WO2015061196A1 - Container carrier - Google Patents
Container carrier Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2015061196A1 WO2015061196A1 PCT/US2014/061306 US2014061306W WO2015061196A1 WO 2015061196 A1 WO2015061196 A1 WO 2015061196A1 US 2014061306 W US2014061306 W US 2014061306W WO 2015061196 A1 WO2015061196 A1 WO 2015061196A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- ranks
- container
- apertures
- container carrier
- center
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D71/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material
- B65D71/50—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material comprising a plurality of articles held together only partially by packaging elements formed otherwise than by folding a blank
- B65D71/504—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material comprising a plurality of articles held together only partially by packaging elements formed otherwise than by folding a blank the element being formed from a flexible sheet provided with slits or apertures intended to be stretched over the articles and adapt to the shape of the article
Definitions
- This invention relates to a container carrier having at least three rows of container receiving apertures for unitizing a plurality of containers.
- Conventional container carriers are often used to unitize a plurality of similarly sized containers, such as cans, bottles, jars and boxes and/or similar containers that require unitization.
- Flexible plastic ring carriers are one such conventional container carrier.
- Flexible plastic ring carriers having a plurality of container receiving apertures that each engage a corresponding container may be used to unitize groups of four, six, eight, twelve or other suitable groups of containers into a convenient multipackage.
- Flexible ring carriers may include a handle that extend upwardly from the carrier to enable a consumer to carry the package from the top (called a “top lift carrier”) or outwardly from a side of the carrier to enable a consumer to carry the package from the side (called a “side lift carrier").
- the present invention is directed to a flexible carrier for packaging containers that includes an arrangement of container receiving apertures that are configured to permit placement over containers in three distinct rows.
- the carrier is suitably configured with a combination of webs and container receiving apertures that permit opening up and generally even, distributed stretching for application to the containers.
- the shape and width of the outer three container receiving apertures in end ranks are quite different from the central six container receiving apertures in middle ranks.
- Such a design overcomes the natural tendency of the central apertures to foreshorten during stretching.
- the resulting carrier is configured to enable placement over at least three rows of containers to result in a tight, unitized bricklike package.
- Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a container carrier according to one preferred embodiment of this invention
- Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a container carrier according to one preferred embodiment of this invention.
- Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a container carrier according to one preferred embodiment of this invention.
- Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a container carrier according to one preferred embodiment of this invention.
- Fig. 5 is a top view of a package of containers according to one preferred embodiment of this invention.
- Figs. 1-4 show flexible carrier 10 for unitizing six or more containers and a resulting unitized package, shown in one embodiment in Fig. 5.
- Figs. 1-5 illustrate various structures for flexible carrier 10 of the invention, the illustrations are exemplary, and the invention is not limited to the flexible carriers 10 or packages shown for twelve containers.
- flexible carrier 10 may be alternatively configured and used to unitize six, nine, fifteen, eighteen, or any other desired number of containers.
- Containers are preferably cans, however, bottles or any other commonly unitized container may be used with flexible carrier 10 according to this invention.
- the containers are preferably, though not necessarily, like-sized within a single flexible carrier 10.
- Each flexible carrier 10 preferably includes a single layer of flexible sheet 20 having a width and length defining therein a plurality of container receiving apertures 25, each for receiving a container.
- the plurality of container receiving apertures 25 are preferably arranged in at least three longitudinal rows and multiple longitudinal ranks so as to form an array of container receiving apertures 25, such as three rows by four ranks for a twelve container multipackage as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 or three rows by four divisible ranks for a dividable twelve container multipackage as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.
- Container receiving apertures 25 are preferably elongated in a longitudinal direction of flexible carrier 10.
- the resulting configuration includes at least two middle transverse ranks 40 through a middle area of the carrier and exactly two end transverse ranks 45 on each opposite end of the carrier 10.
- Each rank preferably includes three container receiving apertures 25 (one for each row in the carrier 10). Of these three container receiving apertures 25 per rank, there are two outer apertures 27 and one center aperture 29 formed therebetween.
- container receiving apertures 25 are preferably formed within flexible sheet 20. As such, one row of container receiving apertures 25 is preferably formed along each side of the carrier 10 and one intermediate row is formed therebetween. Container receiving apertures 25 are preferably formed in a geometry that results in a uniform application of the carrier 10 to containers to produce a tight unitization of containers within flexible carrier 10. Such a result is difficult when carrier 10 is engaged with three rows of container receiving apertures 25 over three rows of containers as described herein.
- one or more jaws engage with an edge of the container receiving apertures 25 in outer rows and stretch the carrier open so as to apply the carrier to individual containers.
- the jaws cannot directly engage container receiving apertures in that row which results in inadequate stretching of the container receiving apertures in that row and/or misapplication of the carrier to the plurality of containers.
- the subject invention is configured to enable that the container receiving apertures 25 in that intermediate row to adequate stretch and engage the associated containers resulting in a desired package shown in Fig. 5.
- container carrier 10 includes a series of interconnecting webs 30 that define the plurality of container receiving apertures 25.
- Webs 30 are stretchable around container during application and recoverable around container following application.
- center webs 32 are located between middle transverse ranks and are wider than outer webs 36 located between middle ranks and end transverse ranks.
- each center aperture 29 in middle transverse ranks 40 is longer than each outer aperture 27 in middle transverse ranks 40.
- center apertures 29 in end transverse ranks 45 are wider than outer apertures 27 in end transverse ranks 45.
- Figs. 1 center webs 32 are located between middle transverse ranks and are wider than outer webs 36 located between middle ranks and end transverse ranks.
