EP2028126B1 - Carrier with handle - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a carrying handle for a plurality of containers with a handle member and receiving elements for receiving the container, wherein the handle member extends between the receiving elements and is arranged parallel to the plane of the carrying handle telescopically liftable over at least two places on the carrying handle, and a packaging unit of a Carrying handle and at least two containers.

In the DE 20 2005 016 091 U1 is such a support for bottles and the same container disclosed in which also a support bracket and a support body is provided with edge-shaped clip-like receptacles for the bottles. The mounting bracket is relatively wide and integrally connected by articulated joints with the support body and connected foldable.

Other carrying handles are well known in the art. For example, goes from the DE 11 38 194 a carrying and holding device for containers of cylindrical cross-section, in particular cans, out, consisting of an upright inner part, which is arranged between the adjacent containers, from at right angles thereto extending retaining tabs, overlap the bottom and lid of the stacked containers, and from a suspension. Inner part, retaining tabs and support means are integrally stamped from a thin metal sheet, wherein the retaining tabs have inwardly extending projections which engage with the bottom and top edge and the bottom and top surface of each container in engagement.

From the DE 21 20 303 A1 For example, there is known a container package for holding and carrying a plurality of containers, bottles, and the like, and a method for assembling the same, and a package for a group of containers each having a neck portion. The juxtaposed containers each have a body portion and a neck portion projecting upwardly and inwardly therefrom, which is smaller than the body portion, the containers being arranged side by side in parallel with each other in a grape-shaped group. On the neck portions of the containers, an elastic support is slid with a plurality of for accommodating the neck portion of a respective container serving constricting recesses whose mutual center distances are smaller as the center distances between corresponding abutting containers, whereby the foot portions of the containers are applied to the outside with respect to the container group. Around the container group, an elastic endless belt is guided around, through which the foot portion of the Container resiliently acted upon in a laterally abutting position. The carrier and the endless belt are under a sufficiently high tension to hold the containers in the package.

From the DE 21 44 334 A1 is a bottle carrier for collectively detecting at least two bottles, which are in particular beverage bottles known. In this case, starting from a capsule-like middle part at least two radially outwardly extending web pairs, at the ends of spoon-like designed, the bottleneck are provided below its bead partially embracing approaches. The bottle carrier is made of a resilient material, such as plastic.

The DE 25 31 325 A1 discloses a container package having a plurality of containers disposed substantially adjacent to one another and divided into a plurality of groups, each comprising at least two containers. An upper support member includes and secures first end portions of each container, whereas a second sheet or foil support portion has interconnected portions. The container package includes and holds each container group. The interconnected parts of the second sheet or foil support member include band portions comprising two containers without extending between the two containers. The upper support member has two openings for engagement with the thumb and a finger to allow the container packaging to be carried.

The DE 89 15 740 U1 discloses a container comprising containers and support frames, the support frame having a dimensionally stable plate with a plurality of recesses for holding the containers, and wherein the containers have means for holding them in the recesses at a distance from the container bottom. This prevents slippage of the container placed in the recesses from above. Furthermore, the container has a connected to the plate upwardly projecting central handle. The plate has a recess corresponding to the contour of the carrying handle, and the carrying handle itself is essentially U-shaped or V-shaped in the side view in order to achieve better stackability.

From the DE 44 11 188 A1 a carrier for bottles and similar containers is known, wherein the bottles or other containers must have a neck and an associated peripheral projection. The carrier itself comprises a structural frame carrying a plurality of collars, each of which can receive the neck of a container and engage with the projection located on the periphery of the container. Further, each collar has a resilient edge depending therefrom which cooperates with a portion of the outer surface of the respective container to prevent relative movement between the container and the carrier. The collars have a plurality of spaced apart resilient tabs or tabs which engage the projections of the containers. For wear, the wearer has two openings in which can be grasped with thumb and a finger to carry the container packaging or the carrier.

The DE 699 05 308 T2 discloses a device for transporting bottles or similar containers, in which a plate-like element is provided with at least one slot, in which slot an outward-facing part of a portion of the bottles or containers of reduced diameter is received. Furthermore, a gripping element protrudes from the plate-like element, which is rigidly formed on the transport device. The gripping member projects upward from a central portion of the plate-like member.

Also in the WO 2004/076310 A2 described carrier for containers, especially bottles, engages only on the uppermost portion of the neck of the bottles. In this carrier, an elongated support body is provided, which has a support bracket above the support body and on its underside at least two hanging rail-like receptacles for receiving a plurality of bottles in a row. Alternatively, individual receptacles arranged at a distance in the longitudinal direction can also be provided for accommodating only one bottle at a time. The recordings are closed at one end or provided with a stop stop and at the other end for the bottle supply educated. At the open end, a holding member for securing the respective bottle necks is also provided in the receptacle.

