Reinforced bottle protector

Description

PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The purpose of the present invention, as the title of the invention states, is a reinforced protector for bottles, which has a substantially prismatic shape with a quadrangular base within which an interior space is defined to house a bottle, so that it is protected from all sides both laterally and at the top and bottom.

[0002] The protector is formed from a sheet of cardboard or similar material, die-cut and cut.

[0003] The present invention is characterised by the reinforced way in which the top and bottom closure of the protector are carried out, closure meaning the assembly formed by the lid and the locking tabs, which correspond to the closure of the base and mouth of the bottle, which closure is performed in a reinforced manner resulting in a safe and effective seal throughout.

[0004] Therefore, the present invention lies within the field of bottle protectors, and in particular, within the construction characteristics thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is known in the state of the art protectors for bottles having a essentially prismatic shape, which are formed from a punched and cut sheet and that, once shaped, enclose an inner space to house bottles.

[0006] One of the areas for improvement are the upper and lower protector closures, which would correspond with the base and with the mouth or top of the bottle.

[0007] The documents that reflect the state of the art are represented by patent US 2749019 and EP 2583906.

[0008] These documents note the manner in which the closure of the protector ends is produced by means of a cover formed by a flap and hinged tabs that provide support to the cover. However, it has been observed that sometimes neither the cover itself nor the means supporting the cover is sufficient to hold the weight of the bottle contained therein.

[0009] Therefore, the purpose of the present invention is to develop a protector for bottles of the type formed from die-cut and cut sheets, which is reinforced on both its ends, which serve as upper and lower closures, thus developing a protector such as the one described below and gathered in its essence in the first claim.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The bottle protector now proposed is formed from a die-cut and cut sheet with a series of cuts and slittings so as to form a quadrangular prismatic body in which to house a bottle, thus presenting side walls and top and bottom covers for closure.

[0011] The die-cut sheet can have a geometry such that it allows the formation of a single prism in which to house a bottle, or two, three or as many as desired. To do this simply repeat the general configuration of the assembly.

[0012] The sheet from which the protector is formed presents five different sides arranged adjacently, where four of them make up the side walls and the fifth serves as the assembly closure.

[0013] Along the lines joining the adjacent side walls there are cut and slotted lines, such that upon folding the assembly some perimetric tabs emerge that project outward from the protector with the purpose that, once the protector is placed into the box where it will be transported, they will protect against bumps that directly impact its sidewalls, which would in turn have direct impact on the bottle contained therein.

[0014] The arrangement of the cuts made on the joining lines of each adjacent side walls, those forming the perimeter guard tabs, is alternating relative to the next joining line, so as to allow a coupled, attached and unspaced arrangement of adjacent guard tabs.

[0015] Importantly, one of the side walls, in particular the wall from which emerge the flaps that serve as the upper and lower cover of the protector, has a shorter length relative to the other side walls, and is arranged to the centre relative to the other side walls. Thus the upper and lower covers are inset from the ends of the protector.

[0016] To affix the covers through what we call support means, at the ends of the lines joining the adjacent side walls there are some preferably rectangular areas outlined for subsequent folding, so that there are defined zones over what could be termed as the protruding part of the side walls with respect to closing covers, at diagonally opposite corners, which can be folded and which after folding towards the interior of the space defined by the highlighted area, form an "L"-shaped support means or closure.

[0017] For said "L"-shaped support means or closure located over the diagonally opposite corners of both the upper and lower end to be released once formed, by having to press on both folding zones forces the simultaneous deforming of the folding zones of the side walls, since the length of the distance that separates the ends of the folding areas is shorter than the sum of the lengths of both folding segments, making it impossible that any action resulting from an accident or blow might produce the release of the support means or closure of the protector covers.

[0018] To achieve the configuration of a reinforced closure, both the flaps that make up the closure covers and the means of support or closure are reinforced by an additional extension.

[0019] Through the means described, both the reinforcement of the base and upper part of the protector, and the support means or closure are achieved.

