EP3757034A1

EP3757034A1 - Cardboard bottle carrier

Info

Publication number: EP3757034A1
Application number: EP18907066.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mark COPAL
Original assignee: Ennomotive SL
Current assignee: Ennomotive SL
Priority date: 2018-02-21
Filing date: 2018-02-21
Publication date: 2020-12-30
Anticipated expiration: 2038-02-21
Also published as: ES2956047T3; WO2019162536A1; EP3757034A4; EP3757034B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a cardboard bottle carrier that allows bottles to be retained in a simple manner, such that the position of the bottles is secured during transport. The carrier is formed from a quadrangular cardboard sheet, symmetrically with respect to a transverse axis, forming two symmetrical parts that each comprise: a first face in which is made a first hole having a diameter similar to that of the neck of the bottle, followed by and connected to a second hole having a diameter larger than that of the mouth of the bottle, such that the neck can pass from the second hole to the first hole; a first transverse fold line; a second transverse fold line; a second face with a third hole and a fourth hole that are similar to the first two holes; a third fold line; and a third face, up to the transverse axis that forms a fourth fold line.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is encompassed in the field of packaging configured from a sheet, specifically in that of cardboard sheets configured for carrying bottles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the object of carrying bottles, cardboard bottle carriers are usually arranged with holes that fit onto the mouth of each bottle to adjust to the neck thereof and thus use the difference in diameter between neck and mouth as a cardboard retaining configuration, thus making it possible when picking up the cardboard, to carry several bottles.
The patent with publication number ES2135492 is known, which explains a cardboard bottle carrier wherein a hole of approximately the diameter of the neck of the bottle is provided, then followed by a hole of approximately the diameter of the mouth of the bottle, which forms a group of two holes, then another similar group is arranged such that the smaller holes are facing each other, the bottle is inserted into one group and by folding it faces the other such that the smaller diameter holes of both groups are around the neck of the bottle, retention of the position is performed by folding a final portion of the cardboard, which can lead to the unfolding of such fold and the holes to move whereby the bottles are not retained, or to ensure the fold, fastening is necessary as an adhesive.
The patent with publication number GB883561 is known in which a cardboard bottle carrier with groups of holes is explained as mentioned in the above patent, in this case each group of holes is arranged at the ends of the cardboard such that when folded along the middle part, which acts as a handle, the holes face each other, when pulling on the cardboard and due to the action of gravity on the bottles, the smaller holes of each group of holes adjust to the neck of the bottles, the configuration of the cardboard implies a fold that goes through the larger hole of the groups of holes, which makes its shaping difficult and further weakens the cardboard.
The patent with publication number WO9322217 is known, wherein a cardboard bottle carrier with groups of holes is explained, which, as opposed to the above patents, the smaller hole faces the larger hole, the larger remaining in the outermost part of the configured cardboard, whereby gravity does not help the insertion and retention of the smaller hole on each bottle neck.
In the invention a cardboard bottle carrier is explained that solves the mentioned drawbacks of the state of the art.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is established and characterised in the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics thereof.
The object of the invention is a cardboard bottle carrier that allows bottles to be retained in a simple manner, such that the position of the bottles is secured during transport. The technical problem to be solved is to configure the cardboard such that the aforementioned object is achieved.
In view of the above, the present invention relates to a cardboard bottle carrier for carrying bottles, each bottle comprising a neck and a mouth arranged following said neck. "Mouth" intends to refer to the part of the bottle above the neck and through which the content is introduced and poured but not exclusively the opening, but may also refer to the mouth with a stopper or the like.
The cardboard bottle carrier is formed from a quadrangular cardboard sheet symmetrically with respect to a transverse axis, thus forming two symmetrical parts. For simplicity of description and representation, the invention is explained in relation to a symmetrical part, making it clear that the complete cardboard is configured by symmetrically duplicating the described part.
The cardboard is characterised in that each symmetrical part comprises at least from a first outer side and in sequence a first face in which a first hole is made having a diameter similar to that of the neck of the bottle, followed by and connected to a second hole having a diameter larger than that of the mouth of the bottle, such that the neck can pass from the second hole to the first hole. Thus, between the two holes a connection is created such that it allows the passage of the neck of the bottle but the minimum possible to maintain the shape of the holes, thus the two consecutive holes adopt an eight-shaped profile. This configuration is equally valid for the third and fourth holes discussed below.
The configuration continues with a first transverse fold line, a second transverse fold line, a second face with a third hole having a diameter similar to that of the neck of the bottle, followed by and connected to a fourth hole having a diameter larger than that of the mouth of the bottle, such that the neck can pass from the fourth hole to the third hole, a third fold line, a third face, up to the transverse axis that configures a fourth fold line, such that when the cardboard bottle carrier is formed the neck of each bottle introduced through the fourth hole and through the second hole thanks to the fold along the first fold line makes the first face coincide with the second face, by the fold along the second fold line, when pulling on the first face, i.e., the first face slides on the second face to pass from the first to the second fold line, the neck of each bottle is surrounded by the first hole and the third hole, i.e., the neck passes from the holes with a larger diameter, second and fourth, suitable for the mouth of the bottle, to those with a smaller diameter, first and second, that hug the neck of the bottle in a more or less tight manner, by the fold along the transverse axis, the third faces of each symmetrical part are made to coincide, thus configuring a handle.
Bottles are cited to provide clarity to the description of the invention, making it clear that the bottles are not part of the invention.
An advantage is that thanks to the arrangement of the holes and the folding of the faces, the weight of the bottles helps the cardboard, once it has been formed and picked up by the handle, to correctly fit each neck of each bottle in each corresponding smaller hole, whereby the bottles are retained in their position without the possibility of being released from the cardboard.
Another advantage is given by the folding of the faces for the configuration, the industrialisation of the cardboard shaping with inserted bottles is carried out in an advantageous way since the insertion of the necks into the holes is achieved by the fold along the second fold line, in other words, when pulling on the first faces, whereby a very simple and very fast way of packaging is achieved, whereby high rates in the packaging chain are achieved.
Other advantages related to the dependent claims are stated in the detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This specification is supplemented by a set of drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment and never intended to limit the invention.