Also from the DE 203 11 628 U1 known holder for bottles, in particular beverage bottles made of PET, has a number of gripper-like holding elements for gripping the bottle necks, wherein these holding elements are arranged on a band or annular carrier. The holding elements are each provided with a part-circular recess for grasping the bottle necks. Instead of a string, a connection of the individual holding elements is disclosed by connecting webs in this document. To carry on the cord or the webs is attacked.

From the DE 10 2004 019 437 A1 is a support device for at least one container, in particular a bottle, known which comprises a base body made of a first plastic having an at least partially bounded by an edge opening, wherein in the worn state a collar of a container is supported on the edge. An edge region of the edge is formed from at least one further plastic which has a higher elasticity than the first plastic of the base body. The support device further comprises a handle, in particular the first plastic, wherein the base body and the handle are disclosed as being integrally formed. The handle is rigidly integrally formed on the base body.

From the DE 11 2004 002 843 T5 a container carrier is known which has a flexible platform. This includes a container engaging portion having an opening through the platform for receiving the neck of a container, a handle portion having a base extending transversely to a longitudinal axis of the platform, a pair of handle legs, the proximal ends of the handle legs integrally formed with the ends of the base member are. The distal ends of the handle leg are integral with the container engaging portion at opposite points on the container engaging portion and having a flange integral with the base member and extending inwardly from the base member over substantially the length of the base member. The inner periphery of the The container engaging portion and the handle portion provide an opening to allow the fingers of a user to engage. The flange has transverse fold lines formed in the surface of the platform. In this way, a bending of the handle portion to its gripping is possible.

The DE 20 2005 005 970 U1 discloses a bottle feeder for PET returnable bottles, which consists of the same material as the returnable bottles themselves and has six punched holes for receiving the bottle necks or bottle heads. The Flaschenbündler is U-shaped from a strong plastic sheet.

The DE 20 2005 014 112 U1 discloses a carrying handle having a substantially plate-shaped support member, at the lateral peripheral edge of which a plurality of snap-in devices for snapping and holding objects are provided spaced therefrom. These snap-in devices are designed like a claw. Furthermore, the carrying handle has a rigid, upwardly projecting handle, which is formed integrally with the carrier element. As a common stabilizing agent, a band is provided in the lower region of the recorded objects.

The US 2004/0256250 A1 further discloses a bottle carrier in which annular receiving elements are provided for receiving bottle necks. The bottle necks are held therein over resilient tab-like elements. A U-shaped handle is also attached at two locations on webs between the individual receiving elements for the bottle necks via a hinged hinge. A similar structure only for receiving a container discloses the US 6,394,517 B1 , This is the handle, however attached laterally to the receiving element for receiving the Falschenhalses and spent by bending in a vertical carrying position. Also the EP 1 710 171 A1 discloses a corresponding carrier for a plurality of bottles, in which, in contrast to the two abovementioned but still protruding tabs are arranged end to the carrier, which are to serve for facilitating the application and removal of rings on and from bottle necks. Such protruding elements are also in the US 5,306,060 disclosed, wherein in these straps another handle is provided for engaging. For carrying is attacked only at a bridge between two receiving elements for receiving bottlenecks. A modification to the structure mentioned in this document is in the US 5,735,562 disclosed. Here, three or four receiving elements are connected by webs crosswise. In the US 6,715,810 B2 is disclosed a corresponding structure with again outer side tabs according to the above prior art.

A carrier for carrying two tube-like containers is in the US 2006/0254934 A1 disclosed. Here retaining lugs are externally formed on receiving rings, which hold on the lid of the container.

Another possibility of a carrier for bottles is in the US 6,789,828 B1 disclosed. In addition to the structure already mentioned above with two receiving elements with web element arranged therebetween and outer tabs, a U-shaped element with bending grooves is provided for stabilizing on the left and right sides, which allow folding down along the bottleneck. By means of corresponding connecting pieces, the two U-shaped elements are connected to one another between the two bottle necks.

Another carrier for carrying several bottles is in the EP 1 752 386 A1 disclosed. In this two C-shaped, the bottleneck embracing elements are provided and connected by a bridge section. Both the bottle necks receiving elements and the Bridge section have stiffening ribs. A separate handle does not have this carrier.

