GB1569406A - Case for packaging of bottles or the like articles - Google Patents

Description

(54) A CASE FOR PACKAGING OF BOTTLES OR THE LIKE ARTICLES (71) We, S.C.C. LIMITED, a Compay incorporated under the laws of the Republic of Ireland of Ballymount Road, WslkEstowX Dublin 12, Republic of Ireland, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, b be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to a package for bottles or like articles.In particular the pre- sent invention is concerned with the type of package having an outer case which is formed which cardboard or other semi-rigid foldable packaging material and which is provided with a plurality of interlocking divider sheets, of eaS?oard or other packaging material, which may be inserted into the interior of the case to ste the case into a plurality of indi vkiaal rectangular sections which locate and eccommodate bottles or the like articles.

One of the major disadvantages associated with the above described known type of yEag is that prior to the insertion of bottles into the case-whether manually or in an automated manner-it is necessary to assemble case for the reception of bottles by insert isg into the case the divider sheets. It is also blown that the manner in which the divider theets interlock results in inadequate definition of the individual sections making insertion of the bottles into the case difficult.

According to the present invention there is provided a package for bottles or like articles, comprising an outer case formed from a semi-rigid foldable sheet packaging mat venal, the outer case being collapsible to a substantially flat condition for storage and transport of the empty pacakge and being capable of assembly into a substantially rec taigalar box when use of the package is gequired, a plurality of interlocking divider sheets secured within the case and subdividing the interior of the assembled case into a plurality of rectangular sections which can locate and accommodate bottles or like articles, with the plurality of divider sheets being collapsible with the outer case without removal therefrom and wherein in the assembled condition of the package the divider sheets include at least one substantially U-shaped element whose opposite arms extend parallel to one another between one pair of opposite walls of the case, and a plurality of flat elements extending transverse the arms of the U-shaped element between the other pair of opposite walls of the case, the U-shaped and flat elements being provided with complementary slots whereby said interlocking is achieved.

The slots in the U-shaped element preferably extend over approximately two thirds of the height thereof and the slots in the flat elements extend preferably over approximately one third the height thereof. In the present specification it is to be understood that the term rectangular includes square. The interlocking divider sheets are preferably secured within the case by adhesively securing the base of the U-shaped element to an interior wall of the case.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a carton blank from which an outer case of a package according to the invention may be formed; Figure 2 is a perspective view of one element of the plurality of interlocking divider sheets in the package according to the invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second element of the plurality of divider sheets; and Figure 4 is a perspetive view of a package according to the present invention with the package in an assembled condition for the reception of bottles or the like articles.

Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, the outer case of the package is formed from a cardboard blank which is divided by vertical fold lines 10 and horizontal fold lines 11 into end walls 12 and 13 and side walls 14 and 15. The end wall 12 is provided with an overlap flap 16. The bottom of the case is formed by overlapping end flaps 17, 18 and side flaps 19, 20. The top of the case is formed by overlapping end flaps 21, 22 and side flaps 23, 24. The case may be formed in conventional manner by folding the blank first along the vertical fold lines 10 and adhesively securing the flap 16 to the side wall 15. The flaps 17, 18, 19, 20 are folded along the horizontal lines 11 when the bottom of the case is to be formed and the same action is taken in relation to flaps 21, 22, 23 and 24 when the top of the case is to be formed.

The case is divided into a plurality of individual rectangular sections by a plurality of interlocking divider sheets. The plurality of divider sheets comprises one substantially Ushaped cardboard divider element as shown in Figure 2 and three individual flat cardboard divider elements as shown in Figure 3. The U-shaped element has two walls 25 and 26 each of which have cut therein three slots 27 to a length of approximately two thirds the wall height. The element has a flat base 28 which bridges one end of each of the walls 25 to 26. The U-shaped divider element is preferably formed as one piece with the base 28 integral with the walls 25 and 26.

Each divider element 30 is provided with slots 29 cut to a length of one third the height of the sheet. The slots 29 are spaced apart and of a length which complements the slots 27 of the walls 25 and 26 of the U-shaped element to enable interlocking of the three flat divider elements 30 with the U-shaped divider element The U-shaped element is inserted into the case with the walls 25 and 26 running parallel to the side walls 14 and 15 and the base 28 is adhesively secured to the centre portion of the end wall 12. The divider elements 30 are then interlocked with the U-shaped element in the manner illustrated in Figure 4.

It is to be noted that the individual sections 31 are well defined-the interlocking allows only a limited movement between the un slotted portion 32 of the U-shaped element and the slotted portion 33 of the elements 30.

The slots 29 are as mentioned above only in length one third the height of the element 30 so that the slotted area 33 is reasonably rigid.

This latter point has particular importance when the case is used in a mechanised bottle packing process--a process which demands accurate location of the bottles as they are inserted into the case.

It will be readily appreciated that since the interlocking divider sheets are secured at one portion only within the case the interlocking divider sheets will collapse or fold flat when the case is itself folded flat along either pair of diagonally opposite corners.

Accordingly the case, as it may be delivered to the customer, is folded flat and has already inserted therein, folded flat, the divider sheets.

When the case is assembled or opened out into the rectangular box form shown in Figure 4 the divider sheets also open out automatically as an interlocked unit to define the individual sections 31.

The provision of the interlocked divider sheets as a part of the package as outlined above results in the elimination of at least one process step in the packaging of bottles or the like articles into a package.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above which may be modified and/or varied without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the ap

Claims (6)

pended claims. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A package for bottles or like articles, comprising an outer case formed from a semi rigid foldable sheet packaging material, the outer case being collapsible to a substantially flat condition for storage and transport of the empty package and being capable of assembly into a substantially rectangular box when use of the package is required, a plurality of inter locking divider sheets secured within the case and subdividing the interior of the assembled case into a plurality of rectangular sections which can locare and accommodate bottles or like articles, with rhe plurality of divider sheets being collapsible with the outer case without removal therefrom, and wherein in the assembled condition of the package the divider sheets include at least one substantially U-shaped element whose opposite arms extend parallel to one another between one pair of opposite walls of the case, and a plurality of flat elements extending transverse the arms of the U-shaped element between the other pair of opposite walls of the case, the Ushaped and flat elements being provided with complementary slots whereby said interlocking is achieved.

2. A package according to cLaim 1, in which the slots in the U-shaped element are of greater height than the slots in the flat elements, the U-shaped and flat elements being the same height.

3. A package according to claim 2, in which the slots in the U-shaped element extend over approximately two thirds the height thereof and the slots ia the flat elements extend over approximately one third the height thereof.

4. A package according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the interlocking divider sheets are secured within the case by securing the base of the U-shaped element to an interior wall of the case.

5. A package according to claim 4, in which the base is secured to the interior wall by adhesive.

6. A package for bottles or like articles, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.