US3184260A

US3184260A - Carrier for beverage cans and the like

Info

Publication number: US3184260A
Application number: US143770A
Authority: US
Inventors: Horvath Bela
Original assignee: Plasti Carrier Inc
Current assignee: Plasti Carrier Inc
Priority date: 1961-10-09
Filing date: 1961-10-09
Publication date: 1965-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 1982-05-18

Description

y 1965 B. HORVATH 3,184,260

CARRIER FOR BEVERAGE CANS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 9, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 18, 1955 B. HORVATH 3,184,260

CARRIER FOR BEVERAGE CANS AND THE LIKE Filed 001:. 9, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

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United States Patent 3,184,260 CARRIER FOR BEVERAGE CANS AND THE LIKE Bela Horvath, Bridgeport, Conn., assignor to Plasti- Carrier, Incorporated, Bridgeport, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Filed Oct. 9, 1961, Ser. No. 143,779 8 Claims. (Cl. 294-872) This invention relates to a carrier for cans of the type in which food and beverages are commonly packaged, and particularly to a carrier for packaging and manually carrying a plurality of such cans.

The packaging of articles in metal cans is widely practiced, particularly in the food and beverage fields, and it is common practice to cluster a plurality of such cans in a single package, frequently made of cardboard, to facilitate their shipment, display, purchase and transportation home by a consumer. Exemplary of these cans are the widely used twelve and sixteen ounce beer cans which are cylindrical and include upper and lower flangedover circular lips, and these cans are frequently packed in clusters of six cans, that are commonly referred to as six-packs. It is a common sight in virtually any retail store which sells beer to see stacks of six-packs of beer displayed for sale. These six-packs are ordinarily packaged in paperboard cartons, which are satisfactory in general; however, they have limitations in that they are initially rather expensive to manufacture and assemble about the cans, and ultimately, when the consumer gets the six-pack home, it is necessary to physically destroy the paperboard carton and this often is diflicult, occasionally causes the consumer to cut his fingers on the sharp edges of the paperboard, and, in any event, is a bothersome and inconvenient way of separating the cans.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved carrier for a plurality of cans which is inexpensive to produce; easy to mount on a plurality of cans; effective as a package for a plurality of cans, and easy to remove cans therefrom.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved carrier as set forth in the preceding paragraph wherein the carrier may be applied to the cans by hand if desired; the cans are fully visible after the carrier is mounted on them, and stacking of multiple packs of cans is not prevented by the carrier.

The objects of the invention are achieved in one form by the provision of a carrier in the form of a unitary, thin, generally planar body of soft, pliable material having a plurality of finger openings, and a plurality of pairs of associated locking lugs and positioning lugs disposed to individually retain one or more cans by engaging the lips of the cans over a substantial arcuate portion of them.

Other objects and further details of that which I believe to be novel and my invention will be clear from the following description and claims taken with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carrier embodying my invention illustrated as mounted on six cans and being lifted manually;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the carrier;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantialiy on line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view taken substantially on line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 66 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the carrier;

FIG. 8 is a greatly enlarged elevational view of a portion of a carrier, and

FIG. 9 is a somewhat schematic view showing a stack of multi-packs of cans which are packaged by my carrier.

In PEG. 1 there is illustrated a six-pack of cans C packaged by my improved carrier which is generally designated by reference numeral 10. Six cans presently is an optimum number of cans to cluster and sell as a unit, particularly in the case of beer, and my carrier is illustrated and will be described as a carrier for six cans; however, it can be adapted to carry any desired number of cans. In FIG. 1 the carrier 10 is illustrated as mounted on top of the six cans, and a second carrier 10 is illustrated in dotted lines as mounted on the bottom of the cans. The carrier 10 may be utilized alone on top or in pairs, one on top and one on the bottom of the sixpack, as illustrated in FIG. 1. For most applications only a single carrier 10 need be employed; however, a second one may also be optionally employed, if'desired, and for certain applications, as where the contents of the cans C are extremely heavy, two carriers 10 may be employed.