The US 6,129,397 discloses a six-fold carrier having six receiving elements with inwardly projecting retaining tabs for receiving the bottle necks and between the individual receiving elements connecting webs. For carrying is attacked at the connecting webs or in particular at the central connecting web by engaging in two correspondingly provided openings. An alternative variant to this is in the US 2007/0039836 A1 disclosed. In this document, two handle tabs are arranged in the inner openings of the carrier, which can be grasped by the thumb and a finger of one hand. The two grip tabs are bent out of the plane of the carrier when grasped.

The US 3,084,792 A discloses a container carrier which is punched out of a flat elastic material. Here, two opposing rows are formed with holes for receiving bottlenecks or upper ends of the container. An elastic band for holding the containers is formed integrally with the carrier. The connection to the rest of the carrier is formed via predetermined breaking points, wherein after the attachment of the carrier on the upper sides of the container or bottle necks, the tape is pushed down to hold the container in the lower area together. For engaging the carrier two openings are formed, which can be engaged with the fingers. Alternatively, a central tear strip may be formed between the container receptacles, which is provided with a bow-shaped handle for supporting the carrier.

The WO 02/40357 A2 discloses a handle assembly for holding together a large-sized fluid container pair. Here, the two containers are surrounded by a flexible band, which is tightened tightly. A retaining wire is attached to the respective container handles. The wire serves as a handle and is shaped in a special way to hold on to the container handles. Further, an additional handle member is disclosed, which formed in accordance with Loops of the wire is hung. A carrying the container is then possible on this handle element.

All those prior art carriers that provide for intervention by the thumb and finger of the wearer's hand prove disadvantageous in use for just a few bottles due to the incising effect of the wearer's latches or openings in the wearer's hand. Conversely, the provision of rigid handle elements or handles when stacking multiple carriers proves to be disadvantageous because they occupy a relatively large amount of space.

The present invention is therefore based on the object to further develop a carrying handle according to the preamble of claim 1 that a very good stackability of several handles above each other is possible and at the same time a comfortable grip on the handle for carrying a plurality of containers, especially bottles, being straight at Carrying several bottles a compact well-to-carry packaging unit should be created.

The object is achieved in a carrying handle according to the preamble of claim 1 with the characterizing features.

Further developments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

As a result, a carrying handle for one or more containers is provided with at least one gripping element and at least one receiving element for receiving the at least one container, wherein the gripping element is in the unused state of the carrying handle in the plane thereof and only for the use of the carrying handle, so the Attaching to the container, the handle element is pulled out of the plane of the carrying handle, wherein it is in contrast to the prior art heraustelkoped at least two torsion points on the carrying handle. The advantage is that the handle element thereby does not form U-shaped over the plane of the handle, but by telescoping or "Entwringen" a central portion of the handle element remains substantially straight and thus can be better attacked by the person wearing a U-shaped handle forming element which usually cuts into the forefinger and small finger of the hand of the wearer and thereby leads to a poor wearing comfort. Advantageously, the gripping element can be telescoped out of the plane of the carrying handle so far that the distance between the gripping element and the uppermost extent of at least one container received in the carrying handle permits the insertion of a hand of a carrying person. Thus, the carrying person can conveniently reach over the uppermost extent of the container received in the carrying handle under the gripping element and carry the packaging unit. It is therefore provided such a distance between the handle element and the plane of the carrying handle that a hand of a wearer or a person wearing can comfortably grip the grip element after receiving containers in the carrying handle. In the prior art, such a sufficient space for attacking the local handle elements is not given. On the contrary, the fingers of the hand of a carrying person or of a wearer who are clasped in the grip bottles are always uncomfortable between bottle necks or container heads.

For the stackability of the handles before mounting on containers, the lying in the plane of the handle for the handle element proves to be very beneficial, especially with respect to the handles of the prior art, in which the gripping elements project rigidly over the plane of the carrying handle. The space required for such a grip element of the prior art is therefore much larger than in the invention, which does not lead to a larger footprint for the carrying handle. This proves to be extremely advantageous not only in pick and place machines, but of course also in warehousing.

The grip element advantageously has at least one slightly curved section for centering when stacking a plurality of carrying handles on each other. Another stacking aid for facilitating centering of the carrying handles on each other can be provided that the receiving elements for receiving the container, that is, of the head portions, not completely flat, but have a slight inclination. The at least one receiving element for receiving the at least one container is advantageously formed like a collar with inwardly projecting retaining tabs or retaining lugs. Thus, both the inwardly projecting retaining tabs or retaining lugs may have a slight inclination and the circumferential collar of the receiving elements, whereby a self-centering can be achieved in this area of stacked carrying handles.

