CONTAINER CARRIER

A flexible carrier for carrying a plurality of containers includes a flexible sheet having two rows of container receiving apertures formed therein. The flexible carrier further includes a handle extending from a periphery of the flexible sheet on an end of the package and beyond a longitudinal edge of the rows of the unitized containers. The handle is preferably capable of supporting the package when grasped by a consumer.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1shows flexible carrier10for unitizing six containers to form a unitized package.FIG. 2shows a package200of unitized containers80. AlthoughFIGS. 1 and 2illustrate various structures for flexible carrier10of the invention, the illustrations are exemplary, and the invention is not limited to the flexible carriers10or packages shown. For example, flexible carrier10may be configured and used to unitize four, eight, twelve or any other desired number of containers80.

The containers80, such as those shown in packages inFIG. 2, are preferably bottles. Although bottles are shown inFIG. 2, cans or any other commonly unitized container may be used with flexible carrier10according to this invention. The containers are preferably, though not necessarily, like-sized within a single flexible carrier10.

Each flexible carrier10preferably includes one or more layers of flexible sheet20having a width and length defining therein a plurality of container receiving apertures25, each for receiving a container80. The plurality of container receiving apertures25are preferably arranged in longitudinal rows and longitudinal ranks so as to form an array of container receiving apertures25, such as two rows by three ranks for a six container multipackage; two rows by six ranks for a twelve container multipackage, etc. Container receiving apertures25are preferably elongated in a longitudinal direction of flexible carrier10.

According to one preferred embodiment of this invention, such as shown inFIG. 1, two layers of flexible sheet20are connected along a longitudinally extending centerline60. As shown inFIG. 1, a double layer of the flexible sheet20results in two rows of container receiving apertures that fan out from centerline60. Centerline60as used herein generally describes a segment between rows of container receiving apertures25and/or between layers of flexible sheet20. According to one preferred embodiment of this invention, centerline60comprises a weld that joins the two layers of flexible sheet20. The two layers of flexible sheet20may be coextruded, welded, or otherwise joined together to create flexible carrier10. “Weld” as used in the specification and claims may be defined as a hot weld, cold weld, lamination or any other manner of connection that joins two sheets of material known to those having ordinary skill in the art.

As shown inFIG. 1, a row of container receiving apertures25is preferably formed on each side of centerline60and/or in each layer of the two layers of flexible sheet20. As such, one row of container receiving apertures25is preferably formed along each side of the centerline60. Accordingly, six container receiving apertures25are formed in flexible carrier10shown inFIG. 1, i.e. two overlapping rows of three container receiving apertures25each. Container receiving apertures25are preferably formed in a geometry that results in a tight unitization of containers80without excess play and/or sliding between and among containers80and flexible carrier10.

As best shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of webs40are formed on an opposite side of centerline60as the rows of container receiving apertures25. Handle50is preferably positioned on one side of the plurality of webs40relative to flexible sheet20so as to extend between the two rows of container receiving apertures25from a periphery of flexible sheet20. Specifically, handle50may extend from the plurality of webs40extending from centerline60, which may comprise a weld or seam between adjacent layers of flexible sheet20.

Handle50preferably extends from an end of flexible carrier10, and specifically from an end of package200and, preferably, a single handle50extends from a single end of package200. Handle50preferably extends beyond a longitudinal edge of the rows of container receiving apertures25and, following application of flexible carrier10to containers80, beyond a longitudinal edge of containers80within package100.

Handle50preferably forms a discrete ring within the plurality of webs40within flexible carrier10and, as described in more detail below, is capable of supporting the weight of package100when grasped by a consumer. As a result of the configuration of handle50relative to flexible sheet20, it should be apparent to a consumer that handle50is intended for grasping and lifting of package200.

According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, a generally continuous string of flexible carriers10are formed during the manufacturing process whereby adjacent flexible carriers10are connected end to end for application to containers80and divided into individual packages200following such application. The generally continuous string of flexible carriers10are preferably punched from one or more layers of material using a punch press or similar equipment known to those having ordinary skill in the art.

