EP0958192B1 - Top gripping carrier for bottles - Google Patents

Top gripping carrier for bottles Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0958192B1
EP0958192B1 EP97936501A EP97936501A EP0958192B1 EP 0958192 B1 EP0958192 B1 EP 0958192B1 EP 97936501 A EP97936501 A EP 97936501A EP 97936501 A EP97936501 A EP 97936501A EP 0958192 B1 EP0958192 B1 EP 0958192B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
neck
aperture
bottle
top panel
receiving aperture
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP97936501A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0958192A1 (en
Inventor
Jean-Michel Auclair
Philippe Le Bras
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
Priority to EP01120341A priority Critical patent/EP1157939B1/en
Publication of EP0958192A1 publication Critical patent/EP0958192A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0958192B1 publication Critical patent/EP0958192B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • B65D71/40—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 comprising a plurality of articles held together only partially by packaging elements formed by folding a blank or several blanks
    • B65D71/42—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 comprising a plurality of articles held together only partially by packaging elements formed by folding a blank or several blanks formed by folding a single blank into a single layer element
    • B65D71/44—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 comprising a plurality of articles held together only partially by packaging elements formed by folding a blank or several blanks formed by folding a single blank into a single layer element characterised by the handle
    • 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
    • B65D71/40—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 comprising a plurality of articles held together only partially by packaging elements formed by folding a blank or several blanks
    • B65D71/42—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 comprising a plurality of articles held together only partially by packaging elements formed by folding a blank or several blanks formed by folding a single blank into a single layer element

