Container for providing easy access to beverage cans
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.
This application claims priority from a provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/530,027, filed Dec. 16, 2003.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONBeverage can containers, more specifically a beverage can container for providing easy access to the beverage cans contained therein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONBeverages, such as soda or beer, often come in cylindrical, aluminum, typically 12 oz. cans. Traditionally, one could buy a single can or a “six pack.” The six pack is simply six cans contained in a typically rectangular paper container or hung on interconnected plastic rings.
More recently, cans of soda and beer have become available in packs of twelve cans. The twelve pack is typically rectangular cardboard with the cans, usually in a 4×3 matrix arrangement, stacked closely next to one another. The twelve pack has walls typically constructed of light cardboard or thick paperboard, being thicker than writing stock paper but not as robust or thick as corrugated cardboard. These twelve packs presently enjoy popularity with use by Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola, the two leading providers of soda as well as by many major domestic beer companies.
The twelve pack containers provide a convenient means to carry the beverage cans but are not handy for dispensing the cans. Typically, the consumer will purchase the twelve pack, bring it home, tear the pack open and pull out the cans to stack them in the refrigerator, discarding the container. Applicant provides, however, for a modification to the currently available twelve pack to convert the carrying container to a dispensing container. That is, the cans will remain within the carrying container, the container acting, as modified by applicant as a beverage can dispenser.
An object of Applicant's present invention is to provide for a container for beverage cans which will allow easy access to the beverage cans for easy removal but will also hold the beverage cans therein.
It is also an object of Applicant's present invention to provide a modification to currently existing beverage can containers so that the containers, as modified, will provide easy access to the cans therein.
This and other objects are provided for in a generally rectangular, paper beverage can container with a corner removed on a diagonal line across the two side walls, the line running from a front wall to the adjacent top wall.
This and other objects are provided in an alternate preferred embodiment of a generally rectangular, paper beverage can container with a corner removed along diagonal lines across two side walls, the line running from a front wall to an adjacent top wall, including a portion on the front wall and/or the top wall that includes a second and; or a third tear-away portion to enlarge the opening created by removal of the corner along the top wall and/or the bottom wall.
There are a number of benefits with Applicant's novel beverage container with a dispensing cutout therein. These include ease of access. This is obtained by placing the twelve pack container on edge with a cutout in the upper corner. Easy and fast accessibility to the cold beverage cans will increase consumption and sales of the product.
Applicant's invention also provides for gravity feed to enhance access to the beverage cans. This is created by the weight of the cans when the beverage container is placed in a vertical position. This position naturally pushes the cans, under the influence of gravity, towards the front wall of the container. The cutout location is designed to take maximum advantage of this gravity feed.
Another advantage of Applicant's invention is the ability to effectively utilize space, especially in a refrigerator or kitchen cabinet. By placement of the cutout in the position indicated, the container may be placed vertically to save space.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Line 12A shows the position of a line on the front wall of a beverage container from one side wall to the next, the line being straight and meeting the edge between the front wall and the side wall at a 90° angle. The line 12D shows the position of a diagonal line across each of the two side walls between the front wall and the top wall, lines 12D, at 12B and 12C showing a preferred range of the position of line 12D with respect to the top wall. Line 12E is a line across the top wall, one side wall to the next and perpendicular to the edges of the top wall. The beverage container will be cut through along lines 12A, 12D and 12E to remove section 12 from the rest of the container (See
In
The preferred length of the top wall defined after the cut is between 1 and 3 diameters, preferably between 1 and 2 diameters. These cut dimensions are illustrated by lines 12B and 12C set forth in
Cuts along the lines 12A, 12D and 12E may be made with a knife, razor or any other suitable instrument. When the cuts are made as set forth in
In an alternate preferred embodiment Applicant provides a twelve pack container with a line marked on the front wall F/W at between 1D and 2D, on the top wall T/W between 1D and 3D and across the two side walls S/W's to define the pattern for removal of a corner 12 of a twelve pack container as illustrated in
Turning to
However, Applicant also provides for the removal of a second portion 22 along some or all of the remaining front wall, (after corner portion 20 is removed) as best seen in
The front edge of the carton below the tear line A3 may contain a picture or label of the package contents. The picture or label may, optionally, be identical, in site and appearance, to the item contained therein, and even oriented the way the items are actually oriented in the package.
In either case, lift material is intended to be placed underneath the package as when the container is placed in the refrigerator so that it is between the container bottom wall and the container support surface and near edge 28. The effect then is to provide a slight incline of the container towards the front wall so as to allow cylindrical items to roll towards the front wall. Lift material 26 may be folded, as along D1, D2, D3 and D4 as in
Applicant's novel package may be used in supermarkets for dispensing canned goods such as soup, vegetables, canned foods or beverages. It is designed to distribution of products, typically cylindrical items. However, non-food items may be used in conjunction with applicant's novel packaging, such as motor oil, transmission fluid, etc.
Applicant's novel packaging will reduce clerical time for shelve stocking, conserve shelf space, and provide longer time between restocking. The package is typically rectangular. It may be any size. Indicia may locate the weakened lines.
Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limited sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the inventions will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon the reference to the description of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention.
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;
- a first 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;
- a second removable portion comprising a portion of the front wall remaining after removal of the first removable access portion; and
- 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.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 15, 2004
Publication Date: Jun 30, 2005
Inventor: C. Lingamfelter (Foxborough, MA)
Application Number: 11/012,756