FR2684079A1 - Package for grouped articles - Google Patents

Abstract

It consists of a panel made of sheet material which comprises cut-out sections which, when the panel is folded along folding lines, form respective collars for receiving articles. The folding lines are arranged such that once the panel is folded, a reinforcing and spacing rib is formed at an intermediate position between adjacent articles and extending downwards with respect to the general plane of the rest of the panel. The reinforcing and spacing rib is preferably oriented perpendicular to a line joining the corresponding containers. The panel is typically designed, when it is folded, to hold groups of food or drink containers.

Description

 The present invention relates to means for grouping articles and, in general, means for grouping and holding articles such as containers having rims (for example containers intended to contain drinks or food).

 Currently, food or drink boxes are often grouped together using a flexible plastic assembly member which typically delimits four circular openings arranged to engage with one of the respective four food or food boxes around a recess provided immediately under the beads of the corresponding boxes, so as to group and hold the boxes together. The assembly element is discarded after use; because it is made of plastic, it can become dangerous for the environment and is not easy to dispose of.

 The Applicant has now studied sophisticated means for grouping articles. Consequently, according to the present invention, a sheet material sheet is proposed to constitute means for grouping several articles arranged side by side, which plate comprises several cut parts of suitable shape and size to form a corresponding set of collars. , each collar being capable of receiving a respective one of said articles, said plate having several fold lines, so that it can be folded to form at least one reinforcement and spacing rib between two respective adjacent articles and being oriented down from the general plane of the rest of said sheet material.

 Typically, the articles cooperating with the necklaces delimited by the cut parts will be containers such as boxes for drinks / food or the like; certain embodiments of the grouping means according to the invention also lend themselves particularly to the grouping of other articles, such as eggs, certain fruits or the like. It must be admitted that if the description refers to advantageous aspects of the grouping means with respect to certain containers, similar advantages could be obtained with respect to other articles.

 It is preferable when the plate is folded that the downward facing reinforcing and spacing rib is disposed between the respective adjacent articles in a direction transverse to a line joining the respective articles.

 Characteristically the fold lines which make it possible to form a respective rib are substantially parallel and can be notched or perforated to facilitate folding; the reinforcing and spacing rib typically comprises parts of the plate which are contiguous between them or arranged on either side of a central fold line by being interconnected.

 It is advantageous that each rib has three fold lines so that after folding the adjacent faces of the fold can be glued between them to form a rib having a thickness twice that of the sheet material and which is oriented downwards. and placed between respective adjacent articles.

 It is preferable that the cut parts of the plate are arranged so that the articles are grouped in columns and in rows. It is advantageous that each set of fold lines is arranged to form a reinforcement rib and intermediate spacing between two rows or columns.

 It is particularly preferable that the fold line assemblies are arranged to form a downwardly oriented rib intermediate an article and the adjacent articles of each of the rows and columns, so that the reinforcing and spacing ribs are oriented along at least two axes perpendicular to each other.

 In a first embodiment, the cut parts may have substantially the same shape as that of the cross section of the article, which is arranged so as to pass through the surface of the plate.

 In this embodiment, the articles to be introduced into the respective cut parts are containers typically having a circular cross section and, therefore, the collars formed by the cut parts in the plate are circular, ortogonal, hexagonal, or of a another form capable of properly receiving a container of circular cross section. In particular, the respective collars are arranged to be at least partially curved and to extend at least partially around a corresponding curved part of a respective container. The cut parts can, in a first embodiment, be preformed into necklaces of adapted contour. However, in another embodiment, the cut parts can delimit non-unitary limit elements, the free ends of which can overlap to form a rounded corner of the plate. In this other embodiment, the upper edges of the non-unitary limit elements are placed, in service, side by side with the lowest part of the upper peripheral rim of the container with, advantageously, a part for covering the plate situated at least partially above the upper end of the container.

 Typically, in this embodiment, other cutouts will be formed in the plate in an arrangement which allows them to receive and engage with other spaced apart portions of the upper peripheral rim of the container.

