RU2497736C2 - Box and blank for it - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: packaging industry.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a box for placing one or more articles, and more particularly, to a box providing the holder with an upper gripper for placing and retaining one or more articles. The box with the upper gripper for placing and retaining one or more cylindrical articles with the upper part comprises a flange comprising a main panel having one or more openings for placing and retaining the upper part of corresponding one of one or more cylindrical articles, at that each opening comprises a pair of opposite curved parts for forming curved edges of the main panel, which engage with the curved parts of a corresponding one of one or more cylindrical articles under the flange to support a corresponding one of one or more cylindrical articles, at that the curved parts are knocked out from the first part of the main panel, at that each opening also comprises at least one U-shaped part to form a U-shaped edge of the main panel, knocked out at least in part from the second part of the main panel, and the second part is pivotally connected to the first part so that the U-shaped edge engages with the article under the flange to support the article placed in each opening, and the box additionally comprises the end retaining structure to retain in the box of the outermost article of one or more cylindrical articles.

EFFECT: ability of recycling and reduction of material consumption.

6 cl, 7 dwg

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a box for accommodating one or more products, and more particularly, but not limited to, a box providing a holder with an upper grip for placing and holding said one or more products.

BACKGROUND

Boxes for engaging a plurality of products are useful in that they enable consumers to receive and transport the required number of individual products, such as, for example, products with soft drinks or other drinks or food products.

It is well known to use product holders with an upper grip, in which a hole is made in the holder panel from which paws are knocked out. The tabs are offset from the plane of the panel when the product is placed in the hole, and usually mesh with the product near the flange or protrusion of the product.

Such a holder is described in US Pat. No. 2,936,070 to Poupitch and US Pat. No. 5,188,225 to Jorbin. It may be difficult to remove products from such holders without damaging the box.

It is desirable to create a product holder that can be reused in such a way that empty products can be re-placed in the holder to facilitate transportation of empty products, for example, to a disposal point or to be returned to the distributor.

In addition, for environmental and economic reasons, it is desirable to minimize the amount of material needed while providing a solid product holder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a box with an upper grip for accommodating and holding a group of cylindrical products, having a main panel comprising openings for accommodating and holding the upper part of the cylindrical product, the openings containing a pair of opposed curved parts to form curved edges of the main panel that engage with curved parts of a cylindrical product, and the hole also contains at least one U-shaped part, knocked out at least partially from the first the first part of the main panel, while the first part of the main panel is bent so that the edge of the U-shaped part engages with the product placed in the hole, while the box further comprises an end holding structure for holding the most extreme products in the box in the product group.

The openings preferably comprise a second U-shaped portion located opposite at least one U-shaped portion.

The main panel preferably comprises a second part that is bent to form second U-shaped edges engaged with the product, the second U-shaped part being knocked out at least partially from the second part.

The second part preferably forms a part of the V-shaped structure, bent between the first and second products, thus forming a spacer between the specified first and second products.

The end holding structure preferably comprises a strip articulated between a pair of opposed side panels of the box.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a box for a group of products, comprising a first panel having openings for accommodating and holding each respective product in the group, and a tape part for holding together the lower parts of the products in the group, wherein in use the tape part is located under the first panel.

The tape portion and the first panel are preferably made from a single blank.

The tape portion is preferably formed of a pair of side panels articulated to the first panel and a pair of end parts articulated to each end, with each end part articulated to a corresponding one of the pair of side panels.

Each end of each end portion is preferably pivotally connected to a corresponding one of a pair of side panels by means of at least one folding panel.

The folding panel is preferably attached in place between the adjacent side panel and the adjacent end panel.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a box comprising a main panel, wherein the main panel comprises a non-circular hole for receiving and holding the article.

The hole preferably defines at least one engaging edge of the main panel, and in use, at least one engaging edge is located in the plane of the main panel and engaged with a part of the product, thereby holding the product in the hole.

The hole preferably contains at least one linear part for forming one or at least one engaging edge for engaging the product.

The hole preferably comprises a curved portion.

The curved portion is preferably suitable for forming one or at least one engaging edge for engaging the article, and is complementary to the periphery of the article.

The hole is preferably formed so that the main panel engages with the product in at least two separate places around the product.

