GB2123385A

GB2123385A - Can package

Info

Publication number: GB2123385A
Application number: GB08220578A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James R Oliff
Original assignee: Mead Corp
Current assignee: Mead Corp
Priority date: 1982-07-15
Filing date: 1982-07-15
Publication date: 1984-02-01
Also published as: JPS5962464A; JPH044227B2

Abstract

A package for accommodating containers such as cans, each of which has a peripheral rim or chime (62) extending beyond at least one end thereof has a chime retaining aperture in which a peripheral portion of the chime is received, and a chime retaining tongue (46), which has a free edge in abutment with the inner face of the peripheral portion of the chime and is hinged along an arcuate fold line (46) extending between opposite ends (50, 52) or the chime retaining aperture. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Can package and blanktherefor This invention relates to a package accommodating containers such as cans, each of which has a peripheral rim or chime extending beyond at least one end thereof, and to a blankforforming such a package.

It is known, for instance, from U.S. Patent Nos.

2,788,603 (Grinspoon); 2,982,399 (Fisher); 3,031,812 (Mosse) and British Patent No.825,971 (Metal Box Co.), to package cans in a wrapper such that the wrapper and cans are retained in position relative one to the other by cooperation of tongues orflapsformed in the wrapper with the rims at the ends ofthe cans.

The present invention seeks to enhance the retention between a wrapper and can to form stronger and more reliable cooperation therebetween.

The invention provides in a package accommodating containers such as cans, each ofwhich has a peripheral rim extending beyond at least one end thereof, a wrapper having a retaining aperture in which a peripheral portion of a container rim is received, and having a retaining tongue which has a free edge in abutment with the innermostface ofsaid peripheral portion of the rim to hold the can and the wrapper in position relative one to the other, characterized in that said retaining tongue is hinged along an arcuatefold line extending between opposite ends of the retaining aperture such that the distance between said arcuatefold line and said peripheral portion of the rim is greatest midway between said opposite ends of the retaining aperture.

In orderthatthe invention may be clearly understood one embodimentthereofwill now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa plan view of a pair of cooperating base panels of a wrapper blank in which each panel has can retaining tongues according to the invention, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of a part of a package using the wrapper of Figure 1 and which shows the cooperation between a retaining flap and a can chime at a peripheral portion ofthe can.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows the two cooperating base panels 10,12, respectively, and side wall panels 14,16, respectively, of a wraparound type sleeve.

Panel 10 comprises a pair of male locking tabs 18,20 which are punched into apertures defined by retaining tabs 22,24 in panel 12 to secure togetherthe base panels in overlapping relationship. In order to ensure correcttightness of the sleeve about the packaged articles, a rowoftightening apertures 26,28, respectively, is formed in each base panel for engagement by suitable tightening element of a packaging machine.

These features are known perse.

A row of chime retaining apertures comprising apertures30,32 and 34 is struck from the blank along the fold line 36 bywhich base panel 10 and sidewall panel 14 are hinged together. Similarly, apertures 38, 40 and 42 are formed along fold line 44 by which base panel 12 and side wall panel 16 are hinged together.

Each ofthe chime retaining apertures are characterized by similarfeatures and, for brevity, onlythe features of aperture 32 will now be described.

Aperture 32 is defined by a chime retaining tongue 46 which is hinged along an arcuatefold line 48 formed in base panel 10. Arcuate fold line 48 extends from one edge ofaperture 32 to the opposite edge thereby inter-connectingthe rounded corners 50,52 ofthe aperture and has its center of curvature at a location on sidewall 14 beyond the opposite linear edge 54 of aperture 32.

The tongue 46 is formed with a pair of oblique crease lines 54,56, respectively, one extending between each hinged corner of the tongue and its opposite free linear edge, thereby defining tuck-in ears 58,60 adjacent the rounded corners 50,52, respectively.

The retaining tongue 46 is provided for engagement with a peripheral portion of a can chime 62 (Figure 2) so that the wrapper and can are retained in position relative one to the other. Such engagement is achieved during the packaging process which now briefly will be described.

The appropriate number of cans to be accommodated in the wrapper blank (in this instance six cans arranged in two parallel rows of three cans each) are collated intoagroup in known mannerandthetop panel (not shown) ofthe wrapper is applied to the tops ofthecans. Side panels 14 and 16arethen caused to be folded downwardly alongside body portion of the cans in the respective rows. The base panels 10 and 12 are initially caused to be folded outwardly about fold lines 36 and 44, respectively, away from the can rows so that they lie substantially parallel to the top panel of the wrapper.This latter folding step causes the free edges ofthe chime retaining tongues to break away from the adjacent edges of the respective shime retaining apertures so that each tongue projects inwardly over a peripheral portion of an adjacent can chime. Thus, the peripheral portion ofthecan chime is received in the adjacent chime retaining aperture.

To complete the packaging process the base panels 10, 12are then folded upwardly and inwardly and secured in overlapping relationship by means of the locking tabs 18,20 and the cooperating retaining tabs 22,24.

