Secondary packaging comprising multiple primary packaging sizes

Abstract

The invention relates to a composite package (8) linked together into a single unit, and comprising a plurality of individual containers (1, 2, and 3) of varying shapes and/or volumes and being assembled according to different orientations in the composite package. In the composite package are defined strong and weak containers according to their mechanical resistances on which apply external loads. According to the invention, the strong containers are arranged in their orientation along the direction(s) of external loads placed upon the composite package thereby protecting the weakest ones.

Claims

1. A composite package comprising: a plurality of individual containers linked together into a single unit, the plurality of individual containers being of varying shapes and/or volumes, comprising at least one first container, at least two second containers, and at least one third container, each of the individual containers defining (1) a neck having an opening, (2) a main axis passing through the opening, and (3) a lateral side extending substantially parallel to the main axis, and each of the individual containers oriented such that all external loads applied upon the composite package parallel to the main axis of the first, second, or third container are borne primarily by the lateral sides of at least two of the individual containers, wherein the at least one first container of a first size is oriented in a first direction in the composite package to bear a load applied to the composite package in the first direction, the at least two second containers of a second size are oriented substantially perpendicular to the at least one first container to bear a load applied to the composite package in a second direction, the at least one third container is oriented substantially perpendicular to the at least one first container to bear a load applied to the composite package in a third direction, the first size is larger than the second size, and the second size is larger than the third size.

2. The composite package according to claim 1, wherein the package comprises a packaging material that binds the individual containers together into a single unit.

3. The composite package according to claim 1, wherein the package is held together by a packaging material.

4. The composite package according to claim 1, wherein the weight of at least some of the individual containers is borne by other individual containers within the composite package.

5. The composite package according to claim 1, comprising one large-sized container, two medium-sized containers, and four small-sized containers, wherein the one large-sized, two medium-sized, and four small-sized containers are oriented such that all of the external loads applied upon the composite package parallel to the main axis of the first, second, or third container are borne primarily by the lateral sides of at least two containers.

6. The composite package according to claim 1, wherein the first container comprises four lateral sides, and all of the lateral sides of the first container are planar.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is an isometric illustration of a preferred embodiment of a composite package comprised of multiple individual containers;

(2) FIG. 2 is an isometric illustration of an alternate embodiment of a composite package comprised of multiple individual containers;

(3) FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the alternate embodiment of a composite package through plane A-A as depicted in FIG. 2;

(4) FIG. 4 is an isometric illustration of a composite package including means for the interlocking of multiple, substantially identical, composite packages; and

(5) FIG. 5 is a schematic view of two of the composite packages of FIG. 4, positioned relative to one another so as to be interlocking.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(6) The invention will be better understood from the description which follows, which relates to embodiments, given by way of non-limiting example, and explained with reference to the accompanying FIGS. 1-5, depicting a composite package composed of containers of differing shape and volume; an alternate form of a composite package including means for the interlocking of the individual containers; a cross-section of an alternate form of a composite package; a composite package including means for the interlocking of multiple identical composite packages; and a representation of two interlocking composite packages, respectively.

(7) FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment for a composite package 8. The composite package 8 of FIG. 1 is comprised of one large-sized bottle 1, two medium-sized bottles 2, and four small-sized bottles 3. In the preferred embodiment, the large-sized bottle 1 is between 3 and 5 liters, intended for consumption such as at home by a family; the medium-sized bottles 2 are between 1 and 1.5 liters, intended for consumption during activities such as sport or travel; and the small-sized bottles 3 are between 0.5 and 1 liters, intended for consumption in situations where a compact container is desired, such as by a child at school. The containers are held in place by a packaging material, such as a wrap 4, preferentially fabricated from heat-shrink plastic film, which may optionally be decorated with labels, logotypes, etc. so as to give the consumer information about the containers within the composite package 8. It is to be noted that other kind of packaging material or binding means may be envisaged and in particular, cardboard, strapping links, sleeves, etc. A plastic handle 5 is also attached, preferably by means of an adhesive, to the composite package 8, permitting the consumer to lift and carry the composite package 8 more easily. For example, the handle is attached to the packaging material itself. Alternatively, the handle may be attached directly to at least one of the containers in the package.

