ES2211214T3 - ROBUST DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING ARTICLES. - Google Patents

Abstract

An article carrier and a blank for forming an article carrier for accommodating a plurality of articles such as cans which carrier comprises a top wall (66, 76), a base wall (46, 50), side and end walls (12, 14) interconnecting the top wall (66, 76) and the base wall (46, 50), a handle strap (64) formed in the top wall (66, 76) and defined at least in part by hand apertures (74, 84) in the top wall (66, 76), score lines (96, 98) provided in the top wall (66, 76) to enhance local folding in the top wall so that the top wall is encouraged to bow upwardly when lifted by the handle strap (64), and a stress relief cut (101, 105) operatively associated with the local folding-enhancing score lines (96, 98) and provided in the top and side walls (66, 12) adjacent a corners of the top wall so that the lifting stresses are transmitted to the side and end walls (12, 14) to relieve the stresses acting on the handle strap (64) when the carrier is lifted by the handle strap (64).

Description

Robust device to support items.

Background of the invention

The present invention generally relates to manual supports for portable items to accommodate one or more articles, for example bottles or the like, formed from of one or several semi-finished cardboard, or other band material folding. More particularly, the invention relates to the provision of a handle structure that includes incision lines formed on the upper wall together with break lines weakened and that mutually relates these incision lines with diagonal incision lines at each corner of the same.

US Patent No. 5,307,932 published May 3 of 1994, on behalf of the owner of the present invention, gives know a fully enclosed article stand that presents lines of special incisions formed in its upper wall and willing to collaborate in the distribution of the cargo of the support.

In US Patent No. 5,379,944 another is illustrated example showing a top wall with some lines of incisions arranged so that they extend from the end of the opening for manual grabbing out on a tour popping up to the corners of the upper wall. Lines incisions end in cut lines that extend through the upper wall and on the side and end walls adjacent. Notably, the corners are formed from the top, side and end panels together to Set up a fully closed corner.

In the cardboard boxes of cargo type by ends are common multilayer handles, normally obtained superimposing part of the wall panels that form the panel upper wall However, for cardboard boxes like loading "by the top" in which the items are load from above or below, the known overlay solution wall panels are unsatisfactory since it depends on the precise alignment of the wall panels during the process of loading which is not convenient at packing speeds of Known machines

The present invention and its embodiments preferred provide for overcoming or at least mitigating the problems of prior art providing an improved structure for distribute tensions around the handle and a handle arrangement Multilayer enhanced.

According to one aspect of the invention, it is provided an article holder to accommodate a plurality of articles such as cans, said support comprising an upper wall, a base wall, side and end walls that are mutually attached to the upper wall and the base wall. In the upper wall is formed a handle band, determined by at least in part by hand openings, means to improve local folding in the upper wall so that said upper wall is forced to bend upwards when lift by the handle band. On the upper and side walls adjacent to a corner of the upper wall is provided a voltage attenuation cut associated with the improvement means folding so that the support tensions are transmitted to the side and end walls to release the tensions that they act on the handle band when the support is lifted by the band of handle.

According to an optional feature of this aspect of the invention, local folding enhancement means can comprise a plurality of incision lines formed in the upper wall, extending each of the incision lines from one of the openings for the hand to finish in the cut of attenuation of tensions.

Preferably, the incision lines may diverge outward from a hand opening to the upper wall corner.

According to another optional feature of this aspect of the invention, this may further comprise a pair of divergent fold lines that extend from one part center of each hand opening until it ends at one edge side of the upper wall.

According to another optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the voltage attenuation cut can provided by a line of weakened break formed in the upper wall and extending into the side wall, being arranged said weakened break line adjacent to the corner of the upper wall

According to another optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the weakened break line may be oriented diagonally in the corner. Alternatively, the line of weakened breakage can generally be arched in the corner.

According to another optional feature of this aspect of the invention, a corner panel can be arranged between the side and end panels to form a structure of chamfered corner. Preferably, the corner panel may be thus separated from the upper wall to reduce the handling tensions.

