WO1998039229A1

WO1998039229A1 - Apparatus and method for packaging to stabilize containers with non-flat top surfaces

Info

Publication number: WO1998039229A1
Application number: PCT/IB1998/000241
Authority: WO
Inventors: Charles Denver Cook
Original assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
Priority date: 1997-03-07
Filing date: 1998-02-27
Publication date: 1998-09-11
Also published as: JP2001513738A

Abstract

Disclosed is an apparatus and method for packaging spray canisters with non-flat top surfaces. Provided is at least one spray canister (16) with a non-flat top surface (18) and a bottom surface, the non-flat top surface having a periphery. Also provided is a substantially rigid pad (12) having a thickness, a first flat surface, and a second surface opposite the first flat surface, the second surface having at least one recess (14) at least partially through the thickness of the pad. The recess has a periphery that corresponds to the periphery of the non-flat top surface of the canister. The non-flat top surface of the canister is inserted at least partially into the recess, such that the first flat surface of the pad is substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the canister. This assembly may then be shrink wrapped, and the result is packages of multiple spray canisters which may be transported together and stacked upon each other.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PACKAGING TO STABILIZE CONTAINERS

WITH NON-FLAT TOP SURFACES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to packaging for containers with non-flat top surfaces. The present invention has further relation to such packaging that provides for stacking such containers on top of one another. The present invention has even further relation to such packaging that reduces the amount of packaging materials involved.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Products sold in spray canisters are typically packed in corrugated boxes, in numbers of six, twelve, twenty-four, etc., after manufacture and for transportation to the point of consumer sales. The corrugated boxes add cost to the overall product, and must be discarded after the spray canisters are removed and stacked on store shelves.

Additionally, spray canisters typically are sold with an overcap that provides some sort of flat top surface that renders the canisters amenable to stacking on top of each other during storage and transportation. The overcaps add cost to the product and are often lost or thrown away by the consumers; in any event they are inconvenient to keep track of and cumbersome to repeatedly remove and replace before and after each use.

There has therefore been a desire to have a reduced cost spray canister that does not require an overcap, and that may be stored and shipped with a reduced amount of secondary packaging material that accommodates a non-flat top surface of the spray canister.

There has also been a desire to provide cushion-type top-load protection for products packed in plastic bottles and spray cans, which can be used in conjunction with plastic stretch wrap film to completely cover the products for protection during transportation and storage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Disclosed is an apparatus and method for packaging spray canisters with non-flat top surfaces. Provided is at least one spray canister with a non-flat top surface and a bottom surface, the non-flat top surface having a periphery. Also provided is a substantially rigid pad having a thickness, a first tlat surface, and a second surface opposite the first flat surface, the second surface having at least one recess at least partially through the thickness of the pad. The recess has a periphery that corresponds to the periphery of the non- flat top surface of the canister. The non- flat top surface of the canister is inserted at least partially into the recess, such that the first flat surface of the pad is substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the canister. This assembly may then be shrink wrapped, and the result is packages of multiple spray canisters which may be transported together and stacked upon each other.

The non-flat top surface of the canister may comprise a shroud, with the periphery of the recess being dimensioned so that the periphery of the recess rests substantially about the periphery of the shroud. The pad may comprise a thermoformed plastic nest or a honeycomb corrugate. The pad may also be made of other materials, including wood, plastic, aluminum, fiberboard, pressboard, or cardboard.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject invention, it is believed the same will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an eievational view of spray packages of the present invention nested within recesses of a cross-sectional view of a protective pad;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the recessed side of the pad of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the pad of Figure 2, through section 3-3, showing a corrugate or honeycomb structure; and

Figure 4 is an eievational view of the packages of the present invention, showing that multiple packages may be stacked on top of each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals indicate the same element throughout the views there is shown in Figure 1 packaging 10 including a cross- sectional view of pad 12 of the present invention, showing recesses 14 in which product containers 16 are nested. Pad 12 may be made of wood, metal (e.g., heavy aluminum foil), molded plastic, corrugated honeycomb fiberboard, or the like. Recesses 14 are dimensioned so that container tops 18 do not come in contact with inside surface 20 of pad 12, so that pad rims 22 either rest on or tπ tionally grip container shoulders 24, and so that containers 16 and pad 12 remain stable during a subsequent plastic shrink wrap operation. Figure 2 is a plan view of the recessed side of pad 12. This embodiment shows recesses for six containers. After shrink-wrapping, package 10 would comprise a six unit assembly, ready for transportation and shipment, while remaining stable, stackable, and free from dirt and debris. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional eievational view of pad 12, showing a typical preferred honeycomb corrugate fiberboard structure 26. This structure is lightweight, cost effective, durable, and strong enough to handle the typical forces exerted on a package of this sort during shipping. Figure 4 shows two of the embodiments shown in Figure 1, as they would be stacked upon each other during transportation and storage.

The typical packaging operation for the embodiments of Figure 4 would supply six containers 16 spaced with respect to each other according to the spacing of recesses 14 in pad 12. Pad 12 would then be placed on containers 16, or containers 16 may be inverted and placed on inverted pad 12. Either way, a stable combination of containers 16 and pad 12 would then be ready for shrink wrapping. After shrink wrapping, multiple embodiments may then be stacked upon each other, transported, stored, or the like. Of course, each embodiment may consist of one container in a pad, up to dozens of containers in a pad.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications that are within the scope of this invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. Packaged spray canisters with non-flat top surfaces, characterized by: at least one spray canister with a non-flat top surface and a bottom surface, the non-flat top surface having a periphery, a substantially rigid pad having a thickness, a first flat surface, and a second surface opposite the first flat surface, the second surface having at least one recess at least partially through the thickness of the pad, the recess having a periphery that corresponds to the periphery of the non-flat top surface, the non-flat top surface being inserted at least partially into the recess, such that the first flat surface is substantially parallel to the bottom surface.

2. A method of packaging spray canisters with non-flat top surfaces, characterized by the steps of: providing at least one spray canister with a non-flat top surface, the non-flat top surface having a periphery, providing a substantially rigid pad having a thickness, a first flat surface, and a second surface opposite the first flat surface, the second surface having at least one recess at least partially through the thickness of the pad, the recess having a periphery that corresponds to the periphery of the non-flat top surface, inserting the non-flat top surface at least partially into the recess, such that the first flat surface is substantially parallel to the bottom surface.

3. The packaged spray canister according to Claims 1 or 2, wherein the non-flat top surface comprises a shroud, the periphery of the recess being dimensioned so that the periphery of the recess rests substantially about the periphery of the shroud.

4. The packaged spray canister according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the pad comprises a thermoformed plastic nest.

5. The packaged spray canister according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the pad comprises a honeycomb corrugate.

6. The packaged spray canister according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the pad is made of wood, plastic, aluminum, fiberboard, pressboard, or cardboard.

7. The packaged spray canister according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising shrink wrap secured about the packaged spray canister.