US 5,188,225 AGranted

Carrier for a group of containers and cardboard blank therefor

OwnerJose Jorbainventor

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Abstract

The carrier is provided with retention openings formed by two kinds of radial flanges of special shapes. The carriers are preferably made of cardboard or pasteboard diecast blanks which are introduced over the top of the containers and which by and adhesion form the carriers. The invention has application in the support and transport of containers in groups of one or more rows, especially soft drink cans or pots.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A carrier for supporting a group of containers, said carrier comprising:

a lower panel for retention of containers, said lower panel defining at least one row of a plurality of circular retention openings, the peripheries of said circular retention openings being located tangentially with respect to one another in each said row;
respective groups of first flanges extending radially inwardly from the periphery of each of the circular retention openings, said respective groups of first flanges being located diametrically opposite one another with respect to the circular retention opening, and each of said flanges having a free end terminating at an edge;
a pair of second unitary flanges extending radially inwardly from the periphery of each of the circular retention openings, each of said second unitary flanges being interposed between said respective groups of said first flanges in the circumferential direction of the circular retention opening, each of said second unitary flanges having a free end terminating at a concave edge approximately in the shape of a circular arc when lying flat in the same plane as the circular retention opening, and each of said second unitary flanges having a length as taken along the edge at said free end thereof that is greater than that of each of said first flanges for each of said openings;
said lower panel having recesses therein extending into respective ones of said second unitary flanges at location where said second unitary flanges would otherwise extend radially inwardly from the periphery of each of the circular retention openings, thereby facilitating the lifting of said respective ones of said second unitary flanges as hinges about the periphery of the circular retention opening;
and
a flat upper panel connected to said lower panel and spaced therefrom over said circular retention openings so as to cover tops of containers when retained in the openings, said upper panel having a substantially rectangular shape in plan.

3 more elements

A blank for forming a carrier for supporting a group of containers, said blank comprising a flat sheet of cardboard or pasteboard having fold lines extending thereacross and dividing the sheet into at least two panels, one of said panels defining at least one row of a plurality of circular retention openings, the peripheries of said circular retention openings being located tangentially with respect to one another in each said row;

respective groups of first flanges extending into each of said circular retention openings from the periphery of the circular retention opening, said respective groups of first flanges being located diametrically opposite one another with respect to the circular retention opening, and each of said flanges having a free end terminating at an edge;
a pair of second unitary flanges extending into each of said circular retention openings from the periphery of the circular retention opening, each of said second unitary flanges being interposed between said respective groups of said first flanges in the circumferential direction of said circular retention opening, each of said second unitary flanges having a free end terminating at a concave edge approximately in the shape of a circular arc when lying flat in the same plane as the circular retention opening, and each of said second unitary flanges having a length as taken along the edge at said free end thereof that is greater than that of each of said first flanges for each of said openings;
said lower panel having recesses therein extending into respective one of said second unitary flanges at locations where said second unitary flanges would otherwise extend radially inwardly from the periphery of each of the circular retention openings, thereby facilitating the lifting of said respective ones of said second unitary flanges as hinges about the periphery of the circular retention openings;
and the other of said panels having a rectangular shape.

1 more element

The combination of a group of containers and a carrier supporting the containers,

said containers each having a top defining a notch or groove therein extending around the periphery of the container;
and
said carrier including a lower panel defining at least one row of circular retention openings, the peripheries of said circular retention openings being located tangentially with respect to one another in each said row, the tops of said containers extending through said circular retention openings, respectively,
respective groups of first flanges extending at an inclination relative to said lower panel from the periphery of each of said circular retention openings, said respective groups of first flanges being located dismetrically opposite one another with respect to the circular retention opening, and each of said first flanges having a free end terminating at an edge within the peripheral notch or groove defined in the top of a respective one of the containers which extends through the circular retention opening,
a pair of second unitary flanges extending at an inclination relative to said lower panel from the periphery of each of said circular retention openings, each of said second unitary flanges being interposed between said respective groups of said first flanges in the circumferential direction of said circular retention opening, each of said second unitary flanges having a free end terminating at an edge engaging the container within the peripheral notch or groove defined in the top of a respective one of the containers which extends through the circular retention opening,
said lower panel having recesses therein extending into respective ones of said second unitary flanges at location where said second unitary flanges would otherwise extend radially inwardly from the periphery of each of the circular retention openings, thereby facilitating the lifting of said respective ones of said second unitary flanges as hinges about the periphery of the circular retention openings;
and
a flat upper panel connected to said lower panel and spaced therefrom over said circular retention openings so as to cover the tops of said containers, said upper panel having a substantially rectangular shape in plan.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A carrier for supporting a group of containers, said carrier comprising:

a lower panel for retention of containers, said lower panel defining at least one row of a plurality of circular retention openings, the peripheries of said circular retention openings being located tangentially with respect to one another in each said row;
respective groups of first flanges extending radially inwardly from the periphery of each of the circular retention openings, said respective groups of first flanges being located diametrically opposite one another with respect to the circular retention opening, and each of said flanges having a free end terminating at an edge;
a pair of second unitary flanges extending radially inwardly from the periphery of each of the circular retention openings, each of said second unitary flanges being interposed between said respective groups of said first flanges in the circumferential direction of the circular retention opening, each of said second unitary flanges having a free end terminating at a concave edge approximately in the shape of a circular arc when lying flat in the same plane as the circular retention opening, and each of said second unitary flanges having a length as taken along the edge at said free end thereof that is greater than that of each of said first flanges for each of said openings;
said lower panel having recesses therein extending into respective ones of said second unitary flanges at location where said second unitary flanges would otherwise extend radially inwardly from the periphery of each of the circular retention openings, thereby facilitating the lifting of said respective ones of said second unitary flanges as hinges about the periphery of the circular retention opening;
and
a flat upper panel connected to said lower panel and spaced therefrom over said circular retention openings so as to cover tops of containers when retained in the openings, said upper panel having a substantially rectangular shape in plan.

3 more elements