CARRIER DEVICE FOR GROUPING AND TRANSPORTING A SET OF BEVERAGE CANS

Abstract

A Carrier device for grouping and transporting a set of cans of beverages into a package; the carrier comprises an upper central area arranged on a level above the top plane of the cans; clamping flanges surround and fit snugly to the tapered trunk portion of the can, and have a mantle with proximal, rising ends; a series of radial cuts forming two types of retainer flaps, where each retainer flap comprises a perimeter contour generated by a polygonal-elliptical cut line which in turn generates a cover flap that remains attached and co-planar to the central area of the device; and transition portions which extend in a downward sloping manner as a continuation of the upper central area and join laterally with the proximal ends of the flanges.

Claims

1. A carrier device for grouping and transporting a set of cans of beverages forming a package, where the cans are of the type that have a truncated cone upper portion with a raised upper ring that defines an upper plane, said device being manufactured from a single laminar body, having for each can a receiving opening whose contour has a series of retaining fins that fit under the raised ring of the can when the device is mounted on the plurality of cans to form a package, where said device allows a resistant fastening with little material, allows grouping the cans devoid of portions of material that protrude laterally, wherein in that it comprises an upper central area that is arranged at a level above the upper plane of the cans; some receiving openings for the cans, associated with some perimeter fastening flanges that have beveled proximal ends through which they join transition portions arranged between the flanges, which extend in a descending inclined radial manner from the upper central area (10); where the receiving openings (30) have a perimeter contour with radial cuts that form retention fins; and wherein the fastening flanges adapt to and surround the truncated cone portion of the can, presenting a larger lower base and a smaller upper base, where the latter gives rise to the perimeter contour of each of the receiving openings.

2. The carrier device according to claim 1, wherein the perimeter contour is formed by an incomplete cutting line that generates a covering flap that remains attached and coplanar to the central area of the device.

3. The carrier device according to claim 2, wherein the incomplete cutting line comprises an interrupted section located adjacent to the upper central area of the device, through which the covering flaps are attached to the device.

4. The carrier device according to claim 1, wherein the elliptical receiving openings have a larger diameter arranged along their length and at least one smaller diameter arranged along their width, where these openings are oriented in the device diagonally with their largest diameter (34) matching with an imaginary diagonal axis rotated by 45° with respect to a central longitudinal axis and a transverse central axis.

5. The carrier device according to claim 1, wherein some of the receiving openings are oriented in the device diagonally, matching with an imaginary diagonal axis rotated 45° with respect to a longitudinal central axis and a transverse central axis.

6. The carrier device according to claim 1, wherein the transition portions have concave curved side edges, an upper end area that is continuous with the upper central area and an opposite lower end with a concave curved edge.

7. The carrier device according to claim 1, wherein the set of retention flaps is made up of larger flaps interspersed with auxiliary flaps and where the flaps are made up of a plurality of radial cuts arranged in pairs, symmetrical and equidistant from each other; each of the cuts comprising a distal straight portion with an end matching with the perimeter contour of the opening and an opposite curved end, where the curved ends of both cuts of each pair of cuts are facing each other.

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. The carrier device according to claim 7, wherein the set of retention fins comprises two end fins, each one located at each of the proximal ends of the flange, where said end fins lack the last radial cut and have a warped shape that extends from the lower part of the flange up to the upper central area of the device.

11. The carrier device according to claim 1, wherein it comprises an outer contour preferably formed by four parallel sides two by two, an upper face, a lower face and beveled vertexes where the four sides of the contour are provided with at least one incoming recess arranged between the flanges.

12. (canceled)

13. The carrier device according to claim 1, wherein said upper central area is substantially horizontal, it comprises a central hole suitable to serve as a handle where the user inserts a finger and lifts the package of cans collected by the device.

14. (canceled)

15. The carrier device according to claim 2, wherein the set formed by the fastening flange with the receiving opening and its corresponding covering flap are at least two for each device.

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

20. The template to form a carrier device to group and transport a set of beverage cans forming a package, of the type described in claim No. 1, formed by a flat laminar plate, wherein it comprises a contour with four perimeter parallel sides two by two, each with a recess centered on said side and with beveled vertexes; a central area from which arc-shaped portions extend radially, whose bases point towards said central area and where each of them surrounds corresponding receiving openings of polygonal-elliptical contour, where said contour of the openings comprises a series of radial cuts that extend in the portions that have the shape of an arc, which are grouped in pairs that make up two different types of retention fins; while interspersed between the arches there are radial transition areas with concave flanks that extend from said central area towards each of the recesses on the perimeter sides of the template.

