Carrier for Containers

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/658,804, filed on Jun. 11, 2024, entitled Carrier for Containers.

The disclosures of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/848,682, filed on Jun. 24, 2022, entitled Carrier for Containers, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/658,804, filed on Jun. 11, 2024, entitled Carrier for Containers, are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if presented herein in their entireties.

The present disclosure generally relates to cartons or carriers for holding, displaying, and/or transporting containers.

According to one aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a system for holding a plurality of containers, the system comprising an upper construct comprising a plurality of panels, each panel of the plurality of panels comprising a plurality of container retention features for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, and a lower construct, the lower comprising a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the lower construct for at least partially receiving the plurality of containers.

According to another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a combination of blanks for forming a system for holding a plurality of containers, the combination of blanks comprising an upper blank comprising a plurality of panels, each panel of the plurality of panels comprising a plurality of container retention features for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, and a lower blank, the lower blank comprising a plurality of panels for extending at least partially around an interior of the lower construct formed from the blank for at least partially receiving the plurality of containers.

According to another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a method of forming a system for holding a plurality of containers, the method comprising obtaining an upper blank, the upper blank comprising a plurality of panels, each panel of the plurality of panels comprising a plurality of container retention features, obtaining a lower blank, the lower blank a plurality of panels, positioning the plurality of panels of the upper blank forming an upper construct such that the plurality of container retention features is positioned for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, and positioning the plurality of panels of the lower blank extending at least partially around an interior of the lower construct for at least partially receiving the plurality of containers.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate the above stated advantages and other advantages and benefits of various additional embodiments reading the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the below-listed drawing figures. It is within the scope of the present disclosure that the above-discussed aspects be provided both individually and in various combinations.

Corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference numbers throughout the drawings.

The present disclosure generally relates to carriers, packages, constructs, sleeves, cartons, or the like, for holding and displaying containers such as jars, bottles, cans, etc. The containers can be used for packaging food and beverage products, for example. The containers can be made from materials suitable in composition for packaging the particular food or beverage item, and the materials include, but are not limited to, glass; plastics such as PET, LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, PP, PS, PVC, EVOH, and Nylon; and the like; aluminum and/or other metals; or any combination thereof.

Carriers according to the present disclosure can accommodate containers of numerous different shapes. For the purpose of illustration and not for the purpose of limiting the scope of the disclosure, the following detailed description describes beverage bottles (e.g., plastic bottles) at least partially disposed within the carrier embodiments. In this specification, the terms “lower,” “bottom,” “upper,” “top,” “front,” and “back” indicate orientations determined in relation to fully erected carriers.

With momentary reference to, in the illustrated embodiments, the containers B can be bottles, e.g., plastic bottles formed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or another polymer, and having upper portions that include an at least partially tapered neck portion N intersecting a flange F that at least partially supports a cap CP. The containers B can also have lower portions that at least partially define a bottom recessed portion. In other embodiments, the containers B could be beverage cans or another suitable type and size of container.

As described herein, carriers may be formed by multiple overlapping panels, end flaps, and/or other portions of blanks. Such panels, end flaps, and/or other portions of the blank can be designated in relative terms to one another, e.g., “first”, “second”, “third”, etc., in sequential or non-sequential reference, without departing from the disclosure.

shows a plan view of an exterior sideof a blank(broadly, “upper blank”) used to form an upper constructof a carrier or carrier systemin accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.is an enlarged view of a portion of the blank.

As shown in, the upper constructand carrier systemis sized to contain or support six containers, with three containers B being attached to a front portion of the carrier systemand three containers B being attached to a back portion of the carrier system. In some embodiments, the containers B can be PET beverage bottles for holding a volume of fluid of about 1.25 L, though the containers B can have a different configuration without departing from the disclosure. The carrier systemcan be sized and shaped to hold more or less than six containers. The carrier systemcan be provided together with one or more containers as a package.

As shown in, the blankhas a longitudinal axis Land a lateral axis L. The blankhas a front portion for at least partially forming a front portion of the carrier systemand a back portionfor at least partially forming a back portion of the carrier system.

In the illustrated embodiment, the blankcan include a plurality of panels that includes a first panelfoldably connected to a second panelat a lateral fold line.

Each panel,can have a generally similar configuration, and can include a respective plurality of container retention featurespositioned in row and column arrangements for at least partially receiving a respective portion of a respective container B therethrough.

