DE20310721U1 - Container for especially drink has means for connecting container to another container and may be adhesive element mechanically and/or thermally and/or chemically activated - Google Patents

Abstract

The container for especially drinks has at least one means for the connecting of the container (1) to at least one additional container. The connecting means are reusable and provided on a generated surface of the container. The connection has an adhesive element (3) which can be mechanically and/or thermally and/or chemically activated. The adhesive element may be an adhesive spot on any point of its circumference, or may be a strip-form section. An independent claim is included for an arrangement for the transporting and storing of containers holding especially drinks.

Description

Dipl.-Chem. E.L. FRITZ Dr. Dipl.-Phys. R. BASFELD Dipl.-Ing. J. GRAEFE Patent attorneys

M.HOFFMANN

B. HEIN Lawyers

Ostentor 9 59757 Arnsberg

03/039 07.2003/MA/RH GM 10.

Mr. Heinrich Robert Pohl Robert-Bosch-Straße 6

50769 Cologne

Containers for food, in particular for beverages and arrangement of containers"

The present invention relates to a container for food, in particular for drinks. Furthermore, the invention relates to an arrangement of these containers.

Containers of the type mentioned above, in particular cans made of

Tinplate or aluminum, glass or plastic containers, containers made of paper/cardboard or composite materials are well known as disposable packaging for drinks and other foodstuffs. Increased environmental awareness and the introduction of a deposit system for certain

Disposable beverage containers have now led to an increase in the recycling of food containers intended for single use in order to make at least some of the valuable materials usable again.

Food containers intended for single use are often sold in boxes or packed in protective film. It is also known to connect drinks cans in particular to one another using a punched-out plastic film on their tops in order to facilitate the transport of several drinks cans. While various different solutions are known for the transport, storage and sale of filled containers in order to be able to conveniently transport several containers at the same time, this does not apply to containers that are emptied after use.

It is often difficult to transport a large number of used food containers. Such empty containers are often transported in a disorganized manner in carriers or carrier bags. Any food or drink residues in the containers can leak out, which can contaminate the carriers.

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When it comes to taking back disposable containers, especially disposable drinks containers, retailers face the problem that they have to be separated into different types of material (e.g. metal, plastic, glass, etc.) before they can be recycled. This separation is particularly laborious and time-consuming when a customer returns different types of drinks containers, such as metal cans and glass and plastic bottles.

Furthermore, the state-of-the-art solutions for storing and transporting filled containers for food are relatively material-intensive and therefore cost-intensive.

This is where the present invention comes in.

The object of the present invention is to provide a container for food, in particular for beverages, which is designed in such a way that the transport of several filled or empty containers is simplified.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement for transporting and storing containers for food, in particular for beverages, which simplifies both the transport and the storage of the containers in the logistics chain from the manufacturer via the retailer to the customer and from the customer via the retailer back to the recycling company.

The solution to this problem is provided by a container of the type mentioned at the outset with the characterizing features of claim 1.

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According to the invention, the container has at least one connecting means for connecting the container to at least one other container. This at least one connecting means allows several filled or empty containers for food, in particular for drinks, to be connected in a simple manner

to each other in order to facilitate the storage and transport of the containers. On the one hand, this can involve the transport of used and thus empty containers from the customer back to the dealer and from there into the downstream recycling chain. On the other hand, it is of course also possible to

that containers filled and connected to one another in this way are placed on the market by the manufacturer (for example the beverage bottler).

Preferably, the at least one connecting means is suitable for a detachable connection of the container to at least one other container. This allows consumers to remove a container from a combination of several interconnected containers in a simple manner and without disproportionate effort.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the at least one connecting means is reusable. For example, the connecting means can be used both for the storage and transport of the filled containers and for the storage and transport of the containers emptied after use.

In an advantageous embodiment, the at least one connecting means is attached to a casing surface of the container. This embodiment is particularly suitable for connecting several containers to one another in a simple manner and for meeting hygienic requirements.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the at least one connecting means comprises at least one adhesive. This at least one adhesive means makes it possible to connect several containers to one another in a simple manner in order to facilitate the transport of several containers.

The use of at least one adhesive has the advantage that it provides a very cost-effective, particularly easy-to-use option for connecting several containers. In particular, the at least one adhesive is also suitable for connecting the container to at least one other container, which may not have an adhesive itself.

Preferably, the at least one adhesive can be activated. This activation of the at least one adhesive is carried out by the user of the container in order to be able to connect several containers to one another. The at least one adhesive can preferably be activated mechanically and/or thermally and/or chemically.