21. The template to form a carrier device according to claim 20, wherein the receiving openings are partially covered by a polygonal-elliptical flap.

22. The template to form a carrier device according to claim 20, wherein the central area comprises an incomplete circular cut that demarcates a folding circular piece.

23. The template to form a carrier device according to claim 21, wherein said receiving openings and said covering flaps are generated by a cutting line with a polygonal-elliptical path that has an interrupted section through which the covering flaps are attached to the template.

24. The template to form a carrier device according to claim 20, wherein the radial cuts that form the retention fins are each formed by a distal straight portion with an end matching with the perimeter contour of the opening, and an opposite end with a curved end, where said curved ends of both radial cuts of each pair of cuts are against each other.

25. (canceled)

26. (canceled)

27. The template to form a carrier device according to claim 20, wherein the pair of radial cuts are distributed in an inner portion of said portions in the form of an arc that is equivalent to at least three quarters of the perimeter of said polygonal-elliptical openings.

28. The template to form a carrier device according to claim 20, wherein said recesses centered on each of the sides of the template and said beveled vertexes have a smooth edge.

29. The template to form a carrier device according to claim 20, wherein said recesses centered on each of the sides of the template and said beveled vertexes comprise a notch that facilitates the handling of the template during its assembly on the beverage cans.

30. The template to form a carrier device according to claim 21, wherein the set formed by the openings of polygonal-elliptic contour, their arc-shaped portions that surround them and the covering flaps are at least two per each template.

31. (canceled)

32. (canceled)

33. (canceled)

34. (canceled)

35. (canceled)

36. (canceled)

37. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0065] For the accomplishment of the objectives, the disclosure can be made in the form illustrated in the attached drawings; however, the drawings are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of the disclosure, being able to acquire multiple embodiments, provided they are under a common inventive concept. Thus, a detailed description of the disclosure will be carried out in conjunction with the figures that are an integral part of this presentation, where

[0066] FIG. 1 shows an isometric top view of the carrier device mounted on a group of four beverage cans.

[0067] FIG. 2 shows an upper floor view of the carrier device mounted on a group of four beverage cans.

[0068] FIG. 3 shows a front cut view of the carrier device.

[0069] FIG. 4 shows an isometric cutaway view of the carrier device.

[0070] FIG. 5 shows a top floor view of the carrier device.

[0071] FIG. 6 shows a top floor view of an enlarged detail of the carrier device.

[0072] FIG. 7 shows a front cut view of an enlarged detail of the carrier device.

[0073] FIG. 8 shows a top floor view of the carrier device.

[0074] FIG. 9 shows an isometric top view of the carrier device mounted on a group of four beverage cans.

[0075] FIG. 10 shows an isometric top view of a template for forming the carrier device.

[0076] FIG. 11 shows an isometric top view of an alternative mode of a template for forming the carrier device.

[0077] FIG. 12 shows an upper plan view of an enlarged detail of the template for forming the carrier device.

[0078] FIG. 13 shows a top floor view of a six-can device.

[0079] FIG. 14 shows an isometric view of three templates for four cans.

[0080] FIG. 15 shows a top floor view of six templates for four cans each.

[0081] FIG. 16 shows a top floor view of a twelve-can arrangement, with two templates lined up for six cans each.

[0082] FIG. 17 shows a top floor view of an arrangement for twenty-four cans, with four templates for six cans each.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION DISCLOSURE

[0083] As seen in FIG. 1, the disclosure refers to a carrier device (1) for grouping and transporting an assembly of cans (A) of beverages forming a package, where the cans are of the type having a truncated cone top portion (a) with a raised top ring (b) that defines an upper plane (c) of the cans, the said device being manufactured from a single laminated body, having for each can an opening with flaps that fit under the raised ring (b) of the can (A) when the device is mounted on the plurality of cans (A) to form a package. The device provides a strong grip on cans with little material, allows cans to be grouped together without material protruding laterally from the edges of the cans, and provides a continuous top surface that protects the cans and increases the top area available for advertising printing

