MX2008004481A - Package for containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A package (200) is formed from a carton (150) and containers (170) extending through a bottom panel (30) of the carton. Engaged upper and lower strut pairs (81, 101) and brace apertures (22, 42) in the carton sidewalls (20, 40) provide support for the containers accommodated within the carton.

Description

CONTAINER PACKAGING PRIORITY APPLICATION This application claims the benefit of the Provisional Application of E.U. No. 60 / 724,406, filed on October 7, 2005, the complete contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. RELATED REQUESTS This request is related to the Provisional Applications of E.U. Nos. 60 / 763,654, filed on January 31, 2006, 60 / 759,319 filed on January 17, 2006 and 60 / 763,425 filed on January 30, 2006. This request is related to the Application of E.U. No. 11 / 475,764 presented on June 27, 2006. BACKGROUND Technical Field The technical field refers to cardboard packaging to accommodate containers and packaging formed from them. RELATED ART Cardboard packages are known for engaging and securing the upper portions of the containers. The containers are typically inserted through openings in a lower panel of the carton and secured by radially engaging projecting portions of the containers.

One such carton pack is described in the U.S. Patent. No. 6,223,892 of Bakx. However, conventional carton packs can not be safely retained or can fail to meet other requirements recognized in the art. SUMMARY According to a first aspect of the invention, a package comprises a carton with a plurality of containers accommodated therein. The carton comprises a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a plurality of top posts extending from the bottom panel along a first row, each top post comprising a first section of upper pole and a second upper pole section and a plurality of lower posts extending from the lower panel along a second row, each lower pole comprising a first lower pole section and a second lower pole section. The containers are received within a first row of container openings disposed adjacent to the row of the upper post sections and a second row of container openings disposed adjacent to the row of the lower post sections. Each first upper pole section makes contact with the underside of a projection of a container in the first row and the underside of the projection of an adjacent container in the second row. Each first lower post section may, for example, be out of contact with the projections and secured by a tab. According to a second aspect of the invention, the side panels of the carton can include locking openings through which portions of the projections of the container extend. The locking openings have lower locking edges that support the lower sides of the projections of the container. During the assembly of the carton, the preform of the carton can be wrapped tightly around the upper portions of the containers to hold the containers inside the carton. In accordance with the above aspects of the invention and the additional aspects described below, the locking openings and the upper and lower clutched posts serve to prevent the containers from being inadvertently drawn down through the container openings and also to prevent the excessive movement or rotation of the containers accommodated inside the carton. Other aspects, features and details of the present invention may be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings and from the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS OF THE DRAWINGS In accordance with common practice, the various characteristics of the Drawings discussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale. The dimensions of the various features and elements in the drawings can be enlarged or reduced to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the invention. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preform used to form a package according to a first embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 illustrates an assembly step to form the first packaging mode. Figure 3 illustrates an assembly step to form the first packaging mode. Figure 4 illustrates an assembly step to form the first packaging mode. Figure 5 illustrates an assembly step to form the first packaging mode. Figure 6 illustrates the first packaging mode. DETAILED DESCRIPTION These modalities are directed to cardboard containers to be attached to containers. The cardboard containers clutch and secure the upper portions of the containers to form a package. Figure 1 is a plan view of a preform 8 used to form a carton or carrier 150. The carton or carrier 150 is illustrated in its assembled state in Figure 6, in which it is attached to the upper portions of the containers 170, forming a package 200. Referring to Figure 1, the preform 8 comprises an upper panel 10 foldably connected to a first side panel 20 in a first fold line cross section 21, a lower panel 30 foldably connected to the first side panel 20 in a second transverse bend line 31, a second side panel 40 foldably connected to the lower panel 30 in a third transverse bend line 41 and an adhesive panel 50 foldably connected to the second side panel 40 in a fourth transverse fold line 51. The transverse bend lines 21, 31, 41, 51 in the preform 8 can more generally be referred to as lines of weakening or breaking in the preform about which bends the preform. Each of the fold lines 21, 31, 41, 51 can be interrupted for example in one or more locations and does not need to be continuous through the transverse direction of the preform 8. One or more cuts can be placed for example along of each of the transverse bend lines 21, 31, 41, 51. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the transverse bend lines 21, 31, 41, 51 are cut / fold lines in which the cuts they facilitate the folding of the preform 8 in the fold lines. Any number of cuts can be formed along the fold lines 21, 31, 41, 51 and the number and length of the cuts can be selected according to for example the caliper and stiffness of the material used to form the preform 8. The cuts may be partial cuts (eg, light cuts) or 100% cuts that extend through the full thickness of the preform 8. The lower panel 30 includes a plurality of first container receiver designs 80 and a plurality of second designs 100 container receivers. The first designs 80 container receivers are arranged in a first row and the second designs 100 container receivers are arranged in a second row. Each design 80, 100 container receiver is formed and sized to receive an upper portion of a container 170 that is held within the carton 150. In the exemplary embodiment three pattern columns 80, 100 are formed in the lower panel 30 of such that the six containers 170 can be accommodated in the assembled cardboard container 150, forming a 2 x 3 package. Other packing configurations, such as 2 x 2, 2 x 4 or 2 x 5, etc., are also they are within the scope of the present invention. Each first container receiver design 80 defines a top post 81 and each second container receiver design 100 defines a bottom post 101. Each top post 81 is engageable with an adjacent bottom post 101 in the finished carton 150. Each upper post 81 includes a first and second upper post section 84, 86 foldably connected to a transverse fold line 82. The first upper post sections 84 have concave curved distal edges 88 that can be shaped and sized to engage the portion upper of a container 170. Each lower post 101 includes a first and a second lower post section 104, 106 foldably connected to a transverse fold line 102. The upper posts 81 include tab receiving openings 90 and the lower posts 101. they include tabs 114 that extend from the distal ends of the first lower post sections 104. The tabs 114 are sized to be received within the tab receptor openings 90 in the assembled carton 150. The side panel 20 includes first locking openings 22. The number of the first locking openings 22 may correspond to the number of columns of the container receiving designs 80, 100. Referring also to Figure 2, each lock opening 22 is adapted to receive a portion of upper ledge 175 of a container 170 held within a first adjacent container opening 85 formed from a corresponding first container receiving pattern 80. The first locking openings 22 have lower locking edges 24 located or adjacent to the first transverse bending line 21 and are cut from the first side panel 20. The second side panel 40 includes second locking openings 42 adapted to receive portions of the same. upper ledges 175 of the containers 170 received within the second container openings 105 formed from the second container receiving designs 100. The number of second locking openings 42 may also correspond to the number of columns of the container receiving designs., 100. The second locking openings 42 having lower locking edges 44 are cut from the second side panel 40. The designs 80,100 and the openings 22, 42 are arranged in three columns in Figure 1. From left to right, each The column includes an aligned aperture 22, a pattern 80, a pattern 100 and an aperture 42. An exemplary method of assembling the carton 150 to form the package 200 is discussed below with reference to Figures 2-6. Figure 2 is a perspective view of an assembly step of the carton 150 and its initial connection to the containers 170. The upper portions of the containers 170, including its projections 175, are inserted through the first and second designs 80, 100 container receivers. The insertion of the containers 170 can serve to open the first and second container openings 85, 105 in the first and second designs 80, 100 container receivers respectively. The container openings 85, 105 may for example have curved or arched side walls at each end which may generally conform in shape to the exteriors of the containers 170. In Figure 2, the upper and lower posts 81, 101 extend generally toward up from the bottom panel 30. Referring to Figure 3, the bottom posts 101 are bent into the fold lines 102 so that the tabs 114 extending from the distal ends of the first lower post sections 104 extend toward the tongue receiving openings 90 in the upper posts 81. The first post sections lower 104 now extend generally parallel to lower panel 30. Second lower post sections 106 may deform to some degree as the first lower post section 104 bends and engage with the tongue receiving openings 90, but otherwise it extends generally straight. Referring to Figure 4, the first upper post sections 84 of the upper posts 81 are folded into the fold lines 82. The first upper post sections 84 now extend generally parallel to the lower panel 30. The second upper post sections 86 may deform to some degree as the upper post section 84 bends and engages the projections 175, but otherwise extends generally straight. The portions of the first upper locking sections 84 adjacent the fold lines 84 can each engage the underside of a shoulder 175 of a container 170 disposed in the first row of container openings 85. The curved distal edge 88 in the opposite end of each first upper post section 84 engages the lower sides of a container boss 175 of an adjacent container 170 disposed in the second row of container openings 105. The tabs 114 (shown in Figure 3) extending to through the tongue receiving openings 90 in the upper posts 81 secure the first lower post sections 104 in position. The first lower post sections 104 and / or the second lower post sections 106 can remain out of contact with the protrusions of the container 175. Referring to Figure 5, the adhesive panel 50 is folded around the transverse fold line 51 of The upper panel 10 can then be folded about the upper portions of the containers 170 disposed within the second row of container openings 105. The upper panel 10 can then be folded around the transverse fold line 21 so that the lower side of the upper panel 10 can adhering or otherwise securing to the adhesive panel 50, as shown in Figure 6. Referring to Figure 6, the carton 150 secures the upper portions of the containers 170 to form the package 200. When the container is closed cardboard 150, the upper panel 50 and the adhesive panel 10 can be joined and joined relatively tightly so that the projections 175 of the