JPH0597157A - One-piece formed carrier stock with handle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To reinforce the edge of container-receiving apertures adjoining to perforate lines when a carrier stock is cut along the perforate lines by designing the carrier stock in such a manner that it is formed from a single sheet of resilient polymeric material, such as low density polyethylene, and it is provided with integral handles, multiple container-receiving apertures arranged in the longitudinal direction, and perforate lines, which can be cut transversally between the back and forth container-receiving apertures. CONSTITUTION: Projected bumps 70 are provided inward at the edges of container-receiving apertures 14 adjoining to transverse perforate lines 60 of a carrier stock 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to carrier stock that is machine mounted to approximately the same can or other container. The present invention specifically cuts into individual carriers having separate holes for accommodating individual containers, an integral handle, and a hump to counter the tendency of certain band segments of the carrier to narrow or break. Regarding possible carrier stock.

[0002]

2. Description of the Prior Art Typically, carrier stock having individual container receiving holes for machine loading into substantially the same container is stamped from a single sheet of elastic polymeric material such as low density polyethylene. Is formed in the same manner. Typically, the stock is transversely severable along a perforated line that divides a particular band segment into halves to form an individual carrier with separate holes for accommodating individual containers. ..

As disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,038,928, the stock may advantageously include integral handles along one lateral edge of each carrier. The package contains a certain number of individual containers (eg 6, 8 or 12
When the carrier having a number of containers) and carrying the handle is carried by the handle, a particular band segment of the carrier, i. , Tend to thin or break. The perforated wire exacerbates stress concentrations when laterally moving cutters or other force transmission devices are pressed between the individual carriers. The device tends to make small nicks or narrow sections in half the segments.

[0004]

When separating a carrier from the same stock, the half segments formed tend to thin or break under stress. Remedy this drawback.

[0005]

The half segment is reinforced by forming a hump with two recessed portions and one convex portion.

As disclosed in the above-referenced US Pat. No. 5,038,928, certain half segments tend to narrow or break. This tendency is effective in carrier stocks having an integral handle joined to other band segments in the manner disclosed in the patent by the humps formed along the hole-defining edges of these half segments. It is possible to compete. The invention derives from the recognition that the tendency can be effectively countered by the hump even if the integral handle is not bound to other band segments in the manner disclosed in the patent application.

For each individual carrier, the carrier stock is formed by band segments that define discrete holes and are joined together. The segment includes an outer segment extending generally longitudinally along the first edge of the carrier when the stock is unstressed and a second segment generally along the second edge of the carrier when the stock is unstressed. It has an outer longitudinally extending segment and a laterally extending lateral segment when the stock is unstressed.

Also, for each individual carrier, the carrier stock is formed with an integral handle having opposite ends. The ends of the unitary handle are respectively coupled to outer segments along the first edge. In one embodiment considered, each end of the unitary handle is joined to two of the outer segments along the first edge and one of the transverse segments different from the half-segmented segment described below. Combined at points.

Certain of the transverse segments have frangible lines, such as perforated lines, which extend substantially laterally when the carrier stock is unstressed and which have segments with the lines. Divide into half segments. The lines facilitate cutting the carrier stock so that individual carriers can be easily formed.

The end of the unitary handle is joined to an outer segment along the first edge and each half of the segment joined to one of the outer segments along the first edge is tapered or broken. Limit the hump that counters the tendency. The hump is preferably formed by two concave parts and one convex part. It is preferred that each half of the segments joined to one of the outer segments along the second edge be formed to define a similar hump.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIGS. 1-3, a carrier stock 10 that is mechanically loaded into approximately the same container 12 constitutes a presently preferred embodiment of the invention. The stock 10
Are formed with separate apertures 14 for receiving individual containers 12. The carrier stock 10 can be cut along the transverse lines described below to form substantially identical individual carriers 20.

