EP2307284A1

EP2307284A1 - Transport cover for containers

Info

Publication number: EP2307284A1
Application number: EP08784871A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Joris Scheppers
Original assignee: SCA Packaging Marketing NV
Current assignee: DS Smith Packaging Marketing NV
Priority date: 2008-07-18
Filing date: 2008-07-18
Publication date: 2011-04-13
Also published as: WO2010006628A1

Abstract

A transport cover (10) for a plurality of parallelepiped containers (12) having at least one pair of opposed surfaces with each surface having a raised portion. Each container has a dispensing end (14), a base (16) opposite the dispensing end, opposed front and rear surfaces (18; 20) and opposed first and second side surfaces (22; 24). The dispensing end (14) is formed by folding over and securing first and second side flaps (26; 28) onto the opposed first and second side surfaces (22; 24), respectively, such that the first side flap (26) forms a first ridge (30) on the first side surface (22) and the second side flap (28) forms a second ridge (32) on the second side surface (24). The transport cover (10) has a base wall (34), opposed front and rear walls (36; 38) and opposed first and second side walls (40; 42). The front and rear walls and the first and second side walls extend substantially perpendicularly from the base wall and form an opening (44) for receiving the plurality of parallelepiped containers (12). The first and second side walls are provided with engagement elements (46; 48) for engaging the ridges (30; 32) of the containers to thereby lock the transport cover to the containers.

Description

TRANSPORT COVER FOR CONTAINERS

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a transport cover for a plurality of parallelepiped containers and a blank for forming such a transport cover. The invention further relates to a container assembly comprising a transport cover and a plurality of parallelepiped containers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Parallelepiped containers are commonly used to store liquids, such as milk, cream, yoghurt, wine, fruit juice and sauces, intended for human consumption. Typically, these containers have a volume of between 0.2 and 2 litres. In order to transport such containers from the dairy or factory where they are filled with liquid to a retailer, the containers are traditionally packed into six-sided boxes. Not only does a box allow a plurality of containers to be transported simultaneously, the sides of the box also facilitate the stacking and grouping of a plurality of boxes on, for example, a pallet. A disadvantage with six-sided boxes is, however, the amount of material that is required to provide a volume which is sufficiently large to accommodate the containers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an alternative to the traditional box which requires less material whilst still permitting a plurality of parallelepiped containers to be transported simultaneously in a rational manner.

This object is achieved in accordance with the present invention by a transport cover for a plurality of parallelepiped containers having at least one pair of opposed surfaces with each surface of the pair having a raised portion. Each said container has a dispensing end, a base opposite the dispensing end, opposed front and rear surfaces and opposed first and second side surfaces. The dispensing end is formed by folding over and securing first and second side flaps onto the opposed first and second side surfaces, respectively, such that the first side flap forms a first ridge on the first side surface and the second side flap forms a second ridge on the second side surface. The first side surface and the second side surface constitute the at least one pair of opposed surfaces and the first and second ridges constitute the raised portion on each surface. The transport cover has a base wall, opposed front and rear walls and opposed first and second side walls. The front and rear walls and the first and second side walls extend substantially perpendicularly from the base wall and form an opening for receiving the plurality of parallelepiped containers. The first side wall and the second side wall are provided with at least one first and second engagement element, respectively, for engaging at least one of the first and second ridges of each container to thereby lock the transport cover to the plurality of parallelepiped containers.

Since, in accordance with the invention, the transport cover engages ridges on side surface of the containers, the containers can be transported without having to provide a cover around the entire containers. In other words, the base and much of the lower area of the containers can be left exposed.

For the purposes of the present invention, the expression "parallelepiped container" is intended to encompass any container which, in cross-section, has at least two pairs of opposed side walls. Thus, the expression is intended to encompass essentially parallelepiped containers which have, for example, flutes or bevels between adjacent side walls.

Advantageous embodiments of the transport cover of the present invention are detailed in the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described in the following in greater detail by way of example only and with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a known parallelepiped container suitable for use with the transport cover of the present invention;

Figs. 2a-c illustrate a first embodiment of the transport cover of the present invention;

Figs. 3a-b illustrate a second embodiment of the transport cover of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a plan view of a blank for forming the transport cover illustrated in Figs. 2a-c, and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a blank for forming the transport cover illustrated in Figs. 3a-b. 5

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the drawings, reference number 10 is used to depict a transport cover in accordance with the present invention. The transport cover 10 is intended to be used to transport and/or hold together a plurality of parallelepiped containers 12 of the type typically used

10 for storing e.g. liquids such as milk, cream, yoghurt, fruit juice and sauces. Typically, these containers have a volume of between 0.2 and 2 litres. Characteristic for these containers is the provision of at least one pair of opposed surfaces with each surface having a raised portion. A general example of such a container is depicted in Fig. 1. The container has a dispensing end 14 provided with a dispensing opening (not shown in Fig.

