EP2117956A1 - Support de conteneur flexible - Google Patents

Support de conteneur flexible

Info

Publication number
EP2117956A1
EP2117956A1 EP08713103A EP08713103A EP2117956A1 EP 2117956 A1 EP2117956 A1 EP 2117956A1 EP 08713103 A EP08713103 A EP 08713103A EP 08713103 A EP08713103 A EP 08713103A EP 2117956 A1 EP2117956 A1 EP 2117956A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
container
carrier
aperture
plastic sheet
container aperture
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP08713103A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP2117956A4 (fr
Inventor
Robert C. Olsen
George E. II WALDO
Leslie S. Marco
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Illinois Tool Works Inc
Original Assignee
Illinois Tool Works Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Illinois Tool Works Inc filed Critical Illinois Tool Works Inc
Publication of EP2117956A1 publication Critical patent/EP2117956A1/fr
Publication of EP2117956A4 publication Critical patent/EP2117956A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • B65D71/50—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 otherwise than by folding a blank
    • B65D71/504—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 otherwise than by folding a blank the element being formed from a flexible sheet provided with slits or apertures intended to be stretched over the articles and adapt to the shape of the article
    • 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
    • B65D23/00—Details of bottles or jars not otherwise provided for
    • B65D23/10—Handles
    • B65D23/104—Handles formed separately

