NZ331415A

NZ331415A - A flexible top gripping carrier for bottles

Info

Publication number: NZ331415A
Application number: NZ331415A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Alain Saulas; Jean-Michel Auclair
Original assignee: Mead Corp
Priority date: 1996-03-13
Filing date: 1997-03-13
Publication date: 2000-02-28
Also published as: GB9605283D0; EP0889836A2; JP2000506476A; SK283490B6; HK1029318A1; RU2266247C2; ES2148952T3; AU2208497A; RU2182879C2; JP3623516B2; HUP0000297A3; EP1010637B1; CZ279598A3; WO1997033807A3; AU719515B2; IL126091A; NO984121D0; CN1225610A; TR199801779T2; EP1010637A1

Abstract

An article carrier of the top gripping type includes a main panel having a pair of opposed end edges, a first fold line extending between the end edges and at least one aperture for receiving an article is claimed. The aperture is disposed astride the first fold line to interrupt it. A first tab is struck from the main panel and defining at least a part of the aperture. The tab is hingeably connected to the main panel so that the tab is displaceable out of the plane of the main panel operatively engage a part of the article when the article is in the aperture. The tab is connected to the main panel by means of a pair of second and third spaced fold lines extending divergently from each other toward one of the end edges so that displacement of the tab out of the plane of the main panel causes the main panel to be folded about the first fold line. A stress relieving cut line is provided to extend between the second and third fold lines to partially separate the tab from the main panel. The cut line is disposed transversely of the first fold line such that the first fold line is interrupted at the cut line.