15 1 ). The dispensing opening may be constituted by a tear-off portion of the dispensing end or a preformed opening sealed by a tear-off strip and/or removable cap. The container also has a base 16 opposite the dispensing end, opposed front and rear surfaces 18, 20 and opposed first and second side surfaces 22, 24. In this respect it is to be noted that the terms "front" and "rear" are used simply to permit the various surfaces of the container to

20 be identified in a consistent manner; these terms are not intended to imply any particular orientation of the container. Such containers are generally made from a sleeve of material which is sealed along upper and lower seams, the upper seam 25 being shown in Fig. 1. The thus sealed sleeve of material is erected to form a parallelepiped container, with the dispensing end 14 being formed by folding over and securing first and second side flaps

25 26, 28 onto the opposed first and second side surfaces 22, 24, respectively. Since each flap has a minimum thickness which equals twice the thickness of the wall of the sleeve material, when the first flap 26 is secured to the first side surface 22 the exposed edge of the flap will form a first ridge 30 directed obliquely towards the base 16. Similarly, when the second flap 28 is secured to the second side surface 24 the exposed edge of the flap

30 will form a second ridge 32 directed obliquely towards the base 16. Thus, the first side surface and said second side surface constitute the at least one pair of opposed surfaces and said first and second ridges constitute the raised portion on each surface, as is characteristic for these containers. When forming the first ridge 30 when the first flap 26 is secured to the first side surface 22, the exposed edge of the flap will also include a distal portion 33 of the upper seam 25. This distal portion is not secured to the first side surface 22 and stands proud of the first side surface by a distance corresponding to the thickness of the flap. In a manner which 5 will be described in the following, the transport cover of the present invention is designed to engage the first and second ridges, and particularly to hook under the distal portion 33 of the upper seam 25, to permit a plurality of containers to be transported simultaneously. To the extent that the flaps are not secured to the side surfaces of the container over their entire cooperating surfaces, the transport cover may also hook under part of the flaps. 10 Thus, the term "engage" as used herein is intended to cover all abutting and hooking- under contact between the transport container and the ridges.

As can be gleaned from Figs. 2a - 2c and Figs. 3a - 3b, the transport cover 10 has a base wall 34, opposed front and rear walls 36, 38 and opposed first and second side walls 40,

15 42. In this respect it is to be noted that the terms "front" and "rear" are used simply to permit the various walls of the transport cover to be identified in a consistent manner; these terms are not intended to imply any particular orientation of the transport cover. The front and rear walls and the first and second side walls extend substantially perpendicularly from the base wall and are joined to each other so as to form an opening

20 44 for receiving a plurality of the parallelepiped containers 12. In accordance with the invention, the first side wall 40 and the second side wall 42 are each provided with at least one first and second engagement element 46, 48, respectively, for engaging at least one of the first and second ridges 30, 32 of each container 12 to thereby lock the transport cover to a plurality of parallelepiped containers.

25

In the illustrated embodiments, the first and second engagement elements 46, 48 are integrally formed with the respective first and second side walls 40, 42. However, it will be appreciated that the general principle underlying the invention, i.e. to utilize the ridges formed by folded-over flaps of a container, can be attained using separate engagement

30 elements which are affixed to the first and second side walls in any appropriate manner.

Common to the embodiments illustrated in Figs. 2a - 2c and Figs. 3a - 3b is that the first and second engagement elements 46, 48 are each formed by at least one folded-over part of the first and second side walls, respectively. When folded over, each folded-over 5 part will have a free end 50 directed towards the base wall 34 of the transport cover. It is the free end 50 of each folded over part which will engage with a respective ridge 30, 32 on each container.

With particular reference to Fig. 2a, in a first embodiment of the transport cover according to the present invention, each folded-over part is constituted by a tab formed by an extension of the first and second side walls 40, 42 of the transport cover. In Fig. 2a, a plurality of tabs is illustrated, with the number of tabs on each side wall equalling the number of containers with which the transport cover is intended to be used. In this manner a dedicated engagement element is provided for each container side flap. However, it will be appreciated that a single tab extending substantially the entire length of each side wall could be used instead of the illustrated plurality of tabs.

