WO1993014993A1

WO1993014993A1 - Holder for cans or the like

Info

Publication number: WO1993014993A1
Application number: PCT/GB1993/000230
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marc Vincent Kavanagh
Original assignee: Crest Cartons Limited
Priority date: 1992-02-04
Filing date: 1993-02-04
Publication date: 1993-08-05
Also published as: GB9202294D0; AU3458293A; GB2278332A; GB9415725D0

Abstract

A can holder of card (10) comprises a top panel (14) and depending side panels which form a skirt wall (15). The rims of the cans are received in apertures (24) and held in place by resiliently deformable retaining tongues (26) positioned at load bearing areas of the top panel. The skirt wall (15) closely embraces the straight sides of the can to support the top panel and to stabilise the cans. The holder is erected from a blank. In one embodiment, the cans are first fitted into the apertures (24) of the blank, after which the side panels are folded downwardly and are secured to fit tightly around the cans.

Description

HOLDER FOR CANS OR THE LIKE

This invention relates to a holder for cans or the like. The holder is particularly, but not exclusively, for use to hold straight sided cans with necked upper portions, such as conventional beverage cans.

Beverage cans are commonly supplied in packs of four or more cans. The cans are held together by a thin web of flexible, and at least partially stretchable, plastics material. The web is formed as integrally coupled loops which are designed to fit tightly around the upper portions of the cans, and engage under the top rims to grip the cans.

However, owing to the flexibility of the web, such a holder does not retain the cans relatively fixed with respect to each other. When the pack is picked up by holding the web or by holding one of the cans, the cans are free to move outwardly at their bases, and clatter together. This can be very annoying, and is not desirable particularly for cans which contain fizzy drinks. However, the flexibility and particularly the stretchability of the web is an essential requirement of that design to enable the web to be fitted tightly around the rims of the cans.

Other disadvantages of that design are that the holder does not provide a surface on which information such as promotional literature can be presented, and that the plastics webs are environmentally unfriendly, and are dangerous to animals if eaten.

To overcome some of these drawbacks, the web is sometimes supplemented by a sleeve of card which fits around the bodies of the cans. The sleeve keeps the cans together to prevent clattering, and also provides surfaces on which information can be presented. However such a "two piece" design is not desirable because it increases the cost of packaging the cans, and necessitates an extra stage in the packaging process. The sleeve can also be quite inconvenient to have to remove from the pack to gain access to the cans. The present invention has been devised with the above disadvantages in mind.

In a first aspect, the invention provides a holder for one or more cans or the like, the holder comprising a top panel having an aperture for each can to be held by the holder, means associated with the or each aperture for retaining, in use, the top of the can in the aperture, and a skirt wall depending from the top panel, in use, to stiffen the top panel against flexing and to embrace the can or cans to retain the can or cans upright with respect to the top panel.

This design enables the holder to be constructed entirely from material such as card, without suffering from the disadvantages of the prior art as discussed above. For a multi-can holder, the embracing by the skirt wall discourages the cans from moving outwardly at their bases, and thereby restrains the cans from clattering together.

The skirt wall also provides a surface or surfaces on which promotional material can be presented. In the prior art, US 4304329 and EP-A-0428354 describe holders for gripping bottles by their tops. However, it is apparent that such holders would not be suitable for cans.

The holders would not have sufficient stability to prevent the cans from swinging about and clattering together. In particular, the holders would not embrace the straight sides of the cans.

Preferably, in the invention the skirt wall comprises side panels which are formed integrally with the top panel.

This provides a very convenient "one piece" construction of the holder with the side panels preferably being hingedly connected, one to each edge of the top panel, and preferably being provided around the entire periphery.

Preferably, the side panels are dimensioned to embrace the top portion, e.g. the top half, or the top third of the can or cans. This is sufficient to prevent the cans from clattering together.

The retaining means associated with the or each aperture preferably comprises at least one resiliently deformable projection which extends inwardly from the periphery of the aperture, the projection deforming, in use, when the top of the can is inserted through the aperture so that the projection passes over an upper rim of the can, the projection then springing back and locating under the rear- facing edge of the rim to retain the can in the holder.