A second aspect of the invention provides a semi-finished for the conformation of an article support for housing a plurality of articles, said support comprising a upper wall, a base wall, side walls and end that are mutually attached to the upper wall and the wall base. On the upper wall a handle band is formed determined at least in part by hand openings provided on said upper wall, means for improving the local folding in the upper wall is forced to bend towards up when they get up using the handle band. Said support comprises an associated voltage attenuation cut Operationally with the means of improving local and planned folding on the upper and side walls adjacent to a corner of the upper wall so that support tensions are transmitted to the side and end walls to release the tensions that they act on the handle when the support box is lifted by the band of handle.

According to an optional feature of the second aspect of the invention, the voltage attenuation cut can provided by a line of weakened break formed in the upper wall and extending towards the side wall, being arranged the line of weakened break adjacent to the corner of the upper wall

A third aspect of the invention provides a article holder to accommodate a plurality of articles such as cans, said support comprising an upper wall, a base wall, side and end walls that are mutually attached to the upper wall and the base wall forming in this way a tubular structure and closing panels of upper and lower end to close opposite ends of the tubular structure The base is formed by fixing the panels together grassroots arranged in opposition superimposed by means of fixing and fixing the lower end closure panels to the outer surfaces of the base panels. Preferably the lower end closure panels are fixed to the panels of base by tail.

A fourth aspect of the invention provides a procedure to form the basis of an article holder, according to the previous paragraph, said procedure comprising the stages of superimposing the base panels arranged in opposition, fix the base panels to each other by fixing means suitable, fold the bottom end closure panels into surface contact ratio with base panels and fix lower end closure panels to the outer surface of the base panels.

A fifth aspect of the invention provides a article holder to accommodate a plurality of articles such as cans, said support comprising an upper wall, a base wall, side and end walls that are mutually attached to the upper wall and the base wall forming in this way a tubular structure, closing panels upper and lower to close opposite ends of the tubular structure On the upper wall a band of handle that is determined at least in part by means of hand openings in said upper wall, in which the wall upper comprises a pair of upper wall panels arranged in opposition that overlap each other. The handle band is a multilayer structure formed from a part of the Overlapping top wall panels and a support panel which extends from one of the upper wall panels, being said folding support panel in contact relation of surfaces with one of the upper wall panels. Preferably, the support panel comprises two joined parts of articulated way with the free lateral edges of one of the top wall panels. More preferably, the support panel is articulated in an articulated manner with a longitudinal free edge of one of the upper wall panels.

Below are some ways to embodiment, by way of example only, referring to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a semi-finished to form a cardboard box according to a form of preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a semi-finished to form a cardboard box according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 is a plan view of a semi-finished to form a cardboard box according to another form of preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 shows the position of the parts of the support when handling the semi-finished figure 1 on a folded stand;

Figure 5 illustrates a cardboard box in raised situation formed from the semifinished represented in figure 1; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the corner arrangement of the cardboard box represented in the figure 5.

Detailed description of the embodiments preferred

Referring to figure 1 in it shows a semi-finished 10 to form a cardboard box or article support made from one or more semi-finished cardboard or folding material Similary. The semi-finished 10 comprises in series a first panel of side wall 12, a first end wall panel 14, a second side wall panel 16, a second wall panel of end 18 joined together in an articulated manner. In this form of embodiment, opposite side and end wall panels 12, 16; 14, 18 may be separated by corner panels 20, 22, 24, 26 adapted to form chamfered corners for the cardboard box; the corner panel 20 being attached so articulated to the side wall panel 12 along the line of fold 28 and with the first end wall panel 14 along of the fold line 30. The corner panel 22 is joined by articulated way to the first end wall panel 14 along from the fold line 32 and the second side wall panel 16 to along the fold line 34. The corner panel 24 is articulatedly attached to the second side wall panel 16 a along the fold line 36 and with the second wall panel end 18 along the fold line 38. The panel of corner 26 is articulatedly attached to the second panel of end wall 18 by the fold line 40. Preferably, said semi-finished can further comprise a tail fin 42 attached to the second end wall panel 18 and more preferably to the side edge of the corner panel 26 at along the fold line 44.

The base of the support is formed from a plurality of base panels 46, 48, 50 and 52 joined in a manner articulated to the side wall panel 12, to the end panel 14, to second side wall panel 16 and the second end panel 18 respectively along the fold lines 54, 56, 58 and 60. In some embodiments, said base may comprise a intermediate panel 62 articulatedly connected to the panels of base 46, 48, 50 and 52 and the corresponding wall panels side or end, as illustrated in figure 1.