 Circular containers have a bead or hare protruding outward and may also have an adjacent recess located immediately below the rim, as is often the case for beverage cans. It is therefore preferred that the edge of each cut part includes engagement means intended to come into engagement with the respective container immediately below its rim or bead.

 In a first embodiment, the engagement means can take the form of several spaced apart slots formed in the plate and extending in the direction opposite to the edges of the respective cut parts. The set of slots effectively forms an elastic peripheral rim on each corresponding cut part.

When the collars formed by the cut parts are circular, the engagement means can take the form of several slots spaced along the circumference, in the plate, and oriented radially outward from the edge of the respective cut parts.

 It is preferable that the notched fold lines are formed at a certain distance and around the rim of each respective cutout to facilitate the formation of the elastic peripheral rim of the cutouts in the region of the slots. It is advantageous for the notched fold lines to form a shape around each respective cut part, which corresponds to the shape of the cut part.

 In a preferred embodiment, four substantially circular or octagonal collars are provided. In this embodiment, it is preferable that the fold lines are arranged to be folded by creating two axes of ribs which are substantially perpendicular to each other. In a second embodiment, six substantially circular or octagonal collars are provided. In this embodiment, it is preferable that the fold lines are arranged to be folded to form two ribs whose axes are substantially parallel to each other while the axis of the third rib is substantially perpendicular to the previous two.

Typically, in these embodiments, there will be on each rib axis two ribs spaced from the point of intersection of the two perpendicular axes.

 In the other embodiment mentioned above, the engagement means consist of the upper edge of the non-unitary limit elements formed on the plate, and also preferably by the other openings cut in the plate.

 It is preferable that the fold lines are provided so as to define a periphery around the set of containers. It is advantageous that these other fold lines delimit a substantially square or rectangular periphery around the set of containers and also define in the plate peripheral flaps which can be folded along Fold lines in order to be oriented downwards. substantially perpendicular to the plane of the rest of the plate. It is advantageous to define at least four flaps, some of which can be fixed or glued to others in order to form a retaining belt for the containers. In use, the belt is made in the form of a substantially square or rectangular outer wall.

 In the other embodiment mentioned above, the belt consists of the non-unitary limit elements which, when in use, overlap to form a rounded angle of the plate adjoining the surface of the container facing downwards. .

 It is preferable that one or more of the flaps constituting the belt comprise a line of perforations oriented towards the outermost edge of the flap, and preferably up to it, this line of perforations preferably extending from a corresponding fold line delimiting the rectangular or square periphery around the containers. It is in particular preferable that each wall part constituting the rectangular or square outer belt has at least one line of perforations extending from the outermost edge of the corresponding flap.

 The plate is advantageously made up of a sheet of rigid or semi-rigid material which can for example be cardboard.

 It is advantageous for the plate to carry handles when it is put in the form of assembly means. In a first embodiment, the handles are made up of respective sets of fold lines arranged between cut out portions determined so that they face upwards. In another embodiment, the handles may have flaps of the plate, preferably oriented downwards, and which typically delimit the outline of an opening in which the fingers engage when the plate is assembled. The upwardly projecting handles are crossed by respective openings of dimensions and shapes through which a person capable of carrying the grouped articles can engage one or more fingers.

The appended drawing, given by way of example, will allow a better understanding of the invention, the characteristics which it presents and the advantages which it is capable of providing.
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of a plate according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the plate of FIG. 1 used to assemble several containers;
Fig. 3 is a plan view of a first variant of a plate according to the invention;
Fig. 4 is a plan view of a second variant of a plate according to the invention;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a variant of the plate of FIG. 4;
Fig. 6 is a plan view of a third variant of the plate according to the invention;
Fig. 7 is a plan view of a fourth variant of the plate according to the invention suitable for grouping two containers;
Fig. 8 to 10 represent other plates similar to those of FIG. 7, but intended to group three, four and six containers respectively;
Fig. it is a plan view of another embodiment of a plate according to the invention, and intended for packaging eggs;
Fig. 12 is a plan view of another embodiment of a plate according to the invention;
Fig. 13 is a plan view of another embodiment of a plate according to the invention; and
Fig. 14 is a plan view of another embodiment of a plate according to the invention.

