US2952355A

US2952355A - Multiple can package

Info

Publication number: US2952355A
Application number: US631546A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rex L Brunsing
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-12-31
Filing date: 1956-12-31
Publication date: 1960-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 1977-09-13

Description

Sept. 13, 1960 R. L. BRUNSING MULTIPLE CAN PACKAGE Filed Dec. 31, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. REX L. BRUNS/NG ATTORNEYS Sept. 13, 1960 R. L. BRUNSING MULTIPLE CAN PACKAGE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 31, 1956 INVENTOR. REX L. BRUNS/NG A T TORNEVS Sept. 13, 1960 Filed Dec. 31, 195s R. L. BRUNSING 2,952,355

I I6 1 ME 1 j I INVENTOR. I ii 2; REX L. BRUNS/NG i BY flu mz w ATTORNEYS Sept. 13, 1960 R. L. BRUNSING MULTIPLE CAN PACKAGE Filed Dec. 31, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. RE X L. BRUNS/NG W ,Ww/M

ATTORNEYS nitc This invention relates to a can package, and has for one of its objects the provision of a simple, reliable, economically formed package of cans from which the individual cans are readily released, and which cans are held together for safe handling as a unit.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a means for economically forming a rigid can package in which the cans are rigid relative to each other for handling as a unit but that may readily be separated from each other for use.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of means in a can package for carrying printed matter that is fully exposed over one of the sides of the cans in the same manner as one of the sides of a carton for enclosing cans, and which means is adherently connected with the cans by means extending over the ends of said cans.

Heretofore suggestions have been made for forming can packages in which the cans are connected at one or both of their ends by rigid strips extending between rows of cans, and the cans have usually been arranged in parallel rows so that the cans are fully exposed at opposite sides of said rows.

In the present instance, while the cans may be in a. plurality of rows, the preferred method is to arrange the cans in a single row, of any desired length, and to secure the cans together in such row in a manner that will enable them to be handled as a unit and to provide an exposed panel at one of the sides of said rows for printing and to give the appearance of a conventional carton, and which panel contributes to holding the cans together as a unit. With this structure there is considerable economy in that lighter and consequently cheaper cardboard can be used than heretofore.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the description and in the drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a can package in which the most economical structure is provided.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the blank that is used for a side panel and as part of the means for holding the cans together.

Fig. 3 is a part end elevational view and part sectional view of the invention as seen in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view of the invention similar to that of Fig. 1 with the panel slotted for the chimes of the cans, and with the means for securing the panel to the chimes slightly different from the means as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged part sectional and part elevational view of the invention shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the side panel used in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is illustrative of one step in one method of securing the blank of Fig. 6 to the cans.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a still further modification of the invention in which panels are at opposite sides of the row of cans, and Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Fig. 8 showing the two panels.

has Patent Patented Sept. 13, 1960 ice Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing two rows of cans held together as a unit by the structure employed for the cans of Fig. 8 with a modification in the means for securing the panels to the cans.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing a row of cans in a package in which a single panel is used for cooperating with the chimes of the cans and for holding the cans together as -a rigid unit.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary part sectional view taken along line 12-12 of Fig. 11 showing the relationship between the panel and the chimes of the cans.

Fig. 13 is a slightly different structure than is shown in Fig. 11, a portion of the view being in cross section for clarity.

In detail, referring to Figs. 1 to 3, a blank 1 of cardboard is provided, which blank may be rectangular, or it may have the end edges 2 (Fig. 2) of difiierent contours, such as indented or irregular.

Parallel folding creases 3 are preferably equally spaced from and parallel with the top and bottom edges of the blank to define marginal portions 4 along said edges.

The distance between the folding creases 3 should be equal to the height of the cans, which cans may or may not be formed with radially and axially outwardly projecting chimes 5 at its opposite ends, and the cans themselves, as indicated in Figs. 1, 3, are cylindrical and are generally designated 6.

