Container carrier

A flexible carrier for carrying a plurality of containers within a plurality of corresponding container receiving apertures formed in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks that includes three rows of container receiving apertures and a handle extending parallel to the three rows of container receiving apertures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a container carrier having at least three rows of container receiving apertures for unitizing a plurality of containers.

Description of Prior Art

Conventional container carriers are often used to unitize a plurality of similarly sized containers, such as cans, bottles, jars and boxes and/or similar containers that require unitization. Flexible plastic ring carriers are one such conventional container carrier.

Flexible plastic ring carriers having a plurality of container receiving apertures that each engage a corresponding container may be used to unitize groups of four, six, eight, twelve or other suitable groups of containers into a convenient multipackage. Flexible ring carriers may include a handle that extend upwardly from the carrier to enable a consumer to carry the package from the top (called a “top lift carrier”) or outwardly from a side of the carrier to enable a consumer to carry the package from the side (called a “side lift carrier”).

Typically, larger-capacity carriers result in challenges in application to containers in that carriers having more than two rows tend to open in an undesirable sequence and thus cannot be applied at high speeds. In addition, the resulting package tends to sag at the ends when lifted resulting in a sloppy appearance. As such, a need arises for a carrier capable of carrying a large number of containers that permits high speed application and results in an aesthetically pleasing package for the consumer to handle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a flexible carrier for packaging containers that includes an arrangement of container receiving apertures that are configured to permit placement over containers in three distinct rows.

The carrier is suitably configured with a combination of webs and container receiving apertures that permit opening up and generally even, distributed stretching for application to the containers. In the described configuration, a flexible sheet forms webs defining container receiving apertures wherein tapered oblique bands at least partially define the respective container receiving apertures and a handle is positioned parallel with the three rows of container receiving apertures. The resulting carrier is configured to enable placement over at least three rows of containers to result in a tight, unitized bricklike package.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1-8show flexible carrier10for unitizing six or more containers and a resulting unitized package, shown in one embodiment inFIG. 9. AlthoughFIGS. 1-9illustrate various structures for flexible carrier10of the invention, the illustrations are exemplary, and the invention is not limited to the flexible carriers10or packages shown for six, twelve or fifteen containers. For example, flexible carrier10may be alternatively configured and used to unitize three, nine, eighteen, or any other desired number of containers.

Containers are preferably cans, however, bottles 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 a single layer of flexible sheet20having a width and length defining therein a plurality of container receiving apertures25, each for receiving a container. The plurality of container receiving apertures25are preferably arranged in at least three longitudinal rows and multiple longitudinal ranks so as to form an array of container receiving apertures25, such as three rows by two ranks for a six container multipackage as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2or three rows by four ranks for a twelve container multipackage as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4or three rows by five ranks for a fifteen container multipackage as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6.FIGS. 7 and 8show three rows by four dividable ranks for a dividable twelve container multipackage. Container receiving apertures25are preferably elongated in a longitudinal direction of flexible carrier10.

FIG. 9shows a representative package100resulting from flexible carrier10that includes a plurality of unitized containers. Flexible carriers10are generally applied to containers by stretching flexible sheet20surrounding container receiving apertures25around container, and requiring the stretched carrier10to recover, thereby providing a tight engagement.

A preferred carrier configuration includes three distinct parallel rows of container receiving apertures25including a middle row and two outer rows of container receiving apertures25. Each rank includes three container receiving apertures25(one for each row in the carrier10). Of these three container receiving apertures25per rank, there are two outer apertures and one center aperture formed therebetween.

As shown inFIGS. 1-8, three parallel rows of container receiving apertures25are preferably formed within flexible sheet20. As such, one row of container receiving apertures25is preferably formed along each side of the carrier10and one intermediate row is formed therebetween. As shown, it is preferable that each container receiving aperture25in a single row is configured identically from the other. As shown, this means that each container receiving aperture25in the center row is identical, each container receiving aperture in one outer row is identical and each container receiving aperture25in the other outer row is likewise identical. Preferably, the container receiving apertures25in one outer row are mirror images of the other outer row.