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an article carrier which is used for securing a plurality of articles such as bottles in a group. More particularly, the invention relates to an article carrier of the top gripping type which attaches to the tops of articles thereby to secure the articles in one or more arrays.
  • US 3 674 136 illustrates an article carrier of the top gripping type comprising a top panel and a side panel having a bottle receiving aperture.
  • the bottle receiving aperture having a lower edge for engagement with an upper portion of the bottle and the top panel includes a flap for engaging the top of the bottle.
  • Articles carried by article carriers of this type are difficult to release from such a carrier.
  • the present invention and its preferred embodiments seeks to overcome or at least mitigate the problems of the prior art.
  • an article carrier of the top-gripping type comprising a top panel having a bottle neck-receiving aperture.
  • the neck-receiving aperture has a lower edge for engagement with a bottle neck and an opposing upper edge for pressing the bottle neck against the lower edge.
  • frangible means for tearing at least a portion of the top panel adjacent to the neck-receiving aperture to allow the bottle neck to be disengaged from the lower edge.
  • the frangible means extends between the bottle-receiving aperture and a bottle-releasing aperture defined in the top panel.
  • the frangible means may extend from the upper edge to the bottle-releasing aperture.
  • the tearing means may comprise a tear line formed in the top panel.
  • the tearing means may comprise a tear strip defined by a pair of substantially parallel tear lines formed in the top panel.
  • the tearing lines extend from the upper edge to the bottle-releasing aperture.
  • the tear strip may include a tab formed from material that is struck from the top panel to define the neck-receiving aperture.
  • the tab may extend into the neck-receiving aperture when the bottle neck is out of the neck-receiving aperture.
  • the support panel may further comprise a support panel disposed under the top panel in flat face-contacting relationship.
  • the support panel may include a lower receiving aperture disposed in registry with the neck-receiving aperture, and a lower releasing edge extending along at least a portion of a perimeter of the bottle-releasing aperture, the support panel having a frangible line underlying the tear strip.
  • the frangible line may extend between the lower receiving aperture and the lower releasing edge.
  • the top panel may include a bevelled shoulder strip, and the neck-receiving aperture is formed in part in the shoulder strip to have the lower edge disposed at a lower vertical position than the upper edge.
  • the neck-receiving aperture may further comprise a side panel joined at an upper edge thereof to the shoulder strip, the neck-receiving aperture extends entirely across the shoulder strip and terminates at the upper edge of the side panel such that the lower edge of the neck-receiving aperture is defined by the upper edge of the side panel.
  • the bottle-releasing aperture may be a hand aperture for receiving fingers to hold the carrier.
  • the top panel may have a plurality of bottle neck-receiving apertures, and the frangible means is provided for each of the neck-receiving apertures to extend between each neck-receiving aperture and the bottle-releasing aperture.
  • the top panel may be generally rectangular in shape, the bottle-releasing aperture is located at a center of the top panel, and the neck-receiving apertures are disposed around the bottle-releasing aperture.
  • a second aspect of the invention provides a blank for forming an article carrier of the top-gripping type comprising opposing side panels hinged to a top panel having a bottle neck-receiving aperture.
  • the neck-receiving aperture has a lower edge for engagement with a bottle neck and an opposing upper edge for pressing the bottle neck against the lower edge.
  • the frangible means extends between the neck receiving aperture and a bottle-releasing aperture defined in the top panel.
  • the frangible means may extend from the upper edge to the bottle-releasing aperture.
  • the tearing means may comprise a tear line formed in the top panel.
  • the tearing means may comprise a tear strip defined by a pair of substantially parallel tear lines formed in the top panel.
  • the tearing lines may extend from the upper edge to the bottle-releasing aperture.
  • the tear strip may include a tab formed from material that is struck from the top panel to define the neck-receiving aperture.
  • the tab may extend into the neck-receiving aperture.
  • the second aspect of the invention there may further comprise a support panel hingedly connected to the top panel, the support panel including a lower receiving aperture and a lower releasing edge extending along at least a portion of a perimeter of the bottle-releasing aperture, the support panel having a frangible line underlying the tear strip.
  • the frangible line may extend between the lower receiving aperture and the lower releasing edge.
  • the top panel may include a shoulder strip, and the neck-receiving aperture may be formed in part in the shoulder strip.
  • one of the side panels may be joined at an upper edge thereof to the shoulder strip, the neck-receiving aperture extends entirely across the shoulder strip and terminates at the upper edge of the side panel such that the lower edge of the neck-receiving aperture is defined by the upper edge of the side panel.
  • the bottle-releasing aperture may be a hand aperture.
  • the top panel may have a plurality of bottle neck-receiving apertures, and the frangible means is provided for each of the neck-receiving apertures to extend between each neck-receiving aperture and the bottle-releasing aperture.
  • the tearing means prevents the upper edge of the neck-receiving aperture from completely destructing, and thus the upper edge is capable of pressing the bottle neck against the lower edge even after the top panel is torn by using the tearing means.
  • the carrier of the invention is reusable and is particularly useful to return empty bottles to retail stores or the like.
  • top panel 16 includes a pair of opposite shoulder strips 14 and 18 extending along the opposite side edges of top panel 16. These strips 14 and 18 are foldably joined to the body of top panel 16 along interrupted fold lines 62 and 64, respectively.
  • Side panel 12 is foldably connected to shoulder strip 14 along an interrupted fold line 60.