The upper wall of the support is a structure composed of two main parts indicated by the references 66 and 76. The wall panel 66 has an opening of hand-held 74 and the wall panel 76 has an opening for the similar hand 84. The upper wall panel 66 can be articulated to an upper panel edge side wall 12, although in this embodiment it is provided an intermediate panel 70 to join the panels of each other upper and side wall 66, 12 along the fold lines 72, 68 respectively. Preferably, said wall panel upper comprises one or several incision lines that are extend outward from the hand opening 74 towards the opposite corner structure of upper wall 66 adjacent to intermediate panel 70. In this embodiment, a couple of lines of divergent incisions 92, 94 and 96, 98 extend outward in each corner structure. You can also include a couple of lines of similar incisions 106, 108 that extend towards outside and that diverge by separating from a part substantially center of the hand opening 74.

Also, the second upper wall panel 76 it is attached to the second side wall panel 16 opposite by the intermediate panel 80 along fold lines 82 and 78 respectively. The second upper wall panel 76 also it comprises a couple of complementary incision lines that correspond substantially to the incision lines 92, 94; 96, 98; 106, 108 of the first upper wall panel 66 and are designated therefore by the suffix "a" and are not described with more detail.

Said upper wall of the support may comprise in addition one or more upper end fins 86, 90: the fin of upper end 86 is joined in an articulated manner to the panel of end wall 14 along the fold line 88 and the fin of complementary end 90 is joined in an articulated manner to the opposite end wall panel 18 along the line of fold 87.

The structure of the upper wall corners referring to the first panel upper wall 66. This comprises one or several cuts of attenuation of voltages 100, 104 and 101, 105 formed in each upper wall panel corner 66 which are configured similarly but in the opposite way. The cuts of voltage attenuation can be provided by break lines weakened or by cutting lines.

Detailing the construction of the cut of voltage attenuation 100, this preferably extends from the inner end of the fold line 102 diagonally up to end at fold line 72. Of course, in other ways of embodiment the fold line could be arched or parallel to a side edge of upper wall panel. A second cut line 104 extends beyond the cut 100 in said wall panel 12 until it ends at a point towards the upper corner of said panel side wall 12 illustrated in figure 1. It will be appreciated that the incision lines 92 and 94 end at cut 100.

The opposite corner structure also includes a voltage attenuation cut 101 that extends from the inner end of the fold line 103 until it ends at the fold line 72. Preferably, the attenuation cut of tensions 101 is oriented diagonally across the corner, although it could be arched or parallel to a side panel edge of  upper wall without departing from the scope of the invention. A second voltage attenuation cut 105 extends beyond the cutting line 100 through the chamfered panel 70 and in the side wall panel 12 until it ends at a point towards the upper corner of the side wall panel 12, illustrated in the Figure 1.

The corner structures of the second panel of upper wall 76 are similar to the voltage attenuation cut 100, 104; 103, 105, and are designated by the suffix "a". By Therefore, they are not described in greater detail.

In one type of embodiments, said wall upper can also comprise a support panel 110 attached of articulated way to one of the upper wall panels main 66, 76 along the fold line 112. In its utilization, support panel 110 folds around the line fold 112 until it rests on the inner surface of the panel upper wall 76 to arrange a multi-layer handle with the in order to provide additional support in this way.

It is planned that the cardboard boxes can vary according to the form and / or the quantity of items to be pack up The main provisions that you probably should vary are shown in figure 1, these being the total height of the cardboard box raised vertically, equivalent to the distance from the side or end wall, and the total length and / or the width of the cardboard box, when the base panels have been closed.

