WO1993006019A1

WO1993006019A1 - Carrier for liquid containers

Info

Publication number: WO1993006019A1
Application number: PCT/SE1992/000664
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sune Envall
Original assignee: Ab Konstruktions-Bakelit
Priority date: 1991-09-26
Filing date: 1992-09-24
Publication date: 1993-04-01
Also published as: AU2693592A; SE506655C2; SE9102800D0; SE9102800L

Abstract

Carrier for containers, in particular containers for liquids and of the type which have a polygonal cross section shape, and which comprise a carrier body (10) the inner dimensions of which substantially correspond to the outer dimensions of the actual container (28), at least one penetration means (9, 14) arranged to be pressed through any part of the upper side of the container thereby providing a dispensing opening when the carrier has been pressed down over the container (28), a dispensing spout (10) cooperating with the penetration means, and one or more locking means (23) for locking the container in the carrier, in cooperation with any part of the container (28), and for preventing an unintentional releasing of the container from the carrier, and in which the carrier is formed with a rotatable lever arm (21) with which the locking means (23) is/are integral, and which is arranged to secure the locking means (23) in locked condition when the carrier with the container is lifted, and which, when the outer part of the lever arm (21) is pressed upwards, provides a press contact between the inner end of the lever arm and the upper side (29) of the container thereby a forcing out of the container from the carrier.

Description

CARRIER FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS

The present invention generally relates to a carrier for containers, in particular liquid container, and the invention is more particularly directed to a carrier for such containers which are nowadays commonly used as containers for milk, fruit juices, wines, natural mineral waters etc., and which have generally a parallelepipedical shape with a rectangular or square cross section shape. Several different embodiments of such containers are known in the art. Most of such known container are of the type which marketed under the trade name BRIKPAC (rectangular cross section shape) and PUREPAK (square cross section shape and having a gable top) .

Of course the carrier is, as well, useful for the same type of containers having other types of products packed therein, for instance flower, grain, sugar, salt and other dispensable products.

It can be difficulf to open up containers of this type and it is generally necessary to make use of strong forces for tearing up or breaking up the containers. It is often necessary to use a scissors or a knife. There are special problems for kids and elderly people having relatively small physical strengths to open up this type of containers, and there are still greater problems for people having bad motorics in their hands, for instance rheumatic people.

Containers of the actual type are of soft character, and therefore the liquid often can splash out when the container is slightly compressed from the sides, for instance when a full, just opened container is lifted . It also happens that the liquid sprinkles out in a non- expected direction when the liquid is poured out, and that both the container, the table and the table-cloth get soiled .

Therefore, there has since long been a need for a carrier for a containers of the above mentioned type,

- which carrier is formed so that it can be opened by simply pressing the carrier down over the container and without the need of tearing, cutting or bending open any part of the container,

- which stabilizes at least some part of the soft container, so that it can be avoided that liquid splashes out if the container and/or the carrier is seized at the sides thereof, and

- which is formed with a dispensing spout which eliminates the risque of non-expected soiling when the liquied is being dispensed.

A carrier of said type, known from the British patent 2,223,222, is formed with a penetration means arranged to break through the upper side of the container, and a dispensing spout formed as a type of suction pipe through which kids can suck out the liquid. The carrier is secured to the container by means of a pair of arms having barbs arranged to engage under container ears and to thereby lock the carrier to the container.

A similar type of container carrier is known from the US patent 4,771 ,916, which carrier has an upwardly projecting spout through which the liquid can be dispensed.

Said known container carriers are disadvatageous in some respects. It may for instance happen that the carrier is being released when the container is lifted by means of the carrier. This may happen since the container becomes slightly deformed at the moment when it is lifted, whereby a barb engaging under a container ear is being released, and the container may slide out of the carrier.

Oppositely, it may be difficult to release an emptied container from the carrier when the emptied container is to be waisted and the carrier is to be mounted on a new container. The reason therefore is both that it may in some cases be difficult to make the arms having the barbs get free from their engagements with the container ears, and that the penetrator which has been pressed down through the container top, and through which the liquid is dispensed while portioning out the liquid, may cause a sort of wedge action against the container.

The ofjects of the invention therefore is to provide a carrier of the above mentioned type, for instance for liquid containers, which carrier solves all of the above discussed problems in the priorily known carriers, and which is also formed so as to provide an extra safety against unintentional releasing of the container from the carrier for instance when the container is lifted, and which is formed so as to make it possible so simply and easily release the container from the carrier when the container is to be waisted or to be exchanged.

