Holder for cylindrical containers

Abstract

A holder for grouping and retaining a plurality of cylindrical containers, said holder comprising a sheet of paper based material having a plurality of apertures formed therein, each aperture being dimensioned to receive an upper end of a respective container therethrough, wherein each aperture is associated with a retainer, said retainer being laterally displacement with respect to the respective aperture between a first position, wherein an edge of the retainer is aligned with or spaced outside of an outer edge of the respective aperture, and a second position, wherein said edge of the retainer overlaps said outer edge of the respective aperture to engage and retain a container within the respective aperture.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a holder for grouping, transporting and showcasing cylindrical containers such as bottles, jars, cans.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Cylindrical containers, such as bottles, jars and cans, are typically sold to a customer in "multi-packs", typically comprising two, four, six, eight or ten individual containers packaged together. The containers in each multi-pack must be fastened together by means of suitable packaging for transport and sale to consumers. Such packaging is commonly used for beverage and alcoholic drink containers comprising cylindrical metal cans.

[0003] One common way of fastening the containers of a multi-pack together is to wrap the assembled pack with a plastic wrapping, typically referred to as "shrink wrap". However, shrink wrap plastic packaging is not reusable or biodegradable and is not easily recycled. Because the contents of the packaged containers, in particular drinks cans, are often consumed outside of the home, there is a risk that the discarded packaging ends up as litter. In surveys it has been shown that 72% of consumers believe the producer does not care about the environment if shrink wrap packaging is used to package their products.

[0004] Another solution is to use an array of interconnected plastic rings to fasten the containers together, an upper lip of each container being retained in a respective plastic ring. Again, this is undesirable because the plastic ring packaging is not reusable, biodegradable or easily recycled. The plastic rings are often seen as enemies of the ocean with images of stricken marine animals with six-pack plastic ring packaging encircling their bodies. Both the media and consumers have sparked public backlash against the use of such packaging. WO 95 / 01289 A1 discloses a holder for grouping and retaining a plurality of cylindrical containers. Said holder comprising a sheet having a plurality of apertures, wherein each aperture is associated with a retainer.

[0005] It is desirable to use packaging to retain the containers in a multi-pack together that is paper-based and therefore fully recyclable and biodegradable. It is also desirable to provide a design wherein additional glue is not required, making such packaging truly plastic free. While attempts have been made to produce holders for cylindrical containers where the holders are paper based, such prior art attempts have been relatively costly and complex to manufacture, difficult to assemble and / or have provided poor retention of the containers. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved paper based holder that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] According to the present invention there is provided a holder for grouping and retaining a plurality of cylindrical containers, said holder comprising a sheet of paper based material having a plurality of apertures formed therein, each aperture being dimensioned to receive an upper end of a respective container therethrough, wherein each aperture is associated with a retainer, said retainer being laterally displaceable with respect to the respective aperture between a first position, wherein an edge of the retainer is aligned with or spaced outside of an outer edge of the respective aperture, and a second position, wherein said edge of the retainer overlaps said outer edge of the respective aperture to engage and retain a container within the respective aperture. The retainers may be adapted to engage a lip at an upper end of the respective container to lock and retain such container within a respective aperture of the holder.

[0007] Preferably the retainers and apertures are formed in a single sheet of paper based material, wherein said retainers are moveable between their first and second positions during folding of said sheet about respective fold lines.

[0008] The sheet may be in the form of a flat blank defining a base portion and a plurality of foldable side and end walls foldably attached to the base portion by respective fold lines whereby the sheet can be folded into a tray wherein the base portion defines a bottom wall and said foldable side and end walls define peripheral side walls of the tray, said plurality of apertures being formed in said base portion and said retainers being firstly moved between their first positions and their second positions during folding of the side walls. Outer surfaces of said peripheral sides walls of the tray may be advantageously use for printing with labelling and marketing markings.

[0009] In one embodiment the retainers may comprise semi-circular cut outs formed in outer edges of side portions of the sheet on either side of the base portion and wherein said sheet comprises a pair of first fold lines on either side of said base portion between said base portion and said side portions, said retainers being moved to their first positions when the side portions are folded upwardly about said first fold lines such that the side portions lie against an upper face of said base portion, respective pairs of further fold lines being provided on either side of each first fold line extending parallel to said first fold line, wherein folding said sheet upwardly about said further fold lines moves said retainers from their first to their second positions while forming side walls of said tray.

[0010] Additional fold lines may be provided at either end of said base portion, whereby folding said sheet about said additional fold lines forms the end walls of the tray.

[0011] In an alternative embodiment the retainers may comprise substantially circular cut outs in respective side portions of said sheet, said retainers being moved to their first positions aligned with respective apertures in the base portion when the side portions are folded upwardly about said first fold lines such that the side portions lie against an upper face of said base portion, an inverted tray being formed by folding the sheet downwardly about said further and additional fold lines to define peripheral side and end walls of the tray while at the same time moving said retainers outwardly from their first to their second positions while forming side walls of said tray.