Figure 1 depicts a perspective view of a sheet before forming a cardboard bottle carrier.
Figure 2 depicts a perspective view of the cardboard of Figure 1 in a first forming stage for carrying six bottles.
Figure 3 depicts a perspective view of the cardboard of Figure 2 in a second forming stage.
Figure 4 depicts a perspective view of the cardboard of Figure 3 fully formed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the figures a cardboard bottle carrier (1) for carrying bottles (2) is shown, each bottle (2), shown in Figures 2 to 4, comprises a neck (2.1) and a mouth (2.2) arranged following said neck (2.1).
The cardboard bottle carrier (1) is formed from a quadrangular cardboard sheet (1.1), shown extended in Figure 1, symmetrically with respect to a transverse axis (E) thus forming two symmetrical parts (PS), each of which comprises at least from a first outer side (1.11) and in sequence a first face (1.12) in which a first hole (1.13) is made having a diameter similar to that of the neck (2.1) of the bottle (2), followed by and connected to a second hole (1.14) having a diameter larger than that of the mouth (2.2) of the bottle (2), such that the neck (2.1) can pass from the second hole (1.14) to the first hole (1.13), a first transverse fold line (1.15), a second transverse fold line (1.16), a second face (1.17) with a third hole (1.18) having a diameter similar to that of the neck (2.1) of the bottle (2), followed by and connected to a fourth hole (1.19) having a diameter larger than that of the mouth (2.2) of the bottle (2), such that the neck (2.1) can pass from the fourth hole (1.19) to the third hole (1.18), a third fold line (1.20), a third face (1.21), up to the transverse axis (E) that configures a fourth fold line.
The minimum configuration of the cardboard bottle carrier (1) is that expressed above and which corresponds to one of the parts separated by a dotted-dashed line in Figure 1. That is, the minimum configuration would be one third of the configuration shown in Figure 1 and that would allow carrying two bottles (2). The figures show a cardboard bottle carrier (1) configured for carrying six bottles (2), by way of example and in being a usual number of bottles (2), but it could be configured from two bottles (2) up to the number desired, always in even numbers according to the minimum configuration explained.
When forming the cardboard bottle carrier (1) the neck (2.1) of each bottle (2) introduced through the fourth hole (1.19) and through the second hole (1.14) thanks to the fold along the first fold line (1.15) makes the first face (1.12) coincide with the second face (1.17), as shown in Figure 2. By the fold along the second fold line (1.16), when pulling on the first face (1.12), the neck (2.1) of each bottle (2) is surrounded by the first hole (1.13) and the third hole (1.18), as shown in Figure 3. By the fold along the transverse axis (E) the third faces (1.21) of each symmetrical part (PS) are made to coincide, thus configuring a handle, as shown in Figure 4.
An optional detail of the embodiment, shown in the figures, is that on each third face (1.21) at least a fifth hole (1.22) is made such that when the cardboard bottle carrier (1) is formed, the fifth holes (1.22) of each symmetrical part (PS) coincide. Thus, a cavity is configured through which a user's hand can be introduced, which favours the carrying of the cardboard bottle carrier (1). Likewise, said fifth hole (1.22) has a diameter that can house the mouth (2.2) of each bottle (2) and each third face (1.21) can be folded to a same side along the third fold line (1.20), such that when the third faces (1.21) are folded, each fifth hole (1.22) surrounds its corresponding mouth (2.2) of the bottle (2), whereby the folded third faces (1.21) occupy the minimum possible space and thus favours palletising.
In particular, in the embodiment shown in the figures, three rows of holes are arranged: first (1.13), second (1.14), third (1.18), fourth (1.19), fifth (1.22); the fifth hole (1.22) in the central row is oblong, while those in the end rows are circular.
Another optional detail of the embodiment shown is that on each third face (1.21) a fifth fold line (1.23) is provided upstream of the transverse axis (E) such that when forming the cardboard bottle carrier (1) the transverse axis (E) as the fourth fold line dips as a trough with respect to each fifth fold line (1.23). This creates a reinforced area in correspondence with where the cardboard bottle carrier (1) is picked up, which prevents it from breaking when picked up and due to the weight of the bottles or a long carrying time or with much movement.
Another optional detail of the embodiment shown and shown in the figures is that the centres of the first hole (1.13), of the second hole (1.14), of the third hole (1.18) and of the fourth hole (1.19) are aligned with each other. This configuration facilitates the hole-punching in the production of the sheet (1.1).
Another optional detail of the embodiment shown is that the type of cardboard is corrugated cardboard. In this way, a relatively rigid and advantageous structure is achieved for carrying most known bottles (2) without breaking the cardboard bottle carrier (1).