Container receiving apertures25are preferably formed in a geometry that results in a uniform application of the carrier10to containers to produce a tight unitization of containers within flexible carrier10. Such a result is difficult when carrier10is engaged with three rows of container receiving apertures25over three rows of containers as described herein.

In particular, one or more jaws engage with an edge of the container receiving apertures25in outer rows and stretch the carrier open so as to apply the carrier to individual containers. When an intermediate row is formed between the outer rows, the jaws cannot directly engage container receiving apertures in that row which results in inadequate stretching of the container receiving apertures in that row and/or misapplication of the carrier to the plurality of containers. The subject invention is configured to enable that the container receiving apertures25in that intermediate row to adequate stretch and engage the associated containers resulting in a desired package shown inFIG. 9.

In particular, the subject carrier10preferably stretches between approximately 31% and 51% thereby permitting application to a range of container diameters from 2.25″ to 2.6″.

As described above, container carrier10according to a preferred embodiment of the invention includes a series of interconnecting webs30that define the plurality of container receiving apertures25. Webs30are stretchable around container during application and recoverable around container following application. Specifically, in the described configuration, the flexible sheet20forms webs30defining container receiving apertures25wherein the webs30are tapered oblique bands35at least partially defining the respective container receiving apertures25. In particular the oblique bands35taper toward the web between the rows of container receiving apertures25.

In addition, according to one embodiment container receiving apertures25in the outer rows are longitudinally asymmetric while the container receiving apertures25in the middle rows are longitudinally symmetric. The particular arrangement of apertures described enables the carrier10uniformly open up and stretch for application to containers despite having three rows of container receiving apertures25.

As shown inFIGS. 1-8, a handle50extends from a longitudinal edge of carrier10. Handle50may comprise one or more elongated apertures positioned along the outer periphery of handle50or may comprise a similar configuration that provides an ample area for a consumer to grasp by inserting his hand through and still maintain the purpose and integrity of package. As shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, a pair of secondary handles55may be positioned along a longitudinal edge of the carrier10opposite the edge of the handle50. As shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, one or both of the handle50and/or the secondary handles55may be divisible along a line of weakness80. In this manner, the package may be configured as a twelve pack or a six pack or any similar combination depending on the number of container receiving openings25and the configuration of the handles50,55employed.

According to an embodiment of the invention shown inFIGS. 2, 4, 6 and 8, a plurality of tabs60are positioned within each carrier10. Preferably, each such tab60extends into a container receiving aperture25in outer rows of the three longitudinal rows. As shown, each container receiving aperture25in outer rows includes only one tab60. Further each tab60preferably extends from an inner portion of each container receiving aperture25in the outer rows. These tabs60form a desirable configuration in a center web of the carrier following application to containers and preferably prevent inversions in that web which would jeopardize a sturdy package and the aesthetics of the package.

As shown in the figures, the container carrier10may further include asymmetric dividing apertures70positioned between adjacent ranks of container receiving apertures25. Further, dividing apertures70are preferably positioned between adjacent carriers10when formed in a generally continuous string of carriers prior to application.

In addition, a slit75is preferably positioned between each container receiving aperture25in a center row and an outer row. The slit75also assists in a desired v-shape in the center web of the carrier following application to containers.

The configuration of the carrier10described above includes a combination of webs and container receiving apertures that permit opening up and even stretching for application to the containers. In the described configuration, the shape and design of the center row of container receiving apertures25is different from that of the outer rows of container receiving apertures25. Such a design overcomes the natural tendency of the central apertures to foreshorten during stretching.

As described, the subject carrier10preferably accommodates at least four different standard container sizes including 202/211; 202/209; 202/207.5 and 202/206.5 (2.6″; 2.48″; 2.36″; and 2.25″ diameters, respectively). Standard container heights between approximately 250 ml to 568 ml can also utilize the subject carrier10. In an applied condition, adjacent containers touch in a transverse direction (TD) and are spaced at various intervals depending on container size in the longitudinal or machine direction (MD). The flexibility of the carrier10thereby permits a single applicating machine and carrier to accommodate a whole range of containers without changeover to a new carrier. This enables a more compact footprint for equipment, minimizes required inventories for carrier stock and simplifies changeover to different multipackages.