(8) The individual containers constituting the composite package 8 are oriented such that external forces applied upon the composite package 8 are borne by the sides of at least two containers. FIG. 1 depicts lateral loads 6 and 7. Lateral load 6 is borne primarily by the bodies of large-sized container 1 and the four small-sized containers 3, reducing the load exerted upon the closures and necks of the medium-sized containers 2. Likewise, lateral load 7 is borne primarily by the bodies of large-sized container 1 and the two medium-sized containers 2, reducing the load borne by the closures and necks of the small-sized containers 3. And in the same fashion, the vertical load 9 is borne primarily by the bodies of the medium-sized containers 2 and the small-sized containers 3, reducing the load borne by the neck and closure of the large-sized container 1. It is to be noted that the liquid, e.g. water, filling laying containers, e.g. laying bottles, may be used to support a load exerted on the composite package.

(9) In another arrangement (not represented in the drawings) of individual containers within a composite package four containers arranged at the four corners of the package may play the role of pillars (e.g. four glass bottles) in order to provide better top load resistance to the package and, therefore, improve the overall stability of pallets of such composite packages.

(10) The pillars may be formed by the heaviest and strongest bottles in a package of bottles, the lightest and weakest bottles being arranged in between.

(11) When using pillars pouches or pouch-like containers may be used in a composite package between the stabilizing pillars.

(12) FIGS. 2 and 3 depict an alternative arrangement of individual containers within a composite package 12. The composite package 12 is comprised of four large-sized containers 10a-d and eight small-sized containers 11a-h. The composite package 12 is held together by means of packaging materials such as straps 13, which encircle the composite package 12 and provide it with structural rigidity.

(13) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the composite package 12, taken through the section plane A-A as depicted in FIG. 2. The small-sized containers 10a-d and the large-sized containers 11a-h are filled with the liquid product 16. Both the small-sized containers 11a-h and the large-sized containers 10a-d are provided with recesses 15. The recesses 15 are of approximately the same diameter as the container caps 14, and positioned upon the containers 10a-d and 11 a-h such that the container caps 14 engage the recesses 15 when the containers 10a-d and 11a-h are assembled into the composite package 12. The composite package 12 is thus given additional structural rigidity by the interlocking between the container caps 14 and the recesses 15. Also, the interlocking of two individual containers along at least one direction or axis prevents or reduces relative motion between these containers in a perpendicular direction or axis. Preferably, the interlocking occurs along two different directions or axis, e.g. perpendicular to each other and thus forming an interlocking plane. The individual containers are therefore free to move along the direction that is perpendicular to this plane. For instance, the interlocking plane of a container may be perpendicular to the overall orientation of the container, depending on the location and orientation of the interlocking member(s) on the container.

(14) Furthermore, the interlocking of the containers 10a-d and 11a-h creates an interstitial space 24, which may optionally be employed to contain other items to be sold along with the composite package. The interlocked individual containers 10a, 11c, 10d and 11h form a continuous, linked structure preventing, or at least reducing, any relative motion between the containers. By interlocking only some of the containers in the package in an appropriate fashion it is thus possible to hold in position the whole package or at least the containers defining the external enclosure of the package and that are interlocked. The interlocking between containers makes it possible to maintain the containers in a consistent position relative to each other.

(15) The recesses 15 are arranged in the walls constituting the body of the containers. For example, the recesses are disposed in the side wall of the container's body. A large-sized container 10a-d may be provided with several recesses 15 (e.g. two) and a small-sized container 11a-h may be provided with one recess 15. The number and location of the recesses 15 may vary as a function of the dimensions of the containers relative to each other and their spatial arrangement within the package. For instance, one or several recesses may be provided in the bottom wall of a container in case the cap of one or several containers is in contact with the bottom wall of another container. It is to be noted that the caps 14 and recesses 15 are male and female interlocking members, respectively. Depending on the size, shape, and weight of the containers involved, other means or members, such as tab-and-slot interfaces, locating pins, etc. may alternately be employed.

