US3023892A

US3023892A - Can band

Info

Publication number: US3023892A
Application number: US787855A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walton B Crane
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-01-20
Filing date: 1959-01-20
Publication date: 1962-03-06
Anticipated expiration: 1979-03-06

Description

W. B. CRANE March 6, 1962 CAN BAND Filed Jan. 2o, i959 INVENTOR u ra/v 5. (W4/vf PY www AUJRNEY United States Patent Oice 3,023,892 Patented Mar. 6, 1962 3,023,892 CAN BAND Walton B. Crane, 1734 Grevelia St., South Pasadena, Calif. Filed Jan. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 787,855 2 Claims. (Cl. 206-65) This invention relates to an improved can band or carton for packaging a plurality of cans as a unit.

Packages of cans such as cans containing beer of a suitable size for a sales unit, usually six, are well known. One type which covers a portion of the tops and bottoms of the cans and leaves at least some of the cans exposed for display purposes, is known as a can band. These devices are not shipping containers but rather are usually inserted in shipping containers.

Consistent with holding the cans securely together as a unit the prior art is susceptible of improvement to the extent that the cans might be better displayed and that the band might simultaneously be less expensive.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an irnproved can band for holding a plurality of cans in a convenient unitary pack.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a can band for holding a plurality of cans in a convenient unitary pack utilizing a minimum of paperboard.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved can ban for holding a plurality of cans in a convenient unitary pack While exposing for display purposes every can in the unit.

These and other objects are attained by the present invention which will be best understood from the yfollowing description and the appended drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention but it will be understood that variations and substitutions may be made Within the scope of the claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the container blank;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a can band in accordance with the present invention containing six cans;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section of a portion of the device taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken on the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a `fragmentary section of a detail of the can sealing means in FIG. 2. j

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the container is -made from a plurality of panels divided from each other by fold lines. Top panel is divided by fold lines from end panel 11, bottom panel 12, end panel 13 liner panel 14 lining approximately one-third of top panel 10 in the erected box, divider panel 15, liner panel 16 lining about one-third of the bottom panel in the erected box, divider panel 17 and glue flap 18. Handle panel 19 is folded from panel 10. In forming the box the various panels are folded into place and glued at

panels

14, 16 and 18. The band may be shipped fiat, and when ready for use is erected as shown at FIG. 2 where it is passed between parallel rows of cans which are locked into place in the container as shown.

The band is adapted to hold cans 20 which are chined cans. The cans are placed in the can band as shown in FIG. 2 and then an adhesive tape 21 is placed centrally along the top panel 10 covering openings 22 thereon. Subsequently a rubber roller is run along the top panel and the somewhat flexible adhesive tape takes the shape shown in detail in FIG. 5, actually adhering to the cans, in order to keep them in place. Similarly adhesive tape is placed centrally over the bottom panel 12 and placed through openings 22 in the same manner. By this method the cans are easily locked into place so that they will not be removed in shipping or handling. When it is desired to release the cans the tape may simply be stripped oif the end of the can band and no tearing of the band is required.

A variety of adhesive tapes may -be used but the tape should be ilexible in nature, and one type of tape which is known as masking tape and which is made of a creped paper with a pressure sensitive adhesive on one side is particularly suited. Tapes made with elastic plastic as well as cloth may also be used. Pressure sensitive tapes are preferably but those with adhesive applied immediately before use may be utilized. Tapes with water soluble adhesive are less suitable since cans may be stored in refrigerators under humid conditions.

Fingerholds 23 may be provided but are not essential. Alternatively, iingerholds may be located in the end panels or in the top or bottom panel between adjacent cans. It will be obvious that the invention may be applicable to a band adapted to hold any number of cans. The device illustrated in the drawings is a side opening device rather than the usual prior art end opening device such that when six cans are contained in the device all are displayed up to 1/2 of their surface area rather than displaying only four of the six cans. A further improvement is that the amount of board used for the improved can band is very substantially less than has been previously used in can bands for the same number of cans. A further advantage follows from the tape locking device. The prior art devices were usually of paperboard and have not always been satisfactory, particularly due to the difficulty of properly tucking in locking flaps. A further advantage follows from the easy opening feature which involves simply stripping adhesive from the top or bottom of the band.

The most important advantages arise from the ease of filling the band in the canners plant by the simple expedient of having a continuous line of can bands pass between two parallel continuous lines of filled cans which may simply be pushed sidewise off a conveyor into position in the can band followed by application of the tape. This lling operation simplies and reduces the cost of machinery for lling the cans and is virtually foolproof.

I claim:

1. A can package .comprising a double parallel row of cans, a closed band of paper board encircling said rows of cans centrally of said rows, said band covering about one-halt' of the top and bottom of each can and exposing about one-half of the side of every can, said band having openings in the area of the band adjacent to top of the cans and centrally of the band and adhesive tape adhered to said band and extending into said openings and adhered to the cans.

2. A can package comprising a double parallel row of three cans each, a closed band of paper board encircling said rows of cans centrally of said rows, said band covering about one-half of the top and bottom of each can and exposing about one-half of the side of every can, said band having openings in the area of the band adjacent to top of the cans and centrally of the band and adhesive tape adhered to said band and extending into said openings and adhered to the cans.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,679,281 Paulucci May 25, 1954 2,694,488 Crane Nov. 16, 1954 2,722,365 Phillips Nov. 1, 1955 2,810,476 Guyer Oct. 22, 1957 2,853,186 Holmberg Sept. 23, 1958 2,903,128 Brunsing Sept. 8, 1959 2,952,355 Brunsing Sept. 13, 1960