Each container retention feature, as shown, can include a respective plurality of container retention tabsfoldably connected to the respective panel,,at a respective oblique fold line, with respective adjacent container retention tabsseparable from one another at a respective lateral cutand a respective longitudinal cut.

It will be understood that the plurality of container retention tabs can at least partially fold relative to the respective panel,to at least partially expose a respective container retention opening for at least partially receiving the respective container B.

Turning to, the exterior surfaceof a blank(broadly, “lower blank”) for forming a lower constructof the carrier or carrier systemin accordance with exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is illustrated.is an enlarged view of a portion of the blank.

As shown in, the blankhas the longitudinal axis Land a lateral axis Land a plurality of panels for at least partially forming the constructfrom the blank.

In the illustrated embodiment, the blankcan include a central panel or bottom panel, a first side panelfoldably connected to the bottom panelat a lateral fold line, a second side panelfoldably connected to the bottom panelat a lateral fold line, a first end panelfoldably connected to the bottom panelat a longitudinal fold line, and a second end panelfoldably connected to the bottom panelat a longitudinal fold line.

The side panel, as shown, can include a central portionfor at least partially forming a side of the lower constructand a pair of corner portions,at least partially defined by a respective plurality of lines of weakeningfor at least partially forming corners of the lower construct. Similarly, the side panel, as shown, can include a central portionfor at least partially forming a side of the lower constructand a pair of corner portions,at least partially defined by respective pluralities of lines of weakeningfor at least partially forming corners of the lower construct.

The blankand constructformed therefrom can also include a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels. As shown, the plurality of end flaps can include an attachment end flapfoldably connected to the corner portionof the side panelat a respective line of weakening of the plurality of lines of weakening, an attachment end flapfoldably connected to the corner portionof the side panelat a respective line of weakening of the plurality of lines of weakening, an attachment end flapfoldably connected to the corner portionof the side panelat a respective line of weakening of the plurality of lines of weakening, and an attachment end flapfoldably connected to the corner portionof the side panelat a respective line of weakening of the plurality of lines of weakening.

In some embodiments, the bottom panelcan include respective plurality of container retention featurespositioned in row and column arrangements for at least partially receiving a respective portion of a respective container B therethrough.

Each container retention feature, as shown, can include a central openingthrough the bottom paneland a plurality of lines of weakeningradiating outwardly from the opening. As shown, the lines of weakeningcould be at least partially cuts that are laterally or longitudinally arranged, though one or more of the lines of weakeningcould have a different configuration without departing from the disclosure.

In this regard, the lines of weakeningcan facilitate relative movement of portions of the bottom paneladjacent the respective line of weakening, e.g., so as to facilitate folding, flexure, bending, etc. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the lines of weakeningcan at least partially form respective container retention tabsbetween respective lines of weakeningthat can at least partially fold or flex relative to the bottom panelto at least partially enlarge or supplement the respective openingfor at least partially receiving a portion of the respective container B.

Turning to, formation of the upper construct, the lower construct, and the systemis illustrated according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. As shown, the lower constructis free from attachment to the upper construct.

In some embodiments, the panels,of the blankcan be at least partially folded at the fold lineinto at least partial face-to-face contact and positioned such that at least the cap CP and flange F of the respective containers B are at least partially received through the respective aligned container retention featuresof the panels,.

In such an arrangement, one or more container retention tabsof the respective container retention featurescan fold at least partially upwardly relative to the respective panel,at a respective fold lineto extend in a contacting and/or bracing relationship with the underside of a respective flange F of a respective container B of the plurality of containers B.

The overlapping arrangement of the panels,can provide a strengthened, multi-ply arrangement for at least partially supporting the containers B. In some embodiments, such arrangement can provide at least partial tear resistance. In some embodiments, longitudinal free edge portions, e.g., portions proximate the longitudinal free edges, of the respective overlapped panels,can provide convenient locations at which a user can curl his or her fingers below the lowermost panel,to lift carry, etc., the system.

The lower constructcan be at least partially formed from the blank, in some embodiments, by at least partially folding the respective panels,,,into a generally upright relationship with the bottom panelat the respective fold lines,,,.

The respective corner portions,,,of the respective side panels,can be at least partially folded at the respective pluralities of fold linesto form at least partially curved/contoured corners,,,of the lower constructthat position the respective attachment end flaps,,,in at least partial face-to-face contact with the respective end panels,. In the illustrated arrangement, the respective corners extend between a respective side panel,and a respective end panel,of the lower construct.