It proves to be further advantageous, when several receiving elements are provided, to connect them to one another by means of stiffening webs arranged on the outside with respect to the carrying handle. As a result, a particular stability of the entire carrying handle is achieved, which can at least limit a lateral breaking out of the container inserted into the carrying handle. An unintentional twisting of the carrying handle can be avoided thereby. In particular, not only with respect to the carrying handle on the outside arranged stiffening webs between the individual receiving elements for receiving the container necks or heads are provided, but also further connecting webs between the individual receiving elements in the inner region of the carrying handle. The gripping element can therefore be attached to the at least one receiving element and / or the connecting webs and / or the stiffening webs. The attachment takes place in any case on the already mentioned torsion points to the telescopic lifting of the To allow grip element approximately parallel to the plane of the handle and to prevent buckling of the handle member.

With the carrying handles so-called multipacks can be produced, for example, four or six grouped containers, especially bottles or cans.

The respective torsion points on the handle elements serve as Aufrichthilfe.

As it proves to be further advantageous if at least one ring element for surrounding the outside of the container is detachably attached to the carrying handle. This ring element surrounds the receiving elements and arranged between them stiffening or connecting webs, that is arranged on the outside of this. The ring element is provided, so to speak, as an outer boundary of the carrying handle and can be separated from this. For this purpose, it is advantageously releasably connected by web elements with the at least one receiving element and / or the stiffening webs. To generate the solubility preferably a predetermined breaking point between the ring element and web elements is provided or between the web elements and the at least one receiving element and / or the stiffening webs. By breaking the predetermined breaking points, the ring element can be separated from the rest of the carrying handle and pushed down along the containers on the outside so far that they experience a good external grip against breaking out of the container structure to the outside. The ring member is thus provided instead of bands or shrink film for holding the containers together. Since it is molded with the molding of the handle on this, no additional material for the ring member is required. Rather, in a simple manner by means of a device for applying the carrying handles to containers, in particular a placement machine, via a device for engaging the ring member of the carrying handle a downshift of this carried along the containers. The carrying handle is thus placed on a group of containers, which are advantageously already positioned accordingly to fit with their container heads or necks into the receiving elements, so that the container heads protrude through the receiving elements. When attaching the carrying handle to the container engages the means for engaging the ring member this and tearing it from further down the rest of the handle from, breaking the predetermined breaking points. As it moves onward, it pushes the ring element down so far along the containers that either a predefinable contact point is reached on the containers or a predefined position is assumed by the ring element.

Is selected for the carrying handle and in particular the ring member such a material that a stretching or spreading of the ring member when pushed down along the container walls after reaching the end position for the ring element, ie immediately eliminates the expansion force when the elastic force disappears, the ring element sets directly to the outer surfaces of this surrounded container. However, if the material of the ring element does not have such a property, at least one closure device for fastening to the containers is advantageously provided on the ring element. The closure device can be detected by a device for closing the device for applying the carrying handles and can be closed after the ring element has been pushed down along the containers. This closing may be accomplished by a juxtaposed movement of parts of the means for closing the closure means. For this purpose, the means for closing the closure means may comprise sliding elements which engage two ends of the closure means and close them by movement towards each other. Instead of sliding elements, other means can be provided which allow a closure of the respective closure device.

In one embodiment, the closure device may comprise at least one barbed element and at least one mating element cooperating therewith. The barbed element is pressed against the counter-element cooperating therewith, so that both elements interlock with one another and lead to closure of the closure device and thus closure of the ring element. Alternatively or additionally, the closure device may advantageously comprise a latching device, in particular a housing part provided with shoulders and a closure part which can be inserted therein and is provided with at least one outside projection. The closure part provided with the at least one outer-side projection is used to close the ring element in the Housing part inserted and locked behind the heels of the housing part. As a result, for example, an adaptation to different circumferences that are to be enclosed by the ring element, possible because the provided with the at least one outer side projection locking part can be locked behind different paragraphs of the housing part.

Another way of closing the ring element around the containers is to provide the ring element with a section of barbs hooked into one another. The ring element is in this case formed closed and has the portion as an example V-shaped bent portion. The barbs can be hooked into each other upon further compression of the V-shaped portion, so that thereby a reduction in the length of the ring member and, correspondingly, a desired firm embrace of the container is made possible by the ring member.

Another possibility, which can also be combined with the other variants, is to provide a closure device in the manner of a string of pearls with elements lined up in a row, in particular conical elements. Such conical elements, for example, attack each other so that they hooked like barbs together and thereby allow a closure.