Going back to the second and third form of embodiment, illustrated in figures 2 and 3 respectively, the semi-finished 210, 310 correspond substantially to the semi-finished 10 represented in figure 1, so that its numerical references present the prefix "2" or "3" respectively and, therefore, only describe Then the differences. In the second embodiment represented in figure 2, the handle structure 264 includes a support panel formed by two parts 293, 295 joined together articulated to the side edges of the side wall panel 276 a along the fold lines 297, 299 respectively. In its use, the handle parts fold to rest on the face bottom of the upper wall panel 276 and are adjacent to the same, thereby providing a multi-layered handle band 264 to improve resistance. Also, some are planned panel coupling means for fixing the base panels 234, 245 each other, which are described below with greater detail. In the third embodiment, represented in the Figure 3, a support for the handle band 364 is provided by the upper end fins 386, 390 which are formed to correspond with the end areas of the handle openings 374, 384 respectively. In this way, they form pairs of recesses 385; 391, 393 along the edges of free end of end fins 386 and 390 respectively.

The construction of the cardboard box from semi-finished depicted in figure 1, illustrated by reference to figures 4 and 5: according to which the wall panel of end 18, upper end fin 90 and base panel 52 fold along the fold line 38 and in relation to surface contact with side wall panel 16, panel top wall 76 and base panel 50. Next, the panel side wall 12, upper wall panel 66 and panel base 46 fold around fold lines 30 and in surface contact relationship with the wall panel end 14, end fin 86 and base support panel 48, such that the side wall panel 12 overlaps on tail fin 42 for attachment to each other by tail or other suitable means known in the art. Tail fin 42 can be attached to the inner or outer surface of said panel side wall 12. Once this operation has been completed, the Cardboard box is in a flat folded list situation to be supplied to a user for loading with items.

In order to load the cardboard box, it remove the side and end wall panels from their relationship contact surfaces and are placed in an arrangement substantially rectangular with which a sleeve is formed. In this embodiment, the chamfered corners are constructed also folding the chamfered corner panels 20, 22, 24, 26 along the fold lines 28, 30; 32, 34; 36, 38, 40 respectively and out of alignment with their wall panels adjacent side and end. Then, the articles by a relative vertical offset between the Cardboard box and items from above or below, as is well known in the art and the top and base are constructed as described above. It is planned that they can store one or several layers of items inside the box of cardboard in horizontal or vertical positions according to the requirements of the user.

In this embodiment, it is preferred that the sleeve is placed over the top of the items held in vertical orientation and then the base is formed folding the base panels 46, 50 in relation to overlay for fixing with each other by glue, or others suitable fixing means. For example, the second form of embodiment of the locking lug 243 and the receiving fin of lugs 245 on base panels 250; 246 to conform and fix the base panels with each other. The panels are then fixed base support 48, 52; 248, 252 to the base panels 46, 50; 246,250 by glue or other suitable means known in the technique.

It is planned that the stages of folded to form the base structure so that, by For example, the support panels 48, 52 are folded first and then the panels 46, 50 are folded until they enter contact with the base support panels 48, 52 and be fixed between yes by suitable means eg tail.

In the three embodiments above described, the upper structure is preferably provided with means of transport or a handle band 64. In the first form of embodiment, the handle support panel 110 folds around fold line 112 until disposed in contact relation of surfaces with the upper wall panel 76 and fixed to it by glue or other suitable means known in the art. In the second embodiment of the handle support panels 293, 295 fold around the fold lines 297, 299 respectively until arranged in contact relationship of surfaces with the upper wall panel 276 and are fixed by glue or other suitable means known in the art.

Referring to figures 4 and 5, a Then the upper composite wall is formed, with which the upper end fins 86, 90 fold in one direction down and until disposed in a relationship substantially perpendicular to the end wall panels 14, 18. Next, the upper wall panels 66, 86 are folded into one inward direction until resting on end fins upper 86, 90. It will be appreciated in Figure 5 that the parts of upper wall panel 66, 76 that form the handle panels are lead to a surface overlap ratio and are fixed each other by glue or other suitable means known in the technique to form a three-layer handle structure 64. In some embodiments, support panel 110 may interpose between the upper panels 66, 76 to form a integral multilayer structure. The upper composite wall can be attached additionally to the end fins, particularly in the part of the corner structure between the fold lines 102, 72 and the stress attenuation cut 100. In this way, the cardboard box is loaded as it is illustrated in figure 5.

The cardboard box of the present invention can conform through a series of sequential operations of folding and gluing that can be done in an online machine straight so that it is not required to turn or invert the box cardboard to finish its construction. Folding procedures are not limited to those described above and may vary according to the particular manufacturing requirements.