Thus, the invention relates to a carrier for containers, in particular containers for liquids and of the type which has a polygonal cross section shape, and which comprises

- a carrier body, the inner dimensions of which substantially correspond to the outer dimensions of the actual container,

- at least one penetration means which is/are arranged, upon pressing the carrier down over the container, to cut itself through any part of the upper side of the container thereby providing a dispensing opening,

- a dispensing spout cooperating with said penetration means, - and a locking means for lockingly keep the container in the carrier in cooperation with any part of the container, thereby preventing an unintentional releasing of the container from the carrier.

According to the invention the carrier is formed with a rotatable lever arm with which the locking means is/are interconnected, and which is formed and arranged such that said lever arm, when the container is lifted by means of the carrier, keeps the locking means in its/their locked position, and wnich, when the outer end of said lever arm is pressed upwards presses the inner end of said lever arm against the upper side of the container present in the carrier thereby pressing said container out or the carrier.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed specification in which reference will be made to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a container carrier according to the invention in a perspective view. Figure 2 is an exploded view of the same carrier as seen from another side. Figure 3 is a perspective view obliquely from underneath of the carrier of figures 1 and 2, and figure 4 is a bottom view of the same carrier. Figures 5 and 6 diagrammatically show two different stages in the process of opening a container. Figures 7-10 illustrate a sequence, in- cross sectional views, of the start of connecting the carrier to a container, a ready mounted carrier, a dispensing of the content of the container, and an expelling, respectively, of the container from the carrier. Figure 1 1 is a perspective view of a carrier for an alternatively formed container. Figure 12 illustrates the initial stage of pressing down the carrier over a container, and figure 13 illustrates the carrier just before the carrier has been fully pressed down on the container.

The carrier shown in figures 1-10 comprises a carrier body 1 , the inner cross sectional dimensions of which substantially correspond to the outer dimensions of the actual container. The carrier body has a carrier top 2 and four sides 3, 4, 5 and 6. The bottom is open for making it possible to press the carrier onto a container. Two opposite sides 4 and 6 are formed with openings 7. The upper part of the wall 4, at one of said openings 7, can extend deeper down than the opening at the opposite side, whereby said first mentioned wall part stabilizes the container on the side thereof on which the dispensing opening is to be cut open. The carrier may have any optional height which is less than the height of the container. In the illustrated case the carrier is about half as high as the actual container. There may be an opening 8 in the carrier top 2 for making it possible to check that the carrier is fully depressed over the container.

As best evident from figures 3 and 4 the top of the carrier is formed with a downwardly projecting hollow penetrator 9, referred to as liquid penetrator, which is connected to a dispensing spout 10 provided on tne upper side of the carrier top. The liquid penetrator is provided adjacent an edge, preferably adjacent a corner of the carrier, for the purpose of getting a good support by one of more vertical sides of the container when the penetrator is being pressed down through the upper side of the container. The penetrator is chamfered and forms a cutting edge 12 which cuts or sl>ts up an opening in the upper side of the container. The side 1 1 of the penetrator which is opposite to the point of the chamferred penetrator can be even, and thanks thereto a sealing lip "a" is being fold down from the opening of the container as shown in figures 5 and 6. The lip "a" is free hanging from the remaining parts "b" of the container top, which parts are slightly depressed, and it sealingly engages the flat side 11 of the penetrator. The lip "a" is integral with the container top only at its upper edge "c". This shape of the penetrator makes is possible to easily and effectively cut open a bore of the container top. The bore which is cut open by said liquid penetrator 10 is leakage free. The point of the penetrator also can be formed with an additionally projecting cutting point 13 (see figure 3) for providing a sharp starting of the cut-opening process for facilitating the cutting through of the container top when the penetrator is pressed down through the container top.

At the bottom surface of the container top 2 there may preferably be provided a second little penetrator 14, referred to as air penetrator, which is provided spaced from the liquid penetrator 9, and which is intended to let in evacuation air into the container. The air penetrator 14 basically can be of the same shape as that of the liquid penetrator 9. The dispensing spout 10 preferably is horisontally extended so that also the air penetrator 14 opens in the rearwardly extended portion thereof.

The dispensing soout 1 0 extends slightly above the container top 2. There may be a rotatable iid 1 5 on top of the spout, which lid, over a cross shaft, can snap engage recesses 1 6 at the spout sides.

On one side 5 the carrier is formed with a closed handle 1 7. The width of the handle opening 1 8 substantially corresponds to, or only slightly exceeds the normal width of the fingers of a human hand. The handle extends with two ribs 1 9 some distance over the container top 2, for instance as far as to the centre of the carrier.

