EP2258625B1 - Bundle consisting of at least two like bodies, in particular bottles - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to containers made of at least two similar bodies having the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Several filled bodies, such as bottles, cans or similar packaged goods are often combined in containers for transport, storage and / or sale. For example, several bodies are brought together in a sealed process in completely closed boxes.

Another possibility is the use of so-called. Trays or pads on which the body, especially bottles, are provided. To fix the plurality of bodies with each other, a film is additionally wrapped around and then thermally shrunk. The film can also be processed without the use of trays or pads and in a so-called "shrink-only" process.

A major disadvantage of the processes described is the need to process additional packaging materials, i. in the use of additional cost-intensive packaging material in conjunction with the associated packaging machines. A particular disadvantage is the high energy consumption during shrinking of the outer packaging in the shrink tunnel.

Out DE 102004047830 A1 functional bodies are known which have connecting elements. This document shows a bottle with snap closures, which allows several such bottles to be assembled into constructive units so that they can be conveniently transported and stored and used in an empty state for a variety of purposes. The bodies are thereby easily collectable and stackable in an empty state, whereby the latched connections can be solved only with considerable effort.

DE 202005019327 U1 describes a plastic body with at least one extending at least in a portion of the trunk groove whose depth is variable over the length. The groove in the present case serves to absorb the pressure of carbonated drinks in order to avoid a highly visible deformation of the bottle.

GB 18752 A shows a bottle with longitudinally disposed ribs, which are intended to prevent a rolling of the bottles, especially when they are lying one above the other.

JP 52-96169A shows a bottle having an octagonal outer cross section and a circular inner cross section, wherein the octagonal outer cross section allows an optimal tight packaging of multiple bottles.

US 5002199 A shows an improved lightweight bottle that is stackable. The bottle preferably has a rectangular cross-section with parallel, oppositely disposed recesses or precisely fitting elevations, so that the lying bottles can be stacked safely and space-saving.

The American design US D520376 S shows a bottle shape, which is similar to a puzzle piece and on two sides circular recesses and on the other two sides corresponding circular projections. Thus, the bottles are connected to each other in the manner of a puzzle, so that they represent a level lying.

WO 1990008068 A1 shows a bottle with at least two recesses or recesses along the outer surface of the bottle, so that at least two handles arise, which should enable a baby or toddler, the bottle simply hold itself.

WO 2008002579 A2 describes interlocking rectangular plastic bodies, the lateral surface having at least two movable vacuum compartments. The shoulder region and the lower part of the body define an interlocking structure so that a nested arrangement is possible through the complementary surfaces of the adjacent bodies.

WO02 / 12077 A1 describes a plastic container with various connecting elements for connecting at least two similar plastic containers together. Since the containers have at least two different types of connecting elements, the connection of several of these containers to complex three-dimensional containers with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is possible.

US 2004/000550 describes containers with fasteners over which the containers can be attached to brackets so that larger units of the containers are formed.

US 2008/202966 shows modular containers with an at least partially coiled surface with indentations and bulges, through which the containers are connected to decorative arrangements.

US 5310071 A shows food container with an open-topped area and a lower area with at least one connecting element. The food containers can be connected to each other via the at least one connecting element and thus be used as a toy after use.

DE 19734348 A1 describes a container system, wherein the container by means of suitably shaped outer projections or indentations are connected to each other and thereby form a mechanically rigid unit by frictional and / or positive engagement with each other.

The object of the present invention is to provide a container in which bodies are detachably connected together without additional or with only very little wrapping packaging material.

The object is achieved by a container comprising the features of claim 1.

description

The present invention relates to containers which consist of a combination of at least two bodies. In the containers, the bodies are stable but releasably connected. Preferably, no additional packaging material is needed. The bodies are preferably bottles and consist in particular of plastic, for example PET, and are used in the beverage industry.

The combined bodies each have a substantially round base surface with a bottom, a lateral surface and preferably a closure arranged on the top opposite the bottom. The closure can be a resealable screw cap, a snap closure or the like, or else a non-reclosable disposable closure.

The lateral surface and possibly also the bottom and / or the closure have a structuring. The structuring of the lateral surface is arranged substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the body, wherein the longitudinal axis is aligned perpendicular to the bottom of the body. The structuring of the lateral surface has connecting elements all around.

The connecting elements are formed as ribs, wherein between each two ribs, a groove is formed, which is formed such that in each case a rib of a first body engages positively in such a groove of a second body.