Referring again to the chime retaining aperture 32 and tongue 46, during the final folding step, the retaining tongue 46 seats within the recessed base of can 64 and pivots aboutthe arcuate fold line 48 during folding ofthe pase panel.This pivotal movement of the tongue causes the tuck-in ears 58 and 60 to be folded inwardlyaboutobliquefold line 54, 56, respectively, by engagement with the can chime 62 at opposite ends of the retaining aperture 32 so that the free edge of retaining tongue 46 abuts the inner face of the can chime periphery atthe can base.The retaining tongue is sized so as to substantially followthe contou r of the inner face of the can chime which is present within the retaining aperture thereby locking the chime in the chime retaining aperture.

It will be appreciated that retention will be enhanced in relation to those cans having chimes which project outwardlyfrom the can body as well as projecting beyond an end ofthe can. In this case the linear edge 54 ofthe chime retaining aperture32 engages beneath the outwardly projecting portion of the chime when the chime retaining tongue 46 is locked in position. To permit the material of the side wall 14to "give" somewhat around the can body adjacentthe chime, a shortcut line 66 extends upwardlyfrom edge 54..

The advantage achieved by providing the arcuate fold line 48 isthatthe retaining tongue 46 is made stronger since it comprises a greater amount of material than would be the case where the fold line extended parallel to the linear edge 54. Moreover, the angle atwhich the retaining tongue 46 abuts the can chime is less acute than is the case where the retaining tongue is hinged along a linearfold line. That isto say, the retaining tongue has a reduced slope with respect to the can base whereby a greaterforce is required to dislodge the tongue from engagement with the chime than would be necessary where the angle of slope is increased.

Whereas the description specifically refers to chimed cans it is to be understood that the invention is applicableforthe retention ofothersuitablearticles having at least one flanged or rimmed end. Also, it is envisagedthat in the case of an article having a chime or rim at each of its opposite ends, the hinged connection between the top panel and side panels of the wrapper may also include chime retaining apertures so that the article is so retained at both its ends.

Claims

1. In a package accommodating containers such as cans, each ofwhich has a peripheral rim extending beyond at least one end thereof, a wrapper having a retaining aperture in which a peripheral portion of a container rim is received, and having a retaining tongue which has a free edge in abutment with the innermost face of said peripheral portion ofthe rim to hold the can and the wrapper in position relative one to the other, characterized in that said retaining tongue is hinged along an arcuate fold line extending between opposite ends ofthe retaining aperture such thatthe distance between said arcuate fold line and said peripheral portion ofthe rim is greatest midway between said opposite ends ofthe retaining aperture.

2. A package according to claim 1,furtherchar- acterized in that said retaining tongue is of such size as to coverthe area defined by said peripheral portion of the container rim and said arcuate fold line and in that the free edge ofthe retaining tongue substantially follows the contour of said peripheral portion ofthe container rim between said opposite ends ofthe retaining aperture.

3. A package according to claim 2,furtherchar- acterized in thatthe retaining tongue has at each of its opposite ends a tab hinged to the adjacent central portion of the retaining tongue by an oblique fold line extending from one end of said arcuate fold line to the free edge ofthe retaining tongue, said tabs being folded inwardly atthe corners of said retaining aperture to allowthe free edge of the retaining tongue to follow the contour of said peripheral portion of the container rim.

4. A package according to claim 1, further characterized in that said retaining aperture includes a locking edge adjacent the free edge of said retaining tongue which locking edge is located beneath that part of said peripheral portion of the container rim which extends outwardly from the container body.

5. In a package accommodating containers such as cans, each of which has a peripheral rim extending beyond at least one end thereof and extending outwardly from the container body, a wrapper having a retaining aperture in which a peripheral portion of a container rim is received so that one edge of said retaining aperture is located beneath the outwardly extending part ofthe rim received in the aperture and a retaining tongue located in engagement with the innermost face of said peripheral portion ofthe rim wherebythecan andwrapperare held in position relative one to the other, said retaining tongue being hinged to an opposite edge of said retaining aperture along an arcuatefold line which is arced in a direction awayfrom said one edge, the retaining tongue having afreeedgewhich extends from one end of said retaining aperture to the other end thereot and which abuts and substantially follows the contour of said innermost rim face.

6. Awrapper blank comprising a top wall panel, a pair of side wall panels hinged to opposite edges of said top wall panel and a pair of base panels, one hinged to each of said side wall panels remote from said top wall, the blank having a plurality of article retaining means spaced along the hinged connection between each ofthe side wall panels and the adjoined base panel, each of said retaining means comprising an elongate retaining aperture for receiving a rimmed edge of an article sothat one edge ofthe retaining aperture located in a sidewall ofthewrapperengages beneath said rim, and a retaining tongue coextensive with said retaining aperture having a free edge adjacent said one edge of the aperture for engaging an innermostfaceofthe rim, characterized in that said retaining tongue is hinged to said adjoining base panel along an arcuate fold line which is arced in a direction facing away from said one edge ofthe retaining aperture and which extends between.opposite ends thereof.

7. A wrapper blank according to claim 6, further characterized in that the center of curvature of said arcuate fold line is located within the adjacent side wall ofthe wrapper.