PACKAGING

Abstract

Packaging, applicable for packaging an assembly (2) of at least three units, bottles (3), containers, or similar articles having one or more vertical interstitial spaces (5), comprising an elastic band (4) or other external pressure fastening system for the assembly (2), characterized in further comprising at least one vertical body (10) located in at least one vertical interstitial space (5) of said assembly (2) such that, once placed, said vertical body (10) is in contact with the surface of the bottles (3), containers, or articles.

Description

PACKAGING OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The invention, as stated in the present descriptive report, refers to packaging that provides advantages and characteristics to the function for which it is intended, which are described in detail below. The object of the present invention is a packaging, applicable for packing an assembly (2) of at least three units, bottles (3), containers or similar articles that have one or more vertical interstitial spaces (5), comprising an elastic band (4) or other external pressure fastening system for the assembly (2), which also essentially comprises at least one vertical body that adapts to said interstitial space and thereby hinders relative movement between them, at least on one of the three axes of space x, y, z, as well as rotation, preventing possible damage and / or unwanted disassembly of them during handling or transport without increasing the volume or thickness of the assembly beyond that of the bottles plus the external fastening. FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION The field of application of the present invention falls within the packaging industry sector, focusing particularly on the field of manufacturing accessories, supports and packaging articles for containers, particularly bottles and the like. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The use of grouped and externally pressure-bound packaging systems for bottles and other similar containers or items is widely known. These systems facilitate the storage and transport of such products with minimal packaging costs, allowing the product and its condition to be clearly seen and easily separated or removed. Furthermore, this type of packaging is very environmentally friendly, as it generates minimal waste. Among these packaging systems, one of the most practical, simple and economical consists of the inclusion of an elastic band that externally surrounds the set of bottles or containers so that it keeps them together by exerting pressure around them, being a very practical, economical system that practically does not increase either the volume or the weight of the set. The problem with this type of packaging is that the bottles, containers, or items in question, due to the movement they undergo during handling to move them from one point to another during transport from the point of production to the point of sale, and due to the inevitable existence of an interstitial space between each unit, unless the bottles, containers, or items are of a square cross-section, can suffer, and in fact do suffer, relative lateral and / or vertical displacements and even rotational displacements that, no matter how much pressure the external packaging system exerts, due to the existence of these intermediate spaces, can cause some of the bottles to move too much, even disassembling the assembly, with the consequent damage or, at the very least, disrupting an equilibrium position that can hinder its transport and / or storage. The objective of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a practical, simple and economical means of preventing such relative displacements by developing a packaging specially designed to occupy these interstitial spaces and thus hinder unwanted displacements of the bottles or containers between them by immobilizing them once held by the external packaging. In this memory, the verb "to immobilize" should be understood as hindering movement, even sometimes preventing movement altogether. Furthermore, and with reference to the current state of the art, it should be noted that, at least as far as the applicant is concerned, there is no knowledge of any other immobilizing packaging, nor any other invention of similar application, that presents technical, structural and constitutive characteristics equal or similar to those claimed herein. In this regard, it is worth mentioning that, as an example of packaging systems closer to the one concerned here, the following can be pointed out: Document WO2024075053A1, which describes a multiple bottle holder, made of cardboard or similar cellulosic material, with a central section and two side sections that fold and fit the bottle caps inserted into holes provided for that purpose. The document US10414528B2, which describes a cardboard bottle carrier packaging that, in the form of a basket, incorporates a central separator between the bottles on one side and the other. Document US4635810, which describes a partition for a cardboard box and / or plastic drawer, composed of longitudinal and lateral separating elements, practically flat and identical, and which have grooves to join them together and prevent the separating elements from separating. And document US8448411B2, which discloses a method and machine for grouping and joining articles consisting of a grouping band. However, it does not appear that any of the documents mentioned, taken independently or in combination, describe packaging like the one advocated here, as claimed. EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION The packaging accessory proposed by the invention is configured as an ideal solution to achieve the objectives mentioned above, with the characterizing details that make