EP1373088A1

EP1373088A1 - Element for carrying cans or similar products and a blank for making one such element

Info

Publication number: EP1373088A1
Application number: EP01921495A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jean-Luc Carlier; Jean-Louis Dorez; Sébastien DOREZ
Original assignee: Jl Corp
Current assignee: Jl Corp
Priority date: 2001-04-05
Filing date: 2001-04-05
Publication date: 2004-01-02
Also published as: WO2002081324A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a blank for making an element that is used to carry cans or similar products. Said blank is characterised in that it comprises a main panel (2) and at least two flaps (3, 4) that are articulated to the main panel (2) by means of longitudinal folding lines (5, 6). When said blank (1) is assembled, it forms a carrying element with a transverse section which is incorporated in a more or less triangular casing.

Description

Profile for carrying cans or similar products and blank for making such a profile.

The invention relates to the technical field of transport, presentation and grouping packaging for cans or any other equivalent product.

By “grouping packaging” is meant here a secondary packaging designed so as to facilitate the handling or transport of a certain number of sales units, whether it is sold as such to the final consumer or is used only for garnish sales displays. By "cans, here is meant a small can, generally metallic, of cylindrical shape with upper and lower walls substantially flat or concave, these cans being called beverage can, drink can or simply can in Anglo-Saxon countries and drink box or drink box in French-speaking countries. By "cans or any other equivalent product" is meant herein containers, metallic or not, provided with substantially planar or concave upper and lower walls and comprising a hem or a rim projecting transversely. These products considered here as equivalent to cans are for example: - jars provided with a transverse annular projection near their opening;

- cans, thermoformed jars for dairy products. According to some authors, it was in 1935 that a New Jersey brewer (Krueger) marketed the first beverage can, then made of tin. The commercial success of this packaging method has only grown since then. In 1949, Continental Can received authorization from Pepsi-Cola to package its cola in cans. In 1955, it was Coca-Cola's turn to sell its cola in cans in Japan, 820 million cans will be manufactured by Coca-Cola in 1960. It is now estimated that one billion cans are consumed every day of carbonated drinks sold under the various brands of the Coca-Cola company, the total of soft drink cans consumed every day being around 47 billion.

The cans have been used for a few years for the packaging of very varied products, more or less distant from carbonated drinks and "soft drinks".

Among these products, we can cite: mineral waters, cocktails (whiskey-coca etc.), iced teas and coffees, shampoos and other beauty products.

Half a dozen can manufacturers share nearly 85% of the world's production capacity, with colas (Coca-Cola ® and Pepsi-Cola ®) accounting for more than 75% of global demand for finished cans.

In France, cans are mainly used for "soft drinks", some breweries have been offering 50cl or even 75cl cans for a few years, this packaging method representing for France only 7% of total beer sales.

The success of the cans illustrates the many qualities of this product:

- the cans are made of aluminum alloy or steel and are therefore easily recyclable;

- the cans are light; - the metal cans allow rapid cooling of their contents;

- the cans can be stacked easily, this major interest having motivated, since 1950, the stop of the manufacturing by Continental Can of the so-called tapered “top cone” cans in the upper part, like bottles, for the benefit of cans only “ punch top can ”with high and low walls. The different conceptions of how to open cans have always had, among their imperatives, the concern to preserve this stackable character. Stacking of cans is possible, whether these cans are full or empty. Thus, beverage cans or boxes are conventionally delivered in 8000 pallets, for manufacturers of soft drinks, fruit juices or beers; - the stacking of the pallets of cans does not impose the dividers made of cardboard or cellular polypropylene used for the stacking of the pallets of bottles;

- the printing of cans by screen printing in particular allows decorative and promotional effects.

The transportation and handling of cans by users poses many particular problems.

The cans in particular offer much less grip and support surface than bottles or containers with necks. Several solutions are known in the prior art for transporting cans in groups.

According to a first solution, an intermediate packaging is implemented: cardboard of six in particular of the enveloping or “wrap-around” type, container holder of six in plastic, or cellular grouping device. Reference may be made, for example, to the US patents granted under the numbers 4,214,660, 5,806,667, 5,655,654, 5,653,334. Wrap-around packaging has many drawbacks. First, they hide the product from view, which does not meet the expectations of some users who are tempted to partially open the pack, sometimes tearing it, hence the risk of accidental opening of the pack. The cardboard blanks used for wrap-around are heavy and therefore expensive, especially since they must be printed over a large part of their large area.