In a preferred embodiment, the at least one adhesive is designed as an adhesive point with any desired outline. Alternatively, the at least one adhesive can also be designed as a substantially strip-shaped adhesive section.

In order to facilitate the bonding of individual containers for food, in particular for drinks, together, a particularly preferred embodiment provides that the at least one adhesive extends at least in sections along the outer circumference of the container. This ensures that a sufficiently large bonding area is available to be able to bond several containers together securely.

A particularly advantageous embodiment provides that the at least one adhesive completely encloses the outer circumference of the container. In particular in the case of a beverage can, which usually has a cylindrical shape, the adhesive encloses the outer circumference of the beverage can in a quasi-ring shape, thus making it easier to join several such beverage cans together. Glass or plastic bottles also usually have a cylindrical shape, at least in sections. If the at least one adhesive encloses the outer circumference of the bottles in this area, joining several bottles together is also made easier. This also applies to containers made of paper/cardboard or composite materials, which are usually cuboid-shaped.

In a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the at least one adhesive extends on the outer surface in a direction that is oriented essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container. In this case, the at least one adhesive can optionally extend along the entire height of the container in order to facilitate the joining of several containers.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the at least one adhesive has a removable protective layer in order to prevent unwanted activation of the at least one adhesive.

In order to simplify the handling of the removable protective layer, a particularly preferred embodiment provides that the removable protective layer comprises at least one handle section. By grasping the handle section, the user can

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• Protective layer easily and without much effort from the

remove at least one piece of adhesive.

In an advantageous embodiment, the removable protective layer is designed as a protective film. This is peeled off before use and exposes the adhesive underneath so that the container can be easily connected to another container.

The removable protective layer can be moisture-repellent to prevent the adhesive underneath from coming into contact with the

with water or other liquids becomes unusable.

In order to prevent containers made of different recyclable materials from being stuck together, a particularly preferred embodiment provides that the at least one adhesive is designed in such a way that it cannot be stuck to a container that does not contain any recyclable materials. This can be achieved, for example, by the at least one adhesive of the container not adhering to the material of a container that does not contain any recyclable materials. Furthermore, the respective adhesives of different containers that do not contain any recyclable materials can also be designed in such a way that they cannot adhere to the adhesives of the other containers that do not contain any recyclable materials. In this way, it is avoided that containers that do not contain any recyclable materials are accidentally or deliberately stuck together.

This embodiment is particularly advantageous if the containers are to be fed into a recycling process in which it is important that the materials fed in are as pure as possible and do not have to be laboriously separated from one another beforehand.

A further development of the present invention provides that at least two adhesives are applied to the outer surface of the container

^s are arranged. These can be, for example, at different

areas of the shell surface and completely enclose the outer circumference of the container.

Preferably, the at least two adhesives are arranged offset from one another on the outer surface of the container in order to be able to connect, for example, other containers which do not themselves have an adhesive to this container.

&iacgr;&ogr; A first of the at least two adhesives for a

Connection of the container to at least one other filled container can be provided. Furthermore, a second of the at least two adhesives can be provided for connection of the container to at least one other empty container.

An advantageous embodiment provides that a first adhesive comprises a first component of a two-component adhesive. A second component of the two-component adhesive can preferably be formed by chemical components of a varnish applied at least in sections to the outer surface of the container. This embodiment, which is particularly suitable for beverage cans, makes it considerably easier to bond several containers together, since one component of the two-component adhesive is formed by the varnish of the container itself.

Alternatively, it can also be provided that a second adhesive comprises a second component of a two-component adhesive, which is complementary to the first component of the two-component adhesive.

In order to make it easier for the user to find the at least one adhesive, a particularly advantageous embodiment provides

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' that the at least one adhesive has a marking.

This could, for example, be a colored marking.

A further development provides that at least one adhesive

at least one damping layer. If such a container is connected to other containers, the damping layer reduces the risk of damage to the containers in the event of external force or impact, in particular during transport and storage of the containers. The at least one

The damping layer can be made of rubber or silicone, for example.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the at least one adhesive is moisture-resistant. This prevents the adhesive bond between several containers from coming loose when it comes into contact with water or other liquids.

In an alternative embodiment, the connecting means comprises a first locking element and a second locking element, which are suitable for engaging in corresponding locking elements of at least one further container. A locking connection between several containers has proven to be a particularly useful alternative to an adhesive connection, since on the one hand it is very easy to handle and on the other hand it provides a reliable but nevertheless detachable connection between several containers.

