MXPA00008015A - Film multipackage - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to a single-piece carrier for unitizing a plurality of containers with a retainer sheet integrated with a carrier sleeve. The retainer sheet comprises a plurality of container receiving openings for engaging a top portion of a group of containers of the plurality of containers and two partial container receiving openings for partially engaging a top portion of two additional containers of the plurality of containers. The carrier sleeve surrounds the plurality of containers and a handle is positioned over a center row of containers. A package including containers comprises two layers of containers within the film sleeve.

Description

PACKAGING, MULTIPLE MOVIE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention, The invention relates to a one-piece carrier for uniting a plurality of containers, the carrier having a retainer sheet for coming into contact with an upper part of the containers integrated with a film sleeve for wrapping the containers. Description of the Prior Art Holders of conventional containers are often used to unify a plurality of containers of similar size, such as cans, bottles, jars and boxes, although other packages or containers may be unified. The carriers of plastic rings and carriers of boxes are two of those carriers of conventional containers. The plastic ring carrier produces a unified package for? ^ containers that use little material. However, the holder of plastic rings, when used alone, has little or no space for advertising or promotional printing. Conversely, the case carrier usually has a relatively large amount of area for promotional graphics. Disadvantageously, the box carrier requires a relatively large amount of material, which may allow the containers to fall, if it is not held in a vertical position, and generally Covers most or all real containers. Therefore, there is a need for a package that incorporates the stability and economy of a ring carrier and the promotional area of a box carrier. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One of the objects of this invention is to provide a container carrier that unifies a plurality of containers in a solid and tight package. It is another object of this invention to provide a container carrier that provides a prominent advertisement space for marketing information.

A further object of this invention is to provide a container carrier that reduces the lateral and vertical movement of the containers relative to one another. It is still a further object of this invention to provide a container carrier that incorporates the stability and economy of a ring carrier and the promotional area of a box carrier. A further object of this invention is to provide a container carrier that uses a film sleeve to maintain a tight configuration of the unified containers. A carrier according to this invention carries a plurality of containers such as cans or bottles. The bearer unifies a plurality of containers to create a package. The carrier is a one-piece device, comprising a retainer sheet integrated with a film sleeve, each preferably made of a flexible and resilient material, such as plastic. Preferably the retainer sheet has a different thickness that is thicker than a second thickness of the film sleeve. The retainer sheet is formed with a plurality of openings for container reception, the number of which depends on the size intended for the package. The retainer sheet integrates with the skin sleeve preferably through the longitudinal sides of the retainer sheet. The film sleeve can be designed to create an open package at the bottom of the package or through the bottom flange of the carrier. The film sleeve may further include a lower portion through a portion of the lower flange of the film sleeve. Preferably each lateral flange of the film sleeve is joined with a seal. The carrier when forming, is generally symmetrical around the bending lines of the carrier. The containers are inserted into the carrier, so that the containers are surrounded by five to six sides of the package. Each container receiving opening in the retainer sheet preferably comes into contact with a container around an upper part of the container. The stiffness and elasticity of the retainer sheet with which each container supports. The film sleeve is placed around the plurality of containers, preferably in a gear with the containers. The film sleeve is preferably printed with graphics, promotional information and / or other information related to the content and / or ingredients of the package. Therefore, the film sleeve serves both to unify the plurality of containers and to announce the nature of the contents of the containers. The carrier is preferably manufactured according to one of several preferred methods, wherein a generally continuous spread of carriers is formed. In summary, a film substrate is printed with the desired graphics and other marketing information. A retainer sheet material is then attached to the film substrate by means of extrusion coating, lamination, pattern extrusion or gumming the sheet material retainer to the film substrate. The bonded retainer sheet material and the film substrate are subsequently folded along the fold line to create a symmetrical double layer or laminates to an identical section of the bonded sheet-retainer material and the film substrate. The seams are then added by heat sealing or laminating the symmetrical double layer of the retainer sheet material and the film substrate together. Finally, the carrier is formed by die cutting the double layer of the retainer sheet material and the film substrate to create the container receiving openings and defining a film sleeve and a retainer sheet. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The aforementioned characteristics, as well as other features and objectives of this invention will be better understood from the following detailed description, taken together with the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a top view of a carrier for hold a plurality of containers, according to a preferred embodiment of this invention; Fig. 2 is a top view of a carrier for holding a plurality of containers, according to another preferred embodiment of this invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a paguete of containers, using a carrier similar to the carrier shown in Fig. 2, according to a preferred embodiment of this invention; Fig. 4 is a top view of a carrier for supporting a plurality of containers, according to another preferred embodiment of this invention; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a package of containers, using a carrier similar to the carrier shown in Fig. 4, according to a preferred embodiment of this invention; Fig. 6 is a schematic of a method for making a carrier for holding a plurality of containers according to a preferred embodiment of this invention; Fig. 7 is a schematic of a method for making a carrier, similar to the carriers shown in Figs.

