EP1935794A1

EP1935794A1 - Device for accommodating a plurality of containers

Info

Publication number: EP1935794A1
Application number: EP06127133A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Rainer Schlicht; Helmut Wleklinski
Original assignee: FrieslandCampina Nederland Holding BV
Current assignee: FrieslandCampina Nederland Holding BV
Priority date: 2006-12-22
Filing date: 2006-12-22
Publication date: 2008-06-25

Abstract

A device for accommodating a plurality of containers (3), such as cups, cans or bottles, comprises a substantially rectangular base (5) having four outer edges (6). Four side walls (8,9) extend upward from the base. Each side wall has a lower edge that is connected to one of the outer edges of the base. At least one of the side walls comprises an engaging member (10) that protrudes inward with respect to the corresponding outer edge of the base. The engaging member comprises a free edge (12) forming a stop for engaging a portion of a container from the side.

Description

The invention relates to a device for accommodating a plurality of containers, such as cups, cans or bottles, comprising a substantially rectangular base having four outer edges, and four side walls extending upward from the base, each side wall having a lower edge that is connected to one of the outer edges of the base.
EP1477422 discloses a nesting tray for cups. The nesting tray constitutes a secondary packaging for the cups forming the primary packaging. The nesting tray comprises a substantially rectangular base, four side walls and a cover panel having openings for receiving the cups. The openings in the cover panel define fixed positions of the cups in the nesting tray. The nesting tray protects the cups during transport - the nesting tray forms a transport packaging. Also, the nesting tray is frequently placed on retail shelves in supermarkets as a sales packaging.
The nesting tray is suitable for holding the cups firmly - they cannot move during transport. However, the manufacturing of the nesting tray is relatively complex and expensive, because the nesting tray requires a large number of glue spots. The glue has to be applied accurately at multiple locations. Moreover, the nesting tray comprises many folding lines, which reduces the manufacturing efficiency when erecting the nesting tray from a blank. Also, the additional cover panel leads to an increase of material consumption. Furthermore, if the nesting tray is used as a sales packaging in supermarkets, the cups are not easily visible in the tray.
A tray for cups referred to as "open tray" is known as well. The open tray has a substantially rectangular base, and four side walls extending from the base. The open tray does not have a cover panel with openings for the cups. The manufacturing of the open tray is relatively simple. For example, the open tray has less glue spots than the nesting tray. The side walls of the open tray are provided with cutouts between its corners. These cutouts form windows which improve the visibility of the cups stored in the open tray. However, the cups are loosely supported on the base, and a space is present between the cups. As a result, the cups can move to a certain extent within the open tray. Because the cups are not firmly fixed within the open tray, the cups frequently fall over during transport. The handling of an open tray during distribution is difficult due to its limited stiffness and torsion strength.
DE19535820 discloses an open tray having a base provided with centre lips. Each cup has a hollow bottom which receives a set of centre lips. Although the centre lips fix the positions of the cups, there is still a substantial risk that the cups become detached and fall over during transport.
An object of the invention is to provide an improved device for accommodating a plurality of containers, such as cups, cans or bottles.
This object is achieved according to the invention by a device for accommodating a plurality of containers, such as cups, cans or bottles, comprising a substantially rectangular base having four outer edges, and four side walls extending upward from the base, each side wall having a lower edge that is connected to one of the outer edges of the base, wherein at least one of the side walls comprises an engaging member that protrudes inward with respect to the corresponding outer edge of the base, which engaging member comprises a free edge forming a stop for engaging a portion of a container from the side.
The device according to the invention forms a type of "open tray" provided with the engaging member. The containers to be accommodated in the tray according to the invention each have an upright circumferential wall. The free edge of the engaging member is an end edge for engaging sideways onto a portion of the circumferential wall of an adjacent container. Thus, the engaging member substantially reduces or removes the clearance between the containers when accommodated in the tray. This improves the fixation of the containers in the tray. As a result, the containers in the tray according to the invention are mostly kept upright during transport.
