PORTE-BOUTEILLES A PREHENSION PAR LE HAUT ET METHODE D'EMBALLAGE CORRESPONDANTE

TOP GRIPPING BOTTLE CARRIER AND METHOD OF PACKAGING

Abrégé français

Un porte-bouteilles comporte un panneau principal (1) sur les côtés duquel deux panneaux latéraux (8, 9) sont raccordés par un pli alors que deux panneaux supplémentaires (12, 14) leur sont également raccordés sur leurs côtés opposés au panneau principal (1). Celui-ci et les deux panneaux supplémentaires (12, 14) présentent des ouvertures en trous de serrures (2-7, 16-18, 30-32). Des découpes (23-25, 33-35) sont formées le long des arrêtes latérales de chaque panneau supplémentaires (12, 14) pour enserrer les cols des bouteilles après le pliage d'un panneau supplémentaire (12), qui vient recouvrir le panneau principal (1), puis après le pliage de l'autre panneau supplémentaire (14) qui vient recouvrir le premier panneau supplémentaire (12).

Abrégé anglais

2134971 9322217 PCTABS00027
A bottle carrier includes a main panel (1) to the side edges of
which a pair of side panels (8, 9) are foldably joined
respectively and a pair of supplementary panels (12, 14) are foldably joined
respectively to the side edges of the side panels (8, 9) which
are remote from the main panel (1). The main panel (1) and the two
supplementary panels (12, 14) include keyhole apertures (2-7,
16-18, 30-32). Cutaway areas (23-25, 33-35) are formed along the
side edges of each supplementary panel (12-14) and serve to
envelope the necks of bottles following folding of one supplementary
panel (12) into overlying relation with respect to the main panel
(1) followed by folding of the other supplementary panel (14) into
overlying relation with the first supplementary panel (12).

Revendications

-9-
1. A top-gripping bottle carrier for packaging a
group of bottles arranged in at least two rows, comprising
a main panel having opposite side edges, a pair of side
panels each having bottom and top edges and being foldably
joined along the bottom edges thereof to a respective one of
said side edges of said main panel, a pair of supplementary
panels each having a side edge thereof joined to the
respective top edge of said side panels and disposed in
overlapping face-contacting relation with each other, at
least two rows of first bottle neck receiving apertures
formed in said main panel and disposed adjacent to a
respective one of said side panels, second bottle neck
receiving apertures formed in each of said supplementary
panels and arranged to cooperate with said first bottle neck
receiving apertures, at least one of said apertures in each
row and in each of said supplementary panels being of
keyhole shaped configuration having interconnected large and
small portions and being arranged so that, during assembly
of the carrier, the large portions of said cooperating
apertures coincide when said supplementary panels are folded
upon said side panels and main panel permitting the necks of
the bottles to be inserted therethrough while the small
portions of said apertures move into coincidental
relationship when said side panels are brought into an
upright position whereby the necks of the bottles are firmly
gripped, and means for securing said main panel and
supplementary panels in fixed relation to each other.
2. A top-gripping bottle carrier according to claim
1 wherein cutaway areas are formed along the side edge of
each of said supplementary panels which is remote from the
associated one of said side panels, said cutaway areas being
transversely aligned with said apertures in said
supplemental panel and effective to grip the necks of the
bottles disposed adjacent the opposite side panel.

-10-
3. A top-gripping bottle carrier according to claim
1 wherein said side panels are disposed in substantially
vertical planes.
4. A top-gripping bottle carrier according to claims
1 or 3 wherein said main panel is of upwardly bowed
configuration.
5. A top-gripping bottle carrier according to claim
1 wherein said securing means comprises a pair of finger
holes and associated locking tabs struck from one of said
supplementary panels and cooperating locking apertures
formed in said main panel.
6. A unitary blank for forming a top-gripping bottle
carrier, comprising a main panel having opposed side edges,
a plurality of keyhole shaped bottle neck receiving
apertures formed in said main panel and arranged in two
parallel longitudinal rows, a side panel foldably joined to
each side edge of said main panel, a supplementary panel
foldably joined to each of said side panels, a plurality of
bottle neck receiving apertures formed in each of said
supplementary panels and arranged in a single longitudinal
row to cooperate with the neck receiving apertures of one of
said longitudinal rows formed in said main panel, and a
plurality of cutaway areas formed along the edge of each of
said supplementary panels which is remote from the
associated side panel and adapted to cooperate with the
bottle neck receiving apertures formed in the other of said
supplementary panel when the carrier is assembled, said
keyhole shaped apertures having large and small portions,
said keyhole shaped apertures formed in said main panel
being oriented so that the large portions thereof are
disposed adjacent the respective ones of said side edges of
said main panel, said keyhole shaped apertures formed in
said supplementary panels being oriented so that the small
portions thereof are disposed adjacent the respective ones
of said side panels.

