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
• • 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
• • 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
  • B65D71/46—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 tubular element

Definitions

• This invention relates generally to article carriers for use with articles such as bottles, and more particularly it relates to apertures in top-gripping article carriers for engaging articles by the neck for improved retention.
• Top-gripping article carriers are well known, various methods of retaining an article within the carrier are known in the art.
• the present invention is concerned with a retention means sometimes, and hereinafter, referred to as a "Sunburst" aperture.
• a sunburst aperture In a sunburst aperture, a plurality of tabs are arranged around the circumference of an aperture.
• “Sunburst” apertures are known; as shown in CA2339532, they comprise a circular aperture and a plurality of cut lines extending radially away from the aperture.
• the cut lines create a plurality of tabs which create an annular series arranged around the circumference of the aperture; in use these tabs engage a radial protrusion of the bottle or bottle closure to retain the article within the carrier.
• "Sunburst" apertures known in the art may be limited in the degree of retention they are capable of providing.
• One possible reason for this may be that a "Sunburst" aperture is constructed such that the annular series of tabs can create an aperture large enough to allow a radial protrusion of the article to pass through. The radial protrusion is engaged by the tabs to retain the article, an undesirable consequence of this however may be that only a small portion of each tab engages the article. This arrangement may still allow movement of the article about the point of contact and so the articles are not always held securely.
• the material from which the "Sunburst" aperture is constructed may be weakened as it folds. This weakening of the material may permit movement of the tabs about that fold whichwhich further reduces the stability of the article within the aperture.
• the present invention seeks to overcome the problems of the prior art by forming a "Sunburst" aperture which increases the retention and/or stability of an article within it. Summary of the Invention
• One aspect of the present invention provides a panel of foldable single-ply sheet material having at least one aperture for receiving a portion of an article characterised by at least two annular series of tabs being formed around the aperture, the two annular series sharing a notional common peripheral line and being adaptable to yield out of the plane of the panel when the portion of an article is received in the aperture so as to bear against the portion of an article such that tabs in each of the annular series engaging the article at different locations relative to the plane of the panel improve retention of the article within the aperture.
• the at least two annular series of tabs comprising a major annular series of tabs and a minor annular series of tabs, the minor tabs being struck from the major tabs.
• each series of the at least two annular series of tabs may have an edge for engaging the article which edge may be concave or convex.
• the major series of tabs may be defined by a set of radial cut lines protruding from the aperture, the major series of tabs engaging with a radial protrusion of the article or article closure.
• the common periphery is substantially the same size as the size of an article to be received in the aperture.
• the major series of tabs there may be eight radial cut lines defining the major series of tabs and the major series of tabs may comprise eight tabs circumferentially arranged around the aperture.
• the tabs of the minor series are defined by an arcuate cut line.
• eight arcuate cut lines define eight minor tabs circumferentially arranged around the aperture.
• a second aspect of the present invention provides an article top-gripping arrangement having an article-receiving aperture and a plurality of primary tabs defining at least a part of the aperture the plurality of primary tabs for engaging the underside of a radially protruding portion of an article received in the aperture the arrangement comprising a secondary tab for engaging a smaller diameter portion of the article, the secondary tab being formed at least in part from one of the primary tabs, wherein a cut line, for defining the secondary tab, is spaced from and interposed between an adjacent pair of slits, defining the one primary tab, when the arrangement is in its flat form.
• a fourth aspect of the present invention provides a single-ply panel of paperboard material comprising an aperture for receiving a portion of an article and comprising first and second series of tabs formed around said aperture, the series of tabs sharing a common periphery and the tabs of each series having edges for contacting said article, the first and second series being arranged such that the edges of the tabs in the first series contact said article at locations spaced from the edges of the tabs in the second series thereby maintaining said article within the aperture.
• FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a blank for forming a "Sunburst" aperture according to a first embodiment of the invention.
• FIGU E 2 shows a perspective view of the "Sunburst" aperture from the first embodiment operatively engaging a bottle.
• FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the invention operatively engaging a bottle.
• FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a blank for forming an aperture according to a second embodiment of the invention. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
• FIG. 1 there is shown a blank 20 or a panel 20 ⁇ of a blank having a "Sunburst" aperture 10, made from paperboard or similar foldable material.
• the "Sunburst" aperture 10 is intended to receive an article 30, such as a bottle, when the aperture is contained within a carton blank 20 such as that shown in figure 2.
• the "Sunburst” aperture 10 comprises a first cut line 12 which is substantially circular. It is envisaged that in other embodiments of the invention the first cut line 12 could be an alternative shape.
• the first cut line 12 forms a first aperture 14 in the blank.
• the first aperture 14 is preferably smaller than an article closure C (shown in figure 2) or other radial protrusion of the article 30.
• a first annular series of eight major tabs 24 are arranged around the periphery of the first aperture 14.
• Each major tab 24 is defined by and separated from two adjacent major tabs 24 by two radial cut lines 16.
• the radial cut lines 16 extend outwardly from the first cut line 12 that defines the first aperture 14. In total there are eight radial cut lines 16.
