CN1163387C - Carrier for packaging necked items - Google Patents

Abstract

An article carrier and blank for forming an article carrier for containing a plurality of necked articles (A) comprising a top, bottom and opposed side panels (24, 14, 32, 18, 26) interconnected together, wherein the top panel (24) comprises article receiving and retaining means (12) including an article retaining flap (56, 58) formed from the top panel (24), which article retaining flap (56, 58) is being adapted to be folded inwardly of the top panel (24) thereby to define an aperture (54) for receiving a neck portion of the article (A) and wherein the article retaining flap (56, 58) abuts said neck portion to engage and retain said article (A).

Description

Carrier for packaging necked items

technical field

The invention relates to carriers and semi-finished products, which are particularly suitable for carrying objects, such as bottles. In particular, the present invention relates to wraparound carriers, and to an improved article securing and carrier strengthening member that accommodates the necks of bottles contained within the carrier.

Background technique

Neck fixtures in wraparound carriers are known. For example, US Pat. No. 5,549,197 (Riverwood) describes a wraparound carrier employing downwardly folded retention flaps protruding from and attached to side panels of the carrier. The fixed flap is used to support the neck of the article.

Contents of the invention

The present invention and its preferred embodiments seek to overcome or attempt to alleviate problems associated with the prior art.

An aspect of the present invention is to provide a carrier for packaging a plurality of necked articles, the carrier including article receiving and securing means comprising an aperture defined in a top panel of the carrier, and a first fixed flap formed by the top panel and hingedly connected to the edge of the hole by a first fold line, the first fixed flap is folded inwardly toward the carrier about the first fold line into an operative position to providing a flap portion extending inwardly of the carrier, the flap portion engaging the neck portion of an article secured in the hole, wherein the first fold line comprises an angle with two angles diverging into the hole The fold lines for the relevant parts of the .

It also includes: opposite side panels are respectively foldably connected to opposite side edges of the top panel, and a bottom panel is connected to these side panels.

The first fixed flap is formed with a central fold line extending therein such that the first fixed flap is folded along the central fold line to define a pair of folds adapted to rest against the neck in two locations. Adjacent flap portions, thus improving item retention, are hingedly connected to the top panel along relative portions of the two angles.

The article receiving and securing means also includes a second retention flap foldedly connected to the top panel along a second fold line, the second retention flap being folded inwardly toward the carrier and aligned with the second retention flap Together defining the aperture, the second fold line is located transversely opposite the aperture relative to the first fold line and includes two angular relative portions that diverge into the aperture.

Also included is a strain relief fold line diverging outwardly from the aperture to the end edge of the top panel.

Relevant portions of the two angles diverge from a point within the top panel disposed at a spaced apart location adjacent opposing side edges of the top panel.

Relevant portions of the two angles diverge from a meeting point, and an intermediate fold line extends from the meeting point to the end edge of the fixed flap.

According to an optional feature of this aspect of the invention, it also includes a fold line extending across the article securing flap such that the flap is folded to define an adjoining flap adapted to rest against the neck in two locations. flap section, thus improving the securing of items.

According to another optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the article receiving and securing means may comprise a pair of complementary securing flaps each hinged to opposite sides of said aperture.

According to yet another optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the or each hinged flap is foldably connected to the edge of the associated neck receiving aperture along a fold line comprising two angled relative part.

Optionally, the angled relative portions intersect at a strain relief fold line defining therebetween an intermediate panel proximate an end edge of said top panel.

According to yet another optional feature of this aspect of the invention, it further includes a strain relief fold line diverging outwardly from the end aperture and towards the end edge of the top panel.

According to yet another optional feature of this aspect of the invention, it further includes an outer portion adjacent the main body portion of the top panel, the outer portion of the top panel being configured so as not to fold flush with an adjacent main body portion.

An advantage of a carrier according to any one of the aspects of the present invention is that a carton is provided which can pack two or more rows of articles and/or a top panel, the carton has no restriction on the size of the initial articles, thus improving the The carrying capacity of these carriers of the handle device. Another advantage is to provide a larger area of the side panels that can be used as advertising panels.

