GB2292724A - Pot carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

There is provided a paperboard device 11 for holding a number of pots 12, comprising a top panel 16 and a lower panel 20 interconnected by side panels 17, 23. The rims 14 of the pots are gripped by means of locking panels 30, 31 which are cut from the top panel 16, remain hingedly connected thereto, and have extensions which engage below the rims 14 to hold the rims against the top panel 16. The rims 14 are also retained by slots formed by projections 19, 27 cut from the side panels 17, 23. <IMAGE>

Description

POT HOLDING ARRANGEMENT The present invention relates to holding arrangements for pots. More particularly, but not exclusively the pots may contain foodstuffs such as yogurt, custard, cream and other dairy products. It is often desirable to sell such pots in multipacks of four, six or indeed any number of pots. Such multipacks are known, but tend to lack integrity thereby resulting in pack looseness.

According to the present invention there is provided a packaging device for holding a plurality of pots, each pot having side walls which extend downwardly from an outwardly projecting rim, said device comprising a top panel which in use lies over the top rims of the pot and a lower panel having at least one aperture for receiving the pots, which lower panel is spaced from and connected to said top panel, said top panel having at least one locking panel which is hingedly connected to the top panel and which is in use moved about said hinge out of the plane of the top panel, the locking panel having a pair of extensions which engage below the top rims of a pair of adjacent pots when the locking panel is moved thereby bracing the top rims relative to the top panel.

Preferably means are provided for retaining the rims of the pots at locations remote from the locking panels. In certain arrangements the top panel and the lower panel are connected at opposite edges by oppositely disposed side panels. Ideally with such arrangements said retaining means comprise one or more slots at the uppermost edges of the side panels, in which slots the respective top rims of the pots are received.

It is a preferred feature that the general plane of the or each locking panel is perpendicular to the top panel when in a looking position.

A further preferred feature is that the hinge connection of each locking panel is of a length which is generally the same as the distance between the two top rims of the pots at the location of the hinge.

Conveniently the locking panels are integrally formed with the top panel, lower panel and side panels.

In many arrangements the device is such that the pots are arranged in two adjacent rows.

Preferably for each pair of adjacent pots, one from each row two spaced locking panels are provided between the pots and a retention slot is also provided for each pot of the pair, the slots being provided in opposite side panels.

It is preferred that the device is made from paperboard and a plurality of apertures are provided in the lower panel, one aperture for each pot.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail. The description makes reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is an end view of a device according to the present invention in use.

Figure 2 is an end perspective view of the figure 1 arrangement, and Figure 3 is a blank for producing the device shown in figure 1.

In the figures there is shown a blank 10 made out of paperboard for producing A device 11 for holding together an array of four pots 12. Each pot 12 in this embodiment is circular in section and has a tapering side wall 13 which extends downwardly from a top rim 14. In this embodiment an intermediate shoulder 15 is provided between the top rim 14 and the side wall 14, but this is not necessarily the case.

Each pot 12 also has a base and the top is closed by a foil element which is sealingly attached around the top rim 14. These pots are ideally suited for dairy products, but could be used for any product.

The device 11 comprises a top panel 16 which in use lies generally on the top rims/foil elements of the array of pots. A first side panel 17 is hingedly connected to one edge of the top panel 16 along line 18. Arcuate projections 19 from the top panel 16 are cut out of the side panel 17 to constitute locating slots for the top rims 14 of the pots and also to constitute covering means for the top rims 14.

Opposite the hinge 18 a lower panel 20 is hingedly connected to the first side panel 17 along hinge 21.

The lower panel 20 is formed with four apertures 22 in a square array for receiving the four pots 12.

Opposite the hinge 21, a second side panel 23 is hingedly connected to the lower panel 20 along line 24. A securing panel 25 is, in turn, hingedly connected along line 26 to the second side panel 23.

Again, the securing panel is provided with projections 27 which are cut from the second side panel 23 and which serve the same purpose as the projections 19.

