EP4357263A1

EP4357263A1 - A foldable container holder for a paper bag

Info

Publication number: EP4357263A1
Application number: EP23195237.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Nikolay Vilesov
Original assignee: Vilesova Larissa
Current assignee: Vilesova Larissa
Priority date: 2022-10-19
Filing date: 2023-09-04
Publication date: 2024-04-24
Also published as: EE01610U1

Abstract

The invention relates to a foldable container holder 1 for a paper bag, said container holder 1 comprising a longitudinal fastening part 3 and a holding part 4 foldable in relation to said fastening part 3. The holding part 4 comprising at least one aperture 5 for receiving a container 2 and flexible holding flaps 6 at the edge of said aperture 5 for holding said container 2, said flaps 6 extending generally towards a centre of said aperture 5. The container holder 1 comprises two holding parts 4, interconnected by the fastening part 3 between them, said holding parts 4 being foldable towards each other along the folding lines 7 at the opposite edges of said longitudinal fastening part 3, where between said holding parts 4 the fastening part 3 comprises an adhesive strip 8 covered with a removable protective strip 9.

Description

Technical Field

Present invention relates to an insert for a non-rigid receptacle for safe accommodation and transport of comestibles, such as edible food products, milk, tea, coffee, cocoa drink, soft and alcoholic drinks, etc., between a point of supply for the comestibles and a location of consumption. Said non-rigid receptacle in the context of present invention is mainly a paper bag mainly intended for a fast-food packaging, but not limited to said purpose. The insert in the context of present invention is a container holder for receiving at least one container (i.e., a drink or food container) and to hold said container in an upright position during transportation inside said paper bag. More specifically, the present invention relates to a foldable container holder for a paper bag, where said container holder is made of a sheet material. Term "container" in the context of present invention includes containers made of plastic, aluminium, paper or glass and said containers include containers for drinks and food products, such as cups, mugs, bowls, aluminium cans and glass bottles, which are closed on top with a lid, cap or cover.

Background Art

Retail sales establishments, fast-food and carryout restaurants and other retailers use various sizes, shapes and kinds of paper bags to assist the customer in containing, transporting, protecting and preserving purchased goods, food and other products purchased by the customer.
When container(s) with liquid, such as container of soft drink or liquid food is placed into such bag, it is important to keep said container in an upright position during transportation to avoid spillage of the content into the bag causing contamination of other items in said bag.
Also, for example in many countries, if such spillage happens during delivery by fast food courier, the whole order, that is the whole content of said paper delivery bag must be replaced or compensated by the seller. Therefore, there is a need for simple, cheap, and environmentally friendly solution for avoiding such spillages during transportation.
European patent application EP1935798A2 relates to a bag, and more particularly to a bag for carrying bottles, cups and other liquid containers. Said application describes a bag manufactured of a recyclable material, comprising an insert, such as a container holder comprising at least one container-receiving aperture in the central holding part. Said central holding part a pair of substantially parallel side-walls extend downwardly. Said container holder is affixable, by only one of its side walls, to an inner wall of the bag, enabling the insert to be folded flat against the interior of the bag. As said container holder only grasps container only in one plane, it does not prevent said container to be tilted during transportation in the bag, causing spillage of the container into the bag.

