Package for containers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9446891-B2
Application number	US-201314042870-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 1, 2013
Priority date	May 19, 2010
Publication date	Sep 20, 2016
Grant date	Sep 20, 2016

Abstract

A carrier that is at least partially holding a plurality of containers. The carrier can include a plurality of panels comprising a bottom panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a first top panel foldably connected to the first side panel, and a second top panel foldably connected to the second side panel. At least one container-receiving feature extends in at least the bottom panel. The at least one container-receiving feature can at least partially receive at least one container of the plurality of containers. At least one retention flap is foldably connected to the first top panel or the second top panel. The at least one retention flap engages at least a portion of a flange of at least one container.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A carrier at least partially holding a plurality of containers, each container of the plurality of containers comprising a flange, the carrier comprising:
a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carrier, the panels comprising a bottom panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a first top panel foldably connected to the first side panel, and a second top panel foldably connected to the second side panel;
at least one container-receiving feature extending in at least the bottom panel, the at least one container-receiving feature at least partially receiving at least one container of the plurality of containers; and
a first retention flap foldably connected to the first top panel and a second retention flap foldably connected to the second top panel, at least one of the first retention flap and the second retention flap engaging at least a portion of the flange of at least one container of the plurality of containers, and at least one of the first retention flap and the second retention flap being generally V-shaped, wherein:
the first retention flap comprises a first proximal portion foldably connected to the first top panel and a first distal portion foldably connected to the first proximal portion;
the first proximal portion extends generally downwardly from the first top panel and the first distal portion extends generally upwardly from the first proximal portion so that the first retention flap is generally V-shaped;
the second retention flap comprises a second proximal portion foldably connected to the second top panel and a second distal portion foldably connected to the second proximal portion; and
the second proximal portion extends generally downwardly from the second top panel and the second distal portion extends generally parallel to the bottom panel.

2. The carrier of claim 1 , wherein:
each container of the plurality of containers is positioned in at least a first column generally adjacent the first side panel and a second column generally adjacent the second side panel;
the first proximal portion at least partially receives the flange of at least one container in the first column and the first distal portion at least partially engages the flange of at least one container in the second column; and
the second proximal portion at least partially receives the flange of the at least one container in the second column and the second distal portion at least partially engages the flange of the at least one container in the first column.

3. A carrier at least partially holding a plurality of containers, each container of the plurality of containers comprising a flange, the carrier comprising:
a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carrier, the panels comprising a bottom panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a first top panel foldably connected to the first side panel, and a second top panel foldably connected to the second side panel;
at least one container-receiving feature extending in at least the bottom panel, the at least one container-receiving feature at least partially receiving at least one container of the plurality of containers; and
a first retention flap foldably connected to the first top panel and a second retention flap foldably connected to the second top panel, at least one of the first retention flap and the second retention flap engaging at least a portion of the flange of at least one container of the plurality of containers, and at least one of the first retention flap and the second retention flap being generally V-shaped, wherein:
the first retention flap comprises a first proximal portion foldably connected to the first top panel and a first distal portion foldably connected to the first proximal portion;
the first proximal portion extends generally downwardly from the first top panel and the first distal portion extends generally upwardly from the first proximal portion so that the first retention flap is generally V-shaped;
the second retention flap comprises a second proximal portion foldably connected to the second top panel and a second distal portion foldably connected to the second proximal portion; and
the second proximal portion extends generally downwardly from the second top panel and the second distal portion extends generally upwardly from the second proximal portion so that the second retention flap is generally V-shaped.

4. The carrier of claim 3 , wherein:
each container of the plurality of containers is positioned in at least a first column generally adjacent the first side panel and a second column generally adjacent the second side panel;
the first proximal portion at least partially receives the flange of at least one container in the first column and the first distal portion at least partially engages the flange of at least one container in the second column; and
the second proximal portion at least partially receives the flange of the at least one container in the second column and the second distal portion at least partially engages the flange of the at least one container in the first column.

5. The carrier of claim 4 , wherein the first distal portion comprises a first distal edge that at least partially engages the flange of the at least one container in the second column, and the second distal portion comprises a second distal edge that at least partially engages the flange of the at least one container in the first column.

6. A carrier at least partially holding a plurality of containers, each container of the plurality of containers comprising a flange, the carrier comprising:
a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carrier, the panels comprising a bottom panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a first top panel foldably connected to the first side panel, and a second top panel foldably connected to the second side panel;
at least one container-receiving feature extending in at least the bottom panel, the at least one container-receiving feature at least partially receiving at least one container of the plurality of containers; and
a first retention flap foldably connected to the first top panel and a second retention flap foldably connected to the second top panel, at least one of the first retention flap and the second retention flap engaging at least a portion of the flange of at least one container of the plurality of containers, and at least one of the first retention flap and the second retention flap being generally V-shaped, wherein:
the first retention flap comprises a first proximal portion foldably connected to the first top panel and a first distal portion foldably connected to the first proximal portion;
the first proximal portion extends generally downwardly from the first top panel and the first distal portion extends generally upwardly from the first proximal portion so that the first retention flap is generally V-shaped;
the second retention flap comprises a second proximal portion foldably connected to the second top panel and a second distal portion foldably connected to the second proximal portion;
the second proximal portion extends generally downwardly from the second top panel and the second distal portion extends generally upwardly from the second proximal portion so that the second retention flap is generally V-shaped; and
the second distal portion is at least partially in face-to-face contact with the first proximal portion and the second proximal portion is at least partially in face-to-face contact with th

Assignees

• Graphic Packaging Int Inc

Inventors

• Jones Edward W
• Gonzalez Ana
• Requena Emili
• Gomes Jean-Manuel
• May Kevin T
• Ford Colin
• Sundquist Matthew

Classifications

• B65D2571/00759

  the end walls having a part tucked between side, top or bottom wall and contents or between two articles · CPC title

• B65B43/10

  by folding the material · CPC title

• B65D71/46 Primary

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

• B65D2571/00771

  the end walls being locked to at least a part of the contents · CPC title

• B65D2571/00561

  Lines of weakness (B65D2571/00864 takes precedence) · CPC title