Carrier for containers
AssigneeGraphic Packaging International, Inc.
InventorColin P. Ford
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the carrier including a plurality of panels having at least one attachment panel configured to receive a portion of one or more containers of the plurality of containers, at least one side panel, and at least one top panel, and locking features for maintaining an erected configuration of the carrier, the locking features including at least one male locking feature extending from a respective panel of the plurality of panels being at least partially received in a respective at least one female locking feature at least partially defined in a respective panel of the plurality of panels.
Claims72
A carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the carrier comprising:
- a plurality of panels comprising at least one attachment panel configured to receive a portion of one or more containers of the plurality of containers, at least one side panel, and at least one top panel, the at least one attachment panel comprising a container retention portion and at least one marginal portion foldably connected to the container retention portion;
- and
- locking features for maintaining an erected configuration of the carrier, the locking features comprising at least one male locking feature extending from a respective panel of the plurality of panels and being at least partially received in a respective at least one female locking feature at least partially defined in a respective panel of the plurality of panels, the at least one female locking feature at least partially defined in the container retention portion of the at least one attachment panel.
A blank for forming a carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the blank comprising:
- a plurality of panels comprising at least one attachment panel configured to receive a portion of one or more containers of the plurality of containers, at least one side panel, and at least one top panel, the at least one attachment panel comprising a container retention portion and at least one marginal portion foldably connected to the container retention portion;
- and
- locking features for maintaining an erected configuration of the carrier formed from the blank, the locking features comprising at least one male locking feature extending from a respective panel of the plurality of panels for being at least partially received in a respective at least one female locking feature at least partially defined in a respective panel of the plurality of panels when the carrier is formed from the blank, the at least one female locking feature at least partially defined in the container retention portion of the at least one attachment panel.
A method for forming a carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the method comprising:
- obtaining a blank comprising plurality of panels including at least one attachment panel configured to receive a portion of one or more containers of the plurality of containers and comprising a container retention portion and at least one marginal portion foldably connected to the container retention portion, at least one side panel, and at least one top panel, and locking features comprising at least one male locking feature extending from a respective panel of the plurality of panels and at least one female locking feature at least partially defined in a respective panel of the plurality of panels, the at least one female locking feature at least partially defined in the container retention portion of the at least one attachment panel;
- positioning the at least one attachment panel for at least partially receiving one or more containers of the plurality of containers;
- and
- at least partially inserting the at least one male locking feature through the at least one female locking feature to maintain an erected configuration of the carrier.
A package, the package comprising:
- a plurality of containers;
- and
- a carrier holding the plurality of containers, the carrier comprising:
- a plurality of panels comprising at least one attachment panel receiving a portion of one or more containers of the plurality of containers, at least one side panel, and at least one top panel, the at least one attachment panel comprising a container retention portion and at least one marginal portion foldably connected to the container retention portion;
- and
- locking features maintaining an erected configuration of the carrier, the locking features comprising at least one male locking feature extending from a respective panel of the plurality of panels and being at least partially received in a respective at least one female locking feature at least partially defined in a respective panel of the plurality of panels, the at least one female locking feature at least partially defined in the container retention portion of the at least one attachment panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.