DEVICE FOR CARRYING CONTAINERS

Abstract: The bottle carrying device (11) has a base (16) and angled side walls (19, 20) with handle portions (23, 24) secured by panel (26). Cuts are made in the base (16) so as to form flaps (28) which are hingedly connected to the side walls (19, 20). The flaps (28) together with edges (32) of cap holes (31) engage below the neck shoulder (15) of a bottle (12) to retain the bottle in the device (11).

Description: Device For Carrying Containers This invention relates to a device for carrying two or more containers each having an annular shoulder. One particular but not exclusive application is in the carrying a number of PET ( Po lye t hy le ne t e repht ha 1 a t e ) bottles containing beverages . According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a carrier device for carrying two or more containers each having an annular shoulder projecting from the neck portion, said carrier device being formed from paperboard and comprising: a base having two or more apertures for receiving the respective neck portions of the containers, two side walls which in use are angled relative to the base and extend towards each other from opposite sides of the base, a cut away portion being formed for each container in each side wall such that opposite side portions of an annular shoulder "• of a container are a snap fit between a cooperating pair of cut away portions, each aperture being defined at least in part by a pair of oppositely disposed flaps hingedly connected at the junction of the base and the respective side walls which flaps in use are folded upwardly to be disposed against the respective side walls, said annular shoulder also being a snap fit above said pair of flaps. In some embodiments at least parts of the periphery of the aperture engage the container. Preferably each aperture is generally circular and each flap is generally semi circular having a straight edge opposite the diametral edge, which straight edge constitutes the hinge line of the flap. In preferred embodiments the distance between the hinge and the diametral edge of each flap is such that when folded back against the side wall it just protrudes above the active edge of its associated cut away portion in the side wall and the active edge of each cut away portion is constituted by an edge generally parallel to the side wall/base junction which edge has generally upwardly angled end portions. In further preferred arrangements the side walls are hingedly connected to upwardly projecting handle portions which incorporate handle means. Conveniently the cut away portions extend into the handle portions to accommodate the container caps. In addition the handle portions may be glued together immediately above the hinge line with the side walls. With some arrangements a further securing flap extends from one handle portion and is folded over the free edge of the other handle portion and adhesively secured thereto. With some embodiments the handle means is formed by cutting out slot-shaped elements which remain hingedly connected to the handle portion along an upper edge which is generally parallel to the hinge between the handle portions and the side walls. Preferably the handle aperture and cut out elements are located and dimensioned such that when in use the handle portions can be folded down so as to lie adjacent one side wall, the cut out elements being a snap fit below the annular shoulders of the containers. The base may also have a central, lengthwise extending fold to enable the device to be stored flat. Another preferred feature is that the grain of the Daperboard extends in a direction perpendicular to the hinge lines, thus improving the strength of the device. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a paperboard blank for forming the device described above. Embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail. The descriptions makes reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a blank according to the present invention. Figure 2 is an end view of a carrier device formed from the figure 1 blank in use. Figure 3 is a side view of the figure 2 10 arrangement. Figure 4 is a side view of the figure 2 arrangement in an alternative position, Figure 5 shows a blank according to another embodiment of the present invention. ■ 5 In figure 1 there is shown a paperboard blank 10 for producing the carrier device 11 shown in figures 2 to 4. The device 11 is for use in coupling together ' , ' in this embodiment, three PET beverage bottles 12, each having a volume of two litres. The -- - ■ device 11 enables three such bottles 12 to be carried as a multipack safely and conveniently. Each bottle 12 has a general neck portion 13, a closure 14 and an annular shoulder 15 just below the closure 14. The device 11 is made from the paperboard -* blank 10 and has a base 16 which is hingedly connected at each side edge 17, 18 to a side wall 19, 20 which extend upwardly and towards each other. The side walls 19, 20 are in turn hingedly connected along fold lines 21, 22 to handle portions 23, 24. One handle 0 portion 24 is hingedly connected along fold line 25 to a securing panel 26. In the base 16 cuts 27 are made to define, in this embodiment six flaps 28 which remain hingedly attached along fold lines 29 and which are generally 5 semi-circula . When the flaps 28 are folded out of the plane of the base 16, generally circular apertures are defined in the base 16. Holes 31 are also cut out of the blank 10, which holes span the fold lines 21, 22. The holes 31 are generally rectangular, although the edges 32, 33 parallel to the fold lines 21, 22 have their ends angled slightly towards the fold line and the side edges 31a are angled upwardly so as to effect a slight waist at the location of fold lines 21, 22. This waisted area tends to grip the closures 14 of the bottles. Bordering on the upper edge 33 of the central holes are slot like handle elements 34 which are cut from the blank 10, but which remain hingedly attached along fold lines 35. Arrows 36 show the grain direction of the paperboard and line 37 indicates a fold extending lengthwise ' of the base. To assemble the device 11 the two side walls 19, 20 are folded towards each other and a glue line is applied to one of the handle positions 23, 24 just above the respective fold line 21, 22. Another glue line is applied remote from the fold line 21, 22 on either handle portion 23, 24. The handle portions 23, 24 are then stuck together such that fold lines 21, 22 lie next to each other. Glue is also applied to the panel 26 which is folded over and secured to the handle portion 23. The base 16 and side walls 19, 20 therefore form a triangular section attached to a double thickness handle section which has an extra reinforcing thickness (panel 26) above the handle fold lines 35. The fold 37 enables the device 11 to be stored flat when not in use. The device 11 is applied to a series of three bottles 12 in a very simple manner. Examining the engagement of a single bottle 12 only the device is pushed downwardly over the neck area 13 of the bottles 12. The closure 14 of bottle engages the pair of flaps 28 which are pushed upwards about fold lines 29 so as to lie generally against the side walls 19, 20 such that the uppermost edge of the flaps 28 just protrude above the edges 32 of the holes 31. Further downward movement of the