EP3792193B1 - Support pour canettes de boisson à préhension par le haut et ensemble - Google Patents

Support pour canettes de boisson à préhension par le haut et ensemble Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3792193B1
EP3792193B1 EP19197360.1A EP19197360A EP3792193B1 EP 3792193 B1 EP3792193 B1 EP 3792193B1 EP 19197360 A EP19197360 A EP 19197360A EP 3792193 B1 EP3792193 B1 EP 3792193B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
carrier
neck support
main panel
receiving aperture
locking tabs
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.)
Active
Application number
EP19197360.1A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP3792193C0 (fr
EP3792193A1 (fr
Inventor
Jacob Albert Mark van de Vegte
Amrik Singh Tatla
Jan Meijer
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.)
Smurfit Kappa Development Centre BV
Original Assignee
Smurfit Kappa Development Centre BV
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
Priority to PL19197360.1T priority Critical patent/PL3792193T3/pl
Application filed by Smurfit Kappa Development Centre BV filed Critical Smurfit Kappa Development Centre BV
Priority to EP19197360.1A priority patent/EP3792193B1/fr
Priority to ES19197360T priority patent/ES2976112T3/es
Priority to US17/642,431 priority patent/US20220340343A1/en
Priority to EP20775081.1A priority patent/EP4028336A1/fr
Priority to PCT/NL2020/050564 priority patent/WO2021049938A1/fr
Priority to BR112022004607A priority patent/BR112022004607A2/pt
Priority to PCT/NL2020/050565 priority patent/WO2021049939A1/fr
Priority to MX2022003048A priority patent/MX2022003048A/es
Publication of EP3792193A1 publication Critical patent/EP3792193A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3792193B1 publication Critical patent/EP3792193B1/fr
Publication of EP3792193C0 publication Critical patent/EP3792193C0/fr
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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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
    • B65D71/40—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 by folding a blank or several blanks
    • B65D71/46—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 by folding a blank or several blanks formed by folding a single blank into a tubular element
    • 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
    • B65D71/40—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 by folding a blank or several blanks
    • B65D71/42—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 by folding a blank or several blanks formed by folding a single blank into a single layer element
    • 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
    • B65D2571/00—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, pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
    • B65D2571/00246—Locating elements for the contents
    • B65D2571/00253—Locating elements for the contents integral with the wrapper
    • B65D2571/00259—Locating elements for the contents integral with the wrapper inwardly folded tabs, i.e. elements substantially narrower than the corresponding package dimension
    • B65D2571/00265—Locating elements for the contents integral with the wrapper inwardly folded tabs, i.e. elements substantially narrower than the corresponding package dimension extending from the upper or lower wall
    • 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
    • B65D2571/00—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, pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
    • B65D2571/00648—Elements used to form the wrapper
    • B65D2571/00654—Blanks
    • B65D2571/0066—Blanks formed from one single sheet

