AU611361B2 - Multipack for cans incorporating plastics securing band - Google Patents

Description

uV I i I' 7o P A Reoistered Patent Attrey ~i S F Ref: 63968 FORM COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 1 6 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: Class Int Class ooo 000o 0o 0 000 S0 0 S0 0 0000 0o 0 0 00 0 0 0 go oo 0 0 00 o o e o oo o o 0 0 0 00 0 0 00 Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: Related Art: Name and Address of Applicant: Address for Service: The Mead Corporation Courthouse Plaza, Northeast Dayton Ohio 45463 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Complete Specification for the invention entitled: Multipack for Cans Incorporating Plastics Securing Band The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us 5845/5 p MULTIPACK FOR

PLASTICS

CANS INCORPORATING SECURING BAND 1 0000 0 0000 0 00 0 00 0 00 0 00 000 0 5 9 o 0 0 00 a0 0 0 00 0 00 o 0 0 00 This invention relates to a multi-unit package for retaining in a group a plurality of cans or other uniform articles and which incorporates a plastics securing band and an outer wrapper.

European Patent No 0 035 912 discloses a multi-unit composite package for bottles, cans or other primary containers which comprises a first plastics film wrapping which encases the containers and holds them in a closely clustered unit and an outer paperboard sleeve passing around the clustered unit which includes a carrying handle of the package.

The present invention seeks to achieve a multi-unit package in which the overall cost of the packaging I" II- 2 material is reduced to a minimum consistent with providi-.; a secure package. To this end, a relatively short outer wrapper is used so that the endmost containers are almost wholly exposed to view and a plastics band is employed to provide for the security of those endmost containers which is lost by the reduction in size of the papeoboard wrapper.

In the known construction referred to, by virtue of the o 10 encasing inner plastics wrapping, no further-packaging oa material was required solely for retention purposes but an 000000 outer paperboard wrapper was provided to furnish the package with a handle, hide openings present in the o c plastics wrapping and to provided surfaces on which marketing, advertizing and other information may be S' printed.

t In the present invention, the outer paperboard wra;pper is provided primarily to prevent "nesting" of the containers and, of course, to give surfaces on which marketing and other information may be printed. "Nesting" occurs, e.g.

when one row of containers moves relative to a neighbouring row so that one container in the first row is disposed out of registry with a pair of adjacent containers in the neighbouring row.

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2a Another known multipack for containers incorporating a pl~astics securing band is disclosed in US Patent 4 62"' 666 (LeMS) in which a unitary loop matrix is positioned over one end of each of the containers which causes the containers to spread apart so that the plastics securing baind is tensioned further. Riowever, this invention is not concerned with a pac,.age incorporating an outer paperboard wrappera 0000 0000 0 000 0 0 o 00 .00 0 0 0 0 0 000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 00 00 0 3 The invention provides a composition package comprising a group of primary containers such as cans, a band of a plastics material which passes around the group of containers intermediate the top and base ends thereof n outer paperboard wrapper passing around the group and providing for the package, a series of hinged panels including a top panel, a pair of overlapping base panelo oe and a pair of opposed side wall panels characterised in t0o that panel portions of panels disposed adjacent at least "o 10 one of said top and base ends of the containers are o located between adjacent containers which are flankod by 0 oo one of said side wall panels, said panel portions providing spacer means for urging said containers apart so o o 0 oo that the containers exert a force on said plastics band 0 00 15 tending to expand the band into tension around the group oo Of containers.

