EP2117956A1

EP2117956A1 - Flexible container carrier

Info

Publication number: EP2117956A1
Application number: EP08713103A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Robert C. Olsen; George E. II WALDO; Leslie S. Marco
Original assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Current assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Priority date: 2007-01-11
Filing date: 2008-01-11
Publication date: 2009-11-18
Also published as: WO2008088728A1; EP2117956A4

Abstract

This invention relates to a carrier and method of application whereby a flexible plastic carrier is applied around a neck portion of a container, such as a large PET bottle, resulting in a package of one or more containers and a flexible plastic handle extending therefrom.

Description

FLEXIBLE CONTAINER CARRIER

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a flexible carrier for providing a handle on a large container and/or a unitization of multiple containers.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

PET bottle containers are typically used for juice and similar beverages. As the size of these bottles increases, they become more difficult to transport and grasp. Commonly, large PET bottles, such as 96 ounce bottles, include integrated grasping zones that are molded into the bottle during the injection molding or blow molding process. Alternatively, rigid plastic handles are either molded into the bottles or attached following the molding process. Such rigid plastic handles are often uncomfortable for the user and costly for the bottler to manufacture and apply.

Conventional container carriers are often used to unitize a plurality of similarly sized containers, such as cans, bottles and/or similar containers that require unitization.

Flexible plastic ring carriers having a plurality of container apertures are one such conventional container carrier.

It may be one desirable object of the subject invention to combine the attributes of conventional container carriers for use with large containers SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A carrier according to this invention is used to carry one or more containers such as large juice bottles. Individual carriers preferably comprise a low density flexible plastic sheet that includes one or more container apertures, each for engaging a neck of a respective container. The carrier further includes a flexible handle extending relative to the container aperture for grasping, transporting and pouring the container. Welds may be positioned in one or more layers of the flexible sheet to provide extra thickness and rigidity in desirable areas of the plastic sheet. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a flexible carrier according to one preferred embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a flexible carrier according to one preferred embodiment of this invention; Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a flexible carrier according to one preferred embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a flexible carrier according to one preferred embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 5 is a top perspective view of the flexible carrier shown in Fig. 4 applied to a container;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of a flexible two pack carrier according to one preferred embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 7 is a top perspective view of the flexible two pack carrier shown in Fig.

6 applied to two containers; Fig. 8 is a top perspective view of the flexible two pack carrier shown in Fig.

7 with the handle extended over the two containers;

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of a flexible carrier according to one preferred embodiment of this invention; and

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of a flexible two pack carrier according to one preferred embodiment of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figs. 1-5 and 9 show various preferred embodiments of a flexible carrier for creating an easily portable container. Figs. 6-8 and 10 show preferred embodiments of a flexible carrier for unitizing and carrying multiple containers. Figs. 1-10 show carrier 10 for carrying one or more containers 80, according to various preferred embodiments of this invention. Containers 80, such as those shown in packages 90 in Figs. 5, 7 and 8, are preferably PET bottles, typically large size PET bottles, such as those accommodating 48 ounces, 64 ounces, 96 ounces or other suitable quantities of product, such as juice. Although PET bottles are shown in Figs. 5, 7 and 8, similar containers 80 may be used with carrier 10 according to this invention. Containers 80 are preferably like- sized within a single carrier 10. Carrier 10 unitizes one or more containers 80 to create package 90, such as package 90 shown in Figs. 5, 7 and 8. Carrier 10 preferably comprises a flexible plastic sheet 15 preferably constructed from a flexible, resilient material such as, in one preferable embodiment, low density polyethylene. For most applications, the flexible plastic sheet 15 may have a thickness of about 3-50 mils, suitably about 5-30 mils, commonly about 10-20 mils.

According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the flexible plastic sheet 15 used to form carrier 10 is formed using a polymer composition which includes a high pressure low density polyethylene polymer. The composition provides the carrier 10 with improved recovery after stretch, improved elongation and strength at break, and improved resistance to tearing when the carrier is notched or scratched. The low density polyethylene polymer should have a density of about 0.910-0.950, grams/cm³, suitably about 0.920-0.940 grams/cm³, desirably about 0.925-0.935 grams/cm³. In other words, the term "low density polyethylene polymer" includes polyethylene polymers commonly considered as having medium density, as well as polyethylene polymers commonly considered as having low density.

Plastic sheet 15 of material is preferably cut, using means known to those skilled in the art, such as a stamping die, to form one or more container apertures 30 in plastic sheet 15. Container apertures 30 are preferably formed in a desired shape to sufficiently engage and retain a respective container 80. Such shapes may include generally elliptical, such as shown in Figs. 1-3, generally round such as shown in Fig. 6, triangular and/or a rectangular shape, each preferably having generally radiused or rounded corners. Plastic sheet 15 may include other configurations of container apertures 30 depending on the size of package 90 and/or containers 80 desired. Container apertures 30 are preferably applied to containers 80, namely PET bottles, around a neck of the respective container 80. Preferably, carrier 10 is applied around and under a cap of container 80 to further insure application of carrier 10 to container 80.

