GB2154197A

GB2154197A - Device for holding together a group of containers

Info

Publication number: GB2154197A
Application number: GB08326925A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Johan Heyner
Original assignee: Mead Corp
Current assignee: Mead Corp
Priority date: 1983-10-07
Filing date: 1983-10-07
Publication date: 1985-09-04
Also published as: GB2154197B; ES278359U; ES278359Y; GB8326925D0

Abstract

A device for holding together a plurality of bottles comprises a sleeve having an upper wall and a lower wall, the upper and lower walls each having a plurality of bottle-neck support apertures with the apertures in the upper wall being in register with the apertures in the lower wall. Each aperture (B) in the lower wall is associated with a main support tab (t) engageable under the bead on a bottle neck and a pair of opposed auxiliary tabs (a' ,a<2>) which when engaging the bottle neck lie in an inclined position relative to the bottle axis to restrict lateral movement of the bottle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Device for holding together a group of containers This invention relates to a device for holding together a group of containers, particularly bottles which have a neck portion incorporating a flange which can be engaged by the device, in order that the device will securely hold the bottle in position.

The invention provides a device for holding together a plurality of containers such as bottles which device comprises a sleeve having two opposed broad faces and two opposed narrow faces, one broad face forming an upper wall and the other broad face forming a lower wall and the other broad face forming a lower wall, the upper and lower walls each having a plurality of bottleneck support apertures and the apertures in the upper wall being in register with the apertures in the lower wall, characterised in that each aperture in the lower wall comprises a main support tab adapted to engage under the bottle neck bead of a bottle and a pair of auxiliary tabs adapted to engage the bottle neck at opposite sides thereof and lie in an inclined position relative to the container axis to restrict lateral movement of the bottle.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a paperboard blank from which the device is formed; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the completed device; Figure 3 is a partly cut-away perspective view of the completed device in which some of the support tabs are shown partly displaced, and Figure 4 is a part end view of the device showing a bottle neck held in position.

Referring to the drawings, the device 10 is formed from an elongate blank 12 of paperboard or similar foldable sheet material. The blank cornprises, in series, a glue flap 14; a central partition panel 16, a first base panel 18; a first side wall panel 20; a top panel 22, a second side wall panel 24 and a second base panel 26 hinged one to the next along transverse fold lines 28-38, respectively.

The blank is erectable into a device for holding two containers in each of two parallel rows, and accordingly top panel 22 is provided with four similar and equally spaced apertures QA'1 to QA'4 and each of the base panels is formed with four similar apertures 'B'1-'B'4. Each of the top wall apertures is formed with fold-up tabs which are now described in more detail with reference to aperture 'B'1. Aperture 'B'1 has a 'key-hole' shape and is defined, in part, by a main support tab 't' of truncated triangular shape which is hinged to base panel 18 along fold line 42. Support tab 't' is flanked on each of its divergent side edges by an auxiliary tab, ai, a2, respectively. Auxillary tab ai is hinged to the peripheral edge of the aperture B1 by short connecting hinges C1, C2 respectively but otherwise is cut free from the peripheral edge by cut line L1.Thus, the auxiliary tab is able to pivot about its connecting hinges C1 and C2. Similarly auxiliary tab a2 includes short-connecting hinges C3, C4 respectively, and cut line L2.

In order to form the device from the blank 10, an application of glue is made to the glue flap 14 and also to that area of base panel 18 shown in stippling in Figure 1. Thereafter the blank is folded into the tubular sleeve as shown in Figures 2 and 3 so that the central stiffening partition 16 adopts a vertical position by securing the glue flap 14 to the internal face of the top panel 22. Also the base panel 26 is secured in overlapping relationship with base panel 18 along the glued strip provided.

In order to load the carrier device the erected sleeve is pushed downwardly over the necks of a group (in this case four) of bottles. Reference is now made to Figure 4 in relation to bottle support apertures A1 and B1. As the bottle top enters the aperture B1 the main support tab Qt' and both auxiliary tabs ai, a2 are displaced upwardly and similarly the bottle cap support tabs 40 are displaced upwardly when the bottle top enters aperture A1. When the carrier device is fully fitted the cap support tabs engage beneath the bottle cap 44 and the main support tab engages beneath the bottle neck bead or rim 46 (Figure 4). Together these tabs prevenl removal of the bottle by movement in an opposite direction to that of insertion into the device.Also the auxiliary tabs ai, a2 engage and are biased against the bottle neck by lying in an inclined position relative to the bottle axis and thereby restrict lateral movement of the bottle.

