TRANSPORT CONTAINER

Abstract

 The invention is about a transport container comprising an outer box (2, 52), a lower support structure (1, 10, 53, 71, 133) and an upper support structure (31, 41, 54, 81, 102, 121, 134, 135) placed inside the outer box (2, 52), which lower support structure (1, 10, 53, 71, 133) has a downwards narrowing conical shape which centers a bottle (7, 51, 101, 132) or a can (72, 82, 122, 131) in to desired location in the outer box (2, 52) and the upper support structure (31, 41, 54, 81, 102, 121, 134, 135) has at least one opening (35, 42, 83) which is in a contact with the shoulder area of at least one bottle (7, 51, 101, 132) or can (72, 82, 122, 131) and supports it both vertically and horizontally to the inner side of the outer box (2, 52).

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a transport container. More specifically, the invention relates to a transport container including a support and protective structures inside a box to be used for packaging and shipping of bottles and/or cans.

[0002] There is a growing need to package bottles and/or cans so that they can be transported via postal services, transport companies, etc. For this the bottles and/or cans should be protected against any damages that could be caused by careless transport and handling.

[0003] A known arrangement for this purpose is presented for example in US 8230997. In this document bottles are packaged in a box and the lower and upper parts of the bottles are supported by retainers which are preferably formed of planar panels of rigid material.

[0004] Another from prior art known arrangement is presented in CN 203855001 U. In also this arrangement the bottle is supported from the bottom and upper part. The bottle is supported by multiple complicated parts to the bottom and sides of the transport box.

[0005] For the upper part support document CN 201154819U presents a solution where a complex folded and interlocked paperboard structure leans to the wall structures of a box.

[0006] In CN 2600370U is presented a simple support plate with plurality of holes for fixing multiple wine bottles from bottle necks for packaging bottles in a packaging box.

[0007] Typically prior art systems for packaging and shipping of bottles and/or cans are designed to handle only one specific bottle size. If the bottle size is different the system is no longer functional. This is leading to the need of using multiple outer boxes with various sizes and multiple support structures with various sizes. Also the number of transported bottles/cans is often fixed by the size of the outer box. This is due the fact that in most of the solutions the bottles are supported sideways by each other inside the box to prevent damage.

[0008] The problem with the known arrangements is that they cannot be used with various types of products. One arrangement is only suitable to be used with one bottle size. This leads to need for multiple types of arrangements and parts for covering even small amount of existing bottles.

[0009] The transport container according to the invention provides an improvement to prior art systems by making it possible to package and ship multiple different sized bottles and/or cans in a same type of transport box. The invention also enables the use of same support structures with different sized and shaped bottles.

[0010] This is possible with a transport container of the invention, where the bottom of the bottle or can is supported and/or centered horizontally with a bottom support structure and the upper part of the bottle or can is supported both horizontally and vertically by upper support structure. The bottom support structure is advantageously a downward narrowing conical structure with four projections towards the center and bottom of the box, which projections are adjustable to different sizes of bottles. The upper support structure is advantageously a simple planar support plate with opening or openings that come in contact with the shoulder area of the bottle or the can. The upper support plate's width is fitted to the inside width of the outer box so that the plate has friction connection with two opposite edges against the inside wall of the box. The friction between the upper support structure and the inside of the outer box is keeping the bottles or cans vertically in place. The upper support structure has also two tail regions which are folded along the inside wall of the outer box towards the lid of the box. These two tail regions give also support to the bottles or cans in vertical direction with friction or with friction and support against the lid of the outer box.

[0011] The lower support structure is placed on the bottom of the outer box and the height of the upper support structure from the bottom of the outer box is defined by the height of the product transported in the transport container.

[0012] Different embodiments of the present invention are enabling a safe transportation of one or more different sized bottles and/or cans in same box. These embodiments are also providing support to many different shaped bottles with long or short neck, long or short body and different body diameter.

[0013] The above-described design in the transport container enables safe and protected transportation of bottles and/or cans with a simple cost-effective structure. With this invention different shaped and sized bottles and cans can be transported in same transport container having same outer box, same lower support structure and same upper support structure. This minimizes the number of used support parts and outer boxes.

[0014] The transport container comprises an outer box, a lower support structure and an upper support structure placed inside the outer box, which lower support structure has a downwards narrowing conical shape which centers the bottle or the can in to desired location in the outer box, and the upper support structure has at least one opening which is in a contact with the shoulder area of at least one bottle or can and supports it both vertically and horizontally to the inner side of the outer box.

[0015] The invention is more specifically defined by the characterizing part of the independent claim. Other advantageous embodiments and features are presented in the dependent claims.