Preferably, each aperture is provided with a plurality of projections for retaining the can in the holder. The projections are preferably angularly spaced around the periphery of the aperture. The projections may be equally angularly spaced. The number of projections may, for example, be three or four.

The projections are preferably formed integrally with the top panel and comprise locking tabs hingedly connected to the periphery of their respective aperture. This provides a very simple construction of the holder.

A particularly preferred independent feature is that the locking tabs are arranged in pairs. The tabs in each pair are adjacent to each other. The pairs are angularly spaced apart around the periphery of the can receiving aperture.

The top panel is preferably rectangular but may have chamfered corners. The side panels then preferably include a diagonal panel to match each chamfered corner of the top panel. Such a construction more closely embraces the can or cans to produce a tighter fit and more reinforcement if the holder is picked up by one of its side panels.

Preferably the top panel includes at least one finger aperture to enable a person to insert at least one finger to pick up and hold the holder. Alternatively, or additionally, lifting and carrying may be by means of carrying features provided in or on the end walls or side walls.

With a can holder in accordance with the present invention, a particularly preferred independent feature is that the total solid area of the top panel is not greater than approximately the total open area of the can receiving apertures formed in the top panel. Preferably the total top panel solid area is not greater than approximately 60% of the can receiving aperture area. With such an arrangement, the can receiving apertures are closely spaced, which means that the cans can be held together with their sides substantially in contact with one other. Another particularly preferred independent feature is that in the case of the areas around each can receiving aperture including one or more relatively narrow regions, the retaining means for each aperture should be positioned away from such narrow regions which will be relatively weak. Specifically, the retaining means should be positioned adjacent to one or more relatively larger area regions next to the can receiving aperture which will act as better lead bearing regions. This is particularly advantageous in the preferred embodiments where relatively narrow bridge areas exist between closely adjacent can receiving apertures, but larger load bearing areas exist diagonally between the apertures.

Preferably, any finger apertures are blanked off during the stage at which the cans are fitted into the can receiving apertures, in order to provide better strength around the finger apertures. With such an arrangement, the finger apertures can be located in the load bearing areas of the top panel without compromising the strength of the top panel during fitting of the cans. It has been found that the largest stresses in the top panel tend to occur during the fitting of the cans into the can receiving apertures to engage the retaining means. Once all of the cans have been fitted, the embracing effect of the skirt wall stabilises the holder and helps relieve the top panel of stress when the holder is picked up or is carried.

Another particularly preferred independent feature is that the skirt wall of the holder depends substantially perpendicularly relative to the top panel. Such a vertical skirt wall can embrace the straight sides of the cans over a relatively large area, thus enabling a good stabilising effect to be achieved.

The amount of stabilisation required will depend on the number of cans to be retained in the holder, and the weight of the cans. It has been found that for beverage cans, adequate stabilisation is achieved if the skirt wall extends to cover between about 30% and 50% of the overall height of the cans. Preferably, one opposed pair of side panels, such as a front and a rear panel, are both provided with diagonal fold lines to enable the holder to be folded flat. The fold lines preferably extend from the upper corners of the panel to intermediate points along the bottom edge of the panel. The holder is particularly suitable for holding a plurality of cans together to form a pack, but it is also suitable for holding a single can, for example, if the can is to be presented with promotional material.

The invention also extends to cover a pack comprising a holder as aforesaid, and further comprising a plurality of substantially straight sided cans each having a necked upper portion, the tops of the cans being received in the can receiving apertures of the top panel and being retained by the retaining means, the skirt wall of the holder embracing at least a portion of the straight side walls of the cans to retain the cans substantially upright with respect to the top panel, and to hold the cans together with the side walls of adjacent cans substantially in contact with or almost in contact with each other. In a second aspect, the invention provides a blank for forming a holder for one or more cans or the like, the blank being divided into a top panel area for forming a top panel of the holder, and one or more skirt wall areas which, when folded and secured, form a skirt wall of the holder depending from the top panel, the top panel area being provided with an aperture for each can to be held by the holder, and means associated with the or each aperture, in use, for retaining the top of the can in the aperture.

