WO1995024345A1

WO1995024345A1 - Bottle carrier

Info

Publication number: WO1995024345A1
Application number: PCT/GB1995/000444
Authority: WO
Inventors: Emanuel Negelen
Original assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
Priority date: 1994-03-11
Filing date: 1995-03-02
Publication date: 1995-09-14
Also published as: AU1819395A; ZA951747B; CO4370110A1; GB9404682D0

Abstract

There is provided a device (10) for attachment to a series of bottles (12). The device has a base panel (22), two side panels (20, 21) and a top panel (23). Apertures are provided in the top and base panels (22, 23) through which apertures the bottle necks pass. Tabs (32) are hingedly connected to the top panel adjacent the apertures, which tabs (32) engage below the closures secured on the bottles (12).

Description

Bottle carrier

The present invention relates to a device for engagement on one or more bottles having an annular shoulder projecting from the neck Dortion and a closure member. Bottles having crown cap closure members are particularly suited to the invention, but other types of closure member can be accommodated.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for engagement on one or more bottles, the or each bottle having an annular shoulder projecting from the neck portion and a closure member, said device being formed from paperboard and comprising a base having one or more apertures for receiving the respective neck portions of the bottles, two side walls which, in use, extend upwardly from opposite sides of the base, and top wall means extending between the two side walls, each side wall having at least one cut away portion adjacent the junction with the top wall means such that a pair of said cut away portions, oppositely disposed, are provided for the or each bottle, said cut away portions of each pair being linked by an opening formed in the top wall means through which opening the closure or part of the closure projects in use such that sections of the annular shoulder are disposed in the cut away portions of the side walls, the top wall means having one or more tabs projecting into the or each opening, past which tabs or tabs the closure or a part of the closure is a snap fit.

In preferred arrangements each opening is provided with two oppositely disposed tabs and also the tabs provide a straight edge for engaging the closure or part thereof. It may be desirable if the straight edges of each pair of tabs are substantially parallel .

Preferably the device is adapted to receive a plurality of bottles in a straight row. In chosen arrangements the base, side walls and top wall means, in use comprise generally planar panels, the base and top panels being substantially oarallel to each other and, depending on bottle geometry the width of the base panel between the side oanels is greater than the width of the top panel. It may be necessary that the side panels have formations such as cuts or creases to enable the side walls to flex so as to allow the device to be applied to the bottle or bottles.

Ideally the base and/or the top oanel incorporates a lengthwise fold to allow the device to be folded flat before application to bottles.

Further preferred features are that each side wall cut away portion has a straight central section at the ends of which are diverging curved sections which terminate at the junction with the top oanel. Each pair of oppositely disposed tabs project inwardly of their associated opening and flex resiliently relative to the top panel about lines which are located outwardly of the terminations of the curved sections, and cuts are provided in the top wall means angled towards each other from said points of termination, the ends of adjacent cuts defining the ends of the flex lines.

In further embodiments the side walls are connected to upward extensions beyond the top panel, said extensions incorporating handle panels having cut outs to accommodate the closures, said handle panels are adhered together and a handle cut away is provided to facilitate carrying of the device. Preferably the device is formed from a single piece of paperboard folded so that the side walls and the handle area are of double thickness.

The invention also pro ides a carrying arrangement comorising at least two of said devices coupled together such that the arrangement comprises, in use, two or more rows of bottles. Preferably the arrangement is formed from a single Diece of paperboard.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail. The description makes reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

Figure 1 s a side view of a device according to the present invention, with bottles,

Figure 2 is an end view of the device of figure 1 ,

Figure 3 is a perspecti^ve view of the device of figure 1 attached to a series of bottles,

Figure 4 is a view of a blank for making the device of figure 1,

Figure 5 is a side view of a second embodiment of a device according to the present invention,

Figure 6 is an end view of the device of figure 5,

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the device of figure 5 attached to a series of bottles,

Figure 8 is a view of a blank for making the device of figure 5,

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a further embodiment according to the present invention, and

Figure 10 is a v ew of a blank for making the device of figure 9.