Advantageously, the ring element for generating a support surface for engaging when pushed down along the container walls on an upper support surface, in particular, the ring element in cross-section is V-shaped. By providing such a support surface on the ring member in the region in which the means for pushing down attacks, for this a better application of force to the ring member for separating the remaining handle is possible. By forming the ring element as a cross-sectionally approximately v-shaped element, on the one hand, such a support surface is created, on the other hand, however, consumed as little as possible of material for this purpose. Alternatively, the ring element can for example also be formed in cross-section T-shaped, in turn, an upper Support surface can be created with as little additional material consumption. However, with a T-shaped cross-section, uneven application of force to the support surface could result in a one-sided buckling of the support surface, which in general will not occur with a V-shaped cross section due to its higher stability. For this reason, in spite of the somewhat higher material consumption, a V-shaped cross section is preferred over a T-shaped cross section.

The outside stiffening webs may be formed in particular as secants between the individual receiving elements. As a result, further material savings is possible. Further, for the device acting on the ring element of the device for applying the carrying handles to the container, it becomes more easily possible to grip between the ring element and corresponding openings in the carrying handle in the region of the stiffening webs, when these are arranged approximately parallel to one another.

A ring member is not required in all types of containers, but especially in larger-sized containers, which otherwise tend to move away from each other in the portion not received in the carrying handle. This is particularly the case with larger bottles of beverage, which is why it is particularly suitable here to use a carrying handle with such a ring element, wherein the ring element prevents the larger-sized beverage bottles sliding apart. A stacking of such packaging units, for example, six bottles of beverage is easily possible because the ring element is arranged so that no additional space is required, but rather in the usual way, a populating a pallet is possible.

The carrying handle is advantageously designed as an injection molded part. Advantageously, it consists of a recyclable plastic, including HDPE, ie a high density polyethylene produced under low pressure.

Figur 1

eine Draufsicht auf eine Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Tragegriffs für sechs Flaschen,

Figur 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Verpackungseinheit mit einem Tragegriff gemäß Figur 1,

Figur 3

eine perspektivische Ansicht der Verpackungseinheit gemäß Figur 2, in einem um 90 Grad gedrehten Blickwinkel, und

Figur 4

eine Draufsicht auf einen nicht erfindungsgemäßen Tragegriff für die Verwendung für sechs Dosen.

For further explanation, exemplary embodiments will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings. These show in:

FIG. 1

a top view of an embodiment of a handle according to the invention for six bottles,

FIG. 2

a perspective view of a packaging unit according to the invention with a carrying handle according to FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3

a perspective view of the packaging unit according to FIG. 2 in a 90 degree rotated angle, and

FIG. 4

a plan view of a non-inventive handle for use for six cans.

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a first embodiment of a handle 1 for six bottles 100, which in FIG. 2 are shown. The carrying handle 1 has six receiving elements 2a to 2f for receiving the bottle heads 102. Furthermore, the carrying handle has a gripping element 3, which extends between the receiving elements 2a to 2f. On the outside, the receiving elements are surrounded by a ring element 4. Between the individual receiving elements 2a to 2f 4 stiffening webs 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 are provided with an edge approximately parallel to the ring member. The stiffening webs 5 to 9 have an approximately parallel to the ring member extending edge and extending with flat curved portions 50, 51, 60, 61, 70, 71, 80, 81, 90, 91 between the respective adjacent receiving elements. The stiffening web 10 is formed bent between the two receiving elements 2a and 2f. The reason for this is that in this area, an identification flag 11 as an embodiment of an identification element for characterizing the later packaging unit of carrying handle and bottles is disposed on the ring member 4 and also extends into the space between the two receiving members 2a and 2f. Alternatively or possibly also in addition to the identification flag, an identification band or another form of identification element can be provided which is or is connected in a suitable manner to the carrying handle, in particular ring element.

The identification flag 11 is arranged on a portion 40 of the ring element, which is connected via two torsion points 41, 42 to the rest of the ring element 4. About the two torsion points, it is possible to bend out the portion 40 with the identification flag 11 from the plane of the handle. As a result, a slight hiring of Kennungsfähnchens in the later position of the ring member is possible, which is separated from the rest of the handle and along the bottles with respect to this pushed down to keep the bottles together also in the lower area. The final position of the flag 11 may be better FIG. 2 be removed. The identification flag 11 is here at an angle of about 65 ° relative to the horizontal. In such a position, an easy detection of the contents of the identification flag, eg the data of the packaging unit, including price data, eg by a scanner cash register, is possible.

Between the individual receiving elements 2a to 2f with respect to the carrying handle in the interior, the grip element 3 surrounding, further connecting webs 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 are provided. All connecting webs have a curved shape, wherein the connecting webs 12 to 16 are supported by further planar stiffening sections 120, 121, 130, 131, 140, 141, 150, 151, 160, 161 relative to the receiving elements 2a to 2f. Only the connecting web 17, which is arranged in the region of the identification flag 11, has no further stiffening sections. In principle, however, this could also have further stiffening sections, which are omitted for reasons of space here.