Each carrier it) comprises a unitary, thin, generally planar body 12 of soft, pliable material, such as rubber, natural or synthetic, but preferably a soft, pliable plastic material, such as medium density polyethylene. In practice, polyethylene having a melting index of 5 has proved very effective. Rigid plastics, such as polystyrene, are unsuitable and should not be employed, as they do not have the requisite resilience. The body 12 may be conveniently and economically manufactured by molding such material into the body 12, and this method of manufacture has proved satisfactory in practice.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 in particular, it will be observed that the body 12 is generally rectangular in outline configuration and may be considered to have a definite width and length, although the corners of the rectangle are cut away and recessed at 14 to save material and lighten the carrier, and a longitudinally extending tab 16, which constitutes a can-releasin tab, is formed at one end of the rectangle. To further reduce the weight and save material, at longitudinally central side areas, semicircular cut-out openings 18 are formed. Extending completely through the body 12 centrally thereof is a pair of spaced openings 20, which constitute finger gripping openings which enable the insertion of fingers, gripping of the carrier and lifting of the cluster of cans. The top 22 of the body 12, which is seen in plan in FIG. 2, is substantially fiat, except for a plurality of depressions, all generally designated 2-3, which are formed in the molding process and will not be described in detail, as they do not perform any particular function in the finished carrier. Depressions 23 are of various shapes as they constitute upper recesses formed above the variously configured formations formed on the bottom 24 of the bod 12. The bottom 24, which can be seen in plan in FIG. 3, is uneven as it has a multiplicity of molded raised formations which are operatively associated so as to receive and retain the rim lips L of the cans C. With particular reference to FIGS. 3 and 8, these formations will now be described in detail.

Around each finger opening 20 on the bottom 24 of the carrier body there is disposed at depending raised ridge 26 and at four arcuately equally spaced locations there are disposed lugs 28 which extend out of said ridge radially outwardly relative thereto, and depend downwardly farther than the ridge 26. Ridge 26 functions to reinforce the rims of openings 20 and to form finger grips. Adjacent each lug 28 and spaced radially outwardly therefrom is a slightly reversely arcuately curved slit 30 formed completely through the body 12. Adjacent each slit 30 and radially outwardly spaced therefrom is a lug 32. With particular reference to FIG. 6 it will be seen that each lug 28 at its lowermost endhasa radially outwardly extending flexible flange 34 formed which overlies the slit 30"and has an arcuate lowermost surface. Each lug .32

has a vertically depending flange 36 whichis less flexible than and extends toward the flange 34,.but-does not depend below'bottom 24 quite as far. The adjacent edges 'of the

flanges

34 and 36 are spaced slightly apart and define slightly 'arcuate, narrow entranceways 38 which are arranged} to accommodate a'cam lid. Each lug '28 com-' prises a locking lug and its flexible flange 34 constitutes a locking flange, and each lug 32 comprises a positioning its periphery which extend over approximately ninety percent thereof by a group of spaced pairs of associated positioning and locking lugs. For example, the lower lefthand can C in'FIGQ3 has its; lid Lreceived between (with reference to FIG. 3) the lowermost positioning lug 48 and the lowermost locking flange 58 of the locking lug 54 of the left-hand set of formations 44;-'the lower left-hand 'pair of locking lug 28 andpositioning lug 32 disposed about theleft-hand finger opening 20, and theleft-hand positioning lug 48 and left-hand locking flange 58' of locking lug 54 of the left-hand set offormations 44 at lug and its flange 36 constitutes a positioning flange for a can lid which guides it into an entrancewayfis' into locking relationship with locking lug 28. Therefore, each pair of associated locking lugs 28 and positioning lugs 32 comprises a means for positioning and locking an arcuate portion of a can lid when the latter is forced.

into the entranceway 38, thereby forcing flexible locking flange 34 and positioning flange 36 apart and permitting entrance of the can lid. Thereafter, the can lid is dis, posed between spaced

opposed walls

40, 42 of the

lugs

28, 32," respectively, the carrier body bottom 24 and the flexible locking flange 34 0f lug 28. Each pair of associ-y ated

locking'lugs

28, 32 disposed about each opening 26 is arranged to have its entranceway fall on a predeterthe lowerside of the carrier body. The entranceways 60,