[0016] The invention will now be described more precisely with reference to the drawings, in which

Fig. 1 shows one embodiment of the bottom support structure for one bottle or can;

Fig. 2 shows one embodiment of the bottom support structure for multiple bottles and/or cans;

Fig. 3 shows one embodiment of the upper support structure for bottle or can;

Fig. 4 shows one embodiment of the upper support structure for multiple bottles and/or cans;

Fig. 5 is a cross section picture showing how two different sized bottles can be placed in the same transport container having the same lower and upper support structures;

Fig. 6 shows in a perspective view one bottle with the lower and the upper support structure;

Fig. 7 shows one embodiment of the lower support structure with the cans;

Figs. 8 a - c are showing how one embodiment of the upper support structure for the cans is placed;

Fig. 9 shows how the cans can be placed in multiple layers in to the outer box;

Fig. 10 shows two bottles with the lower and the upper support structures;

Fig. 11 shows one embodiment of the lower support structure for cans and/or bottles;

Fig. 12 shows one embodiment of the upper support structure for the cans, and

Fig. 13 shows how the bottles and the cans are placed together in the same outer box.

[0017] Fig. 1 shows one embodiment of the bottom support structure 1. This support structure is designed for one bottle or one can. The lower support structure is placed inside an outer box 2, which supports the lower support structure 1 both vertically and horizontally. The lower support structure 1 has four from the bottom 3 of the outer box 2 upward entering projections 4 which are forming downwards narrowing conical shape and which are supported by their upper parts 5 horizontally by the inside corner areas of the outer box 2. The lower parts 6 of the projections 4 are connected to two adjacent projections at the bottom of the structure so that all four projections 4 are together forming the lower support structure 1. The lower support structure 1 has a downward narrowing conical shape for receiving the bottle 7 or the can and centering it to the center of the outer box 2. The lower support structure 1 can be designed so that it is rigid or flexible, allowing the finger like projections 4 at least in some amount to move at the bottom of the structure so that the bottle 7 or can is moving and pressing the bottom area of the lower support structure against the inner sides of the outer box 2. Depending of the outer diameter of the bottle 7 or the can the bottle or the can sits in to the downwards narrowing conical support structure to a different height from the bottom of the outer box 2. The lower support structure 1 can also be designed so that the conical structure allows the bottle 7 or the can to be lowered to the bottom 3 of the outer box 2 and the conical shape only centers the bottle or the can. This is achieved by flexible design of the lower support structure 1. The fully rigid lower support structure just allows the bottle 7 or the can to be lowered towards the bottom of the outer box 2 by the amount that the diameter of the product is determining. The important issue is that the bottle 7 or the can is centered to the outer box 2 and that the lower support structure is giving support in a horizontal direction.

[0018] Fig. 2 shows one embodiment of the lower support structure 10 for multiple bottles or/and cans comprising several conical shaped locations formed according to the example of Fig. 1 for the bottles and/or cans. The lower support structure 10 is in contact with the four edges 11 to the inside of the outer box keeping all products horizontally in place. The lower support structure 10 is also keeping products apart from each other so that they don't touch each other and break. These lower support structures 1 and 10 of Figs. 1 and Fig. 2 are capable handling different sized bottles and/or cans without the need of changing the support structure. They can also be made to fit in different sized outer boxes that can handle one or multiple bottles and/or cans.

[0019] Fig. 3 shows in a plane view one embodiment of the upper support structure 31. On the long edges 32 the upper support structure 31 is fitted tightly to the inside of the outer box so that the friction between the long edge of the upper support structure and the inside of the outer box is keeping the upper support structure in place. It is advantageous, but not necessary, to have a creasing 33 in the upper support structure 31 so that the upper support structure forms easily a square in the middle of the upper support structure and the rest of the upper support structure is folded upward towards the lid of the outer box. The upward folded parts 34 of the upper support structure 31 can contact the lid of the outer box and even be folded again towards the center of the outer box.

[0020] This way the upper support structure is keeping the products even better in the place. In the center of the upper support structure 31 is a round opening 35 for the bottle or the can. The opening 35 is big enough to let the cap or the widest section of the upper part (the cap or the neck) of the bottle to go through. After that the upper support structure 31 is pressed towards and against the shoulder area of the bottle or the can. This way the product is kept in place both vertically and horizontally. The upper support structure 31 may also have perforated folding lines instead of the creasings 33 or be even manufactured without both. In this latter case the upper support structure 31 is just folded inside the outer box so that the support horizontally is achieved to all four directions. The size of the opening 35 can be varied for the different sized bottles and cans. The main thing is that the opening 35 of the upper support structure 31 is in contact with the shoulder area of the bottle or the can for giving the horizontal and vertical support to the product.

[0021] The embodiment in Fig. 3 can be used with many different sized bottles and cans. The bottles can have long or short bodies and long or short necks. The use of the upper support structure is not limited to just one product size and shape. The same upper support structure is usable with many various sized products. The edges 32 having friction connection with the inside of the outer box are in this embodiment are connected with the full length of the edge. It is also possible to use the upper support structures that have only partial contact with edges to the inside of the outer box.

[0022] Fig. 4 shows the upper support structure 41 for multiple products. The openings 42 for the shoulders of the products are located according to the bottom support structure so that the products are in perfect upright position inside the outer box. Two opposite edges 43 of the upper support structure 41 are again tightly fitted inside the outer box and the two other edges 44 are folded upwards along the creasings 45 or perforated folding lines. In this embodiment the upper support structure 41 is designed to adapt six products but it is obvious that the upper support structure can be designed for many variable amounts of products e.g. two, three, four, eight, nine or more. The upward folded parts 46 of the upper support structure 41 can also be varied so that any two opposite sides can have the folding parts.

[0023] The upper support structure can be used even with many different sized and shaped products in the same outer box. The upper support structure is lowered to the contact between the opening and the highest bottle shoulder of various sized products. Other openings are now just supporting loosely other shorter products in horizontal direction.

[0024] Fig. 5 shows how two different sized bottles 51 can be placed inside the same outer box 52 with the same lower and upper support structures 53 and 54. The upper support structure 54 runs up against the two inside walls of the outer box 52 and when reaching the lid 55 of the outer box is folded under the lid towards the center of the outer box. If the bottles 51 shoulder 56 comes very high in the outer box 52 it may be necessary even fold the upper support structure 54 third time back downwards or cut the unnecessary amount away. The lower support structure 53 allows the smaller diameter bottle to go further towards the bottom 57 of the outer box but is still centering both bottle sizes to the center of the outer box and supporting the products horizontally.

[0025] Fig. 6 shows the embodiment of Fig. 5 in perspective view. Only the corners of the outer box 52 are marked with lines. The top of the outer box 52 is now totally missing and the second folding of the upper support structure 54 is clearly seen. The upper support structure 54 is not yet fully lowered against the shoulder area 56 of the bottle 51.

[0026] Fig. 7 shows another embodiment of the lower support structure 71. This embodiment is specially designed to adapt standard sized cans 72. The cans 72 are hold in place with the downward narrowing conical shape of the lower support structure 71 and there is also additional support by the groove 73 in the lower support structure. The lower support structure 71 with this groove 73 generates a very stable design for supporting the cans 72. The groove 73 does not prevent the use of this lower support structure 71 for the bottles. Different sized bottles can either be placed lower than the groove 73, upper than the groove or even in to the groove. The important issue with the lower support structure 71 is that it centers the product inside the outer box and restricts the movement in horizontal direction. This is achieved with the downwards narrowing conical structure. With the multiple products the lower support structure directs each product to its own preselected position so that the upper support structure can be placed and is giving optimum support.

[0027] Figs. 8 a-c are showing another embodiment of the upper support structure 81. In these three pictures the planar upper support structure 81 is pressed against the upper parts of cans 82 and against the inside wall of the outer box (not presented in the figures). This embodiment has little radially extended cuts around the openings 83 to enable the opening to enlarge when pressed over the top 84 of the can 82 and against the shoulder 85 of the can. The edge of the opening 83 is now pressing against the upper rim 86 of the can 82 and is helping to keep the can in place. The opening 83 can also be sized so that the edge of the opening is not in contact with the rim 86 of the can 82 and is just supporting the can from the shoulder area 85.

[0028] Fig.9 shows how the upper support structure 81 of Fig. 8 can be used as an upper support structure when multiple layers of cans 82 are placed in the outer box. The upper layer of cans 82 is placed on top of the lower layer of cans and both layers of cans are supported sideways by the upper support structure 81 of Fig. 8. The layers of the cans 82 are not limited into two.

[0029] Fig. 10 shows how the bottles 101 having smaller outer diameter are supported by the lower support structure 71 from Fig. 7. The groove 73 does not prevent the use of this kind of lower support structure 71 for the bottles 101. The same lower support structure 71 is capable handling both cans and different sized bottles. The upper support structure 102 is not yet folded upwards to meet the inside of the outer box.

[0030] Fig. 11 shows a top view of one embodiment of the lower support structure 71 of Fig. 7 and Fig. 10 for four bottles or cans. The lower support structure 71 can be manufactured for any number of cans or bottles depending of the size of the outer box.

[0031] Fig. 12 shows an embodiment for upper support structure 121 for the cans 122 when the cans are placed side to side inside the outer box. The upper support structure 121 is in the position where when the folded parts 123 of the upper support structure are already folded upwards to support the cans 122 horizontally to the wall of the outer box. These upper support structures 121 can also be made in several sizes to adapt multiple cans 122 and to fit the multiple different sized outer boxes.