According to the invention, no undercut between ribs and groove is formed in a first finished state. The form-fitting cooperating connecting elements of the at least two bodies act together in a second state. In particular, an undercut is formed when the rib of a first body is pressed into the corresponding groove of a second body. That the body has no undercut in the manufactured state, this arises only when assembling and connecting two bodies, so that in turn a frictional connection is formed.

The connecting elements may extend over the entire lateral surface of the body, or only over a part of the same. According to one embodiment, the connecting elements extend only over an axial portion of the lateral surface. According to a preferred embodiment, the connecting elements extend over an upper and a lower axial portion of the lateral surface, while the circumference of the body is reduced in the intermediate region, so that a kind of grip region is formed.

Furthermore, the connecting elements have additional securing elements which serve to produce a non-positive connection between at least two bodies. The securing elements are formed as elevations and depressions, wherein the elevations are preferably arranged in the grooves and the depressions preferably on the ribs. According to a further embodiment, the elevations are preferably arranged on the ribs and the depressions, preferably in the grooves. Furthermore, both at least one depression and at least one elevation can be arranged on the ribs, while correspondingly corresponding securing elements are arranged in the grooves.

Depending on a further embodiment, each body may have a shoulder on the bottom and / or on the top. If two such bodies connected to each other, so the paragraph serves as a kind of stop, which prevents axial slippage of the body against each other.

The bodies are preferably produced by means of conventional blow molding or stretch blow molding processes. For the production of bodies without undercut in the region of the grooves, the conventionally known method can be used, in which the blow mold consists of two parts, which are opened along an axis extending perpendicular to the bottom of the body.

A positive side effect of the present invention is that due to the shape of the body have a special stability, so that particularly thin-walled bottles can be produced.

According to a further embodiment, splices are arranged between the bodies, which also serve to prevent an axial slippage of the body against each other.

A further embodiment provides that the at least two combined bodies are additionally secured by means of a band. If bodies are combined in which the connecting elements extend only over an upper and a lower region, so that a largely centrally arranged grip region is formed, then the band is preferably applied in this unstructured region.

According to a further embodiment, the container has a handle. The handle consists of at least one attachment area and at least one holding area. The attachment region is preferably such that it engages positively and non-positively between the connecting elements, in particular in a groove between two ribs.

According to one embodiment, the handle consists of a molded part, in particular an injection molded part or the like, and has two fastening regions, and a holding region whose width corresponds approximately to twice the circumference of the body to be grasped together. The attachment areas are preferably cylindrical. However, it is also conceivable that the handle serves to encompass three or more containers arranged in series. The holding area must then be adjusted accordingly in width.

According to a further embodiment, a handle consists of two largely cylindrical attachment regions and a holding region arranged therebetween in the form of a foil strip, a string or the like.

The handle is easy to fasten by attaching a fastening area between two connecting elements of a first body and the other fastening area between two connecting elements of a second body, in particular clipped, wherein the first and the second body are positively connected to each other and preferably also non-positively. When the handle is fastened, it forms a stable transport unit with the bodies, whereby the connection between the handle and the bodies is detachable.

A container according to the invention with or without the handle described in particular has the advantage that no additional cost of materials is necessary because no outer packaging in the form of a film, a cardboard, etc. is needed. This eliminates time, energy and costly packaging processes such as cardboard folding, shrinking films. This eliminates, for example, certain devices such as the shrink tunnel. Banderoles or the like may be used for additional protection against axial displacement, but the resulting packaging costs are lower than, for example, when using an outer packaging made of shrink film.

• Figuren 1 a und b zeigen eine erste Ausführungsform eines Körpers;
• Figur 2 zeigt eine zweite Ausführungsform eines Körpers;
• Figur 3 zeigt eine dritte Ausführungsform eines Körpers;
• Figur 4 zeigt eine vierte Ausführungsform eines Körpers;
• Figuren 5a und b zeigen das Ineinandergreifen zweier Körper gemäß der in Figur 3 gezeigten dritten Ausführungsform;
• Figuren 6a bis d zeigen verschiedene Ansichten eines Gebindes bestehend aus sechs Körpern gemäß dem in Figur 2 dargestellten zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel;
• Figuren 7a und b zeigen jeweils ein Gebinde bestehend aus sechs Körpern gemäß dem in Figur 4 dargestellten vierten Ausführungsbeispiel;
• Figuren 8a bis 8c zeigt einen Henkel zur Verwendung mit einem erfindungsgemäßen Gebinde;
• Figur 9 zeigt das axiale Zusammenfügen zweier Flaschen gemäß der in Figur 2 dargestellten zweiten Ausführungsform.