According to a second solution, secondary packaging is used: cardboard boxes for 12 or 24 cans, corrugated cardboard trays for 12 or 24 cans. One can refer, for example, to document US-A-5,785,170. The corrugated cardboard boxes are heavy and unsightly, and their use is often limited to professional uses (supplying cans of vending machines known as "vending machines"). According to a third solution, possibly combined with the first or the second, tertiary packaging is used: stretch film, plastic strapping. Reference may be made, for example, to document EP-A-0 537 984. Stretch films when torn for the extraction of a first can, generally do not allow the maintenance of other cans in a group. The same goes for strapping.

According to a fourth solution, the cans are connected together by a detachable strip or a blank called "can-clip carrier". We can refer, for example, to the following documents:

- international patent applications published under the numbers 98/05570, 96/31408, 95/21779, 95/21106, 93/02942, 92/22470, 91/10603, 91/05716; - patents issued in the United States under the numbers 5,551,566, 5,443,153,

5 503 267, 5 415 278, 5 351 817, 5 320 216, 5 318 178, 5 310 051, 5 188 225, 5 135 104, 5 125 506, 5 103 971, 5 099 632, 4 336 898, 4 216 859, 3,653,503, 3,601,439, 3,038,600, 2,965,410, 2,764,284;

- European patent applications published under the numbers 0 527 451, 0 495 197, 0 465 833, 0 456 358, 0 398 835, 0 386 399.

In what is sometimes seen as a variant of the fourth solution presented above, the cans are grouped using a flat upper panel provided with side flaps. Reference may be made, for example, to the following documents: - international patent applications published under the numbers

95/34484, 95/25679, 95/10458, 93/25439, 93/14993, 93/14992;

- American patents granted under the numbers 5,791,463, 5,553,705;

- European patent applications published under the numbers 0 838 408, 0 806 372; - patent application in France published under number 2 684 079.

Can clip carriers and equivalent products do not allow easy handling of groups of cans. Indeed, the user must, at best, pass the fingers through holes passing through a horizontal flap of the blank, which is uncomfortable when the blank is made of substantially rigid material, the edge of the holes being fairly sharp. When the blank is made of flat cardboard, the passage of the fingers during porting can give rise to a tearing of the blank, especially when the cans are stored in a humid environment.

In general, in the prior art, whatever the grouping method chosen, the cardboard or polymer material blanks used are designed so as not to hinder the stacking of the cans on pallets, which does not is not without posing many difficulties in gripping packs or groups of cans.

The invention aims to provide a means of transport, presentation and grouping of cans which do not have the drawbacks of those known in the prior art and which allow in particular:

- easy gripping of the cans, without risk of breakage during porting, including when the cans are stored in a humid environment;

- the group keeping of the remaining cans when the consumer withdraws one or more, unlike in particular strapping devices;

- an aesthetic presentation of the cans on shelves;

- a good view of most of the surface of the cans, for the consumer;

- an excellent strength / weight ratio of the grouping means, allowing the use of a small amount of material;

- easy adaptation to POS displays and occasional promotional activities;

- easy recycling of environmentally friendly materials; this without harming the stacking and stacking of cans. To this end, the invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a blank for producing a bar for carrying cans or similar products, this blank comprising a main panel and at least two flaps hinged to this main panel around longitudinal fold lines, the volume of said blank forming a carrying bar of cross section inscribed in a substantially triangular envelope.

According to various embodiments, the blank has the following characters, possibly combined: - at least a first flap is articulated to the main panel around a first longitudinal fold line, at least a second flap being articulated to the main panel around a second longitudinal fold line, the distance between the two longitudinal fold lines corresponding to the width of the main panel;

- The first and the second part are provided with means allowing their mutual assembly;

- The means allowing the mutual assembly of the first and second flaps are chosen from the group comprising the stapling means, in particular staples tabs and slots, the bonding means, in particular pressure-sensitive adhesive;

- the main panel is articulated, along only one of its two longitudinal edges, to a first flap, itself articulated, around a longitudinal fold line, to a second flap, the second flap and the main panel being provided with means allowing their mutual assembly;

- The means allowing the mutual assembly of the second flap and the main panel are chosen from the means comprising the stapling means, in particular stapling tabs and slots, the bonding means, in particular pressure-sensitive adhesive; - The main panel is provided with at least one through hole, the free edge of each of these holes comprising deformable means capable of coming to bear against the hem of a can;

