Special receptacle or package – For plural beverage-type receptacles – Coaxial – abutting receptacles
Patent
1997-04-25
1998-05-26
Fidei, David T.
Special receptacle or package
For plural beverage-type receptacles
Coaxial, abutting receptacles
206427, 53445, 53447, B65D 7500
Patent
active
057553246
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to arrangements for separating a plurality of food or beverage cans.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of cans for storing drinks, foodstuffs and other materials is well known. These cans are oftentimes stacked one above the other with the base of an upper can received on the top of a lower can. Such metal to metal contact is, however, undesirable during storage and distribution prior to use by the end consumer. A current trend in multiple packaging is for multipacks containing two or more layers of cans stacked on top of each other. These layers may require separation for the reasons discussed above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided an arrangement for separating a pair of cans stacked one on top of the other. Each can has a base rim and a top rim projecting above a top panel incorporating a can opening device. The separating arrangement includes a paperboard member having a pair of concentric openings disposed one within the other, with a first opening being dimensioned so as to be marginally smaller than the top rim of the lower can and a second opening being dimensioned so as to span the can opening device formed in the top panel of the can, said second opening defining a first cover portion for the can opening device. A second cover portion is defined in the separating sheet between the first and second openings, and a third cover portion being defined externally of the first opening, said first cover portion being connected to the second cover portion by at least one first interconnecting tab, and the second cover portion being connected to the third cover portion by at least one second interconnecting tab, the said interconnecting tabs being constructed and arranged to allow the cover portions to move into different planes relative to each other.
Preferably the tabs are formed integrally with the cover portions as a part of the paperboard or separating sheet member. Conveniently the paperboard member will provide a plurality of pairs of first and second openings for separating a plurality of stacked pairs of cans. Most cans are generally circular in section and so for such cans the openings in the paperboard member are generally circular. It is a preferred feature that there are at least three tabs connecting each pair of cover portions. Preferably there are four tabs generally equispaced around the periphery of each such opening. In a preferred arrangement the inner tabs are located at points which generally bisect the locations of the outer tabs of the arrangement.
In preferred embodiments, each opening is formed by a plurality of separate cuts in the paperboard member, the number of cuts corresponding to the number of tabs spanning the opening. Ideally the majority of each cut lies on the desired general periphery of the opening with one end of each cut extending outwardly and the other end of each cut extending inwardly of the cut, the outer end of one cut overlapping and being spaced from the inner end of an adjacent cut so as to define one of the tabs.
Conveniently the paperboard member is also provided with at least one recess for engagement with suitable indexing and positioning mechanisms in a packing line.
Embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a can separating arrangement according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the arrangement in use with the top can of a pair of cans removed.
FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectioned elevation view through a pair of cans separated by the arrangement of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 shows a strip of connected separating arrangements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The figures show a can separating sheet 10, which in this embodiment is made from paperboard.
Other materials however, may be used to fabricate sheet 10. The sheet 10 is, in use, positioned between an array of upper cans 11 and lower cans 12, with a pair of upper and lower cans (FIG.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3351264 (1967-11-01), Bostrom
patent: 4593818 (1986-06-01), Schenkman
patent: 5437143 (1995-08-01), Culpepper et al.
patent: 5687847 (1997-11-01), Culpepper et al.
Fidei David T.
Riverwood International Corporation
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