Holding arrangement for cans

Details Holding arrangement for cans Holding arrangement for cans

1994-11-07

1996-07-23

Foster, Jimmy G.

Special receptacle or package

For plural beverage-type receptacles

206153, 206161, B65D 7112

Patent

active

055381332

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to arrangements for holding a plurality of cans.
Multipacks of cans are well known for drinks and foodstuffs. Cans of drink are often sold in multipacks utilising a plastic ring having a number of apertures for receiving a corresponding number of cans. This number is often four or six. It is however desirable to cease using plastic in such multipacks.
Attempts have been made to produce satisfastory paperboard alternatives to the plastic ring but the alternatives tend to be of an all encompassing nature or sleeve-like.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a package for a plurality of cans, said package comprising first means which for each can has a top section and integral means for gripping each can below the top rim, said gripping means being arranged in an array such that each can is in substantially touching relation with all immediately adjacent cans, and second means having a top panel for attachment to said first means and side panel means for extending all around the periphery of the plurality of cans, said side panel means comprising one or more side panels hinged downwardly relative to said top panel, one or more of said side panels in contact with the cans and having one or more portions extending around one or more of said cans for attachment to at least one of said side panels.
Preferably said first and second means are made from paperboard. The first means is ideally made from a single piece of paperboard which constitutes all said top sections and gripping means. Conveniently each gripping means comprises a pair of spaced arcuate cuts between which the top of a can is disposed, the paperboard adjacent the cuts being pressed down under the rim of the can so as to grip the can below the rim.
In preferred arrangements the array may be generally rectangular, for example a 2.times.2, 2.times.3 or 2.times.4 array of cans, by virtue of the gripping means being arranged in a suitable array.
The top panel is preferably generally rectangular in plan view and four side panels are provided. In one arrangement an opposite pair of side panels, each has a pair of oppositely extending extensions which are, in use, bent around the adjacent corner can of the rectangular array such that each side panel of the other pair of opposite side panels is attached to two extensions, one from each of the first pair of side walls.
Ideally the top panel of the second means incorporates one or more formation to facilitate the picking up of the package. This formation may comprise one or more holes. The handle may also be an integrally formed strap or even a handle/strap assembly secured in said top panel.
Preferably the top panel is adhesively secured to all the top sections of the first means and the side panels are adhesively secured to each other. It is possible, however, that one or both of these attachments could be by interlocking formations on the two parts.
According to a second aspect there is provided A pair of blanks for holding a plurality of cans, the first blank having a number of pairs of spaced, oppositely disposed arcuate cuts for receiving a corresponding number of cans so as, in use, to hold the cans in an array such that each can is in substantially touching relation with all immediately adjacent cans and the second blank provides a top panel and one or more side panel means hingedly connected thereto for extending all around the periphery of the plurality of cans, one or more of which side panel means comprises one or more extension portions which, in use, extend around one or more of said cans in contact therewith for attachment to one of said side panels.
Preferably the pairs of cuts are arranged in a rectangular array so as in use to secure a rectangular array of cans. A preferred feature is that the two ends of each cut are located on a straight hinge line and the ends of more than one cut may be on any one hinge line. Between pairs of cuts is a reverse hinge line parallel to said straight hinge line for enabling in use the cans to be dispose

REFERENCES:
patent: 3118537 (1964-01-01), Copping
patent: 3653503 (1972-04-01), Arneson
patent: 3711143 (1973-01-01), Smed
patent: 3734278 (1973-05-01), Kerrigan et al.
patent: 4216859 (1980-08-01), Bader et al.
patent: 4471870 (1984-09-01), Uhlig
patent: 5103971 (1992-04-01), Schuster

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