An arm 21 in the form of a two-armed lever arm is rotatably mounted about a shaft 20 substantially at the longitudinal centre of the ribs 1 9. The lever arm 21 consists of three different but integral units, namely a grab portion 22 adapted to extend mainly on line with the upper edges of the ribs 1 9, a downwardly projecting locking portion 23 having a barb 25, and an expeller foot 25.

The grab portion 21 is formed such that it can, in a natural way, be pressed down by the thumb when the carrier with the container is seized and lifted as shown in figure 9. Thereby the locking portion 23 with the barb 24 will be positively pressed to the container as long as the carrier is lifted.

The locking portion 23 is formed as a downwardly extending arm at the end of which there is an inwardly extending barb 24. The locking portion 23 is rotatable in a recess 26 of the carrier and it is so long that the barb 24, when the carrier is mounted on a container, egages under a fold out/down triangular ear of the container thereby keeping the container safely secured in the carrier. The rear side of the locking portion is formed to extend on line with the inner side of the handle opening 18, and thanks thereto the fingers of the human hand locks the locking portion 23 when the carrier with the container is seized and lifted, thereby also making it impossible to un-intentionally release the barb 24 from its seat under the container ear.

The expeller foot 25, which is opposed to the grab portion 22, is designed so as to be positioned in contact with or close to the upper side of the container when the carrier is mounted on the container. This part of the lever arm 21 extends is a slot 27 of the carrier top.

The outer end of the grab portion 22 is easily accessable between the ribs 19, and by grabbing underneath said lever arm end it is possible to positively rotate the lever arm 21 so that the expeller foot 25 is being forced against the upper side of the container thereby pressing said container out of the carrier. The outer end of the grab portion 22 may be formed with a projecting ear for facilitating the grabbing of said outer end of the grab portion.

The function of the carrier arrangement is shown in connection to figures 7-10. Figure 7 shows how to mount the the carrier on a container. This is made simply by treading the carrier over a container 28 and pressing same down by means of the hand, whereby the penetrators 9 and 14 cut themselves through the top of the container. The container top presses the expeller foot 25 upwards thereby forcing the locking portion 23 with the barb 24 downwards-inwards, so that the barb engages under a projecting ear 29 of the container 28 thereby safely interengagϊng the the container and the carrier as shown in figure 8.

When the liquid (or any other content) of the container is to be dispensed the handle 17 is seized by the hand, whereby the thumb presses the grab portion 22 down and the fingers of the hand lock the locking portion 23 at the rear side thereof. In this position, which is shown in figure 9, the liquid can be dispensed from the container through the spout 10 without the risque that the container 28 is released from the carrier.

When the container has been emptied and is to be waisted or substituted by a new container the grab portion 22 is pressed up by a finger as shown in figure 10, whereby the locking portion 23 with the barb 24 becomes released from its position under the container ear 29. and whereby also the expeller foot 25 is being pressed against the upper side of the container 28 and forces the container out of the carrier - against the friction force existing between the container and the carrier and between the penetrators 9 and 14 and the bores of the top side of the container.

The carrier described in connection to figures 1 -10 is intended to be used for so called "BRIKPAK" containers (defined above). In figures 1 1 -13 there is shown an alternative embodiment of a carrier according to the invention intended to be used for a container 30 of the so called "PUREPAK" type (defined above] which has an upwardly projecting fin 31 iri ^'between- the sides of which two opposide container ears are fold in and secured.

The carier illustrated in figures 1 1 -13 differs from the earlier described carrier mainly in that it has a gable-top-like top 32 with an upwardly projecting fin-like opening 33 in which the fin 31 of the container fits. For securing the container in the carrier the lever arm 21 \ in this case, is formed with a inwardly-upwardly projecting locking portion 23' comprising a rib having two barb points 24' arranged to cut themselves into the container fin 31 thereby keeping the container locked in the carrier. In this embodiment of the carrier the locking portion 23' is directed upwardly and the barb 24' thereof is arranged to engage above a fixed edge 34 of the carrier. The expeller foot 25' extends upwardly from the resilient locking portion 23' with the barb portion 24' and is integral therewith in a type of Y-shape. The upper side of the expeller foot 25' provides a stop for contact with the bottom side of a fixed carrier edge 34 thereby preventing the locking points from becoming introduced too far in the container fin 31 .

Figure 12 shows how the carrier is being pushed down over a container 30, and figure 13 shows hor the locking points 24' have just started to cut themselves through the container fin 31 and how the barb 25' of the locking portion is just about to engage the fixed carrier edge 34, and how the liquid penetrator 9' has cut up an opening in one side of the gable top of the container, preferably adjacent the fin 31. Since the penetrator is in this case relatively large there is no need for an air penetrator, and the air enters the container above the stream of liquid which is poured out of the container.