Figures 1 to 4 relate to a device 10 formed from a paperboard blank 11 for attachment to a series of four bottles 12 arranged in a line. This s clearly shown in figure 3. Each of the bottles 12 has a crown cap closure 13 and an annular shoulder 14 located on the neck 15 of the bottle. The device 10 is a snao-fit over the closures 13 and shoulders 14 enabling the bottles 12 to be held securely together for ease of transport or carrying.

The device 10 has two oppositely disposed side panels 20, 21, a base panel 22 and a top panel 23. The base panel 22 is wider than the top panel 23 because the bottles 12 in this embodiment have a neck portion 15 which tapers inwardly in the upward direction. The blank 11 is folded into a generally quadrilateral shape and a strengthening panel 24 is adhered to the inside of the side panel 20. The folding of the blank 11 is facilitated by fold lines or part cut fold lines 25. The top panel 23 and the base panel 22 may also be provided with additional folds 26 to enable the assembled device 10 to be folded flat when not attached to the bottles 12, but such folds are optional.

The base panel 22 has flaps 27 cut into it, the flaps 27 being folded back and secured to the side panel 21 to provide reinforcement in a similar manner to the panel 24 on the other side panel. The folding back of the flaps 27 leaves a series of apertures for receiving the necks 15 of the bottles 12.

The side panels 20, 21 are provided with cut outs 28 which have a generally straight central portion 29 and outwardly curved portions 30 which extend up to the top panel 23. Connecting pairs of oppositely disposed cut outs 28 are linked by openings 31 formed in the top panel. The openings 31 are in general alignment with the apertures formed in the base panel 22. The top panel 23 also provides tabs 32 which extend part way into each opening beyond the points where the curved portions 30 of the cut outs 28 meet the top panel. Angled cuts 33 further define the tabs 32. The distance between opposed straight portions 29 is less than the widest diameter of the shoulder 14 of the bottles to be engaged.

Areas of weakening may also be provided in the side panels 20, 21 and these could be in the form of creases 34 as shown, or even cuts. The purpose of such areas will be apparent later.

Once the device 10 is assembled by adhesively securing the panel 24 to the inside of the side wall 20 and the flaps 27 to the inside of the side wall 21, the top panel 23 and the base panel 22 are generally flat and generally parallel to each other. The flaps 27 can just be folded against the side wall 21 if desired. If the device 10 has been folded flat the panels 22, 23 and tabs 32 may still have a slight V- shape in use but the device 10 will still function.

The engagement of only one bottle 12 is necessary to avoid duplication of description. The neck 15 of the bottle 12 and of course the associated closure 13 are caused to pass through the aperture in the base panel 22. The closure 13 pushes past the straight portions 29 of the cooperating cut outs 28 and the shoulder 14 also pushes past the straight portions 29. There is some resilient deformation of the side panels 20, 21 so as to allow the shoulder 14 past but afterwards the side panels return to their original configuration or similar with the straight portions disposed beneath the shoulder 14 and the curved portions 30 spanning the shoulder 14.

Simultaneously, the closure pushes past the tabs 32 which resiliently flex about a line between the closed ends of the cuts 33.

The flaps 32 then snap in below the crown cap closure 13 whilst still being angled upwardly relative to the top panel 23. Such a configuration is particularly resistant to the bottles 12 being removed in a downward direction relative to the device 10.

The device 10 can also be use with other types of bottle and closure. The crown caD closures described above are generally found on glass bottles but plastic or PET bottles having screw top closures can also be accommodated. The tabs could engage either below the closure or below a part of the closure, for example engaging in the recess of a frangible bridge type of pilferproof closure. Different bottles would simply require modifications to the geometry of the blank whilst retaining the principles of operation of the device. With PET bottles the shape of the shoulder 14 means that the engagement with the straight portions 29 is more secure. The tabs 32 when engaging the closure may remain in the general plane of the top panel 23 or may be angled upwardly or downwardly relative thereto.

In figures 5 to 8 the device 110 is very similar to that shown in figures 1 to 4 and so like parts have been given like reference numerals. When folded and secured it will be seen that the device 110 has a similar quadrilateral form as the device 10 of figures 1 to 4 , but there are additional side panel extensions 40 which are angled relative to the top panel 23 and extend towards each other. Two handle panels 41 are hingedly connected to each other at 42 and to the extensions 40. When assembled the handle panels are adhesively secured to each other so as to assume a generally vertical position. The handle panels 41 have cut outs 43 to constitute handle means.