o oa According to a feature of the invention, in some e t constructions, the spacer means may comprise connucting portions of the wrapper each of which portions is integrally hinged to adjacent ones of said series of panels. In other constructions, the spacer means may comprise cut-away portions of the wrapper each of which portions is displaced into the space present between said adjacent containe i t I ~_ll ~ii 0000 C. 0 a 0 0o00 ooo a 0 0 0 oa o t 0 00 o 0 0 o 0 3 oooi o o 0 00 0 0 00 0 0 0 00 o 00 0 0 S 0 00 o 0o0 4- If either of the above constructions are adopted, the spacer means may be disposed both in the space between the top ends of said adjacent containers and between the base end of said adjacent containers, In constructions where the spacer means comprise hinged connecting portions, cut out retaining means may be provided for locating upper and lower peripheral portion of said containers said retaining means comprising cut out 10 portions of the wrapper along opposed edges thereof, nnd centrally thereof at each hinged connection between an adjacent pair of said series of panels. Preferably, said spacer means comprise portions of the wrapper disposed between adjacent retaining means provided along each of 15 said hinged connections between an adjacent pair of sail series of panels. It is also preferable that each of said spacer means is reinforced by material struck from the wrapper to form the cut out retaining moans.

In constructions where the spacer means comprise cut-away portions of the wrapper, said cut-away portions each may be hinged to an adjacent pair of said series of panels.

i Two embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- FIGURE 1. is a plan view of a paperboard blan' u~tilizc3 in a package according to one embodiment of thc, invention~t provide an outer wrapper; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the comip!Leotd -:ac'-an seen from above and from one endi, an,. ±nco, 3rat.-j wrapper shown in Figure I,, 00 FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the compl~ted packag~e as zeen from below and fron. end end, incorpor'ating the wrapper shown In Figure 1; 0 0 00 FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a paperboard blank utilised in 000 00 a package according 'to another em~bodiment of the invention to provide an outer wrapper; FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the completed package as seen from above and from one end incorporating the wrapper shown in Figure 41 and -6 F'IGURE 6 is a perspective view of the completed package a: seen from below and from one end iznorooral-in7, thbe w:apr showr in Figure 4, R.eferring first to Figure I of the drawings, an elnate blank 10 of paperboard or similar foldable ohneet -'terl", comprises, in series, a first base pane.l. 12, a fl-rzt oido wall panel 14, a top panel 16,~ a second olde wall panel and a second base panel 20 hinged one to the ne.xt along transverse fold lines 22, 22a, 24v 24a, 26 2Ga, aIC cnd Foldable reinforcing tabs 30, 32, 34 0and-- 36 are struck along one longitudinal edge of the blank, at fold lines 22, 1s 24, 26 and 28 respectively, and similar tabs 39, 40p 42 and 44 are struck along the opposite longitudinal edge of the blank.

All the reinforcing tabs 30-36 and 38-44 are foldable inwardly towards the centre of the blank about fold lines identified by the reference numeral of- the respective tab with the addiion of suffix When reinforcing tabs 30-36 are so folded, recesses fll-PR4 are formed along the associated longitudinal edge of the blank and likewise when reinforcing tabs 38-44 are inwardly folded, recesses fl5-R8 are formed, 7 Centrally along the blank, a series of substantially rectangular apertures Al, A2, A3 and A4 are struck at fold lines 22, 24, 26 and 28 respectively, Aperture Al ie defined in part by opposed foldable reinforcing tabc 43 and 48 which are hinged at opposite transverse endc of the aperture along fold lines 46a and 48a respectively.

Likewise aperture A2 is partially defined by reinforcing 00, tabs 50 and 52 hinged along fold lines 50c and 52a; a 0 aperture A3 is partially defined by roinfor ing t ab 54 and 56 hinged along fold lines 54i and 56a; 5nd aperture 0 t A4 is partially defined by reinforcing tabs 58 and hinged along fold lines 58a and 60a. Tabs 46-60 are foldable outwardly towards the adjacent longitudinal blank about their fold lines to open the respective apertures A1-A4.

00 Thus when tabs 30 and 46 are folded towards one another they are brought into superposed relationship with and thereby reinforce the strip of material disposed between edge recess R1 and aperture Al. Likewise, tabs 38 and 43 reinforce t-e strip of material between edge recess R5 and aperture Al. These two reinforced strips of material provide spacer portions S1 and S2, respectively of the blank between base panel 12 and side wall panel.

