Container clip

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a novel packaging clip for retaining a plurality of containers. The clip comprises a rectangular frame made of a resilient material and having length and width dimensions. The rectangular frame has a plurality of circular apertures having open mouths and two arms adjacent to and forming the open mouths. The number of arms is one more than the number of circular apertures. The circular apertures have inner diameters that are substantially equivalent to the diameters of the containers to be retained by the clip. The open mouths of the circular apertures are positioned along the length dimension of the frame so that the mouths open in only one direction. Additionally, the open mouths of the circular apertures are smaller than the inner diameter of the circular apertures and smaller than the diameter of the containers to be retained by the clip.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a container clip.

(2) Description of the Related Art

Commercially available filled containers, such as infant feeding bottles, are typically packaged and sold in groups of more than one container. Paperboard cartons or shrink-wrapped trays are typically employed as the carrier for such grouped containers. Such packaging is designed to protect the containers from being separated from one another and from damage during shipment, handling, and storage.

However, this type of packaging does not always provide the best display for the containers while they are in inventory on store shelves. Additionally, upon purchase of the packaged containers, the consumer must open the packaging and remove a container. Unfortunately, once the paperboard carton or shrink-wrapped tray is opened, the carton or tray can no longer securely retain the remaining containers and the containers are permitted to move freely inside the packaging, causing them to become susceptible to damage or mishandling.

A need exists for an improved packaging assembly for retaining, distributing and re-storing containers after use. A need also exists for a packaging device which functions as a means to stabilize containers during shipment and display containers while in inventory. The present invention addresses these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, therefore, the present invention is directed to a novel packaging clip for retaining a plurality of containers. The clip comprises a rectangular frame made of a resilient material and having length and width dimensions. The rectangular frame has a plurality of circular apertures having an open mouth and two arms adjacent to and forming the open mouth. The number of arms is one more than the number of circular apertures.

The circular apertures are adapted to receive and retain a container between the arms, and have inner diameters that are substantially equivalent to the diameters of the containers to be retained by the clip. The open mouths of the circular apertures are positioned along the length dimension of the frame so that the mouths open in only one direction. Additionally, the open mouths of the circular apertures are smaller than the inner diameter of the circular apertures and smaller than the diameter of the containers to be retained by the clip.

The invention also relates to a packaging assembly having a clip as described above and including a plurality of containers retained within the circular apertures of the clip.

The present invention is also directed to a clip for retaining a plurality of containers, the clip comprising a frame having a length dimension and a plurality of arms extending from only one side of the frame length. The frame length, a flexible arm and a relatively fixed arm form at least one circular aperture adapted to receive and retain a container. The invention also relates to a packaging assembly having a clip of this type which also includes a plurality of containers retained within the circular apertures of the clip.

Among the several advantages found to be achieved by the present invention is that it is adapted to receive and retain a plurality of containers. After one or more containers are removed from the clip of the present invention, the clip allows any remaining containers to remain secure. Containers can be firmly reattached to the packaging device with ease by inserting a container into an aperture. These benefits eliminate the possibility of damage or mishandling due to unsecured containers. The present invention also provides a device that stabilizes containers during shipment and appropriately displays containers while in inventory.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a top view of a packaging clip of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a packaging clip of the present invention.

FIG. 2a is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the packaging clip of the present invention, showing the clip with a handle.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a packaging assembly of the present invention in which a plurality of containers are retained by the clip.

FIG. 4 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of a packaging clip of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment packaging assembly of the present invention in which a plurality of containers are retained by the clip.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference now will be made in detail to the embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are set forth below. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not a limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment, can be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment.

Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Other objects, features and aspects of the present invention are disclosed in or are obvious from the following detailed description. It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only, and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present invention.

Definitions

As used herein, the terms “length dimension” mean one of the longer sides of the rectangular frame as opposed to one of the shorter ends of the rectangular frame.

The terms “width dimension” connote one of the shorter ends of the rectangular frame as opposed to one of the longer sides of the rectangular frame.

The term “plurality” means more than one.

As used herein, the term “resilient” means capable of returning to its original shape or position.

Invention

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention is directed to a novel packaging clip 10 for retaining a plurality of containers. The clip comprises a rectangular frame 20 made of a resilient material and having length 30 and width 40 dimensions.

