SK130195A3 - Multiple compartment separable container - Google Patents

Abstract

A multi-compartment container (10) for packaging a plurality of articles such as bottles, comprises two or more compartment units (M1, M2) and a frangible cover portion (30), said compartment units (M1, M2) comprising a base panel (14, 38), side panels (12, 16, 18, 60, 84, 40, 34, 36, 132), opposite end panels (84, 60, 84a, 60a, 108, 132, 108a, 132a) and a top panel (20, 32) wherein said compartment unit top panel is partly formed by said frangible cover portion (30) in said formed multi-compartment container and removal of said cover portion (30) from said container (10) causes at least partial separation of said units (M1, M2) and exposes the top of at least one of the articles (B) contained in at least one of said units (M1, M2) thereby enabling removal of the one article from the one unit.

Description

Multi-chamber split container

Technical field

The present invention is of a disposable container, comprising chambers intended to secure together one for the customer to be separated from one another by units.

concerns a compound, multi-chamber,

The container is formed so as to store a plurality of identical products, a carton unit adapted to take away. However, these chambers can be and create a plurality of separate ones

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Patent No. 4,919,269 discloses a multi-compartment container having two chambers each holding twelve cans of beverage. The entire carton of the twenty-four cans can be easily transported. The carton can be divided into two individual carton units, each with twelve cans. Separation of the individual chambers can either be made on sale, so that fewer products can be sold, or can be formed immediately to the customer, according to his convenience In the multi-compartment container referred to in this reference, the separation of the individual containers does not tend to one or the other opened the container, but only disconnects the units so that they are separated from each other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, a multi-compartment container is preferably provided for packaging a plurality of articles, such as a bottle, comprising two or more compartment units and an easily breakable connecting portion, said compartment units comprising face surfaces formed by a base panel, opposed side panels, opposed end panels and a top panel in which certain adjacent panels from each chamber unit are partially formed by said frangible panel, in the multi-chamber container formed therein, and wherein removing these connectors from the container will cause at least partial separation of these units and provide access for removal at least one of the products, at least one of these units contained, in which, by removing said fastener, at least a portion of each of said faces of the panels of each of said chamber The unit remains intact.

According to a feature of the present invention, these adjacent panels may be the top panels of the respective units, and the connecting member is the cover panel of the container which bridges the units. In a preferred embodiment, removal of the cover member exposes at least one article in each chamber unit, thereby allowing it to be removed from each of said units. In addition, the chamber units are preferably connected in the formed container by means of a second, frangible attachment means, which may be a connecting flap that is frangibly hinged to one chamber unit from an adjacent pair of units and fixed to the other unit of the adjacent pair.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the multi-chamber container comprises at least one pair of adjacent compartment units positioned side-by-side, wherein the side panel of each of these units keeps a keel at the base of the formed container that separates products in each of the adjacent pair units.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the cover member comprises a holder for supporting the formed container. The cover member may also comprise end flaps which are hingedly attached to the cover member and which may be grasped and retracted to remove the cover member from the container. In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the chamber unit comprises an easily breakable flap that is attached to the end flap of the cover member and is also hinged to the end member of the chamber unit in the formed carton to provide additional means of attachment between the chamber unit and the cover member.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cover member is brokenly connected to the chamber units in the formed container along a perforated line that extends through the top of the chamber unit to its end panel. Preferably, the multi-chamber container is manufactured from a single blank.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, the multi-compartment container forms a package of a plurality of articles, such as bottles, comprising two or more compartment units and an easily breakable joining member, the compartment units having faces formed by the base member, opposing side panels and opposing end panels. the adjacent walls of each of the compartment units partially include the easily breakable connecting member in the formed multi-compartment container, and wherein removing the connecting member from the container causes at least partial separation of the units and provides access to the removal of at least one of the products contained in at least one of these units wherein at least a portion of each of the faces is intact by removal of the connector.

