The present disclosure generally relates to can clips and/or cartons for holding and dispensing containers or other types of articles. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a container clip for connecting two or more containers together and/or a carton with a divider to separate at least two layers of articles.
In general, one aspect of the disclosure is directed to a container clip for engaging at least one container having a top rim and a bottom rim. The container clip can comprise a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the container clip. The interior can be for receiving at least a portion of the at least one container. The plurality of panels can comprise a top panel and a bottom panel disposed generally opposite the top panel. At least one top locking flap can be foldably connected to the top panel for engaging the top rim of the at least one container for at least partially coupling the container clip to the at least one container. At least one bottom locking flap can be foldably connected to the bottom panel for engaging the bottom rim of the at least one container for at least partially coupling the container clip to the at least one container.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a container assembly comprising at least a first container and a second container. The first container can comprising a first rim and the second container comprising a second rim. The container assembly further can comprise a container clip engaging the first container and the second container. The container clip can comprise a top panel, a bottom panel disposed generally opposite the top panel, a first locking flap, and a second locking flap. Each of the first locking flap and the second locking flap can be foldably connected to one of the top panel and the bottom panel. The first locking flap can engage the first rim of the first container and the second locking flap can engage the second rim of the second container.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a package comprising a carton and a container assembly. The carton can comprise a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carton. The container assembly can be disposed at least partially in the interior of the carton. The container assembly can comprise at least a first container and a second container and a container clip engaging the first container and the second container.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a clip blank for forming a container clip for engaging at least one container having a top rim and a bottom rim. The clip blank can comprise a plurality of panels comprising a top panel and a bottom panel disposed generally opposite the top panel. At least one top locking flap can be foldably connected to the top panel for engaging the top rim of the at least one container when the clip blank is formed into the container clip for at least partially coupling the container clip formed from the clip blank to the at least one container. At least one bottom locking flap can be foldably connected to the bottom panel for engaging the bottom rim of the at least one container when the clip blank is formed into the container clip for at least partially coupling the container clip formed from the clip blank to the at least one container.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a method of forming a container assembly comprising obtaining a clip blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a top panel and a bottom panel, at least one top locking flap foldably connected to the top panel, and at least one bottom locking flap foldably connected to the bottom panel. The method also can comprise forming a container clip from the clip blank by folding the plurality of panels relative to one another to form an interior of the container clip. The forming the container clip can comprise disposing the top panel and the bottom panel adjacent respective ends of at least one container having a top rim and a bottom rim. The method further can comprise engaging the at least one top locking flap with the top rim and engaging the at least one bottom locking flap with the bottom rim.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a method of forming a container assembly comprising obtaining a clip blank comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, a first locking flap, and a second locking flap. Each of the first locking flap and the second locking flap can be foldably connected to one of the top panel and the bottom panel. The method also can comprise obtaining a first container comprising a first rim and a second container comprising a second rim, at least partially forming a container clip from the clip blank, and engaging the container clip with the first container and the second container. The engaging the container clip can comprise engaging the first locking flap with the first rim of the first container and engaging the second locking flap with the second rim of the second container.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate the above stated advantages and other advantages and benefits of various additional embodiments reading the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the below-listed drawing figures.
According to common practice, the various features of the drawings discussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale. Dimensions of various features and elements in the drawings may be expanded or reduced to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the disclosure.
Corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference numbers throughout the drawings.
The present disclosure generally relates to carriers, clips, constructs, sleeves, cartons, or the like, and packages for holding and displaying articles such as cans, cups, jars, bottles, etc. The containers can be used for packaging food and beverage products, for example. The articles can be made from materials suitable in composition for packaging the particular food or beverage item, and the materials include, but are not limited to, glass and the like; aluminum and/or other metals; plastics such as PET, LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, PP, PS, PVC, EVOH, and Nylon; paperboard, composite paperboard, and the like, or any combination thereof.
Clips and/or cartons according to the present disclosure can accommodate articles of any shape. For the purpose of illustration and not for the purpose of limiting the scope of the disclosure, the following detailed description describes beverage containers (e.g., aluminum cans) as associated with the clip embodiments and/or as disposed within the carton embodiments. In this specification, the terms “inner,” “interior,” “outer,” “exterior,” “lower,” “bottom,” “upper,” and “top” indicate orientations determined in relation to fully erected and upright clips and cartons.
