GB2389573A

GB2389573A - A container with folding handles and a blank therefor

Info

Publication number: GB2389573A
Application number: GB0213677A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alain Marcel Wambeke; David Whitehead
Original assignee: D W Plastics Nv
Current assignee: D W Plastics Nv
Priority date: 2002-06-14
Filing date: 2002-06-14
Publication date: 2003-12-17
Also published as: GB0213677D0

Abstract

A container (1) for articles (30), such as bottles, comprises two side walls (2), two end walls (3), two primary bottom sections (4), two pairs of secondary bottom sections (5), two partition sections (6), and two handle sections (7) extending from the partition sections (6). The partition sections (6) extend beyond the side walls (2), and the handle sections (7) can be folded so as to substantially cover at least part of the container. Thus the container cover is constituted by the handles and the interior of the container is easily accessible. The container is formed by folding a blank (20).

Description

1 2389573

Container for articles The present invention relates to a container for articles, such as bottles, cans, boxes, etc.. More in particular, the present invention relates to a container for 5 articles, such as bottles, the container being formed by folding a blank and comprising: two side walls, À two end walls, each integrally connected to one and two side walls respectively, 10 À two primary bottom sections, arranged in an abutting planar relation and each integrally connected to a side wall, À two pairs of secondary bottom sections, each pair integrally connected to an end wall, À two partition sections, arranged in an abutting parallel relation and each 15 integrally connected to a primary bottom section, and À two handle sections, each extending from a partition section.

A container of this type is disclosed in United States Patent US 2,529, 675.

The known container is made of heavy paper or cardboard by stamping it in one piece out of a sheet of that material and then folding it into place. The container can 20 be closed with cover portions which are integrally connected to the side walls. The handles are rigid and project through slots in the cover portions so to provide sturdiness. Although this known container is very useful and relatively strong, it cannot be stacked because of the structure of the handle. In addition, direct access to the 25 articles inside the container is prevented by the cover parts which are held together by the handles.

A similar container is disclosed in United States Patent US 3,390,810. This known container is also closed off by cover parts which are integrally connected to the side walls and have lips for holding them in their closed position. It is mentioned 30 in US 3,390,810 that the handles may be folded down to store them within the container. This would allow stacking of this known container. However, a quick

( 2 access or even a visual inspection of the contents of the container is prevented by the cover parts.

It is an object of the present invention to solve these and other problems of the Prior Art and to provide a container of the type mentioned above which allows an

5 easy access to and a quick inspection of its contents without the need to release any cover panels.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a container of the type mentioned above which is strong yet requires a minimum amount of material It is a further object of the present invention to provide a container of the type 10 mentioned above which is easily stackable.

Accordingly, a container as defined in the preamble is in accordance with the present invention characterized in that the partition sections extend beyond the side walls, and in that the handle sections can be folded so as to substantially cover at least part of the container.

15 By providing handle sections which can be folded so as to substantially cover the container, the handle sections can be used as a cover. Consequently, a cover is provided without requiring any additional cover parts, thus saving material and reducing the complexity of the blank.

By providing partition sections which extend beyond the side walls, the 20 handle sections are spaced apart from the side walls since they extend from the partition sections. As a result, there will be a gap between the side walls and the cover (handle portions), allowing inspection of any articles inside the container, even when the cover is'closed". Still, a cover is provided which facilitates stacking and reduces the articles' exposure to sunlight and other environmental factors.

25 In an advantageous embodiment, the handle sections are dimensioned so as to be capable of entirely covering the container. That is, each handle section is preferably shaped so as to cover half the container when folded down.

Preferably, the handle sections are constituted by extensions of the partition sections, separated by a fold line. That is, the handle sections may simply be parts of 30 the partitions provided with through holes and separated from the partion sections proper by fold lines. It is noted that the presence of a fold line facilitates using the

( container but is not essential and in some embodiments such a fold line may not be present. In a further advantageous embodiment, the partition sections are provided with divider tabs. These divider tabs may be formed by partially cut out portions of 5 the partition sections which can be bent at right angles to the partition sections to provide a further partitioning or subdividing of the container interior.

A container according to the present invention is preferably made of a corrugated or fluted material. In a particularly advantageous embodiment said material is the material known under the trade mark CORREX A. This material, 10 which is discribed in British Patent Applications GB 2,249, 520 and GB 2,276,120 (Corruplast Ltd.), consist of two layers of sheet material, for example plastic, spaced apart by a plurality of ribs. The space between the sheets may be filled with foam to prevent the ingress of dirt. The CORREX material is strong, light and water resistant, thus making it very suitable for containers.

15 The present invention further provides a container as defined above, provided with articles, wherein the handle sections when folded over a right angle substantially touch the articles. That is, the handle sections, when acting as covers, touch the articles in the container. This feature is particularly advantageous when stacking containers carrying articles.

20 The present invention will further be explained below with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accornpaying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 schematically shows, in perspective, a first embodiment of a container according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 schematically shows, in perspective, a second embodiment of a 25 container according to the present invention.

Fig. 3 schematically shows, in side view, the second embodiment of a container according to the present invention.

Fig. 4 schematically shows, in plan view, a blank for forming a container according to the present invention.

30 The containers I and 1 ' shown merely by way of non-limiting example in Fig. I have been formed by folding the blanlc 20 of Fig. 4. The containers I and 1 ' each comprise two side walls 2, two end walls 3, two primary bottom sections 4, two

( 4 pairs of secondary bottom sections 5 (Fig. 4), two abutting partition sections 6, and two handle sections 7. In addition, lips 8 and 9 (Fig. 4) are provided to facilitate the assembly of the containers. As can be seen, the containers I and I ' are identical but the handle sections 7 of container 1 are in the upright or "handle" postiom while the 5 handle sections 7 of container I ' are in the folded or "cover" position.