In this form, each chamber may include means of interacting with one or more articles to allow storage of the separate chamber on its side. In a preferred embodiment, the interactive (co-operative) means is a certain product-dividing structure, and, in yet another preferred embodiment, is the top of the chamber.

Overview of the figures in the drawing

Containers embodying the present invention in the form of a carton will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

a plan view of the blank from which the carton according to the invention is formed.

- a perspective view taken from above and from one end of a carton formed from the blank shown in Fig. 1 and subsequently filled with articles, and

- a perspective view showing two separate container units and a strip of material that is removed from the original single carton unit to divide it into separate container units.

a plan view of a separate cover piece that is used to form a second embodiment of the invention.

4 is a plan view of the blanks used to form the chambers which together with the cover member shown in FIG. 4 form a second embodiment of the article.

- a perspective view of a container according to another embodiment of the invention.

- a perspective view of two detachable chambers as seated in the container shown in Fig. 6.

a plan view of the blank used to form one of the chambers shown in Fig. 7, and

6 is a plan view of the cover member used in conjunction with the chambers shown in FIG. 7 to form the container shown in FIG.

Examples

Referring to the drawings, in particular in Fig. 1, a blank of cardboard box 10 (hereafter referred to as cardboard) formed of paperboard or the like of a bendable layer. It comprises, in rows, a first inner side wall panel 12, a first base wall panel 14, a first lower side wall panel 16, a first upper side wall panel 18, a first top wall 20 suspended from one another along the transverse fold lines 22, 24, 26. 28, respectively. The top wall 20 forms part of the structure of the holder, generally indicated by reference sign S. ¹¹ which is incorporated within a removable panel 30, which is further described in detail.

The second container module has a similar configuration to that described above and comprises a plurality of main panels suspended in rows including a top panel 32 which is the same as the panel 20 of the second upper side wall 34, the second lower side wall panel 36, the second base panel 38 and a second inner side wall panel 40 suspended from one another along the transverse bend lines 42, 44, 46, and 48, respectively.

The blank is symmetrical about its longitudinal central axes, and thus those parts that are hinged to the longitudinal edges of the main panels 12 to 20, 30, and 32 to 40 will be described, referring to only one edge of the blank, opposite and similar parts on the opposite longitudinal. are marked with the same reference numbers, with the addition of a and.

The first inner side wall panel 12 carries an integral corner tapered panel 50 hinged along the longitudinal fold line 52 into the panel 12. »and the glued flap 54 is attached to the chamfer panel 50 along the bend line 56. The glued flap 54 is hinged by the gusset panel 58 into one edge of the lower end wall panel 60, the gusset panel 58 is hinged to the glued flap 54 by a transverse fold line 62 and to the lower end wall panel along the bent line 64. The lower end wall panel itself carries a bendable glued flap 66 that is frangibly connected to a bottom end wall panel 60 along a perforated wall 68.

Another structural member of the end panel includes a corner panel 70 that is hinged to the longitudinal edge of the first lower sidewall panel 16 along the longitudinal fold line 72. The corner panel 70 is hinged to the glued flap 71 along the fold line 73. Another corner panel 75 is hinged the longitudinal edge of the upper side wall panel 18, along the longitudinal fold line 26, and into the inner structural panel 74. along the fold line 77. The panels 71 and 74 are joined together by a hinged joint panel 78. Another joint panel 80 hinges the panel 74 to the panel the upper end 84 carries a glued flap 90 at its extreme end which is hinged to the upper end wall panel along the line. The joint 80 is hinged to the panel 74 along the bend line 88. The upper end member 84 is hinged to one longitudinal edge of the top 20 along the longitudinal bend line 91.

When the carton is formed, the glued tab 71 is fixed to the free edge of the bottom end wall panel 60 internally of the carton so that the panels 60 and 84 form together a substantial portion of the end panel of the module. The corner panels 70 and 75 form a tapered corner section between the side wall panels 16 and 18 and the end wall panels 60 and 84 in the formed carton.