Summary of invention

Present invention relates to a foldable container holder for carrying one or more food and/or beverage containers, said holder being formed by a homogenous flat body, such as sheet material, comprising a fastening part and two holding parts located either side of the said fastening part.
The joints between said fastening part and the holding parts comprise a longitudinal fold line (crease line) located either side of the edges of said fastening part. When folded towards each other along said fold lines, said holding parts and fastening part form a three-dimensional structure.
Each holding part comprises at least one circular aperture for receiving a container, where the inner edge of said aperture comprises deformable flaps for fixing the container. The fastening part has an adhesive strip installed for attaching the container holder to the inner wall of the bag.
In the bag said container holder is adhered to the inner wall of said bag in the position, where container inserted into the apertures of container holder rest on the bottom of said bag.
As flaps in the apertures grasp the side wall of the container on different heights, tilting of said container in relation to said container holder is prevented during transportation of said bag. As a result, container or containers placed into the container holder of the invention are held in fixed position inside the bag during transportation.
Present invention relates to a foldable container holder for a paper bag, where said container holder is made of a sheet material and is intended to be fastened inside a paper bag. Said container holder comprising a longitudinal fastening part and a holding part foldable in relation to said fastening part, said holding part comprising at least one aperture for receiving a container and flexible holding flaps at the edge of said aperture for holding said container, where said flaps extending generally towards a centre of said aperture.
The container holder comprises two holding parts, interconnected by the fastening part between them, said holding parts being foldable towards each other along the folding lines at the opposite edges of said longitudinal fastening part, where between said holding parts and on a side facing away from said holding parts, the fastening part comprises an adhesive strip covered with a removable protective strip.
Said folding lines may be formed as a through incisions along a line, for example as slits through the sheet material along a straight line alternating with solid parts of the sheet material not cut through along the same line (resembling a dashed line in a plan view).
Width of the fastening part between holding parts is between 10 to 50 mm, for example around 25.4 mm (1 inch) or 30 mm. Preferably the width of the adhesive strip corresponds to the width of the fastening part.
Preferably to facilitate removal of protective strip, said strip is slightly wider than the adhesive strip so that edge of said protective strip can be easily gripped by the fingertips and pulled off from the adhesive strip.
In the preferred embodiments the width of the adhesive strip and the fastening part are the same.
Yet in another embodiment, the width of the adhesive strip and protective strip are slightly narrower than width of the fastening part.
When the holding parts are folded perpendicularly to the fastening part into the parallel planes, the corresponding apertures for the container in the holding parts are placed one above the other.
Also, the container holder of the invention enables holding parts to be folded in relation to the fastening part in an obtuse angle in order to grasp a tall container on a greater distance on its height, making container to be transported more stable and secure in the bag.
According to a first embodiment of the invention, each holding part of the container holder comprises one aperture for a container.
According to a second embodiment of the invention, each holding part of the container holder comprises two apertures for two containers.
According to yet another embodiment, in both of said holding parts said apertures and holding flaps have the same sizes.
According to yet another embodiment, in one of the apertures the flexible holding flaps at the edge of the aperture in one holding part are longer than the holding flaps at the edge of the aperture in the other holding part. In that case the aperture with longer flaps is intended to engage the lower part of conical container having a smaller diameter.
However, especially in the case of the tall containers, a difference between diameters of the upper and lower parts of said container is significant.
Therefore, according to yet another embodiment, the holding part holding said container at the upper end of said container where said container has greater diameter, should have shorter flaps or the number of flaps is lower than the in the lower holding part holding said container near the bottom of the container, where the container has smaller diameter.
According to a preferred embodiment, said container holder is made of sheet material, like a carton, cardboard or corrugated cardboard.
According to another embodiment, the holding part comprises at least one slit for storing accessories and/or food packaging.
According to yet another embodiment, the holding part comprises at least one opening for storing accessories and/or food packaging.
Said accessory may be for example a drinking straw, a stirring stick, etc. Food packaging could be a small package of sugar, artificial sweetener, salt, powder milk, coffee cream, etc.
In that case said apertures in the same holding part have either same diameter or said apertures have different diameter.
According to yet another embodiment, the flexible holding flaps at the edge of the aperture for holding said container are formed by slots, indentations or cut-outs between adjacent flaps.
According to yet another embodiment, a width of the cut-outs between two adjacent flaps along a folding line for the flaps is wider than any single flap. This is advantageous if tall and/or thin-walled containers are to be held in the container holder, where lower total number of flaps is preferable in the single holding aperture as not to deform the thin-walled container in the holder.
According to yet another embodiment, a width of the cut-outs between two adjacent flaps along a folding line for the flaps is equal to the width of the flaps.
According to yet another embodiment, a width of the cut-outs between two adjacent flaps along a folding line for the flaps is narrower than any single flap.
According to yet another embodiment, the flexible holding flaps at the edge of the aperture for holding said container have two different lengths, where along a folding line for the flaps between every two longer flaps is one shorter flap.
According to yet another embodiment, the flaps are distributed along a folding line for the flaps evenly.
According to yet another embodiment, the cut-outs between two adjacent flaps along a folding line for the flaps have at least two different widths.
The container holder of the invention is folded into working position before use. Then container or containers are placed through the aperture or apertures, protective strip is removed from the adhesive strip and container holder with one or more containers is placed inside paper bag supporting bottoms of the containers on the bottom of the bag and adhesive strip is pressed against inner side of a side wall of the paper bag.
Advantage of the container holder of the invention are listed below.

