EP0280095B1 - Container carrier, particularly for bottles - Google Patents

Description

The innovation relates to a container carrier, in particular for bottles, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a container is known for example from DE-OS 34 02 729. The container carrier set up from a blank has a longitudinal web and cross webs articulated on the longitudinal web, which are connected to the side walls, preferably by gluing. In this way, three compartments are generally formed on each side of the longitudinal web for receiving containers, in particular bottles. The handle connected to the longitudinal bar protrudes beyond the upper edges of the longitudinal and end walls, so that a comfortable carrying option is ensured even when containers are picked up.

Such container carriers are prefabricated from the one-piece blanks in such a way that the container carrier can be folded flat after the prefabrication or gluing. For this purpose, two opposite side walls or end walls running transversely to the longitudinal web can be folded over their height. The bottom can also be folded over a longitudinal center crease line. When lying flat, the side walls are placed on the longitudinal web, while one end wall is folded outwards and the other inwards. The bottom is also folded outwards. A hook on the underside of the longitudinal web near the inwardly folded end wall interacts with an end recess in the floor and engages under it to keep the floor open. The hook prevents the floor from arching downwards when containers are received in the compartments.

In the known container carrier, there is a risk that, due to a relative displacement of the bottom relative to the longitudinal web, the hook will come free from the bottom and this will fold down. A container carrier has therefore become known from European patent application 0 082 725, in which a recess is formed in the area between the ends of the bottom crease line, in which the hook engages. The extension of the recess in the direction Creasing line is shorter than the length of the hook. If the hook is inserted into the recess, it remains locked in this. Movement of the hook away from the edge cooperating with the hook does not result in the hook being released from this edge. In this known construction, a locking of the hook in the ground is thus achieved. However, it is disadvantageous that it is difficult when installing the container carrier to easily insert the hook into the recess. There is a risk that it will bend, tear, or otherwise be damaged in the process.

The innovation is therefore based on the object of improving a container carrier of the generic type in such a way that it enables the floor to be easily hooked up when being erected without damaging the hook or impairing its function.

This object is achieved by the features of the characterizing part of claim 1.

In the case of the container carrier according to the innovation, the base on the crease line or at a short distance parallel to it has an incision which extends into the recess from the side of the recess facing away from the open side of the hook. When erecting the hook is above the Recess and the incision held, the end walls are folded slightly beyond the normal state. Now the hook can be inserted through the recess and through the incision by relative movement of the bottom and the longitudinal web without the hook having to come into contact with the edge of the recess. After inserting, the side walls are released and their restoring force is sufficient to let the hook reach under the floor. The hook has a stop surface on its back. This stop surface lies against the rear edge of the recess when there is a relative movement between the longitudinal web and the floor in the sense of de-regulation. However, the hook cannot slide into the incision. Rather, it is stopped from the edge of the recess. The edges forming the incision are under compressive stress so that they do not move away from one another when the rear end of the hook presses against the edge of the recess in the region of the incision.

According to an embodiment of the innovation, it is particularly advantageous if a small cross section is formed in the bottom at the closed end of the incision. The cross section facilitates the insertion of the hook by deforming the areas adjacent to the incision somewhat downwards.

As already mentioned, the hook protrudes over the lower edge of the longitudinal web, on both sides of the hook. In addition, the longitudinal web is provided with an additional material recess in the continuation of the opening of the hook. Together with the position of the hook, this greatly reduces the bulging of the floor. As is well known, the floor has a tendency to bulge. This is particularly noticeable when transporting the erected container carrier to a filling station.

Fig. 1

zeigt die Draufsicht auf einen Zuschnitt eines Behälterträgers nach der Neuerung.

Fig. 2

zeigt perspektivisch den aus dem Zuschnitt nach Fig. 1 aufgerichteten Behälterträger.

Fig. 3

zeigt perspektivisch einen Teil des Behälterträgers nach Fig. 2 von unten.

The innovation is explained in more detail below with the aid of drawings.

Fig. 1

shows the top view of a blank of a container carrier according to the innovation.

Fig. 2

shows a perspective view of the container carrier erected from the blank according to FIG. 1.

Fig. 3

shows in perspective a part of the container carrier according to FIG. 2 from below.

