WO2002038466A1

WO2002038466A1 - A multipac

Info

Publication number: WO2002038466A1
Application number: PCT/SE2001/002463
Authority: WO
Inventors: Håkan EDQVIST
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-11-07
Filing date: 2001-11-07
Publication date: 2002-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 2003-05-07
Also published as: DE60127578D1; ATE358071T1; SE517664C2; EP1337447B1; EP1337447A1; AU2002214460A1; DE60127578T2; SE0004158D0; SE0004158L

Abstract

The invention refers to a multipac, used as a distribution package, intended for several units as cans, bottles or other items, where the uniting function is a tensioned band (2) combined with contact areas between the single units and friction creating elements. These elements consist of flaps (3), foldable upwards or downwards from an upper or lower carrier sheet (1) extending in between adjacent units and at least one sidewall (4) folded downwards or upwards from the periphery of the carrier sheet (1) intended for contacting the outside of adjacent units, said flaps (3) and sidewall (4) in combination with the band (2) creates a connection between the carrier sheet (1) and single units through compression of the friction elements in the contact areas found between the friction elements and the units, which are to be held together by the tensioned band.

Description

A multipac

The present invention refers to a multipac or distribution package, intended for several units as cans, bottles or other items, where the uniting function consists of one or more tensioned bands combined with contact areas between the single units and elements, which creates f iction.

During the transport and handling of single cans, bottles and carton boxes, below referred to as units, into shopping areas, a package made of fibre material as corrugated board or the like and a plastic film shrinkwrapping or the like, has been used. The number of single units in these distibution packages varies and a common number are 12 or 24 but both several or less units exist.

The distribution packages are often provided with a label, containing information about the transport to the shop and the handling and purcasing routines.

The distribution packages used today work relativly good up to the store but in the store these packages require a more time consuming work, compared with the solution according to the present invention. A main problem with the prior packages used today is the lack of stability, particulary when, the plastic film is removed and the corrugated tray with its content is to be handled. The consumer goods stores have for a long time been looking for time saving and waste effective solutions. In addition the prior art tray is considered to contain too many units, leading into a too low speed of turn over. New routines in the suppy chain to the store are now implenented and this will require a better information on the distribution package.

The present invention uses known technology, described in PCT/SE94/00784. In this prior art document several consumer multipacks are united by aid of a tensioned band. The multi- packs, which consist of several single units, will be sold as a consumer unit when the band has been removed. An optimal solution from both sale and waste handling veiw is obtained, since the consumer carry home his added purcase, using "the waste".

When a similar technology is to be used to unite single units, this can also be done on top of the units by aid of a sheet in one piece, as the carrier element. This part of the present invention differs from known technology uniting consumer multipacks. This kind of distribution package can be put in the sneii of the shop before one or several bands are removed as well as the carrier sheet. The most probable design is that the sheet acts as a bottom under the units, as cans or bottles. The distribution package is placed in the shelf, the band or bands are removed and the sheet is still there until the refilling is made.

The object of the present invention is to achive a distribution package for everyday commodities to shops, said package will fullfil demands for less handling, less waste, better exposure and a good information space. The characteristic features of the invention is described in the following claims.

Thanks to the invention a distribution package is achieved, which in a perfect way fuUfils its purposes together with low cost and easy manufacturing. The number of units in the package is easy to vary, which can positivly influence other needs in the shop. In order to further decrease the time consumption, the intention is to turn the units, to give the best possible exposure in front of the customer. The solution constitutes by that the carrier sheet made of e.g. corrugated board, has folded flaps coming from the sheet, between rows of units in a way that when the band or bands are tensioned around the group of units, the flaps will act as friction elements, preferrably compressable, between single units.

The invention is described below with reference to the enclosed drawing, which shows schematically in a perspective view, a preferred embodiment of a distrbution package according to the present invention, but without the single units normaly placed therein.