As the preferred embodiments of the container 1 are made of a single blank 20 as shown in Fig. 4 all parts of the container are preferably integrally cormected.

More in particular, the end walls 3 are each integrally connected to one and two side walls 2 respectively, while the primary bottom sections 4, which are arranged in an 10 abutting planar relation, are each integrally connected to a side wall 2. Also, the two partition sections 6 which are arranged in an abutting parallel relation, are each integrally connected to a primary bottom section 4, while the handle sections 7 each extend from a partition section 6. The lips 8 and 9 are, in turn, integrally connected to an end wall 3 and a side wall 2 respectively. As shown in Fig. 4, lip 9 is provided 15 with a slit 10 in which lip g may be inserted. The lips 8 and 9 provide a releasable connection of the walls, holding the container together without the need for latching cover parts as in the Prior Art discussed above.

As shown in Fig. 1, handle openings 11 are formed in the handle sections 7 by partially cutting out a handle tab 12 which can then be folded upward to increase 20 the carrying comfort of the handle.

An advantageous feature of the container I is the presence of the secondary bottom sections 5 which, in use, lie on top of the primary bottom sections 4 and which significantly increase the maximum weight the container can carry.

A distinguishing feature of the present invention is the spacing between the 25 side walls 2 and the handle sections 7. This spacing or distance, which is denoted D in Figs. I and 4, ensures that any articles 30 (see also Fig. 2) present in the container are clearly visible and can easily be accessed. This assists in quickly distinguishing containers in which articles 30 are present from containers which are empty. It will be understood that the distance D can also be measured relative to the end walls 3, 30 and that either the end walls 3 or the side walls 2 may have a height substantially equal to the height of the partition sections 6 while maintaining most advantages of the present invention.

( Another feature shown in Fig. 4 is the extent or length L of the handle sections 7. In Fig. 4, the length L is substantially equal to the width of a single primary bottom section 4. However, this is not necessarily the case, as will be discussed below.

5 The embodiment shown in Fig. 2 is similar to the one shown in Figs. 1 and 4 except for the length of the handle sections 7 and the position of the handle opening 11. As shown in Fig. 2, in this embodiment the handle sections 7 are relatively short in that when folded they do not cover the entire top surface area of the container 1.

The position of the handle opening I 1 has been adjusted to allow an easy grip of the 10 handle and in the embodiment shown the fold line 9 runs through the handle opening 11. Although the handle sections 7 are relatively short, they are preferably long enough to rest, when folded down, on top of the containers 30. This facilitates the stacking of the containers, as shown in Fig. 3, and provides at least a partial shielding from sunlight. This embodiment has the advantage that less material is required and 15 that access to the articles 30 is even easier than in the embodiments of Figs. I and 4.

Both embodiments shown are suitable for stacking. Advantageously, the articles 30 carry part of the weight, as shown in Fig. 3. This reduces the required strength of the container itself. instead of the bottles shown, other articles may be accomodated in the container 1, such as cans containing liquids, for example beer.

20 The container I is particularly suitable for use as a so-called "sixpack".

The container of the present invention can be supplied as a flat blank and can easily be erected where and when necessary. Similarly, the container of the present invention can easily be re-converted in a flat blank, thus saving space during the transport of empty containers. The container of the present invention is re-usable. It 25 is also recyclable when made of most suitable materials, such as carton, corrugated plastic, polyethylene or polyesther. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the container is a bottle carrier made of PET (polyethylene-teraphthalate) . This allows the container to be recycled together with any PET bottles it is carrying.

The side walls 3 of the container may be provided with decorative patterns, 30 cut-outs and the lice. As the upper edges of the side walls 3 need not be straight, they can have any suitable decorative shape, e.g. curved or undulating. Although the container of the present invention is preferably made of a single, integral blank it is

possible to achieve the same advantageous features by assembling two or more separate container parts.

It will therefore be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated above and that many 5 modifications and additions may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appending claims.

Claims

1. A container (1) for articles (30), such as bottles, the container being formed by folding a blank (20) and comprising: 5 À two side walls (2), À two end walls (3), each integrally connected to one and two side walls (2) respectively, À two primary bottom sections (4), arranged in an abutting planar relation and each integrally connected to a side wall (2), 10 À two pairs of secondary bottom sections (S), each pair integrally connected to an end wall (3), À two partition sections (6), arranged in an abutting parallel relation and each integrally connected to a primary bottom section (4), and À two handle sections (7), each extending from a partition section (6), 15 characterized in that the partition sections (6) extend beyond the side walls (2), and in that the handle sections (7) can be folded so as to substantially cover at least part of the container.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the handle sections (7) are 20 dimensioned so as to be capable of entirely covering the container.

3. A container according to claim I or 2, wherein the handle sections (7) are constituted by extensions of the partion sections (6), separated by a fold line (9).

25

4. A container according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the partition sections (6) are provided with divider tabs.

5. A container according to any of the preceding claims, made of a corrugated or fluted rnateial.

6. A container according to claim S. wherein the material is the material known under the trade mark CORREX @.

7. A container according to any of the preceding claims, provided with articles (30), wherein the handle sections (7) when folded over a right angle substantially touch the articles.

8. A container according to any of the preceding claims which is a bottle crate.

9. A container according to claim 8, made of PET.

I O

I 0. A container substantially as described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

1 1. A blank (20) for forming a container according to any of the preceding claims. 12. A blank substantially as described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.