The clip blank 3 has a longitudinal axis L and a lateral axis L2. In the illustrated embodiment, the clip blank 3 includes a top panel 20 foldably connected to a first side panel 26 along a first transverse fold line 24, a bottom panel 34 foldably connected to the first side panel 30 along a second transverse fold line 36, and a second side panel 42 foldably connected to the bottom panel 34 along a third transverse fold line 40. A first attachment flap 46 can be foldably connected to the top panel 20 along a fourth transverse fold line 48, and a second attachment flap 50 can be foldably connected to the second side panel 42 along an fifth transverse fold line 52.
In one embodiment, the first side panel can include an upper portion forming a first upper bevel panel 22 defined by the first transverse fold line 24 and a sixth transverse fold line 28 and a lower portion forming a first lower bevel panel 30 defined by the second transverse fold line 36 and a seventh transverse fold line 32. The second side panel 42 can include a lower portion forming a second lower bevel panel 38 defined by the third transverse fold line 40 and an eighth lateral fold line 44. In the illustrated embodiment, the attachment flaps 46, 50 can be overlapped and secured (e.g., glued) to one another to form a second upper bevel panel 54 (
As shown in
The top panel 20 is foldably connected to a first top locking flap 56 along a first longitudinal fold line 58 and a second top locking flap 60 along a second longitudinal fold line 62. Similarly, the bottom panel 34 is foldably connected to a first bottom locking flap 64 along a third longitudinal fold line 66 and a second bottom locking flap 68 along a fourth longitudinal fold line 70. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the locking flaps 56, 60, 64, 68 can have a curved (e.g., semicircular or any other suitable shape) edge 72 for engaging a curved interior surface S (
In one embodiment, the clip 5 can be formed from the clip blank 3 as shown in
In one embodiment, as shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom panel 34 is aligned with the bottom portions B of the containers C1, C2 and the bottom locking flaps 64, 68 are folded along the respective longitudinal fold lines 66, 70 so that the bottom locking flaps 64, 68 are adjacent the interior surface 2 of the bottom panel 34. As the bottom panel 34 folds along the fold line 36, the bottom panel 34 and the bottom locking flaps 64, 68 are disposed against the bottom portions B of the containers C1, C2 so that the bottom locking flaps 64, 68 are disposed in the domed portions D within the bottom rims R2 of the respective containers C1, C2 (
As shown in
As shown in
Three clips 5 connect four containers C in the assembly 76 shown in
In one embodiment, one of the containers C can be removed from the assembly 76 (or the assembly 76 could be split into couplings of two or more containers C) by pulling a container C away from one of the clips 5. For example, the container C could be pivoted and/or twisted to disengage the top locking flap 56 or the bottom locking flap 64 from the respective rim R1, R2, and the container could be pulled away from the clip 5. This clip 5 could remain engaged with the other container C by the locking flaps 60, 68 in this example. Alternatively, the other container could be removed from the clip. In one embodiment, the clip 5 can make a sound (e.g., a clicking sound or any other suitable sound) when a container C is removed (e.g., by interaction between the locking flaps 56, 64, 60, 68 and the rims RI, R2). The assembly 76 (or the assembly 74) could be otherwise broken up, or one or more containers C could be otherwise removed from an assembly without departing from the disclosure.
In one embodiment, a plurality of the assemblies 76, and/or other assemblies with different numbers of containers C and/or clips 5 than the assembly 76, can be contained in any suitable outer carton. In one exemplary embodiment, a number of assemblies 76 can be contained in a carton 100 (
The carton blank 104 has a longitudinal axis L3 and a lateral axis L4. In the illustrated embodiment, the carton blank 104 comprises a first top panel 120 foldably connected to a first side panel 122 at a first transverse fold line 124, a bottom panel 126 foldably connected to the first side panel 122 at a second transverse fold line 128, a second side panel 130 foldably connected to the bottom panel 126 at a third transverse fold line 132, and a second top panel 134 foldably connected to the second side panel 130 at a fourth transverse fold line 136. A handle reinforcing flap 138 can be foldably connected to the second top panel 134 along a lateral fold line 140. The top panels 120, 134 can be overlapped and secured (e.g., glued) together to form a top wall (
The top panel 120 is foldably connected to first top end flaps 142, and the second top panel 134 is foldably connected to second top end flaps 144. The first side panel 122 is foldably connected to first side end flaps 146, and the second side panel 130 is foldably connected to second side end flaps 148. The bottom panel 126 is foldably connected to bottom end flaps 150. When the carton 100 is erected, the end flaps 142, 144, 146, 148, and 150 close respective ends 152 of the carton 100. In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, different flap arrangements can be used for closing the ends of the carton.
