Patent Publication Number: US-2023147374-A1

Title: Container carrier

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application, Serial Nos. 63/276,296; 63/276,304; and 63/276,309, all filed on 05 Nov. 2021. These U.S. Provisional Applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their 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 generally to beverage multipacks and, more particularly, to multipacks made up of 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 and paperboard boxes are two such conventional container carriers. 
     However, with growing concerns surrounding the environmental impact of improper disposal of plastic waste, manufacturers are transitioning offerings to best support a circular economy. One such solution is plastic ring carriers made from 50% post-consumer recycled content. This carrier is operationally efficient, competitively priced, simple, and has a low carbon footprint in comparison to other beverage multipack alternatives. Today, this solution is not considered 100% curbside recyclable by the FTC Green Guide because 60%+ consumers cannot recycle flexible plastics. Multi-packaging systems are generally used in the beer, soft drink, and general products industries. A new and innovative beverage multipacking solution is desirable that includes a 4, 6, 8, and/or 12 beverage capacity. A preferred design is produced using 100% curbside recyclable rigid plastics, like HDPE or PET. These carriers would be applied on PET bottles and/or aluminum cans. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention generally relates to a container carrier for unitizing a plurality of containers into a multipack. According to one embodiment the subject container carrier is configured to unitize cans or bottles with the same device. 
     A preferred embodiment of the subject invention is made from materials that are 100% curbside recyclable, in particular rigid PET and HDPE plastics that can enter most municipal recycling streams. This invention focuses on end-user needs and structural plastics that can easily be recycled. A solution that is meaningful, practical and makes a positive impact to encourage people to recycle is desired. 
     Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended claims and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    shows a perspective view of a container carrier according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG.  2    shows a top plan view of a container carrier according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG.  3    shows a side view of a container carrier according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG.  4    shows a perspective view of a multipack of bottles according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG.  5    shows a perspective view of a multipack of bottles according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG.  6    shows a perspective view of a multipack of cans according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG.  7    shows a perspective view of a container carrier according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG.  8    shows a top plan view of a container carrier according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG.  9    shows a side view of a container carrier according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG.  10    shows a perspective view of a multipack of bottles according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG.  11    shows a perspective view of a multipack of bottles according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG.  12    shows a perspective view of a multipack of cans according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG.  13    shows a perspective view of a container carrier according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG.  14    shows a top plan view of a container carrier according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG.  15    shows a side view of a container carrier according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG.  16    shows a perspective view of a multipack of cans according to one embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG.  17    shows a perspective view of a multipack of bottles according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a container carrier to unitize a plurality of containers into beverage multipacks. The container carrier  100 ,  200 ,  300  according to this invention is shown in  FIGS.  1 - 17    and examples of unitized multipacks are shown in  FIGS.  4 - 6 ,  10 - 12 ,  16  and  17   . 
     According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the container carrier is injection molded or otherwise formed from high density polyethylene (HDPE). Alternatively, PET or HDPE plastics may be used. Preferably, the material is generally rigid and 100% post-consumer recyclable in most or all markets. The container carrier as described is thus molded or formed into a plurality of ribs and/or struts that together define the structures described below and shown in the figures. 
     In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the container carrier includes a plurality of container receiving openings forming an array of rings corresponding with a desired size of multipack. As such, although  FIGS.  1 - 17    show six container receiving openings in a 2x3 array, other desired container carriers may be 2x2 for a four pack, 2x4 for an eight pack, or other desired arrays forming a desirable quantity multipack size. 
     As shown in the subject drawings, the container carrier  100 ,  200 ,  300  for unitizing a plurality of containers includes a first engagement means configured to engage a can  20  and a second engagement means configured to engage a bottle  30 , wherein the first engagement means and the second engagement means are generally superimposed upon each other. “Superimposed” as used throughout the specification and claims is generally defined as wherein a first engagement means and a second engagement means are aligned and/or positioned and/or laid over each other, in either order, typically so that both are still evident. 
       FIGS.  1 - 6    show one preferred embodiment of a container carrier  100  wherein the first engagement means comprises a plurality of container receiving openings  110  configured to engage with a chime  25  of a can  20  and the second engagement means comprises a plurality of radial tabs  130  positioned within each container receiving opening  110  configured to engage with a cap  40  and/or neck  35  of a bottle  30 . As shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the radial tabs  130  preferably extend inwardly and may include an arcuate leading edge  135  to engage with the cap  40 . As shown in  FIGS.  4  and  5   , the radial tabs  130  preferably flex to permit a range of cap  40  and neck  35  sizes of bottles  30  within the multipack. 