Definitions

  • the invention relates to beverage can carriers, in particular can carriers for carrying multiple beverage cans.
  • Different can carriers are known, and they are often used to form multipacks, such as six-packs of beverage cans or so-called drink cans.
  • a first known type of beverage can carriers is formed by plastic six-pack rings, which comprises six interconnected flexible plastic rings.
  • a first disadvantage of such plastic six-packs ring may lie in their environmental impact, for instance as animals may become entrapped in the plastic rings when they are not properly disposed.
  • Another disadvantage may lie in that such plastic six-pack rings do not provide much space for printing, such as for marketing or promotional purposes.
  • injection molded plastic multipack can carriers are known, such as for instance is marketed by the company PakTech.
  • a disadvantage may lie in that such carriers comprise relatively large amounts of plastic material, and do still not provide relatively large surfaces for branding or the like.
  • shrink wrapped packs of cans can provide relatively much space for printing, a disadvantage may lie in that they are made of plastic, which may have a relatively large environmental impact and/or a relatively bad image.
  • cardboard beverage can carriers or so-called multipack cartons are know.
  • paperboard basket type can carriers are known. Applying such basket type carriers for packing multiple beverage cans may be relatively costly, for instance as they may be relatively complex to manufacture and/or relatively difficult to fill with beverage cans. Further, such basket type may include relatively much cardboard material, which may not be beneficial to their environmental impact.
  • can carriers is formed by paperboard overwraps. Although they may provide for relatively much surface space for branding or other printing, they may also use relatively much cardboard material. Besides, the paperboard overwraps may be relatively difficult to manufacture and/or to assemble around a multiplicity of cans.
  • paper-based top-gripping beverage can carriers are known.
  • a known paper-based top-gripping beverage can carrier has a main panel with substantially round can receiving apertures with a so-called crown style attachment mechanism including a series of locking tabs arranged around the periphery of the receiving aperture and radially extending towards the center of the receiving aperture.
  • the locking tabs are deflected upwards and engage an underside of the lid or the so-called end of the can.
  • a disadvantage of such paper-based top-gripping beverage can carriers may lie in that they may require extremely narrow aperture-to-can tolerances. Additionally or alternatively, a disadvantage may lie in that such a sunburst type of can receiving opening may not always retain the cans securely, as a result of which beverage cans may accidently fall out of the carrier.
  • the can carrier may be adhered to the cans, for instance by means of hot melt. It is also possible to glue the bodies of multiple cans onto each other by means of hot melt or other adhesives. However, using such hot melt or other adhesives may be undesirable from environmental point of view. Additionally or alternatively, a disadvantage of using an adhesive may lie in that, after releasing a beverage can, the hot melt or other adhesive may stay behind on the beverage can, for instance at or near an area of the can lid at which a drinking opening or pouring opening is to be formed, which may be disadvantageous, for example in view of hygiene and/or taste perception.
  • a top-gripping carrier for use with bottles is known from publication WO 2005/113369 A1 , wherein an aperture is created in a sheet of foldable material.
  • the aperture is designed to hold bottles securely, which is achieved by arranging around the circumference of the aperture a series of major tabs and a series of minor tabs stuck from the major tabs.
  • the two series of tabs can engage the bottle at two different elevations relative to the plan of the sheet of foldable material.
  • the major tabs and the minor tabs share a common periphery along which they fold when the bottle is received in the aperture.
  • JP 3 218593 U discloses a hanging tag or a carrier according to the preamble of appended claim 1 with reduced possibility of rotation or falling off.
  • the hanging tag has an engaging flap with an opening configured to receive the top of a first bottle or beverage can of a packaged group of bottles and is adapted to engage the top of the first bottle.
  • the engaging flap is hingedly connected to a panel, in particular an advertisement panel, by means of a fold line.
  • the panel of the hanging tag also comprises a stabilizing tab, which is configured to engage the top of a second bottle of the group of bottles.
  • JP 3 218593 U also describes a carton with neck holes for receiving the necks of the packaged group of bottles. The neck hole is a substantially circular opening.
  • auxiliary tabs for locking the bottle are arranged inside the neck hole.
  • the plurality of auxiliary tabs are arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction of the neck hole at the edge of the neck hole.
  • the auxiliary tab protrudes from the edge of the neck hole to the inside of the neck.
  • the invention may aim to provide a beverage can carrier, wherein at least one of the disadvantages mentioned above is counteracted.
  • the invention aims at providing an alternative paper-based top-gripping beverage can carrier, especially an alternative paper-based top-gripping beverage can carrier which may facilitate that cans can be retained therein relatively well.
  • a top-gripping beverage can carrier comprising a main panel of cardboard sheet material having at least one, and preferably multiple, can receiving apertures, wherein the main panel is provided with a series of locking tabs hingedly connected to the main panel by means of a respective fold line, and disposed around the can receiving aperture, wherein each locking tab extends from the respective fold line towards a retaining edge for engaging an underside of a radially protruding portion of a beverage can to be received in the can receiving aperture, wherein said retaining edge is located more inwardly with respect to the can receiving aperture than said fold line, wherein each locking tab can pivot about the respective fold line from an initial position of the respective locking tab, in which said respective locking tab lies substantially in line with the main panel, towards a folded up position in which said locking tab is under an angle with the main panel, wherein the main panel includes a series of neck support sections being integral parts of the main panel, wherein said neck support sections are thus not formed as tabs hingedly connected to the main panel,
