MXPA04006243A - Returnable can carrier. - Google Patents

Abstract

A container carrier of flexible resilient material includes an array of loops for surrounding and holding full cans. Slots are provided in the carrier for receiving levers of pop top cans therein and for holding emptied containers by the pop top levers held in the slots.

Description

RETURNABLE CUP HOLDER FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to plastic carriers having an array of clips or rings for engaging and retaining individual containers, such as aluminum cans containing beverages.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Container carriers are frequently used to join a plurality of containers in conveniently salable quantities. Plastic carriers have achieved wide acceptance for their performance, light weight, low cost and versatility, being adaptable for containers of different sizes and shapes. The general design for plastic carriers includes openings in a stretchable plastic. The openings are sized and shaped to stretch around the periphery of the containers to be fastened. Automated machinery is available to attach stretchable plastic carriers to containers quickly and efficiently. In general, the carrier includes some type of grip or handle, which can be on the side of the containers, or can lift above the containers. Carriers of this type are known in many different styles and shapes. Some are single sheet, and others multiple sheet, at least in their portions. Carriers of this type have been widely used and have gained wide acceptance. The need for and desirably to recycle packaging is always increased. Many communities have enacted stringent recycling laws. To encourage container recycling, the requirement to pay for a container's deposit is known when the product is purchased. Upon returning the empty containers, the container's deposit is reimbursed to the individuals returning the containers. It has been known that crushing aluminum cans reduces the space required to store and transport them for recycling. Many crushed cans can be contained within a relatively small box or bag. Since the payment of those who recycle those who return the cans has typically been based on weight, crushing the cans before returning them has been an acceptable and extensive practice. Now it is known that in some jurisdictions they provide relatively expensive deposits in aluminum containers to encourage their return. Since the deposit is calculated on a per-can basis, it is necessary to count the containers to calculate the refund. Although it is possible to count the crushed cans, the task is a little time consuming, difficult and can be dirty because small amounts of the beverage can remain inside the container and spill from the flattened can which is frequently broken along the side or part lower when it is crushed. The so-called "reverse sale" machines are gaining popularity. The empty can is placed in the machine, and the payment is distributed from the machine based on the received can count. The machine works better if the cans that are being deposited are relatively intact. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a means for returning intact cans for deposit in the machine, and for transporting the cans conveniently.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention satisfies these objectives by providing a plastic carrier of the stretchable type with additional slots to secure the empty cans. The carrier can then be used to return the cans in the same amount and packed as originally purchased. In addition, advantageously, the carrier itself can be recycled at the site where the cans are received. In one aspect thereof, the present invention provides a container carrier with an array of interconnected loops or rings for holding containers unopened. The arrangement includes material that forms a margin around the loops; and the slots in the margin are configured for linking or fixing open containers. In another aspect thereof, the present invention provides a container carrier for cans with opening tab having a breakable opening and a lever integral with the can to open the can by lifting the lever relative to the can. The carrier has an array of interconnected clips to tighten the individual cans. The arrangement includes material that forms a margin around each loop; and the slots in the margin are configured to encircle a lever of an open can. In a further aspect thereof, the present invention provides a package of open containers with tab having bending levers associated therewith for opening the container. The package includes a carrier of substantially sheet-like material forming an array of clips to enclose the containers, and at least one empty container having a lever inserted through a slot defined in a margin of the material. An advantage of the present invention is to provide a carrier that can be used to return empty cans for recycling in addition to transporting all cans from the merchant. Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a more sanitary way to handle empty beverage containers for recycling.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims and drawings in which like numbers are used to designate similar features or elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a plan view of a container carrier according to the present invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the carrier shown in Figure 1, with all beverage cans held in this manner; Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the carrier shown in Figure 1, with the empty beverage cans held in this manner. Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it will be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other modalities and of being practiced or carried out in different ways. It is also understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be considered as limiting. The use herein of "including", "comprising" and its variations is meant to encompass the items listed below and their equivalents, as well as additional items and their equivalents.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY Referring now more specifically to the drawings and to Figure 1 in particular, a container carrier 10 according to the present invention is shown. The carrier 0 is used to form a package 12 (Figure 2) that includes a plurality of cans 14. Commonly, the carrier 10 is used for beverage cans 14, but can also be used with cans 14 or containers of other types containing other fluids. The carrier 10 includes an arrangement of a plurality of clips 16 or rings, each of which can be stretched to receive a can therein, as is known to those skilled in the art. A handle portion 18 is provided along the side of the cans, with the clips 16 receiving the cans substantially midway between the top and bottom of the cans. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific type of carrier shown. The invention can be used with carriers having upper handles or without handles, carriers for more or less cans 14, carriers for cans of other shapes and for carriers holding the cans close to the ends of the cans. The carrier 10 is made of a flexible, resilient material that can be stretched significantly without breaking. Low density polyethylene is a suitable plastic from which the carrier 10 can be made. In some embodiments of carrier 10, two juxtaposed bands or sheets welded together and having a central handle can be used. In other known forms of the carrier, an individual sheet of sheet material is used. The present invention can be used for these as well as in other constructions of the carrier. The carrier 10 is provided with a plurality of relatively narrow slots 20, a slot 20 for each can 14 that the carrier 10 is designed to hold. Therefore, a corresponding slot 20 is provided for each clip 16. In the example shown in the drawings, six cans 14 are held by means of the carrier 10 in six clips 16, and six slots 20 are provided. The slots 20 are provided in the margin of the material forming the clips 16. In the example shown the slots 20 are provided in slightly elongated fins 22 of the margin material forming the clips 16. The carrier 10 can further define one or more recesses 24 to allow the stretching of the clips 16 by the automated equipment for hooking the carrier 10 to a group of cans 14. The size, shape, site and number of holes 24 will vary depending on the type of carrier 10 and the cans 14 that are used. These characteristics of the carrier 10 are well known to those skilled in the art, and will not be described in greater detail here. The cans held by the carrier 10 are typical tongue-opening type cans having a lever or key 30 that is lifted to pivot above its fulcrum 32, to break the opening 34 in the can 14 from which The contents of the can 14 are poured in. In this way, each lever 30 has a first end 36 by which it grasps and operates, and a second end 38 forming the opening 34 by pressing a breakable area of the can 14. first end 36 and second end 38 are provided on opposite sides of the fulcrum 32. Carrier 10 is used as known to pack cans 14 for distribution and sale. The automated equipment can be used to stretch each clip 16 and insert a can 14 into it. The fins 22 will lie substantially flat against the sides of the cans. The cans 14 are removed from the carrier 10 in known manner, by rotating or pulling each can 14 to release it from the clip 16 in which it is held. In some embodiments of the carrier 10, it is known to provide an outer margin portion having tabs and tear lines to release the containers 14 held in the clips 16 by tearing the carrier to open each clip 16. The present invention can be used with these carriers by providing slots 20 in the inner portions of the material forming each clip 16, such that the sites of the slots 20 are relatively stable even after the clips 16 have been opened to release the individual packages 14 retained therein. After a can 14 has been emptied, it can be reattached to the carrier 10 via one of the slots 20. The first end of the lever 30 is inserted into the slot 20 and slides therethrough that the adjacent material of the groove 20 meets the fulcrum 32. The groove 20 can be stretched to slide over the second end 38, then surrounding the fulcrum 32. As illustrated in the fragmentary view of Figure 3, the lever 30 is disposed on one side of the carrier 10, with the majority of the can 14 disposed on the opposite side of the carrier 14. The empty cans 14 are held securely by the carrier 10, hanging therefrom by means of each lever 34. The handle 18 or one or the other of the empty clips 16 can be used as a handle to transport the package of empty cans. The empty cans are held securely, they are still easily removed for deposit in a reverse vending machine or similar. The cans 14 are held upright, reducing the accidental spillage of any beverage or other fluid remaining in the open cans 14. The re-packaging of the carrier 10 with the empty cans 14 also facilitates the recycling of the carrier 10. After the cans have been removed 14 in the recycling facility, the carriers 10 can also be collected separately. The present invention provides an easy and convenient apparatus for transporting empty cans for the purpose of returning and recycling the cans to receive a return of the same. The cans together with the carrier can be recycled properly. Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It is understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein includes all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual characteristics mentioned or is evident from the text and / or drawings. All these different combinations constitute different alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best known modes for practicing the invention and will allow others skilled in the art to make use of the invention. The claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art. The different characteristics of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

Claims (6)

1. A container carrier for cans with tongue opening having a breakable opening and a lever integral with the can to open the can when raising the lever in relation to the can, said carrier characterized in that it comprises: an array of interconnected clips for enclosing cans individual, said arrangement including material that forms a margin around each clip; and slots in said margin each configured to encircle a lever of an open can. The container carrier according to claim 1, further characterized in that it includes a slot for each clip. 3. The container carrier according to claim 1, further characterized by each slot configured to receive a first end of a lever of a can, and be pulled on a second, opposite end of the lever received therein. 4. The container carrier according to claim 1, further characterized in that the material is low density polyethylene. 5. The container carrier according to claim 1, further characterized in that it includes fins in said arrangement and the clips are formed in the fins. The container carrier according to claim 1, further characterized in that it includes a fin formed in the margin of each clip, and a slot defined in each fin.