Multiple article beverage package

• US 5,878,947 A
• Filed: 06/19/1997
• Issued: 03/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard W. Hoy, Robert C. Gohsman
• Original Assignee: Richard W. Hoy, Robert C. Gohsman
• Inventors: Gohsman, Robert C., Hoy, Richard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US08/878,710
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 229/104, 229/122.1, 206/427, 221/285, 221/288, 221/302, 221/305
• US Class Current: 229/122.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/08 dispensing from bottom
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/28 for containers, e.g. flasks, bottles , tins, milk packs racks or containers with dispensing arrangements A47F1/04; for lipsticks or markers A47F7/0021; for audio/video cassettes or booklike articles A47F7/14
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00141 glued
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00469 Straps made between two handholes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/0058 The tear line defining a dispensing aperture provided with means for preventing the articles from freely exiting the wrapper, e.g. by rolling out
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00629 for supporting the wrapper in a dispensing position
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/0066 formed from one single sheet
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00728 the end walls being closed by gluing
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00882 Supporting members
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 71/36 having a tubular shape, e.g. tubular wrappers, with end walls

Abstract

A one piece multiple article beverage package having a bottom panel, a pair of side panels hingedly connected to the bottom panel and a pair of top panels hingedly connected to the top of each of the side panels, an end closure flap structure connected to each end of the side panels, and a tear out can dispensing tray formed on one end of the package, the tray is torn out of a portion of the side panels and a portion of the closure flaps and the bottom end closure flap, a triangular stop formed by a center strip hingedly connected to the bottom panel and a pair of side strips interconnected at the outer ends to form a triangular brace at the outer end of the tray.

Claims

1. A one piece multiple article beverage package for cans and the like and of the type having a bottom panel, a pair of side panels hingedly attached to the bottom panel, a top handle structure hingedly attached to each of the side panels, an end closure flap structure formed on each end of the package and hingedly attached to the side panels and the top panel and the bottom panel and fixedly attached together, each end closure flap structure comprising a top flap and a bottom flap and left and right end closure flaps, the improvement comprising:

an end closure flap structure on at least one end of the package being adhesively secured together so that at least the bottom end closure flap is positioned adjacent the left and right end closure flaps and is adhesively secured thereto;

a tear out, downwardly hinged, can dispensing tray formed on one end of the package and being designed to be torn out of a portion of the side panels and a portion of the left and right end closure flaps, the bottom end closure flap being adhesively secured to the torn out portions of the left and right end closure flaps and serving as a tray upon which the cans may roll out one can at a time from the package; and

means formed on the package for retaining cans in the package after the tear out dispenser has been opened so that one can may be removed at a time without the remaining cans being forced out of the package from the weight of the successive cans placed on top of each other within the package, the retaining means including an upwardly positioned retaining flap formed partially out of the bottom end closure flap and partially out of a portion of the side panels.

2. The beverage package according to claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprises a triangular stop formed by a center strip hingedly connected to the bottom closure flap and a pair of flaps hingedly connected to the center strip and interconnected at their outer ends to form a triangular brace for the center strip.

3. The beverage package according to claim 2 including means formed from the bottom panel for elevating the end of the container opposite the triangular stop to allow the cans to roll down the bottom panel onto the tray.

4. A one piece multiple article beverage package for cans and the like, and of the type having a bottom panel,

a pair of side panels hingedly connected to the bottom panel, and a pair of top panels hingedly connected to each of the side panels, the package also having an end closure flap structure formed on each end of the package, comprising:

a tear out, downwardly hinged can dispensing tray formed on one end of the package and designed to be torn out of a portion of the side panels and a portion of the left and right end closure flaps, the bottom end closure flap being secured to the torn out portions of the right and left end closure flaps, and serving as a tray upon which the cans may roll out of the package one can at a time, and

means formed on the opposite end of the bottom panel for elevating the opposite end of the container to allow the cans to roll out onto the tray.

5. The beverage package according to claim 4 including a triangular stop formed by a center strip hingedly connected to the bottom panel and having a strip hingedly connected to each end of the center strip and interconnected at their outer ends to form a triangular brace for the center strip.

6. A multiple article beverage package for cans or the like and of the type having a bottom panel,

a pair of side panels hingedly attached to the bottom panel,

a top panel structure hingedly attached to the side panels, the top panel structure having formed thereon handle means for carrying the package, the package also having an end closure flap structure formed on each end of the package and hingedly attached to the side panels and the top panel structure and the bottom panel and fixedly attached together, each end closure flap structure comprising a top flap and a bottom end closure flap and left and right end closure flaps, the improvement comprising the end closure flap structure on at least one side of the package being adhesively secured together so that at least the bottom end closure flap is positioned adjacent the left and right end closure flaps and is adhesively secured thereto;

the tear out, downwardly hinged, can dispensing tray feature being formed on the one side of the package and being designed to be torn out of a portion of the side panels and a portion of the left and right end closure flaps, the bottom end closure flap being adhesively secured to the torn out portions of the left and right end closure flaps and serving as a tray upon which the cans may roll over when removing them one at a time from the package and means formed on the package for retaining the cans in the package after the tear out dispenser feature has been opened so that one can may be removed at a time without the remaining cans being forced out of the package from the weight of the successive cans placed on top of each other within the package, the retaining means comprising an upwardly positioned retaining flap formed partially out of the bottom end closure flap and partially out of a portion of the bottom panel.