As described above, a plurality of webs40formed in the flexible sheet20on an opposite side of the rows of container receiving apertures25as the centerline60. Handle50suitable for manual grasping preferably extends from one side of the plurality of webs40and a trailing edge70is preferably formed in on opposite side of the plurality of webs40. The term “trailing edge” is simply meant to define an opposite longitudinal edge of the container carrier10and/or package200from that of the handle50and is not intended to define manufacturing processes or otherwise represent a following or secondary edge of the container10and/or package200.

As a result of the described configuration and as shown inFIG. 1, the handle50extends beyond a longitudinal edge of the rows of container receiving apertures25and the trailing edge70extends short of the longitudinal edge of the rows of container receiving apertures. The string of flexible carriers10preferably additionally includes a web attachment area45formed between handle50of the flexible carrier10and trailing edge70of an adjacent flexible carrier such that each handle50is connected to a trailing edge70of each neighboring or adjacent flexible carrier10within a generally continuous string of flexible carriers10. In addition, a row attachment area35is preferably formed between each row of container receiving apertures25of adjacent flexible carriers10. As a result of the relative position of handle50, the web attachment area45and the row attachment area35are not longitudinally aligned.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the flexible carrier10and specifically the plurality of webs40are longitudinally asymmetric. That is, the flexible carrier is not the same at each longitudinal end, particularly in the plurality of webs40. The plurality of webs40preferably form a corresponding plurality of web openings55, each web opening55preferably having a distinct configuration from the other.

As shown inFIG. 2, package200resulting from flexible carrier10includes a plurality of unitized containers80. Flexible carriers10are generally applied to containers80by stretching flexible sheet20surrounding container receiving apertures25around the perimeter of container80, and allowing the stretched carrier10to recover, thereby providing a tight engagement. Carrier10is typically applied to a sidewall of container80or, where the structure exists, to a chime or rib of container80.

As a result of the described configuration in one preferred embodiment of this invention, two layers of flexible sheet20joined with the longitudinally extending centerline60include a row of container receiving apertures25formed in each layer of the two layers of flexible sheet20. One row of container receiving apertures25is formed on each side of centerline60resulting in flexible carrier10fanning out at centerline60to permit a generally flat plane of engagement within which containers80are inserted. Handle50preferably extends in a different plane from the applied rows of container receiving apertures25and in a same plane as the remaining plurality of webs40. In this manner, each row of container receiving apertures25engages a respective row of containers80to form package200.

Handle50suitable for manual grasping preferably extends from an edge of flexible sheet20. In package200according to one preferred embodiment of this invention, handle50preferably extends outwardly from between each row of container receiving apertures25so as to be visible and obvious to a consumer. For instance, in a narrow shelf or refrigerated cooler, package200is preferably presented along a two-wide side or edge of package200thereby encouraging use of loop50.

As a result of the tight engagement of the containers80that results from the described configuration of flexible carrier10, a release mechanism is preferably provided that enables easy release of containers80from the carrier10. According to one preferred embodiment, a plurality of pull tabs75are formed in the flexible sheet20wherein each pull tab75extends into a respective container receiving aperture25. A perforation85may further be provided that extends through the flexible sheet20at an angle relative to each container receiving aperture25and adjacent each pull tab75.

Alternatively, or in addition, a tear strip, zipper or similar perforation or configuration may extend along an edge of container receiving apertures25and include some form of tab or similar gripping area for opening the perforation. Accordingly, container receiving apertures25are preferably separable along the tear strip and containers80are removable from package200.

According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the subject system is used in connection with a generally continuous string of container carriers. Each container carrier in the generally continuous string is preferably separated from adjacent container carriers by one or more apertures and/or perforations. A cutoff device, such as that described in U.S. Ser. No. 13/673,121, which is hereby incorporated by reference, makes separation of such adjacent container carriers possible without the use of additional mechanical aids such as knives. Such a bladeless cutoff system preferably includes a system wherein adjacent packages are pulled apart rather than cutting or breaking the weakened connections between such packages. To accomplish this, a set of timing screws are preferably used to accelerate a leading package away from a trailing package to create enough tension in the carrier web to separate the perforations or other weakened connection and, accordingly, the packages. This method in conjunction with carrier separation perforations located at connection points between apertures and handle connection points between adjacent carriers will create a reliable package separator without any of the aforementioned issues.