Before going into the details shown in the drawings, it should be assumed that each of the described features is of essential importance for innovation either alone or in conjunction with features of the claims.

The blank shown in FIG. 1 has two side walls 10, 11. A floor 12 is articulated on the outside of the side wall 10 via a crease line. The bottom 12 is divided by a crease line 13 into two sections 12a and 12b. In the area of the crease line 13 there is a recess 14. At the right end of the recess 14 there is an incision 14a, at the end of which a cross section 14b is formed.

On the opposite sides of the side wall 10, end wall halves 15, 16 are articulated via a crease line. On opposite sides of the side wall 11, end wall halves 17, 18 are articulated via crease lines. On the outside of the side wall 11, a floor connection bracket 19 is articulated. To the end wall halves 15, 17 connecting tabs 20, 21 are articulated via crease lines. These are connected to one another via a connecting section 22, which is divided in the middle by a crease line.

Longitudinal web sections 24, 25 are articulated to the end wall halves 16, 18 via crease lines. The longitudinal web sections 24, 25 have grip sections 26, 27 with grip holes 28, 29. On the outside of the web sections 24, 25, locking hooks 31, 32 are formed. The edges of the longitudinal web sections 24, 25 are set back on both sides of the locking hook, as shown at 31a, 31b or 32a or 32b. In addition, the edge 31b is provided in a further cutout just before the hook opening.

Two crossbars 33, 34 and 35, 36 are punched out in the web sections 24, 25, respectively. Their shape and location should not be described in detail anymore, since they are known per se. 2 extend from the longitudinal web to the opposite side walls 10, 11 and are connected thereto, preferably by gluing. It is only mentioned that handle sections 48, 49 are articulated to the connecting section 22 are, which in the erected state with the handle portions 26, 27 to cover.

1 to a finished container carrier according to FIG. 2, the hook 31, 32 must be arranged in the recess 14. For this purpose, the bottom 12 and the longitudinal web are held relative to one another in such a way that the hook 31, 32, which is formed by gluing the hooks 31 and 32 according to FIG. 1, is located above both the recess 14 and the incision 14a. The length of the recess 14 and the cut 14a is such that it is at least equal to the length of the hook. If the hook is now pushed towards the floor, it partially passes through the free recess 14 and partially the incision 14a, the areas on both sides of the incision 14a bending slightly downward due to the cross section 14b. As soon as the hook has entered, the previously slightly tensioned parts are released, so that the hook is moved to the left in FIG. 3 due to the inherent tension of the container carrier set up, so that the facing front edge of the recess 14a engages in the hook opening. Due to the recessed edges 31a, 31b, 32a, 32b or the recess in front of the hook opening, the longitudinal web is almost completely clear of the ground. This prevents the floor from bulging.

Claims (4)

1. A carrier for hollow articles made of a one-piece blank of flat material, in particular for bottles, comprising a longitudinal flap (24, 25), side walls (10, 11) extending parallel to said longitudinal flap, which side walls are connected through cross flaps (33-36) with said longitudinal flap open top compartments, front walls (15, 17, 16, 18) separated in height by a scoring line vertical with respect to said side walls (10, 11), a bottom (12) connected to said side walls, which bottom is separated in length by a scoring line parallel with respect to said side walls, a recess (14) in the bottom (12) in the region of said scoring line (13) and a hook (31) on the underside of said longitudinal flap (24, 25), said hook engaging said recess (14) in the bottom and underlying said bottom (12), wherein the length of the hook (31) is longer than the length of said recess (14) in the plane of the hook, characterized in that the bottom (12) comprises a cut (14a) along said scoring line (13) or, respectively in a slight distance therefrom which cut extends into said recess (14) at the sides opposite the open side of the hook (31, 32).
2. The carrier of claim 1, characterized in that the total length of said recess (14) and said cut (14a) is longer than the length of said hook (31, 32).
3. The carrier of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a short cross cut (14b) is formed in the bottom (12) at the closed end of the cut (14a).
4. The carrier of one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the side edges (31a, 31b, 32a, 32b) of said longitudinal flap (24, 25) carrying said hook (31, 32) are rearwardly offset across a substantial part of its length with respect to the lower edge of said hook (31, 32).

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