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a flexible carrier for providing a handle on a large container and/or a unitization of multiple containers.
  • PET bottle containers are typically used for juice and similar beverages. As the size of these bottles increases, they become more difficult to transport and grasp. Commonly, large PET bottles, such as 96 ounce bottles, include integrated grasping zones that are molded into the bottle during the injection molding or blow molding process. Alternatively, rigid plastic handles are either molded into the bottles or attached following the molding process. Such rigid plastic handles are often uncomfortable for the user and costly for the bottler to manufacture and apply.
  • Conventional container carriers are often used to unitize a plurality of similarly sized containers, such as cans, bottles and/or similar containers that require unitization.
  • Flexible plastic ring carriers having a plurality of container apertures are one such conventional container carrier.
  • a carrier according to this invention is used to carry one or more containers such as large juice bottles.
  • Individual carriers preferably comprise a low density flexible plastic sheet that includes one or more container apertures, each for engaging a neck of a respective container.
  • the carrier further includes a flexible handle extending relative to the container aperture for grasping, transporting and pouring the container. Welds may be positioned in one or more layers of the flexible sheet to provide extra thickness and rigidity in desirable areas of the plastic sheet.
  • Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a flexible carrier according to one preferred embodiment of this invention
  • Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a flexible carrier according to one preferred embodiment of this invention
  • Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a flexible carrier according to one preferred embodiment of this invention
  • Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a flexible carrier according to one preferred embodiment of this invention.
  • Fig. 5 is a top perspective view of the flexible carrier shown in Fig. 4 applied to a container;
  • Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of a flexible two pack carrier according to one preferred embodiment of this invention.
  • Fig. 7 is a top perspective view of the flexible two pack carrier shown in Fig.
  • Fig. 8 is a top perspective view of the flexible two pack carrier shown in Fig.
  • Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of a flexible carrier according to one preferred embodiment of this invention.
  • Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of a flexible two pack carrier according to one preferred embodiment of this invention.
  • Figs. 1-5 and 9 show various preferred embodiments of a flexible carrier for creating an easily portable container.
  • Figs. 6-8 and 10 show preferred embodiments of a flexible carrier for unitizing and carrying multiple containers.
  • Figs. 1-10 show carrier 10 for carrying one or more containers 80, according to various preferred embodiments of this invention.
  • Containers 80 such as those shown in packages 90 in Figs. 5, 7 and 8, are preferably PET bottles, typically large size PET bottles, such as those accommodating 48 ounces, 64 ounces, 96 ounces or other suitable quantities of product, such as juice.
  • PET bottles are shown in Figs. 5, 7 and 8, similar containers 80 may be used with carrier 10 according to this invention.
  • Containers 80 are preferably like- sized within a single carrier 10.
  • Carrier 10 unitizes one or more containers 80 to create package 90, such as package 90 shown in Figs. 5, 7 and 8.
  • Carrier 10 preferably comprises a flexible plastic sheet 15 preferably constructed from a flexible, resilient material such as, in one preferable embodiment, low density polyethylene.
  • the flexible plastic sheet 15 may have a thickness of about 3-50 mils, suitably about 5-30 mils, commonly about 10-20 mils.
  • the flexible plastic sheet 15 used to form carrier 10 is formed using a polymer composition which includes a high pressure low density polyethylene polymer.
  • the composition provides the carrier 10 with improved recovery after stretch, improved elongation and strength at break, and improved resistance to tearing when the carrier is notched or scratched.
  • the low density polyethylene polymer should have a density of about 0.910-0.950, grams/cm 3 , suitably about 0.920-0.940 grams/cm 3 , desirably about 0.925-0.935 grams/cm 3 .
  • the term "low density polyethylene polymer” includes polyethylene polymers commonly considered as having medium density, as well as polyethylene polymers commonly considered as having low density.
  • Plastic sheet 15 of material is preferably cut, using means known to those skilled in the art, such as a stamping die, to form one or more container apertures 30 in plastic sheet 15.
  • Container apertures 30 are preferably formed in a desired shape to sufficiently engage and retain a respective container 80. Such shapes may include generally elliptical, such as shown in Figs. 1-3, generally round such as shown in Fig. 6, triangular and/or a rectangular shape, each preferably having generally radiused or rounded corners.
  • Plastic sheet 15 may include other configurations of container apertures 30 depending on the size of package 90 and/or containers 80 desired.
  • Container apertures 30 are preferably applied to containers 80, namely PET bottles, around a neck of the respective container 80.
  • carrier 10 is applied around and under a cap of container 80 to further insure application of carrier 10 to container 80.
  • each carrier 10 includes a single container aperture 30. As shown in Fig. 6, each carrier 10 preferably comprises two container apertures 30 arranged generally linearly in plastic sheet 15.
  • carrier 10 is preferably manufactured so that raw carrier stock includes a generally continuous roll of plastic sheet 15 having a plurality of adjacent carriers 10 that are punched and then wound onto a spool (not shown) having several thousand carriers 10, each carrier 10 attached to each adjacent carrier 10, as described in more detail below.
  • Carriers 10 are later applied to containers 80 to form packages 90 and, during such process, are preferably unwound from spools and then separated from each other to form individual packages 90.
  • carrier stock preferably includes a planar, generally continuous plastic sheet 15 having first longitudinal edge 20 and second longitudinal edge 25 defining outer edges thereof.
