[0001] The present invention relates to a carrier means for a number of bottles with crown
caps, with holes for holding the bottle necks below said crown caps, and with handle
openings. Various kinds of such carrier means are known. A device is, thus, known,
which is produced from plastic material with resilient tongues engaging below the
crown caps. Such carrier means are relatively expensive in production and make the
bottled products more expensive since the carrier means is intended to be a throw
away means. Furthermore, there is a known device produced from solid cardboard which
is stamped out into an intricate pattern, so that the blank forms a carrier means
with resilient flaps and a raised handle. This device is also relatively expensive
in production, taking into consideration that the blank must be raised to form a carrier
means.
[0002] From US-PS No. 2 299 625 a carrier means for a number of bottles is known, which
consists of folded solid cardboard in which holes are stamped out for the crown caps
of the bottles and for handle openings. The cardboard blank is folded with projecting
handle portion and two laterally extending carrying portions for bottles. When the
device is lifted with bottles placed in said holes the carrying portion for bottles
will tilt, and the bottles are firmly held by the aid of a pole shoe effect. This
kind of holding is hazardious, and the handle portion formed will render it difficult
to place the carrier means on bottles standing in a crate, since the handle portion
must then be bent all the way down to the bottle necks.
[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a carrier means which is inexpensive
in production and may be so readily provided on bottles that anybody can do it, and
which ensures firm holding of the bottle necks in the device.
[0004] According to the invention this is achieved by a carrier means of the kind mentioned
above, which is characterized by the fact that the openings for bottle necks in the
carrier means are formed in a plane board of double corrugated paperboard, i.e. a
corrugated layer onto which a paper layer is glued on both sides, if desired, a double-double
cardboard, i.e. two corrugated layers with intermediate paper layers and paper layers
glued onto them on both external sides, said holes being smaller than the largest
diameter of said crown caps and permitting the crown cap on the bottle to be pushed
through said hole, but blocking the crown caps from being retracted due to the resiliency
of the material at the edge of the hole, and that handle openings and holes for holding
the bottle necks lie in the same plane in a position for use.
[0005] A further development of the invention is characterized by the fact that the board
is enlarged by a piece of board at two opposite sides with an extent corresponding
to at least half of the extent of said board, and that said pieces of board have openings
and holes corresponding to the openings and holes in said board when the pieces of
board are folded back below the board.
[0006] The carrier means according to the invention is very inexpensive in production, being
simply stamped out of corrucated cardboard material, and by use of a very simple stamping
tool. No equipment is required for raising the blank to form the carrier means. It
is so simple to provide the carrier means on the bottle caps that this may be done
by ordinary shop assistants. This may be of interest if somebody desires a 6-pack
or a 12-pack and there are no such ready packs in the shop. The carrier means is then
just pushed down onto the necks of bottles standing in a crate, and a 6-pack or a
12-pack is, thus, provided in a simple manner. It may also be of interest at a brewery
to provide 6-packs or 12-packs from bottles standing in crates. In this manner production
may be based on packing the bottles in crates all the time. If, for one reason or
another it is desired to offer bottles in smaller packs, e.g. in connection with cut
rate, the bottles in crates may readily be rearranged into such smaller packs.
[0007] The invention is disclosed in more detail below with reference to the drawings, which
show some embodiments of carrier means according to the invention.
- Figure 1
- shows a simple embodiment of a carrier means intended for six bottles and made from
so called double-double corrugated cardboard,
- Figure 2
- shows another embodiment of a carrier means according to the invention, as seen from
above and intended for six bottles,
- Figure 3
- shows the carrier means according to Figure 2 in an elevation,
- Figure 4
- shows the carrier means according to Figures 2 and 3 in use, and
- Figure 5
- shows a carrier means of the same kind as in Figure 2, intended for twelve bottles.
[0008] The simple carrier means according to Figure 1 consists of a board 1 of a double
double corrugated cardboard, as will appear from the sectional view. Six circular
holes 2 are provided in two rows in the board. The distance between rows is the same
as the mutual distance between separate holes. In addition to said six holes there
are two crescent-shaped openings 5 and 6. The carrier means with bottles is carried
as shown in Figure 4, although said Figure shows a carrier means according to Figures
2 and 3.
[0009] Figure 2 shows a further development of the invention, with basic board 1 being enlarged
by a piece of board 7 and 8, respectively, at two opposite ends. Each piece of board
7 and 8 is provided with four circular holes 2, which correspond to holes 2 in board
1, when said additional pieces of board 7 and 8 are folded back beneath main board
1, as shown in Figure 4. Furthermore, each piece of board 7 and 8 is provided with
a crescent-shaped opening which is inverted relative to adjacent opening 6 in board
1. In Figure 3 the embodiment of Figure 2 is seen from below, showing how pieces of
board 7 and 8 are to be folded back beneath board 1.
[0010] In Figure 4 the embodiment according to Figures 2 and 3 is shown in use, bottles
9 being pushed through holes 2, so that crown caps 10 of the bottles are suspended
with their lower ridges edge on the upper side of board 1. The user's thumb 11 is
inserted into one of openings 5 or 6, and the remaining fingers 12 of the user's hand
are inserted in the other opening 6 or 5.
[0011] Figure 5 shows an embodiment of the invention which is intended for twelve bottles.
In board portion 1' twelve holes are provided in four rows 3, 4, and 13, 14. The distance
between rows is equal and it is equal to the distance between separate holes 2 in
each row. At two oppobsite ends of board 1' pieces of board 16 and 17 are provided.
Said further pieces of board 15 and 16, as well as pieces of board 7, 8 in the described
Figure, are connected with their associated boards 1, 1', via folding indications
17 and 18.
[0012] Experiments showed that the carrier means according to the invention is surprisingly
strong in use. The bottle openings with crown caps pass readily through holes 2 when
the board is pushed onto a number of bottles. The crown caps provide a very strong
locking engagement with the top of board 1 or 1', respectively, so that there is no
danger for the bottles unintentionally slipping out of the carrier means during transport
or other use. In fact, quite some force is needed to get a bottle out of the carrier
means if one pulls it in its longitudinal direction. The hold will, however, give
way readily, if the bottle is tilted one way so that a lever arm is achieved and the
lower side of the crown cap only acts against one side of the edge of hole 2. Since
holes 2 are arranged according to a division which is accurately adapted to the diameter
of a bottle 9, there will be no load on the carrier means.
1. A carrier means for a number of bottles (9) with crown caps (10), with holes (2) for
holding the bottle necks below crown caps and with handle openings (6), characterized in that the holes for bottle necks in said carrier means are provided in a plane board
(1, 1') of double corrugated cardboard, i. e. a corrugated layer with a layer of paper
glued to it on both sides, if desired, a double-double corrugated cardboard, i.e.
two corrugated layers with paper layers between them and paper layers glued to them
on both outsides, said holes (2) having a diameter which is smaller than the largest
diameter of the crown caps and permits the crown cap (10) on the bottle (9) to be
pushed through, but which blocks against retraction of the crown cap because of the
resiliency of the material at the edge of the hole, and that handle openings (6) and
holes (2) for holding bottles extend in the same plane in a position of use.
2. A carrier means as stated in claim 1, characterized in that board (1) is enlarged at two, preferably opposite, lateral edges by a piece
of board (7,8) having an extent corresponding to at least half of the extent of the
board, and that pieces of board (7, 8) have openings (6) and holes (2) corresponding
to openings (6) and holes (2) of board (1) when said pieces of board (7, 8) are folded
back beneath board (1, 1').
