitigate the problems of the prior art.
  • an article carrier of the top-gripping type comprising a top panel having a plurality of article receiving apertures for retaining articles, a pair of opposed side panels foldably joined to and extending downwardly from opposite side edges of the top panel, and endless grouping strap formed integrally with the carrier to encircle the articles and internal partition means disposed within the grouping strap to divide the articles into at least two groups.
  • the grouping strap comprises a pair of skirt strips joined respectively to lower edges of the side panels and connected together to form the endless grouping strap, the partition means comprising a pair of partition bands formed respectively from the skirt strips.
  • each of the partition bands may be foldably joined to a respective one of the skirt strips along a pair of aligned fold lines separated from each other by a cut line and is folded about the aligned fold lines to receive one of the at least two groups of articles between each partition band and the respective skirt strip. More preferably, the partition bands may be secured together at intermediate portions thereof.
  • a second aspect of the invention provides a blank for forming an article carrier of the top-gripping type comprising a top panel having a plurality of article receiving apertures for retaining articles, a pair of opposed side panels foldably joined to and extending downwardly from opposite side edges of the top panel, and endless grouping strap formed integrally with the carrier to encircle the articles and internal partition means disposed within the grouping strap to divide the articles into at least two groups.
  • the grouping strap comprises a pair of skirt strips joined respectively to lower edges of the side panels and connected together to form the endless grouping strap, the partition means comprising a pair of partition bands formed respectively from the skirt strips.
  • each of the partition bands may be foldably joined to a respective one of the skirt strips along a pair of aligned fold lines separated from each other by a cut line and is folded about the aligned fold lines to receive one of the at least two groups of articles between each partition band and the respective skirt strip. More preferably, the partition bands may be secured together at intermediate portions thereof.
  • top panel 16 includes a pair of opposite shoulder strips 14 and 18 extending along the opposite side edges of top panel 16. These strips 14 and 18 are foldably joined to the body of top panel 16 along interrupted fold lines 62 and 64, respectively.
  • Side panel 12 is foldably connected to shoulder strip 14 along an interrupted fold line 60.
  • side panel 20 is foldably connected to shoulder strip 18 along an interrupted fold line 66.
  • Skirt strip 22 is foldably connected along fold line 68 to side panel 12 and includes a series of fold lines 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75 to assist in being folded about a portion of a row of articles when the carrier is in a set up condition.
  • skirt strip 24 is foldably connected along fold line 76 to side panel 20 and includes a series of fold lines 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88 to assist in being folded about a portion of another row of articles when the carrier is in a set up condition.
  • Internal partition band 26 is foldably connected to skirt strip 22 along a pair of aligned fold lines 90 and 92 and is separated therefrom by cut line 94.
  • internal partition bond 28 is connected to skirt strip 24 along a pair of aligned fold lines 96 and 98 and is separated therefrom by cut line 100.
  • neck-receiving apertures 200, 202, 204 and 206 formed in the opposed quadrants of top panel 16. Apertures 200 and 202 each is struck in part from shoulder strip 14 and terminates at fold line 60, and thus the lower edge "L" of each aperture is defined by the upper edge of side panel 12.
  • a central portion of the top panel 16 includes a substantially circular bottle-releasing aperture 216.
  • This aperture 216 is adapted to receive the fingers of users as well as to receive a handle which will be described later.
  • Tear lines 116 and 118 extend between the upper edge "U" of the receiving aperture 200 and the releasing aperture 216, and thus they define therebetween a tear strip 212.
  • tear lines 120 and 122 extend between the upper edge "U” of the receiving aperture 202 and the releasing aperture 216, and thus they define therebetween a tear strip 214.
  • Pull tabs 208 and 210 are foldably connected to tear strips 212 and 214 respectively along fold lines 112 and 114. These pull tabs 208 and 210 extend into receiving apertures 200 and 202, respectively.
  • a tongue 222 is struck from top panel 16 and extends from fold line 62 towards releasing aperture 216.
  • Support panels 30 and 32 are foldably connected to top panel 16 and side panel 12 along fold line 102.
  • support panels 34 and 36 are foldably connected to top panel 16 and side panel 12 along fold line 104.
  • Support panels 30 and 34 include lower receiving apertures 224 and 226 adapted to be aligned or registered with neck-receiving apertures 200 and 202 when the carrier is in a set up condition. Support panels 30 and 34 also include lower releasing edges 228 and 230 designed to extend along at least portions of the perimeter of the bottle-releasing aperture 216 when the carrier is in a set up condition. Support panels further include frangible lines 232 and 234 extending between the lower receiving aperture 224, 226 and the lower releasing edges 228 and 230. These frangible lines 232 and 234 are designed to underlie the tear strips 212 and 214 respectively when the carrier is in a set up condition. Support panels 32 and 36 are shaped to be aligned with side panel 12 when the carrier is in a set up condition.
  • Top panel 16 and support panels 30, 32, 34 and 36 are symmetrical about center fold line 250, whereby the other half of top panel 16 and support panels 38, 40, 42 and 44 are of a similar construction and not therefore specifically described.
  • Handle panel 46 and handle-reinforcing panel 48 are formed from support panels 34, 36, 42 and 44 and are separated therefrom by cut line 252. These panels 46 and 48 in cooperation are adapted to form a two-ply handle for the carrier. Handle panel 46 is foldably connected to handle-reinforcing panel 48 along fold line 254. Fold lines 256, 258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268 are incorporated into handle panel 46 and handle-reinforcing panel 48 to provide means for enabling the two-ply handle to pop up when in use. The action of the "pop up" means is disclosed in PCT/US95/09430.
  • the carrier is constructed by first forming the two-ply handle H. To create the handle H, handle panel 46 and handle-reinforcing panel 48 are folded about fold line 254 into a flat face-contacting relationship.
  • Support panels 30, 32, 38, 40 and 34, 36, 42, 44 are folded about fold lines 102 and 104 respectively into a flat face-contacting relationship with top panel 16 and side panels 12 and 20.
  • Side panels 12 and 20 are folded into an approximately perpendicular relationship with top panel 16 along fold lines 60, 62, 64 and 66.
  • Internal partition band 26 is folded about fold lines 90 and 92 to bring its opposite the end sections 126 and 130 into a face-contacting relationship respectively with the opposite end sections 124 and 128 of skirt strip 22. Those brought into the flat face-contacting relationship are glued together as shown in FIG 3.
  • internal partition band 28 is folded about fold lines 96 and 98 to bring its opposite end sections 136 and 138 into a face-contacting relationship respectively with the foldable sections 132 and 134 of skirt strip 24. Those brought into the flat face-contacting relationship are also glued together as shown in FIG 3.
  • the opposite end sections 140 and 142 of skirt strip 24 are glued to the opposite end sections 126 and 130 of internal partition band 26 while internal partition bands 26 and 28 are glued together at their respective center sections 144 and 146.
  • the articles are inserted into neck-receiving apertures 200, 202, 204, 206 such that the neck flanges 300, 302, 304, 306 are engaged on their undersides by lower edges L1, L2, L3, L4 respectively and pressed against lower edges L1, L2, L3, L4 by upper edges U1, U2, U3, U4.
  • Pull tabs 208, 210 and the other two pull tabs abut top portions of the articles. These tabs and the associated tear strips can be removed to allow easy removal of the articles.
  • the handle H is free to pop up through the central aperture as described earlier.
  • the present invention relates to a bottle carrier which is shaped to provide satisfactory strength to hold the bottles securely but with a degree of flexibility so that load transferred to the handle is absorbed by the carrier.
  • the shape of the blank minimizes the amount of paperboard required.
  • the carrier can be applied to an array of bottles by hand or automatic machinery. It is anticipated that the invention can be applied to a variety of carriers and not limited to those of the top gripping sort.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Manipulator (AREA)
  • Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
  • Control And Other Processes For Unpacking Of Materials (AREA)
  • Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)
  • Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)
  • Table Devices Or Equipment (AREA)
EP01120341A 1996-08-12 1997-08-12 Top gripping carrier for bottles Expired - Lifetime EP1157939B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9616887 1996-08-12
GBGB9616887.7A GB9616887D0 (en) 1996-08-12 1996-08-12 Top gripping carrier for bottles
EP97936501A EP0958192B1 (en) 1996-08-12 1997-08-12 Top gripping carrier for bottles

