Flexible container carrier

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11319129-B2
Application number	US-201917049204-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 14, 2019
Priority date	May 14, 2018
Publication date	May 3, 2022
Grant date	May 3, 2022

Abstract

A flexible container carrier for unitizing a plurality of containers that includes a plurality of flexible bands that form an array of container receiving apertures, the array arranged in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks. A handle is formed along each longitudinal edge of the array of container receiving apertures. Two or more sets of perforations are formed between each row of container receiving apertures and between center apertures.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A flexible container carrier for unitizing a plurality of containers comprising:
a plurality of flexible bands that form an array of container receiving apertures, the array arranged in longitudinal rows and transverse ranks;
two handles, one respective handle of the two handles formed along each longitudinal edge of the array of container receiving apertures;
two or more center apertures formed within the plurality of flexible bands between the longitudinal rows of the container receiving apertures, wherein each center aperture is asymmetric relative to a transverse axis of the carrier and wherein each center aperture is within a central area of the carrier and elongated toward a center of the carrier;
two or more sets of perforations formed between each row of container receiving apertures; and
a notch positioned within the plurality of flexible bands on each distal end of each center aperture, the notch generally longitudinally aligned with each set of perforations and configured to assist a blade to locate a center web of the carrier exactly where the carrier is to be cut.

2. The flexible carrier of claim 1 wherein the perforations comprise a plurality of slits positioned between each center aperture.

3. The flexible container carrier of claim 1 wherein a center band is approximately twice as wide as an outer band of the container carrier.

4. A flexible container carrier for unitizing a plurality of containers comprising:
a plurality of flexible bands that form two longitudinal rows of container receiving apertures, wherein the flexible bands in a center of the carrier are wider than the flexible bands along outer edges of the carrier;
two center apertures formed in the plurality of flexible bands between the two longitudinal rows of container receiving apertures, wherein each center aperture is asymmetric relative to a transverse axis of the carrier and wherein each center aperture is within a central area of the carrier and elongated toward a center of the carrier;
a set of perforations formed on each side of each center aperture;
a notch positioned within the plurality of flexible bands at each distal end of each center aperture, the notch generally longitudinally aligned with each set of perforations and configured to assist a blade to locate a center web exactly where the carrier is to be cut; and
a handle formed along each longitudinal edge of the array of container receiving apertures.

5. The flexible carrier of claim 4 wherein the flexible bands in the center are approximately twice as wide as the flexible bands along the outer edges.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Olsen Robert C

Classifications

• B65D2571/00277

  Slits or openings formed along a fold line · CPC title

• B65D71/504 Primary

  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 · CPC title