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EP 0 460 341 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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02.03.1994 Bulletin 1994/09 |
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Date of filing: 06.06.1990 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC)5: B65D 71/44 |
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A carrier means for a number of bottles
Trageinrichtung für eine Gruppe von Flaschen
Moyen de prehension pour un lot de bouteilles
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Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE CH DE ES FR GB GR IT LI NL SE |
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Date of publication of application: |
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11.12.1991 Bulletin 1991/50 |
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Proprietor: NORPAPP INDUSTRI A/S |
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N-1350 Lommedalen (NO) |
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Inventor: |
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- Hansen, Finn R.
N-3500 Honefoss (NO)
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Representative: Nordén, J. Ake et al |
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Oscar Grahn Patentbyra AB
Box 19540 104 32 Stockholm 104 32 Stockholm (SE) |
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References cited: :
DE-U- 8 908 156 FR-A- 2 561 625
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FR-A- 2 363 493
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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[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] Document FR-A-2.363494 discloses a carrier means for a number of bottles according
to the preamble of claim 1, which consists of plain board in which holes are stamped
out for the crown caps of the bottles and for handle openings. From DE-U-8.908.156
it is known to use double corrugated cardboard instead of carton.
[0003] Document US-PS No. 2 299 625 discloses a carrier means for a number of bottles, 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. The carrying portions are
folded upon the board.
[0004] 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.
[0005] This is achieved by a carrier means of the kind mentioned above, where the openings
for the bottle necks in the carrier means are formed in a plane board, 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
where handle openings and holes for holding the bottle necks lie in the same plane
in a position for use.
[0006] The invention is characterized by the fact that the board consists 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 and 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.
[0007] 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.
[0008] 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.
[0009] 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.
[0010] 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.
[0011] 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.
[0012] 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.
[0013] 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), said holes
for the bottle necks in said carrier means being provided in a plane board (1, 1'),
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 said handle openings (6) and bottle holding
holes (2) extending in the same plane in a position of use, characterized in that the board (1) consists 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 and 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 the two pieces of board (7, 8) having openings
(6) and holes (2) corresponding to openings (6) and holes (2) of the board (1) when
said pieces of board (7, 8) are folded back beneath the board (1, 1') in a position
between the board and the bottles.
1. Tragmittel für mehrere Flaschen (9) mit Kronenkorken (10), das Löcher (2) zum Halten
der Flaschenhälse unterhalb der Kronenkorken sowie Grifföfnungen (6) aufweist, wobei
die genannten Löcher für die Flaschenhälse im Tragmittel in einem planen Pappstück
(1, 1') vorgesehen sind, wobei die genannten Löcher (2) einen Durchmesser aufweisen,
der kleiner ist als der größte Durchmesser der Kronenkorken und es ermöglicht, daß
der auf der Flasche (9) befindliche Kronenkorken (10) hindurchgedrückt wird, aber
aufgrund der Elastizität des Materials am Rand des Lochs den Kronenkorken gegen ein
Zurückziehen blockiert, und wobei die genannten Grifföffnungen (6) und die Löcher
(2) zum Halten der Flaschen in Benutzungsposition in der gleichen Ebene liegen,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Pappstück (1) aus verstärkter Wellpappe, d. h. einer gewellten Schicht mit einer
aufgeklebten Papierschicht auf beiden Seiten, oder, falls gewünscht, aus einer doppelt
verstärkten Wellpappe, d. h. zwei gewellten Schichten mit Papierschichten dazwischen
und Papierschichten, die an ihren beiden Außenseiten aufgeklebt sind, besteht und
an zwei, vorzugsweise einander gegenüberliegenden Seitenkanten durch ein Pappstück
(7, 8) erweitert wird, dessen Größe mindestens der halben Größe des Pappstücks (1)
entspricht, und daß die zwei Pappstücke (7, 8) Öffnungen (6) und Löcher (2) aufweisen,
die sich mit Öffnungen (6) und Löchern (2) des Pappstücks (1) decken, wenn die genannten
Pappstücke (7, 8) unter das Pappstück (1, 1') in eine Position zwischen dem Pappstück
und den Flaschen umgeklappt werden.
1. Moyen de préhension d'un lot de bouteilles (9) à capsules (10), muni de trous (2)
pour maintenir les cols des bouteilles sous les capsules et d'ouvertures de préhension
(6), les trous pour les cols de bouteille dans le moyen de préhension étant prévus
dans une plaque plane (1, 1'), les trous (2) ayant un diamètre qui est inférieur au
plus grand diamètre des capsules et qui permet à la capsule (10) d'une bouteille (9)
d'être poussée à travers mais qui bloque un retrait de la capsule en raison de l'élasticité
du matériau au bord du trou, et les ouvertures de préhension (6) et les trous de maintien
de bouteille (2) s'étendant dans le même plan dans une position d'utilisation, caractérisé
en ce que la plaque (1) consiste en un double cartonnage ondulé, c'est-à-dire une
couche ondulée avec une couche de papier collée sur ses deux faces, si on le souhaite
une deux fois double plaque ondulée, c'est-à-dire deux couches ondulées avec des couches
de papier entre elles et des couches de papier collées à l'extérieur, et est agrandie
au niveau de deux bords latéraux, de préférence opposés, par un morceau de carton
(7, 8) ayant une étendue qui correspond à au moins la moitié de l'étendue de la plaque
et en ce que les deux morceaux de carton (7, 8) comportent des ouvertures (6) et des
trous (2) qui correspondent aux ouvertures (6) et aux trous (2) de la plaque (1) quand
les morceaux de carton (7, 8) sont repliés sous la plaque (1, 1') entre la plaque
et les bouteilles.
