US20130292272A1 - Container carrier - Google Patents

Container carrier Download PDF

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Publication number
US20130292272A1
US20130292272A1 US13/770,803 US201313770803A US2013292272A1 US 20130292272 A1 US20130292272 A1 US 20130292272A1 US 201313770803 A US201313770803 A US 201313770803A US 2013292272 A1 US2013292272 A1 US 2013292272A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
panel
carrier
sheet
handle
container receiving
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US13/770,803
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
II George E. Waldo
Christopher J. Ludwig
Leslie S. Marco
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Illinois Tool Works Inc
Original Assignee
Illinois Tool Works Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Illinois Tool Works Inc filed Critical Illinois Tool Works Inc
Priority to US13/770,803 priority Critical patent/US20130292272A1/en
Priority to EP13724966.0A priority patent/EP2844581B1/en
Priority to CN201910949232.4A priority patent/CN110775436B/zh
Priority to CA2871509A priority patent/CA2871509C/en
Priority to CN201380034430.9A priority patent/CN104395200B/zh
Priority to ES13724966.0T priority patent/ES2581541T3/es
Priority to BR112014027451-7A priority patent/BR112014027451B1/pt
Priority to KR1020147032705A priority patent/KR102145076B1/ko
Priority to MX2014013358A priority patent/MX365015B/es
Priority to PCT/US2013/039710 priority patent/WO2013166495A1/en
Priority to PL13724966.0T priority patent/PL2844581T3/pl
Priority to JP2015510505A priority patent/JP6374376B2/ja
Assigned to ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC. reassignment ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: LUDWIG, CHRISTOPHER J., MARCO, LESLIE S., WALDO II, GEORGE E.
Publication of US20130292272A1 publication Critical patent/US20130292272A1/en
Priority to MX2019001694A priority patent/MX2019001694A/es
Priority to JP2018090606A priority patent/JP2018135155A/ja
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D71/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D71/50—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material comprising a plurality of articles held together only partially by packaging elements formed otherwise than by folding a blank
    • B65D71/504—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material comprising a plurality of articles held together only partially by packaging elements formed otherwise than by folding a blank the element being formed from a flexible sheet provided with slits or apertures intended to be stretched over the articles and adapt to the shape of the article
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2203/00—Decoration means, markings, information elements, contents indicators

