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
  • B65D71/46—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

• the present invention relates to an article earner used for grouping and carrying multiple articles, and particularly to an article carrier that can be easily formed, firmly hold articles, and allow substantia! reduction of the cos? of raw material.
• Article earners have been used for containing multiple articles such as boUles and cans for drinks including beverage and soft drink to be distributed io consumers Consumers who have bought articles with article carriers carry them by using a holding means equipped on the upper portion of the article carrier and remove articles from the article carrier by destroying It
• article carriers for containing articles, which include a box-type article carrier comprising a top wall panel a bottom wall panel, and side (front, back, left and ⁇ ght ⁇ wail panels, a article carrier made by cutting out part of a box-type article earner in such a way thai the cut-out section becomes a window through which the content can be seen, a wraparound article earner with a sleeve structure that has a top wail panel, a bottom wall panel and a pair of sidewail panels and is open m the front and bacl ⁇ ; 3 wraparound article carrier having a partially ciosed structure (a sldewaii panel) on us opening section so as to prevent articles from dropping, and a article carrier covering only the top portions of articles Some of these article carriers have a holding section on one end or part of a top wall panel by which people can carry or display.
• Article carriers having a large covering area ⁇ br articles such as a wraparound article carrie? having a closed structure on Hs opening and a Pox-type article earner are preferable in terms ol their strength ;h holding articles
• they have a drawback of too large a number of panels used for an article carrier that requires a large amount of raw materials, resulting m an Increased amount of raw material cost.
• some article carriers such as a wraparound article earner having no dosed structure and a article earner holding only the top portions of articles ss recornmendable m terms of simple structure and low cost.
• s- hey have a disadvantage of their weak strength such that an article earner tends Io be broken > while ussng it, with the result that art soles often drop
• a bottle carrier that covers the top portions of Dottles arranged in two rows and holds so bottles by having them engaged by an article carrier on the convex portions of their caps (see patent reference Nos. 1 and 2). Since an article earner simply engages the underside of the cap, there Is always some possibility that ⁇ be caps come off of the article earner due to vibration wniie carrying bottles, resulting in trr ⁇ r drop.
• a bottle carrier is disclosed that is furnished with ssdewall panels surrounding multiple bottles, a fop wall panel on each of a pair of the Sideways thai tace With each other, and an opening and an engaging section on the top wail panel where the cap of a bottle goes through (see patent reference No 4 ),
• This type of carrier s improved in terms of gripping strength, but a drawback of a large amount of
• the purpose of the present invention is to provide an article earner that not only firmiv holds articles but also is low at cost
• the present invention is characterized by a iop gripping artlcie carrier the! holds the top portions of articles arranged in two rows comprising a pair or top engaging structures that engages the top portions of the two rows of an'icies. an upper top wail pane!
• articles can be prevented from dropping because the lower edges of the top portions of articles on one row is engaged by a top supporting panei connected to a lower top wail panel.
• the engagement between the tower top supporting pane! and articles is supported Py toe restoring force of the panei itself, which is folded, and the weight of superposed upper top wall panei.
• articles are so strongly held that they are prevented from dropping.
• the amount o? raw materials to be used for providing an article earner may be reduced because the structure is such that only the top portions of articles needs to be held, in addition, the shape cut out or an article earner blank is simple (a rectangle), therefore this type of article carrier is better in terms of toe effective use of natural resources.
• the above-said top gripping article carrier comprises a second top supporting panel hingediy connected to the upper top wail panel where she second top supporting panel extends outside the other top engaging structure and engages the lower ends of the top portions of articles on the other row of two rows of articles.
• articles can be prevented from dropping not only because, as described above : the lower edges of the top portions of articles on one row is engaged by a top supporting panel connected to a lower fop way panel, but also because the lower edges of ihe lop portions of articles on the other row Ie engaged by a second top supporting panes connected to a upper top waH panel
• the engagement between the tower top supporting panes and articles is supported by the restoring force of ihe pane' itself, which is folded, and the weigh! of superposed upper lop wall panel, hi this mode, Ihe engagement between the upper top supporting panei and articles, is also supported by ihe restoring force of the pane! itself, which is folded, and the weight of superposed upper top wail panel.
• arucles can be held more strongly, and therefore they are prevented from dropping.
