US3817373A - Shrink film cradle - Google Patents

Shrink film cradle Download PDF

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Publication number
US3817373A
US3817373A US00262450A US26245072A US3817373A US 3817373 A US3817373 A US 3817373A US 00262450 A US00262450 A US 00262450A US 26245072 A US26245072 A US 26245072A US 3817373 A US3817373 A US 3817373A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
cradle
floor
articles
package
wall portions
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00262450A
Inventor
R Samsing
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.)
Gillette Co LLC
Original Assignee
Gillette Co LLC
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 Gillette Co LLC filed Critical Gillette Co LLC
Priority to US00262450A priority Critical patent/US3817373A/en
Priority to CA152,160A priority patent/CA976923A/en
Priority to FR7237708A priority patent/FR2155725A5/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3817373A publication Critical patent/US3817373A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime 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
    • B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
    • B65D5/42—Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
    • B65D5/44—Integral, inserted or attached portions forming internal or external fittings
    • B65D5/48—Partitions
    • B65D5/48024—Partitions inserted
    • B65D5/48044—Blank provided with cut flaps folded perpendicular to the blank
    • 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
    • B65D71/06—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers
    • B65D71/08—Wrappers shrunk by heat or under tension, e.g. stretch films or films tensioned by compressed articles
    • B65D71/10—Wrappers shrunk by heat or under tension, e.g. stretch films or films tensioned by compressed articles and provided with inserts
    • 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
    • B65D2571/00—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, pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D2571/00006—Palletisable loads, i.e. loads intended to be transported by means of a fork-lift truck
    • B65D2571/00012—Bundles surrounded by a film
    • B65D2571/00018—Bundles surrounded by a film under tension

Definitions

  • the invention relates to package construction wherein a plurality of articles are held in a predetermined arrangement by a filmlike means, and more particularly to a cradle for supporting the articles.
  • a feature of the present invention is the provision of a cradle member comprising an elongated rectangularly-shaped member, first and second portions thereof disposed at either end thereof being essentially U-shaped, each defined in part by a U- shaped slot, the two portions being adapted to be disposed substantially normal to a floor portion.
  • the first and second portions are parallel and opposed to each other and form first and second walls upstanding from the floor portion, each wall comprising a top portion which is transverse to said member is supported by two leg portions joined to the floor portion.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank from which is made one form of cradle illustrative of an embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the blank of FIG. 1 being transformed into a cradle
  • FIG. 3 shows the completedcradle
  • FIG. 4 illustrates the cradle in use as part of a shrink film package for a plurality of consumer articles.
  • the cradle is made from' an elongated rectangularly-shaped member 2.
  • the member 2 is preferably of paperboard and includes a first portion 4 disposed at one end of the member 2.
  • the first portion 4 is essentially U-shaped and is defined in part by a first U-shaped slot 6 in the member 2.
  • the portion 4 is adapted to be bent (FIG. 2) along a fold line 8 to a position substantially normal to a floor portion 10 of the member 2 (FIG. 3).
  • the member 2 further includes a second portion 12 (FIG. 1) at the other end of the member 2.
  • the second portion 12 is also essentially U-shaped and is defined in part by a second U-shaped slot 14 in the member 2.
  • the portion 12 is adapted to be bent (FIG. 2) along a fold line 16 to a position substantially normal to the floor portion 10 (FIG. 3).
  • first and second portions 4, 12 are bent so as to be substantially normal to the floor portion 10, the portions 4, 12 are substantially parallel to each other and are in opposed positions.
  • the first portion 4 thereby forms a wall 20 upstanding from the floor portion 10 and comprising a top portion 22 disposed transversely of the member 2 and supported by two leg portions 24, 26
  • the sec- 0nd portion 12 thereby forms a wall 30 upstanding from the floor portion 10 and comprising a top portion 32 disposed transversely of the member 2 and supported by two leg portions 34, 36 joined to the floor portion 10.
  • a unitary cradle member having a floor on which may rest a plurality of articles and two upstanding walls forming three zones on the working surface of the floor and acting as buffers between those zones. Material required is held to a minimum and waste is virtually eliminated inasmuch as nothing is cut out and discarded except for the cutting of the slots 6, 14. Only two simple folding movements are required to place the cradle in condition for receiving articles, thus manufacturing is relatively non-complex.
  • the cradle In operation, the cradle is cut and folded to the position shown in FIG. 3, whereupon the cradle receives a plurality of articles A. The articles and cradle are then exposed to a shrink film covering process by which a film F is disposed about the cradle and articles, as shown in FIG. 4, to complete the package.
  • a separate additional divider may be placed lengthwise on the cradle, or transverse to the walls 20, 30 to provide six zones instead of three and, further, provide a separate compartment for each article.
  • a package comprising:
  • a cradle for supporting a plurality of rows of artiin each outer row overhangs an edge of said outer cles, said cradle having a floor portion and a pair floor portion, and of upstanding Wall Portions, d. wrapping means substantially surrounding said b. said floor portion including a central portion between said wall portions supporting a central row 5 containing at least one article thereon,
  • said floor portion further including a pair of outer floor portions extending outwardly from said wall portions providing a pair of outer rows supporting I at least one article each thereon, said outer floor
  • Stock portions being narrower than said central portion material is p p wherein at least a portion of the at least one article cradle and the articles thereon.
  • said wall portions are U-shaped and said floor and wall portions are integrally formed from a single piece of stock mate-