     The container receiving openings  110  may each include a plurality of circumferential tabs  120  located at spaced locations around the respective container receiving openings to engage with the chime  25 . 
     As best shown in  FIG.  2   , the container carrier  100  may further include a handle  150  extending along a longitudinal edge of the container carrier  100 . In this arrangement, the handle  150  is preferably capable of pivoting over a top of the container carrier  100 . As shown, the handle  150  may attach at two opposite ends of the container carrier  100  between transverse container receiving openings  110 . The handle  150  may be formed along one or more sides of the container carrier  100  and preferably is graspable so as to form a bail over the top of the multipack. The handle  150  preferably flexes at two attachment points on the container carrier  100  and then extends above the containers so as to permit carrying the multipack in a comfortable manner. 
     As described, the container carrier can accommodate both cans  20  within the outer perimeter of each container receiving opening  110 , such as shown in  FIG.  6   , and also bottles  30 , such as shown in  FIGS.  4  and  5   . 
       FIGS.  7 - 12    show an additional embodiment of the container carrier  200 . According to this embodiment, the container carrier  200  is formed in a plurality of container rings  210 , wherein the first engagement means comprises a plurality of clips  220  extending outwardly from the container rings  210  and the second engagement means comprises a plurality of radial tabs  230  extending inwardly from the container rings 21-. 
     In addition, a central ring  240  may be formed between each four container rings  210 . As a result, in a six pack multipackage as shown in  FIGS.  7 - 12   , a total of eight rings form the container carrier  200 . The central rings  240  may be used to grasp the resulting multipackage. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  7  and  9   , the plurality of radial clips  220  not only extend outward but also extend downward from the container rings  210 . The radial clips  220  include an outwardly extending overhang  225 . As best shown in  FIGS.  7  and  10   , the overhang  225  may include at least one ridge  227 . In use, the overhang  225  may be used to pull and release a can  20  from captive placement within the container carrier  200  and the respective ridge(s)  227  may be helpful in permitting a user to take hold of the overhang  225  in order to pull upwards and release the can  20 . 
     In the described arrangement, the radial clips  220  thereby provide a manner of engaging with the chimes  25  of cans  20  so that the respective can is maintained below the container rings  210  in an assembled multipackage. 
     The container receiving opening rings  210  further each include three or more radial tabs  230  that extend inward from a perimeter of the respective container ring  210 . In this way, the container carrier  200  can accommodate both cans  20  within the perimeter of the radial clips  220 , as shown in  FIG.  12   , but also bottles  30 , such as shown in  FIGS.  10  and  11   . As shown in  FIGS.  10  and  11   , the radial tabs  230  preferably flex to permit a range of cap  40  and neck  35  sizes of bottles  30  within the multipack. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  13 - 17   , an additional embodiment of the container carrier  300  is shown wherein the first engagement means comprises two or more arcuate clips  320  and the second engagement means comprises an oval aperture  330  configured to accommodate at least two bottles  30 . 
     The container carrier  300  as shown preferably includes a pair of container engaging fittings  310  that engage a pair of cans  20  arranged in transverse ranks for each transverse pair of containers. The oval aperture  330  is also preferably positioned within each transverse rank and may extend between each transverse pair of container engaging fittings  310 . According to one preferred embodiment, the oval aperture  330  extending between each set of arcuate clips  320  may accommodate a pair of bottle necks  35  and/or caps  40 . In this way, the container carrier can accommodate both cans  20  within the arcuate clips  320  of each container receiving fitting  310 , as shown in  FIG.  16   , and also pairs of bottles  30 , within respective oval apertures  330 , such as shown in  FIG.  17   . 
     As best shown in  FIGS.  13  and  15   , the container carrier  300  preferably includes container receiving fittings  310  formed by a discontinuous series of arcuate clips  320  that together are engageable around a can  20  along a perimeter of each container receiving fitting  310 . These arcuate clips  320  are preferably formed in pairs of container receiving fittings  310  within an oval fitting  310  having a corresponding oval aperture  330 . In this way, the container receiving fittings  310  may engage with a chime  25  of a can  20  to retain the can  20  within the multipack. 
     The container carrier  300  may additionally include a pair of gripping apertures  340  formed along a center axis of the container carrier  300 . The gripping aperture  340  may be formed as a ring between each four of the container receiving fittings to provide an opening for grasping the multipack. As such, in a six pack arrangement, a pair of gripping apertures  340  are formed between six container receiving fittings. 
     The invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element, part, step, component, or ingredient which is not specifically disclosed herein. 
     While in the foregoing detailed description this invention has been described in relation to certain preferred embodiments thereof, and many details have been set forth for purposes of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is 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.