DE29913585U1 - Container carrier - Google Patents

Description

Container carrier

The invention relates to a container carrier made of foldable flat material, in particular cardboard. Such containers are used in particular for storing and transporting cans, bottles or other containers.

Container carriers are already known which have a top wall, a bottom wall, side walls connecting the top wall and the bottom wall, and a grip strip which is delimited in the top wall by weakening lines. By breaking open the weakening lines, it is possible to pull the grip strip up a little and hold the container carrier by the grip strip. It is also already known to make the grip strip in several layers (WO 97/44253). However, the disadvantage of the known designs is that the grip strip only extends slightly over the

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Patent Attorneys · European Patent Attorneys ■ Authorized representatives before the European Patent Office
Authorised representatives at the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market

Lawyer: admitted to the Hamburg courts

Deutsche Bank AG Hamburg, No. 05 28497 (bank code 200 700 00) ■ Postbank Hamburg, No. 28 42 206 (bank code 200 100 20)
Dresdner Bank AG Hamburg, No. 933 60 35 (bank code 200 800 00)

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the top wall can be pulled up so that the user's hand can collide with the containers arranged under the top wall when grasping the handle strip. In addition, the known container supports are single-material solutions made of relatively expensive kraft cardboard.

Based on this, the object of the invention is to create a container carrier that can be carried more comfortably using a handle strip.

The object is achieved by a container carrier with the features of claims 1 or 2. Advantageous embodiments of the container carrier are specified in the subclaims.

The container carrier according to the invention made of foldable flat material, in particular cardboard, has according to claim 1

a ceiling wall,
a floor wall,

side walls connecting the top wall and the bottom wall at the sides,

- a grip strip delimited by a line of weakness in the top wall extending over the long sides and across the transverse sides of the grip strip,

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inner grip strip, which is arranged on the inside of the grip strip,

- Inner side flaps hinged to the transverse sides of the inner handle strip,

- compensation sections of the inner side flaps, which extend from their hinges to the inner handle strips to a distance from the hinges, and

- connecting sections of the inner side flaps which adjoin the compensating sections thereof and are connected to side walls so that the grip strip can be pulled out of the cover wall by breaking up the weakening lines and at the same time the inner grip strip can be pulled out of the cover wall by deforming and/or pivoting the compensating sections.

Because the grip strip is also delimited by a weakening line on the transverse sides, it can be detached from the top wall along its length and on one or both transverse sides. This makes it possible to remove the grip strip further from the top wall than is known in the prior art. In principle, the grip strip can be completely detached from the container carrier. In order to avoid unnecessary waste, however, the grip strip is preferably connected to the inner grip strip, which cannot be separated from the container carrier. However, the inner grip strip also has an improved pull-out from the top wall because the connecting sections with which it is attached to the side walls are preceded by compensation sections which move slightly when the inner grip strip is pulled out.

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deform or pivot away from the side walls so that the transverse sides of the inner handle strip move slightly closer together and it can be pulled up further over the top wall than if its transverse sides were fixed.

In the simplified embodiment of the container carrier according to claim 2, the grip strip is delimited on the long sides and only on one transverse side by a weakening line in the top wall and the inner grip strip is connected on only one transverse side via a compensating section to a connecting section that is connected to a side wall. The other transverse side of the grip section is firmly connected to the top wall and the associated other transverse side of the inner grip section is directly attached to the top wall and/or the adjacent side wall via a connecting section. Then only one transverse side of the grip section can be detached from the top wall and only one transverse side of the inner grip strip gives way slightly, so that the grip strip can also be pulled up significantly better above the level of the top wall, albeit to a lesser extent than in the embodiment of claim 1.

Preferably, an inner wall is arranged below the cover wall, in which the inner handle strip is delimited by inner weakening lines and which is hinged to at least one side of an inner side flap, so that when the inner handle section is pulled out of the cover wall, breaking open the inner weakening lines due to the resulting deformation and/or pivoting of the

MX QQ

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at least one compensating section of the inner side flaps, the side sections of the inner wall alongside the inner handle section are deformed with respect to the cover wall.