EXPLANATION OF FIGURES

[0020] To supplement the description being offered and in order to support an enhanced comprehension of the features of the invention, using a preferred example of the practical embodiment thereof, attached as an integral part of said description is a set of drawings where in an illustrative and non-limiting manner the following has been represented.

Figure 1 shows the sheet that provides the basis from which is formed a protector such as the one in the invention.

In Figures 2 to 5 the folding process is shown for the sheet of one single protector.

In Figure 6, the sheet used for forming a double protector is shown, and the configuration shown may be extended for triple and quadruple protectors and so on.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0021] In view of the figures, described below is a preferred embodiment of the proposed invention.

[0022] In Figure 1 it can be observed the shape presented by the die-cut and cut sheet from which an individual bottle protector is formed, and which includes five attached segments, a first segment (1), a second segment (2), a third segment (3), a fourth segment (4) and a fifth segment (5), which are approximately rectangular in shape and are arranged consecutively, joined by one of its longer sides, wherein the first segment (1), the second segment (2), the third segment (3) and the fourth segment (4) form the side walls of the protector, while the fifth segment (5) is the closing length, forming a closed assembly.

[0023] Separation of an adjacent segment is materialized through a fold line (11), where there are also a number of die-cuts and cuts made that define a series of tabs (6) and gaps (10), such that once the protector is formed the tabs are in a protruding arrangement so as to serve as a spacer medium and to protect the walls that are directly in contact with the bottle.

[0024] The perimetral tabs (6) are arranged alternately with respect to the perimetral tabs (6) made on the same side as the joining stretch of the next segment, and also with respect to the tabs facing the next joining line.

[0025] Furthermore, the gaps (10) maintain their position relative to the perimetral tabs, but their position is alternating relative to the folding line facing the adjacent segment, being located alternately between the two peripheral tabs, and on one side of the two tabs.

[0026] Importantly, segments (2), (3), (4) and (5) are all of equal length, while the first segment (1) is shorter than the previous ones and arranged in a centred manner relative to its greater length, presenting:

• at one of its ends a lower closure cover (7) made up of a first tab (7.1) connected to the first segment (1), and emerging from the first tab (7.1), a second or reinforcing tab (7.2) for the lower cover, which can be folded about the first tab (7.1).
• at its other end, an upper closure cover (8) made up of a first tab (8.1) connected to the first segment (8), and emerging from the first tab (8.1) a second or reinforcing tab (8.2) for the upper closure (8).

[0027] The dual upper closing flap (8) has at one of its corners a recess or cut out (8.3) in order to facilitate removal of the cover by introducing a finger into the space left free.

[0028] To affix the closing covers, top and bottom, there are support means or reinforced closures outlined preferably formed by rectangular segments (9.1) and (9.2) presenting a few extra segments (9.3) and (9.4). These rectangular segments which form the support means or reinforced closures of the protector of invention, are arranged at the ends of the lateral portions and about the fold lines that are diagonally opposite at the formation of the protector.

[0029] Thus Figure 1 shows the support or closure segments (9.1) and (9.2) and the extra segments (9.3) and (9.4) for support or reinforced closure arranged adjacently to the segments (9.1) and (9.2) and about the fold lines that are diagonally opposed when the box is formed.

[0030] Figures 2 and 3 show how the process unfolds to form the protector for bottles and how at the segment (5), at its free edge and in the centre a closure tab emerges (5.1) to be inserted into the slot (1.1) created along the fold line of the first segment (1) with the adjacent (2).

[0031] The formation of the bottle protector initially requires that the second tab (8.2) is refolded over the first upper closure tab (8.1). The second tab (7.2) is also refolded over the first lower closure tab (7.1).

[0032] Once the protector is closed on its sides, as shown in Figure 4, via the two lower closure tabs (7.1) and (7.2) on one side and the two upper closure tabs (8.1) and (8.2) on the other side, the protector can then be closed at its two ends.