1. As container holders of the invention are intended either for holding one container or two containers respectively, a proper container holder can be chosen for securing containers into the delivery bag, where the number of apertures for receiving container corresponds to the actual number of drinks (containers) in the order. Commonly the prior art container holders are intended for holding either two or four containers respectively, and if the order contains uneven number of drinks, at least one holding aperture is left unused in said order. As a result every time seller loses the value of one container holder when delivering odd number of drinks in single order, and every time this one unused extra increases the amount of environmental waste.
2. In the embodiments where the container holders having all the apertures and flaps with same dimensions, both holding parts can be used either as upper or lower holding parts respectively.
3. The container holder can be placed on any height to the inner wall of the bag. Such a design of the container holders allows to secure a container with a drink in a fast and convenient manner in any corner of a paper bag, depending on the entire number of products in the bag. This in turn means that seller is able to position all of the components of the order in a single paper bag without the need to use two separate bags for food and drinks respectively.
4. The container holder is not linked to the size of the bag.
5. If tall container is placed into the container holder, the holding parts can be placed further apart on the height of said container at different angles allowing more stable position of the container in the container holder.
6. Because the container holders are supplied as flat blanks, transportation and storing requires much less space and is therefore cheaper.
7. The container holder can easily provided with apertures with different sizes to facilitate holding a container with a conical side wall.
8. Container holder can be used to isolate container from other items in the bag, because the holding parts surround the container so that they also keep other containers in the bag coming into contact with the container surface - this prevents hot meals heating up cold drinks and hot drinks (for example hot coffee, cocoa drink) cooling down if coming into contact with containers with much cooler content.
9. As only one fastening part is required compared with many prior art solutions, less material is used to produce the container holder of the invention.
10. Because containers are held in the container holder of the invention always on different heights along the side wall of the containers, less spillage of the content occurs during transportation of beverages in the bag and therefor less damage occurs to other items delivered in the same bag.
11. Special opening and slits in container holders help to complement every container individually with the accessories that are typical of any particular group of drinks. For example, beverages and cocktails could be provided with straws, coffee and tea with two sugar packets and a wooden drink stirrer.

Brief description of drawings

Present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 depicts an axonometric view of a first embodiment of a container holder of an invention for a single container;
Figure 2 depicts an axonometric view of a second embodiment of a container holder of an invention for a two containers;
Figure 3 depicts on a side view a container holder according to Figure 1, where holding parts are folded in relation to the fastening part in an obtuse angles in order to grasp a tall container on a greater distance on its height;
Figure 4 depicts a top view and Figure 5 an axonometric view of a blank of a container holder according to Figure 1 before folded into working configuration;
Figures 6 and 7 depict in axonometric views the blank according to
Figures 4 and 5 being folded into a container holder according to the first embodiment of the invention;
Figures 8 and 9 depict in axonometric views container holder according to the first embodiment viewed from the side of the fastening part with adhesive strip covered with a removable protective strip and from the side of the holding parts accordingly;
Figures 10 and 11 depict in a plane view and axonometric view accordingly a blank for a container holder according to Figure 2;
Figures 12 and 13 depict in axonometric views the container holder according to the second embodiment viewed from the side of the holding parts and from the side of the fastening part with adhesive strip covered with a removable protective strip accordingly;
Figures 14 and 15 depict in axonometric views the blank according to
Figures 10 and 11 being folded into a container holder according to the second embodiment of the invention.
Figures 16 and 17 depict in a plane views blanks for a container holder for one and two containers respectively, where each holding aperture comprises only four symmetrically placed holding flaps;
Figures 18 and 19 depict in a plane views blanks for a container holder for one and two containers respectively, where each holding aperture comprises holding flaps placed at different distances along the folding line for the flaps in the holding aperture;
Figures 20 and 21 depict in a plane views blanks for a container holder for one and two containers respectively, where each holding aperture comprises symmetrically and evenly spaced holding flaps along the folding line for the flaps in the holding aperture;
Figures 22 and 23 depict in a plane views blanks for a container holder for one and two containers respectively, where each holding aperture comprises holding flaps of two different lengths.

