EP3177544B1 - Packaging for an assembly of bottles - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of packaging, and more particularly to the packaging of a set of bottles; it is also a question of being able to transport such a set.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

The packaging and transport of sets of bottles has generated many technological solutions that are more or less interesting from an economic, ecological, ergonomic and other point of view. By 'bottles' is meant all kinds of containers, specifically but not exclusively, of liquids.

Packaging in the form of thermo-deformable films surrounding sets or packs of bottles, for example by four or by six, is known. The cost of such packaging is not negligible, especially if it is compared to the cost of the liquid contained inside the bottles; moreover, from an ecological point of view, their deterioration is very long or even infinite. In addition, the energy required to produce these films is considerable, the investment is significant because the production lines are complex.

We therefore tried to replace these so-called plastic films either with smaller films or with strips placed in specific places in the pack. The document WO 2012/104258 , which discloses a package according to the preamble of appended claim 1, illustrates an example of such a package where two
so-called horizontal retention bands, are stretched around the bottles and placed at two levels, namely just below the neck, and near the bottom of the bottles. The retention bands cooperate with grooves dug in the bottles in order to prevent them from escaping by translation along their longitudinal axes. In addition, this invention provides a handle, also in the form of a band linked to one of the horizontal retention bands. The strips can also be welded, at a few points, to the bottles. With respect to thermoplastic films, this invention is probably interesting in terms of cost reduction, but not in terms of ecology because plastic ties are still used.

A close realization is disclosed in the patent application US 2011/0073511 , where the plastic connecting strip or strips cooperate with grooves provided in the bottles. One or two strips are provided, which are also fixed by welding to the bottles. It is emphasized again that this solution essentially uses plastic material as packaging material; moreover, this method of attachment to the bottles does not seem very suitable when the total weight of the packaging becomes significant, for example greater than several kilograms.

Also known are packaging provided with at least one adhesive strip which surrounds the bottles and allows them to be maintained by gluing; but this solution seems unreliable, especially when the weight of the assembly becomes significant. In addition, the adhesive degrades over time and under certain storage conditions; its properties are altered so that these adhesive strips may no longer fulfill their function correctly.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The invention aims to remedy the drawbacks of the state of the art and in particular to propose an ecological solution, that is to say one which uses natural and easily degradable or recyclable materials, while ensuring perfect cohesion between the bottles. over the long term; easy transport is further obtained according to the invention.

To do this, according to a first aspect of the invention, a packaging for a set of bottles with a longitudinal axis XX is proposed, comprising at least a first cord arranged in a first plane P1 substantially perpendicular to the axis XX and enclosing said bottles. ; a second cord arranged in a second plane P2 substantially parallel to said first plane P1, enclosing said bottles and located at a distance D, measured along the axis XX, 30 from said first plane P1; a handle formed by a rope which, in the stretched state, is arranged in a so-called handle plane P4 perpendicular to said first and second planes, said at least one first rope and/or said at least one second cord being adapted to be engaged in grooves present on the outer surface of said bottles. Interestingly, said handle is linked in at least two points to said first cord, the two points belonging to a plane containing the center of gravity of the packaging containing said bottles, and the packaging further comprises at least one third cord arranged in a third plane P3 perpendicular to said first and second planes and to said handle plane P4, said at least one third cord being stretched between the first and the second cord and arranged between at least two The packaging being characterized in that said at least one least third string is not located in the P4 plane.

This solution is at the same time simple, economical, ecological and reliable; it is particularly adaptable to packaging of two, four or six bottles.

Such an arrangement advantageously allows, in particular by the connections and interdependencies between the cords, an optimal distribution of the forces. This contributes to the cohesion of all the bottles.

Preferably, said at least one first string and/or at least one second string and/or at least one third string consist of natural fibers such as hemp. This material is particularly well suited to the present invention.

Further, plane P3 is perpendicular to handle plane P4. This is achieved if the package includes more than two bottles.

According to one embodiment of the invention, said distance D is between about 2cm and about 6cm.

Advantageously, said handle plane coincides with a plane of symmetry of the packaging. A very good balancing of the forces is thus achieved according to the invention.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the packaging is capable of containing six bottles, and it comprises a first and a second cord.

Advantageously, the packaging may include two third cords; when six bottles form the pack, this arrangement is perfectly balanced.

Preferably, said cords are of the braided type.

According to one embodiment of the invention, said handle is linked to said first rope by a knotted link.

Furthermore, the packaging may comprise a film, a layer or any technically equivalent means making it possible to surround and protect said handle over all or part of its length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the following description, with reference to the single appended figure which illustrates an embodiment of a packaging according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DIFFERENT EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Many combinations can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention; the person skilled in the art will choose one or the other depending on the economic, ergonomic, dimensional or other constraints that he will have to respect.

Generally, the single figure shows a set of six bottles packed with a packaging according to the invention. More specifically, the bottles have a longitudinal axis XX and are arranged side by side, arranged in a set of two rows of three bottles each. The packaging has a first cord 1 placed in a first plane P1 perpendicular to the axis XX of the bottles; the first cord 1 is tightened around the bottles for example thanks to a connecting knot between its two ends. A second chord 2 is here arranged in a second plane P2 substantially parallel to the first plane P1; it is tightened around the bottles and is located at a distance D, for example comprised between two centimeters and six centimeters from the first string, a distance measured along the axis XX. Of course, the distance D varies according to the type of bottles concerned.