In the following, embodiments of the invention and their advantages with reference to the accompanying figures will be explained in more detail. The proportions of the individual elements to one another in the figures do not always correspond to the actual size ratios, since some shapes are simplified and other shapes are shown enlarged in relation to other elements for better illustration.

• FIGS. 1 a and b show a first embodiment of a body;
• FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a body;
• FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of a body;
• FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of a body;
• FIGS. 5a and b show the interlocking of two bodies according to the in FIG. 3 shown third embodiment;
• FIGS. 6a to d show different views of a container consisting of six bodies according to the in FIG. 2 illustrated second embodiment;
• FIGS. 7a and b each show a container consisting of six bodies according to the in FIG. 4 illustrated fourth embodiment;
• FIGS. 8a to 8c shows a handle for use with a container according to the invention;
• FIG. 9 shows the axial joining of two bottles according to the in FIG. 2 illustrated second embodiment.

For identical or equivalent elements of the invention, identical reference numerals are used. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference symbols are shown in the individual figures, which are required for the description of the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples of how bodies, containers of the invention, an apparatus and a method of making containers of the invention may be configured and are not an exhaustive limitation.

FIGS. 1a and 1b show a first embodiment of a body for assembling inventive container. This is a specially shaped bottle 10 having a bottom portion 50 and an upper portion 51, wherein in the upper portion 51, a closure 2 is arranged and wherein the bottle 10 has a structuring along a perpendicular to the bottom 50 arranged longitudinal axis and wherein the structuring Connecting elements in the form of ribs 11 a and between each two ribs arranged grooves 11 b has formed, which extend over the entire length of the bottle 10 (see, in particular FIG. 1a ).

The ribs 11 a of a first body 10 are shaped such that they can positively engage in the grooves 11 b of a second body 10 (see also FIGS. 5a and 6d ).

FIG. 1b shows a plan view of a bottle 10 and thus illustrates the cross section of such a bottle 10. It can be clearly seen that due to the described structuring with connecting elements, in particular with ribs 11 a and 11 b grooves, a gear similar cross-section is formed in the area the grooves 11 legs undercut 22 has. This undercut 22 is advantageous in order to clasp a plurality of bottles 10 in a form-fitting manner radially with each other and thus a frictional connection between at least two bottles 10 to produce (see also FIGS. 5a, 5b . 6a, 6b and 6d ).

The closure 2 is preferably a screw cap, but other closures such as snap closures or the like may be used.

Although the bottles 12 have a gearwheel-like cross-section according to the invention, the recesses between the ribs 13a have no undercut in a first state. When connecting two bodies together an undercut according to the invention is formed, which holds the two bodies together non-positively.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment 12 of a body. Here, the gear-like cross section extends over a lower and an upper region 32, 34 of the bottle height 31. Between the lower region 32 and the upper region 34 of the bottle height 31, the cross section of the bottle 12 is preferably circular, oval or ellipsoidal and compared to Gear similar cross-section of the lower portion 32 and the upper portion 34 is lower, so that a grip region or a grip recess 42 is formed, whereby an ergonomic gripping and holding the bottle 12 by the user is possible. In particular, the unstructured region 42 must have a smaller cross section than the structured regions 32, 34, so that the connecting elements in the form of ribs 13 a and grooves 13 b of the structured regions 32 and 34 of two bodies 12 can engage in one another.

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment 14 of a body with a recessed grip 44. This embodiment is similar to the second embodiment of a body 12 from FIG. 2 with the difference that according to the invention it has additional securing elements in the form of elevations 54a in the grooves 15b or depressions 54b in the ribs 15a. The elevations 54a or depressions 54b are designed such that the elevations 54a of a first bottle 14 engage positively in the recesses 54b of a second bottle 14, in particular are clipped together, and form a stable releasable connection. The elevations 54a and depressions 54b thus serve as additional securing means to produce a stable detachable connection between two or more bottles 14 according to the third embodiment.

It is clear to the person skilled in the art that the arrangement of the elevations 54a or depressions 54b is not restricted to the exemplary embodiment 14 shown. It is also conceivable that the Ridges 54a are disposed on the outer radii of the ribs 15a and the depressions 54b on the inner radii of the grooves 15b. Likewise, it is obvious to a person skilled in the art to provide a bottle 10 according to the first embodiment with such elevations 54a or depressions 54b in the ribs 11a and 11b, respectively.

FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment 16 of a body with a recessed grip 46, which in turn a modification of the second embodiment 12 (see. FIG. 2 ). In this case, the ribs 17a taper in the lower region 32 and in the upper region 34 each toward the recessed grip 46. As a result, the area of the recessed grip can be made narrower, wherein the bottle 16 is still ergonomically advantageous to hold in the hand.

According to the embodiment shown here, the bottle 16 in the region of the bottom 50 of the bottle 16 and in the region of the top 51 of the bottle 16 relative to the grooves 17b a paragraph or stop 55 on. This stop 55 is used in particular for the axial securing of two mutually positively and non-positively connected bottles sixteenth

It is also obvious to the person skilled in the art to use this embodiment 16 with elevations or depressions corresponding to those in FIG FIG. 3 illustrated embodiment 14 for additional security, in particular to provide protection against axial slipping.

FIGS. 5a and 5b show the interlocking of two bodies according to the in FIG. 3 In the figure, the additional elevations 54a can be seen clearly, which forms a positive releasable connection 60 between the two bottles 14 together with a corresponding recess 54b in the region of the nested ribs 15a.

FIGS. 6a to 6d each show an inventive container 92a / b consisting of six bodies according to the in FIG. 2 illustrated second embodiment 12. The bottles 12 in the container 92a according to FIG. 6a are clipped together in a releasable connection and thereby held together. In the container 92b according to FIG. 6b the bottles 12 are additionally secured by an additional band 90 against axial slipping. The band 90 may be, for example, a cardboard or paper strip, furthermore, the band 90 may consist of a strip of plastic film, in particular a self-adhesive label-like plastic strip, an elastic (rubber) band or the like.

For axial securing of the bottles can in a container 92 a according to FIG. 6a and FIG. 6c For example, an adhesive, in particular a hot-melt adhesive 60, are applied along the rib 13a to be joined or even dropped or sprayed from above onto the joint. Furthermore, the use of adhesive dots is possible, which detachably connect to one another by the pressure arising during clipping in of the rib 13a into the corresponding recess or groove 13b.

Furthermore, the bottles may have a shoulder design (see embodiment 16 in FIG FIG. 4 ), which prevents the bottles from being displaced axially relative to each other.

FIGS. 7a and 7b each show a container 96a / b consisting of six bodies according to the in FIG. 4 illustrated fourth embodiment 16. The connection of the body 16 with each other corresponds to that in the FIGS. 6a to 6d shown embodiment, so that it is possible to dispense with a repetition of the description.

It is thus clear to the person skilled in the art that corresponding containers are also produced from the bodies 10 and 14 according to the first and the third embodiment. Furthermore, the number of bottles that are packaged in one pack is not limited to six. Rather, containers according to the invention consisting of preferably two, four, eight or ten bodies are also conceivable. In this case, not only containers with a rectangular base area but also those in which the bodies are arranged so that the base area represents a parallelogram should continue to be included. Furthermore, the invention also containers with an odd number of bodies, in particular three, five, seven or nine bodies are included, which are arranged for example in containers with a triangular base, a hexagonal base or the like.

Accordingly, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the number of ribs 11a, 13a, 15a, 17a of the bodies 10, 12, 14 and 16 (see FIG. FIGS. 1 to 4 ) is not set to eight ribs 11a, 13a, 15a, 17a as shown in the illustrated embodiments 10, 12, 14 and 16. The number of ribs 11a, 13a, 15a, 17a is to be varied according to the desired composition of the containers, the number of ribs 11a, 13a, 15a, 17a - and accordingly the number of intermediate grooves 11b, 13b, 15b, 17b - preferably between five and twelve.

FIG. 8a shows a handle 80 for use with the bodies. The handle 80 is a molding made of plastic with a holding portion 82 and at least a fastening region 84. The fastening region 84 is shaped so that it is between the ribs 11 of the body 10, 12, 14 and 16 (see. FIGS. 1 to 4 ) can be clipped, so that there is a fixed detachable connection.

Figures 8b and 8c show the use of the handle 80 according to FIG. 8a together with bodies 16 according to the in FIG. 4 illustrated fourth embodiment, wherein the handle 80 via its mounting portions 84 between the ribs 17a, ie in the grooves 17b, the bottle 16 is releasably clipped, so that the handle 80 can be easily removed by the buyer or user and the bottles 16 easy can be isolated.

