DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The carrier according to the invention is produced from a plane blank of cardboard, preferably corrugated cardboard. A thin and compact F-flute corrugated cardboard is preferably used. However, a thicker E-flute corrugated cardboard may also constitute a suitable material in the carrier. In order to minimise the humidity effect on the material, the corrugated cardboard may be coated with a plastic layer, preferably on its inner side. Besides that the plastic layer increases the resistance of the material against moisture, the layer also increases the ductility of the material. The advantages of the environment friendly corrugated cardboard remain also with a plastic coating, since the plastic material in the coated layer may be recycled.

[0020] FIG. 1 shows the plane cardboard blank 32 for a carrier according to an embodiment of the invention. The carrier is adapted to connect and hold a plurality of cans 4 disposed in two rows, as shown in FIG. 2. The blank 32, in the embodiment as shown adapted for six cans 4, is shown in the assembled state in FIGS. 2-4. The cans 4, which do not form part of the present invention, are conventionally designed with an essentially circular-cylindrical basic form. The upper part of the can is slightly inclined and is closed by a top closure 6 which is sealed by means of a projecting circular rim 8.

[0021] The plane blank 32 has an essentially rectangular basic form, preferably with dented or inclined corners 10, for reducing the risk that a projecting part of the carrier may get caught by an adjacent element, such as for example another package assembly. At least two gripping recesses 42 are centrally disposed in the blank between the rows of cans 4. In the embodiment as shown, the gripping recesses 42 are formed as oval openings and provide a secure finger grip for two fingers to lift and handle the package assembly. The gripping recesses 42 may, however, be circular or be formed differently and may be provided with a foldable flap 43, as shown in FIG. 1. The foldable flaps 43 are adapted to be folded backwards between the cans in order to provide a reinforced and fingergrip-friendly lifting edge in the gripping recess 42. In FIG. 2, the foldable flaps 43 have been folded back underneath the carrier between the cans.

[0022] Two mutually opposing and essentially arcuate slits 44, 45 are disposed in the blank 32 for each can 4 to be connected by the carrier 31. Each pair of slits comprises an outer slit 44, preferably having a first configuration, and an inner slit 45 adjacent to a centre line 34 between the rows of cans, having a second configuration.

[0023] The outer slit 44 in each pair of slits consists of an arcuate intermediate section 16 having arcuate end sections 18 on both sides thereof. Step-like portions 20 are disposed between the intermediate section 16 and the end sections 18. The arcuate end sections 18 are part circular, the radius of which is equal to or slightly larger than the radius of the projecting rim 8 of the top closure 6, such that the edge of the end sections 18 in the assembled state is in line with or projects slightly outside the edge of the shoulder 8, as shown in FIG. 2. The outer edge of the slit 44 may thus, along the end sections 18, easily be displaced downwardly past the rim 8, as will be explained more in detail below.

[0024] The arcuate intermediate section 16 of the slit 44 is formed radially inside the extended arcuate end sections 18 of the slit, such that the intermediate section forms an arched edge inside the arched line formed by the extensions of the two end sections 18. The arched edge of the intermediate section 16 with its step-like end portions 20, thus forms a projecting engagement tongue 22 directed towards the centre of the blank. As mentioned above, the engagement tongue 22 is arched and may be part circular, the radius of which corresponds to the radius of the can just below the rim. The engagement tongue 22 may also be differently arched, for example, the arc may be part circular and “wider”. This engagement tongue 22 has a larger radius and a centre which does not coincide with the centre of the cans in the assembled state of the carrier. The engagement tongue is adapted to snap in below the projecting rim 8 of the can 4 to connect and lock the can to the carrier, as will be described further below.

[0025] The inner slit 45 differs from the outer slit 44, primarily in the design of the intermediate section 46, but also in that the arcuate end sections 48 are smaller than the corresponding end sections 18 in the outer slit 44. As a consequence, the intermediate section 46 of the inner slit is larger than the corresponding intermediate section 16 in the outer slit 44.