The hole is preferably made so that the main panel engages with the product in at least four separate places around the product.

The hole is preferably substantially octagonal in shape.

The hole preferably contains curved recessed parts and curved protruding parts, with each of the curved protruding parts engaging with the product in separate places around the periphery of the products.

The main panel preferably engages with the product in eight separate places around its periphery.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a package comprising the above-described box and at least one article having a circular cross section at the point where the box is engaged with the article.

The article preferably comprises a flange under which the box engages with the article.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, a blank is provided for forming any of the above boxes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top view of the blank for forming the box shown in figure 3;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of part of the box shown in figure 3;

FIG. 2A is a side view of the part shown in FIG. 2 in the direction of arrow A;

FIG. 2B is a side view of the part shown in FIG. 2 in the direction of arrow B;

Figure 3 is a view of a package according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a preform according to a second embodiment of the present invention for the next package shown in FIG. 7;

5 is a top view of a preform according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a top view of the preform for forming the packaging shown in Fig.7;

7 is a perspective view of a package according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1, a blank 10 is shown for forming the box 50 shown in FIG. 3. The blank 10 comprises a top panel 16 having openings 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e, 22f. The holes 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e and 22f are substantially the same; they will be described with reference only to hole 22a.

The hole 22a contains the first and second opposite curved parts, respectively, 80, 83 and the first and second opposite U-shaped parts, respectively 84, 86.

The top panel 16 contains a plurality of fold lines 11, 13, 15a, 15b, 17a, 17b and 19.

Bend lines 11, 13 articulate the top panel 16 with the side panels 12 and 14, respectively.

The fold lines 15a and 15b, together with the fold lines 11 and 13, respectively, form at least partially outer shoulder parts 24a, 24b for bending around the inclined tapering part of the article C located in the hole 22a, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 2A. The fold lines 17a, 17b and 19 form at least partially the inner shoulder portions 26a, 26b. The inner shoulder portions 26a, 26b are bent around the tapering portions of the articles C located in the openings 22a, so that a V-shaped portion is formed between the two rows of articles C.

The blank 10 comprises a pair of end retaining structures 90a, 90b pivotally connected to each of the side panels 12, 14.

The fold lines 17a, 17b, together with the fold lines 15a, 15b, respectively, form at least partially intermediate parts 35a, 35b that extend between the outer and inner shoulder parts 24a, 24b and 26a, 26b. Fold lines 15a, 15b articulate the intermediate parts 35a, 35b to the outer shoulder parts 24a, 24b, respectively, and provide the corresponding upper edges of the outer shoulder parts 24a, 24b. Fold lines 17a, 17b articulate the intermediate parts 35a, 36b to the inner shoulder parts 26a, 26b, respectively, and provide corresponding upper edges of the inner shoulder parts 26a, 26b. The fold line 19 pivots together the inner shoulder portions 26a, 26b and provides a common lower edge of the inner shoulder portions 26a, 26b.

End retaining structures 90a, 90b comprise end panels 18, 20, at each end of which corner panels 28a, 28b;

30a, 30b are pivotally connected along fold lines 21a, 21b, respectively; 23a, 23b. Each corner panel 28a, 28b; 30a, 30b is also pivotally connected to a respective one of the first folding panels 32a, 32b; 34a, 34b.

The first folding panels 32a, 32b; 34a, 34b are pivotally coupled to second folding panels 36a, 36b, respectively; 38a, 38b. The second folding panels 38a, 36a are pivotally connected to the opposite ends of the side panel 12, and the second folding panels 36b, 38b are pivotally connected to the opposite ends of the side panel 14.

We now turn to figure 3, which shows the assembled box 50, assembled around a group of products. In this particular embodiment, the product group C consists of six substantially cylindrical products C, such as, for example, beverage cans arranged in two rows of three products C in a row.

As shown in FIG. 3, the side panel 12 is bent along the fold line 11. The second folding panel 38a is bent so that it is between the side panel 12 and the first folding panel 34a.

The corner panel 30a is bent substantially near the article C so that the end holding structure 90a is assembled around the end of the product group C. The end holding structure 90a forms a tape around the end of the product group C.

In addition, as can be seen, the outer shoulder portion 24a is bent along the fold lines 11 and 15a to form near the tapering portion of the articles C.

