Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A CARRIER FOR CANS AND A CARDBOARD BLAND FOR A CARRIER
FOR CANS
s Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a carrier of cardboard, preferably
corrugated cardboard, for connecting a plurality of generally cylindrical
cans being disposed in one or several rows and having an inclined upp-
er part and a top closure with a projecting circular rim. The carrier is
to produced from a plane blank, having, for each can to be connected by
the carrier, two mutually opposing, essentially arcuate slits, the outer
edges of which engage below the rim of the cans when the carrier is as-
sembled on the plurality of cans to connect the carrier and the cans and
form a package assembly.
Is The invention also relates to a plane blank of cardboard for a car-
rier for cans.
Background of the invention
Cylindrical cans are used in the beverage industries for drinks,
2o such as for instance mineral water, bear and soft drinks. For carrying a
plurality of cans, package assemblies are provided, which may comprise
from two up to ten cans. Heretofore there have been many different typ-
es of package assembly means provided for enabling a plurality of cans
to be lifted and handled by, for example, a consumer.
25 Plastic materials are used as package assembly means, e.g. in the
form of a plastic film wrap extending around the packaged cans or in
the form of mutually connected plastic rings which are applied around
the cans. These package assembly means, however, are costly and
cause environmental problems. Other types of carriers for cans, made of
3o cardboard, having both environmental and commercial advantages,
have thus been introduced. Also combinations of plastic and cardboard
materials have been used as package assembly means.
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Considering the extensive use of package assemblies for drinks and
the great quantity of cans sold in these packages or assemblies, the cost
of the individual package, including material as well as assembly costs,
is an important factor in the cost of the packaged assembly as sold.
s Hence, relatively small changes in the costs of the package assemblies
are very important. In addition, it is important that the contents of the
packages are clearly visible and can be identified in the package assem-
bly.
One type of carrier of cardboard configured as a banderole or a so
1o called wrap-around extending around the group of cans are frequently
used and is, for example, disclosed in US-A-3,194,476. This wrap-
around carrier is costly and also complicated to apply around the cans
in a continuously running production line. A further disadvantage is
that the contents of the package can not easily be identified by the
is consumer.
Other types of carriers of cardboard are known, which are adapted
to be applied against the upper side of the group of containers and to be
connected to the containers. A carrier of this type is described, for ex-
ample, in US-A-3,094,210. The carrier is produced from a plane card-
2o board blank having two opposing U-shaped slits for each container to
be connected by the carrier. The plane blank is assembled on the group
of containers by folding side flanges downwardly towards the sides of
the container, such that outer edges of the slits in the carrier engage
below the shoulder of the containers. However, in order to prevent the
2s edges of the slits to disengage from the shoulder, following mutual
movements between the containers, an additional corresponding carrier
must be applied on the bottom part of the containers. The carrier as
described above is disadvantageous in that it can be used for a single
row of containers only and is costly due to material costs and a more
3o complicated assembly of a two-piece carrier. A further disadvantage is
that the side flanges of the carrier projecting downwardly along the
sides of the containers, may easily get caught by an adjacent package
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assembly or some other element, such that the flanges are forced up-
wardly and the edges of the slits are disengaged from the shoulder of
the container.
A similar carrier for cans is disclosed in EP-B-049607. The carrier
comprises two opposing arcuate slits for each can and short incisions
extending radially from said slits. A plurality of flaps, formed between
the incisions, engage below the projecting neck of the cans. Grasping
flaps are provided on each side of the carrier adapted to be folded when
the carrier with the cans is grasped and lifted by the user. The carrier
1o as disclosed has proven insufficient to securely engage the carrier on
the cans, especially when lifting forces are applied in the gripping re-
cesses in the sides of the carrier. The carrier has a centrally arranged
folding line, which serves as a "hinge " when lifting forces are applied in
the gripping recesses in the opposing sides of the carrier, such that the
cans are separated and tend to disengage from the carrier. In addition,
the side flaps are forced, by the lifting forces, in an upward direction,
thus further increasing the risk for disengagement of the carrier from
the cans.
2o Sasic idea of the invention
The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned
problems by providing a carrier for cans, which may be securely fitted
to the cans in order to connect, lock and support the cans and provide a
package assembly which may be lifted and handled without risking dis
engagement, and which is material-effective and may be readily and eff
ectively applied to and assembled on a plurality of cans.