-11-
7. A unitary blank for forming a top-gripping bottle
carrier according to claim 6 wherein said main panel forms
a lower panel of the assembled carrier and is dimensioned
so that it assumes an upwardly bowed configuration when the
carrier is assembled.
8. A method of packaging a group of bottles arranged
in two rows in a top-gripping carrier formed from an
initially flat blank comprising a main panel, a pair of side
panels foldably joined to opposed side edges of said main
panel and supplementary panels foldably joined to the edges
of the side panels remote from the main panel, keyhole
shaped apertures having large and small portions formed in
said main panel and said supplementary panels and arranged
so that the large portions of said apertures substantially
coincide when the supplementary panels are folded into
face-contacting overlying relationship with said side panels and
main panels, the method comprising the steps of
(a) sequentially folding said supplementary panels
into flat face-contacting overlying relation with said side
panels and said main panel whereby the large portions of
said apertures in said main panel and supplementary panels
are brought into substantially mutual alignment,
(b) applying said folded blank to the tops of said
bottles so that necks of said bottles are received through
said aligned apertures in said main panel and complementary
panel,
(c) imparting an inward force to opposite sides of the
group of bottles to cause the bottles to move inwardly
whereby the necks of the bottles are forced to move into the
small portions of said keyhole shaped apertures in said main
panel and supplementary panels,
(d) securing said supplementary panels and said main
panel in face-contacting relation with respect to each other
at a location intermediate said side panels whereby the
necks of the bottles are maintained in said small portions
of said apertures.

-12-
9. A method according to claim 8 wherein said inward
force imparted to opposite sides of the group of bottles
causes said side panels to move into an upright position.
10. A method according to claim 8 wherein said inward
force imparted to opposite sides of the group of bottles
causes said main panel to bow upwardly.
11. A method according to claim 8 wherein each of said
supplementary panels is provided with cutaway areas along
the side edge which is remote from the associated one of
said side panels and wherein the inward force imparted to
opposite sides of said group of bottles causes said cutaway
areas to engage the necks of adjacent bottles.

Description

W 93/22217 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ PCT/U~93104200
O
1 _
TOP GRIPPING BOTTLE CARRIER
AND METHOD OF PACKAGING
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to the packaging of bottles normally
containing consumer items and wherein a group of bottles are
assembled in the unitary package and secured by top gripping
structures of one kind or another.
BACKGROUND ART
U. S. patent 2,252,235 issued August 12, 1941 discloses an
arrangement wherein a bottle carrier of the top gripping type is
disclosed and which utilizes structures which include apertures
which are of keyhole configuration.
U. S. patent 2,320,440 issued June 1, 1943 discloses a top
gripping bottle carrier wherein panels include apertures of keyhole
configuration and which are disposed about and grip the necks of
packaged bottles.
U. S. patent 2,337,243 issued December 21, 1943 discloses a
top gripping bottle carrier wherein some of the bottle neck
receiving apertures are of keyhole configuration.
SUMPZA1'~Y OF THE INVI'sNTION .
According to this invention, in one form, a paperboard blank
is manipulated in such manner as to grip the tops of packaged
bottles and includes a main panel to the side edges of which side
panels are foldably joined and wherein a pair of face contacting
supplementary panels are disposed above the main gavel with their
side edges foldably joined to the upper edges of the side panels.
Bottle neck receiving apertures of keyhole configuration are formed
in the main panel and similar apertures are formed in each of the
supplementary panels together with cutaway areas formed along the
edges of supplementary panels remote from the edges of the
supplementary panels which are foldably joined to a side panel.
Machine guides disposed between the two rows of bottles maintain
a spacing therebetween until such time as the supplementary panels
are folded into overlapping relationship with the main panel
SUBSTITUTE SHEET

CA 02134971 2000-03-27
whereupon inward movement of the bottles with their neck portions
disposed in cutaway areas formed on the side edges of both
supplementary panels and the smaller parts of keyhole apertures
formed in the two supplementary panels are moved into enveloping
relation with the necks of bottles in each row of bottles.
Following this, securing tabs mounted in the upper one of said
supplementary panels are driven through receiving apertures formed
in the lower supplementary panel and securing tabs struck from and
foldably joined to the main panel are swung into braced
relationship with the locking tabs so as to secure the package with
the bottle necks securely gripped by the carton structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings,
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a unitary blank formed according to
this invention as viewed from the inside of the blank;
FIG. 2 is a view which shows the sequence of folding of one
supplementary panel into overlapping relation with the main panel
followed by folding of the other supplementary panel into overlying
relation with respect to the first supplementary panel;
FIG..3 shows the blank as manipulated according to FIG. 1
during a lowering operation whereby the group of bottles shown in
phantom lines are enveloped in sequence to form a completed
package;
FIG. 4 shows the collapsed blank with overlapping
supplementa7cy panels as viewed from the end edges of ~ the
supplementary panels;
FIG. 5 shows a pair of bottles separated by a machine element
as these bottles appear before and after a collapsed blank is
lowered into position as shown in FIG. 6;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the blank and associated
pair of bottles following inward movement of the bottles into
engagement with each other and which shows the locking apparatus
for manipulating the locking tabs into locking relation with the
locking. tabs formed in one supplementary panel into the apertures
formed in the other supplementary panel, such locking elements
being maintained in locked condition;

