Carrier for cans and a carboard blank for a carrier for cans

Abstract

The present invention relates to a carrier for cans made of cardboard, preferably corrugated cardboard, for connecting a plurality of generally cylindrical cans ( 4 ), being disposed in one or several rows and having an inclined upper part and a top closure ( 6 ) with a circular projecting rim ( 8 ). The carrier ( 1; 31 ) is produced from a plane blank ( 2; 32 ), having, for each can to be connected by the carrier, two mutually opposing, essentially arcuate slits ( 14; 44, 45 ), the outer edges of which engage below the rim ( 8 ) of the cans when the carrier is assembled on the plurality of cans to connect the carrier and the cans and form a package assembly. The essentially arcuate slits ( 14; 44, 45 ) comprise an arcuate intermediate section ( 16; 46 ) and arcuate end sections ( 18; 48 ) on both sides thereof, said intermediate section ( 16; 46 ) being formed radially inside the extended arcuate end sections ( 18; 48 ), such that an inward projecting engagement tongue ( 22; 52 ) is formed between the end sections ( 18; 48 ). The tongue is adapted to abut on and engage below the rim ( 8 ) to connect the carrier ( 1; 31 ) and the cans ( 4 ) to a package assembly. The invention also relates to a plane blank of cardboard for a carrier of cans.

1 . A carrier of cardboard, preferably corrugated cardboard, for connecting a plurality of generally cylindrical cans ( 4 ), being disposed in one or several rows and having an inclined upper part and a top closure ( 6 ) with a circular projecting rim ( 8 ), said carrier ( 1 ;  31 ) being produced from a plane blank ( 2 ;  32 ), having, for each can to be connected by the carrier, two mutually opposing, essentially arcuate slits ( 14 ;  44 ,  45 ), the outer edges of which engage below the rim ( 8 ) of the cans when the carrier is assembled on the plurality of cans to connect the carrier and the cans and form a package assembly, 
 characterized in    that the essentially arcuate slits ( 14 ;  44 ,  45 ) comprise an arcuate intermediate section ( 16 ;  46 ) and arcuate end sections ( 18 ;  48 ) on both sides thereof,    that the arcuate end sections ( 18 ;  48 ) are circular having a radius which is equal to or slightly larger than the radius of the circular rim ( 8 ), and    that said intermediate section ( 16 ;  46 ) being formed radially inside the extended arcuate end sections ( 18 ;  48 ), such that an inward projecting engagement tongue ( 22 ;  52 ) is formed between the end sections ( 18 ;  48 ), said tongue being adapted to abut and exert a tightening force on and engage below the rim ( 8 ) to connect the carrier ( 1 ;  31 ) and the cans ( 4 ) to a package assembly.    
     
     
         2 . A carrier according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the plane blank ( 2 ;  32 ) is essentially rectangular and that foldable panels ( 30 ;  60 ) are disposed in the blank, parallel with the long sides of the blank.  
     
     
         3 . A carrier according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the panels ( 30 ;  60 ) are foldable in folding lines ( 24 ;  54 ), connecting the ends of the arcuate slits ( 14 ;  44 ,  45 ) with each other or with an adjacent side ( 28 ;  58 ) of the blank.  
     
     
         4 . A carrier according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the outer edges of the carrier are disposed in line with or inside the maximum external dimensions of the group of cans ( 4 ) in the package assembly.  
     
     
         5 . A carrier according to  claim 1 , characterized in that gripping recesses ( 12 ;  42 ), adapted to be gripped by fingers to lift and handle the package assembly, are disposed in the carrier blank.  
     
     
         6 . A carrier according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the carrier is adapted to connect two or more cans ( 4 ) in one row, and that said gripping recesses ( 12 ) are centrally arranged in the sides ( 26 ) of the blank.  
     
     
         7 . A carrier according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the carrier is adapted to connect two or more cans ( 4 ) in two rows, and that said gripping recesses ( 42 ) constitute openings, preferably circular or oval, centrally disposed between the rows of cans ( 4 ).  
     
     
         8 . A carrier according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the inner arcuate slit ( 45 ) in each pair of opposing slits ( 44 ,  45 ) has an arcuate intermediate section ( 46 ) with a radius which is larger than the radius of the arcuate end sections ( 48 ).  
     
     
         9 . A carrier according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the arcuate intermediate section ( 46 ) of said inner slit ( 45 ) forms a projecting engagement tongue ( 52 ,  52 ,  52 ), which is delimited by an arcuate folding line ( 53 ) extending between the end sections ( 48 ) and is divided by radially extending incisions ( 47 ), such that at least two engagement flaps ( 52 ) are formed, said engagement flaps ( 52 ) being adapted to be folded upwardly to bear on the inclined surface of the can ( 4 ) and to engage below the rim ( 8 ) of the can when the carrier is assembled on the cans.  
     
     
         10 . A carrier according to  claim 9 , characterized in that oblique folding lines ( 55 ) are disposed in the carrier blank ( 32 ), connecting each outermost engagement flap ( 52 ) with an adjacent gripping recess ( 42 ) or with an adjacent side ( 58 ) of the blank ( 32 ).  
     
     
         11 . A carrier according to the  claim 10 , characterized in that a to folding line ( 54 ) is disposed in the carrier blank ( 32 ) extending parallel with the sides ( 56 ) of the blank and with the rows of cans, said folding line ( 54 ) connecting step-like portions ( 20 ) between the intermediate section ( 16 ) and the end sections ( 18 ) in the outer slits ( 44 ) with each other or with an adjacent side ( 58 ) in order to form an outer foldable is panel on each long side ( 56 ).  
     
     
         12 . A plane blank of cardboard, preferably corrugated cardboard, said blank being adapted to be assembled as a carrier for cylindrical cans and having, for each can to be connected by the carrier, a pair of two mutually opposing, essentially arcuate slits ( 14 ;  44 ,  45 ), characterized in that the essentially arcuate slits ( 14 ;  44 ,  45 ) comprise an arcuate intermediate section ( 16 ;  46 ) and arcuate end sections ( 18 ;  48 ) on both sides thereof, that the arcuate end sections ( 18 ;  48 ) are circular having a radius which is equal to or slightly larger than the radius of the cans, and that the intermediate section ( 16 ;  46 ) being formed radially inside the extended arcuate end sections ( 18 ;  48 ), such that an inward projecting engagement tongue ( 22 ;  52 ) is formed between the end sections ( 18 ;  48 ).  
     
     
         13 . A plane blank according to  claim 12 , characterized in that foldable panels ( 30 ;  60 ) are disposed in the blank and are foldable in folding lines ( 24 ;  54 ), said folding lines being parallel with the long sides of the blank and connecting the ends of the arcuate slits ( 14 ;  44 ,  45 ) with each other or with an adjacent side ( 28 ;  58 ) of the blank.  
     
     
         14 . A plane blank according to  claim 13 , characterized in that said pairs of two mutually opposing, essentially arcuate slits ( 14 ) are arranged in one row and that gripping recesses ( 12 ) are centrally arranged in the sides ( 26 ) of the blank.  
     
     
         15 . A plane blank according to  claim 13 , characterized in that to said pairs of two mutually opposing, essentially arcuate slits ( 44 ,  45 ) are arranged in two rows and that gripping recesses ( 42 ) are centrally arranged between said rows.