JP2015515951A - Container carrier - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a package of a plurality of containers 20 unitized by a flexible carrier 10. The carrier is composed of a plastic flat sheet 15, and a plurality of container receiving holes 25 and a panel 50 or a handle 60 are positioned with respect to the flat sheet. The panel or handle is die cut to form at least one of product name, product characteristics, promotional shape, trademark, trade name, alphanumeric characters, symbols, and elaborate design. [Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a container carrier that unitizes a desired number of containers.

  A container carrier binds two or more containers into a strong unitized package, ie, a “multipack” of containers. The carrier is a generally planar array of rings, usually formed from a thermoplastic sheet material, sometimes referred to as a “6-pack carrier”. Carriers are applied to containers of various sizes and shapes.

  Conventional container carriers are often used to unitize multiple similarly sized containers, such as cans, bottles, jars and boxes, but other packages or containers can be unitized. Plastic ring carriers and box carriers are two of such conventional container carriers.

  A plastic ring carrier uses a small amount of material to create a unitized package of containers. However, when used alone, there is little or no space for advertising or promotional printing. Conversely, box carriers generally have a relatively large area for promotional drawings. Unfortunately, the box carrier requires a relatively large amount of material, and if not maintained in an upright position, the bottle will fall out, usually covering many parts of the actual container.

  Accordingly, there is a need for a package that incorporates the stability and economics of the ring carrier and the promotional characteristics of the box carrier.

  The present invention relates to a carrier that unitizes a plurality of containers and has a plurality of container receiving holes configured with an integrated panel and / or an integrated handle that are shaped to provide additional information about the package.

  The container carrier according to the present invention carries a plurality of containers such as cans or bottles. The carrier comprises a flat sheet of plastic, preferably molded with a plurality of container receiving holes. The container receiving holes are formed in columns and rows.

  The panel is preferably integrally formed with the sheet so as to extend outward from the panel edge of the sheet. The panel exhibits at least one of a product name, product characteristics, promotional shapes, trademarks, trade names, alphanumeric characters, symbols, and / or elaborate designs intended to draw attention to the product. It is preferable to make it a shape.

  Alternatively or additionally, separate handles may be used to draw attention to product names, product characteristics, promotional shapes, trademarks, trade names, alphanumeric characters, symbols, and / or products. It can be similarly configured to exhibit at least one of the different designs.

  Furthermore, the handle can be molded integrally with the panel and draw attention to the product name, product characteristics, promotional shapes, trademarks, trade names, alphanumeric characters, symbols and / or products. It can be similarly configured to exhibit at least one of the intended elaborate designs.

  A container is placed in each container receiving hole to create a package having a panel and / or handle, where the panel and / or handle are prominent with respect to the package, and the consumer has the stylized foam The product image appears to be projected. Such a configuration of panels and / or handles provides a package of containers with a prominent display area or “advertisement bulletin board” for advertisements, information, drawings and other marketing information.

  The foregoing features and objects of the present invention, as well as other features and objects of the present invention, will be better understood from the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings.

1 is a top view of a flexible carrier according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a top view of a flexible carrier according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of a package according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of a package according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of a package according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a package according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a top view of the flexible carrier used for the package shown in FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a package according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is a top view of the flexible carrier used for the package shown in FIG.

  1-9 illustrate a carrier 10 and a package 80 according to various preferred embodiments of the present invention. The container 20 shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 and FIGS. 6 and 8 is preferably a bottle. Although bottles are shown in FIGS. 3-5 and FIGS. 6, 8, a can or any other generally unitized container 20 can be used with the carrier 10 according to the present invention. The container 20 is preferably of a similar size that fits within a single carrier 10 to form a package 80.

  The carrier 10 unitizes a plurality of containers 20 to create a package 80 such as the package 80 shown in FIGS. The carrier 10 includes a flat sheet 15 that is preferably made of a flexible elastic material such as plastic. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the sheet 15 is made from low density polyethylene.

  The material sheet 15 is preferably cut out to form a plurality of container receiving holes 25 in the sheet 15 using means known to those skilled in the art, such as a punching die. Preferably, six or more container receiving holes 25 are formed in the sheet 15 in columns and rows. The container receiving holes 25 are preferably configured in two vertical rows arranged in three rows or two vertical rows arranged in four rows. The sheet 15 can have container receiving holes 25 of other configurations depending on the size of the package 80 desired.

  In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the panel 50 is integrally formed with the sheet 15. The panel 50 preferably has a length in the longitudinal direction that is shorter than the total length of the sheet 15. The panel 50 may be on one or both sides of the purchase label UPC (Uniform Product Code) and proof, drawings, and promotional information, and / or other information related to the contents and / or components of the package 80. It is preferable to put.

  The panel 50 is preferably extended outward from the longitudinal edge of the sheet 15. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the panel 50 is at least partially molded along a part of each container receiving hole 25.

  The panel 50 is preferably integrally formed with the sheet 15 such that the panel 50 extends outward from the longitudinal edge of the sheet 15. The panel 50 has at least one of a product name, product characteristics, promotional shapes, trademarks, trade names, alphanumeric characters, symbols, and / or elaborate designs intended to draw attention to the product. It is preferable to have a shape to be exhibited.

  In a preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the carrier 10 has an integral handle 60 located between rows of container receiving holes 25 or along opposite longitudinal edges of the sheet 15. In addition. The handle 60 is particularly important to facilitate handling of the package 80 in a carrier 10 configuration that includes a number of container receiving holes 25.

  Alternatively or additionally, the handle 60 is elaborate intended to draw attention to product names, product characteristics, promotional shapes, trademarks, trade names, alphanumeric characters, symbols, and / or products. It can be similarly configured to exhibit at least one of the designs. Both the handle 60 and the panel 50 have the same or complementary corresponding die cuts including product name, product characteristics, promotional shapes, trademarks, trade names, alphanumeric characters, symbols and / or elaborate designs. Can do.