Parts 20, 84, 90, 84a. 90a are frangibly connected to the removable panel 30 by a frangible connection 94 extending transversely through the blank 10. Similarly, the opposite end of the removable panel 30 has a frangible connection 96 to the top panel 32 and its dependent panels. It can be seen that the removable panel 30 has top and end panels.

As noted, the holder assembly s is formed within the removable top and side panels 30 and preferably takes the form of an expandable holder, in European Patent Application no.

described and claimed 89304604.5. For this purpose, the assembly of the holder s comprises a stiffening member 98 which is hinged in the transverse left and right slots of the opening of the holder 10. a similar slot of the holder 106 is punched out of the removable panel 30 between the line of the transverse bend 104 and the frangible connection 30 with the top panel 32. A relatively short transverse slot 202 is also cut in the top panel 30 parallel to the slot 100. 202 and the parallel longitudinal fold line 204. provide a means of limiting the load in the carton when lifted onto the holder.

The right side of the blank as seen in FIG. 1 is of a similar (same) configuration to the left side of the transverse frangible connection 94, and of course includes components of the blank forming a second, similar but detachable container module.

Thus, the second upper end panel 108 is hinged to the top panel 32 along the longitudinal fold line 110. The glued flap 112 is hinged to the end edge of the panel 108 along the longitudinal fold line 114. The second upper end panel 116 is hung along the longitudinal edge of the upper side panel 34 along the bending line 118. The panel 116 forms a bevelled corner panel in the formed carton and is hinged to the inner structural panel 117 along the bending line 119. The panel 117 is attached to the panel 108 by a gusset panel 120. The gusset panel 120 is hinged to the top end wall panel. 108 along the transverse bend line 122 and is hinged to the inner panel 117 along the bent line 124.

The lower end corner panel 126 is flexibly connected to the second lower side wall panel 36 along the longitudinal fold line 130, and to the inner glued panel 127 along the fold line 131. The panel 127 is connected to the panel 117 by a joint 128 and to the second lower side wall 132 by a joint 133.

The second lower end wall panel 132 is hinged to the second lower wall 38 along the longitudinal fold line 134 and comprises a frangible glued tab 136 '. hinged in panel 132 along perforated line 138. The second end panel 40 hinged a corner tapered panel 140 flexibly joined along the longitudinal fold line 142 and the glued tab 144 that is hinged in the chamfer along the longitudinal fold line 146. attached to the second lower end panel 132 by means of a gusset member 148 hinged to the glued panel 144 along the bend line 150 and to the lower end panel 132 along the bent line 152.

In order to form the blank into a folded sleeve, which can then be lifted and the end loaded by means known in the art, first the bracket part 98 is bent 180 to the right (as in Fig. 1) around the fold line and adhered to the blank parts between the cut of the handle 106 and the bending line 104 and between the lateral ends of the end flaps T 1 and T _1A . This brings the end flap T into face contact with the end flap T1

Parts of the blank to the right of the cross bend line 44 are bent 180 to the left. The first lower inner panel 12 and adjacent lateral panels 50, 50a adjacent thereto. 54 and 54a. they are bent 180 to the right around the bending lines 22 and 62 and 62a. The tab of the base B remains in its flat position shown in FIG. 1. After application of the adhesive to the glue flap 66 and base flap B ^11th the workpiece to the left of the fold line F is bent 180 to the right, in an overlapping relationship with portions of the exposed face of the second folded workpiece. As a result, the adhesive flap 66 and the tab of the base B are adhered to the glued flap 136 and the mesh panel G. adjacent the base panel 38, respectively. Similarly, the adhesive flap 66a abuts the second adhesive flap 136a.

The blank is now in a partially formed, flat-folded state from which it can be lifted and loaded. The carton is filled when it is in the sleeve technique. During filling in the form and in a manner well known in the art, the inner side wall panels 40 are held in an upright position and act to separate one carton panel from the other, thus dividing the packaged products into two sections that form detachable modules. It should be noted, however, that during the formation of the sleeve, the two inner side wall panels 12 and 40 are brought into relationship with each other by the faces, but not fixed within the sleeve. It is flap B and frangible flaps 66,136 that are responsible for the interconnection of the two opposite ends of the container blank 10.