[0084] It comprises a substantially horizontal upper central area (10) arranged at one level above the upper plane (c) of the cans (A); clamping flanges (20) surrounding and conforming to the conical trunk shape (a) of the cans; a mantle (21) with ascending proximal ends (22); can receiving openings (30) with a series of radial cuts (40) forming two types of retainer fins (50), where each receiving opening (30) comprises a perimeter contour (31) generated by a polygonal-elliptical cut line (32) which in turn generates a covering flap (60) which remains attached and co-planar to the central area (10) of the device (1); and transition portions (70) arranged between the flanges (20), which extend in a downwardly inclined manner as a continuation of the upper central area (10) and which join laterally with the proximal ends (22) of the flanges (20).

[0085] With reference to FIG. 2, the transition portions (70) have concave curved side edges (71), a rounded upper end area (72) that merges with the upper central area (10), and a concave curved edge opposite the lower end (73).

[0086] FIG. 3 shows that each of the clamping flanges (20) take the conical trunk shape of the upper portion (a) of the cans (A), have a smaller upper base (23) of a polygonal-elliptical shape corresponding to the perimeter contour (31) of each of the receiving openings (30) and have a larger lower base (24).

[0087] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the polygonal-elliptical cut line (32) that forms the receiving opening (30) has an interrupted section (33) located adjacent to the upper central area (10) of the device, through which the covering flaps (60) are attached to the device. As properly shown in FIG. 5, the receiving openings (30) have a larger diameter (34) arranged along their length and at least a smaller diameter (35) arranged along their width, where these openings (30) are oriented in the device (1) diagonally with their larger diameter (34) coinciding with an imaginary diagonal axis (11) rotated by 45° with respect to a longitudinal central axis (12) and a transverse central axis (13), and where the openings (30) are distributed equidistant and symmetrical with respect to these axes.

[0088] Reference is now made to FIG. 6, where the two types of retainer fins (50) are made up of a plurality of radially symmetrical and spaced pairs of cuts (51), each consisting of a straight distal portion (52) with one end (53) coinciding with the perimeter contour (31) of the opening (30), and a curved opposite end (54) proximally, where the curved ends (54) of both cuts (51) of each pair of cuts are opposite each other; while the two radial cuts (51) are spaced each other by a distance (d1) which is less than a greater distance (d2) between each pair of cuts and because the distance (d1) between the two cuts (51) of each pair forms an auxiliary flange (55); while the greater distance (d2) of separation between the auxiliary flanges (55) form trapezoidal wings (56) intercalated with these auxiliary flanges (55) and where the radial height (h1) of the radial cuts (51) is preferably equivalent to half the width (h2) of the flange (20).

[0089] As shown in FIG. 7, the assembly of retaining fins (50) comprises two end fins (57), each located at each proximal ends (22) of the flange (20), where these end fins (57) lack the last radial cut (51) and have a curved shape extending from the bottom of the flange to the upper central area (10) of the device.

[0090] On the other hand, as better shown in FIG. 8, the carrier device (1) comprises an outer contour (14) preferably formed by four sides (15) parallel in pairs, an upper side (16), a lower side (17) and beveled corners (18) where the four sides (15) of the contour are provided with at least one entering recess (19) arranged between the flanges (20), which coincides with the lower end (73) of the transition portions (70); while the upper substantially horizontal central area (10) comprises a central hinged hole (80) suitable for serving as a handle where the user inserts a finger and lifts the package of cans assembled by the device (1). This hole (80) consists of an incomplete circular cut (81) with one or more connecting bridges (82) which keep it weakly attached to the upper central area (10) of the device.

[0091] The assembly formed by the clamping flange (20) with the receiving opening (30) and its corresponding covering flap (60) is at least two per device (1); whereas in a preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the assembly formed by the clamping flange (20) with the receiving opening (30) and its corresponding covering flap (60) is at least four per device (1).

[0092] The carrier device (1) is made of a single laminar piece of biodegradable cellulosic material, where the cellulosic material is preferably a sheet weighing between 250 and 600 grams per square millimeter.