[0033] Subsequently, the extra segments (9.3) and (9.4) for support or reinforced closure are folded over the support or closure segments (9.1) and (9.2) respectively, forming a means of support or reinforced closure, which are then folded so as to form a staggered configuration on the surface of the closure covers which blocks their opening movement, as shown in figure 5 for the lower closure cover (7).

[0034] In order to perform the folding of the support and closure segments (9.1) and (9.2) and the extra segments (9.3) and (9.4) for support or reinforced closure, it may be necessary in addition to the marked fold lines, to make a partial cut about one side of the fold lines. These cuts will be such that the cut made on the central fold line is on the side of the sheet facing the interior of the assembly, while the cut on the end folding lines is made on the opposite side, that is, the side of the sheet that is facing outwards.

[0035] Figure 6 shows the configuration of a sheet used to make a double protector, showing that it is two individual sheets arranged adjacently, except that the last segment, which on its edge had a means of support or closure, is now connected to the edge of the last segment, in other words it adopts a symmetrical configuration relative to the edge of the last segment (5). Also appearing are the reinforced means of both the cover, through a double tab, and the supports of the cover through a support means or double closure.

Claims

1. Bottle protector which has at least five attached segments, a first segment (1), a second segment (2), a third segment (3), a fourth segment (4) and a fifth segment (5), which are approximately rectangular in shape and are arranged consecutively, joined by one of their longer sides, wherein the first (1), second (2), third (3) and fourth (4) segments form the side walls of the protector, and the fifth segment (5) is the closure segment, configuring an enclosed assembly where the second (2), third (3), fourth (4) and fifth (5) segments are of equal length, while the first segment (1) is shorter relative to the previous and is arranged centrally in relation to their longer length, presenting at their ends tabs that serve as the upper cover (8) and lower cover (7) for closing the bottle protector, and on the joining fold lines of the segments that are diagonally opposite once the protector is formed, on their ends there are support or closure segments (9.1) and (9.2) to support the adjacently arranged covers on the fold lines which are diagonally opposite in the formation of the protector, characterised in that the upper cover (8), the lower cover (7) and the support or closure segments (9.1) and (9.2) for support of the covers are reinforced, where:

- the lower closure cover (7) comprises a first tab (7.1) connected to the first segment (1), and emerging from the first tab (7.1), a second or reinforcing tab (7.2) for the lower cover, which can be folded about the first tab (7.1).

- the upper closure cover (8) comprises a first tab (8.1) connected to the first segment (1), and emerging from the first tab (8.1), a second or reinforcing tab (8.2) for the lower cover, which can be folded about the first tab (8.1).

- the support or closure segments (9.1) and (9.2) have some additional segments (9.3) and (9.4) for support or reinforced closure arranged adjacent to the segments (9.1) and so (9.2). These additional segments (9.3) and (9.4) for support or reinforced closure can be refolded over the support or closure segments (9.1) and (9.2) respectively and allow the formation of a means of support or reinforced closure of the upper (8) and lower (7) covers.

2. Bottle protector according to claim 1, characterised in that the support or closure segments (9.1) and (9.2) and the additional support segments (9.3) and (9.4), and the fold lines have a partial cut on one side of the fold lines, these cuts will be such that the cut made on the central fold line is on the side of the sheet facing the interior of the assembly, while the cut on the end folding lines is made on the opposite side, that is, the side of the sheet that is facing outwards.

3. Bottle protector according to claim 1, characterised in that the tabs (8.1) and (8.2) making up the upper closure cover (8) have in one of their corners a recess or cut out (8.3).

4. Bottle protector according to claim 1, characterised in that on segment (5) at its free edge and in the centre a closure tab (5.1) emerges that is inserted into the slot (1.1) made on the fold line of the first segment (1) with the adjacent one (2).

5. Bottle protector according to claim 1, characterised in that the separation of an adjacent segment is through a fold line (11), where there are also a number of die-cuts and cuts made that define a series of tabs (6) and gaps (10), such that once the protector is formed the tabs are arranged so that they protrude.

