Container for providing easy access to beverage cans

• US 20050072705A1
• Filed: 11/24/2004
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lingamfelter C. Brown
• Original Assignee: Lingamfelter C. Brown
• Inventors: Lingamfelter, C. Brown
• Granted Patent: US 9,926,121 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/427
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 11/004 in blanks, e.g. sheets precut and creased for folding
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 61/14 for incorporating, or forming and incorporating, handles or suspension means in packages attaching, or forming and attaching, string handles or tags to tea-bags B65B29/04
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 61/18 for making package-opening or unpacking elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00141 glued
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/0045 for hands
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00456 integral with the wrapper
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00561 Lines of weakness B65D2571/00864 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00574 whereby contents can still be carried after the line has been torn
• 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 2571/0066 formed from one single sheet
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00728 the end walls being closed by gluing
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00895 for stacking one upon the other
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00901 for stacking side by side
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/0227 with end closures formed by inward folding of flaps and securing them by heat-sealing, by applying adhesive to the flaps or by staples
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/16 the tubular body being formed with an aperture or removable portion arranged to allow removal or insertion of contents through one or more sides contents-dispensing means B65D5/72
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4608 Handgrip holes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/542 the lines of weakness being provided in the container body
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 71/36 having a tubular shape, e.g. tubular wrappers, with end walls

Abstract

A container having a multiplicity of cans therein. The container disclosed is modified from a rectangular, closed wall container to a container with part of the walls removed, thereby allowing easy access to the cans of the container. Applicant discloses a unique relationship between the walls of the opened container and the size of the beverage cans. Applicant also discloses a method for constructing a closed container that may be easily modified to remove the cans of the container.

Claims

1. A container comprising:

a plurality of walls including a front wall, a rear wall, a top wall, a bottom wall and two side walls, the walls containing a multiplicity of stacked cylindrical cans in can columns and can rows, the can columns located between the front wall and the rear wall, there being at least a top can row and a next to the top can row, the top can row including a forwardmost can adjacent the front wall and a rearward most can adjacent the rear wall, each can having a can top, a can bottom, a can height, a can diameter, and a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the front wall, wherein the top wall and the bottom wall are spaced apart by about a whole multiple of can diameters, and the two side walls are spaced apart by about the can height, the front and back wall spaced apart by about a whole multiple of can diameters; and

a removable access portion, the removable access portion comprised of a portion of each of the top wall, the front wall and the two side walls, such that removal of the portion leaves a pair of side wall edges, which side wall edges expose a substantial part of the can top and the can bottom of the forwardmost can, for ease of removal of the forwardmost can, and removal of the access portion further provides access to the cans remaining after removal of the forwardmost can;

wherein the front wall retains cans in the next to the top can row from rolling out of the container when the bottom wall is resting flat on a support surface.

2. A container for holding a multiplicity of cylindrical cans, each can having a can diameter and a can height, the container comprising:

twelve cylindrical cans, each can comprising a can diameter and a can height, each can further comprising a longitudinal axis;

a rear wall having a rear wall height of about a whole multiple of the can diameter;

a front wall spaced apart from the rear wall by about a whole multiple of can diameters, having a front wall height, the front wall height being less than the rear wall height, the front wall being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes;

a bottom wall having a bottom wall length of about a whole multiple of the can diameter;

a top wall having a top wall length less than the bottom wall length; and

two side walls, each of the side walls having a front edge running from the front wall to the top wall, the sidewalls separated by about the can height.

3. The container of claim 2 wherein at least part of each edge of the two sidewalls is oblique with respect to the front wall and the top wall.

4. A container holding a multiplicity of substantially identical items arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, each item having an item diameter and an item height, wherein the arrangement has a top row and a next-to-the-top row, and wherein each column has a column width of about the item diameter and each row has a row height of about the item diameter, comprising:

a rear wall having a rear wall height of about a whole multiple of the row height;

a bottom wall for resting on a support surface having a bottom wall length of about a whole multiple of the column width;

a front wall having a front wall height less than the rear wall height but sufficiently high to restrain the next-to-the-top row of items when the bottom wall is resting on the support surface;

a top wall having a top wall length less than the bottom wall length;

two side walls, each of the side walls having a front edge connecting the front wall to the top wall, wherein at least part of each edge is oblique with respect to the front wall and the top wall, the sidewalls separated by about the item height; and

wherein each of the items comprises a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the front wall.

