CONTAINER CARRIER

Abstract

A container carrier for unitizing a plurality of containers including a plurality of outer bands and inner bands forming an array of container receiving apertures arranged in two or more transverse pairs. Each outer band of the plurality of outer bands forms a convex container engaging portion of each container receiving aperture. A central grasping aperture is positioned between each transverse pair of container receiving apertures and includes opposite radiused ends and a central expanded opening. A stress relief cutout is positioned along each inner band between each container receiving aperture and each central grasping aperture.

Claims

1. A container carrier for unitizing a plurality of containers, the container carrier comprising: a plurality of outer bands and inner bands forming an array of container receiving apertures arranged in two or more transverse pairs; each outer band of the plurality of outer bands forming a convex container engaging portion of each container receiving aperture; a central grasping aperture positioned between each transverse pair of container receiving apertures, the central grasping aperture having opposite radiused ends and a central expanded opening; and a stress relief cutout positioned along each inner band between each container receiving aperture and each central grasping aperture.

2. The container carrier of claim 1 wherein the stress relief cutout comprises an arcuate channel.

3. The container carrier of claim 1 wherein the stress relief cutout comprises an inner edge following a contour of the central expanded opening of the central grasping aperture and an outer edge following a contour of the pair of container receiving apertures.

4. The container carrier of claim 1 wherein each container receiving aperture is engageable with a chime of a can.

5. A container carrier for unitizing a plurality of containers, the container carrier comprising: a plurality of outer bands and inner bands forming an array of container receiving apertures arranged in two or more transverse pairs; each outer band of the plurality of outer bands forming a convex container engaging portion of each container receiving aperture; each inner band of the plurality of inner bands forming a convex container engaging portion of each container receiving aperture; a central grasping aperture positioned between each transverse pair of container receiving apertures, the central grasping aperture having opposite radiused ends and a central expanded opening; and an arcuate stress relief cutout positioned along each inner band between each container receiving aperture and each central grasping aperture.

6. The container carrier of claim 5 wherein the stress relief cutout comprises an arcuate channel.

7. The container carrier of claim 5 wherein the stress relief cutout comprises an inner edge following a contour of the central expanded opening of the central grasping aperture and an outer edge following a contour of the pair of container receiving apertures.

8. The container carrier of claim 5 wherein each container receiving aperture is engageable with a chime of a can.

9. The container carrier of claim 5 wherein each container receiving aperture is engaged with a container to form a unitized package.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 shows a top plan view of a container carrier according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0017] FIG. 2 shows a top plan view of a container carrier according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0018] FIG. 3 shows a top plan view of a container carrier according to one embodiment of the invention; and

[0019] FIG. 4 shows a side view of a multipackage formed by a container carrier according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The present invention provides a container carrier 10 to unitize a plurality of containers into beverage multipacks. The container carrier 110 according to this invention is shown in FIGS. 1-4. FIGS. 1-3 show a container carrier according to an embodiment having ten container receiving openings and FIG. 4 shows a completed multipack featuring a unitized plurality of six containers.

[0021] The flexible sheet 20 used to form the flexible carrier 110 is desirably a polymeric or plastic sheet, which can be formed by an extrusion process and then stamped or cut to form the container carrier 110. The flexible sheet 120 preferably comprises a thickness which provides sufficient structural integrity to carry a desired number of containers. For instance, each container carrier 110 may be designed to carry two, four, six, eight, ten or twelve containers of a desired product having a specific weight, volume, shape and size. For most applications, the flexible sheet 120 may have a thickness of about 3-50 mils, suitably about 5-30 mils, commonly about 10-20 mils.

[0022] The flexible sheet 120 used to form the container carrier 110 is formed using a polymer composition that preferably includes a high-pressure low density polyethylene polymer. Often, this polyethylene polymer is blended with post-consumer recycled (PCR) material and/or other additives or blends to extrude the flexible sheet 20 used in the finished container carrier 110. Such a composition preferably provides a container carrier with satisfactory recovery after stretch, desired elongation and strength at application, and resistance to tearing when the carrier is notched or scratched, however, these factors may be affected by the PCR content of the flexible sheet 120 versus virgin polyethylene polymer alone.

[0023] The container carrier 110 generally include a plurality of container receiving apertures 125 that are each stretched around container 50 to form a unitized package 115 of containers 150, such as shown in FIG. 4. As described, portions of the container carrier 110 are stretched a sufficient amount to permit a tight, gripping engagement with containers 150. This tight, gripping engagement also preferably maximizes the amount of material of the container carrier 110 positioned in the vertical plane, i.e., in contact with the sidewalls of containers 150.

[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates one structure for the container carrier 110 of the present invention for forming a package of ten containers. The illustrations are exemplary, and the invention is not limited to the flexible carriers 110 or packages shown. Each container carrier 110 preferably includes the flexible sheet 120 having a plurality of bands defining a plurality of container receiving apertures 125, each for receiving a container 150. The flexible sheet 120 includes bands or rings of material, termed container engaging portions 130, 132, that surround each container receiving aperture 125. Such container receiving portions 130 stretchingly engage or grip the respective containers to form a unitized package of containers 150. FIG. 4 shows a unitized package of six containers utilizing the subject container carrier 110.

[0025] Specifically, the container carrier 110 preferably includes a plurality of outer bands 135 and inner bands 40 forming an array of container receiving apertures 125 arranged in two or more transverse pairs.

[0026] Each outer band 135 of the plurality of outer bands 135 preferably forms a convex container engaging portion 130 of each container receiving aperture 125. These convex container engaging portions 130 are located along an outer periphery of the container carrier 110, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0027] Each inner band 140 of the plurality of inner bands 140 preferably forms a convex container engaging portion 132 of each container receiving aperture 125. These convex container engaging portions 132 are preferably located through a central area of the container carrier 110, as shown in FIG. 1. As a result of the outer band 135 and inner band 140 configurations, each container receiving aperture 135 preferably includes three convex edges. Also as shown in FIG. 1, two generally straight edges may connect each outer band 135 with each inner band 140.

[0028] A central grasping aperture 160 is preferably positioned between each transverse pair of container receiving apertures 125. The central grasping aperture 160 preferably includes opposite radiused ends 164 and a central expanded opening 166.

[0029] A stress relief cutout 170 is preferably positioned along each inner band 140 between each container receiving aperture 125 and each central grasping aperture 160. According to one embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the stress relief cutout 170 comprises an inner edge following a contour of the central expanded opening 166 of the central grasping aperture 160 and an outer edge following a contour of the pair of container receiving apertures 125.

[0030] FIGS. 2 and 3 show additional embodiments of the container carrier 10 wherein the stress relief cutout 170 is formed as an arcuate slot. The arcuate slot preferably maintains a generally uniform width over its length.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 4, each container receiving aperture is engaged with a sidewall of a container 150, such as a can, to create the final unitized package 115.

[0032] The resulting geometry enables a sidewall-applied carrier 110 that isolates the containers 150 in an engaged position when a user grabs the package 115 so that the package 115 maintains integrity and all containers are retained within the container carrier. This is because each aperture pair provides a consistent pathway for even stress distribution while the carrier is stretched for application and isolates forces exerted while lifting the package through the central grasping aperture 160.

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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.