- center aperture 29 in middle transverse ranks 40 is longer than each outer aperture 27 in middle transverse ranks 40.
- center apertures 29 in end transverse ranks 45 are wider than outer apertures 27 in end transverse ranks 45.
- center aperture 29 in end transverse ranks 45 preferably tapers wider to an outer extremity of the container carrier 10 and outer apertures 27 in end transverse ranks 45 taper narrower to an outer extremity of the container carrier 10.
- center apertures 29 in the end ranks 45 preferably include a different configuration than center apertures 29 in the middle ranks 40.
- center apertures 29 in the end ranks 45 are longitudinally asymmetric while the center apertures in the middle ranks 40 are longitudinally symmetric.
- outer apertures 27 in end transverse ranks 45 are longer than outer apertures 36 in middle transverse ranks 40.
- a handle 50 extends from a longitudinal edge of carrier 10.
- Handle 50 may comprise one or more elongated apertures positioned along the outer periphery of handle 50 or may comprise a similar configuration that provides an ample area for a consumer to grasp by inserting his hand through and still maintain the purpose and integrity of package.
- a pair of secondary handles 55 may be positioned along a longitudinal edge of the carrier 10 opposite the edge of the handle 50.
- one or both of the handle 50 and/or the secondary handles 55 may be divisible along a line of weakness.
- the package may be configured as a twelve pack or a six pack or any similar combination depending on the number of container receiving openings 25 and the configuration of the handles 50, 55 employed.
- the container carrier 10 may further include asymmetric dividing apertures 70 positioned between middle ranks 40 and end ranks 45 of container receiving apertures.
- a dividing aperture 75 positioned between middle ranks 40 of container receiving apertures 25 is center offset though symmetrical along a transverse direction of the carrier 10.
- the configuration of the carrier 10 described above includes a combination of webs and container receiving apertures that permit opening up and even stretching for application to the containers.
- the shape and width of the outer three container receiving apertures in end ranks are quite different from the central six container receiving apertures in middle ranks.
- the design of the center row container receiving apertures is different from the design of the outer row container receiving apertures. Such a design overcomes the natural tendency of the central apertures to foreshorten during stretching.
- a package 100 resulting from flexible carrier 10 includes a plurality of unitized containers such as shown in Fig. 5.
- Flexible carriers 10 are generally applied to containers by stretching flexible sheet 20 surrounding container receiving apertures 25 around container, and requiring the stretched carrier 10 to recover, thereby providing a tight engagement.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Packages (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP14790978.2A EP3060494B1 (en) | 2013-10-21 | 2014-10-20 | Container carrier |
BR112016008893-0A BR112016008893A2 (en) | 2013-10-21 | 2014-10-20 | CONTAINER CONVEYOR |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US201361893707P | 2013-10-21 | 2013-10-21 | |
US61/893,707 | 2013-10-21 | ||
US14/517,112 | 2014-10-17 | ||
US14/517,112 US9079700B2 (en) | 2013-10-21 | 2014-10-17 | Container carrier |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2015061196A1 true WO2015061196A1 (en) | 2015-04-30 |
Family
ID=52993415
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2014/061306 WO2015061196A1 (en) | 2013-10-21 | 2014-10-20 | Container carrier |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP3060494B1 (en) |
BR (1) | BR112016008893A2 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2015061196A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN112218802A (en) * | 2018-04-05 | 2021-01-12 | 英国珀里森有限公司 | Improvements in or relating to container carriers |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0142360A2 (en) * | 1983-11-17 | 1985-05-22 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | A carrier device and a package including it |
US4782955A (en) * | 1986-09-22 | 1988-11-08 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Bottle carrier device |
EP0318619A1 (en) * | 1987-12-04 | 1989-06-07 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Can multi-package |
US5018620A (en) * | 1990-05-07 | 1991-05-28 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Carrier stock with band segments extending between opposite edges |
US5139137A (en) * | 1990-06-14 | 1992-08-18 | Illinois Tool Works, Inc. | Carrier stock with tear-open tabs |
EP0997389A1 (en) * | 1998-10-15 | 2000-05-03 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Carrier |
EP1004518A2 (en) * | 1998-11-24 | 2000-05-31 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Container carrier |
-
2014
- 2014-10-20 EP EP14790978.2A patent/EP3060494B1/en not_active Not-in-force
- 2014-10-20 BR BR112016008893-0A patent/BR112016008893A2/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2014-10-20 WO PCT/US2014/061306 patent/WO2015061196A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0142360A2 (en) * | 1983-11-17 | 1985-05-22 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | A carrier device and a package including it |
US4782955A (en) * | 1986-09-22 | 1988-11-08 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Bottle carrier device |
EP0318619A1 (en) * | 1987-12-04 | 1989-06-07 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Can multi-package |
US5018620A (en) * | 1990-05-07 | 1991-05-28 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Carrier stock with band segments extending between opposite edges |
US5139137A (en) * | 1990-06-14 | 1992-08-18 | Illinois Tool Works, Inc. | Carrier stock with tear-open tabs |
EP0997389A1 (en) * | 1998-10-15 | 2000-05-03 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Carrier |
EP1004518A2 (en) * | 1998-11-24 | 2000-05-31 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | Container carrier |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN112218802A (en) * | 2018-04-05 | 2021-01-12 | 英国珀里森有限公司 | Improvements in or relating to container carriers |
US11247820B2 (en) | 2018-04-05 | 2022-02-15 | British Polythene Limited | Container carriers |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP3060494B1 (en) | 2017-08-16 |
BR112016008893A2 (en) | 2020-08-25 |
EP3060494A1 (en) | 2016-08-31 |
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