  • One or more container apertures 30 extend between the outer edges of plastic sheet 15 through plastic sheet 15. According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, between each carrier
  • each carrier 10 in the generally continuous roll of carriers is line of weakness 40.
  • each carrier 10 Prior to, or during, the process of applying carriers 10 to containers 80, each carrier 10 maybe separated from each adjacent carrier along line of weakness 40.
  • Lines of weakness 40 may comprise perforations, serrations, slits, reduced thickness or combination thereof formed in plastic sheet 15 and are preferably tearable or frangible to permit separation of plastic sheet 15 along a defined line.
  • lines of weakness 40 preferably do not extend directly into any edge or aperture of plastic sheet 15 but instead are preferably positioned within interior portions of plastic sheet 15.
  • handle 50 is positioned within carrier 10 adjacent to the one or more container apertures 30. Handle 50 is preferably positioned within carrier 10 to provide an ample area for a purchaser to grab by inserting his hand or fingers through and still maintain the integrity of carrier 10.
  • Handle 50 may comprise finger aperture 55 positioned adjacent container aperture 30 such as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Handle 50 may additionally comprise strap 57 extending through finger aperture 55, such as shown in Fig. 3.
  • handle 50 may comprise bail 60 that extends around at least one container aperture 30.
  • Bail 60 may be temporarily affixed to flexible sheet 15 surrounding container aperture 30 using handle connections 65 which may further include lines of separation 67 to facilitate use of bail 60 such as shown in Fig. 8.
  • handle connections 65 which may further include lines of separation 67 to facilitate use of bail 60 such as shown in Fig. 8.
  • carrier 10 comprises a single thickness of plastic sheet 15 forming an embodiment such as shown in Figs. 1-4 and
  • carrier 10 may include 2 or more layers of plastic sheet 15. In either embodiment, but more preferably in an embodiment having two or more layers of plastic sheet 15, carrier 10 may further comprise one or more welds 70 extending across carrier 10.
  • welds 70 preferably extend longitudinally across carrier 10 and specifically extend longitudinally on either side of container aperture 30.
  • Weld 70 may comprise any suitable reinforcement that joins two or more layers of flexible sheet 15 together.
  • the two or more layers of flexible sheet 15 may be coextruded, welded, or otherwise joined together to create flexible carrier 10.
  • "Weld" as used in the specification and claims may be defined as a hot weld, cold weld, lamination or any other manner of connection that joins two sheets of material known to those having ordinary skill in the art.
  • a method of packaging containers 80 preferably includes providing a generally continuous plastic sheet 15 having a plurality of carriers 10 each having a respective container aperture 30.
  • Such carriers 10 optimally form a single carrying handle for a single container 80, such as large PET bottles, as described herein.
  • containers 80 are positioned in each container aperture 30 using a conventional packaging machine known to those having ordinary skill in the art.
  • the packaging machine also called an applicating machine, includes a drum having a plurality of jaw pairs that engage each container aperture 30 and transversely stretch plastic sheet 15 so as to engage each container aperture 30 with each container 80, specifically about a neck of such container 80.
  • the packaging machine also called an applicating machine, includes a drum having a plurality of jaw pairs that engage each container aperture 30 and transversely stretch plastic sheet 15 so as to engage each container aperture 30 with each container 80, specifically about a neck of such container 80.
  • Such applicating machines require a generally continuous plastic sheet having one or more container apertures 30 so that each container aperture 30 is connected to each other adjacent container aperture 30, through adjacent carriers 10, in at least a longitudinal direction.
  • each container 80 is separately positioned within a respective container aperture 30.
  • each container 80 therefore includes a carrier 10 positioned about its neck that enables convenient carrying of container 80.
  • the resulting package 90 of one or more containers 80 may then be lifted and carried using handle 50.
  • a consumer may then carry and pour container 80 as desired and appropriately dispose of the empty container 80 and integrated carrier 10.
  • each carrier 10 may be applied using an intermittent motion applicating machine.
  • a single carrier 10 may be placed under a cap of a respective container 80 to form package 90.
  • each carrier 10 described herein may be applied manually, either during the bottling process or post-process by the retailer.
  • a plurality of pin apertures 75 are positioned in flexible plastic sheet 15 surrounding container aperture 30.
  • container aperture 30 may comprise a circular aperture and the plurality of pin apertures 75 may comprise smaller circular apertures.
  • each pin aperture 75 is preferably engaged with a fixture having a plurality of pins or similar engagement mechanisms for grasping and stretchingly engaging container aperture 30 with container 80, specifically around a neck of a bottle, according to one preferred embodiment of this invention.
  • An illustrative resulting portable package 90 preferably includes a bottle having a neck and flexible plastic sheet 15 including a container aperture 30 that is sized to engage the neck and be positioned around the neck.
  • Handle 50 is preferably positioned adjacent container aperture 30 and extends over container aperture 30 and container 80 when grasped by a user. As shown in Figs. 1 -3, a pair of welds 70 may extend longitudinally across flexible plastic sheet 15, one weld of the pair of welds 15 positioned on each side of container aperture
  • package 90 include one or more containers 90 with a low density flexible handle 50 extending over the top of each container 90. Such an arrangement permits comfortable grasping and carrying of even the largest containers 90. While in the foregoing specification this invention has been described in relation to certain preferred embodiments thereof, and many details have been set forth for purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that carrier 10 and the related method of manufacture are susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the details described herein can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)