The portion of blank 1 between the marginal portions 4 is numbered 7, and constitutes a panel, the length of which may be approximately the length of the row of cans to be held together. Usually it is slightly less in length, since it need not extend any substantial distance beyond the center lines of the end cans of the row, and the minimum distance between the end edges, where they are indented as in the drawing may be even less in length.

In making the package, the cans of the rows, which may be even six or more cans, where the latter are relatively small, are positioned in side by side engaging relation with panel or sheet 7 against the sides of the cans at one of the sides of the row.

The marginal portions of the panel are folded to overlie the two ends of the cans along the sides thereof that are adjacent to the panel 7 and then a strip 8 of adhesive tape of the type having a moisture, cold, and heat resistant evertacky adhesive on one side, is positioned over said marginal portions and adhered thereto, with a substantial portion of said tape extending beyond the top and bottom edges of said blank and adhered to the top and bottom ends of the cans as seen in Fig. 3.

Any suitable means may be employed for pressing the tape tightly against the ends of the cans and the marginal portions 8 (Fig. 3) may be pressed into the recesses at the ends of the cans formed by the projecting chimes.

This tape itself is preferably resistant to moisture, cold and heat so as not to deteriorate under conditions that are normally encountered in the refrigeration of canned beverages or under other conditions that may be encountered in the display, shipping and handling of canned goods of difierent kinds.

The evertacky adhesive is of the type having a greater afiinity for cardboard than for the hard smooth surfaces of the cans, hence will strip from the cans and remain adhered to the marginal portions of the blank in removing the blank and tape from the cans.

The panel 7 provides a clear, large area that carries printed material. Obviously the tape may also be preprinted, and in forming the package, the tape may, if desired, be initially adhered to the marginal portionsof the blank while the latter are coplanar with the panel, and thereafter moved into engagement with the ends of the cans.

'By this structure, relatively light weight cheap cardboard of approximately heavy paper weight, such as certaing 'kraft papers (not laminated) may be used. This blank will be held relatively, taut by the tape since the pressure applied to the portions of the blank and tape over the ends or heads of the cans will tightly draw the blank into engagement with the chimes and the adhesive will hold the blank in place. The cans cannot possibly rotate relative to each other, nor become loosened, and the flanges reinforce the blank and prevent axial shifting of the cans relatively.

Instead of the marginal portions 4 being between the tape 8 and the ends of the cans, said tape may be of the type that is adhesive coated on opposite sides, so as to be adhered to the marginal portions on one of the sides of the tape while the opposite side may be adhered to the ends of the cans (Figs. Mo 7).

Fig. 4 illustrates a tape 10 disposed between marginal portions 11 of a blank 12 and the ends of the cans, said marginal portions being wider than marginal portions 4 of blank 1.

This structure has the advantage of not exposing the tape "and of'providing a greater adhesive surface in contact with the cans. Also the marginal portions 11 may be printed with display material at the same time as the blank and will be fully exposed. If desired, the adhesive could be carried directly by the marginal portions 12 instead of being on tape, but this would require an adhesive applying machine in the line.

While the cans will normally be held against axial shifting relative to each other, the panel may be slotted at '13 for the chimes of the cans, in which the central or side panel 14 of the blank may be against the sides of the cans as seen in Fig. 5 and the presence of the blank will not increase the thickness of the package transversely of the row over the maximum diameter of the cans at the chimes.

If desired, the tape may first be applied to the cans in the method of making the package, and the blank thereafter positioned against the sides of the cans, and the marginal portions folded over, or the tape may be positioned on the marginal portions first. The method to be adopted depends upon the character of the apparatus employed.

Figs. 8 to 10 show substantially the same type of blank used as .in Figs. 1 to 3, the main difference being that two blanks are used in each package instead of only one. By this structure advertising may be used on panels at oppositesides of the package.

The blanks generally designated 15 in Figs. 8, 9, 10 have rectangular central or side panels 16 and marginal portions 17 extending over the ends of the cans adjacent their opposite sides.

