WO2003008291A2

WO2003008291A2 - Carrier for bottles and the like

Info

Publication number: WO2003008291A2
Application number: PCT/EP2002/007968
Authority: WO
Inventors: Heinz Oster; Wolfgang Schulz
Original assignee: Schoeller Wavin Systems N.V.
Priority date: 2001-07-19
Filing date: 2002-07-17
Publication date: 2003-01-30
Also published as: EP1423308A2; AU2002330445A1; ATE329841T1; DE10135292A1; DE50207210D1; WO2003008291A3; EP1423308B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a carrier for bottles and the like, defining a receiving compartment having a carrier bottom (1) for receiving a plurality of bottles. Said carrier is relieved by a support frame (4a, b) having maximised display openings.

Description

Carriers for bottles and the like

The invention relates to a carrier according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

In parallel to the usual bottle crates, so-called multipacks have been used more and more recently, which represent a carrying unit made up of about four to eight bottles. Such multipacks are usually made of cardboard, but this has the disadvantage that the ner pack can tear easily and is then no longer load-bearing. Another disadvantage is that empty packaging cannot be returned with the ner pack and the ner pack also means waste, so to speak. The carton loses its strength even when used in a damp environment, which is very problematic with the multipacks. As an alternative to cardboard packaging, multipacks with film wrapping in the form of a shrink film are used. The disadvantage of such shrink film packaging, however, is that these multipacks have a rather ugly and cheap appearance, so that the use of shrink films for high-quality goods is in itself prohibited. Another very important disadvantage is that it is often very difficult to open the shrink film and sometimes a tool is required to tear the film open. In addition, the film material is a problematic material for recyclability because this film material is often simply thrown away.

The object of the invention is to provide an alternative here which overcomes the disadvantages described above, is lightweight and allows easy handling.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the features contained in the characterizing part of claim 1, expedient forms of performance being characterized by the features in the subclaims.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the carrier is formed by a rib-like support frame made of plastic, which has a carrier base from which support webs extend. These support webs advantageously open at the top into a nerbin dungssteg, which is further expediently designed as a shunt element. The support part, which can be produced in one piece, can then be folded up with its support webs, the two support shells consisting of the opposite support members being connected by the connecting webs, which are expediently designed as latching or snap-in connecting links for this purpose. Alternatively, however, an adhesive label or the like can also be used, for example, which is glued around the connecting webs which are placed one above the other and then also adapted accordingly. The connecting bars can then also be used as a handle. It is expedient here that the support webs are connected in one piece and in an articulated manner, preferably via film hinges, to the carrier base. The support structure is expediently designed so that the bottles can be removed from above and reinserted. As a result, the supporting frame or the carrier can be used both as one-way and as reusable packaging and can also be used in particular for the return transport of empty bottles. The carrier is expediently formed from a recyclable plastic with high strength. Polyethylene terephthalate is particularly suitable for this. The support members, the connecting webs and the support base are of extremely thin-walled design, to be precise on film thickness, the thicknesses preferably being in the range from 0.1 to 0.6 mm, in particular 0.2 to 0.4 mm. The thickness is therefore comparable to the wall thickness of conventional yoghurt cups. This results in a very lightweight construction, which nevertheless offers a stable hold of the multipacks, can be handled comfortably and can also be used for the return transport of the empty bottles.

As an alternative to connecting the support members, it is also possible for the connection to take place over the floor, for which purpose the support floor is then expediently divided into two floor halves, which are equipped with corresponding latching or snap connection elements.

The support members are expediently adapted to the shape of the bottle on their inner surface. Furthermore, support sleeves can expediently be provided in the carrier base, but in particular also in the area of the bottle receiving sections, bump-like projections into which the closure caps of bottles of a lower stack position can engage. NEN. This enables a stable stacking of these carriers as well as good load transfer via the bottles of the carriers stacked one above the other.

In a further embodiment, the carrier is box-like or pocket-like and has four side walls and a box bottom. The box bottom is designed to be foldable and the side walls can be folded laterally via joints, in particular film hinge joints. In a further alternative embodiment, the carrier has a box bottom and a circumferential support frame arranged above the box bottom as well as two foldable side walls arranged opposite one another. The foldable hinged side walls are preferably guided in their upper area on the frame bar. If the side walls are folded inwards, the support frame reaches the box bottom, so that the box requires only a small transport volume for the return transport. The bottom of the box is expediently equipped with a compartment in order to ensure that the bottles are held in a stable manner. The bottom of the box has a height that is just sufficient for a certain protective function of the bottles. The box bottom is approximately plate-shaped and preferably designed for a thickness that corresponds essentially to the thickness of the upper circumferential support frame bar.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawing. Show in it