containers 170 are they extend completely and are supported by the locking openings 22, 42 in the side panels 20,40. The lower sides of the container lugs 175 are thereby securely engaged with the locking edges 24, 44. The pairs of the adjacent upper and lower posts 81, 101 engage the lower sides of the lugs 175 within the container cardboard 150. According to the above embodiment, the containers 170 are securely retained by the locking openings 22, 42 in the side panels and by the pairs of posts 81, 101 clutched inside the carton. The containers 170 are thereby secured against downward traction through the bottom panel 30, and are also secured against excessive movement or turning inside the carton 150. The exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 6 illustrates a carton 150 which accommodates six 170 containers arranged in two rows and three columns. Additional columns may be added for example, by increasing the width of the preform 8 (in the transverse direction in Figure 1) and forming additional opposing container receiving designs 80, 100 in the lower panel 30 and the corresponding aligned locking openings 22, 42 on the side panels. The exemplary packaging embodiment shown in Figure 6 includes an upper panel 10 that extends across the full width of the package and adheres to the adhesive panel 50 to close the package. The "top panel" of the package may alternatively comprise, for example, a first top panel foldably connected to the first side panel and a second top panel foldably connected to the second side panel. The two upper panels can be completely or partially overlapped and can be joined by means of adhesives, for example, mechanical means or by other means. In this specification, the term "projection" indicates any edge, collar, ring, raised portion or profusion that projects radially extending from an upper portion of a container. The preform 8 according to the present invention can for example be formed from coated paperboard and similar materials. The preform can also be constructed of other materials, such as paperboard, hardened paper or any other material having suitable properties to allow the resulting package to function at least generally as described in this specification. The inner and / or outer sides of the preform 8 can be coated with a clay coating. The clay coating can then be printed with the product, advertising, price, code and other information or images. The preform can then be coated with a varnish to protect any printed information on the preform. The preform may also be coated, for example, with a moisture barrier layer on either or both sides of the preform or laminated or coated with one or more sheet-like materials in the selected panels or panel sections. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a fold line can be any substantially linear, although not necessarily straight, form of breaking or weakening in the preform 8 that facilitates bending along it. More specifically, but not for the purpose of limiting the scope of the present invention, the fold lines include: notch lines; fold lines; a cut or series of cuts that extend partially towards and / or completely through the material along the desired line of weakening; and various combinations of these characteristics. The above embodiments can be described having one or panels adhered to each other with rubber. The term "rubber" is intended to encompass all forms of adhesives commonly used to secure cardboard panels in place. The description is not intended to limit the invention to the form described herein. It is also proposed that the appended claims be construed to include alternative embodiments, not explicitly defined in the detailed description.

Claims (34)

1. CLAIMS 1. A package comprising: a carton comprising: a top panel; a lower panel; a first side panel; a second side panel; a plurality of upper posts extending from the lower panel along a first row, each upper post comprising a first upper post section and a second upper post section, the second upper post sections being foldably connected to the second. bottom panel; a plurality of lower posts extending from the lower panel along a second row adjacent to the first row of upper posts, wherein each lower post comprises a first lower post section and a second lower post section, being connected foldably the second lower pole sections to the lower panel; a first row of container openings, each container opening being adjacent to the first row of container openings to one of the plurality of upper posts; and a second row of container openings, each container opening being adjacent to the second row of container openings to one of the plurality of lower poles; and a plurality of containers, each container being accommodated in one of the container openings and having a projection with the lower side, wherein each first upper post section makes contact with the underside of a projection of a container accommodated in the first row of container openings and the underside of the projection of an adjacent container accommodated in the second row of container openings. The package of claim 1, wherein: each first lower pole section is out of contact with the projections; and each second lower pole section is out of contact with the projections. The package of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and second rows of the container openings are arranged in a plurality of columns. 4. The package of claim 3, wherein the plurality of columns comprises at least three columns. 5. The package of claims 1-4 wherein each first upper post section of the upper post is connected to its second upper post section in a fold line. 6. The package of claims 1-5, wherein each first lower pole section of the lower pole is connected to its second lower pole section in a fold line. The package of claim 6, wherein each top post comprises a receiving aperture and each first lower post section comprises a projection extending through one of the receiving apertures. 8. The package of claims 1-7, further comprising: a plurality of first locking openings in the first side wall; and a plurality of second locking openings in the second side wall, wherein each container is supported by at least one of the locking openings in the lower side of its projection. 