The inner shoulder portions 26a, 26b are bent along lines 17a, 17b and 19 to form a V-shaped structure between two rows of articles C.

We now turn to figure 2, which shows a partial view of the assembled box 50. As you can see, the product is inserted into the hole 22 in the box 50, of which only part near the hole 27 is shown.

The outer shoulder portion 24a is bent around the tapering portion of the article C.

The U-shaped portion 84 of the hole 22a, which is knocked out at least partially from the outer shoulder portion 24a, forms a U-shaped engaging edge of the outer shoulder portion 24a by which the box 50 can engage the article C. Similarly, the U-shaped portion 86 of the hole 22a (not shown in FIG. 2), which is knocked out at least partially from the inner shoulder portion 26a, forms a U-shaped engaging edge by which the box 50 can engage the article C. These U-shaped engaging edges 84, 86 are connected with curved edges 80, 83 to form an opening 22a. Each of the U-shaped engaging edges 84, 86 preferably comprise a linear portion.

As can be seen in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the outer shoulder portion 24a and the inner shoulder portion 26a are engaged under the protrusion or flange F of the product C.

The outer shoulder portion 24a and the inner shoulder portion 26a are deformed near the tapering parts of the product C. The curved portions 80, 83 of the holes 22a form the curved engaging edges of the intermediate panel 35a that engage the product under the flange F. The U-shaped portions 84, 86 of the hole 22a form the corresponding engaging the edges of the outer and inner shoulder portions 24a, 26a, which also engage the article C under the flange F. In some embodiments, the intermediate panel 35a may be deformed due to the placement of the article C in hole 22.

Thus, from the blank 10, the box 50 shown in FIG. 3 is formed, and the blank 10 comprises shaped openings 22 for accommodating the upper parts of the articles that have a flange or protrusion and are essentially cylindrical.

Each hole 22 has a pair of opposite curved parts 80, 83, which are longitudinally arranged in the box 50. In addition, the holes 22 contain opposite U-shaped parts having elongated linear parts 84, 86, while these opposite U-shaped parts are transversely relative to boxes 50. Curved parts 80, 83 contain the curved walls of products C to ensure a snug fit between the product C and the box 50. U-shaped parts protrude into the slots located in the shoulder parts or side flaps 12, 14 and form them, wherein the shoulder parts 24a, 24b, 26a, 26b or side flaps 12, 14 are bent so that the U-shaped parts engage the product C from the side, preferably under the flange or protrusion of the product. The strips or tape portions 90a, 90b attached to the ends of the side flaps help to hold the outermost products C in the resulting assembled package with box 50.

Turning now to FIGS. 4-7, a second embodiment of the present invention is shown.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of the blank 110 for forming the box 150 shown in FIG. 7. The blank 110 comprises a main panel 116 from which holes 122 are knocked out.

Holes 122 are substantially octagonal in shape. The main panel 116 comprises gripping ears 140 formed partly by a cut line or a weakened tear line and partially by a fold line 142. The gripping ears 140 may be used to grip the box 150.

The holes 122 comprise recessed parts 146 and protruding parts 144. The protruding parts 144 are wider than the recessed parts 146. The size of the protruding parts 144 in the radial direction is much smaller than their size in the tangential direction.

FIG. 5 shows an alternative preform 210 for use with the preform 160 shown in FIG. 6. A comparison of the workpiece 210 with the workpiece 120 shows that there are no gripping ears. In addition, the holes 222, which are identical in shape to the holes 122, are rotated by an angle from 0 to 45 °, and preferably by an angle of about 22.5 °.

Referring again to FIG. 6, a top view of a workpiece 160 for forming a strip or tape around a group of articles C is shown, as shown in FIG. 7.

The blank 160 comprises five main panels 162, 164, 166, 168 and 170, hingedly connected one after another along the fold lines 163, 165, 167 and 169, respectively. The panels 164 and 166 form parts of the tape, and the panels 162, 164, 166, 168 and 170 pass around articles C at the end of each row.

Panel 166 forms a portion of the tape extending along the side of articles C in one of the rows of articles C.