A particularly preferred independent feature is that skirt wall area or areas are arranged so that they can be folded and secured relative to the top panel area after the can or cans have been fitted one to each can receiving aperture of the top panel area. Preferably, the blank is a single piece blank. This provides a very simple and economical construction of the holder. The side wall areas preferably comprise side panel areas formed integrally with the top panel area, and hingedly connected to side edges thereof.

In one preferred embodiment, the blank includes adjacent pairs of side panel areas, i.e. a side panel area and an end panel area, which are not connected directly to each other, one of the pair of side panel areas being provided with an integral corner tab or glue flap which, in use, when the side panel areas have been folded down relative to the top panel area, may be folded inwardly towards the other of the pair of side panel areas and secured thereto to form a corner joint. The tab or flap may, for example, be intended to be secured using adhesive. The tab may be generally rectangularly shaped.

In another preferred embodiment, the blank includes adjacent side panel areas which are integrally coupled by a pair of gusset panels, hingedly connected, respectively, to side panel areas, the gusset panels being divided by a fold line such that, in use, when the side panel areas are being folded down relative to the top panel area, the gusset panels may be folded back-to-back and secured to one of the side panel areas to form a corner joint. The gusset panel areas may, for example, be intended to be secured by adhesive. The gusset panels may each be generally trapezoid in shape.

Preferably, the top panel area of the blank has chamfered corners, and the side panel areas include diagonal corner panel areas to match the chamfered corners of the top panel area. Preferably, the diagonal corner panel areas of the blank are integrally coupled to at least one of the adjacent side panel areas, and separated from the chamfered corners of the top panel area by a cut out which in use allows the diagonal corner panel areas to be folded inwardly to match the shape of the chamfered corners. Preferably, the outer shape of the blank is generally rectangular.

A particularly preferred independent feature is that the top panel area is generally rectangular and that the corners of the top panel area are chamfered at an angle of approximately 45 degrees in magnitude relative to one edge of the top panel area, and further that the gusset panels are joined by a fold line which extends at approximately 22.5 degrees relative to the aforementioned one edge of the top panel area.

Another particularly preferred independent feature is that the area around the or each aperture in the top panel area comprises one or more relatively narrow bridging areas of the top panel area, and one or more relatively large load bearing areas of the top panel area, the retaining means for the or each aperture being positioned adjacent to one or more load bearing areas and away from the narrow bridging areas.

Preferably, the top panel area includes one or more cut outs in the load bearing areas for forming one or more respective finger apertures, the material within the finger aperture forming a panel which remains in the finger aperture to blank off the aperture until after the can or cans have been fitted to the can receiving apertures.

Preferably the retaining means associated with the or each aperture comprises at least one resiliently deformable projection which extends radially inwardly from the periphery of the aperture, in use, the projection deforming when the top of the can is inserted through the aperture so that the projection passes over an upper rim of the can, the projection then springing back and locating under the rear- facing edge of the rim to retain the top of the can in the aperture. Preferably, several projections are provided for each aperture.

Preferably, the tabs for each aperture are arranged in pairs around the periphery of the aperture, the tabs in each pair being adjacent to each other and the pairs being angularly spaced apart around the periphery of the aperture.

In another particularly preferred independent feature, the total solid area of the top panel area is not greater than approximately the total open area of the can receiving aperture or apertures in the top panel. Preferably the total top panel solid area is not greater than approximately 60% of the can receiving aperture area.

In a third aspect, the invention provides a method of assembling a holder from a blank described above, and for locating the can or cans in the holder, the method comprising placing the top panel area of the blank over the can or cans so that the can or cans are received and retained in the aperture or apertures, respectively, and folding the skirt wall area or areas of the blank against the bodies of the can or cans, and securing the skirt wall area or areas to form a skirt wall which embraces the can or cans.

This method is particularly suitable for implementation using an automatic packing machine.

Instead of using adhesive and glue flaps to maintain the holder in its erected state, interlocking flaps and slits may be used.