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97936501A Division EP0958192B1 (en) 1996-08-12 1997-08-12 Top gripping carrier for bottles

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1157939A1 EP1157939A1 (en) 2001-11-28
EP1157939B1 true EP1157939B1 (en) 2004-11-10

Family

ID=10798353

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97936501A Expired - Lifetime EP0958192B1 (en) 1996-08-12 1997-08-12 Top gripping carrier for bottles
EP01120341A Expired - Lifetime EP1157939B1 (en) 1996-08-12 1997-08-12 Top gripping carrier for bottles

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97936501A Expired - Lifetime EP0958192B1 (en) 1996-08-12 1997-08-12 Top gripping carrier for bottles

Country Status (11)

Country Link
EP (2) EP0958192B1 (no)
AT (2) ATE215490T1 (no)
AU (1) AU3915797A (no)
CY (1) CY2267B1 (no)
DE (2) DE69731564T2 (no)
DK (1) DK0958192T3 (no)
ES (1) ES2175448T3 (no)
GB (1) GB9616887D0 (no)
NO (1) NO322271B1 (no)
PT (1) PT958192E (no)
WO (1) WO1998006638A1 (no)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6125999A (en) * 1998-11-23 2000-10-03 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Panel container carrier
FI112194B (fi) * 2001-04-06 2003-11-14 Oyj Hartwall Abp Kartonkipakkaus

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2832504A (en) * 1955-05-27 1958-04-29 Container Corp Can carton with handle
NL288319A (no) * 1962-02-02
US3674136A (en) * 1971-06-01 1972-07-04 Mead Corp Carrier for flanged articles
GB9413862D0 (en) 1994-07-08 1994-08-24 Mead Corp Beverage carton with strap type carrying handle
US5487463A (en) * 1994-07-15 1996-01-30 Riverwood International Corporation Banded bottle neck carrier
US5590776A (en) * 1995-10-06 1997-01-07 Galbierz; Richard T. Multi-pack carrier for bottles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69731564D1 (de) 2004-12-16
NO322271B1 (no) 2006-09-04
DE69711708D1 (de) 2002-05-08
NO990623L (no) 1999-04-08
DE69711708T2 (de) 2002-10-17
ATE215490T1 (de) 2002-04-15
EP1157939A1 (en) 2001-11-28
CY2267B1 (en) 2003-07-04
NO990623D0 (no) 1999-02-10
PT958192E (pt) 2002-09-30
EP0958192B1 (en) 2002-04-03
DE69731564T2 (de) 2005-12-22
ES2175448T3 (es) 2002-11-16
DK0958192T3 (da) 2002-07-29
EP0958192A1 (en) 1999-11-24
GB9616887D0 (en) 1996-09-25
ATE281985T1 (de) 2004-11-15
AU3915797A (en) 1998-03-06
WO1998006638A1 (en) 1998-02-19

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