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)

Abstract

A cradle for supporting a plurality of articles such that the cradle and articles may be enclosed in a shrink film to form a package.

Description

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,817,373 Samsing June 18, 1974 SHRINK FILM CRADLE 2,792,982 5/1957 Malmgren 229/42 2,946,500 7/1960 11 1 1... .229/42 [75] Inventor: Rolf A. Samsmg, Bramtree, Mass. 3,138,283 6/1964 P555233 229/42 X I 3,478,947 1 1/1969 Schillinger 229/15 [73] Asslgnee Company 805m 3,493,450 3/1970 Stevens 206/65 s F 72 [22] fled June 19 Primary Examiner-William I. Price APPL NO-I 262,450 Assistant ExaminerStephen Marcus Attorney, Agent, or FirmRichard A. Wise; Oistein J. [52 us. c1 206/432, 206/139, 211/73, Bram; Foster 229/15, 229/42 [51] Int. Cl B65d 75/06 [58] Field Of Search..... 229/42, 15; 206/65 s, 65 c; [571 ABSTRACT References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,584,967 2/1952 Watson et al 229/42 A cradle for supporting a plurality of articles such that the cradle and articles may be enclosed in a shrink film to form a package.
3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SHRINK FILM CRADLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to package construction wherein a plurality of articles are held in a predetermined arrangement by a filmlike means, and more particularly to a cradle for supporting the articles.
2. Description of the Prior Art It has become popular to package consumer goods in convenient-sized containers, such as cans, in clusters of four, six, or eight or more. Beverages and aerosol products are but two among many types of articles sold in SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a new cradle for such packages, the cradle being of such design as to require a minimum of material, virtually eliminate waste, and simplify manufacturing of the cradle and construction of the'entire package.
With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, a feature of the present invention is the provision of a cradle member comprising an elongated rectangularly-shaped member, first and second portions thereof disposed at either end thereof being essentially U-shaped, each defined in part by a U- shaped slot, the two portions being adapted to be disposed substantially normal to a floor portion. When normal to the floor portion, the first and second portions are parallel and opposed to each other and form first and second walls upstanding from the floor portion, each wall comprising a top portion which is transverse to said member is supported by two leg portions joined to the floor portion.
The above and other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular device embodying the invention is shown by way of illustration only and not as a limitation of the invention. The principles and features of this invention may be employed in various and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which is shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention from which its novel features and advantages will be apparent.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank from which is made one form of cradle illustrative of an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the blank of FIG. 1 being transformed into a cradle;
FIG. 3 shows the completedcradle; and
FIG. 4 illustrates the cradle in use as part of a shrink film package for a plurality of consumer articles.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. I, it will be seen that the cradle is made from' an elongated rectangularly-shaped member 2. The member 2 is preferably of paperboard and includes a first portion 4 disposed at one end of the member 2. The first portion 4 is essentially U-shaped and is defined in part by a first U-shaped slot 6 in the member 2. The portion 4 is adapted to be bent (FIG. 2) along a fold line 8 to a position substantially normal to a floor portion 10 of the member 2 (FIG. 3).
The member 2 further includes a second portion 12 (FIG. 1) at the other end of the member 2. The second portion 12 is also essentially U-shaped and is defined in part by a second U-shaped slot 14 in the member 2. The portion 12 is adapted to be bent (FIG. 2) along a fold line 16 to a position substantially normal to the floor portion 10 (FIG. 3).