Embodiments of the invention are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Description of drawings

Figure 1 is a plan view of an article receiving and securing device of a first embodiment of the invention as a unified semi-finished product;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the article receiving and securing device shown in Figure 1 in a formed state engaged with article A;

Figure 3 is a plan view of an article receiving and securing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the carrier shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a plan view of an article receiving and securing device according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the article receiving and securing device shown in FIG. 5 .

Detailed ways

Referring to the drawings, in particular Figures 1 and 2, the article carrier is formed from one or more cardboard or other suitable foldable sheet blanks. The article carrier is suitable for holding a number of articles, for example six bottles arranged in two rows of three bottles each. It is contemplated that the carton is suitable for containing different quantities and/or configurations of items according to the needs of the user.

In this embodiment, the semi-finished product comprises a first base plate 14, an inclined heel (or slope) plate 16, a first side plate 18 comprising lower, middle and upper side plates 20, 21, 22, a top panel 24, a second side panel 26 comprising upper, middle and lower side panels 27, 28, 29, a sloped heel panel 30 and a second base panel 32 along fold lines 34, 36 respectively, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50 and 52 are hingedly connected one after the other. Formed within the top wall 24 of the surrounding carrier is an article receiving and securing means 12 having any known shape as shown in FIG. 1 . Article receiving and securing means 12 may be formed at the end of the tubular structure of the wrapping carton, such as securing end corner articles (as shown in FIG. 1 ), or may otherwise supply one or more articles secured in a carrier.

The article receiving and securing device 12 includes a securing aperture 54 which, in this example, as shown in FIG. 2, receives the neck of a bottle. The item receiving and securing device 12 may also include one or more securing flaps 56, 58 that provide an inner flap portion against a portion of the neck of the item A in the formed carton.

Now describing in detail the article receiving and securing device 12 in this particular embodiment, the device 12 includes a first securing flap 56 comprising outer and inner flap portions 60,62. The outer flap portion 60 is hinged to the top wall 24 along a first fold line 64 and is hinged to the inner flap portion 58 along a middle fold line 66 . The inner flap portion 62 is hinged to the top panel 24 along a first fold line 68 .

Optionally, cut line 70 protrudes from the interconnection of fold line 64 and fold line 68 to facilitate folding and may define a portion extending upwardly on the top panel, as shown in FIG. 2 . The first retention flap 56 may protrude from the top panel 24 to define an outer edge 72 and an inner edge 74 interconnected by a cut line 76 that defines the edge of the first retention flap 56. end edge. The first retaining flap 56 is rotated about the fold lines 64 and 66 such that these fold lines 64 , 66 together with an optional cut line 70 define a transverse edge 71 of the aperture 54 in use as shown in FIG. 2 .

Likewise, the complementary second retention flap 58 includes outer and inner flaps 78, 80, respectively. In this embodiment, the second retention flap 58 has a larger area than the first retention flap 56 . It is contemplated that the first and second retention flaps 56, 58 are not necessarily different in size, and may be structurally identical. Alternatively, only one securing flap may be provided for the article receiving and securing device 12 . Contemplating the provision of two retaining flaps, eg they need not abut along the cut line 76, and indeed, a significant gap needs to be provided between the retaining flaps.

Referring to the configuration of the second retention flap 58 , the outer portion 78 is foldably connected to the top wall 24 along a second fold line 82 and is foldably connected to the inner portion 80 along a middle fold line 86 . The interior 80 is hingeably connected to the top panel 24 along a second fold line 88 . Likewise, a second cut line 90 may optionally be provided to separate the second fold line 82 from the intermediate fold line 86 . The second retention flap 58 projects from the top panel 24 to define an outboard edge 92 and an inboard edge 94 interconnected by a cut line 76 defining an end edge of the second retention flap 58 . Second retention flap 58 is rotated about second fold lines 82 , 88 such that these second fold lines 82 , 88 and cut line 90 together define opposing lateral edges 73 of aperture 54 , as shown in FIG. 2 . The aperture 54 is substantially closed when the securing flaps 56, 58 are coplanar, for example when the carrier is in the form of a semi-finished product as described in FIG. 1 . Alternatively, aperture 54 may extend into side wall 18 .

