Patent Application
20100096441
This invention relates generally to packages for beverage containers, bottles and cans, and more particularly to a package that is economical to manufacture, robust in use and from which the beverage containers can be easily and conveniently dispensed.
The packaging of multiple beverage containers such as bottles and cans has for many years been achieved by the use of pre-scored and pre-folded paperboard cartons or carriers which encircle the containers. Recently, a trend toward cheaper thermoplastic film materials which can be heat shrunk into close conforming relationship to a group of containers has emerged. While such shrink wrap packages may be more economical than the paperboard cartons and carriers, the shrink wrap film readily tears at high stress concentration areas of the package due to the thin film that is used in providing a more economical package. In those instances where the film has been strong enough, because the films are thicker, to prevent accidental tearing of the package, the packages have been relatively difficult for the consumer to open and conveniently gain access to the containers therein.
Several attempts have been made to strike a balance that appears necessary to produce a commercial thermoplastic film-type package. It has been difficult, however, to provide an economical package which combines the requisite strength for handling and at the same time offers convenient access to the containers for the consumer.
For example, bottled water has become very popular for retail purchase and PET bottles are commonly used as the container. Similar to many consumer beverages, the bottles are sold in packages of typically at least four bottles up to as many as 24 to 36 or more per package. However, unlike packaging for soda, soft drinks and beer, bottled water packages typically are very basic and conventional consisting of a paperboard tray supporting the bottom of the bottles and the entire package being enveloped in shrink wrap plastic or the like. The relatively low level of sophistication for the bottled water packages is, in part, a result of the low profit margins and economic limitations associated with bottled water sales. Manufacturers and bottlers are not able to economically justify the added cost of production associated with sophisticated packages and dispensers for bottled water while still maintaining competitive retail pricing.
Additionally, consumers commonly purchase large quantities of bottled water and often each package includes 24 to 36 or more bottles. It is difficult, if not impossible, for a consumer to conveniently transfer the entire package to their refrigerator for cooling, storage and convenient access. As an alternative, consumers often remove individual bottles from the package for consumption or transfer to the refrigerator and this piece-meal dispensing of the bottles is inconvenient and continual attention to stocking and re-stocking the refrigerator with bottled water is required.
Therefore, an improved package for bottled water and other beverage containers is needed that satisfies these and other shortcomings associated with know beverage container packages.
This invention solves these and other problems and, in one embodiment, includes a paperboard overlay member of a size to cover the top caps of the assembled bottles. In one embodiment, the package includes 12 bottles in a 4×3 arrangement, but other sizes of packages and arrangements of bottles are possible with this invention. The rectangular shape of the overlay member is sized to cover the caps of the 12 bottles and perimeter panels extending from each edge of a central, rectangular panel of the overlay member are folded downwardly to form an inverted tray. The tray includes a dispenser in the rectangular central panel which, in one embodiment is a dispenser flap adjacent one of the longitudinal edges of the central panel. Perforated tear lines are provided at each lateral edge of the dispenser flap to allow the flap to be folded downwardly. The dispenser may include a cut-out portion in the overlay member alone or in combination with and adjacent to the dispenser flap.
After the bottles are arranged in the desired configuration and the overlay member is placed atop the caps with the perimeter panels folded downwardly, the package is enveloped in an overwrap member such as thermoplastic shrink wrap film as is well known in the industry. The package is easily handled, sturdy and well constructed for shipping, storing and merchandising. Once the consumer brings the package home, they can easily place it in the refrigerator or on a shelf with the overlay member and bottle caps facing forwardly. Perforations or scores are provided in the overwrap and in registration with the dispenser flap and/or dispenser opening member cut-out in the overlay member so that a user may easily insert their hand through the shrink wrap and into the cut-out, tear the shrink wrap in the region of the dispenser flap, tear the dispenser flap along the perforations in the overlay member and fold the flap downwardly toward the shelf. As such, the package is conveniently stored on the shelf of a refrigerator or elsewhere and individual bottles can be accessed from the package through the dispenser all without compromising the integrity of the package and remaining bottles therein. This robust and easy to use package is provided with a minimum of cost to the bottler, manufacturer, retailer and consumer.
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Referring to
The package 10 according to one embodiment of this invention includes an overlay member 22, one embodiment of which is shown in
Perimeter panels 26 are each joined to and positioned on respective perimeter edges of the central panel 24 as shown particularly in
The overlay member 22 of one embodiment of this invention includes a dispenser 32 through which the beverage containers 12 in the package 10 may be accessed and removed. In one embodiment, the dispenser 32 includes a dispenser flap 34 in the central panel 24 of the overlay member 22. The dispenser flap 34 is positioned adjacent a perimeter edge 36 of the central panel 24 of the overlay member 22 along the fold line 28a joining the associated perimeter panel 26a. A pair of tear lines 38 which may be perforations or another other type of tear line, emanate from the fold line 28a and are oriented generally perpendicular to the fold line 28a as shown particularly in
The dispenser 32 according to one embodiment of this invention also includes a dispenser opening 40 in the central panel 24 of the overlay member 22. The dispenser opening 40 as shown in
The overlay member 22 with the perimeter panels 26, 26a folded as shown in
The overwrap member 44 in one embodiment of this invention includes a weakened portion 46 relative to the remainder of the overwrap member 44. The weakened portion 46 may be a frangible access portion defined by perforations in the overwrap member 44. The perforations 46 are positioned relative to the dispenser 32 to allow a user to puncture the overwrap member 44 in the vicinity of the weakened portion 46 to gain access to the beverage containers 12 in the package 10 via the dispenser 32. In the embodiment shown in
The overwrap member 44 substantially covers the beverage containers 12 and overlay member 22, but a small portion 48 of the package 10 may not be enveloped by the overwrap member 44 as shown in
A user, such as a consumer or retail purchaser of the package 10, may place the package 10 on a shelf 50 of a refrigerator, storage cabinet or the like as is shown in
Nevertheless, the package 10 may be shipped, stored or otherwise processed with the containers 12 in the upright configuration of
Additionally, a user may fold the dispenser flap 34 upwardly to a closed position generally parallel with the central panel 24 and reorient the package 10 after some of the beverage containers 12 have been removed from the package for convenient transport or further storage of the remaining containers 12 as needed. As such, the partially filled package lo may then be laid on its side on a shelf 50 for access to the remaining beverage containers 12 as desired. Once all of the beverage containers 12 are removed from the package 10, the overlay member 22 and overwrap member 44 may be discarded or recycled as desired.
The package 10 according to one embodiment of this invention may include finger holes in the overlay member 22 and/or overwrap member 44 for insertion of a user's fingers for carrying and transport of the package 10 prior to or after the dispenser 32 has been accessed.
From the above disclosure of the general principles of the present invention and the preceding detailed description of at least one preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will readily comprehend the various modifications to which this invention is susceptible. Therefore, I desire to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and equivalents thereof.