This object is achieved in accordance with the invention in a car
rier for cans and a cardboard blank for a carrier for cans as described
above and with the characterising features as defined in the appended
claims.
According to the invention, the opposing arcuate slits for each can
to be connected by the carrier, comprise an arcuate intermediate sec-
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tion between two arcuate end sections, said intermediate section of the
slit being formed radially inside the arcuate end sections of the slit,
such that a radially projecting arcuate engagement tongue is formed in
the intermediate section of the slit. The tongue is adapted to slip over
the rim of the can when the side panels and possibly the centre portion
of the blank are forced in a downward direction towards the inclined
sides of the can, and to snap in below the rim of the can to securely
connect the carrier to the cans. The can is securely tightened in the car-
rier by the tightening forces ensuing from the contact pressure of the
to carrier on the top closure of the can arising when the engagement
tongue snaps in below and bear on the rim of the can. The curvature of
the engagement tongue thoroughly follows the curvature of the can and
through the deflection of the end sections of the slits and the ensuing
tension in these sections effected by the contact pressure on the top
is closure, the engagement tongues are tightened and provides a secure
and steady connection.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention
will be made more apparent in the following description of embodiments
of the invention and in the appended drawings.
Short description of the drawings
The invention will be described more in detail below with reference
to the appended drawings, in which
Figure 1 shows a plane cardboard blank for a carrier for cans
according to a first embodiment of the invention, said carrier being
adapted for one row of cans with two cans,
Figure 2 shows in a perspective view a package assembly com-
prising a carrier with two cans, the carrier being produced from the
cardboard blank of Figure 1,
3o Figure 3 shows a plane cardboard blank for a carrier for cans
according to a second embodiment of the invention, said carrier being
adapted for two rows of cans with six cans, and
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Figure 4 shows in a perspective view a package assembly compris-
ing a carrier with six cans, the carrier being produced from the card-
board blank of Figure 3.
s Detailed description of embodiments of the invention
The carrier according to the invention is produced from a plane
blank of cardboard, preferably corrugated cardboard. A thin and com-
pact F-flute corrugated cardboard is preferably used. However, a thicker
E-flute corrugated cardboard may also constitute a suitable material in
1o the carrier. In order to minimise the humidity effect on the material, the
corrugated cardboard may be coated with a plastic layer, preferably on
its inner side. Besides that the plastic layer increases the resistance of
the material against moisture, the layer also increases the ductility of
the material. The advantages of the environment friendly corrugated
cardboard remain also with a plastic coating, since the plastic material
in the coated layer may be recycled.
Figure 1 shows the plane blank 2 for a carrier according to a first
preferred embodiment of the invention. The carrier is adapted to hold
and connect a plurality of cans disposed in a single row, in the embodi-
2o went as shown, a row of two cans. Figure 2 shows the carrier 1 pro-
duced from the blank 2 of Figure 1 and assembled on the plurality of
cans 4. The cans 4, which do not form part of the present invention, are
conventionally designed with an essentially circular-cylindrical basic
form. The upper part of the can is slightly inclined and is closed by a
top closure 6 which is sealed by means of a circular projecting rim 8.
The plane blank 2 in Figure 1 has an essentially rectangular basic
form, preferably with dented or inclined corners 10 for reducing the risk
that a projecting part of the carrier may get caught by an adjacent ele-
ment, such as for example another package assembly of cans. Two cen-
3o trally disposed gripping recesses 12, forming a finger grip for two fing-
ers, are provided on the long sides 26 of the blank. The carrier 1 and
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the cans 4, forming a package assembly as shown in Figure 2, may
simply be lifted by a two finger grip in the recesses 12.
Two mutually opposing and essentially arcuate slits 14 are dis-
posed in the blank 2 for each can 4 to be connected by the carrier. The
arcuate slit 14 comprises an arcuate intermediate section 16 having
arcuate end sections 18 on both sides thereof. Step-like portions 20 are
disposed between the intermediate section 16 and the end sections 18.
The arcuate end sections 18 are part circular, the radius of which is
equal to or slightly larger than the radius of the projecting rim 8 of the
1o top closure 6 on the can, such that the end sections 18 are in line with
or project slightly outside the edge of the shoulder 8 in the assembled
state as shown in Figure 2. The outer edge of the slit 14 may thus,
along the end sections 18, easily be displaced downwardly past the rim
8, as will be explained more in detail below.