The top panel 16 is also formed with end locking panels 30 and central locking panels 31. The locking panels 30, 31 have extensions 32 extending laterally of hinge lines 33 which connect the locking panels 30, 31 to the top panel. The line 34 between the two central locking panels 31 may be a cut line or an easily frangible line.

The assembly of the device 11 will now be described.

Firstly the four pots 12 are placed in the four apertures 22 in the lower panel 20 such that the lower panel 20 extends some distance up the side walls 13 of the pots 12. The side panels 17, 23 can then be folded upwards and the top panel 16 and securing panel 25 can be folded over the top of the pots. These movements enable the top rims 14 of the four pots 12 to project through the locating slots formed in the side panels 17, 23. The device is dimensioned so that in such a position the innermost top rims of the pots are generally in contact with each other such that a smaller square array could not be possible. To secure the device in this position the securing panel 25 is folded down first and the free marginal edge of the top panel 16 is adhesively secured to the securing panel.The device is also dimensioned such that the side panels 17, 23 adjacent the lower panel generally engage the side walls 13 of the pots.

When in this position the locking panels 30, 31 can then be moved into their locking positions.

The locking panels 30, 31 are folded downwardly about the hinge lines 33. The hinge lines 33 are positioned and dimensioned such that the hinge line is generally of a length the same as the distance between the pot rims 14 at that location. When hinged downwardly then the extensions 32 are forced past the top rims and snap back underneath the rims 14. This constitutes the locking positions of the locking panels 30, 31 which extend generally perpendizular to the top panel 16.

The extensions 32 of the locking panels 30, 31 effectively brace the top rims 14 relative to the top panel 16 of the device 11. With the slot in the side panel, each pot is thereby given a three point retention. Also, when the central locking panels 31 are folded into their locking position, a finger gripping hole is formed in the top panel 16 for ease of carrying. With the above arrangements, the side panels can extend lower than the side panels of known arrangements, thereby giving more room for printing.

It will be appreciated that the above is just one embodiment and that many modifications will be apparent. The number of pots could be varied and different shaped arrays of pots could be accommodated, not just rectangular arrays. Also the form of the locking panels could be altered as could the number of retention points for each pot. Other materials could be used for the device apart from paperboard and the pots need not be of circular cross-section. In addition interconnecting means could be provided instead of the adhesive attachment of the top panel 16 with the securing panel 25.

Claims (11)

1. A packaging device for holding S plurality of pots, each pot having side walls which extend downwardly from an outwardly projecting rim, said device comprising a top panel which in use lies over the top rims of the pot and a lower panel having at least one aperture for receiving the pots, which lower panel is spaced from and connected to said top panel, said top panel having at least one locking panel which is hingedly connected to the top panel and which is in use moved about said hinge out of the plane of the top panel, the locking panel having a pair of extensions which engage below the top rims of a pair of adjacent pots when the locking panel is moved thereby bracing the top rims relative to the top panel.

2. A packaging device as claimed in claim 1 wherein means are provided for retaining the rims of the pots at locations remote from the locking panels.

3. A packaging device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the top panel and the lower panel are connected at opposite edges by oppositely disposed side panels.

4. A packaging device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said retaining means comprise one or more slots at the uppermost edges of the side panels, in which slots the respective top rims of the pots are received.

5. A packaging device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the general plane of the or each locking panel is perpendicular to the top panel when in a locking position.

6. A packaging device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the hinge connection of each locking panel is of a length which is generally the same as the distance between the two top rims of the pots at the location of the hinge.

7. A packaging device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the locking panels are integrally formed with the top panel, lower panel and side panels.

8. A packaging device as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7 wherein the device is such that the pots are arranged in two adjacent rows.

9. A packaging device as claimed in claim 8 wherein for each pair of adjacent pots, one from each row two spaced locking panels are provided between the pots and a retention slot is also provided for each pot of the pair, the slots being provided in opposite side panels.

10. A packaging device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the device is made from paperboard.

11. A paperboard as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein a plurality of apertures are provided in the lower panel, one aperture for each pot.