EP0952951A1 - Wraparound multipack with carrying handle - Google Patents

Wraparound multipack with carrying handle

Info

Publication number
EP0952951A1
EP0952951A1 EP98902549A EP98902549A EP0952951A1 EP 0952951 A1 EP0952951 A1 EP 0952951A1 EP 98902549 A EP98902549 A EP 98902549A EP 98902549 A EP98902549 A EP 98902549A EP 0952951 A1 EP0952951 A1 EP 0952951A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
handle
panel
panels
carton
apertures
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP98902549A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0952951B1 (en
Inventor
Philippe Le Bras
Jean-Michel Garnier
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
Mead Corp
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 Mead Corp filed Critical Mead Corp
Publication of EP0952951A1 publication Critical patent/EP0952951A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0952951B1 publication Critical patent/EP0952951B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • B65D71/06—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers
    • B65D71/12—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers the packaging elements, e.g. wrappers being formed by folding a single blank
    • B65D71/14—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers the packaging elements, e.g. wrappers being formed by folding a single blank having a tubular shape, e.g. tubular wrappers without end walls
    • B65D71/28—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers the packaging elements, e.g. wrappers being formed by folding a single blank having a tubular shape, e.g. tubular wrappers without end walls characterised by the handles
    • B65D71/30—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers the packaging elements, e.g. wrappers being formed by folding a single blank having a tubular shape, e.g. tubular wrappers without end walls characterised by the handles unitary, i.e. integral with the tubular packaging elements
    • 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
    • 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
    • B65D2571/00—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, pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
    • B65D2571/00129—Wrapper locking means
    • B65D2571/00135—Wrapper locking means integral with the wrapper
    • B65D2571/00154—Wrapper locking means integral with the wrapper interlocked
    • B65D2571/0016—Wrapper locking means integral with the wrapper interlocked by tabs protruding from one end and co-operating with openings at the other end
    • 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
    • B65D2571/00—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, pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
    • B65D2571/00129—Wrapper locking means
    • B65D2571/00135—Wrapper locking means integral with the wrapper
    • B65D2571/00154—Wrapper locking means integral with the wrapper interlocked
    • B65D2571/00172—Wrapper locking means integral with the wrapper interlocked by tabs cut within one end and facing towards the other end when blank is unfolded, and co-operting with openings at the other end
    • 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
    • B65D2571/00—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, pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
    • B65D2571/00432—Handles or suspending means
    • B65D2571/00456—Handles or suspending means integral with the wrapper
    • B65D2571/00475—Handles or suspending means integral with the wrapper and extending ion a substantially vertical plane
    • 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
    • B65D2571/00—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, pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
    • B65D2571/00432—Handles or suspending means
    • B65D2571/00512—Handles or suspending means movable or foldable between an extended and a retracted position
    • 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
    • B65D2571/00—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, pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
    • B65D2571/00648—Elements used to form the wrapper
    • B65D2571/00654—Blanks
    • B65D2571/0066—Blanks formed from one single sheet
    • 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
    • B65D2571/00—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, pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
    • B65D2571/00709—Shape of the formed wrapper, i.e. shape of each formed element if the wrapper is made from more than one element
    • B65D2571/00716—Shape of the formed wrapper, i.e. shape of each formed element if the wrapper is made from more than one element tubular without end walls