 Referring to the drawings and first to fig. 1 in particular, the plate generally referenced 1 which is made of semi-rigid cardboard has four circular cut openings 2a, 2b, 2c, 2 ~.

 These four openings have on their peripheral edge several radially oriented slots 3 whose function will be described below. A fifth cut part 4 of substantially square shape is formed in the center in order to allow the plate 1 to be folded properly to constitute the assembly means described below. The openings are arranged in rows 2a, 2b and 2c, 2d and in columns 2a, 2d and 2b, 2c, the rows and the columns being perpendicular to each other.

 Fulling lines 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d define the substantially square periphery of the plate around the openings 2a, 2d, which forms the substantially planar upper surface of a device for grouping containers or the like. Between each pair of adjacent openings there are formed three fulling lines 6a, 6b, 6c which extend substantially parallel to two peripheral fulling lines and perpendicularly from a normal peripheral fulling line 5 to the central part "cut" 4.Each peripheral pressing line 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d has a flap 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d divided in two by cutting lines 8a, 8b, 8c, 8 ~.

 The plate 1 forms a device intended for grouping boxes or the like by performing a folding along each of the pressing lines 6a, 6k, 6c so that the folded edges 6a and 6c of each folded part are brought together and the line of intermediate treading 6b is folded down relative to the rest of the plate 1. In this way, the faces 9a, 9k determined by the treading lines 6a, 6 ~, 6c are brought adjacent to each other , an adhesive being applied between them to hold the fold in place in order to form a rib 10 extending downwards (fig. 2). All the groups of trampling lines 6a, 6b, 6c are folded and glued in the same way in order to form four ribs 10 oriented downwards at intervals of 900 along two perpendicular axes A and B which intersect in the center of the group openings 2a, 2k, 2c, 2 ~.

 When the fulling lines 6a, 6b, 6c have been folded and glued in the manner described, the containers in the particular case of beverage containers, 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d are introduced into the corresponding openings 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d from the bottom, so that the slots 3 deform elastically around the rim 11 of each container at the time of their insertion, and "return" in engagement with the recess which is immediately under the rim of the containers the way of a necklace. In this way, the containers 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d are effectively grouped and held by the plate 1.Perforated or treaded circular lines 14 (shown for convenience only around the opening 2c) are formed to facilitate the elastic deformation of the split part of the plate. To further guarantee the assembly of the containers 20a, 20 ~, 20c, 20d the flaps 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d are folded down along the respective peripheral pressing lines 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d in order to form a plate or belt exterior of the assembly device with the adjacent flaps 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d by means of the tabs of these flaps 13 glued with an appropriate adhesive. The cutting lines 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d allow two flaps to slide the relative to each other when the ribs 10 are formed and prevent deformation of the flaps which otherwise could occur.

 As can be seen in fig. 1, the flaps 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d each have a line of perforations 15 extending outwards from the peripheral pressing lines 5a, 5 ~, 5c, 5d to the outermost edges of the corresponding flap . When a container such as a beverage can is removed from the assembly by pulling the base of the container outward, the plate tears along the corresponding perforated line 15 to facilitate removal of the container.

 The characteristics of the variant illustrated in fig. 3 corresponding to those of FIG. 1 are given the same references. This variant shows octagonal reception openings 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d each having slots 3 oriented towards the outside and formed on their periphery. These openings operate in the same way as the corresponding openings shown in FIG. 1 while maintaining the containers as a whole, the circular lines 14 perforated (shown only around the opening 2d for reasons of convenience) facilitating the elasticity of the split part around each opening 2.

 The plate is folded and fixed in the same way as that of fig. 1, the individual containers being disengaged in the same way with respect to the rest of the assembly, to cause the tearing of the plate along a corresponding line of perforations 15.