' of'the'lid. Similarly, each of the other corner. cans C in FIG; 3 is supported at three lo'cations along its lid pe- V riphery over approximately ninety percent thereof by three separate pairs of associated locking and positioning logs. The upper and lower central'cans C in FIG. 3 are each supported at four arcuately spaced locations on the mined are so that it may aid in positioning and-retaining a different can lid L in it, as will subsequently become ap parent. i

In addition to being gripped by a pair of cooperating

lugs

28, 32 disposed about a finger opening2t3,ieach can lid is also gripped at least at two additional, arcuately periphery of theirlids over approximately one hundred eighty degrees thereof. With reference to the lower central can C in FIG. 3, it will be observed that its lid L is supportedflby the right-hand positioning lug 48 and the spaced points by sets of otherforma'tions formed on the bottom of the carrier body 12.. As can best be seen in FIG. 3 there are a pair of sets of these formations, at six different, spaced locations,one at each longitudinal end edge and two at each side edge. Each of these sets has been designated generally by reference numeral '44 in I FIG. 3, and aside from its location is constructed similarly. Therefore, a detailed description of only one of these sets, viz., the extreme right-hand one-in each of FIGS. 2 and 3, will be made; however, it will apply equally to all of them.

With particular reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 5 andS, one set 44 of formations will now be described in detail. At the flange 50, which is arcuate at its lowermost surface, and

a vertically extending wall 52 which is spaced from the wall 52 of its associated positioning lug. The walls 52.

are slightly curved and converge toward the end of the body 12'. In each set 44 there is a lockinglug 54 that is disposed relative to the positioning lugs 48 so as to forma locking flange for each of the positioning lugs. When viewed in plan, the locking lug 54 is somewhat triangular, though it has slightly curved converging side edge walls 56 formed by laterally projecting flanges 58 at the lower,

end of the lug 54. Flanges 58 extend laterally into operative position with the positioning lugs 48 and are spaced downwardly therefrom (see FIG. 5). Each flange 58 is flexible and constitutes a locking flange which associates with its. adjacent positioning flange of a positioning lug 48 to form a slightly curved entranceway 60 into which a portion of' a can lid L may be forced to separate the

flanges

50, 58, which position and ultimatelylock the can lid betwen a wall 52 of a positioning lug 48, an opposed spaced wall 62 on'a locking lug'54', carrier body bottom 24 and a locking flange 58 of the locking lug 54.

It will, therefore, be understood, with particular reference to FIG. 3, that each can lid is'received, positioned and locked atleast at three arcuately spaced locations on right-hand locking flange 58 ofthelower left-hand set of formations 44; two associated pairs of

lugs

32, 28, namely, the lower; right-hand pair about the left-hand finger opening '20 and the lower left-hand pair. about the right-hand finger opening 20, and the left-hand positioning lug 48 and locking flange 58 of the lower right-hand set of formations 44. Theentranceways formed by. the pairs of lugs fall on a semicircle of a radius equal to that of the can L.

Carriers it formed asab ove described may be manually monnted'on top'of a cluster of six cans to position and lock each of the six cans in place by juxtaposing the bottom :24 to the tops of the cans; aligning the-can lids with the arcuately disposed entranceways into which they are arranged to be inserted, and pushing down on the carrier to force the pairs of lugs to snap over the can lid. Conversely, a carrier may be placed with its bottom 24facing upwardly and the cans individually snapped into place insets of receiving lugs. Although the initial packaging may be performed manually, as just described, it can also be done on automatic machinery. After the carriers are individually mounted .on clusters of can-s to form six-packs, they may be conveniently stacked for display in a store, as illustrated schematically in FIG/9. The flat tops 22 of thecarriers facilitate neat stacking, and the width of the carriers is made at least as large as the diameter of the cans being supported tofurther facilitate stacking by insuring an adequate supporting base for each six-pack. When the consumer desires to lift a sixpack packaged with my carrier from a display, it is simply necessary to insert the thumb and middle finger of his hand into the finger openings 20, as illustrated in FIG. 1, and to grip, lift and carry the six-pack to the desired place. Throughout, fingers contact only the carrier body, primarily the ridges 26. When the six-pack is transported home, each can C may be'individually removed.