Referring to FIG. 3, it will be seen that when the first and second portions 4, 12 are bent so as to be substantially normal to the floor portion 10, the portions 4, 12 are substantially parallel to each other and are in opposed positions. The first portion 4 thereby forms a wall 20 upstanding from the floor portion 10 and comprising a top portion 22 disposed transversely of the member 2 and supported by two leg portions 24, 26
joined to the floor portion 10. In like manner, the sec- 0nd portion 12 thereby forms a wall 30 upstanding from the floor portion 10 and comprising a top portion 32 disposed transversely of the member 2 and supported by two leg portions 34, 36 joined to the floor portion 10.
Thus, there is provided a unitary cradle member having a floor on which may rest a plurality of articles and two upstanding walls forming three zones on the working surface of the floor and acting as buffers between those zones. Material required is held to a minimum and waste is virtually eliminated inasmuch as nothing is cut out and discarded except for the cutting of the slots 6, 14. Only two simple folding movements are required to place the cradle in condition for receiving articles, thus manufacturing is relatively non-complex.
In operation, the cradle is cut and folded to the position shown in FIG. 3, whereupon the cradle receives a plurality of articles A. The articles and cradle are then exposed to a shrink film covering process by which a film F is disposed about the cradle and articles, as shown in FIG. 4, to complete the package.
It is to be understood that the present invention is by no means limited to the particlar construction herein disclosed and/or shown in the drawings, but also comprises any modifications or equivalents within the scope of the disclosure. For example, if desired, a separate additional divider (not shown) may be placed lengthwise on the cradle, or transverse to the walls 20, 30 to provide six zones instead of three and, further, provide a separate compartment for each article.
Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:
l. A package comprising:
3 4 a. a cradle for supporting a plurality of rows of artiin each outer row overhangs an edge of said outer cles, said cradle having a floor portion and a pair floor portion, and of upstanding Wall Portions, d. wrapping means substantially surrounding said b. said floor portion including a central portion between said wall portions supporting a central row 5 containing at least one article thereon,
c. said floor portion further including a pair of outer floor portions extending outwardly from said wall portions providing a pair of outer rows supporting I at least one article each thereon, said outer floor A Package as defined 2 where!" Stock portions being narrower than said central portion material is p p wherein at least a portion of the at least one article cradle and the articles thereon. 2. A package as defined in claim 1 wherein said wall portions are U-shaped and said floor and wall portions are integrally formed from a single piece of stock mate-

Claims (3)

1. A package comprising: a. a cradle for supporting a plurality of rows of articles, said cradle having a floor portion and a pair of upstanding wall portions, b. said floor portion including a central portion between said wall portions supporting a central row containing at least one article thereon, c. said floor portion further including a pair of outer floor portions extending outwardly from said wall portions providing a pair of outer rows supporting at least one article each thereon, said outer floor portions being narrower than said central portion wherein at least a portion of the at least one article in each outer row overhangs an edge of said outer floor portion, and d. wrapping means substantially surrounding said cradle and the articles thereon.
2. A package as defined in claim 1 wherein said wall portions are U-shaped and said floor and wall portions are integrally formed from a single piece of stock material.
3. A package as defined in claim 2 wherein said stock material is paperboard.
US00262450A 1972-06-14 1972-06-14 Shrink film cradle Expired - Lifetime US3817373A (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00262450A US3817373A (en) 1972-06-14 1972-06-14 Shrink film cradle
CA152,160A CA976923A (en) 1972-06-14 1972-09-20 Shrink film cradle
FR7237708A FR2155725A5 (en) 1972-06-14 1972-10-24