Figs. 2 and 3, for securing a plurality of containers according to another preferred embodiment of this invention; Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of a method for making a carrier for holding a plurality of containers according to another preferred embodiment of this invention. Fig. 9 is a top view of a carrier for holding a plurality of containers according to another preferred embodiment of this invention; Fig. 10 shows a top view of a retainer sheet, as used in the carrier shown in Fig. 9; and Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a package of containers, using a carrier similar to the carrier shown in Fig. 9, according to a preferred embodiment of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Figs. 1-11 show the carriers 10 for carrying a plurality of containers 5. The containers 5 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, are preferably cans. Although the cans are shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 11, bottles or any other commonly-united container 5 can be used with the carrier 10, in accordance with this invention. The containers 5 are preferably of the same size within a single carrier 10. The carrier 10 unifies a plurality of containers 5 to create a package 1, such as the package shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 11. The carrier 10 is preferably a one-piece device, comprising the retainer sheet 15 integrated with the film sleeve 30, each preferably made of a flexible and resilient material such as plastic. For the purposes of this specification and claims, a sleeve is defined as a tube-shaped component capable of more and more fitting around a plurality of containers 5. In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the retainer sheet 15 of low density polyethylene. The retainer sheet 15 preferably has a first thickness, such as .008", preferably thinner than the thickness of the traditional plastic ring holders, As discussed below with additional details, the retainer sheet 15 is preferably cut, using means known to those skilled in the art, such as stamping die, to form a plurality of container receiving openings 20 in the retainer sheet 15. Two or more receptacle receiving openings 20 are formed in the retainer sheet 15 in longitudinal rows and one or more transverse ranges In a preferred embodiment of this invention shown in Figs 2-5, the container receiving openings are configured in two rows of three ranges The retainer sheet 15 may include other configurations of the openings recipients of containers 20, depending on the size of the desired package 1. The retainer sheet 15 is integrated with the The film sleeve 30 for forming a one-piece carrier 10, as described in detail below. The film sleeve 30 preferably has a second thickness that is thinner than the first thickness of the retainer sheet 15, such as .004"to .006": The total thickness of the retainer sheet 15 is about .012-. 014"according to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the film sleeve 30 preferably has greater elasticity and less stiffness than the retainer sheet 15. The film sleeve 30 may comprise a stretch film of low density polypropylene (LDPE) or of similar material known to persons having ordinary skill in the art In a preferred embodiment of this invention, shown in Figs 6 and 8, the handle 50 is integrated into the retainer sheet 15. The handle 50 preferably it has the same thickness or a similar one as that of the retainer sheet 15. In a preferred embodiment of this invention, which is shown in Figs. 6 and 8, the handle 50 is integrated between the longitudinal rows of the container receiving openings 20. Alternatively, the package 1 can be carried, using bands 55 formed between the recipient receiving openings 20, as shown in FIG. shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The film sleeve 30 is preferably integrated with a retainer sheet 15 across the longitudinal sides 17 of the retainer sheet 15. In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the film sleeve 30 does not connect to the skin. length of the two lateral flanges 18 of the retainer sheet 15. The film sleeve 30, is preferably printed with, on one or both sides, UPC (Universal Product Code) and comparing labels test, graphics and promotional information and / or other information related to the contents and / or ingredients of the package 1. The film sleeve 30 may additionally be at least partially transparent to effectively display the nature of the containers 5. Therefore, the sleeve film 30 meets the dual purposes of retaining containers 5 within a closely assembled package 1 and the commercial advertising characteristics of containers 5 and / or package 1. In a preferred embodiment of this invention shown in Fig. 2, the film sleeve 30 is opened through the lower flange 33 of the carrier 10. As shown in Fig. 1, the lower flange 33 of the carrier 10, may further include the lower portion 35 of the film sleeve 30. Each side flange 37 of the film sleeve 30 is preferably bonded with seal 40. Thus, the film sleeve 30 extends from the lower, openable flange. 33 of the carrier to the seals 40 in either side flange 37 of the skin sleeve to the retainer sheet 15 in an upper portion of the carrier 10. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the carrier is generally symmetrical about the fold lines 25. As discussed in more detail below, the carrier 10 is fabricated so that the retainer sheet 15 and the film sleeve 30 are each symmetrical about each other. fold lines 25. Carrier 10 is applied to a plurality of containers 5 to form package 1 shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The containers 5 are inserted inside the carrier 10 which joins the containers 5 in their surroundings, between five and six sides of the package 1. Each container receiving opening 20, preferably comes into contact with the container 5, preferably around of the bell 7 or the upper part of the container 5. The stiffness and resilience of the retaining sheet 15 supports the container 5 within the container receiving opening 20. Therefore, an upper part of the package 1 is at least covered by the retaining sheet 15. As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the film sleeve 30 is placed around the plurality of containers 5. Preferably, the film sleeve 30 comes into tight contact with the containers 5 and the combination of the container receiving openings 20 and the sleeve 30 prevent twisting or lateral movement of the containers 5 with respect to one another. In an embodiment of this invention, which is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the film sleeve 30 covers at least a portion of the four horizontal sides of the package 1. The containers 5 are placed inside the package 1, so that the film sleeve 30 is flat and adjusted with respect to the containers 5. and prominent with respect to the package 1. The film sleeve 30 is preferably formed to stretch when slid over a plurality of containers 5. A configuration of the film sleeve 30 results in package 1, which has a prominent or "display" area "for advertising, information, graphics and other marketing material. In another preferred embodiment of this invention, which is shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, the film sleeve 30 covers at least a part of the bottom of the package 1. The film sleeve 30 preferably covers at least a part of the bottom of the package 1 when one or more containers do not come into contact with the openings container recipients 20. For example, the carrier 10 shown in Fig. 1 requires the lower part 35 because the retainer sheet 15 includes only two container receiving openings 20 in the carrier 10 that holds more than two containers 5. The carrier 10 shown in Fig. 5 also requires the lower part 35, because of the twelve containers 5 in the package 10, the six lower containers 5 in the package 1, are not fastened around the bell 7 by the retainer sheet 15. Therefore, bottom portion 35 provides support for those containers not fastened within container receiving openings 20. As shown in Figs. 3-5, package 1 may additionally contain a pull tab 45 and / or perforation line 47 placed inside the film sleeve 30. When using an arrangement such as that shown in Figs. 3-5, the package 1 can be pulled by pulling the flap 45 through the longitudinal side 17 of the package 1, thereby detaching the perforation line 47 to gain access to the containers 5. A package according to Figs. 4 and 5 will have the novel features of having a higher level of removable containers 5 of a lower level of the container 5, while retaining the upper level of the integrated containers 5 as a subpackage and allowing the lower level of the containers 5 to be dismounted freely for individual consumption or storage. According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the perforated dismantling strip 49, facilitates the efficient dismantling of the upper level of the containers 5 and of the retainer sheet 15 of the lower level of the containers 5 of the sleeve 30. The strip of Perforated dismantling 49 is designed, so that a simple action to pull the wing 45 peripherally around the pack 1, will separate the retainer sheet 15 and the upper level of the containers 5 from the sleeve 30. The welded fins 51 in a final panel of the package 1, allow the disassembly of the simple action for pulling from either side of the package 1. Fig. 6 shows the carrier 10 according to this preferred embodiment, which is contemplated to be manufactured similar to Fig. 7, described then. Figs. 6-8 show the methods for manufacturing the carrier 10 according to the three preferred methods of this invention. The methods shown in Figs. 6-8 show from the right to the left the assembly of various components of the carrier 10, each step in the method is designated by a letter of the alphabet. Each step of each manufacturing method includes two carriers 10 to show a representative segment of the carriers 10, which are typically formed in a generally continuous length. Fig. 6 shows a method for manufacturing a carrier 10, according to a preferred embodiment of this invention. In step (A), the film substrate 28 is printed with the desired graphics and other marketing information. In step (B), the material of the retainer sheet 13 is bonded to the film substrate 28 by means of extrusion coating, lamination, pattern extrusion or gumming of the material of the retainer sheet 13 with the film substrate 28. In step (C) the material of the retainer sheet 13 and the film substrate 28 are folded along the line of folds 25, to create a symmetrical double layer. In step (D), the seams 40 are added by means of heat sealing or lamination of the symmetrical double layer of the material of the retainer sheet 13 and the film substrate together. In step (E), the carrier 10 is formed when cutting, as in a cutting press, the double layer of the material of the retainer sheet 13 and the film substrate 28, to define the film sleeve 30 