CONTAINER OR GROUPING ELEMENT FOR BOTTLES OR OTHER CONTAINERS

Abstract

A container or grouping element for bottles, intended for the transport and grouped storage of a set of bottles (B) as well as other similar products, characterized by consisting of a band (1) comprising at least one hem (2) arranged, in the direction of its longitudinal axis (e), either on the upper (1.a) or lower (1.b) portion of the band (1).

Description

CONTAINER OR GROUPING ELEMENT FOR BOTTLES OR OTHER CONTAINERS OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The invention, as stated in the present descriptive report, refers to a container or grouping element for bottles or other receptacles that provides, for the function for which it is intended, advantages and characteristics, which are described in detail below, that represent an improvement over the current state of the art. The object of the present invention is a container or grouping element, of the type intended to serve for the transport, storage and grouped handling of bottles or other containers, normally between two and six, without excluding other similar products, such as cans, jars, etc., which is distinguished by the fact that it consists of a band, preferably made of paper, whose innovative structural configuration with at least one reinforcing hem gives it sufficient strength for the purpose for which it is intended, allowing in some embodiments the band to have no plastic sheet or reinforcement, in addition to providing a comfortable grip, among other advantages. FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION The field of application of the present invention falls within the sector of the industry dedicated to the manufacture of containers, focusing particularly on the field of containers for grouping bottles and similar products. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are many types and models of packaging available on the market, many of them designed to group a certain number of products such as bottles and similar items. These containers can be made of cardboard, formed from pre-cut sheets that require folding, shaping and gluing phases to incorporate the bottles or other containers, which increases the cost of the packaging process. They can also be made of plastic, consisting of wrappers or film strips that fit over bottles or other containers. In this case, they are easier to use and more economical. However, the use of plastic materials is a practice that should be phased out as much as possible, since it poses a significant environmental problem. The objective of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a new type of packaging that minimizes the amount of material, the need for forming processes and, in addition, reduces or even eliminates the use of plastic materials, all while still providing the necessary support and resistance to keep the group of bottles or other containers together, allowing for convenient handling and transport. Furthermore, 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 container or grouping element for bottles or other receptacles, nor any other invention of similar application, that presents technical, structural and constitutive characteristics equal or similar to those claimed herein. EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION The container or grouping element for bottles or other receptacles that the invention proposes is configured as an optimal solution to achieve the objectives indicated above, while also representing an improvement over the current state of the art, 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 container or grouping element for the transport and grouped storage of a set of bottles or other containers, without excluding other similar products, which is distinguished by consisting of a band designed to fit around the set of bottles or other containers, being dimensioned in each case to adapt to different dimensions and volumes of bottles or other containers as well as to different numbers of units, generally between 2 and 6, and with the particularity that said band has a hem provided, in longitudinal direction, preferably at the bottom of the band, although it is foreseen that the band will have a hem both at the bottom and at the top of the band. Preferably, the band is substantially made of paper and even more preferably, the band is made entirely of paper, without any plastic coating and / or reinforcement. Preferably, the band is made from a rectangular sheet piece that is joined at its ends and closed over itself with a hot-melt adhesive or thermofusible adhesive, forming an overlap. In addition, the band preferably has a structural configuration and / or composition that gives it a certain degree of elasticity. This elasticity allows the band, once formed, to elongate / stretch when a force is applied and be placed around a group of bottles or other containers. When the force is removed, the band attempts to return to its original length and exerts pressure on the group of bottles or other containers, thus holding them together. The stretching of the band is mostly elastic (reversible) and therefore allows it to recover its original shape when the force that stretches it is no longer applied, and minorly plastic (irreversible) and therefore does not allow it to recover its original shape when the force that stretches it is no longer applied. The hem of the band, preferably located at the bottom of the band, which is where the user grabs and holds the assembly for handling, helps to substantially reduce plastic stretching. In any case, as mentioned, the band has a hem in the longitudinal direction that serves several functions: - The hem allows for a comfortable and pleasant grip for the consumer, unlike a band without a hem where the edge, being sharp, makes the grip of the grouping by the band annoying, even generating a risk of cutting. - The hem reinforces the lower and upper parts of the band, thus reducing the deformation of the band material in these areas during and after the gripping and handling of the grouping, both in distribution or handling by the consumer, improving the visual and attractive appearance of the grouping. - The hem reinforces the top and bottom parts of the band to improve the grouping strength of the container or grouping element and prevent upward or downward movement of the bottles or other containers in case of a drop of the pack. 