In this method, the one or more skirt wall areas are folded and secured to form the skirt wall of the holder after the can or cans have been inserted in the top panel aperture or apertures, respectively. In the case of a multi-can holder, this enables the skirt wall to embrace the cans more tightly than if the skirt wall had been formed before the top panel was placed over the cans. The result is that the cans are held upright more tightly, and are better discouraged from clattering together.

The present invention also extends to cover a pack which has been produced by the above method. Two preferred embodiments of the invention are now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view from above of a holder for six cans, but showing only two cans in position; Fig. 2 is an underside view of the holder of Fig. 1 showing the cans in position;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the can retaining projections of the holder; Fig. 4 is a plan view of a blank for forming the holder of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective partial view from above of a second holder for cans showing one can in position; Fig. 6 is an underside view of the holder of Fig. 5 showing two cans in position;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a blank for forming the holder of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 shows how the blank of Fig. 7 is folded to form the corners of the holder; and

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a slightly modified form of the blank shown in Fig. 7.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a holder 10 for carrying six cans such as drinks cans 12. For clarity, only two of the cans are shown in Fig. 1. The holder 10 is made of card and comprises a generally rectangular top panel 14, and a skirt wall (denoted generally by 15) in the form of four side panels which depend substantially perpendicularly downwardly from the top panel. The side panels consist of a front panel 16, a rear panel 18, and end panels 20 and 22, each hingedly connected along one edge of the top panel 14. The top panel 14 and the side panels are formed integrally from a blank made of card. The blank is described in more detail hereinafter. The top panel 14 is provided with six apertures 24, one for each can to be held by the holder. Each aperture is provided with four equally angularly spaced projections 25 which project radially inwardly from the periphery of the aperture. Each projection 25 comprises a pair of adjacent resiliently deformable tongues or tabs 26 which are formed integrally with the top panel 14, but divided therefrom by arcuate scored fold lines 27.

Referring especially to Fig. 3, the cans 12 are of the conventional straight sided drinks can type which includes a top rim 28. The cans also have a short tapered or necked upper portion 30 immediately below the rim 28. In Fig.3, the thickness of the card of the holder, and the size of the scored fold lines 27 are exaggerated for the purpose of illustration. Each aperture 24 of the top panel is dimensioned so that the top rim 28, and substantially only a small amount of the tapered upper portion 30 of the can 12, are able to pass through the aperture. In so doing, the tongues 26 deform upwardly by bending along the fold lines 27, so that the ends of the tongues 26 pass over the rim 28. The tongues 26 are thereafter urged by the natural resilience of the card material, to locate against the side of the can under the rear-facing edge of the rim 28 (in the position shown in Fig. 3) . In this condition the tongues 26 retain the top of the can 12 captive in the holder 10. The can 12 cannot be pushed further upwardly through the aperture because the body of the can is too large to fit through the aperture. The tongues 26 are arranged in pairs owing to the arcuate configuration of the projections 25. The tongues in each pair are adjacent, and the pairs are spaced apart angularly around the periphery. As the tongues deform upwardly, they are pushed slightly apart. As best seen in Fig. 4, the fold lines 27 do not extend all the way across each tongue 26, but leave unscored points at each end. This improves the resilience of the tongues 26 to ensure that they locate properly under the rim 28 of the can. The tongues 26 are positioned at places in the periphery of the aperture at which the area of the adjacent card material is widest, and away from relatively narrow areas. The wide areas act as good load bearing areas to provide sufficient strength to ensure that the material of the top panel is not over stressed by the weight of the cans. Referring now to the underside view of Fig. 2, the side panels together embrace the cans 12 to retain the cans 12 relatively upright with respect to the top panel 14, and to prevent the cans from clattering together. The top panel 14 is dimensioned such that the side panels contact, or at least nearly contact, the outermost portions of the sides of the cans. In this exemplary embodiment, the side panels extend to embrace substantially about the top third of the cans* bodies, as this is sufficient to restrain movement of the cans. It has been found that generally it is sufficient to embrace about the top 30% to 50% of the cans, depending on the number of cans to be supported by the holder, and the weight of the cans. The side panels also serve to stiffen the top panel 14 against flexing under the weight of the cans 12, and to provide outwardly facing surfaces on which promotional material can be presented for display.