- the through holes are substantially circular and identical;

- the deformable means comprise at least two support legs, each of the support legs being delimited by:

• a section of the free edge of the through hole;

• two radial edges;

• an articulation zone to the main panel;

- For at least one of the support legs, the section of the free edge of the through hole is substantially straight and perpendicular to a diameter of the through hole; - For at least one of the support legs, the lateral edges are curved, in particular in an arc;

- For at least one of the support legs, the articulation zone is a fold line substantially straight and perpendicular to a diameter of the through hole;

- For at least one of the support legs, the articulation zone is a fold line in an arc of a circle concentric to the section of the free edge;

- At least one of the flaps articulated to the main panel is provided with a means of visualization of the space delimited by the blank set in volume, this means being chosen from the group comprising the through holes, the through holes closed by a translucent film or semi-transparent, the through holes closed by a peelable cover or a cover that can be torn or cut along a line of weakness, the through holes closed by articulated tabs; - At least one tab articulated on a transverse edge of the blank is arranged to allow the closure of at least one lateral side of the support profile obtained by volume setting of the blank.

The invention relates, according to a second aspect, to the support profiles obtained by the setting in volume of blanks as presented above, the material used for the realization of the blank being chosen from the group comprising flat cartons, micro cartons -channeled, polymer materials such as polypropylene (PP), in particular cellular polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyester, high density polystyrene (PS), and their copolymers, as well as multilayer materials based on polymers and cellulosic materials.

At least one of its large side faces is inclined at an angle between 30 and 60 ° relative to the plane of the main panel.

The invention relates, according to a third aspect, to the assemblies formed by the installation of at least one can or any other equivalent product in a profile as presented above, the width of the main panel is substantially equal to the maximum transverse dimension of said can. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear during the following description of embodiments, which description will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank according to an embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 2 a partial plan view of a main panel of a blank provided with through holes, according to an alternative embodiment;

- Figure 3 is a detail view of a through hole arranged on the main panel of a blank, two types of support legs being shown in the left and right part of Figure 3, respectively;

- Figure 4 is a detail view of a through hole disposed on the main panel of a blank, according to another embodiment of the support legs;

- Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 of another embodiment of the support legs;

- Figures 6 to 19 are schematic side views of profiles or bars for carrying cans or equivalent products, according to various embodiments;

- Figures 20 to 22 are perspective views of profiles or bars for carrying cans or equivalent products, according to various embodiments;

- Figures 23 and 24 are front views of one of the large side faces of a profile or bar for carrying cans or equivalent products, according to two embodiments.

- Figure 25 is a partial top view of a bar or profile for carrying cans or equivalent products;

- Figure 26 is a perspective view of a bar or profile for carrying cans or equivalent products.

- Figures 27 and 28 are views similar to Figures 6 to 19 of alternative embodiments of a carrying bar. In the remainder of the text, the expression “fold line” may designate, as will be understood by a person skilled in the art, any articulation line obtained by creasing, upsetting, folding, grooving, half-cut (c ' is at say partial notch for example using a tracing net), or any other method of thinning or perforation for example by punching.

The expression “fold line” may also denote the arrangement of at least two lines for creasing, grooving, half-cut or punching, so as to form an accordion-type joint.

In the rest of the text, the term "blank" designates a piece of flat cardboard material, or micro-fluted, polymer material such as polypropylene (PP), in particular cellular polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyester, polystyrene (PS). ) high density, and their copolymers, as well as multilayer materials based on polymers and cellulosic materials, or any other equivalent material.

The blanks which will be described below may in particular, in certain embodiments, be formed from semi-transparent or translucent polymer materials. The technique used to produce the fold lines may be chosen by a person skilled in the art depending on the type of material used and the thickness of the blank.

In the detailed description below of embodiments of the invention, the terms “longitudinal”, “length”, will be used with reference to a first direction D1, the terms “transverse”, “width”, will be used relative to a second direction D2 substantially perpendicular to the direction D1.

The blanks will first of all be described seen flat, in a plane P defined by the directions D1 and D2. When the blanks will be described after their volume, the directions

D1 and D2 will be considered horizontal, the main panel of the blank extending substantially in the plane P defined by the directions D1 and D2. The terms “height”, “vertical”, will then be used with reference to a third direction D3, the directions D1, D2 and D3 forming a direct trihedron. We now refer to Figure 1.