Similarly, spacer portions S3 and S4 integrally connect together side wall panel 14 and top wall panel 16; spacer portions S5 and S6 integrally connect together top wall oanel 16 and side wall panel 18; and spacer portion5 S7 and S8 intregrally connect together idc wala anrX base panel Referring no Jso to :Figures 2and 3,t i according -to the invention, tw iows of' cans ar--1 2 CG, or other prim~ary containers, arc, secured 3~ohr~i o 10 group by a band of plastics meter ial. IPBI Tepa 0 C band encircles the group intermediate tho top-, andIbz~ of,0 the cans as shown in Figures, 2 and 3,h tt~iz :n msay be a polypropylene bcand which in, ap97e oth by a strapping eind sealing machine thrj barnl opposite ends ae joined together and/or ra or otretch fitted plastics sleeve. hrtr te paperboard blank 10 is wrapped1 about -tho jro up ~('that theIi top panel 16 of the b)lank ovorlieL; the toua of theczno the side panels 14 and 18 flank thu oide wqalls he cano and overlie respective portions of- the plastics band and' the base panel$ 12 and 20 are securedi together in overlapping relationship beneath the bas, of the can: In order to secure the base panels together, known locking meoans are provided which comprise male lock'ing, tabs-- ti, t2 in base panel 20 which are driven through locking aper~tures defined by retaining tabs, t3 1 t4 in base panel

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4 12. Tightening aper 9tures 'TA' are formred in 'both base panels to tighten the wrapper around the container group 3nd bring the complementary locking tabs and apertjrn into register, W7hen the wrapper blank is tightened abou t The ncre.

group, upper peripheral portions of the chlines of 2 anz C and C5 are located in apoertures 7Q and A-2, respect:ivel-:, while lower periphera*1 portions of the chinec of- and C5 are located in apertures A4 and 4A-'rci~e2 Tuthe central cans C2 and C5 o" ph ack*aqo ar,-, retained by the central series ot apcertu.,res! of h wr'apper. Likewise, upper periphezal.~-it h -'hines of cans Cl11 C4f C3 and C6 arc locatred3 eci 'ecesses R31 R2, TR7 and R61, respectively, wh t l-t, peripheral portions of the chines those- !ars nr located In edge recesses 1R41 R~ 1 F 6n 0~ T p(eR "2q l Location of the can chines in this nanc eu-t h by causing the reinforced spacet- pQrtions ui oth lt: locate into the spaces present beotweern this toy Ondv mc the base ends of adjacent, cans.

For example, reinforced spacer portions 81 alid 82 unqaqk' into the spaces at the lower ends, of the casC4A-C. aned CS-C6 respectively, whereas reinforced spacer portions S and S6 engage into the spaces at the upper end If clno C2 and C2-C3, In this way, not only are the central cans C2 and Cz, positively retained by apertures A4, A3; A2, Al but also '-he reinforced spacer portions urge the containers apart ~zo that the container group thereby exerts force on the plastics band tending to expand the band into tension around the container group, Further, in order to prevent "r,"ative movement of one row o.1 cans relative to the other Smovement tending to cause nestina of thco cans, the o verlying areas of the plastics6- band nn,11 the paperboard -wapper may be secured together C1qL.un i Referring now 'to Figure 4 of~ thc rdrawings, another ivlongate blan'K 62 of paperboard rimilar foldable sheet.

atorial comprises, in series, a first baso panel 64, a fic~side wall panel 66t a top pane- 58 second side wall. panel 70 ,and ai second base panelI 72 hinged one to thce next along transverseQ told lines 74/74a, 7U, '7 nd.