The arcuate intermediate section 16 of the slit 14 is formed radially
inside the arcuate end sections 18 of the slit, such that the intermediate
section forms an arc inside the arched line formed by the extensions of
the two end sections 18. The outer edge of the intermediate section 16
of the slit 14, thus forms a projecting engagement tongue 22 directed
2o towards the centre of the blank. As mentioned above, the engagement
tongue 22 is arched and may be part circular, the curvature of which
corresponding to the curvature of the can just below the rirn. The en-
gagement tongue 22 may also be differently arched, for example, the arc
may be part circular and "wider". Hence, this engagement tongue 22
2s has a larger radius and a centre which does not coincide with the centre
of the cans in the assembled state of the carrier. The engagement
tongue 22 is adapted to snap in below the projecting rim 8 of the can 4
to connect and lock the can to the carrier, as will be described more in
detail below.
3o Several longitudinal folding lines 24 are disposed in the blank 2,
extending parallel with the long sides 26 of the blank and the row of
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cans. The folding lines 24 connect the ends of the arcuate slits 14 with
each other or with an adjacent short side 28 of the blank.
In forming the carrier 1 as shown in Figure 2 from the plane blank
2 of Figure l, the blank 2 is first superimposed on the top closures 6 of
s the cans, such that the slits 14 in the blank on the whole coincide with
the projecting rims 8 of the cans. Side panels 30 in the blank 2, formed
between the long sides 26 and the folding lines 24, are forced and thus
folded downwardly towards the inclined surfaces of the cans. The outer
edge of the slit 14 is thereby displaced downwardly and the projecting
1o engagement tongue 22 is turned into a slightly upward direction.
Hence, the arcuate end sections 18 of the slit 14 pass the outside of the
projecting rim 8 of the top closure 6 and the engagement tongue 22
slips over the rim 8 and snaps in below said rim, such that the carrier
is securely locked to the can by the tongue.
15 The arcuate engagement tongue 22 is formed to fit the cylindrical
curvature of the can 4, such that the entire tongue 22 bears on the sur-
face of the can below the rim 8 and exerts a tightening force ensuing
from tensions distributed in the carrier along the outer edges of the end
sections 18 of the slits from the contact pressure of the carrier 1 on the
2o top closure 6, such that a secure and stable connection between the
carrier and the cans is achieved. The package assembly is further stabi-
lised by the panels 30 bearing on the inclined surfaces of the cans 4.
The width (along the short sides 28) of the plane blank 2 is ap-
proximately equal to the cylindrical diameter of the cans. In the as-
25 sembled state, with the side panels 30 in an inclined position, the width
of the carrier 1 is further reduced. Hence, in the assembled state, the
edges of the carrier 1 do not exceed the maximum dimensions of the
cans. As a consequence, the risk of an unintentional disengagement of
the carrier from the cans due to upwardly directed forces on the side
3o panels, is considerably reduced. The upper plane parts of the assemb-
led carrier 1, cover the upper portions of the cans, i.e. the top closure 6,
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such that these portions are protected from contamination during
transportation and storing.
Figure 3 shows the plane cardboard blank 32 for a carrier ac
cording to a second embodiment of the invention. The blank is adapted,
in the assembled state, to connect and hold a plurality, i.e. six in the
embodiment as shown, of cans 4 arranged in two rows. The blank 32 is
shown in an assembled state in Figure 4 . The plane blank 32 has an
essentially rectangular basic form, preferably with dented or inclined
corners 10 as in the embodiment as shown in Figures 1 - 2. At least two
to gripping recesses 42, preferably configured as circular or oval openings,
are centrally disposed in the blank between the rows of cans, forming a
finger grip for two fingers in order to lift and handle the package as-
sembly.
Two mutually opposing and essentially arcuate slits 44, 45 are dis-
posed in the blank 32 for each can 4 to be connected by the carrier 31.
Each pair of slits comprises an outer slit 44, corresponding in sub-
stance with the slits 14 in the embodiment as shown in Figures 1 and
2, and an inner slit 45 adjacent to the centre 34 of the blank between
the rows of cans. The inner slit 45 differs from the outer slit 44, pri-
2o marily in the configuration of the intermediate section 46, but also in
that the arcuate end sections 48 are smaller than the corresponding
end sections 18 in the outer slit 44. As a consequence, the intermediate
section 46 of the inner slit is larger than the corresponding intermediate
section 16 in the outer slit 44.