On the one hand, the inner wall strengthens the top wall. On the other hand, the deformation of the inner wall that occurs when the grip strips protrude can be supported on the top of the container, thereby limiting the ability of the grip strips to be pulled out and stabilizing the construction. The side sections of the inner wall can have groove lines in order to achieve a defined deformation of the inner wall.

Since only the inner handle strip has to bear the entire weight of the container carrier, it is advantageous to manufacture only the inner handle strip or the inner wall and the inner side flaps connected to it from a relatively strong foldable flat material. Otherwise, a less strong foldable flat material can be used for the container carrier. It is therefore possible to use kraft cardboard as a stronger flat material and recycled cardboard as a less strong flat material or to use kraft cardboard with different basis weights.

Preferably, the container carrier consists of only two cuts of foldable flat material, whereby a first one-piece cut forms the bottom wall, top wall and side walls and a second one-piece cut forms the inner handle section or the

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and the inner side flaps hinged thereto. Preferably, the first one-piece blank has bottom, side and top walls hinged together longitudinally to form an envelope-type carrier.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the entire container carrier consists of just one single cut of foldable flat material. For this purpose, for example, the top wall can have an inner wall hinged to one long side, which is folded under. If the carrier is of the envelope type, the bottom wall can then have side walls hinged to both long sides, the outer one of which has a connecting tab that is connected to the top wall or the folded under inner wall on one long side. However, other designs are also possible.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings of exemplary embodiments. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 flatly laid out first blank of a container carrier of the envelope type in plan view;

Fig. 2 flatly laid out second cut of the same container carrier in plan view;

Fig. 3 the same container carrier on a group of cans in longitudinal section;

Fig. 4 the same container carrier on a group of bottles in longitudinal section.

According to Fig. 1, the first blank 1 has a top wall 2 and a bottom wall 3. The top wall 2 and bottom wall 3 are connected lengthwise to a side wall 4 via articulation lines. A side wall 5 is hinged to the other long side of the top wall 2. A connecting tab 6 is hinged to the other long side of the bottom wall 3.

Top wall 2 and bottom wall 3 have dust flaps 7, 7' and 8, 8' hinged to the transverse sides.

The side walls 4, 5 each have side wall sections 9, 9' and 10, 10' hinged to the transverse sides.

The side wall sections 9, 9' have protruding connecting sections 11, 11' on the outer edge.

The dust flap 7 and the side wall sections 9, 10 together form a transverse side wall and the dust flap 7' and the side wall sections 9', 10' together form a transverse side wall.

The side wall sections 9, 10 have weakening lines 12, 13 near their mutually distant longitudinal sides, which protrude into the adjacent side walls 4, 5 and delimit detachable wall sections.

The side wall section 9 is connected longitudinally to the adjacent dust tabs 7, 8 via connecting tabs 14, 15.

The side wall section 9' is connected longitudinally to the two adjacent dust flaps 7', 8' via connecting flaps 14', 15'.

In the cover wall 2, a grip strip 17 is delimited by a substantially dumbbell-shaped weakening line 16, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the cover wall. The weakening line 16 extends along the long sides and the transverse sides around the entire grip strip 17.

Approximately in the middle of the handle strip 17, elongated handle openings 18 are punched into the cover wall 2 on both sides thereof.

The first cut 1 is made from recycled cardboard with an outside coating.

According to Fig. 2, the second blank 19 has an inner wall 20 which is approximately congruent with the top wall 2 of the first blank 1 (Fig. 2 shows the blank 19 in

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an enlarged scale than the blank 1 is shown in Fig. 1). The inner wall 20 has inner side flaps 21, 21' hinged to the two transverse sides. These each have a compensating section 22, 22' which is immediately adjacent to the hinge of the inner side flaps 21, 2 Γ to the inner wall 20. On the other transverse side, the compensating sections 22, 22' are limited by the hinges of connecting sections 23, 23'. In the example shown, the inner side flaps 21, 21' have an asymmetrical trapezoidal shape.