The rectangular frame 20 has a plurality of circular apertures 50 which each have an open mouth 60 and two arms 21 adjacent to and forming the open mouth 60. The arms 21 extend substantially perpendicularly from the length dimension 30 of the rectangular frame 20. The open mouth 60 is defined as the space running directly between two adjacent arms 21. The number of arms 21 on a particular frame 20 is one more than the number of circular apertures 50. For example, if the clip has three circular apertures 50, it will have four arms 21. This is the case because each of two adjacent apertures 50 shares a common arm 21 therebetween.

The circular apertures 50 are adapted to receive and retain a container 200 between the arms 21, and have inner diameters 90 that are substantially equivalent to the diameters 210 of the containers 200 to be retained by the clip 10. Additionally, the open mouths 60 of the circular apertures 50 are smaller than the inner diameter 90 of the circular apertures and smaller than the diameter 210 of the containers 200 to be retained by the clip.

The open mouths 60 of the circular apertures 50 are positioned along the length dimension 30 of the frame so that the mouths open in only one direction. Thus, the apertures 50 are positioned along only one side of the length dimension 30 of the frame. In some embodiments, the opposite side of the frame length 30 is straight or has another design without apertures.

The width of the mouth 60 of the circular aperture 50 should be sized such that a container 200 can be inserted through the mouth 60 and the frame 20 surrounding the circular aperture 50 can grip the container 200 and retain it in place. The exact ratio of the width of the mouth 60 to the diameter 90 of the circular aperture 50 or the outside diameter of the container 200 will depend upon the material from which the clip is formed and the flexibility of that material. In a particular embodiment, the diameter 90 of the circular aperture 50 is approximately equivalent to the outside diameter of a container 200 it is designed to receive and retain.

In some embodiments, the width dimension 40 of the rectangular frame 20 is approximately equivalent to the diameter 90 of the circular aperture 50. In other embodiments, the width dimension 40 of the rectangular frame 20 is greater than the diameter 90 of the circular aperture 50.

The clip 10 of the present invention can be used to receive and retain cylindrical containers, as shown in FIG. 3, but can be adapted to receive and retain containers of other shapes as well. For example, the contour of the gripping surface 25 of the frame 20 can be adjusted to be complementary to the exterior of a container 200 to be retained by the clip 10.

In certain embodiments, the clip 10 of the present invention has at least two circular apertures 50. In other embodiments, the clip has three circular apertures 50.

A packaging clip in accordance with the present invention has dimensions that are dependent upon the container it is designed to retain. In certain embodiments of the clip 10, the distance 80 from the midpoint of a first circular aperture 50 to the midpoint of a neighboring second circular aperture 50 is approximately 1.4 times the diameter 90 of the circular aperture 50.

In a particular embodiment, the clip has three circular apertures 50 and is approximately 14.7 cm in length 30. In this embodiment, the width dimension 40 of the clip is approximately 3.4 cm. The diameter 90 of the circular aperture 50 is approximately 3.4 cm. The distance 80 from the midpoint of a first circular aperture 50 to the midpoint of a neighboring second circular aperture 50 is approximately 4.7 cm. The distance between the edge of the mouth 60 of a first circular aperture 50 to the closest edge of the mouth 60 of a neighboring second circular aperture 50 is approximately 2.1 cm

As shown in FIG. 2, the height dimension 35 of the clip can be uniform. The height should be sufficient to provide adequate surface contact between the container 200 and the gripping surface 25 of the frame 20 which creates the circular aperture 50. A height dimension 35 of approximately ¾ inch has been found to be acceptable for retaining containers containing approximately 60 mL fluid.

A container 200 can be retained by the clip 10 by inserting the container 200 into an aperture 50. The resilient frame 20 flexibly adjusts to receive the container 200 in the aperture 50. In certain embodiments, the ability of the arms 21 to move depends on the flexibility of the frame 20 itself. In a particular embodiment, the rectangular 20 frame flexibly adjusts at the base 70 of each circular aperture 50 to receive the cylindrical container 200. Once the container has been inserted into the aperture 50, the frame 20 flexibly returns to its original position, securely retaining the container. The gripping surface 25 of the frame which creates the circular aperture 50 frictionally grips the outside of the container 200.

A container 200 can be released from the packaging clip 10 by simply pulling the container 200 away from the frame 20 through the mouth 60. Again, the resilient frame 20 flexibly adjusts to release the container 200 from the aperture 50. In a particular embodiment, the rectangular 20 frame flexibly adjusts at the base 70 of each circular aperture 50 to release the cylindrical container 200. Once the container has been released from the aperture 50, the frame 20 flexibly returns to its original position.

In an embodiment, the frame length 20 is substantially flat and has sufficient rigidity to support at least three containers 200 without becoming distorted. In a particular embodiment, the packaging clip of the present invention has a handle fixedly attached to the frame length (shown in FIG. 2a).

FIG. 3 illustrates a packaging assembly 100 of the present invention. The packaging assembly 100 is designed to retain a plurality of containers 200. The packaging assembly 100 comprises a clip 10 as described above and includes a plurality of containers 200 retained within the circular apertures of the clip 10.

In an embodiment, the containers 200 can have a middle body portion 202, an upper body portion 203 and a lower body portion 204. The upper body portion 203 and the lower body portion 204 have a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the middle body portion 202. The upper body portion 203 prevents the container 200 from slipping out of the packaging clip 10. The wider lower body portion 204 provides stability for standing the container 200 on its end. The containers 200 can also have a closure 205.

The containers of the present invention can be bottles, such as infant feeding bottles. In an embodiment, the containers comprise bottles containing infant formula. In another embodiment, the containers comprise empty bottles designed to be filled with human breast milk and stored. The bottles can be adapted to receive a nipple and can be used to feed an infant. The bottles can then be washed, inserted into the clip of the present invention and stored empty or can be re-filled, inserted into the clip of the present invention and stored full.

If desired, a packaging assembly 100 according to the invention could be enclosed in plastic or shrink-wrap. Similarly, the packaging assembly 100 could have the bottoms of the containers resting in a tray, such as a cardboard tray. Optionally, the packaging assembly could have the bottoms of the containers resting in a tray which could then be enclosed in plastic wrap. In another embodiment of the invention the packaging assembly could be packaged in a cardboard container. In a particular embodiment, the packaging assembly is packaged within a flexible pouch. The pouch can have printing present thereon. In an embodiment, the flexible pouch is comprised of a plastic.

An alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The clip 310 has a frame 320 with a length dimension 330 and a plurality of arms 321 and 322 extending from only one side of the frame length 330. The opposite side of the frame length 330 is straight or has another design without arms. The frame length 330, a flexible arm 321 and a relatively fixed arm 322 form at least one circular aperture 350 adapted to receive and retain a container 200. The relatively fixed arm 322 can be shaped and/or sized differently and is less flexible than the flexible arm 321.

A container 200 can be retained by the clip 310 by inserting the container 200 into an aperture 350. The resilient frame 320 flexibly adjusts to receive the container 200 in the aperture 350. In this embodiment, however, the flexible arm 321 also flexibly adjusts to receive the container 200. In a particular embodiment, the rectangular frame 320 may also flexibly adjusts at the base of each circular aperture.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the packaging clip 310 has an insertion aid 324 on the terminal end of each flexible arm 321. The insertion aid 324 enhances the ability of the user to insert the containers 200 into the packaging clip 310. Specifically, as the container is inserted into the clip, the insertion aid helps to guide the container into the open mouth 50. Although the insertion aids 324 are shaped in a particular manner in the drawings, the insertion aids of the invention may encompass various shapes. The insertion aids can be of any shape that enhances the ability of the ability of the user to insert the containers 200 into the packaging clip 310.

FIG. 5 illustrates a packaging assembly 400 of the present invention. The packaging assembly 400 is designed to retain a plurality of containers 200. The packaging assembly 400 comprises a packaging clip 310 as described above and a plurality of containers 200 retained within the apertures of the clip 310.

For purposes of the invention, a square frame can also be considered rectangular. In certain embodiments of the invention, the frame can be other shapes as well, such as ovular or round. The frame may have rounded or sharp edges.