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00262450A US3817373A (en) 1972-06-14 1972-06-14 Shrink film cradle

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US3817373A true US3817373A (en) 1974-06-18

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00262450A Expired - Lifetime US3817373A (en) 1972-06-14 1972-06-14 Shrink film cradle

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US (1) US3817373A (en)
CA (1) CA976923A (en)
FR (1) FR2155725A5 (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4779731A (en) * 1983-11-25 1988-10-25 Masaaki Fujio Cluster package construction with reinforcing and tear structure
US5154288A (en) * 1988-02-05 1992-10-13 Gloeyer Wolfgang Multipack
US5168989A (en) * 1991-04-22 1992-12-08 Benno Edward L Package member, method for making packages, and packages of multiple container units
US20070080087A1 (en) * 2005-10-07 2007-04-12 Lentner Laura L Tray and bundle pack
US20140008423A1 (en) * 2012-07-09 2014-01-09 Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Divider for package

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2746377B1 (en) * 1996-03-25 1998-04-24 Schisler Jacques PACKAGING BAG FOR TRANSPORTING FOOD
EP0882652A1 (en) * 1997-06-05 1998-12-09 Cafag Ag Device for wrapping and insert possible to use in the device
FR2769600B1 (en) * 1997-10-10 1999-12-31 Smurfit Socar Sa PORTABLE ASSEMBLY OF A LOT OF SIX BOTTLES

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2584967A (en) * 1949-08-26 1952-02-05 Chicago Carton Co Packaging tray
US2792982A (en) * 1954-03-24 1957-05-21 George V Malmgren Partition tray
US2946500A (en) * 1958-10-29 1960-07-26 William W Hooper Merchandise rack and method of forming
US3138283A (en) * 1961-06-23 1964-06-23 Peebles David Meade Filing device
US3478947A (en) * 1968-03-04 1969-11-18 Joseph F Schillinger Partitioning member
US3498450A (en) * 1966-11-18 1970-03-03 Roy A Stevens Shrink-wrap and like packaging

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2584967A (en) * 1949-08-26 1952-02-05 Chicago Carton Co Packaging tray
US2792982A (en) * 1954-03-24 1957-05-21 George V Malmgren Partition tray
US2946500A (en) * 1958-10-29 1960-07-26 William W Hooper Merchandise rack and method of forming
US3138283A (en) * 1961-06-23 1964-06-23 Peebles David Meade Filing device
US3498450A (en) * 1966-11-18 1970-03-03 Roy A Stevens Shrink-wrap and like packaging
US3478947A (en) * 1968-03-04 1969-11-18 Joseph F Schillinger Partitioning member

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4779731A (en) * 1983-11-25 1988-10-25 Masaaki Fujio Cluster package construction with reinforcing and tear structure
US5154288A (en) * 1988-02-05 1992-10-13 Gloeyer Wolfgang Multipack
US5168989A (en) * 1991-04-22 1992-12-08 Benno Edward L Package member, method for making packages, and packages of multiple container units
US20070080087A1 (en) * 2005-10-07 2007-04-12 Lentner Laura L Tray and bundle pack
US7527152B2 (en) * 2005-10-07 2009-05-05 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. Tray and bundle pack
US20140008423A1 (en) * 2012-07-09 2014-01-09 Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Divider for package
US9284090B2 (en) * 2012-07-09 2016-03-15 Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Divider for package
US10077131B2 (en) 2012-07-09 2018-09-18 Graphic Packaging International, Llc Divider for package
US10766663B2 (en) 2012-07-09 2020-09-08 Graphic Packaging International, Llc Divider for package

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2155725A5 (en) 1973-05-18
CA976923A (en) 1975-10-28

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