The respective panels of the blank/lower constructcan thus extend at least partially around an interiorthereof for at least partially receiving respective lower portions of the containers B for maintaining the containers B in a generally packed/abutting relationship, e.g., such that the lower portions thereof are at least partially restricted from moving apart.

With additional reference to, in some embodiments in which the blank/lower constructis provided with the container retention features, as shown, a system(broadly, “first system” or “upper system”) can be stacked upon another system(broadly, “second system” or “lower system”), e.g., such that the bottom panelof the upper systemcan be supported on upper surfaces of the caps CP of the systemtherebelow. Such an arrangement of systems, in some embodiments, can be considered a pallet or portion thereof.

In such an arrangement, the caps CP of the lower systemcan be at least partially received through the container retention featuresin the bottom panelof the upper systemthereabove such that the caps CP of the lower systemcan be positioned at least partially in the recessed portions of the respective containers B associated with the upper system, e.g., for stability, stacking strength, to lower the vertical profile of multiple stacked systems, etc.

In such an arrangement, the respective container retention tabs(or corresponding portions of the bottom panel) of the upper systemcan at least partially fold, flex, etc. toward the interiorof the lower constructsuch that the respective openingof a respective container retention featurecan widen or be supplemented to at least partially receive respective portions of the respective containers B extending upwardly from the lower system.

It will be understood that the above-described arrangement of the constructs,can be at least partially maintained via one or more applications of an adhesive such as glue. It will be understood that the systemand/or one or more portions thereof can have a different configuration without departing from the disclosure.

With additional reference to, in some embodiments, the systemcan be provided with a handle H extending therefrom that can include one or more lengths of adhesive tape or substrate configured for attachment to one or more of the containers B, and provided with a handle structure attached to such substrate and suitable for gripping by a consumer. The handle H can be configured so as to remain attached to the containers B upon at least partially bearing the weight thereof, as well as forces incidental to carrying the system.

Turning to, the exterior sideof a blank(broadly, “upper blank”) used to form an upper constructof a carrier or carrier systemin accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the disclosure is illustrated. The upper constructand carrier systemis sized to contain or support six containers, with three containers B being attached to a front portion of the carrier systemand three containers B being attached to a back portion of the carrier system. The carrier systemcan be provided together with one or more containers as a package.

As shown in, the blankhas a longitudinal axis Land a lateral axis L. The blankhas a front portion for at least partially forming a front portion of the carrier systemand a back portionfor at least partially forming a back portion of the carrier system.

In the illustrated embodiment, the blankcan include a plurality of panels that includes a first panelfoldably connected to a second panelat a lateral fold line.

Each panel,can have a generally similar configuration, and can include a respective plurality of container retention featurespositioned in a row arrangement for at least partially receiving a respective portion of a respective container B therethrough.

Each panel,can also include a plurality of longitudinally spaced lateral fold lines,,extending therealong for at least partially facilitating formation of the upper constructand for at least partially defining an attachment portionof the paneland a respective handle portionof the panel. In some embodiments, the attachment portionof the panelcan be at least partially defined between the fold lineand a free lateral edge of the panel. In other embodiments, the attachment portionof the panelcan be at least partially defined between the fold lineand a free lateral edge of the panel.

Similarly, an attachment portionof the paneland a respective handle portionof the panelcan be at least partially defined. In some embodiments, the attachment portionof the panelcan be at least partially defined between the fold lineand a free lateral edge of the panel. In other embodiments, the attachment portionof the panelcan be at least partially defined between the fold lineand a free lateral edge of the panel.

In the illustrated embodiment, the respective fold linescan be at least partially interrupted by the respective container retention features. It will be understood that one or both of the panels,can have a different configuration without departing from the disclosure.

The handle portion of each panel,, as shown, can include a respective handle openingand a respective handle flapfoldably connected to the respective panel,and at least partially extending into the respective handle opening.

Turning to, formation of the systemwill be illustrated according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. As shown, the lower constructis free from attachment to the upper constructof the system.

In some embodiments, the panels,can be folded at the fold lineinto at least partial face-to-face contact and can be at least partially positioned to receive respective containers B of the plurality of containers B via the container retention featuresas described above with respect to the upper construct.

Prior to and/or in the course of such engagement with the containers B, the respective handle portions,of the respective panels,can at least partially fold relative to the remainder thereof at the respective fold lineand can at least partially fold into at least partial face-to-face contact to form a handleof the upper constructand extending from the system. The handleis thus foldably connected to the remainder of the upper construct.