  • the neck support sections can rest against a neck of the can and may counteract that the can can shift sidewardly within the receiving opening. Therefore, it may be facilitated that the can may be secured relatively well in the top-gripping can carrier.
  • At least the main panel and the series of locking tabs, and preferably substantially the entire carrier, are formed out of a sheet of corrugated fiberboard.
  • the carrier By arranging the carrier such that the locking tabs are spread over the perimeter of the can receiving aperture such that the largest angle between two adjacent locking tabs of the series of locking tabs is less than 120°, it can be counteracted that a can, once held by the locking tabs, may move sidewardly without encountering a locking tab.
  • the carrier By arranging the carrier such that the neck support sections are spread over the perimeter of the can receiving aperture in such a manner that the largest angle between two adjacent locking tabs of the series of locking tabs is less than 120°, it can be counteracted that the can may move in radial or sideward direction at the height level of the main panel, thereby facilitating that the can may be secured relatively well.
  • the fold lines are formed as prefabricated fold lines, for instance by means of one or more scores, slits, and/or embossments, which may facilitate that the locking tabs pivot at the intended location.
  • At least one, and preferably multiple, especially each, of the neck support sections may have a depth being smaller than its width, preferably said depth being less than half of said width.
  • the neck support section may be relatively rigid and it can be counteracted that it may unintentionally bend or fold, for instance when a beverage can, which is held in the aperture confined partly by means of said support section, applies a sideward or radial force onto said neck support section, thereby facilitating that the can may be secured relatively well.
  • the carrier By arranging the carrier such that at least one of the main panel's neck support sections, and preferably multiple, especially each, of them has a depth, which may be measured in the radial direction, being at most four times as large as the thickness of said neck support section, an preferably even smaller, such as at most three times as large, the neck support sections, which may thus be relatively thick compared to their depth, may be relatively rigid, which may counteract that it may accidently bend or fold, which thus may facilitate that the can may be secured relatively well.
  • the at least one of the neck support sections of the main panel and preferably multiple or all of them, have a depth being larger than the thickness of an adjacent locking tab, preferably at least one and a half time as large, such as for instance about twice as large, it can be facilitated relatively easily that the neck support edge defined by the neck support section may be located further inwardly than a can facing side of a bottom end section of a folded up locking tab supporting said can.
  • the neck support sections may support the neck of the can relatively well.
  • At least one of the neck support sections may have a depth being at least a quarter of the depth of at least one locking tab being adjacent to the respective neck support section, preferably wherein said depth of the neck support section is at least a third, such as for instance about half, of the depth of the locking tab.
  • the can carrier may hold at least one, and preferably multiple, beverage cans within a respective one of the one or more can receiving apertures of the carrier.
  • the can receiving aperture when the locking tabs are folded away towards their folded up positions, may leave open a passage having a passage diameter being at least substantially equal to, and preferably wider than, the diameter of a lid of the beverage can to be held within said receiving aperture.
  • a passage diameter may be at least about 53 mm, such as for example about 54 mm.
  • the main panel may comprise at least two can receiving apertures, and preferably more, such as for instance four or six, which, in embodiments, may be provided in parallel rows, for instance two parallel rows, which for instance may each have two, three or four can receiving openings.
  • the centers of two adjacent can receiving apertures may be spaced apart over an interspace corresponding with the diameter at the widest point of the body of the cans to be held by the carrier.
  • said interspace may then for instance also be about 66 mm.
  • adjacent cans held in the carrier may substantially abut, which may counteract that they may shift and/or which may facilitate that the cans may be held in a relatively compact arrangement.
  • Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a top-gripping beverage can carrier 1 according to the invention.
  • Said can carrier 1 which may also be considered to form a so-called neck-through carrier, is intended to hold one or multiple beverage cans 6, for instance such as depicted in Figure 2 , which shows an assembly including the can carrier 1 and multiple cans 6.
  • the carrier 1 may be for forming a multipack, such as a six-pack in the here shown embodiment.
  • the carrier 1 may be arranged to hold another number of beverage cans 6 or so-called drink cans 6, which may contain a drink or beverage, such as for instance soft drink, in particular carbonated soft drink, an alcoholic drink, such as beer, wine or a mixed drink, such as for instance an alcopop, fruit juice, water, tea, herbal tea, energy drink, etc.
  • a drink or beverage such as for instance soft drink, in particular carbonated soft drink, an alcoholic drink, such as beer, wine or a mixed drink, such as for instance an alcopop, fruit juice, water, tea, herbal tea, energy drink, etc.
  • a main panel 2 of the carrier 1 is provided with six can receiving apertures 3.
  • the main panel 2 may have another number, preferably a multiple number, of can receiving apertures 3 or so-called receiving openings 3, such as for instance one, two, three, four or eight can receiving apertures 3.
  • the main panel 2 is provided with a series of locking tabs 4 hingedly connected to the main panel 2 by means of a respective fold line 5, in particular a prefabricated fold line.
  • the prefabricated fold line 5 is formed by a score.
  • it may be formed in any other suitable manner, for instance by means of multiple scores and/or one or more slits, and/or embossments or the like.
  • the locking tabs 4 can thus be formed from the same sheet of material, in particular corrugated fiberboard material, as the panel to which they are connected.
  • Each of the locking tabs 4, which are intended and arranged for retaining a can 6 in the receiving aperture 3, extends from the respective fold line 5 towards a retaining edge 40.
  • the fold line 5 is located at a first or proximal end of the locking tab 4, while the retaining edge 40 is located at an opposite second end of the locking tab 4.