The grip element 3 has a straight in the plan view middle holding portion 30 which is secured via four torsion bars 31, 32, 33, 34 to the connecting webs 13, 14, 16, 17. The attachment takes place via respective torsion points 35, 36, 37, 38. This makes it possible to grip the grip element, that is to say the middle holding section 30 and to telescope out of the plane of the carrying handle, since the torsion bars twist in this case, ie out of the Unscrew the plane of the carrying handle, so that a parallel lifting of the holding portion with respect to the plane of the carrying handle is possible. Even in the issued carrying position of the handle element does not occur thereby the problem that this bends in an O-shape, which leads to a very uncomfortable wearing position in the prior art.

The middle holding portion 30 of the handle member 3 has a slightly curved shape in the side view, which better the FIG. 2 can be removed. By this slightly curved shape of the middle holding portion centering when stacking several carrying handles on each other for storage in a simple manner possible. The individual receiving elements can be designed accordingly to facilitate stacking. The receiving elements 2a to 2f each have retaining tabs 20 which engage on the underside of a protruding portion on the bottle head, which in FIG. 2 you can see. The retaining tabs 20 protrude inward from a circumferential retaining ring 21 and are, as well FIG. 2 can be better taken out of the plane of the handle out slightly inclined.

Instead of the retaining tabs 20 also other holding devices may be provided, such as retaining lugs or webs. Instead of the respective nine retaining tabs, a different number of retaining tabs can be provided, in particular when providing a different shape for this. The shape can also be chosen here arbitrarily, in particular, an adaptation to the respective bottle neck shape or bottle head shape is possible here.

The surrounding the carrying handle ring member 4 is what the top view in FIG. 1 can not be removed, formed in cross-section approximately V-shaped to have a sufficient support surface 43 when pushing down the ring member along the bottles. To save material, the ring element is not rectangular in cross-section or square, so that can be saved by the V-shape over such a square or rectangular cross-sectional shape material.

The ring member 4 is further secured via web members 44, 45, 46 to the remainder of the carrying handle, namely the stiffening webs 6, 7, 9. As in FIG. 1 already indicated, a respective predetermined breaking point 47, 48, 49 is provided between the web elements 44 to 46 and the stiffening webs 6, 7, 9. By providing these predetermined breaking points 47 to 49, a simple separation of the ring element from the rest of the carrying handle in a packaging machine or a placement machine via a corresponding device provided therein is easily possible. This engages in each case via actuators on the ring member 4 at its support surface 43 and pushes this after attaching the receiving elements 2a to 2f on the bottle heads or necks further down the bottles along, up to the position in FIG. 2 and 3 is shown or to another position that can be predefined. In the Figures 2 and 3 the ring element 4 is pushed down to a respective lower bulge 104 of the bottles 100 and superimposed on this.

The ring element can be made of such an elastic material that after pushing down, thus stretching of the ring element in the area of the bulges 101 of the bottles 100, it springs back again into its original unstretched form. If the ring element does not have such an elasticity, a closure device 110 is provided for closing, that is, lashing the ring element around the bottles. Such a closure device 110 is in one embodiment in FIG. 1 also shown. This has a paragraph 111 provided with housing 111. Further, it has a closure part 113 which is formed arrow-shaped, wherein it has a tapered projection 114 at its front end. Furthermore, it has a further projection 115 along its longitudinal extension, which can engage in the housing 112 in a corresponding recess 116. The closure member 113 is inserted into the housing 112 and locked in the desired paragraph 111 with its front projection 114. Due to the latching an unintentional release is no longer possible here, so that the closure device ensures that the container or bottles 100 of the ring element 4 tightly enclosed. This may also be the perspective view in FIG. 3 be removed. Here, the latched position of the closure device is shown. According to the embodiment in FIG FIG. 3 can the case on its top open, so that the proper locking within the housing is visible from the outside. Likewise, the housing 112 may be formed closed.

For closing the locking device or latching of the closure part 113 within the housing 112, corresponding devices may be provided in automatic placement machines or the device for applying the carrying handles to the containers, via slide elements or corresponding other devices in the region of the housing 112 and in the region of the closure part 113 attacks and move them against each other until a close concern of the ring member 4 is done around the bottles around.