  • side panel 20 is foldably connected to shoulder strip 18 along an interrupted fold line 66.
  • Skirt strip 22 is foldably connected along fold line 68 to side panel 12 and includes a series of fold lines 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75 to assist in being folded about a portion of a row of articles when the carrier is in a set up condition.
  • skirt strip 24 is foldably connected along fold line 76 to side panel 20 and includes a series of fold lines 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88 to assist in being folded about a portion of another row of articles when the carrier is in a set up condition.
  • Internal partition band 26 is foldably connected to skirt strip 22 along a pair of aligned fold lines 90 and 92 and is separated therefrom by cut line 94.
  • internal partition bond 28 is connected to skirt strip 24 along a pair of aligned fold lines 96 and 98 and is separated therefrom by cut line 100.
  • neck-receiving apertures 200, 202, 204 and 206 formed in the opposed quadrants of top panel 16. Apertures 200 and 202 each is struck in part from shoulder strip 14 and terminates at fold line 60, and thus the lower edge "L" of each aperture is defined by the upper edge of side panel 12.
  • a central portion of the top panel 16 includes a substantially circular bottle-releasing aperture 216.
  • This aperture 216 is adapted to receive the fingers of users as well as to receive a handle which will be described later.
  • Tear lines 116 and 118 extend between the upper edge "U" of the receiving aperture 200 and the releasing aperture 216, and thus they define therebetween a tear strip 212.
  • tear lines 120 and 122 extend between the upper edge "U” of the receiving aperture 202 and the releasing aperture 216, and thus they define therebetween a tear strip 214.
  • Pull tabs 208 and 210 are foldably connected to tear strips 212 and 214 respectively along fold lines 112 and 114. These pull tabs 208 and 210 extend into receiving apertures 200 and 202, respectively.
  • a tongue 222 is struck from top panel 16 and extends from fold line 62 towards releasing aperture 216.
  • Support panels 30 and 32 are foldably connected to top panel 16 and side panel 12 along fold line 102.
  • support panels 34 and 36 are foldably connected to top panel 16 and side panel 12 along fold line 104.
  • Support panels 30 and 34 include lower receiving apertures 224 and 226 adapted to be aligned or registered with neck-receiving apertures 200 and 202 when the carrier is in a set up condition. Support panels 30 and 34 also include lower releasing edges 228 and 230 designed to extend along at least portions of the perimeter of the bottle-releasing aperture 216 when the carrier is in a set up condition. Support panels further include frangible lines 232 and 234 extending between the lower receiving aperture 224, 226 and the lower releasing edges 228 and 230. These frangible lines 232 and 234 are designed to underlie the tear strips 212 and 214 respectively when the carrier is in a set up condition. Support panels 32 and 36 are shaped to be aligned with side panel 12 when the carrier is in a set up condition.
  • Top panel 16 and support panels 30, 32, 34 and 36 are symmetrical about center fold line 250, whereby the other half of top panel 16 and support panels 38, 40, 42 and 44 are of a similar construction and not therefore specifically described.
  • Handle panel 46 and handle-reinforcing panel 48 are formed from support panels 34, 36, 42 and 44 and are separated therefrom by cut line 252. These panels 46 and 48 in cooperation are adapted to form a two-ply handle for the carrier. Handle panel 46 is foldably connected to handle-reinforcing panel 48 along fold line 254. Fold lines 256, 258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268 are incorporated into handle panel 46 and handle-reinforcing panel 48 to provide means for enabling the two-ply handle to pop up when in use. The action of the "pop up" means is disclosed in PCT/US95/09430.
  • the carrier is constructed by first forming the two-ply handle H. To create the handle H, handle panel 46 and handle-reinforcing panel 48 are folded about fold line 254 into a flat face-contacting relationship.
  • Support panels 30, 32, 38, 40 and 34, 36, 42, 44 are folded about fold lines 102 and 104 respectively into a flat face-contacting relationship with top panel 16 and side panels 12 and 20.
  • Side panels 12 and 20 are folded into an approximately perpendicular relationship with top panel 16 along fold lines 60, 62, 64 and 66.
  • Internal partition band 26 is folded about fold lines 90 and 92 to bring its opposite the end sections 126 and 130 into a face-contacting relationship respectively with the opposite end sections 124 and 128 of skirt strip 22. Those brought into the flat face-contacting relationship are glued together as shown in FIG 3.
  • internal partition band 28 is folded about fold lines 96 and 98 to bring its opposite end sections 136 and 138 into a face-contacting relationship respectively with the foldable sections 132 and 134 of skirt strip 24. Those brought into the flat face-contacting relationship are also glued together as shown in FIG 3.
  • the opposite end sections 140 and 142 of skirt strip 24 are glued to the opposite end sections 126 and 130 of internal partition band 26 while internal partition bands 26 and 28 are glued together at their respective center sections 144 and 146.
  • the articles are inserted into neck-receiving apertures 200, 202, 204, 206 such that the neck flanges 300, 302, 304, 306 are engaged on their undersides by lower edges L1, L2, L3, L4 respectively and pressed against lower edges L1, L2, L3, L4 by upper edges U1, U2, U3, U4.
  • Pull tabs 208, 210 and the other two pull tabs abut top portions of the articles. These tabs and the associated tear strips can be removed to allow easy removal of the articles.
  • the handle H is free to pop up through the central aperture as described earlier.
  • the present invention relates to a bottle carrier which is shaped to provide satisfactory strength to hold the bottles securely but with a degree of flexibility so that load transferred to the handle is absorbed by the carrier.
  • the shape of the blank minimizes 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 of carriers and not limited to those of the top gripping sort.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Manipulator (AREA)
  • Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
  • Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)
  • Control And Other Processes For Unpacking Of Materials (AREA)
  • Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)
  • Table Devices Or Equipment (AREA)