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a carton of the wraparound type, accommodating a plurality of articles and which includes an upstanding carrying handle.
  • One aspect of the invention provides a carton accommodating a plurality of articles, such as bottles, comprising a top, a base and a pair of side walls interconnecting said top and base thereby forming a tubular structure, said top being provided with two spaced rows of apertures through which the top portions of said articles protrude and a carrying handle means extending upwardly from said top characterised in that said handle means is located between said two rows of apertures and is off set from a plane disposed midway between said rows of apertures .
  • said carrying handle means may further comprise a pair of juxtaposed panels hinged together remote from said carton top to provide an upstanding handle, and tie means interconnecting lower portions of said carrying handle means to prevent said handle panels from moving apart about said hinged connection thereof said tie means comprising a tab struck from the junction of said top and one of said handle panels and wherein said tab is engaged in one of said apertures adjacent said opposing handle panel.
  • said locking tab may be engaged in one of said apertures in said top and retained therein by the upper portion of one of said articles .
  • a carton blank for accommodating a plurality of articles comprises a blank having a first base panel, a first side wall panel, a first top panel, first and second handle panels, a second top panel, a second side wall panel and a second base panel hinged respectively one to the next, said first and second base panel being interconnected thereby forming a carton of tubular structure and wherein said first and second handle panels form an upstanding handle, the apex of which is remote from said first and second top panels and which is off set from a transverse centre plane of said blank.
  • said handle panel may be locked by tying means provided at or near the lower portion of said first and second handle panels which tying means prevents said handle panels from moving apart about the hinged connection.
  • FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a carton blank forming a carton according to the invention.
  • FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing the central portion of the carton incorporating an upstanding handle
  • FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of completed carton according to the invention but with one bottle removed to reveal one of the locking tabs.
  • an elongate blank 10 formed from paperboard or like foldable sheet material comprises in series, a base structure 12, first side panel 14, intermediate panel 15, first top panel 16, first handle panel 18, a second handle panel 20, third handle panel 22, fourth handle panel 24, a second top panel 26, intermediate panel 27, a second side panel 28 and a second base structure 30 hingeably connected one to the next along transverse fold lines 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50 and 52 respectively.
  • a series of three spaced bottle neck receiving apertures 54, 56 and 58 is struck from top panel 16 each of the apertures being shaped to provide a locking zone 54a, 56a and 58a respectively, adjacent the lower part of handle panel 18.
  • a series of three similarly spaced bottle neck receiving apertures 60, 62 and 64 is struck partially from top panel 26 but do not include locking zones .
  • Locking tabs 66, 68 and 70 are struck from handle panel 24 and are hinged to the lower end of handle panel 18 along the hinge line 46 and include D-shaped locking heads which have locking edges 66a, 68a and 70a respectively.
  • Handle panels 20 and 22 are each formed with handle apertures 72 and 74 which have hand cushioning flaps 76 and 78 respectively.
  • Reinforcing panel 80 is positioned adjacent to handle panels 18 and 20, being connected to handle panel 20 along fold line 82. Reinforcing panel 80 is separated from handle panel 18 by cut line 84 extending from fold line 40 to one of the side edges of handle panel 18. Reinforcing panel 86 is positioned adjacent to handle panels 22 and 24, being hingeably connected to handle 22 along fold line 88. Reinforcing panel 86 is separated from handle panel 24 by cut line 89 extending from fold line 44 to side edge of handle panel 24. Reinforcing panels 80 and 86 are hingeably connected together along their common side edge by fold line 90.
  • Reinforcing panel 92 is positioned adjacent to the opposite side edge of handle panels 18 and 20, being connected to handle panel 20 along fold line 94. Reinforcing panel 92 is separated from handle panel 18 by cut line 96 extending from fold line 40 to the side edge of handle panel 18. Reinforcing panel 98 is positioned adjacent to the opposite side of handle panels 22 and 24, being hingeably connected to handle 22 along fold line 100. Reinforcing panel 98 is separated from handle panel 24 by cut line 102 extending from fold line 44 to side edge of handle panel 24. Reinforcing panels 92 and 102 are hingeably connected together along their common side edge along fold line 104.
  • apertures 110, 112 are struck from the common edges of reinforcing panels 80, 86 and 92, 98 respectively, thereby interrupting folding line 42 to make the folding easier during carton set up process described in greater detail below.
  • the blank is adapted to be wrapped about a group of six bottles arranged in two rows of three bottles each so that the neck portions 114 of the bottles shown in Figure 3 protrude through the neck receiving apertures of the handle panels together form an upstanding handle H between the rows of bottles.
  • handle reinforcing panels 80, 86 are folded about fold lines 82, 88 respectively and into a face to face relationship with handle panels 18, 20 and 22, 24 respectively.
  • reinforcing panels 92, 98 are folded about fold lines 94, 100 and into a face to face relationship with handle panels 18, 20 and 22, 24 respectively.
  • handle panels 18, 20 are erected into a juxtaposition out of the plane of the blank so that the handle apertures more or less are brought into registry with one another.
  • locking tabs 66, 68 and 70 are folded about fold line 46 through 180 degrees and into a face to face relationship with top panel 26.
  • Handle panels 18, 20 are folded about fold line 42 and brought into a face to face to relationship with handle panels 22, 24 respectively.
  • locking tabs 66, 68 and 70 are aligned with apertures 54, 56 and 58.
  • the tabs are then interengaged with the apertures such that the heads of locking tab 66, 68 and 70 appear in respective ones of apertures 54, 56 and 58 with locking edges 66a, 68a and 70a, in locking engagement with locking zones 54a, 56a and 58a respectively.
  • Top panels 16 and 26 are folded out of alignment with the handle structure about fold lines 38 and 46 respectively.
  • the blank is then applied to a group of bottles to be packaged so that handle H, shown in Figure 3, formed from handle panels 18, 20 and 22, 24 is disposed between the rows of bottles being off set from a plane disposed mid-way between said rows of apertures .
  • the heads of the locking tabs 66, 68 and 70 interfere with the relative path of movement between the carton blank and rows of bottles to have their necks received in apertures 54, 56 and 58.
  • the carton blank is then applied over the bottle necks whereby the heads of the locking tabs 66, 68 and 70 are outwardly displaced and disposed between handle panel 18 and the neck of an adjacent bottle.
  • the first bottle of the nearest row is removed to show the general disposition of locking tab 66.
  • handle panels 18 and 24 are tied together by locking tabs 66, 68, 70 so that they are maintained in virtually upright attitude for use.
  • the carton is completed into the form shown in Figure 3 , by causing side walls 14, 28 to be folded downward and the base structures 12 and 30 to be secured in an overlapping relationship beneath the base of the bottles .
  • a hand cushioning structure S shown in Figure 2 is provided between the registering handle apertures by flaps which are brought into overlapping relationship with two handle panels.
  • handle panels 20, 22 are folded about fold line 40/44 and into a substantially perpendicular relationship illustrated in Figure 2 to improve comfort for the user.
  • the top of the handle is located above the bottle caps. Therefore, for stacking purposes handle panels 20, 22 are folded about fold line
  • the present invention and the preferred embodiment relates to an article carrier which is shaped to provide satisfactory strength to hold the bottles securely but with a degree of flexibility so that the load transferred to the handle is absorbed by the carrier.
  • the shape of the blank minimises 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 carriers and not limited to those of the type hereinbefore described.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Cartons (AREA)
  • Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)
  • Packaging Of Machine Parts And Wound Products (AREA)
  • Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
  • Purses, Travelling Bags, Baskets, Or Suitcases (AREA)
  • Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)
  • Casings For Electric Apparatus (AREA)
  • Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)