In this embodiment, the carriers are formed to pack two rows of three items. The semifinished product 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes another article receiving and securing device 12 for the row of articles formed by the top wall 24 . In addition, the article receiving and securing means 13 for the second row of articles are also formed by the top wall 24 . The article receiving and securing device 13 is substantially the same as the securing device 12 and therefore will not be described any further here.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a pair of apertures 94 are also included which are adapted to receive articles located intermediate the end articles. These holes can support the neck of the article, and optionally include a pair of substantially "V" shaped cut lines 96, 98 that protrude from the side panels 18, 26 to define a support that protrudes outwardly from the side walls 18. The fold line of the flap. The carton also includes an article heel securement 99 formed from panels as is known in the art. A handle tab 93 may protrude from the top panel 24 . Suitable known fixing means are provided for fixing the substrates together. In this embodiment, locking and securing tabs 95, 97 are provided, as is known.

See the second and third embodiments depicted in Figures 3, 4 and 5, 6 respectively, which include additional or alternative modifications to the article receiving and securing device and/or carton of the present invention. Each embodiment may be used as a wrapping carton of the type substantially as hereinbefore described and only the differences in the carriers of the second and third embodiments will be further described.

The second embodiment illustrates article receiving and securing means 112 formed in top panel 124, which means corresponds to article receiving and securing means 12 described in FIG. Thus, the second embodiment illustrates an article receiving and securing device 112 that also includes a pair of bifurcated fold lines 111, 113 protruding from the top panel 124, extending from the intersection of fold lines 164 and 166 toward the Extends outwardly to the end edges of the top panel 124 to define the middle panel 115 . The fold lines 111, 113 are intended to serve as stress relief folds. Another or alternative intermediate plate 115 may be moved outwardly from the plane of the top plate to minimize undesired bending of the top plate 124, thus improving the stiffness of the ends of the top plate.

Referring to a third embodiment suitable for carboys, said article receiving and securing means 212 are formed in a top plate 224 corresponding to the article receiving and securing means 12 shown in FIG. 1 and corresponding parts in FIG. 5 Prefix with the number "2". Thus, the third embodiment illustrates the or each article receiving and securing device 212, which also includes a pair of bifurcated fold lines 211, 213 protruding from the top panel 224, fold lines 211, 213 extending from fold lines 264 and The intersection of 266 extends outwardly to the end edge of top panel 224 to define intermediate panel 215 . The fold lines 211, 213 are intended to serve as stress relief folds. Another or alternative middle plate 215 may be moved outwardly from the plane of the top plate to minimize undesired bending of the top plate 224 . Also included is an additional fold line 217 that is connected to the adjacent article receiving and securing means 212 to define a top panel portion 219 that is not flush with the main body portion 223 of the top panel 224, thereby enabling Undesirable bending of the top plate 224 is minimized, thus improving the stiffness of the top plate.

Optionally, the article receiving and securing means 212 may also include a pair of flaps 231, 233 foldably connected to and protruding from each of the upper side panels 222, 227 shown in FIG. Not flush with the associated upper side panels 222, 227 to receive and secure the shoulders of item A.

In order to erect the wrapping carrier comprising the article receiving and securing means 12, the securing flaps 56, 58 are moved inwardly by suitable means which may be at least functionally comparable to those known, for example WO 94/25363 devices are similar. In a first embodiment, the top panel 24 of the carrier blank 10 is applied on top of a group of articles A for packaging in the carrier, and the side walls 18, 26 are folded down to be arranged side by side along the article side walls. connection. The neck of the item A is thus engaged in the hole 54 and is also received by the securing flaps 56 , 58 of the item receiving and securing device 12 . Preferably, each retaining flap is folded during erection of the article receiving and securing means about fold lines 64, 66, 68; The neck of item A rests, as shown in Figure 2.

The heel securing flap of the article heel securing device 99 is then formed to receive and secure the heel of the article as is known. Next, the base plate 14 is folded inwardly and upwardly into engagement with the base of the article A, as shown in FIG. 2 . A similar operation is carried out on the other side of the group of articles, and the superimposed substrates 14, 32 can be secured together by means known in the art, such as by gluing or, preferably, by the known locking and securing tabs 95, 97. Form the wrapping carrier.