1. A device (10) for holding together a plurality of containers such as bottles which device comprises a sleeve having two opposed broad faces (22, 18, 26) and two opposed narrow faces (20, 24) one broad face (22) forming an upper wall and the other broad face (18, 26) forming a lower wall, the upper and lower walls each having a plurality of bottleneck support apertures (A,B) and the apertures in the lower wall being in register with the apertures in the lower wall, characterised in that each aperture (B) in the lower wall comprises a main support tab (t) adapted to engage under the bottle neck bead of a bottle and at least a pair of auxilliary tabs. (ai, a2) adapted to engage the bottle neck of opposite sides thereof and lie in an inclined position relative to the container axis to restrict lateral movement of the bottle.

2. A holding device according to claim 1, further characterised in that each lower wall aperture is part circular and in that the main support tab is hinged outside the part circular periphery and includes a free end opposite its hinged connection which extends towards, but stops short of, the part circular periphery.

3. A holding device according to claim 2, further characterised in that each of the auxiliary tabs are hinged at diametrically opposed locations of said part circular periphery.

4. A holding device according to any of claims

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Device for holding together a group of containers This invention relates to a device for holding together a group of containers, particularly bottles which have a neck portion incorporating a flange which can be engaged by the device, in order that the device will securely hold the bottle in position. The invention provides a device for holding together a plurality of containers such as bottles which device comprises a sleeve having two opposed broad faces and two opposed narrow faces, one broad face forming an upper wall and the other broad face forming a lower wall and the other broad face forming a lower wall, the upper and lower walls each having a plurality of bottleneck support apertures and the apertures in the upper wall being in register with the apertures in the lower wall, characterised in that each aperture in the lower wall comprises a main support tab adapted to engage under the bottle neck bead of a bottle and a pair of auxiliary tabs adapted to engage the bottle neck at opposite sides thereof and lie in an inclined position relative to the container axis to restrict lateral movement of the bottle. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a paperboard blank from which the device is formed; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the completed device; Figure 3 is a partly cut-away perspective view of the completed device in which some of the support tabs are shown partly displaced, and Figure 4 is a part end view of the device showing a bottle neck held in position. Referring to the drawings, the device 10 is formed from an elongate blank 12 of paperboard or similar foldable sheet material. The blank cornprises, in series, a glue flap 14; a central partition panel 16, a first base panel 18; a first side wall panel 20; a top panel 22, a second side wall panel 24 and a second base panel 26 hinged one to the next along transverse fold lines 28-38, respectively. The blank is erectable into a device for holding two containers in each of two parallel rows, and accordingly top panel 22 is provided with four similar and equally spaced apertures QA'1 to QA'4 and each of the base panels is formed with four similar apertures 'B'1-'B'4. Each of the top wall apertures is formed with fold-up tabs which are now described in more detail with reference to aperture 'B'1. Aperture 'B'1 has a 'key-hole' shape and is defined, in part, by a main support tab 't' of truncated triangular shape which is hinged to base panel 18 along fold line 42. Support tab 't' is flanked on each of its divergent side edges by an auxiliary tab, ai, a2, respectively. Auxillary tab ai is hinged to the peripheral edge of the aperture B1 by short connecting hinges C1, C2 respectively but otherwise is cut free from the peripheral edge by cut line L1.Thus, the auxiliary tab is able to pivot about its connecting hinges C1 and C2. Similarly auxiliary tab a2 includes short-connecting hinges C3, C4 respectively, and cut line L2. In order to form the device from the blank 10, an application of glue is made to the glue flap 14 and also to that area of base panel 18 shown in stippling in Figure 1. Thereafter the blank is folded into the tubular sleeve as shown in Figures 2 and 3 so that the central stiffening partition 16 adopts a vertical position by securing the glue flap 14 to the internal face of the top panel 22. Also the base panel 26 is secured in overlapping relationship with base panel 18 along the glued strip provided. In order to load the carrier device the erected sleeve is pushed downwardly over the necks of a group (in this case four) of bottles. Reference is now made to Figure 4 in relation to bottle support apertures A1 and B1. As the bottle top enters the aperture B1 the main support tab Qt' and both auxiliary tabs ai, a2 are displaced upwardly and similarly the bottle cap support tabs 40 are displaced upwardly when the bottle top enters aperture A1. When the carrier device is fully fitted the cap support tabs engage beneath the bottle cap 44 and the main support tab engages beneath the bottle neck bead or rim 46 (Figure 4). Together these tabs prevenl removal of the bottle by movement in an opposite direction to that of insertion into the device.Also the auxiliary tabs ai, a2 engage and are biased against the bottle neck by lying in an inclined position relative to the bottle axis and thereby restrict lateral movement of the bottle. CLAIMS

4. A holding device according to any of claims 2 or 3 further characterised in that each auxiliary tab is hinged to the part circular periphery by a pair of spaced short connecting hinges, the hinges being located adjacent opposed ends of the auxiliary tab.

5. A holding device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.