[0093] The disclosure also includes the template (100) to conform to said carrier device (1) for grouping and transporting a set of beverage cans forming a package, where said template (100), as seen in FIG. 10, is made up of a flat plate comprising a contour (140) with four perimeter sides (150) parallel in pairs, each with a recess (190) centered on that side (150) and with beveled edges (180); a central area (101) from which arched portions (200) extend radially, the bases of which (201) pointing towards the central area (101) and each of which surrounding the corresponding receiving openings (300) of polygonal-elliptical shape (310) which are partially covered by a flap (600) also of polygonal-elliptical shape. These recesses (190) are centered on each of the sides (150) of the template and these beveled corners (180) can be smooth edged.

[0094] As seen in FIG. 11, this contour (310) of the openings (300) comprises a series of radial cuts (510) extending into the arc-shaped portions (200), which are grouped in pairs to form two different types of retainer fins (500); while intercalated between the arched portions (200) there are radial transition areas (700) of concave sides (710) extending from the central area (101) to each of the recesses (190) of the perimeter sides (150) of the template. Similarly, the central area (101) includes an incomplete circular cut (801) that marks a circular piece (800) that can be folded, while the receiving openings (300) and these covering flaps (600) are generated by a cut line (320) with a polygonal-elliptical path that has an interrupted section (330) located adjacent to the central area (101) through which the covering flaps (600) are joined to the template (100). In this alternative embodiment, the recesses (190) which are centered on each of the sides (150) of the template and these beveled corners (180) comprise a notch (900) which facilitates the handling and positioning of the template on an installation machine during its assembly on the cans.

[0095] As shown in FIG. 12, the radial cuts (510) forming the retainer fins (500) each consist of a straight distal portion (520) with one end (530) coinciding with the perimeter contour (310) of the opening (300), and an opposite end (540) curved, where these curved ends (540) of both radial cuts (510) of each pair of cuts are facing each other. While the two radial cuts (510) of each pair of cuts are spaced from each other by a smaller distance (d10) to a larger distance (d20) of separation between each of the pairs of cuts and because the distance (d10) between the two cuts (510) of each pair forms an auxiliary clamping flange (550); the distance (d20) between the auxiliary flanges (550) form trapezoidal flaps (560) interspersed with these auxiliary flanges (550) and where the radial height (h10) of the radial cuts (510) is preferably equivalent to half the width (h20) of the arched portions (200). The pairs of radial cuts (510) are distributed over an outer portion of these arched portions (200) which is approximately three-quarters of the length of the largest diameter (340) of these polygonal-elliptical openings (300).

[0096] In an alternative arrangement, the polygonal-elliptical shaped openings (300), their surrounding arched portions (200) and the covering flaps (600) are two per template (100) to carry two cans or may be six, to make a package of six cans, as shown in FIG. 13. In this alternative template for six cans, there are two central areas (101), each comprising an incomplete circular cut (801) demarcating a circular piece (800) that can be folded. Meanwhile, the receiving openings (300) and these covering flaps (600) are also generated by a polygonal-elliptical cut line (320) with an interrupted section (330) located adjacent to the central area (101) through which the covering flaps (600) are joined to the template (100).

[0097] The template (100) is made of a single laminated piece of 100% biodegradable and recyclable cellulose material, which is preferably a sheet weighing between 250 and 600 grams per square millimeter.

[0098] The templates can be manufactured in arrays of several templates that facilitate the handling of the assembly and its simultaneous installation on a larger number of cans, especially in an automated assembly system; where the templates are joined together by weakened junction points that break when pressure is applied to the template arrangement, causing them to separate and each to be installed on a corresponding group of cans, resulting in an individual pack of two, four, six or more cans.

[0099] As shown in FIG. 14, the template (100) for carrying four cans can be arranged in a single-row linear arrangement (F1) comprising at least three templates (100) joined by opposite sides (150) of the template. Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 15, the same template (100) is arranged in an arrangement comprising six templates (100) arranged in two rows (F1, F2) of three templates (100) each, where the templates in the same row (F1) are joined to each other by opposite sides (150), while the templates (100) in a row (F1) are joined to the attached row (F2) by a common side (151).

[0100] Similarly, as seen in FIG. 16, the template (100) for carrying six cans can be arranged in a single-row linear arrangement (F1) comprising two templates (100) joined by opposite sides (150) of the template. Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 17, the same template (100) is arranged in an arrangement comprising six templates (100) arranged in two rows (F1, F2) of two templates (100) each, where the templates in the same row (F1) are joined to each other by opposite sides (150), while the templates (100) in a row (F1) are joined to the attached row (F2) by a common side (151).