Carrier for containers
AssigneeGraphic Packaging International, Inc.
InventorBrian Smalley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A carrier for holding a plurality of containers. The carrier has at least one bottom panel, at least one top panel, a front panel, a back panel, and at least two side panels. The at least one top panel is foldably connected to one of the front panel and the back panel. The at least one top panel has a handle portion for forming a handle of the carrier and a retaining portion having container receiving openings for retaining the containers in the carrier. The carrier has a retention flap foldably connected to the top panel for retaining the carrier in an assembled position.
Claims29
A carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the carrier comprising:
- panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carrier, the panels comprise a front panel, a back panel, a first side panel foldably connected to at least one of the front panel and the back panel, a second side panel foldably connected to at least one of the front panel and the back panel, at least one top panel, and at least one bottom panel;
- the at least one top panel is foldably connected to one of the front panel and the back panel,
- the at least one top panel comprises a handle portion for forming a handle of the carrier and a retaining portion having container receiving openings for receiving the containers in the carrier,
- the at least one top panel comprises a retention flap foldably connected to the top panel and positioned between at least two of the containers for retaining the carrier in an assembled position.
A blank for forming a carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the blank comprising:
- panels that comprise a front panel, a back panel, a first side panel foldably connected to at least one of the front panel and the back panel, a second side panel foldably connected to at least one of the front panel and the back panel, at least one top panel, and at least one bottom panel;
- the at least one top panel is foldably connected to one of the front panel and the back panel,
- the at least one top panel comprises handle features for forming a handle of the carrier formed from the blank and a retaining portion having container receiving openings,
- the at least one top panel comprises a retention flap foldably connected to the top panel and adjacent one of the container receiving openings.
A method of forming a carrier for containing a plurality of containers, the method comprising:
- obtaining a blank having panels that comprise a front panel, a back panel, a first side panel foldably connected to at least one of the front panel and the back panel, a second side panel foldably connected to at least one of the front panel and the back panel, at least one top panel, and at least one bottom panel, the at least one top panel is foldably connected to one of the front panel and the back panel, the at least one top panel comprises handle portion, a retaining portion having container receiving openings, and a retention flap foldably connected to the top panel and adjacent one of the container receiving openings;
- and
- forming the blank into an open-ended sleeve;
- inserting containers into the sleeve such that the containers are inserted through the container receiving openings of the retaining portion, at least two of the containers being placed into contact with the retention flap to retain the carrier in an assembled position;
- closing the open-ended sleeve to at least partially close the carrier.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.