Preferably, the first locking element and the second locking element are offset from each other on the outer surface of the container

•♦·· · t ♦ · t«t t · · · · t

arranged so that several containers can be easily connected to each other.

Furthermore, the first locking element can have a male fastening section and the second locking element can have a female

For example, the male or female fastening sections can establish a connection in the form of a snap fastener connection between two containers, which is detachable and reusable and also provides a reliable connection of several containers for

makes available.

In principle, the locking elements can be molded onto the containers during their manufacture or attached to them later.

The connecting means can also be designed as conventional Velcro elements, wherein a Velcro element of a first container can engage with a corresponding Velcro element of a second container in order to detachably connect the two containers to one another.

The container can be made at least partially from metal, in particular from aluminum or tinplate, glass, plastic, paper/cardboard or from composite materials that contain metal, glass, plastic or paper/cardboard. The container can in particular be a can, a bottle, a carton or a bag.

The object underlying the present invention is further achieved by an arrangement for transporting and storing containers for food, in particular for drinks, with the characterizing features of claim 40. According to the invention , the arrangement has at least

two adjacent, interconnected containers according to one of claims 1 to 39.

The at least two containers can be adhesively connected to one another in the area of their outer surfaces. If necessary, further containers can be added to the arrangement which do not have any adhesive themselves. Alternatively, the at least two containers can also be locked together in the area of their outer surfaces.

Preferably, the at least two containers are arranged upright next to each other.

To stabilize the arrangement, it is provided that the arrangement comprises at least three containers. Preferably, the at least three containers are arranged in one plane.

In order to further improve the stability of the arrangement, a particularly preferred embodiment provides that the at least three containers are arranged such that the outer surface of each container touches at least the outer surfaces of two adjacent containers. This results in an arrangement with increased stability, which facilitates the transport and storage of the containers.

In order to simplify the handling of the arrangement, a particularly advantageous embodiment provides that the arrangement has at least one handle element.

The arrangement can include filled or empty containers. This again makes it clear that the arrangement for the transport and storage of filled containers, for example in the

·

• · ♦

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logistic chain from the manufacturer through the trade to
end user.

A further area of application for the arrangement arises in the storage and transport of empty containers, especially those emptied after use, in the logistics chain from the end consumer via the trade back to the downstream raw material recycling.

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The present invention will now be described in more detail using an embodiment example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an inventive

beverage can;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a preferred arrangement of six beverage cans;

Fig. 3 two beverage containers according to another

Embodiment of the present invention in a side view, partially cut vertically.

First, reference is made to Fig. 1.

The illustration shows an example of a perspective view of a container for food, in particular for drinks, in the form of a cylindrical drinks can 1, which has an adhesive 3 on its outer surface. The adhesive 3 is preferably moisture-resistant so that it does not become unusable when it comes into contact with water or other liquids.

It can be seen that the adhesive 3 in this embodiment is designed in strip form and extends in sections along the outer circumference of the beverage can. On this adhesive 3 there is a removable protective film 4 which has a handle section 5 on one side. Using the handle section 5, the protective film 4 can be removed by the user with relatively little effort in order to activate the adhesive underneath and to connect the beverage can 1 to a second (or further) beverage can (not shown here).

The protective film can be moisture-repellent in order to protect the active adhesive area beneath the protective film 4 from moisture.

Preferably, the adhesive 3 is applied to an area of the second beverage can (not shown here) where its adhesive is not currently located, in order to be able to add further beverage cans to this arrangement, which may not have any adhesive themselves.

It can be seen from Fig. 1 that in this embodiment the adhesive 3 extends in sections along the outer circumference of the beverage can 1. It is of course also possible to apply the adhesive 3 to the outer surface 2 of the beverage can 1, for example rotated by 90° to the arrangement shown in Fig. 1. Diagonal application of the adhesive 3 is also possible in principle.

Furthermore, several adhesives 3 can also be applied to the outer surface 2. If, for example, two strip-shaped adhesive sections are to be used, it can be advantageous to apply these to the outer surface 2 of the beverage can 1 offset by 60°, 90° or 180° from one another in order to make it easier to join several beverage cans together. One or more strip-shaped adhesive sections can also completely enclose the outer surface 2.

In addition, the adhesive 3 can also be designed as an adhesive point with any outline. If necessary, other beverage containers such as, for example, several adhesive points with any outline can be arranged on the casing surface 2.

