# US 11,027,904 B2 · Carrier for containers

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- Number: US 11,027,904 B2
- Document ID: US11027904B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/426,057
- Filed: 2019-05-30
- Published: 2020-06-18
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2018-12-14
- Assignees: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
- Applicants: Graphic Packaging International, LLC
- Inventors: Justin McCree; Brian Smalley; Steve M. Gould
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027904B2

## CPC

- B65D 71/42: formed by folding a single blank into a single layer element
- B65D 71/46: formed by folding a single blank into a tubular element
- B65D 71/0085: {Packaging elements adhered to the articles, e.g. a carton sheet (adhesive tapes B65D63/1009)}
- B65D 75/04: Articles or materials wholly enclosed in single sheets or wrapper blanks
- B65D 2571/00141: glued
- B65D 2571/00327: the articles being glued to the wrapper
- B65D 2571/00444: for fingers
- B65D 2571/0066: formed from one single sheet
- B65D 2571/00716: tubular without end walls
- B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES

## Abstract

A carrier for holding a plurality of container includes a plurality of panels including at least one central panel and at least one attachment panel configured to receive a portion of one or more containers of the plurality of containers. The at least one central panel is for being positioned between and attached to adjacent containers of the plurality of containers.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the carrier comprising:
a plurality of panels comprising a front central panel foldably connected to a back central panel at a lateral fold line, a front attachment panel foldably connected to the front central panel, and a back attachment panel foldably connected to the back central panel, each of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel configured to receive a portion of one or more containers of the plurality of containers,
each of the front central panel and the back central panel is for being positioned between and attached to adjacent containers of the plurality of containers, and each of the front central panel and the back central panel comprises an opening in communication with the respective other of the front central panel and the back central panel, the opening in the front central panel is spaced a first longitudinal distance from the lateral fold line, the opening in the back central panel is spaced a second longitudinal distance from the lateral fold line, the first longitudinal distance is greater than the second longitudinal distance such that the opening in the front central panel is offset from the opening in the back central panel.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The carrier of claim 1, wherein at least one of the front central panel and the back central panel is adhered to adjacent containers of the plurality of containers.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The carrier of claim 1, wherein a face of the front central panel is in at least partial face-to-face contact with a face of the back central panel.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The carrier of claim 1, wherein at least one of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel comprises a plurality of cuts that define edges for engaging respective containers of the plurality of containers.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The carrier of claim 4, wherein the plurality of cuts defines a respective plurality of container retention tabs.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The carrier of claim 4, wherein the plurality of cuts are for receiving at least a portion of respective containers of the plurality of containers therethrough.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The carrier of claim 1, wherein the plurality of panels further comprises a top panel overlying at least a portion of at least one of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The carrier of claim 7, wherein the top panel comprises at least one handle feature and the at least one of the front central panel and the back central panel comprises a handle opening, the at least one handle feature of the top panel is aligned with the handle opening.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The carrier of claim 8, wherein the at least one handle feature comprises a first handle feature and a second handle feature, and the handle opening comprises a first handle opening and a second handle opening.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The carrier of claim 7, wherein the plurality of panels further comprises a side panel.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The carrier of claim 10, wherein the side panel is a front side panel foldably connected to the front attachment panel, and the plurality of panels further comprises a back side panel foldably connected to the back attachment panel.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The carrier of claim 1, wherein at least one end flap is foldably connected to at least one of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The carrier of claim 12, wherein the at least one end flap is folded downwardly relative to the at least one of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel to overlie a portion of a container of the plurality of containers.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The carrier of claim 13, wherein the at least one end flap is a first end flap, the carrier further comprises a second end flap foldably connected to the at least one of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel and folded downwardly relative to the at least one of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel to overlie a portion of the container of the plurality of containers, and the carrier further comprises a third end flap foldably connected to and at least partially overlying a portion of the at least one of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The carrier of claim 1, wherein at least one of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel comprises a plurality of openings for at least partially receiving respective containers of the plurality of containers.