Closing the sleeve ends after filling is quite traditional. The corner panels 70, 75, 116 and 126, the structural panels 74 and 117, and the glued flaps 71 and 127 are bent inwardly along the bending lines 72, 76, 130, 118, 77, 119, 73 and 131, respectively. the ends 84 and 108 are then folded downward around the fold line 95 and 110, respectively, in an overlapping relationship with the panels 74, 71, 117 and 127.

The lower end panel 60 is then bent upwardly about a folded connection to the base member 14 and bent to the panels 71, 74, 90 and 54. Similarly, the lower end panel 132 is raised around the bending line 134 and bent to the panels 127. 117, 112 and 144 to end the carton.

To open the carton, the large flaps T and _{# 1 #} are covered with frangible glued flaps 66.136. and the assembly of the frangible top section 30, which includes the structure of the holder S and is defined by the substantially frangible perforated lines 94, 96, can be torn off, exposing the carton contents and removing portions of the opposite ends and the top wall. The pair of individual containers may be separated from each other by tearing the frangible glued flap B from the base of the corresponding module, leaving two modules M1 and M2 as described in FIG. 3. As can be seen immediately, these modules allow the content to be held inside the container in a storage position, but at the same time allow access to the content for immediate use. Thus, access to the bottles B can be easily obtained without the need to remove any other part of the container outside the central breakaway strip that is removed to separate the modules. After partitioning, the modules can be stored upright, such as module M2 in Fig. 3, and can also be laid on their side sides. As the module in Figure 3 shows,

M1 is laid on its side, while the top panel 20, the top end panel 84 and 84a, and the top side panel 18 help hold the bottles B.

The modules can be placed one by one or side by side in parts of the refrigerator, such as in its door, and the bottles are conveniently removed from the exposed face of the container. The individual modules also provide a suitable container in which empty bottles can be returned to the store or collection point.

While it is preferred to shape the container of the present invention from a unit blank, such as the blank 10 in Fig. 1, it is possible to detect, for example, a detachable multi-compartment container that, when formed, looks substantially like Figs. 2, but which is comprised of the container shown by the removable covers mentioned above forms a variety of similar modules or components as shown in the unformed plan views of FIG. 4 and 5. It is readily understood that to form a container 10 * (not the panels 31 * and 35 ^I , the latter of which is shown folded) using the panels 31 * .15 * and 35 *. said chambers should be formed, for example chambers 15, by raising the lateral sides in the case and bending the parts I

12 'and 16' of the adhesive flaps 54, 54a. 71 and 71Α ^Χ . inwards. This is followed by lifting the end panels 60 * and 60A * and adhering them to said adhesive panels to form hazel-like structures. Similarly, the chamber 35 * is formed in the same manner.

To form the finished container 10 *, the cover member 31 * is first folded. to form the reinforced handle S * in a manner similar to the method previously described with respect to the frangible connection member 30 of the first embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the handle member 98 * is bent around the bending line 104 * so that it can be glued to the panel between the bending line 104 * and the cut 106 *. This cover member 31 is then lowered to and adhered to the chambers 15 * and 35 *, for example by gluing adhesive tabs 90 * to the outer surface of the end panel 60 * of the chamber 15 * and repeating the same for all adhesive tabs.