 The constituent elements of the variant illustrated in FIG. 4 are generally identical to those of FIG. 3, folding and fixing being carried out in the same manner as with the plate of FIGS. 1 and 3. In this embodiment, octagonal receiving openings 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d also include perforation lines 14 and slots 3 oriented outwards to facilitate the maintenance and fixing of the containers in the together, as described above for Figs. 1 and 3.

In addition, slots 22 are formed atop two of the octagonal openings to prevent deformation of the plate surface when the containers are introduced into the openings by reducing the stresses applied at these points. Triangular cut parts 21 are located in the region of the three fulling lines 6a, 6b, 6c for forming the ribs. When the plate has been folded and the container put in place, the triangular cut parts 21 form immediately behind the outer wall formed by the flaps 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d an opening in which the finger can be inserted and pinched. together.

 Fig. 5 illustrates the assembled plate 1 (with peripheral flaps 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d not shown for convenience) whose openings 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d and the intermediate ribs 10 projecting downward are clearly illustrated.

 The constituent elements of the variant illustrated in FIG. 6 corresponding to those shown in the previous figures have the same reference numbers. In this embodiment, cut openings 23 define non-unitary boundaries which may, during use overlap (this is not shown in the figure) in order to form collars capable of receiving individual containers. Such an arrangement implies that the free end parts 24 overlap one another to define rounded angles of the plate 1.

 Fig. 7 shows the plate 1 which is cut or stamped from a generally rectangular sheet of cardboard, the hatched surface being removed. The sets of fulling lines 6a, 6b, 6c are identical to those which have been previously described for the plates already described and which in this case comprise adjacent intermediate cover parts 30a, 30b formed by the elimination of the cut parts 37, 38.

 In use, the cover parts 30a, 30b cover the top of the corresponding containers of the grouped assembly. Peripheral boundary elements 31, 32, 33, 34 are formed when the plate is cut out, and then folded down relative to the cover parts 30a, 30b, and around the containers (which have a circular cross section) so that the ends of the respective pairs 31, 33 and 32, 34 overlap and are fixed to each other by an appropriate adhesive. A peripheral belt wall is consequently formed and is located adjacent to the curved outer wall of the containers. The edges 31a, 32a, 33a, 34a of the limit elements which form the highest part of the belt wall, engage with the lower edge of the bead of the container. its upper edge which is adjacent to its edge is wedged between the cover part 30a, or 30k and the respective edges 31a, 33a or 32a, 34a. Other cut openings 35, 36 have longitudinal edges arranged to receive and hold other parts of the upper bead of the containers.

 The plate shown in fig. 8 is generally similar to that shown in FIG. 7 with cover parts 30a, 30b which are formed by eliminating cut parts 37, 38, however a third cover part 30c is formed so as to be able to group three boxes in a single row, cut openings 39, 40, 41 , 42 for maintaining the bead of the intermediate container, the end containers being held in the same manner as above between cover parts 30a, 30b and edges of the corresponding limit elements 31, 32, 33, 34 constituting the belt.

 Fig. 9 and 10 represent plates similar to those of FIGS. 7 and 8, but in the latter two cases, they are arranged to group containers by four and six respectively.

 In fig. 11 is shown a plate 50 in the folded state, this plate being designed, when folded, to receive six eggs. The plate 50 is folded in a manner generally similar to that described above for the folding of the plates intended to receive containers, four ribs oriented downwards being formed by folding along the pressing lines 51a, 51b, 51c. Cut (hatched) parts are formed in the plate and are identified by Reference numbers 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57 and 52a, 53a, 54a, 55a, 56a and 57a to define the collars which receive the eggs (not shown). Each circular opening delimits a corresponding collar and has radially oriented slots which extend from the opening, the slots constituting an elastically deformable crown arranged to receive an egg. Lid portions 58, 59 are folded along a fulling line 60 to define upper and lower covers of the package. Peripheral flaps 61 are folded down and glued together (or to respective parts of the cover 58, 59 to form a rigid outer wall of the package. Finally, when the lower ends of the eggs have been introduced into the openings of the collars respective 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57 the package is folded along the axis XX so that the openings of the collars 52a, 53a, 54a, 55a, 56a, 57a cooperate with the upper ends of the eggs .