In a second embodiment of the transport cover 10 as illustrated in Figs. 3a - 3b, each folded-over part forming the first and second engagement elements 46, 48 is constituted by a tab pushed out of each of the first and second side walls 40, 42. As is derivable from Fig. 3a, each tab may be formed by a perforated region of its side wall, with the perforated region having a shape allowing the tab to engage with a substantial portion of the ridge 30, 32 of the container flap and preferably to hook under a portion of the flap.

Since a single container can be easily lifted by one hand, there is little need for a transport cover for just one container. Accordingly, the transport cover of the present invention is intended to be used to transport and/or hold together a plurality of containers. The invention is not limited to any particular plural number of containers and the suitability of the transport cover for larger numbers of containers will depend i.a. on the material of the transport cover as well as the weight and dimensions of the containers. Suitable materials for the transport cover are those which are thin and pliable, such as cardboard and corrugated cardboard. However, the use of plastics and thin metals is also conceivable.

Purely by way of example, the transport cover of the first embodiment is shown in Figs. 2b and 2c as being used to hold together and lift a first row 52 of three containers. In this first row, the front surface 18 of one container is adjacent the rear surface 20 of the next container. As the transport cover is being pushed onto the first row 52 of containers, as shown in Fig. 2b, the first engagement element 46 passes over the first side flap 26 and, due to the inherent resiliency of the transport cover material, thereafter "snaps" back to engage the first ridge 30 when the transport cover reaches its transport position as shown in Fig. 2c. In an identical fashion, the second engagement element 48 passes over the second side flap 28 to engage the second ridge 32 of each container. In its transport position, the transport cover 10 and the plurality of containers constitute a container assembly 55.

The transport cover of the second embodiment illustrated in Figs. 3a - 3b is shown as being used to hold together and lift two rows of three containers, namely a first row 52 and a second row 54 arranged parallel to the first row, with one side surface of the containers of one row being in contact with one side surface of the containers of the second row. These side surfaces may bear some adhesive to assist in holding together the containers, as too might the front and rear surfaces 18, 20. In this twin-row embodiment, the first wall 40 of the transport cover has a dedicated engagement element 46 for each container of the first row 50 and the second wall 42 of the transport cover has a dedicated engagement element 48 for each container of the second row 52.

To facilitate transport of the plurality of containers, the transport cover 10 may be provided with a lifting handle, generally denoted by reference number 56 in the drawings. For reasons of cost it is preferred that the lifting handle be integrally formed with the base wall 34. By way of example, in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 3a - 3b the lifting handle is constituted by a slot 58 in the base wall 34. Although the slot 56 is shown extending parallel to the first and second side walls 40, 42, it will be appreciated that the slot could instead extend parallel to the front and rear walls 36, 38. Rather than using a single slot, it will be appreciated that the lifting handle could be constituted by a plurality of suitably located slots. Similarly, one or more through holes could be used instead of a slot. In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 2a - 2c the lifting handle is constituted by a pair of lift-up flaps 60 in the base wall 34. Depending on the material of the transport cover, as well as e.g. the number and weight of containers to be transported, it is conceivable that only one lift-up flap 60 be provided. As an alternative to a lifting handle which is integrally formed with the base, the transport cover may instead be provided with a lifting handle in the form of a separate element (not shown) secured to the base wall 34 in any conventional known manner.

When lifting the container assembly 55 using the lifting handle 56, the free end 50 of each engagement element 46, 48 will tend to hook under the side flaps 26, 28 of each container to thereby accentuate the engagement between the engagement elements and the containers.

As mentioned previously, suitable materials for the transport cover 10 include cardboard and corrugated cardboard. A blank 62 for making the transport cover illustrated in Figs. 2a -2c from such material is illustrated in Fig. 4 and a blank 64 for making the Figs. 3a - 3b. transport cover is illustrated in Fig. 5. In Figs. 4 and 5 fold lines are shown using chain lines and the various features of the transport covers described above are denoted with the same reference numbers. It will be noted that the blank 62 illustrated in Fig. 4 has four glue flaps 66 formed from extensions of the first and second side walls 40, 42. In the blank 64 of Fig. 5, the glue flaps 66 are formed from extensions of both the first and second side walls 40, 42 and the front and rear walls 36, 38. To provide increased rigidity, the blank 64 in Fig. 5 also has extension flaps 68 formed by extensions of the front and rear walls 36, 38. When the blank 64 is assembled to form a protection cover 10, the extension flaps are folded inwardly to partially define the opening 44 for receiving the plurality of containers.