5. A container for holding a multiplicity of cylindrical cans, each can having a can diameter and a can height, the container comprising:

a rear wall and a front wall each having a height of about a whole multiple of the can diameter;

a bottom wall and a top wall each having a length of about a whole multiple of the can diameter;

two side walls between the bottom and top walls, the sidewalls separated by about the can height;

a scored line having a front wall segment running on the front wall, a top wall segment running on the top wall, and side wall segments running on the side walls, the scored line defining a removable section of the container, and wherein at least a part of the front wall segment runs at a height less than the rear wall height, and at least a part of each of the side wall segments runs obliquely with respect to the front wall and the top wall; and

wherein each of the cans comprises a longitudinal axis, and wherein the front wall is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

6. A method of providing easy access to items arranged in a container in a plurality of rows and columns, each item having an item diameter and an item height, wherein the arrangement has a top row and a next-to-the-top row, and wherein each column has a column width of about the item diameter and each row has a row height of about the item diameter, comprising:

providing a rectangular paper container comprising six rectangular walls including two side walls separated by about the item height, a front wall and a rear wall having a height of about a whole multiple of the row height, and a top wall and a bottom wall adapted to rest on a support surface, the bottom wall having a length of about a whole multiple of the column width;

scoring a front wall score on the front wall, at least a part of the front wall score being made at a height less than the rear wall height but sufficiently high to restrain the next-to-the-top row of items when the bottom wall is resting on the support surface and when the front wall is separated at the front wall score;

scoring a top wall score on the top wall;

scoring side wall scores on the side walls, at least a part of each of the side wall scores being made oblique to the front wall and the top wall; and

wherein the scores define a section, the removal of which allows easy access to the items, and wherein each of the items comprises a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to items, and wherein each of the items comprises a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the front wall.

7. A container comprising:

twelve substantially identical items, each item having a height and a diameter; and

a rectangular carton, adapted to contain the twelve items in a row and column arrangement, the row and column arrangement including a top row and a next-to-the-top row, the rectangular carton including a front wall, a rear wall, a top wall, a bottom wall for resting on a level support surface, and two side walls, the front and rear walls having a height, the top and bottom walls having a length, the rectangular carton further adapted to enclose the twelve items such that the height of the front wall and the height of the rear wall is about equal to a multiplicity of whole item diameters and the length of the bottom wall and the length of the top wall is about equal to about a multiplicity of whole item diameters and wherein the front wall includes a front wall scored line segment located such that removal of a front wall portion above the front wall scored line segment will define a lip that will retain the next-to-the-top row of cylindrical items from falling out of the container when the bottom wall is on a level support surface, and wherein the top wall includes a top wall scored line segment such that removal of a top wall portion in front of the top wall scored line segment results in, in conjunction with the removal of the front wall portion above the front wall scored line segment, an opening providing access to the items.

8. The container of claim 7 wherein each of the side walls include a scored line segment at least partly oblique, running between the front wall and the top wall.

9. A method of manufacturing a container:

providing a paper sheet member;

scoring a portion of the sheet member with a score line;

folding the sheet member around a plurality of items, each of the items having an item height, an item diameter, and a longitudinal axis, the folded sheet member defining a generally rectangular container having a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall, a rear wall, and two side walls containing the items arranged in a plurality of stacked rows, the plurality of stacked rows containing at least a top row and a next-to-the-top row, wherein a row height is about equal to the item diameter and wherein the front wall and the rear wall have a height of about a whole multiplicity of row heights and the top wall and the bottom wall have a length of about a whole multiplicity of item diameters, and the sidewalls are separated about the item height, and wherein folding the sheet member further comprises;

locating at least a portion of the score line on the front wall so as to define an edge that is sufficiently high to restrain the next to the top row;

orienting the front wall substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes; and

locating at least a portion of the score line on the top wall and the side walls.

10. A container comprising:

a plurality of items, each item comprising an item diameter and an item height, each item further comprising a longitudinal axis, and wherein the items are arranged to include a bottom row;

a rear wall having a rear wall height of about a whole multiple of the item diameters;

a front wall having a front wall height, the front wall height being less than the rear wall height but capable of restraining at least the bottom row of items from rolling out of the container, the front wall being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes;

a bottom wall having a bottom wall length of about a whole multiple of the item diameters;

a top wall having a top wall length less than the bottom wall length; and

two side walls, each of the side walls having a front edge running from the front wall to the top wall, wherein at least part of each edge is oblique with respect to the front wall and the top wall, the sidewalls separated by about the item height.

11. A container comprising:

a plurality of items, each item comprising an item diameter and an item height, each item further comprising a longitudinal axis, and wherein the items are arranged to include a bottom row;

two side walls separated by about the item height;

a rear wall having a rear wall height of about a whole multiple of the item diameters;

a front wall substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes and comprising a front wall edge, at least part of the front wall edge being at a front wall height that is less than the rear wall height but sufficiently high to restrain items in the bottom row from rolling out of the container;

a bottom wall having a bottom wall length of about a whole multiple of the item diameters; and

a top wall having a top wall edge spaced apart from the front wall, such that at least part of the top wall has a top wall length less than the bottom wall length, wherein a distance between at least part of the front wall edge and at least part of the top wall edge is greater than an item diameter, and wherein the front wall edge and the top wall edge at least partly define an opening through which the items may be accessed.