1 is a perspective view of a support constructed as a support flu in the opened position,

2 is a view of the carrier of FIG. 1 in a transition position when folded,

3 shows a further transition position,

4 the carrier according to FIGS. 1 to 3 in the folded position as a supporting structure with bottles inserted therein,

4 a an alternative embodiment of a carrier in a perspective view,

4b is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in Fig. 4a,

5 shows a further embodiment of a carrier made of a collapsible supporting structure, 6 shows a further embodiment of a carrier designed as a box-like part, an even more schematic representation of this carrier,

8 shows the carrier according to FIGS. 6 and 7 in the folded position,

9 is a carrier similar to the previous embodiments,

10 shows a carrier designed with a carrying strap,

11 shows a carrier according to FIG. 10 in the folded position,

12 is a top view of the carrier according to FIG. 11,

Fig. 13 shows another embodiment of a carrier, now in pocket-like training as well

14 the carrier shown in FIG. 13 in the folded position,

15 shows a further embodiment of a box-like carrier,

Fig. 16 shows the carrier of Fig. 15 when folded and

17 shows the carrier according to FIG. 15 in a more folded position.

The carrier shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is equipped as a multipack carrier, specifically in the embodiment shown as a so-called six-pack carrier, this carrier also being designed to accept only four or eight bottles or another number of bottles can be. The carrier comprises a carrier base 1, here with an approximately rectangular plan, on the two longitudinal sides 2 and 3 of which four web-like or rib-like support members 4a and 4b are formed, respectively, by means of a hinge denoted by 5. Characterized here provided on each longitudinal side 2 and 3 support geder 4a and 4b are hingedly connected to the carrier base 1 and can therefore be folded or pivoted upward according to FIGS. 2 to 4 to form the carrier. The support members are preferably formed only on the two long sides of the base.

The support members 4a and 4b are preferably drawn inward in the shape of an arc at their upper region, specifically preferably in the upper third of the bottles received in the carrier, as best shown in FIG. 4. Here, the upper ends of the support members 4a and 4b preferably open centrally in the longitudinally extending connecting members 6a and 6b, which, as can best be seen in FIG. 3, as snap-together or together Human-catchable longitudinal links are formed so that the connecting webs 6a and 6b, which extend on the longitudinal side and connect the upper ends of the support links with one another, form closure elements in the manner of snap-in or snap-in connections. However, other quick-release fasteners can also be provided just as well, such as adhesive labels that can be stuck around the folded or swiveled connecting webs and serve as a security fastener to show that the packaging is original.

The connecting webs can be designed like a handle. The supporting structure can be formed as a multi-pack, in particular a 4-, 6- or 8-pack, and is preferably equipped to accommodate two rows of bottles. In particular, the support members or support webs 4a and 4b are arranged on the four support corners and on the bottle gap. The support members are expediently formed as profiled strips which are adapted in particular to the bottle shape on the inside.

The support members arranged on the bottle gap can have two support surfaces 7a and 7b adapted to the bottle shape. As can be seen from the drawings, the support base, the support members and the connecting webs are particularly thin-walled. According to a further embodiment, the carrier base 1 is provided in the center with support quills 8 which are adapted to the shape of the bottle and project upwards and which are aligned with the bottle gap. The wall thickness of the support members of the connecting webs and / or the support base is expediently designed for film thickness and is preferably 0.1 to 0.8 mm, in particular 0.2 to 0.4 mm. In a further embodiment, the support webs 4a and 4b can be articulated on the support base, preferably by means of hinges 5. The support structure is formed by folding the support structures around either the upper connecting web or around the longitudinal edges of the support base. The carrier is advantageously produced in one piece.

As the figures show, the support members on their inner surface, that is to say on the surface with which they face the bottles, are adapted to the shape of the bottle, that is to say they are curved here. The inner support members, which are arranged on the bottle gap, are formed with two curved inner or support surfaces 7a, 7b according to FIG. 2, where to have only a curved inner surface against the girders arranged on the corner.

The carrier base 1 has quills 8 which are arranged on the longitudinal side at a distance from one another in the region of the central axis of the carrier base 1. As can be seen, these upwardly projecting sleeves 8 are designed with correspondingly curved inner surfaces to match the outer shape of the bottles to be accommodated, which bottles are designated by 9. In this case, the quills arranged on the inside again have four arched support surfaces, whereas the quills arranged on the two end faces each have two arched or arched support surfaces 9.

In addition, it is expedient if, as is shown in particular in FIG. 1, projections 10 are also formed on the carrier base in the area of the bottle receiving sections. These are used so that the caps of a carrier of a lower stack layer can dip into these projections from below, which on the one hand enables good stacking and stabilization, but on the other hand also enables very good load transfer or load transfer from the bottom to the bottles.

