Container package and dispenser

A package for a number of beverage or non-beverage containers includes an overlay member covering the top or bottom ends of the containers. The overlay member has a central, generally planar panel positioned on the ends of the containers and may include a number of perimeter panels each joined to and positioned on a perimeter of the central panel. Each perimeter panel is oriented generally perpendicularly relative to the central panel. A dispenser opening is in the central panel of the overlay member through which the containers may be removed from the package. An overwrap member such as a thermoplastic shrink wrap film envelops the array of containers and the overlay member to provide a robust, unitary package for transport and storage. A line of weakness in the overwrap member is aligned with the dispenser to allow a user to puncture the overwrap member in the vicinity of the line of weakness and gain access to the containers via the dispenser. The package may be supported on a shelf such as within a refrigerator or storage rack with a side of the package facing downwardly and the dispenser positioned proximate the downwardly facing side of the package.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to packages for containers, bottles and cans with beverage or non-beverage contents therein, and more particularly to a package that is economical to manufacture, robust in use and from which the containers can be easily and conveniently dispensed.

The packaging of multiple containers such as beverage bottles and cans has for many years been achieved by the use of pre-scored and pre-folded paperboard cartons or carriers which encircle the containers. Recently, a trend toward cheaper thermoplastic film materials which can be heat shrunk into close conforming relationship to a group of containers for beverage and non-beverage items has emerged. While such shrink wrap packages may be more economical than the paperboard cartons and carriers, the shrink wrap film readily tears at high stress concentration areas of the package due to the thin film that is used in providing a more economical package. In those instances where the film has been strong enough, typically because the films are thicker, to prevent accidental tearing of the package, the packages have been relatively difficult for the consumer to open and conveniently gain access to the containers therein.

Several attempts have been made to strike a balance that appears necessary to produce a commercial thermoplastic film-type package. It has been difficult, however, to provide an economical package which combines the requisite strength for handling and at the same time offers convenient access to the containers for the consumer.

Additionally, the efficient and economical packaging process for beverage and non-beverage containers is a continuing objective for the packaging industry. An important aspect of any beverage and non-beverage package is the ability to assemble, transfer, coordinate and package the containers in a commercially advantageous manner. A beverage or non-beverage container package that is economical, robust and convenient for the consumer to use, but which is difficult to assembly and package does not satisfy the commercial requirements associated with such products.

Bottled water has become very popular for retail purchase and PET bottles are commonly used as the container. Similar to many consumer beverages, the bottles are sold in packages of typically at least four bottles up to as many as 24 to 36 or more per package. However, unlike packaging for soda, soft drinks and beer, bottled water packages and many non-beverage packages such as pet food packages are typically very basic and conventional consisting of a paperboard tray supporting the bottom of the containers and the entire package being enveloped in shrink wrap plastic or the like. The relatively low level of sophistication for these types of packages is, in part, a result of the low profit margins and economic limitations associated with the sales of such products. Manufacturers and bottlers are not able to economically justify the added cost of production associated with sophisticated packages and dispensers for bottled water and many other items while still maintaining competitive retail pricing.

Additionally, consumers commonly purchase large quantities of bottled water and other non-beverage items and often each package includes 24 to 36 or more containers. It is difficult, if not impossible, for a consumer to conveniently transfer the entire package to their refrigerator for cooling, or pantry for storage and convenient access. As an alternative, consumers often remove individual bottles or containers from the package for use or transfer to the refrigerator or pantry and this piece-meal dispensing of the containers is inconvenient and continual attention to stocking and re-stocking the refrigerator or pantry with bottled water, pet food or the like is required.

Therefore, an improved package for bottled water and other beverage or non-beverage containers is needed that satisfies these and other shortcomings associated with known container packages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention solves these and other problems and, in one embodiment, includes a paperboard overlay member of a size to cover the longitudinal ends (tops or bottoms) of the assembled containers whether they are beverage bottles or non-beverage containers such as pet food cans. In one embodiment, the package includes 12 PET bottles in a 4×3 arrangement, but other sizes of packages and arrangements of containers for beverage or non-beverage items are possible with this invention. The rectangular shape of the overlay member is sized to cover the top caps or bottoms of the containers and perimeter panels extending from each edge of a central, rectangular panel of the overlay member are folded downwardly to form a tray. Ultimately, the tray may be inverted, upwardly facing or on an edge in a vertical orientation depending upon the particular use of the package and dispenser of this invention. The tray includes one or more dispensers in the rectangular central panel. Each dispenser in one embodiment includes a dispenser flap adjacent one of the longitudinal or lateral edges of the central panel. Perforated tear lines are provided at the perimeter edge of the dispenser flap to allow the flap to be folded perpendicular to the plane of the overlay member panel. The dispenser may include a dispenser opening cut-out portion in the overlay member alone or in combination with and adjacent to the dispenser flap.