The blank 1 seen in FIG. 1 comprises a main panel 2 on either side of which extend two flaps 3,4. The flaps 3,4 are hinged to the main panel around longitudinal fold lines 5,6.

The first flap 3 carries, on its free edge 7, latching lugs 8 intended to be housed in latching slots 9 disposed on the second flap 4.

The main panel is provided with through holes 10 whose edge 11 is of generally circular outline.

This general circular outline is intended for the use of the blank, after setting in volume, as a bar or profile for carrying conventional cans, the upper transverse edge of which is circular. Conventional cans have a neck obtained for example by applying a shrinking disc before crimping the cover. This neck is intended to come into abutment against the free edge of the holes 10, as will appear more fully in the remainder of this description. As will be understood by a person skilled in the art, the general outline of the holes may be other than circular, and in particular elliptical or polygonal, to take account of other geometries of cans or equivalent objects.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the edge 11 comprises an alternation of substantially rectilinear sections 12 and of sections in an arc of a circle 13. In the embodiment shown, the edge 11 of the holes 10 comprises eight substantially identical sections 12 and eight sections of substantially identical arc 13, the edge 11 of each hole thus having symmetry with respect to two planes, namely a longitudinal plane P1 and a transverse plane P2.

In other embodiments, not shown, the edge 11 comprises substantially rectilinear sections and elliptical sections, arranged alternately. The rectilinear sections and the curved sections can be eight in number, with octagonal edges, as in the embodiment of FIG. 1, or in a lower or higher number. For example, straight sections and curved sections can be arranged in hexagon. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the holes 10 are substantially identical and equidistant and are arranged at half the width of the main panel, so that the edges 11 of each of the holes 10 are arranged symmetrically with respect to a transverse plane P1 center panel 2.

This arrangement has certain advantages:

- It is thus possible to ensure, by adjusting the width of the main panel 2, that the cans do not protrude beyond the fold lines 5,6, as shown in Figure 25, which allows an arrangement very compact groups of cans, especially on linear;

- It is thus possible to ensure, by adjusting the longitudinal distance between the centers C of the holes 10, that the cans are substantially in contact with each other, which facilitates carrying, as shown in Figure 26 In other embodiments, not shown, the holes 10 are not of identical shapes or dimensions, the bar formed by setting up the blank is configured for carrying in a group of products of different shapes.

In the embodiment shown, the main panel 2 is provided with four holes 10.

In other embodiments, not shown, the main panel has less than four holes or more than four holes.

The provision of substantially circular sections 13 makes it possible to avoid concentrations of stresses and notch effect which can lead to localized rupture of the blank during porting. This arrangement is particularly advantageous when the blank is made of a fairly rigid material such as polypropylene.

Likewise, in order to prevent the substantially circular sections 13 of contiguous holes 10 from being placed at too short a distance, which could form a zone of greater fragility for the blank, the holes 10 are, in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, arranged in such a way that the nearest circular sections 13a, 13b13c, between adjacent holes 10, are not arranged in the longitudinal direction D1.

On the contrary, following the direction D1 in the plane P1 of FIG. 1, it appears that, in the zones where the edges 11 of contiguous holes are the closest, a circular section 13c of a first edge 11 is opposite with a straight section 12c from the edge 11 of the adjoining hole 10.

In another embodiment, not shown, the contiguous holes are devoid of circular or curved sections in the area where their free edges are closest. When the blank 1 is set in volume, the tabs 8 are inserted into the slots 9, thus forming a profile or bar of cross section inscribed in a substantially triangular envelope.

In the embodiment of Figure 1, the flaps 3,4 are substantially the same width, so that the profile obtained will be of isosceles triangular section.

In other embodiments, not shown, the flaps 3, 4 and the main panel 2 are of widths such that the profile obtained is of equilateral triangular section, or even any type, scalene.

The assembly of the flaps 3, 4 can be carried out in such a way that the free edge of the flap 3 is disposed on the external face or on the internal face of the flap 4, it being specified that by "external face", is meant here the most apparent after volume setting of the blank.

The flaps 3,4 can be assembled by stapling, gluing, welding, and in particular high frequency welding, ultrasound, or heat sealing, the assembly method being chosen, as those skilled in the art will recognize, depending in particular on the material. used for the blank 1, its thickness and the mechanical forces provided for the blank set in volume.