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a container carrier for unitizing a desired quantity of containers.
  • Container carriers connect two or more containers into a sturdy unitized package or “multipack” of containers.
  • Carriers are generally planar arrays of rings, sometimes referred to as “six-pack carriers,” typically formed from a thermoplastic sheet material. Carriers are applied to containers of various sizes and shapes.
  • Conventional container carriers are often used to unitize a plurality of similarly sized containers, such as cans, bottles, jars and boxes, although other packages or containers may be unitized.
  • Plastic ring carriers and box carriers are two such conventional container carriers.
  • the plastic ring carrier produces a unitized package for containers using little material.
  • the box carrier when used alone has little or no advertising or promotional printing space.
  • the box carrier generally has a relatively large amount of area for promotional graphics.
  • the box carrier requires a relatively large amount of material, permits bottles to fall out if it is not maintained in an upright position, and usually shrouds much of the actual containers. Therefore, there is a need for a package that incorporates the stability and economy of a ring carrier and the promotional properties of a box carrier.
  • This invention relates to a carrier, for unitizing a plurality of containers, having a plurality of container receiving apertures configured with an integral panel and/or handle that is shaped to convey additional information regarding the package.
  • a container carrier according to this invention carries a plurality of containers such as cans or bottles.
  • the carrier comprises a planar, preferably plastic, sheet formed with a plurality of container receiving apertures.
  • the container receiving apertures are formed in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks.
  • a panel is preferably integrally formed with the sheet so that the panel extends outward from a panel edge of the sheet.
  • the panel is preferably shaped to convey at least one of a product name, a product property, a promotional shape, a trademark, a tradename, alpha-numeric characters, symbols and/or a fanciful design intended to draw attention to the product.
  • a separate handle may be likewise configured to convey at least one of a product name, a product property, a promotional shape, a trademark, a tradename, alpha-numeric characters, symbols and/or a fanciful design intended to draw attention to the product.
  • the handle may be integrally formed with the panel and be likewise configured to convey at least one of a product name, a product property, a promotional shape, a trademark, a tradename, alpha-numeric characters, symbols and/or a fanciful design intended to draw attention to the product.
  • the containers are positioned in each container receiving aperture to form a package having a panel and/or a handle that is prominent with respect to the package and visible to a consumer such that its stylized form projects the intended image of the product.
  • a configuration of the panel and/or handle results in a package of containers having a prominent display area or “billboard” for advertising, information, graphics and other marketing material.
  • FIG. 1 is a top view of a flexible carrier according to one preferred embodiment of this invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a top view of a flexible carrier according to one preferred embodiment of this invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a front view of a package according to one preferred embodiment of this invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a front view of a package according to one preferred embodiment of this invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a front view of a package according to one preferred embodiment of this invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a package according to one preferred embodiment of this invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a top view of a flexible carrier used in the package shown in FIG. 6 ;
  • FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of a package according to one preferred embodiment of this invention.
  • FIG. 9 is a top view of a flexible carrier used in the package shown in FIG. 8 .
  • FIGS. 1-9 show carriers 10 and packages 80 according to various preferred embodiments of this invention.
  • Containers 20 shown in FIGS. 3-5 , 6 and 8 are preferably bottles. Although bottles are shown in FIGS. 3-5 , 6 and 8 , cans or any other commonly unitized container 20 may be used with carrier 10 according to this invention. Containers 20 are preferably like-sized within a single carrier 10 to form package 80 .
  • Carrier 10 unitizes a plurality of containers 20 to create package 80 , such as package 80 shown in FIGS. 3-5 .
  • Carrier 10 comprises planar sheet 15 preferably constructed from a flexible, resilient material such as plastic.
  • sheet 15 is made from low density polyethylene.
  • Sheet 15 of material is preferably cut, using means known to those skilled in the art, such as a stamping die, to form a plurality of container receiving apertures 25 in sheet 15 .
  • container receiving apertures 25 are formed in sheet 15 in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks.
  • container receiving apertures 25 are configured in two rows of three ranks or in two rows of four ranks.
  • Sheet 15 may include other configurations of container receiving apertures 25 depending on the size of package 80 desired.
  • panel 50 is integrally formed with sheet 15 .
  • Panel 50 preferably has an overall longitudinal panel length less than an overall length of sheet 15 .
  • Panel 50 preferably accommodates, on one or both sides, UPC and proof of purchase labels, graphics, and promotional and/or other information related to contents and/or ingredients of package 80 .
  • Panel 50 preferably extends outward from a longitudinal edge of sheet 15 . As shown in FIGS. 1-5 , panel 50 is at least partially formed along a portion of each container receiving aperture 25 .
  • Panel 50 is preferably integrally formed with the sheet 15 so that the panel 50 extends outward from a longitudinal edge of the sheet 15 .
  • Panel 50 is preferably shaped to convey at least one of a product name, a product property, a promotional shape, a trademark, a tradename, alpha-numeric characters, symbols and/or a fanciful design intended to draw attention to the product.
  • carrier 10 further comprises integral handle 60 positioned between rows of container receiving apertures 25 or along an opposite longitudinal edge of sheet 15 .
  • Handle 60 is particularly important in configurations of carrier 10 that contain many container receiving apertures 25 to facilitate ease of handling of package 80 .
  • handle 60 may be likewise configured to convey at least one of a product name, a product property, a promotional shape, a trademark, a tradename, alpha-numeric characters, symbols and/or a fanciful design intended to draw attention to the product.
  • Both handle 60 and panel 50 may include corresponding die cuts, either identical or complementary including the product name, the product property, the promotional shape, the trademark, the tradename, the alpha-numeric characters, symbols and/or the fanciful design.
  • handle 60 may be integrally formed with the panel 50 and be likewise configured to convey at least one of a product name, a product property, a promotional shape, a trademark, a tradename, alpha-numeric characters, symbols and/or a fanciful design intended to draw attention to the product.
  • containers 20 are preferably positioned in each container receiving aperture 25 to form package 80 .
  • Panel 50 is preferably generally flat and parallel with respect to containers 20 and prominent with respect to package 80 . If panel 50 is curled or folded in a perpendicular position with respect to package 80 , then advertising or other material positioned on panel will not be legible to a consumer. In addition, a panel 50 that protrudes with respect to package 80 will create difficulties in packaging, handling and stacking packages 80 because of interference between panels 50 of adjacent packages 80 and between panel 50 and packaging equipment.
  • panel 50 is similarly formed in a decorative configuration however cutouts or similar areas for grasping the panel are not provided. Instead one or a series of weakened areas 85 , such as slits and/or perforations, are formed with respect to the panel 50 that permit a user to insert her hand through the panel 50 and “create” the handle at the point of sale. In this manner, billboard space on the panel 50 is maximized until purchase.
  • the one or more slits and/or perforations may protrude directly through the graphics and/or decorative configuration within the panel 50 and are thus best positioned to open only following a purchase decision by a consumer.
  • a panel 50 is formed relative to a carrier 10 and a group of containers 20 in a package 80 such that a decorative component forms a portion of a removal element 90 such as a perforation or tear strip so that a user may remove containers 20 from the package 80 generally along an interface between the panel 50 and at least one row of the containers 20 .
  • a tail of a lizard may be pulled along a removal element 90 to release individual containers 20 from the package 80 .
  • the removal element 90 preferably forms an integral portion of the product name, the product property, the promotional shape, the trademark, the tradename, the alpha-numeric characters, the symbols and the fanciful design of the panel 50 .