In an embodiment of the invention the free edge of the engaging member has a plurality of shaped sections, each shaped section corresponding to the shape of a circumferential wall of a container. When the shaped sections of the free edge correspond to the shape of the circumferential walls of containers to be accommodated, the containers can be well fitted in the tray. For example, if the circumferential wall of the containers is substantially conical or cylindrical, the shaped sections may each comprise a segment of a circle. The diameter of the circle segment of the shaped sections is adjusted to the diameter of the portion of said circumferential wall to be engaged.
It is possible that the base and the side walls are formed from a blank of a foldable sheet material, and wherein the side walls and the base are connected to each other by weakening lines. The foldable sheet material can be any suitable material, such as corrugated board, paperboard or solid board. The connections between the outer edges of the base and the lower edges of the side walls define weakening lines. For example, the side walls are erected from the base by folding along said weakening lines.
In an embodiment the engaging member is formed from the blank of foldable sheet material, wherein the engaging member is connected to the side wall by a weakening line.
The engaging member can be attached to the base in various ways. This increases the stiffness and torsion strength of the tray. After all, the side wall having the engaging member is attached not only to the adjacent side walls at the corners of the tray, but also to the base. The engaging member forms a stabilizing panel. As a result, the tray according to the invention is better capable to withstand the forces applied during handling and distribution.
For example, the engaging member comprises at least one attachment lip that is suspended from its free edge, and wherein the base is provided with a corresponding attachment lip that is erected from the base, which attachment lips are glued together. In an alternative embodiment, the attachment lip from the engaging member may comprise a protrusion that can be inserted into a slit in the base of the tray. Then, it is not necessary to glue the attachment lips together.
In an embodiment the side wall provided with the engaging member is staggered with respect to the adjacent side walls. The weakening line between the side wall and the engaging member connected thereto defines a height dimension of said side wall. This height dimension is lower than the height dimension of the adjacent side walls. Thus, the staggered side wall constitutes a window in the tray, which improves the visibility of containers to be accommodated. This is particularly beneficial when the device is used as a sales packaging.
The tray according to the invention may comprise two or more engaging members. For example, a side wall opposed to the side wall comprising the engaging member comprises an further engaging member that protrudes inward with respect to the corresponding outer edge of the base, which further engaging member comprises a free edge forming a stop for engaging a portion of a container from the side. Also, the device can be provided with three or four engaging members.
It is possible that the side walls comprise two opposed narrow side walls and two opposed long side walls, and wherein at least one engaging member is connected to a narrow side wall. Obviously, one or more engaging members may be connected to any of the other side walls.
The invention further relates to an assembly of a device and a plurality of containers having a circumferential wall, such as cups, cans or bottles, the device comprising a substantially rectangular base having four outer edges, and four side walls extending upward from the base, each side wall having a lower edge that is connected to one of the outer edges of the base, wherein the containers are accommodated on the base between the side walls, wherein at least one of the side walls comprises an engaging member that protrudes inward with respect to the corresponding outer edge of the base, which engaging member comprises a free edge forming a stop that engages a portion of a container from the side.
Moreover, the invention relates to a blank for forming a device for accommodating a plurality of containers, such as cups, cans or bottles, the blank comprising a substantially rectangular base having four outer edges, and four side walls connected to the outer edges of the base by weakening lines, which side walls can be folded upward from the base along said weakening lines, wherein at least one of the side walls comprises a weakening line for forming an engaging member, which engaging member can be folded such that it protrudes inward with respect to the corresponding outer edge of the base, which engaging member comprises a free edge forming a stop for engaging a portion of a container from the side. For example, the blank comprises a foldable sheet material, such as corrugated board, paperboard or solid board.
The invention will now be explained in more detail merely by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an assembly of a device and a plurality of containers.
Figure 2 shows a top view of a blank for forming the device shown in figure 1.
