HOLDING ARRANGEMENT FOR CANS

Abstract: There is provided a paperboard blank (10) having a top panel (11) provided with circular apertures (12), each having a diameter just less than the maximum diameter of a can rim. The rim can be pushed through the aperture (12) to retain the can relative to the blank (10). Side walls (14, 15, 16, 17) fold down the sides of the cans and are held by gluing panels (22, 24).

Description: Holding Arrangement For Cans This invention relates to arrangements for holding a plurality of cans. Multipacks of cans are well known for drinks and foodstuffs. Cans of drinks, and indeed some foods, are often sold in multipacks utilising a plastic ring having a number of apertures for receiving a corresponding number of cans. This number is often four or -six. It is, however, desirable to cease using plastic in such multipacks. According to the present invention there is provided an arrangement for holding a plurality of cans each of which has a top rim, said arrangement comprising a paperboard member having a plurality of apertures, each aperture being dimensioned so as to be c marginally smaller than the widest dimensions of the top rim of a can to be held wherein each top rim and each associated aperture are pushed relative to each other so that the rim passes through the aperture which engages below the rim to prevent withdrawal of n the can. Preferably the apertures have their marginal portion upturned prior to coupling with the can. This upturning may be a process performed by the packing machinery itself or the process may be performed when 5 the packing blank is originally stamped. In preferred arrangements the paperboard member has side walls provided around the apertures which side walls are attached to the paperboard member along fold lines whereby in use the side walls are 0 folded down so as to engage the cans and are secured in the folded down positions. This results in space for printing. The side walls may be secured with glue or by interlocking formations formed integrally with the side walls. This securing may take place before 5 or after attachment to the cans. In most situations the apertures are substantially circular. Conveniently the apertures are formed in generally rectangular arrays such as 2 X 2 or 2 X 3 or 2 X 4 or even 1 X 2, 1 X 3, 1 X 4 or any other suitable configurations. Also finger gripping holes may be provided in the central space between each set of four apertures . In another arrangement two oppositely extending side walls are hingedly attached to the paperboard member, the side walls being adapted to fold over the tops of the cans and secured to each other with, for example, glue. Embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail. The description makes reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank for a holding arrangement according to the present invention. Figure 2 is a partial plan view of a further blank according to the present invention. Figure 3 is a part sectional side view through the figure 2 arrangement in use. Figure 4 is a partial view of a still further blank according to the present invention. Figure 5 is a part sectional side view through the figure 4 arrangement in use. In figure 1 there is shown a paperboard blank 10 which has a top panel 11 in which are stamped apertures 12. The apertures 12 are circular and each has a diameter which is marginally less than the maximum diameter of the top rim of a can (not shown). The marginal portion 31 surrounding each aperture 12 is upturned slightly along line 32 such that the marginal portions 31 are raised out of the general plane of the top panel 11. This upturn may be achieved by cold or hot forming of the blank. In some applications the can rims may require large marginal portions to be upturned and it may be preferable in such cases to use heat in the forming process. In the embodiments shown six apertures 12 are provided in a 2 x 3 rectangular array. Finger holes 13 are also provided, one at the centre of each 2 x 2 sub-array of apertures 12. Side panels 14, 15, front and rear panels 16, 17 are hingedly connected to the top panel 11 along fold lines 18, 19, 20, 21. Corner panels 22 are also hingedly connected to the top panel 11 along fold lines 23. Each panel 14, 15, 16, 17 is also formed with corner portions 24 at each end, which corner portions 24 are hingedly connected along fold lines 25. In use the blank 10 will be stamped from a sheet of paperboard of suitable thickness. Also the fold lines are formed by scoring, perforating or any other known means. The blanks 10 can then be transported to the actual packing line. Using the figure 1 blank, a set of six cans will be arranged and the blank 10 will be positioned directly above. The blank will then be pressed over the can rims which engage in their respective apertures 12. Some elastic deformation of the marginal portions 31 surrounding the apertures occurs as the blank is pressed over the rims of the cans, the upturns of the marginal portions 31 providing a lead- in for the cans and assisting the accurate location of the blank on the cans. The marginal portions then snap into position below the rims, tightly engaging the cans just below the rims. The side, front and rear panels 14-17 are then folded down and the corner portions 24 are bent around the corner cans. Adhesive is applied to the underside of the corner panels 22 which are then folded down so as to adhere securely to the corner portions 24. The result is a secure multipack of cans which resists removal of the cans. When the blank 10 is pressed over the rims the marginal portions 31 surrounding the apertures 12 remain upturned slightly after the marginal portions have snapped below the can rims. It will be appreciated that such upturned marginal portions 31 actively resist the cans being subsequently pulled out by downward pulling. The forming of the marginal portions 31 may occur when the blank is formed by using for example simple pressing techniques. Alternatively the forming could occur at the packaging area just prior to application to the cans. The side, front and rear panels result in a secure skirt which further prevents unwanted can movement relative to the paperboard holder and relative to other cans. In a simpler arrangement (not shown) the panels 14-17, 22 are omitted and the cans are simply retained in the apertures in the top panel 11. In the arrangement shown in figures 2 and 3 many of the features of the blank 30 are the same as those in figure 1 and so like parts have been given like reference numerals. In figure 2 the corner panels 22 are provided with extensions 33 which are hingedly connected along fold lines 34 and which in use are locked in any known way or adhered behind the corner portions 24 to provide greater rigidity. In figure 3 there is shown the blank 30 assembled around cans 35 having top rims 36. The cans are shown in side elevation but the blank 30 is shown in section. A further blank 40 is shown in figures 4 and 5 and again similar features to those in figures 1, 2, 3 have been given like reference numerals . In this embodiment left and right web panels 41, 42 are hingedly connected along fold lines 43, 44 to the top panel 11. A main overpanel 45 is hingedly connected along fold line 46 to web panel 41 and a secondary overpanel 47 is hingedly connected along fold line 48 to web panel 42. When the blank 40 is being applied, the can rims are pressed through the apertures 12 and then the web panels 41, 42 are folded upwards and then the overpanels 45, 47 are folded across the tops of the cans and secured to each other using adhesive. This construction improves the rigidity of the multipack package. It will be appreciated that the techniques described above are also suited to can rims/apertures 12 which are not round provided the can rim is a press fit in the aperture. The side skirts and/or top panels are optional features to help the rigidity of the package. They also provide more space for printing of words, logos, information, etc. The actual dimensions and characteristics of the marginal portion around the aperture are of course variable, and will be dependent largely on the can rim diameter, as well as the thickness and quality of the paperboard being used.

