Patent Publication Number: US-2019177066-A1

Title: Container carrier

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application, Ser. No. 62/595,633, filed on 7 Dec. 2017. This U.S. Provisional Application is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety and are made a part hereof, including but not limited to those portions which specifically appear hereinafter. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a container carrier having 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, typically of an oval, round or rectangular configuration, 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 extends 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”). 
     There are cost and weight benefits associated with reducing the material necessary to manufacture a carrier. However, a carrier that is reduced in material must still produce a sturdy and aesthetically pleasing package without breakage, sag at the ends or danger of container loss. Such a carrier must also withstand the rigors of high speed application to containers. As such, a need arises for a reduced-weight 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 and permit carrying a unitized package of containers along a handle extending longitudinally along the package. 
     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. Traditional carriers typically include oval, round, rectangular or triangular shaped container receiving apertures. 
     The subject invention is directed to a container carrier that includes an arrangement of container receiving apertures and intermediate cutouts with a side lift handle as shown in the attached drawings. The resulting carrier is configured to enable placement over corresponding containers to result in a tight, unitized bricklike package. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a container carrier according to one preferred embodiment of this invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of a container carrier according to one preferred embodiment of this invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of a container carrier according to one preferred embodiment of this invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of a container carrier according to one preferred embodiment of this invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of a container carrier according to one preferred embodiment of this invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a side devotional view of a container carrier according to one preferred embodiment of this invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of a multipackage of containers according to one preferred embodiment of this invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of a multipackage of containers according to one preferred embodiment of this invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 1-6  show a flexible carrier  10  for unitizing four or more containers  5  into a resulting unitized multipackage  100 .  FIGS. 7 and 8  show two embodiments of a multipackage  100  of containers  5 . Although  FIGS. 1-6  illustrate various structures for flexible carrier  10  of the invention, the illustrations are exemplary, and the invention is not limited to the flexible carriers  10  or multipackages  100  shown for four, six, or eight containers. For example, flexible carrier  10  may be alternatively configured and used to unitize ten, twelve, or any other desired number of containers. 
     Containers  5  are preferably PET bottles as shown in  FIG. 8 , however cans, as shown in  FIG. 7 , glass bottles or any other commonly unitized container may be used with the flexible carrier according to this invention. The containers  5  are preferably, though not necessarily, like-sized within a single flexible carrier  10 . 
     Each flexible carrier  10  preferably includes a single layer of flexible sheet having a width and length defining therein a plurality of flexible bands  30  further defining a plurality container receiving apertures  20 , each for receiving a container. The plurality of container receiving apertures  20  are preferably arranged in two longitudinal rows and multiple longitudinal ranks so as to form an array of container receiving apertures  20 , such as two rows by two ranks for a four container multipackage  100  as shown in  FIG. 2  or two rows by three ranks for a six container multipackage  100  as shown in  FIG. 1  or two rows by four ranks for an eight container multipackage  100  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Container receiving apertures  20  are preferably generally slightly elongated in a longitudinal direction of flexible carrier  10 . 
     A representative multipackage  100  resulting from the flexible carrier  10  includes a plurality of unitized containers  5 , such as shown in  FIG. 7 . The flexible carriers  10  are generally applied to containers  5  by stretching the flexible bands  30  surrounding the container receiving apertures  20  around each container  5 , and requiring the stretched carrier  10  to recover, thereby providing a tight engagement. 
     A preferred carrier configuration includes bands  30  forming two distinct parallel rows of container receiving apertures  20 . Each rank preferably includes two container receiving apertures  20  (one for each row in the carrier). Preferably, each of the carriers  10  shown in  FIGS. 1-6  are manufactured in a generally continuous string of carriers wherein the carriers  10  are punched or otherwise formed longitudinally adjacent to other carriers  10 . In this manner, a generally continuous string of carriers  10  is formed that may be rolled onto reels or folded into boxes for later unwinding and application to containers  5 . The carriers  10  are then cut into individual carriers  10  and formed into individual multipackages  100 . 
       FIGS. 1 and 4  show adjacent carriers at each end of the carrier  10  prior to separation. Carriers  10  are preferably separated by dividing apertures  14  and a perforation  16  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . Dividing apertures  14  are preferably oval shaped. 
     Container receiving apertures  20  and intermediate apertures  40  are preferably formed by the bands  30  in a geometry that results in a uniform application of the carrier  10  to containers  5  to produce a tight unitization of containers  5  within each flexible carrier  10 . Such a result is difficult when material within the flexible carrier  10  is minimized as shown and described herein. For instance, to achieve desired results in the described embodiments, outer bands  32  are preferably wider than inner bands  34 . 
     As a result of the configuration of container receiving apertures  20  and hands  30  described, a pitch between adjacent container receiving apertures  20  in a row is capable of accommodating both cans and bottles while still maintaining a tight and compact package. 
     In particular, and as shown in the figures, the carrier  10  preferably includes an intermediate aperture  40  formed in a diamond shape. As described, the intermediate aperture  40  is defined as an aperture positioned between both each transverse rank and each longitudinal row of container receiving apertures  20 . Each side of each intermediate aperture  40  is preferably parallel to a portion of each adjacent container receiving aperture  20 . Each side of each diamond shaped aperture is preferably the same length. In addition, each corner of each diamond shaped aperture preferably includes rounded corners. 
     According to one preferred embodiment, an oval aperture  60  is positioned between each container receiving aperture  20  in transverse ranks. Each oval aperture  60  is preferably positioned midway between each adjacent container receiving aperture  20  in transverse ranks. As shown, the oval apertures  60  between outer ranks of container receiving apertures  20  are preferably longer than the oval apertures  60  between center ranks of container receiving apertures  20 . According to a preferred embodiment, a major axis of the oval apertures  60  is preferably perpendicular to a major axis of the dividing apertures  14 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 and 6 , a handle  50  extends from a longitudinal edge of the carrier  10 . The handle  50  may comprise one or more elongated apertures positioned along the outer periphery of the handle  50  or may comprise a similar configuration that provides an ample area for a consumer to grasp by inserting a hand through and still maintain the purpose and integrity of the multipackage  100 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 , a panel  55  may extend along the longitudinal edge of the carrier  10 . The panel may include merchandising information, proof of purchase information, pricing, scannable codes, marketing material and/or other designs and/or information relevant to the multipackage  100 . 
     According to one preferred embodiment, a line of weakness  70  is positioned between the handle  50  or the panel  55  and the array of container receiving apertures. Alternatively, or in addition, a line of weakness  70  may be positioned along a longitudinal row of container receiving apertures  20  opposite the handle  50  or panel  55 . The line of weakness  70  may comprise a perforation, a series of slits or other weakened area that permits separation of a portion of the carrier  10  from the remaining carrier  10 . In this manner, containers  5  may be released from the multipackage  100  and/or the handle  50  or panel  55  may be separated from the multipackage  100  for use as a proof of purchase or reusable portion of the carrier  10 . 
     While in the foregoing specification this invention has been described in relation to certain preferred embodiments thereof, and many details have been set forth for purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that flexible carrier  10  and multipackage  100  susceptible to additional embodiments and that certain of the details described herein can be varied considerably without departing from the basic principles of the invention.