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
  • Making Paper Articles (AREA)
  • Packaging Frangible Articles (AREA)
  • Perforating, Stamping-Out Or Severing By Means Other Than Cutting (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
  • Bag Frames (AREA)
US13/770,803 2012-05-04 2013-02-19 Container carrier Abandoned US20130292272A1 (en)

Priority Applications (14)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13/770,803 US20130292272A1 (en) 2012-05-04 2013-02-19 Container carrier
KR1020147032705A KR102145076B1 (ko) 2012-05-04 2013-05-06 컨테이너 캐리어
MX2014013358A MX365015B (es) 2012-05-04 2013-05-06 Porta-envases.
CA2871509A CA2871509C (en) 2012-05-04 2013-05-06 Container carrier
CN201380034430.9A CN104395200B (zh) 2012-05-04 2013-05-06 容器载架
ES13724966.0T ES2581541T3 (es) 2012-05-04 2013-05-06 Portaenvases
BR112014027451-7A BR112014027451B1 (pt) 2012-05-04 2013-05-06 Transportador e embalagem de uma pluralidade de recipientes
EP13724966.0A EP2844581B1 (en) 2012-05-04 2013-05-06 Container carrier
CN201910949232.4A CN110775436B (zh) 2012-05-04 2013-05-06 容器载架
PCT/US2013/039710 WO2013166495A1 (en) 2012-05-04 2013-05-06 Container carrier
PL13724966.0T PL2844581T3 (pl) 2012-05-04 2013-05-06 Nośnik pojemników
JP2015510505A JP6374376B2 (ja) 2012-05-04 2013-05-06 容器キャリア
MX2019001694A MX2019001694A (es) 2012-05-04 2014-11-03 Porta-envases.
JP2018090606A JP2018135155A (ja) 2012-05-04 2018-05-09 容器キャリア

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201261642853P 2012-05-04 2012-05-04
US13/770,803 US20130292272A1 (en) 2012-05-04 2013-02-19 Container carrier

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20130292272A1 true US20130292272A1 (en) 2013-11-07

Family

ID=49511719

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US13/770,803 Abandoned US20130292272A1 (en) 2012-05-04 2013-02-19 Container carrier

Country Status (11)

Country Link
US (1) US20130292272A1 (ko)
EP (1) EP2844581B1 (ko)
JP (2) JP6374376B2 (ko)
KR (1) KR102145076B1 (ko)
CN (2) CN104395200B (ko)
BR (1) BR112014027451B1 (ko)
CA (1) CA2871509C (ko)
ES (1) ES2581541T3 (ko)
MX (2) MX365015B (ko)
PL (1) PL2844581T3 (ko)
WO (1) WO2013166495A1 (ko)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140054183A1 (en) * 2012-08-27 2014-02-27 Christopher Ludwig Container carrier
WO2018004794A1 (en) * 2016-06-28 2018-01-04 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Container carrier