The top panel 14 is provided with finger apertures 32 through which a person may insert his fingers to carry the holder by one hand. In the present embodiment, the finger apertures are dimensioned and relatively spaced so that a person may insert, for example, his thumb and middle finger to pick up the holder. Each finger aperture consists of an arcuate cut-out to define a hinged panel 32a which can be pressed downwardly from the plane of the top panel 14 to form the aperture. The panel 32a serves to blank off the finger aperture 32 at least until after the cans have been fitted to the holder. It has been found that the largest stresses in the top panel tend to occur during the stage of fitting the cans into the apertures 24 to engage the tongues 26. The material of the panel 32a thus provides better strength in the top panel to avoid over stressing. Once all of the cans have been fitted, the embracing effect of the skirt wall 15 helps to stabilise the top panel and to relieve the top panel of much stress.

The front and rear panels 16 and 18, respectively, of the holder 10 each have two perforated fold lines 33 which extend diagonally from the top corners of the panel to intermediate positions along the lower edge of the panel. These fold lines 33 facility folding of the holder 10 into a substantially flat package. To achieve this, the front and rear panels 16 and 18, respectively, are first folded inwardly, which causes the ends of these panels to bend outwardly along the fold lines 33. The end walls 20 and 22 can then be folded down on top of the folded down front and rear panels 16 and 18.

Fig. 4 shows a blank 34 made of card from which the holder 10 is constructed. The blank 34 is divided by fold lines into a top panel area 14' for forming the top panel 14 of the holder, and side panel areas for forming the skirt wall side panels. The side panel areas consist of a front panel area 16' , a rear panel area 18* , and end panel areas 20* and 22'. The top panel area 14' is provided with the six apertures 24 for receiving the upper portions of cans, each aperture being provided with the pairs of retaining tongues 26. The top panel area 1 ' also includes the two press down panels 32a to form the finger apertures 32.

Each end panel area 20' and 22' includes at its opposite ends adjacent the front and rear panel areas 16*, 18*, respectively, a corner tab 36. In use, to construct the holder 10 from the blank 34, the side panel areas are folded downwardly relative to the top panel area 14' to form the side panels of the holder 10. The corner tabs 36 are each folded inwardly so that they fit against the inner faces of the front and rear panels 16 and 18 (see Fig. 2) .

The corner tabs 36 are then secured, for example by adhesive, to the ends of the front and rear panels 16 and 18 at regions outside the diagonal fold lines 33. This provides secure corner joints without hindering the capability of the holder to be folded flat.

This embodiment of the holder 10 is most suitable to be constructed before the holder is fitted over the cans 12. The holder may be supplied folded flat. The holder can be erected, for example by a drink canning company or even by a shopkeeper, by unfolding the side panels, and the holder is then fitted manually over the six cans by use of a simple jig.

An alternative embodiment of the holder is illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8. Features of this embodiment which are the same as the features described above are denoted in the drawings by the same reference numerals prefixed by the number 100.

The main difference of the holder 110 shown in Fig. 5 is that the corners 40 of the top panel 114 are chamfered, and the side panels include four diagonal corner panels 42 to match the chamfered corners 40 of the top panel. Referring to the underside view of Fig. 6, the diagonal panels 42 contact, or at least nearly contact, portions of the sides of the cans 112 which are at the corner positions of the holder. The side panels can thus embrace the cans at the corners of the holder which increases the degree to which the side panels restrain movement of the cans.

The diagonal panels 42 also serve to stiffen the side panels against flexing. For example, if a person picks up the holder 110 by grasping the lower edge of the front panel 116, the panel 116 will not flex outwardly under the weight of the cans as much as would the panel 16 of Fig. 1 if that holder 10 were picked up in a similar manner.