The end flaps 142, 144, 146, 148, and 150 may extend along respective marginal areas of the carton blank 104, and may be foldably connected at respective longitudinal fold lines 154 that extend along the length of the carton blank 104. The longitudinal fold lines 154 may be, for example, substantially straight, or offset at one or more locations to account for blank thickness or for other factors. The side end flaps 146, 148 can each include a corner portion 156 defined by the respective longitudinal fold line 154 and a respective longitudinal fold line 158. The corner portions 156 can help the carton 100 conform to the shapes of the containers C at the corners of the carton.
The carton blank 104 has opening features that include a first tear strip 160 extending in the lateral direction L2 in the first side end flaps 146 and the first side panel 122 and a second tear strip 162 extending in the lateral direction L2 in the second side end flaps 148 and the second side panel 130. The tear strips 160, 162 can include one or more opening tabs 164. The carton blank 104 also can include handle features 166 in the top panels 120, 134 and the handle reinforcing flap 138 for forming a handle 168 in the carton 100 (
As shown in
In one embodiment, the carton 100 may be erected from the carton blank 104 by folding the carton blank 104 along the transverse fold lines 140, 124, 128, 132, 136, gluing the handle reinforcing flap 138 in face-to-face contact with the interior surface of the second top panel 134, and gluing a portion of the second top panel 134 in face-to-face contact with the interior surface of the first top panel 120 to form the top wall and an open-ended sleeve (not shown). The forming the top wall can also include forming the handle 168 (
As shown in
As shown in
The present disclosure can be used in cartons that include various features, including additional opening features that provide easy access to the articles, and tilt features that position the articles at the front or rear end of the carton.
In general, the blanks of the present disclosure may be constructed from paperboard having a caliper so that it is heavier and more rigid than ordinary paper. The blank can also be constructed of other materials, such as cardboard, or any other material having properties suitable for enabling the carton to function at least generally as described above. The blank can be coated with, for example, a clay coating. The clay coating may then be printed over with product, advertising, and other information or images. The blanks may then be coated with a varnish to protect information printed on the blanks. The blanks may also be coated with, for example, a moisture barrier layer, on either or both sides of the blanks. The blanks can also be laminated to or coated with one or more sheet-like materials at selected panels or panel sections.
As an example, a tear line can include: a slit that extends partially into the material along the desired line of weakness, and/or a series of spaced apart slits that extend partially into and/or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness, or various combinations of these features. As a more specific example, one type tear line is in the form of a series of spaced apart slits that extend completely through the material, with adjacent slits being spaced apart slightly so that a nick (e.g., a small somewhat bridging-like piece of the material) is defined between the adjacent slits for typically temporarily connecting the material across the tear line. The nicks are broken during tearing along the tear line. The nicks typically are a relatively small percentage of the tear line, and alternatively the nicks can be omitted from or torn in a tear line such that the tear line is a continuous cut line. That is, it is within the scope of the present disclosure for each of the tear lines to be replaced with a continuous slit, or the like. For example, a cut line can be a continuous slit or could be wider than a slit without departing from the present disclosure.
In accordance with the exemplary embodiments, a fold line can be any substantially linear, although not necessarily straight, form of weakening that facilitates folding there along. More specifically, but not for the purpose of narrowing the scope of the present disclosure, fold lines include: a score line, such as lines formed with a blunt scoring knife, or the like, which creates a crushed or depressed portion in the material along the desired line of weakness; a cut that extends partially into a material along the desired line of weakness, and/or a series of cuts that extend partially into and/or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness; and various combinations of these features. In situations where cutting is used to create a fold line, typically the cutting will not be overly extensive in a manner that might cause a reasonable user to incorrectly consider the fold line to be a tear line.
The above embodiments may be described as having one or more panels adhered together by glue during erection of the carton embodiments. The term “glue” is intended to encompass all manner of adhesives commonly used to secure carton panels in place.
The foregoing description of the disclosure illustrates and describes various embodiments. As various changes could be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Furthermore, the scope of the present disclosure covers various modifications, combinations, alterations, etc., of the above-described embodiments. Additionally, the disclosure shows and describes only selected embodiments, but various other combinations, modifications, and environments are within the scope of the disclosure as expressed herein, commensurate with the above teachings, and/or within the skill or knowledge of the relevant art. Furthermore, certain features and characteristics of each embodiment may be selectively interchanged and applied to other illustrated and non-illustrated embodiments of the disclosure.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/995,477, filed Apr. 11, 2014. The disclosure of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/995,477, which was filed on Apr. 11, 2014, is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if presented herein in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61995477 | Apr 2014 | US |