The function of the carrier of figures 1 1-13 is exactly the same as that of the carrier of figures 1 -10.. When the carrier is pushed down over a container the container is automatically lockingly engaged to the carrier by means of the barbs 24' of the locking portion 23'. When the outer edge of the lever arm 22' is forced upwards the barbs 24' of the locking portion is positively released, and the expeller foot 25' presses against the upper side of the container thereby pressing same of of the carrier.

Claims

C L A I S

1. Carrier for containers, in particular containers for liquids and of the type which have a polygonal cross section shape, and which comprise

- a carrier body (10) the inner dimensions of which substantially correspond to the outer dimensions of the actual container (28; 30),

- at least one penetration means (9, 14; 9') arranged to be pressed through a part of the upper side of the container thereby providing a dispensing opening when the carrier is being pressed down over the container (28; 30),

- a dispensing spout (10; 10^r) cooperating with the penetration means. and

- one or more locking means (23; 23') for locking the container in the carrier, in cooperation with any part of the container (28; 30), and for preventing an unintentional releasing of the container from the carrier, characterized in that the carrier is formed with a rotatable lever arm (21 ; 21 ') with which the locking means (23; 23') is/are integral, and which is arranged to secure the locking means (23; 23') in locked condition when the carrier with the container is lifted, and which, when the outer part of the lever arm (21 ; 21 ) is pressed upwards, provides a press contact between the inner end of the lever arm and the upper side (29; 29') of the container and thereby a forcing the container out from the carrier.

2. Carrier according to claim 1 , characterized in that the lever arm (21 ) is rotatable and can be retracted into a handle (17) of the carrier and is mounted in such position that the outer end of the lever arm (21 ) is spontaneously pressed down when the carrier with the container is seized and lifted, whereby the locking portion (23) of the carrier is securing the container against releasing from the carrier.

3. Carrier according to claim 2, characterized in that the lever arm (21 ) is formed with a grab portion (22) extending radially out from the carrier body (1 ) and some distance down along the handle (17) thereof in a position on line with the outer side of the handle when said lever arm is in locked position.

4. Carrier according to claim 2, characterized in that the handle (1 7) is a closed handle the width of which is substantially the same as the normal width of the fingers of a human hand, and in that the rear side of the locking means (23) with the barb (24) , in its/their locking position, extends on line with the inner side of the handle opening (1 8), whereby the fingers of the human hand, while seizing and lifting the carrier, makes it impossible for the locking portion (23) to become released from the container.

5. Carrier according to any of the preceding claimd, characterized in that the inner lever arm portion of the lever arm (23) is formed with an expeller foot (25) arranged, in the locking position of the lever arm, to be in contact with, or to be located close to the upper side of a grasped container, and to become pressed to the upper side of the container and to press same out of tne carrier when the outer lever arm portion is lifted .

6. Carrier according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom surface of the carrier is formed with a fixed means, named penetration means (9), arranged, when the carrier is pressed down over a container, to cut itself through the upper side of the container thereby exposing a dispensing opening which is directly connected to a dispensing spout ( 10) at the upper side of the carrier.

7. Carrier according to claim 6, characterized in that the penetration means (9) is provided in such a place of the bottom surface of the carrier top (2) that it engages and cuts the upper side of the container through adjacent an edge, a corner, a projecting fin or a similar portion of the container.

8. Carrier according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the penetrator (9) has an obliquely downwards extending cutting edge ( 1 2) which is ended by an additionally extending cutting point (1 3) .

9. Carrier according to any of claims 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that the penetrator has a substantially circular cross section shape, that the penetrator is tapering in the direction downwards, and in that it has, along a genetratix thereof, a flattened side (1 1 ) starting at and extending upwards from the uppermost part of the cutting edge (1 2) from a place thereof located underneath the upper side of a container which has been cut through.

10. Carrier according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises both a liquid penetrator (9) for cutting up a dispensing opening, and also an air penetrator (14) for letting air into the container, and in that both the liquid penetrator (9) and the air penetrator (14} open in an upwardly projecting dispensing spout (10) .

1 1 . Carrier according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that is has a gable-top like upper side which, at the - uppermost part thereof, merges into a slot-formed opening for a central fin^'(31 ) at the top of a container (30), and in that the locking portion is formed as a projecting rib having a pair of holder points (24') adapted to partly cut themselves into tne fin (31 ) of the container thereby securing the container (30) in the carrier.