Abstract

An article carrier and a blank for forming an article carrier of the top-gripping type comprising a top panel (16) having a plurality of article receiving apertures (200,202,204,206) for retaining articles, a pair of opposed side panels (12,20) foldably joined to and extending downwardly from opposite side edges of the top panel, and endless grouping strap formed integrally with the carrier to encircle the articles and internal partition means disposed within the grouping strap to divide the articles into at least two groups. The grouping strap comprises a pair of skirt strips (22,24) joined respectively to lower edges of the side panels and connected together to form the endless grouping strap, the partition means comprising a pair of partition bands (26,28) formed respectively from the skirt strips. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to an article carrier which is used for securing a plurality of articles such as bottles in a group. More particularly, the invention relates to an article carrier of the top gripping type which attaches to the tops of articles thereby to secure the articles in one or more arrays.
US 3 674 136 illustrates an article carrier of the top gripping type comprising a top panel and a side panel having a bottle receiving aperture. The bottle receiving aperture having a lower edge for engagement with an upper portion of the bottle and the top panel includes a flap for engaging the top of the bottle. Articles carried by article carriers of this type are difficult to release from such a carrier.
The present invention and its preferred embodiments seeks to overcome or at least mitigate the problems of the prior art.
One aspect of the invention provides an article carrier of the top-gripping type comprising a top panel having a bottle neck-receiving aperture. The neck-receiving aperture has a lower edge for engagement with a bottle neck and an opposing upper edge for pressing the bottle neck against the lower edge. There further comprises frangible means for tearing at least a portion of the top panel adjacent to the neck-receiving aperture to allow the bottle neck to be disengaged from the lower edge. The frangible means extends between the bottle-receiving aperture and a bottle-releasing aperture defined in the top panel. Preferably, the frangible means may extend from the upper edge to the bottle-releasing aperture.
According to an optional feature of this aspect of the invention the tearing means may comprise a tear line formed in the top panel.
According to another optional feature of this aspect of the invention the tearing means may comprise a tear strip defined by a pair of substantially parallel tear lines formed in the top panel. Preferably, the tearing lines extend from the upper edge to the bottle-releasing aperture.
According to a further optional feature of this aspect of the invention the tear strip may include a tab formed from material that is struck from the top panel to define the neck-receiving aperture. Preferably, the tab may extend into the neck-receiving aperture when the bottle neck is out of the neck-receiving aperture.
According to yet another optional feature of this aspect of the invention there may further comprise a support panel disposed under the top panel in flat face-contacting relationship. The support panel may include a lower receiving aperture disposed in registry with the neck-receiving aperture, and a lower releasing edge extending along at least a portion of a perimeter of the bottle-releasing aperture, the support panel having a frangible line underlying the tear strip. Preferably, the frangible line may extend between the lower receiving aperture and the lower releasing edge.
According to a further optional feature of this aspect of the invention the top panel may include a bevelled shoulder strip, and the neck-receiving aperture is formed in part in the shoulder strip to have the lower edge disposed at a lower vertical position than the upper edge. Preferably, there may further comprise a side panel joined at an upper edge thereof to the shoulder strip, the neck-receiving aperture extends entirely across the shoulder strip and terminates at the upper edge of the side panel such that the lower edge of the neck-receiving aperture is defined by the upper edge of the side panel.
According to yet another optional feature of this aspect of the invention the bottle-releasing aperture may be a hand aperture for receiving fingers to hold the carrier.
According to a still further optional feature of this aspect of the invention the top panel may have a plurality of bottle neck-receiving apertures, and the frangible means is provided for each of the neck-receiving apertures to extend between each neck-receiving aperture and the bottle-releasing aperture. Preferably, the top panel may be generally rectangular in shape, the bottle-releasing aperture is located at a center of the top panel, and the neck-receiving apertures are disposed around the bottle-releasing aperture.