The packaging clip of the invention is made of a resilient material. This material may be any such material that is capable of flexibly adjusting. The packaging clip of the present invention may be molded of a suitable plastic material, which may be blow molded by extrusion or injection so that it is a unitary member of relatively uniform wall thickness. Any plastic material known in the art can be used to form the packaging clip. A suitable plastic for forming the packaging clip may include, but is not limited to, polystyrene, polystyrene-acrylonitile, acrylonitile-butadiene-styrene, styrene-maleicanhyd ride, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinylcyclohexane, and blends thereof.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described using specific terms, devices, and methods, such description is for illustrative purposes only. The words used are words of description rather than of limitation. It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit or the scope of the present invention, which is set forth in the following claims. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the various embodiments may be interchanged both in whole or in part. For example, while methods for the production of a sterile liquid nutritional supplement made according to those methods have been exemplified, other uses are contemplated. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained therein.

Claims

1. A clip for retaining a plurality of containers, the clip comprising a rectangular frame made of a resilient material and having length and width dimensions, comprising:

a. a plurality of circular apertures, each having an open mouth and two arms adjacent to and forming the open mouth, wherein the number of arms is one more than the number of circular apertures;

b. the circular apertures being adapted to receive and retain a container between the arms, the circular apertures having inner diameters that are substantially equivalent to the diameters of the containers to be retained by the clip;

c. the open mouths of the circular apertures being positioned along the length dimension of the frame so that the mouths open in only one direction; and

d. the open mouths of the circular apertures being smaller than the inner diameter of the circular apertures and smaller than the diameter of the containers to be retained by the clip.

2. The clip according to claim 1, wherein each of two adjacent apertures share an arm therebetween to define a portion of the aperture.

3. The clip according to claim 1, wherein the rectangular frame flexibly adjusts to receive the container.

4. The clip according to claim 1, wherein the rectangular frame flexibly adjusts at the base of each circular aperture to receive the container.

5. The clip according to claim 1, wherein the two arms adjacent to and forming the open mouth are sized and shaped differently.

6. The clip according to claim 1, wherein a first arm adjacent to and forming an open mouth is more flexible a second arm adjacent to and forming the open mouth.

7. The clip according to claim 1, wherein the distance from the midpoint of a first circular aperture to the midpoint of a neighboring second circular aperture is approximately 1.4 times the diameter of the circular aperture.

8. The clip according to claim 1, wherein the width dimension of the clip is approximately equivalent to the diameter of the circular aperture.

9. The clip according to claim 1, wherein the width dimension of the clip is greater than the diameter of the circular aperture.

10. The clip according to claim 1, wherein the clip is formed from a plastic material.

11. The clip according to claim 1 comprising at least two circular apertures.

12. The clip according to claim 1 comprising three circular apertures.

13. The clip according to claim 1 additionally comprising a handle.

14. A packaging assembly for retaining a plurality of containers, said packaging assembly comprising:

a. a clip for retaining a plurality of containers, the clip comprising a rectangular frame made of a resilient material and having length and width dimensions, comprising: i. a plurality of circular apertures, each having an open mouth and two arms adjacent to and forming the open mouth, wherein the number of arms is one more than the number of circular apertures; ii. the circular apertures being adapted to receive and retain a container between the arms, the circular apertures having inner diameters that are substantially equivalent to the diameters of the containers to be retained by the clip; iii. the open mouths of the circular apertures being positioned along the length dimension of the frame so that the mouths open in only one direction; iv. the open mouths of the circular apertures being smaller than the inner diameter of the circular apertures and smaller than the diameter of the containers to be retained by the clip; and

b. a plurality of containers, wherein the containers are retained within the circular apertures of the clip.

15. The packaging assembly according to claim 14, wherein the assembly is sealed within a flexible pouch.

16. A clip for retaining a plurality of containers, the clip comprising a frame having a length-dimension and a plurality of arms extending from only one side of the frame length, wherein the frame length, a flexible arm and a relatively fixed arm form at least one circular aperture adapted to receive and retain a container.

17. The clip according to claim 16, wherein the flexible arm flexibly adjusts to receive the container.

18. The clip according to claim 16, wherein a insertion aid is located at the terminal end of each flexible arm.

19. The clip according to claim 16, comprising three circular apertures.

20. A packaging assembly for retaining a plurality of containers, said packaging assembly comprising:

a. a clip comprising a frame having a length dimension and a plurality of arms extending from only one side of the frame length, wherein the frame length, a flexible arm and a relatively fixed arm form at least one circular aperture adapted to receive and retain a container; and

b. a plurality of containers, wherein the containers are retained within said circular apertures.