6. Bottle protector according to claim 5, characterised in that the perimetral tabs (6) are arranged alternately with respect to the perimetral tabs (6) made on the same side as the joining stretch of the next segment, and also with respect to the tabs facing the next joining line.

7. Bottle protector according to claim 5, is characterised in that the gaps (10) maintain their position relative to the perimetral tabs, but their position is alternating relative to the folding line facing the adjacent segment, being located alternately between the two perimetral tabs, and on one side of the two tabs.

8. Bottle protector according to the claims above, characterised in that if the desire is to make a double bottle protector, there are two sets of adjacent segments available, where the last segment is connected to the edge of the last segment of the following protector, in other words it adopts a symmetrical configuration relative to the edge of the last segment (5).

Ansprüche

1. Ein Flaschenschutz, der wenigstens fünf aneinandergebaute Segmente besitzt: ein erstes Segment (1), ein zweites Segment (2), ein drittes Segment (3), ein viertes Segment (4) und ein fünftes Segment (5), welche fast rechteckig und hintereinander arrangiert sind. Sie sind an einer der längeren Seiten miteinander verbunden, wobei das erste (1), das zweite, (2), das dritte (3) und das vierte (4) Segment die Seitenwände des Schutzes bilden und die fünfte (5) das Verschlusssegment ist. Diese formen ein geschlossenes Bauteil, in dem das zweite, (2), das dritte (3), das vierte (4) und das fünfte (5) Segment gleichlang sind, während das erste (1) Segment kürzer als die vorherigen ist. Es ist in Bezug auf deren längere Stücke zentral angeordnet, so dass an deren Enden Laschen gebildet werden, die als obere Abdeckung (8) und untere Abdeckung (7) dienen, um den Flaschenschutz zu schließen sowie auf den verbindenden Laschen der Segmente, die sich diagonal gegenüberliegen, wenn der Schutz erst einmal gebildet ist. An deren Enden befinden sich unterstützende oder Schließsegmente (9.1) und (9.2), um die angrenzend angeordneten Abdeckungen auf den Laschen zu unterstützen, die sich in der Form des Schutzes diagonal gegenüberüberliegen. Dies wird dadurch charakterisiert, dass die obere Abdeckung (8), die untere Abdeckung (7) und die unterstützenden oder Schließsegmente (9.1) und (9.2) zur Unterstützung der Abdeckung verstärkt sind:

- die untere Abdeckung (7) beinhaltet eine erste Lasche (7.1), die mit dem ersten Segment (1) verbunden ist und an der ersten Lasche (7.1) befindet sich eine zweite oder unterstützende Lasche (7.2) für die untere Abdeckung, welche um die erste Lasche (7.1) gefaltet werden kann.

- die obere Abdeckung (8) beinhaltet eine erste Lasche (8.1), die mit dem ersten Segment (1) verbunden ist und an der ersten Lasche (8.1) befindet sich eine zweite oder unterstützende Lasche (8.2) für die untere Abdeckung, welche um die erste Lasche (8.1) gefaltet werden kann.

- die unterstützenden oder Schließsegmente (9.1) und (9.2) haben zusätzliche Segmente (9.3) und (9.4), um den Verschluss zu unterstützen oder zu verfestigen. Diese sind angrenzend an die Segmente (9.1) und (9.2) angebracht. Diese zusätzlichen Segmente (9.3) und (9.4), um den Verschluss zu unterstützen oder zu verfestigen, können über die unterstützenden oder Schließsegmente (9.1) beziehungsweise (9.2) gefaltet werden und erlauben die Entstehung einer unterstützenden oder befestigten Schieße der oberen (8) und unteren (7) Abdeckung.

2. Ein Flaschenschutz in Übereinstimmung mit der Anforderung 1 wird dadurch charakterisiert, dass die unterstützenden oder Schließsegmente (9.1) und (9.2) und die zusätzlichen unterstützenden Segmente (9.3) und (9.4) und die Laschen einen partiellen Einschnitt auf einer Seite der Lasche besitzen. Diese Einschnitte sind der Art, dass sich der Einschnitt auf der zentralen Lasche auf der Innenseite des Bauteils befindet, während der Einschnitt am Ende der Lasche auf der Gegenüberliegenden Seite gemacht wurde, i.e. auf der Seite, die nach außen zeigt.

3. Ein Flaschenschutz in Übereinstimmung mit der Anforderung 1 wird dadurch charakterisiert, dass die Laschen (8.1) und (8.2) die obere Abdeckung (8) bilden und an einer ihrer Ecken eine Kerbe oder Ausschnitt besitzen (8.3).

4. Ein Flaschenschutz in Übereinstimmung mit der Anforderung 1 wird dadurch charakterisiert, dass sich auf dem Segment (5) an seiner freien Seite in der Mitte eine Verschlusslasche (5.1) herausragt, welche in den Schlitz (1.1) gesteckt wird, der in die Falz des ersten Segmentes (1) zum zweiten (2) eingefügt wurde.

5. Ein Flaschenschutz in Übereinstimmung mit der Anforderung 1 wird dadurch charakterisiert, dass die Trennung eines nachfolgenden Segmentes durch die Falz (11) erreicht wird, wo es zudem eine Anzahl von Stanzungen und Einschnitten gibt, um eine Serie von Laschen (6) und Lücken (10) zu definieren, in der Form, diese so arrangieren, dass sie herausragen, wenn der Schutz einmal geformt ist.

6. Ein Flaschenschutz in Übereinstimmung mit der Anforderung 5 wird dadurch charakterisiert, dass die umkreisenden Laschen (6) wechselweise im Hinsicht auf die umkreisenden Laschen (6), die auf derselben Seite als Verbindungsstrecke für das nächste Segment angeordnet sind und ebenso im Hinblick auf die Laschen, die der nächsten Verbindungslinie zugewandt sind.

7. Ein Flaschenschutz in Übereinstimmung mit der Anforderung 5 wird dadurch charakterisiert, dass die Lücken (10) ihre Position relativ zu den umkreisenden Laschen beibehalten aber ihre Position wechselweise zwischen den zwei umkreisenden Laschen ist und an einer Seite der zwei Laschen.

8. Ein Flaschenschutz in Übereinstimmung mit den oben gemachten Anforderungen wird dadurch charakterisiert, dass es möglich wäre, einen doppelten Flaschenschutz zu erstellen, wenn es gewünscht wird. Es gibt zwei Sets von nebeneinander liegenden Segmenten, in dem das letzte Segment mit der Ecke des letzten Segmentes des folgenden Schutzes verbunden ist. Mit anderen Worten, es wird eine symmetrische Form relativ zur Ecke des letzten Segmentes (5) angenommen.

Revendications

1. Dispositif de protection de bouteille comprenant au moins cinq segments attachés, un premier segment (1), un deuxième segment (2), un troisième segment (3), un quatrième segment (4) et un cinquième segment (5), qui sont de forme approximativement rectangulaire et sont agencés de façon consécutive, reliés par l'un de leurs côtés les plus longs, dans lequel le premier (1), le deuxième (2), le troisième (3) et le quatrième (4) segment forment les parois latérales du dispositif de protection et le cinquième segment (5) est le segment de fermeture, configurant un ensemble fermé où le deuxième (2), le troisième (3), le quatrième (4) et le cinquième (5) segment sont de longueur égale, tandis que le premier segment (1) est plus court par rapport aux précédents et est agencé de façon centrale par rapport à leur longueur plus longue, présentant au niveau de leurs extrémités des languettes qui servent de couvercle supérieur (8) et couvercle inférieur (7) destinés à fermer le dispositif de protection de bouteille et, sur les lignes de pliage de jonction des segments, qui sont diagonalement opposées une fois que le dispositif de protection est formé, sur leurs extrémités se trouvent des segments de support ou de fermeture (9.1) et (9.2) destinés à supporter les couvercles agencés de façon adjacente sur les lignes de pliage qui sont diagonalement opposées dans la formation du dispositif de protection, caractérisé en ce que le couvercle supérieur (8), le couvercle inférieur (7) et les segments de support ou de fermeture (9 .1) et (9.2) pour le support des couvercles sont renforcés, où :