  • Said retaining edge 40 is for engaging an underside of a radially protruding portion 60 of a beverage can 6 to be received in the can receiving aperture 3, as for instance can be seen in the schematic partly cut away cross sectional view of Figure 3 .
  • the radially protruding portion 60 of the can be formed by a lid 61, usually called an end 61, of the can 6, which may be attached to a main body 62 of said can 6.
  • the locking tabs 4 can pivot about their respective fold lines 5 from an initial position of the respective locking tab 4, in which said respective locking tab 4 lies substantially in line with the main panel 2, towards a folded up position in which said locking tab is under an angle with the main panel 2, as for instance can be seen in Figure 3 .
  • the initial position of the locking tab 4 it may thus be substantially flush with the main panel 2.
  • the locking tab 4, for instance at least after folding up to a certain extent, may be biased in a direction substantially back to its initial position.
  • the retaining edge 40 is located more inwardly with respect to the can receiving aperture 3 than said fold line 5.
  • the locking tab 4 can extend from the fold line 5 into the can receiving aperture 3, preferably in a substantially radial direction.
  • the main panel 2 includes a series of neck support sections 20, which may be for supporting against the neck of the beverage can.
  • These neck support sections 20 form sections 20 or areas 20 of the main panel 2 and are integral parts of the main panel 2. Contrary to the locking tabs 4, the neck support sections are here thus not formed as tabs hingedly connected to the main panel 2, but are integral parts of said main panel 2.
  • the neck support sections 20 may be intended and/or arranged for supporting against a neck 63 of the beverage can 6.
  • the neck support sections 20 define neck support edges 21, which are for supporting against the neck 63 of the can 6, and which during use may abut the neck 63 or so-called neck portion 63 of the can held within the respective can receiving aperture 3 of the carrier 1.
  • the neck support edges 21 may be curved, in particular concave, more preferably substantially arc-shaped, such as to facilitate a proper fit with the neck 63 of the can 6.
  • multiple neck support edges 21, preferably all neck support edges 21, defining parts of the boundary of a respective can receiving aperture 3, may be located substantially on a virtual circle 210.
  • Said passage and/or the vertical circle 210 on which the neck support edges 21 may be located may have a passage diameter D210 being at least substantially equal to, and preferably wider than, the diameter D60 of the lid 61 of the beverage can 6 to be held within said receiving aperture 3, such that the lid 61 or so-called end 61 of the can 6 can be inserted into the can receiving aperture 3 without substantially folding up or flexing the neck support sections 20 of the main panel 2.
  • said passage diameter D210 may be at least about 52 mm, preferably at least about 53 mm, such as about 54 mm.
  • the neck support edges 21 are located more inwardly with respect to the can receiving opening 3 than the fold lines 5 of the locking tabs 4.
  • the retaining edges 40 of the locking tabs 4, which retaining edges 40 may be curved, in particular concave, more preferably substantially arc-shaped, for instance such as to facilitate a proper fit with the end 61 of the can 6.
  • multiple retaining edges 40, preferably all retaining edges 40 may be located substantially on a virtual circle 400.
  • the retaining edges 40 of the locking tabs 4 extend more inwardly with respect to the can receiving opening 3 than the neck support edges 21.
  • the area of the can receiving aperture 3 not blocked by the locking tabs 4 then extending into said aperture 3, which unblocked area at least in embodiments may be considered as the area enclosed by the virtual circle 400 on which the respective retaining edges 40 are substantially located, may have a diameter D400 smaller than the outer diameter D60 of the lid 61 or so-called end 61 of the beverage can 6 to be held within said receiving aperture 3.
  • the diameter D400 of said unblocked area may in embodiments be smaller than 53 mm, preferably smaller than 51 mm, such as about 50 mm, about 49 mm, about 48 mm, about 47 mm or about 46 mm.
  • the locking tabs 4 may be disposed around the can receiving aperture 3, in particular in a manner in which the locking tabs 4, at least in their initial positions in which they lie substantially flush with the main panel 2, are spaced apart from each other. More in particular, the locking tabs 4 can be entirely spaced apart from each other, both at their first, outer ends at which their fold lines 5 are located, as well as at their opposite, second ends that form the retaining edges 40, as well as at any other portion of the side edges of the locking tabs 4.
  • the locking tabs 4 may be substantially evenly distributed along the periphery of said can receiving aperture 3. However, as can be seen in the here shown embodiment, at certain positions 23, such as for instance relatively near an edge 22 of the main panel 2, a relatively large part of the perimeter of the aperture 3 may be free of such locking tab 4. This may be considered as that at such position 23, a locking tab 4 may be omitted, in particular to counteract that otherwise the main panel 2 could be weakened to a relatively large extend by an incision extending which would otherwise extend relatively close to the edge 22 of the panel. This means that at such locations 23, the respective neck support section 20' of the main panel 2 may thus be relatively wide.
  • one or more additional tabs 44 may be hingedly connected to the main panel.
  • the inner edges 47 of such additional tabs 44 may extend more inwardly with respect to the can receiving aperture 3 than the retaining edges 40 of the locking tabs 4 do.
  • the additional tab 44 may have a depth which is arranged such that the inner edge 44 of the additional tab 44 forms an additional retaining edge engaging the radially protruding portion 60 of the can 6 be formed by a lid 61.
  • each aperture 3 eight locking tabs 4, and also two additional tabs 44, are provided at each aperture 3.
  • another number of locking tabs 4 may be provided at one or more of the can receiving apertures 3.
  • at least three locking tabs 4 are provided at the respective can receiving aperture 3, especially in order to counteract movements of the can in radial direction, and more preferably at least four locking tabs 4, such as for instance between five and twenty locking tabs 4 can be provided.
  • each neck support section 20 may extend between two adjacent locking tabs 4, and/or each locking tab 4 may extend between two adjacent neck support sections 20.
  • the number of neck support sections 20 may correspond with the number of locking tabs 4, and may, as is the case in the here shown embodiments, be eight.