As shown in Figs. 1-3, each carrier 10 includes a single container aperture 30. As shown in Fig. 6, each carrier 10 preferably comprises two container apertures 30 arranged generally linearly in plastic sheet 15.

As partially shown in Figs. 1-3, 4 and 6, carrier 10 is preferably manufactured so that raw carrier stock includes a generally continuous roll of plastic sheet 15 having a plurality of adjacent carriers 10 that are punched and then wound onto a spool (not shown) having several thousand carriers 10, each carrier 10 attached to each adjacent carrier 10, as described in more detail below. Carriers 10 are later applied to containers 80 to form packages 90 and, during such process, are preferably unwound from spools and then separated from each other to form individual packages 90.

As described, carrier stock preferably includes a planar, generally continuous plastic sheet 15 having first longitudinal edge 20 and second longitudinal edge 25 defining outer edges thereof. One or more container apertures 30 extend between the outer edges of plastic sheet 15 through plastic sheet 15. According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, between each carrier

10 in the generally continuous roll of carriers is line of weakness 40. Prior to, or during, the process of applying carriers 10 to containers 80, each carrier 10 maybe separated from each adjacent carrier along line of weakness 40.

Lines of weakness 40 may comprise perforations, serrations, slits, reduced thickness or combination thereof formed in plastic sheet 15 and are preferably tearable or frangible to permit separation of plastic sheet 15 along a defined line. In addition, lines of weakness 40 preferably do not extend directly into any edge or aperture of plastic sheet 15 but instead are preferably positioned within interior portions of plastic sheet 15.

As shown in Figs. 1-10, handle 50 is positioned within carrier 10 adjacent to the one or more container apertures 30. Handle 50 is preferably positioned within carrier 10 to provide an ample area for a purchaser to grab by inserting his hand or fingers through and still maintain the integrity of carrier 10.

Handle 50 may comprise finger aperture 55 positioned adjacent container aperture 30 such as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Handle 50 may additionally comprise strap 57 extending through finger aperture 55, such as shown in Fig. 3.

As shown in Fig. 6-8, handle 50 may comprise bail 60 that extends around at least one container aperture 30. Bail 60 may be temporarily affixed to flexible sheet 15 surrounding container aperture 30 using handle connections 65 which may further include lines of separation 67 to facilitate use of bail 60 such as shown in Fig. 8. As a result of the described configuration, two container apertures 30 and handle 50 may be formed in a single plane arrangement of plastic sheet 15. According to one preferred embodiment of this invention, carrier 10 comprises a single thickness of plastic sheet 15 forming an embodiment such as shown in Figs. 1-4 and

6. Alternatively, carrier 10 may include 2 or more layers of plastic sheet 15. In either embodiment, but more preferably in an embodiment having two or more layers of plastic sheet 15, carrier 10 may further comprise one or more welds 70 extending across carrier 10.

As shown in Figs. 1 -4, welds 70 preferably extend longitudinally across carrier 10 and specifically extend longitudinally on either side of container aperture 30. Weld 70 may comprise any suitable reinforcement that joins two or more layers of flexible sheet 15 together. The two or more layers of flexible sheet 15 may be coextruded, welded, or otherwise joined together to create flexible carrier 10. "Weld" as used in the specification and claims may be defined as a hot weld, cold weld, lamination or any other manner of connection that joins two sheets of material known to those having ordinary skill in the art.

As a result of the preferred placement of weld 70 on either side of container aperture 30, carrier 10 maintains a rigid attachment to a neck of container 80 as a result of the generally rigid reinforcement of plastic sheet 15 along areas of plastic sheet 15 immediately adjacent to container aperture 30. Specifically, welds 70 assist carrier 10 in adding stiffness so that carrier 10 will not roll over or invert around container 80 when package 90 is lifted. Such welds 70 also preferably add material thickness along sides of container apertures 30 where such thickness is most needed. According to embodiments of the invention best shown in Figs. 1-3 and 6-8, a method of packaging containers 80 preferably includes providing a generally continuous plastic sheet 15 having a plurality of carriers 10 each having a respective container aperture 30. Such carriers 10 optimally form a single carrying handle for a single container 80, such as large PET bottles, as described herein. Preferably, though not shown in the figures, containers 80 are positioned in each container aperture 30 using a conventional packaging machine known to those having ordinary skill in the art.

Weaver et al., U.S. Patent 6,122,893, and Cervantes et al., U.S. Patent 6,170,225, each describe various features of a packaging machine suitable for use with the subject invention and such references are hereby incorporated by reference. Preferably, the packaging machine, also called an applicating machine, includes a drum having a plurality of jaw pairs that engage each container aperture 30 and transversely stretch plastic sheet 15 so as to engage each container aperture 30 with each container 80, specifically about a neck of such container 80. Such applicating machines require a generally continuous plastic sheet having one or more container apertures 30 so that each container aperture 30 is connected to each other adjacent container aperture 30, through adjacent carriers 10, in at least a longitudinal direction. Immediately following application of continuous plastic sheet 15 to containers 80, each container 80 is separately positioned within a respective container aperture 30.