Description of embodiments

For the sake of clarity of the drawings, the same details and elements are denoted by the same reference numerals in the various figures. Also, for the sake of simplicity and clarity of the drawing, elements not necessary for an understanding of the invention, are not shown.
A container holder 1 of the invention is intended to receive at least one container 2 - Figures 1 and 2 depict such a container holder 1 with one and two containers 2 respectively held in the container holder 1. The container holder 1 is made of sheet material and is stamped as a flat blank ready to be folded into a working configuration as shown in Figures 1 to 3, 8, 9, 12 and 13. Said container holder 1 comprises a longitudinal fastening part 3 and on either longer side of it two holding parts 4, which are foldable in relation to said fastening part 3. Each holding part 4 comprises at least one aperture 5 for receiving a container 2.
Each holding part comprises at least one aperture 5 for receiving a container 2. Edge of said aperture 5 is formed with the flexible holding flaps 6 and in unused state said flaps 6 extending generally towards a centre of said aperture 5.
At the longitudinal edges of the fastening part 3 there is a folding line 4 separating holding parts 4 from said fastening part 3 and allowing holding parts 4 easily to be folded towards each other in relation to said fastening part 3.
As can be seen particularly from Figure 3, flaps 6 are flexible and can bend against the side wall of the container 2 when said container 2 is inserted through apertures 5 in the holding parts 4. A length of the flaps 6 is determined by the length of the indentations 12 at edged of said apertures, which extend to the imaginary folding line 13 for the flaps, depicted on Figures 4 and 10 with a dash lines. As it is apparent from the Figures, container 2 can be pushed into the apertures 5 only by the extent allowed by the diameter of the imaginary folding line 13 for the flaps.
Between said holding parts 4 and on a side facing away from said holding parts 4, said fastening part 3 is provided with an adhesive strip 8 covered with a removable protective strip 9. In a preferred embodiment, as can be seen on Figure 3, the adhesive strip 8 is on the fastening part 3 between folding lines and the edges of the protective strip 9 extend slightly over said folding lines.
Also, the holding parts 4 are provided with slits 10 and smaller openings 11. Slits 11 are intended to receive for example a stirring stick and openings 11 are for holding small longitudinal packages (not shown) for sugar, artificial sweetener, or other flavouring substances.
As can be seen from the Figures 4 and 10, the blank for the container holder 1 for one container and two containers comprise the same elements. When said blanks are folded into working position, progress of folding is depicted on Figures 6, 7, 14 and 15, the holding parts 4 with corresponding apertures 5, slits 10 and openings 11 on either edge of the fastening part 3 are brought to position, where said elements face each other, as is shown on Figures 8, 9, 12 and 13.
This allows container 2 placed into the container holder 1 to be held by both apertures 5 and flaps 6 in said apertures 6, as can be seen on Figures 1, 2 and 3.
When a tall container 2 is placed into the container holder 1, as is shown on Figure 3, the holding parts 4 are bent in obtuse angles in relation to fastening part 3, so upper and lower holding part 4 with their corresponding aperture 5 and flaps 6 grasp side wall of the container 2 on a greater distance on a height of the container 2, allowing said container 2 to be fixed into said container holder 1 more firmly.
The container holder 1 of the invention is provided for use a stack of blanks depicted on Figures 4, 5, 10 and 11. The user pick up a blank, folds holding parts 4 in relation to fastening part 3 into desired position depending on the height of the container 2 to be placed into the container holder. Next the container holder may be placed and fixed with the help of the adhesive strip 8 on the fastening part 3 into the bag on the inner wall of said bag prior inserting container 2 into the container holder 1 or said container or containers may be placed into the container holder 1 first and then container holder with the container or containers in it may be placed into the bag and fixed to the side wall of the bag with the adhesive strip.
It is obvious, that for stability the bottoms of the containers should rest on the bottom of the bag. The flexible flaps 6 at the edges of the apertures 5 allow container 2 to be pushed in the apertures 5 far enough so that the containers rest on the bottom of the bag.
Next will discussed embodiments of the container holders suitable for holding especially thin-walled tall containers.
Embodiments depicted on Figures 16 to 23 are particularly suitable for holding thin-walled tall containers, as those flaps assert minimal pressure to the outer surface of the container and therefor greatly reduce a risk buckling the wall of the container and spillage of the content of the container.
Figures 16 and 17 depict blanks for a container holder for one and two containers respectively, where each holding aperture comprises only four symmetrically placed holding flaps. As can be seen from Figure 16, the cut-outs 12' between flaps 6 are much wider along the folding line 13 than the flaps 6. Due to the low number of flaps only a minimal pressure is asserted by said flaps on the outer surface of the container.
Figures 18 and 19 depict blanks for a container holder for one and two containers respectively. As can be seen from Figure 18, the cut-outs 12' between flaps 6 have different widths along the folding line 13 between the flaps 6. As can be seen from said drawings, the that outmost flap in the aperture 5 from the fastening part 3 is intended to bend first.
Figures 20 and 21 depict blanks for a container holder for one and two containers respectively, where the apertures for receiving a container comprise evenly spaced holding flaps along the folding line in the holding aperture. In other words, as can be seen from Figure 20, the cut-outs 12' and flaps 6 have equal widths along the folding line 13.
Figures 22 and 23 depict in a plane views blanks for a container holder for one and two containers respectively, where each holding aperture comprises holding flaps 6 and 6' of two different lengths. When container is placed into the aperture 5, longer flaps bend first and shorter flaps 6' may not be bent for thin-walled tall containers at all. For example, if thick-walled hot drink container is placed into such holder, it can be pressed further down into the aperture so, that also the shorter flaps 6' start to bend.