[0032] Fig. 13 shows how the cans 131 and the bottles 132 can be placed in the same outer box and are supported by the same lower support structure 133 and with two different sized upper support structures 134 and 135. This same system can also be used if two different sized cans 131 or two different sized bottles 132 are transported together in the same outer box. The size of the outer box is here again determining the amount of the products. The lower support structure 133 can be made in one piece (not necessarily. The upper support structures 134 and 135 are in contact and supporting each other with the upwards folded parts 136 and 137 of the structures.

[0033] The detailed description of the invention is not intended to disclose all the possible embodiments but the invention may be varied within the appended patent claims.

Claims

1. A transport container comprising an outer box (2, 52), a lower support structure (1, 10, 53, 71, 133) and an upper support structure (31, 41, 54, 81, 102, 121, 134, 135) placed inside the outer box (2, 52), which lower support structure (1, 10, 53, 71, 133) has at least one downwards narrowing conical shape which centers a bottle (7, 51, 101, 132) or a can (72, 82, 122, 131) in to desired location in the outer box (2, 52), characterized in that the upper support structure (31, 41, 54, 81, 102, 121, 134, 135) has at least one opening (35, 42, 83) which is in contact with the shoulder (56, 85) area of at least one bottle (7, 51, 101, 132) or can (72, 82, 122, 131) and supports it both vertically and horizontally to the inner side of the outer box (2, 52).

2. The transport container according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper support structure (31, 41, 54, 81, 102, 121, 134, 135) is a plane structure which is in contact at least partially to all inner sides of the outer box (2, 52).

3. The transport container according to claim 2, characterized in that the upper support structure (31, 41, 54, 81, 102, 121, 134, 135) has two opposite edges (43) that are tightly fit to the inside of the outer box (2, 52) and two opposite folded parts (34, 46, 123, 136, 137) that are folded upwards along the inside of the outer box (2, 52).

4. The transport container according to claim 3, characterized in that the two opposite folded parts (34, 46, 123, 136, 137) of the upper support structure (31, 41, 54, 81, 102, 121, 134, 135) are folded two or three times to follow the inside of the outer box (2, 52).

5. The transport container according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the upper support structure (31, 41, 54, 81, 102, 121, 134, 135) has creasings (33, 45) and/or perforated lines for folding the sides of the upper support structure (31, 41, 54, 81, 102, 121, 134, 135).

6. The transport container according to any of claims 1-5, characterized in that the outer box (2, 52) contains one or more bottles (7, 51, 101, 132) or/and cans (72, 82, 122, 131).

7. The transport container according to any of claims 1-6, characterized in that the opening (35, 42, 83) for the bottles (7, 51, 101, 132) or the cans (72, 82, 122, 131) has radial cuts which allow the opening (35, 42, 83) to expand and support wider shoulder (56, 85) area.

8. The transport container according to any of claims 1-7, characterized in that the lower support structure (1, 10, 53, 71, 133) is a rigid downwards narrowing conical structure which can support bottles (7, 51, 101, 132) or cans (72, 82, 122, 131) having different outer diameters.

9. The transport container according to any of claims 1-7, characterized in that the lower support structure (1, 10, 53, 71, 133) is a flexible downwards narrowing conical structure which allows the bottle (7, 51, 101, 132) or the can (72, 82, 122, 131) to at least partly reach further towards the bottom (3, 57) of the outer box (2, 52).

10. The transport container according to any of claims 1-7, characterized in that the lower support structure (1, 10, 53, 71, 133) is a flexible downwards narrowing conical structure which allows the bottle (7, 51, 101, 132) or the can (72, 82, 122, 131) to reach to the bottom (3, 57) of the outer box (2, 52).

11. The transport container according to any of claims 1-7 or 9-10, characterized in that the lower support structure (1, 10, 53, 71, 133) has four from the bottom of the outer box (2, 52) upward entering projections which are forming downwards narrowing conical shape and which are supported by their upper parts (5) horizontally by the inside corner areas of the outer box (2, 52) and at the bottom of the lower support structure (1, 10, 53, 71, 133) connected so that the structure can flex towards the sides of the outer box (2, 52).

12. The transport container according to any of claims 1-11, characterized in that the lower support structure (1, 10, 53, 71, 133) has a groove (73) inside the conical structure to adapt and support the can (72, 82, 122, 131) vertically.

13. The transport container according to any of claims 1-12, characterized in that the outer box (2, 52) can contain two or more separate different sized upper support structures (31, 41, 54, 81, 102, 121, 134, 135) for different sized bottles (7, 51, 101, 132) and/or cans (72, 82, 122, 131).

14. The transport container according to claim 13, characterized in that the upper support structures (31, 41, 54, 81, 102, 121, 134, 135) are in contact with adjacent support structures (31, 41, 54, 81, 102, 121, 134, 135) by the upwards folded parts (34, 46, 123, 136, 137) of the upper support structures (31, 41, 54, 81, 102, 121, 134, 135).

Drawing