12. A container comprising:

a plurality of walls including a front wall, a rear wall, a top wall, a bottom wall and two side walls, the walls containing a multiplicity of stacked cylindrical cans in can columns and can rows, the can columns located between the front wall and the rear wall, there being at least a top can row and a next to the top can row, the top can row including a forwardmost can adjacent the front wall and a rearward most can adjacent the rear wall, each can having a can top, a can bottom, a can height, a can diameter, and a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the front wall, wherein the top wall and the bottom wall are spaced apart by about a whole multiple of can diameters, and the two side walls are spaced apart by about the can height, the front and back wall spaced apart by about a whole multiple of can diameters wherein the top wall further includes a handle; and

a removable access portion, the removable access portion comprised of a portion of each of the top wall, the front wall and the two side walls, such that removal of the portion leaves a pair of side wall edges, which side wall edges expose a substantial part of the can top and the can bottom of the forwardmost can, for ease of removal of the forwardmost can, and removal of the access portion further provides access to the cans remaining after removal of the forwardmost can;

wherein the front wall retains cans in the next to the top can row from rolling out of the container when the bottom wall is resting flat on a support surface and wherein the removable access portion is identified by indicia.

13. A container for holding a multiplicity of items, each item having a item diameter and a item height, the container comprising:

twelve items, each item comprising a item diameter and a item height, each item further comprising a longitudinal axis;

a rear wall having a rear wall height of about a whole multiple of the item diameter;

a front wall spaced apart from the rear wall by about a whole multiple of item diameters, having a front wall height, the front wall height being less than the rear wall height, the front wall being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes;

a bottom wall having a bottom wall length of about a whole multiple of the item diameter;

a top wall having a top wall length less than the bottom wall length; and

two side walls, each of the side walls having a front edge running from the front wall to the top wall, the sidewalls separated by about the item height.

14. A container holding a multiplicity of substantially identical cans arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, each can having an can diameter and a can height, wherein the arrangement has a top row and a next-to-the-top row, and wherein each column has a column width of about the can diameter and each row has a row height of about the can diameter, comprising:

a rear wall having a rear wall height of about a whole multiple of the row height;

a bottom wall for resting on a support surface having a bottom wall length of about a whole multiple of the column width;

a front wall having a front wall height less than the rear wall height but sufficiently high to restrain the next-to-the-top row of cans when the bottom wall is resting on the support surface;

a top wall having a top wall length less than the bottom wall length;

two side walls, each of the side walls having a front edge connecting the front wall to the top wall, wherein at least part of each edge is oblique with respect to the front wall and the top wall, the sidewalls separated by about the can height; and

wherein each of the cans comprises a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the front wall.

15. A container for holding a multiplicity of cylindrical cans, each can having a can diameter and a can height, the container comprising:

a rear wall and a front wall each having a height of about a whole multiple of the can diameter;

a bottom wall and a top wall each having a length of about a whole multiple of the can diameter, the top wall including a handle;

two side walls between the bottom and top walls, the sidewalls separated by about the can height;

a scored line having a front wall segment running on the front wall, a top wall segment running on the top wall, and side wall segments running on the side walls, the scored line defining a removable section of the container, and wherein at least a part of the front wall segment runs at a height less than the rear wall height, and at least a part of each of the side wall segments runs obliquely with respect to the front wall and the top wall; and

wherein each of the cans comprises a longitudinal axis, and wherein the front wall is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

16. A method of providing easy access to items arranged in a container in a plurality of rows and columns, each item having an item diameter and an item height, wherein the arrangement has a top row and a next-to-the-top row, and wherein each column has a column width of about the item diameter and each row has a row height of about the item diameter, comprising:

providing a rectangular paper container comprising six rectangular walls including two side walls separated by about the item height, a front wall and a rear wall having a height of about a whole multiple of the row height, and a top wall having a handle and a bottom wall adapted to rest on a support surface, the bottom wall having a length of about a whole multiple of the column width;

scoring a front wall score on the front wall, at least a part of the front wall score being made at a height less than the rear wall height but sufficiently high to restrain the next-to-the-top row of items when the bottom wall is resting on the support surface and when the front wall is separated at the front wall score;

scoring a top wall score on the top wall;

scoring side wall scores on the side walls, at least a part of each of the side wall scores being made oblique to the front wall and the top wall; and

wherein the scores define a section, the removal of which allows easy access to the items, and wherein each of the items comprises a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to items, and wherein each of the items comprises a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the front wall.