In the holder 110' the apertures 124 in the corner positions of the holder are provided with only three pairs of adjacent tongues 26'. The tongues which would have been adjacent the chamfered corner 40 are omitted. This is because the chamfering of the corner reduces the strength of the card material in the corner region, such that it is not sufficient strong properly to support can retaining tongues. In a modification of this embodiment (see Fig. 9) , the areas of the corner region could be increased by extending the corner region so that it projects outwardly beyond the corner panel 42. The corner region could than be made sufficiently strong to support can retaining tongues.

Fig. 7 illustrates a blank 134 of card from which the holder 110 is made. The blank 134 is similar to the blank 34 described above in that it is divided by fold lines into a top panel area 114' , and side panel areas. The side panel areas include a front panel area 116*, a rear panel area 118', and end panel areas 120• and 122'.

However, the blank 134 differs in that the overall outline of the blank is rectangular. The top panel area 114' has chamfered corners 40, and each corner of the blank 134 is divided by fold lines into a generally rectangular corner panel area 42* and a pair of gusset panel areas 44' and 46'. The width of the corner panel area 42' matches the length of the chamfered corner 40 of the top panel area 114^« . The front and rear panel areas 116* and 118' are integrally coupled to the end panel areas 120' and 122' through the corner panel area 42' and the gusset panel areas 44' and 46'. The corner panel area 42' and the gusset panel areas 44', 46' are separated from the chamfered corner 40 of the top panel area 114' by a cut-out 48 which is at least partly V-shaped. In the present embodiment, the cut out 48 is shaped generally as a parallelogram. The angle of chamfer of the corner 40 is about 45 degrees relative to one edge 114a of the top panel area 114• . The gusset panels 44* are coupled to the end panels 120' and 122" by respective fold lines which are at angles of about 22.5 degrees relative to the top panel edge 114a, and the pairs of gusset panels 44' and 46' are themselves coupled by fold lines which are at angles of about 22.5 degrees to the top panel edge 114a in order to complement the aforementioned fold lines.

Fig 8. illustrates how the corner regions of the blank 134 are folded to form the corners of the holder 110. For clarity, Fig. 8 shows the blank inverted, with the top panel area 114' underneath. Firstly, the front panel area 116' and the rear panel area (not shown in Fig. 8) are folded downwardly about the fold lines connecting then to the top panel area 114', and the gusset panel area 44' adjacent the end panel area 120' (or 122*) is folded towards the end panel area 120' about the fold line connecting the two area and in the direction shown by the arrow 50. This automatically draws the corner panel area 42' towards alignment with the chamfered corner 40. Next the end panel area 120' (or 122') is folded downwardly about its fold line connecting it to the top panel area 114' in the direction shown by the arrow 52 until the gusset panel areas 44' and 46' are back to back (as in Fig.6) . The gusset area 44' and 46* are then secured to each other, and to the end panel 120 (or 122) for example by adhesive.

This embodiment is especially suitable to be used by an automatic packaging machine which produces packs of cans by firstly fitting the blank 134' over an arrangement of six cans so that the cans are received and retained in the apertures 124 of the blank 134, and subsequently folding down and securing the side panel areas of the blank 134 to form the side panels of the holder embracing the cans. With this process, the side panels can be secured very tightly around the bodies of the cans which are already in place. This further improves the embracing effect of the side panels to restrain movement of the cans and thereby prevent the cans from clattering together. It will be appreciated that with this particular embodiment, it is important that the side panel areas of the blank can be folded downwardly and secured after the cans have been loaded into the can receiving apertures.

Fig. 9 illustrates a slightly modified form of the blank of Fig. 7. In Fig. 9, the size of the top panel area in the regions of the chamferred corners 40a has been increased to provide additional support and strength in the corner regions. When the blank of Fig. 9 is formed into a holder, the corner panels 42' will be folded inwardly under the chamferred corners 40a to lie on the broken line 42a, such that the outer edge of the chamferred corner 40a projects over the corner panel 42 ' . The blank can be folded and secured in the same way as the blank of Fig. 7.

Although in the embodiments described above, the holders 10 and 110 have been constructed from card, it will be appreciated that other materials similar to card could be used instead.