  • other numbers of neck support sections 20 are possible, for instance at least three, at least four, and/or between five and twenty neck support sections 20 at a respective can receiving aperture 3.
  • the locking tabs 4 may be spread over the perimeter of the can receiving aperture 3 in such a manner that the largest angle a44 between two adjacent locking tabs 4 of the series of locking tabs 4 is less than 120°.
  • Said angle a44 which may be measured from the facing ends of the retaining edges 40, may preferably be smaller than 90°.
  • the largest angle a28 over which a neck support edge 21, in particular the widest one of the neck support edges 21, extends may be less than 120°, preferably less than 90°.
  • neck support edge 21, which may be formed by a cut line 21' may in embodiments be formed by a folded edge, or may be formed by one or more cut lines 21" and one or more folded edges 21′′′ together.
  • the neck support sections 20 may be spread over the perimeter of the can receiving aperture 3 in such a manner that the largest angle a28 between two neck support sections of the series of neck support sections is less than 120°.
  • said angle a28 which may be measured from a first lateral end of the respective neck support edge 21 up to its opposite, second later end, may preferably be smaller than 90°.
  • a respective one of the neck support sections 20, in circumferential direction of the can receiving aperture 3, can be located between two adjacent locking tabs 4, and that the fold lines 5 of said two adjacent locking tabs 4 may be substantially located on a virtual circle 500 extending around the center 30 of the can receiving aperture 3.
  • Said respective one of the neck support sections 20 can then have a depth 24 which extends, seen in the radial direction of the can receiving aperture 3, from the neck support edge 21 of the respective neck support section 2 up to said virtual circle 500 on which the fold lines 5 of said two adjacent locking tabs 4 substantially are located.
  • the neck support sections 20 may have a depth 24 being smaller than its largest width 25 and/or said width 25 measured at the location between the two adjacent fold lines 5, preferably said depth 24 being less than half of such width 25.
  • the neck support section 20 may be relatively rigid and it can be counteracted that it may unintentionally bend or fold, for instance when a beverage can 6, which is held in the aperture 3 confined partly by means of said support section 20, applies sideward or radial forces onto said neck support section 20, thereby facilitating that the can 6 may be secured relatively well.
  • At least one of the neck support sections 20 can have a depth 24 which is at least a quarter of the depth 45 of at least one of the locking tabs 4 adjacent to the respective neck support section 20.
  • said depth 24 of the neck support section 20 can be at least a third, such as for instance about half, of the depth 45 of the locking tab 4.
  • said depth 45 of the locking tab 4 may be measured in the radial direction of the can receiving aperture 3, and may be measured from the fold line 5 up to the retaining edge 40, and may for instance be measured between the outermost virtual circle 500 and the innermost virtual circle 400.
  • the central virtual circle 210 on which the neck support edges 21 may substantially lie, may be located between the outermost virtual circle 500 and the innermost virtual circle 400.
  • the radial distance between the central virtual circle 210 and the outermost virtual circle 500 may not be more than 50% larger or smaller than the radial distance between said central virtual circle 210 and the innermost virtual circle 400.
  • both radial distances between the two respective virtual circles 210, 400; 210, 500 may be substantially equal, for instance both about 3 mm.
  • the radial distance between the central virtual circle 210 and the outermost virtual circle 500 may for instance be between 1.5 mm and 5 mm, such as about 2 mm, about 4 mm or in particular about 3 mm. Additionally or alternatively, the radial distance between the central virtual circle 210 and the innermost virtual circle 400 may for instance be between 1.5 mm and 5 mm, such as about 2 mm, about 4 mm or in particular about 3 mm.
  • At least one, and preferably multiple or each, of the neck support sections 20 of the main panel 2 may have a depth 24 being larger than the thickness of an adjacent locking tab 4, which may be measured in a direction transverse to the drawing in Figure 1 .
  • said depth 24 may be at least one and a half time as large, such as for instance about twice as large, as said thickness.
  • the main panel 2 may have a thickness of about 1.5 mm and the neck support section 20 may have a depth 24 of about 3 mm.
  • the locking tab 4 may advantageously only comprise a single layer of sheet material, which may be the same sheet material from which the main panel 2 is made, and since the sheet of material may be substantially equally thick over substantially the entire surface of the main panel 2, this may mean that the neck support section 20 may have a depth 24 being larger than its thickness.
  • the neck support section 20 may thus, at the height level of the main panel 2, extend, in a direction towards the can 6, beyond the locking tab 4, as can be seen in Figure 3 .
  • the neck support section 20 may thus extend inwardly beyond a lower portion of the locking tab 4.
  • the depth 24 of the neck support section 20 may be such that it is at most four times as large as the thickness of said neck support section 20.
  • said depth 24 of the neck support section 20 may be no more than three times its thickness, such as for instance about twice as large.
  • the main panel 2 may comprise multiple receiving apertures 3.
  • the centers 30 of two adjacent can receiving apertures 3 can then be spaced apart over an interspace 33 which corresponds with the diameter at the widest point of the body 62 of the cans 6 to be held by the carrier 1.
  • said interspace 33 may for example be about 66 mm.
  • one or more dimensions of the main panel 2 and/or one more dimensions of the carrier 1, such as for instance the respective length 27 and/or the respective width 29, may be chosen such that it does not exceed, and/or substantially corresponds with, the combined length or width of the cans held in that direction.
  • the carriers 1 do not prevent that cans 6 of two adjacently placed carriers 1 cannot be placed next to each other in an abutting manner and/or it can counteract that the carrier 1 prevents placement of the cans in a certain box, a certain compartment of a shelf display, etc., in which the cans would have fitted when they would be placed in the same formation, but without the carrier.
  • the respective dimension of the carrier 1, e.g. its width 29, may be such that it not substantially exceeds 132 mm, and preferably is substantially 132 mm.