  Furthermore, the handle 60 can be integrally formed with the panel 50 and draws attention to product names, product characteristics, promotional shapes, trademarks, trade names, alphanumeric characters, symbols, and / or products. It can be similarly configured to exhibit at least one of the elaborate designs that are intended to be allowed.

  As shown in FIGS. 3-5, it is preferable that the container 20 is arrange | positioned in each container receiving hole 25, and the package 80 is made. The panel 50 is preferably substantially flat and parallel to the container 20 and is conspicuous with respect to the package 80. If the panel 50 is rolled or folded into a vertical position relative to the package 80, it will be difficult for consumers to read advertisements or other important items on the panel. Further, the panel 50 protruding with respect to the package 80 is used when the package 80 is packaged, handled, and stacked due to interference between the panels 50 of the adjacent packages 80 and interference between the panel 50 and the packaging device. Difficulties arise.

  According to one preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the panel 50 is similarly molded in a decorative configuration, but no cutout or similar area is provided to grip the panel. Instead, one or a series of weakened areas 85, such as slits and / or perforations, are formed for the panel 50 so that the user "makes" the handle by passing the hand through the panel 50 at the sales floor. Is possible. In this way, the billboard space on panel 50 is maximized until purchased. The one or more slits and / or perforations can project directly into the drawing and / or decorative arrangement in the panel 50, and thus the best position so that it can only be opened after the consumer has decided to purchase It is in.

  According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the panel 50 has a peeling element 90, such as a perforation or tear strip, with decorative members for the carrier 10 and the group of containers 20 in the package 80. , So that the user can remove the container 20 from the package 80 generally along the interface between the panel 50 and at least one row of containers 20. For example, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, individual containers 20 can be removed from the package 80 by pulling the lizard tail along the release element 90. Thus, the peel element 90 forms an integral part of at least one of product name, product characteristics, promotional shape, trademark, trade name, alphanumeric characters, symbols, and the elaborate design of the panel 50. It is preferable.

  In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, and numerous details have been set forth for purposes of illustration, but the invention is capable of further embodiments and the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain of the details set forth in the specification may be varied significantly without departing from the basic principles of the invention.

10 Carrier 15 Flat sheet 20 Container 25 Container receiving hole 50 Panel 60 Handle 80 Package 85 Weakened area 90 Peeling element

Claims (20)

A carrier carrying a plurality of containers,
A planar sheet of plastic material having a plurality of container receiving holes arranged in columns and rows;
A panel integrally formed with the sheet, extending outward from the edge of the sheet, having a product name, product characteristics, promotional shape, trademark, trade name, alphanumeric characters, symbols and elaborate design A carrier comprising a panel die cut to form at least one of them.   The carrier according to claim 1, wherein a panel length in the longitudinal direction is shorter than a sheet length in the longitudinal direction.   The carrier of claim 1, further comprising an integral handle located between the columns of container receiving holes.   The integrated handle includes at least one of the product name, the product characteristic, the promotional shape, the trademark, the product name, the alphanumeric character, the symbol, and the elaborate design as the panel. The carrier of claim 3, die cut to form one.   The carrier according to claim 1, further comprising a handle integrated with the panel.   The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the die cut has an asymmetric shape.   The carrier of claim 1, comprising at least two panels, each panel associated with a container receiving hole of the plurality of container receiving holes.   8. The carrier of claim 7, wherein each of the two or more die cut panels is associated with one row of the two or more rows of container receiving holes.   The carrier of claim 1, wherein the panel is die cut to form an edge of the container.   The carrier of claim 1, further comprising a handle positioned between the panel and the column of container receiving holes. A package of multiple containers,
A planar sheet of plastic material having a plurality of container receiving holes arranged in columns and rows;
A plurality of containers disposed in corresponding ones of the plurality of container receiving holes;
A panel integrally formed with the sheet, and extends outward from an edge of the sheet so as to extend over one or more of the plurality of containers, and the product name, product characteristics, and sales promotion And a panel die cut to form at least one of shape, trademark, trade name, alphanumeric characters, symbols and elaborate designs.   12. The panel according to claim 11, wherein the panel has one or more weakened areas that provide a billboard space in the panel when it is passed and gripped, while still providing billboard space to the panel prior to purchase. Package as stated.   The package of claim 11, wherein two or more panels are located across the package, each panel coinciding with one of the rows of container receiving holes.   The package of claim 11 further comprising a handle.   15. The package of claim 14, wherein the handle is die cut to form at least one of product name, product characteristics, promotional shape, trademark, trade name, alphanumeric characters, symbols, and elaborate designs. . A carrier carrying a plurality of containers,
A planar sheet of plastic material having a plurality of container receiving holes arranged in columns and rows;
A handle integrally formed with the sheet, the handle extending from the sheet, at least one of a product name, a product characteristic, a promotional shape, a trademark, a trade name, an alphanumeric character, a symbol, and an elaborate design A carrier comprising a handle that is die-cut to form.   The carrier according to claim 16, wherein the handle extends from between columns of the container receiving holes.   The carrier of claim 16, further comprising a panel extending from an edge of the column of container receiving holes.   The panel has a die cut corresponding to the die cut of the handle and forms at least one of a product name, a product characteristic, a promotional shape, a trademark, a trade name, an alphanumeric character, a symbol, and a fancy design. The carrier according to claim 18.   The panel is separable along a peel element to release individual containers from the carrier, the peel element comprising the product name, the product characteristics, the promotional shape, the trademark, the product. The carrier of claim 18 forming an integral part of the name, the alphanumeric characters, the symbols and the elaborate design.

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