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2019222205A1 (en) * 2018-05-14 2019-11-21 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Flexible container carrier
US12031018B2 (en) * 2020-01-13 2024-07-09 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Polyolefin elastomer in multi-packaging carrier

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5682983A (en) * 1995-02-10 1997-11-04 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Carrier with means for partially blocking a bar code
US5944174A (en) * 1998-01-14 1999-08-31 Illinois Tool Works, Inc. Top grip container clip
US6182821B1 (en) * 1998-11-24 2001-02-06 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Divisible container carrier
US20030080004A1 (en) * 2001-10-31 2003-05-01 Robert Olsen Label panel container carrier with integral handle
US20060243606A1 (en) * 2005-04-26 2006-11-02 Robert Olsen Container carrier

Family Cites Families (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0438969U (ko) * 1990-07-27 1992-04-02
AU678924B2 (en) * 1995-02-21 1997-06-12 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Tear strip for side handle carrier
US6125999A (en) * 1998-11-23 2000-10-03 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Panel container carrier
US6230880B1 (en) * 1999-08-18 2001-05-15 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Label panel container carrier
US6170652B1 (en) * 1999-08-18 2001-01-09 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Label panel container carrier
GB2425301A (en) * 2005-04-21 2006-10-25 Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems Carton having a display panel
JP2007238115A (ja) * 2006-03-07 2007-09-20 Toppan Printing Co Ltd ボトルホルダー
CN2902940Y (zh) * 2006-05-10 2007-05-23 欧阳宣 酒篮
US8545636B2 (en) * 2006-07-27 2013-10-01 Atmel Corporation Conductivity control of water content in solvent strip baths
US20080230405A1 (en) * 2007-03-23 2008-09-25 Olsen Robert C Container carrier
JP5399170B2 (ja) * 2009-08-28 2014-01-29 株式会社吉野工業所 景品付き容器
JP3164115U (ja) * 2010-09-03 2010-11-11 株式会社トルネ 結束具

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5682983A (en) * 1995-02-10 1997-11-04 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Carrier with means for partially blocking a bar code
US5944174A (en) * 1998-01-14 1999-08-31 Illinois Tool Works, Inc. Top grip container clip
US6182821B1 (en) * 1998-11-24 2001-02-06 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Divisible container carrier
US20030080004A1 (en) * 2001-10-31 2003-05-01 Robert Olsen Label panel container carrier with integral handle
US20060243606A1 (en) * 2005-04-26 2006-11-02 Robert Olsen Container carrier

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140054183A1 (en) * 2012-08-27 2014-02-27 Christopher Ludwig Container carrier
US9376245B2 (en) * 2012-08-27 2016-06-28 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Container carrier
US9533811B2 (en) * 2012-08-27 2017-01-03 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Container carrier
CN109311575A (zh) * 2012-08-27 2019-02-05 伊利诺斯工具制品有限公司 容器承载件
WO2018004794A1 (en) * 2016-06-28 2018-01-04 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Container carrier

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN110775436A (zh) 2020-02-11
WO2013166495A1 (en) 2013-11-07
ES2581541T3 (es) 2016-09-06
PL2844581T3 (pl) 2016-10-31
MX2014013358A (es) 2015-02-10
MX2019001694A (es) 2019-06-10
CN110775436B (zh) 2023-01-24
CA2871509A1 (en) 2013-11-07
KR102145076B1 (ko) 2020-08-14
CN104395200A (zh) 2015-03-04
KR20150018520A (ko) 2015-02-23
JP2018135155A (ja) 2018-08-30
EP2844581B1 (en) 2016-04-06
JP6374376B2 (ja) 2018-08-15
BR112014027451B1 (pt) 2020-12-15
EP2844581A1 (en) 2015-03-11
JP2015515951A (ja) 2015-06-04
MX365015B (es) 2019-05-20
BR112014027451A2 (pt) 2017-06-27
CN104395200B (zh) 2019-10-25
CA2871509C (en) 2022-12-13

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