Therefore, it is not necessary to separate all the cans, as is necessary with paperboard cartons.- This obtains because the carrier body 10 is made of a-soft, pliable material and it is simply necessary to lift the can-releasing tab 16 away fromthe cans to release them one at a time. Alternatively, cans may be individually removed by twisting and pulling them out of their retaining lugs- If more than one can should be inadvertently removed from the a carrier, it may be readily replaced manually by forcing it back between its retaining lugs. Because the carrier is made -ofa soft, pliable material, all possibility of injury to aperson during removal of a can is eliminated. Notwithstanding the fact that they are superior in operation to paperboard car-tons, it has been found in practice that carriers constructed in accordance with my invention made of medium density polyethylene cut the cost of packaging six-packs from thirty-three to fif-ty percent, relative to conventional paperboard cartons for twelve and sixteen ounce cans, respectively. Furthermore, because of the small size, compactness and light weight of carriers contem plated by the invention, they may be shipped and stored for substantially less than conventional paperboard cartons.

As will be evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of my invention are not limited to the particular details of construction of the example illustrated, and I contemplate that various and other modifications and applications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, my intention that the appended claims shall cover such modifications and applications as do not depart from the true spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, I claim:

1. A carrier for a plurality of cans having circular tops with circular lips formed about the rims of the can tops comprising: a unitary thin generally planar body of soft pliable material; said body including a plurality of spaced finger openings; and said body including on one of its sides a plurality of groups of pairs of raised locking lugs and associated positioning lugs; each of said groups comprising a plurality of spaced pairs of flexible locking lugs and associated positioning lugs that are disposed to individually retain a can by engaging the can lip :at least at three arcuately spaced locations over an arc of approximately ninety degrees, said locking lugs and positioning lugs having opposed spaced walls forming entranceways for the can lids, and said locking lugs having flexible 6 locking flanges extending toward but short of their associated positioning lug wall, whereby cans may be in dividually mounted or removed from said carrier by being manually snapped on or oif said carrier.

2. A carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein said body has a substantially flat top side opposite to said one of its sides; and said body has a width at least as large as the diameter of a can lip.

3. A carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein said body has a projecting can-releasing tab formed at one end thereof.

4. A carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein said body is made of medium density polyethylene.

5. A carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein said body includes a plurality of weight-reducing and material saving cut-out portions.

6. A carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein said lugs are disposed to support six cans.

7. A carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein some of said lugs are formed in formations that are common to more than one set of pairs of lugs.

8. A carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein a reinforcing ridge is formed about each opening and said ridges are formed by formations that also form some of said lugs.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,002,612 10/61 Poupitch 206- 3,022,888 2/62 Brunsing 20665 THERO'N E. CONDO'N, Primary Examiner. EARLE J. DRUMMOND, Examiner.

Claims

1. A CARRIER FOR A PLURALITY OF CANS HAVING CIRCULAR TOPS WITH CIRCULAR LIPS FORMED ABOUT THE RIMS OF THE CAN TOPS COMPRISING: A UNITARY THIN GENERALLY PLANAR BODY OF SOFT PLIABLE MATERIAL; SAID BODY INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SPACED FINGER OPENINGS; AND SAID BODY INCLUDING ON ONE OF ITS SIDES A PLURALITY OF GROUPS OF PAIRS OF RAISED LOCKING LUGS AND ASSOCIATED POSITIONING LUGS; EACH OF SAID GROUPING COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SPACED PAIRS OF FLEXIBLE LOCKING LUGS AND ASSOCIATED POSITIONING LUGS THAT ARE DISPOSED TO INDIVIDUALLY RETAIN A CAN BY ENGAGING THE CAM LIP AT LEAST AT THREE ARCUATELY SPACED LOCATIONS OVER AN ARC OF APPROXIMATELY NINETY DEGREES, SAID LOCKING LUGS ARE POSITIONING