it possible and that distinguish it being conveniently included in the final claims that accompany this description. Specifically, what the invention proposes, as previously mentioned, is a packaging comprising a body especially applicable for incorporation into sets of bottles or other similar containers or articles, which are packaged or bundled in groups of several units, at least three, by means of some external pressure fastening system, such as by means of an elastic band that exerts pressure around the bottles or articles, in order to immobilize them by hindering relative movement between them, at least on one of the three axes of space x, y, z as well as in the rotational direction, preventing possible damage and / or unwanted disassembly during handling or transport and without increasing the volume or thickness of the assembly beyond that of the bottles plus the external fastening, said bottles, containers or articles being of cylindrical configuration, as is usually the most common,or any other non-quadrangular section configuration, and generate the aforementioned interstitial spaces. To this end, and more specifically, the packaging that is the subject of the invention is essentially made up of at least one elastic band or other external pressure fastening system for the assembly and a vertical body that adapts to the vertical interstitial space or spaces existing between the bottles, containers or articles grouped in the aforementioned type of packaging assembly by means of an elastic band or other type of external pressure fastening, said body having a cross-section configuration so that it remains in contact and presses against the surface of the bottles, containers or articles that determine the limits of said interstitial space, preventing their relative displacement in any direction. Ideally, the packaging body is a separate element that only occupies the interstitial space and is independently incorporated into each of the interstitial spaces present in the group of bottles or packaged items. Thus, when the group comprises three or four units of bottles, containers, or items, creating only a single central interstitial space, the packaging comprises a single vertical body that fits into that space. And when the group comprises six or more units that generate two or more interstitial spaces, the packaging comprises two or more vertical bodies that are independently incorporated into each of those spaces. However, in one embodiment, the packaging may comprise, in addition to one or more vertical bodies that occupy the interstitial space, connecting pieces that occupy minimal space in the contact area(s) between the bottles or containers to keep them immobilized against each other. In this case, it may include holes to prevent the assembly from becoming too large. Preferably, this option is applicable to assemblies that group six or more units and have two or more interstitial spaces, whereby the packaging comprises two or more vertical bodies configured to fit each of these interstitial spaces and joined together by an intermediate connecting piece, preferably flat in shape. In any case, in one embodiment option, the body may be rigid, made of some non-deformable material, for example plastic, such that the vertical body or bodies comprising it have a non-deformable section configuration according to the configuration of the interstitial space defined in the packaging assembly for which it is intended, achieving only the immobilization of the bottles or articles. However, in a preferred embodiment, the body is deformable and expandable, such that it adapts to the configuration of the space or interstitial spaces and at the same time pushes the bottles, containers or articles outwards, causing a kind of centrifugal force, with which, in addition to achieving the immobilization of the articles, the support of the assembly from the outside is improved. In this option, the body can be made of expandable elastic material, such as a foam material, whose shape adapts to the shapes of the interstitial space, without ruling out others. However, in a preferred embodiment, the body is made of corrugated cardboard with an expandable effect, since cardboard is a deformable material that, when bent, seeks to return to its resting position, thus perfectly adapting to the shapes of the interstitial spaces existing between bottles, containers or articles. Thus, in one embodiment option, the vertical body or bodies comprising the body are made of corrugated cardboard with a vertically oriented channel, i.e., with the waves inside the cardboard arranged parallel to the base. And, in an alternative embodiment, the vertical body or bodies of the packaging are made of corrugated cardboard with a horizontally oriented channel or even combining layers of cardboard with the corrugations of the channels arranged in different directions. Thus, the body or bodies of the packaging can be made of single-wall corrugated cardboard, of any pitch and thickness, or they can be made from any double-double combination, of any pitch and thickness. Furthermore, the vertical body or bodies of the packaging can be made of papers of any weight, recycled or not, and can be obtained by construction on a rotary-cut or flat-rolled corrugating converting machine Furthermore, the vertical body or bodies that comprise the packaging may or may not be printed with or incorporate graphic elements, and / or may or may not have a covering varnish to give them color or protection. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the vertical body or bodies comprising the packaging are formed from a sheet of cardboard with slits or cut-slits on one or both sides and at least one lateral gluing such that, when folded, it defines an elongated tubular body which, as a column, is inserted vertically into the interstitial space of the grouped set of bottles, containers or articles, adapting to the configuration thereof. As stated, depending on the number of interstitial spaces in the grouped set of bottles, containers or articles packed with the external elastic band or similar fastening system, the packaging comprises one or more vertical bodies, one for each space, which, in the aforementioned preferred embodiment, are made up of respective tubular bodies of corrugated and folded cardboard. And, in the case of having more than one of these vertical bodies, these are preferably joined together by means of an intermediate joining piece of preferably flat configuration formed, for example, by a portion of unfolded cardboard such that, optionally, it is perforated in the contact area between bottles so as not to increase the separation between them. For their part, the bottles, containers or articles for which the packaging of the invention is intended can be rigid or semi-rigid, in any case, grouped in sets of 3, 4, 5 or more and with a cross-section configuration that is not rectangular or square. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS To complement the description being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, this descriptive document is accompanied, as an integral part thereof, by sheets of drawings in which the following has been represented for illustrative and non-limiting purposes: Figures 1 and 2 show two perspective and top view views respectively of an example of a grouped packaging set of six bottles using an elastic band that incorporates two examples of the packaging body that is the subject of the invention, showing its configuration, specifically its cross-section and its arrangement in the interstitial space between the bottles; Figures 3 and 4 show two perspective and elevation views respectively of the example of a packaging body, according to the invention, incorporated into the packaging assembly shown in Figures 1 and 2, represented in this case independently, showing its general volumetric and planar configuration; Figure number 5.- Shows again a top plan view of a grouped packaging assembly of six bottles by means of an elastic band, which in this case incorporates an example of the packaging according to the invention with two vertical bodies joined together, showing the configuration of the same, specifically its cross-section and its arrangement between the bottles; Figures 6 and 7 show two views, in perspective and front elevation respectively, of the example of the packaging body, according to the invention, shown in figure 5, represented here independently in volumetric and flat position respectively; Figures 8 and 9 show schematic views of the sheet from which the example body shown in figures 5 to 7 is formed, represented in a fully unfolded position in figure 8 and in the folding phase in figure 9; and Figure number 10 shows a perspective view of the sheet of figures 8 and 9 once the two parts of it have been joined together to form the body, showing the formation of the bodies of the same. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION In view of the aforementioned figures, and in accordance with the numbering adopted, one can observe in them two examples of non-limiting embodiment of the packaging of the invention, which comprises what is described in detail below. Thus, as can be seen in the figures, the packaging body of the invention, applicable particularly for its incorporation into sets (2) of bottles (3), containers or similar articles which, packed in groups of at least three units by means of an elastic band (4) or other external pressure fastening system, have one or more vertical interstitial spaces (5), comprises at least one vertical body (10) with a cross-sectional configuration that adapts to the configuration of the at least one interstitial space (5) of the said set (2), for example by being complementary to the planar configuration of said interstitial space (5), such that, once placed, said vertical body (10) in said interstitial space (5) is in contact with the surface of the bottles (3), containers or articles that determine the limits of said interstitial space (5) such that it hinders the displacement of said bottles (3),containers or articles in the direction of at least one of the axes of space x, y, z in a rotational sense, ., In one embodiment, the packaging body occupies virtually its entire horizontal space and vertically covers a sufficient portion of its height to hinder the movement of said bottles (3), containers or articles in the direction of at least one of the x, y, z axes of space or in a rotational direction. In one embodiment, when the packaging assembly (2) comprises two or more interstitial spaces (5) between bottles (3), containers or similar articles, the packaging comprises two or more independent vertical bodies (10), one for each of said interstitial spaces (5), as shown in the example in Figures 1 to 4. And, in another embodiment, when the packaging assembly (2) comprises two or more interstitial spaces (5) between bottles (3), containers or similar articles, the packaging comprises two or more vertical bodies (10) joined together by at least one joining piece (11) of preferably flat configuration, as shown in the example in figure 5. Optionally, when the packaging (1) comprises two or more vertical bodies (10) joined together by at least one joining piece (11), said piece incorporates one or more holes (15) located in correspondence with at least the contact points between the bottles (3), containers or articles, so that there is no thickness of material between them that increases the dimension of the assembly. In any case, optionally, the packaging (1), in addition to