(16) FIG. 4 depicts an alternate embodiment of a composite package 17 that is configured so as to enable a quantity of such packages to interlock when arranged together in an assembly, e.g. stack, of several composite packages. The composite package 17 depicted in FIG. 4 is comprised of three small-sized containers 18 and three large-sized containers 19. The containers are situated in a tray 20, which serves to maintain the containers in a consistent position relative to each other. This tray might be replaced by an alternative maintaining structure that limitates relative motion between the individual containers. The tray 20 is preferably fabricated from paperboard or cardboard, but may be fabricated from any material of sufficient strength, durability, and low cost. The composite package 17 is further provided with a packaging material such as a plastic film wrap 23, e.g. a shrink film with holes, which seals the containers 18 and 19 and the tray 20, holds the containers 18 and 19 in place, and gives additional structural strength to the composite package 17. Other types of binding means may be used such as strapping links which leave empty spaces where needed.

(17) The composite package 17 of FIG. 4 is further provided with means for the interlocking of several such composite packages. Specifically, the composite package 17 is provided with a tongue 21 and a slot 22. FIG. 5 depicts the interlocking of two such composite packages 17 as viewed from above. The tongue 21 (male interlocking member) of the composite package 17 to the left engages with the slot 22 (female interlocking member) of the composite package 17 to the right, forming a mechanical interface between the two. When a plurality of composite packages 17 are arranged in such an array or assembly, the interface between them gives additional strength to the array. For instance, an array of composite packages 17 stacked upon a pallet would be more resistant to laterally-applied loads, reducing the likelihood that the stack may shift and collapse. This in turn makes the pallet safer to transport and store, and reduces the need for (and eventual waste generated by) the use of bindings such as strapping or plastic film wrap to ensure the structural integrity of the stack of composite packages 17. It is to be noted that other male and female interlocking members may be used to ensure interlocking of two or more composite packages.

(18) In a general manner, whatever the embodiment a composite package according to the present invention may optionally use a mix of different materials for the containers it is composed of. Mix of different materials for different containers may be selected based on the role played by the containers within the composite package.

(19) In particular, a container serving as a pillar in a composite package has preferably to be made of rather a rigid and strong material.

(20) Glass and PET containers or cans and PET containers are non-limiting examples of mix of materials in a composite package of containers.

(21) Furthermore, by making a composite package both rigid and soft it is possible to use less packaging material than previously.

(22) For instance, a current six-pack of 1.5 liter bottles has an overall weight of 196 g of which 186 g represents the bottles weight (for 9 liters) and 10 g for the film used as a packaging material.

(23) Thanks to the present invention the overall weight may be significantly reduced to 141 g of which 132 g represents the bottles weight and 9 g for the binding film.

(24) More particularly, the composite package leading to such a result may be configured as follows: four 1 liter containers disposed at the four corners of the package and serving as pillars, each container weighing 18 g, and ten 0.5 liter containers arranged between the pillars with different shapes and orientations and weighing each 6 g.

(25) Thus, the overall weight reduction may lie within the range between 5 and 40%.

(26) The film reduction may be between 1 and 20%.

(27) Combining rigid and soft containers within a composite package makes it possible to have refillable containers, e.g. the less rigid ones, which may be refilled by the most rigid ones which are less easy to handle. The latter are thus preferably used as pillars and sources of refilling for the other containers.

(28) Combining rigid and soft containers within a composite package in a compact shape grants stability and rigidity to the resulting package.

(29) Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications remain possible, particularly as to the construction of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of this disclosure is intended to be exemplary rather than limiting, and the scope of the invention is defined by any claims that stem at least in part from this disclosure.