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> 1 TOP GRIPPING CARRIER FOR BOTTLES 5 Background of the Invention I The invention relates to an article caimer which is used for securing a plurality of anicles such as bottles in a group. More particularly the invenuon relates to an amcle carrier of the top gripping type which attaches to the tops of articles thereby to secure 10 the articles in an array It is known to provide top gripping carriers which, comprise so-called "sun burst" type apertures having a series of circumferential!}' arranged tabs which enable the bottle top to pass through tne aperture and in which the tabs engage from the underside of the bottle top or on a flange on the bottle neck ro prevent removal of the bottle from the aperture. 15 A problem with top gripping earners of this type is that the tabs need to be of sufficient thickness to provide support for the articles At the pomt of connection with the panels, the tabs are prone to folding and losing their strength This invention seeks to overcome the difficulties by providing a earner which can flex to relieve the 20 load applied to the bottle neck support tabs PiKcnMion of Prior Art US 3,387,879 assigned by the applicant discloses on article earner comprising a 25 tubular structure having top, bottom and side walls and wherein a medial fold line is formed in the top wall together with a plurality of support tabs foldably joined to the top wall and biased inwardly against the neck of an adjacent bottle so that the weight of the bottle is taken by the ends of the support tabs, the bottom of the earner being apeitured to receive the necks of the bottles and the side walls being constructed of 30 different heights so as to provide secure gripping action. IUS/MM/W08JOOJV AMENDED SHEET la EP 317, 379 (Gervais) illustrates a packaging device fcr individual containers comprising a blank, with a surfacecompnsine apertures to recen e articles and two parallel strips which, after being folded, form two short parallel flaps with tongues emerging from cut-Outs formed m the apertures Containers are held in the apertures are supported by abutment of the flaps under an external projection of the containers t Summary of the Invention One aspect of the invention provides an article carrier for securing at least one article, -uch as a bottle, which carrier comprises a main panel having a first fold hne extending between the opposed end edges of the main panel, and at least one aperture for receiving an article The aperture is disposed astride the first fold line to interrupt the first fold hne. A first gnppmg tab is struck from the mam panel which tab defines at least a part of the aperture Means for hmgably connecting the tab to the main panel is pro\ ided to allow the tab to be displaceable out of the plane of the mam panel so that the tab can operatively engage a part of an Rjs/MM/W08j00_w amended SHEET WO 97/33807 - 2 - PCT/US97/03918 article when such an article is received in the aperture. The hingably connecting means comprises a pair of second and third spaced fold lines extending divergently from each other toward one of the end edges of the nam panel so that 5 displacement of the tab out of the plain of the main panel causes the main panel to be folded about the first fold line. The hingably connecting means further comprises a cut line extending between the second and third fold lines to partially separate the tab from the main panel. Such a 10 cut line is disposed transversely of the first fold line such that the first fold line is interrupted at the cut line. According to a feature of this aspect of the invention, the tab may include a pair of terminal panels 15 hingably interconnected by a middle panel. The terminal panels may be connected to the main panel along the second and third fold lines respectively whereas the middle panel may be separated from the main panel by the cut line. According to another feature of this aspect of 20 the invention, the carrier may further comprise a second gripping tab struck from the main panel and defining at least a part of the aperture. The second gripping tab may be hingably connected to the main panel at a location diametrically opposed to the first gripping tab. 25 According to a further feature of this aspect of the invention, the carrier may further comprise a pair of side panels hingably connected respectively to the opposed side edges of the main panel and extending to respective upper edges located above the main panel. In some 30 constructions where such side panels are provided, the carrier may be tubular in form in which the main panel forms a bottom panel of the carrier. in other constructions where such side panels are provided, the side panels may have free uppermost edges presented to support 35 upper portions of articles received in the apertures. Preferably, each side panel may include a lower portion extending below said main panel. Each side panel may be Printed from Mimosa 18.56 52 - \ \ 1 WO 97/33807 PCT/US97/03918 - 3 - 33 \ k 15 in pknel alonq t adapted to pivot about the main panel along their respective hinge upon contact between an article and said lower portion. Another aspect of the invention provides a top-5 gripping bottle carrier for engaging and supporting at least one bottle at the bottle neck. The bottle carrier comprises a nam panel having at least one aperture for receiving a bottle, a pair of side panels hingably connected to the opposed side edges of the main panel 10 respectively. The side panels extend to respective free uppermost edges located above the main panel so as to engage and support the bottle neck when a bottle is received in the