Claims: CLAIMS 1 An arrangement for holding a plurality of cans each of which has a top rim, said arrangement comprising a paperboard member having a plurality of apertures, each aperture being dimensioned so as to be marginally smaller than the widest dimensions of the top rim of a can to be held wherein each top rim and each associated aperture are pushed relative to each other so that the rim passes through the aperture which engages below the rim to prevent withdrawal of the can. 2 An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apertures have their marginal portion upturned prior to coupling with the can. 3 An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the paperboard member has side walls provided around the apertures which side walls are attached to the paperboard member along fold lines whereby in use the side walls are folded down so as to engage the cans and are secured in the folded down position. 4 An arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the side walls are secured with glue. 5 An arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the side walls are secured by interlocking formations formed integrally with the side walls. 6 An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein two oppositely extending side walls are hingedly attached to the paperboard member, the side walls being adapted to fold over the tops of the cans and secured to each other. 7 An arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the apertures are substantially circular. 8 An arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 , wherein finger gripping holes are provided in the paperboard member.

Inventors: NEGELEN EMANUEL, NEGELEN, EMANUEL
Applicants: NEGELEN EMANUEL, RIVERWOOD INT LTD, RIVERWOOD INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Application year: 1993
Main classification: B65D71
IPC codes: B65D67, B65D71