• the outer extremity of the radial cut lines 16 may define a periphery of a second aperture 18 which is created upon insertion of the article 30, which has larger diameter than the first aperture 14.
• the first annular series of major tabs 24 may yield when the article 30 is inserted through the first aperture 14, thus forming the second aperture 18 (shown in figures 2 and 3).
• the major tabs 24 fold about a fold line 28.
• the diameter of the second aperture 18 may be substantially equal to that of the article closure C, as illustrated in figure 2.
• the second aperture 18 allows the article closure C to be inserted through the paperboard material of a carton blank 20.
• arcuate cut lines 22 define edges of minor tabs 26.
• the arcuate cut lines 22 are interposed between an adjacent pair of radial cut lines or slits 16.
• the minor tabs 26 form a second annular series.
• Annular is used to describe the arrangement of the tabs of the first and second series 24, 26 and the aperture 14, it is envisaged that the aperture 14 in other embodiments may not be circular and therefore annular should not be construed as being only a circular arrangement
• the arcuate cut lines 22 may extend substantially between the outermost extremities of the radial cut lines 16.
• the arcuate cut lines 22 preferably terminate on the circumference of the second aperture 18.
• the arcuate cut lines 22 are preferably half circular in shape.
• the arcuate cut lines 22, radial cutlines 16 and the cut line 12 define the first and second annular series of the major tabs 24 and the minor tabs 26 respectively.
• the first annular series of the major tabs 24 and the second annular series of minor tabs 26 are arranged around the first aperture 14.
• the minor tabs 26 are at least in part struck from the major tabs 24.
• the major tabs 24 and the minor tabs 26 share a common periphery 18 along which they may fold when the article 30 is received by the "Sunburst" aperture 10.
• the major tabs 24 fold about fold line 28.
• the minor tabs 26 fold about fold line 32.
• the second annular series of minor tabs 26 may fold along the periphery of the second aperture 18 to allow the article closure C to pass through. Once the article closure C, or other radial protrusion, has passed through the "Sunburst" aperture 10 the minor tabs 26 attempt to return to their original position until an edge 22, or other portion, of the minor tabs 26 makes contact with a portion of the article 30. Movement of the article 30 within the second aperture 18 may then be reduced, improving stability and/or retention of the article 30. The article 30 is therefore in contact with the material 20 comprising the "Sunburst" aperture 10 at two separate locations relative to the plane containing the second aperture 18.
• Figure 2 shows the "Sunburst" aperture 10 of figure 1 constructed within a portion of a panel of foldable sheet material 20 from which a carton may be formed.
• "Sunburst" aperture 10 of figure 1 is shown engaging the article 30, for example a bottle, which has been inserted through it.
• An edge defined by cut line 12, or a portion of the major tabs 24, engages the underside of the article closure C, which in this embodiment is a crown cork, thereby retaining the article 30 within the "Sunburst" aperture 10.
• An edge defined by cut line 22, or portion of the minor tabs 26, engages a portion the article 30 below the point where the major tabs 24 engage the article closure C.
• the major tabs 24 fold about fold line 28 and the minor tabs 26 substantially return to their original location.
• Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of an article 30, for example a bottle, being engaged by the "Sunburst" aperture 10 shown in figure 1.
• the major tabs 24 engage the article 30 beneath the radially protruding article closure C. It is envisaged that the "Sunburst" aperture 10 could engage any radial protrusion of the article 30.
• the major tabs 24 and minor tabs 26 are shown engaging the article at different vertical locations or elevations with respect to each other, and with respect to the to the plane of the panel of foldable sheet material 20, thereby increasing the stability and/or retention of the article. It is envisaged that in alternative embodiments that one of the first or second series of annular tabs could be in substantially the same plane as the panel of foldable sheet material 20.
• a second embodiment of the invention contains features which are common to the first embodiment already described and so similar reference numerals are used to represent similar features, with the reference numerals raised by a factor of 100 to denote the second embodiment.
• Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of a "Sunburst" aperture 110 in plan view.
• An aperture 114 is formed in a blank 120 or panel 120 of a blank and defined by a first cut line 112.
• a second annular series of eight minor tabs 126 are created by eight cut lines 122 of substantially the same shape as the major tab 124 from which they are struck. This gives the advantage that the minor annular series of tabs 126 have a concave edge that may contact the neck of the article.
• the first annular series of major tabs 124 and second annular series of minor tabs 126 again share a common periphery 118 along which they may fold when a article 30 is inserted, the major tabs 124 folding in the region 128 and the minor tabs 126 in the region 132.
• the sunburst aperture 110 of the second embodiment operates in a similar way to that of the first embodiment; an upper portion of a bottle or other article is pushed into the first aperture 114. As the bottle or other article is received in the sunburst aperture 110, the major and minor tabs 124, 126 are pushed out of the plane of material containing the sunburst aperture 110.
• the major and minor tabs 124, 126 each fold out of the plane of the sunburst aperture 110 in the region of line 118. Once the tabs 124, 126 are folded, a second aperture 118 is formed. The second aperture 118 is greater in dimension than the first aperture 114, so that a wider portion of an article can be accommodated within the sunburst aperture 110.