A second aspect of the invention provides a blank for forming an article carrier of the top-gripping type comprising opposing side panels hinged to a top panel having a bottle neck-receiving aperture. The neck-receiving aperture has a lower edge for engagement with a bottle neck and an opposing upper edge for pressing the bottle neck against the lower edge. There further comprises frangible means for tearing at least a portion of the top panel adjacent to the neck-receiving aperture to allow the bottle neck to be disengaged from the lower edge. The frangible means extends between the neck receiving aperture and a bottle-releasing aperture defined in the top panel. Preferably, the frangible means may extend from the upper edge to the bottle-releasing aperture.
In one class of embodiments the tearing means may comprise a tear line formed in the top panel. Alternatively, the tearing means may comprise a tear strip defined by a pair of substantially parallel tear lines formed in the top panel. Preferably, the tearing lines may extend from the upper edge to the bottle-releasing aperture.
According to an optional feature of the second embodiment of the invention the tear strip may include a tab formed from material that is struck from the top panel to define the neck-receiving aperture. Preferably, the tab may extend into the neck-receiving aperture.
According to another optional feature of the second aspect of the invention there may further comprise a support panel hingedly connected to the top panel, the support panel including a lower receiving aperture and a lower releasing edge extending along at least a portion of a perimeter of the bottle-releasing aperture, the support panel having a frangible line underlying the tear strip. Preferably, the frangible line may extend between the lower receiving aperture and the lower releasing edge.
According to a further optional feature of the second aspect of the invention the top panel may include a shoulder strip, and the neck-receiving aperture may be formed in part in the shoulder strip. Preferably, one of the side panels may be joined at an upper edge thereof to the shoulder strip, the neck-receiving aperture extends entirely across the shoulder strip and terminates at the upper edge of the side panel such that the lower edge of the neck-receiving aperture is defined by the upper edge of the side panel.
According to a still further optional feature of the second aspect of the invention the bottle-releasing aperture may be a hand aperture.
According to yet another optional feature of the second aspect of the invention the top panel may have a plurality of bottle neck-receiving apertures, and the frangible means is provided for each of the neck-receiving apertures to extend between each neck-receiving aperture and the bottle-releasing aperture.
Beneficially, the tearing means prevents the upper edge of the neck-receiving aperture from completely destructing, and thus the upper edge is capable of pressing the bottle neck against the lower edge even after the top panel is torn by using the tearing means. For this reason, the carrier of the invention is reusable and is particularly useful to return empty bottles to retail stores or the like.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of a carrier blank according to one aspect of the invention;
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a carrier formed from the blank as shown in FIG. 1; and
  • FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the carrier in FIG. 2, showing its lower portion.
    • Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
    Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a blank 10 for forming a top gripping carrier made from paperboard or other similar material. The blank 10 comprises a series of panels 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28 connected one to the next. More specifically, top panel 16 includes a pair of opposite shoulder strips 14 and 18 extending along the opposite side edges of top panel 16. These strips 14 and 18 are foldably joined to the body of top panel 16 along interrupted fold lines 62 and 64, respectively. Side panel 12 is foldably connected to shoulder strip 14 along an interrupted fold line 60. In like manner, side panel 20 is foldably connected to shoulder strip 18 along an interrupted fold line 66.
    Skirt strip 22 is foldably connected along fold line 68 to side panel 12 and includes a series of fold lines 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75 to assist in being folded about a portion of a row of articles when the carrier is in a set up condition. Likewise, skirt strip 24 is foldably connected along fold line 76 to side panel 20 and includes a series of fold lines 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88 to assist in being folded about a portion of another row of articles when the carrier is in a set up condition.
    Internal partition band 26 is foldably connected to skirt strip 22 along a pair of aligned fold lines 90 and 92 and is separated therefrom by cut line 94. Likewise, internal partition bond 28 is connected to skirt strip 24 along a pair of aligned fold lines 96 and 98 and is separated therefrom by cut line 100.
    As shown in FIG. 1, there are four neck-receiving apertures 200, 202, 204 and 206 formed in the opposed quadrants of top panel 16. Apertures 200 and 202 each is struck in part from shoulder strip 14 and terminates at fold line 60, and thus the lower edge "L" of each aperture is defined by the upper edge of side panel 12.