[0012] Preferably the end walls and side walls of the tray are provided with means for securing the end and side walls together. The means for securing the end and side walls together may comprise tabs provided at either end of each side wall. Preferably the tabs are secured to the end walls of the tray by mechanical means, without the use of adhesive.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] A holder for grouping, transporting and showcasing cylindrical containers in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a flat blank used to form a holder in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 to 4 illustrate the folding of the blank of Figure 1 to form the holder in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 is a plan view of the assembled holder from above; Figure 6 is a plan view of the assembled holder from below; and Figure 7 is a perspective view of the holder fitted to six beverage containers. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] A holder for grouping, transporting and showcasing cylindrical containers in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a sheet of paper based material 2 in the form of a flat blank, the sheet having a base portion 4 and a plurality of foldable side and end walls 6,8,10,12 foldably attached to the base portion 4 by respective fold lines whereby the sheet can be folded into a tray wherein the base portion 4 defines a bottom wall and said foldable side and end walls 6,8,10,12 define peripheral side walls of the tray. The outer surfaces of said peripheral side walls may advantageously be used for printing labelling or branding images thereon.

[0015] A plurality of apertures 14 are formed in the base portion 4 of the sheet 2, each aperture 14 being dimensioned to receive an upper end of a respective container therethrough.

[0016] Each aperture 14 is associated with a retainer 16, each retainer being laterally displaceable with respect to the respective aperture 14 between a first position, wherein an edge of the retainer 16 is aligned with or spaced outside of an outer edge of the respective aperture 14, and a second position, wherein said edge of the retainer 16 overlaps said outer edge of the respective aperture 14 to engage and retain a container within the respective aperture 14.

[0017] In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the retainers 16 comprise semi-circular cut outs formed in outer edges of side portions 18,20 of the sheet 2 on either side of the base portion 4. The sheet 2 comprises a pair of first fold lines 22 of either side of the base portion 4 between the base portion 4 and the adjacent side portions 18,20. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the retainers 16 are moved to their first positions by folding the side portions 18,20 upwardly about the first fold lines 22 such that the side portions 18,20 lie against an upper face of said base portion 4 with an edge of each retainer 16 aligned with an outer edge of a respective aperture 14 in the base portion 4 of the sheet 2.

[0018] Respective pairs of further fold lines 24,26 are provided on either side of each first fold line 22 extending parallel to the first fold lines 22. Once folded about the first fold lines, the respective further fold lines 24,26 on each side of each first fold line 22 are substantially aligned with one another. Folding the sheet 2 upwardly about said further fold lines 24,26, after folding the side portions18,20 of the sheet 2 about the first fold lines 22, moves said retainers 16 from their first to their second positions while forming the side walls 6,8 of said tray. Additional fold lines 28,30 are provided at either end of the base portion 4, extending perpendicular to the first fold lines 22, whereby folding the sheet 2 about the additional fold lines forms the end walls 10,12 of the tray. Tabs 32 are provided at either end of each side wall 6,8, the tabs being adapted to be secured to the end walls 10,12 to retain the side and end walls together in their raised configuration to define said tray. The tabs 32 may be secured to the end walls 10,12 of the tray by mechanical means, without the use of adhesive, or alternatively the tabs 32 may be glued to the end walls.

[0019] As best illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the retainers 16 defined by the semi-circular cut outs in the outer edges of the side portions 18,20 of the sheet 2 are moved to their second positions, overlapping an outer side edge of a respective aperture 14 to effectively reduce the diameter of the aperture 14 and retain a container therein, the respective retainer 16 engaging a lip of the container held in the respective aperture to retain the container therein.

[0020] In use, the side portions 18,20 of the sheet 2 are folded about the first fold lines 22 to bring the retainers 16 to their first positions aligned with a respective edge of the apertures 16 in the base portion 4 of the sheet and the partially assembled holder is placed horizontally on the upper part of a group of containers 40, for example drink cans. The side and end walls 6,8,10,12 of the are folded upwardly to form a tray. This simultaneously causes the retainers 16 to move inwardly to their second positions, overlapping the apertures 14 in the base portion 4 of the sheet 2. After securing the side and send walls 6,8,10,12 together in their raised positions by securing the tabs 32 of the side walls 6,8 to the end walls 10,12, for example by mechanical fastenings or adhesive, the containers 40 are thereby clamped and locked into the holder.

[0021] The assembled holder forms a tray useful for layering / stacking another pack thereon.