30/80Q-I TWUO series of spacer 'panels 82-88 and 90-96 comprising integral portions of the wrapper are struck from the blank across the hinged fold lines which connect together the main panels 64-72 of the blank. Thus, for example, spacer panel 821is struck partially from base panel 64 and 'partially from side wall panel 66 by means of opposed cut lines 82a, 82b and opposed hinged lines 82c, 82c1. The -,ther spacer panels are gimilar generally rectangular formation comprising a paperboard wrapper extending around said group in a, direction /2 Referring now also to igures 5 and 6, to form one package according to the invention, two rows of cans C7-C9 and Cl 10-C12, or other primary containers, are secured together in a group by a band of plastics material 'PBa', The plastics band encircles the group intermediate the tops and bases of the cans as shown in Figures 5 and 6, The plastics band may be a polypropylene band which is applied to the cans by a strapping and sealing machine i.e. the band is pre-formed from a length of polypropylene materiai.

whose opposite ends are joined together ancr/or may be c4 shrink or stretch fitted plastics sleeve. Thereafter, th.

paperboard blank 62 is wrapped about the group so that th 2 top panel 68 of the blank overlies the tops of the cans, the side panels 66 and 70 flank the side walls of the can-' and ovevlie respective portions of the plastics band and the base panels 64 and 72 are secured together in overlapping relationship beneath the bases of the cans, In order to secure the base panels together, known locitkini means are provided which comprise male locking tabs t5,~ t in base panel 72 which are driven through locking apertures defined by retaining tabs t7, t9 in base panel 64. Tightening apertures 'TA1' are formed in both base panels to tighten the wrapper around the container group and bring the complementary locking tabs and apertures into register.

12 The wrapper blank is tightened about the container group and the spacer panels 82-88 and 90-96 are displaced about their hinged connection inwardly into the spaced present between the top ends and base ends of each pair of adjacent cans.

For example, spacer panels 86 and 94 engage into the ;0 oo. spaces at the lower ends of the cans C10-Cll and Cll-C12 respectively, whereas spacer panels 84 and 92 engage into the spaces at the upper end of cans Cl--Cul1and Cll-C12, In this way, the displaced spacer panels urge the containers apart so that the container group thereby exerts a force on the plastics band tending to expand 1" tonsion around the container group. Further in order to prevent relative movement of one row of cans relative to the other i.e. movement tending to cause nusting of the cans, the overlying areas of the plastics band and the paperboard wrapper may be secured toether i jluing.

It is envisaged that a package having three row of can rmay be assembled in which a central row of cans is nested with respect to each of two outermost rows of can., In this regard, the packaging arrangement of the present invention would assist in preventing the two outermost rows from becoming misaligned.

Claims (4)

1. A composite package for a group of containers such as cans having cylindrical side walls and substantially flat top-and bottom ends, said containers being arranged in at least two parallel rows so that the containers are longitudinally and transversely aligned in a generally rectangular formation, the package comprising a band of or elastic plastic material encircling the periphery of said oo' group intermediate the top and bottom ends of said o ~containers and being placed under tension when applied, and a stabilizing means for maintaining said group in its generally rectangular formation comprising a paperboard wrapper extending around said group in a direction perpendicular to said band and comprising a top panel, side walls and base panel means joined together along fold lines, o characterized in that said wrapper provides spacer elements disposed between adjacent containers in each of said rows and effective to maintain said containers in aligned relationship with each other whereby said band is maintained under tension. 2, The package according to claim I, further characterized in that apertures are provided along said fold lines and arranged and sized so as to receiv. therethrough portions of I S' .I tA said containers, said spacer elements being disposed between adjacent ones of said apertures, 3, The package according to claim 2, further characterized in that said spacer elements are reinforced by material removed from said apertures and folded into face contacting relationship with said spacer elements,

4. The package according to claim 1, further characterized in that said spacer elements are provided from portions of said top panel and adjacent side walls and disposed along said fold lines, said portions being displaced inwardly into the space between adjacent ones of said containers when the package is formed, The package according to claim 4, further characterized in that each of said spacer elements is defined by a short cut traversing the respective fold lines and angular score lines extending from the ends of the cut to intersect caid respective fold line,

6. The package according to any of the preceding claius, characterized in that said spacer elements are provided adjacent the top- and bottom ends of said containers.

7. The package according to claim 1, characterized in that the wrapper is secured to said band, P II~ iii m m i ii DATED this SEVENTH day of JULY 1988 The Mead Corporation Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON a