Device for carrying containers

Abstract: There is provided a carrier device (11) for a plurality of containers (12) each having an annular shoulder (15) projecting from the neck portion. The device comprises, a base (16) having apertures for receiving the respective neck portions of the containers (12), two side walls (19,20) extending towards each other from opposite sides of the base (16) each having a cut away portion for engaging each container (12) and handle portions (23) which incorporate handle means and into which the cut away portions extend to accommodate the container closures (14). One or more flap portions (41) are provided, each of which is connected to the device along a fold line and by means of frangible bridges. The handle portions (23) are folded down against one side wall and the flap portions 41 are adhesively secured to said one side wall such that the movement of the handle portions away from the side wall breaks the bridges leaving the flap portion or portions (41) adhered to said one side wall.

Description: This invention relates to devices according to the preamble of claim 1 for carrying two or more containers each having an annular shoulder. One particular but not exclusive application is in carrying a number of PET (Polyethyleneterephthalate) bottles container beverages. In W094/07760A there is disclosed 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 are angled relative to the base and extend towards each other from opposite sides of the base, a cut away portion being formed in each side wall for each container, each cut away portion having an active edge generally parallel to the side wall/base junction which active edges engage below opposite sides of the annular shoulder of the associated container, said side walls being hingedly connected to handle portions which incorporate handle means and into which the cut away portions extend to accommodate the container closures, the cut away portions being dimensioned such that when in use the handle portions can be folded down so as to lie adjacent one side wall. According to the present invention the carrier device further comprises one or more flap portions each of which is connected to the device along a fold line and by means of frangible bridges such that the flap portion is aligned with a corresponding opening in the handle portion on said one side of the bottles whereby in use when the handle portions are folded down against said one side wall, said flap portion or portions are adhesively secured to said one side wall and when the handle portions are raised from said one side wall, the frangible bridges are broken leaving the flap portion or portions adhered to said one side wall. Preferably the fold line coincides with the fold line between the other side wall and its associated handle portion and is constituted by a part of said handle portion. In preferred embodiments one of said flap portions is provided for each bottle location. With further embodiments each flap portion is provided by a marginal portion of the cut away portion in said associated handle portion and the cut away portions in the other handle portion constitute said openings. With preferred arrangements, each flap is generally C-shaped and spans the cut away, having a fold line at both ends of the closure. Conveniently each aperture is 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 flaps also engaging below said annular shoulders. In preferred embodiments at least parts of the periphery of the aperture engage the container. In many of these each aperture will be generally circular for generally circular section containers. In turn each flap will be generally semi circular having a straight edge opposite the diametral edge, which straight edge constitutes the hinge line of the flap. A further preferred feature is that 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. Another feature is that the handle means is formed by cutting out a slot-shaped element which remains hingedly connected to one of the handle portion along an upper fold which is generally parallel to the hinge between said handle portion and its side wall. An embodiment of the invention will now be described in more detail. The description makes reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a blank for producing a carrier device according to the present invention, Figures 2 to 6 are perspective views of the steps for forming the device, and Figure 7 is a perspective view of the device in use. In figure 1 there is shown a paperboard blank 10 for producing the carrier device 11 shown in figures 2 to 7. The device 11 is for use in coupling together, in this embodiment, three PET beverage bottles 12. 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 when assembled 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 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 semi-circular. 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 line 21. The holes 31 have an active lower edge 32 and an enlarged upper section 33 above the fold line 21. Holes 38 are also cut out of the blank 10 and span the fold line 22. The holes are somewhat rectangular and have active lower edge portions 39 which are spaced from fold 18 by substantially the same amount as active lower edges 32 are from the fold 17. The upper side edges 40 of the end holes taper slightly inwards, but this feature is optional. The marginal portion surrounding the upper part of each hole 38 is a flap portion 41 which is hingedly connected at 42 to the side wall 19 on both sides of the hole 38. The flap portions 41 are generally C-shaped and are also attached to the handle portion 24 by means of frangible bridges or tags 37. The cuts 36 forming each flap portion 41 are aligned with or located slightly inwardly of the edges of the enlarged upper section 33 of the holes 31. Adjacent the central hole 38 is a slot like handle element 43 which is cut from the blank 10, but which remains hingedly attached along fold line 44. The lower edge 45 of the element 43 effectively constitutes the top edge of the central flap portion 41. In the figures the device 11 is shown as being assembled on-line around the bottles 12. It will be appreciated, however, that the device could also be pre-assembled and then clipped on to the series of bottles. The sequence of assembly is shown in figures 2 to 6. Initially the blank 10 is aligned over the bottles 12. It will be appreciated, however, that the device could also be pre-assembled and then clipped on to the series of bottles. The sequence of assembly is shown in figures 2 to 6. Initially the blank 10 is aligned over the bottles 12 and is then pressed down. The bottles force the flaps 28 upwards so that they engage below the shoulders 15 on opposite sides of each bottle 12 as is shown in figure 2. The side wall 20 and handle portion 24 are then folded up about fold 18 as is shown in figure 3. Glue 46 is then applied to the securing panel 26 and to each of the flap portions. The other side wall 19 and handle portion 23 are then folded upwardly about the fold 17 as is shown more clearly in figure 4. The securing panel 26 is then partially folded over and the top of the handle portion 23 is engaged in the angle between the securing panel 26 and the handle portion 24 before the securing panel 26 is secured to the handle portions 23 as shown in figure 5. The handle portions 23, 24 can then be folded over the side wall 19 provided the inward movement of fold 21 has been initiated. This folding of the handle portions brings the two side walls 19, 20 together at the folds 21, 22 such that the base and the two side walls form a triangular section. The bringing together of the side walls 19, 20 also results in the active edges 32, 39 engaging with a snap action below the shoulders 15 of the bottles with the flaps 28 lying generally against their respective side walls. As the handle portions 23, 24 are folded down into engagement with the side wall 19, as shown in figure 6, two things occur. Firstly the flap portions 41 become adhesively secured to the side wall 19. Secondly the pressure which is applied serves to ensure that the panels being held by the glue 46 are pressed together sufficiently to ensure good adhesion. The gluing of the flap portions 41 to the side wall 19 ensures that the handle portions can be retained in a folded condition. To use the device 11 as a carrying device after the glue has set, the handle portions can be lifted up by breaking the frangible bridges 37 between the flap portions 41 and the handle portion 24. The user can then open the handle slot by bending back the handle element 43. 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. It will also be appreciated that the generally semi-circular flaps 28, which flaps are essentially an optional feature, 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, hexagonal etc. Other shapes and dimensions for the flap portions 41 and enlarged sections 33 of the holes 31 can be envisaged. For example, the flap portions need not span the bottle closures and need not be actually associated with the holes 31, 38 as further openings could be provided in the handle portion 23. Other gluing patterns could also be used. For example, instead of applying glue to the flap portions 41 it could be applied to the side wall 19 directly. In the figures the flap portions 41 are shown with small downward arcuate projections 47 which are optional, but which engage below the shoulders 15 of the bottles with a snap fit when the handle portions are folded over. When the handles are lifted into their raised condition this engagement helps retain the flap portion to stay attached to the side wall 19.