After the containers are arranged in the desired configuration and the overlay member is placed atop the caps or beneath the container bottoms with the perimeter panels folded, the package is enveloped in an overwrap member such as thermoplastic shrink wrap film as is well known in the industry. The package is easily handled, sturdy and well constructed for shipping, storing and merchandising. In one aspect of this invention, the dispenser opening in the overlay member is sized, positioned, and configured so as not to interfere with the containers being assembled and positioned relative to the overlay member. For example, the dispenser opening size, placement and shape will not catch the base or tip the bottle when the bottle slides atop the overlay member during the assembly and packaging process.

Once the consumer brings the package home, they can easily place it in the refrigerator, pantry or on a shelf with the overlay member and container ends facing forwardly or upwardly. Perforations, seams or scores are provided in the overwrap and in registration with the dispenser flap and/or dispenser opening in the overlay member so that a user may easily insert their hand through the shrink wrap and into the cut-out, tear the shrink wrap in the region of the dispenser flap, tear the dispenser flap along the perforations in the overlay member and fold the flap downwardly toward the shelf or outwardly exposing the dispenser opening. As such, the package is conveniently stored on the shelf of a refrigerator or elsewhere and individual bottles can be accessed from the package through the dispenser all without compromising the integrity of the package and remaining containers therein. This robust and easy to use package is provided with a minimum of cost to the bottler, producer, manufacturer, retailer and consumer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIGS. 1-3, one embodiment of a package10according to this invention is shown for beverage containers12. The beverage containers12as shown inFIG. 3are arranged in a single layer array14in a 4×3 matrix. Each beverage container12as shown inFIG. 3is a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle having an upper opening closed by a bottle cap16, an arcuate sidewall18and a base or bottom20. The bottom20of each PET bottle as shown inFIGS. 1-3may have a number of spaced pedestals, protuberances or feet17as is common with PET bottles. While PET bottles are shown arranged in a 4×3 matrix array14inFIG. 3, this invention is readily applicable for beverage and non-beverage containers12of a different type, style, arrangement and number. For example, it is well recognized in the industry that beverages are available for retail sale in PET bottles and other bottle materials such as glass or another plastic, aluminum cans, foil pouches or any container material and configuration. Likewise, while a 4×3 matrix of beverage containers12is shown inFIG. 3, other arrangements and assembly of beverage and non-beverage containers12are available within the scope of this invention, including multi-layer arrangements and the like.

The package10according to one embodiment of this invention includes an overlay member22, one embodiment of which is shown inFIGS. 1-2. According to one embodiment and as shown inFIGS. 1-2, the overlay member22is a paperboard sheet material of 0.018 carrier board. However, other materials including corrugated plastic and other configurations of the overlay member22may be utilized within the scope of this invention. The overlay member22ofFIGS. 1-2has a generally rectangular and planar central panel24of a size and configuration to cover the bottle caps16and top ends of the array14of beverage containers12in the package10. In one embodiment, the bottle caps16and top ends of the beverage containers12do not project or protrude through the overlay member22according to this invention. According to varied aspects of this invention, the overlay member may be positioned on the longitudinal ends of the assembled containers12, such as the top end caps16as shown inFIG. 3or the bottoms20of the containers12.

Perimeter panels26are each joined to and positioned on respective perimeter edges of the central panel24as shown particularly inFIG. 1. A score, crease or fold line28is provided at the juncture of each perimeter panel26and the associated edge of the central panel24so that the associated perimeter panel26may be folded approximately 90° relative to the plane of the central panel24. When each of the perimeter panels26is folded along the associated fold line28, the overlay member22is formed into a tray-like configuration as shown inFIG. 2. In one embodiment, each perimeter panel26has tapered or flared side edges30so that when each of the perimeter panels26is folded into the configuration ofFIG. 2, it does not interfere with the adjacent perimeter panels26in forming the tray configuration ofFIG. 2.

The package10of one embodiment of this invention includes a dispenser32through which the containers12in the package10may be accessed and removed. In one embodiment, the dispenser32includes a dispenser flap34in the central panel24of the overlay member22. The dispenser flap34is positioned adjacent a perimeter edge36of the central panel24of the overlay member22along the fold line28ajoining the associated perimeter panel26a. In the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-4, the dispenser32is adjacent a longitudinal perimeter edge36of the central panel24. The longitudinal perimeter edge is longer than the lateral perimeter edge of the overlay member22and the larger dimension of the array14of containers is aligned with the longitudinal perimeter edge. For example, the 4×3 array of containers12shown inFIGS. 2-4has four containers12aligned in the longitudinal direction with the dispenser32and three containers12are aligned in the lateral direction. A pair of tear lines38for the dispenser32may be perforations or another other type of tear line, emanate from the fold line28aand are oriented generally perpendicular to the fold line28aas shown particularly inFIG. 1.

