Top gripping carrier for articles

Abstract: An article carrier of the top gripping type includes a main panel (20, 116) having a pair of opposed end edges (70, 72, 170, 172), a first fold line (32, 134) extending between said end edges (70, 72, 170, 172), and at least one aperture (44, 144) for receiving an article (A). The aperture (44, 144) is disposed astride the first fold line (32, 134) to interrupt it. A first tab (40, 140) is struck from the main panel (20, 116) and defining at least a part of the aperture (44, 144). The tab (40, 140) is hingeably connected to the main panel (20, 116) so that the tab (40, 140) is displaceable out of the plane of the main panel (20, 116) to operatively engage a part of the article (A) when the article (A) is in the aperture (44, 144). The tab (40, 140) is connected to the main panel (20, 116) by means of a pair of second and third spaced fold lines (60, 62, 160, 162) extending divergently from each other toward one of the end edges (70, 72, 170, 172) so that displacement of the tab (40, 140) out of the plane of the main panel (20, 116) causes the main panel to be folded about the first fold line (32, 134). A stress relieving cut line (64, 164) is provided to extend between the second and third fold lines (60, 62 160, 162) to partially separate the tab (40, 140) from the main panel (20, 116). The cut (64, 164) line is disposed transversely of the first fold line (32, 134) such that the first fold line (32, 134) is interrupted at the cut line (64, 164).

Description: The invention relates to an article carrier which is used for securing a plurality of articles such as bottles in a group. More particularly the invention relates to an article carrier of the top gripping type which attaches to the tops of articles thereby to secure the articles in an array. It is known to provide top gripping carriers which comprise so-called "sun burst" type apertures having a series of circumferentially arranged tabs which enable the bottle top to pass through the aperture and in which the tabs engage from the underside of the bottle top or on a flange on the bottle neck to prevent removal of the bottle from the aperture. EP 317, 379 (Gervais) illustrates a packaging device for individual containers comprising a blank, with a surface comprising apertures to receive articles, and two parallel panels which, after being folded, form two short parallel flaps with tongues emerging from cut-outs formed in the apertures. Containers are held in the apertures are supported by abutment of the flaps under an external projection of the containers. A problem with top gripping carriers of this type is that the tabs need to be of sufficient thickness to provide support for the articles. At the point of connection with the panels, the tabs are prone to folding and losing their strength. The present invention seeks to overcome or at least mitigate the prior art by providing a carrier which can flex to relieve the load applied to the bottle neck support tabs. According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a top-gripping article carrier for engaging and supporting at least one article at an article neck thereof, comprising a main panel having opposed side edges and at least one aperture for receiving the article, and a pair of side wall panels hingedly connected to the side edges of the main panel respectively and extending to respective free uppermost edges thereof located above the main panel so as to engage and support the article neck when the article is in the aperture, characterised in that each of the side wall panels comprises an intermediate panel and a support panel, each of the intermediate panels is hingedly connected to a respective one of the side edges of the main panel and extending upward from the main panel to a respective one of the free uppermost edges, each of the support panels is hingedly connected to a respective one of the intermediate panels along a respective one of th uppermost edges, and the each support panel includes an upper portion secured to the respective intermediate panel in a face-contacting relationship and a lower portion extending below the main panel. Preferably the lower portions of the support panels constitute means for forcing the free uppermost edges toward each other in response to introduction of the article into the aperture so that the free uppermost edges are tightened on the article neck. Preferably the lower portions are dimensioned such that upon the introduction of the article, the lower portions are moved away from each other by the article to force the free upper edges toward each other. A second aspect of theinvention provides a blank for forming a top gripping article carrier as defined in claim 4. Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the carrier blank according to the invention; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a carrier formed from the blank as shown in Figure 1; In Figure 1 there is shown an embodiment of the invention which illustrates a carrier blank 110 for forming a top gripping carrier and first side wall panel made from paperboard or similar foldable sheet material. A top-gripping bottle carrier for engaging and supporting at least one bottle at a bottle neck thereof, comprising a main panel having opposed side edges and at least one aperture for receiving the bottle, a pair of side wall panels hingedly connected to the side edges of the main panel respectively and extending to respective free uppermost edges located above the main panel so as to engage and support the bottle neck when the bottle is in the aperture characterised in that the carrier further comprises pivoting means for forcing the free uppermost edges toward each other in response to introduction of the bottle into the aperture so that the free uppermost edges are tightened on the bottle neck. More particularly, the blank comprises a support panel 112 hingedly connected to intermediate panel 114 along fold line 130 thereby enabling panels 112 and 114 to be placed in a face to face relationship. Intermediate panel 114 is hingedly connected to main panel 116 along fold line 132 thereby enabling panels 114 and 112 to be folded out of the plane of the blank. Main panel 116 is also hingedly connected to intermediate panel 118 along fold line 136. A second support panel 120 is foldably connected to intermediate panel 118 along fold line 138 thereby enabling panels 118 and 120 to form a face to face relationship. Fold line 136 enables panels 118 and 120 to be folded out of the general plane. As illustrated in the embodiment of Figure 1, main panel 116 is formed with a row of three hexagonal tab apertures 144 the opposing sides of which are furnished with gripping tabs 140. Each gripping tab comprises three panels 150, 152, 154 connected one to the next along fold lines 156 and 158 respectively. Terminal panels 150 and 154 are further connected to main panel 116 along fold lines 160, 162 respectively, while cut line 164 separates middle panel 152 from main panel 116. Main panel 116 further comprises a central interrupted fold line 134 extending between the opposing free end edges of main panel 116 and aligned with the middle panels 152 of each tab 140. In a set up condition panels 150, 152 and 154 are moved out of alignment along fold lines 156 and 158 and co-act with fold line 134 to fold main panel 116. Finger apertures are formed along first support panel 120 provided by way of a pair oppositely disposed tabs 166 formed in the first side wall panel 120. The carrier may be carried by folding back each tab 166 to reveal the apertures. Construction of the carrier is achieved by folding panels 112 and 114 along fold line 130 in a face to face relationship, and folding panels 118 and 120 along fold lines 138 in a face to face relationship. In this embodiment, panels 112, 114 are secured together by glue or other suitable means and thereby maintained in the face to face relationship to form a composite side wall panel. In like manner, panels 120, 118 are secured together to form another composite side wall panel. These side wall panels are folded along fold lines 132, 136 to be disposed generally perpendicularly to main panel 116. To secure articles A together by the above carrier, articles A are inserted through apertures 144. By this means, the lower portions of the panels 112, 120 are thrust away from each other by the articles A, and thereby the gap G1 between the lower portions are increased to produce a pivotal effect. The result is to reduce the gap G2 between the upper portions of support panels 112 and 120 thus enabling the free uppermost edges 250, 252 to be tightened on the articles A so as to securely support radially protruding parts of the articles A as illustrated in Figure 2. The introduction of the articles A also move the tabs 140 out of their general plane until the distal edges of the tabs 140 come into contact with a radially protruding part of the articles. By moving the tabs 140 out of alignment, main panel 116 is caused to flex along fold line 134, to allow the apertures to open to a greater extent. When the tabs 140 engage the protruding part, such as a bottle neck flange, the flexibility of the main panels gives additional support for tabs 140 which is enhanced by the provision of a stress relieving cut line 164. The present invention and its preferred embodiments relate to a bottle carrier which is shaped to provide satisfactory rigidity to hold the bottles securely but with a degree of flexibility so that load transferred to the aperture tabs can be better absorbed by the carrier. The shape of the blank minimises the amount of paperboard required. The carrier can be applied to an array of bottles by hand or by automatic machinery. It is anticipated that the invention can be applied to a variety of carriers not limited to those of the top gripping sort.