The first 1 and/or the second 2 cords are capable of being engaged in grooves 10, 20 present on the outer surface of the bottles. If such grooves are not present, then another type of connection between the cord or cords 1, 2 and the bottles is to be expected. For example a collage in a specific number of points. By "grooves" is meant any negative or positive relief, hollow or raised vis-à-vis the outer surface of a bottle.

The packaging further comprises a handle 4 formed by a cord which, in the stretched state, is arranged in a plane P4, called the handle plane, perpendicular to the planes P1 and P2. According to the invention, the handle 4 is tied in at least two points 40 (a single connecting point is visible in the single figure) to the first string 1; specifically the two points belong to a plane containing or close to the center of gravity of the assembly formed by the bottles. According to the illustrated embodiment, and as shown, the plane P4 is located between the two rows of three bottles. The connection points between the handle 4 and the first rope 1 can be knots or any equivalent. The plane P4 advantageously coincides with the plane of symmetry of the package.

Additionally, the handle 4 can be linked to the second rope 2; this strengthens the connection between the first and the second string.

Furthermore, the packaging according to the invention comprises at least a third cord 3 arranged in a third plane P3 perpendicular both to the planes P1 and P2 and to the plane P4. This third string 3 does not include the handle 4.

According to the example illustrated, the third strings 3 are two in number; they are stretched between the first 1 and the second 2 cord, and pass between the bottles, inside the pack. The third string or strings 3 allow a connection and they retain the first and the second string relative to each other. Insofar as the connection between the handle 4 and the rest of the packaging is operated at the level of the first string 1, the third string or strings 3 ensure the cohesion of the packaging. The tensile forces and the weight pass through the third strings 3; there is thus a distribution of the loads between the different cords.

The third cords can be tied at their ends.

If the pack includes two or four bottles, only one third string 3 is required; if the pack has six bottles, two third strings are considered, as shown; if the pack includes more bottles, the person skilled in the art will choose the number of third string 3 to be provided.

Advantageously, the strings 1, 2, 3 are made of natural fibers, for example hemp. Any other natural fiber can be considered without departing from the scope of the invention. These solutions are ecological in the sense that the packaging is made of a natural material and not a synthetic one. Compared to solutions using plastic, a significant saving is achieved, due to the very nature of the materials.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the cords are braided; the person skilled in the art will choose the most appropriate type of rope, both with regard to the type of rope, and their diameter, length, elasticity and/or other possible treatment.

In addition, the handle 4 may comprise a means such as a film, a layer placed on its outer surface and capable of protecting the cord 4 constituting the handle; the means also ensures a more comfortable and ergonomic grip because its roughness is less than that of the rope 4 so that the user damages his fingers less when handling a pack, in particular if the latter is heavy or if the user has to carry the pack for a long time, holding it by the handle 4.

Other characteristics and improvements of the invention, structural, functional, ergonomic, can be achieved by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.

It will be easily understood from reading the present application that the features of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged and designed according to a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the description of the present invention and the accompanying figures are not intended to limit the scope of the invention but merely represent selected embodiments.

Those skilled in the art will understand that the technical characteristics of a given embodiment can in fact be combined with characteristics of another embodiment unless the reverse is explicitly mentioned or it is obvious that these characteristics are incompatible. Moreover, the technical characteristics described in a given embodiment can be isolated from the other characteristics of this mode unless the reverse is explicitly mentioned.

It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention permits embodiments in many other specific forms without departing from the scope defined by the scope of the appended claims, they should be considered by way of illustration and the invention should not be limited to the details given above.

Claims (9)

1. Packaging for a set of bottles of longitudinal axis XX, comprising at least one first cord (1) disposed in a first plane P1 substantially perpendicular to the axis XX and enclosing said bottles; a second cord (2) disposed in a second plane P2 substantially parallel to said first plane P1, enclosing said bottles and situated at a distance D, measured along the axis XX, from said first plane P1; a handle (4) formed by a cord which, in the tensioned state, is disposed in a plane P4, referred to as handle plane, perpendicular to said first and second planes, said at least one first cord (1) and/or said at least one second cord (2) being able to be engaged in grooves present on the outer surface of said bottles such that said handle (4) is connected to said first cord (1) at at least two points (40) by knots or any equivalent means, the two points belonging to a plane containing the centre of gravity of the packaging containing said bottles, and characterized in that it further comprises at least one third cord (3) disposed in a third plane P3 perpendicular to said first and second planes and to said handle plane P4, said at least one third cord (3) not being situated in the plane P4 and being tensioned between the first and the second cord and disposed between at least two bottles.
2. Packaging according to Claim 1, characterized in that said at least one first cord (1) and/or at least one second cord (2) and/or at least one third cord (3) consist of natural fibres such as hemp.
3. Packaging according to either one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said distance D is between approximately 2 cm and approximately 6 cm.
4. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said handle plane P4 is coincident with a plane of symmetry of the packaging.
5. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is able to contain six bottles.
6. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two third cords (3).
7. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cords (1, 2, 3) are of the braided type.
8. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said handle (4) is connected to said first cord (1) by a knotted connection.
9. Packaging according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a film, a layer or any technically equivalent means for surrounding and protecting said handle (4) over all or part of its length.

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