As shown in FIG. 1, the container 12 is a beverage can of the type commonly used for beer, soft drinks and other beverages. Each container 12 also includes a pull tab 18
Is provided with a protruding edge 16 at one end. However, the present invention is not limited to use in such cans and is useful in cans, bottles and other containers of various types.

In FIG. 1, a package having eight such containers 12 and one carrier 20 cut from the stock 10 is shown. One such carrier 20 is fully shown in FIG. 2 which also shows a fragmentary portion of the next carrier 20. Each carrier 20 is shown in FIG. 2 in the unstressed state.

The carrier stock 10 is formed in an intermediate length, such as by stamping from a single sheet of elastomeric polymeric material. A preferred material is low density polyethylene. If low density polyethylene is used, the preferred thickness of the stock 10 under stress is about 0.36 m.
m (about 14 mils).

The carrier stock 10 is formed by band segments bounded together defining eight separate holes 14 for each individual carrier 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the holes 14 are longitudinal rows and transverse columns, ie two longitudinal rows for each individual carrier 20.
It is a rectangular array having four rows in the horizontal direction.

The carrier stock 10 is mounted on the side wall of each container 12 away from the protruding rim 16 of each container 12. Carrier stock 10 is described in US Pat. No. 4,018,
It may be mounted as the carrier stock disclosed in No. 331. A suitable machine for loading the stock 10 is disclosed in US Pat. No. 3,959,949.

An alternative machine adaptable for mounting carrier stock 10 is disclosed in US patent application Ser. No. 07 / 519,860 dated May 7, 1990.

The band segments that define the discrete holes 14 of each carrier 20 extend along a generally longitudinally extending outer segment, ie, the first edge of the carrier 20, when the carrier stock 10 is unstressed. Two outer segments 22 extending to their respective ends and an outer segment 2
Two outer segments 24 extending between 2, 22 along a first edge of the carrier 20 and a second outer segment 24 of the carrier 20.
And four outer segments 26 extending along the edge. The band segment has four inner segments 28 extending generally longitudinally when the stock 10 is unstressed. The band segments are transverse segments that extend in a substantially transverse direction when the stock 10 is not stressed, i.e. two transverse segments 30 at each of the respective ends of the carrier 20 and a transverse segment 3.
And three pairs of lateral segments 32 between 0 and 30. The band segment has diagonal segments 34, each of which is associated with one of the inner segments 28 and one of the lateral segments 30, 32.
The niho diamond shaped holes 36 are defined.

Further, each carrier 2 is included in the carrier stock.
There is an integral handle 40 along the first edge of 0, which has two outer ends 42 and an intermediate leg 46. Each outer end 42 is joined to one of the outer segments 22, one of the outer segments 24, and one of the lateral segments 32 at a juncture 48. Intermediate leg 46
Are joined to two of the outer segments 24 and one of the lateral segments 32 at a joining point 50. The intermediate leg 46 has a substantially longitudinal slit (not shown) so that the intermediate leg 46 can be easily broken by a user who uses the integral handle 40.
May optionally be provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, the inner segment 28 is
The lateral segment 32 has a slit 52 in the longitudinal direction.
Has an approximately horizontal slit 54. The slits 52 and 54 are formed by the carrier stock 10 into the individual containers 12
Facilitates folding of the inner segment 28 and the lateral segment 32 when mounted on the.

The carrier stock 10 has a tear opening tab 5 which generally corresponds to the tear opening tab disclosed in US patent application Ser. No. 07 / 537,674 dated June 14, 1990.
Have 6. The disclosure is provided here for reference.
Each tab 56 extends from one of the outer segments 22, 24, 26 to one of the holes 14. Each tab 56 and the tab 56
The outer segment associated with the above is slit in the manner disclosed in the above-mentioned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07 / 537,674.

In the carrier stock 10, each carrier 2
The transverse segments 30 at each end of the
Has a perforated wire 60 that extends generally laterally when unstressed and divides the segment 30 into halves 62. Perforated wire 60 facilitates the cutting of individual carriers 20 from carrier stock 10. The stock 10 may be manually broken or otherwise cut along the line 60. Each half segment 62 is partially limited by one of the lines 60,
This causes stress concentrations in the half segment 62.