In this way, the carrier is in an upright position, as shown in Figure 2, and an article receiving and securing means 12 is formed, such that the inner securing flap portions 60,62; 78,80 are arranged so as to engage with the neck of the article A, and to The neck of the article is closely conformed, thus preventing unwanted movement of the article in the carrier and reducing the risk of tearing.

The structure of the second and third embodiments is basically the same as that of the first embodiment to produce the carrier shown in Figures 4 and 6 respectively, so only their differences will be described in further detail. Figures 4 and 6 show the middle panels 115, 215 folded out of flush with the top panels 124, 224, respectively.

As can be seen in Figure 6, the third embodiment includes flaps 231, 233 that fold out of flush with the upper side panels 222, 227 to receive the shoulders of the article. The outer portion 219 of the top panel is folded out of flush with the main body portion 223 to form the carrier shown in FIG. 6 .

Clearly, a large amount of cardboard can come into contact with an item being secured using the securing structure of the present invention, thus providing protection and securing of the item. Preferably two-part article joining flaps are used, inner and outer parts 60, 62; 78, 80, such that they are folded about intermediate fold lines 66, 86, respectively, thereby defining two angularly related parts. Each portion preferably abuts against a portion of the neck of the article to improve securing of the article. Additionally, the improved conformance of the securing flaps and those embodiments having the middle panel 115 and/or top panel portion 219 can considerably tighten the package while minimizing the risk of tearing.

Furthermore, the invention is not limited to the construction described above, and it is envisaged that it is possible to provide an article securing device according to the invention in which each securing flap comprises one or more hinge means, which are provided in the assembled carrier.

It should be appreciated that, as used herein, the terms "top", "bottom" and "side" with respect to the panels of the carton (or carton blank) are relative terms, and the carton (formed from the blank) can be as desired or as desired. described repositioning.

It should be appreciated that not only are the cartons provided with many item receiving apertures, but there may be only one receiving aperture.

The present invention and its preferred embodiments relate to a carrier of sufficient shape to provide sufficient strength to hold bottles securely but with flexibility such that loads transmitted to the fixture are absorbed by the carrier. The shape of the semi-finished product minimizes the amount of cardboard required. The carrier can be used to arrange the bottles by hand or by automatic machinery. It is contemplated that the present invention may be applied to different carriers, not limited to those of the wrap-around type.

Claims (7)

1. A carrier for packaging a plurality of necked articles (A), the carrier comprising article receiving and securing means (12; 112; 212), said article receiving and securing means comprising a A hole (54; 154; 254) in the top panel (24; 124; 224), and a first fixed flap formed by the top panel and hingedly connected to the edge of the hole by a first fold line (64, 68) (56, 156), the first retaining flap is folded inwardly toward the carrier about the first fold line into an operative position to provide a flap portion extending inwardly of the carrier, the flap portion being secured in the hole The neck joint of an article, wherein the first fold line comprises a fold line with two angled relative portions diverging into the aperture. 2. The carrier according to claim 1, further comprising: the opposite side panels (18, 26; 118, 126; 218, 226) can be connected to the opposite side edges of the top panel (23; 124; 224) respectively. Foldingly connected, a bottom panel (14; 114; 214) is connected to the side panels. 3. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the first fixed flap is formed with an intermediate fold line (66; 86) extending therein such that the first fixed flap Fold along this intermediate fold line so as to define a pair of adjacent flap portions (60, 62; 78, 80) adapted to abut against the neck at two locations, thereby improving article securing, and the adjacent flap portions Relevant portions along the two angles are hingedly connected to the top plate. 4. The carrier of claim 1, wherein said article receiving and securing means further comprises a second securing flap ( 58, 158), the second fixed flap is folded inwardly towards the carrier and defines the hole together with the second fixed flap, the second fold line is located transversely opposite the first fold line relative to the hole and Consists of two angled sections that diverge into the hole. 5. The carrier of claim 1, further comprising strain relief fold lines (111, 113) diverging outwardly from the hole to the end edge of the top plate. 6. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the relative portions of the two angles diverge from a point within the top panel disposed at a spaced apart location adjacent opposing side edges of the top panel. 7. The carrier of claim 3, wherein the relevant portions of the two angles diverge from a meeting point, and the intermediate fold line extends from the meeting point to the end edge of the fixed flap.

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