The panels 162 and 170 together with the fastening panels 172, 174 form an integral part that extends along the side of the products C of the other of the indicated series of products C. The fastening panels 172, 174 are pivotally connected to the panels 162 and 170, respectively, along the respective folding lines 161 and 171.

A component of the engaging tongues 176 is fastened to the hole 178. The hole 178 is knocked out from one end of the panel 162, and the tongue 176 is knocked out of the panel 170. The tongue 176 is made in one piece with the mounting panel 174.

Turning now to FIG. 7, in which, as can be seen, the articles C are inserted into the openings 122; holes 122 hold the upper parts of the products. The workpiece 160 covers the product groups C at a location below the point where the panel 116 engages the products C. The workpiece 160 forms a tape that holds the bases of the products C close together.

The present invention provides an economical box requiring a minimum amount of material to create a package for a plurality of products, the main panel having holes for engaging the products and a belt for keeping the base of the products close to each other.

It should also be noted that the holes for engaging the articles are non-circular in shape, with each hole engaging the article having a cylindrical shape or at least having a circular cross section at the engagement point.

Due to the non-circular shape of the holes, the box hooks the products in separate places around their periphery. In addition, as you can see, the hole provides the formation of gaps between the box and the products in those places where the box does not engage the product.

In addition, the holes engage the articles without using tabs that bend from the plane of the main panel when the box is engaged with the articles. Thus, the articles engage substantially in the plane of the main panel or the top panel of the box. The holes form an engaging edge in the material forming the upper panel, while the engaging edges are located in the plane of the upper panel and mesh with the products.

In some embodiments, implementation, mainly in cases where the products are placed in a box, the products create forces in the material forming the top panel or main panel.

These forces can be tensile or compressive in nature. These forces can also cause some deformation of the main or top panel. These forces additionally serve to maintain the products during their formation into a group. When products are placed in a box, the introduction of products increases the rigidity of the top or main panel of the box.

It should be understood that various changes are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention, for example, the size and shape of the panels can be selected to accommodate products of various sizes or shapes.

On the other hand, the holes can be made with the possibility of engagement with the products in two or three or in any other whole number of places on the periphery of the product.

It should also be understood that the features described and / or shown with respect to one embodiment of the invention can be combined with or replaced with the features of another embodiment.

The references used here indicating directions such as “top”, “base”, “end”, “lateral”, “internal”, “outer”, “upper” or “lower” do not limit the respective panels to this orientation, but serve only to distinguish these panels from each other. Any reference to a brittle line can also be construed as a cut line, a cut line, a perforated line or slot, without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, any reference to a swivel should not be construed as necessarily referring only to a single fold line; in fact, it is envisaged that, without departing from the scope of the invention, a swivel may be formed from one or more of the following lines: a demarcation line or a weakened line, a cut line, a brittle line or a bend line.

Claims (6)

1. A box with an upper grip for accommodating and holding one or more cylindrical products with an upper part comprising a flange comprising a main panel having one or more holes for placing and holding an upper part of a corresponding one of one or more cylindrical products, with each hole contains a pair of opposite curved parts for the formation of curved edges of the main panel, which mesh with the curved parts of the corresponding one of one or more cylindrical products under the fl nets to support the corresponding one of one or more cylindrical products, and the curved parts are knocked out of the first part of the main panel, with each hole also containing at least one U-shaped part to form a U-shaped edge of the main panel, embossed at least partially from the second part of the main panel, the second part being pivotally connected to the first part so that the U-shaped edge engages with the product under the flange to maintain the product placed in each hole; and the box further comprises an end holding structure for holding in the box the most extreme product from one or more cylindrical products. 2. The box according to claim 1, in which each hole contains a second U-shaped part, located opposite at least one U-shaped part. 3. The box according to claim 1, in which the main panel contains a third part, pivotally connected to the first part to provide a second U-shaped part of each hole, which engages with the corresponding one of one or more cylindrical products, while the second U-shaped part knocked out at least partially from the third part. 4. The box according to claim 3, in which the third part forms part of a V-shaped structure located between the first cylindrical product and the second cylindrical product, thereby forming a spacer between the first and second cylindrical products. 5. A box according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the end holding structure comprises a strip pivotally connected between a pair of opposite side panels of the box. 6. The blank for the formation of the box according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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