In its use, each pair of lines of incisions 92, 94; 96, 98; 106, 108 joins each other with attenuation cuts of diagonal corner stresses (or arched) 100, 103 to avoid unintentional or unwanted folding of the upper wall panel structure directing any folded along said fold lines. In this way produces a significant reduction in the voltage that is transmitted to the handle due to the collection of weakened break lines from each corner of the upper wall.

Generally, the corner structure of the Cardboard boxes is fully enclosed and fold lines that determine the upper or lower wall panels, and lateral and end intersect to determine the corners. This solution is not convenient, because it can produce a stress concentration at the corners when the box is lifted of cardboard. Instead, the cardboard box of the present invention incorporates chamfered corners between the side walls and end and preferably include cardboard box walls chamfered upper and lower which results in structures with openings 120, shown in Figure 5. Of this  mode, a corner arrangement is provided as illustrated in Figure 6, in which the opening 120 leads to a reduction in the tension, but may be less rigid. Part 122 of the Top and side wall panels are formed by extension of the break lines 104 extending through the panel chamfering superior and towards the side panels. In its use, the central part of the chamfered panels 70, 80 and / or the upper parts of said side wall panels 12, 16 between opposite cut lines 68, 72; 78, 82 flex when the upper wall structure is lifted while it retains the integrity of the corner layout. In this way, the tensions of the lifting action of the handle panel are transmitted through the side wall panels of the support.

With the significant voltage reductions that obtained by the present invention it is possible to reduce the cardboard thickness required to form a safe packaging for The cans. Thus, according to the present invention they are achieved significant savings in the cost of cardboard without affecting the packing integrity.

In addition, the combination of closing and gluing of the base on which the lower panels are closed first and the end fins are glued on the panels overlays provide a safer base structure for support the items contained in the support than others base structures.

It will be recognized that directional references as used herein as upper part, base, end and side, not limited to the respective panels in these orientations but simply serve to distinguish them each. Any reference to the articulated joint shall not interpret that necessarily refers only to a fold line unique: in fact it is planned that unions can form articulated from one or more of the following systems: an incision line, a frangible joint or a fold line without departing from the scope of the invention.

The present invention and its embodiments Preferred refers to a packaging, a cardboard box or a article stand that conforms to provide stiffness satisfactory to contain items such as cans with a grade of flexibility The semi-finished shape minimizes the amount of cardboard required for the cardboard box. This cardboard box can be constructed from a flat folded position to a position of use by hand or by machinery. It is planned that the invention can be modified, without departing from the scope of the invention, for example the structure of wall panels can apply to cardboard boxes for wrapping over items  or load at the ends of a known type.

Claims (18)