aperture. Forcing means is provided to force the free uppermost edges of the side panels toward 15 each other in response to introduction of the bottle into the aperture so that the free uppermost edges are tightened on the bottle neck. According to a feature of this aspect of the invention, each side panel may include a lower portion 20 extending below the main panel so that, upon introduction of an article into the aperture, the lower portions of the side panels may be thrust away from each other by the article to force the free upper edges toward each other. In this construction, the forcing means comprises the lower 25 portions of the side panels. Each side panel may comprise an intermediate strip hingably connected to the respective side edge of the main panel, and a support strip secured to the intermediate strip in a face ,to face relationship. Preferably, the intermediate strip extends upward from the 30 main panel to the respective free uppermost edge while the support strip includes a portion extending above the main panel and a portion extending below said main panel. A further aspect of the invention (not claimed in the specification) provides an 35 article carrier comprising a top panel formed with a pair of handle tabs. The handle tabs are struck from the top panel to define a pair of spaced top panel. The handle tabs are connect* 1 3 JAN 2000 RECEIVED | WO 97/33807 PCT/US97/0S918 - 4 -- along generally parallel first fold lines. The top panel contains at lest one second fold line extending between the first fold lines so that the portion of the top panel between the first fold lines folds upwardly about the 5 second fold line when the carrier is lifted by the finger apertures. According to a feature of this aspect of the invention, the first fold lines extend transversely of the opposed side edges of the top panel while the second fold 10 line extends generally parallel to the side edges of the top panel. Brief, PoBcciption Qi the Drawings Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the 15 accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the carrier blank according to the invention; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a carrier formed fron the blank as shown in Figure 1; 20 FIGURE 3 is a top-end perspective view of a carrier formed from the blank illustrated in Figure l; FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a carrier blank according to another embodiment of the invention; and FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a carrier 25 formed from the blank as shown in Figure 3. Detailad Description of tha Preferred Embodiments Referring to Figure l, there is shown a carrier blank 10 for forming a top gripping carrier and made from paperboard a.' similar foldable sheet material. The blank 30 comprises a series of panels hinged one to the next. Thus, end panel 12 is hingably connected to side panel 14 along fold line 24; side panel 14 is connected by way of fold line 26 to a top panel 16, thereby enabling panels 14 and 16 to be placed in a substantially perpendicular 35 relationship. Top panel 16 is connected along fold line 28 Printed from Mimosa 18*56*52 WO 97/33807 PCT/OS97/C3918 - 5 - to side panel 18 thereby enabling panels 16 and 18 to be placed m a substantially perpendicular relationship such that side panel 14 and side panel 18 form opposing sides in a set up carrier. The side panel 18 is connected to main 5 panel 20 by way of fold line 30 thereby enabling panels 18 and 20 to be placed in a substantially perpendicular relationship such that top panel 16 and main panel 20 form opposed sides. The main panel 20 is connected to strengthening panel 22 by way of fold line 34, thereby 10 enabling Ham panel 20 and strengthening panel 22 to be placed in a substantially perpendicular relationship whereby strengthening panel 22 and Jide panel 14 are placed in a face to face relationship when the carrier is in a set up condition. 15 as illustrated in Figure 1, main panel 20 is formed with a row of three hexagonal tab apertures 44, the opposing sides of which carry hinged gripping tabs 40. Each gripping tab 40 comprises three panels 50, 52, 54 connected one to the next along fold lines 56 and 58 20 respectively. Terminal panels 50 and 54 are further connected to main panel 20 along fold lines 60, 62 respectively, while cut line 64 separates middle panel 52 from main panel 20. Main panel 20 further comprises a central interrupted fold line 32 extending between the 25 opposing free end edges of main panel 20 and aligned with the middle panels 52 of each tab 40. In a set up condition panels bO, 52 and 54 are moved out of alignment along fold lines 56 and 58 and co-act with fold line 32 to fold main panel 20. The middle one of the three said hexagonal tab 30 apertures also has two opposingly positioned flaps 42. A handle H is formed along top panel 16 provided by way of a pair of oppositely disposed semi-circular handle tabs 38 struck from the top panel 16 and separated by fold line 36. The carrier may be carried by folding 35 back each handle tab 38. More specifically, a pair of spaced finger apertures are defined in the top panei 16 when handle tabs 38 are folded inwardly of the tubular Printed from Mimosa 18:56*52 WO 97/33807 PCT/US97/03918 - 6 - carrier Tf>e handle -tabs 38 are connected to the top panel 16 along generally parallel fold lines 74, 76. The fold line 36 is disposed generally parallel to the opposed side edges of the top panel 16 and extends between the fold 5 lines 74, 76. The portion of the top panel 16 between the fold lines 74, 76 folds upwardly about the fold line 36 when the carrier is lifted by the finger apertures. The fold line 36 functions to relieve the finger aperture area front stress, and thereby strengthen the handle. 