9. The packing of claims 1-8, wherein each first upper post section has a curved concave distal edge. 10. The package of claims 1-9, wherein the second upper pole sections are substantially straight 11. The package of claims 1-10, wherein the first upper pole sections are substantially parallel to the lower panel. 12. The package of claims 1-11, wherein the carton has a substantially tubular shape with open ends 13. The package of claims 1-12, further comprising an adhesive panel foldably connected to the second panel. lateral and adhered to the top panel 14. The package of claims 1-13, wherein the tops of at least some of the containers abut the top panel 15. A package comprising: a carton comprising : a top panel; a lower panel; a first side panel, the first side panel having a plurality of first locking openings; a second side panel, the second side panel having a plurality of second locking openings; a plurality of top posts extending from the bottom panel along the first row; a plurality of lower posts extending from the lower panel along the second row; a first row of container openings, each container opening being adjacent to the first row of container openings to one of the plurality of upper posts; and a second row of container openings, each container opening being adjacent to the second row of container openings to one of the plurality of lower poles; and a plurality of containers, each container being accommodated in one of the container openings and having a projection with the lower side, wherein each container is supported by at least one of the container openings in the lower side of its projection; and each container is supported by at least one of the posts on the underside of its projection. The package of claim 15, wherein each top post comprises a first top post section and a second top post section, the second top post sections being foldably connected to the bottom panel. The package of claims 15 or 16, wherein each lower post comprises a first lower post section and a second lower post section, the second lower post sections being foldably connected to the lower panel. The package of claim 17, wherein each first upper pole section makes contact with the underside of a protrusion of a container accommodated in the first row of container openings and the underside of the projection of an adjacent container accommodated in the second row of container openings. The package of claim 18, wherein: each first lower pole section is out of contact with the projections; and each second lower pole section is disposed at a non-zero angle with respect to the first lower pole section. The package of claim 18, wherein: each first top post section of the top post is connected to its second top post section in a fold line; and each first lower post section of the lower post is connected to its second lower post section in a fold line. The package of claim 20, wherein each top post comprises a receiving aperture and each first lower post section comprises a projection extending through one of the receiving openings. 22. The package of claim 18, wherein: the second upper pole sections and the second lower pole sections are substantially straight; and the first upper pole sections and the first lower pole sections are substantially parallel to the lower panel. 23. The package of claims 15-22, wherein the first and second rows of container openings are arranged in a plurality of columns. The package of claim 15-23, wherein the carton has a generally tubular shape with open ends. 25. The package of claims 15-24, wherein the tops of the containers are adjacent to the top panel. 26. The package of claims 15-25, further comprising an adhesive panel foldably connected to the second side panel and adhered to the top panel. 27. The package of claims 15-25, wherein the portions of the container openings are curved. 28. A preform comprising: a top panel; a first side panel, the first side panel having a plurality of first locking openings; a lower panel; a second side panel, the second side panel having a plurality of second locking openings; a plurality of first container receiving designs in the lower panel, each first container receiving design defining a first upper pole section and a second upper pole section foldably connected to the first upper pole section; and a plurality of second container receiving designs in the lower panel, each second container receiving design defining a first lower pole section and a second lower pole section foldably connected to the first lower pole section, wherein the first container receiving designs are arranged in a first row and at least two columns, and the first locking openings being arranged in at least two columns, each column being aligned with the first locking openings with a column of the first container receiving designs. . 29. The preform of claim 28, wherein: the second container receiving designs are arranged in a second row and at least two columns, each column being aligned with second container receiving designs with a column of the first container receiving designs.; and the second locking openings are arranged in at least two columns, each column of the second locking openings being aligned with a column of the first container receiving designs. 30. The preform of claim 28 or 29, wherein the first container receiving designs are arranged in at least three columns. 31. The preform of claims 28-30, wherein each top post comprises a receiving aperture and each first lower post section comprises a projection extending from a distal edge of the first lower post section. 32. The preform of claims 28-31, further comprising an adhesive panel foldably connected to the second side panel. 33. The preform of claims 28-32, wherein: the top panel is foldably connected to the first side panel; the first side panel is foldably connected to the bottom panel; and the lower panel is foldably connected to the second side panel. 34. The preform of claims 28-33, wherein the preform is constructed from cardboard.