The carrier stock 10 may be cut laterally by a cutter (not shown) or other force transmitting device that is pressed between each carrier 20 and moved laterally. The device is prone to small nicks or width reductions n, one of which is shown in FIG. 3, or other flaws that exacerbate stress concentrations in the half segment 62.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, each half segment 62 is provided with a hole-defining edge 64 having the characteristic shape contemplated by the present invention. In particular, the edge 64 is
It is formed by two recessed portions 66 and one convex portion 68 between the recessed portions 66, 66. The edge 64
Are formed to provide a smooth transition between the recessed portion 66 and the convex portion 68.

The convex portion 68 defines a hump 70,
This hump counters the tendency of the half segment 62 to thin or break when stressed due to the stress concentration caused by the perforated wire 60 partially confining the half segment 62. It works effectively as a device. The hump 70 provides a localized area of increased cross-sectional area due to the smooth transition of the half segment 62 into the adjacent area.

[0027]

The hump according to the invention presents the disadvantage that when the individual carriers are cut from the carrier stock, the resulting halves of the segments are subject to stresses and tend to break or break. By
Can be reinforced. Further, by using a cutting device when cutting the individual carriers, for example, even if a small notch or a narrowed portion is formed in a half segment portion, the carrier can be used without trouble by the reinforcement by the bumps. it can.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described with reference to a particularly preferred embodiment, the present invention can be implemented by making various changes and modifications without departing from the technical idea thereof.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a package having a carrier cut from a carrier stock according to the present invention and eight approximately identical containers.

FIG. 2 is a plan view in mid-scale of carrier stock according to the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged detailed view of a band segment that defines a container receiving hole of the stock.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 carrier stock 12 container 14 hole 20 carrier 22 outer segment 24 outer segment 26 outer segment 30 lateral segment 32 lateral segment 40 handle 42 outer end 48 connection point 60 perforation line 62 half segment 64 hole limiting edge 66 concave portion 68 Convex part 70 hump

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A machine stock carrier stock for substantially identical containers, wherein the stock is formed from a single sheet of elastomeric polymeric material, with separate holes for accommodating each individual container and an integral handle. An outer segment that is severable to form an individual carrier having and (a) extending generally longitudinally along a first edge of the carrier when the stock is not stressed. An outer segment extending generally longitudinally along the second edge of the carrier when the stock is not stressed, and a lateral segment extending generally laterally when the stock is not stressed. A band segment having the discrete holes defined therein and coupled together, and (b) an integral handle having respective coupled ends of the outer segment along the first edge. Formed for each of the carriers, the first edge being opposite the second edge, and a predetermined one of the transverse segments when not stressing the stock. '' Has a transversely extending frangible line that divides the segment with the line into half segments and facilitates cutting the stock to form the individual carriers; Half of each segment joined to one of the outer segments along the first edge is formed so as to limit the hump that constitutes the opposing device to the tendency to taper or break under stress. Carrier stock with limited hole edges. 2. A carrier stock according to claim 1, wherein each half of said segment joined to an outer segment along said second edge is formed to define a similar hump. Carrier stock with. 3. The carrier stock according to claim 1, wherein each of the ends of the integral handle has two outer segments along the first edge and the lateral segment divided into half segments. Carrier stock that is joined at one point to one of the different transverse segments. 4. The carrier stock according to claim 3, wherein each half of the segments joined to one of the outer segments along the second edge is formed to define a similar hump. Carrier stock with limited edges. 5. The carrier stock according to claim 1, wherein the hole-defining edge of each half segment coupled to one of the outer segments along the first edge defines two humps. Carrier stock formed by a recessed portion and one convex portion. 6. The carrier stock according to claim 2, wherein the hole-defining edge of each half segment coupled to one of the outer segments along the second edge defines the same hump. Carrier stock formed by two recessed portions and one convex portion.