Claims

Cardboard bottle carrier (1) for carrying bottles (2), each bottle (2) comprises a neck (2.1) and a mouth (2.2) arranged following said neck (2.1), the cardboard bottle carrier (1) is formed from of a quadrangular cardboard sheet (1.1) symmetrically with respect to a transverse axis (E) thus forming two symmetrical parts (PS), characterised in that each symmetrical part (PS) comprises at least from a first outer side (1.11) and in sequence a first face (1.12) in which a first hole (1.13) is made having a diameter similar to that of the neck (2.1) of the bottle (2), followed by and connected to a second hole (1.14) having a diameter larger than that of the mouth (2.2) of the bottle (2), such that the neck (2.1) can pass from the second hole (1.14) to the first hole (1.13), a first transverse fold line (1.15), a second transverse fold line (1.16), a second face (1.17) with a third hole (1.18) having a diameter similar to that of the neck (2.1) of the bottle (2), followed by and connected to a fourth hole (1.19) having a diameter larger than that of the mouth (2.2) of the bottle (2), such that the neck (2.1) can pass from the fourth hole (1.19) to the third hole (1.18), a third fold line (1.20), a third face (1.21), up to the transverse axis (E) that configures a fourth fold line, such that when forming the cardboard bottle carrier (1) the neck (2.1) of each bottle (2) introduced through the fourth hole (1.19) and through the second hole (1.14) thanks to the fold along the first fold line (1.15) makes the first face (1.12) coincide with the second face (1.17), by the fold along the second fold line (1.16), when pulling on the first face (1.12), the neck (2.1) of each bottle (2) is surrounded by the first hole (1.13) and third hole (1.18), by the fold along the transverse axis (E) the third faces (1.21) of each symmetrical part (PS) are made to coincide thus making a handle.
Cardboard bottle carrier (1) according to Claim 1 wherein on each third face (1.21) at least a fifth hole (1.22) is made such that when the cardboard bottle carrier (1) is formed, the fifth holes (1.22) of each symmetrical part (PS) coincide.
Cardboard bottle carrier (1) according to Claim 2 wherein the fifth hole (1.22) has a diameter that can house the mouth (2.2) of each bottle (2) and each third face (1.21) can be folded towards a same side along the third fold line (1.20), such that when the third faces (1.21) are folded, each fifth hole (1.22) surrounds its corresponding bottle (2) mouth (2.2).
Cardboard bottle carrier (1) according to Claim 1, wherein on each third face (1.21) a fifth fold line (1.23) is provided upstream of the transverse axis (E) such that when forming the cardboard bottle carrier (1) the transverse axis (E) as the fourth fold line dips as a trough with respect to each fifth fold line (1.23).
Cardboard bottle carrier (1) according to Claim 1, wherein the centres of the first hole (1.13), of the second hole (1.14), of the third hole (1.18) and of the fourth hole (1.19) are aligned with each other.
Cardboard bottle carrier (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein three rows of holes are arranged: first (1.13), second (1.14), third (1.18), fourth (1.19), fifth (1.22); the fifth hole (1.22) in the central row is oblong, while those in the end rows are circular.
Cardboard bottle carrier (1) according to any of the preceding claims wherein the type of cardboard is corrugated cardboard.