In Figs. 8, 9 where the package comprises a single row of cans, a gap will be left between the edges of the marginal portions 17, and an adhesive tape 18 of the same character as described for Figs. 1 to 3, except wider, is secured along its longitudinally extending marginal portions to the marginal portions 17 of the blanks 15 so as to span the gap between said portions 17, and the central part of the tape so spanning this gap is adhered to the ends of the cans. Obviously this tape may be printed.

In Fig. 10 two rows of cans are shown in side by side parallel relationship with thesame blanks 15 of Fig. 8 disposed over the sides of the cans at the opposite outwardly facing sides of said rows. A .still wider tape 20 connects the marginal portions of the blanks and is adhered to the opposite ends of the cans of the pair of rows. While the double row of cans is not as rigid as in the single row structure, nevertheless the cans will be satisfactorily held if the handling is reasonably careful. In

any event, the cans will not separate from the package, but there .may be a slight axial movement of the cans of one row .relative to the cans .of the other row if the package is roughly handled.

In Figs. 11, 12 a panel or rectangular sheet 22, preferably of corrugated cardboard to provide stifiness, is provided. The dimensions of this panel are such that it will fit between the chimes 5 that'are at the opposite ends of the cans, and will extend longitudinally of the row to points at least even with center lines of the end cans, and preferably slightly therepast.

There are no flanges on the sheet 22, but adhesive tape 23 of the same character as described for use in Fig. l is employed. Each tape is adhered to the marginal portion of the blank at its upper and lower edges, and the remainder of each tape is then folded over the end of the can adjacent thereto and is adhered to the end.

In Fig. 13 the same structure is used as in Fig. 11 except that the blank 24 is slightly Wider so as to extend at its upper and lower edges to planes substantially even with the axially outer end surfaces of the chimes S, and notches 25 are cut out for the chimes 5. The edges of the blank in said notches engage the 'opposedly directed axially facing surfaces of the chimes on the cans. The tape 23 is the same as the tape in Fig. 11. 7

By this structure the cans in the row cannot shift relative to each other axially, and the panels provide for display printing. The blank of Fig. 11 is quite cheap to make since it is merely a rectangular sheet and no crease lines are necessary, and there is no folding step necessary, other than folding the tape to extend over the ends of the cans. 'Either single or double faced corrugated cardboard may be used.

It is to be understood that the specific forms of the invention described are not to be construed as being limitations on the scope of the invention, since they are merely illustrations of diiferent forms of the invention.

I claim:

1. A can package comprising; a row of upright cans having vertical cylindrical sides and having horizontally disposed upper and lower end walls, said cans being of corresponding shape and size and in side by side relation; a flat cardboard blank extending vertically .from end to end of said cans at one side only of said row, an upper flap and a lower flap respectively integral with said blank along the upper and lower edges of the latter extending at right angles to said blank over said upper and lower end walls of the cans of said row and termi nating in free edges along lines spaced between opposite edges of said upper and lower end walls respectively, said cans of said row being substantially in engagement with each other and with said blank and said flaps, said blank and said flaps, respectively, being free from adherent engagement with said sides of said cans and with said end walls, adhesive tape extending longitudinally of said row adherently secured to said flaps and extending outwardly of said free edges relative to said blank and over said upper and lower end walls and adherently secured to said upper and lower end walls along said free edges whereby said cans will be held rigidly relative to said blank and relative to said flaps and to each other, and whereby said cans will be released from said blank and from said flaps upon stripping said tape from said flaps.

'2. A can package comprising; a row of upright cans having vertical cylindrical sides and having horizontally disposed upper and lower end walls, said cans being of corresponding shape and size and in side by side engaging relation with said upper and lower ends, respectively, in coplanar relation, 2. fiat, cardboard blank extending vertically from end to end of said cans at one side of said row, an upper flap and a lower flap respectively integral with said blank along the upper and lower edges of the latter extending at right angles to said blank over said upper and lower end walls of the cans of said row and terminating in free edges along lines spaced betweenthe edges of said upper and lower end walls that are adjacent to said blank and the vertical axes of the cans of said row, said blank and said flaps, being free from securcment to said end walls, and means adherently connected with said end walls extending therefrom over said flaps and in adherent engagement therewith connecting said flaps with said end walls and holding said cans against movement relative to each other and to said blank and flaps.