  • the respective dimension of the carrier 1, e.g. its length 27, may in embodiments be no larger than about 198 mm or may be about 198 mm.
  • the locking tabs 4 may be disposed in a manner in which no locking tab is located at a position 23, 26 where the distance, between the main panels outer edge 22 and the virtual circle 210 on which the neck support edges 21 may be located, is the smallest, as for instance can be seen in Figure 1 , where there, both in the width direction and the length direction a respective neck support section of the main panel 2 is present.
  • the carrier 1 can be provided with one or more, e.g. two, finger holes 9.
  • the main panel 2 may be provided with finger hole tabs 90, which may be hingedly connected to the main panel 2 by a prefabricated fold line 91.
  • the finger hole tabs 90 which initially may lay substantially flush with the main panel 2, may facilitate that printing, for instance for marketing or promotional purposes, may initially extend over the finger holes 9, for instance until a user pushes these finger hole tabs 90 downwards to a position such as shown in Figure 2 .
  • the top-gripping carrier 1 does not cover the top sides of the lids 61 of the cans 6. This may for instance facilitate that the bottoms of other cans 6, for instance the cans of a further multipack, may be nested into said lids 61. Besides, such a design may require relatively few material.
  • the carrier 1 may further comprise at least one cover panel 7 for covering at least a part of at least one of the cans 6 to be held by the carrier 1.
  • cover panel 7 may cover one or multiple can lids 61 at least partly, and preferably substantially entirely. It is noted that such a cover panel 7 may be advantageously.
  • the cover panel 7 may counteract contamination on the lids 61, in particular at the location 66 at which a drinking opening or pouring opening is to be formed by the user, for instance by means of a pop-tab mechanism 67.
  • the cover panel 7 may provide for relatively hygienically embodiments.
  • Figures 4 and 5 An exemplary embodiment of such an alternative can carrier 1 design is shown in Figures 4 and 5 .
  • Figure 4 shows a blank of such a carrier in its initial flat state.
  • Figure 5 shows the carrier 1 during use.
  • the cover panel 7 may be hingedly connected to the main panel 2, and formed out of the same sheet of cardboard material as the main panel.
  • the cover panel 7 may be hingedly connected to the main panel 2 via an intermediate panel 81, here formed as a strip 81, which may extend in the length direction of the main panel 2.
  • the intermediate panel 81 may be hingedly connected to the main panel 2 by means of a first fold line 811 and may be hingedly connected to the cover panel 7 by means of a second fold line 812.
  • Said first fold line 811 and/or said second fold line 812 may preferably be formed as a prefabricated fold line, in particular by means of slits 83 and/or scores 84, such as for instance a scored perforated line 811, 812.
  • the cover panel 7 may be provided with a connector to lock the cover panel 7 in its position in which it covers one or more lids 61 at least partly.
  • a connector panel 82 may be hingedly connected to the cover panel 7, in particular by means of a third fold line 813, which may be located at substantially the opposite side of the cover panel 7 as at which the second fold line 812 is located.
  • the connector panel 82 may be provided with a connector edge 83, which may be formed by a slit 83 or cut 83 in the sheet material at between said connector panel 82 and the cover panel 7.
  • said cut or slit may be curved, for instance substantially arc-shaped, such that the formed connector edge 83 may correspond with the size of the lid 61 of the can, and can be clicked or clamped beneath the protruding edge 60 of said lid 61 in order to lock the cover panel 7 in its covering position.
  • the connector panel 82 may be provided with preformed openings or cut-outs 94 which during use may be positioned substantially above the finger holes 9 in the main panel 2, as can be seen in Figure 5 .
  • cover panel 7 can thus be held in place by means of the connector panel 82 that may snap below one or more can lids 61, the cover panel 7 may alternatively, or additionally, be held in place by other means.
  • one or more lock tabs may be provided, which may for instance be hingedly connected to the cover panel 7, and/or which may for instance can be locked in one or more slots or openings which may be provided in the carrier 1, in particular in its main panel 2.
  • the cover panel 7 may be adhered or glued to be held in place, for example by gluing it to the main panel 2, for instance by means of hot melt. However, for instance from an environmental point of view, it may be preferred to refrain from using hot melt, or other glue.
  • a design wherein one or more connector edges 83 of one or more cover panels 7 can engage beneath one or more can lid edges 60 may be relatively advantageously.
  • Such designs may not only facilitate omitting using an adhesive, but may additionally, or alternatively, have the advantage that the one or more cover panels 7 can be mounted in their covering positions relatively easily, for instance in contrast to designs in which pivotable locking tabs need to be neatly inserted into slot-shaped openings.
  • the can carrier 1 may comprise a main panel 2 of cardboard sheet material, preferably died, especially die cut, from a sheet cardboard sheet material.
  • the entire carrier 1 may be made of cardboard, preferably cardboard sheet material, more preferably corrugated fiberboard material.
  • cardboard sheet material may be used, such as for instance paperboard, especially compressed paperboard material, it has been found that it may advantageous to form at least the main panel 2 out of corrugated fiberboard material, preferably single sheet of corrugated fiberboard.
  • the corrugated fiberboard may have a thickness of between 0.8 mm and 2.0 mm, for instance about 1.5 mm, or less.
  • the can carrier may be provided with printing, for instance at least at a surface facing upwards and/or outwards during use.
  • the can carrier may be provided with one or more handles, which can be used to carry the can carrier, and which preferably can be made from the same sheet of cardboard material as its main panel.
  • the can carrier in particular its main panel, may be provided with one or more perforation lines, that can form part of a zip release or pull tab, which may allow a user to tear off a part of the main panel in a relatively easy manner in order to break the can receiving aperture into an opening which is open at one of its sides, and no longer enclosed by the main panel, thereby enabling that the beverage can be removed relatively easily by sliding it substantially sidewardly out of the opening in the remaining part of the main panel.