Abstract

A carton accomodating a plurality of articles, such as bottles, comprising a top (16, 26), a base (12, 30) and a pair of side walls (14, 28) interconnecting said top and base thereby forming a tubular structure, said top being provided with two spaced rows of apertures (54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64) through which the top portions of said articles protrude and a carrying handle means (18, 20, 22) extending upwardly from said top characterised in that said handle means is located between said two rows of apertures and is off set from a plane disposed midway between said rows of apertures.

Description

WRAPAROUND MULTIPACK WITH CARRYING HANDLE
This invention relates to a carton of the wraparound type, accommodating a plurality of articles and which includes an upstanding carrying handle.
One aspect of the invention provides a carton accommodating a plurality of articles, such as bottles, comprising a top, a base and a pair of side walls interconnecting said top and base thereby forming a tubular structure, said top being provided with two spaced rows of apertures through which the top portions of said articles protrude and a carrying handle means extending upwardly from said top characterised in that said handle means is located between said two rows of apertures and is off set from a plane disposed midway between said rows of apertures .
According to an optional feature of this aspect of the invention, said carrying handle means may further comprise a pair of juxtaposed panels hinged together remote from said carton top to provide an upstanding handle, and tie means interconnecting lower portions of said carrying handle means to prevent said handle panels from moving apart about said hinged connection thereof said tie means comprising a tab struck from the junction of said top and one of said handle panels and wherein said tab is engaged in one of said apertures adjacent said opposing handle panel.
According to another optional feature of this aspect of the invention, said locking tab may be engaged in one of said apertures in said top and retained therein by the upper portion of one of said articles .
Another aspect of the invention provides a carton blank for accommodating a plurality of articles comprises a blank having a first base panel, a first side wall panel, a first top panel, first and second handle panels, a second top panel, a second side wall panel and a second base panel hinged respectively one to the next, said first and second base panel being interconnected thereby forming a carton of tubular structure and wherein said first and second handle panels form an upstanding handle, the apex of which is remote from said first and second top panels and which is off set from a transverse centre plane of said blank.
According to an optional feature of this aspect of the invention, said handle panel may be locked by tying means provided at or near the lower portion of said first and second handle panels which tying means prevents said handle panels from moving apart about the hinged connection.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a carton blank forming a carton according to the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing the central portion of the carton incorporating an upstanding handle; and
FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of completed carton according to the invention but with one bottle removed to reveal one of the locking tabs.
Referring to the drawings, and in particular Figure 1 thereof, there comprises an elongate blank 10 formed from paperboard or like foldable sheet material comprises in series, a base structure 12, first side panel 14, intermediate panel 15, first top panel 16, first handle panel 18, a second handle panel 20, third handle panel 22, fourth handle panel 24, a second top panel 26, intermediate panel 27, a second side panel 28 and a second base structure 30 hingeably connected one to the next along transverse fold lines 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50 and 52 respectively.
The lower portions of the side panels 14, 28 and base panels forming the base structures 12, 30 are not described in any greater detail since they are not concerned with the present invention and are carton features well known in the art .
A series of three spaced bottle neck receiving apertures 54, 56 and 58 is struck from top panel 16 each of the apertures being shaped to provide a locking zone 54a, 56a and 58a respectively, adjacent the lower part of handle panel 18. Likewise, a series of three similarly spaced bottle neck receiving apertures 60, 62 and 64 is struck partially from top panel 26 but do not include locking zones .
Locking tabs 66, 68 and 70 are struck from handle panel 24 and are hinged to the lower end of handle panel 18 along the hinge line 46 and include D-shaped locking heads which have locking edges 66a, 68a and 70a respectively.
Handle panels 20 and 22 are each formed with handle apertures 72 and 74 which have hand cushioning flaps 76 and 78 respectively.
Reinforcing panel 80 is positioned adjacent to handle panels 18 and 20, being connected to handle panel 20 along fold line 82. Reinforcing panel 80 is separated from handle panel 18 by cut line 84 extending from fold line 40 to one of the side edges of handle panel 18. Reinforcing panel 86 is positioned adjacent to handle panels 22 and 24, being hingeably connected to handle 22 along fold line 88. Reinforcing panel 86 is separated from handle panel 24 by cut line 89 extending from fold line 44 to side edge of handle panel 24. Reinforcing panels 80 and 86 are hingeably connected together along their common side edge by fold line 90.