These mechanical forces will depend in particular on the number and weight of the cans, the ends of which will be inserted into the holes 10, the sections 12 of the edges 11 of each hole 10 forming a bearing stop against the hemmed rim of the cans or equivalent products. As will be apparent to a person skilled in the art, there is no need to specify, with reference to FIG. 1, whether the blank is seen with its external face or its visible internal face. Indeed, the blank has, in the embodiment of Figure 1, an overall symmetry. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the blank flattened has a substantially rectangular outline and forms, when set in volume, a profile of substantially triangular cross section, open at its two lateral ends. It is thus possible to accommodate various objects such as notices, advertisements, promotional objects in the space thus delimited. These objects can, if necessary, be partially seen by the consumer by one or more of the following provisions:

- the blank is made of a semi-transparent or translucent material;

- at least one of the shutters is provided with a window formed by:

• a simple opening; • an opening covered with a transparent film;

• an opening covered with a cover which can be inserted;

• an opening provided with articulated shutter tabs. The internal space in the profile of the can carrying bar can be, in one embodiment, closed at one or at its two ends by a closing tab hinged the transverse edges of the main panel

2. If necessary, these closing tabs can be provided with first opening indicators such as adhesive tape, such an arrangement being advantageous when the closed volume internal to the carrying section contains a promotional object. Referring now to Figures 2 to 5 which illustrate different embodiments of support legs arranged on the edge 11 of the holes 10 of a main panel 2 of blank 1 as described above.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, radial notches 20 are disposed beyond the free circular edge 11 of the holes 10. So that the support tabs 21 are each delimited by:

- A section substantially in an arc 22 of the free edge 11;

- two radial cuts; - And an articulation zone 23 in a concentric arc in section 22. This articulation zone is shown diagrammatically in dashes in FIG. 2.

The articulation zone 23 can be located, if necessary, by a fold line of the blank. In other embodiments, this articulation zone is formed during the forced insertion, into the holes 10, of the ends of cans or equivalent products.

The radial notches 20 are arranged in such a way that the closest notches between contiguous holes are not aligned. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2, in the zone where the free edges of two contiguous holes are the closest, a notch 20a of a first hole is opposite a section 22a of the contiguous hole. This avoids embrittlement of the blank which could be observed if the notches 20 of neighboring holes were aligned.

In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the free edges of neighboring holes do not have radial cuts in the area where these holes are closest.

We now refer to Figure 3.

In the left part of FIG. 3, support legs 24 are delimited, as in the embodiment of FIG. 2, by:

- A substantially circular section 22 of the free edge 11 of the hole 10; - two radial notches 20;

an articulation zone 23 in a concentric arc with the section 22.

In the right part of FIG. 3, the articulation zone 23 is formed, for each tab, by a substantially straight fold line 25 belonging to a polygon inscribed in a concentric circle in section 22 of the free edge 11. By d in other words, the fold lines 25 are substantially perpendicular to the diameters of each hole 10. This arrangement facilitates the folding of tabs 24 of large dimensions.

The radial distance separating the articulation zone 23 and the section 22 of the free edge 11 is greater, for the tabs 24 shown in FIG. 3, than for the tabs 21 shown in FIG. 2.

As those skilled in the art will understand, it is thus possible to adapt the dimensions of the legs 21, 24, and therefore their stiffness, both to the weight that the diameter of the cans or equivalent products to be kept in the holes 10 during their carrying.

In the embodiment of Figure 4, the free edge of the holes 10 is provided with two projecting tabs 26 in the form of a meniscus, placed opposite one another.

In the variant shown in FIG. 5, in addition to the two tabs 26 in the form of a meniscus, the free edge 11 includes tabs 27 with a shape close to those shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to Figures 6 to 19 which illustrate different embodiments of bars or profiles.

The embodiments of FIGS. 6 to 19 can be implemented with each of the embodiments of holes 10 described previously.

Figures 6 to 8 illustrate embodiments in which the profile is of triangular section, and is obtained by folding a single blank around longitudinal fold lines.

In FIG. 6, the folding is such that the main panel is articulated on a single transverse side, with three successive panels 3a, 3b, 3c, the main panel

2 being of double thickness by folding the blank onto itself. Such an embodiment allows in particular the carrying of cans of significant weight, and / or the use of a material of low grammage for the blank.