    A central portion of the top panel 16 includes a substantially circular bottle-releasing aperture 216. This aperture 216 is adapted to receive the fingers of users as well as to receive a handle which will be described later.
    Tear lines 116 and 118 extend between the upper edge "U" of the receiving aperture 200 and the releasing aperture 216, and thus they define therebetween a tear strip 212. In like manner, tear lines 120 and 122 extend between the upper edge "U" of the receiving aperture 202 and the releasing aperture 216, and thus they define therebetween a tear strip 214. Pull tabs 208 and 210 are foldably connected to tear strips 212 and 214 respectively along fold lines 112 and 114. These pull tabs 208 and 210 extend into receiving apertures 200 and 202, respectively.
    A tongue 222 is struck from top panel 16 and extends from fold line 62 towards releasing aperture 216.
    Support panels 30 and 32 are foldably connected to top panel 16 and side panel 12 along fold line 102. Likewise, support panels 34 and 36 are foldably connected to top panel 16 and side panel 12 along fold line 104.
    Support panels 30 and 34 include lower receiving apertures 224 and 226 adapted to be aligned or registered with neck-receiving apertures 200 and 202 when the carrier is in a set up condition. Support panels 30 and 34 also include lower releasing edges 228 and 230 designed to extend along at least portions of the perimeter of the bottle-releasing aperture 216 when the carrier is in a set up condition. Support panels further include frangible lines 232 and 234 extending between the lower receiving aperture 224, 226 and the lower releasing edges 228 and 230. These frangible lines 232 and 234 are designed to underlie the tear strips 212 and 214 respectively when the carrier is in a set up condition. Support panels 32 and 36 are shaped to be aligned with side panel 12 when the carrier is in a set up condition.
    Top panel 16 and support panels 30, 32, 34 and 36 are symmetrical about center fold line 250, whereby the other half of top panel 16 and support panels 38, 40, 42 and 44 are of a similar construction and not therefore specifically described.
    Handle panel 46 and handle-reinforcing panel 48 are formed from support panels 34, 36, 42 and 44 and are separated therefrom by cut line 252. These panels 46 and 48 in cooperation are adapted to form a two-ply handle for the carrier. Handle panel 46 is foldably connected to handle-reinforcing panel 48 along fold line 254. Fold lines 256, 258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268 are incorporated into handle panel 46 and handle-reinforcing panel 48 to provide means for enabling the two-ply handle to pop up when in use. The action of the "pop up" means is disclosed in PCT/US95/09430.
    As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the carrier is constructed by first forming the two-ply handle H. To create the handle H, handle panel 46 and handle-reinforcing panel 48 are folded about fold line 254 into a flat face-contacting relationship.
    Support panels 30, 32, 38, 40 and 34, 36, 42, 44 are folded about fold lines 102 and 104 respectively into a flat face-contacting relationship with top panel 16 and side panels 12 and 20. Side panels 12 and 20 are folded into an approximately perpendicular relationship with top panel 16 along fold lines 60, 62, 64 and 66.
    Internal partition band 26 is folded about fold lines 90 and 92 to bring its opposite the end sections 126 and 130 into a face-contacting relationship respectively with the opposite end sections 124 and 128 of skirt strip 22. Those brought into the flat face-contacting relationship are glued together as shown in FIG 3. In like manner, internal partition band 28 is folded about fold lines 96 and 98 to bring its opposite end sections 136 and 138 into a face-contacting relationship respectively with the foldable sections 132 and 134 of skirt strip 24. Those brought into the flat face-contacting relationship are also glued together as shown in FIG 3. The opposite end sections 140 and 142 of skirt strip 24 are glued to the opposite end sections 126 and 130 of internal partition band 26 while internal partition bands 26 and 28 are glued together at their respective center sections 144 and 146. By this means, a grouping strap for encircling the group of bottles is created along with internal partition means for dividing the bottles into two rows.
    As shown in FIG. 2, the articles are inserted into neck-receiving apertures 200, 202, 204, 206 such that the neck flanges 300, 302, 304, 306 are engaged on their undersides by lower edges L1, L2, L3, L4 respectively and pressed against lower edges L1, L2, L3, L4 by upper edges U1, U2, U3, U4. Pull tabs 208, 210 and the other two pull tabs abut top portions of the articles. These tabs and the associated tear strips can be removed to allow easy removal of the articles.
    The handle H is free to pop up through the central aperture as described earlier.
    The present invention relates to a bottle carrier which is shaped to provide satisfactory strength to hold the bottles securely but with a degree of flexibility so that load transferred to the handle is absorbed by the carrier. The shape of the blank minimizes 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 of carriers and not limited to those of the top gripping sort.