Claims: A carrier device (11) for carrying two or more containers (12) each having an annular shoulder (15) projecting from the neck portion (13), said carrier device (11) being formed from paperboard and comprising: a base (16) having two or more apertures for receiving the respective neck portions (13) of the containers, two side walls (19,20) which are angled relative to the base (16) and extend towards each other from opposite sides of the base (16), a cut away portion being formed in each side wall (19,20) for each container, each cut away portion having an active edge (32,39) generally parallel to the side wall/base junction (17,18) which active edges engage (32,39) below opposite sides of the annular shoulder (15) of the associated container, said side walls (19,20) being hingedly connected to handle portions (23,24) which incorporate handle means and into which the cut away portions extend to accommodate the container closures (14), the cut away portions being dimensioned such that when in use the handle portions (23,24) can be folded down so as to lie adjacent one side wall (19), characterised in that the carrier device (11) further comprises one or more flap portions (41) each of which is connected to the device along a fold line (42) and by means of frangible bridges (37) such that the flap portion (41) is aligned with a corresponding opening in the handle portion on said one side of the bottles (12) whereby in use when the handle portions (23,24) are folded down against said one side wall (19), said flap portion (41) or portions are adhesively secured to said one side wall (19) and when the handle portions (23,24) are raised from said one side wall (19), the frangible bridges (37) are broken leaving the flap portion (41) or portions adhered to said one side wall (19). A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein, the fold line (42) connecting the flap portion (41) to the device coincides with the fold line (22) between the other side wall (20) and its associated handle portion (24) and is constituted by a part of said handle portion (24). A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein one of said flap portions (41) is provided for each bottle location. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein each flap portion (41) is provided by a marginal portion of the cut away portion in said associated handle portion (24) and the cut away portions in the other handle portion (23) constitute said openings. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein each flap (41) is generally C-shaped and spans the cut away, having a fold line (42) at both ends of the closure (14). A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein each aperture is defined at least in part by a pair of oppositely disposed flaps (28) hingedly connected at the junction (17,18) of the base (16) and the respective side walls (19,20) which flaps (28) in use are folded upwardly to be disposed against the respective side walls (19,20), said flaps (28) also engaging below said annular shoulders (15). A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein at least parts of the periphery of the aperture engage the container (12). A device as claimed in claim 6 or 7 wherein, each aperture will be generally circular for generally circular section containers (12) and each flap (28) will be generally semi circular having a straight edge opposite the diametral edge, which straight edge constitutes the hinge line of the flap. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein a securing panel (26) extends from one handle portion (24) and is folded over the free edge of the other handle portion (23) and adhesively secured thereto. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the handle means is formed by cutting out a slot shaped element (43) which remains hingedly connected to one of the handle portion along an upper fold (44) which is generally parallel to the hinge (22) between said handle portion (24) and its side wall (20).

Inventors: NEGELEN EMANUEL, NEGELEN, EMANUEL
Applicants: RIVERWOOD INT CORP, RIVERWOOD INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B65D71
IPC codes: B65D71