• the present invention ss characterized by a top gripping article carrier that holds the top portions of articles arranged in tow rows comprising a sleeve structure surrounding two rows of articles, a pair of top engaging structures that engage me top portions of two rows Os articles, and a pasr o( upper and tower top wail panels that are each hsngedly oonnected to a pair of fop engaging structures and connect a pair of top engaging structures by superposing on each other, where a pair of ? ⁇ p engaging structures have each a pasr of inner and outer inclined panels that are hingedly oonnected along the upper edge; the upper and lower top wall panels a?e each hsngedly connected along the lower edges of the inner inclined panels of a pair of top engaging structures; and the sleeve structure is hingeoly connected to the lower edges of ihe outer inclined panels of a pasr of top engaging structures
• Fig. 1 is a plan view of an article carrier blank according to one embodiment of the present invention
• fig. 2 is a piar; view of an article earner blank according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention
• Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a package formed from the article carrier blank of hg. I ,
• Pig. 4 is a perspective view of a package formed from the article earner blank of Fig 2, and
• Fig. 5 Is a fragmentary end view of the package of Fig. 3
• an article carrier engages articles in two rows each containing iwo articles.
• the number of articles in each row is no! limited to two as far es two rows are used. Therefore, the following embodiments are iust examples of ?he article carrier according to the presen * invention
• Figure 1 shows a blank Ia used for containing articles that is made of cardboard or other ssmilar foldabie sheet material, In Fsg 1 ; the blank I a comprises a top supporting pane! iQ. a lower top wail panel 1 1 , a top engaging structure A consisting of panels 12 and 13, a bottom wail panel 14, a top engaging structure B consisting of panels 15 and 16 : a upper top wail panel 1 ?, and a second top supporting pane; 18 that are all connected hingedly through fold lines 20 through 27.
• An article carrier which holds the top portions of such articles as bottles, is formed by folding these panels.
• an article holding opening 32 is formed by cutting out an article earner blank
• article holding openings 31 and 34 are formed en the top engaging structures A and B by cutting out an article earner blank. The top portions of articles are piaeed lhreugh these article holding openings when articles are contained as described below
• Openings 30 and 33 are formed on (he lower top wail panel 1 1 and ;he bottom wail panel 14, respectively, by cutting out an article earner blank.
• a 'ixing means 35 consisting of two flaps ss formed (flaps am formed With score lines on the article carrier bianH ⁇ These flaps are hinged Iy connected to the upper top wall panel 17.
• openings so 30 and 33 and the iuing means 35 are superposed on one another as a result ol ' superposing the lower top wall panel 1 1. the bottom wail panel 14, and the upper top wall panei I ? on one another
• the lower top wail panel 1 1. ihe bottom wall panel 14, and Hie upper top wall panel 17 are connected by pressing down the fixing means 35 in order ⁇ o insert two flaps Into the openings 30 and 33, thereby fixing the holding
• the openings 30 and 33 Into which the fixing means 35 is inserted serve as a holding section where a finger is inserted at the time of carrying an article carrier.
• Trie iower edges ol She top portions of articles are engaged by the second top supporting panel 13, As a result, a package is completed as shown m Rg 3.
• the package can be held and earned by investing a finger Into the opening formed by pressing down the fixing moans 35
• Fig. 5 is a diagram Illustrating an article carrier holding articles as seen from she ssde.
• Panels 12 and 13 constitute a sop engaging structure A used for holding the top portions of articles.
• Top supporting panel 1 G prevents artscies iron? dssiodgmg by engaging tne lower edges of the top portions of articles on me row adjacent to the row of ancles supported by the top engaging structure A
• Panes 15 and 16 constitute a iop supporting structure 8 used tor holding the top portions of articles
• Second top supporting panes 18 prevents ariscles trom dropping by engaging the lower edges of the top portions of articles supported by the lop engaging structure A,
• the fixing means 35 formed on me upper top wall panel 17 ss pressed down so as to engage it with the opening 30 of the lower top wa ⁇ panel 1 1 and the opening 33 of ihe bottom wail panel 14 so that three panels can bo integrated
• the top supporting panel 10 can support she iower edges of the top portions of anscies more strongly Oecause of the pressure from me top engaging structure B and restoring force of itself against folding along the fold Una 20
• ihe second top supporting panel 18 can support the lo er edges of ihe top portions of articles more strongly because of the integration of the upper top wail panel 17 and other panels through the fixing means 35 and restoring force of ltseif against i ' o'ding along ihe fold line 27.
• FIG 2 shows an article carrier blank I b of the other embodiment according to the present Invention.
• the main difference between article carrier blanks Ia and I b is that ihe article carrier blank Ia uses the opening 32 formed on the boifom wail panel 14 so as to hold and prevent articles from dropping as opposed to the article carrier
• Fio ⁇ re 2 shows a blank I b used for containinc; articles that is made of cardboard or other Similar foldable sheet material.