The invention has been described above by way of example only and the skilled person will appreciate that many variations will be possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A transport cover (10) for a plurality of parallelepiped containers (12) having at least one pair of opposed surfaces with each surface of said pair having a raised portion, each said container having a dispensing end (14), a base (16) opposite said dispensing end, opposed front and rear surfaces (18; 20) and opposed first and second side surfaces (22; 24), said dispensing end (14) being formed by folding over and securing first and second side flaps (26; 28) onto said opposed first and second side surfaces (22; 24), respectively, such that said first side flap (26) forms a first ridge (30) on said first side surface (22) and said second side flap (28) forms a second ridge (32) on said second side surface (24), said first side surface and said second side surface constituting said at least one pair of opposed surfaces and said first and second ridges constituting said raised portion on each surface, said transport cover (10) having a base wall (34), opposed front and rear walls (36; 38) and opposed first and second side walls (40; 42), said front and rear walls and said first and second side walls extending substantially perpendicularly from said base wall and forming an opening (44) for receiving said plurality of parallelepiped containers (12), said first side wall and said second side wall being provided with at least one first and second engagement element (46; 48), respectively, for engaging at least one of said first and second ridges (30; 32) of each said container to thereby lock said transport cover to said plurality of parallelepiped containers.

2. The transport cover (10) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first and second engagement elements (46; 48) are integrally formed with said first and second side walls (40; 42), respectively.

3. The transport cover (10) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first and second engagement elements (46; 48) are each formed by at least one folded-over part of said first and second side walls, respectively, each folded-over part having a free end (50) directed towards said base wall (34) of said transport cover.

4. The transport cover (10) as claimed in claim 3, wherein said at least one folded-over part is constituted by a tab formed by an extension of each said first and second side wall (40; 42).

5. The transport cover (10) as claimed in claim 3, wherein said at least one folded-over part is constituted by a tab pushed out of each of said first and second side wall.

6. The transport cover (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first engagement element (46) is adapted to engage said first ridge (30) and said second engagement element (48) is adapted to engage said second ridge (32) of each said container (12).

7. The transport cover (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said plurality of parallelepiped containers (12) are arranged with the front surface (18) of one container being adjacent the rear surface (20) of a next container to form a first row (52) of containers, said transport cover having a dedicated said engagement element (46; 48) for each container of said first row.

8. The transport cover (10) as claimed in claim 7, wherein said plurality of parallelepiped containers (12) comprise a second (54) row of containers arranged parallel to said first row (52), said first wall (40) of said transport cover having a dedicated said engagement element (46) for each container of said first row (52) and said second wall (42) of said transport cover having a dedicated said engagement element (48) for each container of said second row (54).

9. The transport cover (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said base wall (34) of said transport cover is provided with a lifting handle (56).

10. The transport cover (10) as claimed in claim 9, wherein said lifting handle (56) is integrally formed with said base wall (34).

11. The transport cover (10) as claimed in claim 10, wherein said lifting handle (56) is constituted by a slot (58) in said base wall (34).

12. The transport cover (10) as claimed in claim 10, wherein said lifting handle (56) is constituted by at least one lift-up flap (60) in said base wall (34).

13. The transport cover (10) as claimed in claim 9, wherein said lifting handle (56) is a separate element secured to said base wall.

14. A container assembly comprising the transport cover (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and a plurality of parallelepiped containers, each said container having a dispensing end (14), a base (16) opposite said dispensing end, opposed front and rear surfaces (18; 20) and opposed first and second side surfaces (22; 24), said dispensing end (14) being formed by folding over and securing first and second side flaps (26; 28) onto said opposed first and second side surfaces (22; 24), respectively, such that said first side flap (26) forms a first ridge (30) on said first side surface (22) and said second side flap (28) forms a second ridge (32) on said second side surface (24), wherein said at least one first and second engagement elements (46; 48) engage at least one of said first and second ridges (30; 32) of each said container to thereby lock said transport cover to said plurality of parallelepiped containers.

15. A blank (62; 64) for forming the transport cover (10) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13.