The inner wall 20 has a longitudinally extending inner handle section 24 which is delimited on the two long sides by inner weakening lines 25. The inner handle section 24 has a constant width over most of its length. In the end regions 26, 26' it gradually increases in width towards the articulation of the inner side flaps 21, 21'. Close to the articulation, the inner weakening lines 25 run out into rounded portions 27, 27' which are directed away from the longitudinal center axis of the inner handle section 24.

On both sides of the inner grip strip 24, inner grip openings 28 are punched into the inner wall 20 approximately in the middle thereof. The two side sections 29 of the inner wall 20 on the two sides of the inner grip strip 24 each have three transversely running groove lines 30 which are arranged approximately in the middle of the inner grip strip 24 at the height of the inner grip openings 28.

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To produce a container carrier, the blank 19 is placed against the inside of the cover wall 2 of the blank 1. In this case, only the inner grip strip 24 is glued to the inside of the grip strip 17. In addition, only the connecting sections 23, 23' are glued to the dust flaps 7, 7' of the blank 1.

The blank 1 is then closed to form an envelope by gluing the connecting section 6 near the free longitudinal side of the side wall 5 to the inside of the same.

The container carrier prepared in this way can be brought into or held in an envelope shape and filled with containers through the transverse openings.

Finally, the transverse openings are closed by folding the dust flaps 7, 8, 7', 8', the side wall sections 9, 9' and the side wall sections 10, 10' into the transverse openings. This process is facilitated by the connecting flaps 14, 15, 14', 15'. Finally, the connecting sections 11, 11' of the side wall sections 9, 9' are glued to the insides of the side wall sections 10, 10' and the container carrier is finished.

For transport, the hand can be reached through the handle openings 18 of the top wall 2 and the handle openings 28 of the inner wall 20 arranged underneath. The handle strips 17, 24 can then be opened by breaking open the weakening lines 16, 25.

be pulled over the top wall (grip strip 24 only partially). In doing so, the grip strip 17 is separated from the top wall 2 not only on the long sides, but also on the transverse sides, but remains connected to the inner grip strip 24 via its adhesive. The latter remains connected to the compensating sections 22, 22' on the transverse sides, with the rounded areas 27, 27' of the weakening lines 25 preventing the compensating sections 22, 22' from tearing. The compensating sections 22, 22' that are not glued to the dust flaps 7, 7' of the side walls 9, 9', 10, 10' pivot slightly inwards or are bent slightly inwards so that the inner grip section 24 can be pulled further beyond the plane of the top wall 2.

In Fig. 3, this is shown for the case where the container carrier is fully packed with cans 31. The blank 1 and the blank 19 are only glued or bonded together in the areas in which the handle strip 17 and the inner handle section 24 lie against one another and in which the connecting sections 23, 23' lie against the dust flaps 7, 7' of the side walls 9, 10, 9', 10'. The deformation of the compensation sections 22, 22', which lie against the outer shell of the outer, upper cans 31, is clearly visible. It is also noteworthy that due to the deformation of the compensation areas 22, 22', the side sections 29 of the inner wall 20 in the area of the grooves 30 bulge inwards away from the cover wall 2 and lie against a section of the shell of the middle, upper cans 31. In this way, the pulled out handle 17, 24 and the entire container carrier are stabilized in the configuration shown.

The situation is similar when the container carrier is loaded with bottles 32, which is shown in Fig. 4. Here, the compensating sections 22, 22' are supported on the outer edges of the outer bottle necks and the side sections 29 arch in the area of the creasing lines 30 against the upper edges of two centrally arranged pairs of bottles.