one or more vertical bodies (10) that occupy one or more interstitial spaces (5), comprises one or more intermediate pieces (12) that, interposed between areas where there is no contact between the bottles (3), containers or articles, serve to hinder relative movement between them, as shown in the example in figure 5, also visible in figures 6 and 7. Optionally, the joining piece (11) between two vertical bodies (10) comprising the packaging, at the same time, acts as an intermediate piece (12) that hinders the relative movement of the bottles (3), containers or articles that is interposed in non-contact zones between said bottles (3), containers or articles, and may or may not include a hole (15). In one embodiment, the body (10) is rigid, being made of a non-deformable material. And, in a preferred embodiment, the body (10) is of a deformable and expandable nature, such that the vertical body or bodies (10) comprising it adapt to the configuration of the interstitial space or spaces (5) and at the same time push or push the bottles (3), containers or articles outwards, causing, in addition to improving the grip between them, to improve the grip of the assembly with an elastic band (4) or external pressure clamping system. In one embodiment, the body (10) is made of expandable elastic material, such as a foam material. And, in a preferred embodiment option, the body (1) is made of corrugated cardboard with an expandable effect. In one embodiment option, at least, the vertical body or bodies (10) comprising the packaging are made of corrugated cardboard with a vertically oriented flute. And, in an alternative embodiment, at least the vertical body or bodies (10) of the packaging (1) are made of corrugated cardboard with a horizontally oriented flute. In any case, the body or bodies (10) are made of single-wall corrugated cardboard, of any pitch and thickness, or from any double-double combination, as well as from papers of any weight, recycled or not, and may have been obtained by construction on a rotary-cut or flat-sided corrugating converting machine In any case, the body or bodies (10) may be printed and incorporate graphic and / or alphanumeric elements as well as have a covering varnish. Referring to figures 3 and 4, it can be seen how, in a preferred embodiment, to obtain the vertical body or bodies (10) they are formed from a sheet of corrugated cardboard that has one or more vertical slit lines (13) or cut-slit on one or both faces and, at least, a vertical gluing zone (14) on one of its sides, which can be continuous or discontinuous, such that, when folded, it defines an elongated tubular body that, as a column, constitutes the body (10) is inserted vertically into the interstitial space (5) of the packaging assembly, adapting to its configuration between the bottles (3), containers or articles. And, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, it can be seen that, optionally, if the packaging comprises two or more vertical bodies (10), these are joined vertically together by a connecting piece (11) of preferably flat configuration, formed, for example, by an unfolded piece of cardboard which, at the same time, acts as an intermediate piece (12) with a hole (15) that will serve to immobilize some of the bottles (3), containers, or articles together without increasing the distance between them. And, preferably, at both ends of the respective vertical bodies (10), it comprises several other intermediate pieces (12) of preferably flat configuration which also serve to hinder relative movement between bottles (3), containers, or articles. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10, to obtain the described packaging with the two or more vertical bodies (10), a corrugated cardboard sheet is divided into two similar parts (1a, 1b) separated by a transverse fold line (16), where each part has several vertical slit lines (13) or cut-slit lines on one or both faces that define the two or more vertical bodies (10) joined by joining pieces (11) with holes (15) and at least one gluing zone (14), in this case transverse, which can be continuous or discontinuous, such that, by facing a first part (1a) on a second part (1b), a reinforced body (10) is obtained. Furthermore, preferably between some of the slits (13) or cut-slit that define the respective vertical bodies (10), the sheet has transverse cut lines (17) which in each part (1a, 1b) are arranged on opposite sides, causing that, when the sheet is bent along the aforementioned transverse bending line (16), the material yields and the slits (13) or cut-slit bend in opposite directions forming the respective vertical bodies (10), as can be seen in Figure 9 and Figure 10. Although not shown, this option of the sheet divided into two similar parts (1a, 1b) separated by a transverse folding line (16), where each has vertical slitting or cut-slit lines (13) and at least one transverse gluing zone (14), is equally suitable for obtaining a packaging with a single vertical column-shaped body (10) which may or may not have intermediate pieces (12). Finally, it is important to note that, although in the examples shown in the figures the vertical body or bodies (10) of the packaging have a star-shaped cross-section configuration, this shape can vary and, for example, it can be a blunt shape, or a cross shape, or another shape that adapts to the interstitial spaces (5) that define the assemblies according to the shape of the bottles (3), containers, or articles in question in each case. Having sufficiently described the nature of the present invention, as well as the manner of putting it into practice, it is not considered necessary to make its explanation more extensive so that any expert in the field can understand its scope and the advantages that derive from it.