    Claims (27)

    1. An article carrier of the top-gripping type comprising a top panel (16) having a bottle neck-receiving aperture (200), said neck-receiving aperture (200) having a lower edge (L) for engagement with a bottle neck and an opposing upper edge (U) for pressing said bottle neck against said lower edge (L) characterised in that there further comprises frangible means (212) for tearing at least a portion of said top panel (16) adjacent to said neck-receiving aperture (200) to allow said bottle neck to be disengaged from said lower edge (L), said frangible means (212) extending between said neck receiving aperture (200) and a bottle-releasing aperture (216) defined in said top panel (16).
    2. The article carrier according to claim 1, wherein said frangible means extends from said upper edge (U) to said bottle-releasing aperture (216).
    3. The article carrier according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said tearing means comprises a tear line (116) formed in said top panel.
    4. The article carrier according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said tearing means comprises a tear strip (212) defined by a pair of substantially parallel tear lines (116, 118) formed in said top panel.
    5. The article carrier according to claim 4, wherein said tearing lines (116, 118) extends from said upper edge (U) to said bottle-releasing aperture (216).
    6. The article carrier according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein said tear strip includes a tab (208) formed from material that is struck from said top panel (16) to define said neck-receiving aperture (200).
    7. The article carrier according to claim 6, wherein said tab (208) extends into said neck-receiving aperture (200) when said bottle neck is out of said neck-receiving aperture.
    8. The article carrier according to any one of claims 1 to 7 further comprising a support panel (30) disposed under said top panel in flat face-contacting relationship, said support panel including a lower receiving aperture (224) disposed in registry with said neck-receiving aperture (200), and a lower releasing edge (228) extending along at least a portion of a perimeter of said bottle-releasing aperture (216), said support panel having a frangible line (232) underlying said tear strip (212).
    9. The article carrier according to claim 8, wherein said frangible line (232) extends between said lower receiving aperture (224) and said lower releasing edge (228).
    10. The article carrier according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said top panel (16) includes a bevelled shoulder strip (14), and said neck-receiving aperture (200) is formed in part in said shoulder strip (14) to have said lower edge (L) disposed at a lower vertical position than said upper edge (U).
    11. The article carrier according to claim 10, further comprising a side panel (12) joined at an upper edge thereof to said shoulder strip (14), said neck-receiving aperture (200) extends entirely across said shoulder strip (14) and terminates at said upper edge of said side panel (12) such that said lower edge (L) of said neck-receiving aperture (200) is defined by said upper edge of said side panel (12).
    12. The article carrier according to any preceding claim, wherein said bottle-releasing aperture (216) is a hand aperture for receiving fingers to hold said carrier.
    13. The article carrier according to any preceding claim, wherein said top panel (16) has a plurality of bottle neck-receiving apertures (200, 202, 204, 206), and said frangible means is provided for each of said neck-receiving apertures (200, 202, 204, 206) to extend between said each neck-receiving aperture and said bottle-releasing aperture (216).
    14. The article carrier according to claim 13, wherein said top panel (16) is generally rectangular in shape, said bottle-releasing aperture (216) is located at a center of said top panel (16), and said neck-receiving apertures (200, 202, 204, 206) are disposed around said bottle-releasing aperture (216).
    15. A blank for forming an article carrier of the top-gripping type comprising top panel (16) having a bottle neck-receiving aperture (200), said neck-receiving aperture (200) having a lower edge (L) for engagement with a bottle neck and an opposing upper edge (U) for pressing said bottle neck against said lower edge (L) characterised in that there further comprises frangible means (212) for tearing at least a portion of said top panel (16) adjacent to said neck-receiving aperture (200) to allow said bottle neck to be disengaged from said lower edge (L), said frangible means (212) extending between said neck receiving aperture (200) and a bottle-releasing aperture (216) defined in said top panel (16).
    16. The blank according to claim 15, wherein said frangible means (212) extends from said upper edge (U) to said bottle-releasing aperture (216).
    17. The blank according to claim 15 or claim 16, wherein said tearing means comprises a tear line (116) formed in said top panel.
    18. The blank according to claim 15 or claim 16, wherein said tearing means comprises a tear strip (212) defined by a pair of substantially parallel tear lines (116, 118) formed in said top panel.
    19. The blank according to claim 18, wherein said tearing lines (116, 118) extends from said upper edge (U) to said bottle-releasing aperture (216).
    20. The blank according to claim 18 or claim 19, wherein said tear strip (212) includes a tab (208) formed from material that is struck from said top panel (16) to define said neck-receiving aperture (200).
    21. The blank according to claim 20, wherein said tab (208) extends into said neck-receiving aperture (200).
    22. The blank according to any one of claims 15 to 21 further comprising a support panel (30) hingedly connected to said top panel (16) said support panel including a lower receiving aperture (224) and a lower releasing edge (228) extending along at least a portion of a perimeter of said bottle-releasing aperture (216), said support panel (30) having a frangible line (232) underlying said tear strip (212).
    23. The blank according to claim 22, wherein said frangible line (232) extends between said lower receiving aperture (224) and said lower releasing edge (228).
    24. The blank according to any one of claims 15 to 23, wherein said top panel (16) includes a shoulder strip (14), and said neck-receiving aperture (200) is formed in part in said shoulder strip (14).
    25. The blank according to claim 24, wherein a side panel (12) is joined at an upper edge thereof to said shoulder strip (14), said neck-receiving aperture (200) extends entirely across said shoulder strip (14) and terminates at said upper edge of said side panel (12) such that said lower edge (L) of said neck-receiving aperture (200) is defined by said upper edge of said side panel (12).
    26. The blank according to any preceding claim, wherein said bottle-releasing aperture (216) is a hand aperture.
    27. The blank according to any preceding claim, wherein said top panel (16) has a plurality of bottle neck-receiving apertures (200, 202, 204, 206), and said frangible means is provided for each of said neck-receiving apertures (200, 202, 204, 206) to extend between said each neck-receiving aperture and said bottle-releasing aperture (216).
    EP97936501A 1996-08-12 1997-08-12 Top gripping carrier for bottles Expired - Lifetime EP0958192B1 (en)