- le couvercle de fermeture inférieur (7) comprend une première languette (7.1) reliée au premier segment (1) et émergeant depuis la première languette (7.1), une seconde languette ou languette de renfort (7.2) pour le couvercle inférieur, qui peut être repliée autour de la première languette (7.1),

- le couvercle de fermeture supérieur (8) comprend une première languette (8.1) reliée au premier segment (1) et émergeant depuis la première languette (8.1), une seconde languette ou languette de renfort (8.2) pour le couvercle inférieur, qui peut être repliée autour de la première languette (8.1),

- les segments de support ou de fermeture (9.1) et (9.2) comprenent certains segments supplémentaires (9.3) et (9.4) pour le support ou la fermeture renforcée agencés de manière adjacente aux segments (9.1) et également (9.2). Ces segments supplémentaires (9.3) et (9.4) pour le support ou la fermeture renforcée peuvent être repliés sur les segments de support ou de fermeture (9.1) et (9.2) respectivement et permettent la formation d'un moyen de support ou de fermeture renforcée des couvercles supérieur (8) et inférieur (7).

2. Dispositif de protection de bouteille selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les segments de support ou de fermeture (9.1) et (9.2) et les segments de support supplémentaires (9.3) et (9.4) et les lignes de pliage ont une découpe partielle sur un côté des lignes de pliage, ces découpes seront telles que la découpe réalisée sur la ligne de pliage centrale se trouve sur le côté de la feuille faisant face à l'intérieur de l'ensemble, tandis que la découpe sur les lignes de pliage d'extrémité est réalisée sur le côté opposé, c'est-à-dire le côté de la feuille qui fait face vers l'extérieur.

3. Dispositif de protection de bouteille selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les languettes (8.1) et (8.2) formant le couvercle de fermeture supérieur (8) ont dans un de leurs coins un évidement ou une découpe (8.3).

4. Dispositif de protection de bouteille selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que sur le segment (5) au niveau de son bord libre et au centre, une languette de fermeture (5.1) émerge, qui est insérée dans la fente (1.1) réalisée sur la ligne de pliage du premier segment (1) avec le segment adjacent (2).

5. Dispositif de protection de bouteille selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la séparation d'un segment adjacent s'effectue par une ligne de pliage (11), où il existe également un certain nombre de découpes à l'emporte-pièce ou découpes réalisées qui définissent une série de languette (6) et d'espaces (10), de sorte qu'une fois que le dispositif de protection est formé, les languettes soient agencées afin de faire saillie.

6. Dispositif de protection de bouteille selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que les languettes périmétriques (6) sont agencées de façon alternée par rapport aux languettes périmétriques (6) réalisées du même côté que l'étendue de liaison du segment suivant et également par rapport aux languettes faisant face à la ligne de liaison suivante.

7. Dispositif de protection de bouteille selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que les espaces (10) conservent leur position par rapport aux languettes périmétriques, mais leur position est alternée par rapport à la ligne de pliage faisant face au segment adjacent, située de façon alternée entre les deux languettes périmétriques et sur un côté des deux languettes.

8. Dispositif de protection de bouteille selon les revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que si un double dispositif de protection de bouteille est souhaité, il existe deux ensembles de segments adjacents disponibles, dans lequel le dernier segment est relié au bord du dernier segment du dispositif de protection suivant, en d'autres termes, il adopte une configuration symétrique par rapport au bord du dernier segment (5).

Drawing