and the retainer sheet 15. The step (F) (not shown), preferably comprises the accumulation of the continuous strips of the carriers 10, by means of zig-zag folding or winding around a center. The carriers 10 according to this invention, without considering the manufacturing method, are not conductors for entanglement in the reels, due to the variable thickness between the film sleeve 30 and the retainer sheet 15. Fig. 7 shows a method for manufacturing the carrier 10, according to another preferred embodiment of this invention. In step (A) the film substrate 28 is printed with the desired graphics and other marketing information. In step (B), the material of the retainer sheet 13 is bonded to the film substrate 28 by means of extrusion coating, lamination, pattern extrusion or gumming of the retainer sheet material 13 with the film substrate 28. In step ( C), the material of the retainer sheet 13 and the film substrate 28 are folded along the line of folds 25, to create a symmetrical double layer and the seams are added by means of heat-sealing or lamination of the symmetrical double layer of the material of the retainer sheet 13 and the film substrate 28 together. In step (D), the carrier 10 is formed by cutting, as in a cutting press, the double layer of the material of the retainer sheet 13 and the film substrate 28 to define the film sleeve 30 and the retainer sheet 15. The passage (E) (not shown) preferably comprises the accumulation of the continuous strips of the carriers 10 by means of zig-zag folding or winding around a center. Fig. 8 shows a method for manufacturing the carrier 10, according to still another preferred embodiment of this invention. In step (A) the film substrate 28 is printed with the desired graphics and with other marketing information. In step (B), the material of the retainer sheet 13 is attached to the film substrate 28 by extrusion coating or lamination of the material of the retainer sheet 13 with the film substrate 28. In step (C), two identical sheets of The material of the retainer sheet 13 and of the film substrate 28 are laminated together through the lamination lines 42. The step (C) requires careful registration to align two identical parts of the material of the attached retainer sheet 13 and the film substrate 28 before of the lamination. In step (D), the seams 40 are added by heat sealing or lamination of the two identical sheets of the material of the retainer sheet 13 and of the film substrate 28 together. In step (E), the carrier 10 is formed by cutting, as in a cutting press, the two sheets of the retainer sheet material 13 and the film substrate 28, to define the film sleeve 30 and the retainer sheet 15. The passage (F) (not shown), preferably comprises the accumulation of the continuous strips of the carriers 10 by means of zigzag folding or winding around a center. Figs. 9-11 show a one-piece carrier for carrying a plurality of containers 5, according to another preferred embodiment of this invention. Fig. 9 shows a top view of the half of the carrier 110. The carrier 110 is preferably symmetrical with respect to the handle 150 and is formed using a method similar to one of the methods discussed above. Fig. 10 shows a complete view of the retainer sheet 115 according to a preferred embodiment of this invention. The retainer sheet 115 is made of low density polyethylene, similar to the retainer sheet 15 described above. However, according to this preferred embodiment, the carrier sleeve 130 is preferably formed of a material having a different thickness of the retainer sheet 115. As shown in Figs. 9 and 11, the carrier sleeve 130 is formed integrally with respect to the retainer sheet 115.As shown in Fig. 10, the retainer sheet 115 is formed with a plurality of container receiving openings 120, which are preferably placed in two longitudinal rows along each longitudinal flange 117 of the retainer sheet 115. As it can be seen in Figs. 9-11, the retainer sheet 115 can be formed with two longitudinal rows of four container receiving openings 120 or any alternate configuration of the container receiving openings 120. The handle 150 is integrally formed within the retainer sheet 115 between the two rows lengths of the container receiving openings 120. The handle 150 is generally flat with respect to the retainer sheet 115. The partial container receiving openings 125 are formed on each side of the handle 150, generally along each side flange 118 of the container. retainer sheet 115. The partial container receiving openings 125 are formed to cause the container 5 to come into contact, at least along each side rim 118 of the retainer sheet 115, to prevent the midline of the containers 5. it is twisted with respect to one another in the assembled package 100. As discussed above, the carrier sleeve 130 is integrated with the rete sheet No. 115, preferably along each longitudinal flange 117 of the retainer sheet 115. The carrier sleeve 130 is preferably not integrated with respect to the retainer sheet 115 through each side flange 118 of the retainer sheet 115. The carrier sleeve 130 further comprises lower panels 160 and a plurality of side panels 170. Lower panels 160 are preferably joined relative to each other, with a seam 40 or other weld to form a solid bottom. According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the pull tab 180 is placed in the adjacent carrier sleeve 130, at least one of the container receiving openings 125. The pull tab 180 is preferably connected with