[0022] In an alternative embodiment, not shown in the drawings, the retainers comprise substantially circular cut outs in respective side portions of said sheet. The retainers are moved to their first positions, aligned with respective apertures in the base portion, when the side portions of the sheet are folded upwardly about the first fold lines such that the side portions lie against an upper face of said base portion. Again, respective pairs of further fold lines are provided in the sheet on either side of each first fold line extending parallel to said first fold line and arranged to be substantially aligned with one another when the sheet is folded about the respective first fold line. In the alternative embodiment, folding the side walls of the sheet downwardly about the further fold lines moves said retainers outwardly from their first to their second positions while forming peripheral side walls of an inverted tray.

[0023] In use, the holder is placed horizontally on the upper part of a group of containers with the upper ends of the containers inserted through the apertures, and the side and end walls are folded down to form the inverted tray. This volumisation of the sheet material causes a displacement of the retainers outwardly to their second positions, causing the containers to be clamped and locked into the holder.

[0024] A holder in accordance with an embodiment provides the following advantages: Quick and automatic clamping Suitable for transport Less attachment point Mechanized Vertical and visible printing surface Simpler cutting than prior art paper based packaging solutions (less cutting pressure)

[0025] A holder in accordance with the present invention can be used to package any rigid cylindrical containers that need to be grouped together to ensure the transport and sale of the product contained therein, for example vials, bottles, jars, can etc..

[0026] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein but can be amended or modified without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A holder for grouping and retaining a plurality of cylindrical containers (40), said holder comprising a sheet (2) of paper based material having a plurality of apertures (14) formed therein, each aperture (14) being dimensioned to receive an upper end of a respective container therethrough, wherein each aperture (14) is associated with a retainer (16), each retainer (16) being laterally displaceable with respect to the respective aperture (14) between a first position, wherein an edge of the retainer (16) is aligned with or spaced outside of an outer edge of the respective aperture (14), and a second position, wherein said edge of the retainer (16) overlaps said outer edge of the respective aperture (14) to engage and retain a container (40) within the respective aperture (14).

2. A holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retainers (16) and apertures (14) are formed in a single sheet of paper based material, wherein said retainers (16) are moveable between their first and second positions during folding of said sheet about respective fold lines.

3. A holder as claimed in claim 2, wherein said sheet (2) is in the form of a flat blank defining a base portion (4) and a plurality of foldable side and end walls (6,8,10,12) foldably attached to the base portion (4) by respective fold lines whereby the sheet (2) can be folded into a tray wherein the base portion (4) defines a bottom wall and said foldable side and end walls (6,8,10,12) define peripheral side walls of the tray, said plurality of apertures (14) being formed in said base portion (14) and said retainers (16) being moved from their first positions to their second positions during folding of the side walls (6,8).

4. A holder as claimed in claim 3, wherein said retainers (16) comprise circular or semi-circular cut outs formed in respective side portions (18,20) of said sheet (2), said side portions (18,20) being foldable with respect to the remainder of the sheet (2) to bring said retainers (16) into their first positions in alignment with respective apertures (14).

5. A holder as claimed in claim 4, wherein said retainers (16) comprise semi-circular cut outs formed in outer edges of said side portions (18,20) and wherein said sheet (2) comprises a pair of first fold lines (22) on either side of said base portion (4) between said base portion (4) and said side portions (18,20), said retainers (16) being moved to their first positions when the side portions (18,20) are folded upwardly about said first fold lines (22) such that the side portions (18,20) lie against an upper face of said base portion (4), respective pairs of further fold lines (24,26) being provided on either side of each first fold line (22) extending parallel to said first fold line, wherein folding said sheet (2) upwardly about said further fold lines (24,26) moves said retainers (16) from their first to their second positions while forming side walls (6,8) of said tray.

6. A holder as claimed in claim 4, wherein said retainers comprise substantially circular cut outs in said respective side portions of said sheet, said sheet comprising a pair of first fold lines of either side of said base portion between said base portion and said side portions, said retainers being moved to their first positions aligned with respective apertures in the base portion when the side portions are folded upwardly about said first fold lines such that the side portions lie against an upper face of said base portion, respective pairs of further fold lines being provided on either side of each first fold line extending parallel to said first fold line, wherein folding said sheet downwardly about said further fold lines moves said retainers from their first to their second positions while forming side walls of said tray.

7. A holder as claimed in any of claims 3 to 6, wherein additional fold lines (28,30) are provided at either end of said base portion (4), whereby folding said sheet (2) about said additional fold lines (28,30) forms said end walls (10,12) of said tray.

8. A holder as claimed in claim 7, wherein said end walls (10,12) and side walls (6,8) of the tray are provided with means for securing the end and side walls together.

9. A holder as claimed in claim 8, wherein said means for securing the end and side walls together comprise tabs (32) provided at either end of each side wall (6,8).

10. A holder as claimed in claim 9, wherein said tabs (32) are secured to the end walls (10,12) of the tray by mechanical means, without the use of adhesive.

Images