Figure 3 shows a top view of a second embodiment of a blank for forming a device for accommodating a plurality of containers.
Figure 4 shows a top view of a third embodiment of a blank for forming a device for accommodating a plurality of containers.
The device for accommodating a plurality of containers is designated in its entirety by 1. The device 1 according to this exemplary embodiment forms a tray accommodating cups 3. For clarity reasons, figure 1 shows only three cups 3. Of course, the tray 1 can also receive cans, bottles or any other type of containers.
The tray 1 comprises a base 5 that is substantially rectangular, i.e. it comprises four substantially right angles. The base 5 has four outer edges 6. The tray 1 is provided with four side walls 8,9. In this exemplary embodiment there are two long side walls 8 and two narrow side walls 9. However, the base 5 may also be substantially square (not shown). Each side wall 8,9 comprises a lower edge that is connected to one of the outer edges 6 of the base 5.
The cups 3 each have a bottom and an upright circumferential wall extending from the bottom. In this exemplary embodiment the circumferential wall of the cups 3 is substantially conical. The bottom of each cup 3 rests on the base 5 of the tray 1.
As shown in figure 1, the upper corners of the tray 1 comprise nesting protrusions. The lower corners of the tray 1 comprise receiving holes. When two trays 1 are stacked on top of each other, the nesting protrusions are received in the receiving holes. As a result, the trays 1 can be stacked in a robust and stable manner.
In the embodiment shown in figure 1 the narrow side walls 9 are each provided with an engaging member 10. The engaging member 10 forms a fixing member. The engaging member 10 comprises a free edge 12 that forms a stop for engaging a portion of the circumferential wall of the cup 3 from the side.
The outer edges 6 of the base 5 and the side walls 8,9 extending therefrom delimit an interior for accommodating the cups 3. The engaging member 10 is directed from the side wall 9 into the interior. The engaging member 10 protrudes inward, i.e. toward the opposed side wall 9. As a result, the free edge 12 is located above the base 5, i.e. inside with respect to the outer edge 6 of the base 5. The engaging member 10 reduces the space between the cup 3 and the side walls 9. The freedom of movement of the cups 3 within the tray 1 is thus decreased.
In this exemplary embodiment the free edge 12 of the engaging member 10 is provided with a plurality of shaped sections 14. Each shaped section 14 corresponds to the circumferential wall of a cup 3. In the embodiment shown in figure 1 the shaped sections 14 each comprise a segment of a circle.
The tray 1 shown in figure 1 can be formed from a blank 16 that is depicted in figure 2. The blank 16 is made from foldable sheet material, such as corrugated board, paperboard or solid board. The side walls 8,9 are connected to the base 5 by weakening lines 17. The side walls 8,9 can be erected from the base 5 by folding along the weakening lines 17. In this exemplary embodiment the narrow side walls 9 are provided with foldable connecting flaps 24. The connecting flaps 24 can be glued onto the long side walls 8. The glue spots are indicated by 23.
The engaging members 10 of the narrow side walls 9 are foldable along the weakening lines 18. Each engaging member 10 has two attachment lips 20 that are foldable along the weakening lines 19. The base 5 is provided with attachment lips 21. The attachment lips 21 of the base 5 are formed by cutting lines and weakening lines such that the attachment lips 21 can be erected from the base 5. When the tray 1 is formed from the blank 16, the attachment lips 20,21 are glued together (see figure 1).
In this exemplary embodiment the tray 1 comprises two windows at the narrow side walls 9, respectively. The height H₁ of the narrow side walls 9 is lower than the height H₂ of the long side walls 8. Thus, the side walls 8 provided with the engaging members 10 are each staggered with respect to the adjacent long side walls 9. A consumer can easily see the cups 3 through the windows.
A second embodiment of a blank for forming a tray for accommodating a plurality of containers is shown in figure 3. This embodiment of the blank only differs from the blank shown in figure 2 in that the attachment lips 20 are provided with protrusions 30, whereas the base 5 comprises slits 31 that can receive the protrusions 30.
Figure 4 shows a third embodiment of a blank for forming a tray for accommodating a plurality of containers. This blank comprises two engaging members 10 at opposed long side walls 8, respectively. The engaging members 10 each have a free edge 12 provided with shaped sections 14. The shaped sections 14 form a stop for adjacent circumferential walls of cups. The blank shown in figure 4 also has two engaging members 10 at opposed narrow side walls 9, respectively. Each engaging members 10 at the narrow side walls 9 not only comprises a free edge 12 provided with shaped sections 14, but also has an opening 35 for fully enclosing the circumferential wall of a cup.
The invention is not limited to the examples described above. The skilled person may construct many variations without leaving the scope of the invention.