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It goes without saying that, in a completely analogous manner, glass or plastic bottles, beverage cartons and other containers for food can also be provided with at least one adhesive.

Fig. 2 shows an example of an advantageous arrangement of six beverage cans of the type shown in Fig. 1, which can be empty or filled

can, in a top view. To simplify the following illustration, the six beverage cans are provided with the consecutive reference symbols 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f.

The same applies to the arrangement of empty or filled glass or plastic bottles, beverage cartons or other containers for food.

It can be seen that each of the six beverage cans 1a to 1f has an adhesive 3a to 3f on its outer surface 2a to 2f. It is advantageous to arrange the two rows of cans formed from the beverage cans 1a, 1b, 1c or 1d, 1e, 1f offset from one another so that the outer surface of a beverage can touches at least the outer surfaces of two neighboring beverage cans. For example, the outer surface 2a of the beverage can 1a touches both the outer surface 2b of the first neighboring beverage can 1b and the outer surface 2d (or the adhesive section 3d) of the second neighboring beverage can 1d by means of the adhesive strip 3a attached to its outer surface 2a.

If the beverage cans are arranged next to each other in a layer as in this example, the result is a tightly packed arrangement which, to a certain extent, stabilizes itself in order to simplify the transport and storage of the beverage cans 1a to 1f.

If necessary, an adhesive can also be provided on the underside of the beverage can so that the beverage cans can be stacked on top of each other, for example.

To facilitate transport, the arrangement can also have a handle element.

If the consumer wants to remove one or more beverage cans from the arrangement, he can, for example, remove them from the arrangement by turning the beverage can or cans. This can produce a characteristic cracking noise that the user can hear, the intensity and sound of which can be influenced by the type and/or amount of adhesive used.

Fig. 3 shows two containers for food according to a further embodiment of the present invention in a side view, partially cut vertically. In this embodiment, the containers are two drinks bottles 1g, 1h, which can be, for example, conventional plastic bottles (for example, PET bottles).

It can be seen that each of the drinks bottles 1g, 1h has a first locking element and a second locking element on its outer surface 2, which are arranged offset by 180° from one another. The first locking element of the first drinks bottle 1g comprises a male fastening section 7a and the second locking element comprises a female fastening section 8a. The same applies to the second drinks bottle 1h, whose first locking element comprises a male fastening section 7b and whose second locking element comprises a female fastening section 8b.

f· »·♦·

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If the two drinks bottles 1g and 1h are moved towards each other in the direction of the arrow, the male fastening section 7b of the second drinks bottle 1h can engage in the female fastening section 8a of the first drinks bottle 1g, so that a detachable arrangement of the two drinks bottles 1g, 1h is formed. It is clear that further drinks bottles can be added to this arrangement, for example by attaching a male fastening section of a

&iacgr;&ogr; another, not shown here, drinks bottle in the female

Fastening section 8b of the second drinks bottle 1h engages or the male fastening section 7a of the first drinks bottle 1g engages in a female fastening section of another drinks bottle, not shown here. The drinks bottles 1g, 1h can optionally have further locking elements on their outer surfaces 2. The locking elements are preferably already molded onto the drinks bottles during their manufacture.

Claims (49)