In FIG. 7, the folding is carried out in such a way that it is the two flaps 3,4 which are doubled in thickness, by the presence of additional panels 30,31, articulated on the flaps 3,4. Such an embodiment allows for example a decorative effect when the flaps 3,4 are provided with a print or a pattern appearing through cutouts formed on the panels covering 30,31.

In the embodiment of Figure 8, a handle 32 is attached to the profile obtained by volume setting of the blank. This handle can be assembled to the profile by welding or gluing. In the embodiment of Figure 9, the profile is also provided with a handle, but this handle is formed by assembling panels 33,34 articulated longitudinally to the flaps 3,4. This assembly can be made by gluing, welding, stapling or any other equivalent means.

In the variant of FIG. 10, one of the flaps 3, 4 is provided with three articulated panels 35, 36, 37, two of these panels forming, after folding one over the other, a carrying handle, the third panel 37 being fixed on the external face of the other flap.

In another variant shown in FIG. 11, one of the flaps 3,4 is articulated to a panel 38 forming a handle, this panel 38 being seen in a folded state of support against said flap 3,4. This support can for example be obtained by a repositionable adhesive, a Velcro type fastening strip.

®, a fastening tab returning to a slot in the shutter 3.4, any other equivalent means.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the main panel 2 is doubled by an added reinforcement panel 39, a reinforcement blank with two panels 40,41 being, if necessary, assembled with the flaps 3,4.

Such an implementation makes it possible, on a standard profile obtained with a blank of low grammage, to obtain a profile of greater resistance, for its base panel and / or for its side flaps 3, 4.

In Figure 13 is shown an alternative embodiment of the mode of Figure 10, the flaps 3, 4 and reinforcement panels 42, 43 being provided with longitudinal fold lines 44, 45, 46, 47 such as the profile obtained by placing volume of the blank, while remaining of triangular overall section, has a thinned upper part.

As seen in Figures 14 to 17, and in Figure 19, the profile for carrying cans or equivalent products can be obtained by assembling two parts. In FIGS. 14 and 15, a part 50 closes a profile 51 at C. In FIG. 16, the closure part is fitted onto the free edges of a profile

51 in C. In FIG. 17, the closing part of the C-shaped section is provided with a reinforcing foot 52 coming substantially at right and pressing against the main panel 2. In FIG. 19, the closing part is provided with two reinforcement legs 53,54 bearing against the main panel 2. In the embodiment of Figure 18, a reinforcing foot 55, coming to the right and bearing against the main panel, is formed by folding panels hinged to one of the flaps 3,4.

Referring now to Figures 20 to 26. In Figure 20 is shown an embodiment in which one of the flaps

3,4 has legs 60,61 which can be found in two states:

- A first state in which these legs 60,61 are substantially in the plane of the flaps 3,4 and are, if necessary, attached to these flaps by a frangible line 62; a second state in which these legs 60, 61 are articulated to a longitudinal fold line 63 and come to view, or even substantially bear against the main panel 2.

65,66,67, articulated or frangible legs arranged on the flaps 3,4 allow, in various ways: - the provision of through holes 64 for the hand or fingers, facilitating carrying, as shown in Figure 21;

- the release at sight of a part of the upper face of the cans as seen in FIGS. 22 to 24.

The profiles which have just been described have numerous advantages and allow in particular:

- easy manual gripping of groups of cans, without risk of breakage during porting, including when the cans are stored in a humid environment;

- an aesthetic presentation of the groups of cans on shelves; - an excellent strength / weight ratio of the grouping means, allowing the use of a small amount of material;

- easy adaptation to POS displays and occasional promotional activities;

- easy recycling of environmentally friendly materials; this without harming the stacking and stacking of groups of cans.

Although the blank and the profile described above have only been presented for their use in grouping cans or products equivalent, it is quite possible to use such blanks and profiles for the transport and presentation on shelves of a single can or equivalent product.

In such an application, the blank may have only one through hole 10.

The transport by the profile of the invention of a single can or similar container is advantageous for example when:

- the container walls are hot or cold, for example when transporting cryogenic products; - the containers contain toxic, aggressive or sterile products, the user's hands must not be in contact with the walls of the container;

- moisture and grease have probably settled on the walls of the container, making them slippery; - fingerprints would have a negative effect on the presentation of the product (luxury item for example).

As shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, the carrying bar has a cross section inscribed in a substantially triangular envelope, this cross section being able to be formed of a substantially planar section, for the main panel, and of:

- curved arc, as shown in Figure 27;

- open arc, as shown in figure 28.

By arched arch, we mean here semi-circular arches, flattened arcs, horseshoe, chain, blunt miter. In other variant embodiments, not shown, the cross section of the bar will comprise, in addition to the main panel, a broken arc of the ogive type in a third point, raised or lowered ogive, or even an angular arc of the miter type, broken angular or truncated angular. The embodiments of FIGS. 27 and 28 can be implemented with each of the embodiments of the holes 10 described previously.

Claims

1. Blank for the production of a bar for carrying cans or similar products, characterized in that it comprises a main panel (2) and at least two flaps (3,4) articulated to this main panel (2) around longitudinal fold lines (5,6), the volume of said blank (1) forming a carrying bar of cross section inscribed in a substantially triangular envelope.

2. Blank according to claim 1, characterized in that at least a first flap (3) is articulated to the main panel (2) around a first longitudinal fold line (5), at least a second flap (4) being articulated to the main panel (2) around a second longitudinal fold line (6), the distance between the two longitudinal fold lines corresponding to the width of the main panel (2).

3. Blank according to claim 2, characterized in that the first and the second flap (3,4) are provided with means allowing their mutual assembly.

4. Blank according to claim 3, characterized in that the means allowing the mutual assembly of the first and second flaps (3,4) are chosen from the group comprising the stapling means, in particular lugs and stapling slots (8 , 9), the bonding means, in particular pressure-sensitive adhesive.

5. Blank according to claim 1, characterized in that the main panel (2) is articulated, along only one of its two longitudinal edges, to a first flap, itself articulated, around a fold line longitudinal, to a second flap, the second flap and the main panel being provided with means allowing their mutual assembly.

6. Blank according to claim 5, characterized in that the means allowing the mutual assembly of the second flap and the main panel (2) are chosen from the means comprising the stapling means, in particular lugs and stapling slots, the bonding means, in particular pressure-sensitive adhesive.

7. Blank according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the main panel (2) is provided with at least two through holes (10), the free edge (11) of each of these holes (10 ) comprising deformable means capable of coming to bear against the hem of a can.

8. Blank according to claim 7, characterized in that the holes (10) are substantially circular and identical.

9. A blank according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the deformable means comprise at least two support legs, each of the support legs being delimited by: - a section of the free edge (11) of the through hole (10 );

- two radial edges; - an articulation zone (23) to the main panel (2).

10. Blank according to claim 9, characterized in that, for at least one of the support tabs, the section of the free edge of the through hole is substantially straight and perpendicular to a diameter of the through hole.

11. A blank according to claim 9, characterized in that for at least one of the support legs, the lateral edges are curved, in particular in an arc of a circle (13).

12. Blank according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that, for at least one of the support legs, the articulation zone (23) is a substantially straight fold line and perpendicular to a diameter of the through hole.

13. Blank according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that, for at least one of the support legs, the articulation zone is a fold line in an arc of a circle concentric to the section of the free edge .

14. Blank according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that at least one of the flaps articulated to the main panel is provided with means for viewing the space delimited by the blank set in volume, this means being chosen from the group comprising: the through holes, the through holes closed by a translucent or semi-transparent film, the through holes closed by a peelable cover or a cover that can be torn or cut along a line of weakness, the through holes closed by hinged legs.

15. Blank according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that at least one tab articulated on a transverse edge of the blank (1) is arranged to allow the closing of at least one lateral side of the bearing profile obtained by setting up the blank (1).

16. Supporting profile obtained by the setting in volume of a blank (1) as presented in any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the material used for the realization of the blank (1) is chosen from group comprising flat cartons, micro-corrugated cartons, polymer materials such as polypropylene (PP), in particular cellular polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyester, high density polystyrene (PS), and their copolymers, as well as the materials multilayers based on polymers and cellulosic materials.

17. Support profile according to claim 16, characterized in that at least one of its large lateral faces is inclined at an angle between 30 and 60 ° relative to the plane of the main panel (2).

18. assembly formed by the installation of at least one can or any other equivalent product in a profile as presented in claim 15 or 16, this assembly being characterized in that the width of the main panel (2) is substantially equal to the maximum transverse dimension of said can.