# US 2014/0197051 A1 · Container carrier

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- Number: US 2014/0197051 A1
- Document ID: US20140197051A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/835,182
- Filed: 2013-03-15
- Published: 2014-07-17
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-11
- Assignees: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
- Inventors: Leslie S. Marco
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197051A1

## CPC

- B65D 71/504: {the element being formed from a flexible sheet provided with slits or apertures intended to be stretched over the articles and adapt to the shape of the article}
- B65D 71/063: {Wrappers formed by one or more films or the like, e.g. nets (B65D71/08 takes precedence; wrappers formed by folding a single blank B65D71/12; wrappers formed by folding two or more blanks B65D71/38)}
- B65D 71/066: {and provided with inserts (B65D7/10 takes precedence)}
- 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 package for unitizing a plurality of containers that includes a flexible carrier having an array of container receiving apertures formed in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks wherein each container receiving aperture engages with a respective container of the plurality of containers and includes an outer band having a sufficiently narrow width to result in permanent yield following stretching engagement with and application to a respective container and a secondary package positioned with respect to the carrier and containers to form a unitized package.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A package for unitizing a plurality of containers comprising:
a flexible carrier having an array of container receiving apertures formed in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks wherein each container receiving aperture engages with a respective container of the plurality of containers and includes an outer band having a sufficiently narrow width to result in permanent yield following stretching engagement with and application to a respective container; and a secondary package positioned with respect to the carrier and containers.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The package of claim 1 wherein the secondary package is at least one of shrink film, a tray and a box.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The package of claim 1 wherein the carrier is positioned on the containers in a loose but sturdy arrangement to permit removal of the containers yet maintain the containers in a desired array.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The package of claim 1 wherein the outer bands are substantially narrower than remaining bands in the carrier.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The package of claim 1 wherein only the outer bands are necked following engagement.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The package of claim 1 wherein the outer bands are necked uniformly across the carrier.

### Claim 7

A method of packaging a plurality of containers into a unitized package comprising:
providing a flexible carrier having an array of container receiving apertures formed in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks with a plurality of corresponding containers;
stretching the flexible carrier along outer bands of the container receiving apertures to permanently yield the outer bands to form a plurality of necked container receiving apertures;
engaging the necked container receiving apertures with the corresponding containers; and
applying a secondary package with respect to the carrier and containers.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 further comprising:
placing the carrier and containers within a tray; and
shrink wrapping the tray.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 wherein the carrier is positioned on the containers in a loose but sturdy arrangement to permit removal of the containers yet maintain the containers in a desired array.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 wherein the outer bands are substantially narrower than remaining bands in the carrier.