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

Claims (15)

  1. Support pour canettes de boisson à préhension par le haut (1), comprenant un panneau principal (2) en carton ayant au moins une ouverture de réception de canette (3),
    dans lequel le panneau principal (2) est équipé d'une série de languettes de blocage (4) reliées de manière articulée au panneau principal (2) à l'aide d'une ligne de pli respective (5), et disposées autour de l'ouverture de réception de canette (3),
    dans lequel chaque languette de blocage (4) s'étend depuis la ligne de pli respective (5) vers un bord de retenue (40) destiné à engager un dessous d'une partie qui dépasse radialement (60) d'une canette de boisson (6) destinée à être reçue dans l'ouverture de réception de canette (3), dans lequel ledit bord de retenue (40) se trouve plus vers l'intérieur par rapport à l'ouverture de réception de canette (3) que ladite ligne de pli (5),
    dans lequel chaque languette de blocage (4) peut pivoter autour de la ligne de pli respective (5) entre une position initiale de la languette de blocage respective, dans laquelle ladite languette de blocage respective est sensiblement alignée avec le panneau principal, et une position repliée dans laquelle ladite languette de blocage se trouve à un angle par rapport au panneau principal (2),
    caractérisé en ce que le panneau principal (2) comprend une série de sections de support de goulot (20) qui font partie intégrante du panneau principal (2), dans lequel lesdites sections de support de goulot (20) ne sont pas formées comme des languettes reliées de manière articulée au panneau principal (2), mais font partie intégrante dudit panneau principal (2), et dans lequel lesdites sections de support de goulot (20) définissent des bords de support de goulot (21) qui se trouvent plus vers l'intérieur par rapport à l'ouverture de réception de canette (3) que les lignes de pli (5) des languettes de blocage, et en ce que, au moins dans la position initiale des languettes de blocage, les bords de retenue (40) des languettes de blocage (4) s'étendent plus vers l'intérieur par rapport à l'ouverture de réception de canette (3) que les bords de support de goulot (21).
  2. Support (1) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel au moins le panneau principal (2) et la série de languettes de blocage (4) sont formés d'une plaque de carton ondulé.
  3. Support (1) selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel les languettes de blocage (4) sont réparties sur le périmètre de l'ouverture de réception de canette (3) de sorte que l'angle le plus grand (a44) entre deux languettes de blocage adjacentes (4) de la série de languettes de blocage (4) soit inférieur à 120°.
  4. Support (1) selon l'une des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les sections de support de goulot (20) sont réparties sur le périmètre de l'ouverture de réception de canette (3) de sorte que l'angle le plus grand (a44) entre deux sections de support de goulot (20) de la série de sections de support de goulot (20) soit inférieur à 120°.
  5. Support (1) selon l'une des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les lignes de pli (5) sont formées comme des lignes de pli préfabriquées, par exemple à l'aide d'un(e) ou plusieurs entaille(s), fente(s) et/ou gaufrage(s).
  6. Support (1) selon l'une des revendications précédentes, dans lequel au moins l'une des sections de support de goulot (20) présente une profondeur (24) inférieure à sa largeur (25), ladite profondeur (24) étant de préférence inférieure à la moitié de ladite largeur (25).
  7. Support (1) selon l'une des revendications précédentes, dans lequel au moins l'une des sections de support de goulot (20) présente une profondeur (24) qui est au moins égale à un quart de la profondeur (45) d'au moins une languette de blocage (4) adjacente à la section de support de goulot respective (20), dans lequel, de préférence, ladite profondeur (24) de la section de support de goulot (20) est égale à au moins un tiers, comme environ la moitié, de la profondeur (45) de la languette de blocage (4).
  8. Support (1) selon l'une des revendications précédentes, dans lequel au moins l'une des sections de support de goulot (20) du panneau principal (2) présente une profondeur (24) supérieure à l'épaisseur d'une languette de blocage adjacente (4), de préférence au moins une fois et demie supérieure, comme environ deux fois supérieure.
  9. Support (1) selon l'une des revendications précédentes, dans lequel au moins l'une des sections de support de goulot (20) du panneau principal (2) présente une profondeur (24) qui est tout au plus quatre fois supérieure à l'épaisseur de ladite section de support de goulot (20), dans lequel, de préférence, la profondeur (24) de la section de support de goulot (20) est tout au plus trois fois supérieure à son épaisseur, comme environ deux fois supérieure.
  10. Support (1) selon l'une des revendications précédentes, dans lequel, lorsque les languettes de blocage (4) se trouvent dans leur position initiale, la zone de l'ouverture de réception de canette (3) qi n'est pas bloquée par les languettes de blocage (4) présente un diamètre (D400) inférieur au diamètre (D60) d'un couvercle (61) de la canette de boisson (6) qui doit être maintenue dans ladite ouverture de réception (3).
  11. Support (1) selon l'une des revendications précédentes, dans lequel l'ouverture de réception de canette (3), lorsque les languettes de blocage (4) sont repliées dans leur position repliée, laisse un passage ouvert qui présente un diamètre de passage (D210) au moins sensiblement égal, et de préférence plus large, au diamètre (D60) d'un couvercle (61) de la canette de boisson (6) qui doit être maintenue dans ladite ouverture de réception (3).
  12. Support (1) selon la revendication 11, dans lequel ledit diamètre de passage mesure au moins environ 52 mm, de préférence au moins environ 53 mm, comme environ 54 mm.
  13. Support (1) selon l'une des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le panneau principal (2) comprend au moins deux ouvertures de réception de canette (3), dans lequel les centres (30) de deux ouvertures de réception de canette adjacentes (3) sont espacés sur un intervalle (33) qui correspond au diamètre au niveau du point le plus large du corps (62) des canettes (6) destinées à être maintenues par le support (1), ledit intervalle mesurant de préférence par exemple environ 66 mm.
  14. Support (1) selon l'une des revendications précédentes, comprenant en outre au moins un panneau protecteur (7) destiné à recouvrir au moins une partie d'au moins l'une des canettes (6) destinées à être maintenues par le support (1).
  15. Ensemble, comprenant un support (1) selon l'une des revendications précédentes, et au moins une canette de boisson (6) maintenue dans une ouverture de réception de canette respective (3) du support (1).
EP19197360.1A 2019-09-13 2019-09-13 Support pour canettes de boisson à préhension par le haut et ensemble Active EP3792193B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (9)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19197360.1A EP3792193B1 (fr) 2019-09-13 2019-09-13 Support pour canettes de boisson à préhension par le haut et ensemble
ES19197360T ES2976112T3 (es) 2019-09-13 2019-09-13 Soporte para latas de bebida de agarre superior y montaje
PL19197360.1T PL3792193T3 (pl) 2019-09-13 2019-09-13 Element z górnym uchwytem do przenoszenia puszek na napoje, i zespół
EP20775081.1A EP4028336A1 (fr) 2019-09-13 2020-09-11 Support de canette de boisson à préhension par le haut et ensemble
PCT/NL2020/050564 WO2021049938A1 (fr) 2019-09-13 2020-09-11 Support de canette de boisson à préhension par le haut et ensemble
BR112022004607A BR112022004607A2 (pt) 2019-09-13 2020-09-11 Suporte para lata de bebida com preensão superior e conjunto
US17/642,431 US20220340343A1 (en) 2019-09-13 2020-09-11 Top-gripping beverage can carrier, and assembly
PCT/NL2020/050565 WO2021049939A1 (fr) 2019-09-13 2020-09-11 Support de canette de boisson à préhension par le haut et ensemble
MX2022003048A MX2022003048A (es) 2019-09-13 2020-09-11 Portador de latas de bebidas con agarre superior y ensamble.