According to a further embodiment (not shown), the handle consists of two cylinders or the like, which are connected to each other via a cardboard or foil tape, a rope or the like, wherein the cylinders according to the above-described principle in the wells of the bottles 10, 12, 14, 16 engage and form a positive connection.

FIG. 9 shows a not belonging to the invention method for connecting inventive body. This is the axial assembly of two bottles according to the in FIG. 2 illustrated second embodiment 12th

In particular, the bottles 12 are joined by a robot in the axial direction 140 in a clocking manner. In this case, a clipping of the body 12 is not required, instead, a telescoping of the corresponding ribs 13a and grooves 13b takes place. This type of process is particularly advantageous in bottles that have a pronounced undercut, since in this case no effort is required to assemble.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

2

shutter

10

Bottle according to a first embodiment

11a

Connecting element: rib

11b

Connecting element: groove

12

Bottle according to a second embodiment

12 '

Bottle pair of bottles according to a second embodiment

14

Bottle according to a third embodiment

15a

Connecting element: rib

15b

Connecting element: groove

16

Bottle according to a fourth embodiment

17a

Connecting element: rib

17b

Connecting element: groove

22

undercut

32

lower area

34

upper area

42

unstructured area / grip area / recessed grip

44

unstructured area / grip area / recessed grip

46

unstructured area / grip area / recessed grip

50

ground

51

top

54a

Fuse element: increase

54b

Securing element: recess

55

Paragraph / stop

60

hot glue

80

handle

90

banderole

92a / b

container

96a / b

container

140

axial direction

Claims (5)

1. Package (92a, 92b, 96a, 96b) consisting of an assembly of at least two bodies (10, 12, 14, 16) of an essentially circular base shape, whereby the bodies (10, 12, 14, 16) each have a base (50), a top side (51) and a lateral surface, whereby the lateral surfaces each are formed with a structuring, the structuring being arranged essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body (10, 12, 14, 16), with the longitudinal axis arranged perpendicular to the base of the body (10, 12, 14, 16), and whereby the structuring is formed with connecting elements (11 a, 11 b, 13a, 13b, 15a, 15b, 17a, 17b) around the entire girth of the body, whereby the connecting elements (11 a, 11 b, 13a, 13b, 15a, 15b, 17a, 17b) are formed as ribs and notches and whereby the connecting elements (11 a, 11 b, 13a, 13b, 15a, 15b, 17a, 17b) extend along at least one axial section (32, 34) of the lateral surface, characterized in that in a first produced state of the bodies (10, 12, 14, 16) the ribs (11 a, 13a, 15a, 17a) have no undercut (22) and that in a second state, whereby the least two bodies (10, 12, 14, 16) are interconnected in a force- fit connection, the positively interacting connecting elements (11 a, 11 b, 13a, 13b, 15a, 15b, 17a, 17b) of the at least two bodies (10, 12, 14, 16) form an undercut (22), and whereby the connecting elements (11 a, 11 b, 13a, 13b, 15a, 15b, 17a, 17b) have additional securing elements, which are formed as elevations (54a) and indentations (54b) of the connecting elements, the additional securing elements used for the formation of a force-fit connection between the at least two bodies and whereby the force- fit connection of the securing elements prevents an axial shifting of the at least two interconnected bodies.
2. Package (92a, 92b, 96a, 96b) according to claim 1, whereby the base (50) of the bodies (10, 12, 14, 16) each comprises a shoulder (55).
3. Package (92a, 92b, 96a, 96b) according to one of the claims 1 or 2, whereby adhesion points (60) are applied between the bodies (10, 12, 14, 16) and / or whereby the bodies (10, 12, 14, 16) are surrounded by a banderole (90).
4. Package (92a, 92b, 96a, 96b) according to one of the claims 1 to 3, whereby the package (92a, 92b, 96a, 96b) comprises a handle (80) and whereby the handle (80) comprises two fastening areas (84) and one holding area (82).
5. Package (92a, 92b, 96a, 96b) according to claim 4, whereby the fastening areas (84) can be fastened each between two connecting elements (11 a, 11 b, 13a, 13b, 15a, 15b, 17a, 17b) of a body (10, 12, 14, 16) and / or whereby the connection between the handle (80) and the bodies (10, 12, 14, 16) is detachable.

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