The carrier is designed in this case, as can be seen from FIG. 4, that the bottles can be removed from above and also reinserted from above, so that the carrier is also suitable for returning the empty bottles.

The supporting structure is designed as a framework and is very finely structured or structured. In particular, the support members and the connecting webs, as well as the carrier base, are of extremely thin-walled design comparable to yoghurt pots, the thicknesses being in the range from 0.1 to 0.2 mm. This results in an extremely lightweight and flexible supporting structure.

In a further alternative and preferred embodiment according to FIG. 4 a, the supporting structure has walls 40 on the two longitudinal sides which project upwards from the bottom 1 in the lower region and which are bulged and curved outwards in accordance with the bottles to be accommodated. These walls 40 sit upwards through the support webs 7 continue, which open into an upper link 6, which is arranged in the middle and at the same time forms the carrying handle 41. The connecting member 6 expediently extends over the entire longitudinal side of the carrier. The bottom 1 is formed from two bottom halves 1 a and 1 b, which overlap one another in the exemplary embodiment shown and are connected to one another, for example, by gluing. However, any other suitable connection option, such as latching, welding, locking or tab-like insertion into one another, is also possible. To fill the carrier, this is pushed from above with open bottom halves 1 a and 1 b over a bottle group of six bottles and below the bottles the two bottom halves 1 a and 1 b are guided together and one above the other and connected to one another, so that the carrier two Takes rows of three bottles each.

The thickness of the walls 40 corresponds to the thickness of the supporting webs, it being possible to speak of an extremely thin-walled structure. The two wall elements 40, which lie opposite one another, can also be designed in a band-like manner, with support webs extending from the floor and then the band-like element 40 coming, which then continues upward into the support webs 7 already shown to the connecting member 6. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the two wall elements 40 extend approximately over half the bottle height or represent approximately two-fifths of the height of the carrier. This information is exemplary. Of course, the height of the wall elements can be designed appropriately.

In order to increase the rigidity of the slender carrier, the webs 7 can be formed like beads, as can be seen schematically from the section AA in FIG. 4b. But also the wall elements 40 are bead-like in the area of the support webs or in the area of the continuation of the support webs, which results in a certain stiffening effect. A corresponding bead is also provided in the handle 41. As in the embodiments in FIGS. 1 to 4, the locking mechanism can also be provided on the other side in the embodiment according to FIGS. 4 a and 4 b, that is to say in the connecting link 6, which is formed in two parts at the time. In this case, the bottom 1 dami is not made up of two halves, but rather is continuous. Otherwise, the carrier can 4 a and 4 b also have further configurations explained in the above-described embodiment, such as, for example, quill-like bumps in the ground and the like.

The carrier can be produced by injection molding or by deep drawing and is preferably made from a recyclable material with high strength, in particular polyethylene terephthalate.

Since the supporting members are connected to one another at the top by connecting webs designed as closure elements, the carrier can also be used for disposable and reusable packaging. I.e. the carrier can be returned, in particular for the return transport of the empty bottles, can then be cleaned and put back into circulation.

The carrier is produced in particular by extrusion, starting from a film or a flat board with a thickness of 0.2 to 0.8 mm, the films being guided over rollers, calendered and punched out over a roller. The bead-like shape takes place in a stamping process at elevated temperatures. Alternatively, production by injection molding is also possible.

Fig. 5 shows a similar embodiment as the Fig. 1 to 4, but there the support structure is folded from top to bottom, the closure elements, there designated 11 and 12, are provided on the floor, which is divided into two floor halves 13 and 14 is. In the upper area, ie where the bottles are inserted, a one-piece connecting web 15 is provided. On the bottom side, the closure elements are again expediently designed as a latching or snap connection.

FIG. 6 shows a box-like carrier which is formed from thin-walled side walls and has a bottom 16. The side walls 17 are, as can be seen from the schematically illustrated FIGS. 7 and 8, hingedly connected to one another at their corners, preferably via film hinges at 18, the bottom 16 being articulated at the lower edge of one of the side walls at 19, again preferably via a hinge so that the bottom can be folded up for the purpose of folding the bag that can. The folded position results from FIG. 8, with a narrow side wall and a longer side wall each lying in one plane. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 6, a handle 20 is arranged on the upper edge of a side wall and is articulated or attached, which can be folded inwards. The carrier according to these FIGS. 6 to 8 can thus be folded up and folded out very easily. Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the carrier can be structured in the outer wall area, in particular also have display openings 21.

An analogous embodiment results from FIG. 9.