According to the drawing a distribution package is shown in accordance with the invention, without in the same normaly placed units as cans, bottles or other items. The uniting function for the units in the package is constituted by one or more tensioned bands 2 in combination with contact areas between the single units, which are placed in the package, and elements creating friction. These elements consist of foldable flaps 3 which are foldable downwards or upwards from an upper or lower carrier sheet 1, said flaps are intended to extend in between adjacent units and at least one sidewall 4 foldable downwards or upwards from the periphery carrier sheet 1. The sidewall 4 is intended to act as a contact surface on the outside of the units, which are placed in the package. The flaps 3 and the sidewall 4 create in combination with the band 2 an unity between the carrier sheet 1 and separate units by a compression of the friction elements brought about by the tension band 2 and in certain situations by direct contact between adjacent units, intended to be kept together. The sidewalls 4 support the goods and at the same time constitute a surface for information. The sidewalls 4, which are two in the embodiment illustrated, are provided with cuttings, creating the flaps 5, which are foldable to act together with a uniting band 2, leading to an significant improvement of the uniting forces between the package and the units placed in the same.

The use of a carrier sheet 1 in combination with one or more tensioned bands 2 gives a stable distribution package for a number of units, where the units stand in straight rows. The invention can be used for many products, round, oval or square.

Most of the cans or bottles used on the market has a bulge over and under a label or printed decor. This is made to prevent rubbing. These bulges will normaly be. the contact areas between the separate units when the band is tensioned around the group of units. Earlier described friction elements can preferably be placed between the decorated areas on adjacent units and will then give high friction between units together with the contact areas when the band is tensioned. The band or bands 2 used, can preferably be made of polypropylene, PET or polyethene, in the later case also as stretch or shrink wrapping film. Also fiber material or steel can be used as band material.

There is no need for a flap 5 in other prefered embodiments. A further embodiment example is to let the flap 5 consist of an enlargement from the sidewall 4. A third embodiment example is to erect the sidewalls of the carrier sheet with tape as adhesive for the sidewalls, when there is more than two sidewalls. The tape can also be a suitable surface for information which should be placed on two of the sidewalls.

To turn or orientate the single or separate units are an essiential part for the benefit of the invention. The exposure will in this way be improved without need for handwork, which today will be done if the time is there. In the EPO document 95934928.3 a method is described where consumer units are turned in a way that prevents wrong EAN-codes to be registrered. Thereby also other part of the decored surface will be shown with a similar face to the consumer. If this thinking is applied to the present invention, the need for hiding EAN- codes will disappear, but to show the same apperance when the product is placed on the shelf is an advantage to support the choice from a customer. This part of the invention improves exposure without extra work compared with the actual situation today. An other reason which explains the stability of the packages is at me friction creating elements i combination with the sidewalls will stabilize the units, so that movements are prevented when the band is tensioned.

A device to produce these packages consists of a machine part turning separate units and stops them in the desired position. In connection to this turning the carrier sheet will be added, formed and erected in one or more equipments, where the packing and banding takes place in order to assemble the carrier sheet and friction units together with the band to an unit, put together.

Claims

1. A multipac or distribution package, intended for several units such as cans, bottles or other items, where the uniting function consists of one or more tensioned bands (2) in combination with contact areas between the separate units and friction creating elements, characterized in that the friction creating elements (3-5) consist of flaps (3), foldable downwards or upwards from an upper or lower carrier sheet, said flaps extend in between the adjacent units and at least one side wall (4), foldable downwards or upwards from the periphery of the carrier sheet (1) intended for contacting the outside of adjacent units, said flaps (3) and sidewall (4) in combination with the band (2) create a connection between carrier sheet (1) and single units through good contact in the contact areas found between the friction elements and the units, which are to be held together by the tensioned band.

2. Package according to claim 1, characterized in that the sidewall (4) includes at least one upwards foldable flap (5) for cooperation with a band (2) for keeping together the units.

3. Package according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the carrier sheet (1) has two adjacent sidewalls (4) intended to hold information, and/or include the flaps (5) for cooperation with the band (2), which consist of cuttings made in the sidewalls (4).

4. Package according to claim 1, characterized in that the flaps (3) folded downwards or upwards from the carrier sheet (1) are cut out from the same for creating T-formations extending upwards from a folding area.

5. Package according to claim 1, characterized in that separate units have been turned before or in connection with placing the units on the carrier sheet (1) in order to achieve a similar apperence from each unit.

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