respect to the tear strip 190 between the pull tab and a middle part of the carrier sleeve 130. The tear strip 190 is preferably formed with a line of perforations or other weakening characteristic that is formed within the carrier sleeve 130. As discussed in the alternate embodiments of this invention, one or more seams 40 are formed preferably within the side panels 170. The seams 40 are first used to simplify the construction of the carrier 110, however in accordance with one embodiment Preferred of this invention, the tear strips 190 are formed on either side of the seam 40, to facilitate the dismantling of the rec 5 of the package 100. According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the seam interruption 142 is placed along the seam 40, preferably at an approximate midpoint of the seam 40. The seam interruption 142 is placed along the seam 40 to prevent the tear strip 190 from tearing completely at a lower level of containers 5 within the package 100. The package 100, which is shown in Fig. 11, includes a plurality of containers, such as a typical multi-pack of twenty-four cans as shown in Fig. 11. The containers 5 are preferably arranged at a higher level and at a lower level within the carrier 110. Each container receiving opening 120 preferably comes in contact with a container. 5 at the upper level of the plurality of containers 5. Each partial container receiving opening 125, preferably comes into contact with a container 5 at the sup of the containers 5, around at least a part of the hood 7 of the container 5. The lower level of the containers 5 inside the carrier 110, preferably sits on the lower panel 160 inside the carrier handle 130. The handle 150 it is placed on the longitudinal row of the center of the containers 5 and between the two longitudinal rows of the containers along the longitudinal rims 117 of the retainer sheet 115. The handle 150 is of size, shape and thickness suitable to support the entire weight of the package 100. The carrier handle 130 is placed around the plurality of containers 5, preferably each of the six sides of the package 100 being coated with at least a portion of the sleeve carrier 130 or retainer sheet 115. Carrier sleeve 130 can be printed with graphics and other promotional or marketing information. The tear strip 190 and / or pull tab are preferably placed on the carrier sleeve 130 to separate one or more containers 5 at the upper level of the plurality of containers 5 of the package 100. The tear strip 190 is used by the user and preferably extends downward through the carrier sleeve 130 to expose the upper level of the containers 5 for disassembly of the package 100. Preferably, the lower level of the containers 5 is not released when the tear strip 190 is removed. Such and as shown in Fig. 11, the tear strip 190 extends in a vertical direction until the seam interruption 142 reaches and then continues in a horizontal direction with the. which prevents the tear strip 190 from extending into the lower level of the containers 5. This is because, according to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the containers 5 can be removed from the upper level of the package 100 and the package still 100 will function to unify the lower level of the containers 5. While in the above specification, this invention has been described in connection with certain preferred embodiments thereof, and certain details have been specified for purposes of illustration, it will be apparent for those skilled in the art, the carrier 10 is susceptible to additional embodiments and that some of the details described herein may vary considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention.

Claims (9)

1. CLAIMS 1. A one-piece carrier for carrying a plurality of containers, the carrier comprises: a retainer sheet having a plurality of container receiving apertures for stretched engagement of the plurality of containers that are placed in at least three rows longitudinal, (a) an outer longitudinal row of container receiving openings that are formed along each longitudinal flange of the retainer sheet; a handle formed within the retainer sheet between the outer longitudinal rows of the recipient receiving apertures and on an upper portion of a central longitudinal row of the containers; a partial container receiving opening which is formed on each side of the handle along each side flange of the retainer sheet, the partial container receiving opening for contacting a container only along the side flange of the retainer sheet; a stretchable carrier sleeve integrated with each of the longitudinal edges of the retainer sheet to form a one-piece carrier. The carrier of Claim 1 wherein the carrier sleeve further comprises a bottom panel. 3. The carrier of Claim 1 wherein the carrier is symmetrically formed near the handle. 4. The carrier of Claim 1 further comprises a pull tab, positioned in the adjacent carrier sleeve in at least one of the partial container receiving openings. 5. The carrier of Claim 4 further comprises a tear strip between the pull tab and a middle portion of the carrier sleeve. The carrier of Claim 1, wherein the carrier sleeve forms a plurality of side panels. The carrier of Claim 1, wherein a seam is formed within at least one side panel. 8. The carrier of Claim 7 further comprises a tear strip formed on each side of the seam. 9. The carrier of Claim 1, wherein the handle and the retainer sheet are coplanar (generally planar with respect to the retainer sheet). i ai