ARTICLE RETAINING SLEEVE

Abstract: There is provided a paperboard sleeve (11) for retaining a plurality of cans (12), which sleeve has a top panel (13), side panels (14) and base panels. A mask panel (23) is provided at each end of the sleeve (11) and comprises a main panel (24) and side walls (25). The main panel (24) is hingedly connected to one of the base panels and the side walls (25) have means (26) for engaging in apertures which retain the heel portions of the cans. The mask panel acts as a bar code mask and gives an extra printing area.

Description: ARTICLE RETAINING SLEEVE This invention relates to paperboard sleeves for retaining articles such as cans, bottles. According to the present invention there is provided a paperboard sleeve for retaining a plurality of articles and comprising a top panel, a pair of oppositely disposed side panels hingedly connected at opposite side edges of the top panel and oppositely disposed base panels hingedly connected to the respective side panels, which base panels are connected together in use to constitute the base section of the sleeve, apertures being provided in the side panels adjacent the respective base panels, each aperture in use retaining a heel portion of an article, and at least one mask panel being provided at each end of the sleeve, hingedly connected to one or more of the base panels so as in use to constitute partial end walls each of which is retained in position by retaining means which interengages with at least one of said apertures. Preferably a single mask panel is provided at each end, which mask panel is hingedly connected to only one of the base panels. It is a preferred feature that each mask panel in use extends from one side panel to the other and its retaining means interengages with an aperture on each side panel. In preferred arrangements the retaining means for each single mask panel comprises side walls at each side of the main mask panel which side walls have retaining formations for said interengagement with the apertures. Conveniently said retaining formations are in the form of barbs. With one embodiment each barb is formed by two cuts which extend towards but stop short of each other and which are provided at the lower free corner of the side wall. Preferably the main mask panels and the side walls are in use substantially perpendicular to the base section. It may also be desirable if further means are provided for retaining the tops of the cans in the carton and said further means may comprise gusset means or further apertures in the side panels. Figure 1 shows a blank for producing a sleeve according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a side view of a sleeve made from the figure 1 blank in use but having more contoured mask panels, and Figure 3 is a larger scale side view of a part of the figure 2 arrangement. In the figures there is shown a paperboard blank 10 for producing a wrap or sleeve 11 for retaining a plurality of cans 12, in this example six cans 12. Other sizes and arrays would of course be possible. The blank 10 provides a top panel 13, oppositely disposed side panels 14 which are hingedly connected to the top panel 13 by means of folds 15. First and second base panels 16, 17 are hingedly connected to respective side panels 14. Interlocking means 18 are provided so as in use to connect the base panels 16, 17 together thereby to form a base section. Gusset portions 19 are provided between the side panels 14 and the top panel 13 to retain the tops of the cans 12. Apertures 20 are provided in the side panels 14 for locating and retaining the heel portions of the cans 12. Finger holes 21 have also been made in the top panel 13 for facilitating the carrying of the sleeve 11. Hingedly connected to the first base panel 16 at folds 22 are mask panels 23. Each mask panel comprises a main panel 24 having side walls 25 hingedly connected thereto. The mask panels 23 are SUBSTITUTE SHEET LE 26) folded upwardly about the folds 22 so as, in use, to be substantially perpendicular to the base panels 16, 17. The side walls 25 incorporate means 26 for retaining the mask panels 23 in their generally perpendicular state. The means 26 comprises a pair of cuts 27 at the lowermost outer corners of the side walls 25. The cuts 27 define barbs 28 for engagement with the apertures 20. When assembling the sleeve, the top, side and base panels are folded around the cans and secured using the interlocking means 18. The side walls 25 are then folded generally perpendicular to the main panel 24 of the mask panels 23. The main panel 24 are then folded upwardly about the folds 22, the side walls 25 passing between the cans 12 and the side panels 14 of the sleeve 11. This causes the barbs 28 to pass into the adjacent apertures 20. Return movement of the side walls 25 and therefore the mask panels 23 in general will be resisted as the barbs 28 catch on the edges of the apertures. With this assembly it will be seen that the main panels 24 extend generally upwards from the base section of the sleeve 11. The main panels 24 can carry additional advertising, promotional or competition information. Another function of the mask panels 23 is to operate as a bar code mask. Articles, such as cans, bottles, aseptic bricks etc, are normally produced with a bar code denoting the product as a single article. When such articles are incorporated into a multipack the bar code remains and it is important that the bar codes for the individual articles are not read by any bar code scanners, for example at a shop checkout. If the scanner picked up the bar code on the article itself then the multipack could be mis-priced. A further bar code for the SUBSTITUTE SHEET PLE 26) multipack may be provided on the wrap itself and it is this bar code that should be scanned rather than the article bar code. The insert, therefore, can act as a bar code mask, masking the bar codes provided on the r- individual articles and thus preventing accidental scanning of the article bar code. It will be appreciated that the retaining means 26 could be of a different form from the cuts 27/barbs 28 whilst still interengaging with the 10 apertures 20 to keep the mask panels 23 generally perpendicular relative to the base section of the sleeve 11. For example, simple hook shaped portions could be provided on the side walls 25. Also part of the mask panels 23 could also be hingedly connected to the second base panel 17, the resulting two main 15 panels 23 possibly overlapping to some extent. It will also be clear that other retaining means may be provided for the tops of the cans, in place of the gusset portions 19. Other interlocking arrangements for the base panels would also be possible, as indeed 20 would adhesive connection. The side walls 25 could of course also be more contoured or angled around the cans 12 rather than the perpendicular junction with the main panels 24 as ?c- shown in the drawings. 30 35 SUBSTITUTE SHEET PLE 26)

Claims: CLAIMS 1 . A paperboard sleeve for retaining a plurality of articles and comprising a top panel, a pair of oppositely disposed side panels hingedly connected at opposite side edges of the top panel and oppositely disposed base panels hingedly connected to the respective side panels, which base panels are connected together in use to constitute the base section of the sleeve, apertures being provided in the side panels adjacent the respective base panels, each aperture in use retaining a heel portion of an article, and at least one mask panel being provided at each end of the sleeve, hingedly connected to one or more of the base panels so as in use to constitute partial end walls each of which is retained in position by retaining means which interengages with at least one of said apertures. 2. A paperboard sleeve as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a single mask panel is provided at each end, which mask panel is hingedly connected to only one of the base panels. 3. A paperboard sleeve as claimed in claim 2, wherein each mask panel in use extends from one side panel to the other and its retaining means interengages with an aperture on each side panel. 4. A paperboard sleeve as claimed in claim 3, wherein the retaining means for each single mask panel comprises side walls at each side of the main mask panel which side walls have retaining formations for said interengagement with the apertures. 5. A paperboard sleeve as claimed in claim 4, wherein said retaining formations are in the form of barbs. SUBSTITUTE SHEET PLE 26) 6. A paperboard sleeve as claimed in claim 5, wherein each barb is formed by two cuts which extend towards but stop short of each other and which are provided at the lower free corner of the side wall. 7. A paperboard sleeve as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the main mask panels and the side walls are in use substantially perpendicular to the base section. 8. A paperboard sleeve as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein further means are provided for retaining the tops of the cans in the carton. 9. A paperboard sleeve as claimed in claim 8, wherein said further means may comprise gusset means or further apertures in the side panels. 10. A paperboard blank for producing any of the sleeves claimed in claims 1 to 9.

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