FIG. 4 shows a non-inventive carrying handle 200, which is designed to accommodate six cans. In this case again six receiving elements 2a to 2f are formed, but provide shorter retaining tabs 245, since usually the upper edge is less pronounced in doses as a circumferential projection in beverage bottles. Between the individual receiving elements 2a to 2f each stiffening webs 205 to 210 are also provided. In contrast to the stiffening webs 5 to 10, these are all formed uniformly, since a flag ID 211 is disposed within the receiving element 2d. The stiffening webs 205 to 210 are each formed as narrow, slightly curved webs between the individual receiving elements 2a to 2f. Furthermore, between the individual receiving elements also arranged in the inner region of the handle connecting webs 212 to 217 are provided. These are formed in accordance with the stiffening webs 205 to 210 slightly curved in principle. Between the receiving elements 2 b, 2 c and 2 d and between the receiving elements 2 a, 2 f and 2 e each further connecting webs 218, 219, 220, 221 are provided. These are arranged between the respective stiffening webs and connecting webs on the outside and inside of the carrying handle. They are wider than the stiffening and connecting webs, so that over this a stiffening of the entire handle is possible. The two receiving elements 2c and 2f are also connected via a further connecting web 222 connected together to stiffen the middle portion of the handle.

For use with cans, the carrying handle has two handle members 230, 231. Both are arranged within a respective receiving element, namely within the receiving elements 2c and 2f. Both gripping elements are mirror-symmetrical to each other and each have a central web 232, 233 and from this v-shaped mutually extending torsion bars 234, 235, 236, 237 on. These are fastened via respective torsion points 238 to the receiving elements 2c and 2f. Due to the V-shape of the torsion bars and the further bending relative to the respective central webs of the gripping elements 230, 231, these can in turn be telescoped out of the plane of the carrying handle when pulled out of the plane of the carrying handle, in turn via the torsion points the torsion bars and thereby results in an approximately parallel extraction of the central webs 232, 233 from the plane of the carrying handle. The two gripping elements 230, 231 are brought together in the direction of the connecting web 222 between the two receiving elements 2c and 2f and can then be grasped by a hand of a carrying person and the packaging unit of carrying handle and six cans can be comfortably carried.

In order to enable an identification of the packaging unit, for example with an EAN code or other product information, the identification flag 211 or in the carrying handle according to Figure 1 to 3 the identification flag 11 is provided. On this a corresponding code can be printed or otherwise applied. Alternatively, it is also possible to introduce here an RFID transponder in the identification flag, which contains the desired data.

In FIG. 4 the identification flag 211 is arranged via telescopic webs 240 to 243 within the receiving element 2d. Also, the telescopic webs 240 are serpentine curved back and forth, so that pushing out of the identification flag 11 from the plane of

Carrying handle is easily possible. This is done automatically when a can head is inserted into the receiving element 2d. For this purpose, it also proves to be advantageous to connect the four telescopic webs 240 to 243 via corresponding torsion points 244 on the receiving element 2d or its retaining tabs 245.

In the FIGS. 1 to 3 Carrying handles are shown, which serve for receiving six containers in the form of bottles or cans or other containers which fit into the receiving elements. Of course, embodiments may also be provided in which less or more containers than packaging unit to be packed. For example, the provision of carrying handles for four cans or four bottles is possible. In an alternative embodiment of the carrying handle according to FIG. 4 for four doses, the identification flag 211 may be placed in a central inner opening of the carrying handle, so it need not be placed within a receiving element. Further, the handle member may be disposed in the region of the central inner opening within the carrying handle, instead of the arrangement in two adjacent receiving elements, as in FIG. 4 shown. It can also be provided here only a handle element, since this is sufficient for a handle for four doses.

Instead of the handle elements according to FIG. 4 It is also possible to provide two gripping elements 230, 231, which can be gripped into one another and / or latched to one another, so that a complete gripping element is formed from two subelements. Such an embodiment is suitable, for example, for carrying more than six cans or larger cans.

All handles can be made of HDPE or of any other suitable material, in particular plastic material.