1. Support of articles for housing a plurality of articles such as cans, said support comprising an upper wall (66, 76), a base wall (46, 48, 50, 52), side and end walls (12, 16, 14, 18) which are mutually connected to the upper wall and the base wall, a handle band (64) formed in said upper wall (66, 76) and determined at least in part by hand openings (74, 84) in the upper wall, means for improving the local folding in the upper wall (66, 76) so that said upper wall is forced to bend upward when raised by the handle band (64), characterized in that it comprises a tension attenuation cut (100, 101; 100a, 101a) operatively associated with the folding improvement means and provided in the upper part and in the adjacent side walls a corner of the upper wall (66 , 76) so that support tensions are transmitted to the side walls and end (12, 16, 14, 18) to release the tensions that act on the handle band when the support is lifted by the handle band. 2. Article support according to claim 1, wherein said folding enhancement means comprise a plurality of incision lines (92, 94, 96, 98; 92a, 94a, 96, 98a) formed in said upper wall (66, 76), extending each one of said line of incisions from one of said openings for the hand (74, 84) until finishing in said attenuation cut of  tensions (100, 101; 100a, 101a). 3. Article support according to claim 2, in which said incision lines diverge outward from said hand opening (74, 84) to said corner of the wall higher. 4. Article support according to any of the claims 1 to 3, further comprising a pair of lines of divergent fold (106, 108; 106a, 108a) that extend from a central part of each hand opening (74, 84) up to finish on an adjacent side edge of the upper wall (66, 76). 5. Article support according to any of the previous claims, wherein said attenuation cut of voltages (100, 101; 100a, 101a) is provided by a line of weakened break formed in said upper wall (66, 76) and that extends on the side wall (12, 16), said arrangement being arranged weakened break line adjacent to said corner of the wall upper (66, 76). 6. Article support according to claim 5, wherein said weakened cutting line is oriented diagonally to that corner. 7. Article support according to claim 5, wherein said weakened break line is generally arched in said corner. 8. Article support according to any of the previous claims further comprising a panel of corner (20, 22, 24, 26) disposed between said side panels and end (12, 16; 14, 18) to form a corner structure chamfered in a corner of the stand. 9. Article support according to claim 8, in which the corner panel (20, 22, 24, 26) is separated from the upper wall (66, 76) to thereby reduce the tension of the manipulation. 10. Semi-finished (10) for forming an article support to accommodate a plurality of articles, said support comprising an upper wall (66, 76), a base wall (46, 48, 50, 52), side walls and at the end (12, 16 and 14, 18) that are mutually connected to the upper wall and the base wall, a handle band (64) formed in the upper wall (66, 76) and determined at least in part by hand openings (74, 84) in the upper wall, means for improving local folding in the upper wall so that the upper wall is forced to bend upward when raised by the handle band (64) , characterized in that it comprises a voltage attenuation cut (100, 101; 100a, 101a) operatively associated with the folding improvement means and provided in the upper and lateral walls adjacent to a corner of the upper wall (66, 76), so that support tensions are transmitted to the side walls and extreme (12, 16; 14, 18) to release the tensions that act on the handle band (64) when the support is lifted by the handle band (64). 11. Semifinished (10) according to claim 10, wherein said voltage attenuation cut (100, 101; 100a, 101a) is provided by a weakened break line formed in said upper wall (66, 76) extending in said wall (12, 16), said weakened break line being arranged adjacent to said corner of the upper wall (66, 76). 12. Support of articles for housing a plurality of articles such as cans, said support comprising an upper wall (266, 276), a base wall (246, 248, 250, 252), side and end walls (212, 216; 214, 218) which are mutually joined to the upper wall and the base wall thereby forming a tubular structure, and upper and lower end closure panels (248, 252) to close the opposite ends of the structure tubular, characterized in that the base wall is formed by fixing together the opposingly arranged base panels (246, 250) by means of fixing means (245, 243) and in which said lower end closure panels (248, 252 ) are fixed to the outer surfaces of said base panels (246, 250). 13. Article support according to claim 12, in which the lower end closure panels (248, 252) they are fixed to the base panels (246, 250) by glue. 14. Procedure to form the basis of a article holder according to claim 12, comprising said procedure the steps of superimposing the base panels arranged in opposition (246, 250), fix said base panels (246, 250) with each other by suitable fixing means (243, 245), fold the lower end closure panels in relation of contact of surfaces with said base panels (246, 250) and fix said lower end closure panels to the surface exterior of the base panels (246, 250). 15. Support of articles for housing a plurality of articles such as cans, said support comprising an upper wall, a base wall (46, 48, 50, 52), side and end walls (12, 16; 14, 18 ) which are mutually joined to the upper wall and the base wall thereby forming a tubular structure, upper and lower end closure panels to close opposite ends of the tubular structure, and a handle band (64) formed in the upper wall and determined at least in part by hand openings (74, 84) in the upper wall (66, 76), wherein said upper wall comprises a pair of upper wall panels arranged in opposition (66 , 76; 266, 276; 366, 376) that overlap each other, characterized in that the handle band (64) is a three-layer structure formed from an overlapping portion of said upper wall panels (66, 76) and a support panel (110, 293, 295, 386, 390) extending from one of said upper wall panels (66, 76), said folding support panel being in relation to surface contact with said a panel of the upper wall panels (66, 76). 16. Article support according to claim 15, in which the support panel (293, 295) comprises two parts joined together with the free lateral edges of said a panel of the upper wall panels (266, 276). 17. Article support according to claim 16, in which the support panel (110) is connected so articulated with a longitudinal free edge of said a panel of the upper wall panels (66, 76). 18. Packaging comprising a plurality of articles supported by an article support according to any one of claims 1 to 9, claims 12 to 13 or claims 15 to 17.