Claims: A top-gripping article carrier for engaging and supporting at least one article (A) at an article neck thereof, comprising a main panel (116) having opposed side edges and at least one aperture (144) for receiving said article, and a pair of side wall panels hingedly connected to said side edges of said main panel (116) respectively and extending to respective free uppermost edges (250, 252) thereof located above said main panel (116) so as to engage and support said article neck when said article is in said aperture, characterised in that each of said side wall panels comprises an intermediate panel (114, 118) and a support panel (112, 120), each of said intermediate panels (114, 118) is hingedly connected to a respective one of said side edges of said main panel (116) and extending upward from said main panel (116) to a respective one of said free uppermost edges (250, 252), each of said support panels (112, 120) is hingedly connected to a respective one of said intermediate panels (114, 118) along a respective one of said uppermost edges (250, 252), and said each support panel includes an upper portion secured to said respective intermediate panel (114, 118) in a face-contacting relationship and a lower portion extending below said main panel. The carrier according to claim 1 wherein said lower portions of said support panels constitute means for forcing said free uppermost edges (250, 252) toward each other in response to introduction of said article into said aperture (144) when the carrier is in use so that said free uppermost edges (250, 252) are tightened on said article neck. The carrier according to claim 2 wherein said lower portions are dimensioned such that upon said introduction of said article (A) when the carrier is in use, said lower portions are moved away frome each other by said article (A) to force said free upper edges (250, 252) toward each other. A blank for forming a top gripping article carrier comprising a main panel (116) having opposed side edges and at least one aperture (144) for receiving said article, a pair of side wall panels hingedly connected to said side edges of said main panel (116) respectively and extending to respective free uppermost edges (250, 252) located above said main panel (116) when the carrier is formed so as to engage and support said article neck when said article is in said aperture characterised in that each said side wall panel comprises an intermediate panel (114, 118) hingedly connected to a respective one of said side edges of said main panel, and a support panel (112, 120) secured to said intermediate panel (114, 118) and wherein each intermediate panel (114, 118) is adapted to extend upwardly from said main panel (116) to a respective one of said free uppermost edges (250, 252) in a set up condition, and each support panel (112, 120) includes an upper portion to be secured to an adjacent one of said intermediate panels.

Inventors: AUCLAIR JEAN-MICHEL, AUCLAIR, JEAN-MICHEL
Applicants: MEADWESTVACO PACKAGING SYSTEMS, MEADWESTVACO PACKAGING SYSTEMS LLC
Application year: 1997
Main classification: B65D71
IPC codes: B65D71