Reinforcing panel 92 is positioned adjacent to the opposite side edge of handle panels 18 and 20, being connected to handle panel 20 along fold line 94. Reinforcing panel 92 is separated from handle panel 18 by cut line 96 extending from fold line 40 to the side edge of handle panel 18. Reinforcing panel 98 is positioned adjacent to the opposite side of handle panels 22 and 24, being hingeably connected to handle 22 along fold line 100. Reinforcing panel 98 is separated from handle panel 24 by cut line 102 extending from fold line 44 to side edge of handle panel 24. Reinforcing panels 92 and 102 are hingeably connected together along their common side edge along fold line 104.
Optionally, apertures 110, 112 are struck from the common edges of reinforcing panels 80, 86 and 92, 98 respectively, thereby interrupting folding line 42 to make the folding easier during carton set up process described in greater detail below.
The construction of a completed carrier of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 3 requires a series of sequential folding and gluing operations . The folding process is not limited to that described below and can be altered according to particular manufacturing requirements.
Thus, the blank is adapted to be wrapped about a group of six bottles arranged in two rows of three bottles each so that the neck portions 114 of the bottles shown in Figure 3 protrude through the neck receiving apertures of the handle panels together form an upstanding handle H between the rows of bottles. In order to apply the carton blank to the bottles, handle reinforcing panels 80, 86 are folded about fold lines 82, 88 respectively and into a face to face relationship with handle panels 18, 20 and 22, 24 respectively. Likewise, reinforcing panels 92, 98 are folded about fold lines 94, 100 and into a face to face relationship with handle panels 18, 20 and 22, 24 respectively.
Thereafter, the handle panels 18, 20 are erected into a juxtaposition out of the plane of the blank so that the handle apertures more or less are brought into registry with one another. In particular, locking tabs 66, 68 and 70 are folded about fold line 46 through 180 degrees and into a face to face relationship with top panel 26. Handle panels 18, 20 are folded about fold line 42 and brought into a face to face to relationship with handle panels 22, 24 respectively. Thus, locking tabs 66, 68 and 70 are aligned with apertures 54, 56 and 58.
The tabs are then interengaged with the apertures such that the heads of locking tab 66, 68 and 70 appear in respective ones of apertures 54, 56 and 58 with locking edges 66a, 68a and 70a, in locking engagement with locking zones 54a, 56a and 58a respectively.
Top panels 16 and 26 are folded out of alignment with the handle structure about fold lines 38 and 46 respectively. The blank is then applied to a group of bottles to be packaged so that handle H, shown in Figure 3, formed from handle panels 18, 20 and 22, 24 is disposed between the rows of bottles being off set from a plane disposed mid-way between said rows of apertures .
At the position when the bottle neck receiving apertures are located above the tops of the associated bottles, the heads of the locking tabs 66, 68 and 70, interfere with the relative path of movement between the carton blank and rows of bottles to have their necks received in apertures 54, 56 and 58. The carton blank is then applied over the bottle necks whereby the heads of the locking tabs 66, 68 and 70 are outwardly displaced and disposed between handle panel 18 and the neck of an adjacent bottle. In Figure 3, the first bottle of the nearest row is removed to show the general disposition of locking tab 66. Thus, handle panels 18 and 24 are tied together by locking tabs 66, 68, 70 so that they are maintained in virtually upright attitude for use.
It will be appreciated that by off-setting the handle
H from a centre plane disposed midway between said rows of apertures, the stress placed on the locking tabs is decreased: extra handle strength is thereby provided. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to use with a carton incorporating locking tabs. Indeed, an "off-centre" handle can be applied to cartons of this type without locking tabs. Handle strength can be improved by using an "off-centre" handle.
The carton is completed into the form shown in Figure 3 , by causing side walls 14, 28 to be folded downward and the base structures 12 and 30 to be secured in an overlapping relationship beneath the base of the bottles .
A hand cushioning structure S shown in Figure 2 is provided between the registering handle apertures by flaps which are brought into overlapping relationship with two handle panels. Optionally, handle panels 20, 22 are folded about fold line 40/44 and into a substantially perpendicular relationship illustrated in Figure 2 to improve comfort for the user. For convenience purposes, the top of the handle is located above the bottle caps. Therefore, for stacking purposes handle panels 20, 22 are folded about fold line
40/44 and clipped against bottle caps C illustrated in
Figure 3. In the arrangement described above, additional handle strength is provided by reinforcing panels 80, 86 and 92, 98.
The present invention and the preferred embodiment relates to an article carrier which is shaped to provide satisfactory strength to hold the bottles securely but with a degree of flexibility so that the load transferred to the handle is absorbed by the carrier. The shape of the blank minimises 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 carriers and not limited to those of the type hereinbefore described.