Reference signs list

1 container holder
2 container
3 fastening part
4 holding part
5 aperture
6, 6' holding flap
7 folding line
8 adhesive strip
9 protective strip
10 slit
11 opening
12 indentation
12' cut-out
13 folding line for flaps

Claims

A foldable container holder (1) for a paper bag, said container holder (1) is made of a sheet material and is comprising a longitudinal fastening part (3) and a holding part (4) foldable in relation to said fastening part (3), said holding part (4) comprising at least one aperture (5) for receiving a container (2) and flexible holding flaps (6) at the edge of said aperture (5) for holding said container (2), said flaps (6) extending generally towards a centre of said aperture (5), characterized in that, said container holder (1) comprises two holding parts (4), interconnected by the fastening part (3) between them, said holding parts (4) being foldable towards each other along the folding lines (7) at the opposite edges of said longitudinal fastening part (3), where between said holding parts (4) and on a side facing away from said holding parts (4), the fastening part (3) comprises an adhesive strip (8) covered with a removable protective strip (9).
The container holder (1) according to previous claim, characterized in that, each holding part (4) of the container holder (1) comprises for the container (2) one or two apertures (5).
The container holder (1) according to any previous claim, characterized in that, the corresponding apertures (5) for the container (2) in the holding parts (4) folded perpendicularly to the fastening part (3) into the parallel planes, said apertures (5) are placed one above the other.
The container holder (1) according to any previous claim, characterized in that, in both of said holding parts (4) said apertures (5) and holding flaps (6) have the same sizes.
The container holder (1) according to any previous claim, characterized in that, in one of the apertures (5) the flexible holding flaps (6) at the edge of the aperture (5) in one holding part (4) are longer than the holding flaps (6) at the edge of the aperture (5) in the other holding part (4).
The container holder (1) according to any previous, characterized in that, said container holder (1) is made of carton, cardboard or corrugated cardboard.
The container holder (1) according to any previous claim, characterized in that, the holding part (4) comprises at least one slit (10) for storing accessories and/or food packaging.
The container holder (1) according to any previous claim, characterized in that, the holding part (4) comprises at least one opening (11) for storing accessories and/or food packaging.
The container holder (1) according to any previous claim, characterized in that, the flexible holding flaps (6) at the edge of the aperture (5) for holding said container (2) are formed by indentations (12) or cut-outs (12') between adjacent flaps (6).
The container holder (1) according to any previous claim, characterized in that, a width of the cut-outs (12') between two adjacent flaps (6) along a folding line (13) for the flaps (6) is wider than any single flap (6).
The container holder (1) according to any previous claim 1 to 9, characterized in that, a width of the cut-outs (12') between two adjacent flaps (6) along a folding line (13) for the flaps (6) is equal to the width of the flaps (6).
The container holder (1) according to any previous claim 1 to 9, characterized in that, a width of the cut-outs (12') between two adjacent flaps (6) along a folding line (13) for the flaps (6) is narrower than any single flap (6).
The container holder (1) according to any previous claim 1 to 9, characterized in that, the flexible holding flaps (6) at the edge of the aperture (5) for holding said container (2) have two different lengths, where along a folding line (13) for the flaps (6) between every two longer flaps (6) is one shorter flap (6').
The container holder (1) according to any previous claim 1 to 9, characterized in that, the flaps (6) are distributed along a folding line (13) evenly.
The container holder (1) according to any previous claim 1 to 9, characterized in that, the cut-outs (12') between two adjacent flaps (6) along a folding line (13) for the flaps (6) have at least two different widths.