### Claim 16

A blank for forming a carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the blank comprising:
a plurality of panels comprising a front central panel foldably connected to a back central panel at a lateral fold line, a front attachment panel foldably connected to the front central panel, and a back attachment panel foldably connected to the back central panel, each of the back attachment panel and the front attachment panel is configured to receive a portion of one or more containers of the plurality of containers,
each of the front central panel and the back central panel is for being positioned between and attached to adjacent containers of the plurality of containers in the carrier formed from the blank, and each of the front central panel and the back central panel comprises an opening for being in communication with the respective other of the front central panel and the back central panel when the carrier is formed from the blank, the opening in the front central panel is spaced a first longitudinal distance from the lateral fold line, the opening in the back central panel is spaced a second longitudinal distance from the lateral fold line, the first longitudinal distance is greater than the second longitudinal distance.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The blank of claim 16, wherein at least one of the front central panel and the back central panel is for being adhered to adjacent containers of the plurality of containers in the carrier formed from the blank.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The blank of claim 16, wherein at least one of the front attachment panel and the back central panel comprises a plurality of cuts that define edges for engaging respective containers of the plurality of containers in the carrier formed from the blank.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The blank of claim 18, wherein the plurality of cuts defines a respective plurality of container retention tabs.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The blank of claim 16, wherein the plurality of panels further comprises a top panel.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The blank of claim 20, wherein the top panel comprises at least one handle feature and the at least one central panel comprises a handle opening.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The blank of claim 21, wherein the at least one handle feature comprises a first handle feature and a second handle feature, and the handle opening comprises a first handle opening and a second handle opening.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The blank of claim 20, wherein the plurality of panels further comprises a side panel.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The blank of claim 23, wherein the side panel is a front side panel foldably connected to the front attachment panel, and the plurality of panels further comprises a back side panel foldably connected to the back attachment panel.

### Claim 25 (depends on 16)

The blank of claim 16, wherein at least one end flap is foldably connected to the at least one of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The blank of claim 25, wherein the at least one end flap is a first end flap, the blank further comprises a second end flap foldably connected to the at least one of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel, and the blank further comprises a third end flap foldably connected to the at least one of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel.

### Claim 27 (depends on 16)

The blank of claim 16, wherein at least one of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel comprises a plurality of openings for at least partially receiving respective containers of the plurality of containers in the carrier formed from the blank.

### Claim 28

A method of forming a carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the method comprising:
obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels, the plurality of panels a front central panel foldably connected to a back central panel at a lateral fold line, a front attachment panel foldably connected to the front central panel, and a back attachment panel foldably connected to the back central panel, each of the front central panel and the back central panel comprising an opening and each of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel being configured to receive a portion of one or more containers of the plurality of containers, the opening in the front central panel is spaced a first longitudinal distance from the lateral fold line, the opening in the back central panel is spaced a second longitudinal distance from the lateral fold line, the first longitudinal distance is greater than the second longitudinal distance;
folding the plurality of panels such that each of the front central panel and the back central panel is positioned between adjacent containers of the plurality of containers and such that the opening of each of the front central panel and the back central is positioned in communication with the respective other of the front central panel and the back central panel so that the opening in the front central panel is offset from the opening in the back central panel; and
attaching at least one of the front central panel and the back central panel to at least one container of the plurality of containers.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein at least one of the front central panel and the back central panel is adhered to adjacent containers of the plurality of containers.

### Claim 30 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein a face of the front central panel is in at least partial face-to-face contact with a face of the back central panel.

### Claim 31 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein at least one of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel comprises a plurality of cuts that define edges for engaging respective containers of the plurality of containers.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, wherein the plurality of cuts defines a respective plurality of container retention tabs.

### Claim 33 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, wherein the plurality of cuts are for receiving at least a portion of respective containers of the plurality of containers therethrough.

### Claim 34 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein the plurality of panels further comprises a top panel overlying at least a portion of the at least one attachment panel.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The method of claim 34, wherein the top panel comprises at least one handle feature and the at least one central panel comprises a handle opening, the at least one handle feature of the top panel is aligned with the handle opening.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The method of claim 35, wherein the at least one handle feature comprises a first handle feature and a second handle feature, and the handle opening comprises a first handle opening and a second handle opening.

### Claim 37 (depends on 34)

The method of claim 34, wherein the plurality of panels further comprises a side panel.

### Claim 38 (depends on 37)

The method of claim 37, wherein the side panel is a front side panel foldably connected to the front attachment panel, and the plurality of panels further comprises a back side panel foldably connected to the back attachment panel.

### Claim 39 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein at least one end flap is foldably connected to at least one of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel.