Abstract

Cette invention porte sur un support et un procédé d'application suivant lequel un support en matière plastique flexible est appliqué autour d'une partie de col d'un conteneur, tel qu'une bouteille en PET de grande dimension, conduisant à un emballage d'un ou plusieurs conteneurs et une poignée en matière plastique flexible s'étendant à partir de celui-ci.
EP08713103A 2007-01-11 2008-01-11 Support de conteneur flexible Withdrawn EP2117956A4 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US87988307P 2007-01-11 2007-01-11
PCT/US2008/000385 WO2008088728A1 (fr) 2007-01-11 2008-01-11 Support de conteneur flexible

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2117956A1 true EP2117956A1 (fr) 2009-11-18
EP2117956A4 EP2117956A4 (fr) 2011-05-25

Family

ID=39636284

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP08713103A Withdrawn EP2117956A4 (fr) 2007-01-11 2008-01-11 Support de conteneur flexible

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2117956A4 (fr)
WO (1) WO2008088728A1 (fr)

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3232422A (en) * 1963-12-16 1966-02-01 Illinois Tool Works Article carrier
US4799723A (en) * 1980-07-17 1989-01-24 The Continental Group, Inc. Twin cup carrier
US5695232A (en) * 1995-11-16 1997-12-09 Tipp; Raymond P. Bottle carrier
EP1308398A2 (fr) * 2001-10-31 2003-05-07 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Porte-récipients et emballage
US20040134799A1 (en) * 2003-01-10 2004-07-15 Mattson Larry J. Container carrier
EP1522502A2 (fr) * 2003-10-08 2005-04-13 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Porte-récipients à poignée ainsi que le procédé de sa fabrication
US20060289315A1 (en) * 2005-03-07 2006-12-28 Robert Olsen Container carrier

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3232422A (en) * 1963-12-16 1966-02-01 Illinois Tool Works Article carrier
US4799723A (en) * 1980-07-17 1989-01-24 The Continental Group, Inc. Twin cup carrier
US5695232A (en) * 1995-11-16 1997-12-09 Tipp; Raymond P. Bottle carrier
EP1308398A2 (fr) * 2001-10-31 2003-05-07 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Porte-récipients et emballage
US20040134799A1 (en) * 2003-01-10 2004-07-15 Mattson Larry J. Container carrier
EP1522502A2 (fr) * 2003-10-08 2005-04-13 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Porte-récipients à poignée ainsi que le procédé de sa fabrication
US20060289315A1 (en) * 2005-03-07 2006-12-28 Robert Olsen Container carrier

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO2008088728A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2117956A4 (fr) 2011-05-25
WO2008088728A1 (fr) 2008-07-24

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7775349B2 (en) Shrink-wrap packaging incorporating reinforced integral handle
US6896129B2 (en) Banded container package with opening feature
KR100810204B1 (ko) 손잡이가 형성된 파열 가능한 테이프 시스템을 구비한제품 포장
US4779731A (en) Cluster package construction with reinforcing and tear structure
AU2005312993A1 (en) Flexible carrier
US7100762B2 (en) Three pack container carrier
EP0812780B1 (fr) Porte-récipients et conditionnement
EP0748744A1 (fr) Emballage de récipients
EP0782962B1 (fr) Porte-récipients et conditionnement
EP2164763B1 (fr) Poignee integrant une etiquette
US5593026A (en) Ring container multipack with perforated tear strip for container removal
CA2449361C (fr) Emballage de contenants sangle avec dispositif d'ouverture
MXPA06012530A (es) Portador divisible para envases.
US4940141A (en) Shrinkwrap beverage pack
US4544194A (en) Plural bottle carrier
WO2008088728A1 (fr) Support de conteneur flexible
EP0456361A2 (fr) Dispositif de transport et d'emballage
NZ242366A (en) Container carrier of deformable elastic material: bridge portions connecting tear strips with container encircling bands having weakened sections for releasing a container
JP2023128049A (ja) 包装体
MXPA06014530A (en) Three pack container carrier

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20090731

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
A4 Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched

Effective date: 20110421

RIC1 Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant

Ipc: B65D 23/10 20060101ALI20110415BHEP

Ipc: B65D 71/50 20060101AFI20080805BHEP

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 20111122