It will be appreciated that the embodiments described above overcome the problems of the prior art, and provide a holder which can be made and fitted economically and speedily, with much less holder material being required than some conventional holders.

It will also be appreciated that although the preferred embodiments have been described in relation to cans, holders in accordance with the present invention may be used to secure like objects, such as straight sided jars or pots with similar flanged lids or tops.

It will of course be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A holder for one or more cans or the like, the holder comprising a top panel having an aperture for each can to be held by the holder, means associated with the or each aperture for retaining, in use, the top of the can in the aperture, and a skirt wall depending from the top panel, in use, to stiffen the top panel against flexing and to embrace the can or cans to retain the can or cans upright with respect to the top panel.

2. A holder according to claim l, wherein the skirt wall comprises side panels which are formed integrally with the top panel.

3. A holder according to claim 2, wherein the side panels are hingedly connected one to each to a respective edge of the top panel.

4. A holder according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the skirt wall extends around the entire periphery of the top panel.

5. A holder according to any preceding claim wherein the side panels are dimensioned to embrace the top half of the can or cans.

6. A holder according to any preceding claim wherein the retaining means associated with the or each aperture preferably comprises at least one resiliently deformable projection which extends inwardly from the periphery of the aperture, the projection deforming, in use, when the top of the can is inserted through the aperture so that the projection passes over an upper rim of the can, the projection then springing back and locating under the rear facing edge of the rim to retain the can in the holder.

7. A holder according to claim 6, wherein each aperture is provided with a plurality of projections for retaining the can in the holder.

8. A holder according to claim 7, wherein the projections are angularly spaced around the periphery of the aperture.

9. A holder according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the projections are formed integrally with the top panel and comprise locking tabs hingedly connected to the periphery of their respective aperture.

10. A holder according to claim 9, wherein the tabs for each aperture are arranged in pairs, the tabs in each pair being adjacent to each other, and the pairs being angularly spaced apart around the periphery of the aperture.

11. A holder according to any preceding claim, wherein the top panel is rectangular and has chamfered corners, the side panels including a diagonal panel associated with each chamfered corner of the top panel.

12. A holder according to any preceding claim, wherein the top panel includes at least one finger aperture to enable a person to insert at least one finger to pick up and hold the holder.

13. A holder according to any preceding claim, wherein one opposed pair of side panels are provided each with a diagonal fold line to enable the holder to be folded flat.

14. A holder according to claim 13, wherein the fold lines extend from the upper corners of the panels to intermediate points along the bottom edge of the panels.

15. A holder according to any of claims 1 to 14, wherein the area around the or each aperture comprises one or more relatively narrow bridging areas, and one or more load bearing areas, the load bearing areas being relatively large at least at the time the can or cans are to be fitted to the holder, the retaining means for the or each aperture being positioned adjacent to one or more load bearing areas and away from the narrow bridging areas.

16. A holder according to claim 15, wherein the holder comprises one or more finger apertures formed in at least one loading bearing area, and means to blank off the or each finger aperture at the time the can or cans are to be fitted to the holder.

17. A holder according to any of claims 1 to 16, wherein the total solid area of the top panel is not greater than approximately the total open area of the can receiving aperture or apertures in the top panel.

18. A holder according to claim 17, wherein the total solid area of the top panel is not greater than approximately 60% of the total open area of the can receiving aperture or apertures in the top panel.

19. A pack comprising a holder according to any of claims 1 to 18, and further comprising a plurality of substantially straight sided cans each having a necked upper portion, the tops of the cans being received in the apertures of the holder and being retained by the retaining means, the skirt wall of the holder embracing at least a portion of the straight side walls of the cans to retain the cans substantially upright with respect to the top panel, and to hold the cans together with the side walls of adjacent cans substantially in contact with or almost in contact with each other.

20. A pack according to claim 19, wherein the skirt wall of the holder depends from the top panel substantially perpendicularly to the top panel.

21. A pack according to claim 19 or 20, wherein the skirt wall extends to embrace between approximately 30% and 50% of the height of the cans.

