Carrier for containers
AssigneeGraphic Packaging International, Inc.
InventorJon Thompson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A carrier for holding a plurality of containers includes a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carrier, the plurality of panels including a top panel, a bottom panel, and at least one side panel, a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels at least partially overlapped to form at least one end of the carrier, container retention features in the top panel for at least partially receiving a portion of a respective container of the plurality of containers, and at least one open corner of the carrier defined between a free edge of the top panel, a free edge of the bottom panel, and a free edge of the at least one side panel.
Claims55
A carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the carrier comprising:
- a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carrier, the plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, a marginal portion, and at least one side panel;
- a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels at least partially overlapped to form at least one end of the carrier;
- container retention features disposed in the marginal portion and in the top panel for at least partially receiving a portion of a respective container of the plurality of containers;
- and
- at least one open corner of the carrier defined between a free edge of the top panel, a free edge of the bottom panel, a free edge of the marginal portion, and a free edge of the at least one side panel.
A blank for forming a carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the blank comprising:
- a plurality of panels for extending at least partially around an interior of the carrier formed from the blank, the plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, a marginal portion, and at least one side panel;
- a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels for being at least partially overlapped to form at least one end of the carrier formed from the blank;
- container retention features disposed in the marginal portion and in the top panel for at least partially receiving a portion of a respective container of the plurality of containers;
- and
- a free edge of the top panel, a free edge of the bottom panel, a free edge of the marginal portion, and a free edge of the at least one side panel for being arranged for forming at least one open corner of the carrier formed from the blank.
A method of forming a carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the method comprising:
- obtaining a blank, the blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, a marginal portion, and at least one side panel, a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, and container retention features disposed in the marginal portion and in the top panel;
- positioning the plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carrier;
- at least partially overlapping the plurality of end flaps to form at least one end of the carrier;
- positioning the container retention features for at least partially receiving a portion of a respective container of the plurality of containers;
- and
- arranging a free edge of the top panel, a free edge of the bottom panel, a free edge of the marginal portion, and a free edge of the at least one side panel to form at least one open corner 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 extending at least partially around an interior of the carrier, the plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, a marginal portion, and at least one side panel;
- a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels at least partially overlapped to form at least one end of the carrier;
- container retention features disposed in the marginal portion and in the top panel at least partially receiving a portion of a respective container of the plurality of containers;
- and
- at least one open corner of the carrier defined between a free edge of the top panel, a free edge of the bottom panel, a free edge of the marginal portion, and a free edge of the at least one side panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.