Claims (21)

1. Container carrier made of foldable flat material, in particular cardboard, with 1. a cover wall ( 2 ), 2. a floor wall ( 3 ), 3. the top wall and the bottom wall at the sides connecting the side walls ( 4 , 5 , 7 to 10 , 7 ' to 10 '), 4. a grip strip ( 17 ) which is delimited by a weakening line ( 16 ) in the cover wall ( 2 ) which extends over the long sides and the transverse sides of the grip strip ( 17 ), 5. an inner grip strip ( 24 ) arranged on the inside of the grip strip ( 17 ), 6. Inner side flaps ( 21 , 21 ') hinged to the transverse sides of the inner handle strip ( 24 ), 7. compensation sections ( 22 ) of the inner side flaps ( 21 , 21 ') which extend from the articulations of the inner side flaps ( 21 , 21 ') to the inner handle strips ( 24 ) to a distance from the articulations, and 8. connecting sections ( 23 , 23 ') of the inner side flaps ( 21 , 21 ') which adjoin the compensating sections ( 22 , 22 ') thereof and are connected to side walls ( 7 to 10 , 7 ' to 10 ') so that the grip strip ( 17 ) can be pulled out of the cover wall (2) by breaking open the weakening line ( 16 ) and at the same time the inner grip strip ( 24 ) can be pulled out of the cover wall ( 2 ) by deforming and/or pivoting the compensating sections ( 22 , 22 '). 2. Container carrier made of foldable flat material, in particular cardboard, with 1. a cover wall ( 2 ), 2. a floor wall ( 3 ), 3. the top wall ( 2 ) and the bottom wall ( 3 ) are connected to one another at the sides by side walls ( 4 , 5 , 7 to 10 , 7 ' to 10 '), 4. a grip strip ( 17 ) which is delimited by a weakening line ( 16 ) in the cover wall ( 2 ) which extends over the long sides and over a transverse side of the grip strip ( 17 ), 5. an inner grip strip ( 24 ) arranged on the inside of the grip strip ( 17 ), 6. an inner side flap ( 21 ) hinged to the transverse side of the inner grip strip ( 24 ) adjacent to the transverse side of the grip strip ( 17 ) delimited by the line of weakness ( 16 ), 7. a compensating section ( 22 ) of the inner side flap ( 21 ) which extends from the articulation of the inner side flap ( 21 ) to the inner handle strip ( 24 ) to a distance from the articulation, and a connecting section ( 23 ) of the inner side flap ( 21 ) which adjoins the compensating section ( 22 ) of the inner side flap ( 21 ) and is connected to a side wall ( 7 to 10 ) and a further connecting section ( 23 ') on the other transverse side of the inner handle strip ( 24 ) which is connected to the cover wall ( 2 ) and/or a further side wall ( 7 ' to 10 '), so that the handle strip ( 17 ) can be removed by breaking up the weakening line ( 16 ) and at the same time the inner handle strip ( 24 ) by deformation and/or pivoting of the compensating section ( 22 ). the cover wall ( 2 ) can be pulled out. 3. Container carrier according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the handle portion ( 17 ) and the inner handle portion ( 24 ) are connected to one another. 4. Container carrier according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which an inner wall ( 20) is arranged below the cover wall (2 ) , in which the inner grip strip ( 24 ) is delimited by inner weakening lines ( 25 ) and which has one or two inner side flaps ( 21 , 21 ') articulated on one side or on two opposite sides, so that when the inner grip strip ( 24 ) is pulled out of the cover wall ( 2 ) while breaking open the inner weakening lines ( 25 ), the side sections ( 29 ) of the inner wall ( 20 ) arranged along the inner grip strip ( 24 ) are deformed with respect to the cover wall ( 2 ) by the associated deformation and/or pivoting of the compensating section ( 22 ) of the at least one inner side flap ( 21 , 21 '). 5. Container carrier according to claim 4, wherein the side sections ( 29 ) of the inner wall ( 20 ) are not connected to the cover wall ( 2 ). 6. Container carrier according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the inner wall ( 20 ) has groove lines ( 30 ) in the side sections (29) directed transversely to the inner handle section ( 24 ) for a defined bulge with respect to the cover wall ( 2 ) when the inner handle section ( 24 ) is pulled out of the cover wall ( 2 ). 