. 213'4 ~? 1
~j WO 93/22217 PCT/US93104200
3
FIG. 8 shows the completely assembled structure of a pair of
bottles together with.the carrier structure; and
FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 8 but, in addition, shows the
locking and retaining tabs which hold the carrier in fully set up
locked condition.
BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The unitary blank formed of paperboard as shown in FIG. 1 and
as viewed from the inside includes main panel 1 having keyhole
apertures 2-7. Of course, the keyhole apertures include standard
large and small portions. Side panels 8 and 9 are foldably joined
to main panel 1 along fold lines 10 and 11 respectively. A
supplementary panel designated by the numeral 12 is foldably joined
to side panel 8 along fold line 13. At the other end of the blank,
supplementary panel 14 is foldably joined tc side panel 9 along
fold line 15. Supplementary panel 12 includes keyhole apertures
16, 17 and 18 as well as locking apertures 19 and 20. Also,
. retaining tabs Ti and T2 are struck from main panel 1 and are
joined thereto, respectively, along fold lines 21 and 22.
For enveloping the necks of bottles to be packaged, cutaway
areas 23, 24 and 25 are formed in supplementary panel 12. At the
other end of the blank, locking tabs 26 and 27 are struck from
supplementary panel 14. Locking tab 26 as foldably joined to
supplementary pane1.14 along fold line 28 while locking tab 2'7 is
foldably joined to supplementary panel 14 along fold line 29.
Keyhole apertures 30, 31 and 32 are formed in supplementary panel
14 and cutaway areas 33, 34 and 35 are struck from supplementary
panel l4 along one side edge thereof.
Initial stages of a packaging operation are indicated in FIG.
2 wherein supplementary panel 12 is elevated and folded over into
flat face contacting relationship with the main panel 1 and side
panel 8 to occupy the position indicated by arrow A1 in FIG. 2.
As shown in FIG: 2 and indicated by arrow A2, supplementary panel
14 is eievatea-:~°and folded forwardly along fold line 15 to occupy
the posftion shown in the left portion of FIG. 2.
The downward travel of the collapsed carrier, as shown in FIG.
3, results in the necks of bottles B1-B6 being enveloped by the
SUBSTITUTE SHEET

2134371
. . v;
WO 93122217 PCT/U593/042~D0 ~'
- 4 -
large portions of the respective keyhole apertures of main panel
1 and supplementary panels 12 and 14. The bottle group with its
collapsed carrier is depicted in the left hand portion of FIG. 3. '
The two rows of bottles are separated, as indicated in FIG.
5, by means of machine guide G. In FIG. 6, bottles B6 and B3 are
shown in conjunction with the collapsed carrier having main panel
1 and supplementary panels 12 and 14 shown in their collapsed
condition.
In FIG. 7, the bottles B6 and 83 are shown in their final
assembled position as determined by the inward guiding action of
machine guides G1 and G2. The inward mation of the bottles, such
as B6 and B3, is also represented in FIG. 8 by arrows X and Y.
The carrier C in FIG. 7 is shown in set up condition and spoked
locking wheel W, rotatable about fixed shaft S, is synchronized so
as to drive locking tabs 26 and 27 respectively through apertures
19 and 20.
The action of locking wheel W also activates retaining tabs
Ti and T2 and causes them to prop respectively against locking tabs
26 and 27, as indicated in FIG. 9, thus to secure the carrier in
set-up latched condition. The manipulation and function of the
retaining tabs is described in more detail in U. S. patent
2,786,572.
Finally, in the set-up carrier, the dimensions of theaelements
are such that when the carrier is completely set-up, as shown in
FIGS. 8 and 9, main panel 1 is disposed in an upwardly bowed
condition. ,also, the necks of the bottles are disposed in the
small portions of the respective keyhole apertures and the
respective cutaway areas as a result of which the bottles are
securely locked in the carrier.
During the gripping of the bottle necDcs, the small portions
of the keyhole apertures receive the bottle necks in cooperation
with the cutaway areas in the supplementary panels and thus achieve
a secure gripping action of the bottles . The cutaway areas in each
supplementary panel cooperate with the small parts of the keyhole
apertures in the other supplementary panel.
SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Dessin représentatif