Fig. 10 has a similar embodiment to the previous figures, but a handle in the manner of a strap 22 is used. The carrying strap can be adjustable in the longitudinal direction, so that the carrying strap can be suitably extended or shortened. It can be attached to the side wall using a snap-in connection, so that the handle can also be released. Fig. 10 shows the carrier in its use position, Fig. 11 in the folded position in side view and in Fig. 12 in plan view.

FIG. 13 shows an embodiment with a carrier in the manner of a bag, which can also be folded up, as shown in FIG. 14. Corresponding joints, here designated 23, are provided, which can expediently be arranged in the corner area, but not necessarily in the corner area. A shoulder strap 22 is also provided. The bag-like structure, which can also be used to hold bottles but also other objects, can be conveniently folded or folded up, again with a narrow and a longer longitudinal side wall on one side, if the side walls have different lengths. If the carrying strap 22 is pulled up in the folded position according to FIG. 14, then the pocket is automatically unfolded.

15 shows a box-like carrier 24, which is formed from a box bottom 25 and an upper circumferential support part in the manner of a frame 26 and two side walls 27 and 28 which can be folded inwards. The folding walls 27 and 28 form display openings 29th Maximized display openings are given in the area of the longitudinal side wall, since there is no connecting link between the upper and lower box edge, the connecting links rather represent the two foldable side walls provided on the narrow front side.

As FIG. 15 shows quite clearly, guide pins, which are designated by 29, are arranged laterally on the side walls 27 and 28, which can be reduced or emaciated supporting supports. These guide pins 29 are guided on the inner surface of the support strip 26, for which purpose a guide strip is used, which is shown only schematically in broken lines in FIG. 16. A guide groove can also be used. Due to the bilateral design of the guide pins and guide strips or guide grooves, the side walls can be folded inwards, so that the upper circumferential frame part 26 then reaches the bottom of the box. The intermediate positions are shown in FIGS. 16 and 17.

Advantageously, as can best be seen in FIG. 17, recesses or recesses 30 are provided on the circumferential support strip, into which, as again shown in FIG. 15, the side walls can enter. Complementary projections 31 are provided on the box bottom, so that when the side walls 27 and 28 are folded in, the upper, ie. H. the upper circumferential support bar comes to a stop on the box floor, the projections 31 then engaging in the recesses 30 and also the projection 32 on the upper support bar engaging in the free space or space 33 provided between the projections 31.

Claims

claims

1. Carrier for bottles and the like, which delimits a receiving space with a carrier base for receiving several bottles within the carrier, characterized in that the carrier formed from plastic is emaciated on a support frame with maximized display openings.

2. Carrier according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting frame is formed by a finely slxid tured supporting frame made of thin-walled supporting members or supporting webs (4, 4b), in particular for the lateral bottle holder.

3. Carrier according to claim 2, characterized in that the support webs (4a, 4b) from the carrier base (1), in particular from the bottom edge (2, 3) extend upwards and form the lateral jacket of the carrier.

4. Carrier according to claim 1 or 2, that the carrier is provided with opposite wall elements (40) which continue in support webs (7).

5. Carrier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supporting webs (4a, 4b) on the two longitudinal sides (2, 3) of the carrier base (1) are each opposite and aligned in pairs at the same distance, in particular in parallel planes ,

6. Carrier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support webs at the upper end of the beam open into a web-like connecting member (6, 6 a, 6 b), which at the same time forms a grip element.

7. Carrier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottleneck sections of the carrier base (1) have a hump-shaped or button-like projection for the immersed engagement of the closure caps is formed or has in the stack below the carrier for the purpose of load transmission through the bottles.

8. Carrier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support frame has two floor halves or two connecting web halves which can be closed together to form the support frame, preferably by a latching, snap, clamp, welding, adhesive, plug - or adhesive bond.

9. Carrier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier is formed like a pocket or box from a bottom and four side walls which are hingedly connected to one another at their corner edge.

10. Carrier according to claim 9, characterized in that the box bottom is connected to the lower edge of one of the side walls in such a way that the bottom can be pivoted upwards away from a support stop.

11. Carrier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a handle or a carrying strap (21 or 22) is arranged on one or more side walls.

12. Carrier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier is formed from a box bottom (25) and an upper frame-like circumferential support bar (26) and has two oppositely hinged side walls (27, 28) on the opposite side are guided on the carrier in such a way that the upper support strip of the carrier can be lowered onto the box base (25) by folding in the side walls (27, 28).

13. Carrier according to claim 30, characterized in that the side walls (27, 28) on the upper support frame (26) guided, in particular have laterally projecting guide pins (29) on a bar or in a groove on or on the Ixi - Inner surface of the circumferential frame-like support strip (26) are guided.

4. Carrier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier is formed from preferably recyclable plastic, in particular polyethylene terephthalate.