Separatable container carrier

A manufacturing method for a container carrier for securing together and carrying one or more containers, the method comprising:

• molding an integrally formed body including a plurality of annular structures;
• forming each annular structure to have a top surface, a side wall, and a plurality of inwardly projecting flanges;
• forming a first annular structure to be detachably coupled to a second annular structure by a tearable first tab;
• forming the first tab to include a first thin section in a first bridging portion arranged between the first and second annular structures;
• configuring the first tab to separate along the first thin section when a tearing operation is performed on the first tab to thereby physically detach the first annular structure from the second annular structure;
• forming a third annular structure to be detachably coupled to a fourth annular structure by a tearable second tab;
• forming the second tab to include a second thin section in a second bridging portion arranged between the third and fourth annular structures;
• configuring the second tab to separate along the second thin section when a tearing operation is performed on the second tab to thereby physically detach the third annular structure from the fourth annular structure;
• forming the container carrier to separate into a first truncated carrier and a second truncated carrier when tearing operations are performed on both the first tab and second tab, the first truncated carrier comprising the first and third annular structures, and the second truncated carrier comprising the second and fourth annular structures;
• and
• configuring the first tab and the second tab to remain attached to one of the first truncated carrier and the second truncated carrier after the container carrier is separated into the first truncated carrier and the second truncated carrier.

A container carrier for securing together and carrying multiple containers comprising:

• an integrally molded body including a plurality of annular structures, wherein
• each annular structure has a top surface, a side wall, and a plurality of inwardly projecting flanges,
• the top surface of each annular structure includes a central raised structure configured to encompass a cap of a container secured within the annular structure such that the cap cannot be removed while the container is secured within the annular structure;
• a first annular structure is detachably coupled to a second annular structure by a tearable first tab;
• a third annular structure is detachably coupled to a fourth annular structure by a tearable second tab;
• the third annular structure is fixedly coupled to the first annular structure by a first bridge;
• fourth annular structure fixedly coupled to the second annular structure by a second bridge;
• the first tab includes a first thin section in a first bridging portion arranged between the first and second annular structures, the first tab being configured to separate along the first thin section when a tearing operation is performed on the first tab to thereby physically detach the first annular structure from the second annular structure;
• the second tab includes a second thin section in a second bridging portion arranged between the third and fourth annular structures, the second tab being configured to separate along the second thin section when a tearing operation is performed on the second tab to thereby physically detach the third annular structure from the fourth annular structure,
• the container carrier is configured to separate into a first truncated carrier and a second truncated carrier when tearing operations are performed on both the first tab and second tab, the first truncated carrier comprising the first and third annular structures, and the second truncated carrier comprising the second and fourth annular structures, and
• the first tab and the second tab remain attached to one of the first truncated carrier and the second truncated carrier after the container carrier is separated into the first truncated carrier and the second truncated carrier.