Following application, each container 80 therefore includes a carrier 10 positioned about its neck that enables convenient carrying of container 80. The resulting package 90 of one or more containers 80 may then be lifted and carried using handle 50. A consumer may then carry and pour container 80 as desired and appropriately dispose of the empty container 80 and integrated carrier 10.

According to a preferred embodiment of those carriers shown in Figs. 4 and 5, each carrier 10 may be applied using an intermittent motion applicating machine. Preferably, with a downward force, a single carrier 10 may be placed under a cap of a respective container 80 to form package 90. Alternatively, or in addition, each carrier 10 described herein may be applied manually, either during the bottling process or post-process by the retailer.

According to one preferred embodiment of this invention shown in Figs. 9 and 10, a plurality of pin apertures 75 are positioned in flexible plastic sheet 15 surrounding container aperture 30. As shown therein, container aperture 30 may comprise a circular aperture and the plurality of pin apertures 75 may comprise smaller circular apertures. In use, each pin aperture 75 is preferably engaged with a fixture having a plurality of pins or similar engagement mechanisms for grasping and stretchingly engaging container aperture 30 with container 80, specifically around a neck of a bottle, according to one preferred embodiment of this invention. An illustrative resulting portable package 90 preferably includes a bottle having a neck and flexible plastic sheet 15 including a container aperture 30 that is sized to engage the neck and be positioned around the neck. Handle 50 is preferably positioned adjacent container aperture 30 and extends over container aperture 30 and container 80 when grasped by a user. As shown in Figs. 1 -3, a pair of welds 70 may extend longitudinally across flexible plastic sheet 15, one weld of the pair of welds 15 positioned on each side of container aperture

30. Regardless of the application method, it is one preferred embodiment of this invention that package 90 include one or more containers 90 with a low density flexible handle 50 extending over the top of each container 90. Such an arrangement permits comfortable grasping and carrying of even the largest containers 90. While in the foregoing specification this invention has been described in relation to certain preferred embodiments thereof, and many details have been set forth for purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that carrier 10 and the related method of manufacture are susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the details described herein can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention.

Claims

WE CLAIM:

1. A carrier for carrying one or more containers in a portable package comprising: a flexible plastic sheet including at least one container aperture, the at least one container aperture sized to engage a neck of a container of the one or more containers; a handle positioned adjacent the at least one container aperture, the handle extendible over the container when grasped by a user.

2. The carrier of Claim 1 further comprising: a pair of welds extending longitudinally across the flexible plastic sheet, one weld of the pair of welds positioned on each side of the at least one container aperture.

3. The carrier of Claim 1 further comprising: a second layer of flexible sheet coextensive with the flexible plastic sheet, wherein the pair of welds connect the second layer of flexible sheet with the flexible plastic sheet.

4. The carrier of Claim 1 wherein the flexible plastic sheet comprises resilient low density polyethylene.

5. The carrier of Claim 1 wherein the handle comprises a bail that extends around the at least one container aperture such that a portion of the bail is attached to either side of the at least one container aperture.

6. The carrier of Claim 5 further comprising: a handle connection linking the bail to the at least one container aperture.

7. The carrier of Claim 6 further comprising: a line of separation extending across the handle connection to facilitate use of the bail.

8. The carrier of Claim 1 comprising two container apertures and a handle formed in a single planar arrangement prior to application to the container.

9. A carrier for carrying a container in a portable package comprising: a flexible plastic sheet including a container aperture, the container aperture sized to engage a neck of a container of the container; a handle positioned adjacent the container aperture; and a pair of welds extending longitudinally across the flexible plastic sheet, one weld of the pair of welds positioned on each side of the container aperture.

10. The carrier of Claim 9 wherein the handle comprises a bail extending around the container aperture so that the bail extends over the container aperture and the container when grasped by a user.

11. The carrier of Claim 9 further comprising: a plurality of pin apertures positioned in the flexible plastic sheet surrounding the container aperture.

12. The carrier of Claim 11 wherein the container aperture comprises a circular aperture and the plurality of pin apertures comprise smaller circular apertures.

13. The carrier of Claim 11 comprising two container apertures and a handle formed in a single planar arrangement prior to application to the container.

14. A portable package comprising: a bottle having a neck; a flexible plastic sheet including a container aperture, the container aperture sized to engage the neck and positioned around the neck; a handle positioned adjacent the container aperture and extending over the container aperture and the container when grasped by a user; and a pair of welds extending longitudinally across the flexible plastic sheet, one weld of the pair of welds positioned on each side of the container aperture.

15. The portable package of Claim 14 further comprising: a plurality of pin apertures arranged around the container aperture for applying the container aperture around the neck of the container.