The side wall 18 * of the cover panel 31 * may further adhere to the side wall panel 12 ¹ inside or outside of its surface. Alternatively, it may not be necessary to join panels 18 ^L and 12 ^L.

since in this case the appropriate element lj ^ printed onto the inside of the chamber ¹ 15 - container being formed by gluing all the panels

90 ^I, 112 ^I, <£ 8 ^{1 1} and 112 corresponding to the chambers 15 ¹ and 35 of ^{the first}

In order to separate the chambers from the container, the removable member 30 ^{1 is} detached from the container in the manner described in relation to the first embodiment of the invention. That is, the TI and the TI of the valve ¹ is to be retracted in order to tear the frangible lines 94 ¹ and 96 ^first

A further embodiment of the container according to the invention is shown in FIG. 6, 7, 8 and 9. In this embodiment, the two chambers 15 ¹¹ and 35 ^{11 are} made of detachable blanks and comprise product distributors spaced apart as shown in FIG. The container 10 ¹¹ also includes a detachable cover member 31 ¹¹ that includes a removable member 30 ¹¹ . FIG. 9. In a third embodiment of the invention, there is also provided a two-chamber detachable container in which each chamber holds six bottles in an array of two to three, each bottle having its own stowage portion separated from adjacent bottles.

The blank used to form one of these chambers is shown in Fig. 8 in an unformed plan view. In order to form the erected chamber, the end panels 60, ¹¹ and 60A ^{11 are} respectively. bent around the hinge lines 64 ¹¹ . 63 ¹¹ and 64A ¹¹ and 63A ¹¹ . to secure the upwardly projecting member 61 ¹¹ . Referring to the view of FIG. 8, the side wall panels 12 ¹¹ and 16 ¹¹ are then bent down and the adhesive flaps 60 ¹¹ . 70 ¹¹ , 50A ¹¹ and 70A ¹¹ are folded inward and adhered to the inner surfaces of the end panels 60 ¹¹ and 60A ¹¹ , respectively. The panels of the overlap base 14 ¹¹ and 14AA ¹¹ are then folded inwards so that they overlap and are closed together using, for example, a closing device of known mechanical type.

The top panel 61 ^{11 of the} chambers 15 ¹¹ and 35 ¹¹ comprises seat parts of the neck portion of the article 310 ¹¹ . The parts 61 ¹¹ are also dependent distributors 312 separating adjacent bottles in the container.

Once raised, the two chambers 15 ¹¹ and 35 ¹¹ are placed side by side and the top member 31 ¹¹ can be lowered into position. In this embodiment, the top panel 31 ¹¹ comprises a removable panel 30 ¹¹ . comprising a portion of the top panel 33 ¹¹ , the inclined upper side wall panels 22 ¹¹ and 32 ¹¹ , and the side wall panels 18 ¹¹ and 34 ¹¹ . The removable part 10 also includes a ¹¹ oblique JI ππαΙΙ .II end panels 84 ^x \ 84A ^D - ^X, and the end wall parts Q2 ^XX, 90A ¹¹ cover part 31 also connects the two tear straps 300 and ^{11 11} 300 A and end gluing flaps ¹¹ 302, 302A ¹¹ , 304 ¹¹ and 304a ¹¹ .

The top cover 31 ¹¹ is formed by bending the end panels 18 ¹¹ and 34 ¹¹ downwardly, bending the side panels 90 ¹¹ and 90a ¹¹ downwardly, and gluing together the different pairs of provided corner adhesive flaps, such as 75 ¹¹ and 80 ¹¹ . The cover member 31 ¹¹ is then lowered onto two adjacent chambers 15 ¹¹ and 35 ¹¹ , and the adhesive flaps 302 ¹¹ . 302A ¹¹ . 304 ¹¹ and 304A 1 are glued and 60A ¹¹ chambers 15 ¹¹ and 35 ¹¹ .

For the separation of the one part 30 of the chamber ^11, the tear strap to the associated end wall 60 of the second ¹¹ and the removal of the cover 300 and ^{11 11} 300 A and the rupture of a .II 96 ¹¹ 96A ¹¹ and their respective tear lines 94 ¹¹ and 94 A glue flap 302 and ¹¹ 304 ¹¹ are separated from each other by section 303 ¹¹ . similarly, the end adhesive flaps 302A ¹¹ and 304A ^{11 are} separated by a cut 303A ¹¹ , and thus the chambers 15 ¹¹ and 35 ^{11 are} separable as shown in FIG. 7th

The tear straps 300 ¹¹ may have a tapered portion such as 101 ¹¹ and 301A ¹¹ . allowing tearing straps to be easier to grasp when separating the removable panel 30 ¹¹ from the chambers 35 ¹¹ and 15 ¹¹ .