In addition to the embodiment of carrying handles described in the foregoing and shown in the figures, numerous other can be designed in which each of the handle element is telescoped out of the plane of the handle, at least two torsion points on the handle or at least one ring element for surrounding the container on the outside , which are detachably attached to the carrying handle, or in which at least one identification element, such as a identification flag, identification band, etc., is arranged on the carrying handle or a packaging unit of a plurality of containers. In particular, corresponding carrying handles for other packaging unit sizes can be formed, in which in each case likewise a ring element or identification element or a corresponding grip element fastened to the carrying handle via torsion points are provided. All mentioned in the foregoing and shown in the figures features can be combined with each other.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 handle 2a receiving element 2a receiving element 2c receiving element 2d receiving element 2e receiving element 3 handle element 4 ring element 5 reinforcing web 6 reinforcing web 7 reinforcing web 9 reinforcing web 10 curved stiffening bar 11 identification flags 12 connecting web 13 connecting web 14 connecting web 15 connecting web 16 connecting web 17 connecting web 20 retaining tab 21 receiving ring 30 middle holding section 31 torsion 32 torsion 33 torsion 34 torsion 35 torsion 36 Torsionsstelle 37 Torsionsstelle 38 Torsionsstelle 40 section 41 Torsionsstelle 42 Torsionsstelle 43 support area 44 web element 45 web element 46 web element 47 Breaking point 48 Breaking point 49 Breaking point 50 section 51 section 60 section 61 section 70 section 71 section 80 section 81 section 90 section 91 section 100 bottle 101 bulge 102 bottle head 103 bottleneck 104 bulge 110 closure device 111 paragraph 112 casing 113 closing part 114 projection 115 projection 116 recess 120 stiffening portion 121 stiffening portion 130 stiffening portion 131 stiffening portion 140 stiffening portion 141 stiffening portion 150 stiffening portion 151 stiffening portion 160 stiffening portion 161 stiffening portion 200 handle 205 reinforcing web 206 reinforcing web 207 reinforcing web 208 reinforcing web 209 reinforcing web 210 reinforcing web 211 identification flags 212 connecting web 213 connecting web 214 connecting web 215 connecting web 216 connecting web 217 connecting web 218 connecting web 219 connecting web 220 connecting web 221 connecting web 222 connecting web 230 handle element 231 handle element 232 middle jetty 233 middle jetty 234 torsion 235 torsion 236 torsion 237 torsion 238 Torsionsstelle 240 telescopic bar 241 telescopic bar 242 telescopic bar 243 telescopic bar 244 Torsionsstelle 245 retaining tab

Claims (8)

1. Carrying handle (1) for a plurality of containers (100) with a handle element (3) and receiving elements (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f) for receiving the containers (100), in which the handle element (3) has a straight central holding portion (30) in plan view, extends between the receiving elements and is arranged parallel to the plane of the carrying handle (1) to be telescopically liftable by means of at least two points (35, 36, 37, 38) on the carrying handle (1), characterised in that the handle element (3) in the unused state lies in the plane of the carrying handle, in that the at least two points are configured as torsion points (35, 36, 37, 38) on the carrying handle (1) and the holding portion (30) is fastened by torsion webs (31, 32, 33, 34) on connecting webs (13, 14, 16, 17) between individual receiving elements (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f) by means of the torsion points (35, 36, 37, 38), wherein the torsion webs (31, 32, 33, 34) during the telescopic lifting of the handle element (3) out of the plane of the carrying handle (1) rotate out of this plane for the parallel lifting of the holding portion in relation to the plane of the carrying handle (1).
2. Carrying handle (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the receiving elements (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f), in particular, two four or six receiving elements, are connected to one another by reinforcement webs (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) arranged on the outside with respect to the carrying handle (1).
3. Carrying handle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the handle element (3) has at least one slightly curved portion for centring when stacking carrying handles on one another.
4. Carrying handle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one ring element (4) is releasably fastened to the carrying handle (1) to surround the container (100) on the outside.
5. Carrying handle (1) according to claim 4, characterised in that the ring element (4) is provided with at least one closure device (110) for fastening to the containers (100), in particular has a portion with barbed hooks that can be hooked into one another, or the closure device (110) comprises at least one element provided with barbed hooks and at least one counter-element cooperating therewith and/or contains a latching device, in particular has a housing part (112) provided with recesses (111, 116) and a closure part (113), which can be inserted therein and is provided with at least one external projection (114, 115), and/or there is provided a closure device in the manner of a string of pearls with elements arranged next to one another in a row, in particular conical elements.
6. Carrying handle (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the ring element (4) has an upper support face (43) to produce a bearing face for engagement when pushing down on the container walls, and is, in particular, v-shaped in cross section.
7. Carrying handle (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterised in that the ring element (4) is releasably connected by web elements (44, 45, 46) to the at least one receiving element (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f) and/or the reinforcement webs (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10), in particular a desired breaking point (47, 48, 49) is provided between the ring element (4) and web elements (44, 45, 46) and/or a desired breaking point is provided between the web elements (44, 45, 46) and the at least one receiving element (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f) and/or the reinforcement webs (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10).
8. Packaging unit consisting of a carrying handle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 and at least two containers (100), characterised in that the containers (100) are surrounded by an ring element (4), the ring element (4) being provided with at least one closure device (110) for fastening to the containers (100).

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