Multipacks for flanged containers

Description

[0001] This invention relates to packages each incor- porataing a group of flanged containers and to blanks for forming such packages.

[0002] US-A-3 715 073 discloses an open top flanged container to which a preprinted blank of sheet material is applied to close the top of the container around its top flange edges and over its sides. The sheet material is secured to the top flange and side portions of the container. Likewise FR-A 2 444 624 shows a sheet material applied to a group of containers to provide a cover having a top and side panels in which the side panels of the cover are secured to the side walls of the containers. US-A-3 615 707 discloses a hermetically sealed flanged container with a detachable cover of sheet material in which the cover has portions adhered to the undersides of the container cover. The cover is scored along the lines of fold of the flanges so that a major portion of the cover may be detached from the container by tearing along the score lines.

[0003] In the present invention a package comprising a group of flanged containers has a paperboard cover including securing strips which are secured to the undersides of the container flanges by ultrasonic welding. The cover includes side panels which are left unattached from the container side walls and a readily detachable top wall connected to the securing strips. Thus a removable cover is secured to the containers without involving a gluing operation to effect securing the cover and the ultrasonic welding being effected to allow detachment of the cover without damage to the containers.

[0004] To this end the invention provides a package incorporating a group of containers arranged in at least one row and having flanges at the top ends thereof which interconnect adjacent containers and portions of which project outwardly, which package includes a paperboard blank comprising a top panel overyling the tops of the containers in reach row and side panel means depending from said top panel and flanking the exposed sides of the containers in each row and including portions secured to the undersides of the outwardly projecting flanges in each row thereof, each of said securing portions comprising a strip of material hinged to opposed side edges of said top panel and folded into face contacting relationship with the undersides of said container flanges, said securing portions being attached to the underside of said flanges by ultrasonic welding while the side panel portions depending from said securing portions are free of attachment with respect to the adjacent sides of said containers and said top panel being detachably connected to each of said securing strips.

[0005] According to a feature of the invention, said side panel means may comprise a continuous panel flanking the exposed sides of the containers in each row. Alternatively, the side panel means may comprise a series of flaps flanking the exposed sides of the containers in each row. Where this feature is adopted, said side panel flaps of each side panel means may be connected one to the next by a frangible connection.

[0006] A number of` packages and blanks embodying this invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank from which a first package according to the invention is formed;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the first package;

Figure 3 is a schematic end view of a further package showing the means by which a blank is secured to the containers;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a modified blank for forming another package according to the invention; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a package formed from the blank shown in Figure 4.

[0007] Referring first to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, Figure 1 shows an elongate blank formed from paperboard or similar fildable sheet material and which comprises a top panel 12 to each of the longitudinal edges of which is hinged integral glue strips 14 and 16 along fold lines 18 and 20, respectively. A side panel 22 is hinged to glue strip 14 along fold line 24 and a side panel 26 is hinged to glue strip 16 along fold line 28.

[0008] To form the completed package illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, the blank is applied to a group of containers 'C', which, as in this case, may each be connected to an adjacent container by its flanges 'f', so that the top panel 12 lies on the tops of the containers in the group. The glue strips 14 and 16 are then brought into abutment with and secured to (as by gluing) the underfaces of the flanges 'f' of the containers in each of the rows R', R² by folding the blank along fold lines 18, 24 and 20, 28. This folding operation also brings each of the side panels 22 and 26 into abutment with the exposed faces of the adjacent containers.

[0009] Figure 3 is a schematic end view of a single line package in which like parts of the blank referred to above are designated like reference numerals with the addition of suffix 'a'.

[0010] In a modified embodiment, illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 the blank 30 of similar construction to that previously described but has side panels comprising a series of connected flaps. The blank 30 includes a top panel 32 to each of the longitudinal edges of which is hinged integral glue strips 34 and 36 along tear lines 38 and 40, respectively. A composite side panel 42 is hinged to the glue strip 34 along fold line 44 and a composite side panel 46 is hinged to glue strip 36 along fold line 48. The side panel 42 comprises a series of flaps 50-56 connected one to the next along frangible connections 58-62. Similarly, the side panel 46 comprises a series of flaps 64-70 connected one to the next along frangible connections 72-76.

[0011] The blank is applied to a group of containers in similar manner to that described with reference to the previous embodiment. As shown in Figure 5 the completed package is opened by tearing away the top panel 32 along the tear lines 38 and 40 whereafter individual containers can be separated one from the other by breaking the common flanged connection of adjacent containers and the frangible connection between adjacent side wall flaps. However, a similar package having side wall flaps but without a tearaway top panel is envisaged. In such a construction, the weakened lined 38 and 40 are substitued by continuous fold lines similar to fold lines 44 and 48.