 There is shown in fig. 12 a plate similar to that of FIG. 6, which is designed to group (in the same way) eight containers in corresponding collars defined by respective cut parts 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70. As described above, the parts of ribs oriented downwards which are located between adjacent containers, are defined by respective sets of three fulling lines 6a, 6b, 6c. In this embodiment, the plate 1 comprises other cut (hatched) portions and fulling lines 71, 72, 73 arranged to define handles 74 oriented upwards relative to the general plane of the plate when it is folded (that is to say outside the plane of the sheet of fig. 12), in order to be able to transport the packaging.

 In fig. 13 is shown a plate similar to that of FIG. 6, identical elements bearing the same references on the embodiment shown, the cut-out central part 4 is formed with peripheral flaps 80 which, When the plate is assembled, are oriented downwards, thereby limiting the periphery of an opening center in which the fingers engage to lift the packaging.

The embodiment shown in fig. 13 also differs from that of FIG. 6 due to the fact that sets of pressing lines 81 are formed on certain end portions 24 to allow the angles of the curved peripheral wall to be easily deformed so that they correspond with the outline of the external surface of the packaged containers.

 With reference to fig. 14, the plate shown is as a whole similar to that described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 10. The plate 1 has flaps 80 arranged on the periphery of the "cut" central part 4. These flaps are arranged (when the plate is assembled) to deform downward around trampling lines 82 so as to constitute an opening in which one engages the fingers, thanks to which it is possible to lift the packaging. The plate also includes trampling line assemblies 81 similar to those which have been described above with reference to FIG. 13 and intended for the same purpose.

Claims (15)

 1. Sheet material sheet to form means for grouping a multiplicity of articles (20) arranged side by side, comprising several cut parts (2, 23, 37, 38) of shape and dimensions such as the plate constitutes a corresponding set of collars, each collar being able to receive one of said articles, said plate carrying several fold lines (6) so that it can be folded in order to form at least one rib (10) for reinforcement and spacing between two respective adjacent articles, this rib being oriented downward relative to the general plane of the rest of the plate.  2. Plate according to claim 1, characterized in that said fold lines (6) are substantially parallel to each other and treaded or perforated.  3. Plate according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises three fold lines (6a, 6b, 6c) so that once folded, the adjacent faces (9a, 9b) of the folds can be glued together to form a rib (10) whose thickness is twice that of the plate.  4. Plate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cut parts (2, 23, 37, 38) of the plate are arranged so that the articles can be grouped in an arrangement of rows and columns.  5. Plate according to claim 4, characterized in that said fold lines (6) are arranged to form a corresponding rib (10) of reinforcement and spacing between two rows or columns.  6. Plate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collars are at least partly curved and extend at least partially around a corresponding curved part of a respective article.  7. Plate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said ribs (10) of reinforcement and spacing are formed along at least two axes perpendicular to each other (A, B).  8. Plate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collars are made so that the respective articles (20) can pass through said plate.  9. Plate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collars delimited by the cut parts are designed to receive respective containers (20).  10. Plate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the edges of the cut parts comprise cooperation means (13, 14) for engaging with a corresponding container immediately below a bead or a lip (11) provided on this container.  11. Plate according to claim 10, characterized in that the cooperation means consist of several spaced apart slots (3) cut in the plate and extending from the edges of the corresponding cut parts.  12. Plate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that trampling lines (14) are formed at a certain distance and around the edge of each corresponding cut-out part.  13. Plate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that other fold lines (5) are provided, to define peripheral flaps (7) which can be folded along these fold lines to form a peripheral belt extending downward from the general plane of the plate.  14. Plate according to claim 12, characterized in that at least one of the peripheral flaps (7) is provided with a line of perforations (15) extending in the direction of the outermost edge of the flap.  15. Plate according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises elements (74, 80) adapted to define a handle.