It will also be seen that extra side panels 44 depend from the extensions 40 and these extra side panels 44 are adhesively secured to their associated side panels 20, 21. The extra side panels 44 also have cut away areas 45 so as not to be detrimental to the securing mechanism provided by panels 20, 21, 22, 23. The cut away areas 45 also provide straight portions which when assembled lie adjacent the straight portions 29 of the cut outs 28 of the side panels 20, 21. This feature reinforces the support provided by the cut outs 28 whilst the extra side panels 44 reinforce the side panels 20, 21. The flaps 27 can also be folded back to the side panels 20, 21 and glued if desired. it will also be noticed in figure 8 that the creases 34 of figure 4 have been replaced by small cuts 46 provided in the side Danels 20, 21 and the extra side panels 44.

Again, the device 110 can be folded flat when not in use by virtue of the folds 26 in the toD and base panels 23, 22.

In figures 9 and 10 there is shown a device 210 which has many features common to those in figures 1 to 4 and so similar reference numerals have been used. The device 210 is clearly used for engaging more than one row of bottles. In this particular case two rows of bottles can be carried but further rows could be added.

The base panel 22 has six apertures and there are two handle panels 41 which are folded about line 42 and glued together. The two central panels 50 are then folded back to be generally perpendicular to the handle panels and the central panels 50 are glued to the base panel 22 between the inner edges 51 of the ° apertures. This action ensures that one of the bottle engaging quadrilaterals is automatically formed by the position of the folds and the second is formed when panel 24 is secured to the side panel 220.

Furthermore the base panel 22 is Drovided with 5 additional folds 26 which also enable the device 210 to be folded flat when not in use.

It will be appreciated that the illustrated configurations have been shown as examples only. The form of the tabs and the shapes of the cut outs are dependent on various parameters such as the type of bottle being held, the number of bottles to be held and the strength of the hold required.

Claims

A device for engagement on one or more bottles, the or each bottle having an annular shoulder projecting from the neck portion and a closure member, said device being formed from paoerboard and comprising a base having one or more apertures for receiving the respective neck portions of the bottles, two side walls which, in use, extend upwardly from opposite sides of the base, and top wall means extending between the two side walls, each side wall having at least one cut away portion adjacent the junction with the top wall means such that a pair of said cut away portions, oppositely disposed, are provided for the or each bottle, said cut away portions of each pair being linked by an opening formed in the top wall means through which opening the closure or part of the closure projects in use such that sections of the annular shoulder are disposed in the cut away portions of the side walls, the top wall means having one or more tabs projecting into the or each opening, past which tabs or tabs the closure or a part of the closure is a snap fit.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each opening is provided with two oppositely disposed tabs.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the tabs provide a straight edge for engaging the closure or part thereof.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the straight edges of each pair of tabs are substantially parallel.

5. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the base, side walls and top wall means, in use comprise generally planar panels, the base and top panels being substantially parallel to each other and, depending on bottle geometry the width of the base panel between the side panels is greater than the width of the top panel.

6. A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the side panels have formations such as cuts or creases to enable the side walls to flex so as to allow the device to be applied to the bottle or bottles.

7. A device as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the base and/or the top panel incorporates a lengthwise fold to allow the device to be folded flat before application to bottles.

8. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein each side wall cut away portion has a straight central section at the ends of which are diverging curved sections which terminate at the junction with the top panel.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8 wherein each pair o oppositely disposed tabs project inwardly of their associated opening and flex resiliently relative to the top panel about lines which are located outwardly of the terminations of the curved sections, and cuts are provided in the top wall means angled towards each other from said points of termination, the ends of adjacent cuts defining the ends of the flex lines.

10. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the side walls are connected to upward extensions beyond the top panel, said extensions incorporating handle panels having cut outs to accommodate the closures, said handle panels are adhered together and a handle cut away is provided to facilitate carrying of the device.

11. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the device is formed from a single piece of paperboard folded so that the side walls and the handle area are of double thickness.

12. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the device is adapted to receive a plurality of bottles in a straight row.

13. An arrangement comprising at least two of the devices as claimed in claims 1 to 12 coupled together such that the arrangement comprises, in use, two or more rows of bottles.

14. A blank for forming a device or arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1 to 13.