### Claim 40 (depends on 39)

The method of claim 39, wherein the at least one end flap is folded downwardly relative to the at least one of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel to overlie a portion of a container of the plurality of containers.

### Claim 41 (depends on 40)

The method of claim 40, wherein the at least one end flap is a first end flap, the carrier further comprises a second end flap foldably connected to the at least one of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel and folded downwardly relative to the at least one of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel to overlie a portion of the container of the plurality of containers, and the carrier further comprises a third end flap foldably connected to and at least partially overlying a portion of the at least one of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel.

### Claim 42 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein at least one of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel comprises a plurality of openings for at least partially receiving respective containers of the plurality of containers.

### Claim 43

A package, comprising:
a plurality of containers; and
a carrier comprising:
a plurality of panels comprising a front central panel foldably connected to a back central panel at a lateral fold line, a front attachment panel foldably connected to the front central panel, and a back attachment panel foldably connected to the back central panel, a portion of one or more containers of the plurality of containers is received in the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel,
each of the front central panel and the back central panel is positioned between and attached to adjacent containers of the plurality of containers, and each of the front central panel and the back central panel comprises an opening in communication with the respective other of the front central panel and the back central panel, the opening in the front central panel is spaced a first longitudinal distance from the fold line, the opening in the back central panel is spaced a second longitudinal distance from the fold line, the first longitudinal distance is greater than the second longitudinal distance such that the opening in the front central panel is offset from the opening in the back central panel.

### Claim 44 (depends on 43)

The package of claim 43, wherein at least one of the front central panel and the back central panel is adhered to adjacent containers of the plurality of containers.

### Claim 45 (depends on 43)

The package of claim 43, wherein a face of the front central panel is in at least partial face-to-face contact with a face of the back central panel.

### Claim 46 (depends on 43)

The package of claim 43, wherein at least one of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel comprises a plurality of cuts that define edges engaged with respective containers of the plurality of containers.

### Claim 47 (depends on 46)

The package of claim 46, wherein the plurality of cuts defines a respective plurality of container retention tabs.

### Claim 48 (depends on 46)

The package of claim 46, wherein the plurality of cuts receive at least a portion of respective containers of the plurality of containers therethrough.

### Claim 49 (depends on 43)

The package of claim 43, wherein at least one end flap is foldably connected to at least one of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel.

### Claim 50 (depends on 49)

The package of claim 49, wherein the at least one end flap is folded downwardly relative to the at least one of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel and overlying a portion of a container of the plurality of containers.

### Claim 51 (depends on 50)

The package of claim 50, wherein the at least one end flap is a first end flap, the carrier further comprises a second end flap foldably connected to the at least one of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel and folded downwardly relative to the at least one of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel and overlying a portion of the container of the plurality of containers, and the carrier further comprises a third end flap foldably connected to and at least partially overlying a portion of the at least one of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel.

### Claim 52 (depends on 43)

The package of claim 43, wherein at least one of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel comprises a plurality of openings at least partially receiving respective containers of the plurality of containers.

### Claim 53

A package, comprising:
a plurality of containers; and
a carrier comprising:
a plurality of panels comprising a front central panel foldably connected to a back central panel, a front attachment panel foldably connected to the front central panel, and a back attachment panel foldably connected to the back central panel, a portion of one or more containers of the plurality of containers is received in the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel,
each of the front central panel and the back central panel is positioned between and attached to adjacent containers of the plurality of containers, and each of the front central panel and the back central panel comprises an opening in communication with the respective other of the front central panel and the back central panel and the opening in the front central panel is offset from the opening in the back central panel,
wherein the plurality of panels further comprises a top panel overlying at least a portion of at least one of the front attachment panel and the back attachment panel.

### Claim 54 (depends on 53)

The package of claim 53, wherein the top panel comprises at least one handle feature and the at least one of the front central panel and the back central panel comprises a handle opening, the at least one handle feature of the top panel is aligned with the handle opening.

### Claim 55 (depends on 54)

The package of claim 54, wherein the at least one handle feature comprises a first handle feature and a second handle feature, and the handle opening comprises a first handle opening and a second handle opening.

### Claim 56 (depends on 53)

The package of claim 53, wherein the plurality of panels further comprises a side panel.

### Claim 57 (depends on 56)

The package of claim 56, wherein the side panel is a front side panel foldably connected to the front attachment panel, and the plurality of panels further comprises a back side panel foldably connected to the back attachment panel.