Claims

Device for accommodating a plurality of containers (3), such as cups, cans or bottles, comprising a substantially rectangular base (5) having four outer edges (6), and four side walls (8,9) extending upward from the base (5), each side wall (8,9) having a lower edge that is connected to one of the outer edges (6) of the base (5), characterised in that at least one of the side walls (8,9) comprises an engaging member (10) that protrudes inward with respect to the corresponding outer edge (6) of the base (5), which engaging member (10) comprises a free edge (12) forming a stop for engaging a portion of a container (3) from the side.
Device according to claim 1, wherein the free edge (12) of the engaging member (10) has a plurality of shaped sections (14), each shaped section (14) corresponding to the shape of a circumferential wall of a container (3).
Device according to claim 2, wherein the shaped sections (14) each comprise a segment of a circle.
Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the base (5) and the side walls (8,9) are formed from a blank (16) of a foldable sheet material, and wherein the side walls (8,9) and the base (5) are connected to each other by weakening lines (17).
Device according to claim 4, wherein the engaging member (10) is formed from the blank (16) of foldable sheet material, and wherein the engaging member (10) is connected to the side wall (8,9) by a weakening line (18).
Device according to claim 5, wherein the engaging member (10) comprises at least one attachment lip (20) that is suspended from its free edge (12), and wherein the base (5) is provided with a corresponding attachment lip (21) that is erected from the base (5), which attachment lips (20,21) are glued together.
Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the side wall (8,9) provided with the engaging member (10) is staggered with respect to the adjacent side walls (8,9).
Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the base (5) is substantially open between the side walls (8,9).
Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a side wall (8,9) opposed to the side wall (8,9) comprising the engaging member (10) comprises an further engaging member (10) that protrudes inward with respect to the corresponding outer edge (6) of the base (5), which further engaging member (10) comprises a free edge (12) forming a stop for engaging a portion of a container (3) from the side.
Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the side walls (8,9) comprise two opposed narrow side walls (9) and two opposed long side walls (8), and wherein at least one engaging member (10) is connected to a narrow side wall (8).
Assembly of a device (1) and a plurality of containers (3) having a circumferential wall, such as cups, cans or bottles, the device (1) comprising a substantially rectangular base (5) having four outer edges (6), and four side walls (8,9) extending upward from the base (5) , each side wall (8,9) having a lower edge that is connected to one of the outer edges (6) of the base (5), wherein the containers (3) are accommodated on the base (5) between the side walls (8,9), characterised in that at least one of the side walls (8,9) comprises an engaging member (10) that protrudes inward with respect to the corresponding outer edge (6) of the base (5), which engaging member (10) comprises a free edge (12) forming a stop that engages a portion of a container (3) from the side.
Assembly according to claim 11, wherein the free edge (12) of the engaging member (10) is positioned between the side wall (8,9) and the adjacent portion of the container (3).
Blank for forming a device (1) for accommodating a plurality of containers (3) , such as cups, cans or bottles, the blank (16) comprising a substantially rectangular base (5) having four outer edges (6) , and four side walls (8,9) connected to the outer edges (6) of the base (5) by weakening lines (17), which side walls (8,9) can be folded upward from the base (5) along said weakening lines (17), characterised in that at least one of the side walls (8,9) comprises a weakening line (18) for forming an engaging member (10), which engaging member (10) can be folded such that it protrudes inward with respect to the corresponding outer edge (6) of the base (5), which engaging member (10) comprises a free edge (12) forming a stop for engaging a portion of a container (3) from the side.