• the major and minor tabs 124, 126 may each relax, due to the natural tendency of the paperboard material to return to its original position, until the major and minor tabs 124, 126 contact the article inserted within the aperture 114. By engaging the underside of a rim of an upper portion of an article, tabs 124 prevent the bottle from moving downwardly and being released from the aperture.
• each of the tabs on the second, minor series 126 may be dimensioned differently to one another, or indeed the size of adjacent tabs 126 may alternate between a shorter tab and a longer tab such that alternate minor tabs would engage or contact the bottle at different locations relative to one another.
• each of the adjacent tabs of the first, major series 124 maybe sized differently.
• the present invention describes only two preferred embodiments, however it is envisaged that minor changes to the embodiments could be made with out departing from the inventive concept herein.
• One such change would be the use of more or less than eight cut lines to form more or less than eight circumferentially arranged tabs.
• Each of the first and second apertures need not be circular but may indeed be another shape which may not be symmetrical, and may be irregular.
• the two apertures may also not be similar in shape although such an arrangement is preferable.
• the cut line defining the minor series of tabs need not be one herein described but may be any other shape which satisfies its function, such as half of a hexagon defining a rhomboid tab.
• the present invention need not be limited to nesting of two series of annular tabs but through the use of further cut lines additional series of tabs could be created that engage the bottle at separate locations either radially or axially such that more than one minor series of tabs is struck from the first major series. It should also be apparent that major and minor tabs with any combination of for example concave or convex curvature at points 12, 22, 112 and 122 can be used.
• hinged connection should not be construed as necessarily referring to a single fold line only: indeed it is envisaged that hinged connection can be formed from one or more of one of the following, a score line, a frangible line or a fold line, without departing from the scope of invention.
• a panel of foldable single-ply sheet material having at least one aperture (10, 110) for receiving a portion of an article (30), the panel comprising at least two annular series of tabs (24,26,124,126) formed around said aperture, the two annular series sharing a notional common peripheral line (18, 118) and being connected to the panel to yield out of the plane of the panel when said portion of an article is received in the aperture so as to bear against said portion of an article such that said tabs in each of the annular series engage the article at different vertical locations relative to the plane of the panel to improve retention of the article within the aperture.
• An article top-gripping arrangement having an article-receiving aperture and a plurality of primary tabs for engaging the underside of a radially protruding portion of an article received in the aperture, the primary tabs defining at least a part of the aperture, the arrangement comprising a secondary tab for engaging a smaller diameter portion of the article, the secondary tab being formed at least in part from one of the primary tabs, wherein a cut line, for defining the secondary tab, is spaced from and interposed between an adjacent pair of slits that defines said one primary tab, when the arrangement is in its flat form.
• a single-ply panel of paperboard material comprising an aperture for receiving a portion of an article and first and second series of tabs formed around said aperture, the series of tabs sharing a notional common peripheral line (18, 118) and the tabs of each series having edges for contacting said article, the first and second series being arranged such that the edges of the tabs in the first series contact said article at a location vertically spaced from a location at which the edges of the tabs in the second series contact said article, thereby stabilizing said article within the aperture.
• the short fold lines 28 and/or 32, or the short fold lines 128 and or 132, described in the foregoing embodiments may be omitted as long as a foldable sheet material is used with the present invention.
• the fold lines 28 and/or 32, or the fold lines 128 and/or 132 may be formed in the respective panel 20 in registry with the notional common peripheral line 18, 118 such that the fold lines extend at least partially along the common peripheral line and at least some of the tabs 24, 26 124, 126 are hingedly connected to the panel by the fold lines.
• Each of the short fold lines 28 and 32, and/or the short fold lines 128 and 132 may be either straight or arcuate in shape.
• the short fold lines 28 or 32, or the short fold lines 128 or 132 may be circumferentially disposed around the aperture 14, 114 at angular spacings about the center of the respective aperture 14, 114. Otherwise, the short fold lines 28 and 32, or 128 and 132 may be continuous (or connected together in series) as shown in Figures 1 and 4 to form a single circular fold line.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)
• Cartons (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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• 2004
  • 2004-05-14 GB GBGB0410810.6A patent/GB0410810D0/en not_active Ceased
• 2005
  • 2005-05-10 TW TW094115076A patent/TW200540078A/zh unknown
  • 2005-05-13 ES ES05749549T patent/ES2310831T3/es active Active
  • 2005-05-13 PT PT05749549T patent/PT1773680E/pt unknown
  • 2005-05-13 AT AT05749549T patent/ATE400513T1/de active
  • 2005-05-13 EP EP05749549A patent/EP1773680B1/de active Active
  • 2005-05-13 PL PL05749549T patent/PL1773680T3/pl unknown
  • 2005-05-13 AR ARP050101985A patent/AR048849A1/es active IP Right Grant
  • 2005-05-13 DE DE602005008068T patent/DE602005008068D1/de active Active
  • 2005-05-13 SI SI200530412T patent/SI1773680T1/sl unknown
  • 2005-05-13 DK DK05749549T patent/DK1773680T3/da active
  • 2005-05-13 WO PCT/US2005/017091 patent/WO2005113369A1/en active Application Filing

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