1. Container for food, in particular for beverages, characterized in that the container ( 1 ) has at least one connecting means for connecting the container ( 1 ) to at least one further container. 2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one connecting means is suitable for a detachable connection of the container ( 1 ) with at least one further container. 3. Container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one connecting means is reusable. 4. Container according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the at least one connecting means is attached to a jacket surface of the container ( 1 ). 5. Container according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the at least one connecting means comprises at least one adhesive ( 3 ). 6. Container according to claim 5, characterized in that the at least one adhesive ( 3 ) is activatable. 7. Container according to claim 6, characterized in that the at least one adhesive ( 3 ) is mechanically and/or thermally and/or chemically activatable. 8. Container according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the at least one adhesive ( 3 ) is designed as an adhesive point with an arbitrary outline. 9. Container according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the at least one adhesive ( 3 ) is designed as a substantially strip-shaped adhesive section. 10. Container according to one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the at least one adhesive ( 3 ) extends at least partially along the outer circumference of the container ( 1 ). 11. Container according to claim 10, characterized in that the at least one adhesive ( 3 ) completely encloses the outer circumference of the container ( 1 ). 12. Container according to one of claims 5 to 11, characterized in that the at least one adhesive ( 3 ) extends on the casing surface ( 2 ) in a direction which is oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container ( 1 ). 13. Container according to one of claims 5 to 12, characterized in that the at least one adhesive has a removable protective layer ( 4 ) in order to prevent an unwanted activation of the at least one adhesive ( 3 ). 14. Container according to claim 13, characterized in that the removable protective layer ( 4 ) comprises at least one handle portion ( 5 ). 15. Container according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the removable protective layer ( 4 ) is designed as a protective film. 16. Container according to one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the removable protective layer ( 4 ) is moisture-repellent. 17. Container according to one of claims 5 to 16, characterized in that the at least one adhesive ( 3 ) is designed such that it cannot be glued to a container containing a non-recyclable material. 18. Container according to one of claims 5 to 17, characterized in that at least two adhesives are arranged on the outer surface ( 2 ) of the container ( 1 ). 19. Container according to claim 18, characterized in that the at least two adhesives are arranged offset from one another on the outer surface ( 2 ) of the container ( 1 ). 20. Container according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that a first of the at least two adhesives is provided for connecting the container. 21. Container according to one of claims 18 to 20, characterized in that a second of the at least two adhesive means is provided for connecting the container ( 1 ) to at least one further empty container. 22. Container according to one of claims 5 to 21, characterized in that a first adhesive comprises a first component of a two-component adhesive. 23. Container according to claim 22, characterized in that a second component of the two-component adhesive is formed by chemical components of a lacquer applied at least in sections to the outer surface ( 2 ) of the container ( 1 ). 24. A container according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that a second adhesive comprises a second component of a two-component adhesive which is complementary to the first component of the two-component adhesive. 25. Container according to one of claims 5 to 24, characterized in that the at least one adhesive has a marking. 26. Container according to one of claims 5 to 25, characterized in that the at least one adhesive comprises at least one damping layer. 27. Container according to one of claims 5 to 26, characterized in that the at least one adhesive is moisture-resistant. 28. Container according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the connecting means comprises a first locking element and a second locking element which are suitable for engaging in corresponding locking elements of at least one further container. 29. Container according to claim 28, characterized in that the first locking element and the second locking element are arranged offset from one another on the outer surface ( 2 ) of the container ( 1 ). 30. Container according to claim 28 or 29, characterized in that the first locking element has a male fastening section ( 7 a, 7 b) and the second locking element has a female fastening section ( 8 a, 8 b). 31. Container according to one of claims 1 to 30, characterized in that the container ( 1 ) consists at least partially of metal, in particular of aluminum and/or tinplate. 32. Container according to one of claims 1 to 30, characterized in that the container ( 1 ) consists at least partially of glass. 33. Container according to one of claims 1 to 30, characterized in that the container ( 1 ) consists at least partially of plastic. 34. Container according to one of claims 1 to 30, characterized in that the container ( 1 ) consists at least partially of paper/cardboard. 35. Container according to one of claims 1 to 30, characterized in that the container ( 1 ) consists at least partially of a composite material made of metal and/or glass and/or plastic and/or paper/cardboard. 36. Container according to one of claims 1 to 35, characterized in that the container ( 1 ) is a can. 37. Container according to one of claims 1 to 35, characterized in that the container is a bottle. 38. Container according to one of claims 1 to 35, characterized in that the container is a carton. 39. Container according to one of claims 1 to 35, characterized in that the container ( 1 ) is a bag. 40. Arrangement for transporting and storing containers for foodstuffs, in particular for beverages, characterized in that the arrangement comprises at least two containers arranged next to one another and connected to one another according to one of claims 1 to 39. 41. Arrangement according to claim 40, characterized in that the at least two containers are adhesively connected to one another in the region of their lateral surfaces. 42. Arrangement according to claim 40, characterized in that the at least two containers are locked together in the region of their lateral surfaces. 43. Arrangement according to one of claims 40 to 42, characterized in that the at least two containers are arranged upright next to one another. 44. Arrangement according to one of claims 40 to 43, characterized in that the arrangement comprises at least three containers. 45. Arrangement according to claim 44, characterized in that the at least three containers are arranged in one plane. 46. Arrangement according to claim 44 or 45, characterized in that the at least three containers are arranged such that the outer surface of each container touches at least the outer surfaces of two adjacent containers. 47. Arrangement of containers according to one of claims 40 to 46, characterized in that the arrangement has at least one handle element. 48. Arrangement of containers according to one of claims 40 to 47, characterized in that the arrangement comprises filled containers. 49. An arrangement of containers according to any one of claims 40 to 48, characterized in that the arrangement comprises empty containers.