Again, when the removable material 30 ^{11 is} removed, the articles in these chambers are exposed. In addition, the assembly of the chambers having the partition structure allows, inter alia, the laying of the chambers on their sides, such as the chamber 15 ¹¹ , in FIG. 7th

Claims (17)

PATENT CLAIMS A multi-chamber container for packaging a plurality of articles, such as bottles, comprising two or more compartment units and an easily breakable joining member, said compartment units comprising face faces of the panels formed by the base panel, opposing side panels, opposing end panels and an upper panel; characterized in that certain adjacent walls of each compartment unit partially comprise said frangible member in the multi-compartment container formed therein, and wherein removing said connecting member from said container causes at least partial separation of said units and provides access to remove at least one of the products contained in said compartment. at least one of these units in which at least part of each of the faces of the panels of each of said compartment units remains intact as a result of the removal of the connecting member. A multi-chamber container according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjacent parts are the upper parts of these respective units, and the connecting part is a cover part of the container which bridges the units. A multi-chamber container according to claim 2, characterized in that the removal of the cover member reveals at least one product in each chamber unit, thereby allowing it to be removed from each unit. A multi-chamber container according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the chamber units in the formed container are connected to each other by means of a second, easily breakable fastening means. A multi-chamber container according to claim 4, characterized in that the second, readily breakable connection means is a connecting flap that is frangibly suspended in one of the compartment units and fixed to the adjacent compartment unit. A multi-chamber container according to any preceding claim, comprising at least one pair of adjacent compartment units positioned side-by-side, wherein the side panel of each pair of units forms a keel in the base of the formed container that separates the products between each unit of this adjacent pair. A multi-chamber container according to any preceding claim 2 to 6, characterized in that the cover member comprises a holder for supporting the formed container. Multi-chamber claim 2 to panel comprising a container according to any of the preceding 7, characterized in that the cover end flaps which are hingedly attached to said cover panel and which can be caught and retracted to remove the cover panel from the container . A multi-chamber container according to claim 8, characterized in that the chamber unit comprises an easily breakable flap that is attached to the end flap of the cover member and hingedly hinged to the end piece of the chamber unit in the formed carton. A multi-chamber container according to any one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that the cover member is brokenly connected to the chamber units in the formed container along a perforated line that extends through the top of the chamber unit and extends into its end panel. A multi-chamber container according to any preceding claim, made of a single blank. A multi-chamber container according to any preceding claim, wherein each chamber is made of a separable blank and the container further comprises a separate cover member. A multi-chamber container according to claim 12, comprising two chambers and a unit cover member comprising a removable connecting member. 14. A multi-chamber container for packaging a plurality of articles, such as bottles, comprising two or more compartment units and an easily breakable joining member, the compartment units comprising faces formed by a base member, opposing side panels and opposing end panels, characterized in that certain adjacent the walls of each of the compartment units partially comprise the easily breakable connecting member in the formed multi-compartment container, and wherein removing the connecting member from the container causes at least partial separation of the units and provides access to removal of at least one of the products contained in at least one of the units contained therein; wherein at least part of each of said faces of the panels of each chamber unit remains intact by removing said connecting member. 15. A multi-chamber container according to claim 14, wherein each chamber comprises means for interacting with one or more articles so as to allow a separate chamber to be placed on its side. - 16. A multi-chamber container according to claim 15, wherein the cooperating means is a product dividing structure. 17. A multi-chamber container according to claim 15, wherein the cooperating means is a chamber top. A multi-chamber container according to any one of claims 1 to 13, in conjunction with any one of claims 14 to 17.