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: Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a set of bottles, specifically six, grouped with an example of the container or grouping element that is the subject of the invention, showing how to use it; and Figure number 2 shows a perspective view of an example of the band that constitutes the container or grouping element for bottles, according to the invention, specifically an example with a hem both at the bottom and the top, showing the configuration and parts thereof. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION In view of the aforementioned figures, and in accordance with the numbering adopted, one can observe in them an example of a non-limiting embodiment of the container or grouping element for bottles or other receptacles of the invention, which comprises what is described in detail below. Thus, as can be seen in said figures, the container or grouping element of the invention, intended for the transport and grouped storage of a set of bottles or other containers (B) as well as other similar products, consists of a band (1), which, configured to fit around the set of bottles or other containers (B) and being dimensioned to adapt in each case to different dimensions, bottle volume (B) and number of units, comprises at least one hem (2) arranged, in the direction of its longitudinal axis (e), either on the upper part (1.a) or on the lower part (1.b) of the band (1). Preferably, the band (1) is substantially made of paper and even more preferably, the band (1) is made entirely of paper, without any plastic coating or reinforcement. However, in one embodiment, such as that shown in Figure 2, the band (1) comprises two hems (2) arranged, in the direction of its longitudinal axis (e), respectively one on the upper part (1.a) and the other on the lower part (1.b) of the band (1). In any case, although preferably the hem or hems (2) are kept in position without being glued, optionally, they can be glued by including adhesive at some point of them or along their entire length. Furthermore, preferably, the band (1), obtained from a rectangular sheet piece, has a joining overlap (3) at its ends where it is closed over itself with hot melt adhesive. In a preferred embodiment, the thickness of the material forming the band (1) is between 100µm and 300µm, being more preferably between 140µm and 220µm. Furthermore, preferably, the band (1) has a structural configuration and / or composition that gives it a certain elastic capacity. This elastic capacity allows the band, once formed, to elongate / stretch when a force is applied and be placed around a group of bottles or other containers (B), and, when the force is no longer applied, for the band to attempt to return to its original length and exert pressure on the group of bottles or other containers (B), thus keeping the bottles or other containers (B) together. In one specific embodiment of the invention, the band (1) allows for an elongation of approximately 11% before breaking. The elongation is mostly elastic (reversible), allowing it to return to its original shape when the stretching force is removed, and partially plastic (irreversible), meaning it does not return to its original shape when the stretching force is removed. 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. A container or grouping element for bottles, intended for the transport and grouped storage of a set of bottles (B) as well as other similar products, characterized by consisting of a band (1) comprising at least one hem (2) arranged, in the direction of its longitudinal axis (e), either on the upper (1.a) or lower (1.b) portion of the band (1).

2. A container or grouping element for bottles or other containers, according to claim 1, characterized in that the band (1) comprises two hems (2) arranged, in the direction of its longitudinal axis (e), respectively one on the upper (1.a) and the other on the lower (1.b) portion of the band (1).

3. A container or grouping element for bottles or other containers, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the hem or hems (2) are glued by means of adhesive at some point thereof or along their entire length. 4.A container or grouping element for bottles or other containers, according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the band (1) has a joining overlap (3) at the ends of the rectangular sheet from which it is obtained.

5. A container or grouping element for bottles or other containers, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the band (1) comprises paper.

6. A container or grouping element for bottles or other containers, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the band (1) is made solely of paper, without any plastic layer or reinforcement.

7. A container or grouping element for bottles or other containers, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thickness of the band (1) is between 100 μm and 300 μm. 8.A container or grouping element for bottles or other receptacles, according to claim 7, characterized in that the thickness of the band (1) is between 140 μm and 220 μm.

9. A container or grouping element for bottles or other receptacles, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the band (1) is elastic.

10. A container or grouping element for bottles or other receptacles, according to claim 9, characterized in that the maximum stretch of the band (1) is 11%.