Multiple can combination package

Abstract

A carton is provided including an outer generally rectangular sleeve divided into two sections by a partition wall. One section is designed to enclose a pair of cans in side-by-side relation. The other section is provided with end closures to provide a rectangular carton. Means are provided connected to the top and bottom walls to hold the cans in said one section.

Description

This invention relates to an improvement in multiple can combination packages and deals particularly with a sleeve serving as a support for at least a pair of cans having parallel axes.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Sleeves containing recessed end cans have been produced in considerable volume. For example, such sleeves have been shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,571,833 issued Oct. 16, 1951 to F. A. Chidsey, Jr.; No. 2,523,985 issued Sept. 26, 1950 to T. W. Foster; U.S. Pat. No. 2,554,190, issued May 22, 1951, to R. J. Hennessey; U.S. Pat. No. 2,637,476 issued May 5, 1953 to F. D. Empkie, Jr. and numerous others. Thus it is recognized that sleeves for recessed end cans have been previously produced. The difference between the previous constructions and the present construction lies in the fact that the present construction includes an integral carton like structure designed to contain a second product.

For example, products such as Chow Mein and the like are often produced with the liquid containing portions of the product contained in cans, while a second product such as noodles, egg strips, and the like may be contained in a plastic bag or the like. The present construction is designed to combine a pair of cans of product with a by-product which need not be contained in a can, so that the entire contents may be unitized and contained in a single package.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes a generally rectangular outer sleeve having a partition wall extending parallel to the side walls of the package, dividing the package into two separate sections. Means are provided for supporting cans of material on parallel axes within one of the sections. The other section is provided with end closure portions and serves to provide a closed carton between the partition wall and one of the outer side walls. A feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the entire package is confined within a generally rectangular area so that similar packages may be stacked one upon the other or in side-by-side relation in an outer container.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings forming a part of the specification, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the completed package.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but before the contents of the package have been inserted.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view through the package on a horizontal plane between the top and bottom walls.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the package, the position of the section being indicated by the line 4--4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the carton is formed.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the carton at the completion of the first folding operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to FIG. 5 of the drawings, the blank includes a bottom panel portion 10 which is hingedly connected along a fold line 11 to a partition panel 12. The partition panel 12 is hingedly connected along a fold line 13 which is parallel to the fold line 11, to an anchor or glue flap 14. The edge of the bottom panel portion 10 opposite the fold line 11 is connected along a fold line 15 to a first side wall panel 16. The first side wall 16 is hingedly connected along a fold line 17 to a top wall 19. A second side wall 20 is hingedly connected to the top wall 19 along a fold line 21. The lower edge of the side wall 20 is connected along a fold line 22 to a bottom panel portion 23.

A pair of can retaining flaps 24 are connected to the bottom panel portion 10 along parallel fold lines 25 which are spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the diameter of the cans B which are used in conjunction with the paperboard package A. In a similar manner, can retaining flaps 26 are connected to a portion of the top wall 14 along parallel fold lines 27 which are, in the blank form of the blank, in alinement with the fold lines 25, the distance between the fold lines 27 being substantially equal to the diameter of one of the cans B. As will be noted in the drawings, the can retaining flaps 24 terminate in spaced relation to the fold line 11, providing a flange portion 29 which may underlie the lower ends of the cans B. In a similar manner, the portion of the top wall 19 adjoining the can retaining flaps 26 include flange portions 30 which overlie portions of the upper ends of the cans and assist in supporting the cans within the carton.

Inner closure flaps 31 are connected to the upper and lower ends of the bottom panel 23 along fold lines 32 which intersect the fold lines 21 and 22 at right angles thereto. Inner closure flaps 33 are also hingedly connected to the lower edges of the top panel 30 along an extention of the fold lines 32.

End closure walls 34 are hingedly connected to the side wall 20 along the fold lines 32. Tuck flaps 35 are hingedly connected to the closure panels 33 along fold lines 36 to complete the structure.

In the formation of the carton A, the bottom panel 10, partition panel 12 and glue flap or anchor flap 14 are folded along the fold line 15, and the glue or anchor flap 14 is secured to the inner surface of the top wall 30. The blank of the carton A is then folded along the fold line 21 from the position shown in FIG. 6, and the bottom panel 23 is folded into overlapping relation with the bottom panel 10 and secured to the flange portion 29 thereof the bottom panel portion 10.

When the package A is squared up into rectangular form, and the flaps 24 and 26 are folded inwardly to overlie the bottom panel portion 10 and to underlie the top wall 30, the carton appears as indicated in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The cans B are inserted into opposite ends of the sleeve portion forming one section of the tubular sleeve like outer container and are retained in place by the locking flaps 24 and 26. One end closure of the other sleeve section closed, the second section or second compartment is filled, and the opposite end closure is closed, completing the combination package.

While the various walls and wall portions of the carton have been described as top, bottom, and side walls, it will be understood that the carton could be inverted or turned on one side in position if it is so desired. Furthermore, the package could be laid on either side or on either end, due to the fact that the cans B extend substantially coplaner with the ends of the carton portion of the device. Furthermore, while the package is shown as containing a pair of cans in contacting relation, the package could be elongated so as to contain one or more additional cans between the ones which are illustrated at B. Thus the package could contain 3 or more cans by elongating the package structure.

In accordance with the Patent Statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my improvement in Multiple Can Combination Package; and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. A multiple can combination package including:

an outer sleeve including a top wall, opposed first and second side walls, and a bottom wall secured in rectangular relation,

a partition dividing said outer sleeve into first and second compartments,

at least a pair of side-by-side cans at least partially enclosed within, and projecting from said first section,

means on said top and bottom walls holding said cans enclosed within said sleeve, and

end closure flaps operable, when folded, to close the ends of said second compartment.

2. The structure of claim 1 and in which said cans include recessed ends, and in which said can holding means comprise flaps connected to said top and bottom walls and extend into said recessed ends of said cans to hold said cans from sliding from the open ends of said first compartment.

3. The structure of claim 1 and including an anchoring flap secured to said partition panel and secured in face contact with the lower surface of said top wall and against which the upper ends of said cans may engage.

4. The structure of claim 1 and in which the bottom wall includes a first bottom wall portion to which said partition wall is hingedly connected and underlying said one section, said first bottom wall being hinged to the lower end of said first side wall, and a second bottom wall hingedly connected to the second side wall and folded into overlapping relation with said first bottom wall portion underlying portions of said cans.

5. The structure of claim 1 and in which said cans are confined between said partition wall and said second side wall.