[0026] The intermediate section 46 of the inner slit 45 has at least one, in the embodiment as shown two, radially extending incisions 47. The incisions 47 extend between the edge of the slit 45 and an arcuate folding line 53, extending between the end sections 48 and delimiting an engagement tongue between the step-like portions 50. The incisions 47 divide the engagement tongue into three engagement flaps 52. The curvature of the intermediate section 46 of the slit 45 differs from the curvature of the arcuate folding line 53 in that it is wider and has a larger radius that the folding line 53. As a consequence, the height of the engagement flaps 52 varies, such that it is higher in the centre of the engagement tongue and decreases continuously towards the ends of the engagement tongue, as shown in FIG. 1. The arcuate folding line 53 is configured to correspond with the curvature of the contact line on the inclined surface of the can, as will be described more in detail below with reference to FIGS. 2-4.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of additional folding lines are disposed in the blank 32. Three longitudinal folding lines 54, for each row of cans, extend parallel to the long sides 56 of the blank and to the rows of the cans. Two of the three longitudinal folding lines 54 connect the ends of the arcuate slits 44, 45 with each other or with an adjacent short side 58 of the blank and the third folding line 54 connects the step-like portions 20 in the outer slits 44 with each other or with an adjacent short side 58 of the blank. In addition, a plurality of folding lines 55 are disposed in the centre portions of the blank, said folding lines in the embodiment as shown being oblique and are disposed between the rows of cans in the blank. The oblique folding lines 55 connect the outer engagement flaps 52 with an adjacent gripping recess 42 or with an adjacent short side 58 of the blank. Portions 62, 64 of the plane blank are formed between the oblique folding lines 55, the arcuate folding lines 53 and the gripping recesses 42 or the side edges 58 of the blank. A width b, see FIG. 1, of said portions 62, 64, extending between a pair of adjacent arcuate folding lines 53, is slightly larger than a spacing a, see FIG. 3, extending between the contact lines of the adjacent arcuate folding lines 53 on the inclined surfaces of the cans in the assembled state of the carrier, as will be described more in detail below.

[0028] The plane blank 32, in the preferred embodiment made of corrugated cardboard, is punched out of the corrugated material such that the direction of the flutes of the corrugated material (marked with a double arrow 65 in FIG. 1) coincides with the direction of the engagement tongues 22, 52. Through this orientation of the flutes, the engagement tongues may withstand a maximum of compressive force.

[0029] The outer dimensions of the plane blank 32, i.e. the length and the width of the blank, are chosen such that the side edges of the assembled carrier, with its side panels 60 being folded towards the inclined surfaces of the cans, do not exceed the maximum outer dimensions of the group of cans. As a consequence, the risk of an unintentional disengagement of the carrier from the cans due to upwardly directed forces on the side panels or other parts of the blank, is considerably reduced.

[0030] The plurality of cans 4, disposed in two rows, are connected and held together by the carrier 31 in a package assembly, as shown in FIGS. 2-4. In forming the carrier as shown in FIG. 2 from the plane blank 32 of FIG. 1, the plane blank is first superimposed on the group of cans. The essentially circular portions of the blank disposed between the opposing slits 44, 45 bear on and cover the top closures 6, such that the slits 44, 45 in the blank on the whole coincide with the projecting rim of the can. Then, pressure is applied against the plane blank.

[0031] Pressure is first applied against the side panels 60 on the outer sides of the group of cans, said panels being forced in a downward direction. Through the downwardly directed pressure, the blank 32 is folded in the folding lines 54. The side panels 60 are thus folded in two steps in the parallel folding lines 54 towards the inclined surface on the upper part of the cans 4, as shown in FIG. 3. The arcuate end sections 18 of the outer slits 44 are displaced in a downward direction past the rim 8 of the can and the projecting engagement tongue 22 is turned slightly upwards. Hence, the arcuate end sections of the slit 44 pass outside the projecting rim 8 and the engagement tongue 22 slips over and snaps in below the rim 8, to connect and lock the carrier to the cans. The arcuate engagement tongue 22 is formed to fit the cylindrical curvature of the can 4, such that the entire tongue 22 bears on the surface of the can below the rim 8 and exerts a tightening force ensuing from tensions distributed in the carrier along the outer edges of the end sections 18 of the slits from the contact pressure of the carrier 1 on the top closure 6, such that a secure and stable connection between the carrier and the cans is achieved.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 2, the upper plane parts of the assembled carrier, cover the upper portions of the cans 4, i.e. the top closures 6, such that these portions are protected from contamination during transportation and storing.