Claims

1. A package incorporating a group of containers (c) arranged in at least one row and having flanges (f) at the top ends thereof which interconnect adjacent containers and portions of which project outwardly, which package includes a paperboard blank comprising a top panel (12) overyling the tops of the containers in each row and side panel means (22, 26) depending from said top panel and flanking the exposed sides of the containers in each row and including portions (14, 16) secured to the undersides of the outwardly projecting flanges in each row thereof, each of said securing portions comprising a strip of material hinged to opposed side edges of said top panel and folded into face contacting relationship with the undersides of said container flanges, said securing portions being attached to the underside of said flanges by ultrasonic welding while the side panel portions depending from said securing portions are free of attachment with respect to the adjacent sides of said containers and said top panel being detachably connected to each of said securing strips.

2. A package according to claim 1, further characterised in that said side panel means comprises a continuous panel flanking the exposed sides of the container in each row.

3. A package according to claim 1, further characterised in that said side panel means comprises a series of flaps (50-56; 64-70) flanking the exposed sides of the containers in each row.

4. A package according to claim 4, further characterised in that said side panel flaps of each side panel means are connected one to the next by a frangible connection.

Ansprüche

1. Packung, die eine Gruppe von Behältern (c) aufnimmt, die in wenigstens einer Reihe angeordnet sind und an ihren oberen Enden Flansche (f), die benachbarte Behälter miteinander verbinden und Abschnitte aufweisen, die sich nach außen erstrecken, wobei die Packung einen Kartonzuschnitt aufweist, der eine Deckwand (12), die die Oberseiten der Behälter in jeder Reihe überdeckt, und Seitenwände (22, 26) umfaßt, die von der Deckwand herabhängen und die freien Seiten der Behälter in jeder Reihe flankieren, und Abschnitte (14, 16) aufweist, die an den Unterseiten der sich nach außen erstreckenden Flansche in jeder Reihe davon befestigt sind, wobei jeder der befestigten Abschnitte einen Streifen Materials aufweist, der an entgegengesetzten Seitenkanten der Deckwand angelenkt ist und so gefaltet ist, daß er in flächenkontaktierender Behrührung mit den Unterseiten der Behälterflansche steht, wobei die Befestigungsabschnitte an der Unterseite der Flansche durch Ultraschallschweißen angebracht sind, während die Seitenwandabschnitte, die von den Befestigungsabschnitten abhängen, frei von Anbringung in Bezug auf benachbarte Seiten der Behälter sind und die Deckwand abnehmbar mit jedem der Befestigungsstreifen verbunden ist.

2. Packung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Seitenwände eine zusammenhängende Wand aufweist, die die freien Seiten Behälters in jeder Reihe flankiert.

3. Packung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Seitenwände eine Reihe von Klappen (50-56; 64-70) aufweisen, die die freien Seiten de Behälter in jeder Reihe flankieren.

4. Packung nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Seitenwandklappen jeder Seitenwand jeweils mit der nächsten durch eine Abbrechverbindung verbunden sind.

Revendications

1. Emballage conçu pour renfermer un groupe de récipients (c) disposés sur au moins une rangée et pourvus de rebords (f) à leur extrémité supérieure qui les relient aux récipients voisins et dont certaines parties saillent vers l'extérieur, lequel emballage est caractérisé par le fait qu'il est constitué au moyen d'un flan de carton qui comprend un panneau de dessus (12) recouvrant les dessus récipients dans chaque rangée de ceux-ci, et des moyens de panneaux latérale (22, 26) qui pendent de panneau de dessus et flanquent les côtés exposés des récipients dans chaque rangée, ces paneaux latéraux comportant des parties de fixation (14 16) sous les côtés des rebords saillant vers l'extérieur dans chacune des rangées de récipients, chacune de ces parties de fixation (14, 16) étant pourvue d'une bande de matière reliée par charnière aux bords latéraux opposés du panneau de dessus (12) et pliée, face aux dessous des rebords (f) des récipients pour être en contact avac ces dessous de rebord, ces parties de fixation étant liées ou attachées au côté inférieur des rebords par soudage ultrasonique alors que les parties de panneaux latéraux, qui pendent des parties de fixation, sont libres de toute attache par rapport aux côtés adjacents correspondants des récipients, le panneau de dessus (12) étant relié, de manière détachable, à chacune des bandes de fixation

2. Emballage selon la revendication 1, caractérisé par le fait que les moyens de panneau latéraux (22, 26) sont constitués chacun par un panneau continu flanquant les côtés exposés des récipients dans chaque rangée de ceux-ci.

3. Emballage selon la revendication 1, caractérisé par le fait que les moyens de panneau latéraux (22, 26) comportent une série de volets (50-56; 64-70) flanquant les côtés exposés des récipients dans chaque rangée de ceux-ci.

4. Emballage selon la revendication 3, caractérisé par le fait que les volets (50-56; 64-70) de chacun des moyens den panneaux latéraux sont reliés de l'un à l'autre par une liaison pouvant être rompue ou déchirée.

Drawing