Special receptacle or package – For plural beverage-type receptacles
Patent
1998-03-06
1999-05-11
Foster, Jim
Special receptacle or package
For plural beverage-type receptacles
53398, 206446, 2064595, 220 234, B65D71/00
Patent
active
059018470
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates generally to the field of packaging and more specifically to a packaging method and to a multi-pack comprising a plurality of containers.
It is known to secure containers, particularly bottles, cans or cartons which contain drink or food, into groups of four, six, eight or twelve for portability. Such a group is referred to herein as a multi-pack. The containers of each group may be held in an array of rows and columns which (when viewed in plan) is generally rectangular, by a cardboard "outer" or carcass. The carcass extends around the outside of the multi-pack, and may carry identifying graphics or promotional material which is to be visible when the multi-pack is stacked on a shelf. Providing a carcass and disposing it about the grouped containers can add a significant amount to the cost of producing the multi-pack.
Those costs can be reduced by providing a carcass which only extends around some of the sides (normally the front, rear top and bottom) of the multi-pack. However, this approach does not avoid the need for a separate carcass and is less effective at holding the containers together (unless those containers are glued to the carcass).
A further disadvantage of multi-packs including a carcass, is that containers can be inadvertently detached from the rest of the multi-pack while the latter is, for example, being carried by a consumer. This disadvantage also applies to a second type of multi-pack, usually of cans in which an array of interconnected plastic rings disposed about the can necks holds the cans in position.
It is an object of the present invention to at least partially overcome some of the above-mentioned difficulties.
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a packaging method comprising the steps of portions of material; whereby the material extends on the periphery of the containers and provides a hinged connection between adjacent containers; container of said plurality to retain the containers in said multi-pack configuration.
Preferably said securing step comprises: providing a flap projecting from said first container and attaching that flap to said another container.
Advantageously, the providing step comprises forming the flap from free adjacent ends of the first and second web portions.
In one embodiment, the flap forming step comprises attaching the ends of the web portions together by adhesive.
In another embodiment, the flap forming step comprises heat sealing the ends of the web portions together.
Advantageously, the disposing step comprises disposing the containers such that successive connecting portions are mutually substantially perpendicular.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a multi-pack comprising a plurality of containers, each having a respective label attached thereto, and packaging for holding said plurality of containers together, wherein the packaging is formed from a strip of sheet material which also constitutes at least part of said labels, and the packaging includes a plurality of connecting portions each of which extends from one to the other of a respective contiguous pair of the containers to join those containers together, wherein the sheet material comprises a continuous elongate strip which constitutes part of the labels of all the containers, so that said connecting portions are seamless, the packaging including fastening means securing a container which, by virtue of being at a region of an end of the strip, has only one said connecting portion extending therefrom, to another container in the multi-pack to prevent relative movement of said containers.
Because the material of the packaging serves both to secure the containers into a multi-pack and as labels for the containers, there is no need to provide a separate carcass. This enables the multi-pack to be formed relatively cheaply. Since the connecting portions are an integral part of the same strip, this arrangement can (with appropriate selection of the material of the strip and means of attachment to the containers) pr
REFERENCES:
patent: 3097740 (1963-07-01), Poupitch
patent: 3360179 (1967-12-01), Carstens
patent: 3392876 (1968-07-01), Allred
patent: 3938656 (1976-02-01), Owen
patent: 4721222 (1988-01-01), Haythornthwaite
Barnardo Christopher John Andrew
Berman Gregory
Burke Margaret
Claydon Michael John
Colby William Neil
Foster Jim
H. J. Heinz Company Limited
LandOfFree
Package for container and packaging method does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Package for container and packaging method, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Package for container and packaging method will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-240929