AU2006252066A1 - A Drink Holder - Google Patents

Description

cl TITLE O A drink holder.

kI) FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to a drink holder. A preferred form of the invention relates to drink packaging incorporating a drink holder.

Cl BACKGROUND (It is known to sell cans or bottles of beer or other drinks in cardboard packages.

Typically the packages hold 6, 12 or 24 cans or bottles. Often the drinks are Cchilled and are then consumed directly out of the can or bottle, especially on informal occasions. A consumer will often take some time to consume his or her drink, and during that period the temperature of the drink will tend towards room temperature. If the drink is held in one's hand for significant periods of time then it is often warmed, at least partially, by body heat. It is an object of at least one form of the present invention to go some way towards avoiding or minimising this.

The term "comprising" or derivatives thereof, if and when used in this document, should be interpreted non-exclusively. The term should not be seen as excluding the possibility of features or steps over and above those specifically mentioned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a package holding a plurality of drinks, each drink within its own container, the package having a former which can be pushed from the rest of the package, the former being of size and shape to enable it to be looped around one of the containers and fastened to provide a holder, the holder suitable for at least partially insulating the container from body heat when the former is looped as described above and is held by a consumer with the container therein.

Preferably the former has a base part which, when the loop is created, can be arranged to substantially close off one end of the loop.

2 Preferably the former has a pair of slots which can be aligned to create the loop, o and a tail of the base part can be inserted into the slots to assist in retaining the C loop and to assist in maintaining closure at said one end of the loop.

In Preferably the package, or at least the former, comprises corrugated cardboard.

C Preferably the former is of a shape substantially as shown in figure 2.

C

V3 1 0 DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS SSome preferred forms of the invention will now be described by way of example

CA

and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a package for a plurality of cans or bottles of drink, Figure 2 is a plan view of a drink holder forming part of the package, and Figure 3 shows the drink holder when assembled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to figure 1, the package comprises a corrugated cardboard box 1 and contains bottles or cans of drink, for example beer or a non-alcoholic beverage.

The box 1 has a series of lines 2 defining a former 3. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the lines 2 may be lines of weakness, for example score lines.

The former 3 is such that it can be pushed by hand to detach it from the rest of the box. The former 3 can then be used to create a drink holder as described below.

Referring to figures 2 and 3, the former 3 has opposite sides 4 and 5, a base part 6 and a tail 7. The opposite sides 4 and 5 can be turned towards one another and overlapped to create a loop 3a suitable for receiving one of the cans or bottles. The overlap is such that slots 8 and 9, each adjacent a respective one of the sides 4 and 5, align with one another. The base part 6 is folded under the loop and the tail 7 is folded to extend up and pass through the aligned slots, and 3 then down, so that it lies between the loop and a can 10 or bottle placed within U the loop. Preferably the arrangement is such that there is a slight air gap Sbetween at least part of the loop and the can 10 or bottle. The base 6 thus I closes off the lower end of the loop to prevent the can or bottle dropping therethrough, and the tail 7 serves to maintain the loop as well as the closure provided by the base part 6. In this way the former provides a holder for the can Sor bottle of drink.

A A consumer is then able to hold onto his or her drink by clasping the holder as opposed to the can or bottle directly. Because the holder is formed from cardboard, preferably corrugated cardboard, it at least partially insulates the cai or bottle. The air gap also assists in insulating the can or bottle. The insulation may be against room or outside temperature, and/or against the body heat of the consumer.

While some preferred forms of the invention have been described by way of example it should be appreciated that modifications and improvements can occur without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Claims (6)

1. A package holding a plurality of drinks, each drink within its own container, t the package having a former which can be pushed from the rest of the package, the former being of size and shape to enable it to be looped around one of the containers and fastened to provide a holder, the holder suitable for kO at least partially insulating the container from body heat when the former is C looped as described above and is held by a consumer with the container therein. O

2. A package according to claim 1, wherein the former has a base part which, when the loop is created, can be arranged to substantially close off one end of the loop.

3. A package according to claim 2, wherein the former has a pair of slots which can be aligned to create the loop, and a tail of the base part can be inserted into the slots to assist in retaining the loop and to assist in maintaining closure at said one end of the loop.

4. A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the package, or at least the former, comprises corrugated cardboard.

A package according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the former is of a shape substantially as shown in figure 2.

6. A package substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.