[0033] In a subsequent assembly step, preferably a special pressure-applying tool with individually spring-loaded rolls, applies pressure in the the centre 34 of the blank, especially in the portions 62, 64. The pressure is preferably applied at certain points in the blank, however with a certain longitudinal extension, forcing the portions 62, 64 in a downward direction. Through the pressure, the blank is folded in the longitudinal inner folding lines 54, such that the outer edges of the inner slits 45 are displaced downwardly past the rim 8 of the can. In addition, the blank 32 is folded in the oblique folding lines 55 and in the arcuate folding lines 53. The downward pressure is applied, such that the arcuate folding lines 53 are forced against the inclined surfaces of the cans, and the engagement flaps 52 are folded upwards and snap in below the rim 8 of the can into a locking position. The downward pressure is applied in central portions 62, 64 between the pairs of cans, thus forming bowl-shaped indentations 66, 68 between the oblique folding lines 55 and the arcuate folding lines 53. FIG. 4 shows that the bottom level of each bowl-shaped indentation 66, 68 is formed centrally between each pair of cans and that the top level of the bowl is formed at the edge of the gripping recesses 42. The level of the bowl-shaped indentation 68 at the edge of the carrier 31 is slightly lower than the top level at the edge of the gripping recess 42. The bowl-shaped indentations 66, 68 are obtained by means of the oversized width b in the central portions 62, 64 of the blank and the declining height of the engagement tongue towards its ends and also the oblique folding lines 55. In this assembly step, i.e. when the bowl-shaped indentations 66, 68 are formed, the spacing between the outer slits 44 in the carrier is slightly reduced. As a result, the pressure of the engagement tongues 22 on the rim 8 are increased by means of the tightening forces from the central portions 62, 64. From this assembly step, the cans 4 are held and supported in the package assembly in a steady and secure engagement by the carrier.

[0034] When the carrier 31 of FIG. 2, with its heavy load of liquid-filled cans 4, is lifted by a two finger grip in the gripping recesses 42, the lifting force L is applied in the carrier between the rows of cans 4. Through the bowl-shaped indentations 66, 68 in the portions 62, 64 between the rows of cans 4, a stiffening of the central portions of the carrier is obtained. The stiffening of the central portions of the carrier prevents that these portions are forced upwardly by the upwardly directed lifting forces L, such that the tongues would be disengaged from the cans. Unlike the carriers of the prior art, in which the lifting forces tend to disengage the carrier from the cans, the lifting forces L in the carrier according to the invention are partly transformed to forces F tending to press the cans together (see FIGS. 3 and 4) and partly the lifting forces L in the gripping recesses 42 are distributed in the direction of the oblique folding lines 55 and are transformed to an increased pressure of the engagement flaps 52 on the rim 8, such that the cans are held steadily by the carrier and are securely connected by the carrier. The bowl-shaped indentations, the gripping recesses provided centrally between the rows of cans and the projecting arcuate engagement tongues in the carrier according to the invention, contribute to a secure and steady connection of the cans, a stiffening of the assembled carrier and a transformation of the lifting forces to an increased engagement pressure, an increased tightening of the carrier and a reduced tendency of movements of the cans in the carrier.

[0035] FIG. 5 shows a second exemplifying embodiment of a cardboard blank for a carrier for four cans in two rows of cans. Opposing pair of slits 44, 45 in the blank for each can to be connected by the carrier and folding lines are disposed in a corresponding manner as in the blank as shown in FIG. 1. Two gripping recesses 42 are disposed in the blank. One gripping recess 42 is formed as an oval opening with a foldable flap 43 and is disposed centrally in the blank between the rows of cans. The other gripping recess 42 is disposed centrally in the edge of the blank and is formed as an open recess with a foldable flap 43. In a third embodiment of the invention (not shown in the drawings) the blank is adapted for two cans arranged in two rows, as in FIGS. 1 and 5. In this embodiment, there are two gripping recesses, both of which are centrally disposed in opposing edges of the blank and are formed as open recesses, similar to the gripping recesses 42 of FIG. 5.

[0036] According to the invention, the blanks may effectively be assembled on the cans in an automated production line. The blanks may however also effectively be assembled in a semi-automated line or in a packaging line and it is also convenient to assemble the blank manually into a package assembly.

[0037] It will be understood that the invention is not restricted to the aforedescribed exemplifiing embodiments thereof and that several conceivable modifications of the invention are possible within the scope of the following claims.