22. A blank for forming a holder for one or more cans or the like, the blank being divided into a top panel area for forming a top panel of the holder, and one or more skirt wall areas which, when folded and secured, form a skirt wall of the holder depending from the top panel, the top panel area being provided with an aperture for each can to be held by the holder, and means associated with the or each aperture, in use, for retaining the top of the can in the aperture.

23. A blank according to claim 22, wherein the blank» is a single piece blank.

24. A blank according to claim 23, wherein the side wall areas comprise side panel areas formed integrally with the top panel area, and hingedly connected to side edges thereof.

25. A blank according to claim 22, 23 or 24, wherein the blank includes adjacent pairs of side panel areas which are not connected directly to each other, one of the pair of side panel areas being provided with an integral corner tab or glue flap which, in use, when the side panel areas have been folded down relative to the top panel area, may be folded inwardly towards the other of the pair of side panel areas and secured thereto to form a corner joint.

26. A blank according to claim 25, wherein the tab or flap is generally rectangularly shaped.

27. A blank according to claim 22, 23 or 24 wherein the blank includes adjacent side panel areas which are integrally coupled by a pair of gusset panels hingedly connected, respectively, to side panel areas, the gusset panels being divided by a fold line such that, in use, when the side panels areas are being folded down relative to the top panel area, the gusset panels may be folded back-to-back and secured to one of the side panel areas to form a corner joint.

28. A blank according to claim 27, wherein the corners of the top panel area are chamfered at an angle of approximately 45° in magnitude relative to one edge of the top panel area, and the gusset panels are joined by a fold line which extends at approximately 22^° relative to the aforementioned one edge of the top panel area.

29. A blank according to claim 27 or 28, wherein the gusset panel areas are each generally trapezoid in shape.

30. A blank according to any of claims 22 to 29, wherein the top panel area of the blank has chamfered corners, and the side panel areas include diagonal corner panel areas associated with the chamfered corners of the top panel area.

31. A blank according to claim 30, wherein the diagonal corner panel areas are integrally coupled to at least one of the adjacent side panel areas and are separated from the chamfered corners of the top panel area by a cut out which in use allows the diagonal corner panel areas to be folded inwardly to match the shape of the chamfered corners.

32. A blank according to claim 31, wherein the outer shape of the blank is generally rectangular.

33. A blank according to any of claims 22 to 32, wherein the area around the or each aperture in the top panel area comprises one or more relatively narrow bridging areas of the top panel area, and one or more relatively large load bearing areas of the top panel area, the retaining means for the or each aperture being positioned adjacent to one or more load bearing areas and away from the narrow bridging areas.

34. A blank according to claim 33, wherein the top panel area includes one or more cut outs in the load bearing areas for forming one more respective finger apertures, the material within the finger aperture forming a panel which remains in the finger aperture to blank off the aperture until after the can or cans have been fitted to the can receiving apertures.

35. A blank according to any of claims 22 to 34, wherein the retaining means for each aperture comprise resiliently deformable tabs arranged in pairs around the periphery of the aperture, the tabs in each pair being adjacent to each other and the pairs being angularly spaced apart around the periphery of the aperture.

36. A blank according to any of claims 22 to 35, wherein the total solid area of the top panel area is not greater than approximately the total open area of the can receiving aperture or apertures in the top panel area.

37. A blank according to claim 36, wherein the total solid area of the top panel area is not greater than approximately 60% of the total open area of the can receiving aperture or apertures in the top panel area.

38. A blank according to any of claims 22 to 37, wherein the skirt wall areas are arranged so that they can be folded and secured relative to the top panel area after the can or cans have been fitted one to each aperture of the top panel area.

39. A method of assembling a holder from the blank of any of claims 22 to 38, and for locating a can or cans in the holder, the method comprising placing the top panel area of the blank over the can or cans so that the can or cans are received and retained in the aperture or apertures, respectively, and folding the skirt wall area or areas of the blank against the bodies of the can or cans, and securing the skirt wall area or areas to form a skirt wall which embraces the can or cans.