10 in Figure 2 the carrier is in a substantially set up condition, construction is achieved by folding all the panels in sequence so that panel 22 is face to face with panel 14 whereby a tubular structure is attained. More specifically, panels 14 and 16 are folded along fold line 15 26 to produce a perpendicular relationship then folding panels 16 and 18, 18 sncl 20, 20 and 22 are folded along fold lines 28, 30, 34 respectively to produce a perpendicular relationship between the respective panels. The carrier is maintained in a box like condition 20 illustrated in Figure 2, by connecting together side panels 14 and 22 into n face to face relationship, by glue or other suitable means. As shown in Figure 3, said articles are inserted through apertures 44 thereby displacing the gripping tabs 25 40 out of their general plane until the distal edges of the tabs 40 come into contact with a radially protruding part of said articles. As the tabs 40 are displaced, the main panel 20 is caused to flex by folding along fold line 32, to allow the apertures to open to a greater extent and when 30 the tabs engage a bottle neck the exibility of the main panel gives additional support _^r tabs 40 which is enhanced by the provision of a stress relieving cut line 64. In Figure 4 there is shown another embodiment of 35 the invention which illustrates a carrier blank 110 for forming a top gripping carrier and made from paperboard or similar foldable sheet material. The blank comprises a Printed from Mimosa 18*56*52 WO 97/33807 PCT/US97/03918 - 7 - support strip 112 hingably connected to intermediate strip 114 along fold line 130 thereby enabling strips 112 and 114 to be placed in a face to face relationship. Intermediate strip 114 is hingably connected to main panel 116 along 5 fold line 132 thereby enabling strips 114 and 112 to be folded out of the plane of the blank. Main panel 116 is also hingably connected to intermediate strip lis along fold line 136. Support strip 120 is foldably connected to intermediate strip 118 along fold line 138 thereby enabling 10 strips 118 and 120 to form a face to face relationship. Fold line 136 enables strips 118 and 120 to be folded out of the general plane. As illustrated in Figure 4, main panel 116 is formed with a row of three hexagonal tab apertures 144 the 15 opposing sides of which are furnished with gripping tabs 140. Each gripping tab comprises three panels 150, 152, 154 connected one to the next along fold line6 156 and 158 respectively. Terminal panels 150 and 154 are further connected to main panel 116 along £old lines 160, 162 20 respectively, while cut line 164 separates middle panel 152 from main panel 116. Main panel 116 further comprises a central interrupted fold line 134 extending between the opposing free end edges of main panel 116 and aligned with the middle panels 152 of each tab 140. In a set up 25 condition panels 150, 152 and 154 are moved out of alignment along fold lines 156 and 158 and co-act with fold line 134 to fold main panel 116. A handle is formed along support strip 120 provided by way of a pair of oppositely disposed tabs 166 3& formed in the support strip 120. The carrier may be carried by folding back each tab 166. Construction of the carrier is achieved by folding strips 112 and 114 along fold line 130 in a face to face relationship, and folding strips 118 and 120 along 35 fold lines 138 in a face to face relationship. Strips 112, 114 are secured together by glue or other suitable means and thereby maintained in the face to face relationship to Printed from Mimosa 18.56.52 WO 97/33807 PCTrtJS9?rt)3913 • 8 - for®, a composite side panel. In liXe manner, strips 120, 118 are secured together to form another composite side panel. These side panels are folded along fold lines 132, 136 to be dispose* generally perpendicularly to Rain panel 5 lid. To secure articles A together by the above cafrier, ar-tieles A are inserted through apertures 144. By this means, the lower portions of the strips 112, 120 are thrust away from each other by the articles Ar and thereby b the gap Gi between the lover portions are increased to produce a pivotal effect. The result is to reduce the gap G2 between the upper portions of strips 112 and 120 thus enabling the free uppermost edges &S0, 3152 to be tightened on the articles A so as to securely support radially is protruding parts of the articles A as illustrated in Figure 5» The introduction of the articles A also move the tabs 140 cut of their general plane until the distal edges of the tabs 140 cone into contact with a radially protruding part of the articles. By moving the tabs 140 out of 20 alignment, main panel 116 is caused to flex along fold line 134 e to allow the apertures to open to a greater extent. When the tabs 140 engage the protruding part, such as a bottle neck flange, the flexibility of the main panels gives additional support for tabs 140 which is enhanced by 25 the provision of a stress relieving cut line 164 • Tits present invention and its preferred embodiments relate to a bottle carrier which is shaped to provide satisfactory rigidity to hold the bottles securely but with a degree of flexibility so that load transferred 30 to the aperture tabs can be batter absorbed by the carrier* The shape of the blank minimizes the amount of paper board required. 1Ue carrier can be applied to an array of bottles by hand or by automatic machinery* It is anticipated that the invention can be applied to a variety 35 of canriera not lxxlted to those of the top gripping sort. AMENDED SHEET </div>

Claims

<div class="application article clearfix printTableText" id="claims"> 331415 WHAT WE CLAIM IS

1. An article carrier comprising a mam panel having a pair of opposed end edges, a first fold line extending between said end edges, and at least one aperture for receiving an article, said aperture being disposed astride said first fold line to interrupt said first fold line, a first tab struck from said main panel and defining at least a part of said aperture and means for hingably connecting said tab to said main panel so that said tab is displaceable out of the plane of sa:d main panel to operatively engage a part of said article when said article is m said aperture, wherein said hingably connecting means comprises a pair of second and third spaced fold lines extending divergently from each other toward one of said end edges so that displacement of said tab out of said plane causes said mam panel to be folded about said first fold line, characterised m that a stress relieving cut line extends between said second and third fold lines to interrupt said first fold line thereby to partially separate said tab from said mam panel

2 The article carrier according to claim 1 wherein said tab comprises a pair of terminal panels hingably interconnected by a middle panel, said terminal panels being connected to said main panel along said second and third fold lines respectively, said middle panel being separated from said main panel by said cut line

3. The article carrier according to claim 2 wherein said terminal panels are connected to said middle panel along fourth and fifth spaced fold lines respectively, each of said fourth and fifth fold lines being arranged at a location offset from said first fold fiEne^AgpP^P ^ j 13 JAN 2000 RECEIVED | 5-t$15

4. The carrier according to claim 1 further comprising a second tab struck from said main panel and defining at least a part of said aperture, said second tab being hingably connected to said main panel at a location diametrically opposed to said first tab

5. The carrier according to claim 1 further comprising a pair of side panels hingably connected respectively to opposed side edges of said main panel and extending to respective upper edges located above said mam panel.

6. The carrier according to claim 5 further comprising a top panel interconnecting said upper edges of said side panels so that a tubular structure is formed by said main, top and side panels.

7. The carrier according to claim 5 wherein said upper edges of said side panels are free uppermost edges for engaging a part of said article when said article is m said aperture so as to support upper portions of said article.

8. The carrier according to claim 7 further comprising i pivoting means for forcing said free uopermost edges toward each other in response to introduction of said article into said aperture so that said free uppermost edges are tightened on said article in said aperture.

9. The carrier according to claim 8 wherein said pivoting means includes a lower portion of said side panels extending below said mam panel so that upon said introduction of said article, said lower portions may be v moved away irom each other by said article to force said free upper edges toward each other FfNTELLECTUAL PHOPERTY OFFICE | OF NZ I 1 3 JAN 2000 331 ^ 1

10 A top-gripping bottle carrier for engaging and supporting at least one bottle at a bottle neck thereof, comprising a mam panel having opposed side edges and at least one aperture for receiving said bottle, a pair of side panels hingably connected to said side edges of said main panel respectively and extending to respective free uppermost edges located above said main panel so as to engage and support said bottle neck when said bottle is in said aperture characterised in that said carrier further comprises pivoting means for forcing said free uppermost edges toward each other m response to introduction of said bottle into said aperture so that said free uppermost t-dges are tightened on said bottle neck.

11 The carrier according to claim 10 wherein the pivoting means includes a lower portion of said side panels extending below said mam panel so that upon said introduction of said article, said lower portions may be moved away from each other by said article to force said free upper edges toward each other.

12 The carrier according to claim 11 wherein said each side panel comprised an intermediate strip hingably connected to a respective one of said side edges of said main panel, and a support strip secured to said intermediate strip m a face to face relationship 13 The carrier according to claim 12 wherein said intermediate strip of said each side panel extends upward from said main panel to a respective one of said free uppermost edges, and said support strip of said each side panel includes a portion extending above said mam panel to be secured to an adjacent one of said intermediate strips and a portion extending below sair) ffl^ain panel to provide a respective one of said lower FFICE •NZ

1 3 JAN 2000 331 A15

14 The carrier according to clcim 13 wherein said intermediate and support strips of said each side panel are hingably connected together along said respective free uppermost edge.

15. An article carrier or a top-gripping bottle carrier substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings "I'LLLLUUML PHUPEflTY OFFICE OF Nz 1 3 JAN 2000 i —RECEIVED I </div>