device 11 causes the shoulder 15 to engage the flaps and push past the upper edges 0 of the flaps 28 and the edges 32 so as to be engaged by the device 11 by means of a snap action, the edges engaging firmly below the shoulder 15. The device is of course dimensioned such that the closure 14 is a neat fit in holes 31, the shoulder 5 15 is held firmly and the aperture 30 sits on the upper portion of the bottle 12 below the shoulder 15. In the embodiment shown in figure 4 the handle portions 23, 24 have been bent back in one direction about fold lines 21, 22 so as to lie against one of ° the side wall-s 19, 20. The handle portions are held in this position by the handle elements 34 which also engage below the shoulder 15 with a snap action, and also by the edges 33 of the holes 31 engaging below the shoulders 15. Such an arrangement is ideal in a retail outlet for joining bottles into a multipack formation. Product information, advertising or promotions can also be printed on the device as desired. As mentioned the devices can be supplied ready assembled in a flat form for ease of handling. Alternatively the blank 10 can be applied in a packaging line directly to the bottles. The base would be placed over the bottles such that the flaps engaged below the shoulders, the side walls would be folded in, adhesive applied to the handle portions which are brought together and secured as the lower edges of the holes engage below the shoulders of the bottles. An alternative blank 50 is shown in figure 5. Many features of this blank 50 are similar to those of the blank 10 and so have been given like reference numerals. It will be appreciated that the assembly and operation of this device is almost identical to that of figures 1 to 4. The principle difference is the provision of four flaps 28 for each aperture 30. Also the arrangement illustrated in figure 5 is adapted to carry only two bottles. In such an arrangement the engagement of the handle portions in a folded condition beside the side walls is effected solely by the edges 33 of the handle portions 23, 24. This embodiment does not, however, have the fold line 37 in the base *t'o enable flat storage of assembled devices. It will be appreciated that the above described devices can be adapted for use with any reasonable number of bottles. Also, the term bottles can include glass or PET or other suitable materials and can also include any suitable container having a shoulder which can be engaged in the manner described. The direction of grain indicated is preferred for strength, but with lighter loads and/or thicker paperboard this feature may not be necessary. In some applications it may not be desirable or necessary to include the handle portions 23, 24. The resulting device would have the form of a triangular sectioned bar linking two or more bottles. Gripping holes could be provided to facilitate lifting or the device could be simply lifted by gripping below the base 16. A suitable securing panel 26 may be hingedly attached to one of the side walls 19, 20. In all arrangements it is not necessary to use glue to connect the various panels of the device. Interlocking tabs or other formations could be employed to join up the blank to produce the device. This may for example be useful for small production runs. It will also be appreciated that the generally semi-circular flaps 28 are suitable for bottles having a neck of circular section. However, other shaped flaps 28 and cuts can be used for bottles of different section such as rectangular, hexangonal etc.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A carrier device for carrying two or more containers each having an annular shoulder projecting from the neck portion, said carrier device being formed from paperboard and comprising: a base having two or more apertures for receiving the respective neck portions of the containers, two side walls which in use are angled relative to the base and extend towards each other from opposite sides of the base, a cut away portion being formed for each container in each side wall such that opposite side portions of an annular shoulder of a container are a snap fit between a cooperating pair of cut away portions, each aperture being defined at least in part by a pair of oppositely disposed flaps hingedly connected at the junction of the base and the respective side walls which flaps in use are folded upwardly to be disposed against the respective side walls, said annular shoulder also being a snap fit above said pair of flaps. 2. A carrier device as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least parts of the periphery of the aperture engage the container. 3. A carrier device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein each aperture is generally circular. 4. A carrier device as claimed in claim 3 wherein each flap is generally semi circular having a straight edge opposite the diametral edge, which straight edge constitutes the hinge line of the flap. 5. A carrier device as claimed in claim wherein the distance between the hinge and the diametral edge of each flap is such that when folded back against the side wall it just protrudes above the active edge of its associated cut away portion in the side wall . A carrier device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the active edge of each cut away portion is constituted by an edge generally parallel to the side wall/base junction which edge has generally upwardly angled end portions. 7. A carrier device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the side walls are hingedly connected to upwardly projecting handle portions which incorporate handle means. 8. A carrier device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the * * cut away portions extend into the handle portions to accommodate the container caps. 9. A carrier device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the handle portions are glued together immediately above the hinge line with the side walls. 10. A carrier device as claimed in claim 9 wherein a further securing flap extends from one handle portion and is folded over the free edge of the other handle portion and adhesively secured thereto. 11. A carrier device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the handle means is formed by cutting out slot- shaped elements which remain hingedly connected to the handle portion along an upper edge which is generally parallel to the hinge between the handle portions and the side walls. 12. A carrier device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the handle aperture and cut out elements are located and dimensioned such that when in use the handle portions can be folded down so as to lie adjacent one side wall, the cut out elements being a snap fit below the annular shoulders of the containers. 13. A carrier device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the base may also have a central, lengthwise extending fold to enable the device to be stored flat. 14. A carrier device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the grain of the paperboard extends in a direction perpendicular to the hinge lines * .

Inventors: MIRET EMILI REQUENA, MIRET, EMILI, REQUENA
Applicants: MIRET EMILI REQUENA, RIVERWOOD INT LTD, RIVERWOOD INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Application year: 1993
Main classification: B65D71
IPC codes: B65D67, B65D71