    Priority Applications (1)

    Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
    EP01120341A EP1157939B1 (en) 1996-08-12 1997-08-12 Top gripping carrier for bottles

    Applications Claiming Priority (3)

    Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
    GBGB9616887.7A GB9616887D0 (en) 1996-08-12 1996-08-12 Top gripping carrier for bottles
    GB9616887 1996-08-12
    PCT/US1997/014309 WO1998006638A1 (en) 1996-08-12 1997-08-12 Top gripping carrier for bottles

    Related Child Applications (1)

    Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
    EP01120341A Division EP1157939B1 (en) 1996-08-12 1997-08-12 Top gripping carrier for bottles

    Publications (2)

    Publication Number Publication Date
    EP0958192A1 EP0958192A1 (en) 1999-11-24
    EP0958192B1 true EP0958192B1 (en) 2002-04-03

    Family

    ID=10798353

    Family Applications (2)

    Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
    EP01120341A Expired - Lifetime EP1157939B1 (en) 1996-08-12 1997-08-12 Top gripping carrier for bottles
    EP97936501A Expired - Lifetime EP0958192B1 (en) 1996-08-12 1997-08-12 Top gripping carrier for bottles

    Family Applications Before (1)

    Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
    EP01120341A Expired - Lifetime EP1157939B1 (en) 1996-08-12 1997-08-12 Top gripping carrier for bottles

    Country Status (11)

    Country Link
    EP (2) EP1157939B1 (en)
    AT (2) ATE281985T1 (en)
    AU (1) AU3915797A (en)
    CY (1) CY2267B1 (en)
    DE (2) DE69711708T2 (en)
    DK (1) DK0958192T3 (en)
    ES (1) ES2175448T3 (en)
    GB (1) GB9616887D0 (en)
    NO (1) NO322271B1 (en)
    PT (1) PT958192E (en)
    WO (1) WO1998006638A1 (en)

    Families Citing this family (2)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    US6125999A (en) * 1998-11-23 2000-10-03 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Panel container carrier
    FI112194B (en) * 2001-04-06 2003-11-14 Oyj Hartwall Abp Cardboard packaging

    Family Cites Families (6)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    US2832504A (en) * 1955-05-27 1958-04-29 Container Corp Can carton with handle
    NL288319A (en) * 1962-02-02
    US3674136A (en) * 1971-06-01 1972-07-04 Mead Corp Carrier for flanged articles
    GB9413862D0 (en) 1994-07-08 1994-08-24 Mead Corp Beverage carton with strap type carrying handle
    US5487463A (en) * 1994-07-15 1996-01-30 Riverwood International Corporation Banded bottle neck carrier
    US5590776A (en) * 1995-10-06 1997-01-07 Galbierz; Richard T. Multi-pack carrier for bottles

    Also Published As

    Publication number Publication date
    EP0958192A1 (en) 1999-11-24
    CY2267B1 (en) 2003-07-04
    WO1998006638A1 (en) 1998-02-19
    DE69711708T2 (en) 2002-10-17
    DK0958192T3 (en) 2002-07-29
    DE69731564T2 (en) 2005-12-22
    NO322271B1 (en) 2006-09-04
    GB9616887D0 (en) 1996-09-25
    AU3915797A (en) 1998-03-06
    NO990623L (en) 1999-04-08
    DE69731564D1 (en) 2004-12-16
    ATE215490T1 (en) 2002-04-15
    DE69711708D1 (en) 2002-05-08
    EP1157939B1 (en) 2004-11-10
    EP1157939A1 (en) 2001-11-28
    ES2175448T3 (en) 2002-11-16
    PT958192E (en) 2002-09-30
    ATE281985T1 (en) 2004-11-15
    NO990623D0 (en) 1999-02-10

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