The dispenser32according to one embodiment of this invention also includes a dispenser opening40in the central panel24of the overlay member22. The dispenser opening40of one embodiment as shown inFIGS. 1-2has a longitudinal length L and a lateral width W. The dispenser opening40is positioned adjacent to a terminal free edge42of the dispenser flap34and is oriented longitudinally in the central panel24and adjacent one longitudinal side edge36of the central panel24. As shown inFIGS. 1-2, the dispenser32of one embodiment of this invention is positioned asymmetrically relative to a longitudinal axis of the overlay member22and package10. The terminal free edge42of the dispenser flap34borders the dispenser opening40according to one embodiment of this invention. However, a dispenser32according to this invention may include only the dispenser flap34, only the dispenser opening40, a combination of the dispenser flap34and the dispenser opening40as shown inFIGS. 1-2or any other arrangement and placement. Other arrangements, designs, placement or configurations for the dispenser32are available within the scope of this invention, including multiple dispensers32in a single overlay member22.

The overlay member22with the perimeter panels26,26afolded as shown inFIG. 2may be positioned atop the caps16of the beverage containers12as shown inFIG. 3. The overlay member22may also be positioned on the bottoms20of the containers12. The package10according to one embodiment of this invention also includes an overwrap member44which envelopes or covers at least a substantial portion of the array14of beverage containers12and the overlay member22. In one embodiment, the overwrap member44may be a thermoplastic heat-shrinkable film applied around the overlay member22and containers12and heated in a heat-shrink oven to form a tightly conforming overwrap member44. Heat-shrink plastic films and associated heat-shrink technology are well known in the industry for enveloping beverage containers12and such technology is readily available from Lantech (Lantech.com) as well as other shrink-wrap equipment providers.

The overwrap member44in one embodiment of this invention may include a weakened portion46relative to the remainder of the overwrap member44. The weakened portion46may be a frangible access portion defined by a line or configuration of perforations in the overwrap member44. The weakened portion46may also be a crease, fold, score or discontinuity in the overwrap member44. The weakened portion46is positioned relative to the dispenser32to allow a user to puncture the overwrap member44in the vicinity of the dispenser32to gain access to the containers12in the package10via the dispenser32. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 3, the weakened portion46of the overwrap member44is a line of perforations extending longitudinally on the package10and positioned and aligned relative to or within the dispenser opening40. While a single line of perforations in the overwrap member44is shown inFIG. 3, the weakened portion46of the overwrap member44may be any configuration or design in addition to the perforations or a line thereof within the scope of this invention.

The overwrap member44substantially covers the containers12and overlay member22, but a small portion48of the package10may not be enveloped by the overwrap member44as shown inFIG. 3and as is well known in the industry. Nevertheless, the overwrap member unifies the array14of containers12and overlay member22into a robust unitary package10.

A user, such as a consumer or retail purchaser of the package10, may place the package10on a shelf50of a refrigerator, pantry, storage cabinet or the like as is shown inFIG. 4. In one embodiment, the package10is reoriented so that the containers12and package10lay on one of its sides with the dispenser32positioned adjacent the shelf50so the containers12are removed horizontally from the package10. Alternately, the containers12in the package10may be removed vertically from the package10through the dispenser32even when the containers12are upright as inFIG. 3.

Nevertheless, the package10may be shipped, stored or otherwise processed with the containers12in the upright configuration ofFIG. 3and may then be rotated to the orientation ofFIG. 4for consumer use and dispensing of the containers12. A user merely inserts his or her fingers through the weakened portion46of the overwrap member44and into the dispenser32thereby tearing the overwrap member44while grasping the dispenser flap34and pulling it outwardly from the plane of the central panel24. The dispenser flap34tears along the tear lines38so that it may be positioned in a generally horizontal orientation as inFIG. 4or generally vertically as inFIG. 3, perpendicular to the central panel24and generally parallel with the associated perimeter panel26a, if provided. As such, the dispenser32provides access through which a user may grasp and retrieve one of the containers12of the package10. The dispenser32according to one embodiment of this invention as shown inFIG. 4provides access to more than one of the beverage containers12and, as each beverage container12is removed from the package10through the dispenser32, the remaining beverage containers12will reposition themselves via gravity to be adjacent the dispenser32for convenient access and removal from the package10by the user.

Additionally, a user may pivot the dispenser flap34to a closed position generally co-planar with the central panel24and reorient the package10after some of the containers12have been removed for convenient transport or further storage of the remaining containers12, as needed. As such, the partially filled package10may then be laid on its side on a shelf50or remain upright for access to the remaining containers12as desired. Once all of the containers12are removed from the package10, the overlay member22and overwrap member44may be discarded or recycled as desired.