• the blank I b comprises an adhesive ;> panel 50 and sidewall panels 51 through 58 that are hingodly connected successively along fold lines 71 through 74 Folding these panels creates a sleeve structure surrounding articles to be contained.
• a top engaging structure A «> consisting of an Inner inclined panel 42 and an outer inclined panel 43 is hingediy connected through a fold line 63.
• a lower top wail panel 41 and a top supporting panel 40 are hingediy connected through fold lines 61 and 60. respectively
• a top engaging structure 8 consisting of an outer inclined pane! 44 and an inner inclined panel 45 Is hlngecJiy connected through a fold hne 64.
• an upper fop wall panel 46 and a second top supporting panel 4? are hingediy connected through sold lines 66 and 67, respectively. Folding these panels creates an article earner used for holding she sop portions of such articles as bottles.
• An'Jcie holding openings 91 and 92 are formed on she top engaging structures A and 8 by culling out an article carrier blank. The top portions of articles go through these article holding openings at the time of containing articles as described below.
• An opening 90 is formed on the tower top wail panel 41 by cuUing out an article carrier blank
• ⁇ fixing means 93 made of two flaps is formed (Haps are formed with a score line on the article carrier blank). These flaps are hsngediy connected to the upper top wail panel 46.
• the openings 90 and the fixing means 93 are superposed on each other as a result of superposing the lower top wail panel 41 and the upper top vyali panel 46 on each other.
• the lower top wa ⁇ l panel 41 and the upper top wall panel 46 are connected Py pressing down rhe fixing means 93 in order io Insert two flaps into the opening 9O 7 thereby isxsng the holding structure of the article carrier.
• the openings 90 s ⁇ to which the fixing means 93 ss inserted serve as a holding section where a finger is Inserted at the lime of carrying an article carrier.
• the blar)l ⁇ must successively be folded.
• the following shows the procedures fold an adhesive panel 50 and sidewali panels 51 trough 56 along Ibid lines 71 through /4 Apply glue to the adhesive panel 50 in onjer to secure the adhesive panel 50 to the sidewaii 58.
• a sleeve structure Is formed
• the present Invention Is not limited to this method, Any securing means may he used to form the sleeve structure.
• top portions of articles go through she article holding opening 91 while folding > panels 40 through 43 inward along fold lines 63 and 62 Fold the top supporting panel 40 and the lower top wsil panel 41 outward along fold lines 61 and 60 so as to make the fewer top wail panel 41 horizontal.
• the top supporting panel «0 engages the lower edges of the top portions of articles on the row adjacent to the other row of articles that was placed through the article holding opening 91
• Let the io lop portions of articles, go through the article holding opening 92 while folding panels 44 through 4? snward along fold lines 64 and 65 Superpose the upper top wall panel 46 on the lower top wall panel 41 by folding the second top supporting panel 47 and the upper top wall panel 46 outward along fold lines 66 and 6?
• the second top supporting panel 4? engages the lower edges of the top portions of shioies that went through the article holding opening 91
• top engaging structure A used for holding the top portions of articles.
• Top supporting panel 40 prevents articles from dislodging from the carrier by engaging the iovver edges of the top portions of articles on the row adjacent to the v,; row of articles supported by trie lop engaging structure A.
• Panes 45 and 46 constitute a top supporting structure B used for holding the top portions of articles.
• Second top supporting pane* 47 prevents articles from failing by engaging the lower edges of the top portions of articles supported by the top engaging structure A.
• the Fixs ⁇ g means 93 formed on the upper top wall panes 46 is r pressed down so as to engage si with the opening 90 of the lower top wail panel 41 so that two panels can be integrated
• the top supporting pane: 40 can support the iower edges of the top portions of articles more strongly because of the pressure from the top engaging structure B and restoring force of siseif against folding along the fold hne 60.
• the second top supporhng panel 47 can tO support the iower edges of the top portions of articles more strongly because of the integration of ihe upper top wail panel 46 and the lower top wall panel 41 through the fixing means 46 and restoring force of itself against folding along the fold line 6 ' ?.
• the present Invention requires only a small amount of raw material to be used and can provide article carriers and article carrier blanks (hat can strongly hold artsefes.

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

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=38610322

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

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Family Cites Families (1)

• 2006
  • 2006-04-10 JP JP2006002642U patent/JP3122685U/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2007
  • 2007-04-10 EP EP07760359A patent/EP2004512A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2007-04-10 TW TW96112416A patent/TWI375642B/zh not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2007-04-10 MX MX2008012840A patent/MX2008012840A/es not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2007-04-10 WO PCT/US2007/066280 patent/WO2007121153A2/en not_active Ceased

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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