Claims

1. Packaging, applicable for packaging an assembly (2) of at least three units, bottles (3), containers, or similar articles having one or more vertical interstitial spaces (5), comprising an elastic band (4) or other external pressure fastening system for the assembly (2), characterized in that it further comprises at least one vertical body (10) located in at least one vertical interstitial space (5) of said assembly (2) such that, once placed, said vertical body (10) is in contact with the surface of the bottles (3), containers, or articles.

2. Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that, when the packaging assembly (2) comprises two or more interstitial spaces (5) between bottles (3), containers, or similar articles, it comprises two or more independent vertical bodies (10), each vertical body (10) located in one of said interstitial spaces (5). 3.Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that, when the packaging assembly (2) comprises two or more interstitial spaces (5) between bottles (3), containers, or similar articles, it comprises two or more vertical bodies (10), each vertical body (10) situated in one of said interstitial spaces (5), and a joining piece (11) that joins at least two vertical bodies (10).

4. Packaging according to claim 3, characterized in that the at least one joining piece (11) incorporates one or more holes (15) situated in correspondence with at least the points of contact between the bottles (3), containers, or articles.

5. Packaging according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body (10) is rigid, being made of a non-deformable material. 6.Packaging according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the body (10) is deformable and expandable such that when placed in a compressed interstitial space (5), it pushes the bottles (3), containers, or articles with which it comes into contact outwards.

7. Packaging according to claim 6, characterized in that the body (10) is made of an expandable elastic material, such as a foam material.

8. Packaging according to claim 6, characterized in that the body (10) is made of corrugated cardboard with an expandable effect.

9. Packaging according to claim 8, characterized in that the channel of the corrugated cardboard of the body (10) is oriented vertically.

10. Packaging according to claim 8, characterized in that the channel of the corrugated cardboard of the body (10) is oriented horizontally.

11. Packaging according to any of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the body (10) is made of single-wall corrugated cardboard. 12.Packaging, according to any of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the body (10) is made of double-wall corrugated cardboard.

13. Packaging, according to any of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the body (10) is made of cardboard and paper of any weight, recycled or not.

14. Packaging, according to any of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that the body (10) has a coating varnish.

15. Packaging, according to any of claims 8 to 14, characterized in that the body (10) is printed and incorporates graphic and / or alphanumeric elements.

16. Packaging, according to any of claims 8 to 15, characterized in that the vertical body or bodies (10) are formed from a sheet of corrugated cardboard with one or more vertical slit lines (13) or cut-slit lines on one or both faces and a vertical gluing area (14) on one of its sides. 17.Packaging, according to any of claims 8 to 15, characterized in that the body or bodies (10) are formed from a sheet divided into two similar parts (1a, 1b) separated by a transverse fold line (16), each having vertical slit lines (13) or cut-slits and at least one transverse gluing zone (14).

18. Packaging, according to claim 17, characterized in that between some of the slits (13) or cut-slits that define the respective vertical bodies (10), the sheet has transverse cut lines (17) which, in each part (1a, 1b), are arranged on opposite sides, such that when the sheet is folded along the transverse line (16), the material yields and the slits (13) or cut-slits fold in opposite directions, forming the respective vertical bodies (10). 19.Packaging, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vertical body or bodies (10) of the accessory (1) have a variable cross-section configuration, which is star, blunt, cross or other that adapts to the interstitial spaces (5) that define the assemblies according to the shape of the bottles (3) containers or articles in question in each case.