7. Container carrier according to claim 6, wherein the creasing lines ( 30 ) are associated approximately with the center of the inner grip strip ( 24 ). 8. Container carrier according to one of claims 4 to 7, in which the inner wall ( 20 ) has a deformation when the inner handle section ( 24 ) is pulled out of the cover wall ( 2 ), which causes a support of the containers ( 31 , 32 ) to be arranged on the container carrier, which limits the pulling out of the inner handle section ( 24 ) from the cover wall ( 2 ). 9. Container carrier according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the grip strip ( 17 ) in the cover wall ( 2 ) is delimited by a substantially dumbbell-shaped weakening line ( 16 ). 10. Container carrier according to one of claims 1 to 9, in which the transverse sides of the grip strip ( 17 ) are spaced from the adjacent side walls ( 7 to 10 , 7 ' to 10 '). 11. Container carrier according to one of claims 1 to 10, in which grip openings ( 18 ) are provided in the cover wall ( 2 ) on both sides of the grip strip ( 17 ). 12. Container carrier according to one of claims 4 to 11, in which grip openings ( 28 ) are provided in the inner wall ( 20 ) on both sides of the inner grip strip ( 24 ). 13. Container carrier according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the engagement openings ( 18 , 28 ) in the cover wall ( 2 ) and/or in the inner wall ( 20 ) are delimited by weakening lines. 14. Container carrier according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the inner grip strip ( 24 ) has end portions ( 26 , 26 ') in which its width increases towards the inner side flaps ( 21 , 21 '). 15. Container carrier according to one of claims 4 to 14, in which the inner weakening lines ( 25 ) terminate in rounded portions ( 27 , 27 ') bent away from the longitudinal axis of the inner grip strip ( 24 ). 16. Container carrier according to one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the compensating section ( 22 ) is connected to the connecting section ( 23 ) via a linkage. 17. Container carrier according to one of claims 1 to 16, in which the bottom wall ( 3 ), top wall ( 2 ) and side walls ( 4 , 5 , 7 to 10 , 7 ' to 10 ') are made of recycled cardboard and/or in which the inner handle strip ( 24 ) or the inner wall ( 20 ) and the inner side flaps ( 21 , 21 ') hinged thereto are made of kraft cardboard. 18. Container carrier according to one of claims 1 to 17, in which the bottom wall ( 3 ), top wall ( 2 ) and side walls ( 4 , 5 , 8 to 10 , 8 ' to 10 ') are made from a first one-piece blank ( 1 ) of foldable flat material and/or in which the inner handle section ( 24 ) or the inner wall ( 20 ) and the inner side flaps ( 21 , 21 ') hinged thereto are made from a second blank ( 19 ) of foldable flat material. 19. Container carrier according to one of claims 1 to 18, in which the bottom wall ( 3 ), a side wall ( 4 ), the top wall ( 2 ) and a further side wall ( 5 ) are hinged to one another lengthwise and one of these walls is divided or has a connecting tab ( 6 ) in order to close the aforementioned walls to form a casing, and wherein the aforementioned walls have side wall sections ( 7 to 10 , 7 ' to 10 ') hinged to the transverse sides, which can be folded into transverse openings of the casing in order to form side walls ( 7 to 10 , 7 ' to 10 ') closing these openings. 20. Container carrier according to one of claims 1 to 19, in which at least one side wall ( 7 to 10 ) has a removal area delimited by weakening lines ( 12 , 13 ), so that after breaking open the weakening lines ( 12 , 13 ) and removing or folding down a section of the side wall (7 to 10) delimited thereby, an opening for the removal of containers ( 31 ) is created. 21. Container carrier according to one of claims 1 to 20, in which the connection of the at least one connecting section ( 23 , 23 ') to a side wall ( 7 to 10 , 7 ' to 10 ') and/or the grip strip ( 17 ) to the inner grip strip ( 24 ) and/or the connecting tab ( 6 ) and the side wall ( 5 ) and/or the side wall sections (7 to 10, 7' to 10') to one another is an adhesive bond.