Carrier for containers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11820569-B2
Application number	US-202217690208-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 9, 2022
Priority date	Mar 11, 2021
Publication date	Nov 21, 2023
Grant date	Nov 21, 2023

Abstract

A carrier for holding a plurality of containers includes a plurality of panels including a top panel foldably connected to at least one attachment panel, and attachment features for attaching the carrier to the plurality of containers and for selectively separating one or more containers from the carrier.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the carrier comprising:
a plurality of panels comprising a top panel foldably connected to at least one attachment panel; and
attachment features for attaching the carrier to the plurality of containers and for selectively separating one or more containers from the carrier, the attachment features being separable from the at least one attachment panel and intersecting at least one free edge of the at least one attachment panel.

2. The carrier of claim 1 , wherein the attachment features comprise a plurality of attachment tabs separably connected to the at least one attachment panel at a respective line of weakening.

3. The carrier of claim 2 , wherein each line of weakening comprises a longitudinal portion intersecting at least one lateral portion, the lateral portion extending to a first free edge of the at least one attachment panel.

4. The carrier of claim 3 , wherein the at least one lateral portion of the line of weakening associated with at least one attachment tab extends to a second free edge of the at least one attachment panel.

5. The carrier of claim 2 , wherein the at least one attachment panel is a front attachment panel, and the plurality of panels further comprises a back attachment panel foldably connected to the top panel.

6. The carrier of claim 5 , wherein the attachment features comprise a plurality of attachment tabs separably connected to the back attachment panel at a respective line of weakening.

7. The carrier of claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of container receiving openings defined in the top panel for at least partially receiving a respective portion of the containers of the plurality of containers.

8. The carrier of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of container receiving openings at least partially extends into the at least one attachment panel.

9. The carrier of claim 2 , wherein the at least one attachment panel is a back attachment panel, the plurality of panels further comprises a front attachment panel foldably connected to the top panel, and the attachment features further comprise a tear strip separably connected to the front attachment panel.

10. The carrier of claim 9 , wherein the attachment features further comprises a plurality of attachment tabs separably connected to the tear strip at a respective line of weakening.

11. The carrier of claim 1 , wherein the attachment features are for being adhered to the respective containers of the plurality of containers.

12. A blank for forming a carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the blank comprising:
a plurality of panels comprising a top panel foldably connected to at least one attachment panel; and
attachment features for attaching the carrier formed from the blank to the plurality of containers and for selectively separating one or more containers from the carrier formed from the blank, the attachment features being separable from the at least one attachment panel and intersecting at least one free edge of the at least one attachment panel.

13. The blank of claim 12 , wherein the attachment features comprise a plurality of attachment tabs separably connected to the at least one attachment panel at a respective line of weakening.

14. The blank of claim 13 , wherein each line of weakening comprises a longitudinal portion intersecting at least one lateral portion, the lateral portion extending to a first free edge of the at least one attachment panel.

15. The blank of claim 14 , wherein the at least one lateral portion of the line of weakening associated with at least one attachment tab extends to a second free edge of the at least one attachment panel.

16. The blank of claim 13 , wherein the at least one attachment panel is a front attachment panel, and the plurality of panels further comprises a back attachment panel foldably connected to the top panel.

17. The blank of claim 16 , wherein the attachment features comprise a plurality of attachment tabs separably connected to the back attachment panel at a respective line of weakening.

18. The blank of claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of container receiving openings defined in the top panel for at least partially receiving a respective portion of the containers of the plurality of containers when the carrier is formed from the blank.

19. The blank of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of container receiving openings at least partially extends into the at least one attachment panel.

20. The blank of claim 13 , wherein the at least one attachment panel is a back attachment panel, the plurality of panels further comprises a front attachment panel foldably connected to the top panel, and the attachment features further comprise a tear strip separably connected to the front attachment panel.

21. The blank of claim 20 , wherein the attachment features further comprises a plurality of attachment tabs separably connected to the tear strip at a respective line of weakening.

22. A method of forming a carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the method comprising:
obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a top panel foldably connected to at least one attachment panel, the blank further comprising attachment features, the attachment features being separable from the at least one attachment panel and intersecting at least one free edge of the at least one attachment panel;
at least partially folding the plurality of panels to form the carrier; and
attaching the attachment features to the plurality of containers such that the attachment features are configured for selectively separating one or more containers from the carrier.

23. The method of claim 22 , further comprising separating at least one attachment feature from the at least one attachment panel.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the attachment features comprise a plurality of attachment tabs separably connected to the at least one attachment panel at a respective line of weakening.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein each line of weakening comprises a longitudinal portion intersecting at least one lateral portion, the lateral portion extending to a first free edge of the at least one attachment panel.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the at least one lateral portion of the line of weakening associated with at least one attachment tab extends to a second free edge of the at least one attachment panel.

27. The method of claim 24 , wherein the at least one attachment panel is a front attachment panel, and the plurality of panels further comprises a back attachment panel foldably connected to the top panel.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein the attachment features comprise a plurality of attachment tabs separably connected to the back attachment panel at a respective line of weakening.

29. The method of claim 24 , further comprising a plurality of container receiving openings defined in the top panel for at least partially receiving a respective portion of the containers of the plurality of containers.

30. The method of claim 29 , wherein the plurality of container receiving openings at least partially extends into the at least one attachment panel.

31. The method of claim 24 , wherein the at least one attachment panel is a back attachment panel, the plurality of panels further comprises a front

Assignees

• Graphic Packaging Int Llc

Inventors

• Gonzalez Manzano Ana Maria

Classifications

• B65D2571/0066

  formed from one single sheet · CPC title

• B65D71/0085

  Packaging elements adhered to the articles, e.g. a carton sheet (adhesive tapes B65D63/1009) · CPC title

• B65D71/42 Primary

  formed by folding a single blank into a single layer element · CPC title

• B65B17/025

  the articles being joined by a top carrier element · CPC title

• B65D2571/00567

  defining a narrow removable strip · CPC title