The intermediate section 46 of the inner slit 45 has at least one, in
the embodiment as shown two, radially extending incisions 47. The in-
cisions 47 extend between the edge of the slit 45 and an arcuate folding
line 53, extending between the end sections 48 and delimiting an
engagement tongue between the step-like portions 50. The incisions 47
3o divide the engagement tongue into three engagement flaps 52. The cur-
vature of the intermediate section 46 of the slit 45 differs from the cur-
nature of the arcuate folding line 53 in that it is wider and has a larger
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radius than the folding line 53. The arcuate folding line 53 has a cur-
vature corresponding to the curvature of the contact line on the inclined
surface of the can, as will be described more in detail below with refe-
rence to Figure 4.
As shown in Figure 3, a plurality of additional folding lines are dis-
posed in the blank 32. Three longitudinal folding lines 54, for each row
of cans, extend parallel to the long sides 56 of the blank and the rows of
cans. Two of the three longitudinal folding lines 54 connect the ends of
the arcuate slits 44, 45 with each other or with an adjacent short side
58 of the blank and the third folding line 54 connects the step-like por-
dons 20 in the outer slits 44 with each other or with an adjacent short
side 58 of the blank. In addition, a plurality of oblique folding lines 55
are disposed in the blank, said folding lines connecting the outer en-
gagement flaps 52 with an adjacent gripping recess 42 or with an adja-
~s cent short side of the blank.
The plurality of cans 4, disposed in two rows, are connected and
held together by the carrier 31 in a package assembly, as shown in
Figure 4. In forming the carrier as shown in Figure 4 from the plane
blank 32 of Figure 3, the plane blank is first superimposed on the rows
of cans and then the side panels 60 on the long sides as well as the
central portions of the blank are forced and thus folded in a downward
direction, preferably by means of a specially designed pressure-applying
tool. During this pressing procedure, the essentially circular parts of the
blank between the slits 44, 45 bear on and cover the top closures 6 of
the cans, while the side panels 60 and the central portions are forced
downwardly. Through the downwardly directed pressure, the blank 32
is folded in the folding lines 54, 55. Hence, the side panels 60 are folded
in two steps in the two longitudinal folding lines 54, whereby the ar-
cuate outer edge of the outer slits 44 is displaced in a downward direc-
3o tion past the rim 8 of the can, in a corresponding manner as in Figure
2. The outermost part of the side panels 60 is additionally folded, such
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that the engagement tongue 22 slips over the rim 8 and snaps in below
said rim into its locking position.
Between the rows of cans, centrally on the blank 32, a special de-
signed tool applies pressure at certain points along the centre line 34 of
5 the blank. The blank 32 is folded in the longitudinal inner folding line
54, such that the outer edges of the inner slits 45 are displaced in a
downward direction past the rim 8 of the can. In addition, the blank 32
is folded in the oblique folding lines 55 and the arcuate folding lines 53.
The downward pressure is applied, such that the arcuate folding lines
l0 53 are forced against the inclined surfaces of the cans, and the engage-
ment flaps 52 are folded upwardly to finally snap in below the rim 8 of
the can into a locking position. The downward pressure is applied at
certain portions of the blank between each pair of cans, thus forming
bowl-shaped indentations between the oblique folding lines 55 and the
arcuate folding lines 53.
When the carrier 31 of to Figure 4, with its heavy load of liquid-
filled cans 4, is lifted by a two finger grip in the gripping recesses 42,
the oblique folding lines 55 and especially the indentations formed
therebetween in the carrier 31 prevent that the lifting forces, as in other
2o previously known carriers, are transformed to a separation of and mu-
tual movements between the cans, which may cause a disengagement of
the cans from the carrier. According to the invention, the lifting forces
are instead distributed in the direction of the oblique folding lines 55
and is transformed into an increased pressure of the engagement flaps
52 against the rim 8.
According to the invention, the blanks may effectively be assembled
on the cans in an automated production line. The blanks may however
also effectively be assembled in a semi-automated line or in a packaging
line and it is also convenient to assemble the blank manually into a
3o package assembly.
It will be understood that the invention is not restricted to the
aforedescribed exemplifying embodiments thereof and that several con-
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ceivable modifications of the invention are possible within the scope of
the following claims.