3. A can package comprising a rowv of upright cans having vertical cylindrical sides and horizontally extending upper and lower end walls and annular chimes extending around said end walls and projecting radially and axially therefrom above and below said end walls respectively, a single, flat, vertical blank extending from end to end of said cans at one side only of the latter in engagement with said chimes and terminating in oppositely outwardly directed free edges alongside the end cans of said row, upper and lower flaps integral with said blank along its upper and lower edges extending substantially at right angles to said blank over and in engagement with said chimes at said one side of said row and terminating in free edges along lines extending longitudinally of said row adjacent to said one side of said row, a pair of adhesive tapes respectively adherently secured to said upper flap and to said lower fiap extending past said free edges and adherently secured to said upper and lower end walls along said free edges firmly holding said blank and said flaps against said chimes and holding said cans against movement relative to each other and to said flaps and said blank, said blank and said flaps being free from securement directly to said sides, chimes and end walls of said cans whereby said blank and said flaps will be free from said cans upon stripping said tapes from said end walls.

4. A can package consisting of: a row of upright cylindrical cans in side by side substantially engaging relation, said cans having upper and lower ends and lateral sides, a vertical flat, cardboard panel extending across the lateral sides of said cans at one side only of said row and terminating at lateral ends in free edges that are spaced within the laterally projected confines of said row, opposed flaps integral with said panel of single thickness of the material of the latter extending over said upper and lower ends and terminating in free end edge adjacent to the ends of said row, means carried by said flaps spaced from the junctures between said flaps and said panel and disposed over said upper and said lower ends in tightly adherent but releasable engagement with said upper and said lower ends of said cans firmly holding said cans tightly against said panel and said flaps at their junctures and holding said cans against rotation and lateral movement relative to each other and to said flaps and panel, the lateral sides of the end cans of said row facing longitudinally of said row and the lateral sides of the cans facing away from said panel being substantially fully exposed for viewing.

5. A can package comprising a row of upright cylindrical cans of corresponding size and shape in side by side relation, said cans having upper and lower horizontal ends and vertical lateral sides and annular, horizontally disposed chimes around said upper and lower ends respectively projecting axially above and below said upper and lower ends and radially outwardly of the latter, a single, fiat panel extending vertically from end to end of said cans at one side only of said row having a pair of spaced opposed flaps integral therewith extending at right angles to said panel over the upper and lower ends of said cans, the upper and lower edges of said panel and said flaps being spaced apart a distance equal to the vertical length of said cans, said chimes being in engagement with said panel and with said flaps at the junctures between said panels and flaps, adhesive means carried by said flaps disposed over said upper and lower ends and extending into the spaces respectively enclosed by said chimes in firm adherent securement to said upper and lower ends holding said cans against rotation relative to each other and holding said chimes at said upper and lower ends in close engagement with said panel and with said upper and lower flaps at the junctures between said flaps and said panel and holding said flaps substantially at right angles to said panel whereby the cans of said row will be solidly held together as a unit, said panel and said flaps terminating in free end edges adjacent to the ends of said row, the lateral sides of said cans facing away from said panel and facing oppositely outwardly of the row at its ends being fully exposed substantially from end to end thereof, and the cans of said row forming the sole connection between said flaps exclusive of said panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,554,190 Hennessey May 22, 1951 2,678,767 Toensmeier May 18, 1954 2,694,488 Crane i' Nov. 16, 1954 2,786,572 Gentry Mar. 26, 1957 2,798,603 Grinspoon July 9, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 213,424 Australia Mar. 1, 1956