Claims

1. A carton accommodating a plurality of articles, such as bottles, comprising a top, a base and a pair of side walls interconnecting said top and base thereby forming a tubular structure, said top being provided with two spaced rows of apertures through which the top portions of said articles protrude and a carrying handle means extending upwardly from said top characterised in that said handle means is located between said two rows of apertures and is off set from a plane disposed midway between said rows of apertures.
2. A carton according to claim 1, wherein said carrying handle means further comprises a pair of juxtaposed panels hinged together remote from said carton top to provide an upstanding handle, and tie means interconnecting lower portions of said carrying handle means to prevent said handle panels from moving apart about said hinged connection thereof said tie means comprising a tab struck from the junction of said top and one of said handle panels and wherein said tab is engaged in one of said apertures adjacent said opposing handle panel
3. A carton blank according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said locking tab is engaged in one of said apertures in said top and retained therein by the upper portion of one of said articles.
4. A carton blank for accommodating a plurality of articles comprises a blank having a first base panel, a first side wall panel, a first top panel, first and second handle panels, a second top panel, a second side wall panel and a second base panel hinged respectively one to the next, said first and second base panel being interconnected thereby forming a carton of tubular structure and wherein said first and second handle panels form an upstanding handle, the apex of which is remote from said first and second top panels and which is off set from a transverse centre plane of said blank.
5. A carton blank according to claim 3 wherein said handle panel is locked by tying means provided at or near the lower portion of said first and second handle panels which tying means prevents said handle panels from moving apart about the hinged connection.
6. A blank of Figure 1 substantially as hereinbefore described by reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
7. A carton of Figures 1 to 3 substantially as hereinbefore described by reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings .
EP98902549A 1997-01-17 1998-01-15 Wraparound multipack with carrying handle Expired - Lifetime EP0952951B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9700994.8A GB9700994D0 (en) 1997-01-17 1997-01-17 Wraparound multipack with carrying handle
GB9700994 1997-01-17
PCT/US1998/000724 WO1998031601A1 (en) 1997-01-17 1998-01-15 Wraparound multipack with carrying handle

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0952951A1 true EP0952951A1 (en) 1999-11-03
EP0952951B1 EP0952951B1 (en) 2002-06-19