Another aspect of this invention is shown inFIG. 1in which the width of the dispenser opening40in a generally lateral direction on the overlay member22is identified as d1. In a similar direction, the outer dimension, and in this case a diameter, of each container12in the package10is identified by reference numeral d2. The orientation of the measurements d1and d2is in the same direction or parallel with one another. As is demonstrated inFIG. 1, d1is less than d2and this provides an advantage during assembly of the array14of containers12and the overlay member22. Specifically, once the containers12are assembled in the array configuration, they can be slid on top of or relative to the generally planar central panel24in the lateral direction for the embodiment shown inFIG. 1. In this manner, since the dimension d2of each container12in that lateral direction is greater than the dispenser opening d1in the lateral direction, each container12will not tip, snag or be disrupted when sliding relative to the surface of the central panel24of the overlay member22, including the dispenser opening40. In other words, since the dimension d2of each container12is greater than the dimension d1in a corresponding direction, the containers12will not fall through, trip, snag or be disturbed by the opening40when the array14of containers12and overlay member22are mated together.

Referring toFIGS. 5-7, an alternative embodiment of an overlay member122and associated package110according to this invention is shown. With respect to the embodiment inFIGS. 5-7, elements which are the same as, similar to or comparable to corresponding elements in the embodiments ofFIGS. 1-4will have similar reference numerals in the100series of numbers. The overlay member122ofFIGS. 5-7includes the generally planar central panel124with the dispenser opening140and perforated tear lines138at the longitudinal ends of the dispenser opening140; however, the overlay member122does not include the perimeter panels as in the embodiment inFIGS. 1-4. The package110includes an overwrap member144with a weakened portion146proximate the dispenser132. The containers112in the embodiment ofFIGS. 5-7are generally right circular cylinders and each include protruding circumferential lips152at the top116and bottom120of each container112. One example of a container112of this configuration which is well known in the marketplace is a non-beverage item such as pet food or the like. The circumferential lips152at the top and bottom of each container112may inhibit the containers112from being easily withdrawn from the package110through the dispenser132when the package110is positioned on its side as shown inFIG. 4. Therefore, the embodiment of this invention shown inFIGS. 5-7may be useful for dispensing the containers112through the dispenser opening140in a generally vertical direction as shown by the arrow A inFIG. 7. As shown inFIG. 7, the dispenser flap134of the package110has been torn along the tear lines138so that it is in a generally vertical orientation and perpendicular to the overlay member122. As such, one of the containers112may be withdrawn from the package110in a generally vertical direction while other containers112remain exposed in the package110for handy access.

A still further embodiment of a package210according to this invention is shown inFIGS. 8-10in which, once again, similar elements with respect to previous embodiments of this invention inFIGS. 1-7are shown with similar reference numerals in the200series. The overlay member222of the embodiment of the package210according to this invention shown inFIGS. 8-10is generally planar and does not include the perimeter panels of the first embodiment ofFIGS. 1-4. The package210includes an overwrap member244with a weakened portion246proximate the dispenser232. The overlay member222and associated package210ofFIGS. 8-10includes multiple dispensers, two of which are shown inFIGS. 8-10, on opposing corners of the generally rectangular overlay member222. In this manner, the user may conveniently position the package210in a variety of different orientations for removal of the containers212from the package210through one or both of the dispensers232. Each dispenser232in the embodiment ofFIGS. 8-10is positioned adjacent not only the longitudinal edge of the overlay member222, but also a lateral edge such that the dispenser232is generally in the corner of the overlay member222and associated package210. In this manner, the dispenser flap234includes only one of the dispenser tear lines238in that the opposite edge of the dispenser flap234includes the free edge of the overlay member222. The dispenser opening240of the exemplary embodiment shown inFIGS. 8-10is particularly designed, sized and configured for removal of one of the containers212at a time through each dispenser232as shown inFIG. 10. More particularly, the package210of the embodiment shown inFIG. 10is oriented on its side so that the dispenser flap234when torn from the remainder of the overlay member222is generally horizontal and perpendicular to the vertical orientation of the overlay member222. In this manner, the containers212are withdrawn in a generally horizontal direction as shown by arrow B inFIG. 10. The package210in the orientation shown inFIGS. 9-10may be supported on a shelf of a pantry, storage cabinet or refrigerator for convenient access and removal of the containers212from the package. After each container212is removed from the package210, the containers212remaining in the package210will re-orient themselves, by gravity or otherwise, within the package210so that remaining containers212are accessible for subsequent removal through the dispenser232.

The package10,110,210according to any embodiment of this invention may include finger holes in the overlay member and/or overwrap member for insertion of a user's fingers for carrying and transport of the package prior to or after the dispenser32,132,232has been accessed.

From the above disclosure of the general principles of the present invention and the preceding detailed description of at least one embodiment, those skilled in the art will readily comprehend the various modifications to which this invention is susceptible. Therefore, I desire to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and equivalents thereof.