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19197360.1A EP3792193B1 (fr) 2019-09-13 2019-09-13 Support pour canettes de boisson à préhension par le haut et ensemble

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3792193A1 EP3792193A1 (fr) 2021-03-17
EP3792193B1 true EP3792193B1 (fr) 2024-02-28
EP3792193C0 EP3792193C0 (fr) 2024-02-28

Family

ID=67956610

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19197360.1A Active EP3792193B1 (fr) 2019-09-13 2019-09-13 Support pour canettes de boisson à préhension par le haut et ensemble
EP20775081.1A Pending EP4028336A1 (fr) 2019-09-13 2020-09-11 Support de canette de boisson à préhension par le haut et ensemble

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20775081.1A Pending EP4028336A1 (fr) 2019-09-13 2020-09-11 Support de canette de boisson à préhension par le haut et ensemble

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US20220340343A1 (fr)
EP (2) EP3792193B1 (fr)
BR (1) BR112022004607A2 (fr)
ES (1) ES2976112T3 (fr)
MX (1) MX2022003048A (fr)
PL (1) PL3792193T3 (fr)
WO (2) WO2021049939A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USD984280S1 (en) * 2019-05-30 2023-04-25 Graphic Packaging International, Llc Carrier
USD984279S1 (en) * 2019-05-30 2023-04-25 Graphic Packaging International, Llc Carrier
USD984281S1 (en) * 2020-04-27 2023-04-25 Graphic Packaging International, Llc Carrier

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL288319A (fr) * 1962-02-02
US3722945A (en) * 1971-11-15 1973-03-27 Mead Corp Carrier for flanged articles
US3897873A (en) * 1973-03-20 1975-08-05 Olinkraft Inc Crown-support carrier
US5415278A (en) * 1994-02-03 1995-05-16 Riverwood International Corporation Clip-type can carrier
GB0410810D0 (en) * 2004-05-14 2004-06-16 Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems Carton with retention means for bottles
WO2010019870A1 (fr) * 2008-08-14 2010-02-18 Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems, Llc Support d’objet de type pince
JP3218593U (ja) * 2018-08-14 2018-10-25 ウエストロック・パッケージング・システムズ・エルエルシー 吊り下げタグおよび梱包品
US11027904B2 (en) * 2018-12-14 2021-06-08 Graphic Packaging International, Llc Carrier for containers

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
MX2022003048A (es) 2022-06-23
WO2021049938A1 (fr) 2021-03-18
US20220340343A1 (en) 2022-10-27
ES2976112T3 (es) 2024-07-23
EP3792193C0 (fr) 2024-02-28
WO2021049939A1 (fr) 2021-03-18
BR112022004607A2 (pt) 2023-04-18
EP4028336A1 (fr) 2022-07-20
EP3792193A1 (fr) 2021-03-17
PL3792193T3 (pl) 2024-05-06
WO2021049939A9 (fr) 2021-04-29

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