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EP98902549A Expired - Lifetime EP0952951B1 (en) 1997-01-17 1998-01-15 Wraparound multipack with carrying handle

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EP (1) EP0952951B1 (en)
JP (1) JP3923538B2 (en)
KR (1) KR100622798B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE219446T1 (en)
AU (1) AU5918198A (en)
BR (1) BR9806775A (en)
CA (1) CA2278238C (en)
CZ (1) CZ298800B6 (en)
DE (1) DE69806121T2 (en)
DK (1) DK0952951T3 (en)
EE (1) EE04147B1 (en)
ES (1) ES2179447T3 (en)
GB (1) GB9700994D0 (en)
HK (1) HK1023546A1 (en)
HU (1) HU226355B1 (en)
NO (1) NO315642B1 (en)
PL (1) PL191999B1 (en)
PT (1) PT952951E (en)
RO (1) RO120332B1 (en)
SK (1) SK284121B6 (en)
TR (1) TR199901688T2 (en)
WO (1) WO1998031601A1 (en)
ZA (1) ZA98341B (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
LT5170B (en) 2003-05-20 2004-10-25 Dalius REPČYS A reinforced package
LT5965B (en) 2011-08-16 2013-09-25 Laima LISAUSKIENĖ Compact packaging

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001072599A2 (en) * 2000-03-24 2001-10-04 The Mead Corporation Article carrier and blank
US6945390B2 (en) 2000-03-24 2005-09-20 Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems, Llc Article carrier with handle-reinforcing bridging structure
GB0019589D0 (en) * 2000-08-10 2000-09-27 Mead Corp Article carrier and blank
KR200453823Y1 (en) * 2009-06-26 2011-05-30 한솔피엔에스 주식회사 Packaging container
BR112012006902B1 (en) * 2009-10-05 2020-04-07 Graphic Packaging Int Inc conveyor for storing a plurality of necked containers
US9624040B2 (en) 2010-08-25 2017-04-18 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Substrate support

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2029381A1 (en) * 1970-06-15 1971-12-23 Fa. A. Landerer, 7100 Heilbronn Packaging carriers, in particular for packaging goods arranged in a row
FR2148917A5 (en) * 1971-08-10 1973-03-23 Genvrain Sa
DE7625311U1 (en) * 1976-08-12 1977-01-20 Mead Corp Folding sleeve for bottles arranged in two rows
GB9010431D0 (en) * 1990-05-09 1990-06-27 Mead Corp Wraparound multipack with carrying handle
DE9309237U1 (en) * 1993-06-22 1993-08-12 Europa Carton Faltschachtel Gmbh, 20095 Hamburg, De

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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Title
See references of WO9831601A1 *

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
LT5170B (en) 2003-05-20 2004-10-25 Dalius REPČYS A reinforced package
LT5965B (en) 2011-08-16 2013-09-25 Laima LISAUSKIENĖ Compact packaging

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EE9900300A (en) 2000-02-15
RO120332B1 (en) 2005-12-30
KR20000070293A (en) 2000-11-25
JP3923538B2 (en) 2007-06-06
CZ9902542A3 (en) 2001-11-14
NO993515L (en) 1999-09-16
CA2278238A1 (en) 1998-07-23
SK97099A3 (en) 2000-05-16
HUP0001755A3 (en) 2000-11-28
AU5918198A (en) 1998-08-07
HK1023546A1 (en) 2000-09-15
NO993515D0 (en) 1999-07-16
CA2278238C (en) 2003-10-14
BR9806775A (en) 2000-05-16
DK0952951T3 (en) 2002-07-15
CZ298800B6 (en) 2008-02-06
DE69806121T2 (en) 2003-01-30
EE04147B1 (en) 2003-10-15
HUP0001755A2 (en) 2000-09-28
NO315642B1 (en) 2003-10-06
PT952951E (en) 2002-11-29
PL334753A1 (en) 2000-03-13
DE69806121D1 (en) 2002-07-25
ZA98341B (en) 1999-02-19
HU226355B1 (en) 2008-09-29
WO1998031601A1 (en) 1998-07-23
SK284121B6 (en) 2004-09-08
EP0952951B1 (en) 2002-06-19
TR199901688T2 (en) 2000-07-21
KR100622798B1 (en) 2006-09-13
JP2001509760A (en) 2001-07-24
ATE219446T1 (en) 2002-07-15
GB9700994D0 (en) 1997-03-05
ES2179447T3 (en) 2003-01-16
PL191999B1 (en) 2006-08-31

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